The battle had ended.
The mutated level 3 beast lay slain in a pool of its own dark, steaming blood. The sun dipped behind the jagged skyline of Zone 5, casting crimson hues over the battlefield.
It was a sight that would live in the hearts of survivors for years—Leo, standing tall above the fallen creature, his blade dripping, his eyes burning.
Cheers erupted, echoing like a war cry through the battered streets of the zone. Survivors gathered around, some weeping, others screaming his name, their faces alight with awe.
To them, Leo was no longer just a leader. He was a symbol. A titan.
But as he stood silently amidst the roaring acclaim, Leo felt nothing.
No pride. No glory. Only a gnawing emptiness.
This victory had come too easily. Not because the beast wasn't powerful—it had been.
But because Leo had become something else, something more than human. The strength that coursed through him felt unnatural, borrowed. And worse, he had no idea from where it truly came.
It wasn't that leo hated his powers.
No.
He just felt scared. If something is capable of granting then such vast powers then what is the reason behind it.
---
As night descended and the survivors returned to their routines, Leo retreated to a quiet stream near the edge of the camp. Stripping off his bloodied gear, he stepped into the cold water, letting it wash over his body. The sting of minor wounds and bruises barely registered.
Instead, his mind churned.
How did a world so mundane, so ordinary, suddenly become this twisted arena of death and power?
The system. That strange, omnipresent force. It had changed everything overnight. It granted powers, gave levels, set rules and restrictions, like an unseen god scripting reality.
And Leo hated it.
Not because it made him powerful. But because it made everything else uncertain.
He stared at his reflection, distorted in the flowing water. Behind his dark eyes, questions lingered like storm clouds.
Why us? Why this planet? And why now?
He clenched his fists.
To conquer more zones without understanding the game they were trapped in... it would be foolish. Dangerous.
He had to plan everything. Just fighting randomly wouldn't achieve a thing.
The next morning, he summoned his closest allies to the grand council chamber. The Blood Camp—once Zone 5—had been fortified since its capture. Makeshift buildings had risen, guard towers stood tall, and defensive barriers buzzed with energy.
Inside the stone chamber, his inner circle gathered around a large obsidian table.
Damien, ever stoic and tactical, stood near the window. Logan leaned against the wall with a frown, arms crossed. Miles tapped his mechanical fingers restlessly. Jack, as usual, stayed silent, his blade sheathed but never far from reach.
Victoria sat with a clipboard, looking over recent reports. Evelyn, calm and composed, waited quietly beside her. Ana, sharp-eyed and unreadable, sat directly across from Leo. And beside her, the newly appointed Governor Lila—young, bright-eyed, and full of potential.
Leo stood at the head of the table, surveying them.
"You've done well," he began. "We've conquered Zone 5. The people are safe. The defenses are stronger than ever. But I've come to a decision."
They all looked up.
"I will no longer lead the expansion of the Blood Camp."
Shock rippled across the room.
"What?" Damien was the first to speak, stepping forward. "Leo, this isn't the time to step back. We have momentum. We can strike the next zones before they regroup."
Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Is this about the last battle? Because if you're injured—"
"I'm not," Leo said firmly. "But I'm starting to realize something. This apocalypse... it's not just about survival or expansion. There's a larger truth behind it. And I can't learn that by sitting here or conquering zones like a blind warlord. I had realised it earlier. I mean it's easy to see. Everything about this new world is confusing."
"The hunger for power made me avoid these thoughts for a long time, but not now. "
Ana leaned forward, her voice steady. "Then what do you intend to do?"
Leo exhaled.
"Travel. Explore this new world. Understand what this system is. Who created it. Why it chose Earth. And what lies beyond our current reach."
Silence.
Then Damien slammed his palm on the table. "You're risking everything! We've built a foundation here. You leaving now could destabilize it."
Jack gave a subtle nod.
He looked at them, each in turn.
"I trust all of you. That's why I'm giving temporary command to this council. Build a merit-based hierarchy. Let those who prove themselves rise. And when I return, I expect a thriving, unified empire."
No one spoke.
Until Ana finally said, "Still I think this is a stupid choice."
Her words were met with silent approval from everyone.
They were crude but true.
Leo gave a small smile.
"It may be, but it's better than blindly killing the zombies."
---
Dawn came, painting the sky in amber and gold.
Leo stood at the eastern gates of the Blood Camp, his long black coat fluttering in the wind. A backpack hung over one shoulder, and the Crimson Fang sword rested against his back.
Survivors gathered to bid him farewell. Some wept. Others saluted. It was somewhat cringe.
But you couldn't expect any less. Leo had now become a Hero for many people in the camp.
Damien, Jack, and Victoria stood behind him in silence.
Ana approached. "We'll hold the line. But you better come back."
He met her gaze. For a moment, the storm in his heart calmed.
"I will. But not as the same man."
And then, without another word, he turned and stepped beyond the walls.
No excess words just facts, typical of Leo.
---
The lands beyond the Blood Camp were wild.
Overgrown forests reclaimed old highways. Skyscrapers in distant cities lay half-collapsed, their windows shattered, overtaken by mutated vines. The air carried the scent of decay and rebirth.
Leo walked alone for miles. Well technically he kept running with his insane speed. Getting tired was not something he was aware of in this new world.
Eventually, he activated the system's world map.
Loading Global Map...
The interface expanded before his eyes.
Earth was no longer the same.
Each continent had been reshaped, redrawn with new names and boundaries. The System's Zones spanned across America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the South Atlantic. Each continent held its own major dominion, and each dominion was divided into dozens of battle-zones like the one Leo had conquered.
He zoomed in.
He had been in the Middle Eastern quadrant.
But now his journey would lead him east—into the Indian and Chinese territories.
Densely populated regions, teeming with survivors... and possibly, powerful rulers.
The thought made Leo's blood sing.
He wasn't just searching for answers anymore.
He was seeking rivals. Equals. Perhaps even monsters stronger than himself.
He grinned.
Making powerful people bow before him had a certain... thrill.
But this time, it wasn't just about dominance. It was about understanding. Breaking past the veil of ignorance.
And if that meant stepping into hell itself, so be it.
The road stretched out before him—long, winding, and dangerous.
But Leo walked forward, each step echoing with purpose.
Now he was no king of some Blood Camp.
Just a simple Wanderer on a journey.
---
End of Arc
( New Arc from Next Chapter)