Global Fog Survival

Chapter 4: Encounter in the Gray Fog

Outside the cabin, there was an endless expanse of gray fog, flowing gently as if it had always been there. However, when Colin extended the lantern beyond the wooden door, the fog immediately melted away like snow, creating a safe zone with a radius of about five meters.

“No problem,” Colin said to himself, nodding quietly. He didn’t step out immediately but took a few moments to observe the surroundings. Then, prompts appeared in his mind.

?There are treasures ahead, but they are too far. If you don’t want to die on this journey, it’s best not to choose this path.?

?To the left, you sense a river. It’s dangerous, but the area is rich in resources. In this foggy world, food resources are extremely important.?

?To the right, there are numerous abnormal life forms. You are not strong enough to face them.?

?Behind you lies a vast wasteland and barren land.?

“It seems we should explore to the left first,” Colin pondered, retracting his gaze and turning back to hand the lantern to Servant One. “Let’s test it out first.”

“Yes, my lord!” Servant One shook the lantern at the doorway as Colin instructed. Regardless of how he shook it, the light remained bright and stable, unlikely to be extinguished by the wind.

Colin glanced up at the sky. There was a dim light, but no visible source, making him question whether this world even had a sun. Then, another prompt appeared.

?You cannot see the source of the light, but you realize that several hours remain until nightfall. Your lantern has enough fuel to burn multiple times over. The time of day is not a hindrance to your mission.?

Relieved that they wouldn’t soon face nightfall, Colin nodded. Nighttime was extremely dangerous, and he didn’t want to find out why anytime soon. After another few minutes of preparation and testing, Colin and Servant Two stepped into the area illuminated by the lantern.

“Lord,” Servant One respectfully handed the lantern back to Colin. Their bodies did not interfere with the lantern’s effective range, and the person holding it had to stand in the center for safety.

Holding the ancient lantern filled with dark red liquid in his left hand and a rusty axe in his right, Colin moved forward. Servant One and Servant Two, wielding long sticks and makeshift shields, stayed close, protecting him from all sides.

Within the five-meter radius, the light formed a barrier, and within the thick fog, twisted faces seemed to press against it, casting ominous, malicious glances at the three of them. A chilling dread crept up Colin’s spine, and his scalp tingled.

Despite the eerie calm, Colin felt the immense pressure of the fog, almost tangible, pressing down on him. Staring into the fog gave him no useful insights, only the grim warning that he would die horribly if the light went out before he returned indoors.

Regardless, Colin knew he couldn’t show his fear. Any sign of weakness might shatter the fragile morale. He took a few deep breaths to calm his tense body, then announced calmly, “It seems safe here. Let’s proceed according to plan and scout the surroundings.”

Taking measured steps, Colin began inspecting the area around the cabin. In the dense fog with visibility under ten meters, rushing forward blindly was a death wish. Losing one’s way meant waiting to die in the fog. Fortunately, Colin’s prompts gave him a significant advantage.

Quickly finishing a survey of the nearby area, Colin found nothing but barren land within a few hundred square meters. It was time to venture further.

“Number Two, remember to leave clear marks on the ground, one step at a time. If you notice anything unusual, speak up immediately.”

“Yes, my lord,” both servants replied in unison, tightening their grips on their makeshift weapons.

Colin nodded and glanced back at the cabin. They had only moved about ten meters away, yet the structure was already a blurry outline in the fog. He took a deep breath, knowing the importance of timing and caution.

“Keep vigilant and follow the plan,” he reminded them before leading the way.

Moving steadily, Colin kept track of his steps, creating a mental map. Though the prompts guided him, he didn’t fully trust them and preferred thorough preparation. The servants followed closely, marking the ground as instructed and staying alert.

Suddenly, Servant One pointed out, “My lord, that pit over there looks odd.”

Colin turned to see a long, shallow trench about ten meters to his left, extending into the fog. Another prompt appeared.