Two Loaves of Breads
Bugh!
Thud!
A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on a young man curled up in the corner of a narrow alley. His arms were wrapped tightly around two loaves of bread pressed against his chest, as if they were the only things in the world he couldn't afford to lose.
A fist slammed into his stomach. A kick crashed into his back and ribs without mercy. A muffled groan escaped his lips, yet he never loosened his grip on the bread.
"Stop."
That single word was enough to make the attackers halt.
The large man standing at the front, Broto, looked down at him with utter contempt before spitting on the ground.
"If you pull that stunt again, you're dead." He jerked his chin toward the alley's exit. "Let's go."
The group walked away, leaving the young man sprawled on the ground.
"...Bastards."
Rangga let out a heavy breath, clutching his stomach as if it were being crushed.
"You were the one who ran off during work... You screwed up... and somehow I'm the one who gets beaten."
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to his chest.
The two loaves of bread were still intact, though slightly flattened beneath his body.
"Hah..."
A faint smile appeared on his bruised face.
"At least my little sister gets to eat today."
With great effort, Rangga pushed himself to his feet and leaned against the cold alley wall. Every breath sent a sharp pain through his chest.
He looked up at the night sky.
"Shitty world... shitty life... damned country."
There were countless more curses he wanted to spit out, but the pain in his chest forced him to stop.
Just then, a newspaper drifted through the wind and caught around his foot.
He glanced down before reading the bold headline.
EARTH IS DYING! WARS ESCALATE ACROSS NATIONAL BORDERS AS CIVILIANS CRY OUT IN DESPAIR.
"Tch."
He kicked the newspaper away.
"Ugh..."
The small movement sent another wave of pain through his chest, making him wince.
Then, without warning, the night sky lit up.
A colossal light appeared overhead, bright enough to illuminate the entire city—far too brilliant for anyone to ignore.
At the same time, a voice echoed directly inside Rangga's mind.
《Earth has entered the critical danger phase.》
《The Administrator of the Universe will grant humanity a second chance.》
Rangga immediately looked around.
"Huh? What the hell? Who's talking?"
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The alley was empty.
The emotionless voice sounded again.
《The Administrator will select one hundred people from every nation to gather resources for the survival of human civilization.》
《Selection begins in one hour.》
The next instant, a gigantic digital clock appeared in the sky.
00:59:59
The countdown began.
---
At the Government Center of the Garuda Nation, chaos erupted within minutes.
Telephones rang nonstop as officers took turns receiving reports from every corner of the country.
"Sir! Riots have broken out in several cities!"
"The eastern region is becoming unstable as well!"
"We've received reports from multiple provincial capitals! People are panicking after seeing the clock in the sky!"
Voices filled the command center.
Standing before a row of enormous monitors was President Prabu, his expression tense. Beside him stood General Suryo, who closely monitored the rapidly changing situation displayed across the screens.
"General."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Deploy the police and the military immediately. Don't let the damage spread."
General Suryo nodded firmly.
"It's already underway, Mr. President. All units have been dispatched to high-risk areas."
President Prabu shifted his gaze to another monitor displaying the gigantic countdown clock hanging in the sky. The numbers continued falling with every passing second.
"What about the other countries? Any reports?"
An intelligence officer answered immediately.
"Yes, Mr. President. Every nation has reported receiving the same message. They can all see the clock in the sky as well, although no one knows how this phenomenon is occurring."
President Prabu frowned.
"Find out what this all means. Whatever is happening, we don't have much time."
"Understood, Mr. President."
General Suryo saluted before leaving the room to carry out his orders.
President Prabu remained where he stood, staring at the massive countdown displayed on the screen. His hands slowly clenched behind his back.
"What is this...?"
"Why would something like this happen when the world is already on the brink of collapse?"
---
Rangga shoved open the door to his shabby rental house beside a narrow river, panting for breath.
His entire body still ached from the beating, but after witnessing the phenomenon in the sky, he'd forced himself to get home as quickly as possible. His younger sister was alone.
Throughout the journey, the sounds of shattering glass, screaming, and panic echoed from every direction.
The closer he got home, the tighter the anxiety gripped his chest.
"Put! Putri! Where are you?!"
A weak voice answered from inside.
"I'm here, Mas."
The bedroom door slowly opened, revealing a girl of about fourteen.
Her face was pale with fear, but her eyes widened the moment she saw her brother.
"Mas Rangga... what happened? Why are you covered in bruises?"
Rangga simply shook his head.
"Later."
He quickly shut the front door, grabbed Putri's arm, and led her back into the bedroom.
The moment they entered, he locked the door.
"We'll stay here for now... It's chaos outside."
Putri sat down on the thin mattress spread across the floor.
"Mas... what was that voice? Who was talking? Why is there a clock in the sky?"
Rangga let out a long sigh before leaning against the wall beside her.
"I don't know either, Put... But let's stay here where it's safe. Once things calm down, we'll figure out what's really happening."
He pulled the two loaves of bread from inside his shirt.
"Here... Eat something. This was all I managed to buy."
Putri accepted the bread quietly.
Her eyes fell upon the slightly squashed loaf before shifting to her brother's bruised and battered face.
She took one loaf and offered the other back.
"You should eat one too, Mas... Why are you hurt all over?"
Rangga smiled faintly and gently pushed the bread back into her hands.
"It's okay. They're both yours... I just fell... while everyone was panicking."
Putri studied his face for several moments.
She clearly didn't believe him.
Still, she eventually unwrapped the bread and began eating slowly.
Rangga watched his little sister with a smile he forced onto his face.
"It's okay now... Don't be scared... I'm here."
Putri nodded softly.
Ever since their parents passed away, Rangga had been the only family she had left.
Outside, sirens and distant screams continued to echo through the tiny house.
Meanwhile, the gigantic digital clock in the sky continued counting down.
00:44:35
...
00:30:00
The enormous digital clock reached exactly thirty minutes remaining when the same voice echoed once more inside the minds of every human being.
《The selection will begin now.》
In an instant, the already chaotic world became even more uncertain.
People in the streets stopped running and looked up at the sky.
Some prayed.
Some wept.
Others could only stare at the countdown with pale, terrified faces.
In government command centers around the world, reports poured in from every direction.
Not a single nation knew what would happen thirty minutes from now.
Even on battlefields that had known almost no silence for years, the gunfire gradually ceased.
Commanders ordered every soldier to stand by.
"Hold your fire! Await further orders!"
Soldiers on both sides of the trenches lifted their heads toward the sky.
For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no booming artillery shells or relentless rifle fire.
Only the wind...
And the steady ticking of the giant clock counting down.
00:25:59