93. The Savannah Expedition
Three months later.
That night, Rangga's island no longer looked like a simple survival outpost.
A large bonfire burned in the middle of the open area.
Around it, dozens of Pioneers sat, stood, laughed, and chatted freely, just as they had once dreamed of doing.
A total of 33 Garuda Pioneers had gathered there.
Along with them were two representatives from other nations—the Green Jaguar Nation and the Golden Lion Nation—who were no longer strangers.
They had explored together several times, fought together, and even saved each other's lives.
Cooperation between nations was no longer merely an agreement made back on Earth. It had become a reality in the field.
The atmosphere that night was lively.
Andre and Fajar were arguing among themselves about who had fallen the most times when they first entered Swamp Island.
Rian was showing off his new spear, which was far more refined and deadly than before.
Siska laughed as she occasionally nudged some of the people she had once taught.
Elsewhere, several new Pioneers—who had once been afraid to even enter a three-star island—were now sitting around casually in full armor.
Everyone was wearing Simosuchus armor. Their weapons were no longer the basic weapons they had started with.
They had been upgraded, refined, and were clearly ready for battle.
Among them all, Rangga stood slightly apart. He still carried himself casually, but there was something distinctly different about him now.
His bow hung across his back. His arrows were no longer merely explosive arrows. Several arrowheads emitted a faint bluish glow.
EMP.
An upgrade no other Pioneer possessed yet.
There was still a gap between them but it was nowhere near as wide as before.
Now they were catching up and they were almost equals. Major Deri stood near the bonfire, calmly observing everything before walking over to Rangga.
"Mas."
Rangga turned.
"What is it, Major?"
Deri looked around, his voice quieter but firm.
"It's changed a lot."
Rangga looked around as well. Dozens of Pioneers, and no one looked like a complete beginner anymore.
He nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Deri continued.
"Back then, everyone depended on you, Mas Rangga. Now..."
He paused for a moment.
"They can stand on their own."
Rangga clicked his tongue softly.
"That's good, then... Means I can relax a little."
Deri smiled faintly.
"Not really... Tomorrow is when the real work begins."
Rangga grinned.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Two people approached from behind.
The representatives of the Green Jaguar Nation and the Golden Lion Nation.
The Green Jaguar representative spoke first.
"Looks like... you're ready."
His tone was calm but clearly serious then The Golden Lion representative nodded.
"We've accompanied you several times now."
"And honestly..."
He looked toward the Garuda Pioneers.
"Your strength now is far beyond what we expected at the beginning."
Rangga scratched his head.
"It's nothing special."
Deri immediately interrupted.
"It isn't ordinary, Mas... It's the result of everyone's hard work here."
The atmosphere became slightly quiet, not awkward. Rather, everyone seemed to be realizing something.
The Green Jaguar representative spoke again.
"Then... shall we begin tomorrow?"
Everyone immediately became more focused and Rangga glanced at Deri, who gave a small nod then Rangga looked toward the two representatives.
"Tomorrow... Savannah Island... We're taking the Vanadium."
The Golden Lion representative smiled.
"Finally."
Deri added firmly,
"But we maintain formation... No one acts alone. The primary targets remain the Parasaurolophus and controlling the herd."
The Green Jaguar representative nodded.
"We'll follow your command in the field."
Rangga clicked his tongue.
"Fine. Just don't panic."
Several Pioneers nearby had begun listening to the conversation and small whispers started spreading.
"Tomorrow?"
"Finally..."
"Vanadium..."
But there was no fear like before. Only excitement and Rangga looked at all of them
The bonfire, The laughter, The matching armor, The people who had once been too afraid to even enter a three-star island.
Now they were ready to raid the most dangerous island they knew.
He took a slow breath before speaking casually.
"Enough. Enjoy tonight first... Tomorrow's when things get complicated."
Several people laughed.
"Yes, Bang!"
"Let's go tomorrow!"
The night grew lively once again but the atmosphere was different now.
It was no longer merely about survival. It was preparation for something much bigger.
That morning, Rangga's island was still quiet. Rangga had already gotten up.
Without doing anything else, he immediately walked toward his workshop.
The door was pushed open slowly.
The sounds of metal and machinery filled the room as Rangga walked toward one of the racks in the corner.
His hand stopped and He stood there silently for several seconds before taking an object.
A metal disc with a circular pattern and a small, dim core in its center.
He turned it over in his hand for a moment, his brow slightly furrowed.
"I'll give this a try..." he murmured.
Without further explanation, he stored the object in his gear then he left the workshop. On his way to the dock, Rangga opened the regional chat.
Messages had already been flooding in.
Fajar:
"Everyone heading to Savannah, send your coordinates now."
Andre:
"I'm set."
Siska:
"I'm joining the Savannah expedition."
Deri:
"So am I."
Several other names joined in.
A total of eight people shared the same coordinates as Rangga.
The rest had chosen other islands, but they were still traveling in groups according to their previous arrangements.
Rangga typed briefly.
Rangga:
"Keep formation."
Rangga:
"No one goes alone."
Deri immediately replied.
Deri:
"Understood."
Fajar:
"Let's go."
Andre:
"Got it, Bang."
The chat quickly filled with similar responses and Rangga closed the panel and stopped in front of his ship. He boarded without hesitation.
The engine started, and seawater began splitting beneath the bow. One by one, several other ships could be seen moving in the distance as well.
They weren't departing from the same location. They weren't gathering first but they were all heading toward the same coordinates.
Savannah Island.
No direct orders, no formal command structure, yet everyone knew their respective roles.
Rangga stared straight ahead.
Every now and then, his hand touched the place where he had stored the metal disc.
Eventually, they gathered at the same location—a large rock near two acacia trees standing close together.
One by one, they arrived from different directions.
Major Deri and Fajar arrived first, followed by Siska and the others.
Andre arrived last, slightly later than everyone else. Once everyone was present, Rangga confirmed their numbers.
Eight people, just as planned then he began speaking.
"Listen up."
Everyone immediately focused their attention on him.
"If we encounter a Mechanical Parasaurolophus—the big one that can summon Gallimimus—that's the first thing we take down."
Fajar immediately understood and added,
"So the little ones don't keep coming."
Rangga nodded.
"Exactly. As long as it's still alive, we'll keep getting swarmed."
Major Deri then added more firmly,
"We don't get dragged into pointless fights... Our primary objective remains the mine."
Rangga continued.
"We're looking for Vanadium. That's our target... If we can avoid fighting, we avoid it."
Andre asked from the back,
"And if we can't?"
Rangga answered simply.
"Then we wipe them out."
No one objected and they all understood. Major Deri then took over and assigned positions.
"Fajar and I will be in front."
Fajar immediately stepped forward slightly.
"Understood."
Rangga took the middle position.
"I'm in the center."
Several other Pioneers automatically positioned themselves around him.
Siska joined the center while Andre moved slightly farther back.
"I'm in the rear. I'll provide cover."
Rangga nodded.
"Keep your distance, but don't break formation."
The remaining Pioneers formed a line around Andre, their roles now clearly established.
The front would absorb attacks and clear the path and the center would serve as the core. The rear would provide ranged support.
Major Deri looked over everyone once they were ready.
"Move."
Without another word, they began advancing into the savannah.
Their steps were steady and deliberate, all moving toward the same goal.
Find the Vanadium mine.