Slowly, my eyes began to open, like someone being pulled from a bottomless abyss of darkness. They opened little by little, though the world around me was still blurry, like thick fog enveloping everything. My head throbbed violently, as if an invisible hammer was pounding my temples from inside. Every small movement sent the pain radiating through my entire body, weak and heavy, as though my bones were weighed down by massive stones I had never lifted before.
I tried to raise my hand—sharp pain stabbed through it. The skin on my palms was cracked and red, the small wounds still damp with dried blood mixed with green herbal salve that carried a faint scent like wet leaves after heavy rain—refreshing, yet also a reminder of last night's cold. The ceiling above me wasn't the usual one—not plain and cold like in the dorm room, but covered in strange black-and-white decorations, like the faded, cracked squares of a chessboard, lit by dim neon lights that flickered slowly like a weak pulse, red and blue hues alternating as if mocking my condition.
I was lying on an old, soft but musty-smelling sofa. The pillow was flattened from long use, and a thin blanket covered my body like a fragile shield from the outside world. Beside me was a large dead screen, a DVD player with tangled cables like a spider's web, and a wooden shelf filled with classic movie cassettes and old books whose covers were peeling, like relics from the time before the disaster swallowed everything. I tried to sit up again, but my body protested fiercely—my back felt crushed under ruins, my arms trembled when supporting my own weight, my breath came in short gasps.
Soft footsteps sounded from the direction of the door—light but quick. Sinta appeared, her woven bag hanging from her shoulder, her short hair slightly messy like someone who hadn't slept all night. Her face was tired but broke into a small smile when she saw my eyes open.
"Reno… you're finally awake. Thank goodness," she said gently. She approached quickly, placed her bag on the floor with a rustle of herbs, then sat on the edge of the sofa. Her hand immediately touched my forehead to check my temperature.
"You were severely exhausted last night," Sinta continued, her voice fast but full of care. "The wounds on your hands were deep, almost infected. We all took care of you the entire night—I gave you anti-inflammatory herbs from the leaves I picked in the forest, Bima helped with compresses, Zahra changed the bandages every hour. You had a high fever, but it's gone down now. Don't move yet. Let me check again."
I tried to speak. My voice was hoarse and weak, like dry wood cracking. "The others… how are they? Aulia… Adi… the rest…?"
Not long after, the door opened again with a soft creak, and heavy footsteps followed. Zayn entered, his shoulder bruised, but the worry that had filled his face earlier was now replaced with relief when he saw me. He approached quickly, stood beside the sofa, and gently patted my shoulder—carefully, afraid of hurting the still-fresh wounds.
"You're awake at last, bro," he said. His voice was rough but warm, like a campfire on a cold night. "Thank goodness you're okay. We were all so worried last night."
I repeated the question, my voice still hoarse like sand in my throat. "The others… the execution team… are they safe?"
Zayn nodded, smiling faintly but sincerely, a small spark in his eyes under the dim neon light. "They're safe. Aulia, Anya, Vina, Dion, and Adi are still alive. They're just severely exhausted, in shock, and have mild hypothermia from being submerged in the sea last night. Everyone's been treated—Sinta gave them potions, Lira helped warm their bodies, and Selena changed their wet clothes. They're resting in their rooms now. Still weak, but conscious and stable."
I let out a long breath, relief flooding my chest. "Thank goodness…"
Sinta smiled faintly, her hands still checking the bandages on my hands with quick but careful movements. "You need to rest more too."
I then realized the room was different—the dim flickering neon lights, shelves full of classic movie cassettes and old books with peeling covers like faded memories, a large dead screen beside me, a DVD player with tangled cables. There was an old sofa, a small table with empty glasses, and black-and-white decorations on the walls like a forgotten entertainment room from a past era.
"You're in… the Entertainment Room," Sinta said, as if sensing my confusion. "A small building not far from the dorm. Selena, Vina, and Aulia found it earlier. They said this place is also safe from MonoGaru's surveillance—no cameras here. We brought you here last night because it's warmer and there are beds."
I tried to stand on my own two feet, but my body protested with stabbing pain. My arms trembled like cracked wood unable to bear weight anymore. Zayn immediately helped, his strong hand supporting my arm from the side, his voice firm but attentive.
"Slowly, Reno. Your body is still weak. We brought you here because we were afraid MonoGaru was watching you too."
I nodded slowly, my voice hoarse. "Thank you… all of you."
Zayn smiled faintly and patted my shoulder again—carefully. "We should be the ones thanking you, Reno. You saved them last night. You… you're really our hero."
