The afternoon in the old warehouse on the outskirts of Maykarta was filled with the hum of technology and occasional laughter from the five members of Team C. The dim neon light reflected off their advanced equipment, creating dancing shadows on the cracked concrete walls. Radhif, Dzoavha, Dhoost, Ryn, and Nadhyfa were focused on testing their respective gear, preparing themselves for tomorrow's match against Team D from PILAR Asia. Their spirits were mixed with tension, but the relaxed atmosphere typical of teenagers was still present among the light banter and teasing.
Dzoavha, standing in a corner of the warehouse, was busy trying out the features of his mini drone. The small object hovered nimbly, emitting a soft buzzing sound as he controlled it through the augmented reality glasses on his eyes.
"Holy... PILAR's tech is really cool," he muttered, his eyes shining as the glasses' display showed a live feed from the drone.
He tried the firing feature, directing the drone towards a pile of cardboard boxes in the corner of the warehouse. A thin laser shot out, forming a small hole in the cardboard.
"It can shoot too!" he exclaimed, half in awe of the technology.
His AR glasses also showed a map of the warehouse environment, identifying dangerous corners like piles of wood that could collapse. In the corner of the glasses, an energy bar blinked, showing Dzoavha's remaining stamina at 92%.
Suddenly, Dzoavha's glasses flashed a red warning.
"WARNING: ATTACK FROM BEHIND!!!"
His heart raced, and he immediately spun around. But behind him, there was only Dhoost, standing with a sly smile, holding a twig pointed like a knife.
"Relax, there's no one else here but us," joked Dhoost, his voice soft but mocking.
Dzoavha rolled his eyes but couldn't hold back a laugh.
"Dhoost! Your cloak is so silent, seriously!"
The two of them laughed, their voices echoing in the quiet warehouse.
On the other side of the warehouse, Radhif stood firm with his energy shield emitting a faint red protection.
He moved slowly, blocking a volley of shots from Ryn's precision rifle. The light from Ryn's rifle scope glinted each time he aimed, but the energy bullets fired merely bounced off Radhif's shield.
"Your shield is so tough, Dhif!" shouted Ryn, half-annoyed but smiling.
Radhif, with sweat on his forehead, kept advancing, his short sword ready in his right hand.
"Give it your best shot, boss!" he retorted, his voice full of challenge.
Nadhyfa, standing near them, monitored through her medical bracelet. The small screen on the bracelet showed the team's vital data, but her eyes were fixed on the status of Ryn's rifle.
Remaining energy, 37%.
"Ryn,your rifle energy is down to 37%!" yelled Nadhyfa, her tone half-mocking.
"You have to be more careful tomorrow, don't just shoot randomly!"
Ryn stopped firing, lowering his rifle with a confused expression.
"Huh, 37%? Why so wasteful?" he asked, scratching his head.
"Then, if we run out tomorrow, where do we recharge? Does the PILAR headquarters have a charging station for this?"
Dzoavha, hearing from another corner, turned.
"There should be an energy charging station at headquarters. Just ask Agent Revie or another Agent tomorrow," he answered, while directing his drone to land in his hand.
Suddenly, Dhoost appeared behind Ryn, his movements silent thanks to his lightweight camouflage cloak. Ryn jumped in surprise, nearly dropping his rifle.
"Bastard, Dhoost! Since when were you here?!" protested Ryn, but Dhoost just smiled faintly.
"Your rifle is way too vulnerable, Ryn," he said, his voice calm but sharp.
"You really need to control your shots. If you run out of ammo during a fight, we're done for."
Ryn looked at his rifle, then stared at Dhoost with raised eyebrows.
The training session continued with laughter and jokes, but behind it, they knew tomorrow's match against Team D was no joke. The cold, dusty old warehouse witnessed their readiness, while the shadow of PILAR Asia loomed in each of their minds.
---
Evening fell at the old warehouse on the outskirts of Maykarta, and the air grew cold. The dim neon light began to feel insufficient for illuminating Team C's practice. After several hours of testing their equipment, Radhif suggested ending the session.
"It's this late already, let's stop. Tomorrow we need to be in prime condition," he said, his voice serious but full of spirit.
The others nodded, their faces flushed from the intense training. In front of the warehouse, they said their goodbyes with handshakes, their hands clasped tightly as a sign of solidarity.
"Tomorrow, we'll crush Team D completely!" exclaimed Nadhyfa, grinning widely.
Ryn just nodded while putting his rifle into his bag, Dzoavha smiled faintly, and Dhoost remained silent as usual.
They parted ways towards their respective homes, except for Ryn. On his motorcycle, he took Nadhyfa home first.
