Everyone began to move, like a machine that had just been touched after being stalled for a long time—hesitant movements, but with clear intent to keep going. Zayn nodded firmly, his voice regaining its spirit even though a trace of exhaustion lingered at the edge.
"Okay. We'll split up according to the teams right away. There's no time left to hesitate."
The diversion team—Bima, Selena, Lira, and Krisna—stood up first. Bima wiped his still-bruised cheek, his voice relaxed despite the earlier fight. "We'll head to the Main Building. We'll cause as much chaos as possible there—shouting, throwing things, anything to draw MonoGaru's attention. Let it focus on us, not the repair team."
Selena replied with a bright face. "Leave it to me."
Lira nodded gently, her hand holding her simple necklace. "I can sing loudly and make noise that annoys it."
Krisna smiled politely, a small spark appearing in his empty eyes. "Okay… let's start now."
The four of them walked out, steps quick but cautious. Bima's faint laughter could be heard as they disappeared down the corridor.
The repair team—me (Reno), Rian, Yusuf, Sinta, and Zayn—moved next. Zayn took the lead, his voice firm. "We're heading to the harbor. Follow the blind spots Rian marked on the map. Don't move too fast, and don't look suspicious."
Rian nodded, holding his MonoWatch like a compass. "I've already marked the safe route. We'll move slowly, one by one if necessary."
The execution team—Adi, Aulia, Anya, Vina, and Dion—moved last. Their steps were more orderly, like people accustomed to big plans. Aulia led the group.
"We'll head to the harbor too. If the boat is successfully repaired, we can set sail immediately."
We reached the harbor as the sun began to tilt westward. Orange light reflected off the gently swaying sea, making the rotting wooden pier look like beached bones. The smell of rust and decaying wood stung the nose, and the sea wind carried the sound of distant crashing waves like a warning.
Dion pointed toward the pier, his voice calm but confident. "That's the boat. Small, shabby, old—but it can still be used. I already checked the interior yesterday. The engine stutters, but if we repair it, it should still run."
The boat indeed looked pitiful—its hull rusted in many places, the paint peeling like sunburned skin, and it was tiny, probably only able to fit five or six people with difficulty. Many were skeptical.
Sinta frowned. "This boat… can it really sail the ocean?"
Zayn nodded, but his voice was firm. "We don't have any other choice. Dion, you really checked it, right?"
Dion smiled faintly, his captain's jacket swaying in the wind. "I've sailed on boats far worse than this many times. Never got lost. Just relax."
I immediately climbed onto the boat, my calloused hands touching the cold, rusted hull, feeling the structure of old wood and iron. "The material is a mix of hardwood and old iron. The hull has leaks in several places, but we can patch them if we have reinforcing materials."
Rian followed me up and went straight to the engine in the small rear compartment. He tried starting it with Dion holding the cables. The engine creaked softly but died again.
Rian shook his head. "It's stuttering because of rust and broken cables. I can fix it, but I need parts and tools—new cables, oil, maybe replacement bolts."
"The small warehouse at the end of the pier might have what we need. I checked yesterday—there are locked containers. Should we break them open now?" Vina replied, pointing toward the building.
Aulia asked me, her voice full of hope. "What about the boat, Reno? Can it be fully repaired?"
I gave a slow nod. "It can, but the hull needs reinforcement. The wood here isn't strong enough for rough seas. We need iron or something more solid to bind it. Otherwise, this boat could break apart in the waves."
Adi frowned. "Is there any alternative?"
I thought hard, my hand touching the hull again, feeling the small cracks in the wood. Yusuf raised his hand, his voice quiet but certain.
"If I may… I want to try something. Wood as strong as iron—I know where to find it. It's in the Sacred Forest. There's also special rattan that's as hard as natural steel."
Sinta chimed in. "Is that possible? We need iron for this."
Yusuf nodded. "It is. That wood can be cut and shaped into reinforcements. I can show you the place."
Zayn immediately grew enthusiastic, his voice firm. "Show us where! We need it."
Yusuf shook his head slowly. "I need manpower to cut and carry it here. The trees are big, the roots are deep."
