章 17: Four days later

During the four days of waiting for the storm to pass, the atmosphere in the cafeteria grew calmer.

On the first day, a few managed to contact their families, reassured by the fact that some phone lines still worked.

However, many others were unable to reach their loved ones, leading to tears and uncertainty. The leaders tried to reassure that many connections had fallen with the collapse of the world and encouraging everyone to hold on to hope.

Maybe the military had already been deployed to restore order, so they tried not to dwell on the negative.

By the third day, as the storm outside became more violent, the people inside accepted the harsh truth: the world had fallen, and there was no way back, only forward.

The silver lining was that their immediate situation wasn't dire. The cafeteria was well-stocked, with enough food to last two months if they consumed it recklessly, or four if rationed carefully.

So, there was no need for panic or fighting over supplies. Jon's group, along with the girls from the hall, had brought mattresses and clothing, on their way making the place more comfortable. The clinic directly below provided for their medical needs.

Yet, despite this relative security, an undeniable tension lingered. They knew their lives would be in constant danger from now on.

…

In the strange, otherworldly space that was called the "Mind World," Jon's ethereal form floated among the orbs that drifted around him.

Over the last four days, he had spent more time in this realm than in the physical world, trying to distract himself from recent events by immersing himself in its limitless possibilities.

In the Mind World, Jon could do almost anything. One of his first impulses was to fly. He had always wanted to know what it felt like to soar through the air, and though this wasn't the real thing, it was close enough.

So after flying to his heart's content, he turned his attention to other pursuits, like reading Mervil's book and practicing the finger exercises he'd been assigned.

The finger exercises he had bee assigned to were on things like, cracking the fingers regularly, bending the fingers in irregular ways, stretching, pulling, and all sort of things one could do with their fingers.

His mental abilities were limited to what he knew, but even then, he tried to find ways to push the boundaries. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Mind World was how anything he focused on laid bare before him. And the more he observed, the deeper his understanding grew on whatever he was focused on.

Curious, Jon began analyzing his own abilities, starting with his primary skill, "Moon." And the insight he gained was sobering; he was simply too weak to fully wield its power.

Pushing it behind him, he moved on to his "Soldier Physique," And immediately he grasped the skill's mechanics. It wasn't just about gaining the knowledge of a soldier; the true essence lay in his body's reconstruction. The knowledge served as a foundation, so he wouldn't feel hollow after the transformation.

But there was more to it. Soldier Physique was an evolvable skill, with its true potential unlocked through growth. It wasn't enough to fight as a mere soldier, No, Jon had to push himself to fight like a martial artist striving to evolve. And limiting himself to one rigid fighting style would only hinder him in the long run.

Next, he analyzed his "Instant Calculation." As soon as he neared it, his thoughts accelerated. "So, it doesn't just speed up my thinking process, it makes me smarter," he finally realized, something he probably should have noticed earlier.

And since it was his world, he could do anything, so from then on, he decided to carry the skill with him in the Mind World, boosting his thought process at all times.

Jon sighed, there was still much to learn before he could delve into blacksmithing. For now, he would have to admire from afar.

So, with a thought, he left the Mind World, only to be greeted by a surprise.

A silver energy cat sat waiting for him, a creation of Jenny's. She had been improving her abilities too, as evidenced by this clever construct, which could scout areas or send messages. This time, however, it was purely for show.

The cat spoke in Jenny's voice, delivering a message that made Jon's eyes widen: "Hey Jon, it's Jenny. I wanted to tell you that the storm has stopped, and we're preparing to scout the area. Do you want to come?"

"I'm coming along," Jon replied almost immediately, standing and heading out.

He too was curious about what had caused the storm outside and what was going to happen after.

...

Upon reaching the meeting area, Jon noticed the stares, which he had begun to ignore. This was the second time they had seen him, he didn't even come out to eat and always stayed in his room.

Cynthia also wasn't there yet, but before he could ask Jenny about her, a light breeze swept past him.

Whoosh.

And Cynthia appeared with a calm and soft smile, nodding at him. It seemed that she too found ways too use her skills.

But sadly though not recognizable yet, he wasn't talking to them. Ever since his friend's death, he had been avoiding Cynthia and Jenny, maybe not intentionally, but he hadn't been able to help it.

Trust was a fragile thing, especially after betrayal, and perhaps that was why they hadn't reached out to him either out the four days.

If fate meant for them to be together again, they would be, but for now, they had grown apart and Jon had no idea how much this decision would shape his future.

The scouting team that had been chosen to go and check on the surrounding were originally tense, however they seemed to relax when they saw Jon.

His presence unusually gave them a boost of confidence.

And Jenny summarized the plan: "We'll scout the area to assess the situation now the storm is gone and decide our next steps."

Then the team of 15 including Jon, Jenny, Cynthia and five middle-aged security officers armed with pistols and items from the treasures from the system set of to the exit of the cafeteria.

Upon reaching the eastern door, all their built up confidence began to waver.

It had been four days, they didn't know what the storm had brought or changed. However, seeing Jon and the girls confidence, they followed and stepped out of the cafeteria.

And it didn't take long and they hadn't walked far when the group was immediately met with a loud terrifying sound.

WOOOOO

Snapping their heads towards the direction of the the sound, they saw a hulking creature, standing about 2 meters tall with a thick coat of brown fur, and walked on two it's legs. And it looked like a bear.

And from the bear's direction and what seemed to be it's destination, it was heading straight for the cafeteria. What that meant was, if they hadn't come out when they did, the damage it could have caused would have been unimaginable.

But the trio, seasoned by now, didn't flinch.

Surprisingly, two others from the group also remained calm. It wouldn't be long before Jon and the others learned just how strong these new allies were.