Three years ago, this country was still standing. Thousands of islands were still connected, its shores still blue and beautiful, and its people still lived side by side, depending on one another.
Now, all that remains is a nation of ruins breathing faintly between ash and saltwater.
It all began with the Double Catastrophe, an ending so sudden it felt like the world had never even been warned.
First came Krakatoa II. It woke from a sleep so long no one believed it could ever rise again, and when it did, it erupted with a fury no human record had ever captured. This was not just a volcano. It was a blast that swallowed the sky. Thick black ash buried all of Java and Bali for months. The sun vanished. The air turned poisonous, slowly killing crops, animals, and hope itself. Rivers of blazing magma poured across the land like something straight out of hell, sealing cities beneath layers of molten rock that hardened into monuments of death.
Then the tsunami struck. Towering waves as high as skyscrapers tore through the coastline, devouring cities like starving monsters. The capital, once dazzling and alive, was now little more than rooftops jutting from filthy water. Bridges collapsed. Highways became permanent flooded canals. People survived on rooftops, in makeshift boats, and on the last hills that still rose above the sea. They drank contaminated rainwater and ate whatever would still grow in poisoned soil.
And then came the second disaster-the crueler one, because this time it came from human hands. While ash still choked the sky and bodies drifted through the drowned canals of Jakarta, news broke of a corruption scandal worth trillions of rupiah. International aid. Reconstruction funds. Emergency supplies. All of it was gone. Top officials vanished in private helicopters. Generals split the military into armed factions. And the president... became nothing more than a name nobody dared to say out loud anymore.
There was no central government left. No law anyone still obeyed. What remained were petty warlords ruling every island and every scrap of land that still rose above the water. They controlled wells, the last surviving fields, fuel depots, and guns. They killed for sacks of rice, for jerrycans of gasoline, for any patch of soil that could still be planted. Children learned how to shoot before they learned how to read. Mothers traded their bodies for a single bowl of rice.
And in the middle of all that ruin, a rumor drifted through the camps like a stubborn breeze. There are sixteen young people... Ultimates... and they are the ones who will unite everything again. They will restore the world.
Hope.
The word had become a bitter joke in the refugee camps.
My name is Reno Adi Pratama. That night, I sat alone on a jagged rock by the coast of what used to be Pelabuhan Ratu, staring at a gray sea the same dull color as our future. My work jacket was patched in too many places to count, and the scar on my left cheek stung in the cold night wind.
A lot of people called me the Ultimate Architect because I could turn rubble into houses that would not collapse when the storms came.
But at some point that night, after I had finished hammering the last support beam into a refugee tent, my head suddenly felt heavy.
I decided to sit by the shore for a while, the way I always did. Even though nothing around me looked like it was healing, I kept staring at the sea. Then my vision darkened. The horizon blurred. My body toppled before I even realized I was falling. There was no sound after that. Only blackness swallowing everything.
When I woke up, I was no longer on the rock.
I was lying on the deck of an old wooden ship swaying gently in the middle of the open sea. The night wind cut straight to the bone. There was no crew. No wheel for me to grab. The ship moved on its own, pulled by the current-or by something I could not see. Far in the distance, a silver-gold glow burned like an eternal torch from an old fairy tale. I could make out layered temple silhouettes, a massive stone gate carved with dragons and ancient birds, and dark trees lit by smokeless fire.
Something had been carved above the gate. Hope... Academy.
The ship docked at an ancient stone pier without making a sound.
I stepped off with shaking legs. The air here was too clean. Too calm. It felt like a world the disaster had somehow failed to touch.
The giant gate opened by itself with a slow groan.
A huge screen flickered on above it.
A mechanical bear appeared.
Its body was split into two colors-midnight black on one side, pure white on the other. Torn mechanical wings dragged from its back, with severed cables hanging like feathers ripped apart in a storm. Its eyes glowed red. Its grin stretched wide and crooked, like it wanted to pass for a mascot but had ended up as something closer to a demon. A real one.
'Puuuh~ Welcome, Reno Adi Pratama... Ultimate Architect~!'
The voice sounded playful, but cold as rusted steel.
I took a step back, fists tightening.
'No need to look so scared~ I am MonoGaru, the headmaster and the supervisor of your final exam. Hope Academy was built especially for you-sixteen talented young people left behind in this broken world.'
I swallowed hard. 'I... I do not understand. I am just-'
'Just an ordinary boy who knows how to build? Pffft~ That is exactly what makes you special. In a collapsing world, the person who can rebuild it is the most dangerous of all... and the most valuable.'
MonoGaru tilted its head. The torn wings creaked softly.
'All of you were invited here because the rumor is true. Ultimates. The final hope. You are the ones who will decide the fate of the world-or whatever is left of it-if you can graduate from this place.'