After making sure my condition had improved a little, I immediately tried to walk outside. Zayn carefully held my left arm, his grip strong but not pressing on the wounds still wrapped in Sinta's herbal bandages. Sinta walked on my right, her woven bag swaying gently, her eyes occasionally glancing at my face to make sure I wouldn't faint again. Our footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor as we hobbled toward the dorm.
"Take it easy, Reno," Zayn said, his voice firm but full of concern, like someone used to organizing people but genuinely worried this time. "If you fall again, I'll be the one stuck carrying you."
Sinta laughed softly. "Don't say that, Zayn."
I could only reply weakly. "I'm fine… just a little dizzy."
We reached the common room. The wooden door creaked softly as it opened. Inside, the atmosphere was already lively yet quiet—everyone had gathered, sitting in a circle on wooden chairs and old sofas. Their faces were exhausted, but a small light still glowed in their eyes. The dim ceiling lights flickered gently, making our shadows dance like ghosts that refused to leave.
Bima immediately approached, his steps quick. The anger that had filled his face earlier was now replaced with guilt and gratitude. He knelt in front of me, his hand holding my uninjured arm. "Reno… you… you're a true hero. If you hadn't done that, maybe… maybe they'd all be gone now. Thank you so much. Seriously."
Rian approached from across the room. "Thanks to Reno's quick thinking, the others were saved. I… I couldn't even say anything."
Zahra stood behind Bima, pressing her work hat down tighter, her eyes glassy. "We were too shocked last night. Seeing the boat flip over, them falling into the sea… I was trembling. Only… only you made us realize we could still do something. Thank you, Reno."
Lira and Selena approached together. Lira spoke first, her voice slightly cracked, perhaps from fear. "We arrived at the pier too late. By the time we got there, it was already over… we didn't know what was really happening. Seeing all that…"
"I… I was so scared last night. I never thought it could happen."
I looked around the room, my eyes moving from one face to another. Then from the corridor, Adi, Aulia, Vina, Anya, and Dion began to approach. They walked slowly, their bodies still weak from last night, but their eyes were filled with deep gratitude.
Adi spoke first. His wounds had been cleaned, but the bruises were still visible. "Reno… thank you. For saving us. I… I almost gave up in that sea. If you hadn't come… maybe I wouldn't be here now."
Aulia stepped closer, her batik scarf damp but still neat. Her large eyes were glassy, but a sincere smile appeared on her lips. "Thank you, Reno. We… we almost met death. If not for you, we might have drowned in that sea. Really… thank you."
Vina nodded deeply. "I'm not used to saying this… but thank you. You saved our lives."
Anya nodded slightly from behind her thin veil. "Thank you. You made sure our history didn't end there."
Dion smiled faintly, his captain's jacket still torn. "Hero… our savior from the raging sea. You're a hero, Reno!"
I looked at all of them and replied, "I… I just felt I had to help. I didn't want to see my friends die in front of me. That's all."
The room fell silent for a moment, filled only with soft breaths and the wind blowing from outside. Then Aulia spoke again, her voice polite but full of determination. "Let's sit down. We need to discuss what happened yesterday."
Nova, who had been standing far in the back, stepped closer and spoke, his long black coat swaying with his words. "The sabotage I did yesterday should have been perfect. But for some reason, MonoGaru managed to escape so easily."
Bima nodded, his voice relaxed but emotional. "Same here. Suddenly MonoGaru, who was focused on Lira and Selena, seemed to realize something was wrong. It was like someone reported to it."
Krisna added politely. "My symbol drawings should have disrupted the robot sensors' paths. But it didn't work."
Zayn nodded firmly. "We didn't expect it either. Suddenly it disappeared from the hall, then the alarm sounded."
Dion remained calm but his voice was heavy. "I realized the helicopter was coming and sped up the boat. But the missile was too fast. There was no avoiding it."
There was a brief silence. Everyone thought hard about what had happened last night. It felt like a dark reminder that we were truly trapped on this island, with no way out.
Then Dion spoke again. "Before the missile hit the boat… I saw something. From afar, there were faint lines at the edge of the sea. Like… something lined up."
Zayn immediately turned, his brows furrowed. "What do you mean? Explain again."
Dion let out a slow breath, his hand touching his chin as if still trying to remember. "Even though everything was very dark, it looked like a large structure. Not an island, not a mountain. More like… a wall. Long, straight, lined up. Like a fortress surrounding something."
I suddenly remembered. When I was rowing the raft in the middle of the waves last night, amid the salty spray and the cold piercing my bones, I had seen it too. Black lines stretching across the horizon, like an endless wall, hiding whatever was behind it.
"I saw it too. When I went into the sea to save you. That structure… was like a giant sea wall. Lined up, surrounding the entire island. Like a fortress built to hold something back—or to hide something." I replied immediately.
