Side Story: Anti-Camping Protocol

  The room was dimly lit by the flickering glow of a broken neon sign outside the building, casting erratic light patterns on the walls. The air felt heavy with the aftereffects of the battle—the sting of sweat, the smell of charred debris, and the persistent hum of the Genesis Ring’s energy signature. Mike leaned against a battered table, his muscles sore from the day’s fighting, but his mind wouldn’t let him rest.

  Adrian was at the window, as always, his sharp eyes scanning the ruins of Mandaue City. Despite the temporary relief of securing the Node, the unease Adrian carried was palpable. Mike couldn’t remember the last time Adrian had looked relaxed, or even allowed himself a full breath without thinking of the next move.

  “Do you ever stop?” Mike asked, unable to keep the curiosity from his voice.

  Adrian glanced over his shoulder, his gaze unreadable. "Stop? We don't have the luxury of stopping. Not now."

  Mike pushed himself off the table, rubbing the back of his neck. "But we’re safe here, right? The Mandaue Node is ours, and we’ve got this place locked down. We need a break. Just a few hours."

  Adrian’s expression didn’t soften. "You think we’ve won just because we’ve secured the Node?" His voice was flat, almost tired, like a man who had seen the same war unfold over and over again. "The System isn’t that simple."

  Mike frowned, pacing toward the broken window to join Adrian. "Then what’s next? We fought the Hive. We got the Node. Isn’t that the goal?"

  Adrian turned his eyes from the wreckage of the city to Mike. "The goal isn’t just surviving, Mike. It’s staying ahead. And right now, we’re still in the middle of the System’s test. We’ve barely scratched the surface."

  Mike’s confusion deepened. "What do you mean, ‘test’? The System’s trying to kill us, sure, but we’ve got the upper hand now, right?"

  Adrian sighed and stepped away from the window, his fingers tapping lightly against the Genesis Ring. "There’s a rule. The Anti-Camping Protocol."

  Mike looked at him, puzzled. "Anti-Camping? What is that? Some kind of joke?"

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "It’s part of the System’s design. Inactivity triggers a spawn event—random, escalating encounters meant to push us into constant motion. If we stay in one place for too long, we attract stronger monsters. It doesn’t matter if we secure a Node or build defenses. The System will force us out."

  Mike’s jaw clenched. "So, we can’t even rest? Every time we take a break, the System sends a bigger threat after us?"

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  "Exactly," Adrian replied, his voice as cold as the steel beneath their feet. "It’s a cycle. If we don’t move or fight, we’ll end up facing even stronger enemies, maybe ones we can’t beat."

  Mike exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "That’s a hell of a way to live."

  Adrian didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he began walking across the room, as though considering his next steps. "You’re right. It’s a horrible way to live. But that’s the System. The moment we stop pushing forward, it pushes back harder."

  A low, unsettling rumble interrupted their conversation. Mike froze, his muscles tense, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Adrian’s eyes locked onto the source of the disturbance—an ominous shift in the air, like the world was holding its breath. Then came the familiar, low growl—a beastly sound that shook the walls of their temporary sanctuary.

  It was happening already.

  “Get ready,” Adrian said, moving toward the door with calculated urgency. “We don’t have time to waste.”

  Mike followed Adrian as the two of them quickly gathered their gear, securing their weapons and checking their energy supplies. Adrian’s face was set in grim determination, and Mike didn’t question the urgency. The sound from above grew louder. Something large was moving. Adrian was right—it had only been a matter of time.

  As they made their way toward the stairs, the building shook again, this time with greater force. The Anti-Camping Protocol had been triggered. Their rest had been too long, their inactivity too noticeable to the System. And now, something far more dangerous was hunting them.

  The first wave of creatures was always manageable. A few mutated street dogs, small swarms of Aswangs, maybe an occasional rogue Aberrant. But Adrian’s face didn’t show fear—it showed focus. He knew what was coming, and Mike was learning that nothing Adrian did was ever without purpose. Every action, every move, was designed to outsmart the System.

  They reached the rooftop in a few minutes, and as they ascended, Mike felt the pulse of energy, like static in the air. Adrian stopped at the edge of the roof and held out his hand, fingers splayed wide. "This is the moment we need to test everything we’ve learned."

  Suddenly, the floor beneath their feet buckled, and from the shadows above, a massive form descended. It was a creature unlike any they’d faced before. At first, it looked like an Aswang, but its body was more muscular, more evolved. Its massive claws scraped against the building’s rooftop as it crawled forward, its eyes glowing a fierce crimson. It was much larger than a normal Aswang—a mid-tier elite, something capable of tearing through their defenses with little effort.

  "Stay back," Adrian said, his voice steady despite the growing danger. "This isn’t just a monster. This is part of the test. And we have to outsmart it."

  Mike barely had time to react before Adrian unleashed a pulse of energy from the Genesis Ring, directing it toward the creature’s legs. The impact was immediate—a ripple of energy shot out from Adrian’s hand, destabilizing the creature’s footing and causing it to stumble. Mike didn’t wait. He moved in, his Kinetic Absorption at full power, charging forward with a punch that sent a shockwave through the creature’s body.

  The creature screeched, swiping at Mike with its claws, but Adrian had already anticipated the move. The moment the creature attempted to strike, Adrian manipulated the gravity field, pulling the creature back toward the ground, pinning it temporarily.

  “Hit it now!” Adrian shouted, his eyes focused as he maintained the gravity well.

  Mike didn’t hesitate. He launched himself into the air, his fist glowing with the energy he’d absorbed from previous strikes. His punch landed directly on the creature’s head with a sickening crack, and the creature collapsed, its form dissipating into ash and energy.

  Adrian exhaled slowly, watching as the notification popped up in front of them.

  Elite Aswang Defeated

  Energy harvested: 0.12%.

  Creative Slaughter achieved: 15% bonus Resonance.

  Mike wiped his brow, panting from the fight. "That... that was insane."

  Adrian nodded, still calculating. "We need to stay sharp. The Anti-Camping Protocol won’t let up. If we sit still for too long, we’ll face something worse next time. But it’s also a good reminder. The System rewards us when we think outside the box."

  Mike looked at him, a newfound respect in his eyes. “Creative Slaughter?”

  Adrian smirked. “Exactly. The System doesn’t just reward brute strength. It rewards innovation, strategy, and adaptation. That’s how we’ll win—by constantly staying one step ahead.”

  As the building settled into silence once again, Mike understood. The real battle wasn’t just about fighting monsters—it was about outsmarting the System itself, bending its rules to their advantage.

  And as long as they kept moving, kept thinking, they might just survive this madness.

  Next Chapter Coming Soon...