I stood frozen in the middle of the main hall, which felt increasingly cold. The MonoWatch clamped around my wrist still throbbed like a living shackle. Our names still glowed faintly on the large screen behind the empty podium. Two people had graduated. The rest were dead. Killed or executed. Those words echoed in my head like the lingering heat of molten lava.
No one could stay silent.
"This is insane! This has to be a lie!" shouted Bima Hartono Saputra, a guy in a leather jacket with a buzz cut. His fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on his neck bulged. He stepped forward as if ready to punch the podium, his face flushed red like someone who had just lost a huge gamble. "You're saying we have to kill each other? Human lives aren't toys, you crazy puppet!"
Vina Aurelia, a glamorous girl with a thin gold necklace sparkling under the torchlight, crossed her arms and let out a bitter laugh. Her eyes, however, were cold as a snake ready to strike. "This must be a trap. I don't believe it. I was brought here for my talent, not to become a victim. If this is real, I'll take all of you to court!"
Aulia Safira, a slender girl with a simple batik scarf wrapped around her neck like a shawl, took a step back. Her hand clutched her injured wrist. Her wavy black hair partially covered her pale face, but her voice remained firm and idealistic as always—like she was mediating a conflict in a refugee camp. "This… this is unacceptable. We're humans, not test subjects! If there really is an exam, why not a normal one? Why does it have to involve lives? I refuse to believe we have to kill each other just to graduate!"
Yusuf Rahman Hakim, a tall and lanky guy with slightly long hair and a plain, worn-out t-shirt, gripped his small potted plant tighter, as if it were the only thing that could calm him. His eyes, usually bright when talking about plants, were now dark. His voice was quiet but filled with restrained anger. "This must be a misunderstanding. I'm just a botanist. I can grow rare plants in a day, but killing people? No way. Tell me this is a lie!"
The commotion grew louder. Zahra Dewi Pratiwi threw her work hat to the floor again, her voice blazing like someone ready to fight for ruined farmland. "I refuse! I still have a family waiting for the harvest! How can you play with our lives like this?!"
Nova Pratama, a tall and slender guy in a long black coat that made him look like a shadow of the night, stood silently in the corner. His eyes narrowed philosophically, and his voice was soft but piercing. "This… is perfect darkness. But lives are not tools for sabotage."
Even Selena Artha Putri, a beautiful girl with two-toned hair and a small mirror in her hand, smiled nervously, though her voice trembled. "This must be an act, right? Don't tell me it's real…"
MonoGaru suddenly reappeared on the podium—not from the hallway, but as if slipping out from the darkness behind the large screen. Its torn wings creaked softly, its smile still wide, but this time there was a hint of irritation hidden behind its flirtatious tone.
"Puuuh~ You're all so noisy. I already told you, didn't I? The small details are in the MonoWatch. Just check it yourselves. I only gave you the big picture. No need to throw a tantrum like kids who lost their candy."
As if responding to its words, the MonoWatches on all our wrists beeped sharply at the same time, making us jump. The small screens lit up red, displaying new files: Basic Rules of Akademi Harapan, Island Map, Student List, and a brief document about the school—a complex of ancient temples built on floating ruins, equipped with simple machinery and themed zones (Main Temple, Sacred Forest, Stone Mountain, Ancient Harbor, Floating Shrine). There were no details about "killing," but there was a vague warning: The exams will determine who is worthy of survival.
"Done? Read it? Feeling a bit calmer now?" MonoGaru raised its hand. "If not, I can activate those robots again, you know~"
We fell silent. Still seething with anger, but silent. Fists remained clenched, breaths ragged, but no one dared make another outburst.
MonoGaru chuckled softly, its voice echoing like wind through a dark corridor. "Good. Now… I'll take my leave for now. Enjoy your first night at Akademi Harapan!"
It leaped high—far too high for such a small bear. Its torn wings spread wide, the broken cables glowing red like blood. From the ceiling of the hall, a cloud of smoke suddenly exploded, accompanied by a rumbling sound like a collapsing temple. Lights flickered wildly. MonoGaru vanished into the mist, leaving only its flirtatious laughter echoing for a long time before fading completely.
We were left alone. Sixteen strangers now bound by the same cruel fate. The main hall felt even colder and darker, even though the torches were still burning.
Small arguments began again, but this time not out of anger—more out of confusion and fear.
"What the hell is this?" muttered Rian Putra, a guy with glasses and gloves, wiping the sweat from his lenses. He opened his MonoWatch, his fingers trembling as they touched the screen. "This map… the island is huge. There are weird zones. Is there any way to escape?"
Dion Bahari Nugroho, an athletic guy in a captain's jacket with tan skin, shook his head slowly. His voice was calm but strategic, like someone reading ocean currents. "It won't be easy. I saw the beach earlier. The sea is guarded. The wind and stars tell me we're in the middle of the open ocean. Escaping without a plan is the same as dying."
Krisna Adi Wicaksana, a stylish guy with neat hair and a paintbrush in his pocket, smiled politely, but his eyes were empty like a blank canvas. "There must… there must be someone behind all this. I don't believe that puppet made the rules by itself. We should just check the documents here."
Anya Kurnia Putri, a mysterious girl with long straight black hair and a thin veil, shook her head cynically. "History says traps like this always have a purpose. Everything is just manipulation."
Zayn Malik Ramadhan, a tattooed guy in a torn jacket, kicked a small stone on the floor, his voice rebellious. "I don't want to follow these crazy rules. Let's unite now! Let's fight it together!"
