As the dust settled, Joel took a deep breath, letting the aftermath of the fight wash over him. The flickering torchlight played across the bodies of the fallen otters. Just as he was about to step back, a faint glow caught his eye. The light wasn’t coming from their torches—it was coming from the chests of the two creatures.
“Joel…” Craig whispered, pointing at the otters. "You see that?”
Joel nodded, stepping closer, mesmerized by the strange, pulsing glow beneath the otter's thick, matted fur. He knelt down, reaching out with a cautious hand and pressing his palm against the chest of the nearest creature. A warm, tingling sensation coursed up his arm, followed by a faint hum as the light grew stronger, forming into the shape of a card just above his hand. It floated in the air, delicate and shimmery, holding some kind of latent power.
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System Notification:
[You have discovered a Lightning-Touched Heart Card.]
Choose Action:
* Add the Lightning-Touched Heart Card to your Heart Deck, gaining unique lightning abilities.
* Consume the Heart Card to power up your Mechanical Core.
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Darren’s voice cut through the tense silence. “Maybe you shouldn’t be touching that? What if it’s a trap?”
Joel looked over his shoulder and gave a small shrug. “I have to take a few risks if I’m going to make it home. Besides, I already got a notification from the system.” He held up the card, letting the flickering light catch on its surface. "It says this is a ‘Lightning-Touched Heart Card,’ and I have a choice: I can either add it to my deck, getting some kind of lightning ability, maybe? Or I can consume it to boost my Mechanical Core.”
Craig’s brows knit in thought. “If it powers up your core, that might help in the long run, right? Stronger core, maybe better chance of survival.”
Darren rubbed his chin, clearly torn. “But if you add it to your deck, it could give you abilities we can’t even imagine right now. I mean, they nearly knocked us all on our asses. They were like super charged, meth-heads. Can you imagine one of those Reds getting their hands on something like that? Imagine what it could do in the right hands—yours.”
Joel looked down at the card, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat, waiting. “So… take the power-up, or go for the lightning ability?”
Craig looked between them, his face serious. “Honestly, Joel? This is your call. Whatever you think’ll get us all home.”
Joel muttered under his breath, “I wish the system could just tell me more about this card.”
Almost as if in response, a familiar message flickered before his eyes.
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System Notification:
Card Name: Lightning-Touched Heart Card
Card Rarity: Common
Abilities: When equipped, grants the user temporary enhanced agility and a minor electric aura to their physical attacks, with a chance to stun enemies on contact. Cooldown is moderate, with an extended effect duration.
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A detailed view of the card materialized in Joel's vision. Unlike his mechanical-themed cards, this one radiated something entirely different—a vivid connection to nature. The back was almost organic, made of twisted vine patterns, rich greens curling and unfurling in the shape of delicate foliage. The front artwork showed a river, swift and wild, with a swarm of otters moving seamlessly together, like a force of nature.
Joel tilted his head, studying it in fascination, feeling the power it radiated. With a small, lopsided smile, he glanced up at Darren and Craig.
“You only live once, right?” He shrugged, trying to inject some humor into the tension.
“Unless you are one of those overpowered superheroes my bunk mate is always reading about. He wouldn’t stop talking about some guy who loves sandwiches,” Craig said, rolling his eyes.
Joel nodded and answered, “So far, this core has saved our asses more than once, so I’m going to absorb it. Might be just what we need to get out of here.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The others exchanged wary looks but after a second nodded, trusting his judgment. Joel took a steadying breath, then made his decision, locking onto his core with a mental click. He felt the card’s energy begin to integrate into his Mechanical Core. Almost immediately, another system notification appeared.
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System Notification:
You have successfully defeated a pair of Lightning-Enhanced Otters.
Experience Points awarded to parties based on contributions.
You have successfully added a pair of cards to your Heart Deck.
Your Base Level Core has advanced to Level 4. Congratulations!
Area is still contested. Clear area to claim the workbench.
----------------------------------------
The sudden influx of energy surged through Joel’s body, filling him with a strange, crackling warmth that left his muscles feeling tense and ready, as though some new power waited just beneath the surface, eager to be unleashed.
“Alright,” he muttered to himself. The adrenaline finally leaving his body, he was able to look around the room clearly. Joel looked down at the lifeless otter, its body still twitching as the last sparks of electricity faded from its fur. His fingers shook, still feeling the strange pulse of energy that had surged through him, amplifying his strength enough to snap the creature’s neck. He glanced over at Craig and Darren, both of them staring back at him, wide-eyed and breathing hard, as if they too were trying to process what had just happened.
