2026-02-28 07:25:51'Is it possible they came here because of the smell of coffee?' Raka thought confusedly.
The dripping sound became faster and more urgent. The sharp sour smell was now so thick that it made Raka's eyes water. Behind the ventilation grille, small red eyes flickered.
Raka didn't wait for them to leave. Two days of recovery had given him more than just a healed leg; it had given him time to think.
“Baginda, up!” he ordered in a low and firm voice.
The swan flapped its wings and flew upward. It perched on one of the highest washing machines, out of reach. Raka himself grabbed a thick plastic tarp he found in the corner and slowly backed to the other end of the room, crowbar in hand.
The ventilation grill finally broke free from the ceiling with a metallic screech. From the gaping hole, the creatures fell. They were small, no larger than a large rat, with pale, smooth, hairless skin. Their bodies resembled those of a lizard, but with jaws that could open wide. From those jaws dripped a corrosive liquid.
“A mutant lizard?” he whispered, seeing the creature’s body shape.
They landed on the floor and hissed in unison. As if on command, they charged at Raka simultaneously.
Raka is ready. As they approached, he swung the plastic tarp like a bullfighter and swept it across the floor. The little creatures ran right over him.
With a powerful tug, Raka lifted the tarp and wrapped the dozen acid monsters in a single bundle. He could feel them struggling and spitting against the inside of the tarp. Because the tarp was thick, the corrosive liquid spewing from the monsters' mouths couldn't penetrate it.
“Gotcha,” he hissed.
He slammed the bundle against the wall repeatedly until the movement inside stopped, then threw it into a corner.
Because of the coffee, adrenaline, and training he did for two days, his abilities and courage increased.
After the minor threat was overcome, he finally gave himself a small reward. With a portable grinder in hand, he ground a handful of Gayo Arabica beans. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air, finally dispelling the sour smell.
Raka brewed it carefully, a ritual he found sacred in the face of the end of the world.
“It’s so delicious,” he whispered as he took a sip of the thick black liquid.
A different warmth flowed through him. He didn't think it was the panic-inducing jolt of instant coffee. It was a controlled power. He felt focused and stronger.
A blue notification appeared in front of him, this time without any mocking tone at all.
[Physiological Adaptation Detected. High-quality caffeine intake has triggered system evolution.]
[Congratulations, Host. Your heart has been upgraded.][Caffeine Heart Level 1 upgraded to Caffeine Heart Level 2]
- Maximum BPM Safe Limit: 180 to 200 - Base 'Bullet Time' Effect Duration: increased by 3 Seconds - Fuel Efficiency: Increased by 15% (Daily caffeine requirement slightly reduced)A faint smile appeared on Raka's lips as he read the writing carefully.
“Upgrade, huh?” He nodded slowly and clenched his fists.
Raka could feel a new strength pulsing beneath his skin, his heart beating at a stronger, steadier rhythm.
“Good,” he said happily. “This is very good.”
He got up, feeling more prepared than ever. It was time to leave the shop he'd occupied for two days.
Raka walked to the door, looking at the street which was now starting to dry after the rain had stopped. That's when he heard something.
Ting… ting…
A strange and out-of-place sound. The rhythmic chime of a small bell came from down the street. It wasn't a cat with a collar.
Raka narrowed his eyes. A Sleeper figure was walking slowly down the street. But this Sleeper was different. He was taller, thinner, and his movements were more graceful, like a model walking on a catwalk .
Hanging from the Sleeper's long neck was a large, rusted bronze bell. It jingled softly with each step the monster took.
[Warning! Detected Mini-Boss: 'The Bellringer'!]
[Function: Guidance Unit. Its bell is capable of emitting low-frequency sonic waves to summon and coordinate all Sleepers within a two-kilometer radius.]Raka swallowed as he read. A summoning unit. If the creature rang its bell loudly, the area would become a death zone in a matter of minutes.
'We have to run,' he thought for a moment. It was his automatic reaction. Raka's old reaction.
