Leo sat down on the polished wooden chair, the scent of warm food gently wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.
The table was already set. Plates lined with meat skewers, grilled vegetables, warm flatbreads, and a variety of steaming dishes rested between him and Victor.
Off to the side, more food was neatly placed for self-service. Victor had made it clear earlier that he didn't want any interruptions during this dinner.
No servers, no workers—just the two of them. This was going to be more than just a meal.
Victor gestured towards the food. "Please, eat. We'll talk once we're settled."
Leo nodded and reached for one of the meat skewers. The meat was soft, almost melting as he bit into it. Juicy, well-marinated, and seasoned with a touch of something sweet and spicy.
There was also a fresh salad—crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a tangy dressing. Bowls of rice, some curry-like stew, grilled fish, something like roasted duck, and a side of spiced potatoes were all laid out.
Each dish was well-prepared, rich in flavor, and satisfying. A meal fit for kings.
For a while, they didn't speak. The sound of chewing, of cutlery lightly tapping plates, and the occasional clink of glasses filled the air.
Neither of them wanted to break the silence too soon. There was a weight in the air, a mutual respect that needed time to settle.
Finally, after they had eaten a fair share, Victor leaned back, sipping from a glass of something amber and strong. He looked at Leo, then smiled lightly.
"How about this? Let's talk about our pasts. I'll go first, then you. It might sound a little childish, but I think if we really want to trust each other, we should at least understand each other. Foundations, you know? No solid building lasts without a strong foundation. And for a partnership to work, there has to be trust."
Leo didn't respond immediately. He looked down at his plate, then back at Victor.
He nodded once, slowly. Victor's words were true. Trust wasn't something that just appeared overnight. It needed time, effort, and a bit of vulnerability.
Seeing the nod, Victor took that as his cue.
"Back before all this chaos," Victor began, eyes distant, "I was stuck in a dull job. Some mid-level position in a corporate office. Suits, fake smiles, endless deadlines. Life was... gray."
"I had ambition, dreams, but no power. No one backing me. I didn't have rich parents or powerful connections. So no matter how hard I worked, I barely moved forward. I guess the world didn't care."
Victor paused, taking another sip of his drink.
"Then came the apocalypse. And in some weird, twisted way, I saw it as a blessing. Everything changed overnight. People were scrambling, screaming, dying... but I saw opportunity."
"I always felt I wasn't meant for that boring life. This chaos, this... survival of the fittest—this was my world. I didn't hesitate. I adapted. I took control."
Leo listened without interrupting.
"I found myself in Zone 5. A complete mess. People fighting over scraps, mutants hunting in the dark, zombies spreading like wildfire."
"But I didn't panic. I started gathering people. Those who could fight. Those who could think. Alex was the first. A good man. Loyal. Smart."
"He's still with me now. We created order from chaos. Fortified Zone 5. Created a proper military structure, rules, rations, patrols, everything. People felt safe. They began to trust me. Loyalty followed."
Victor leaned forward a bit, voice steady.
"We expanded. Zone 6. Zone 7. Both joined without bloodshed. They were struggling with the Stampedes. We helped them. Saved them. So, they accepted our rule. Just like that, Camp Aether was born. And here we are."
He chuckled softly. "Nothing too heroic. No dramatic battles or chosen-one stories. Just strategy, patience, and a bit of luck."
Victor looked up at Leo with a curious smile. "But you, you're the mystery here. Traveling all the way from the middle quadrant to China? With goals unclear? That takes something special. I'd love to know what drives you. What made you come so far."
Leo raised a brow, "I don't remember telling you about my travels."
Victor replied with a chuckle, "What can I say, I did my own little research. I hope you don't mind it! "
Victor's reach was something else.
Leo was quiet for a moment. He wiped his hands, placed the napkin down, then looked Victor in the eyes.
"My story… it starts simple. I wasn't some office guy or anything like that. I was just a student. High school, to be exact. Still figuring life out. Then one morning, everything changed. Zombies. Chaos. The world flipped."
He exhaled slowly, remembering those first terrifying days.
"We gathered survivors. Found shelter. Built defenses. It was rough. But we made it. Zone 3, back then, was just a weak little safe haven."
"But I started seeing something more. Staying in one place wasn't enough. It was survival, sure. But that's all it was. No growth. No future."
Leo leaned forward, voice firmer now.
"So I began expanding. Zone 4 was our first target. The battle was hard. People died. But we won. We merged it into Zone 3. That was when I renamed it—Blood Camp."
At the mention of the name, Victor's eyes widened.
Leo noticed. "I take it you've heard of it."
Victor nodded slowly. "Yes. Even here, in China... there were whispers. Blood Camp. A powerful, rising zone. Ruthless efficiency. Strong leadership. I never made the connection, but... it all makes sense now. You're the one behind it."
Leo gave a half-smile. "Yes. I am. After Zone 4, we took Zone 5. Every time a new zone merged, the system would trigger a massive zombie-mutant attack. A test, maybe. We survived every time. Held the lines. Strengthened the camp."
He paused, tone shifting to something more thoughtful.
"But as time passed, I started questioning everything. The system, the powers, the changes. Where did it all come from? How did it start? Why our world? Was it always meant to be this way?"
"I realized... conquering zones wasn't enough anymore. I wanted answers. Real answers. That's why I left. To see the world. To understand this thing we're living in."
Victor looked genuinely impressed. "That's... deeper than I expected. Most people just want food, safety, maybe a little control. But you're thinking about the whole picture."
"Someone has to," Leo replied.
Victor leaned back, folding his arms. "So what did you find here? Any difference between your land and ours?"
Leo nodded. "Yes, quite a few. Back home, the zombies are in huge numbers. Mutant beasts exist, but not as dominant. Here, it feels different. Less zombies, more beasts."
"I think the world has been divided. Each major region, or quadrant, has different variables. Different mutations, different challenges. Like... different parts of an experiment."
Victor was quiet for a while, his mind working.
"That's... a scary thought. But it makes sense. The system might be testing us, shaping us differently based on where we live. I never thought of that."
Leo looked straight at him. "That's why I travel. To figure it all out. Before I decide what to do with my power, I want to understand what kind of world I'm trying to rule."
Victor smiled genuinely. "You know, at first, I thought I might have to guide you. Shape you. Maybe even control you. But now I see... you don't need guidance. You need space. You're a different kind of leader."
Leo nodded slightly. "And yet, partnership might still be worth exploring."
Victor raised a brow. "Indeed. Which brings me to one last thing. Let me ask you something, Leo."
"Go ahead."
Victor's tone turned serious, his eyes sharp.
"Do you know about the First Explosion?"
The room fell quiet again. The flames flickered gently in the lantern beside them.