Selena Artha Putri smiled playfully, though her voice was hard to read—as if she was acting. "If it's an act, I can read it and play along. But if it's real… I just want to live."
Nova Pratama, from the dark corner, whispered philosophically. "This darkness… is clearer than false light. But if we need to find a way out, I'm ready."
Sinta Dewi Lestari, a petite girl with a woven bag full of herbs, started chattering while treating the wound on her own wrist. "All of you… don't panic yet. I have calming herbs. But… yeah… just medicine, okay? I can only make medicine, not kill people!"
Lira Sari, an elegant girl with long silver hair and a simple necklace, began humming softly—her gentle voice calming everyone a little, but firm when she spoke. "We have to unite. Songs can heal wounds, but this… this is more than a wound."
Zahra Dewi Pratiwi, with her short reddish-brown hair, picked up her hat again, her voice optimistic yet fiery. "We can rebuild! But not by killing each other. This must be wrong!"
The conversations grew more chaotic. Small dialogues and restless behaviors filled the space: Yusuf plucked leaves from the small pot he carried to calm himself, Rian tinkered with his MonoWatch as if fixing a machine, and Adi opened his notebook to record the insane rules.
Finally, Aulia Safira stepped into the center. Her wavy black hair was gently blown by the night breeze slipping through the stone cracks, and her batik scarf fluttered slowly. Her eyes were calm and patient, like someone who always looked for the good side even in darkness. Her idealistic personality emerged: she raised her hand gently, her voice firm yet empathetic.
"Everyone… stop for a moment. We can't keep going like this. Panicking won't help. I'm Aulia Safira, the Ultimate Diplomat. I'm used to resolving conflicts between groups that have been enemies for years in just one meeting. Listen, we should organize everything properly. Let's explain the situation step by step from the beginning. What were you doing before that darkness came? How did you wake up here? There might be a pattern. Maybe we can figure out who's behind this."
Some nodded hesitantly. Others stayed silent. I nodded slowly—I liked the way she spoke, gentle yet strong.
Someone—probably Dion, with his strategic voice—added, "Yeah. And we should know each other's Ultimates. What makes you called Ultimate? What talent got you chosen? Maybe that's the key to why we're here."
Aulia smiled slightly, still idealistic. "Alright. I'll start with myself. Before this, I was mediating a water conflict between two villages on the outskirts of the capital—a conflict that had been going on for a long time. I tried talking with their leaders, finding a fair middle ground. Then… everything went dark. I woke up in the dorm room with my scarf still on me. I'm called the Ultimate Diplomat because I can end long-standing bloodshed by making people listen, talk, and find solutions together."
I, Reno Adi, stepped forward next. "I'm Reno Adi, the Ultimate Architect. Before this, I was building a tent roof in a camp near Pelabuhan Ratu. I can design and build all kinds of structures quickly using any materials. Until suddenly I woke up alone on a ship's deck. And that ship… was moving by itself."
One by one, they spoke.
"I'm Sinta Dewi Lestari, the Ultimate Herbalist. I was making medicine from ordinary plants for sick people. The medicines I make often heal all kinds of misfortunes. Until… yeah… I suddenly woke up in the bushes."
"Yusuf Rahman Hakim, the Ultimate Botanist. Before coming here, I was searching for rare plants. I can find all kinds of plants, identify them, and even grow them in a day. Why am I here? I don't know—I just woke up in the forest."
"Lira Sari, the Ultimate Singer. At that time, I was singing to calm a crowd that was arguing. My voice can unite hundreds of people. And… everything went dark, and I woke up in the dorm."
"Rian Putra, the Ultimate Mechanic. Before coming here, I was fixing a water pump from scrap materials. My ability is making simple machines that work without powerful energy sources. I woke up in a warehouse." A very simple introduction, I thought.
"Zahra Dewi Pratiwi, the Ultimate Farmer. I was planting rice in a field that was impossible to grow again… until everything went dark. What can I do? As long as there's soil, I can grow anything—no plant I can't cultivate. I woke up in the garden."
"Dion Bahari Nugroho, the Ultimate Navigator. I was on a ship, braving waves and dangers to rescue isolated villagers. Then, I woke up at the pier."
"Vina Aurelia, the Ultimate Trader. Before this, I was managing logistics flows, adjusting market prices, and stabilizing an organization's finances. Until, for some reason… I suddenly found myself lying among the rocks."
"Krisna Adi Wicaksana, the Ultimate Artist. My ability is creating symbols that influence people's emotions. I don't know what I was doing before, but I woke up in an art room."
"Bima Hartono Saputra, the Ultimate Dealer. I don't care what I was doing before… or how I got here. But what I want to do is continue important exchanges… that's all."
"Adi Pranata Wijaya, the Ultimate Politician. What was I doing… hmm… I think I was handling documents in the office. My ability? I don't know if it's useful here, but maybe… winning campaigns? Ahaha…"
What strange people…
"Anya Kurnia Putri, the Ultimate Historian. Before everything went dark… I was in an archive room. All I can do is remember history… because anyone who forgets history is destined to repeat it."
"Zayn Malik Ramadhan, the Ultimate Organizer. Before all this happened… I was building a movement to create a new government. I don't know if this is the work of the opposition… or hired thugs… but I was brought here, it seems."
"Selena Artha Putri, the Ultimate Actor. Everyone must know me, right… of course what I was doing was appearing on television and all kinds of entertainment you see. It happened suddenly, I also don't know how I got here. The reason I was chosen… maybe because I'm pretty? Hahaha!"
