Chapter 197: The Start of the Event
Based on the clues they obtained, it seemed that it was really Angelo’s Shelter!
The swampy terrain surrounded them, and faint outlines of structures could be seen in the background.
Kai smiled...
"Yes... I’m sure of it. This is a shelter. And if it’s Angelo’s..."
Noli nodded. "That’s what I thought too. The way they moved... it didn’t feel random. They were guarding something."
Kai studied the images carefully. His instincts told him this wasn’t a simple shelter...
Angelo had been a threat before, and if this was his base, then Freedom Shelter couldn’t ignore it.
"We’ll need to confirm," Kai said firmly. "But after the Global Event. Right now, our focus is survival. Once that’s over, we’ll deal with Angelo."
Noli hesitated, then asked, "Are we going to raid them?"
Kai’s eyes hardened. "If it’s Angelo, then yes. He’s dangerous. Leaving him alone would be a mistake."
The two stood in silence for a moment...
Finally, Kai handed back the digi‑cam. "Keep this safe. Don’t let anyone else see it yet. We’ll plan carefully when the time comes."
Noli nodded, clutching the device tightly. "Understood, Sir Kai."
Kai leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes briefly.
His body was exhausted from the spar, but his mind was already thinking about the next challenge. The fight with Atom had proven his limits. Now, the looming presence of Angelo’s shelter reminded him that greater battles were still ahead.
For now, though, he allowed himself a moment of rest.
Tomorrow, they had to complete their preparations for the upcoming global event...
***
Kai’s preparations proceeded smoothly, and soon, the day of the event had finally arrived!
Five days had already passed since the warning from the system!
The Freedom Shelter had fortified its defenses... They had practiced with their new weapons and devices, stocked supplies, and distributed the disruptor units.
The survivors knew that the Global Event was not something they should be afraid of...
At dawn, Kai and every foreign survivor on the continent received the new broadcast.
[ The Global Event: Surveillance Sweep is here! ]
[ Attention Survivors! The countdown has ended. The hostile operation is now active. ]
[ Event Duration: 7 Days
Objective: Survive continuous drone sweeps across all regions. Drones will scan for survivors, marking detected targets for hunter bot deployment. Survivors must hide, jam signals, or destroy drones... or face reinforcements from the Swarmers.
Enemy Composition: Surveillance Drones, Swarmers, Hounds, Hunters, and one unidentified special unit. ]
[ Mechanics:
Drones operate in waves, covering wide areas.
Once marked, hunter bots will arrive within minutes.
Survivors are advised to minimize outdoor activity and prepare countermeasures. ]
[ Rewards ]
[ High Experience Points for every drone destroyed or wave survived.
Rare Loot Drops, including advanced crafting materials.
Survivor’s Medals for those who endure the full event.
Special Devices and fortification upgrades for shelters that repel multiple waves.
Additional hidden rewards may be unlocked by defeating special units or completing undisclosed objectives. ]
[ Notice ]
[ Survivors are reminded: hiding may save lives, but destroying drones will weaken the A.I. Rebel’s army.
The choice is yours... endure quietly, or strike boldly. ]
[ The Surveillance Sweep has begun. The battlefield awaits. ]
Kai lowered the message window as he read it carefully.
Just like the previous information, it would be seven days of continuous sweeps. For many, survival meant hiding in the shadows, praying the drones passed them by. But for Kai, this was an opportunity.
"Seven days..." he muttered. "Either we hide, or we use this chance to cut down the A.I. Rebel’s army."
Mei smiled as he looked at Kai. "Do you think we can really fight them all?"
Kai shook his head. "No way... We’ll observe how strong they are at first. We don’t need to fight them all. But every drone we destroy weakens their numbers and increases the level of our members. If we want Freedom Shelter to stand against Angelo later, we can’t just hide. We need strength. If possible, I want you all to reach Level 30."
This was a pretty obvious decision...
The Global Event had begun, and for the next seven days, they would have to protect themselves.
***
Kai ordered everyone into the main building’s basement.
The heavy steel doors were shut tight, and the survivors gathered in silence.
For now, only the Portable Signal Jammer from his Enhanced Gift Pack was activated...
This small device gave a faint hum filling the room with 43 people inside...
It wasn’t as powerful as the portable disruptor field units, but it was enough to mask their presence for now.
"Stay quiet," Kai whispered. "No one moves until I say."
The tension was escalating as Kai felt that the enemies were coming...
Dozens of survivors huddled together, rifles clutched tightly, as they looked toward the ceiling...
Apparently, the faint buzzing of drones echoed outside.
’They’re already here... That’s fast.’
Indeed, the first batch of surveillance drones arrived as they swept across the sky. Their red sensors scanned the terrain, but no movements came back..
The survivors held their breath.
Still, they learned that the jammer worked as the drones passed overhead without detecting them.
Minutes dragged on, and finally, the buzzing faded! Relief washed over the group, but it didn’t last that long!
From outside, a new sound emerged...
This time, the sound was sharper and seemed more erratic.
Without a doubt, the Swarmers had arrived!
Everyone also recognized this sound!
These insect‑like drones, each the size of a human head, flew and hovered around the shelter. They were lurking around the walls as they searched for openings!
Unlike the surveillance drones, they weren’t just passing by. They were probing, testing, trying to find a way inside!
"They’re hunting, huh..." Mei muttered as she also felt their presence.
As for the slaves, they definitely felt scared. But they just had to trust the group.
Soon, even the Swarmers scraped against windows and vents...
One of them even latched onto a ventilation. Then, another hovered near the basement hatch, scanning for weaknesses...
The jammer kept their signals distorted, but Kai knew it wouldn’t last forever. The Swarmers were persistent, and if they found even the smallest gap, they would pour inside!