I shook my head. 'I do not believe this. Why me? I am just a builder-'
'Exactly because of that~' MonoGaru laughed, and the sound echoed against the stone gate. 'Now stop wasting time. Follow me to the main hall. Your classmates are waiting. They only just woke up too... and they are just as confused as you are.'
I hesitated. My legs felt heavy.
But inside my head, the whispers from the refugee camp rose again. Hope Academy. Sixteen Ultimates. The ones who can change the world.
I looked at MonoGaru, still wearing that awful grin.
I had no choice.
So I followed.
The path felt long and cold. Small temples lined the way, carved from stone by human hands-or by something else entirely. There were too many of them, and the craftsmanship was too strange, too intricate. Smokeless torches lit up dragons and ancient birds on the walls, making them look almost alive.
How can fire burn without smoke? The question pounded in my head.
At the end of the road stood a massive building. Its gates slowly opened.
Fifteen other young people were already waiting inside.
Some clutched their belongings tightly-a woven bag, a paintbrush, a hat, a jacket.
Every single pair of eyes looked the same.
Confused. Afraid. Angry.
Just like mine.
Then, in the span of a blink, MonoGaru vanished. One second it was there, and the next it was gone-only the metallic scrape of its broken wings still hanging in the air for a moment before the silence swallowed it whole. No trace. No sound. As if the creature that had led me here had simply been erased.
I stood frozen, holding my breath.
Then I started looking at them one by one.
A slender girl with a batik scarf wrapped around her neck stepped forward first. Her black hair fell in soft waves, and her eyes were calm even though her voice trembled a little.
'Did you all... suddenly wake up here too? My name is Aulia Safira. The last thing I remember is falling asleep in a refugee tent. Then... this place. How did all of you get here? Why were we brought here?'
I could only shake my head. 'I am Reno Adi. From a camp near the shore. Same thing. I woke up alone on a ship deck. The ship moved by itself. I do not know why I was sent here. What about the rest of you?'
A tiny girl with a woven bag full of herbal bottles hugged herself tightly. 'I am Sinta Dewi Lestari. I was making medicine in a tent, and then my consciousness just... disappeared. This is Hope Academy, right? The one everyone keeps talking about? They said if we graduated from here, we could help rebuild the country. But... why bring us here like this? Why not the normal way? What is really going to happen to us?'
A tall, lanky boy with slightly long hair held a small potted plant like it was the only thing keeping him steady. 'Yusuf Rahman Hakim. I woke up in an artificial forest surrounded by plants I recognized. The rumor said sixteen Ultimates would be invited here to decide the fate of the world. But... I only know how to grow rare plants. Is that really enough? Were we really chosen... or has someone made a mistake?'
A graceful girl with long silver hair touched the small bell necklace at her throat. Her voice was gentle, but full of questions. 'Lira Sari. I remember singing to calm the children in camp. Then I woke up lying in the middle of the forest. If this really is Hope Academy... what is its purpose? Why were we all brought here alone? Why did that thing appear, say all of that, and disappear without explaining anything?'
One by one, the others spoke too. Their voices overlapped, full of questions no one could answer.
A glamorous girl wearing a delicate gold necklace crossed her arms. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were cautious. 'Vina Aurelia. I woke up in a luxury room. They say the Ultimate Trader can turn ruined land into a market. But... this is too strange. Are we really supposed to become new leaders? Or is this some kind of trap?'
A stylish boy with a paintbrush in hand brushed at his sleeve. His voice was polite, but distant. 'Krisna Adi Wicaksana. I was drawing patterns in the ruins before I blacked out. The Hope Academy rumor always said the graduates would decide the future. So why does getting invited feel more like being kidnapped? What exactly are they hiding from us?'
And it went on from there.
Bima Hartono Saputra, a sharp-eyed boy in a leather jacket, grumbled and swore that if this really was some kind of trap, he would smash the culprit's head in himself. Adi Pranata Wijaya, who carried a notebook filled with speeches and plans, kept questioning the logic of all this like he could force the truth out with arguments alone. Zahra Dewi Pratiwi, still wearing her old farming hat, stared around like she was measuring every possible exit. Dion Bahari Nugroho, who smelled faintly of salt and engine oil, looked ready to run the second the doors opened. One after another, they introduced themselves and threw out the same fears in different words.
No one knew why we were here.
No one knew whether Hope Academy was salvation... or the start of something worse.
Then a sudden blast of sound tore through the room.
The giant screen above the hall lit up again in a burst of white.
MonoGaru reappeared on top of the stage like it had been waiting for the perfect moment.
'Puuuh~! Thank you for gathering so nicely, my adorable Ultimates~!'
Several people immediately stepped back. Others tensed like they were ready to fight.
Bima moved first, storming toward the stage with murder in his eyes. 'You twisted little freak! What do you want from us?!'
MonoGaru only tilted its head farther, its smile never fading. The torn wings trembled softly, as if it were trying not to laugh.
