The Unexpected Encounter changed the plot
The tension of survival lingered in the air as Aeon regrouped with Aria, Luna, Ali, Nadia, and Layla outside the survivor building. Their professor and his assistant had chosen to remain behind, trusting Aeon's lead and awaiting their return.
"We need to go somewhere," Aeon said simply.
The group glanced between one another. Was it his family he wanted to see? Perhaps some secret past?
"The blacksmith," Aeon added.
The moment hung still. Aria blinked. "A blacksmith…?"
"For weapons," Aeon clarified, dismissing their speculation with one sharp word.
Aeon nodded.
"It's essential. Weapons are low. We need equipment that doesn't jam, doesn't run on batteries, and won't betray us in a fight, but because all weapons are going to get worn out, then it is better to just go to a blacksmith."
Aria frowned slightly, unsure if she felt impressed or annoyed. "I thought you'd say something emotional," she muttered.
Layla chuckled, brushing past her. "Even now, your brain follows the rails of logic like a train," she said, eyeing Aeon. "But yours is faster than the rest. That's what's curious."
"Curious?" Aria's voice sharpened.
Aria, seated next to him, furrowed her brows. Her eyes drifted toward Layla, who walked just ahead of them. A bitter knot tugged at Aria's chest—something about the regressor's calm indifference sparked an uncomfortable jealousy. Layla, meanwhile, watched her sidelong with faint amusement.
Cute docile rabbit, baring her fangs, Layla mused. She thinks she can challenge me for him?
But for Layla, Aeon was not a romantic interest. He was an anomaly—his insights and foresight even outpaced hers. That alone piqued her curiosity.
They found a useable car with its side door open and key inside abandoned not far from the safe zone. A six-seater. Luna, as the oldest and the only licensed driver, naturally took the wheel.
"You have a license?" Aeon raised a brow.
"I'm the oldest. Of course I do."
"You're seriously driving?" Ali laughed, disbelief mixing with a grin. "The world's falling apart and you're still following traffic rules?"
"Habit," Luna shrugged with a smirk.
"In a world run by zombies," Aria muttered, "we still follow traffic laws."
Layla claimed the front passenger seat. Aria marched up, arms crossed. "Why do you get the front?"
Layla tilted her head. "Want to sit on my lap, cute rabbit? Or should I sit beside Aeon instead?"
Aria blushed crimson and stomped to the back without a word.
Layla gave her a glance, amused. "Don't worry, little rabbit. I'm not interested in your boy. I'm just intrigued by how he thinks."
Aria's cheeks flushed red. "W-Why call me a rabbit?!"
Nadia smirked. "Because you're cute when you're mad."
Aeon, Aria, Nadia, and Ali crammed in together. Between bumps and curves during their driving journey, their bodies pressed into one another.
The car rolled forward, Luna expertly weaving through debris and weaving past slow-moving corpses.
Occasionally, during sharp turns, the passengers in the back were forced against one another. Once, Aria found herself briefly pressed against Aeon's chest.
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. "I—Sorry—!"
"You okay?" Aeon asked, casual and composed.
Aria nodded quickly, face buried in his shirt. "Y-Yeah... just the road…"
"Get a private room, you two," Ali said with a smirk.
Nadia snickered. "Seriously. Save us the secondhand embarrassment."
From the front, Luna stole glances in the rearview mirror. Her eyes lingered on Aeon and Aria longer than she intended—until Layla suddenly leaned forward and pointed.
"Eyes on the road," she said. "Obstacle ahead."
A second later, Luna hit the brakes—hard.
The car screeched. A sharp break jolted them. Aria, flung forward, nearly kissed Aeon—but his palm caught her mouth a split-second before impact.
"Damn reflexes," Aria thought to herself.
"What happened?" Nadia asked.
But it was Layla who answered coolly. "A girl suddenly..."
Indeed, a wounded girl, their age, stood trembling on the road, zombies rapidly closing in behind her.
Layla unsheathed her blade without hesitation and cut through the infected. But when the girl staggered, pleading, Layla turned her back coldly.
Aeon frowned, He went past Layla and checked on the girl then he said, "we will help you just to a safe spot"
Layla gave him a disgusted look. "Why? Because she's a girl? Trying to build your own harem now?"
