In the main hall of the PILAR headquarters, the atmosphere was noisy with the enthusiastic whispers of the Trainees. Twenty teenagers from various places stood in small groups, their eyes fixed on Agent Rusdi standing on the central stage. The neon light from the holographic panels behind him cast shadows on his determined face.
"Welcome to PILAR Tournament Season 1," his voice echoed, cutting through the chatter.
"Today, you will take your first steps as Trainees. The tournament rules are simple, but full of consequences."
Agent Rusdi explained calmly. There were 20 participants, divided into four teams. Each contained five Trainees with different roles; Anchor, Shadow, Techno, Marksman, and Support.
"You are free to choose your own teams,"he said, his eyes sweeping over the crowd.
"But each team must have five different roles. Once the team is formed, one representative must come forward to register the team members with our system."
Nadhyfa, standing between Radhif, Dzoavha, Dhoost, and Ryn, immediately nudged Radhif.
"Come on, hurry up! Don't wait too long!" her voice was full of spirit, but with a commanding tone.
Dzoavha nodded in agreement, while Dhoost just looked on with a flat expression. Ryn, as usual, just grinned while clutching Radhif's small screwdriver. Radhif sighed but finally stepped forward with firm steps, representing their group.
At the registration desk, Radhif selected the names displayed on the registration screen. Radhif Izzuddin (Anchor), Dzoavha Akilua (Techno), Dhoost van Meijer (Shadow), Ryn Dandelions (Marksman), and Nadhyfa Azzaqiya (Support). The system recorded their data quickly, and a message appeared on the screen. Team C was registered. Radhif returned to his group, slightly out of breath.
"We're Team C," he said briefly, but there was relief on his face.
Agent Khai, a stout figure in a Techno suit, stepped onto the stage, replacing Agent Rusdi.
"The tournament format is a single round robin," he explained in a heavy voice.
"Each team will compete against every other team once. The winner is determined by the most points at the end of the tournament."
The holographic screen behind him lit up, displaying the schedule for the first matches. Team B vs. Team A and Team C vs. Team D.
"The matches begin tomorrow,"continued Agent Khai.
"Today, you will go to the equipment room with Agent Revie to choose your weapons."
Nadhyfa immediately grabbed Radhif's arm as they walked, following Agent Revie.
"Who's in Team D, Dhif?" asked Nadhyfa, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Are they tough? Or just average?" Radhif hesitated, scratching the back of his neck.
"I think…they're tough, Nad. They're the representatives from PILAR Asia," he answered softly.
Nadhyfa's jaw dropped, her mouth wide open. Dzoavha looked at Radhif with raised eyebrows, Dhoost tensed up, and Ryn, who had been busy twirling the screwdriver in his hand, stopped and looked at Radhif with an expression half-surprised, half-challenging.
"Seriously? Asia?" murmured Nadhyfa, her voice a mix of awe and anxiety.
---
The journey to the equipment room felt short, but the atmosphere among Team C was filled with tension. They arrived in front of a wide corridor with five large doors, each labeled with their respective role names. Agent Revie stood to the side, her voice flat but firm.
"Choose your equipment wisely. Each Trainee may only take one set of equipment according to your role. No more, and don't choose the wrong role."
The five members of Team C exchanged glances. Nadhyfa grinned, unable to wait.
"Come on, let's pick the coolest ones!" she exclaimed, running towards the Support door.
Dzoavha nodded slowly, his eyes shining as he looked at the Techno door.
Ryn walked leisurely to the Marksman door.
Dhoost, as usual, was silent, but his eyes showed focus as he stepped towards the Shadow door.
Radhif took a deep breath,looked at the Anchor door with a serious expression before stepping inside.
Inside the equipment room, each Trainee was greeted by rows of advanced technology.
Dhoost found a folding knife with a glowing blade and a lightweight camouflage cloak.
Dzoavha looked in awe at a mini drone with integrated AI and augmented reality glasses.
Ryn picked up a precision rifle with a holographic scope, muttering,
"Not bad."
Nadhyfa chose a medical bracelet that could monitor teammates' conditions and heal minor wounds.
Radhif grasped a shield and a short sword, feeling the weight of his responsibility as the Anchor.
While the Trainees made their choices, the mentors waited in front of each role's door.
Agent Rusdi, standing in front of the Anchor door, looked at Radhif with a hopeful gaze as he exited.
"Choose what suits your instinct," he said softly.
At the Marksman door, Agent Revie grinned at Ryn.
"Your potential is good, don't waste it. Prove it to us!"
Dhoost, exiting the Shadow door, was greeted by Fuad who nodded.
"Speed and surprise, that's your key."
Dzoavha and Nadhyfa also received whispers from their mentors, each with a meaningful tone.