'Puuuh~ You are all so funny. But... this is not a joke.'
The screen behind it suddenly flared brighter. The words WELCOME began to crack like glass on the verge of breaking.
'Welcome to your final exam, Ultimates. Here, your hope will be tested... until only two of you remain worthy enough to carry the future.'
Silence hit us for half a second.
Then the room exploded.
'WHAT?!'
Bima was the first to shout. He stepped forward, knuckles white with fury. 'Do you think human lives are toys?! We are not dolls for you to kill whenever you feel like it!'
Adi Pranata Wijaya shouted right after him, nearly dropping his notebook. 'This is insane! You brought us here to play some sick war game? We came because we heard rumors of hope-not because we wanted to become victims in some psycho joke!'
Vina Aurelia Santoso's sweet expression vanished, replaced by pure rage. 'How dare you mess with our lives?! My family is still waiting for me in the camp! I am not some product you can execute whenever it pleases you!'
Aulia Safira Nugraha stood tall at the front, her batik scarf trembling with the force of her clenched fists. Her voice stayed steady, but barely. 'Human life is not a game. We came because we believed there was a way to reunite this shattered country-not to be butchered one by one like animals.'
Yusuf stepped back, nearly dropping his potted plant. 'Th-this cannot be real. You are lying, right? Tell us this is just some scare tactic!'
Zahra threw her work hat to the floor. 'I am not dying here! I still have fields I need to replant! You are insane!'
The uproar only grew louder. Angry voices, curses, panic, even Lira's muffled sobs as she clutched her bell necklace. Everyone surged forward, circling the stage, demanding answers, demanding freedom, demanding justice. I could feel my own blood boiling. My right hand clenched so hard my nails bit into my palm.
'You think we are your toys?!' I shouted too. 'We are not slaves you can order to die!'
MonoGaru stood calmly on the stage, its head tilted, that same awful smile glued to its face. The torn wings twitched again, like it was enjoying itself.
'Calm down... calm down, my children~' it said in a soft voice, almost like a mother soothing a tantrum. 'Do not get so noisy. Listen to your elder explain everything properly, hm?'
But nobody listened. The chaos got worse. Some people were already pushing one another. Some pointed at MonoGaru. Others spun around, desperately searching for a way out. The main hall thundered with the panic of sixteen students who had just been told they might have to murder each other.
MonoGaru let out a long sigh.
Its torn wings went still.
'Fine then...'
The playful tone vanished at once. What remained was something sharp and freezing.
'I already told you... do not make noise.'
Click.
Ancient machinery came to life from every corner of the room.
The temple walls groaned. Hidden panels split open with a deep rumble. From the darkness emerged dozens of ancient robots shaped like gods and dragons-statues of stone brought to life by gears and rusted chains, their eyes glowing the same red as MonoGaru's. In their hands were heirloom blades with glittering edges, bows already drawn with arrows in place, iron spears ready to fly, even cannons aimed directly at our chests. Thin red laser lines spread over the floor, circling each of us. One wrong move, and we all understood it at once-we would be slaughtered in seconds.
Everyone froze.
Breaths caught. Silent cries trembled in people's throats. Several backed away until their shoulders slammed into the walls. I could feel the cold point of a spear aimed straight at my neck. My heart pounded so hard it felt ready to burst.
MonoGaru smiled again. This time the smile looked wider. Satisfied.
'Good. Now you will be quiet and listen.'
It hopped down from the stage, its torn wings fluttering lightly as it landed. The ancient robots remained on alert, their red eyes never blinking.
'All right, my lovely Ultimates. Since you are calm now, I will explain things properly.'
MonoGaru walked slowly among us, the voice playful again, but with a threat underneath it now that nobody could ignore.
'You will go through a series of exams... tests... to determine who is truly worthy of graduating from Hope Academy. To reach your dreams-restoring the country, saving your families, building a new world-you must take part in this test. And really, it is such a simple one.'
It stopped at the center of the room, red eyes sweeping over each face.
'The rules are very easy, my children~ You may kill one another. If you manage to murder someone without being caught, you pass the exam and move on to the next stage.'
Every one of us stared at MonoGaru with open hatred.
'But if you are caught... there will be a Class Trial. All of you will put the killer on trial. If you accuse the wrong person, then everyone who was wrong will be executed. If you are right... only the murderer will receive my beautiful punishment.'
It lifted one tiny paw, and the ancient robots behind it stepped forward, their weapons rattling like bones.
'And remember... only two of you are allowed to graduate alive.'
'The rest... well, I told you already.'
MonoGaru laughed softly, and the sound echoed through the entire hall.
'So then... are you ready to begin your first exam?'
'Or would you like to keep shouting a little longer?'
Nobody dared answer. The only sounds left were the ancient robots standing guard and the frantic pounding of our hearts.
