106. The Predator Has Arrived

The tension between them continued to rise. Fajar was still trying to stand despite one of his hands being injured. He watched the unfamiliar group warily.

One of the men walked over to Andre and kicked his weapon lying on the ground.

“Don't move too much.”

Andre grimaced while clutching his thigh.

“If you just want our resources, then take them. Why attack us?”

The man laughed.

“Because if you can still fight back, you'll only make things troublesome for us.”

He looked at the armor Andre was wearing.

“And your equipment isn't bad either.”

One of them began taking Rian's weapon, and Rian tried to reach for it.

“Don't touch—”

BRAK!

A kick struck his body and sent him crashing back to the ground.

“Shut up.”

Fajar immediately tried to step forward.

“Hey!”

Two men immediately pointed their weapons at him, making Fajar stop.

“Don't touch them.”

The leader of the group simply smiled.

“Why?”

He stepped closer.

“You're Garuda Pioneers, aren't you?”

Fajar didn't answer and the man chuckled.

“We've heard the name Garuda quite a lot.”

He pointed at Fajar's armor.

“Supposedly one of the fastest-growing nations.”

Then he looked at their current condition.

“And this is what you're like?”

Several people behind him laughed.

“Garuda Pioneers are actually weak.”

Fajar clenched his fist.

“If you want to fight, then fight.”

The man approached until he was only a few steps away.

“The problem is...”

He picked up a spear.

“...you've already lost.”

Fajar looked at the tip of the spear. The man suddenly stepped forward and aimed the spear directly at Fajar's neck. Fajar froze as the metal tip stopped only a few centimeters from his skin.

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“Now.”

The man spoke softly.

“Armor.”

He pointed at Fajar's equipment.

“Weapons.”

Then he pointed at their inventories.

“And every resource you're carrying.”

Fajar swallowed, still clutching his injured hand.

“What if we refuse?”

The spearhead pressed slightly against his neck, and Fajar immediately held his breath.

“If you refuse...”

The man smiled.

“...we'll start with you.”

Behind the tree, Siska covered her own mouth to keep herself from making a sound. Her hand was still gripping the chat device.

Deri's message finally came through.

Deri: Rangga is heading toward your position.

Siska's eyes immediately widened, and she quickly typed a reply.

Siska: How long?

There was no immediate response.

Siska stared at the screen, then glanced at Fajar. The spear was still at his neck, and Fajar himself was trying to remain calm, but his eyes occasionally shifted toward the forest.

Rangga was on his way here but when would he arrive? Five minutes? Ten? Or longer? This island was enormous.

Meanwhile, the man in front of Fajar was beginning to lose patience.

“Why are you so quiet?”

Fajar let out a short breath.

“Our friend is coming.”

The man raised an eyebrow.

“Your friend?”

Fajar looked at him.

“Rangga.”

Several people behind the man exchanged glances, but their leader simply laughed.

“Rangga?”

He laughed even louder.

“The guy whose name keeps appearing on the broadcasts?”

Fajar didn't answer, and the man pressed his spear slightly closer.

“Then let's see.”

He smiled.

“Whether he gets here before you die.”

Fajar felt the spearhead press harder against his neck. For the first time since they had arrived on the island, his expression truly changed.

Panic, not because of himself. He knew Rangga was alone on this island and if Rangga came without knowing what was waiting for him—Things could become much worse.

Behind the tree, Siska typed again with trembling hands.

Siska: Rangga, hurry.

She stared at the message, but there was still no reply and siska gripped her device tighter.

“Don't be late...” she murmured.

Suddenly—

KRAAAAK!

A loud cracking sound came from above them, and everyone looked up. The sunlight that had previously filtered through the gaps between the trees was suddenly blocked by a massive shadow.

They froze.

Between the trees, a Mechanical Hererasaurus leaped from one tree trunk to another but this time, there was someone riding on top of it.

A humanoid figure clad in dark armor covered with sharp layers and fang-like ornaments stood atop the creature's back.

His cloak and the parts of his armor on his back fluttered in the wind as the Hererasaurus passed overhead.

No one moved. Even the group that had been so confident moments earlier could only stare upward with tense expressions.

Fajar froze, the spear still hovering near his neck and the man holding the spear slowly raised his gaze as well.

“What...”

Andre swallowed.

“What the hell is that?”

The Hererasaurus leaped past them.

On the other side, Rangga, who had just emerged from behind the trees, looked down at the area below.

A small smile appeared beneath his helmet.

“See?”

He observed the group gathered below.

“Finally found them.”

The Hererasaurus leaped once more, then clung to a large tree trunk.

Its claws dug firmly into the surface and its body paused for a moment before sliding down.

DUAK!

Both feet slammed into the ground with a heavy impact. Dust and dry leaves scattered everywhere.

Rangga was still standing on its back and the sight made the atmosphere even more tense. Fajar, Andre, Rian, Siska, and the unfamiliar group could only stare at him.

No one knew who the armored figure was but they knew one thing. The creature he was riding was a Mechanical Hererasaurus. A creature they had struggled to fight only moments ago and now it had become someone's mount.

Rangga looked around.

“You guys okay?”

Silence, then Fajar blinked and the man still holding the spear near his neck blinked as well.

Both answered almost simultaneously.

“I'm fine.”

“I'm fine.”

Rangga was silent for a moment and he turned toward the man holding the spear and pointed at him.

“Who are you?”

The man immediately took one step backward then another. His movements were extremely slow, as if he was afraid that a sudden movement would cause the mechanical creature behind Rangga to attack him.

Rangga climbed down from the Hererasaurus, his feet touching the ground and he then walked toward Fajar.

“You okay, Jar?”

Fajar was still staring at Rangga's armor, blinking several times.

“...Bang Rangga?”

Andre, still sitting on the ground, stared at him with his mouth slightly open.

“Bang Rangga?”

Siska finally emerged from behind the tree.

“Sir Rangga?”

Rian simply grimaced while clutching his stomach wound. Rangga looked at each of them one by one, then at the unfamiliar group.

He couldn't understand why everyone was staring at him as if they were looking at something completely impossible.

Behind the helmet of the Hunter Armor, his eyebrows furrowed.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys?”