"Lead the way then," Leo said after a moment. "But just so you know, if you and your people try anything, I'm out. And you won't like the way I leave."

The Abyss Walker just chuckled. "You don't need to threaten me. If I wanted to kill you, I would have organized an ambush away from our base. Me agreeing to meet you here is a show of trust. Besides, you will see what I mean in a moment. Come."

With that said, Malcolm turned on his heel and headed toward the hole in the cave-in. Leo, with Nyx trailing behind him, followed, his vision changing back to normal once they got past the door.

Woah. He held back a gasp, his gaze drinking in the sights. He had expected a lot, but definitely not this. It's like a whole underground community. They even dug out more tunnels in the walls to have more space... nice.

While not that long ago, this place was just a tunnel for the London metro, now it had become a hub for survivors of all kinds. Ascended and Fallen Humans were the first he spotted, though they were far from the only evolutions here. He also noticed some Risen Humans and quite a few people who hadn't evolved yet. He was sure there was more, but with the crowd gathering around them, it was hard to Identify everyone.

This is getting more and more interesting. Leo commented as he stopped paying attention to the survivors and focused on the tunnel's interior.

For one, the entire place was illuminated by hanging lamps not much different from the Ether torches he had encountered before. Another thing was the few workstations they had passed. Some had weapons lying on them, others electronics or clothing. However, the most surprising among them all was the very primitive forge sitting in a dug-out corner.

And all of this without an active safe zone. Why?

With that thought in his mind, Leo sped up a bit, stepping next to Malcolm while doing his best to ignore the dozens of curious eyes watching them.

"Fancy place you got here," he noted, getting the other man's attention. "Fallen, Risen, Ascended... Not to mention those who haven't evolved yet."

Malcolm snorted. "We're not like those light bastards. Everybody is free to choose their own path here. Even those who don't want to go out there and fight." He shrugged. "Not everyone is cut out to be a fighter. As long as they get to level five and unlock a job, they can stay."

Leo disagreed but didn't voice his opinion. Staying weak in this world was just delaying the inevitable. However, he also couldn't fault them for not wanting to fight. In comparison to Wolford, London was at least twice as dangerous. Voidlings here must have grown much faster than in his hometown.

So, in the end, he just nodded, leaving those thoughts for a later date. "So why don't you get a Safe Zone? This place seems nice, but it's far from safe. Hell, you're almost next to the Supercluster."

Malcolm grimaced, his expression turning sour. "Trust me, I wish we could get another one. It's just impossible as we are now. But this right here? Until something changes, this is the best we can get."

"Another?" Leo frowned, uncaring of the people listening to their conversation. "You lost a Safe Zone? How?"

The Abyss Walker chuckled hollowly. "Isn't it bloody obvious? Those fucking Emissaries. Before we could even settle properly, they descended upon us like the dogs they are. Between their sheer numbers and light affinity, we never stood a chance." He shook his head. "The people you see here? That's barely half of what we were before the attack."

"They killed them? Just like that? When did it happen?" He asked, feeling his bloodlust boiling underneath his skin. He knew the Emissaries were mad, but to this degree? To attack another group of survivors?

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Thankfully, Malcolm shook his head. "Just three days after the second Cataclysm, and not exactly. Only those who chose the path of the Void were put under the sword. Others were given a choice of joining them, which they obviously did. Nobody wants to die."

Shit! Leo cursed, his mind going a hundred miles per hour. "But why? I get hating anything to do with the Void, but that was just about six days after the Outbreak. What could possibly happen to change an entire group like this? It doesn’t make sense. I've met other survivors, and none were like this."

Well, aside from the woman in the beginning and Tyler. Though, I doubt even they would go as far as to attack another group just because they didn't stay pure.

"They don't just hate the Void, mate. They despise it and anyone who even tries to associate with it," the other man sighed, pausing in front of a closed door. "I could try explaining why, but honestly? I'm not the best person to do that. My co-leader will do it much better. Just please, don't attack her. Unlike most of us, she couldn't choose what she became."

Leo frowned. The man had seen who he was talking to. There was no reason to worry as long as no one attacked him first. "Sure, I will hold my judgment for now."

The Abyss Walker nodded and turned to open the door. The moment they stepped through, a female voice called out from within. "You sure took your time, Malcolm," she said. "At least you have brought our new friends with you. It's nice to meet ya, the name's..."

However, Leo, who had frozen when his eyes fell on the woman, didn't let her finish. "Lily..." he muttered, silencing the entire room. "It's you... You're alive..."

Even though the woman before him gained a somewhat elvish appearance. Even though she now possessed one dark leathery wing and another one full of white angelic feathers. And even though her entire left arm became almost the exact copy of his own, he could never mistake his only sister for someone else.

"Do I... do I know you?" She asked hesitantly, retracing the arm she offered for a handshake. "I'm sorry, but..."

Leo gulped, knowing well he should have expected such a reaction. Unlike his sister, no part of him remained the same. He just hoped she would accept the new him.

"Ah shit... I mean, I know I don’t look and sound anything like I did before the Outbreak," he offered the woman a weak smile. "But yes, you do know me... sister. It took me a bit, but I'm here now. Sorry for being late."

If before his words brought on complete silence, now they would be able to even hear the pin drop. Lily stood frozen, her eyes open wide, while Malcolm wasn't doing much better on the side.

"L-Leo?" His sister stuttered out before shaking her head. "No, no, no. This can't be you. You are dead, I know that. I have seen it. Who are you?! Speak now!"

Leo backed off like struck. What the hell did she mean she had seen him being dead? How? When?

No, it doesn't matter now. I have to fix this before she does something we will all regret. He grimaced and took a deep breath. "A few hours before the Outbreak, you called me. We talked about your tournament, about celebrating with Nick, and about my meeting with Edward. Remember what you have told me back then? That you wish I tried a bit harder, that I should at least try and stop pushing him away."

This time, it was Lily who took a step back, her eyes opening even wider. "B-but..."

"When I first came to live with your family, you never gave up on me," Leo continued, ignoring whatever she tried to say. "No matter how angsty I was, no matter how hard I tried to push you away, you were always there. Please, don't leave me now."

The winged woman gulped. "Is it really... really you, Leo? I can't do this again..."

Slowly, he approached his shaken sister and laid a hand upon her shoulder. She flinched at first, but then she raised her head to look him right in the eyes.

"Even if the System insists on showing Leonardo Brown as my name in the status, I'm still your brother. Nothing will ever change that. Whatever you saw, it was a lie. I'm alive and not going anywhere now that I have found you," he swore, and with this, the dam broke.

At once, Lily rushed forward and buried her head full of black hair in his chest. Her silent sobbing followed right after, and he quickly returned the embrace, hugging her as if she were to disappear in a minute.

'Leo, we will wait outside. Take your time... I'm happy for you,' Nyx spoke softly in his mind, and a moment later, the click of the door reached his ears.

Thank you. He replied just as their link closed. He then returned his gaze to his sister, a soft smile spreading over his monstrous face. I don't know how this is possible, but this time, I won't waste this chance. I will destroy everything that tries to take you away. Voidlings, survivors, the Old Ones, or even the Void itself. I'm done playing around...