The morning after unlocking Territory Expansion felt strangely calm, but Arata Kurozawa understood better than anyone that calmness inside a dead world usually meant one thing—something was waiting. The base had become more stable over the last few days. Barricades were reinforced, watch rotations improved, and supplies carefully organized under Miyu’s management. Compared to the desperate shelter they once hid inside, this place had slowly started becoming something closer to a real headquarters. But even then, Arata knew staying in one place forever would eventually kill them. Supplies would run out. Stronger infected would appear. And worst of all, other survivors would eventually notice them.

Which was exactly why Territory Expansion existed.

The system wasn’t made for hiding, It was made for growth.

Arata stood near the outer barricade early in the morning, staring toward the distant city skyline while cold wind moved through the empty streets below. Ruined buildings stretched endlessly beneath the gray sky, silent from a distance yet somehow still feeling alive. Somewhere out there, stronger infected were moving. Smarter enemies were evolving. And humans—Humans were changing too.

Footsteps approached from behind.

"...You’ve been standing here for almost twenty minutes," Kaede said quietly as she stopped beside him, her rifle resting against her shoulder.

Arata glanced at her briefly. "...Couldn’t sleep."

Kaede looked toward the city as well. "...Thinking about the entity?"

"Yes."

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Not awkward, Just calm.

Kaede was one of the few people who didn’t constantly fill silence with unnecessary words.

"...You made the right decision," she said after a while.

Arata looked at her, "Retreating."

His expression didn’t change much, but he answered honestly anyway. "...It still felt like losing."

Kaede’s eyes stayed forward. "...Sometimes surviving is the only way to win later."

Before Arata could respond, loud footsteps suddenly echoed from inside the base.

"ARATA!", Yuna’s voice, Loud as always.

A few seconds later she appeared carrying a metal pipe over one shoulder while complaining dramatically. "...Tell Miyu to stop giving me work," she said immediately. "I swear she enjoys watching me suffer."

Miyu appeared behind her almost instantly, arms crossed. "...You broke two storage shelves yesterday."

"They were weak."

"You kicked them."

"They were in my way."

Kaede sighed softly, Arata almost smiled, Almost.

Airi followed behind them carrying several small bags filled with supplies. "...I-I brought the medical kits," she said carefully before noticing everyone staring at her. "...What?"

Yuna immediately smirked. "...Nothing. You just look weirdly excited."

Airi frowned slightly. "...We’re going outside again. Of course I’m excited."

"Or maybe you’re excited because Arata’s going too?"

Airi froze instantly.

"...W-What does that even mean?!"

Yuna’s grin widened.

"Oh? So you admit it means something?"

"I DIDN’T SAY THAT!"

Kaede quietly turned away.

Miyu adjusted her glasses. "...Your volume levels are becoming problematic again."

Meanwhile Arata simply started walking.

"...We leave in ten minutes."

That immediately ended the argument.

Mostly.

The group moved through the city carefully under the gray morning sky, sticking to narrow streets and avoiding open intersections whenever possible. The atmosphere felt different compared to previous expeditions. The infected they encountered were fewer in number but far more alert. Some even seemed to react to sound faster than before.

Evolution.

The word stayed in Arata’s mind constantly now.

They eliminated smaller groups quietly while continuing deeper into the district. Along the way they passed abandoned convenience stores, overturned military vehicles, and entire apartment blocks left completely silent. Sometimes they found signs people had once survived there.

Small fires, Messages written on walls.Bloodstains, But no survivors.

Eventually Miyu slowed slightly while checking the system map displayed through her portable interface.

"...Target location ahead," she said.

Everyone looked up And saw it.

The building towered above the surrounding streets like a surviving fragment of the old world. Nearly fifteen floors high, the lower levels appeared commercial while the upper sections looked residential. Barricades blocked every visible entrance, reinforced with vehicles, metal sheets, and furniture. Some windows had sniper nests built into them while others were covered entirely.

Smoke rose from somewhere near the upper floors.

"...That’s a lot bigger than I expected," Airi whispered.

Yuna cracked her neck slightly. "...Good. Bigger places usually mean better supplies."

"Or more people," Reina added calmly.

That was the important part.

Because through several windows—They could see movement, Human movement.

The first armed guard noticed them before they reached the barricade completely.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Several figures immediately appeared behind cover with rifles raised. Unlike ordinary survivors, these people held their weapons properly. Their positioning was disciplined.

Soldiers, Or former soldiers.

Yuna looked completely unimpressed. "...Relax. If we wanted to attack, shouting wouldn’t help you."

"Yuna," Reina warned quietly.

"What? I’m being honest."

One soldier stepped forward cautiously, his rifle still aimed. He looked exhausted but experienced, probably mid-twenties with visible scars across one arm.

"...Identify yourselves," he ordered.

Arata answered calmly. "Traveling survivors."

The soldier’s eyes narrowed slightly while examining their equipment and posture.

"...You’re armed too well for ordinary survivors."

Yuna smirked immediately. "...And you’re smarter than most people we meet."

The tension remained for several seconds until another voice suddenly came from behind the barricade.

"Lower your weapons."

An older man approached slowly, wearing damaged military armor with captain markings barely still visible beneath scratches and dried blood. His hair had started turning gray, but his posture remained firm.

Authority, Real authority.His eyes carefully studied Arata first, Then the rest of the group.

"...Anyone surviving outside this long isn’t weak," he said calmly. "Open the gate."

The barricade slowly shifted aside.

As Arata’s group entered the building complex, the atmosphere changed immediately.

Noise, Voices, Arguments.

The inside was crowded far beyond what they expected. Survivors filled nearly every open hallway and room they could see. Families sat together beside makeshift bedding while armed civilians guarded certain corners aggressively. Some people looked relieved seeing new faces.

Others looked terrified, And some—Looked dangerous. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Children cried somewhere nearby while two men argued loudly over a box of canned food before soldiers separated them.

Airi’s expression tightened slightly as she looked around. "...There are so many people..."

"Too many," Kaede said quietly.

The older soldier extended one hand toward Arata.

"Captain Daichi Moriyama."

Arata shook it once.

"Arata."

Daichi glanced briefly at the others. "...You travel with an interesting group."

Yuna grinned. "...That’s one way to say it."

Daichi led them deeper into the building while explaining the situation. The tower had originally been an evacuation center during the early outbreak before eventually becoming one of the largest survivor shelters in the district. More people kept arriving over time.

Too many people, Too few resources, And every day became harder.

As they walked through the hallways, Arata silently observed everything.

Barricade placements, Guard rotations, Supply stations, Escape routes, Weak points.

He noticed small survivor groups occupying certain areas almost like gangs controlling territory inside the building. Some civilians carried weapons openly while others avoided eye contact completely.

Fear existed everywhere here.Not fear of zombies, Fear of each other.

"...We maintain order as best we can," Daichi said while leading them upstairs. "But desperation changes people."

Almost immediately, loud shouting echoed nearby.

"THAT FOOD BELONGS TO OUR FLOOR!"

"YOU ALREADY TOOK EXTRA YESTERDAY!"

A fight nearly started between two survivor groups before armed soldiers stepped in again.

Yuna watched everything carefully.

Then quietly muttered, "...This place feels ready to explode."

Daichi heard her, And didn’t disagree, Because deep down—He knew she was right.