Adi frowned, his notebook open in his lap but untouched. "A fortress in the middle of the sea? Why would there be a structure that big? Who built it, and for what?"
I shook my head slowly, my mind returning to the unusually strong material of the Main Building's walls. "From what I saw, it spreads out like a circle. As if completely encircling this island. The structure doesn't look like a monument or something symbolic. It was deliberately built to ensure nothing can get out… or in."
Vina crossed her arms, her voice cold but full of questions. "How insane must the creator of this island be to prepare a structure this large and massive, just to protect a deserted island and an academy that's actually a scam?"
Anya replied cynically. "Most likely there's something—or someone, or anything—that is deliberately hidden from the outside world. This island isn't an ordinary prison. It's a cage… tightly sealed from every eye."
Aulia thought hard, her eyes looking at the floor as if piecing things together. "I was thinking the same thing. There's something suspicious about this island. All the findings—the building materials, the experiment forest, the mountain with secret labs, the giant sea wall—feel like parts of one big plan. Not just to test us, but to protect something the outside world isn't meant to see."
Lira looked at us, her face full of worry. "For now… what do we do? Our plan already failed. The boat is destroyed, and time is running out."
Rian tapped his MonoWatch gently. The red screen blinked like an unblinking eye. "The countdown is approaching three hours. If no one kills… we will all be executed."
Selena bit her lower lip, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be killed… but I also don't want to join the Killing Game. This… this isn't right."
Sinta looked at Zayn, her voice fast but hopeful. "Zayn, you're the Ultimate Organizer. Think of another plan. We can't just sit here."
Zayn let out a long breath, his hand roughly ruffling his hair, eyes narrowed as if forcing his brain to work faster. "I'm thinking. But—"
The speaker suddenly blared, cutting off his words like a knife.
"Wahaha~ My sweet children! Time to gather in the hall! There's an important announcement you can't miss! Don't be late, okay~"
The room fell instantly silent. Everyone looked at each other, hearts pounding like broken war drums. There was no other choice. We stood up one by one, our steps heavy as we headed to the hall, like people who already knew their sentence but still walked toward it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We walked toward the hall in oppressive silence. Our footsteps echoed softly in the corridor like the unstoppable tick of a clock. I walked at the back, my body still weak after last night. The bandages on my hands felt stiff and painful, but I couldn't stop thinking about the timer blinking on my MonoWatch: less than three hours. Everyone walked with different expressions—some angry, some suspicious, some panicked, some afraid, some worried—but no one spoke. Only ragged breaths and heavy steps, like a procession that already knew the end of their story but kept walking toward it.
When we entered the hall, the afternoon light slipping through the high ceiling cracks formed sharp spotlights on the central stone podium. On top of it, MonoGaru was already standing, its torn wings fluttering gently as if waiting for applause that would never come. Its red eyes glowed, its smile wide like a crack in porcelain, and it looked at each of us one by one with a gaze that seemed to be counting how much longer we could last.
We stood in our places, no one sitting. Faces showed a mix of emotions: Zayn clenched his fists, breathing heavily. Adi stared sharply at the podium, gripping his notebook tightly. Aulia stood straight but held her batik scarf firmly. Bima crossed his arms, eyes narrowed with anger. Lira held Selena's arm, her eyes glassy. Selena twirled her small mirror with trembling hands. Vina crossed her arms, her face cold but her lips trembling slightly. Anya stood in the back, her thin veil swaying gently. Krisna looked at the podium with empty eyes. Zahra gripped her work hat with a serious expression. Yusuf stared at the floor. Sinta held her woven bag tightly. Rian looked at his MonoWatch. Dion stood calmly but with tense shoulders, and Nova stood in the dark corner like a shadow that didn't want to be seen.
MonoGaru tilted its head, its smile widening further, its red eyes sweeping over us one by one as if enjoying every varied expression.
"Hello hello~ All my sweet students! Thank you for coming on time. The reason I called you here isn't to scold you for last night's escape attempt. Quite the opposite—I praise you! Your efforts were amazing~ The small boat full of patches, the emergency raft made from whatever was available, and Reno rowing with bleeding hands in the middle of raging waves… truly entertaining! Total failure, but very entertaining!"
Its flirtatious laughter echoed in the hall, but no one laughed along. We only stayed silent, breaths held, cold sweat beginning to flow again.
MonoGaru continued. "And of course, you already know about the giant wall surrounding this island, right?"
The large screen behind it suddenly lit up. Thick blue light filled the room like an electrical storm. An image of the island appeared—taken from a satellite, drone, or some other method we didn't know—clearly showing a small island in the middle of a vast ocean, encircled by a giant wall like a sea fortress, tall and thick, with small towers at every corner that gleamed like weapons.
