Joel’s arms ached as he pulled himself toward the raft, the water weighing down his body like an anchor. His breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles burning from the relentless push through the waves. The distant silhouette of the rig loomed behind him, a smoldering ruin, but he forced himself to look forward, toward the small group of survivors huddled on the inflatable raft.

When he finally reached them, a rough hand gripped his forearm, hauling him onto the raft with a strength Joel didn’t expect. He collapsed onto the slick surface, chest heaving as he lay there for a moment, letting the cold air bite into his wet skin. His fingers gripped the edge of the raft, knuckles white. Around him, the survivors were silent, their faces hollow, smeared with grime and oil, eyes wide with disbelief and exhaustion.

Joel rolled onto his side, scanning the group. He recognized some of the men—workers from the rig, though their names escaped him in the fog of his mind. One of them, Craig, Joel saw from his name tag, a driller with broad shoulders and sunken eyes, was cradling his arm, the sleeve of his coveralls soaked with dark blood. Another, Donny, one of the rig’s welders, stared blankly at the horizon, his skin pale beneath a layer of dirt and sweat. Two others were slumped against the side of the raft, too weak to do much more than breathe.

“Joel…” Craig’s voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. “Thought you didn’t make it.”

“I almost didn’t,” Joel replied, pushing himself up on one elbow, the raft shifting beneath him.

A mud engineer, someone Joel recognized from the doghouse but didn’t know well, chimed in. “What the hell happened?”

Joel took a moment to collect his thoughts, the chaos of the rig still fresh in his mind. “We were in the middle of repairs when that support vessel hit us. Everything went to hell in seconds. I swear it felt like the whole rig was collapsing around us. There was fire, explosions… I barely made it out.”

“What about the others?” Craig asked, anxiety creeping into his voice. “Did anyone else get out?”

Joel hesitated, glancing around at the grim faces surrounding him. “I don’t know. I saw a few guys heading for the lifeboats, but the flames were everywhere. It was chaos. I… I couldn’t help everyone.”

The mud engineer shook his head, frustration evident. “We shouldn’t have been in that position to begin with. This is the Company’s fault for cutting corners. We should’ve been—”

“Now’s not the time!” Craig snapped, pain flaring in his voice. He shifted, wincing as he adjusted his injured arm. “We need to focus on getting to shore. We can’t change what happened, but we can still save ourselves.”

“Right,” Joel said, his voice firm. “We need to paddle and keep our heads clear. The last thing we need is to fall apart out here. If we make it to land, we can figure out our next move.”

Donny, another helpful name tag on the coveralls, who had been staring blankly at the water, finally spoke up. “And if we don’t? What if the tide takes us further out? Or what if something else comes for us in the dark?”

Craig half heartedly laughed, “Like sharks?”

The mud engineer, “More like those socialists,” he said with a smirk.

Joel met Donny’s gaze, steely determination in his own. “Then we fight. We fight for each other. We fight for our lives.” He took a deep breath, pushing back the anxiety gnawing at him. “And we fight for the ones we love waiting for us back home.”

The atmosphere shifted slightly, the shared fear morphing into something more like resolve. “Okay,” Craig said, trying to muster a smile despite the pain. “Let’s get moving, then. I can’t stand just sitting here waiting for the next disaster.”

“Any supplies?” Joel asked, his voice rough.

Donny shook his head slowly. “Not much. We’ve got a couple of paddles... water, barely. No food. We're screwed, man.”

The raft shifted beneath them as someone shifted, a nervous glance cast over their shoulders toward the remains of the rig. It still burned in the distance, flames flickering against the darkened sky. The once-mighty platform had been reduced to a skeletal frame, groaning as it crumbled piece by piece into the sea.

Joel wiped a hand across his face, feeling the grime and oil coat his skin. He could barely process what they’d just escaped. His eyes moved over the faces of the men around him. They were alive, for now—but that wasn’t enough. They had to keep moving. They had to survive.

Even now, Joel could feel the cold sinking into his bones.

As they sat in tense silence, Joel’s thoughts drifted—unwillingly—to his daughter. He pictured her small, fragile frame, the soft rise and fall of her breath as she slept. He imagined her tiny fingers curling around his, the warmth of her against his chest. The thought tore at him, a deep ache settling in his gut. He wasn’t going to die here. He couldn’t.

