Last Ruler Of The Empty Throne-Chapter 44: Where’s he?

In the shadowed distance, over a kilometer from where Jenny and Cynthia had just felled the Dark Knight, the survivors in the university’s cafeteria pulsed with frenetic activity.

It was their last bastion of hope amidst the post-apocalyptic ruins.

Underneath all these, the survivors toiled tirelessly, their hands deftly scaling the remains of slain monsters, a skill honed under Jon’s meticulous guidance.

The air echoed with the sharp clink of bone and hide against metal as they layered the processed scales onto buses, transforming them into armored sanctuaries. Jon had demonstrated the technique, marveling at how the scales adhered without adhesive, their natural properties accelerating the process.

By now, several buses stood completed, their gleaming exteriors a testament to the camp’s resilience, parked in orderly rows for the next group to allocate supplies based on the survivors’ intended destinations.

Jon sat cross-legged on the cafeteria’s roof, his eyes closed, exuding disciplined calm. His posture, shaped by his Soldier Physique trait, was optimized for rest and reflection, his body a still anchor amidst the camp’s chaos.

With the Beast Lord patrolling the perimeter to deter troublemakers and roaming monsters, Jon could oversee operations from afar, his presence a quiet reassurance. Yet, his mind was divided, balancing the camp’s progress with concern for the group clearing the school gate a kilometer away, where Jenny and Cynthia faced unknown perils.

The evolution of his Instant Calculation skill into Brilliant Mind had sharpened his awareness, unveiling the uncomfortable truth he had been told. He had finally recognized the cold detachment Jenny and Cynthia had hinted at, a shift rooted in Tunde’s death.

He noticed the change from his Mind World skill and Brilliant Mind, and maybe the worst part was, he couldn’t undo it. It was now part of him, like a scar etched into his psyche.

Brilliant Mind also helped him unlock a new ability: splitting his consciousness within his Mind World. He could manifest two versions of himself to perform distinct tasks, though limited to two for now.

Perhaps his mind-focused skills had enhanced his mental capacity, or this was their intended use. Jon assigned one consciousness to study his skills, starting with Brilliant Mind, which boosted his ability to create new skills by a ten percent chance. Though it was just ten, it was a powerful edge.

To protect those he cared about, he sought to use the skill immediately to craft a long-range surveillance skill, surpassing his usual energy spread. The cafeteria roof, high and isolated, was the perfect vantage point, his resolve fueled by the losses of Tunde and Alex, and an unwavering determination to shield Jenny, Cynthia, and especially Alexa.

WHOOOM!

Jon spread his mana and Moon Energy, extending his senses to a 1500-meter radius before hitting a barrier.

’How do I go further?’ Frustration mounted as he glimpsed the road to the gate but couldn’t see deeper.

’If I want to see...’ He activated Moon Gaze, a skill revealing hidden weaknesses, but the gate’s dark dome resisted. A memory surfaced: the sheer will he’d used to forge his Mind World and gain Aura. ’Expand!’ he roared inwardly. His perception surged, and a notification flashed:

[YOU HAVE OBTAINED SKILL ’DIVINE SENSE’]

[DIVINE SENSE (SECOND REALM) LEVEL 2: USING YOUR WILL, YOU CAN SEE THINGS AS FAR AS 2000M AROUND YOU]

Divine? Jon’s eyes flickered with curiosity. ’Does ’divine’ tie to will?’ His Mind World rumbled, expanding from 30 to 50 meters. Another notification appeared, partially obscured: 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

[YOUR **** LEVEL HAS INCREASED]

Clarity settled over him, his mind absorbing the 500-meter vista.

Zombies shambled, monsters clashed, and broken vehicles and buildings, he threw those things behind him to focus on the gate.

As he pierced the dark dome with Moon Gaze, revealing Jenny and Cynthia mid-evolution to the First Realm. He wasn’t surprised by their change. They had reached the threshold before him; their ascension was inevitable.

Turning to their foe, a skeleton pulsing with dark energy, Jon’s heart tightened.

’Skeletons? Will they be alright?’ Jon’s heart clenched as he observed the scene a kilometer away, his Divine Sense piercing the dark dome enveloping the university gate.

The skeletal foe pulsing with malevolent energy was unexpected, though not inexplicable. Skeletons were said to rise where death lingered, and the gate’s history, marred by the chaos of the fall, made it a fitting crucible for such horrors. The realization did little to ease his unease, the skeletal figure’s dark aura a stark reminder of the dangers his allies faced.

’Should I go?’ His first instinct was to rush to their aid, his body tensing as if to leap from the cafeteria roof. But a chilling thought stopped him: a stray monster lurking in the shadows could strike the camp the moment he left, unleashing devastation on the unprepared survivors.

