Global Fog Survival

Jumping straight into the topic without any preliminaries, Russell felt a bit unprepared. Fortunately, the dreadful sense of being watched didn’t occur, which gave him some relief.

Unlike others, Russell knew that if that gaze appeared, he would die in a short time without any judgment or reason, just enough time to tidy up his clothes. He glanced around the dismal area and said, “It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go to my place.”

“Okay,” Colin nodded, “but first, open your inventory and let me see.”

Although he had essentially subdued Russell, Colin couldn’t allow him to carry dangerous items that might allow him to counterattack.

“I don’t have much left,” Russell sighed, opening his inventory to show compliance. After all, aside from mystical items, there wasn’t much of importance in there.

However, upon checking Russell’s inventory, Colin couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly: So rich?

“Red potion *4, restores thirty percent of injuries.”

“Blue potion, medium enhancement potion, black chocolate bar, compressed biscuits, canned meat, entrenching tool…”

Russell interrupted with a puzzled expression, “Aren’t these just standard system-issued items? We get a set of red and blue potions and a food set every day. What’s so strange?”

【You realize this man doesn’t seem to be lying】

Colin’s expression twisted, unsure how to react: “…We don’t get these things.”

If the system provided these every day, why would so many people die? Why would people risk their lives for a bite of black bread? Many are still venturing out, wounded, into the gray fog just for food. Without rapid recovery, many wouldn’t survive.

Some couldn’t bear the severe pain from their wounds and chose to end it. Colin decided to take everything; these were all valuable items. He grew more interested in the previous batch’s situation, which didn’t seem so dire compared to theirs.

Russell didn’t mind too much, as these items were common for them, even until now. Bored, he often drank them like beverages.

“By the way, could you leave me a red potion?” He still had a swollen face.

Colin put the last red potion into his inventory, not looking back. “Your wounds will heal with some food.”

Is it worth it? These aren’t precious items, Russell thought, unsure what to say.

But soon, he did feel the loss as Colin took out a coin from his inventory. An old brass coin, heavily worn with no visible patterns.

Colin examined it.

This thing had made them sharpshooters, missing every cannon shot.

【“Fate Coin”: Stores daily luck to be released at critical moments, with a maximum storage time of ten minutes.】

【Note: The consumption speed of luck is proportional to the danger faced.】

【Special active skill: “Desperate Gamble”; upon successful use, the coin disappears.】

【Remark: My luck is your misfortune.】

【You realize luck is conserved. During storage, you will become unlucky.】

“No matter what happens, don’t use the ‘Desperate Gamble’ skill. The outcome can be severe,” Russell advised, suppressing his heartache.

“What will happen?” Colin asked curiously.

“I don’t know, but I can tell you this coin has changed hands dozens of times, and experiments with servants have never succeeded,” Russell implied. They all died. Colin got the hint, storing the coin and taking out a gray cloth piece from Russell’s pocket.

【“Lost White Cloth”: Can suppress or weaken the effects of mystical items. Prolonged contact will erase bodily vitality.】

What a plain name and effect, even lacking a remark. Colin muttered.

【You realize this isn’t something to contact for long.】

After storing it, he took out the blue dagger. The dagger was about half a meter long, with a blue gem blade, wavy pattern, and a short handle, feeling good in the hand.

【“Deep Blue Soul Blade”: Summons and tames the ‘White Bone Horse’ within. When riding the summoned ‘White Bone Horse,’ the distance enemies need to chase you triples.】

【‘White Bone Horse’ can traverse unknown realms, pass through ordinary obstacles, and reach speeds over 100 km/h in a short time.】

【Remark: Almost there, don’t rush. On the way, at most a few minutes, thirty minutes tops, and your horse arrives.】

【You realize taming a ‘White Bone Horse’ isn’t easy.】

Earlier, the horse had disappeared after the duel, but Colin remembered it well. Russell smiled and said, “Can you leave this one for me? Taming the ‘White Bone Horse’ isn’t easy. I’ve already formed a bond with it. If you summon it, it won’t respond, or if it does, it won’t obey. Our bond is strong, like family, unbreakable.”

Fine, Colin reluctantly asked, “Can you summon it again for me?”