"This is the Giant Sea Wall," MonoGaru continued, its voice flirtatious but full of satisfaction. "Equipped with automatic weapons and signal jammers so it can't be detected by any satellite. This island is truly erased from the world map. It's impossible for you to escape, and impossible for the outside world to save you. You are completely trapped~!"
The room fell silent again, but this time it was silence filled with despair. Cold sweat flowed faster, breaths came in short gasps, eyes widened. We looked at each other, but no one spoke—only deepening fear.
MonoGaru raised its small hands. The screen changed again—a large red timer appeared, blinking: 02:58:47, the seconds ticking down slowly but inevitably.
"And your countdown is approaching three hours. If there is no murder within that time, all Ultimates will be executed by me in a very… 'beautiful' way~ Even though it's all so simple. Why hasn't anyone done it? You are Ultimates—greater than ordinary humans. You can do it, right? It's just killing… it's easy~"
It chuckled softly, its voice flirtatious but like poison slowly seeping in. "That's why, because I'm bored, and I don't want to kill you all so easily… and to make things more fun, I'll give you a convenience for the first murder. New rule added! Anyone who successfully kills and hides the victim for exactly one hour after the murder is confirmed… will be completely freed from the game. Meaning, they get to leave here and return to the outside world~!"
The hall's atmosphere immediately grew tense. Suspicious whispers began to rise like a gentle wind before a great storm. My heart pounded harder as my gaze swept over everyone.
The new rule felt like a bomb that had just exploded among us. One hour. One murder. And one person free to go home. I was worried—very worried. This was dangerous. It had the potential to tear us all apart. Our escape plan had already failed, and now MonoGaru was offering a tempting shortcut: kill one person, and you're free. The fragile hope we had this morning now felt like cracks growing wider, ready to collapse at any moment.
And amid all that, I could only stand silent, looking at every person, and asking in my heart: Who would start first?
The main hall felt even colder after MonoGaru disappeared from the podium with its flirtatious laughter still faintly echoing on the stone walls. The spotlights that had been blinding earlier now dimmed, leaving the hall in soft light that made our shadows stretch long. Everyone looked at one another, faces full of a mix of anger, suspicion, and fear that could no longer be hidden. The air felt thick, like the moment before a storm that everyone knew was coming but couldn't avoid.
Sinta spoke first. "That new rule… hide the victim for one hour, then be free to go home? That… that's really dangerous. Someone could be tempted by it. We don't know who will lose hope first."
"I don't want to believe any of us would actually kill. But… if time is running out, and we have no way out, who knows? I'm scared just thinking about it," Zahra replied, her work hat covering most of her face.
Lira looked at everyone, trying to build hope. "We can't lose hope. We have to stay together."
"No. I reject that rule. There's still a way. I don't want anyone to kill or be killed. We still have a path." Among everyone, Adi stepped forward, fists clenched.
He looked at Zayn, his eyes full of hope. "Zayn… you must have another plan, right?"
Zayn roughly rubbed his hair, took a long breath, then fell silent for a moment as if rearranging the pieces in his head. He exhaled, his voice firm again. "There's still another way. Plan B. We focus on the Stone Mountain Zone. There's a secret lab and untouched corridors there. Maybe there are tools, weapons, or even a hidden exit inside."
Aulia nodded slowly, her large eyes looking at Zayn with hope. "I agree. That's the only zone we haven't fully explored. The secret lab there… might have answers."
But Nova spoke up. "That place is too dangerous without proper equipment. The caves are wet, slippery, full of traps, and pitch black. We almost died during the last exploration."
Zahra then raised her hand, her eyes suddenly sparkling. "Wait. Yesterday Reno and Rian managed to build a lever and open the shelf in the warehouse. Maybe we can take something from there to help the cave expedition team!"
Adi was startled. "Ah, good idea!"
Zayn nodded quickly, his eyes narrowing with focus. "Okay. We'll divide again. Stone Mountain team: Dion, me, Sinta, Nova, Bima, and Rian. Your abilities are needed to map the path, help if there's danger, and look for tools."
"I'll help you with my navigation skills."
"I'm ready to bring potions if anyone gets hurt."
"I hope there aren't any deadly traps…"
"Leave the heavy lifting to me!"
"That area isn't monitored by MonoWatch. Even though it's dangerous, maybe there's a mechanism I can break."
Zayn continued. "Warehouse team: Aulia, Zahra, Reno, Vina, Yusuf, Lira, Selena, and Krisna. You check the containers and shelves again—maybe we missed something."
Aulia nodded. "Alright. We'll search."