"Nova Pratama, the Ultimate Saboteur. As the name suggests… I'm only good at sabotaging. Don't trust me too much. I don't know what I was doing before waking up… in a dark cave. Maybe I was planned to be the first to die…"
After we finished sharing—our mysterious arrivals, our last activities before the darkness swallowed us, and the talents that made us called Ultimates—the main hall felt even more cramped even though the night breeze still slipped through the stone cracks. The torches burned steadily, but our shadows danced restlessly on the walls carved with ancient dragons and birds. The MonoWatches on our wrists pulsed softly, like a reminder that time had begun ticking—time that might soon be stained with blood.
Aulia stepped forward again into the center of our circle. Her simple batik scarf fluttered slowly like a worn peace flag. Her large eyes were calm, but there was a faint doubt in them—idealism beginning to crack. "Everyone… listen to me again. We already know each other's stories. Now, let's focus on what MonoGaru wants."
She took a long breath, her voice patient and soft. "From what it said, Akademi Harapan was created with a grand purpose: to produce people like us who can change the fate of the world. We are Ultimates—the last hope for this ruined country. If we graduate, we can reunite what has been broken, save our families, and build something better from the ashes of disaster. But… in the end, only two people will be chosen through these tests."
Those words hung heavily. Everyone looked at each other.
Bima shook his head hard. His usual relaxed tone was gone, replaced by cruel anger. "I don't agree! Killing each other? That's not a test, that's a massacre! I'm used to managing underground networks and dealing with criminals, but killing innocent people? No way!"
Vina nodded, her sweet smile fading into something cold. "True. Seeking profit is my main motivation, but if I'm forced to kill, how are we any different from the warlords out there?"
Krisna smiled politely, but his eyes were empty like a black canvas. "I'm just a painter. My goal is only to not let my blood become paint for this theatrical murder."
Adi, with his fiery regional nationalist voice, added, "There is nothing more barbaric than a bloody tragedy that ignores the voice of the masses…"
Anya, cold and cynical from behind her thin veil, spoke up. "History has always been filled with cruelty… it has been that way since the beginning."
Zayn kicked at the air. "We're being forced to kill!"
Aulia nodded in agreement with everyone, her voice full of empathy. "I don't agree either. Our lives are not just a stage for a game."
She paused, her large eyes sweeping over all of us. "And I agree with what someone said earlier—there might be a mastermind behind MonoGaru. Someone who wants us to kill each other. Because we are hope. We are Ultimates who can change the fate of the world. Maybe someone doesn't want the country to be whole again. They want to kill every last hope. Or they're trying to change us… to blur us from our original purpose… to turn us into monsters who can only destroy."
Her words struck deep. We looked at each other and nodded in agreement—even those who had been cynical like Anya and cold like Vina. Aulia was right. This wasn't just a crazy test. This was a conspiracy.
"That's why," Aulia continued, her voice growing firmer yet still patient, "we have to find out who the mastermind is. And in a place this vast—look at the map on the MonoWatch—there might be a way to escape. We will explore these zones together. We will combine our strengths. We are not enemies. We… are hope."
The small hope Aulia planted with her words felt like a fragile campfire in the middle of a storm—easy to extinguish, but still enough to light up the growing darkness. We stood there, sixteen strangers bound by the same insane fate.
Adi stepped forward, gripping his notebook tightly like a final weapon on the battlefield. His voice blazed with the fiery nationalism of his region, exploding like fireworks in the quiet night.
"Okay, let's assume we all agree we don't want to become murderers like that crazy puppet said. But how do we escape from MonoGaru? It said it's watching every move through these MonoWatches. If we make even one strange move, it'll know—maybe those ancient robots will come out of the walls again and skewer us like satay!"
His words hung like thick fog, making us all hold our breath for a moment. I looked at the MonoWatch on my wrist—its small screen blinking faintly, showing the island map full of mysterious zones like an unsolved puzzle. Our minds raced, eyes meeting in heavy silence. The night breeze from outside the hall slipped in, carrying the salty cold scent of the sea, a reminder that we were trapped on this artificial island, surrounded by raging waves like invisible guardians.
Rian was the first to speak, his thick glasses glinting as he tinkered with his MonoWatch like he was fixing a broken machine that could save lives. His expression was meticulous.
"Maybe I can… do something. I'm a mechanic. I can fix or make simple machines from anything available. This MonoWatch is like a weird gadget—maybe I can tamper with its mechanism, disable the surveillance or find a way to send an escape signal. But it'll take time, guys. I need to disassemble it in more detail. It might take all night."
Dion nodded slowly. His captain's jacket swayed as he pointed toward the outside of the hall. His voice was calm and strategic, like when reading wind and stars to navigate post-tsunami seas. His tan skin glowed faintly under the torchlight, his eyes narrowed as if looking at a distant horizon.
"I agree. When I woke up at the pier, I saw a harbor not far from the beach. There were small wooden boats and sails that seemed to be waiting. If we can reach there without being noticed, maybe I can read the ocean currents, night wind, and stars to take us to the nearest island. But we have to be careful—the sea around here feels… wrong, like it's guarded by something invisible."
Ideas began to flow like floodwater suddenly finding a crack. Zahra raised her hand, her voice fiery and optimistic like when encouraging farmers on land ruined by lava flows. Her short reddish-brown hair swayed as she spoke.
"We should explore the island first! Maybe there are clues—hidden caves or soil that can give us hints if we observe the natural patterns."
