Global Fog Survival

In reality, Colin’s body remained in the same sleeping posture, with his elbow propped against his cheek, seated on the gray throne. His body, however, was covered in terrifying, web-like scars. These scars resembled cracked earth, with the edges of each fissured piece of skin curling up, exposing raw flesh and blood vessels beneath.

As Colin’s consciousness gradually returned from the “dream,” his fingers, resting on the gray stone throne, clenched, and he felt a sharp, tearing pain.

It hurts…

Colin’s eyes remained tightly shut as his body trembled. He immediately began to repair his body. Threads of “light” pulled his wounds together and stitched them shut. In less than three seconds, all the cracked, upturned wounds were healed, leaving only white marks, similar to stretch marks, where they had closed.

About a minute later, once Colin felt his body could bear the strain of his powers, he opened his eyes. In his gaze, a brilliant light like a burning star was forming, radiating an unbearable brightness.

“What is that…”

Upon opening his eyes, Colin immediately saw the massive olive tree, towering like a mountain. He quickly recognized the familiar aura emanating from it.

“Kimino?”

Colin quickly realized that the enormous olive tree had lost all its vitality. Compared to its half-dead appearance in the “Withered Olive Land,” it now seemed completely lifeless. Judging by the battle marks, it must have been on their side.

“But why is it here? No, this is… this is…”

Colin’s mind raced, his eyes glowing as if piercing through the white fog. He saw the “Withered olive Land” and the cave… “Kimino” is still standing guard over the woman dear to his heart.

So what is this in front of me?

【This is still an embodiment of the “Miracle”…】

Colin frowned. Did this mean that Kimino possessed two parts of the “Miracle”? One forever accompanied Engracia, while the other had come to the battlefield.

Before Colin could think further, he noticed a female figure kneeling at the temple’s entrance, holding a flag that continuously emitted light. The figure knelt on one knee, completely still, and her breath was nearly gone.

Colin’s heart clenched. Without regard for his still-healing body, he stood up and took a step toward the figure. In the next second, he appeared beside the woman, her golden hair streaked with white.

“Sannaa…”

Colin placed a hand on her shoulder, his breath slightly uneven, but he felt a wave of relief. She was still alive. However, the situation was dire. Her body was nearly drained, kept alive only by a force holding her from death. That force was the blessing Colin had bestowed in the dream. The effects of increased attributes, immunity to negative emotions, and more were still at work. After all, she too had been influenced by the dream.

At that moment, Sanna’s body stiffened, realizing someone was near. She tried to lift her head. She still held onto the last of her strength, prepared to unleash it as soon as the enemy reached her, leaving no room for retreat.

However, before she could use that strength, Colin pressed her shoulder gently.

“Don’t move, rest for a while. Leave the rest to me.”

The last bit of strength Shana had was the key to her survival. If she used it—even to speak—it could lead to an irreversible collapse, like a final flicker before death. So, before she could respond, Colin raised his hand. Bright chains of light coalesced from the air and wrapped around her repeatedly, forming a cocoon of light around her.

After ensuring Sanna’s life was no longer in danger, Colin finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Boss…”

A weak voice came from outside the door. Colin turned and saw Li Chou, covered in blood, leaning against the doorway. Both his legs were gone from the knees down, as if they had been sliced off by something sharp and flat. However, the wounds had been hastily bandaged, stopping further blood loss.

Not far from him lay Russell, apparently gravely injured and unconscious. Of the four men and one woman they had rescued from the dungeon, only one man and one woman were present. The whereabouts of the other two were unknown—perhaps they would never be seen again.

“I was ambushed, but luckily, I’m still alive…”

Perhaps due to the rush of adrenaline, Li Chou felt little pain despite the empty space below his waist. Everything was still within the realm of bearable.

Colin said softly, “I’ve used up my recovery cards, but once I get more in the future, I’ll make sure you’re restored to your original state…”

“Thank you, boss,” Li Chou grinned weakly.

It was at that moment that Colin noticed something behind Li Chou. Beyond the doorway lay what looked like another world—one stained red with blood. No matter how far he looked, the ground was covered in corpses, and blood had soaked the earth inch by inch.

The nauseating stench of blood filled the mountains along the path Colin had traveled. Everywhere he looked, there was only unsettling crimson. The temple’s doorway seemed to divide two worlds: one inside, one outside, with the enemies kept at bay beyond the threshold.

It was clear they had paid a heavy price to achieve this.

But… beyond that, Colin also saw in the mountains a large number of enslaved people, blessed by the “Divine Light Revelation,” cleaning up the aftermath.

“How are there so many servants? Many of them are… unclaimed?”

Colin was momentarily stunned, unsure of what had changed in the world during his time in the “Nightmare.” His sense of time felt distorted, even now not fully recovered.

However, as he looked over at the scene, familiar information appeared in his mind:

【You realize that, in the final hours of this prolonged war, those in despair, under certain psychological influences, spontaneously engaged in a “gift-giving”…】

【Supplies flowed like kindling, and the dying used their lives to sustain the living, lighting a flame for others…】

【Through countless sacrifices, human civilization survived this event, and the night passed…】

Colin quickly understood what these words meant and why, in the dream, he had faintly sensed a large gathering of humans. He opened his mouth, unsure how to express himself, feeling only a deep heaviness in his heart.

At that moment, Li Chou seemed to want to say something, but Colin stopped him.

“I already know what happened. Leave the rest to me.”

He slowly stood up. His wounds occasionally split open as he moved, but they didn’t hinder his actions. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

The ordinary mutants no longer posed much of a threat, but the remaining active lord-level mutants were still dangerous.

【You realize you now possess the power to eliminate all the mutants on the island.】

【However, this power is not permanent. After bestowing the “Divine Light Revelation” blessing on everyone, you have paid a heavy price…】

【If you don’t repair your body within the next seventeen minutes, you will enter a state of “exhaustion” that is unimaginable and excruciating for most.】

“Exhaustion”…

Colin’s gaze shifted to the thousands of figures still fighting in the blood-soaked mountains, and he silently asked himself, “After I enter this state, will I… die?”