The sun was already high by the time Leo wiped the last bit of water from his face.
He had washed up near a small stream, letting the cool water refresh him after the long journey.
The wind was warm, not harsh, but enough to make the back of his neck sweat. He tied his shirt tighter and slung his pack over his shoulder.
This was the final stretch—twenty more miles to go. He didn't rush it.
The road was mostly quiet. A few scattered mutants wandered close, but Leo dealt with them quickly. None were strong enough to pose any threat.
He absorbed their cores without drawing attention, keeping his energy steady. There were also some aberrants, larger than the average zombie, with bones sticking out and strange growths on their backs, but even they didn't last long.
Leo didn't want to waste energy unless necessary. This part of the trip was more about observation.
He walked with a steady pace, looking at the land around him.
The terrain had changed in the last few weeks. Trees were dying out in some areas, replaced by strange mossy growths.
The ground was dry, cracked, and hard in others. Some buildings had collapsed completely, their ruins swallowed by vines that didn't exist before the world went mad.
He stopped a few times, standing on higher ground to scan the horizon. It wasn't just about making it to Zone 5. He wanted to understand how the world was reshaping itself. This information would help him later. It always did.
By evening, the tall walls of the Aether Camp came into view.
From a distance, it didn't look like a camp at all. It was more like a small city, surrounded by massive walls made of reinforced steel and concrete.
Guard towers were placed evenly along the wall, each manned by figures dressed in black. Floodlights lined the top, and drones moved across the sky in quiet patterns.
Leo paused at the edge of the road, looking up at the fortress.
"So this is Zone 5…" he muttered.
No, not just Zone 5. It was called the Aether Camp now. A place that had merged three zones under one banner.
The man behind it, Victor, must be someone capable—not just strong in power, but smart.
Leo could already feel it in the way the walls were designed, the way the guards moved, and the quiet order behind the chaos.
He walked forward.
As he approached the gate, he saw a group of survivors being checked. The guards—eight in total—stood alert.
Two of them were checking each person carefully. They scanned the bodies, asked questions, and waved strange tools that made soft beeping sounds.
Leo couldn't tell what tech they were using, but it worked. Anyone suspicious was stopped immediately.
When it was his turn, the guards tensed slightly. One of them stepped forward and asked, "Name? Purpose of visit? Which zone are you from?"
Leo replied calmly, "Leo. I came from Zone 4. After the stampede. I want to meet the Zone Lord."
The guards looked at each other.
It wasn't every day that a survivor came straight to the gates and asked to meet the Zone Lord. Most people came here hoping for shelter, food, maybe a new start. Few walked up asking for an audience with the one in charge.
One of the guards narrowed his eyes. "Wait here."
Leo didn't move. He stood silently, letting the moment pass. After a few minutes, the same guard returned and nodded.
"You were expected."
Leo raised a brow. "Expected?"
"Yes," the guard replied. "Lord Victor mentioned someone might arrive from Zone 4. He didn't give a name, but you fit the profile. He's requested to meet you immediately."
Leo thought for a moment.
It made sense now. Victor must have sent his forces to Zone 4 after the stampede. They likely reported back—about the situation, the survivors, and him. That meant Victor had known Leo was coming. Either from reports, or maybe... he had planned for this.
Smart man.
Leo gave a small smile. "I'll cooperate. But I'd like to rest a little, maybe take a walk and see the camp first."
The guard shook his head. "Apologies, sir. The Lord asked that you meet him as soon as you enter."
Of course. Victor was careful. He didn't want Leo moving around before getting a read on him. It was smart. Leo respected that.
"Alright," he said. "Take me to him."
The guard nodded and signaled to another soldier, and together they opened the gate.
Leo stepped through.
Inside, the camp was nothing like he expected.
There were homes—real homes. Not makeshift shelters or half-broken buildings, but proper houses with painted walls, clean streets, and signs.
People walked through the streets carrying supplies, chatting, and even laughing. Children played in small open spaces, while drones floated above, silently watching. Soldiers in black uniforms walked in pairs, calm and steady.
There was discipline here. But not fear.
It shocked Leo.
He had tried to build order in his own zone. But it was never like this. Rebellions, tensions, fights over food or territory—it never stopped. Yet here, despite being a merged zone, people seemed... content.
That wasn't just power. That was leadership.
Leo glanced around, watching the structure of the camp. The way soldiers stood. The way civilians walked without fear. The way supplies were being distributed. Even the walls had sensor devices and automatic turrets built into them.
Victor hadn't just taken over. He had built something.
They walked past several buildings, through quiet streets and across a central road lined with flags carrying the Aether crest—a silver flame over a black circle.
Eventually, they reached a large administrative building, modern in design and well-maintained.
Inside, the air was cool. The place was clean, the floors shining under the soft lights. The guard led him through a few corridors, then stopped at a tall wooden door.
"He's inside," the guard said. "With his commanders. I am not allowed past this point."
He knocked.
A voice came from inside. Calm. Strong.
"Enter."
The guard opened the door and stepped back.
Leo walked in.
The room was spacious, but not overly grand. A long table stretched through the center. At its far end sat a man with white hair, loosely tied, strands falling over his shoulders and forehead.
His eyes were calm but sharp. He looked like someone in his mid-twenties, but the weight in his gaze made him seem older.
Next to him stood a tall man with a scar on his chin, clearly his second-in-command. Along the table sat a few others—men and women, each wearing different crests on their uniforms. Commanders.
They all turned to look at Leo as he entered.
No one spoke at first.
Leo took a breath. He didn't bow, didn't smile. He simply met each gaze with his own, then stopped at Victor's.
The man smiled gently and stood up.
"Welcome dear guest to my humble camp! I hope the journey was pleasant."