Russell moved a few steps away, unchallenged by the group.

Standing still for a few minutes, a long whinny sounded, and a ‘White Bone Horse’ ran from the void into reality.

Tall, majestic, fully equipped, bones as white as jade, eyes burning with blue flames.

Russell, holding the ‘Deep Blue Soul Blade,’ petted the horse’s head, smiling, “This friend wanted to take you from me, but see, that’s impossible.”

The ‘White Bone Horse’ nudged him, letting him stroke it. Indeed, even in front of others, it was loyal to him. Russell felt relieved, thinking the struggles to tame it were worth it.

Seeing this, Colin thought about it and decided to let it be. He had no energy to tame such a thing.

But suddenly, the horse approached the dagger, bit it from Russell’s hand, and trotted over to Colin.

Sanna and the others blocked it, but Colin said, “Let it through.”

Trotting happily, the horse approached Colin, bowed, and neighed softly.

Silence fell; everyone was astonished.

Colin took the dagger, and the horse neighed happily, half-kneeling as if waiting for him to mount. But Colin didn’t.

He wasn’t sure what was happening.

“Friend, your horse seems to have abandoned you,” Li Chou mocked.

Russell’s face twitched, seeing his loyal horse now submitting to another.

【You feel the undead creature has taken a liking to you.】

Why? Colin wondered.

【You guess it desires something you have.】

“What do I have that it desires?” Colin pondered, realizing, and patted the horse’s head, “Do you also wish to cleanse the land with cannon fire, sweeping away all shadows and horrors?”

???

The horse tilted its head.

【You realize the ‘White Bone Horse’ can temporarily ignore physical damage when using its ability.】

Seeing this prompt, Colin’s mind raced. He patted the horse’s head while Russell winced, knowing the horse would kick back if he did that. They were supposed to be each other’s angels. What went wrong? His feelings were complicated.

Suddenly, Russell remembered something. Normally, the horse reached 100 km/h in three seconds, faster than a level-one battle car at full throttle. But it had taken ten seconds to cover thirty meters earlier, leading to his capture.

Also, it usually took thirty minutes to appear, like it had been running a long way, but it had shown up in less than three minutes just now.

Realizing this, Russell fell into thought, noticing many overlooked details. Thinking about his earlier words, strong embarrassment surged, making his toes curl.

He felt like a clown.

On the other side, Colin’s mind worked fast upon seeing the prompt.

So sturdy… Shouldn’t it be a problem carrying a few cannons?

With this, the mobility issue of the cannons was solved.

A natural gun mount!

He needed to prepare a compatible loadout.

And the ability to temporarily ignore physical damage…

Could he use it to charge enemies with explosive packages for precision strikes?

What’s its load capacity? If it could carry a ton of black powder…

Colin thought unconsciously.

Suddenly, he asked the horse, “Do you have more comrades like you?”

If he had a hundred more, they could form a weakened steel torrent.

The ‘White Bone Horse,’ seemingly moved by Colin’s vision, tilted its head, the blue flames flickering in its eye sockets, trying to understand him.

It felt like a ‘Twisted Soul,’ Colin mused, wanting to pluck and crush it.

Seeing the prompt, he knew he wouldn’t learn its loyalty soon. But he’d use it as needed, enjoying the freebie.

After a few seconds, the horse nodded, then shook its head.

【You guess it means there are others like it, but only it is here.】

“That’s a pity.”

Colin patted its head, refocusing his thoughts. The horse, reluctant, watched him store the dagger.

He planned to call it out later and turn it into a light biological tank.

“Now let’s visit your territory and talk about the system,” Colin said to Russell.

Russell, accepting reality, led the way. Winding through the fallen noble family’s crypt, they reached a hidden corner where Russell lifted a carpet, revealing a manhole cover.

Lifting the cover revealed darkness, like a pixelated void.

Colin asked, “Why is your territory here?”

Russell shook his head, “We fled here to hide. Don’t you know territories can be moved if the level is high enough?”

“No,” Colin nodded. “What’s your territory?”

“Level 5 Underground Fortress.”

Silence fell, punctuated by sharp intakes of breath.

“Level 5 Underground Fortress?”