Chapter 175: Terror Spider Vs Tarantula
The Terror Spider lacked any kind of paint or polish. To streamline production, unimportant mechanical components were left exposed, while only the core areas—housing the battery and control chip—were reinforced with armor plating. Yet this didn't make it fragile. The exposed parts were deliberately non-critical, designed to ensure the robot could keep fighting even after sustaining damage. And with its overwhelming firepower, getting close to it was nearly impossible. Zack had packed every conceivable conventional weapon into this beast, from armor-piercing rounds to high-explosive bombs. The result was a devastatingly powerful relic of the gunpowder age, ready to dominate any battlefield.
"Alright, big brother, how are we doing this?" Annie asked as she hopped out of Tarantula, tilting her head smugly. "No matter how we compare, Tarantula is obviously the best." As if echoing her confidence, Tarantula displayed a heart-shaped smile on its emotional interface.
"Let's compare firepower," Zack said with a grin. He pointed to two hills in the distance, divided by the scars of a space-based cannon blast. "See those? Each one is about the same height—roughly 300 meters." He smirked. "Pick a hill. After ten minutes, whoever has the lower hilltop wins."
"Firepower?" Annie's confident grin faltered, her shoulders slumping as she eyed the Terror Spider's array of weaponry. The sight of its massive gun barrels didn't help her confidence. "Uh, big brother... How about we start with mobility instead?" Annie asked sheepishly.
"Mobility?" Zack knocked her lightly on the head with a knuckle. "You've got flight capabilities. How is that even a fair comparison?"
"Ow!" Annie rubbed her head, pouting. "Fine, I'll take the hill on the right," she grumbled, clearly feeling cornered.
"Perfect. I'll take the left," Zack said. With that, Zack gave the activation command. The Terror Spider, which had been dormant until now, came to life with the whir of servos and clanking metal. It immediately began ascending the hill, each step deliberate as it searched for the optimal firing position.
Annie, not to be outdone, climbed back into Tarantula. Her mech quickly took off, its boosters igniting as it sprinted up the other hill.
Zack reached a prime vantage point and called out, "Countdown starts now—three, two, one... go!" The moment he said "go," Tarantula leaped into the air, its propulsion wings unfolding to stabilize its flight. Hovering over the hill, Annie unleashed a barrage of firepower.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Missiles streaked through the air, detonating across the hilltop in a chain of explosions. The blasts echoed through the valley, scattering dust and debris. Meanwhile, the Terror Spider didn't bother with anything fancy. It firmly planted itself at a vantage point, transforming into a stationary weapon platform.