Side Story: The First Wave Event

  The sky above Mandaue had turned a deep crimson, casting an eerie glow over the city. The first wave of the System’s assault had already begun, and the air crackled with tension. Adrian stood at the front of the command center, his eyes scanning the projections of the city. The Wave Meter had finally hit 100%, and the looming threat of the Typhon-Aswang Drones descending from the sky was imminent. The reality of their situation was now undeniable.

  “Get ready,” Adrian said, his voice calm but filled with unshakable resolve. “This is it. The first real test of our survival.”

  Sarah was at her station, her eyes glued to the holographic screen in front of her. She was monitoring the planetary shield, tweaking its settings as the energy fluctuated. She had done everything she could to prepare, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough if they didn’t act quickly. The shield was holding, but for how long?

  “Adrian,” Sarah said, her voice tight with concern, “the shield’s holding, but it’s already at 80% capacity. The drones are coming in fast, and we’ll be drained if we don’t make a move soon.”

  Adrian nodded. “We’ll make it work. Hold the line as long as you can.”

  He turned to the rest of the team—Mike, Eva, and the others—all of them steeling themselves for what was to come. The guilds had done their part, surrendering their 5% energy to power the planetary shield, but now, the real challenge lay before them. The first wave would test their strength, their strategy, and their unity.

  The sound of flapping wings reached Adrian’s ears as he looked up. From the distant sky, massive, dark shapes descended. The Typhon-Aswang Drones. They were far larger and more coordinated than any of the creatures they had faced before. These were no random mutations—they were creatures of purpose, sent to destroy everything in their path. Their glowing yellow eyes scanned the city, searching for targets, and their screeches echoed through the air like the cries of the damned.

  “Hold your ground!” Adrian commanded.

  Mike stepped forward, his massive frame brimming with energy. “Let’s see what they’ve got.”

  Eva, standing to Adrian’s left, closed her eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath as she focused on gathering her radiant energy. She was the key to their offense, and with every battle, her powers had grown stronger. She wasn’t just a healer anymore. She was a weapon in her own right.

  As the drones neared the shield, Adrian activated the gravity manipulation in his ring. He could feel the weight of the energy around him, pushing and pulling at the very fabric of reality. He was ready. He was ready to fight not just for survival, but for control.

  "Now!" Adrian shouted.

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  With a gesture, he intensified the gravity around the incoming drones, forcing them into a tight cluster. The force of the pull was intense, and the drones collided with each other in midair, some falling from the sky as their bodies crashed into one another. Adrian’s heart pounded as he felt the energy surge through him. This was what they needed—this was how they could turn the tide.

  Eva raised her hands, unleashing a blinding wave of radiant light. The light tore through the cluster of drones, vaporizing them in an instant. The explosion of energy was so bright that it momentarily blinded everyone in the vicinity. When the light faded, only pieces of the drones remained, floating in the air like charred remnants of their former selves.

  “Nice shot, Eva!” Mike called, his voice filled with approval.

  But Adrian didn’t have time to celebrate. He could feel the shift in the air—the calm after the storm, the brief respite before the next wave hit. And the drones were only the beginning. The System would keep coming, sending more and more enemies until the city was overrun.

  “Keep moving!” Adrian ordered. “Don’t let them regroup!”

  The next wave came faster than they had anticipated. More Typhon-Aswang Drones, larger and more aggressive than before, began to descend from the crimson sky. But this time, Adrian was ready. He manipulated the gravity again, pulling several drones toward a cluster of nearby buildings. The drones crashed into the debris, and Adrian increased the force until the buildings collapsed under the weight of the gathered Aswangs.

  Mike and Eva fought side by side, taking down anything that came within reach. Mike’s brute strength made him a powerful frontline fighter, but even he knew that brute force wouldn’t be enough. They had to work together, coordinate their attacks, and use every resource they had.

  Adrian’s focus remained sharp. He couldn’t afford distractions. The Typhon-Aswang Queen was still somewhere in the sky, leading the charge, and Adrian knew she would be the key to ending this battle. If they could take her down, the rest of the drones would scatter.

  “I’ll hold the line here!” Mike yelled, his voice cutting through the noise. “You and Eva go after the Queen!”

  Adrian nodded. “Stay sharp. We’ll need your strength to deal with the rest.”

  Eva gave a brief nod, her radiant light flickering at her fingertips. The two of them—Adrian and Eva—made their way toward the center of the battlefield, where the Queen was emerging from the swirling chaos above.

  The Typhon-Aswang Queen was massive, her wings spanning the sky as she screeched, sending waves of force through the air. Her eyes locked onto Adrian and Eva, and Adrian could feel the raw power of her presence. She was no ordinary drone. She was the heart of this wave, and she had to be taken down.

  Adrian raised his hand, manipulating the gravity around the Queen’s massive form, trying to slow her descent. But the Queen fought back, her wings snapping violently as she adjusted her position, using the force to propel herself forward.

  “Eva, hit her wings!” Adrian shouted, his voice carrying through the chaos.

  Eva didn’t hesitate. With a sharp motion, she sent a blast of radiant light toward the Queen’s wings, the light searing through the dark scales and forcing the Queen to recoil. The creature let out a deafening screech, its wings twitching as the light burned through its form.

  But the Queen wasn’t finished. She lashed out with one of her massive claws, striking at Eva and sending her flying across the battlefield.

  “Eva!” Adrian shouted.

  He couldn’t afford to lose her now. With a surge of energy, he focused on the gravity around the Queen, intensifying it until the creature’s wings were pinned to the ground. She screeched in fury, trying to break free, but Adrian had the advantage.

  Eva, shaken but determined, stood up and raised her hands once more, her radiant energy flaring brighter than before. “I’m not done yet!”

  Together, they unleashed a final coordinated attack—a burst of radiant light from Eva and a gravitational collapse from Adrian. The Queen’s form was torn apart by the combined force, her body disintegrating under the overwhelming power.

  As the Queen fell, the remaining drones hesitated. Adrian could feel the shift in the air. The first wave was broken, but it had come at a great cost. They had held the line, but the war was far from over.

  Adrian turned to his team, his heart pounding. “We’ve won this round. But the next wave will be even worse.”

  Sarah, still monitoring the Wave Meter, looked up at Adrian. “The worst is yet to come. We need to prepare for the next wave—and what follows after it.”

  Adrian’s eyes burned with determination. “We’ll be ready. Together.”

  As the first wave of Typhon-Aswangs was scattered, Adrian couldn’t help but feel a sense of victory. But the true battle was just beginning. The System would keep adapting, evolving, and it would throw everything it had at them. But for now, they had won.

  And Adrian knew that whatever came next, they would face it—together.

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