But Lira suggested something else. "Wait. Me, Selena, Anya, and Zahra want to try looking for another way in the Sacred Forest. Maybe there's something that can help the escape plan… or an alternative route."
Selena chimed in. "I agree. We haven't explored all the plots there."
Zahra spoke with fire. "True. Those statues, the well, the greenhouse—maybe there are secrets we can use."
Krisna smiled. "I'll join the Sacred Forest team. I'm curious if we can find secrets in the statue garden."
Zayn nodded. "Okay. Then we'll adjust. For the Sacred Forest team: Anya, Lira, Selena, Zahra, and Krisna."
He then looked at all of us, his voice firm. "We start now. Be careful. Time is running out. Don't die before we get out of here."
We looked at each other, hearts pounding hard. No one objected. We knew—this might be our last chance.
Time remaining: two and a half hours—that number kept ticking in my head. Every second felt like a reminder that we were racing against death itself. We didn't talk much during the journey—only the sound of breathing, footsteps, and occasional gusts of wind that made Aulia's batik scarf flutter gently ahead.
The harbor appeared before us. The rotting wooden pier was still the same… shabby, rusted, and empty after our failed escape attempt yesterday. The small warehouse at the end of the pier stood there, its iron door slightly open because we hadn't closed it properly last night. We entered without many words. The dim yellow light came on again when Vina flipped the switch, illuminating the large rusted containers and the thick dust covering the floor like an old carpet.
I let out a slow breath. My bandaged hand still stung as it touched a container. "Let's start with that upper shelf again. Yusuf, I'll help you up first."
Yusuf nodded, then stood in front of the container. I spread my legs wide, hands outstretched. Yusuf placed his foot on my calloused palms, his hands on my shoulders for balance. Zahra and Vina had gone in another direction to check the surroundings. With one strong lift, Yusuf's body rose and he grabbed the side of the container firmly. Then he slowly climbed up.
Aulia stood beside me. She looked at me for a moment, then spoke softly after I had lifted Yusuf up. "Reno… thank you again for yesterday. You… you saved my life. I don't know how to repay you."
I smiled faintly. "It's nothing, Aulia. I just did what I thought was right. No need to repay it."
Aulia shook her head slowly, her eyes looking at me with a warmth she rarely showed. "That's exactly what's amazing. Not everyone can act when they see misfortune right in front of them. Most would panic, be afraid, and be confused. But you… you're different. You're brave, Reno."
I shook my head to dismiss her praise. "You're exaggerating. I just did something ordinary."
Aulia smiled faintly, a sincere and warm smile like the morning sun after a long stormy night. "Maybe to you it is. But to me… you're more than that."
She stepped forward, standing in front of me after Yusuf had climbed up. "It's my turn now."
I nodded, spreading my legs again. Aulia carefully placed her foot on my palms, her hands on my shoulders, trembling slightly more than Yusuf's, perhaps because she was afraid. Her simple uniform skirt swayed gently as I took a deep breath, my arm and back muscles tensing. Then I pushed—strong, but controlled. Aulia's body rose smoothly, her skirt lifting slightly from the sudden upward motion.
From below, I unintentionally caught a glimpse of her underwear—black with thin lace accents on the edges, the fabric soft and slightly sheer at the sides, clinging tightly to her smooth thighs that glistened faintly with light sweat from the journey. The view lasted only a moment—perhaps less than a second—but it was enough to make blood rush to my face, my cheeks burning as if on fire.
I immediately turned my face away, eyes on the floor, face flushing heavily. Aulia reached the top of the container safely, her hands grabbing the edge, then she looked down, her voice soft but curious.
"Reno… why did you turn your face away?"
I didn't answer, only shook my head slowly, my voice hoarse and nervous. "It's nothing. I… I'll look for something down here instead."
I quickly turned away and walked toward Vina, who was examining the lever we had built yesterday. Vina stood in front of the tool, her hand touching the long wooden lever, her eyes cold but full of curiosity. When I approached, she turned, her voice cold but straight to the point.
"Reno, how do you operate this tool?"
I moved closer, pointing out the important parts with my still-bandaged hand. "This is the main lever. Pull from this end, fulcrum in the middle. The gears underneath will turn and slide the container slowly. But be careful—there's a special pin here."
I pointed to the small iron pin I had installed yesterday. "Only I can remove this pin. If it falls suddenly, the container could collapse and injure someone. I always keep this pin in place because I'm afraid."
Vina nodded in understanding, her eyes narrowing with focus. "Try demonstrating it once. In case we need to use it when you're not around. I need to know how."
I hesitated to agree with Vina's words. "It's dangerous. If done wrong, the container could fall."
Vina looked at me sharply. "That's exactly why. Let me observe so it's safe. What happens if you're not here and we have to try it. Show me."