Adi responded right away. "Take me, Aulia, Sinta, and Zayn. The rest stay at the harbor, keep watch, and make sure the boat is ready."
The four of them left, walking quickly toward the Sacred Forest, leaving the rest of us at the pier. I stood on the creaky harbor pier, the still-warm afternoon sea breeze brushing my face. The small boat in front of me looked even more pitiful under the sunlight—especially its tiny size, as if it couldn't withstand even one large wave. But Dion had said the engine could still be repaired, and that was our only hope now.
Rian knelt beside the engine panel, his hands dirty as he checked cables and gears, murmuring softly but carefully. "I'll stay here for now. I want to double-check every mechanism—so it doesn't malfunction when we're in the middle of the ocean. If anything breaks again, we're all done."
Dion stood on the boat, eyes narrowed toward the horizon. "I'll observe the surroundings too. Wind movement, wave speed, currents— I need to note everything to plan the sailing route. The Pacific isn't something to take lightly."
Anya had already sat on one of the rotting wooden benches on the pier. Her thin veil swayed gently in the wind, her eyes gazing at the sea with calm, as if enjoying the breeze that carried the distant scent of freedom. She said nothing, just sat quietly, as if the world no longer touched her.
I had actually intended to stay on the boat too—to observe the boat's unique structure, hardwood mixed with old iron… I had never thought it could be done. But Zahra suddenly spoke from behind, her voice fiery.
"Reno, you should come with me."
I turned, frowning. "Where to?"
Zahra smiled widely. "This is the perfect time to help me build the farm. I told you yesterday—we need a Plan B in case the escape fails."
"Now isn't the right time, Zahra. We have very little time left. We really need to finish this boat tonight or tomorrow—everyone could die."
Zahra pouted, but her eyes still burned. "I know. But at least come to the warehouse first. Maybe there's something we can use for the boat or the farm. Vina said the containers there might have tools."
I thought for a moment, looking at the shabby boat again. "That's true too. Vina, can you show us the warehouse?"
Vina, who had been quietly observing the boat, turned. She flicked her twin-tailed hair. "Sure. But I already told you—the containers are tightly locked. Nothing can break them open."
The three of us left, leaving Rian and Dion on the boat. The small warehouse at the end of the pier looked like an old building long forgotten—its iron door rusted, the roof leaking in several places, and wild plant roots already creeping through the wall cracks. Vina flipped an old wall switch, and dim yellow light came on, illuminating the dark, dusty room. Thick spider webs hung everywhere, white threads filling the space. Thick dust covered the floor like a dull carpet, and several large rusted containers stood in the middle like abandoned monuments.
Just as Vina had said, the containers were tightly locked. The padlocks were rusted but still strong. We walked around for a long time, searching for anything usable—toolboxes, cables, bolts, anything. But there was nothing. Only dust, spiders, and containers that refused to open.
I tried forcing one lock—with raw hand strength, a large stone from the floor, even a piece of rusted iron I found in the corner—but I couldn't. The padlock was too strong. My hands were scraped, my breath ragged, and finally exhausted, I leaned my back against a container with a soft clang.
Zahra suddenly noticed something, her eyes widening. "Look! On top of that container… there's a shelf!"
We looked where she pointed. On top of the large container, partially hidden by another stack, was a small iron shelf, like a secret storage space.
Vina noticed it too. "That… might have something up there."
"But how do we get up? Or move a container this big? It must weigh dozens of kilos," I replied, still exhausted.
Suddenly, footsteps from behind made us jump. Rian appeared at the warehouse door, his thick glasses askew, hands dirty with oil stains. "What are you guys doing here?"
Vina was the most startled, her voice rising. "Don't scare us like that! My heart almost jumped out!"
Rian shrugged. "I saw you heading to the warehouse. I was curious, so I followed. Did you find anything? Tools like pliers, screwdrivers, or anything?"
Zahra shook her head slowly. "Nothing we can do. Reno already tried breaking the locks, but couldn't. Though we found a shelf on top of that container."
Rian observed the direction she pointed, his eyes narrowing with focus like he was measuring a broken machine. He pulled a tape measure from the pocket of his ever-present work vest and quickly measured the container's length, height, and width. We watched in confusion.
