Chapter 173: Apex Mk 2
Tribeca was as peaceful as ever. Streetlights glowed softly, and even the mansion that had previously burned down had been fully restored. The high walls surrounding the community concealed hidden defensive systems—laser turrets and high-voltage rods—though their presence wasn't obvious. On the surface, Tribeca looked like a luxury neighborhood untouched by the apocalypse. "Wake up," Zack said as the Avalon landed on the community's tarmac.
"Huh?" Luna stirred, rubbing her eyes as she groggily stepped off the jet. For a moment, the unfamiliar surroundings scared her, but she quickly calmed down when she saw Zack nearby.
"Sir..." she murmured nervously, glancing around. The luxurious mansions caught her eye immediately, their bright lights and pristine appearance contrasting starkly with the devastation she was used to. Her expression softened—not with greed, but with awe. After so long in the harsh, unforgiving apocalypse, she had almost forgotten what peace looked like.
"Sir... is this where you live?" she asked timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. Luna stared at the luxurious mansions in shock. She couldn't help but notice something surreal—there wasn't a single zombie roar here.
A cool breeze swept past, carrying the fresh scent of dew from the grass instead of the rancid stench of decay she'd grown used to. "This will be your home now," Zack said, pointing to mansion No. 10. His voice was steady but firm. "Head there. There are three girls living there—get to know them." He paused, then added, "mansion No. 9 is where I live. That's where you'll be working from now on. And yes, your work will include... everything."
His words were blunt, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Luna's cheeks flushed instantly. She stammered softly, "I... I understand."
"It's late. Go get some rest," Zack said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "mansion No. 10 has plenty of empty rooms. Pick whichever one you like."
"Good night, sir," Luna mumbled, bowing slightly before nervously walking toward mansion No. 10. She opened the door cautiously, trying not to make noise and disturb the other occupants. She needn't have worried. The girls in the mansion—long accustomed to the safety of this haven—slept soundly. Unlike most survivors in the apocalypse, who were constantly on edge, they no longer startled awake at the slightest sound.
"Good night," Zack murmured to himself, watching her retreat into the mansion. He shook his head with a faint, bitter smile. "If I had any superpower," he muttered under his breath, "it'd be immortality... and never feeling sleepy."
With that, he turned and headed toward the basement of mansion No. 9. Zack took the elevator down to the second underground floor—a space he hadn't visited in a while. It had once been the former owner's private collection room but was now repurposed as a showroom for Zack's armor.
As the elevator doors opened, his eyes landed on the riveted, clunky MV-01 armor, the first suit he had ever built. Next to it stood the MV-02, modified into a prototype war machine. Following that was the MV-02W The Titan Armor wasn't here—it was still in active use and too large to fit in the showroom. "Time to add the Apex," Zack said to himself. He walked to an empty display stand and removed the armor, which had served him longer than any other suit.
Apex was a beast—a firepower machine loaded with over a hundred micro-missiles. It had been upgraded multiple times, evolving into a reliable war asset. But its reliance on physical ammunition was starting to feel outdated. "Ego, send me the Apex Mk-2 schematics," Zack said as he placed the Apex onto the stand and turned toward the elevator.