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Chapter 224: Poisonous Cocktail Party
The main atrium of the Underground Mall that night was transformed into a very grand sect banquet hall. The hanging crystal chandeliers emitted a dim red glow, illuminating the wide expanse of velvet carpet.About fifty elite members of The Red Sip Society wearing blood-red silk robes gathered in a circle on leather sofas, holding tall crystal glasses filled with a thick red liquid glowing golden.Second Harvest Blood.Near the central fountain, a giant glass dispenser tank with a gothic design stood firmly. Inside the tank, hundreds of liters of Raka's blood churned slowly in rhythm with the temperature control pump.Dr. Vanya Salsabila stood beside the dispenser, crossing her arms over her chest with a very stiff professional smile. On her futuristic glasses, the biometric data of the sect members blinked, displaying their heart rates starting to increase just by smelling the vapor of that blood."How is it, Doctor? Did your formula work well?" Baron approached Vanya, swirling his c
Chapter 223: Secret Supplement
BEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEP!The emergency alarm of the Harvest Sector suddenly shrieked high, breaking the silence of the sterile room where Raka hung upside down. The red lights on the walls began blinking frantically, projecting a blood-colored glow throughout the room.Inside his chest, the Dragon Heart that had just received a dose of thick Robusta coffee from Vanya beat wildly. Whirrr—THUMP! Whirrr—THUMP!Its ultrasonic vibrations spread widely through the metal chains binding his feet, triggering the floor's seismic sensors which immediately sent a danger signal to Baron's control room.[System: Energy Leak Alarm Active! Your Dragon Heart signal is too noisy, Raka! Baron in the control room must be panicking seeing his monitors!]"D-Damn..." Raka gritted his teeth.His upside-down hanging body began to feel warm, but his hands were still locked tightly by the electronic handcuffs behind his back.The steel door of the Harvest Sector slid open forcefully.Baron rushed in. His elegant fac
Chapter 222: Anemia and Hallucinations
The world in Raka's eyes now only consisted of two colors: the blinding white of neon lights and the dark red of drying blood stains on the concrete floor below him.The second "harvest" process had just finished ten minutes ago. This time, Baron did not only take 500cc, he sucked almost a liter of Raka's blood to fulfill the demands of the ever-growing elite cult members in the atrium above.Raka began to feel his body shrinking. The skin on his face felt pulled tight, his lips were chapped due to extreme dehydration, and his body temperature kept dropping until he felt as if he was being hugged by a block of ice.Whirrr... thump... whirrr...His Dragon Heart throbbed very slowly. The reactor in his chest blinked dimly, sending danger signals that continuously pierced his brain nerves."System... turn off... the lights..." whispered Raka barely audible, even to himself.[System: Blood Volume Detection: Critical (35% below operational limit). Blood Pressure: 70/40.][System: Raka, if
Chapter 221: Luna in the Lion's Den
The Sector 9 underground warehouse smelled like a combination of rotting wet fur and predator droppings.The room was not as luxurious as the shopping center atrium above; its walls were rough concrete that constantly dripped pipe seepage water, creating a chillingly damp atmosphere. There was only one yellow light bulb swinging on the ceiling, casting an unstable dim light.In the middle of the room, there was a large iron cage usually used to confine circus animals. Inside it, was Luna sitting leaning against the iron bars.Her hands were empty. Her proud compound bow and the scalpel given by Vanya had been confiscated by Baron's followers."Honk..." Baginda snorted softly beside Luna's foot.That mutant goose looked highly offended. His metallic white feathers were messy, and he constantly pecked the dirty cement floor as if protesting the quality of accommodation they receive
Chapter 220: Vanya the Chef
Vanya never imagined her brilliant medical career would lead her to a laboratory that looked more like a five-star restaurant kitchen than an autopsy room.She stood in the middle of a room whose walls were lined with shiny white ceramic and stainless steel.Before her, lined up the most cutting-edge laboratory equipment that was hard to find even in government hospitals before the apocalypse, some of which included high-speed centrifuges, cellular incubators, to mass spectrum scanners that were still functioning perfectly thanks to a stable underground electricity supply.Vanya sipped coffee from the thin porcelain cup provided. She ignored the fact that her hands were still trembling slightly due to the sedative gas in the restaurant earlier."An impressive facility, isn't it, Doctor?"Baron's baritone voice echoed as he stepped into the laboratory. The man had taken off his ceremonial robe, now only wearing a red silk shirt with a fashionable transparent laboratory apron. He walked
Chapter 219: The First Harvest
"Hold your breath, Mr. Raka. This process will only feel like a mosquito bite... a very hungry steel mosquito," whispered Baron with a tone so calm, as if soothing a patient.Raka Adhitama felt the incredibly cold metal tip pressing against the skin of his neck, right above the carotid artery that throbbed fast due to his upside-down body position. His eyes bulged, staring sharply at Baron who was adjusting the pressure on the vacuum machine beside him.CRASH!"AAAGHH!"Raka let out a suppressed scream as the large cannula needle pierced his skin and entered his blood vessel. The pain was not only from the physical puncture, but from the highly unnatural suction sensation.He could see the dark red liquid glowing golden purple begin to flow rapidly through the transparent hose. That blood moved swirling inside the hose, towards a crystal collection tube prepared on the trolley.
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