The first light of dawn painted the sky in soft strokes of gold and pink.
The world outside Leo's window was silent, as if holding its breath. It was a calm morning—calmer than any Leo had experienced in recent weeks.
The sun wasn't harsh; instead, its rays were warm and gentle, casting a quiet glow across the ruined landscape. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and for a moment, it almost felt like peace had returned.
Leo stirred from the thin mattress he had been resting on. He sat up slowly, his body still aching slightly from the intense fight the day before.
The quiet ambiance of the room and the scent of fresh air calmed his thoughts. He stood, stretched, and let the light hit his face. It wasn't much, but it felt real. Comforting.
After cleaning up and getting dressed, he stepped out of his room. The hallway was mostly empty, save for a few survivors quietly going about their tasks. The faint clatter of utensils and pots echoed from the kitchen area.
Stacey passed by with two other survivors. She looked more refreshed, her clothes clean and her hair tied neatly. A proper bath and a good night's sleep had done wonders for everyone.
Leo gave her a slight nod, which she returned with a calm smile.
On the way toward the central area, Leo ran into Matthew. The older man greeted him with a kind expression, his eyes slightly tired but alert.
"I hope you slept well," Matthew said. "We couldn't offer much—our resources are tight—but I hope everything was at least passable."
Leo nodded politely. "It was fine. Better than I expected."
Matthew chuckled softly. "That's good to hear. Lord Balor prefers everything to be orderly, even if supplies are low."
He motioned for Leo to follow him, and together they made their way to the command center.
The room they entered was modest but well-organized. A few screens flickered, powered by a mix of salvaged technology and battery backups. There were stacks of files and maps spread across the main table. Matthew picked up a thin digital tablet and handed it to Leo.
"These are our latest reports. We call this collective region 'Interchina.' It's divided into several zones. The nearest one is Zone 5—but calling it a zone is generous. It's more of a military camp. They call it the Aether Camp."
Leo scrolled through the reports quickly. Dozens of names, maps, resource statistics, survivor counts, and security ratings flashed by. There was detailed information on different zone lords, their territories, fighting styles, alliances, and conflicts.
"The zone lord there is cunning and dangerous," Matthew continued. "He's managed to integrate three surrounding zones under his leadership. That's rare these days. He's called his unified group 'Aether.'"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Lord Baelor doesn't expand?"
"No," Matthew replied with a shake of his head. "Baelor's not interested in power. He only protects Zone 4. He says that's enough."
Leo's eyes moved rapidly across the tablet screen. Though the reports spanned nearly a hundred pages, he memorized every detail within minutes. His transcendent mind absorbed data like a sponge, organizing it with clarity.
"Thank you," Leo said quietly, handing the tablet back.
"Would you like to meet Lord Baelor now?" Matthew asked.
Leo nodded.
They walked through the camp grounds, passing training areas, storage rooms, and a few watch towers. Eventually, they reached the training field. The air here was brisk, the ground slightly damp from morning dew.
Baelor was in the middle of a training session. He wore light armor over his upper body, and his sword moved through the air with precision.
He practiced footwork drills: left foot forward, turn at a 45-degree angle, slice right, step back, pivot. Each movement was clean and focused.
Leo stood at the edge, watching.
After finishing a set, Baelor noticed him and waved casually. "Leo," he called, "you're up early."
Leo walked closer. "It's a nice morning."
"The air's cold," Baelor said, breathing slightly heavier than usual. "But it keeps the mind awake."
He paused for a moment, considering something. Then he looked at Leo with a smile.
"Care to spar?" he asked. "I'd like to test myself against you."
Leo didn't hesitate. "Sure."
Baelor raised an eyebrow. "No weapon?"
Leo shook his head. "I'll use hand-to-hand. You can use your sword. I don't mind."
Baelor frowned slightly, then sheathed his weapon. "Let's make it fair."
The two took their positions. The area was open, with enough space to move freely. A few survivors gathered nearby to watch. Word had spread quickly about Leo's strength.
In a blink, Baelor dashed forward. His footwork was quick and refined, his body leaning just right for speed. He threw a sharp kick toward Leo's face.
Leo raised his left arm and blocked the kick without flinching. The force was strong, but not overwhelming.
Leo responded instantly. He aimed a palm strike at Baelor's chest. Baelor twisted his body mid-air, avoiding the hit, and used the momentum to launch a spinning roundhouse kick toward Leo's neck.
Leo ducked smoothly. He caught Baelor's leg mid-spin and with a fluid motion, threw him across the field.
Baelor twisted in mid-air, landed on one foot, and skidded backward, regaining his stance.
A few of the survivors clapped softly in surprise.
Baelor grinned. "Not bad."
This time, he approached more carefully. He kept his eyes on Leo's movements. They exchanged blows—fist to chest, elbow to shoulder, a low kick aimed at Leo's knee. Leo blocked each strike with a calm, calculated ease.
Their exchange grew faster. Baelor's strikes became unpredictable. He ducked, jabbed, kicked, and tried to catch Leo off guard with feints. But Leo wasn't moved.
Baelor tried to sweep Leo's leg. Leo leapt up, placing one hand on Baelor's head to balance himself mid-air. Then, using that pivot point, he spun, grabbed Baelor's collar, and flung him upward.
In a split-second follow-up, Leo jumped high and landed a heavy downward kick into Baelor's gut. The impact sent Baelor crashing to the ground, the earth cracking beneath him.
He coughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
"You're not using full strength," Baelor said, panting.
Leo helped him sit up. "I'm not. I'm at Transcendent Tier 4 now. If I used my full strength, this wouldn't be a spar."
Baelor chuckled. "Good to know."
Leo sat down beside him. For a while, they drank some water in silence.
Baelor winced slightly, still catching his breath.
Leo looked out at the cloudy sky. "What do you think of this apocalypse?"
Baelor took a deep breath. "It's madness. But we don't have the luxury to understand it. People like us… we just survive. Day by day."
Leo nodded slowly. "Have you faced the Crimson Herald's messengers?"
Baelor stiffened. "You have too?"
"They appeared in my zone. I think they're testing us."
"There were about a hundred of them," Baelor replied. "They wiped out several groups. I don't know what they are."
"I think the Herald can't enter our world fully," Leo said. "Those messengers were just scouts. A warning."
Baelor rubbed his chin. "So that's why you're traveling?"
"It's one of the reasons," Leo said. "I need answers. And I won't find them staying in one place."
Baelor gave a half-smile. "Makes sense. Though powerful people like you… you all seem a little crazy."
Leo smirked softly. "Maybe."
"Come. Let's eat."
They walked to the mess hall together. Breakfast was served—scrambled eggs, buttered bread, and boiled vegetables.
The food was surprisingly good. Leo ate without holding back. The camp had solid supplies, at least for now.
After eating, Leo leaned back in his chair. "I've gone through the entire report. I'll be leaving this evening."
"To Zone 5?" Baelor asked.
Leo nodded.
Baelor grew serious. "Be careful. The Aether Camp… its leader is clever. He plays dirty. But his camp is strong. Developed."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Baelor stood. "Good luck."
Leo simply nodded and walked back to his room.
He began packing his gear—light armor, a water canister, a few nutrient bars, and his blood-stained gloves. By evening, he would be on the move again.
To a new place.
To a new challenge.
And maybe, one step closer to the truth behind it all.