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The journey to the trading posts became a testament to the new reality within the Leviathan. The days became a routine of self-sufficiency and militarized training. At each strategic stop, Jhon led the hunting teams. He didn't just assign tasks; he actively participated, his Mythic Katanas a blur of destruction against the beasts that dared cross their path.

With Jhon at the helm, the hunting parties, now composed of elite soldiers and newly recruited soldiers who showed aptitude, became machines of efficiency. They learned to move silently, to track, ambush, and slaughter the mutant creatures that infested the landscape. Jhon was ruthless in his training. If anyone hesitated, he was there, with a look that promised consequences, or a scolding that cut like a razor.

"There's no room for fear here! Fear kills! Hesitation kills!" John growled at a recruit who had frozen in front of a Stalker. "You have to react, fight, or die! And if you die, you put your comrades at risk!"

Their words, harsh and cruel, were forged in the reality of the outside world. And, little by little, the fear of monsters began to be replaced by the fear of disappointing Jhon, a fear that, paradoxically, made them stronger. The farmers learned to shoot. The cooks learned to defend themselves. The women, though not on the front lines of combat, underwent self-defense exercises and basic weapon handling.

Every monster meat Jhon slaughtered was immediately sent to the Leviathan's meat locker. Mentally, Jhon sent the command to Loli: "Multiply meat by fifty." And magically, the amount of meat in the bus's storage multiplied, ensuring that the growing population, which already exceeded a thousand and continued to grow as more lone survivors were found and rescued, was always well fed.

The Dark Elves, with their vitality diminished but their intelligence and cunning intact, proved adaptable and loyal. They integrated quickly, valuing the security and abundance that Leviathan offered. The other peoples, with their unique traits and abilities, also found their place, strengthening the community with their contributions.

For nearly four days, this routine of travel and training continued. The streets and highways of the ancient civilization flashed past the 4D projections in the windows, now populated by an organized vision of life. Passengers in vehicles Jhon had upgraded rode in formation, escorting the Leviathan, a small vanguard fleet.

The transformation was remarkable. Those who had boarded the bus, once frightened and disorganized, were becoming a cohesive body of soldiers. Discipline was becoming inherent. They were no longer just survivors; they were a force, an army in formation under the command of a leader who was more than human. John had transformed a crowd into a people, and a people into a survival machine.

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On the fifth day, with the sun already high in the sky, Loli announced to Jhon: "Jhon, we're approaching the trading posts. The first major remaining concentration of civilization. Energy signatures indicate a well-established market structure, protected by barriers and other life signatures, but also some C- and B-Rank monsters patrolling the outskirts."

Jhon nodded, his gaze fixed on the 4D projection showing a cluster of tall buildings with makeshift walls and watchtowers. It was one of the rare bastions of ancient civilization that had managed to hold together. He felt the anticipation. Billions of gold coins waited to be exchanged for resources that would take the Leviathan to even greater heights.

He looked at his inventory again, remembering the gift.

Celestial Power Core x1 (MYTHIC): A crystal of pure energy, condensed from the essence of a collapsing star. Can be used to enhance any legendary or mythical item, or consumed for an exponential stat boost. It possesses a clean, divine energy, in contrast to demonic energy. Grants a subtle connection to the 'Celestial Essence'.

The decision regarding the Celestial Power Core was still pending. Jhon knew it would be a game-changer. He could feel the power emanating from it, a stark contrast to the demonic energy now coursing through his veins.

"Loli, maintain stealth mode," Jhon ordered. "I don't want them to know our true capabilities ahead of time. Just a discreet entrance. When we're within a kilometer, deactivate invisibility. I want them to see what we are. And prepare communications. I want to speak with the leaders of these trading posts."

"Understood, Jhon," Loli replied, her systems ready.

The Leviathan advanced, a silent specter in the apocalypse, its new inhabitants now a cohesive force, a silent army. The journey had transformed everyone, and John, at its center, had become the catalyst for a new era of survival and power.

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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.