Zhuo strode casually through the ruins, hands in his hoodie pockets, his footsteps crunching against the cracked pavement. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and rusted metal, a lingering reminder of a city long forgotten.
Then—
A sound.
A single, feather-light step.
It was faint. Almost imperceptible. But Zhuo caught it instantly.
His body tensed on instinct, his senses sharpening. He wasn't alone.
Without turning around, he could already feel it—a presence.
It was different from the echoes of monsters lurking in the shadows. This one wasn't a mindless beast.
It was human.
That was surprising enough. From what he had gathered from the scattered memories, this city was supposed to be completely abandoned. No sane person should have been wandering through these ruins, let alone getting the drop on him.
He slowly turned, his sharp gaze locking onto the unexpected visitor.
And there she was.
A lone woman, standing with effortless poise against the backdrop of a collapsed building.
She was tall, with long obsidian-black hair cascading down her back like a flowing river of ink. Her silver eyes gleamed with a piercing sharpness, like twin blades waiting to strike, analyzing him with an intensity that made even the ruined city feel smaller under her presence.
Her attire was sleek, tactical, and clearly not meant for casual strolls. The dark metallic hues of her bodysuit reflected faint traces of the dying sunlight, the fabric molded to her form with precision. A long, deep-black cloak billowed behind her, moving with an almost unnatural elegance despite the lack of wind.
Everything about her—her stance, her outfit, the measured way she carried herself—screamed discipline. Control. Authority.
Zhuo blinked.
"…Huh."
Not exactly what he was expecting.
He had imagined meeting a couple of mutant rats, maybe some mindless husks prowling around. But a strict-looking military lady with a death glare?
Yeah, that was new.
His lips curved into an easygoing smile, but his eyes remained sharp, unreadable.
"Didn't expect company," he remarked lazily, tilting his head slightly. "Thought I was the only idiot dumb enough to take a scenic tour of this place."
He was watching her closely, even as his tone remained light.
There had been no humans here in the memories he had read.
So then—who the hell was she?
The woman didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied him—thoroughly.
Her gaze flickered from his face, to his hoodie, to his stance, as if dissecting every part of him in real-time. Her silver eyes were cold, methodical, searching for something.
Then, finally—
"You don't belong here."
Her voice was cool. Level. Completely devoid of unnecessary emotion.
Suspicion.
Authority.
It was the tone of someone who was used to giving orders—and having them followed.
Her expression didn't shift as she continued, her words measured and direct.
"Who are you?" She narrowed her eyes slightly. "And what brings you to Evernight?"
Zhuo exhaled through his nose.
Ah. So she was that type.
Strict. No-nonsense. Definitely the kind of person who would fill out government forms for fun.
Great.
He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing around dramatically. "Well, let's see… my name's Zhuo, I came here because I was curious, and I belong anywhere I want to be." He flashed her a grin. "That answer your question?"
Silence.
Her expression didn't even twitch.
Oh. Oh, she was good.
Zhuo resisted the urge to whistle. Most people at least reacted when he said stupid things.
This woman?
Absolutely nothing.
She just kept staring at him, judging him.
He could practically feel the weight of 'this guy is an idiot' radiating off of her.
Zhuo sighed, dropping his shoulders. "Alright, alright. No need to glare a hole into my skull."
His fingers twitched slightly in his pocket, discreetly analyzing the energy fluctuations around her. She was strong. Not ridiculously strong, but definitely high-tier. The way she carried herself wasn't just for show.
She was dangerous.
Not to him, obviously. But dangerous enough.
"Listen," he said, raising both hands in a mock gesture of surrender, "I was just passing through. Thought I'd check out the sights. Maybe see if I could find some good street food." He gestured vaguely at the collapsed city around them. "But, uh, seems like the restaurants here have closed down."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"You're an idiot," she said flatly.
Zhuo snorted. "Ouch. That was fast. Usually, people take at least five minutes before deciding that."
Her silver eyes narrowed. "Most people wouldn't joke in a situation like this."
He grinned. "Most people aren't me."
Another silence.
Zhuo could almost hear the irritation radiating from her.
Oh, she definitely wanted to punch him.
After a long pause, she exhaled through her nose, clearly restraining some deep urge to beat him into the pavement.
"Answer properly," she said.
Zhuo sighed, kicking at a stray piece of rubble.
"Fine. You want the truth?" He tilted his head. "I just got here. I don't know what's going on, and I was curious. So I took a walk."
It wasn't a complete lie.
Her expression remained unreadable.
But he could tell—she didn't buy it.
Her fingers twitched slightly near her hip, close to where a weapon would be hidden.
Zhuo grinned.
Ah. So she was really thinking about attacking him.
"Easy there, Terminator," he teased. "No need to go all action-movie on me."
She didn't flinch at the nickname. If anything, her gaze grew sharper.
"Evernight is classified as a high-risk zone," she said slowly. "Anyone reckless enough to enter is either a fool—"
She took a deliberate step forward, eyes gleaming.
"—or a threat."
The air between them tensed slightly.
Zhuo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? So those are my only two choices?" He grinned, rocking on his heels. "In that case, I'll take 'fool.'"
Another silence.
She definitely wanted to punch him.
Before she could respond, Zhuo clapped his hands together. "Alright, since you're clearly in charge here, why don't you tell me something instead?"
He smirked.
"Who are you?"
For the first time, the woman's expression flickered.
Just slightly.
But Zhuo caught it.
Now this was getting interesting.