Global Fog Survival

“First-row spoiler on the ‘newbie package’ contents: a black bread that can double as a stone, an axe, two obedient slaves, and a crafting table. You’re welcome.”

“The guy above just killed my anticipation for the newbie package; thanks a lot. By the way, does anyone know how to light the lamp?”

“I’m dying of thirst here. Can someone please give me water? I finished the newbie package’s food and now dying of thirst. I’ve got two extra mouths to feed and I’m starving…”

“Please, any food will do. I could even eat a five-nut mooncake…”

“What the guy above said is true! Be careful of the gray fog; I sent a slave to reach outside, and their hand was torn off by something in less than a second!”

“Do not stare into the gray fog, damn it. I just looked at it for a few minutes and now it feels like there’s a face pressed against the window staring at me…”

“Seems like only that lamp can keep us safe. Please, someone, tell me how to light it. Whoever tells me will be like a father to me…”

Colin hesitated as he watched the pleas for help scroll by, but ultimately decided not to become anyone’s “father.” Speaking in the world channel required a megaphone, and each person only got one per day, with no accumulation.

Colin didn’t want to waste what might be his only useful speaking opportunity today on this. Besides, surely someone had already figured out how to use the lantern for various reasons.

Since no one had spoken up, he saw no need to be the first. There might be some hidden danger involved…

Doing good deeds was commendable, but not at the expense of oneself, so he decided to observe for now. After finding no more useful information, Colin closed the [World Channel].

Then he opened the [Regional Channel].

Immediately, Colin noticed the difference between the regional and world channels. In the upper left corner of the chat box, there was a number, showing 1000.

This likely represented the number of people in the current region. Furthermore, there were almost no restrictions on posting in the regional channel, with messages allowed every three seconds.

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“A lot of people in one region, huh? Are they all competitors? I wonder how intense the competition will be…”

Colin muttered as he looked at the constantly scrolling messages.

“Offering ten thousand dollars for the method to light the oil lamp, payment guaranteed after the game ends!”

“We might not even be able to leave this place, so who cares about ten thousand or even a hundred thousand? Ugh, the newbie package only had a piece of bread and no water. If I find out who designed this game, I will kill them!”

“To be fair, even if you knew who they were, you could not kill them because this ‘game’ could not have been created on Earth.”

“Can’t even complain anymore? What’s wrong with this world?”

“Question: what does the eighth warning about no resurrection specifically mean? Has anyone died and come back to tell the tale?”

“No one has, so the eighth warning is probably literal. When we die, we really die. Of course, it’s also possible that we wake up back in the real world, never to return, as if it were all a dream.”

“But I suggest not doing it, because if revival was possible, this channel would already be in chaos, not filled with people whining. And as for no food, aren’t there still the two slaves? If you’re really starving…”

Eat the slaves…

Colin’s eyelid twitched. He knew the slaves were part of the “newbie package” contents, but after learning what was in it, he wasn’t in a hurry to open it.

“And… no one in the regional channel is sharing the lamp-lighting method either, even though it doesn’t consume megaphones…” Colin instinctively felt something was wrong.

After a moment of hesitation, feeling there was no more information to be gained, Colin closed the regional channel.

“It seems the key to survival is completing daily tasks.”

Colin opened the [Task List] and saw only one line of faint red task text.

[Daily Task: Face Your Fear]

[Task Requirement: Kill a “mutant” wandering in the fog.]

[Task Time: 23 hours, 32 minutes.]

[Task Description: Despite the countless dangers in the gray fog, opportunities exist alongside them. A fledgling that never leaves the nest will never grow. Don’t be too afraid; the best way to overcome fear is to face it. Good luck! (Note the lamp’s burning time.)]

[Task Reward: Hard black bread *1? Foul tainted blood 100ml?]

After reading the task, Colin finally understood why so many people complained about the daily tasks. If nothing else, everyone’s daily task was likely the same.

Given this, to complete the task, one had to leave the cabin and enter the fog. To enter the fog, one had to light the lantern. But how to light the lantern…

No one knew how to light the damn thing! Otherwise, even if someone mustered the courage under hunger’s pressure, they wouldn’t have the chance to explore the fog!

If you want people to do tasks, at least give a hint!

What? I do have a hint?

Oh.

Never mind, then.

The “foul tainted blood” must be the lantern’s fuel. It turns out it really is blood…

Not thinking further, Colin clicked on the last option, [Personnel Recruitment].

But seeing that it required something called [Mist Points], he immediately closed it, not wasting any more time. After all, he didn’t have any.

Shaking his head, he closed the scroll and took another look, noticing some changes.

[A leather scroll containing important information. You have seen its contents and have a vague feeling that its options are not limited to these.]

“Indeed, it’s likely to add more features in the future.”

Colin muttered. He now knew all the current functions of the scroll, so he opened the [Inventory] next. With a thought, an option appeared before him: [Inventory].

“How magical, just like a real game.”

Colin smirked. He had learned about the [Inventory] feature from the chat channels; it could be summoned with a thought. This feature was directly tied to him, and he could put the scroll in there to prevent losing it.

In the [Inventory], Colin saw a dilapidated wooden box matching the shabbiness of his cabin.

[Newbie Package], without hesitation, Colin chose to use it.

[Congratulations, you have obtained: Moldy Black Bread *1?]

[Congratulations, you have obtained: Old Iron Axe *1]

[Congratulations, you have obtained: Crafting Table *1?]

[Congratulations, you have obtained: Slaves *2?]

On the table, items materialized one by one, from virtual to real: a palm-sized piece of black bread, an old iron axe, a square stone crafting table the size of a watermelon, and…

Faint breathing sounds came from the side.

Colin’s eyes narrowed, his head turning as if a cockroach had landed on his face. He saw two medium-built men standing by the door, unnoticed before.

Both men wore knee-length, worn cloth robes. Their skin was dark, their hair was short, and their heads were bowed, making it difficult to see their facial expressions.

Above them were the words [Slaves].