As Joel picked up a paddle and began churning water, a fire ignited within him, igniting his heart with a seething rage and an undying willingness to fight. The memory of his daughter flickered like a beacon in the darkness, pushing him forward with a ferocity that knew no bounds. He would watch the whole world burn if that’s what it took to get back to her. The thought of anything—or anyone—standing in his way sent a shudder of fury coursing through his veins. Gods help them, he thought, as he gripped the paddle tighter, his knuckles whitening. He was a storm ready to break, a force of nature determined to destroy any obstacle that dared to threaten his family’s future. The burning wreckage of the rig was just the beginning; he would carve a path through hell itself if he had to, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake until he found his way home.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

He turned his gaze back to the horizon. They still had miles to go before reaching shore, and the weight of that distance settled over them like a shroud. But Joel’s resolve had only sharpened. He would survive this. He would see his daughter again—if only once—before the end.

“We’ll make it,” Joel said, more to himself than anyone else, his voice low but certain. “We have to.”

His muscles worked on their own, paddling, pushing and pulling. Joel's mind drifted back to the agonizing months leading up to their daughter's birth, a time filled with uncertainty and relentless challenges. When Joel first discovered he was going to be a father, a rush of joy swept through him, but it was quickly intertwined with anxiety. They were young and barely scraping by, and the idea of bringing a new life into the world felt like an insurmountable mountain. The prospect of needing a surrogate added a layer of complexity neither of them had anticipated, yet their love for each other provided a steady foundation through the chaos.

Finding a surrogate became a daunting task, fraught with emotional turmoil. Many nights were spent huddled together, scouring forums, reaching out to potential surrogates, and facing the cold reality of rejection. Each failed connection weighed heavily on their hearts, stirring fears that they might never become the family they longed to be. Yet, during those moments of doubt, Joel would take Oliver's hands in his, grounding them both in the warmth of their love. "We’ll get through this together," he would whisper, hoping to infuse strength into their fragile resolve.

In the soft glow of their dimly lit apartment, thanks to the energy rations, Joel cupped Oliver’s face in his hands, pulling him close. Their lips met with an urgency, a deep hunger that spoke of everything they’d endured together. The world outside fell away as the kiss deepened, filled with passion and longing. Joel could feel Oliver’s heart beating against his chest, their breaths mingling in the space between them. For a moment, time seemed to still, and all that mattered was the electric connection between them, a silent promise of their love and unbreakable bond.

After what felt like an endless search, they finally found Sarah, a kind-hearted woman with her own family who empathized with their plight. The journey was far from smooth; they navigated mountains of paperwork, emotional discussions, and medical hurdles. With every step, they wrestled with doubts and fears, but their bond only grew stronger, fueled by a shared vision of their future. They would often steal quiet moments together, allowing themselves to dream of the life they wanted.

Joel would pull Oliver close, his heart swelling with love, promising that they would face whatever challenges lay ahead side by side. As they awaited the arrival of their daughter, Joel vowed that he would fight tooth and nail for this family—whatever it took, and that love would light their way through even the darkest of times.

Joel’s mind was still in the haze of that fleeting memory, the warmth of Oliver’s kiss lingering on his lips when the sharp voice of the mud engineer broke through.

“Look! Over there!” the mud engineer shouted, his hand trembling as he pointed into the distance.

Joel’s head snapped up, his heart still pounding, but now for a different reason. Following the man’s gesture, he squinted against the dying light of the fires. There, scattered across the horizon, were the dark silhouettes of other life boats or rafts, bobbing like forgotten driftwood.

“They’re out there…” someone muttered, disbelief creeping into their voice.

Joel instinctively began counting. One, two... five. Five boats, maybe a handful more. Each one barely visible through the sea spray and smoke still rising from the wreckage. It wasn’t much, but it was something—more survivors.

A notification flickered in front of Joel’s eyes, cutting through the chaos around him.

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System Notification:

[Initiate] Merge

Preparation ends in 3.... 2.... 1....

System note: Prepare yourself.

Loading Magic...

Loading Magic...

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[Initiate] Heart Cards....

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Prepare for Monster Merging… Prepare for Dungeon Development.

Earth’s universe is merging with the Core System Reality.

System Wide Notification:

Welcome to Earth Reality, 520

Congratulations, Player. You have successfully arrived in Earth Reality, 520. This reality engine core embodies a test of resilience, skill, and adaptability in a transformed world where only the clever survive.

In this version, Earth’s natural laws have been refined and evolved. As a new Player, you’ll encounter:

* System Interfaces that guide, but never guarantee, success.

* A dynamic synergy between Physical and Magical Realms. Merging class abilities may enhance or alter your capabilities.

* Adaptive Challenges: every encounter is unique, requiring strategy and mechanical precision to succeed.

Tips for Success:

* Observe and adapt. Mastery requires insight into the world and the skills you acquire.

* Balance strength with flexibility. Synergies, though powerful, may also amplify the dangers you face.

Good luck, Players. Welcome to the new reality—Earth awaits.

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Joel’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his throat. Whatever this was, it was coming fast—and it was about to change everything.