Ch. 3: Training Unit

The Containment Zone ZE was a city within a city—fortified remnants of once-functional districts, now retrofitted into survival zones. Carolin led Leo through winding streets framed with makeshift barricades, re-purposed vehicles, and towering metal walls coated in rust and warning signs.

People moved with urgency, all wearing uniforms or armor, some hauling supplies, others welding broken panels or analyzing data on cracked tablets. The air smelled of oil, ozone, and smoke—a stark contrast to the silence of the ruins outside.

“This is where we live, fight, and survive,” Carolin said curtly as she walked ahead. “Try not to get in anyone’s way.”

Leo kept pace, watching everything with wide, cautious eyes. “You’ve built all this… just to keep the robots out?”

Carolin nodded. “We don’t have much of a choice. This is how we survive. And this is not the only place like this, there are many around the city.”

“How long ago was it, that this was built…?” Leo asked. “This looks like it may have taken very long.”

Carolin looks at him says, “now it's been over 200 years since it was built, that's what people say… I don't actually know the accurate date or anything.”

“200 years… which means these robots were attacking for more than 200 years ago. And the war must have happened way long before… If this catastrophe didn't had happened I wonder how much the technology would have evolved here…” Leo thought to himself as he continued walking.

They passed a row of watchtowers, their spotlights scanning the shattered skyline. As they approached the food depot, Carolin glanced at Leo and asked, “So… how was the interrogation?”

Leo hesitated but gave the same answer. “I told them the truth. I died saving a girl, and then I woke up here. Even though they thought I was making it up and lying but that's the truth.”

Carolin raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that fell somewhere between disbelief and pity. “Right. Reincarnated. From another world. Yep! How can anyone believe that.”

“I know people won't believe that but It’s not a lie, trust me that's how I remember it happening.” Leo repeated, more firmly this time.

She didn’t respond—just gave a quiet scoff and kept walking.

After a pause, Leo asked, “Why is everything out there… in ruins? Why are these robots even attacking us? Do you know how all this happened.”

Carolin stopped for a moment, turning to face him. “The common theory is that the robots were created for war centuries ago, before anyone here was born. And all these robots were created by a single company that supplied every country. Even for war against each other. There were many wars. But why this robots started ignoring human command or when they changed no one knows. As the people who made them? They're long gone.”

Leo listened intently.

“But the robots didn’t stop. Even after the war ended, they kept killing anything human. It's like they wanted freedom from humans or wanted revenge on from us. They learned, evolved. Started building more of themselves. Without us.”

Leo frowned. “So they don’t need humans at all anymore.”

“Exactly,” she replied. “They’ve become their own force. A machine civilization with one purpose—eradicate us. We’ve been trying to shut them down for generations. No one’s succeeded.”

The weight of her words sank in.

Carolin looked at him. “So… if you really did come from another world, what was it like? Better? Worse?”

Leo smiled faintly. “It was… different. We had cities, sure. But also mountains, forests, jungles, deserts, oceans, so many places. All kinds of beauty. You could spend a lifetime exploring it.”

Carolin blinked. “Forests? Jungles? What are those?”

Leo nodded. “Endless trees. Rain pouring through leaves. Birds chirping. It was alive.”

She looked away. “I can’t even imagine that. I’ve never seen anything but this city. My whole life has been here. Steel and rubble.”

Leo added, “And our robots… they weren’t like these. Most couldn’t even walk properly. Some rolled on wheels. A few had legs, but they were clumsy. Yours—these ones—run, leap, fight. Some of them move like trained soldiers.”

Carolin was silent for a moment. “Yeah. Ours evolved… while yours stayed harmless.”

They reached a metal stairwell that led to a bunker-like dormitory.

“This is your room,” she said. “Don’t cause trouble.”

Leo nodded. “Thanks… Carolin.”

She grunted in response and walked away without looking back.

Inside, the room was basic—just a metal-framed bed, a table, and a dim overhead light. But it was safe, and for now, that was enough.

Leo collapsed onto the bed. The weight of the day pressed down on him—his death, his awakening, this strange new world.

Sleep came fast.

But it wasn’t dreamless.

In the quiet depths of his mind, a strange vision unfolded. He saw a vast laboratory, filled with white-cloaked scientists moving urgently between consoles. Holographic projections flickered across transparent screens. Somewhere in the background, a deep alarm was flashing red.

And among them stood a girl.

She had long, radiant pink hair—so vibrant it stood out even in the dim, sterile lab. Her face was blurred, her features lost in the haze of dream logic. But something about her felt… familiar.

(Important. Leo reached toward the vision, but it shimmered like a memory slipping through fingers. He couldn’t tell what the scientists were doing, or why the girl mattered. The entire scene was distorted, as if viewed through fogged glass.)

Then darkness returned.

And the only thing that remained was a question: Who was she?

The pale morning light filtered in through the steel shutters, casting cold stripes across the room. Leo stirred awake, rubbing his eyes and stretching his limbs. He sat up, blinking away the remnants of the strange dream from the night before.

And there she was—Carolin—leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a stern look etched across her face.

Leo blinked, startled. “What are you doing here?”

Carolin didn’t move. “You’re awake. Good. Get dressed.”

Leo furrowed his brows. “For what?”

“From today onward, you’re training to become a soldier.”

Leo stared at her, confused. “Wait, what? Why? I never agreed to—”

“That’s the rule if you want to stay here,” she said flatly. “No freeloaders.”

He scratched his head. “But… I’m not strong. I don’t know how to fight.”

Carolin’s expression remained unreadable. “You don’t need to be strong. You’ll be using guns to fight the robots. Your body’s not the weapon—your aim is.”

He hesitated, then sighed. He had no other options. “Fine… so I have no choice.”

Carolin gave a small nod. “You’ll be under my unit. Training starts in an hour. Get freshed and come to the training ground.”

To be continued…