Page 76
Jhon reviewed his stats. His race's evolution, his unlimited lifespan, his passive and active abilities, his immeasurable strength. He was a powerhouse, a new kind of being. And the Celestial Power Core still awaited his decision.
"Loli," Jhon said, his voice resonating with new authority. "I've already waited for everyone. No one else will come now. The flow of new contacts has slowed. The message has reached whoever it can reach. Let's go to the trading posts."
"Understood, Jhon," Loli replied, her systems ready. "Calculating the most efficient route to the nearest trading posts. It will take some time, but the Leviathan is unattainable now."
The bus doors closed with a soft hiss, sealing its occupants from the outside world. The vibration of the floating engine increased subtly, and the gigantic vehicle began to move, gliding silently over the uneven terrain, its near-perfect invisibility making it a ghost among the trees.
The new passengers settled in. The farmers and chefs marveled at the bus's self-sufficient capabilities, already discussing plans for hydroponic growing modules and food storage. The special forces soldiers watched Jhon with silent respect, their readiness to follow orders unquestioning. And the women, the seven concubines, with Lua and Lyra at the forefront, moved about the spacious interior, each absorbing the new reality of their lives under Jhon's protection.
The road ahead was long and dangerous, but Jhon had the strength, intelligence, and resources to face it. He had a people to protect, a mobile home to build, and a yet-unknown destiny to uncover. The game had truly begun, and Jhon was the player rewriting the rules.
Page 77
Jhon's Leviathan, a floating colossus of steel and mystery, continued its silent journey across the devastated landscape. Within its imposing walls, life pulsed with new purpose. Jhon, in his omniscience, observed the movements of the nearly 600 individuals who now called the bus home. It was a hive of activity, each finding their place under Jhon's relentless command.
"Those who know how to cook, report to the kitchen," Loli's voice, clear and emotionless, echoed through the bus's intercoms, relaying Jhon's orders. "Those with agricultural knowledge, prepare for the hydroponic fields. Everyone here will have a role."
In response, a team of cooks, some with chef touches in their makeshift attire, began organizing the bus's vast industrial kitchen. The smell of spices and fresh vegetables (harvested from the Leviathan's own hydroponic fields) began to permeate the air, a nearly forgotten aroma in a world of hunger and deprivation. On the upper floors, where the agricultural modules glowed with artificial lights, farmers, with calloused hands, examined the hydroponic systems, their eyes shining with the promise of bounty.
"Men who can shoot, prepare to hunt," Loli continued. "We need to feed everyone."
The former special forces soldiers, alongside older men with hunting experience from the old Earth, gathered. They were a mix of nationalities—the Chinese, the Russian, the Mossad agent, and the two Americans, who now saw Jhon not as a former target but as their leader. Their past rivalry had been buried under the weight of survival. They armed themselves with rifles and assault rifles distributed from the bus's stores, their faces battle-hardened, but with a new purpose in their eyes.
Life on the bus was a military routine, but also a community. The women, Jhon's concubines—Lyanna, Sylvanas, Faelan (Lua's elves), and Elara, Seraphina, and Zara (Lyra's humans)—floated about the interior, assisting where they could, but their primary duties lay with Jhon. They were the embodiment of the new people, a fusion of races and experiences. Lua and Lyra oversaw, their graceful yet firm presences ensuring that Jhon's orders were carried out.
Suddenly, a new message appeared on Jhon's HUD, transmitted directly to Loli.
Page 78
"John, a new contact message," Loli informed, her voice maintaining its usual calm, but with a note of interest. "It's from the Dark Elves. They wish to join us."
Jhon frowned. Dark Elves. The name conjured images of ancient tales, of corruption and decay.
"Explain about them, Loli," Jhon asked.
Loli projected a holographic image showing elves with darker, almost gray skin and hair ranging from white to deep black, their eyes often glowing red or yellow. "It's not because of their skin pigmentation that they're called 'Dark Elves,' Jhon. It's a designation that refers to a lineage that was corrupted by an ancient plague or curse. Their vitality is reduced by 50% compared to pure elves. While the elves of Lua and Lyra possess immortal longevity, living for millennia, the Dark Elves have a maximum lifespan of about two thousand years."
"Are they trustworthy?" Jhon asked, his eyes fixed on the image.
"They are survivors, like the rest of us. Their existence is marked by prejudice and pain. They seek safety and a place to start over. They will submit to your authority if you give them the chance," Loli replied.
"Accept them," John decided. "Anyone who wishes to join is welcome. But there's one condition: the meeting point will be at the first intersection on the highway, a week from now. To those who still have vehicles and are on their way, Loli, distribute the Badges we have plenty of. Use the excess Level 2 Badges we have to upgrade your vehicles as much as possible so you can get here safely. I don't want any unnecessary casualties along the way."
The Level 2 Badges, once so valuable to Jhon, were now a resource he could distribute, a testament to the power he had accumulated.
Loli relayed the new instructions and the coordinates of the meeting point. Jhon's message was clear: an offer of salvation, but with clearly defined terms.
In the days that followed, the Leviathan maintained its course, gliding silently across the landscape. Life inside the bus became a routine of training and hunting. The five special forces soldiers, now Jhon's elite guard, oversaw the training of the new recruits. They were relentless, transforming farmers and civilians into rudimentary tactical units.