Chapter 159: Octopus
The sheer number of creatures in the ocean was incalculable. If they began to consistently invade land, it would be nothing short of a natural disaster for humanity. What made matters worse was NYC's location. As a coastal city connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River, it had a direct link to the sea. Although there had been no signs of Abyss Crawlers in freshwater yet, their amphibious nature made it impossible to rule out a future attack along the river and its extensive estuary system."The ocean is too vast, and with our current equipment, we can't even think about exploring it," Zack muttered as he leaned on his workbench, deep in thought.
Based on the satellite footage, a single Abyss Crawlers was roughly as strong as a hunter. Their thick carapace provided incredible defense, making them formidable opponents. But what made them truly dangerous was their sheer number.
While Zack's mechanical army could provide suppression through concentrated firepower, the limitation was always ammunition. Once supplies ran out, the skimmers could easily overwhelm the machines with their crab-like pincers, tearing through steel as if it were paper.
Tianri's last battle had proven this. Satellite footage showed the skimmers not only moving quickly on land but also scaling walls and tearing apart armored vehicles with frightening ease. "I just can't understand it," Zack muttered, staring at a 3D projection of a sea skimmer. "What kind of virus can infect mammals, birds, fish—and now even crustaceans? It's like some alien civilization developed this as a bioweapon to wipe out humanity."
"Sir, while the probability is low, the possibility of alien involvement cannot be entirely ruled out," Ego responded.
Zack sighed. "I guess figuring out the origin of this virus needs to be added to our agenda."
With NYC Base and the northern base now secured, Zack knew it was time to shift focus from survival to understanding the origins of the Zeta virus. "Still, that's a problem for later. For now, we need to prioritize protecting against these ocean threats," Zack said, pushing aside his thoughts about the virus's origins.
The only lead he had was the Vanguard Organization, the group that first discovered the virus. But pursuing that would have to wait. "Sir, perhaps you could develop deep-sea armor," Ego suggested.
"Armor must be developed—but should I personally test its limits?" Zack shook his head decisively. "No. Let the mechanical beasts handle it."