Sinta chattered while opening her woven bag full of herbs, friendly like a mother caring for a sick child in camp. "Maybe I can come along too. Who knows, I might find plants to make healing medicine. In case… there are traps, or someone gets hurt, right?"
Nova, philosophical from behind his long black coat that made him look like a living shadow, whispered softly. "An island like this… must have many obstacles. Maybe you'll need help—I could darken an area to hide from surveillance."
Zayn, the rebel with his torn jacket and tattoos standing out on his arms, punched his palm. "If we need good grouping… leave it to me. I'll form small teams for efficient exploration—divide tasks, make sure no one is left behind or overlooked."
Anya, cynical from behind her thin veil that covered her long straight black hair, shook her head coldly. "Exploration… I'd rather stay put. I'll try to look for ancient records in this temple that might give clues—history… or signs that reveal the real answer."
Krisna smiled politely, his eyes empty like a blank canvas waiting for dark strokes. His paintbrush moved slightly in his pocket. "Clues, huh… symbols… interesting. I'll observe everything."
A little hope appeared in our eyes—faint smiles, agreeing nods, shoulders that were no longer so tense. The atmosphere in the hall began to warm, even though the darkness of the night outside the temple windows seemed to peer in, waiting for our first mistake. The mystery felt thicker, like fog hiding invisible traps, but for the first time, we felt like a team—not victims.
Suddenly, a hidden speaker in the hall wall played a slow, eerie children's song, flirtatious like the laughter of an unseen demon.
Fu~ha~ha~ha~ Hello! My sweet students! Curfew is now in effect!
MonoGaru's voice echoed from all directions, making our hairs stand on end again. "It's already 9 PM. After this hour, all access to the school will be closed. Doors will automatically lock. My robots will patrol. So… hurry back to the dorms and your respective rooms, okay? Get enough rest for tomorrow's exam~!"
We checked our MonoWatches—the digital clock glowed red: exactly 21:00. Our hearts sank again. The small hope from earlier felt doused with cold seawater from outside.
Aulia quickly raised her hand, her voice patient but firm like a true diplomat. "Everyone… don't panic. A lot happened today. Our brains need to think clearly too. So, it's better to rest tonight. Tomorrow morning we'll gather again and decide the next steps. Find the mastermind. Find a way to escape."
Rian raised his hand. "I agree. I'll use this time to tinker with the MonoWatch. If needed, I'll stay up all night—maybe there's something in here."
The map on the MonoWatch showed the direction to the dorms—a long corridor to the east of the hall. We walked together, our steps heavy but supportive. I looked at each person one by one. Sinta chattered while treating a small wound on Zahra, Yusuf stayed quiet while holding his pot like a talisman, Lira hummed a soft goodnight, Dion strategically led the way, Rian was already tinkering with his MonoWatch while walking, Adi was passionately noting down plans, Bima joked lightly to lighten the mood, Vina was cold but sweetly giving advice, Krisna calmly drew patterns in the air, Anya was observing every carving in the temple, Zayn was shadow-boxing, Nova whispered as if plotting something, and Selena was staring into her mirror.
Compared to them, my talent felt insignificant. I could only stack stones and wood to make safe shelters. How could I change the fate of the world or reunite a ruined nation full of chaos? Their talents were like keys to the mystery, while mine was just good with a hammer and nails—useful, but not enough for a puzzle this big.
Why was I chosen and grouped among all of them?
Finally, we arrived at the dorm… a traditional building with carved wooden doors. Each door had a pixelated portrait of our faces—like old photos turned crude, funny yet terrifying, like art hiding a threat.
Krisna, with a slight smile and empty eyes, commented, "The taste isn't bad either."
We said our goodnights.
"Sleep well, everyone," Aulia said softly.
"Tomorrow we'll fight together," Sinta said cheerfully while hugging Zahra.
Yusuf only nodded quietly, Lira kept humming as she entered her room, and so on—until it was my turn.
"See you tomorrow, Reno," Aulia said gently. I nodded awkwardly.
"Ah… yeah… see you tomorrow."
I entered my room—the interior was far better than the refugee camps. There was a soft bed with thick blankets that tempted me, a wardrobe full of casual clothes but far too many identical school uniforms—as if we were really going to attend school in this hell. A study desk with paper and pens, a small speaker on the wall that waited silently like a surveillance eye, and a monitor in the corner like a window into darkness. I tried turning it on—it showed strange cartoons themed around MonoGaru, boring like old propaganda mixed with nightmares. When I turned it off, the screen's glow still felt like an inaudible whisper.
I decided to lie down on the bed. My body was exhausted, but my mind spun like a broken gear in an old machine. I felt grateful to meet people my age—after the destruction and chaos outside, it was rare to find teenagers like us who still had talents, still had dreams.
But MonoGaru's words haunted my mind… a test where we had to kill each other. I didn't want to stain my hands… I didn't want that nightmare to happen again—the image of old ruins, people I failed to save because a building collapsed, screams under the rubble, blood on my hands.
The mystery felt thicker, like fog hiding invisible traps, and I knew—this night was only the beginning of something much darker.
Until finally my eyes closed, but sleep did not come easily. Outside, the sea wind whispered secrets, and I dreamed of widening cracks in the temple walls—as if the island itself would swallow us alive.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Morning light slowly seeped through the stone cracks in the window, illuminating the room with a faint yellow that felt like a false promise. I woke up with a heavy head, like a brick that had fallen from a damaged roof.