After a few seconds, Rian smiled faintly, his voice full of confidence. "I can think of something. We can build a tool to lift that container."
Vina frowned. "Impossible. The container is too big and heavy, especially the one on top."
Rian looked at me. "Reno, you know this. Explain the container's material."
I was momentarily confused by his earlier words, but I tapped the container beside me. "The material… isn't that heavy— a mix of iron and light steel. But whatever's inside makes it heavy. Still, even if we want to move it, we need something like a forklift or a lever that can lift a container this size."
Rian smiled wider. "That's what I'll make. A simple lever from wood, the rusted iron here, and gears. We can lift the container high enough to access the shelf above."
Everyone focused on Rian's crazy idea—a lever to lift the container and reach the shelf on top.
"Okay, listen. Archimedes once thought about this—how to lift heavy mass without needing much force. 'Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I can move the world.' I'll apply that here. We'll make a simple lever from long wood, rusted iron from the corner for the fulcrum, and gears from scrap metal I found earlier. Reno, you sketch the design first—since you're the only one who understands structure."
I took a pencil and scrap paper from my worn jacket pocket and sat on the dusty cold floor. My mind spun like when I designed houses from rubble in the refugee camp—lever structure, fulcrum point, container weight. Then a long main lever from thick wood, a fulcrum from rusted iron braced with stone, and gears to slide the container slowly.
"Here's the design. The main lever needs to be at least 3 meters long, fulcrum in the middle, we lift from the end. Gears underneath to slide it after lifting a bit. Zahra, go find long wood from outside—there's a pile on the pier. Vina, help me cut this rusted iron for the fulcrum. Rian, install the gears—since you understand mechanisms."
Zahra nodded quickly, pressing her work hat down tighter, her voice fiery. "Okay! I'll find strong wood. Wait a bit." She ran out, stepping cheerfully.
Vina approached, carefully holding a piece of iron. "Here's the iron. Where do I cut? I don't really understand this stuff."
I marked the line on the iron. "Cut here to make a triangular fulcrum. Use the hammer in that corner."
We immediately got to work together. My hands struck the iron with the hammer, the clanging sound echoing in the warehouse like a fast clock. Vina lifted the iron's end to stabilize it, sweat beginning to run down her forehead.
Rian, on the other side, installed gears from rusted iron scraps and old chains he found on a corner shelf, murmuring softly. "Hopefully the teeth fit… a little soldering from hot oil might make it work. Reno, are you sure the lever is strong enough?"
"The wood Zahra brings needs to be thick. If not, we'll reinforce it with this iron."
Zahra returned, breathing heavily, carrying long wood from the pier, her hat damp with sweat. "Here's the wood! I don't know if it's strong enough. I asked Dion earlier—he said it's pretty sturdy."
We assembled the lever—I directed the fulcrum position, Rian tightened the gears underneath the container, Vina and Zahra lifted the wood's end to test balance. Everyone did their part with few words, only nods and short instructions.
I felt a nostalgic feeling, as if I were a real engineer. The design sketch in my hand became the guide, my rough voice directing everyone.
"Vina, lift it higher. Rian, tighten that bolt. Zahra, test pulling the lever slowly."
The tool was completed in a short time—a simple but sturdy lever, long wooden beam with a triangular iron fulcrum, gears underneath to slide the container. We stepped back, breathing ragged, hands dirty with dust and oil.
"You try it first, Reno. Since you designed all this," Rian said, wiping sweat with his gloved hand.
I approached the lever, gripping the end of the wood tightly. I pulled gently first. The lever moved with a creak, the container shifting slightly. Then I pulled harder—with one strong push, the container lifted a little, the gears turned slowly, and the container slid sideways easily. The shelf above was now clearly visible, filled with tool boxes and useful but rusted items.
Everyone was amazed, eyes wide. Zahra clapped. "Wow, Reno! You really are the Ultimate Architect! That container was super heavy, but you lifted it like an empty box!"
Vina smiled faintly. "Impressive. I didn't expect this."
Rian chuckled softly. "Heh, you're the only one who could make my crazy idea real, Reno."
