Regional Chat
Night once again settled over Rangga's tiny island. As he sat beside the campfire, the Administrator's voice echoed through his mind.
《Day Three survival supplies have been delivered to all Pioneers.》
《3/3》
A moment later, two bottles of mineral water and two packs of bread appeared beside the fire.
Rangga immediately picked them up and stored them inside his hut.
Before he could sit down again, the Administrator spoke once more.
《The Pioneer Assistance Program has ended.》
《Beginning on Day Four, all survival needs will become the sole responsibility of each Pioneer.》
Rangga simply nodded.
"...Yeah... There was no way they'd keep feeding us forever."
He glanced at his remaining food supplies.
Mangoes. Bananas. Coconuts. Several Sea Pandanus fruits. At least, for now, food wasn't his biggest concern.
"I've still got enough food... Water's the only problem."
His eyes shifted toward the three empty plastic bottles he had prepared the day before.
"I'll fill them at the river tomorrow."
Rangga then reopened the destination selection screen on his boat.
"And tomorrow... I'll head back to a tropical island. Need to gather more materials."
The campfire crackled quietly before him.
As Rangga planned for his fourth day, he knew that from now on, he would have nothing to rely on except his own skills, his equipment, and his determination to survive.
At the very same time, a heavy silence settled over government buildings across the world.
Every head of state had just heard the same announcement.
《The Pioneer Assistance Program has ended.》
《Beginning on Day Four, all survival needs will become the sole responsibility of each Pioneer.》
No one spoke. Every pair of eyes remained fixed on the countless screens displaying the conditions of their respective Pioneers.
Some appeared calm. Like Rangga, they already had shelters, food supplies, and equipment ready for tomorrow's expedition.
Others caused everyone watching to sigh. Several Pioneers still sat motionless inside their huts. Some had never even left their home islands since the very first day.
They had survived solely on the bread and water provided by the assistance program.
Now with that support gone. They would have to face the unknown world for the very first time.
Inside the Garuda Nation's Presidential Palace, President Prabu quietly observed one screen after another.
Some Pioneers were already preparing to set sail. Others stared helplessly at their empty islands.
Still others looked panicked after reading the Administrator's announcement.
General Suryo quietly exhaled.
"Tomorrow... the real test begins."
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President Prabu merely nodded, never taking his eyes off the screens.
Back at the military housing complex, Putri was getting ready for bed.
As always, she quietly watched the screen showing only the outside of Rangga's little hut.
His campfire still burned steadily and a small smile appeared on her face.
"Do your best, Mas... I know you can do it... I'll keep waiting for you."
She pulled the blanket up to her chest.
"Mas Rangga... you'll get through all of this."
Holding onto that belief, Putri slowly closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, in another world, Rangga also settled down to rest, never knowing that every single night, someone on Earth prayed for his safety and cheered him on.
The following morning, Rangga was ready shortly after sunrise.
Standing beside his boat, he checked his equipment one last time.
Stone Axe. Stone Pickaxe. Composite Alloy Bow. Ten Alloy Arrows. Three empty bottles.
After confirming everything was in place, he picked up the last loaf of bread from the tutorial supplies.
"This is the last one..."
He had barely taken a bite when the Administrator's voice echoed once again.
《Pioneer Chat has been unlocked.》
《Additional communication features will unlock according to each Pioneer's Island Level.》
Rangga immediately looked up.
"Huh?"
A blue screen appeared before him.
Communication System
Regional ●
General 🔒 (Locked)
Rangga frowned.
"Regional? The global chat is locked?"
Before he could even touch the screen—
Boom!
The Regional chat exploded with messages scrolling so quickly they became almost impossible to follow.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Everyone stay calm. Don't spam. Let's gather information one step at a time.
Dita (Garuda Nation): Please... can someone come get me? I'm all alone.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Wait... are we all from the Garuda Nation?
Budi (Garuda Nation): Looks like it.
Siska (Garuda Nation): Does anyone know where this place is?
Raka (Garuda Nation): Has anyone found food yet?
Dita (Garuda Nation): Please... I'm scared.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Relax. Build a shelter first. Don't panic.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Oh yeah? Like you know everything?
Broto (Garuda Nation): Just common sense. I've already figured out how this system works.
Fajar (Garuda Nation): Does anyone know if the resource islands really sink?
Lina (Garuda Nation): Has anyone met a Pioneer from another country?
Deri (Garuda Nation): Focus. Anyone who has found water, food, or important information, please report it.
Dita (Garuda Nation): Please... can someone come to my island?
Raka (Garuda Nation): Is that even possible?
Andre (Garuda Nation): I don't think so.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Probably after upgrading your island.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Don't make assumptions without evidence.
Messages flooded the screen nonstop. They scrolled so fast that Rangga could barely read them.
The piece of bread in his mouth even slipped from his lips and fell onto the ground.
"...Damn... It's so crowded."
Then his eyes stopped on one particular name.
Broto (Garuda Nation)
Rangga frowned.
"...Broto?"
The name sounded strangely familiar. A few seconds later, he shook his head.
"...Nah... There are lots of people named Broto."
After hesitating for a moment, he slowly raised his hand.
"...Let's try."
He typed a message.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Hello.
The instant it appeared, hundreds of new messages buried it. Within seconds, his greeting disappeared off the screen.
"...Seriously?"
Blinking, he tried again.
Rangga (Garuda Nation): Hello, everyone.
The result was exactly the same. Before he could even reread his own message, it had already vanished beneath another wave of chat.
"...Forget it... No one's going to see that."
Rangga gave up trying to type and simply watched the conversation.
Deri (Garuda Nation): Everyone, listen. Let's gather information. Don't spam unnecessary messages.
Andre (Garuda Nation): How are we supposed to gather information when we're all separated?
Dita (Garuda Nation): Please... I'm scared of being alone.
Raka (Garuda Nation): There are robot dinosaurs on my island!
Deri (Garuda Nation): If you encounter a mechanical creature, don't approach it until you understand its abilities.
Siska (Garuda Nation): Does anyone know how to find water?
Fajar (Garuda Nation): Tropical islands have rivers.
Broto (Garuda Nation): Who made you the boss?
Deri (Garuda Nation): I'm a military officer. Follow instructions if you want better odds of surviving.
Broto (Garuda Nation): So what if you're military?
Broto (Garuda Nation): We're all on our own out here.
Andre (Garuda Nation): Stop arguing already.
Dita (Garuda Nation): Please... can someone come to my island?
Raka (Garuda Nation): Can we even visit each other's islands?
Siska (Garuda Nation): I don't know either.
Fajar (Garuda Nation): Has anyone found edible fruit?
Deri (Garuda Nation): Focus on surviving. If you discover anything important, report it in the chat.
The messages never stopped. Some people were panicking. Some kept asking questions. Some shared whatever little information they had.
Others refused to listen to anyone and Rangga silently watched for several minutes.
"...This is a mess."
He shook his head.
"Nothing's getting accomplished like this."
Without another word, he closed the chat window. Moments later, the destination selection screen reappeared.
Island A ⭐ (1-Star)
Tropical Island
Island B ⭐ (1-Star)
Rocky Island
Rangga didn't hesitate.
"I need food... and water."
He selected the Tropical Island. The boat immediately pulled away from the dock, carrying Rangga toward his next expedition.