The Trainees left the equipment room with feelings of excitement mixed with anxiety ahead of the PILAR Tournament Season 1.
Agent Rusdi led Dhoost and Dzoavha, who attended SMKN 2 Maykarta, while Radhif, Nadhyfa, and Ryn followed Agent Fuad, who was disguised as a cleaning staff member at SMAN 4 Maykarta. Their footsteps echoed in the underground corridor, heading towards the secret elevator that would take them back to the outside world.
---
Inside the SMAN 4 elevator, the atmosphere was quiet for a moment. Agent Fuad, with a quick movement, removed his steel vest. In an instant, the vest shrank into a small pentagon-shaped form, shimmering under the elevator's dim light. Radhif, Nadhyfa, and Ryn watched in amazement, then followed his lead. Each of their vests transformed into similar chips, lightweight and easy to store in their pockets.
Nadhyfa twirled her chip, her eyes sparkling.
Radhif, still holding his shield and short sword, frowned.
"Agent Fuad, how am I supposed to bring this shield and sword to class? No way I'm entering class carrying these," he asked, half-joking but serious.
Agent Fuad, now wearing his cleaning staff hat, smiled faintly.
"Just leave them in this elevator. If you want to practice at home, take them later. This elevator is safe; it's directly connected to the PILAR system."
Radhif nodded, carefully placing the shield and sword in a corner of the elevator.
Nadhyfa interrupted, her hand raised like a curious child.
"But, Sir, if we don't know the elevator password, how do we open the door?"
Agent Fuad adjusted his hat, covering part of his face.
"Place your watch on the panel. That's the key."
Nadhyfa and Radhif looked at each other, then stared at their own watches, a small object that now felt far more important.
---
On the other side, in the elevator heading to SMKN 2, Dhoost and Dzoavha also removed their steel vests. With a flash of light, the vests transformed into pentagonal chips, just like their friends had seen.
Agent Rusdi, in the formal batik typical of teachers in general, looked at them with a calm gaze.
"Leave your equipment in this elevator. Pick them up again after school," he said.
"To enter again, just place your watch on the door panel."
Dzoavha nodded enthusiastically, while Dhoost just nodded slowly, as usual keeping his thoughts to himself. Dzoavha's mini drone and AR glasses, and Dhoost's folding knife and camouflage cloak, were neatly placed in a corner of the elevator.
Soon after, the elevator stopped, and the door opened to the quiet library of SMKN 2. Dhoost and Dzoavha stepped out, shaking Mr. Rusdi's hand respectfully before parting ways to their respective classes. In the corridor heading to class, their steps were slow, as if still digesting the experience at the PILAR headquarters.
Dhoost, who was usually quiet, suddenly spoke, his voice low.
"Dap, what if we practice with these tools after school? Our opponents tomorrow are tough, man, Team D from PILAR Asia."
Dzoavha nodded, his eyes narrowed with enthusiasm.
"Agreed. We have to be ready."
He pulled out his phone to message the others, but his eyebrows raised as he looked at the screen.
"What's this? Dozens of missed calls from Ryn?" he muttered, confused.
"Oh right, there was no signal at headquarters earlier."
---
Meanwhile, at SMAN 4, the elevator brought Radhif, Nadhyfa, and Ryn to the cleaning equipment storage room that served as the secret door. The smell of rotting wood greeted them as the elevator door opened. Radhif and Nadhyfa stepped out, ready to return to class, but Ryn remained standing inside, leaning against the wall casually.
"I don't think I'll go to class first,"he said, his voice flat.
"Entering at this hour is so inconvenient. I'll just wait here until school's over."
Nadhyfa rolled her eyes but didn't comment much.
"Suit yourself," she replied, then walked out with Radhif, leaving Ryn in the storage room.
Agent Fuad, still standing near the storage room door, looked at Ryn with a concerned expression.
"Ryn, life isn't just about relaxing and smoking," he said, his voice gentle but firm.
"Tomorrow is the tournament, you have to be serious. Your potential is great."
Ryn just grinned, nodding half-heartedly. Agent Fuad shook his head slowly, then left the storage room, returning to his role as a cleaning staff member.
Alone in the storage room, Ryn pulled out his phone. The screen's light illuminated his lethargic face. There was a new message from Dzoavha.
"Practice together using the equipment after school, okay? Team D is tough, we have to be ready."
Ryn read the message, then closed his phone without replying. He leaned his head against the wall, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. The stuffy smell of the storage room and the sound of dripping water in the corner accompanied his contemplation. Soon, he fell asleep, all his equipment still safely stored in the elevator behind him.
