The Double Drop Buff Surviving The Endless Ocean novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

ස

265 vouchers

Jessica added: [Also, keep your eyes peeled for the water purifier blueprint. Craft that baby and you’ll never be thirsty again.]

Ronald: [Jess, sweetheart, I’m dying of thirst over here. Just one little sip? I’ll throw in a dance, flash the abs, the full package -whaddaya say?]

The chat exploded in seconds. Some guy shot back: [Man, you’re a grown–ass adult. Stop hitting up every girl for handouts. Show a little pride.]

[Yeah, Ronald, pump the brakes already. You’re making everyone gag.]

William: [Somebody, please. Get me out of this and everything I scrounge up from now on–minus the absolute basics to stay alive–is yours.]

The backlash hit like a wave. [William’s no better. We’re all clawing to stay afloat. A big guy like him, not doing a lick of work, just begging nonstop for two solid days?]

After that, William went completely dark.

Something about the whole thing gnawed at Leeanne. Almost on instinct, she pulled up his profile.

[Name: William Granger

[ID: YX100000

[Age: 35]

His 3D avatar was public. Mid–thirties, solid square jaw, thick brows, heavy–lidded eyes that looked totally emptied out.

A scruffy beard shadowed his face, exhaustion written in every line. He looked lost.

He reminded her strongly of her old high school math teacher, that same rock–steady, stand–up kind of face. The type who kept his promises no matter what.

He swore whoever saves him gets everything he finds except the bare necessities,‘ she mused. And guys built like that don’t break their word.

So she slid into his private messages.

Leeanne: [You coming down with anything?]

William replied: [Nah, not sick. Just starving, parched, and I’ve got a nasty gash on my leg l

Leeanne: [Wait a sec–aren’t we still under newbie protection? How the hell did you get hurt?]

William: [Woke up and the fishing rod was already junk. No hook, nothing. Couldn’t snag a single chest floating past. Got desperate, dove in to grab one by hand shark came out of nowhere and shredded my leg

[Been almost two full days now with zero food or water.

[I’m not some bum. I’m not trying to freeload I’m just completely out of plays.

[If I die out here, what happens to my kid? My wife’s gone–car crash He’s only hive…)

1/4

0:18 am PM M

Chapter 9

55 vouchers

His voice thinned out, getting shaky, like the last bit of fight was leaking away. You could hear the raw hopelessness, the little hitch when he mentioned his son.

For two straight days he’d begged for help and gotten nothing but venom. People friended him just to unload–called him worthless, a leech, a chat–clogging loser.

Some said he was pathetic compared to the women surviving out here.

Others added him, dangled a lifeline, then ripped into him and blocked him cold.

He hadn’t had one single person just let him speak.

Back in the real world he’d been somebody: tech specialist, respected name, built like a tank, skills for days.

Out here he had a postage–stamp raft and a broken rod–zero chance to flex any of it.

He was a strong swimmer too; snagging a chest should’ve been easy. But the shark ignored the raft entirely and zeroed in on him every time. Savage.

He barely hauled himself back aboard. Only his conditioning and solid first–aid knowledge kept the wound from going septic.

Even so, it tore into his lower right leg.

Honestly, it was a miracle he was still kicking. Most people would’ve tapped out days ago with no food, no water, and a :hunk missing from their leg.

Everyone else was too stressed, too scared, to spare any sympathy. All he’d heard was hate. Until now.

Everyone else was too stressed, too scared, to spare any sympathy. All he’d heard was hate. Until now.

William’s voice cracked hard. [Thanks for letting me get that out. I know we’re all in deep. If I don’t make it… well, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.]

Leeanne thought it over, added William as a friend, and said: [Hop on video.]

The call connected. There he was, matching the avatar perfectly: slumped on his tiny raft, right calf wrapped in ragged strips of cloth, fresh blood spotting through.

He looked up and saw her.

He froze for a beat.

Leeanne looked sharp and alive, eyes bright, energy crackling. Behind her stood a proper wooden gazebo with railings, a comfy chair, several chests stacked neatly.

She was kicked back, casually flicking her line into the water like she was spending a lazy weekend at the lake.

William’s whole posture sank. Here he was, a big rugged guy, staring death in the face while this girl was straight up thriving.

‘How is she holding it together so well when I’m completely falling apart?‘ he wondered

Leeanne studied him for a moment before speaking. “Mind if I check out your fishing rod!”

Without a word, William traded it to her.

2/4

10:18 am PM M

Chapter 9

Leeanne’s eyes widened slightly. She had only wanted to look at it, not take it.

William had clearly given up. He was handing over his last real shot at survival like it was nothing.

Sure, the rod was busted, but a busted rod still beat having nothing to fish with.

A moment later it popped into her inventory. Yeah, the hook was completely gone.

[Obtained damaged fishing rod!]

[Survival Tip: A damaged fishing rod can be repaired at the workbench or crafted from scratch.]

‘Wait, I can actually fix this?‘ Leeanne blinked in surprise.

She pulled up her workbench.

[Fishing Rod (Repairable): Required: Plank 1/1. Repair?]

Just one plank. That was literally all it took.

She let out a slow breath. ‘One single, stupid plank has almost ended a grown man’s run.

‘Looks starting resources really are everything out here. They decide whether you thrive or flatline.‘

6049

55 vouchers

It also hit her hard how rough everyone else had it too. Nobody had extra food or water lying around to keep a random drifter alive indefinitely. Nobody had the time or energy to play savior. Out here, kindness was the kind of luxury that could get you killed.

She looked him straight in the eye. “So what exactly were you hoping somebody would do for you?”

William opened his mouth, then closed it. “I…”

“Yeah. What can anyone even do? Feed me forever? Keep tossing me supplies while I sit there helpless?‘ he wondered.

His rod was broken. He couldn’t gather anything on his own. ‘Is someone supposed to adopt me him like a stray and carry me permanently?

No way that is happening!

The tiny spark left in his eyes died out completely, his whole face twisting with pure misery.

He’d known the truth all along. There was no real way out.

If he’d let himself think about it clearly for even a second, it was obvious. He just hadn’t wanted to face it, so he’d kept blowing up regional chat with pleas for help, clinging desperately to any thread of hope he could find.

Leeanne stayed quiet and watched the last of his resolve slip away. The back he’d been forcing straight slowly curved forward until he looked like he was about to fold in half and collapse right there on his tiny raft

Only then did she speak, calm and straightforward I can fix your rod for you

“What?” William’s head snapped up, hope blazing across his face as he shot upright like someone had jolted him with a live

wire. “You serious?”

Leeanne nodded.

3/4

4/4