I sighed, giving in. I gripped the lever and pulled gently—the gears turned, the container shifted slightly with a loud creak. I carefully removed the pin, and the container lowered slowly back to its original position. Vina observed carefully, her eyes unblinking.
When it was done, Vina stepped closer, her face only a few inches from my cheek. The faint scent of her perfume from her hair slipped into my nose, my heart pounding hard. She whispered softly, her voice sweet but low.
"Besides being good at making this tool… you're also a hero. I might actually fall for you, Reno. I hope… our cooperation going forward… gets closer."
I was startled, my face flushing heavily, cheeks burning as if on fire. I stepped back, my voice hoarse and nervous. "Vina… don't joke."
Vina smiled faintly, cold but teasing, then turned away. "Who's joking?"
I stood frozen in place. Everything felt so thrilling. My hands trembled—not from exhaustion anymore—but from something else, something I had never felt on this deadly island.
After spending quite some time circling every corner of the warehouse and waiting for Aulia and Yusuf to pack the items, we finally left the warehouse. The bags and small boxes on our shoulders felt heavier than just the weight of lifeless objects. I walked in the middle row with Yusuf and Aulia, while Zahra and Vina were in front.
Yusuf walked beside me, his hand holding a small metal box we had found earlier on the upper shelf. He opened it slowly when we stopped for a moment under a large tree on the side of the path, showing its contents to us.
"This is what I found earlier," he said quietly, his voice remaining calm even though his eyes sparkled faintly. The box contained several simple but very useful items for cave exploration:
A thick ten-meter coil of hemp rope, slightly tangled but still strong, usually used for tying and lowering people into narrow holes. Three old-style handheld flashlights with intact batteries, their light a steady yellow, bright enough to illuminate dark corridors without creating overly sharp shadows.
A pair of old leather boots, slightly cracked but with thick soles, very suitable for slippery and rocky terrain. A small folding shovel with an iron handle that could be folded, its tip still sharp—a standard tool for digging soil or moving small rocks blocking the path.
Several pieces of thick canvas cloth, somewhat worn but large enough to be used as temporary covers or emergency bindings. A small can of lubricant oil still tightly sealed, perhaps leftover from an old machine, useful for lubricating gears or stuck iron doors.
Aulia looked at the contents of the box with large eyes full of hope, her finger gently touching the hemp rope. "All of this… hopefully it can help."
Yusuf only nodded slightly, his voice still quiet. "There were a few other items on that shelf, but I think these are the most useful right now."
We continued our journey toward the Stone Mountain Zone. On the way, we met the Sacred Forest group who had just returned—Lira, Anya, Selena, Zahra, and Krisna. They looked exhausted, leaves stuck to their hair and clothes, but their faces clearly showed disappointment.
Lira shook her head slowly when she saw us. "The results were nothing. We explored every plot again, even Krisna tried going down a bit with woven rope into the well—but there was nothing. Only water and darkness. No exit, no new clues."
Selena sighed. "Those statues couldn't be opened either. Just ordinary stone overgrown with roots. We tried everything."
"Then we'd better head straight to Stone Mountain now. Time is running out too," Zahra added.
We didn't waste any more time. Everyone moved toward Stone Mountain, steps growing faster even though our bodies were already tired. The timer on the MonoWatch felt like a second heartbeat that never stopped following us.
The Stone Mountain Zone greeted us with more oppressive and humid air. The mouths of the caves opened like dark mouths ready to swallow everything. The team already there—Adi, Dion, Zayn, Sinta, Nova, Bima, and Rian—waited in front of one of the deeper cave entrances. They looked dirty, clothes wet and dusty, but their eyes burned with new spirit.
Zayn stepped forward first, his hands covered in dust. "We managed to break through another deeper area. The cave is winding, wet, and slippery—but there's a man-made corridor at the end. The walls are smooth, there are iron doors, but we couldn't open them because we lacked tools."
Dion nodded calmly. "The airflow inside is strange—like there's a closed space behind that door. We need tools to open or break through."
Rian added, his hand holding his MonoWatch. "We've mapped part of it, but without more tools, we can't continue."
Aulia then pointed to the small boxes we had brought from the warehouse. "We brought some items that might help."
We opened the boxes together. Thick ten-meter hemp rope, three old-style handheld flashlights with steady yellow light, a pair of old leather boots with thick soles, a small folding shovel, large pieces of canvas cloth, and a can of lubricant oil.
Bima immediately grabbed a flashlight, turned it on, and smiled widely. "This is great! The light is enough for a dark cave."
Sinta took the hemp rope. "This can be used to descend into holes or tie if someone slips."
Adi nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you all! With this, we can go deeper."