My eyes were still heavy, but a sudden sound filled the room—a flirtatious melody, like a children's song played slowly and sung by a voice that was too familiar, too terrifying. The small speaker on the wall vibrated gently, and the monitor in the corner turned on automatically, showing MonoGaru's wide smiling face, its torn wings fluttering as if mocking us.
"Wahaha~ Good morning, my sweet students! A new day has arrived, and Akademi Harapan is ready to welcome you with self-study today. You're free to explore the school, okay? Check out our beautiful zones—but remember, don't cause trouble, or an early morning execution might be on the breakfast menu~!"
The monitor turned off as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the room in heavy silence. I sat on the edge of the soft bed, my hand holding my dizzy head. Last night's thoughts still circled like a whirlwind—mysterious arrival, deadly rules, new faces that now felt like hidden threats.
Why me? Why us? And that nightmare… the image of old ruins, screams under the rubble, blood that should never have been my responsibility. I shook my head hard, trying to dispel the shadows, but it felt like volcanic dust that never truly disappeared.
I got up and walked unsteadily to the small bathroom in the corner of the room. Cold water flowed from the iron faucet, splashing my face—it felt like pouring cold water on the small fire in my chest. Then I looked at the mirror above the sink—my own face stared back, short messy hair, worn work jacket still clinging to my body like a second skin, the scar on my left cheek like a warning sign.
But behind it, the nightmare image appeared again… the building I built collapsing under a follow-up tsunami, people who trusted me buried alive, my hands that were supposed to build instead covered in blood and dust. The mirror eyes seemed to accuse: You failed again, Reno. You're not hope—you're just a failed builder who couldn't save people. I stopped looking, water still dripping from my chin, and hurriedly left, exiting the room.
In the dorm corridor, the other students began to emerge one by one from their pixel-carved doors—like dolls awakened from the same nightmare. Aulia was already in the middle of the dorm area, sitting at one of the simple wooden tables and chairs in the common room, her batik scarf still wrapped around her neck like an unshakable symbol of peace. Adi sat beside her, his notebook open, his voice fiery but controlled like when he planned last night.
Then Nova suddenly appeared from the dark corridor, his long black coat swaying like a living shadow, speaking straight to the point.
"The information from Rian is true… and Adi's instinct is also correct. This place… is full of invisible darkness."
Every person who had just come out—Sinta carrying her bag of herbs, Yusuf holding his small potted plant—immediately gathered, eyes curious and anxious. I sat in the nearest chair, my head still spinning, but curious too.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice still heavy.
Aulia replied, "Nova has been observing the building's infrastructure since early morning. But more importantly, Rian came to my room first, knocking on the door and saying he managed to crack some information from the MonoWatch. He's back in his room now, with heavy bags under his eyes—he really didn't sleep all night. From the information he cracked, there are several surveillance cameras installed on the island and in this building. He's already marked every spot on this map—though even he doesn't know how wide the surveillance range is. They're hidden in wall carvings, god statues, even trees in the forest."
Adi realized something, his voice rising with fire. "And I noticed—the map again. There's only one place without any surveillance points: the dorm itself. There are no cameras here at all!"
Aulia nodded, her large eyes shining with a small spark of hope. "Correct. Nova's observations also led to the same conclusion. Therefore, the safest place to discuss plans without being detected by MonoGaru… is only in the dorm. We can gather here and plan our next steps without fear of it listening."
She then stood in the center of the room. Her simple batik scarf fluttered gently as she moved. Her voice was patient and empathetic, as if searching for a middle ground amid our chaotic thoughts.
"With the information we've obtained, the map on the MonoWatch shows that this island is not simple—it's full of zones that might hide clues or traps. We have to explore them. That way, we might discover who the mastermind is, and perhaps a way to escape. But we have to be smart. Don't move recklessly so we won't be noticed."
That was when Zayn raised his hand. His torn jacket swayed as he stepped forward. His tattoos stood out on his arms like marks of rebellion that never faded. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the map on his MonoWatch.
"I have a suggestion. Let's divide into groups for exploration. It'll be more efficient, and not everyone will move together and get noticed at once. When I looked at this map—the island is divided into four main zones."
He paused for a moment, his finger sweeping across the MonoWatch screen, enlarging the map in the air like a faint red-blinking hologram at danger points. "First, the Main Building: this ancient-architecture school building, along with the hall where we gathered for the first time last night. There might be hidden rooms, documents, or secret doors there—the architecture is full of dark corridors that seem deliberately made to hide something."
We nodded. The shadow of the main hall from last night returned—stone gates carved with dragons and birds, eternal torches that never went out, and the creaking sound of robots still echoing in our ears.
"Second, the Sacred Forest: a large forest area full of tall, dense trees. We don't know what's inside—maybe natural traps like entangling roots or fog hiding something worse. The trees look like living fortresses on the map, and the air there must be humid, full of strange sounds that could make us paranoid."
Lira shivered slightly, her hand holding her necklace like a talisman. Her voice was soft but firm. "The forest… sounds like a place where voices can disappear, or echo too loudly."
"Third, the Stone Mountain Zone: caves and steep rock formations full of crevices and cavities like an underground labyrinth. There might be something inside—maybe secret caves, ancient artifacts, or even traps that could collapse at any time. The rocks look sharp on the map, like monster teeth ready to bite."
Nova nodded from the corner. "Dark caves like that… could be the perfect place to hide obstacles or invisible traps."
"And finally, the Old Harbor: abandoned at the edge of the island, with rotting wooden piers and old boats that might already be rusty. That could be the way out, but the sea around it could be dangerous."