I shook my head slowly, trying to deny it but unable to hide the joy in my voice. "I'm not that great. Half of it was thanks to you, Rian—the gear mechanism you made is what made it work. Without that, the lever alone wouldn't be enough. And Zahra and Vina, who helped—if not for you, this tool wouldn't have been made."
We looked at each other. Soft laughter broke out in the dark warehouse. A small but real hope appeared again, like light from a door crack—this tool wasn't just for the shelf, but proof that we could build something from nothing.
Standing under the large rusted container, we thought hard. Even though we had successfully moved the one on top, the lower container was quite high. Its surface was slippery from rust and dust, and there was no ladder or handhold within reach.
Zahra frowned, her hand touching the container's surface. "This is really high. How do we get up? No handholds, and it's slippery too."
Vina shook her head, her straight hair swaying as she looked upward. "We can't climb it directly. If we fall, we could get hurt."
Rian scratched his head, eyes narrowed as he thought of a solution. "We need a way to lift someone up. If possible, one person first to check what's on that shelf."
I looked at the container, my mind spinning. Then an idea came. "I have a way. I'll stay below and lift Rian up with my hands. You go up, Rian—your body is smaller, right?"
Vina immediately looked at me, her voice full of doubt. "Even if he's small, a human is heavy, Reno. Are you sure you can lift him that high?"
Zahra was also worried, her work hat tilting as she looked at me. "Reno… are you serious? What if you fall?"
I nodded slowly, speaking with certainty. "Just trust me. I'm used to lifting heavy materials—from logs, stones, iron. This isn't much different."
Rian looked at me for a moment, his sharp eyes narrowing, then nodded in agreement. "Okay. I trust you."
He stood in front of the container. I spread my legs wide for balance. Rian placed his foot on my calloused palms, his hands on my shoulders for stability. Zahra and Vina stepped back, their eyes worried but unable to look away.
Rian hesitated for a second, his voice soft. "Reno… are you sure this is safe?"
I ignored the doubt. I took a deep breath, my arm and back muscles tensing like when I lifted concrete blocks in the refugee camp. Then, with one strong push from my legs and arms, I launched Rian upward—not a rough throw, but a controlled lift like raising materials to a roof. Rian stood in surprise, his hands grabbing the edge of the container, and with one pull he managed to climb up, rolling gently onto the rusted surface.
Zahra's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth. "Oh my God… Reno, you're so strong!"
Vina clapped in amazement. "I didn't expect that. That was… incredible."
I let out a long breath, my arms still trembling from the weight, but I smiled faintly. "It's nothing. I'm used to lifting heavy materials and working long hours before."
Rian was already standing on top of the container, opening boxes on the shelf, his voice rising with excitement. "Whoa… there's reserve fuel! Small iron containers. And parts—cables, bolts, oil! These can be used to fix the engine!"
Vina immediately asked, "Is there a grinder or something to break the container locks?"
Rian shook his head, but his eyes sparkled. "No grinder, but there are plenty of parts here. I can make my own tool to break the locks—maybe a lever or cutter from this iron. But our first priority is the boat. Let's focus on the fuel and parts first."
Zahra was about to speak, her voice fiery. "Is there any farming tool here? Like a shovel or—"
But before she could finish, the warehouse door opened slowly, and Sinta appeared, her face full of confusion but curiosity. She stared wide-eyed at the large lever we had built, eyes widening. "What… is that? You guys made a tool this big this quickly? Who made it? How?"
Vina answered. "Teamwork between Reno and Rian. Reno drew the design, Rian built the mechanism."
Sinta nodded in admiration, her voice rising. "Crazy… you guys! Really, the best Ultimates!"
Rian climbed down from the container, carrying fuel cans and parts boxes, helped by me lifting from below. "We should head straight to the boat. How are the others?"
"Yusuf and the rest already brought the materials to the pier. The others are ready too," Sinta replied briefly.
We carried the items—fuel cans, parts boxes, cables and bolts—and immediately took them to the pier.
The harbor pier now looked like an emergency workshop amid the increasingly strong sea wind. The fading afternoon light cast long shadows over the rotting wood and the gently swaying water below. I was on the deck of the small shabby boat, holding a hammer and a piece of hardwood Yusuf had brought from the Sacred Forest. The strong natural fiber scent mixed with the smell of rust made my nose sting.