MonoGaru began strolling through the middle of us, tiny footsteps tapping against the freezing stone floor. The robots stayed around the edges, swords and spears still raised, red eyes unblinking. The air felt heavy, like the seconds before a storm breaks.
'And one more thing, my sweet little children~'
Its flirtatious voice returned, but this time it carried something deeper-something like a confession it had been waiting a long time to make.
'I, MonoGaru, will monitor every second of your lives on this island. Every step. Every whisper. Every tear. Nothing will escape my eyes. Because this... is your final exam.'
It raised one little paw high.
Then-
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Something came crashing down from the ceiling of the main hall. Not rain. Not wind. It sounded like dozens of iron arrows fired all at once.
Objects shot downward at terrifying speed. The eternal torchlight flashed over metal. I only caught a glimpse of black and white before-
THNK!
An icy stab tore through my left wrist. It was not ordinary pain. It felt like an iron needle punching through skin, muscle, and bone all at once. I growled and nearly dropped to one knee. Around me, groans and choked screams erupted together.
A watch.
Not an ordinary watch.
It was black metal polished to a cold sheen, with cracked white accents shaped like a broken Garuda wing. Its hands spun wildly for a second, then stopped with a sharp click. On the tiny screen, glowing red letters appeared: ULTIMATE ARCHITECT - RENO ADI PRATAMA. The strap had sunk into my skin as if it had fused with my flesh. I tried to tear it off. I could not. Thin blood trickled from the edges of the metal.
Everyone else had been given one too.
Aulia clutched her wrist, pale as paper. Sinta cried quietly while trying to pry off the watch now embedded in her arm. Bima cursed and punched at the empty air. Vina stared at her own wrist with wide eyes, as if she had just lost something more precious than her life.
MonoGaru laughed, the sound bright and sweet in the middle of our pain.
'Those are your MonoWatches~ Important little tools that will stay with you during your time at Hope Academy. Do not even think about taking them off. If you force it... well, you just saw what happens.'
It leapt back onto the stage. Behind it, the giant screen that had been cracking lit up again. This time it did not show a welcome message.
A list appeared in huge, clear letters, as if written by the same hand that had scratched WELCOME across the screen earlier.
HOPE ACADEMY STUDENT ROSTER
Aulia Safira - Ultimate Diplomat
Reno Adi - Ultimate Architect
Sinta Dewi Lestari - Ultimate Herbalist
Yusuf Rahman Hakim - Ultimate Botanist
Lira Sari - Ultimate Singer
Rian Putra - Ultimate Mechanic
Zahra Dewi Pratiwi - Ultimate Farmer
Dion Bahari Nugroho - Ultimate Navigator
Vina Aurelia - Ultimate Trader
Krisna Adi Wicaksana - Ultimate Artist
Bima Hartono Saputra - Ultimate Dealer
Adi Pranata Wijaya - Ultimate Politician
Anya Kurnia Putri - Ultimate Historian
Zayn Malik Ramadhan - Ultimate Organizer
Selena Artha Putri - Ultimate Actor
Nova Pratama - Ultimate Saboteur
The names lit up one by one across the screen, each followed by a small photo taken at some unknown moment-maybe while we were still back in our old lives. My photo showed me holding a hammer, face streaked with dust. Aulia was smiling softly in the middle of a crowd. We all looked... ordinary. Far too ordinary to be called Ultimates.
MonoGaru threw both arms wide, its torn wings spreading behind it like a dying bird.
'Now you are officially participants. Your MonoWatch will show you the island map, important documents, motive notes, even messages between you-if I decide to allow it. Use it wisely. Or do not. That part is up to you.'
It looked at us one by one. Its red eyes lingered on Aulia, then on me.
'From this moment on... I warmly welcome you to Hope Academy.'
Its playful tone slowly deepened into something colder. Final.
'I will wait with great anticipation for the results of this exam.'
'Who will graduate?'
'Who will become the chosen two?'
'Who will decide the fate of this shattered world?'
'Who will carry hope... and who will destroy it forever?'
The giant screen behind it began to dim. The ancient robots slowly withdrew into the walls, though their weapons stayed raised until the last second. MonoGaru jumped down from the stage one final time.
'Enjoy the game, Ultimates.'
Then it disappeared-swept away into the darkness of the corridor, leaving behind nothing but the fading scrape of its broken wings.
We stood there, sixteen of us, with watches sunk into our wrists like living shackles. Blood still dripped. Our breathing still shook.
Outside, the night sea churned in the dark.
Inside, the eternal torches burned on in silence.
And on our wrists, the tiny MonoWatch screens glowed faintly, displaying a map of the island-complete with the zones that might one day become our graves.
I, Reno Adi Pratama, stared at the names on the giant screen as they slowly faded away.
We came here searching for hope.
But what we found...
was despair.