First Battle
The next morning, Rangga was once again standing on his small dock.
He stared at the blue screen hovering above his boat.
Select Exploration Destination
Island A ⭐ (1-Star)
A rocky island filled with steep terrain.
Time Remaining: 20 hours
Island B ⭐ (1-Star)
A swamp island covered with shallow pools of water.
Time Remaining: 19 hours
Rangga frowned as his eyes shifted between the two islands.
"Damn it... I need wood."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
If he chose the rocky island, there probably wouldn't be nearly as much wood as on a tropical island.
But the moment he thought about entering a swamp, countless unpleasant possibilities crossed his mind.
"Swamps have crocodiles, right?"
"What if the crocodiles are robots?"
"I'm so dead."
He quickly shook his head.
"Nah..."
"I'll go with the rocky island."
Without hesitation, he selected Island A.
The boat immediately gave a gentle shake before pulling away from the dock on its own.
Rangga quickly sat down, gripping the side of the boat.
Behind him, his home island gradually shrank into the distance.
Ahead lay another stretch of open sea leading toward his next destination.
That same morning, government logistics convoys began departing from the national distribution warehouses.
Truck beds were loaded with mangoes, bananas, coconuts, chicken, fish, and countless other food supplies sent by the Pioneers.
In cities across the country, long lines had already formed before sunrise.
People waited patiently with their identification cards and government-issued distribution vouchers.
"Please stay in a single line!"
"Don't push!"
Workers handed out food to one family after another.
In residential neighborhoods, distribution vehicles stopped house by house.
Elderly residents who were unable to travel received deliveries directly at their homes.
"Here's your allocation, sir."
"Thank you..."
Inside modest apartment complexes, hallways filled with residents carrying shopping bags.
Children stared curiously at piles of unfamiliar fruit.
"Mom, what's that fruit?"
"I don't know."
"They said it came from the world where the Pioneers are."
In rural villages, military trucks slowly made their way along narrow dirt roads.
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Village leaders helped distribute the supplies, making sure not a single household was overlooked.
Along the coast.
High in the mountains.
In small towns.
Even in remote communities that had long been difficult to reach.
Food distribution took place almost simultaneously across the nation.
At every location, the same announcement was posted.
Priority is given to the families of Pioneers.
All remaining supplies will be distributed through the National Food Assistance Program.
For the first time in years of crisis, countless families were able to bring fresh food home again.
All of it...
...was made possible by the Pioneers risking their lives in another world.
Some time later, Rangga's boat arrived at a rugged island covered in rocky cliffs.
The moment he stepped ashore, towering rock formations, massive boulders, and uneven stone-covered ground stretched out before him.
Rangga frowned.
"Damn..."
"This place is basically forcing me to go mining."
He looked around.
There were trees...
...but far fewer than on yesterday's tropical island.
His gaze settled on a thick-trunked tree with clusters of sharp leaves growing from the ends of its branches.
The golden screen immediately appeared.
Dragon Tree
Description: A tree capable of surviving in rocky regions with very little water. Its trunk produces dense, durable wood commonly used for construction and tool-making.
Weakness: Can be felled with an axe.
Not far away, several clumps of long-leafed plants grew between the rocks.
Sea Pandanus
Description: A coastal plant with long, durable leaves rich in strong fibers. Once processed, its leaves produce plant fiber used for crafting tools, equipment, and structures.
Weakness: Easily harvested with a knife or simply cut down.
Rangga slowly shook his head.
"There's barely any wood here."
He retrieved all of his equipment from the boat.
Stone Axe.
Stone Pickaxe.
Stone Knife.
Stone Spear.
His bow and arrows.
After confirming everything was with him, Rangga headed toward the nearest Dragon Tree, intending to gather what little wood the island offered before searching for other resources.
Scrape...
Scrape...
Scrape...
After only two swings of his axe against the Dragon Tree, an odd sound echoed from behind the rocks.
It sounded like something scratching against solid stone.
Rangga immediately stopped.
He turned toward the noise and caught a glint of sunlight reflecting off something moving between the boulders.
Silently, he lowered his axe onto the ground.
He picked up his bow, nocked an arrow, and slowly crept toward the source of the sound.
As he drew closer, the creature gradually came into view.
Its body resembled a short-legged lizard.
Yet just like yesterday's Compsognathus, its entire body was built from metal and intricate mechanical joints.
The golden screen appeared once again.
Mechanical Procolophon
Description: A low-bodied herbivorous mechanical dinosaur equipped with powerful foreclaws. Designed to excavate rock formations and extract minerals in rocky environments. Generally peaceful and avoids conflict unless threatened.
Weakness: The underside of its neck and the joints of its forelegs are protected by thinner armor.
Drops:
Alloy Plate
Synthetic Fiber
Rangga blinked several times.
"How is that thing considered a dinosaur?"
"And why does it have such a ridiculously complicated name?"
He continued watching the creature.
The Mechanical Procolophon remained busy clawing at the rocks with its powerful forelegs, completely unaware of Rangga's presence.
Curiosity slowly began to outweigh his fear.
Rangga carefully raised his bow.
He aimed at the underside of the creature's neck.
Taking a deep breath to steady his hands, he whispered—
"...Come on."
He released the string.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew...
...but missed.
Instead, it struck the creature's armored back and ricocheted away.
"Damn it!"
The Mechanical Procolophon immediately turned toward him, its eyes blazing crimson.
SKRRRIIIK!
Its mechanical screech echoed across the entire island.
The very next instant, it charged straight toward Rangga with shocking speed.
"Whoa!"
Rangga immediately spun around and sprinted toward the Dragon Tree he had been chopping moments earlier.
Behind him, metallic claws hammered against the rocky ground.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
The creature rapidly closed the distance.
Rangga glanced over his shoulder.
The Mechanical Procolophon suddenly leaped into the air, slashing its claws toward his legs.
"Holy—!"
Instinctively, Rangga threw himself sideways.
Slash!
The razor-sharp claws carved deep grooves into the rock where he had been standing only a split second earlier.
The creature skidded several meters across the stone before finally stopping and turning back toward him.
Rangga swallowed hard.
"If that had hit my leg..."
"...I'd be dead."
Sweat soaked his hands as he quickly nocked another arrow.
The Mechanical Procolophon screeched again.
SKRRRIIIK!
Then it charged once more.
Rangga struggled to steady his breathing.
Even so, the tip of his arrow trembled violently.
"Come on..."
"Come on..."
Closer.
Ten meters.
Five.
Three.
The moment the creature entered effective range, Rangga released the bowstring.
Whoosh!
The arrow shot straight ahead.
The Mechanical Procolophon opened its mouth, about to unleash another screech.
Thunk!
The arrow pierced straight into its open mouth.
The mechanical creature instantly lost its balance.
It crashed onto the rocky ground and slid several meters before finally coming to a complete stop.
It never moved again.