Pengayom

The endless World War had shattered the global order. Governments collapsed, oppression ran rampant, and society lost its way. Without education or morality, the world descended into the "Era of Thugs" where strength became the only law.  

For decades, the "Throne" the title for the ruler of this broken world remained empty. Not because no one desired it, but because no one was worthy of claiming it.  

In a newly independent nation called "Aswa", an ordinary teenager began his first year of high school. He arrived in Jakarta, the gathering place of Indonesia's most powerful delinquents. Yet instead of enrolling in the strongest school, Aswa chose the "weakest" a place reserved for the lowest caste of thugs.  

What is his goal?  
What could he possibly seek in a world whereonly the strong survive?

THRONELESS

"Hahaha... AG AG AG AG AG!" Jemi laughed freely.

"Your laugh sounds really scary!" Arca shivered hearing Jemi's laughter.

"Enough with the small talk! Let's start the game!" Jemi shouted enthusiastically.

Then a few people appeared from behind Jemi, wearing athletic clothes while carrying a table. On it, there were small square pieces of paper with various pictures.

"The first game! Slap the cards!! Whoever can slap and flip the most cards, is the winner!!" Jemi shouted excitedly.

"Move aside!" Mondy slipped in between Aswan and Arca.

"Do you know this game?" Arca asked.

"Not just knowing it? This was my childhood game!" Mondy confidently took the first game and faced the other participants.

The small table and the stack of cards were now right in front of them.

"You seem cocky? Don't you know? There's a technique to slapping these cards!" The opponent gave a sly expression.

Not wanting to lose, Mondy also showed his sly face. "Technique? You know, most people like you only use their muscles!"

"So arrogant!" The opponent seemed provoked.

"Alright, to decide who goes first you must play rock-paper-scissors!" Jemi declared.

They prepared for rock-paper-scissors, clenched their fists behind their backs, then shoot.

"Wowwww, a tie!! Do it again!" Jemi said.

They did rock-paper-scissors again, and this time.

They kept doing it again and again, each time a tie. Suit again, tie again, and again and again and again, tie after tie.

Both looked exhausted even though they hadn't played the actual game yet, just rock-paper-scissors.

"Alright, feel this move... Victory!!!" Mondy shouted with high spirit.

The opponent prepared his hands, brought them together tightly, then slammed them onto the table.

"HAHAHA, slap with style but only 5 cards flipped." Mondy laughed loudly.

Then Mondy prepared and *CRACK* only 1 card flipped.

"HAHAHA, You're more pathetic than us." The opponent laughed at Mondy.

*CRACK* this time 8 cards flipped.

Mondy slapped *CRACK* 9 cards flipped.

Then the opponent *CRACK* 10 cards flipped.

This time Mondy seemed behind in number, *CRACK* Mondy only flipped 1 card.

*CRACK* This time the opponent flipped half of the remaining cards; even though Mondy could flip some, Mondy would still lose in number.

With this, the victory was in the opponent's hands, 1 - 0.

"HOORAY!!!!" The opponent cheered loudly for their victory.

Arca patted Mondy's shoulder, "So what did you do all your childhood?!" Arca looked terrifying, making Mondy scared.

Meanwhile Aswa said, "Later teach me, okay?" Aswa asked Mondy to teach him how to play slap cards.

Then this time they made a triangle on the ground, and in the middle they placed marbles.

"The second game is... Marble Throw! Each team will bring 3 people to play. The game is simple: participants have to throw one marble from the line towards the cluster of marbles. Whoever knocks out the most marbles wins!"

The opponents chose their 3 representatives.

"So we all have to play, huh?" Arca said.

"I'll go first, as my apology from earlier," Mondy decided firmly.

"Alright, let's start!!!" Jemi shouted.

Each representative stepped forward and did rock-paper-scissors. This time Mondy won.

"I am the team captain so I have to win no matter what!" Mondy held a marble and got ready to throw it.

*WOOSH* *THWACK* Mondy's marble hit and knocked out one marble.

"OH NO!!" Mondy held the back of his head looking like a wild beast ready to guess.

Srengseng High School [3]