After their firm answer about joining PILAR, the atmosphere became more serious. There was no more small talk.
Agent Kodrat took the first step.
"It's time for you to begin role training."
The five department heads began to move. And so did the five teenagers.
Radhif followed Agent Kodrat, Dhoost was taken by Agent Javar, Dzoavha was guided by Agent Clarissa, Ryn was led by Agent Miftah, and Nadhyfa was taken directly by Agent Ironi.
The five of them went to their respective training rooms, separated from each other. There, their roles would truly be tested.
---
In a room of bright red. Its walls were steel-plated, the floor like a battlefield. The sound of artificial wind blew from large vents in the ceiling.
Agent Kodrat stood calmly in the center of the room.
"An Anchor is the vanguard. They must not falter. They are the wall that the enemy cannot pass."
He looked at Radhif.
"And I see that potential in you."
Before Radhif could respond, a mechanical sound was heard.
"TESTING COMMENCES."
The floor opened.
Three human-sized robots emerged. Their eyes glowed red. Their movements were fast.
A timer appeared on the wall, 02:00.
"Your task is to hold off their attacks for a full two minutes," said Agent Kodrat.
"But you must not disable them before the time is up. Do it after I do."
Without a signal, the robots attacked.
Agent Kodrat stepped forward first, deflecting attacks with precise movements and incredible strength. By the time the timer ended, the three robots were powerless.
"Now it's your turn."
Radhif swallowed. He wasn't ready. But he knew he had to try.
---
In the Shadow training room, a dark ambiance dominated. Only a sliver of light remained, enough to make silhouettes hard to see.
Agent Javar explained, "Like the name, a shadow is a shadow. Unseen, but its effect is felt. They are infiltrators, observers, and silent executors."
He gave a demonstration. Without a sound, he disappeared behind a dark wall, then reappeared behind Dhoost, holding the phone from Dhoost's own pants pocket.
"This is just a basic example. Now, your turn."
From the floor, five robots emerged. Their sensors were active. Their goal was clear, to detect Dhoost's presence.
"If you can survive without being detected for two minutes... you have a future as a Shadow."
Dhoost sighed. He knew this wouldn't be easy.
---
A cold blue ambiance greeted Dzoavha as he entered the Techno training room. Holographic screens lit up around him.
Agent Clarissa said, "You showed talent when seizing control of one of the robots in the corridor. But did you know? That robot was intentionally made weak so you could get in."
She pointed to five inactive robots in the corner of the room.
"These robots are different. They are protected by high-level encryption. If you can reset their systems before the timer runs out… maximize the potential you have."
A timer appeared, 03:00.
"If you don't hack the systems of those robots quickly…they will activate and attack you."
Dzoavha glanced at the clock, then started working. His fingers typed nimbly. But he knew this wasn't the same level as what he faced before.
---
In a bright yellow room, Agent Miftah explained to Ryn.
"A Marksman is the team's eyes.They have a wider vision, more accurate attacks, and remain unseen."
He demonstrated basic camouflage techniques, how body position and the environment could make one almost invisible.
"You must be able to do all this... while shooting the five robots over there, before they detect your presence."
He took the cigarette from Ryn's pocket.
"I'll keep this until you succeed."
Ryn just gave a faint smile.
"Fine."
---
A warm, green-hued room welcomed Nadhyfa. Different from the others, the Support training room felt more open, like a command center.
Agent Ironi was still silent. But Nadhyfa had already started asking questions.
"Is Support just about medical stuff?"
"Do we have to be good at strategy too?"
"Is the Support role that important?"
Finally, Agent Ironi answered, "Support is not just the team's nurse. We are the team's brain. Strategy, coordination, and analysis are our weapons."
He showed a simulation.
"You and I will control robots against each other. Let's see who can win with the best strategy."
Nadhyfa grinned.
"I like this!"
However, despite her full enthusiasm, her strategy turned out to be easy to predict.
"You have energy. But you need discipline."
The first attempt failed. The second also failed. The third… still unsuccessful.
Every time she tried, the result was always the same, failure.
Yet, each room had a different form of failure. And each department head gave unique lessons.
Agent Kodrat, Javar, Miftah, Clarissa, and Ironi never gave up. They only conveyed one same message to the five teenagers.
"You have ten chances. If you still fail by the end, you can still join PILAR… but as an Agent Trainee."
Those words made everyone fall silent.
---
In his training room, Dzoavha asked Agent Clarissa.
"What's the difference between a Trainee and a Professional Agent?"
Agent Clarissa smiled faintly.
"An Agent Trainee is a young agent still under mentorship. They must participate in the PILAR Tournament, a training program and also a selection of young talents to become Professional Agents."
She continued, "And this PILAR Tournament is the first season. An annual event that will only start this year."
Dzoavha frowned.
"So…we are part of that event?"
Clarissa nodded.
"Correct. All participants received invitations. Only the chosen ones. You are the last group to get the chance. If you succeed… we will look for others."
Dzoavha was silent for a moment. He never imagined his life would be connected to something so big.
But even though he knew the importance of this, he still failed.
So did his friends.
---
In the Anchor training room, Radhif had tried eight times.
Each time,he almost succeeded. Until finally…
On the eighth attempt, Radhif managed to take down all three robots before the timer ran out.
He grinned widely. "I finally beat them!"
