"Race: Voidling | Subspecies: SgerExpected Potential: Hon of Choice: JawsKnown Weaknesses: ExistenceSgers appear everywhere. Their appearance might differ from po p, but no matter the Outbreak, they will be there. Widely reized as one of the weakest Voidling subspecies, Sgers were relegated to a unique H (Harmless) rank. No matter how much they try, Sgers do not pose any dao a survivor unless faced with hundreds of representatives of this species."~An older entry from Leo's Bestiary

  "There's nothin' to thank for, mate. A favor's a favor, and like I said, I'd do this anyway," Dyn shrugged. "However... there's just oail about this that I'm not too sure about."

  The smile slipped from Leo's face, brow furrowing. "What is it?"

  "How do we get back to you with whatever we find?" The older man asked, and it was a really good question.

  From here on out, their temporary partnership was over. The trio would go on to join the group, while Leo... Well, he didn't really know what was for him. All his pns depended on the survivors ihat Safe Zone.

  Nick's wife and child were all that remained of his family inside Wolford. If they weren't there, then Leo's ces of finding them, dead or alive, were probably as high as winning a lottery in the old world. Small Wolford might be, but there was no way for him to search the ey. And hell, even if he did, there was no guarantee he would find them. Void had already shown it had enough surprises prepared to prove that.

  Yeah, I o know what's happening ihis pce before I do anything else... This is my only remaining hope within Wolford.

  Sighing, Leo broke the silence. "Good point... I 't go with you. We've already established that... But it doesn't mean you 't e to me."

  In the background, Tyler tensed, and Laura g her cousin wly. Leo didn't care too much. At least not as long as the warrior kept his opinion to himself or for a time after they parted ways.

  "You want to wait here for us," Dyn noted, more than asked.

  Leo nodded. "That's the only way I think this work... For the five days, I'll be here waiting each m for at least an hour. And just in case, I'd like you to e even if you don't find anything. That way I'll know nothing stopped you from finding me."

  Five days was a lot of time, more than enough to discover if Ava and Adam were ihe Safe Zone. Moreover, Leo had no idea how the bigger group treated those they took in. For whatever abstract reason, they could stop them from leaving for a time. heless, he needed info from on the inside, so it was a risk he had to take.

  "And what if we don't e," Tyler finally joihe versation, his gaze hard as steel.

  Leo rolled his eyes. If the younger man thought he was intimidating, he had ahing ing. He had faced — ran away from — a Cursed Juggernaut. At this point, only the Nightmares could scare him... Well, them and the probably tless of different creatures hidden ihe Void.

  Not important now. Leo tilted his head, violet eyes peering at the warrior. "Then I'll take matters into my own hands. The hope of seeing my family again is what brought me this far. If I have to force my way into this Safe Zone for them, then so be it."

  The warrior narrowed his eyes, the hand holding the gun rising ever so slightly. "You would risk the only sa..."

  "Enough, Tyler!" Dyn hissed, gring at his panion. "Take Laura and wait by the exit. I'll join you in a moment." Yet Tyler didn't seem keen on moving. "I said go!"

  For a moment, it looked like the younger man would disobey and keep gring at Leo, as if it would ge anything. It took another nudge from Laura for Tyler to almost jump to his feet and leave with a snarl, the girl hot on his heels.

  "I'm sorr..." Dyn tried to apologize, only for Leo to raise his hand.

  "Don't bother. It doesn't matter," he ented. "And even if it did, it's not your apology to give. Tyler made it clear how he feels about me... I might not like it, but I uand that much, even if he is an annoying little shit."

  Dyn chuckled, but the sound was almost hollow. "You grow used to it... with time."

  Leed, standing up. "Maybe, maybe not. Like I said, it doesn't matter. Ihan an hour, you three will be safe among other people while I remain here."

  Dyn grimaced as he also rose to his feet. "That is, if they're friendly. I've seen enough movies and studied people long enough to imagine hoocalypse could affect those who've survived."

  Don’t get cold feet now, man. I’m well aware there is a ce those people will attack you on sight, but I need you to go. You three are my only way in for now. And I really don’t want to have to attack a Safe Zone…

  "They seemed alright from a distance," Leo quickly remarked, and the other man's eyebrows rose. "I saw a group of eight fight against those ants I told you about. Nothing to write home about, but I also didn't notiything really ing... Not that you find out a lot about a person without talking to them, but still..."

  Dyn nodded, mulling over Leo's words. "That makes me feel a bit better. Thanks, d." Once again, the maated for a moment, before diving in. "Listen, Leo, I know you don't want to hear it, but I really am sorry our little group didn't work out. The thihe Mirage was unfortunate, but..."

