The livestream had barely ended when the backlash began.
HydraCorp's stock slipped another three percent. Investors demanded answers. Government committees announced they were "reviewing" procurement partnerships. For the first time in years, the corporation looked shaken.
Inside their Makati skyscraper, Director Ramon Villanueva's temper boiled over. He hurled a crystal glass against the wall, shards scattering across the carpet.
"An ant dares to humiliate us in front of the world," he hissed. "If the courts and media can't contain him, then we'll cut him out at the root."
His security chief, Joel Marquez—the scar-jawed ex-operative—spoke quietly but firmly. "Do you want him silenced?"
Ramon's smile was thin, dangerous. "No. Silence makes martyrs. I want him broken. I want his people too afraid to stand beside him. Make an example."
That same night, the first blow landed.
Trucks carrying AquaPure shipments to disaster relief centers were ambushed on the highway. The drivers returned bruised and bloodied, empty-handed. The cargo was gone.
Two nights later, thugs smashed windows at the warehouse while workers slept inside. No one was killed, but the message was clear: nowhere was safe.
By dawn, Rafael stood among the wreckage, fists clenched at his sides. Workers swept glass with trembling hands. Maria approached him, face pale.
"Boss… people are scared. They love what we're doing, but… they have families."
The Codex pulsed in his mind:
"Workforce loyalty at risk. Probability of desertion: 41%. Countermeasure: Provide protection. Establish security infrastructure."
Rafael's voice was steady, but his chest ached. "We're not soldiers. But if they want a war, we'll defend ourselves. I won't let anyone here pay the price for standing with me."
That afternoon, he met with local barangay captains, tricycle groups, even volunteer security from activist allies. With Codex's simulations guiding him, he built a protective network—not mercenaries, but communities who believed in AquaPure's mission. Drivers armed with radios. Neighborhood lookouts. Hidden cameras at every approach.
HydraCorp expected fear. What they found instead was resistance.
But Ramon wasn't finished. A week later, an even darker strike came. Arman—the whistleblower—was found beaten in a Pasay side street, his body broken but alive.
The Codex whispered coldly in Rafael's mind:
"Message delivered: HydraCorp escalation confirmed. Probability of assassination attempt on host: 72%."
Rafael sat by Arman's hospital bed, the man's bruised face barely recognizable. Rage simmered in his chest, sharper than any fear. HydraCorp had drawn new lines.
He turned to Maria, his voice low, iron-hard.
"They think they can scare us into silence. But every blow they strike only makes the truth louder. If they want to play predator…" His eyes burned with resolve. "…then let's show them prey can bite back."
The Codex glowed, displaying new words:
"Strategic Module Upgrade Available: Covert Operations. Unlock potential to turn HydraCorp's shadows against themselves."
Rafael inhaled slowly. HydraCorp had escalated to the streets. Now, the battlefield itself was about to change.