The streets of Maykarta were quiet that night, illuminated only by flickering streetlights.
"Be careful driving,Ryn, don't be reckless again!" Nadhyfa advised as she got off in front of her house, half-joking.
Ryn just grinned, then sped off towards his own home.
Upon arriving in his room, he hurriedly hid the rifle under his mattress, making sure no one saw. Suddenly, his bedroom door opened, and his mother entered.
"Ryn, dinner first!" she said in a firm tone.
Ryn agreed, rushing to take a shower while hoping his mother wouldn't be suspicious of his slightly bulging mattress.
---
The next morning, during break time at SMKN 2 Maykarta, the canteen was bustling with the sounds of chatting students and laughter. Dhoost sat in a corner, eating his smashed fried chicken with hot rice and blazingly spicy sambal on his plate, while Dzoavha beside him enjoyed his pecel rice with delicious peanut sauce. Suddenly, Mr. Rusdi appeared, his batik uniform slightly wrinkled but his face serious.
"Dhoost, Dzoavha," he called softly, making sure no other students heard.
"After break, go straight to the library. Here are fake dispensary letters from the principal, put them on your respective teachers' desks."
He handed over two white envelopes and left as quickly as he came. Dhoost and Dzoavha exchanged glances, nodded slightly, then quickly finished their meals.
---
At SMAN 4, the canteen atmosphere was equally lively. Radhif, Nadhyfa, and Ryn sat at one of the tables, engrossed in a game of playing cards with occasional laughter. Suddenly, a cleaning staff member approached. It was Agent Fuad with his slightly tilted cleaning staff hat.
"Here are fake dispensary letters from the principal," he said quietly, handing over three envelopes while glancing around to ensure no one was suspicious.
"After break, go straight to the cleaning equipment storage room." Nadhyfa nodded quickly, hiding the envelope in her pocket, while Ryn just nodded while placing an Ace on the table.
"Lost again, Dhif?" he teased, making Radhif snort.
---
The break bell rang, signaling time to return to class. The five members of Team C hurried to their respective secret doors. At SMKN 2, Dhoost and Dzoavha headed to the library, placing the dispensary letters on the teacher's desk before entering the secret elevator.
At SMAN 4, Radhif, Nadhyfa, and Ryn went to the cleaning equipment storage room, doing the same. Inside the elevator, they took out their vests from their pockets. Quickly, the vests, folded in chip form, transformed into steel vests which they immediately put on. When the elevator door opened at the PILAR headquarters, cold air and the smell of metal greeted them. Tension began to build in each of their chests, but Nadhyfa, as usual, broke the silence.
"Relax, we're definitely going to win! PILAR Asia representatives? They probably aren't that great anyway!" she chattered, making Ryn chuckle and Dhoost shake his head slowly.
Agent Fuad looked at Team C with a serious expression.
"Team D is strong, but that doesn't mean they're unbeatable," he said, his voice low but full of conviction.
"Focus on your respective strengths, and don't let your guard down."
Radhif nodded, while Dzoavha checked the condition of his mini drone with his AR glasses.
After walking through a long underground corridor, they arrived at the main hall of the PILAR headquarters, where they had registered yesterday. This time, the hall felt quieter, with only Team C and Team D present. The hologram in the center of the room emitted a futuristic glow, and Agent Thomas, a tall man in a black vest with green accents, stood on the stage.
"This morning, Team A defeated Team B," his announcement echoed.
"The current standings, Team A leads with +1 point, Team B is at the bottom with -1 point. Now, Team C and Team D, you have 15 minutes to prepare before the match."
Ryn immediately turned to Agent Rusdi, who was standing nearby.
"Agent Rusdi, my rifle's energy is only at 37% from yesterday's practice. Can it be recharged?" he asked, a note of worry slipping into his usually relaxed voice.
Agent Rusdi nodded. "There's a charging station in the Marksman equipment room, but 15 minutes probably won't be enough for a full recharge to 100%. Run now, Ryn!"
Without waiting, Ryn ran towards the corridor leading to the Marksman room, his rifle held tightly.
Meanwhile, Dhoost stood in a corner of the hall, his eyes observing Team D from a few meters away. Team D was predominantly female, with only one male who looked sturdy as the Anchor.
Dhoost's gaze fixed on a girl in a bright yellow suit, the Marksman of Team D. Her hair was neatly tied in a ponytail, and her movements were full of confidence as she checked her weapon, making Dhoost stare, his heart beating a little faster. Nadhyfa, noticing Dhoost standing still with a blank stare, waved her hand in front of his face.