  As the man trailed off, Leo cut in before Dyn could say another word. "Yes, it was, but this alliaween us? It was never meant to work. You only accepted me because I could help Laura right away. There was rust between us. You might hide it the best, but you're still scared. I see it and feel it."

  "And Tyler?" Leo snorted. "He ried to hide his fear, not even before I evolved. That Mirage Ambush just gave him a reason to show it... As for Laura? She's a nice girl, but wherever Tyler goes, she follows... Family, I respect that."

  This simple truth had been hanging above them ever since Leo met the trio. Holy, it was nothing plicated. There wasn't much he could do against humanity's natural fear of the unknown. Those things required time, and a week just wasn't enough. It would never be...

  "I..." Dyn shook his head. "No, you're right… This was always doomed to fail... A damn shame if I say so, Leo. It would've been o have someone like you by our side."

  "Maybe iure," Leo chuckled. "For now, it's way too early for humans to fully accept what I've bee. Like you said, a shame, but that's the life we live now."

  And I've mostly accepted it. You guys just have to catch up.

  "Aye, that we do..." Dyn muttered, his shoulders sagging a bit.

  Alright, that's enough of this heavy shit. This was supposed to be a tense goodbye, not a heart-to-heart... Though — at least for now — I know I have a tentative ally in Dyn for the future. O of three. Not bad.

  Clearing his throat, Leo broke through whatever thought process was going on inside his head. "We should go. Don't want Tyler te in and gre at me again."

  Dyn chuckled lightly, "Aye, true that. Just one more thing." With that, the older man removed the gun with its harness from his waist and ha over to Leo. "Take it, d. You might not now, but it's better to have ohan not. I missed most of my shots anyway, so you 't be much worse than me."

  Lips quirking slightly at the remark, Leo nodded and took the harness. "Your loss," he ented, quickly throwing the thing inside his backpack.

  "I should focus more on my Essenyway, so I don't think so, d," Dyn noted. "Now, let's move out."

  Casting his gaze around the room, Leo's eyes fell on the remnants of a knocked-down wardrobe. "Go ahead. The path is pretty much clear. Just look out for any giant ants. I o wipe this shit off my body first," he pointed a cw at the remnants of green acid on his face.

  For a moment, it seemed like Dyn couldn't decide if Leo was serious, but then he nodded and approached the entrao the corridor. "In case I 't e back here for some reason, I just want to say that it leasure to meet you, Leo. I wish you lu finding your family."

  Throwing a piece of dirty cloth to the side, Leo called back. "Likewise, Dyn. Wish I could say the same about Tyler, but we both know that ain't gonna happen... Good luck, and until we meet again."

  "Until we meet again..." Dyn muttered, leaving the room.

  Sighing, Leo picked up aorn shirt. He should probably hurry up and ehe trio didn't get killed o straight. That would have been a plete waste of the st day.

  They didn't get killed. Hell, not even a single Voidling attacked the trio on their way to the Safe Zone. Leo might have noticed the almost plete ck of the usual Voidlings in the area before, but not to this degree.

  And while true that this pce had only a few buildings scattered around, it still should've been enough for normies to be present. So either the survivors from the Safe Zone mao pletely clear the area and keep it that way even with Voidlings wandering in. Or alternatively, the presence of the y affected this neighborhood enough for normal Voidlings to abandon this pce.

  Probably a bit of both. Leo mused, watg the area in front of the Safe Zone from the highest tree he could find. They should be ing ht about noooow...

  As if summohe trio stepped onto the rown street, their forms previously hidden by another house. Even from a distance, Leo could easily see their squared shoulders and tight grips upon their ons.

  As expected. I would be worried too if I were in their shoes...

  heless, the trio didn't slow down, and in almost the blink of ahey ehe free spa front of the Safe Zone — which recisely when the door to ReachHope Foundation's headquarters snapped open, and ten people rushed out, ons in hands, but still lowered.

  Leo's grip upon the branch below tightened, cws digging into the wood as the two groups met in the middle. No oacked, thankfully, and he prayed to whoever wao listen for it to stay that way.

  e on. Be bloody normal, and not some batshit insane fuckers...

  For once, Leo's prayers were answered as a single man from the bigger group stepped forward and shook hands with Dyn. Words were exged betweewo, hat he could hear, but going by the smiles on a few faces, it couldn't be anything terrible.

  Thank fuck. Leo sighed, slumping against the tree’s trunk.

  The now-joined group didn't stay out for much longer. If Leo wasn't wrong, then some short introdus were probably made before they all quickly returo the Safe Zone, disappearing behind its doors.

  And now the waiting game begins... Thank the Void that there's something arouhat eain me in the meantime…

  Throwing a final look at the Safe Zone, Leo muttered. "Good luck. Don't make me wait too long."

  Chaos65