Dion examined the boots. "Thick soles. Suitable for slippery terrain."
Nova took the canvas cloth. "This can be used to cover holes or make an emergency stretcher if someone gets hurt."
Rian took the oil. "This is good for lubricating stuck iron doors."
We looked at each other. That small hope reignited, even if fragile. Zayn nodded firmly. "We'll continue the expedition now. Time is running out."
We entered the cave, steps careful on the wet, slippery stones. The yellow flashlight beams from our hands swept across the dark cave walls, creating shadows that danced like following ghosts. The air grew colder and more humid, the smell of wet earth and faint metal detectable. The cave floor was slippery from water dripping from the stalactites above. Every step had to be cautious to avoid slipping.
Not long after, I slipped first. My right foot slid on the wet stone, my body nearly falling forward. I managed to grab the wall, but my worn jacket got caught on a sharp rock and tore on the left sleeve. The fabric ripped lengthwise, loose threads dangling like an open wound. I muttered softly and took off the jacket, placing it on the ground.
"This jacket was just getting in the way," I said, my voice rough but firm. "Better without it."
Zayn looked at me, his voice firm. "You sure? It's cold inside."
"Better cold than getting caught again. It's dangerous."
We continued. The cave grew deeper. The walls began changing from natural stone to man-made corridors—smooth walls, straight corners, like passages deliberately built by humans. Our flashlight beams swept across the first iron door locked with a rusted code panel. Rian approached, his hands examining the panel.
"Damn… biometric code. Not digital."
But before he could continue, I slipped again—this time worse. My left foot slid on the slippery stone, my body falling forward, my knee slamming into a sharp rock. Pain shot through me quickly, blood beginning to flow from the new wound on my knee. I growled softly but didn't shout. Zayn immediately approached, his hand grabbing my arm.
"Reno! Are you okay?"
I nodded, roughly. "Small wound. Let's keep going."
Suddenly Adi stopped ahead, his hand raised asking us to be quiet. His face was tense, his notebook gripped tightly like a final weapon. He turned toward me, his voice soft but firm.
"Reno, you should go back first. This is too dangerous for you. You're still weak from yesterday, and if you slip again, it could be dangerous."
I frowned. "I'm fine. We need every hand."
Adi shook his head. "It's not about needing hands or anything. You almost died last night. We don't want to lose someone like you now."
Rian, who was ahead, turned. His thick glasses glinted faintly in the flashlight beam. "Adi is right. This isn't effective if everyone is exploring inside here. We need another way. This cave is too dangerous and vast."
Aulia looked at all of us with her usual gaze. "I agree with Rian. It would be more effective if everyone split up not inside the cave but across the island. Maybe there are other escape routes we haven't found."
Bima frowned, his voice full of doubt. "Isn't that too risky? We've seen it ourselves—the forest, the mountain, the harbor—everything is full of traps. Splitting up means we're easier to attack or get lost."
"Time remaining is almost one and a half hours. And there's no guarantee this cave can create an escape route. There are many corridors and closed doors. If we get stuck here, we all die." I replied.
The room fell silent for a moment, only the sound of water dripping from the stalactites audible like a clock ticking faster and faster. Everyone thought hard, eyes meeting but with no certain answers.
Zayn let out a long breath, his hand roughly ruffling his hair. "Aulia's idea makes sense. It would be better if we split up across the island. Search every place, every corner. At least three people per group—no one goes alone."
He looked at all of us, his voice firm. "Group one: Reno, Aulia, and Zahra. You search around the harbor—maybe there's something we missed in the warehouse or on the boat. Group two: Yusuf, Vina, and Lira. You go near the Stone Mountain Zone—maybe there's another path from outside the cave."
Selena raised her hand slowly, her voice trembling. "I… I'm worried. Splitting up means we're easier to attack. And… what if there's a traitor among us?"
Anya shook her head cynically. "In despair, no one will care about anything. But if we stay together, we die together."
I nodded slowly. "I don't want to believe there's a traitor. But time is running out, and that new rule… could create a dangerous crack between us. We have to move fast."
Zayn nodded. "Then we split up now. Be careful. We meet again before the timer runs out."
We looked at each other, hearts pounding hard. No one objected. We knew—this might be our last chance.
After a few minutes exploring other areas of the beach, I felt the urge I had been trying to hold back could no longer be contained. So to every girl, I said,
"Um… sorry. I think I need to relieve myself for a bit."
Zahra turned, immediately replying with narrowed eyes. "Heh… you could just go, why ask for permission?"
"But… there's no toilet around here, Reno," Aulia replied, looking around.
"That's true…"
"Then just go over there, there are coconut trees," Zahra pointed to the row of coconut trees not far from us.