The timer on my MonoWatch still blinked red on my wrist—less than 20 hours now—like a silent reminder that every hammer strike could be the last if we failed. But amid the tension, we worked shoulder to shoulder. Soft laughter and quiet conversations began to flow like gentle waves, making this moment feel like ordinary life in the middle of a prison—as if we weren't death row inmates, but friends building something together.
Yusuf stood beside me, holding the strong fibers he had taken from special tree roots. His eyes were bright even though exhaustion was becoming visible. "Here's the fiber, Reno. Strong like iron but flexible—perfect for patching the leaking hull. Do you think it's enough?"
I gave a slow nod, the hammer landing on the wood with a sharp clang as I bound the fiber to the cracked hull. "It's enough. The material is pretty good—resistant to water and impact. Where did you find it? It feels like something from old legends."
Yusuf chuckled softly, helping press the wood while I hammered. "In the inner plots of the Sacred Forest. I'm used to searching for rare plants in disaster areas—this type is supposed to be extinct, but somehow it's still here."
Sinta approached from the other side of the boat, her woven bag swaying with herbs. Her voice was chatty but caring as she applied green salve to the scrapes on Zayn's arms from lifting wood earlier. "Zayn, don't move yet! This is a potion from the leaves I picked yesterday—it'll heal the wounds quickly. How could you try lifting such big wood alone… did you think you were that strong?"
Zayn laughed softly, occasionally flinching as Sinta applied the salve. "Everyone else looked so motivated, I couldn't just sit back. But your potion is great—the pain disappeared right away."
Sinta chattered on, her hands moving quickly. "If anyone gets hurt again, just tell me."
At the engine area, Rian knelt on the boat's floor, his gloves getting dirty as he installed new cables from the warehouse parts. His voice murmured softly but precisely. Dion stood beside him, his captain's jacket damp with sweat, holding a screwdriver to help.
"I've fixed the cables, Dion. Are you sure this can get us through the rough waves?"
Dion responded with calm, his voice strategic like when reading ocean currents. "It can. I've navigated much worse boats than this in post-tsunami seas many times. If we can fix the engine, I'll take responsibility for the route. The afternoon wind is still good—but the waves might rise at night."
Anya sat at the edge of the pier, her thin veil swaying in the wind, her voice soft but cynical as she gazed at the sea. "If this boat sails, we can escape. But if it fails… our history ends here."
Vina approached from the other side, carrying reserve fuel cans. "Here's the extra fuel. I found more on the shelf earlier. For backup if we run out on the way."
Zayn lifted the last piece of wood for me. "This is the last one, Reno. You did a great job—the hull is much stronger now. What did you usually build in the camps? Houses from rubble?"
I hammered the final nail, the sharp clang echoing across the pier. "Houses, tents, small fortifications to protect against floods. Whatever materials were available, but they had to hold. Like this boat—if it cracks even a little, you could all sink."
Night began to fall slowly. The orange sky faded into deep blue, the waves in the sea grew louder like a threatening whisper, and the timer on the MonoWatch blinked brighter—less than 18 hours now. But amid it all, our conversations flowed like calm water—Zayn talked about small rebellions in his camp, Sinta shared stories of how every potion she made was considered a miracle cure in every village she passed, Dion described what he had encountered during his past voyages, while Vina calculated the profits she could gain from Yusuf's rare plant discoveries.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time passed. The sun had now disappeared from the horizon. We—Rian, Yusuf, Sinta, Zayn, Dion, Vina, Anya, Lira, Selena, Krisna, Zahra, and Bima—gathered on the pier, sitting or standing around the repaired boat, waiting for news from Adi and Aulia. The air felt thick with tension. The sound of waves and night wind served as a silent accompaniment to our anxiety.
Zayn sat at the edge of the pier, tossing a small stone into the water, his voice firm but with a hint of unease. "They're taking too long. Did the diversion team get caught?"
Sinta chattered while repeatedly opening and closing her bag. "Calm down, Zayn. Adi and Aulia were checking on them earlier, so there shouldn't be any problems."
