Harem Survival System: Stranded On An Island With Beautiful Women
Chapter 33: Into The Forest

Chapter 33: Into The Forest

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Pre-Author’s Note:

I apologize for the fakes but it fell under my Mass release for Harem Investment and I couldn’t juggle two at once, will be fixing them all up now!

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Lucas let out a short laugh, trying to ease the tension though he wasn’t sure that would even help out the situation. "Well, unless you’ve been secretly moonlighting as a lumberjack, we’re all in the same boat."

Leo groaned, rubbing his face. "No, I just — come on, man! There’s a reason we have machines for this kind of stuff. We’re students, not a freaking logging crew!"

He wanted to say the obvious that they were stranded on an island and had no access to machines that were mainland but he stopped, he could tell his best friend was scared... Hell even he was.

Lucas patted him on the back. "Calm down. It’s just a tree. How hard can it be?"

As if to answer him, the math teacher suddenly turned on his heel and strode toward one of the larger tents behind him.

The flap rustled as he pushed through, disappearing inside for a few seconds.

The boys exchanged uncertain glances, shifting in place. The silence was certainly unnerving and it was almost like they were in a horror movie for a moment.

Then the teacher reemerged — holding a long, heavy axe.

A sharp chill spread through the group as they took in the sight of it.

The dull steel gleamed in the morning light, and the wooden handle looked worn from years of use. But it was going to be used today... They were going to use it to cut down some damn wood.

He didn’t stop at one. Instead, he dragged out a bundle of them, their weight making a dull thud as he set them down. He sighed a bit, massaging his aching head.

"These," he said plainly, "are what you’ll be using."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Lucas exhaled through his nose.

They’re really going through with this, huh? Considering that even Brian who had ventured into that forest got nearly turned into a corpse, he contemplated his own chances of surviving it if a wild animal snuck up on them and those chances were looking well slim.

His own reaction was more resignation than fear, but he wasn’t blind to the way the other boys stiffened. A few even took small steps back.

"Pick one," the PE teacher ordered, his gruff voice cutting through the hesitation. "No time to waste."

Lucas was the first to step forward. He gripped one of the axes, testing its weight.

It was heavier than he expected. The handle was rough, and it definitely wasn’t designed for comfort.

One by one, the other boys followed, some hesitating more than others.

Oliver, the kid with glasses, visibly gulped as he reached for one.

Another boy — Darren, one of the quieter ones — held his like it might explode at any second. But they all felt that it was heavy, it would be hard cutting down trees like this.

The PE teacher grabbed one for himself, hoisting it with ease over his shoulder. "Alright. Let’s move out."

The group began their march toward the forest, their steps slow and uncertain.

The remaining students — the girls and those excused from the task — stood watching from a distance. Some whispered among themselves. Others just stared.

Lucas and the others had to maintain eye focus ahead, they didn’t know what the others were talking about and for some reason, none wanted to know, they would just focus on the task ahead.

Lucas made the mistake of looking up, and his eyes met Nina’s.

She wasn’t whispering. She wasn’t staring in horror like some of the others. She just looked... confused.

Like she was trying to piece together a puzzle she hadn’t realized was missing pieces until now.

Lucas quickly looked away.

He could still feel her gaze on him as he and the rest of the boys disappeared beneath the shadows of the trees, swallowed by the darkness.

The change was instant.

The second they stepped past the tree line, the air grew thick with moisture, and the scent of damp earth filled their noses.

The chirping of insects and rustling leaves created a strange, almost rhythmic hum that surrounded them.

It was darker here.

The towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, letting only fragments slip through the branches. The deeper they went, the harder it was to see what lay ahead.

Leo stayed close, his grip tightening around his axe.

"Still think this is just a tree?" he muttered to Lucas.

Lucas didn’t answer.

Because the further they walked, the more he felt it — that strange, prickling sensation at the back of his neck.

Something about this place was... off.

And he wasn’t the only one who felt it.

The other boys moved stiffly, their shoulders tense as their eyes darted around. Even the PE teacher, usually so full of bravado, was quieter than usual.

The math teacher finally came to a stop in front of a massive tree with a thick, sturdy trunk.

He nodded to it. "This one will do."

Lucas exhaled.

The group of boys stood in a rough circle around the massive tree, their hands tightening around the wooden handles of their axes.

The trunk was thick, its bark gnarled and tough, and it loomed over them like some ancient guardian of the forest.

Even with all of them working together, it wouldn’t be easy.

Lucas adjusted his grip, rolling his shoulders as he eyed the tree. He could already feel the strain in his arms, and they hadn’t even started yet.

He stole a glance at Leo, who was shifting his weight from foot to foot, clearly restless.

Their PE teacher raised his axe, his muscles flexing under his sweat-darkened shirt. "Alright, listen up," he called out, his voice carrying through the trees. "We need to bring this thing down cleanly. We’ll be working in sections, cutting evenly around the trunk. When it’s ready to fall, I’ll let you know. Until then, keep your focus, and for God’s sake, watch where you step. Last thing we need is someone getting bitten by a snake."

That last part sent a wave of unease through the boys.

Oliver, standing a few feet away from Lucas, shifted uncomfortably. "Snakes?" he muttered, as if just saying the word would summon one.

The PE teacher didn’t acknowledge the comment. Instead, he took a step forward and swung his axe.

THWACK.