The morning light filtered through the windows of the residential complex, casting lines of shadow across the ground floor.
The survivors gathered in tense silence, their faces lined with weariness and unspoken worries.
The usual chatter and murmurs that accompanied the previous two etings were absent, replaced by a sense of foreboding that hung in the air like a storm about to break.
Leo stood at the front, his arms crossed, his gaze scanning the room.
Ves stood by his side, her posture rigid, her sharp eyes darting toward Ryan every few monts. The confrontation from the previous day still lingered in her mind.
She hadn't told Leo yet, but her instincts scread that today was the day Ryan would make his move. It told that the storm was about to break.
Ryan stood near the back, his usual faint smirk in place, his eyes calculating. He saw that the seeds of doubt he had planted were ready to sprout, and he was equally ready to boost their growth and harvest their produce.
"Alright," Leo began, his voice steady. "We've made good progress clearing nearby buildings, but there's still more to do. Today, we—"
A low murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Split into teams again?" soone muttered, loud enough for others to hear. "More like split up to get killed."
Leo paused, his gaze narrowing as he scanned the crowd. It wasn't the first ti he'd heard whispers of discontent as they always complained during the lady two etings. But today, they were louder, more brazen.
"Leo's right," Ves interjected, her sharp voice cutting through the room.
"We've survived because we've been proactive. Sitting around waiting for monsters to co to us isn't an option."
Carlos, stepped forward with a hard expression on his face.
"We've followed you into danger ti and ti again. And what's it gotten us? Injuries? Near-death experiences? Maybe it's ti for a change."
A few heads nodded in agreent.
"It's not about luck," Leo replied, keeping his tone calm with a sowhat intrigued smile on his face. "It's about preparation."
"Preparation?" Jian scoffed as he waved his katana.
"We've been walking into ambushes. You keep sending us into danger, and we're the ones paying the price."
The murmurs grew louder, spreading through the group like wildfire.
"I heard soone got seriously injured yesterday," another voice added. "Why are we still following this kid? He's reckless."
Ves clenched her fists at her sides, her jaw tightening. The seeds of doubt had taken root.
She scanned the crowd, her gaze locking briefly with Mia's, who stood near the back, looking slightly confused at the situation unfolding.
Before Leo could respond, Ryan stepped forward, with a calm expression on his face.
It was like everything happening wasn't related to him in any way and he doesn't want a part of it.
"I have a suggestion," he said with a calm and sharp voice that cut through the room like a knife.
Leo's gaze flicked to him, unreadable.
"Go ahead."
"There's an area to the west," Ryan said. "It's been untouched since the Awakening. I believe we could find so valuable supplies there. Maybe so dical geat or even weapons."
Ves's jaw clenched. She recognized Ryan's tactic imdiately. It was the sa ploy he'd used before to lure survivors into danger.
Leo nodded slowly. "Alright. You take a team and check it out."
Ryan's smirk widened slightly. But before he could respond, a voice rose from the crowd.
"Why does he get to decide? Why do we keep following his orders?"
With this word, imdiately the tension in the room thickened.
"Because he gave you idiots a place to stay and kept you bunch of fools safe," Ves snapped.
"And he also led us into danger," Jian shot back. "We've been lucky, but luck runs out."
Miguel, standing near the back, took a step forward, his expression disbelieving.
"Jian? Carlos? Are you serious? After everything we've been through?"
Carlos t Miguel's gaze, his expression unyielding.
"We're thinking about survival, Miguel. That's what matters."
Ryan seeing that the mont was right, decided to seize it. He coughed lightly, clearing his throat and stopping the chaos that was about to erupt.
He looked Leo and Ves with a smile on his face, and said with a calm and soothing voice:
"Carlos is right. This isn't about loyalty or friendship. It's about survival. We need to think about what's best for the group. Leo's done his best. That, we all can agree on but… maybe it's ti we think about what's best for the group."
Leo's eyes narrowed, his gaze never leaving Ryan.
"And what exactly are you suggesting?"
Ryan stepped forward, his posture calm but commanding.
"I'm suggesting we let the group decide who they want to follow."
Ves took a step forward, her fists clenched. "This isn't a democracy. Leo has led us through hell. He's kept us alive."
"And yet again, he's led us into danger," Jian added, stepping up beside Carlos. "We've been lucky, but luck runs out."
Miguel's eyes widened, disbelief etched across his face. "Jian? Carlos? Are you serious?"
Carlos t Miguel's gaze, his expression hard. "We have to think about survival, Miguel. Ryan's right. We need soone who can keep us safe."
Ves's heart pounded in her chest. The lines were being drawn.
On one side stood Ryan, Carlos, Jian, and the whole of Grewishka's group. Their expressions were cold, their resolve clear.
On the other side stood Leo, Ves, Miguel, Mia, and a handful of others. Ves could see the shock and confusion in their eyes, but she knew that their reaction won't change anything.
"Can't you all see that Ryan's been manipulating you," Ves said, her voice sharp. "Every step of the way. Can't you see that?"
Carlos shook his head. "What I see is a leader who will do anything to keep us safe."
Miguel took a step forward, his gaze locked on Carlos.
"And what about loyalty? We've fought together. Survived together. How can you turn your back on that?"
Carlos's expression flickered, but he quickly steeled himself.
"Like I said before, it's not about loyalty. It's about survival."
Ryan's smirk returned, his gaze locking on Leo.
"So, what's it going to be, Leo? Are you going to let the group decide? Or are you going to cling to your little throne?"
Leo gave a small amused smile when he heard Ryan's question. He was very amused by the current developnt of things.
Ves stepped closer to him, her voice low but firm.
"Don't give in. This is exactly what he wants."
"I know," Leo replied casually, his gaze never wavering from Ryan and his thoughts unknown.
The next mont, Leo burst into and hearty laughter, causing Ryan's smirk to falter slightly.
"Do you trust soone who's been hiding in the shadows, planting seeds of doubt?" Leo said with a smile laugh, as he continued. "Soone who's led you into danger ti and ti again?"
"Honestly, all of you are bunch of stupids. Imagine soone giving you all ungrateful imbeciles a place to rest your worthless heads and you want to turn on him? Wonderful. Just wonderful. I'm very impressed," Leo said, with a very sinister smile on his facethat radiated coldness tat filled the room imdiately.
The room imdiately fell silent.
"For those who want to leave, you can leave now," Leo said. "But know this—you won't find safety with Ryan. You'll find manipulation and betrayal."
The silence stretched, heavy and tense.
"Now, Ryan, why don't we settle this the old fashion way?" Leo asked with a smile as he slowly walked towards Ryan, with soft, light steps.
Ryan's smirk faltered, face hardened and his mind started racing when he saw Leo's actions. He felt that things were about to go south.
He hadn't expected Leo to be so calm, so confident. The boy had always seed reserved, cautious. But now… there was sothing dangerous in his gaze.
It was sothing that Ryan hadn't accounted for. But he couldn't back down. Not now. If he did, the group would see him as weak.
"How do you propose we do this?" He asked, throwing the question back to Leo.
Leo smiled at this but he didn't mind. He stood in front of Ryan and stared at him directly in the eyes. Even though Ryan was physically older than Leo, Leo was taller than him and looks even more physically fit than him, all thanks to his crazy leveling speed.
"Ryan, why don't we do this with a good old duel? We fight to prove our point. Rember what you said? It should naturally belong to those who can keep it. Or am I wrong?" Leo asked with sweet not so sweet smile on his face.
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