Dion nodded, his captain's jacket swaying. His voice was calm but strategic. "The harbor… I can read the wind and currents there, but if a sudden storm hits, we'll need a backup plan."
Zayn paused again, his gaze sweeping over all of us like an organizer assigning tasks on a battlefield. "I'll start dividing based on groups. Adi, Aulia, Selena, and Reno to the Main Building—you can organize plans and look for clues in the central building. The corridors might hide secret doors. Sinta, Yusuf, Zahra, and Krisna to the Sacred Forest—you're suited for that large natural area. Look for useful plants or patterns. Maybe the forest has living secrets."
Sinta nodded chattily, her woven bag swaying. "I can make potions if there are strange plants that help us."
Yusuf, quiet, with bright eyes. "I can find rare ones there."
Zahra spoke with fire. "I can observe the soil, look for clues."
Krisna smiled politely, eyes empty. "I can read patterns in the trees or stones."
Zayn continued. "I'll go with Nova, Lira, and Anya to Stone Mountain—I need Nova to watch for traps or obstacles, Lira to calm things if there's trouble, and Anya to read ancient records in the caves."
Nova whispered philosophically. "The darkness of the caves… I can destroy it if something blocks us."
Lira cheered happily. "Finally I can sing to my heart's content!"
Anya said cynically, "Heh… like hidden history. How pathetic."
"And lastly, Dion, Bima, and Vina to the Old Harbor—you can figure out if there's anything usable for escape there."
Dion remained calm. "I'll try."
Bima laughed casually. "Maybe there's abandoned communication equipment there."
Vina spoke coldly but sweetly. "I'll turn whatever we find into pure profit for us."
"As for Rian… he can't join because he's exhausted from staying up all night." Zayn concluded.
We all looked at each other, our minds swirling like waves at the old harbor Zayn had mentioned—waves of hope mixed with fear. There was no strong objection—only hesitant nods, long breaths, and eyes full of puzzles.
Bima chuckled lightly. "You're really good at organizing people, Zayn. Like a pro organizer, dividing tasks so quickly."
Zayn shrugged, a hint of his rebellious voice appearing. "Any objections? If not, let's start now. Our time is limited—who knows if MonoGaru is watching from the shadows."
No one spoke up. Aulia smiled patiently. "Okay. Be careful, everyone. Gather back here at the dorm in the evening and report your findings."
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The morning breeze slipping through the gaps between the trees along the stone temple path felt coldly piercing against the skin. I walked at the front of our small group—together with Adi, Aulia, and Selena. Our footsteps echoed softly on the moss-covered stone path, like traces of ghosts from a past that refused to disappear. The shared uniform vest felt heavier this morning. The weight of last night's thoughts still clung, never truly fading. The MonoWatch on my wrist pulsed softly. The map on its screen blinked red at the surveillance points Rian had marked—a silent warning that every move we made might be watched from the darkness.
Adi walked beside me, gripping his notebook tightly. His finger occasionally tapped the cover with a restless rhythm, like someone drafting an emergency plan amid chaos. "Why does the path feel so long," he muttered. "We need to hurry. Who knows if MonoGaru is waiting for us there with a nasty surprise."
Aulia nodded slowly from behind. The wind brushed her wavy black hair, now loose like a curtain hiding the worry in her large eyes. "We have to stay cautious," she said patiently, her voice full of empathy as always, as if searching for a middle ground between our fears. "What we're heading to is the main building. MonoGaru's surveillance will surely be tightest there."
Selena walked beside Aulia. Her two-toned hair shimmered under the dim morning light. She twirled the small mirror in her hand like a toy to ward off anxiety. Her face was beautiful, but her expression was hard to read, like an unfinished act. "I agree. But this island is strange—everything feels like a stage that's already been set, but the director is missing."
When we arrived in front of the Main Building, the stone gate carved with dragons and ancient birds opened slowly with a soft creak, as if welcoming us with a hidden smile. Inside, everything looked like an abandoned ordinary school—there were classrooms with dusty wooden desks, cracked blackboards like broken mirrors, and long corridors with rusted iron lockers gaping empty. The architecture was outdated, as if lifted straight from an ancient kingdom—thick stone walls carved with ancient motifs, high ceilings with wooden beams beginning to rot, yet strangely there were no major signs of damage from past disasters. The air inside felt stuffy, smelling of old books and thick dust, as if time had stopped here years ago.
We spread out slowly, eyes scanning every corner. Adi opened one classroom door, muttering, "This is like a haunted school—old textbooks, but no students. What's the point?"
In the middle of our observation, Selena approached Aulia. Her steps were light, but her two-toned eyes were full of hard-to-read curiosity, like an actress studying a new role.
"Aulia, I'm really interested in you. Even though my name appears more often on television… you're no less famous, you know. I heard you're often targeted by dangerous groups, even warlords, because of your efforts to negotiate peace between two warring factions. You're like a hero from comics."
Aulia smiled slightly, patient yet idealistic. Her hand held her batik scarf like a talisman. Her large eyes looked at Selena with the gaze that always sought the good side. "My ability isn't that great, Selena. I'm just an ordinary girl who doesn't like seeing bloody battles. I'm only a good listener and speaker. I'm still far below my older brother."
Adi approached, his notebook open. His voice rose with burning nationalist fire. "Your brother? Haris Vermana, right? His ideology fits perfectly for a time of destruction like now. Thanks to him, many people haven't stopped hoping—a new ideology that unites people from the ashes. I often read his old notes in second-hand books. Unfortunately, he disappeared from the public. No one knows his whereabouts. Do you know anything about him, about where he is?"