"Eh! Are you serious… in the old place it was fine… but how can I relieve myself in front of girls like you."
Zahra laughed softly while Aulia only turned her face away with blushing cheeks. I decided not to pay attention to Zahra's teasing anymore because I was at my limit. I decided to run. The only place I thought was safe to relieve myself was behind the warehouse because it was so dark and surrounded by many trees and bushes.
I opened my pants and took care of the important need while letting out a breath of relief. The sound of large waves crashing against the rocks provided a strangely calming effect, the sound of the sea wind and the clinking of shells hit by water giving the best feeling for an outdoor toilet like this.
When I was about to return, I met Lira who was walking from the direction of the dorm.
"Oh? Lira? Where did you come from?"
Lira was slightly reluctant to answer, but she finally opened her mouth. "From… the toilet. There's no toilet around here, right? That's why I went back to the dorm first."
"Oh… same here." Without realizing, I blurted it out.
"Same…? But I didn't see you coming from the dorm direction…" she looked at me with full suspicion.
"Ah that… ahaha… I'll go back to the others first. They might be looking for me…" I immediately decided to run, fleeing because I couldn't tell her the truth.
The last thing I saw of Lira was her face full of curiosity and slight confusion. But I didn't care at all. A man's secret needs to be kept, and no woman needs to know.
"There's nothing else here," Zahra muttered when I returned, her hand wiping seawater from her face. "This area is completely empty—just rows of coconut trees."
Aulia nodded slowly, her face looking tired. "True. It seems we need to go to the Stone Mountain Zone. The boat we found earlier was too complicated—I think Rian could do something about its technology. He understands mechanisms the most."
I, who had just arrived, listened to them and agreed with Aulia's suggestion. "True. Rian can definitely dismantle its system. Let's go to Stone Mountain first, find him there. Maybe the cave expedition team has already returned."
We turned back, our steps returning to the main path.
On the way, as we were about to head to Stone Mountain, my MonoWatch suddenly vibrated violently. A notification appeared with a sharp beep that made my heart jump. I stopped for a moment, looking at Aulia and Zahra—from their suddenly pale faces and widened eyes, I knew they had received the same notification. But before we could press anything, the hologram turned on by itself from the MonoWatch. Thick blue light projected MonoGaru's wide smiling face in the air in front of us, its torn wings fluttering gently.
"Wuahaha~ How are you all! I bring good news~ You don't have to die together. Because… a murder has occurred and has been confirmed!" its flirtatious voice echoed as it said those words.
The three of us fell silent in disbelief, hearts pounding like waves suddenly crashing. I never expected—someone had really done it.
Who? And who was dead?
Zahra's eyes widened, full of shock. "No way… someone really… did that?"
Aulia covered her mouth with her hand, her body trembling slightly, her eyes looking at the hologram like seeing a nightmare become reality. "This… this can't be possible…"
MonoGaru laughed softly, looking extremely satisfied. "Even though you were almost all killed, luckily someone actually decided to start the Killing Game before the countdown ended. You should thank the perpetrator, even though you have to find them and thank them yourselves. Puh huh huh~!"
The hologram felt like a cold slap to the face—we three looked at each other, breaths ragged, hearts shattered instantly. Aulia fell to her knees on the rough ground, her hand still covering her mouth, tears beginning to flow slowly down her cheeks.
"Who… who… why does it have to be like this?"
Zahra began crying harder, her voice trembling with despair. "No… I don't believe it. One of us… is dead? And the perpetrator… one of us too? This… this… is just a dream, right!"
I stood silent, hands still clenched, heart broken but mind spinning fast. The Killing Game had truly begun.
And now, we were no longer friends—but suspects, and victims.
MonoGaru continued. "And now, according to the new rule, I'll explain. You are given one hour, starting now, with the countdown restarting, to find the body. If it is not found, the perpetrator will be freed. While the rest will continue the Killing Game. And if the body is found, a Class Trial will be held, and the perpetrator will be judged there."
A new countdown appeared on the hologram: 01:00:00, the seconds beginning to tick down slowly but inevitably.
MonoGaru chuckled softly. "Happy investigating, my children~!" The hologram disappeared instantly, leaving the three of us on the rocks, with the afternoon wind suddenly feeling colder, like the breath of death.
Aulia was still kneeling, tears flowing more heavily, her voice trembling. "This… this shouldn't have happened. We… we have to… but who…?"
Zahra cried harder, her hand holding Aulia's shoulder. "I'm scared… I don't want to die… but I also don't want anyone else to die…"
I stood silent, hands still clenched, heart shattered but mind racing. The Killing Game had started.
And now, we were no longer just friends—we were suspects, and victims.