The risk was too great. Alexa was also here.

With a tense expression, Jon forced himself to remain, his fingers gripping the roof’s edge as he watched Jenny and Cynthia battle the Dark Knight. Each moment stretched, his chest tight with dread, until the skeleton collapsed, its remains scattering like ash.

A wave of relief, deeper than he’d anticipated, washed over him, loosening the knot in his heart.

When Jon had chosen to stay behind for the gate-clearing mission, he’d also insisted that Alexa remain at the camp. That decision, born of a fierce protectiveness, felt vindicated now. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her, not after Tunde and Alex.

A darker truth gnawed at him: if forced to choose, he’d rather lose Jenny and Cynthia than Alexa. The admission stirred guilt, but he buried it, sighing as he canceled Divine Sense, the world contracting back to the immediate.

...

Cynthia exhaled shakily, the notification confirming the Dark Knight’s defeat easing her frayed nerves.

She and Jenny, battered and bloodied, were already healing, their wounds knitting together thanks to the regenerative fruit from the camp’s sacred tree. Sweat soaked their clothes, their bodies drained of mana, cuts marring their skin.

The fight had pushed them to their limits, a grueling ordeal unlike any since the fall’s early days. They had faced monsters alone before, but none matched the Dark Knight’s ferocity without Jon’s presence.

’He’s been taking on the pressure,’ Cynthia realized, the weight of his absence clarifying his role in their survival. Jon had always taken the brunt of their battles, allowing them to strike freely.

"I understand, and it’s crazy to me too," Jenny said, her voice cutting through Cynthia’s thoughts. Cynthia’s eyes widened, startled by the synchronicity, but Jenny’s faint smile held no room for dwelling. "Let’s go!" she urged, rising with renewed resolve.

WHOOSH!

The dome’s oppressive darkness completely dissolved, and the sunlight pierced the veil like a divine benediction.

The rays, warm despite the late hour, bathed them in a congratulatory glow, as if the world itself celebrated their triumph.

The school gate, 100 meters away, stood revealed, its familiar arches resolute against the ravaged landscape. The sight stirred a primal urge to flee through it, to escape the university’s haunted confines, but they suppressed it. One more day of preparation was needed to ensure the camp’s final exit.

The group moved swiftly to the people who had retreated earlier.

Relief also washed them, seeing the presence which meant victory. They tended to the wounded with basic treatments, bandages and salves. Though none of them had survival skills, it could hold them until they got proper treatment.

They gave a hurried burial to the fallen, two lives lost in the battle, their makeshift graves a somber reminder of the cost.

After thirty minutes of rest, they began the trek back to the cafeteria. Maybe it was their victory or the prospect of freedom, the journey felt shorter, the path lighter under their weary feet, as if the earth itself hastened their return.

As they neared the camp, cheers erupted, a joyous cacophony shattering the twilight’s quiet.

"YAHH!"

"WOAHH!"

"They cleared the path!"

"Thank you!"

"FINALLY, WE CAN LEAVE!"

Survivors working on the armored buses or lingering near the cafeteria surged forward, their faces alight with smiles and tears. They needed no confirmation; the group’s return, battered but triumphant, was proof of their success.

The fighters, unaccustomed to such adulation, flushed with embarrassment, their battle-hardened exteriors softening under the gratitude. The survivors aided the injured, carrying them to the cafeteria with care, and formed a respectful perimeter but didn’t get to close. Anyone was still wary of the fighters’ deadly skills.

Jenny and Cynthia scanned the crowd, their eyes searching for someone. Not finding him, they spotted someone who might have a clue, Ronald. His nervous figure cheered among the crowd; his enthusiasm tinged with anxiety.

However, as they approached, Ronald’s clapping faltered, his face paling as he retreated, hands raised defensively. "I-I don’t have anything!" he shouted, misinterpreting their intent.

Jenny and Cynthia tilted their heads, amusement flickering in their weary gazes. What’s he on about? They knew Ronald’s skittish nature, so they ignored it. Cutting through his panic, Jenny asked, "Where’s he?" Her tone was firm yet kind, grounding Ronald’s spiraling thoughts.

Ronald blinked, realizing they meant Jon. "H-He’s on the cafeteria roof," he stammered, pointing upward with a trembling finger.

Jenny and Cynthia exchanged a glance, relief mingling with concern. Jon’s absence from the mission had been strategic, but his growing detachment troubled them.

Thanking Ronald with a nod, they moved toward the cafeteria, the crowd parting respectfully, their cheers fading into murmurs of awe.

The feeling of hope fueled them to keep surviving, but their thoughts were on Jon. What had he seen, and what did his distance mean for the road ahead?