Chapter 187: Journey Continues

Leo shut the door, tuning out the noise of the convoy members organizing the camp outside. The vehicles sat in a rough defensive ring, with the larger transports shielding the smaller ones in the center. It wasn’t a perfect barrier, but it was enough to stall anything creeping out of the dark.

Leo had followed the same pattern, guiding his truck, Storm, into a spot beside the heavy rigs.

With the perimeter secure, tents went up. Survivors broke off into groups to gather firewood, and others began preparing dinner. Soon, a large bonfire crackled in the center of the camp, casting a warm orange glow over the dirt. The rich scent of roasting food drifted on the breeze. People clustered around the flames to talk and laugh, while a few children chased each other nearby. For the first time since leaving Rendell City, a sense of peace settled over the convoy.

Leo watched the gathering through Storm’s window. He had time to kill. The Mad Alchemist’s Working Table hummed in the background, busy with an experiment that needed a full twenty-four hours to finish. There was no reason to disturb it.

He took a seat on his bed, crossing his legs. With the evening stretching out ahead of him, he shifted his focus to his training. He shut his eyes. His breathing deepened, falling into a steady rhythm. Energy stirred within him. Drawing on the techniques taught by the Astral Master in the Void dimension, he guided the flow through his veins.

Minutes bled into an hour. Leo sat motionless, his mind sharpening into a single point of focus. The chatter outside faded. The sounds of playing children and clinking plates vanished from his awareness as he pushed deeper into his meditation.

Night settled heavy over the wasteland, leaving the bonfire as the lone beacon in the camp. Inside his truck, Leo breathed in a quiet, unbroken rhythm, entirely lost in the flow of energy.

Then—

Knock. Knock.

The sharp rap against the metal hull broke his concentration.

Leo opened his eyes and reined in his energy. He paused, listening.

Knock. Knock.

Someone waited on the other side.

Uncrossing his legs, he slipped off the bed and pulled the door open. Jenny stood on the dirt, offering a warm smile.

"Hello, Mr. Leo. We’re preparing dinner soon. If you want us to cook something for you, you’ll need to provide the ingredients. That’s the rule."

Leo nodded. "Thanks, but I prefer cooking for myself. If I need anything, I’ll let you know."

Jenny nodded. "Alright."

She turned and took a step away.

"Wait."

Jenny paused. Leo turned back inside, returning a moment later with a heavy container.

"There are some ingredients and food inside. Prepare them and give them to the other members of the convoy. Tell them it’s a gift from me for welcoming me into the convoy."

Jenny stared at the container, her eyes widening. "Mr. Leo, you don’t have to—"

Before she could finish, Leo pressed a bottle of wine into her hands.

"And this is for you. Thanks for your hard work."

Jenny stared at the glass. Refusal formed on her lips, but Leo shut the door before she could speak.

Alone in the dark, she looked down at the bottle and smiled. Shaking her head, she lugged the container toward the fire.

Back inside, Leo took his seat just as his stomach rumbled. He rubbed his midsection.

"Speaking of food... I’m hungry." He glanced toward the front cabin. "Storm, cook a large portion for me for dinner."

"Yes, Master. Your meal will be ready in thirty minutes."

Leo nodded. "From tomorrow onward, don’t wait for me to tell you. If I’m inside the truck, prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me automatically."

"Understood, Master."

Leo leaned back. "Good."

When the food was ready, Leo ate in the quiet of his truck. Craving a bit of fresh air afterward, he stepped back out into the cool night. The bonfire still roared, surrounded by most of the convoy.

He spotted Valentine and the core group clustered together. Grandpa Jiro, Cyrus, and Rex occupied a few logs, while Atlas chewed on a piece of meat with intense focus. Leo strolled over and took a seat.

Grandpa Jiro spotted him first and broke into a grin.

"Kid, thanks for the treat. Everyone’s in high spirits."

Leo waved his hand. "No need for that."

Rex laughed. "Still pretending you didn’t do anything? I heard Jenny say you gave everyone food."

Leo shrugged. "It’s just some food."

Grandpa Jiro chuckled. "Food isn’t ’just food’ these days. Especially good food."

Atlas nodded seriously. "Big Brother gave us food. Big Brother is good."

Rex burst out laughing. "See? You’ve already recruited Atlas."

Leo glanced at Atlas, who had already gone back to chewing his meal, and simply shook his head.

The group fell into an easy rhythm, swapping thoughts on the road ahead and what they might face in Central City. Talk eventually turned to the night watch.

Cyrus spoke up. "We’ll need people watching the surroundings throughout the night. I’ll take the first shift."

Atlas shot his hand into the air. "I’ll do it too!"

Cyrus looked at him and nodded. " sure"

Atlas nodded enthusiastically.

Cyrus shook his head with a smile. "Fine. The two of us will take the night shift for today "

As the night deepened, people drifted back to their tents and trucks. Leo retreated to Storm, but sleep was the last thing on his mind. He reclaimed his spot on the bed, crossed his legs, and fell back into his meditation.

The hours slipped by in silence. Leo sank deep into his cultivation. Outside, the guards rotated shifts. The bonfire died down to glowing embers, letting the heavy dark press closer against the camp. Yet, the shadows remained empty, and the convoy went undisturbed.

The first pale streaks of dawn crept over the horizon. Leo opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath. A faint mist plumed from his lips. He had trained straight through the night, but exhaustion never came. Instead, his limbs buzzed with fresh energy.

He rose and stretched his arms.

"Not bad."

Turning his focus inward, he checked his condition. Energy coursed through his body in a smooth, steady stream. A breakthrough still eluded him, but his control felt sharper, more refined.

Storm’s mechanical voice broke the quiet. "Master, the convoy is preparing to depart."

Leo nodded. "Alright."

He splashed water on his face and grabbed his gear. Outside, the camp buzzed with motion. People collapsed tents and hauled supplies into the back of trucks. A few survivors scrambled to finish a rushed breakfast, while parents rounded up the wandering children. Near the front, Cyrus and the core group ran final checks on the engines.

Before long, the dirt patch was bare. Engines roared to life down the line. The quiet haven they had built the night before vanished into the dust.

Leo stared down the cracked road ahead. Central City remained miles out of reach, but they were moving again. Storm fell in line as the Freedom Convoy pressed forward into the wasteland, blind to whatever waited for them on the horizon.