The quiet Yusuf sat beside the boat, gazing at the dark sea. "If they don't return in another half hour, we should check."
Rian rubbed his tired eyes, holding his MonoWatch. "If they've been discovered, we should set sail immediately."
Vina sat on a small box near the pier, her voice full of tension. "If they've been caught, our escape plan is over. We have no time left."
"History says diversion teams are often the first victims," Anya replied briefly.
Suddenly, from the darkness at the end of the pier, there were slow footsteps. We all jumped. Zayn stood up immediately, fists clenched, his voice firm. "Who's there?!"
All eyes turned to the darkness, breaths held. But from the shadows emerged Nova, his long black coat swaying like a living shadow, his eyes calm but cold. He walked slowly, hands in his coat pockets.
Zayn let out a relieved but annoyed sigh. "Nova! Where have you been? We thought you were MonoGaru…"
Nova stopped in front of us. "I went out for a bit. No need to worry."
From inside his thick coat, he pulled out several foods and drinks—bread, water bottles, and intact canned food. He placed them on the pier with slow movements.
"Adi and Aulia sacrificed their tickets for one day to get these supplies. They said the execution team needs them."
Dion looked moved, his eyes widening, his voice calm but full of gratitude. "They… sacrificed their food rations? I even forgot about food. Thank you so much."
"Adi… Aulia… they really are something. I failed as the planner, even forgetting that," Zayn replied, shaking his head, disappointed in himself.
Not long after, from the direction of the Main Building, Adi and Aulia appeared, their steps quick but tired. Sinta immediately greeted them.
"You took so long! We were worried!"
Adi nodded, his voice tired. "Sorry. We were a bit late because we were afraid of being noticed. But… the diversion team managed to cause a big commotion in the Main Building."
Aulia explained. "Lira sang so loudly in the hall that her voice echoed through the speakers, confusing MonoGaru. Bima tried to hold MonoGaru back with arguments so it couldn't disturb Lira. Selena acted pitiful, saying Lira wanted to sing until the countdown ended because it was her last wish. And Krisna drew many confusing symbols in the corridors that messed with the robot sensors."
Zayn smiled faintly. "Good. That means the diversion plan worked."
"Now everyone is gathered. Let's continue the plan. Execution team, board the boat immediately," Aulia said.
The execution team—Aulia, Anya, Vina, and Dion—began boarding the boat, checking supplies, fuel, and the steering wheel. The rest of us stood guard on the pier, eyes on the dark sea that was beginning to churn more violently. The night wind carried a threatening whisper from the growing waves.
I watched them, my heart pounding hard. This boat was small, repaired with whatever we had, and the Pacific Ocean ahead felt like a bottomless abyss. But we had come too far to turn back.
The execution team—Adi, Aulia, Anya, Vina, and Dion—stood on the deck, holding the last of the supplies, their faces full of tension but also unshakeable determination. The rest of us stood on the pier, watching them like we were seeing the last hope about to depart.
Aulia stood at the edge of the deck. Her simple batik scarf fluttered gently in the night wind. Her large eyes looked at all of us with a faint but warm smile.
"We… will go first. I'm sorry for leaving all of you behind. But we promise… we will return with help. You… take care of yourselves."
Dion nodded calmly, hands on the steering wheel, his voice strategic but full of promise. "I will take them through this ocean. The night wind is still readable. Wait for news from us."
Anya nodded slightly from behind her thin veil. "History will not end here. We will write it."
Vina looked at us, her thin gold necklace sparkling under the moonlight. "We will bring help. Don't give up."
"I will make sure everything goes according to plan. I will save all of you," Adi replied with burning determination.
Sinta raised her hand. "Be careful! Come back safely!"
Zahra lifted her work hat, her voice fiery. "You have to succeed! I'll be waiting for your news!"
Nova whispered from the dark corner. "The darkness of this night… you will pass through it. Come back."
Zayn clenched his fists. "You can do it! Bring help, and we will all be saved!"
Rian rubbed his eyes. "The engine is stable. You'll arrive safely."
I stood at the edge of the pier, hands clenched tightly. "Safe travels. Come back safely."
Aulia smiled faintly, her eyes meeting mine for a moment, then she waved. "Thank you, everyone. We will return."