---
The afternoon in Maykarta began to fade, and the school bell of SMAN 4 rang loudly, marking the end of the school day. In the cleaning equipment storage room, Ryn jolted awake from his sleep, his eyes blinking as the storage room door creaked open. Nadhyfa and Radhif stood at the threshold, Nadhyfa's face full of an expression mixed with annoyance and amusement.
"Wake up, hey! You're sleeping like an ox in here!" exclaimed Nadhyfa, her arms crossed.
Ryn yawned, rubbing his eyes with the hand still holding his phone.
"Where's my bag, Nad?" he asked, his voice hoarse from just waking up.
Nadhyfa rolled her eyes.
"Get it yourself from the classroom! You expect me to get it for you?" she retorted, half-joking.
Ryn snorted but finally got up, slightly unsteady. He walked to the secret elevator in the corner of the storage room, placing his watch on the panel. The elevator door opened with a soft sound, and Ryn retrieved his precision rifle with the holographic scope. Still half-asleep, he walked towards his classroom to get his bag, his steps like a drunkard's in the already empty corridor.
In front of the storage room, Radhif and Nadhyfa also retrieved their equipment from the elevator. Radhif stuffed his portable energy shield and short sword into his large backpack, while Nadhyfa carefully stored her medical bracelet in her bag's pocket. The two then walked towards the SMAN 4 gate, waiting for Dhoost and Dzoavha. Soon, Ryn caught up, his school bag slung over one shoulder, his face still disheveled but his eyes beginning to clear.
"You still look sleepy, will you be able to ride later?" commented Radhif, but Ryn just grinned without replying.
Not long after, Dhoost and Dzoavha arrived in front of the SMAN 4 gate on their motorcycles. Dhoost, in his characteristic black jacket, got off his bike slowly, while Dzoavha took off his helmet, his hair slightly messy.
"Okay, where are we practicing?" asked Dzoavha, getting straight to the point, his hand holding the phone that still displayed their group message.
Nadhyfa shrugged. "Somewhere not easily spotted by people, of course. Limestone Hill?"
Ryn shook his head. "Crazy, we'd have to climb first. Let's just go to the old warehouse on the outskirts of Maykarta, it's quiet."
Dhoost nodded in agreement, and after a brief discussion, they agreed to head to the old warehouse.
The five Trainees set off on their respective motorcycles. Radhif led in front on his electric clutch motorcycle, its engine humming softly. Dzoavha and Dhoost followed on their electric bikes through the Maykarta streets that were starting to get busy that evening.
Nadhyfa, who had come to school with Ryn earlier, rode on the back of his bike, holding onto Ryn's waist tightly because of the slightly reckless speed of Ryn's bike.
"Slow down a bit!" shouted Nadhyfa, but Ryn just chuckled softly, speeding up his bike.
By the time they reached the old warehouse on the outskirts of Maykarta, the sun was beginning to set, coloring the sky with orange hues. The warehouse stood darkly among bushes and wild trees, its walls full of cracks and moss. Dhoost stepped to the door panel, placing his watch on it. With a soft sound, the warehouse door opened, revealing the dark room inside. They entered, their footsteps echoing on the dusty concrete floor. Dzoavha immediately looked for the light switch on the wall.
"Where is it…" he muttered, his hand groping until he finally found the switch.
The neon light flickered on, illuminating the warehouse with a slightly dim white light.
Nadhyfa and Radhif quickly closed the warehouse door carefully, making sure no one was watching.
"Don't let anyone see us, it'll be troublesome later," said Radhif, his voice serious.
Nadhyfa nodded, then turned to the others.
"Okay, let's start! Let's test these tools so we're not clumsy tomorrow!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious.
The five members of Team C spread out in the spacious warehouse room, taking out their respective equipment from their bags. Radhif activated his shield, which emitted a faint red glowing protection. He tried a few movements with his short sword, checking his balance.
Dzoavha turned on his mini drone, which immediately hovered with a soft buzzing sound, while the augmented reality glasses on his eyes displayed data about the warehouse environment.
Dhoost, with his camouflage cloak, tried moving in the shadows, the glowing folding knife in his hand glinting as he practiced quick movements.
Ryn, with his precision rifle, adjusted his holographic scope, aiming at corners of the warehouse to test its accuracy.
Nadhyfa twirled her medical bracelet, testing the vital monitoring feature by attaching it to Radhif's wrist, who immediately protested,
"Don't use me as a guinea pig, Nad!"
As they began testing their equipment, laughter and small shouts filled the warehouse, mixed with the buzzing and whirring sounds of advanced technology. Amidst the enthusiasm, the shadow of tomorrow's match against Team D from PILAR Asia loomed in their minds, pushing them to practice more seriously.
TO BE CONTINUED…