The accusation hit hard. Aria's fists clenched.
"He's not like that," she shouted. "Aeon's not a monster like you!"
Layla's eyes narrowed. "Monster, huh? To fight monsters… you must become one."
Ali and Luna tried to cool the mood.
"Wait," Luna said. "Let us calm down first and think clearly"
"She's a burden," Layla said flatly. "Slow, useless. Unless you want to collect girls to build your own harem, Aeon."
Her tone was cutting, eyes cold. "I am disappointed... I thought you realised that we cannot save everyone"
Aria's face twisted in anger.
Ali, Luna and Nadia tried to break the tension. "What if it's a trap?" Nadia whispered. "Maybe she has backup—criminals or a gang?"
"No," Aeon said, eyes steady. "If that were true, Layla would've finished her off instead of just leaving her be. Right?"
Layla clicked her tongue but said nothing, walking back to the car as she already scanned their surroundings the moment she exited the car.
"Sharp as always," Luna muttered under her breath.
They crammed tighter now—five in the back. Aeon tried to take the back trunk, but the others insisted they just squeeze in. Amid laughter and awkward shifting, the car rolled on.
Aeon turned to the girl. "We'll drop you somewhere safe. But first we have a goal to reach."
Coincidentally, the girl said she was headed the same way.
The ride resumed. Eventually, they arrived at what looked like a large library.
"Thank you," the girl said and started walking off—only to freeze when she saw the group continuing behind her.
"Wait… are you following me? Look, I'm grateful and all, but we're not rich or anything. You won't get anything from us—"
Aeon passed by her without a word.
"We're not," Aria said. "This is where Aeon wanted to go."
The girl blinked. "This place… is my home."
Aeon's eyes narrowed. What are the odds? Unless… could she be another player with knowledge of the game? But that's impossible. I made this VR game. No one else should know.
As they entered, the girl moved like she knew every corner. She even fetched them water from a kitchen tucked inside.
She's not lying, Aeon thought. But… could she be the blacksmith?
His gaze slid toward her slender frame. The girl noticed and flushed red. Aria frowned. Nadia smirked.
"Three-part timer, Aeon?" she teased.
But inside, his mind was racing.
This place... it's the same as in the VR game. Hidden beneath this library was the blacksmith's workshop. But I was the one who made that unreleased VR game. No one else should know. Unless... she's a hacker.
He glanced at her again. She looked nervous, but not hostile. Just confused and blushing shyly.
Could she be another player? Or... a variable I didn't account for?
As they entered, the girl walked beside him.
Could he be my secret admirer? she thought. Someone who never had the courage to tell me… now chasing me to my home before the end of the world?
Her cheeks flushed. Nadia noticed.
"Someone's blushing," she whispered to Aria.
Aria looked at the girl with narrowed eyes.
"She's annoying," Aria muttered.
Aeon ignored the side drama. The library was laid out exactly like in his game. "I'm looking for a blacksmith." Aeon asked
The girl's smile faded. "There's no blacksmith living here."
Liar—or something more? Aeon asked, "Mind if I look around?"
"Go ahead…"
Aeon headed straight for a shelf number 23 in the library—his eyes on one specific book that feels clearly distinct & unique than other books. As his fingers reached out, the girl's voice screamed:
"STOOOP!"
Everyone froze.
"You… how do you know about that book?" she shouted, trembling now. "Then you must know about the underground too…?"
She raised a handgun toward Aeon. Her voice shook. "Please... Leave. Now."
The group tensed. Aria reached for her dagger. Nadia moved subtly behind the girl. They were ready to act to protect Aeon at all costs.
But Aeon raised his hands. "I know about your father," he said calmly. "And the gangs that used him to build weapons. I'm not one of them."
The girl's eyes widened. Panic. Horror. Suspicion.
Layla yawned.
She stepped past everyone and, with zero hesitation, touched the book. A mechanical click echoed as the hidden door opened.
"Wait—!" the girl lunged at Layla, but Layla caught her arm mid-swing, disarmed her, and held her in place with bored ease.
The girl's rage melted into disbelief.
He knew about the underground… he even knew about the book… Who is this Aeon?