First Expedition
The next morning, Rangga was already standing on the small dock as the sun rose over the horizon.
A stone axe hung across his back, while a stone spear, stone pickaxe, and stone knife—crafted through the System the previous night—had already been placed inside the boat.
Rangga looked at his vessel as a translucent blue screen appeared before him once again.
Level 1 Boat
Upgrade Requirements
50 Wood
150 Plant Fiber
2 Mechanical Radars
Description: A basic exploration boat capable of sailing only to 1-Star (⭐) Islands. To reach islands with greater danger and more valuable resources, the boat must be upgraded through the System.
Rangga slowly read the information before letting out a long sigh.
"...I have to start gathering materials... and food... if I want to stay alive... long enough to make it back home."
He tossed his remaining tools into the boat before climbing aboard and taking a seat on the wooden bench.
A moment later, the blue screen changed.
Select Exploration Destination
Island A ⭐ (1-Star)
A rocky island filled with steep terrain.
Time Remaining: 20:41:18
Island B ⭐ (1-Star)
A tropical island with several coconut trees.
Time Remaining: 20:17:46
Rangga raised an eyebrow.
"So they change... Yesterday it was a tropical island and a swamp..."
"Now it's rocky and tropical... and I've got less than a day."
He glanced back at the island where his small hut stood.
"I still need wood... and food."
"...Guess I'll go with the tropical one."
Without hesitation, Rangga touched the image of Island B.
The instant his finger made contact, the boat began to tremble.
"Wha—!"
He nearly fell over as the boat suddenly pulled away from the dock on its own.
Rangga hurriedly sat down and grabbed the side of the boat to keep himself from being thrown into the sea.
The boat sped across the ocean without oars, sails, or an engine, as though some invisible force was guiding it.
Rangga looked back.
His tiny island gradually shrank into the distance until the hut he had built was nothing more than a tiny speck on the horizon.
He then turned his eyes toward the endless sea ahead.
"I'll make it... Just wait for me, Sis... I'll definitely come back."
At the same time, life on Earth was slowly beginning to change.
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Nearly everyone's attention was now focused on the Pioneer live broadcasts, which could be watched on smartphones, televisions, and giant public screens installed in cities around the world.
Throughout the entire night, billions of people watched the Pioneers struggle to survive.
Some recklessly swam into the endless ocean without knowing its limits.
Others immediately set sail toward distant islands using crude boats.
Some simply gave up, choosing to sit silently on their islands as they waited for death.
Several had already lost their lives.
In the Garuda Nation, of the one hundred selected Pioneers, only eighty-seven were still fighting to survive.
Five had been confirmed dead on their very first day in the new world.
The rest had abandoned all hope and stopped trying altogether.
Inside the Presidential Command Center, dozens of screens simultaneously displayed the conditions of every remaining Garuda Pioneer.
President Prabu stood silently before the wall of monitors.
A short while later, General Suryo entered the room carrying a thick folder.
"Mr. President... We've finished gathering the identities of all the Pioneers."
He opened the folder on the table.
Each file was labeled with the same number shown on its corresponding live broadcast.
"Number 03... Andres... A singer."
On the screen, Andres was swinging an axe at a tree. The man who had spent the entire night crying for help had finally begun building a shelter.
"Number 11... Dita... A social media influencer."
Unlike Andres, Dita simply sat on the beach with her knees pulled against her chest, staring blankly into space.
"Number 27... Fajar... A fisherman."
On his screen, Fajar was carefully organizing the resources he had gathered.
"Number 41... Deri... A soldier."
Deri was cautiously making his way through a swamp island while gripping a stone spear in his hand.
President Prabu slowly closed the folder.
"How are things among the public, General?"
General Suryo gave a brief salute.
"The riots have been brought under control, sir."
"At the moment, the public's attention is almost entirely focused on the Pioneer broadcasts."
The President nodded.
"And the other countries?"
"They're doing the same, sir."
"The entire world is broadcasting their own Pioneers live."
General Suryo opened another report.
"In the Bald Eagle Nation, one Pioneer has demonstrated exceptional survival skills."
"He's already gathered a considerable amount of resources."
"We've also received confirmation that he shipped tropical fruits."
"And just as the Administrator said..."
"The shipment arrived in their country multiplied by ten thousand."
President Prabu rubbed his temples.
"So... it's all true... Those rules really are real."
A few seconds later, he spoke again.
"What about the Pioneers' families?"
General Suryo answered without hesitation.
"All Pioneer families have been temporarily relocated to military housing, sir."
"Many protested... Many are deeply worried... But they're also able to watch their loved ones through the live broadcasts."
President Prabu nodded slowly.
"As long as they're safe..."
"When the time comes for the first message..."
"...I'm certain the very first thing every Pioneer will ask about is their family."
General Suryo nodded in agreement.
Together, they turned their eyes back to the countless screens displaying the struggles of the eighty-seven remaining Garuda Pioneers, each fighting to survive in a world completely foreign to them.
Inside one of the rooms in the military housing complex, Putri had remained seated in front of the screen since the previous night.
The dinner that had been brought to her still sat untouched on the table.
On the screen, the live broadcast showed Rangga sitting alone in his boat, sailing toward the first island he would explore.
Tears streamed down Putri's face once more.
"Mas Rangga... Please come home... I'm all alone."
She had repeated those same words over and over since the previous night.
Knock... Knock...
A gentle knock came from the door before a female officer entered carrying a tray of breakfast.
She immediately stopped when she noticed that last night's meal was still untouched.
The officer let out a quiet sigh.
"Putri... You need to eat, okay? Otherwise you'll get sick."
Putri slowly turned toward her.
Her eyes were swollen from crying for so many hours.
"Mas Rangga is over there... He hasn't eaten yet... I... I miss him."
Her trembling voice broke into sobs once again.
The officer set the breakfast tray down on the table before walking over and kneeling in front of the little girl.
Without saying another word, she gently wrapped Putri in a warm embrace.
"It's okay... Your brother is doing everything he can to come home. That's why you have to stay healthy too. When Rangga finally comes back... he'll be so happy to see that his little sister is safe and well."
Those words shattered the last of Putri's composure.
She hugged the officer back as tightly as she could.
Her sobs echoed throughout the small room, while on the screen, the live broadcast continued to show Rangga sailing farther and farther away from his home island, completely unaware that his little sister was crying as she waited for his return.