Dion started the engine. A soft rumble sounded. The boat began to sway gently and moved away from the pier. We stood there, watching the small boat sail slowly toward the open sea. Its silhouette grew smaller under the crescent moonlight. High hope burned in our chests like a small torch in the dark night. I felt my chest tighten—I hadn't expected they would really leave.
But as the boat approached the open sea, a spotlight suddenly shone from another direction—bright, piercing, illuminating the boat like a giant awakening eye.
Zayn panicked, his voice rising. "What is that?!"
Rian immediately checked his MonoWatch. The screen blinked red. "Surveillance points activated! How?!"
Nova was startled, his long black coat swaying. "This… is too fast."
Not long after, the sound of a combat helicopter came from above—the roaring rotor blades, its black silhouette against the night sky, its spotlight blinding. MonoGaru's distinctive voice sounded from the helicopter, flirtatious but cold like a death sentence.
"Wah wah wah~ How naughty my students are! Where are you going in the middle of the night, in the middle of the sea? Come back to the pier, or… you'll become shark bait~!"
The boat ignored it. The engine continued rumbling. Dion steered toward the open sea. But the helicopter fired a missile—red light flashed, a loud explosion shook the air, and the boat flipped with the horrifying sound of breaking wood and screeching metal. We watched from the pier—the small boat overturned, water spraying high, and the silhouettes of Aulia, Anya, Vina, and Dion fell into the raging sea, tossed by the black, furious waves.
Zayn was furious. "Wasn't the diversion supposed to work?!"
From another direction, Bima came running with a panicked and hurried face, breathing heavily. "MonoGaru suddenly disappeared from the hall! A loud alarm sounded, then I heard something loud! What happened?!"
We looked at the sea—the silhouettes of the four people were being tossed by the violent waves. There was nothing we could do. I couldn't bear to watch. I immediately grabbed leftover wood from the boat patching, my hands—still in pain—tying it together with strong fibers from Yusuf.
Zayn asked, his voice panicked. "Reno, what are you trying to do?!"
I didn't answer, only continued tying the wood with fibers, my hands trembling but fast. Bima immediately approached and helped without asking many questions. "Help Reno! Quickly!"
Everyone joined in—Sinta brought rope from her bag, Yusuf grabbed extra fibers, Zahra lifted wood, Vina and Anya pulled ropes, Dion and Rian helped assemble the structure. An emergency raft was completed in a short time—hardwood, strong fibers, though small and only for one person.
Without waiting, I pushed the raft into the water, jumped on top, and rowed with all my remaining strength toward the middle of the sea. The night wind howled, waves slammed the raft as if wanting to swallow us alive, but I kept rowing. My hands began to blister from the wood friction, my eyes fixed on the distant silhouettes of the four people being tossed by the waves.
I rowed like a man possessed. The emergency wooden raft felt like an extension of my own body. My hands were already bleeding, the skin on my palms cracked and peeling from the constant grip on the rough fiber ropes. Blood dripped into the seawater, creating small red spots that instantly vanished, swallowed by the waves. Every stroke made my arm and back muscles scream in pain, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
The waves now came like hungry beasts, slamming the raft from all directions. Salty water sprayed my face, into my eyes, mouth, nose—it felt like being slapped repeatedly by the cold hand of the Pacific. The raft rocked violently, nearly capsizing twice, but I leaned forward, maintaining balance with instincts honed from years of building in storms and floods.
In the distance, the silhouettes of the four—Aulia, Anya, Vina, Dion—were being tossed on the churning surface. They tried to stay afloat, small hands reaching for air, heads surfacing for a moment before being swallowed by the next wave. I saw Aulia—her wavy black hair plastered to her pale face—she was still trying to float, but her strength was almost gone.
MonoGaru's combat helicopter still hovered above, its spotlight blinding. I caught a glimpse of the bear's shadow in the cockpit, its torn wings fluttering gently behind the glass. The laser weapon beneath the helicopter glowed red, aimed directly at my raft. I held my breath, muscles tensing as I waited for the explosion—but nothing happened. The helicopter only hovered there for a moment, its spotlight sweeping over my drenched body, then MonoGaru's voice sounded again from the helicopter's speaker, this time without laughter.
