Chapter 6: Anti-Camping Protocol

  The night had fallen over Mandaue City, the sky darkened by smoke and the remnants of the cosmic storm that had ravaged the landscape. Adrian and Mike were inside their newly fortified position—a makeshift base formed from the remnants of a gutted office building. The floor was littered with debris, makeshift barricades, and the tools they had gathered from the convenience store raid.

  Mike was sitting against a wall, his back sore from the fight with the Typhon-Aswang Hive earlier. He was exhausted, but for the first time since everything had gone wrong, he felt like they might have a shot at surviving this. The Node was secured, their defenses were in place, and for the moment, they were safe.

  But that was the problem.

  Adrian, ever vigilant, sat at the center of the room, eyes glued to the Genesis Ring’s interface. He was scanning the System’s data, his mind racing with calculations. He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that their temporary safety was just an illusion. The world was shifting, and they had to be ready for whatever came next.

  Mike’s voice broke the silence. “Adrian, are we seriously just sitting here? We’ve got a solid defense in place. Maybe we can take a break. Rest for a while, you know?”

  Adrian didn’t look up. “We can’t afford to rest. Not yet.”

  Mike frowned, but he didn’t argue. He understood. Adrian had been obsessing over every detail, from the stability of the Mandaue Node to the next phase of the System’s recalibration. But even so, they needed to conserve their energy. The Hive had been a brutal test, and Mike’s body ached with the weight of the battle. A few hours of rest wouldn’t hurt.

  “You’re burning yourself out, man,” Mike said, rubbing his temples. “I know you’ve got a lot on your mind, but you’re human too.”

  Adrian finally glanced up, his face weary but determined. “I can’t afford to stop thinking. The System is unpredictable. It’s already been three hours since we last fought, and the Anti-Camping Protocol is going to kick in soon.”

  Mike blinked, not quite following. “Anti-Camping Protocol? What’s that?”

  Adrian’s expression darkened as he stood and began pacing the room. “It’s part of the System’s design. Inactivity triggers localized events—random encounters, stronger monsters, anything to force us into constant motion. If we don’t fight or move, the System punishes us.”

  Mike’s frown deepened. “So, you’re saying we can’t even take a break? Not even for a few hours?”

  Adrian nodded grimly. “Not without consequences.”

  Just as Adrian finished speaking, a loud, guttural roar erupted from above, shaking the building’s foundations. The sound was so powerful it seemed to vibrate through the walls. Mike immediately shot to his feet, his pulse quickening.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “That wasn’t just a stray Aswang,” Mike said, his voice tense. “What the hell was that?”

  Adrian’s eyes flared with recognition. “It’s the Anti-Camping Protocol. The System has triggered a Spawn Event. That means a higher-tier enemy is coming for us.”

  The floor above them creaked, followed by the sickening sound of something heavy scraping against metal. Adrian’s face hardened, and he sprinted toward the stairs, Mike close behind.

  The roof above them groaned and cracked, as though something massive was forcing its way through. Adrian’s mind raced. The Protocol was designed to push them to the brink. A mid-tier elite Aswang was more than capable of tearing through their defenses. It was a test—a test they couldn’t afford to fail.

  As they reached the rooftop, the air became thick with the scent of burning debris and the sound of claws scraping against metal. The roof was partially collapsed, leaving a massive hole where the elite monster had torn through.

  And then, it appeared.

  The Elite Aswang was a towering monstrosity, its body a grotesque fusion of chitinous armor, jagged spines, and vampire-like fangs that glistened in the dim light. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Adrian and Mike, its massive form pulsating with dark energy as it let out another bone-chilling roar.

  Mike immediately stepped forward, his fists ready to strike. But Adrian raised his hand, stopping him.

  “Wait,” Adrian said, his voice calm but firm. “We need to be smarter about this. It’s not just about brute strength. We need to use the System against it.”

  Mike hesitated, glancing at Adrian. “What do you mean?”

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed as he activated the Genesis Ring, his hand glowing with energy. “We’re not just going to fight it head-on. We need to slow it down first.”

  The ground beneath them began to shift, and the air hummed with power. Adrian’s hand extended, and with a concentrated push, a gravity well formed beneath the Elite Aswang. The creature’s massive form faltered as the force of the gravity increased, pulling it down toward the floor. It let out a loud screech as its claws scraped the rooftop, struggling against the pull.

  Mike’s eyes widened. “You’re using gravity to pin it down?”

  Adrian nodded, his concentration unwavering. “The System rewards creative strategies. If we can’t overpower it directly, we’ll outsmart it.”

  The Aswang continued to thrash against the gravitational pull, but it was slowed, struggling to move under the increased weight. Adrian’s eyes flicked to Mike.

  “Now!” Adrian shouted.

  Mike leaped into action, charging the creature with all the strength he could muster. His muscles burned with the energy he had absorbed earlier, and as he closed the distance, he delivered a devastating punch to the Aswang’s side. The impact was like striking a metal wall, but the creature’s body bent under the force, its screech of pain filling the air.

  The gravity well, still holding the Aswang in place, gave Mike the opening he needed. He struck again, each punch more powerful than the last, his blows fueled by the energy he had absorbed and the kinetic boosters he had taken earlier. With every hit, he felt himself growing stronger.

  Adrian kept the gravity well in place, his focus absolute as he manipulated the field to pin the creature’s limbs. But even with all the energy he had, the Aswang wasn’t done yet. It thrashed violently, its claws slicing through the air, but Adrian’s control over the gravity continued to press it into submission.

  “Keep hitting it!” Adrian shouted. “We need to finish this fast.”

  Mike didn’t hesitate. His fists came down in rapid succession, each strike more precise than the last. Finally, with one last powerful punch, he landed a blow directly on the creature’s head, sending it crumpling to the ground in a heap.

  The Aswang twitched, then lay still.

  Breathing heavily, Mike stepped back, wiping sweat from his forehead. He could feel the energy coursing through him, but he didn’t let himself stop. Not yet.

  Adrian let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, deactivating the gravity well. “That’s how we do it. Creative Slaughter.”

  Mike looked at him, still panting. “So, using the System’s rules against it… that’s the key?”

  Adrian nodded, his face grim but satisfied. “Exactly. The System rewards strategy, not just strength. If we can keep using the energy we’ve collected to our advantage, we’ll be able to overcome anything. But we can’t afford to stop thinking.”

  The sound of the Elite Aswang’s body collapsing echoed through the rooftop, and Adrian glanced at the notification that had appeared in front of him.

  Creative Slaughter Achieved.

  Bonus Resonance gained: 20%.

  Elite Aswang defeated. Local Node energy bank increased by 0.15%.

  Adrian’s eyes flickered with a mix of satisfaction and concern. The fight had been brutal, but it was far from over. The System would keep throwing challenges their way, but now they had the knowledge to take it on.

  Mike stood beside him, looking at the fallen creature with a new understanding of what they were up against. "So, what now?"

  Adrian turned to face him, a steely determination in his eyes. "We move. The System’s recalibration is coming, and we need to be ready. But this was a good start. We’ve proven we can beat the System’s tests. And we’ll keep proving it."

  Together, they left the rooftop behind, their path clear. The world was changing, and they were ready to face whatever the System threw at them next.

  Next Chapter Coming Soon...