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Jhon felt the satisfaction of efficiency, the synthesis system responding perfectly to his strategic choices. He had made the most of the drops, ensuring not only his personal improvement but also the strength of his fortress on wheels. The sun was now beating down stronger, but the interior of the bus remained a capsule of coolness and safety.
"Loli," Jhon asked, looking at the horizon, where the landscape stretched endlessly under a relentless blue sky. "How many badges do I need to upgrade the bus to the next stage, Level 3? And what types of badges?"
Loli floated to the main panel, her holographic body projecting complex diagrams of the bus. "John, the transition from Level 2 to Level 3 is a gigantic leap, perhaps the biggest of all! You'll need a Legendary-rank Vehicle (Universal) Badge, which is extremely rare, and five Level 2 Badges of each main type (Engine, Armor, Wheels, Transmission, Interior), all at their maximum individual upgrade within Level 2."
She continued, the diagrams spinning. "Currently, you've maxed out your Engine (Level 2, 10/10) and Armor (Level 2, 10/10). This means you've already met the individual upgrade requirements for those two categories to transition to Level 3. You'll still need to max out your Wheels, Transmission, and Interior to 10/10 at Level 2, and then collect the universal Legendary Rank Badge. It's a long process, but you've already taken the first big step!"
"Understood," John murmured, the information sinking in. It was a distant goal, but now achievable.
"And Loli, another question: can I smelt materials when I go to upgrade again? For example, if I have common materials, can I smelt them to create something of higher quality to use in an upgrade, or does the system just accept the item as it dropped?"
"Yes, John! Absolutely!" Loli replied, her eyes shining. "The synthesis system allows you to fuse lower-quality materials to create higher-quality items. For example, ten Common Stalker Pelts could theoretically be fused to create a Medium Uncommon Creature Pelt, or even an Improved Uncommon Camouflage Cloth, like you just did. And if you gather ten Uncommon-quality items, you can try to create a Rare, and so on. This is a crucial strategy for obtaining the high-quality materials needed for higher-level upgrades and legendary or epic items!"
"And if I remember correctly, I already have Level 2 badges, right?", Jhon asked, confirming the stock.
"Correct, Jhon! You have a Legendary Level 2 (Engine) Badge and a Legendary Level 2 (Armor) Badge in your inventory, ready to be used on the next stage of the bus's upgrade!" Loli confirmed, her voice brimming with pride. "You're way ahead of the curve compared to any other survivor I've monitored."
The conversation was interrupted by a slight tremor in the bus.
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The shaking in the bus wasn't from impact, but from movement. The survivors were beginning to feel more comfortable inside the vehicle. Jhon heard low voices coming from the medical area. The woman, Elara, seemed to be recovering, her voice firmer now.
Jhon looked around, feeling the light breeze blowing through the gun port. "Loli, by the way, we left the road on our way here. This place, the open field near the fallen tower, doesn't seem very safe for camping for long. We'd better head back to a more strategic area."
"Your perception is correct, Jhon," Loli confirmed, her voice now devoid of a hint of sarcasm. "The road, or what's left of it, offers a more predictable route and less chance of being flanked by unexpected hordes. The open terrain here could expose us to attacks from larger flying creatures or ambushes from faster ground creatures. The radar indicates some more protected areas along what used to be the road, with some natural elevations that could serve as lookout points."
Jhon nodded. He headed toward the medical area, where Elara, Marco, Liam, and Sarah sat in comfortable armchairs, some already with clean bandages and bottles of purified water in their hands. The smell of antiseptic was subtle but present. The dead man remained outside, a grim reminder of the reality of this world.
Elara looked up as Jhon approached, a mixture of gratitude and caution in her gaze. "Thank you, Jhon. You... you saved our lives."
"You're welcome," John replied, his voice calm. "Are you feeling better?"
Marco, the thin young man, coughed a little, his throat dry. "Much better. The water... it's the best I've had in a long time. And the bandages... my arm doesn't hurt as much anymore."
"We need to decide our next move," Jhon said, straight to the point. He wasn't one to beat around the bush. "We left the main route to come and help you. This location isn't safe. There's a risk of further attacks. My intention is to return to the main road, to more predictable and safe terrain. What do you think about that?"
Elara exchanged glances with the other survivors. The hesitation was there, the uncertainty of joining such a powerful stranger, but the logic of safety was undeniable.
"John, we... we have nowhere to go," Elara said, her voice a little broken. "We've lost everything. Our vehicles were destroyed long ago. We only have each other. If you'll allow us, we'd like to come with you. Whatever you're doing, it seems like it has a better chance of survival than what we had. And maybe we can be of help in some way. We have some skills, scavenging experience..."
Liam nodded, his eyes fixed on John with almost desperate hope. "Please. We have nothing. Your bus... it's the safest thing we've ever seen."
Jhon glanced at Loli, who floated discreetly beside him, her holographic eyes assessing the situation. He wasn't a savior, but he wasn't heartless either. Survival in this world was a complex collaboration.
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Jhon pondered the survivors' words. The idea of having passengers was novel, but their presence also meant more pairs of eyes to watch, perhaps more hands to gather resources. He wasn't blindly trusting, but their situation was undeniably desperate. And he had plenty of room on the bus.
"Okay," John finally said, his voice firm. "You can stay. But there are rules. First: my word is final. There will be no discussions about route decisions or combat tactics. Second: everyone contributes. You will gather resources, keep watch, do whatever is necessary to maintain the shuttle. Third: we will maintain a low profile. We will not attract unnecessary attention. Understood?"
Elara was the first to nod, her eyes welling with relief. "Understood, Jhon. Understood. We'll do whatever it takes. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Marco, Liam, and Sarah nodded vigorously, their expressions relieved. The fear on their faces was still there, but now it was about the outside world, not Jhon.
"Good," John said. "Loli, get the bus ready to return to the main road. Find the safest spot for a stop, perhaps an area with some natural cover. And in the meantime, I want you to prepare the survivors for what we'll find out there. Brief them on the need for stealth, the dangers of the world, and how to identify threats. You have access to my radar data."
"Roger that, Jhon! Your new support team is on board!" Loli replied, her voice cheerful, already activating the routes on the panel. "I'll start educating you on 'Jhon's survival etiquette' immediately. And I'll identify the most strategic point on the road to the next stop."
As the survivors settled in and Loli began explaining the nuances of the radar system and the types of monsters, Jhon returned to the cockpit. He could feel the weight of responsibility, but also the lightness of having company. The bus, his personal fortress, now had more souls under its protection.
He drove the bus away from the scene of the battle, leaving behind the hulking body of the Giant Beast and the remains of the Stalkers. The sun was at its peak, and the shadows were beginning to shorten, promising a long afternoon before the next nightfall.
The main road, or what remained of it, was a faded thread of cracked asphalt stretching for miles, lined with piles of debris and the skeletons of old vehicles. It would be a challenging route, but more familiar and, in some ways, safer than the open fields. Jhon felt a renewed sense of purpose. The search for rare materials and the improvement of the bus would continue, but now with a small entourage.