However…
"You failed,"said Agent Kodrat flatly.
Radhif was shocked. "Why? I defeated them all!"
Agent Kodrat looked straight at the timer showing two seconds remaining.
"An Anchor isn't about disabling. It's about holding the line. You must be able to hold off attacks longer than this."
Radhif clenched his fist. Two chances remained.
---
In the Shadow training room, Dhoost had tried five times.
Each time, he tried to disappear. Using shadows, sneaking, even trying simple visual tricks.
But the robot sensors were always faster.
"You must be able to become a shadow," said Agent Javar.
"Not just avoid."
Dhoost sighed.
"Alright, I'll try again."
---
The holographic screens lit up. The timer began counting down.
Dzoavha had tried many times. He knew how to hack systems. But this time, the encryption level was far higher than he anticipated.
"You're not fast enough," said Agent Clarissa when the timer ran out and the robots began to activate.
"A Techno must be able to work under pressure."
Dzoavha let out a long sigh.
"I won't fail after this one…"
---
The targets in the Marksman room moved. Sensors active. Ryn took position.
He had learned how to camouflage, how to shoot undetected, and how to read enemy movement patterns.
Yet every time he shot, the robots immediately turned and attacked him.
"You are too impatient," said Agent Miftah.
"A Marksman isn't just about shooting accurately. You must also attack at the right moment."
Ryn adjusted the hair covering his eyes.
"I'll try again, there are still chances, right?"
---
Nadhyfa was presented with a complex AI simulation. She had to control several robot units and devise strategies against Agent Ironi.
"Your strategy is good," said Agent Ironi.
"But your attacks are still too predictable. A Support must be one step ahead."
Nadhyfa hit the sofa she was sitting on.
"This is really challenging. Let's go again."
One by one, they kept trying. In different rooms, with different tests, but with the same goal.
Two chances remained.
No one had succeeded yet.
But everyone knew it wasn't over.
The tenth attempt arrived.
In their respective training rooms, the five teenagers took their final positions. Outside, time moved relentlessly. In their hearts, they all knew this was the last chance.
Radhif stood in the center of the Anchor room. Robots ready. Timer counting down. His breath steady. His body upright.
"This time... I have to hold out longer than before."
---
In the dark room, Dhoost positioned himself in the deepest corner. Robot sensors active. A mechanical sound sounded.
"EXAMINATION COMMENCES."
And Dhoost vanished into the shadows.
---
The holographic screens lit up. Five robots still inactive. Timer showed 03:00.
Dzoavha's fingers moved nimbly. He had no room for error.
"This is the last chance,I have to do it."
---
Targets moved. Ryn regulated his breath. He wasn't in a hurry. This time, he truly waited for the right moment.
"How much more patient do I need to be?"
---
The robots were ready to fight. This time, there was no room for trial-and-error strategies.
"I will be one step ahead of you,Agent Ironi!"
But even with their maximum effort… They failed.
All of them failed.
Not a single one of them passed the role test this time.
However, the department heads showed no disappointment. Only calm gazes, as if they had expected it.
A moment later, they were brought back to the department heads' room.
Agent Kodrat spoke, "You are not ready to be Professional Agents. But… you are now officially members of PILAR as Agent Trainees."
Agent Clarissa added, "This is not the end. This is the beginning of the real training. And you will be part of PILAR Tournament Season 1."
They all fell silent. Still processing the meaning of those words.
There, they were given special PILAR watches. Communication devices, emergency beacons, and their identity as members of this secret agency.
Each color indicated the role assigned to them.
Radhif with a black watch with red accents for the Anchor role.
Dhoost with a black watch with purple accents for the Shadow role.
Dzoavha with a black watch with blue accents for the Techno role.
Ryn with a black watch with yellow accents symbolizing the Marksman role.
And Nadhyfa with a black watch with green accents for the Support role.
"Whenever this watch beeps," said Agent Ironi,
"it means PILAR is summoning you.You must answer it, or you will be considered in violation of protocol."
As everyone received their watches, Agent Miftah approached Ryn.
"You seem to really like smoking, huh?" he asked flatly.
Ryn smiled faintly. "Yeah… something like that."
Agent Miftah took the pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
"Your stamina is lacking because you inhale too many of these sticks.You will automatically get a warning if you smoke near PILAR operational areas. And these cigarettes will be kept until you are promoted to Professional Agent."
Ryn wasn't angry. He just smiled.
"Okay, I'll work hard for that."
Before they all left the room, the department heads suddenly put on gas masks.
The five teenagers were startled.
"What is this?" asked Nadhyfa.
Before they could ask further, thick white gas began filling the room from cracks in the walls.
A pungent, sweet smell. Their vision began to blur.
"Is—this—sleeping gas?" murmured Radhif before everything faded.
They fainted one by one.
When their eyes opened again, the night air greeted them.
The five of them woke up in the yard of the old warehouse, the place where they first entered this secret world.
The sky was dark. 10:30 PM.
Dzoavha immediately opened his phone.
"Whoa… we're outside. And it's really late."
He woke Nadhyfa, then helped Dhoost and Radhif to their feet.
Ryn, who had recovered, just smiled.
"So...tomorrow we start a new life?"
Dhoost nodded slowly.
"Seems like it... But remember, this is just the beginning."
TO BE CONTINUED…