Chapter 23: A Bitter Understanding

November 21, 2058 – Early Morning

The sky above Omega Zone was pitch black, not a single star shining. Aegis Squad moved slowly along the rocky path, leaving behind the Zenith Complex, which had now become a nest for mutated zombies. Their steps were heavy, burdened by exhaustion and minds still reeling from what they had just experienced.

Elis broke the silence. "So, they never helped anyone they met?"

Hart, walking beside her, shrugged. "That's what Leoric said. They choose who's worth surviving. I still don't agree with the way they do things, but… maybe I'm starting to understand the reason."

Pan Colman, leading in front, stopped and turned. "You're starting to understand, Hart?" he asked skeptically.

Hart sighed deeply. "Yeah. Listen to me first. If Leoric had saved just anyone before, those people might not have helped us like we did last night." He looked at Pan seriously. "You know how hard it is to survive in this world. People who can't be relied upon will only slow us down, or worse, betray us."

Elis looked uneasy. "But… that means they let people die. Isn't that cruel?"

Pan approached Elis, placing his hand on her shoulder. "This world is cruel, Elis. But you have to understand that surviving often requires hard choices. You saw it for yourself earlier. If Leoric hadn't prioritized the weapons and equipment in that facility, we might all be dead there with those zombies."

Elis fell silent, reflecting on Pan's words. She remembered when the mutated zombie first attacked them at the Zenith Complex. How difficult it was to fight that creature, even with the best weapons. If it hadn't been for Leoric and his team, maybe none of Aegis Squad would have made it out alive.

A Conversation That Opens Minds

When they stopped by the roadside to rest, Leoric and Mira approached them. Leoric's face remained stern, though his eyes showed signs of exhaustion.

"I know you're still angry with me," Leoric said bluntly. "But I want you to know I don't regret the decisions we've made."

Hart nodded. "I won't say I completely agree. But I understand why you did it."

Mira looked at Hart with mild surprise. "You understand?"

"Yeah," Hart replied. "If you saved anyone before, they might not have helped us when we were stuck in the Zenith Complex. They might have even run away and left us all behind."

Leoric gave a slight smile. "Finally, someone here gets it. The world has changed. We used to be able to help anyone who needed it. Now, we have to choose who we can trust. If we don't, we'll all die."

Pan, who had been listening to the conversation, finally spoke up. "I don't like the way you do things. But I can't deny that if you hadn't shown up at the right time, none of us would have survived."

Leoric nodded. "And I'm sure you know how dangerous that facility was. The first mutated zombie we saw wasn't the end of the threat. There's worse out there."

Elis, who had been quiet until then, finally spoke. "But doesn't that mean we can't trust anyone anymore? If everyone thought like you, this world would have no hope."

Leoric looked at Elis seriously. "You're right. This world has no hope, unless we make it. That's why I choose who I can rely on. We can't save everyone, Elis. But we can save enough people to make a difference."

A New Agreement

After the long discussion, the atmosphere between Aegis Squad and Leoric's group became somewhat calmer. They continued their journey together for a while, following the path that would lead them to a safer place.

However, Pan remained cautious. He knew that even though they were cooperating now, there was no guarantee that Leoric and his team wouldn't try something later. "We don't need to fully trust each other," Pan thought, "but we have to make sure we all stay alive."

They stopped at an old, seemingly empty building to spend the night. As the campfire was lit and the atmosphere became a bit more comfortable, Pan approached Leoric.

"I want to know one thing," Pan said. "What will you do after this?"

Leoric stared at the campfire with empty eyes. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "But I know one thing: I won't stop looking for ways to survive. And I'm sure you won't either."

Pan nodded slowly and then walked back to his spot. He looked at his team members one by one, feeling a little more understanding of why Leoric and his team acted the way they did. In this shattered world, everyone had to make choices. And those choices were often not easy.

But one thing Pan knew for sure: they had to keep moving forward, no matter what.