The sun was setting over the coast, casting a golden glow across the waves as Finn trudged up the wooden dock, his wetsuit dripping and his harpoon gun slung over one shoulder. The dive had been a long one. Twelve hours in thirty-minute increments spent surveying a coral reef that had been struggling to recover from recent bleaching events. The data he’d collected would be crucial for the marine preservation team, but right now he only wanted a hot shower and a decent meal.

  “Another day, another reef,” he muttered to himself, pulling off his diving mask and running a hand through his salt-crusted black hair. The ocean had been unusually restless today, the currents stronger and the water colder than usual. He’d chalked it up to the changing seasons, but something about it had felt… off. Like the ocean itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.

  Finn sloshed his way up the beach to the small research outpost where his team was based. The outpost was little more than a cluster of prefab buildings and a dock, but it was home. For now, thankfully. Inside, the air smelled like stale coffee and seawater, and the hum of generators filled the space. His colleague, Dr. Elena Martinez, was hunched over a microscope at one of the lab tables, her dark hair tied back in a messy bun.

  “Hey, Elena,” Finn called, dropping his gear by the door. “I’m back. Got some samples for you.”

  Elena looked up, her tired eyes lighting up with interest. “About time. How’s the reef looking?”

  “Not great,” Finn admitted, pulling a waterproof case from his bag and handing it to her. “The bleaching’s progressing worse than we thought. I saw a few patches of new growth, but it’s not enough. If we don’t get those conservation measures approved soon, this whole ecosystem could collapse.”

  Elena sighed, taking the case and opening it to inspect the samples. “I’ll run these through the analyzer tonight. Maybe we can use the data to push for faster action—not that those geezers would care. Anyways, you look exhausted. Go get some rest.”

  Finn nodded, grateful for the suggestion. He was about to head to the small bunkroom when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, frowning at the screen. It was a message from his sister, Mia.

  Mia: Hey, big bro. Just checking in. You okay? The news is saying there’s some weird weather out by the coast. Atleast that’s what mom says.

  Finn smiled faintly. Mia and his mother were always worrying about him, looking at the weather halfway across the state even though they lived in a city surrounded by concrete and motor chaos. He typed out a quick reply.

  Finn: I’m fine. Just another day in paradise. Tell Mom I’ll call her soon. Also,

  He slipped the phone back into his pocket and grabbed a towel from the rack, drying off as best he could. The outpost’s shower was barely more than a trickle of lukewarm water, but it was enough to wash away the salt and grime. By the time he was done, the sun had fully set, and the outpost was bathed in the soft glow of fluorescent lights.

  Freshly dressed, Finn was about to collapse onto his bunk and enjoy an MMA event rerun on the sportsnetwork when the lights flickered. He frowned, glancing up at the ceiling. The generators were usually reliable, but they’d been acting up lately. Probably just another thing that needed fixing.

  Then the ground shook.

  It wasn’t a strong tremor but enough to make Finn stumble. He grabbed the edge of the bunk to steady himself, his heart racing. Earthquakes weren’t uncommon in this region, but this felt… different. The air seemed to hum with energy like the world itself was vibrating.

  “Elena?” he called, stepping out of the bunkroom. “Did you feel that?”

  Elena was already on her feet, her face pale. “Yeah. That wasn’t normal. Finn, look at this.”

  She pointed to the microscope, and Finn hurried over. Through the lens, he could see the coral samples he’d brought in—except they were glowing. A faint, otherworldly light pulsed within the cells, as if the coral had been infused with something alien.

  “What the hell…” Finn muttered, straightening up. “That’s not possible.”

  Before Elena could respond, the lights flickered again, and this time, they stayed off. The hum of the generators died, plunging the outpost into darkness.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  BZZZZZ.

  Finn glanced at the radio. It was at his usual station. He switched to the next one.

  Then the next.

  And the next.

  He went through all the stations. All he heard was static. Finn frowned before turning off the radio. He checked his cell phone and saw that he barely had a signal. Mia, he frowned.

  Finn reached for his flashlight, but before he could turn it on, a glowing box popped into his vision.

  The glowing box popped into Finn’s vision.

  System Initialization in Progress…

  What the hell?

  He blinked, trying to make it disappear. It had to be from exhaustion—twelve hours in-and-out of underwater would give anyone a headache. But the box didn’t fade. It hung there, glowing faintly, even when he closed his eyes and opened them again.

  Then the ground shook, harder this time. The outpost’s lights flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness. Elena gasped somewhere nearby, her voice trembling. “Finn, what’s happening?”

  Before he could answer, lines of text rapidly flashed in the glowing box.

  System Initialized.

  Beginning Planetary Terraforming…

  Native name of Planet #2848271 detected.

  Planet #2848271 has been designated ‘Earth.’

  Population requirements have been met.

  Intelligence requirements have been met.

  Civilization requirements have been met.

  Combat requirements have not been met.

  Tutorial Dungeons required.

  Generating Dungeon Seeds…

  Calculating probable failure.

  50.23% chance of Earth meeting requirements after uplifting combat capabilities.

  Automatic approval due to an estimated probability exceeding 50%.

  Initiating Tutorial Protocol.

  As much as Finn wanted to laugh it off as a creepy joke, he couldn’t. Elena grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his skin. “Finn, what is this? What’s happening?”

  Before he could answer, another box appeared.

  Congratulations! Planet [Earth] has been classified as a [Category Five: Death World]. Your ruling species, [Homo sapiens], has failed to meet the standard criteria for peaceful integration into the Multiverse. As a result, Earth has entered a mandatory filter event, triggering an accelerated descent into chaos.

  But do not despair! A path forward still exists.

  Survive a brief Tutorial Dungeon, prove your adaptability, and progress through the remaining phases of System Integration. Should you succeed, [Homo sapiens] will earn its place among the stars.

  Failure, of course, is not an option. Speaking of options, you have two!

  ?Option One: The Casual Tutorial. A safer introduction to System Integration, designed for those who prefer a guided experience.

  Unlimited Respawns.

  A controlled environment with informative guidance

  Minimal bonus rewards upon completion.

  ?Option Two: The Hardcore Tutorial. A brutal trial for those who seek greater power—at a greater cost.

  No Respawning.

  Increased leveling opportunities.

  Greater bonus rewards upon completion.

  Warning: Failure to choose will result in automatic placement into the Hardcore Tutorial.

  Objective: Choose your path. (30 seconds remaining…)

  Elena’s face went pale. “H-hey. We’re really taking this seriously? This is real?” she asked, looking at Finn. She laughed nervously.

  29…28…27…22…18…15…

  Finn was lost. “Fuck! I-I don’t know! Go with the Casual Tutorial, okay? Whatever it is, it’ll be easier.”

  “Got it.” She turned to the glowing box and hesitated. “…Wait. How do I—?”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh no. I think I… I clicked something.”

  Finn’s stomach dropped. “What did you do?”

  “I… I think I chose the other option. Hardcore. I can’t change it!”

  The countdown hit 10 seconds.

  “Shit,” Finn said, eyes turned frantic. Had Elena really thrown herself into the Hardcore Tutorial?

  5…4…3…2…

  It didn’t take anything more for Finn to follow suit. He picked Hardcore.

  Choices Confirmed.

  Initiating and populating Tutorials…

  Relocating Casual Tutorial Participants to designated Tutorial Dungeons.

  Relocating Hardcore Tutorial Participants to designated Tutorial Dungeons.

  Elena's voice trembled. “F-Finn, oh god. I’m sor—”

  She vanished.

  A split second later, darkness swallowed him whole.