Regressed with Omnipotent AI on Zombie Apocalypse

Upon returning to the Mansion, Ego immediately began listing the combat test results for the MV-01 armor.

“MV-01 Armor Combat Report: Total usage time, two hours and 24 minutes; remaining battery power, 3%. Battery life is within expected limits. Strength, speed, and durability all meet the standard. Armor sustained minimal damage, and the cushioning system performed as expected. Final evaluation: MV-01 armor is fully operational and battle-ready.”

Zack nodded, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “So, in real-world conditions, the battery lasts about two and a half hours.”

“Yes, sir,” Ego confirmed. “However, under heavy combat, battery life may drop to two hours or less.”

Zack nodded again, unfazed. He had designed the armor with this trade-off in mind, sacrificing a bit of battery life in exchange for reinforced defenses.

Inside the Mansion, Sophia had already heard his footsteps approaching. She waited by the door, her face lighting up the moment she saw him. “Welcome home!” she greeted warmly, her relief obvious as she rushed to him.

Zack opened the visor of his armor and smiled at her. “Mission went smoothly. You’re safe to move around the Mansion now, just don’t wander too far.”

Sophia’s face brightened with joy. She threw her arms around him, pressing several soft kisses to his cheek. The light fragrance of her hair filled his senses, and the gentle touch momentarily eased the tension of the mission and the lingering scent of blood.

“If it weren’t for this armor, I don’t think I could resist...” Zack whispered playfully in her ear, causing her to blush.

“Now?” she whispered back, her voice barely audible as her cheeks turned crimson. “It’s... still daytime...”

Chuckling, Zack carefully set her down and took a step back. After heading to the basement, he removed the graphene battery from the armor to begin recharging it. Once the battery was connected, he made his way back to the elevator.

“Ego, enter sleep mode for two hours,” he ordered.

“Understood, sir,” Ego replied before going silent and slipping into standby mode.

Meanwhile, several miles away, at a steel plant on the outskirts of an industrial park, a heavy metal door creaked open just enough for a man to peer out cautiously. His narrow, sharp eyes scanned the area before retreating back inside.

“No zombies. Coast is clear,” he muttered.

At his signal, the door opened just enough for a group of seven or eight people to squeeze through. They were gaunt, their eyes sunken, and their frames fragile from days without proper food. Two men with pistols followed, looking better fed and healthier than the rest. One of them, Ivan, barked orders, waving his gun.

“Move it! Daylight keeps the vampires away, so get out there and find something to eat!” He flashed a wicked grin at the starving group. “And remember, if anyone comes back empty-handed, the boss will turn you into tonight’s dinner.”

His threat sent a chill through the group. They knew all too well that Ivan wasn’t bluffing; the boss had already killed and dried several of their own into jerky as a gruesome warning.

“Move faster!” Ivan yelled at a middle-aged man trailing behind. “You’re slower than your own wife!”

“Yes, yes, I’m hurrying,” the man mumbled, quickening his pace, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Beside Ivan, another guard, John, smirked and nudged him with his elbow. “Hey, Director Sean, your wife’s doing well. If it weren’t for the end of the world, a beauty like her would be out of our league, right? Don’t get stingy now.”

Director Sean kept his gaze lowered, clenching his fists as he walked, his eyes red with a mix of anger and despair that he dared not show. Leaving the steelworks, Ivan led the group carefully across the industrial park to another factory. The door of the factory bore a familiar mark—a symbol from one of their own.

“This is the place,” Ivan muttered, exchanging a glance with John before turning to the exhausted group. Raising his gun, he barked, “You all, get inside! Head straight to the canteen and bring out all the food and water. And remember, if anyone sneaks a bite... you know what’ll happen.”

He then turned his attention to Factory Director Sean, a mocking smirk on his face. “Mr. Factory Manager,” Ivan sneered, “make sure you don’t screw this up. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to your son, right?” He chuckled darkly. “If you fail, your wife might still be useful, but your son...”

“No, please, Sir Ivan,” Director Sean pleaded, his voice breaking as tears welled up in his eyes. “Don’t hurt my son. He’s just a child…”

Ivan patted him on the shoulder, grinning wickedly. “Relax. As long as you and your wife are good little workers, your son will be fine.” With a silent nod, Sean led the group inside. As they moved through the dark, abandoned corridors, a few of his employees couldn’t hold back their frustration.

“These monsters… they’re not human!” one whispered bitterly. “Rocky and the others… turned into dried meat by those animals.”

Another, an elderly worker, shook his head in defeat. “What can we do? They have guns. We’re barely surviving.”

“But how much longer can we live like this?” a younger man choked out, his gaze fixed on Sean. “Director, if we keep going like this, they’ll find out about Annie sooner or later… she’s just a kid…”

At the mention of his daughter, a flicker of life returned to Director Sean’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resignation. “Now’s not the time… Ernest, let’s just gather the supplies and get out of here.”

One by one, the others followed his lead. Only Zell, the youngest of the group, hesitated, his fists clenched as he watched the others walk away. A desperate resolve flared within him. “Either way, it’s a dead end,” he muttered to himself, slipping off in a different direction.

Ten minutes later, as Director Sean’s team reached the canteen and began gathering supplies, a bone-chilling roar echoed through the factory, its pitch unlike anything human.

“Vampire!” someone screamed, and instantly, they dropped everything, bolting for the exit.

Director Sean looked around, realizing that Zell was missing. His heart sank. When he and the others reached the factory entrance, Ivan and John were nowhere in sight. That’s when he saw Zell sprinting from the underground parking lot, something dark and menacing close on his heels.

“Ernest, run!” Director Sean shouted, but just as Zell was about to reach the safety of the sunlight, a black shadow lunged from behind. Claws dug into his shoulders with unearthly strength, tearing him apart mid-step.

“Ernest!” Director Sean cried out in horror as Zell’s body was ripped to shreds. His shout caught the attention of the creature—a Night Stalker, similar to the ones Zack had seen earlier.

The stalker dropped Zell’s mangled body and turned toward Director Sean, baring its fangs. At that moment, the Night Stalker burst into the sunlight, letting out a furious scream as its pale skin sizzled and smoked. With a painful howl, it stumbled back into the shadows.

Director Sean and the others took that moment to flee, running until they left the factory far behind. None of them noticed the Night Stalker watching them intently from the darkness, patiently waiting.