Aulia shook her head slowly. Her eyes grew slightly gloomy but remained patient. "I… don't know either. My brother disappeared when the disasters got worse. But his ideology… yes, that's what keeps me trying. To keep… uniting people."
In the middle of that conversation, I observed the wall architecture. My hand touched the cold, thick stone. My calloused fingers from hammering wood and stacking stones felt the strange texture—too smooth, too strong for ordinary temple stone. I stepped back, narrowing my eyes like when measuring the foundation of a damaged house.
"Hmmm… this building wasn't built with ordinary materials."
They turned, eyes curious. Adi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Aulia approached, her voice empathetic. "What did you notice, Reno?"
Selena twirled her mirror slowly, her expression hard to read. "You mean there's a secret in these ordinary-looking walls?"
I nodded slowly. My voice was rough but gentle inside, like when explaining a building design to people in camp. "This material can withstand massive disasters—volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, maybe even nuclear explosions. It's not ordinary temple stone. It's a special concrete mix with anti-crack fibers, imported from abroad. I've seen samples in the ruins of military buildings before."
They looked confused, eyes widening. Adi knocked on the wall, his voice rising. "Nuclear explosions? Why use such high-quality material on an island in the middle of the sea? And where did they get it? Material like this is expensive, especially after the disaster!"
Aulia also touched the wall, her large eyes full of empathy but curious. "Why? Who built this? And for what?"
Selena laughed softly. "The mystery just keeps getting thicker… like an artist's makeup, hahaha!"
I nodded again, my heart beating fast. "So far, this material has only been used for high-class bunkers—like bunkers for important figures, presidents, or high-ranking military. It was obtained from abroad and was very limited after the disaster. Whoever built this… had massive access. And… it couldn't possibly be used for an ordinary school."
My words hung heavily. The air in the room felt even stuffier, like a secret that had suddenly been revealed but only made the mystery deeper. It tightened the puzzle even more—who was the mastermind? What was this island for? And we, the last hope—were we just pawns in a much larger game?
In the side corridor, there were several doors with strange carvings—coiled dragon motifs like secret keys, but with no handles or locks. Adi tried pushing one, his voice fiery. "Locked. What is this?"
Aulia touched the carving, her voice empathetic. "Maybe there's a mechanism. But it won't move."
Selena tried pulling another, laughing softly. "Like doors in a mystery drama. But it won't budge."
I tried pushing the last one with my strong shoulder, but the door didn't move, like a living stone wall that refused to open. "This isn't an ordinary door. The material is the same—explosion-proof. There's something behind it that doesn't want us to see."
We climbed to the second floor via the stone stairs that creaked softly, like ascending to a higher level of mystery. There, other classrooms were tightly locked, but we could peek through the small windows in the doors—inside were unique equipment of unknown purpose: strange metal machines with faintly blinking buttons, work tables full of tools like an ancient laboratory, even bookshelves with faded titles that seemed to whisper secrets. The corridors were narrower, the air stuffier, with a faint smell of metal and machine oil, like a hidden workshop behind the school facade.
Then we reached the dining area—a spacious cafeteria with long dusty wooden benches, but on the walls were strange machines like old vending machines. Their buttons were rusted but still faintly shiny. In front of the counter closed with thick iron bars like a prison, there was a slot for tickets and a small glowing screen: EXCHANGE TICKET FOR FOOD.
Selena approached first. "This is like a magic machine. Let me try pressing it, okay?"
Adi immediately raised his voice. "Don't be reckless, Selena! Who knows if it's a trap—maybe poison or something will come out!"
But Selena didn't care, laughing softly. "I'm curious. Besides, we haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Look, just press it—it's free for the first use or something—"
Aulia approached the counter, her large eyes observing the thick iron bars. Her voice was empathetic but curious. "This counter is tightly closed, but there's a slot here to insert tickets. It's automatic, but… strange. Is there something inside… I hear sounds."
Selena pressed the machine and a ticket came out—a small piece of paper with pictures of ordinary cafeteria food like fried rice or chicken satay—then she inserted the ticket into the slot. Suddenly there was a strange sound from behind the bars… metal creaking, steam hissing, and a warm smell suddenly filled the room.
At the food pickup area, a metal tray slid out containing steaming hot fried rice, a glistening fried egg, and crispy crackers on the side. The spicy smell of sambal and fried shallots immediately assaulted our noses, making our stomachs growl instantly.
We were amazed, eyes wide. I approached, curious about the mechanism, my hand touching the warm tray. "This… how does it work? The sound earlier was like a complex machine, but the food came out fresh and still hot. It's like there's a living kitchen behind there."
Adi peered through the iron bars, his voice fiery with suspicion. "Is it possible there's someone behind there? Like a cook or something? The bars are so thick, you can't see anything inside—it's completely dark."
Aulia observed the other machines on the wall, her large eyes full of empathy but analytical. "Look at these—not just food, there are drink machines and desserts too. Bottled tea, mixed ice, even sweet martabak. According to the rules on the small screen… each student can only eat three times a day, exchanging three tickets daily, all scanned with the MonoWatch. It's like a strict system for food rations, but why? To keep us alive… or to control us?"
Selena was already happily enjoying her fried rice, her spoon moving quickly, her face filled with pleasure that was hard to read. "It's so delicious! The sambal is great too. You guys should try it—we haven't eaten since yesterday. My stomach was already protesting."
