Harem Survival System: Stranded On An Island With Beautiful Women
Chapter 36: Drenched In Water

Chapter 36: Drenched In Water

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Author’s Note:

We shall resume regular updates now

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The trunk crashed onto the ground with an earth-shaking thud, sending a thick cloud of dust billowing into the air.

The impact was so powerful that Lucas swore he could feel it in his bones.

And then?

Lucas didn’t even hesitate. He collapsed where he stood, his body crumpling onto the dirt with a dull thump.

He barely felt the rough ground beneath him — nothing mattered except the overwhelming relief of not carrying that damn tree anymore.

All around him, the other boys followed suit.

Some flopped onto their backs, staring up at the sky in exhausted silence.

Others simply sat — legs sprawled, heads bowed, arms dangling uselessly at their sides.

Leo groaned loudly as he sprawled out on the ground, eyes squeezed shut. "I am never doing that again. Ever. I don’t care if we starve."

A few weak chuckles spread through the group, though no one had the energy to argue.

Lucas rolled onto his back, breathing heavily as his heart pounded in his chest.

His limbs twitched from overuse, his entire body aching from the strain. But despite the pain, a small part of him felt... accomplished.

They had done it.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t perfect. But they had actually managed to haul a full-grown tree out of the damn forest.

And now, as they lay there, gasping for air, the reality of what they had done began to sink in. The axes had been kept in the old duffel bag with the cans so that they would not be left behind in the forest so Lucas wasn’t worried about that/

After a while, the PE teacher walked up with another small duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He dropped it on the ground with a heavy thump, unzipping it to reveal a miracle.

Water.

Cans of it.

Lucas had never in his life seen something so beautiful.

The teacher kicked the bag toward them with his foot.

"Drink up," he said simply before walking off toward the other teachers.

There was no need to say it twice.

The boys scrambled toward the bag, each one grabbing a can with shaky, exhausted hands. Lucas popped his open immediately, tilting it back as cool, refreshing water hit his tongue.

He nearly moaned.

The sensation was pure heaven. It ran down his dry throat, soothing every parched inch as he gulped greedily.

Leo sat up beside him, chugging his own can before pulling it away with a loud gasp. "Damn, I think this is better than soda."

Lucas nodded, too busy drinking to answer.

One of the quieter boys, Daniel, let out a breathy laugh. "We really did it, huh?"

"We did something," another boy muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"We dragged a whole tree through a forest," Lucas corrected, shaking his head in disbelief. "I still can’t believe it."

Lucas let out a long, tired sigh. "For now? We breathe."

Leo snorted. "I can get behind that."

And so they sat there, sipping their water, letting the exhaustion settle in.

Lucas didn’t even bother going to dinner.

His body ached in ways he didn’t know were possible, and the thought of stuffing food into his mouth when he could barely move made him feel even more exhausted.

He needed something else — something to cool him down after the brutal day they’d just had.

So instead of heading toward the dining area where the others were gathering, he turned toward the shoreline.

Not the main one, where students would usually hang out during the day.

No, he took a quieter route, heading to the small strip of beach off to the side, away from the fire pits and the noise of camp.

It was tucked between a few large rocks and barely had enough space for more than a few people at a time.

But right now, it was his.

The only sounds were the rhythmic crashing of the waves and the occasional rustling of the trees. The sky was darker now, with the last remnants of sunlight fading into deep blues and purples.

Stars had already begun to dot the sky, shimmering like tiny pinpricks of light.

Lucas exhaled slowly, already feeling some of the tension in his muscles ease just from the sight alone.

With a deep sigh, he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, wincing at the stiffness in his arms.

His entire body felt too heavy, as if every step drained whatever little energy he had left. His hands moved automatically, unbuttoning his shorts and slipping them off before stepping into the cool water.

The moment the water touched his skin, he shuddered.

It was freezing.

But God, it felt good.

The cold washed over him, a stark contrast to the burning heat that had been trapped in his skin all day.

He sucked in a sharp breath as he walked further in, letting the water rise to his waist, then his chest. His fingers ran through his damp hair, pushing it back as he finally drenched himself completely, allowing the saltwater to consume him.

For a moment, he just stood there, letting the waves lap at his skin.

His muscles still ached, but the water made it easier. The weight on his shoulders felt... lighter.

And then, almost without thinking, he let himself sink.

His body drifted downward, the water swallowing him whole as he allowed himself to float beneath the surface.

Everything became muffled — the sound of the waves, the distant murmurs of camp, even the whispers of the wind. It was just him and the water, surrounding him like a protective cocoon.

He opened his eyes, watching the way the moonlight shimmered above him, refracting through the water in soft, wavy patterns. It was beautiful.

And in that moment, as he floated there, weightless and numb, his mind wandered.

He was so tired.

Physically, of course — but also in a way that went beyond just his body. A bone-deep exhaustion that seeped into his very being.

Now, with nothing but water surrounding him, it finally had the chance.

Lucas closed his eyes.

Would it really be so bad if he just... stayed here for a while?

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