Regressed with Omnipotent AI on Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 174: Terror Spider

"Apex Mk-2, officially recorded," Ego confirmed.

"How long until it's ready?" Zack asked.

"Approximately five days," Ego replied.

"Same as Aegis?" Zack raised an eyebrow before letting out a soft chuckle. "Perfect timing."

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With that, Zack shut off the holographic displays and headed upstairs. The next few days would be spent resting and working on smaller projects, like finalizing the designs for his new mechanical spiders and upgrading the Titan Armor.

Four days later. Both Aegis and the Apex Mk-2 armor were nearing completion, and NYC Base had undergone significant changes. Over 700 fearless warriors had been outfitted with power armor and saw-chain swords, creating a force capable of conquering half the region's medium-sized bases. Meanwhile, the mechanical army had grown substantially. Ten new Goliath drones had been added, and the number of unmanned aerial armors had reached 55, forming a formidable air force.

However, the numbers of the older mechanical beasts—the poisonous spiders and mechanical dogs—had decreased. The mechanical dogs, responsible for patrol and security, were capped at 300 units. Only 100 poisonous spiders remained, most of which had been dispatched to the northern base.

At NYC Base, only Annie's Tarantula mech remained as a spider-like robot. Despite these changes, Zack hadn't been idle. While taking time to rest and interact with the girls at the mansion, he had also made several advancements.

The Titan armor was now equipped with a force field generator, capable of withstanding electromagnetic railgun attacks. Additionally, Zack had upgraded the Singulium reactor. The new design implemented multi-phase energy harvesting, a process inspired by fusion reactor systems. By optimizing the reactor's plasma flow, electromagnetic fields were synchronized with nanosecond precision, allowing more efficient energy transfer from the superheated Singulium core to the reactor's output channels. This reduced energy loss through heat dissipation and maximized usable power. The result was a staggering 50% increase in power output—enough to meet the Apex Mk-2's demanding laser systems while leaving additional reserves for auxiliary functions.

"No," Zack replied, shaking his head. "We'll wait for the Apex Mk-2 to be ready tomorrow and test it then." He carefully placed the Singulium v2 reactor into its dedicated storage unit, locking it securely in place. "Is the new spider ready?" Zack asked, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

"The prototype has been constructed. Should I activate it for testing?" Ego asked.

"Send the prototype to the testing site," Zack instructed. After a moment's thought, he added, "And get Annie to join us. I want to see which one's better—her spider mech or my new spider."

"Understood. Miss Annie has been notified," Ego confirmed.

With that settled, Zack exited the basement and walked to the underground parking lot of the neighboring mansion. Moments later, the roar of a Ferrari's engine shattered the silence as the sleek supercar tore out of the garage, sparks flying as it scraped the ground. "There's definitely something wrong with the suspension," Zack muttered, shaking his head as he floored the accelerator.

The deserted streets were perfect for racing. With his reflexes enhanced to thirteen times those of a normal human, Zack pushed the Ferrari to its limits, coaxing every ounce of performance from the car. At one point, the speedometer climbed past 300 kilometers per hour.

The brakes glowed red-hot under the strain of sudden stops, but Zack grinned, relishing the thrill. "Driving really is something else," he said, laughing as the scenery blurred outside the windows. While his armor allowed him to reach speeds of Mach 8 or even Mach 10, flying through the air never gave him the same rush. Up there, there were no reference points—just endless space. But on the ground, the roaring engine and the flashing scenery created a visceral sense of speed that was utterly exhilarating.

Zack's joyride continued until he approached the testing site. As he rounded a sharp corner near the final stretch, the uneven road threw the Ferrari off balance. The car, traveling at nearly 300 kilometers per hour, spun out of control. Despite Zack's lightning-fast reactions, he wasn't a professional racer. There was only so much skill could do to save a supercar on the verge of disaster.

Boom! With a deafening crash, the Ferrari slammed into a tree by the roadside. The impact sent shards of carbon fiber flying as the car disintegrated into a fiery wreck. Zack, who hadn't bothered with a seatbelt, was flung through the windshield. He soared dozens of meters before landing, rolling instinctively to disperse the impact. When he stood up, his clothes weren't even wrinkled. "Well, I guess Ferrari lives up to the hype," Zack said casually, brushing a few leaves off his shoulders. He glanced at the burning wreckage but didn't bother giving it a second thought. With a shrug, he turned and began walking toward the test site.

Annie, already at the site, heard the crash and quickly drove her Tarantula to investigate. "Big brother! Are you okay?" she called out, her voice filled with worry as she spotted Zack and the smoldering remains of the car.

"I'm fine," Zack replied nonchalantly. "That thing didn't stand a chance against me." As he spoke, his eyes drifted to Annie's mech. The Tarantula had undergone significant upgrades, thanks to Zack's occasional technical assistance. Its sharp, angular design had been replaced with smoother, more aerodynamic curves to enhance flight performance. The mech's frame now had a feminine elegance, accentuated by its reddish-pink color scheme.

The spider-like appendages had also been redesigned to allow upright movement, giving the Tarantula a more humanoid gait. Of course, the original quadruped mode remained intact, enabling it to operate independently of Annie when needed. Unbeknownst to Annie, Zack had embedded a hidden override system into the Tarantula, allowing him to take control of the mech at any time. His authority over the machine was absolute. "It looks decent, but I'm not sure it's a match for my scary robot," Zack said, deliberately provoking her.

"Hmph! Tarantula is definitely better than your ugly robot!" Annie retorted, pouting.

Zack smirked. "I guess we'll find out soon enough. Let's have a little competition." Without waiting for a response, he turned and began climbing the mountain. The mountain was now a wasteland of craters and debris, with only the northern slope remaining intact. A newly constructed road wound its way up to a platform halfway up the mountain, where Zack's new spider awaited. When Zack saw it for the first time, he couldn't help but nod in approval. "It's even more impressive in person," he murmured.

The Terror Spider, Zack's latest creation and successor to the spider, stood at an imposing height of three meters, with a curb weight exceeding a ton. Over half of that weight came from its sheer arsenal of weaponry.

In terms of design, the Terror Spider couldn't be more different from Annie's Tarantula. While Tarantula's rounded, aerodynamic form resembled a cartoonish spider, the Terror Spider leaned into the menacing and mechanical look of a real spider. Its steel frame stood firm on four mechanical legs, prioritizing stability. Beyond its limbs, the robot was equipped with two additional mechanical arms on its torso. These were mounted with an array of machine guns, missile launchers, and other traditional weapons.