Towering waves, like colossal mountains piercing the sky, loomed terrifyingly before me.

I couldn’t tilt my head back any further, yet still couldn’t see the wave’s crest.

In seconds, I’d be shattered to pieces by this monster, wouldn’t I?

This… is just too unfair.

…Dead for sure.

…………

…………

My name is Seventh Ju, male. My surname’s rare, but I’m nothing special.

Good at studying and exams, I finished high school at sixteen.

But that doesn’t mean I’m smart.

After college entrance exams, my parents and I came to the seaside for summer vacation.

Just a simple graduation trip—until an unforeseen disaster struck.

…………

The earth shook violently, as if the planet would explode, terrifying like a derailed roller coaster.

So this is what a powerful earthquake really feels like?

After crawling from the utterly devastating ruins, my thought was surprisingly simple.

I lost my parents. During the quake, they were likely still inside buildings—probably dead.

The silent seaside ruins were a giant tomb.

Hours after the first major quake, I met only a handful of survivors—countable on one hand.

Some didn’t make it to nightfall.

The rest huddled shoulder to shoulder, tears streaming, comforting each other to hold on for rescue.

But my rational mind knew this wouldn’t last.

No need to think hard—cell signals were gone.

The beach was a mess; no place for rescue helicopters to land.

Ruins held water and food, but aftershocks could strike anytime.

Everyone set up tents in the nearby jungle, hard for rescuers to spot.

No—until the last day, no rescue ever appeared.

How many died in this disaster?

A seaside city in peak tourist season, an absurdly violent quake, barely any survivors left.

Based on past earthquakes, hundreds of thousands probably perished here.

By day three, the ruins reeked of disease. Water and food sources turned unreliable overnight.

The survivors’ mood shifted. Soon, they’d kill each other to survive, wouldn’t they?

Sure enough, it started on day five.

I’d already left the others early, building a crude jungle shelter. I survived on rainwater and palm hearts.

On day nine, searching for rescue signs, I found several cold corpses. They were the same people huddled crying nine days ago.

Seventh Ju: What the…

Seventh Ju: Am I… the only one left…?

My body and mind neared their limits.

Rescue… where is it?

Did this quake destroy this vast country—even the whole world?

I don’t want to die… I want to live…

The only death I’d accept is dying while searching for my parents.

But I chose “rational survival” over “family bonds.” Dying now would betray them utterly.

I absolutely won’t die, even if I’m the last one…

On the tenth morning, I woke to an unusual vibration.

Unlike aftershocks, this was a distinct tremor rapidly approaching.

Only one thing came to mind: rescue helicopters.

Dragging my exhausted body, I joyfully crawled from my crude shelter.

Then, I looked up—

…………

…………

This… is just too unfair.

Everything, from start to my final sight, was utterly unfair.

The moment the giant wave swallowed me, I curled up tightly.

The last emotion in this body was pure hatred.

Even with such an unfair end…

I still…

don’t want to die.

…………

…………

.