The smell was indeed tempting—spicy, savory, like food from before the great disaster. My stomach growled, and the dizziness from earlier began to fade, replaced by sudden hunger.
Aulia smiled slightly, empathetic. "She's right. We need energy. I'll just get chicken satay."
Adi shook his head but joined in. "Okay, I'll try too. I'll get nasi uduk."
Then I selected a ticket from the machine and chose fried rice like Selena. Another strange sound, and the tray came out with steaming hot food. We sat on the long wooden bench and ate for a while—the sound of spoons clinking against plates, the smell of food filling the room. For a moment, it felt normal, like an ordinary school in the time before the disaster.
But behind it, the mystery grew thicker—who was cooking? How? And why did everything feel too perfect on this hellish island?
A full stomach felt like a new burden amid the thickening mystery. The warm fried rice that still left a spicy taste on my tongue seemed to remind us that this island was not only a place of death—it also had strange ways to keep us alive, at least for now.
I wiped my mouth with my uniform shirt. The savory taste of sambal still lingered, but my thoughts had returned to the darkness that lurked. This cafeteria, with its strange machines that seemed from the past but functioned perfectly, felt like a sweet trap in the middle of poison. We stood up from the creaking wooden bench, leaving the empty metal trays on the table like proof that we had accepted a "gift" from this unseen mastermind.
Aulia kept the sweet dessert she had exchanged in her uniform pocket. Her large eyes were full of empathy, but now there was a faint doubt in them, like a diplomat beginning to question a peace agreement that was too good to be true.
"Let's continue to the third floor," she said patiently. Her voice was soft but firm, as if seeking a middle ground between fullness and the creeping fear. "There might be something up there—the map on the MonoWatch shows that floor is larger, but with fewer surveillance points."
Adi nodded, his notebook already open again. His finger tapped the page with a restless rhythm. "Yeah… but usually the top floor is the most dangerous. If the lower floors are already weird, the upper one could be worse. I don't like the 'haunted school' vibe here."
Selena now moved closer to Aulia. "Like a scene from a horror drama I once acted in. But please—don't leave me alone, okay?"
We climbed the stone stairs that creaked softly like old bones forced to move. Each step felt higher, darker. The air grew stuffier with a stronger smell of dust and faint metal. The moment our feet touched the third floor, a strong chill ran through my skin like cold electric current. My hairs stood up without clear reason.
This floor was different—darker than the previous ones. The lights above only flickered dimly like candles about to go out, leaving long shadows that danced like invisible ghosts. Everything was abandoned… the walls were covered with unclear scribbles—random lines like desperate fingernail scratches, strange symbols that could be ancient language or just madness, and thick dust covering the floor like a layer of dull gray snow.
We stopped for a moment at the start of the corridor, breathing raggedly, eyes meeting in the thick darkness.
"Why… is only the third floor like this?" Adi muttered. His voice was fiery but now carried a hidden tone of fear. His finger touched the scribbled wall as if reading secret notes. "The lower floors were still 'normal'—classrooms, cafeteria. This is like… a place deliberately abandoned."
Aulia nodded slowly. "My hairs are standing up too. It feels like something… is waiting here."
Selena immediately stepped back. Her face turned pale. Her two-toned hair covered part of her widened, frightened eyes. She hid behind Aulia, her hand gripping the girl's arm tightly like a child afraid of ghosts. "I… I don't like this. It's too dark. There won't be ghosts appearing, right…?"
The long corridor stretched before us, dark and narrow like a tunnel leading to hell. There were no visible classrooms or important rooms—only walls covered in scribbles and a dusty floor that left our footprints like warning signs. At the far end, a large door towered, taller than the doors below. Its carvings were more intricate—coiled dragon motifs like a snake ready to swallow its prey. The material was cold and hard like steel disguised as ancient stone.
Adi approached the door first. His eyes narrowed with fire. His finger traced the carving as if reading a secret code in his notebook. "This door… is different from the others. The carving is more detailed, like a symbol with meaning. But there's no handle, no lock. It's like a wall pretending to be a door."
Stepping forward, I observed the area around the large door. My hand touched the wall beside it, feeling a faint vibration like a hidden machine behind the stone. My mind raced—there was a pattern here, an invisible mechanism.
"Ah… there's a mechanism behind it—maybe gears or a timed lock. Something tells me this door only opens when the time comes. Like… it's waiting for something to happen."
Selena was still hiding behind Aulia, her voice trembling softly. "When the time comes? What does that mean? Don't make me more scared…"
Aulia gently held Selena's hand, her voice empathetic but firm. "We don't know. But this must be a big key. Why is it hidden? What is behind here?"
We asked each other, our voices echoing softly in the dark corridor like ghostly whispers.
Adi stepped back. "What exactly is this building trying to hide? This island? And the mastermind who created it all? What is the real purpose? If this is a school, why is the third floor like a graveyard?"
I nodded, my heart pounding like a hammer striking cracked stone. "Whoever built this doesn't want us to enter carelessly. This isn't just a school… its architecture was built… like a defensive fortress."
Selena shivered harder. Aulia calmed her by gently holding her hand, her voice soft and full of empathy.
"We should head back for now. Don't force it. Let's report to the others and find a solution."
We retreated slowly from the door. The corridor felt longer as we returned. The scribbles on the walls seemed like eyes following us with formless gazes. The darkness of the third floor felt like a freshly opened wound, and we knew—whatever was behind that door would be the key… or the end of us all. A secret ready to explode like the double disaster that had once destroyed the world we knew.