Global Pioener: Earth Second Change

That morning, Rangga was once again standing at the dock of his private island.

He opened the list of destinations available for the day and looked over the options that appeared.

Swamp Island, Stone Island, and Tropical Island and Rangga stopped at one choice.

Tropical Island ⭐⭐⭐

He stared at it for a moment.

“Seems like a good fit.”

The newly crafted Hunter Armor was still equipped. After trying out various movements on his private island the day before, Rangga’s curiosity had only grown.

He wanted to know just how much the armor could help him handle a more dangerous environment.

Rangga then opened the Garuda regional channel.

Rangga: Morning. I got a three-star Tropical Island today. Anyone want to go?

Several replies appeared shortly afterward.

Fajar: I can.

Siska: I’m in.

Rian: I got the same coordinates too.

Rangga read the three names. Not long afterward, another message appeared.

Deri: I got a different island today.

Rangga nodded slightly, then typed again.

Rangga: Okay. I want to try going solo first.

A reply immediately appeared.

Fajar: Huh?

Siska: Solo?

Rian: Are you serious?

Rangga chuckled at their reactions.

Rangga: Yeah. I want to test the new armor.

A few seconds later, a message from Deri appeared.

Deri: Mas Rangga, a three-star Tropical Island isn’t a good place to test it alone.

Rangga stared at the message.

Rangga: I just want to see what this armor can do.

Deri: I know. But if you encounter a mechanical creature we’ve never faced before, don’t force it.

Rangga: If it gets dangerous, I’ll retreat.

Deri did not respond immediately. Then another message appeared.

Deri: All right. But if anything happens, immediately inform the regional channel.

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Deri: Don’t try to handle everything yourself just because you want to test the armor.

Deri: If you say you need help, the Garuda Pioneers on that island will immediately search for your position.

Rangga read the messages, then smiled faintly.

Rangga: Okay, Major.

Fajar cut in again.

Fajar: So are we still going?

Rangga: Go ahead. We’ll meet there.

Siska: Don’t die before we get there.

Rangga: Relax.

Rangga closed the chat and checked his equipment once more.

Bow, Explosive Arrows, EMP Arrows, Javelins, and medicine. Everything was ready, and the Hunter Armor was perfectly equipped.

Rangga boarded his small ship and started the engine. Before departing, he looked toward his private island one more time.

“A three-star Tropical Island...”

His hands gripped the steering wheel.

“Let’s see how far this new armor can take me.”

The ship slowly left the dock, and Rangga sailed alone toward the three-star Tropical Island, while Fajar, Siska, and Rian prepared to head toward the same island from their respective departure points.

The journey took more than an hour before Rangga’s ship finally reached Tropical Island.

As soon as he stepped off the ship, Rangga immediately felt the humid air, different from the islands he had visited before. Tall trees covered nearly the entire area before him, with massive roots spreading through the wet soil and dense undergrowth.

Rangga smiled.

The Hunter Armor remained tightly fitted to his body. He did not rush straight in. Instead, he lowered his body and slowed his steps.

One step, then he stopped and checked his surroundings before moving again.

Rangga occasionally looked up toward the tree canopy. He still remembered his previous experience on this island.

Mechanical Hererasaurus.

The creature did not simply chase its prey from the ground. It could hide among the treetops and attack from unexpected locations.

Rangga grinned.

“In that case...”

He looked at the trees above him again.

“...which one of us gets to be the ambusher first?”

He continued forward with his body slightly hunched.

Every few steps, Rangga stopped to check his surroundings. His gaze shifted from the bushes and tree trunks to the branches hidden beneath the leaves.

About fifteen minutes passed before Rangga stopped. His eyes caught something among the trees.

A Mechanical Hererasaurus was perched on one of the large branches.

The creature barely moved, its head constantly turning downward. Searching and waiting.

Rangga watched from behind the bushes, and a slow smile appeared on his face.

“Oh...”

He had just realized something. The creature had absolutely no idea he was there.

The Hererasaurus was still busy watching the ground below, as if waiting for prey to pass by so it could ambush it from above.

Rangga lowered his body even further. He then slowly approached the tree.

There was barely any sound from his footsteps. No branches snapped, and there were no conspicuous movements.

The Hunter Armor truly made his movements much harder to detect.

Once he was close enough, Rangga stopped and he took out his bow and reached for an arrow.

An EMP Arrow.

Rangga drew the bowstring, his eyes fixed on the Hererasaurus’s body.

“Don’t miss...”

He released the string.

Twack!

The arrow shot between the trees. The Hererasaurus only noticed the attack when the arrow was already close to its body.

Tzzzt—!

An electromagnetic blast erupted, violently jolting the Hererasaurus’s body. Blue light spread along its mechanical frame.

The creature lost its balance and fell from the tree branch then Rangga immediately moved. He sprinted forward and jumped, both hands already gripping his javelins.

While the Hererasaurus was still falling and had yet to recover its systems, Rangga struck it from above.

DUAK!

Both javelins pierced the mechanical creature simultaneously.

KRAK!

A mechanical sound came from inside its body, and the Hererasaurus went still as white light enveloped its entire body.

A moment later, the mechanical creature shattered into light and disappeared, leaving several items on the ground.

Rangga landed on both feet. He pulled his two javelins free, then looked at the drops left behind but the loot itself wasn't what satisfied him the most.

He looked up at the trees, then down at the Hunter Armor covering his body.

His smile grew wider.

“Seriously...”

Rangga shook his head slightly.

“This armor is way beyond what I expected.”

He had just killed a Hererasaurus, a creature previously known for its ambush abilities and this time, Rangga had been the one to ambush first.

He collected all the drops and looked deeper into the forest again.

“If it’s like this...”

Rangga raised his bow.

“...I think I’m going to have some fun here.”