He felt a chill rise up his spine. Was this real? Just hours ago, they’d been ordinary rig workers, dealing with busted pipes and oil drills—nothing like this. Joel’s breathing grew ragged as he tried to steady himself, each heartbeat a heavy reminder of the impossible situation they were trapped in.
With a hoarse whisper, he muttered to himself, “Is this… really happening?” His gaze drifted between his trembling hands and the lifeless creature at his feet, the magnitude of what he’d done, what he’d become, finally sinking in.
Joel just paused, letting the blood drip from his fingers, and letting his mind drift back.
The soft glow of the morning sun streamed through the window of their two-bedroom apartment, casting a warm light across the room. Joel lay in bed, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets and Oliver’s arms, the world outside fading into a distant memory. They had spent countless nights like this, talking and joking about everything and nothing, but today felt different—almost sacred.
“Do you think we’ll ever get used to this?” Joel asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he nudged Oliver gently.
Oliver chuckled, running his fingers through Joel's hair. “Get used to what? Living in a shoebox? Sure, if we survive the next shift without getting blown to bits. The Reds are getting more desperate every day.”
“Hey, it’s just another day in paradise, right?” Joel teased, his voice laced with affection. “Besides, you know I thrive under pressure.”
Oliver rolled his eyes dramatically, a grin breaking through his facade. “Sure you do, Mr. Heavy-Duty Mechanic. Just don’t blow up the rig before I have a chance to come visit you.”
Joel looked over Oliver's shirtless chest. It was a canvas of smooth, sun-kissed skin, defined by the subtle contours of his muscles with just a little bit of a dad belly. The gentle rise and fall of his ribcage created a rhythmic dance, showcasing his build. His collarbones were prominent, leading the eye down to a broad chest that flared into strong shoulders. A light dusting of hair trailed down the center, disappearing into the waistband of his faded black sweatpants, while the outline of his stomach hinted at the strength beneath. A small scar just above his heart told tales of past adventures, each mark a testament to his resilience. The warmth of his body radiated against Joel’s, providing a sense of comfort and safety that made the world outside feel distant and unimportant.
Joel’s heart swelled at the thought, and he turned to face Oliver fully, brushing his fingers against Oliver’s cheek. “You’ll be there, won’t you? I’ll be back before you know it. Just a couple of weeks. A month tops. The Company’s hiring package said that the rotations happen three to one.”
“Promise?” Oliver’s eyes sparkled, and Joel felt a surge of warmth at the vulnerability in his partner’s voice.
As they leaned into each other, the world around them faded into a soft blur, leaving only the two of them in a bubble of warmth and intimacy. Joel cupped Oliver’s face, his thumb gently brushing against his cheek, while Oliver leaned in closer, their breaths mingling in the charged space between them. Their lips met softly at first, a tentative exploration that quickly deepened into something more urgent and passionate.
The kiss was electric, igniting a fire that coursed through their bodies. Joel's fingers tangled in Oliver's hair, pulling him closer, as Oliver’s hands found their way to Joel’s waist, anchoring them together. Time seemed to stand still as they melted into each other, the kiss filled with the sweetness of unspoken promises and the weight of everything they felt for one another. Every brush of their lips was both a question and an answer, a declaration of love that resonated deep within them. In that moment, nothing else mattered; they were lost in each other, the kiss a perfect fusion of their hearts and souls.
“Promise,” Joel replied, sealing it with a soft kiss this time, his heart racing in a way that felt both thrilling and terrifying. The thought of leaving Oliver behind while he worked on the rig gnawed at him, but he pushed it aside. Today was theirs, a last taste of peace before the chaos of the oil fields consumed him.
They talked late into the day, tomorrow he was to leave but today was theirs. Today, they were sharing dreams of what lay ahead, making light of the dangers that lurked on the horizon. But as the sun climbed higher in the sky, Joel couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this could be one of the last moments of normalcy he would have for a long time.
“Hey, Joel?” Oliver whispered, pulling him closer.
“Yeah?” Joel murmured, feeling the weight of sleep beginning to settle in.
“I love you. Just wanted to make sure you knew that.”
Joel smiled, his heart swelling with affection. “I love you too, Ollie. Always.”
With that, they drifted into a peaceful sleep, unaware of the storm that would soon engulf their lives.