Riko was already sprinting to the armory console as he assisted with the matter. "Energy Whip unstable… We'll skip it for now! Let's proceed with the Energy Spears…"

Cloud then confirmed the addition of weapons.

[ Combat Loadout: Aerial Variant - Confirmed ]

[ Equipping: Twin Burst Cannons, Shoulder-mounted Spear Launchers, Reactive Flare Dispensers ]

[ Syncing Neural Interface… 87% match with Pilot Sheena. ]

The mute builders moved swiftly, assisting the engineers without a word.

It didn't take long before the preparations were completed.

Weapon mounts had locked into place. Ammunition belts had also been fed into the frame's internal racks.

Sheena climbed back into the cockpit. This time, her expression turned serious…

"I'll intercept from above and drive it down. If that thing breaches the barrier, it will be a disaster…"

Jace nodded as he checked the Flying Zombie Lord.

"You'll have one shot at surprise. After that, it'll know your threat."

"Then I'll make it count." Sheena replied.

Soon, the GM Drive pulsed again.

Whom~

After a few moments, the VALIANT-01 "Skybreaker" lifted off the ground… This time, it was higher, smoother, and fully armed.

Cloud issued the final clearance.

[ Flight Path Approved. Hangar Doors Opening. ]

[ Mission: Intercept and Eliminate Flying Zombie Lord. ]

[ Pilot: Sheena. Frame: VALIANT-01 "Skybreaker". Status: Combat Ready. ]

The massive doors groaned open, revealing the blood-red sky beyond.

"Let's see if this thing can fly like it was born to..." Sheena muttered.

As soon as she saw the green light, she announced…

"Sheena Asuka, Valiant Skybreaker, launching…"

Then, with a roar of its engine, Skybreaker surged into the air, leaving behind the hangar, the engineers, and the ground-bound war below.

Jace watched her disappear into the clouds.

"Good luck, Sheena," he whispered. "Make it count."

***

The moment Skybreaker pierced the clouds, a system alert flashed across Sheena's screen…

[ You have entered Zombie Lord Splendor's Territory. ]

Sheena's eys lit up after hearing this…

The sky above the New Genesis Shelter was painted in red just like the others.

However, the wind howled at high altitude…

Thud…

Below her, she noticed the faint shimmer of the barrier... Then she saw it, a figure was cutting through the air like a shadow with wings.

Zombie Lord Splendor.

It was humanoid in shape, but it was quite tall. Its wings were leathery and bat-like, spanning nearly six meters. Its body was armored in a black substance, including its spine and limbs.

It was only three meters tall, barely a quarter of Skybreaker's height, but it was definitely a strong one.

But Sheena knew size meant nothing.

This thing had survived anti-air fire, outmaneuvered machine guns, and nearly breached the barrier of one of the most fortified shelters in the region.

She gripped the controls tighter…

"Let's see what you've got."

Her Talent activated passively.

It was her Master-Grade Quick Learner. It wasn't flashy, but it was a very useful one. Every second she spent in the cockpit, her understanding of the Mech's systems deepened. Every movement became more fluid. Every adjustment more precise.

And then came the first skill she had mastered after syncing with this Mech Frame for a long time.

[ Skill: Neural Reflex Sync Lv8: Enhances pilot's eye-body coordination. Allows full-body Mech control as if it were an extension of the user. Increases reaction speed and maneuver precision. ]

With the activation of the skill, the Sync Rate detected by the Mech Increased!

The cockpit's neural interface showed it!

[ Sync Rate: 87% to 91% ]

Sheena's breathing slowed.

The Mech no longer felt like a machine… it felt like her own body.

She tilted her head slightly, and Skybreaker mirrored the motion, banking left with a smooth move...

The wind resistance, the engine's thrust, the balance of weight, it all felt natural.

"Breaking the 90% is really the best." Sheena muttered.

Although she cheated because of her Skill Activation, it was not prohibited anyway.

Then, another skill activated.

[ Predator Sense Lv9: Detects nearby infected lifeforms. Highlights hostile targets within 300 meters. ]

A red outline flared across her HUD.

Zombie Lord Splendor was circling above the barrier, moving through the air like a serpent. It was moving, but just like what Cloud mentioned, it was unpredictable movement. Its wings fold and snap open mid-flight. There were also sudden dives to stay unpredictable.

But Sheena could feel it. Not just see it… She could literally feel the Zombie Lord's movement with her Predator Sense!

Its presence was like a pressure in her chest... Predator Sense didn't just highlight the target, it made her aware of its intent.

And right now, Splendor was preparing to dive.

Sheena didn't wait.

"Target locked," she whispered.

[ Lock-On Confirmed. Distance: 240m. Altitude Difference: +60m. ]

She pushed the throttle forward.

Soon, Skybreaker surged upward with the twin burst cannons rotating into position.

The GM Drive was triggered, propelling her into the upper layer of the battlefield.

Splendor reacted instantly.

It actually started diving straight toward her.

It was then followed by a shriek that tore through the sky.

[ Warning: Sonic Disruption Detected. ]

Sheena winced but held firm.

"Not today."

She fired the first volley.

Twin burst cannons were triggered, sending a hail of armor-piercing rounds toward the incoming threat. Splendor dodged again and did it several more times, but one round clipped its wing.

"Ha! Eat that!"

It shrieked again, this time it was due to the sudden accuracy of Sheena's cannons!

Sheena banked hard to the right, dodging a retaliatory attack of the Zombie Lord, and its claws scraped past Skybreaker's left shoulder, leaving a shallow gash in the armor.

[ Minor Damage Sustained. Armor Integrity: 98% ]

Sheena gritted her teeth…

She was only starting!

"Let's see how you handle this."

This time, she activated the shoulder-mounted spear launchers.

[ Spear Launchers Armed. Target Locked. ]

Two high-velocity energy spears launched in rapid succession, as they homed in on the Zombie Lord's figure…

Splendor flared its wings and dove… One spear missed, but the second struck its lower torso and it detonated on impact.

The Zombie Lord faltered mid-air, and Sheena didn't let up.

She had to bring this Zombie Lord down to the ground!

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