"Hey, Dhoost! What are you daydreaming about?" she exclaimed, while shaking Dhoost's shoulders.
"Focus, will you! Don't let your guard down!"
Dhoost jolted, his face slightly reddening. "What is it, Nad?" he retorted, his voice soft but firm.
"I was just...observing Team D. You need to focus too, you know!"
Nadhyfa narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "What exactly were you looking at?" she asked, but Dhoost just shook his head, avoiding the question.
"Anyway, we all need to focus... let's crush Team D!" he said, his eyes glancing back towards the Marksman in the yellow vest, though more carefully this time.
Amidst the tension before the match, Team C prepared, each with their own thoughts and hopes.
In a corner of the PILAR headquarters hall, Team D gathered in a tight circle, their voices low but full of focus.
Kazuha Nishimura, a female Shadow from Japan with long, jet-black hair, glanced towards Team C. Her eyes caught Dhoost, who occasionally stole glances at Kim Minji, Team D's Marksman from South Korea, who wore a bright yellow suit.
Kazuha nudged Minji, her voice a sharp whisper.
"Minji, that Shadow from Team C seems to be watching you. We can use this to disrupt his focus."
Minji gave a small nod, her lips smiling slightly, as if already envisioning the plan.
Katarina Yu, the Techno from Singapore with thin-framed glasses, overheard their conversation and began tinkering with a small tablet in her hands, devising a strategy to support the team.
Trần Mỹ Hân, or Hanni for short, the Support from Vietnam, nodded in agreement while noting ideas on her device.
"I'll coordinate our timing so Kazuha can get into their blind spot," said Hanni, her voice calm but calculated.
Jackson Craig, the Anchor from Australia with a sturdy build and a thick accent, patted their shoulders.
"Good. Let's teach Team C a lesson! Stay focused and play smart!" his enthusiasm pumped up the team's spirit.
On Team C's side, the atmosphere was a bit more chaotic. Nadhyfa was leading a strategy discussion in a corner of the hall, but there were only four people.
Ryn was still in the Marksman equipment room,trying to recharge his rifle.
"Okay, we need to cover each other while also sneaking behind them," said Nadhyfa, her hands moving quickly as if arranging pawns on a chessboard.
"Radhif, you stay in front, block all attacks with your shield. Dzoavha, use your drone to monitor the enemy from above. Dhoost, you sneak behind them, but be careful of the enemy Shadow. I'll monitor your conditions with my equipment."
Dhoost nodded, but his eyes occasionally glanced towards Team D, making Nadhyfa narrow her eyes.
"Dhoost, can you focus or not?" she asked, half-annoyed.
Dzoavha interrupted, "Relax, Nad. I'll monitor Team D's movements with the drone. But we need Ryn back quickly."
Radhif nodded, trying to suppress his nervousness.
The 15-minute countdown ended with a loud siren from the headquarters system. Ryn ran back into the hall, his face slightly disappointed.
"My rifle only reached 79%," he complained, clutching his rifle.
"Not enough time to get to 100%."
Nadhyfa rolled her eyes. "Fine, manage your shots carefully, don't just shoot randomly!"
Agent Khai, in his black suit with blue accents, appeared in the center of the hall.
"Team C, Team D, enter the arena now! Your paths are different, follow the available holographic panels!" His voice was firm, and both teams immediately moved, their heartbeats feeling increasingly rapid.
As the arena doors opened, Dzoavha held his breath, his eyes widening in awe. The arena was vast, like an artificial forest with towering holographic trees, thin mist in the air, and obstacles like large rocks and artificial ditches. PILAR's technology made everything feel real. The smell of damp earth, the sound of rustling leaves, even a gentle breeze.
"Damn, this feels like a real forest," muttered Dzoavha, his AR glasses immediately activating, scanning the environment.
Nadhyfa patted his shoulder. "Focus, Dap! This is our debut match, don't embarrass us!"
Ryn chuckled, but his hand gripped his rifle tightly, his eyes squinting as he looked for strategic positions.
Agent Thomas stood on a floating platform in the center of the arena, his voice echoing through speakers.
"The rules are simple.Each team has a base that must be defended. If one member of the opposing team successfully enters your base zone and holds it for 10 seconds, that base will be claimed, and the opposing team wins. Strategy, cooperation, and speed are the keys. The battle begins... now!"
The red lights in the arena turned green, and a deafening siren sound started the match.
Team C and Team D scattered, each heading to their base at opposite ends of the forest arena. Tension filled the air, and the sound of footsteps on the holographic ground mixed with the hum of their technological equipment. The battle between Team C and Team D had officially begun.
TO BE CONTINUED...