Chapter 27: The Guild Summit

  Adrian stood at the front of Mandaue City Hall, watching as the various guild leaders filed in one by one. The room was tense, the air thick with distrust and uncertainty. It was a bitter irony—factions that had once fought for survival were now forced to cooperate if they had any hope of holding their ground against the growing tide of corruption.

  But Adrian wasn’t here to negotiate. He wasn’t here to make peace. He was here to enforce unity—whether they liked it or not.

  The walls of City Hall were in disrepair, the windows broken and the remnants of the old world barely holding together. Yet, there was still a certain strength in the structure, a symbol of the city’s resilience. Adrian had to remind himself of that as he gazed around the room. These leaders—these guilds—might be the last remaining hope for the people of Mandaue. They just didn’t know it yet.

  “Is everyone here?” Adrian asked, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the murmurs.

  The leaders were seated in a semicircle, their eyes scanning him with a mixture of suspicion, hostility, and reluctant curiosity. Sarah stood beside him, her expression unreadable as she tapped away on her device. The rest of the team, Mike, Eva, and the others, were scattered around the room, silently watching for any signs of trouble.

  A tall, scarred man with a jagged tattoo across his neck stood up from his seat, his eyes narrowing. “We’re here, Admin. Now what?”

  Adrian didn’t flinch. “You’re all here because you’ve been given a chance to survive. But you need to make a choice. The Wave Meter is reaching critical levels. That means we’re about to face something worse than anything we’ve encountered so far. If we don’t act together, we’re done for. And not just you—everyone in Mandaue. The entire city.”

  The room was quiet for a moment, but Adrian could feel the tension in the air. These leaders were used to fighting for their own. They were territorial, protective, and fiercely independent. The idea of surrendering even a fraction of their hard-earned resources to a larger cause wasn’t one they would take lightly.

  Adrian continued, his voice unwavering. “I’m asking for 5% of your energy resources. This will go toward powering the planetary shield—our last line of defense. It’s not a request. It’s a tax. And if you want your people to survive the coming wave, you’ll comply.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The leader who had spoken before stood up again. His voice was low and rough, like gravel being ground beneath a heavy boot. “You think we’ll just hand over 5% of everything we’ve worked for? For a tax? What’s to stop you from taking it all?”

  Adrian’s gaze hardened. “I’m not asking for your trust. I’m asking for your cooperation. If we’re going to survive, we all need to contribute. The first wave is coming. And we either fight together or we perish separately.”

  The scarred man sneered. “You’re just trying to make yourself the king of Mandaue, huh?”

  Adrian’s voice remained calm, but the edge of authority in it was unmistakable. “I’m trying to save this city. And if you want your people to survive, you’ll do what’s necessary.”

  A few of the other guild leaders exchanged uneasy glances. Adrian could feel the reluctance in the room. This was the moment of truth. But if he backed down now, he’d lose whatever semblance of control he had over the situation.

  “You have no idea what’s coming,” Sarah said, her voice cutting through the tension. “This isn’t just about Mana Crystals. It’s about survival. And if we don’t cooperate, we’ll all be wiped out. The System doesn’t care about your guilds or your petty feuds. It’s coming for us all.”

  For a moment, the room fell silent. It was clear that Sarah’s words had struck a nerve. The guild leaders knew, deep down, that the coming storm was unlike anything they had ever faced. The rising energy levels, the interference from the System—it wasn’t just a new wave of monsters or mutated creatures. It was something far more insidious.

  “5%,” Adrian said again, his voice carrying the weight of finality. “That’s all I’m asking. We need to power the shield to stop the wave. If you don’t contribute, the whole city falls. The choice is yours.”

  Mike, ever the pragmatist, stepped forward, crossing his arms over his chest. “You all know what’s coming. The Wave Meter is at critical levels, and we’ve already seen what the System can do. We can either fight for resources and power, or we can fight for survival. But it’s not a choice anymore. If you don’t want your people to be wiped out, you’ll agree.”

  The guild leader with the tattoo was silent for a long moment. His fingers twitched as if he was contemplating his options. Adrian knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but he couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away. The city’s survival depended on it.

  Finally, the scarred man sat down, his expression still hard but resigned. “Fine. 5%. But we’re watching you.”

  Adrian gave a small nod, the first sign of relief in the room. “Thank you. I’ll make sure the resources are distributed properly.”

  One by one, the other guild leaders followed suit, murmuring their grudging agreement. The tension in the room began to lift, but Adrian knew it was only temporary. The hard part was still ahead. They had secured the cooperation of the guilds—for now. But once the first wave hit, everything would change.

  As the meeting drew to a close, Adrian turned to Sarah, who was already preparing to leave. “Keep monitoring the Wave Meter,” he instructed. “The first wave is coming soon. We need to be ready.”

  Sarah nodded. “I’ll make sure we’re prepared.”

  Mike clapped Adrian on the back. “Well done, Admin. They’re not happy about it, but they’re on our side for now.”

  Adrian looked around the room, his eyes scanning the faces of the guild leaders who had reluctantly agreed to his terms. “We’ve won this round. But the real fight is still to come.”

  Eva stood quietly at the back of the room, her eyes fixed on the horizon visible through the cracked windows of City Hall. The sky had grown darker, and Adrian could feel the tension building. The first wave would be a true test of their unity.

  “We’ve got one shot at this,” Adrian said quietly. “Let’s make it count.”

  As they left the meeting hall, the weight of the upcoming battle pressed heavily on their shoulders. The guilds were on board—for now—but the true challenge was yet to come. The first wave was fast approaching, and the future of Mandaue, and perhaps the world, hung in the balance.

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