"Wuaaah~ What an interesting effort, Ultimate Architect. You really want to build hope from these ruins, huh? Fine… I'll give you this small chance. I'm curious how far you can go!"
The helicopter slowly retreated, its spotlight dimming, its rotors roaring as it disappeared into the dark night sky. I had no time to question why. I only rowed harder, blood from my hands mixing with salty water, every stroke sending the raft forward even as the waves continued to slam like they wanted to devour us alive.
Finally, I reached them. The small boat we had repaired lay overturned in front of me, its hull floating upside down like the carcass of a giant fish, waves slamming it mercilessly. I immediately jumped from the raft. Cold water swallowed me up to my chest. The chill pierced my bones like knives, but I swam toward them.
Dion was the first I reached—he was floating with his torn captain's jacket, breathing ragged but still conscious. I grabbed his arm, swam to the raft, and pushed his body up with great effort.
"Hold on tight!" I shouted over the roaring waves.
Vina was next—she was almost sinking, her thin gold necklace still sparkling at her neck, her face exhausted but her eyes still sharp. I grabbed her waist and lifted her onto the raft. Her hands trembled as they gripped the wood.
Anya emerged from behind a wave, her thin veil already gone, her long straight black hair plastered to her face. She said little, only nodding as I pulled her hand.
Adi—his notebook already lost, his face streaked with thin blood from the explosion wound, but his eyes still searching for direction. I grabbed his shoulder and pushed his body onto the raft. "Adi! Hold on!"
Last was Aulia—she was being tossed the farthest, her body weak, but her eyes were still open, searching for us. I swam faster, wrapped my arm around her waist, and pushed her body onto the raft. "Aulia! Hold onto me!"
She weakly gripped my shoulder, her voice almost inaudible over the roaring waves. "Reno… thank you…"
I tried to push myself onto the raft last. My body was drenched, my breath ragged. We lay on the violently rocking raft, waves still slamming without mercy. I grabbed an emergency oar made from leftover wood and rowed back to the pier with my last remaining strength.
In the distance, the lights from the pier became visible again. The silhouettes of our friends—Zayn, Sinta, Yusuf, Zahra, Rian, and the others—stood at the edge of the pier, waving frantically. Their shouts were faintly carried by the wind. I rowed harder, even though my arms were numb, blood dripping from my hands into the seawater.
We finally made it. Our friends' hands pulled the raft to shore, lifting our drenched bodies one by one. Sinta immediately applied potions to our wounds. Zahra helped lift Aulia to land. Zayn pulled Dion with strength. Rian helped Vina and Anya. I was last—my body limp, vision beginning to blur, but I was still conscious when Zahra held my shoulder, her voice fiery but full of worry.
"Reno! Wake up! You did it!"
I lay there with a body that could no longer hold on, breath coming in short gasps, vision blurring like slowly cracking glass. Salty seawater still dripped from my hair and worn jacket, mixing with blood from hands that no longer felt anything. Small waves lapped at my feet, cold piercing my bones, but I couldn't move anymore. My body felt as heavy as the bricks I had lifted all day, but this time the bricks were pressing down on my own chest.
Zayn knelt beside me, his hand gripping my shoulder firmly, his voice firm but trembling. "Reno… insane! You… really saved them! Thank you… you're amazing, bro."
Sinta immediately approached from the other side, her woven bag falling onto the sand. Her hands trembled as she applied green leaf salve to the wounds on my hands. Her eyes were glassy, her voice chatty but full of gratitude.
"Reno… hold on. I'll treat you."
I wanted to answer, wanted to say it was nothing, that I only did what I could. But the words wouldn't come out. My vision grew blurrier, their voices becoming faint as if coming from far away. My bleeding hands felt cold, my body limp like wood that could no longer support anything. I could only smile faintly, my eyes slowly closing, hearing their voices growing more distant.
"Reno… wake up…"
"Reno! Don't close your eyes!"
"Reno!!"
Darkness came slowly, but inside it I felt… warm. As if, for the first time, I no longer felt like a mere shadow. I felt… needed.
And that was enough.