Loop

The second phase - [Explore the Mist] has been activated. Please choose one of the following three ways to activate the exploration and execute it.

Different exploration methods may lead to different exploration results.

However, the final outcome of the story depends on your decisions and the [Omen Card] you draw.

1. [Explore on foot], but try to gather as many usable items as possible from the surrounding area. (Low risk, slow exploration speed, and difficulty escaping the fog.)

2. [Port and Waterway Exploration]: Head to the nearest port area and board a large yacht docked there to attempt to escape the fog via the waterways. (High risk, relatively fast exploration speed and easier escape from the fog.)

3. [Large Vehicle Exploration]: Explore using large buses. The noise may attract hungry monsters or monsters with a special sensitivity to sound. (Medium risk, moderate exploration speed; driving on the correct path may allow you to escape the fog.)

"Three different approaches... the second one can basically be rejected outright."

At present, I can't even fully control the situation in the town. Trying to escape through the river area is simply courting death.

Based on the ominous signs observed so far, most of the terrifying creatures are related to the sea and water.

The giant lakes and rivers surrounding the town must be directly connected to the sea... and there must be some terrifying creatures hiding in the rivers.

Once the yacht is damaged, it's basically doomed.

Unless all basic cards are upgraded and permanently unlocked, summoning Togu, Miss Chen Li, and Duoze Crow to assist.

Furthermore, I need to unlock the Faceless Head; otherwise, it would be impossible for me to survive in river or sea environments.

Walking would be foolish, as it would delay things too long and make the fog even more dangerous...

Han Dong ultimately chose the third option.

In single-player mode, with Han Dong's selection.

The idea of escaping the fog by bus was immediately implanted in the minds of the important characters, including the protagonist.

The supermarket manager suggested, "I remember the town's primary school is just one street away from here... There should be school buses parked at the school."

I've spoken with school bus drivers before, and they usually leave their car keys on the bus because of the tight security at the school.

We can borrow a school bus to quickly leave the town area.

"So... who will drive the bus?"

Because of spending so much time in supermarkets, people have developed a sense of dependence on enclosed spaces.

They were unwilling to venture into the fog alone, but were willing to explore it from inside the bus... So, the question of who would drive the bus back became crucial.

Who knew...

Just as everyone was drawing lots to determine which four people would drive the bus.

The school bus had arrived at the supermarket entrance, and the driver was Han Dong.

The primary school is less than 300 meters from the supermarket, and the school bus stops right at the entrance, making the whole process exceptionally easy.

"Get in the car quickly... Also, we need an experienced driver to drive, as I'm not very good at driving."

Driving means taking on the risks of everyone in the car, and the risks to yourself are also very high... after all, the driver is in the front row.

Surprisingly, when the topic of driving came up, someone actually stepped forward.

A sixty-year-old man with white hair, but still in good spirits.

"My name is Daniel Paxton. I used to drive in the military... I have about thirty years of driving experience. I also drove buses in big cities for a while, so I have some experience."

David, the protagonist, patted the man on the shoulder and said, "Uncle Daniel, I'll leave the driving to you."

Which way do we go?

We took the main road directly and left the town as quickly as possible to reach Portland (Maine's largest city and a coastal city).

Should we take the mountain path further inland?

Map unfolds.

If you are driving out of this town, there are only two routes to choose from.

The protagonist prefers to go to places with more people, "Let's take the main roads... Even if big cities are shrouded in fog, there must be more Survivor+ inside."

Perhaps the local military is searching for Survivor+, and military transport planes could quickly get them out of the fog.

At this moment, Han Dong, who was sitting at the very back, suddenly spoke up.

"No... we'll take the mountain path."

The so-called "boundary" may be different from what we imagine. Perhaps it is only areas far from the ocean that are more likely to be considered boundaries.

Since we have observed various human mutations.

Large, densely populated cities can be even more dangerous... especially since Portland is a coastal city, and the sea may be the source of the fog.

We must take the mountain path to reach the inland areas; only then will we have a glimmer of hope.

With the resolution of the hanging incident in the women's restroom, Han Dong's 'influence' has been significantly enhanced. In the protagonist's eyes, this foul-mouthed writer has become an irreplaceable and crucial asset.

"Then... we'll do as Mr. Nicholas says."

As the protagonist David agreed to take the mountain road, everyone else on the bus also came to the same conclusion.

The Oldest One driving process was exceptionally smooth.

Occasionally, some flying insects will hit the car window, but they won't stay for long and will fly away quickly.

The reason is simple.

The humans in this truck are not their only food source; there are other humans hiding in the town... Moreover, different types of monsters will eat each other.

Since humans are difficult to deal with, the flying insects won't force the issue either.

First, we drove to the gas station in town and everyone sprang into action to stock up on enough gasoline.

They then went to the police station to collect the guns.

However, the police station had long since become a nest of insects.

With Han Dong's help, they barely managed to obtain four ordinary handguns before being forced back by the constant swarms of strange insects...

Handguns should be given to trustworthy individuals who possess basic firearms skills.

The evacuation plan via school bus seemed to go very smoothly... and no emergencies were encountered along the way.

During the journey, some giant monsters, some over ten meters tall, crossed over the roof of the bus, but did not attack it... They seemed to be neutral monsters in the fog, or perhaps they were not interested in metal like a school bus.

Just as the school bus was about to take everyone away from the town safely.

The driver suddenly shouted, "Someone's waving from the side of the road... Do you need me to stop?"

In a fog teeming with monsters, it's virtually impossible for anyone to survive alone, let alone stand by the roadside waving so calmly... He's highly likely to be a mutant.

Everyone in the car agreed and drove straight out of the town without stopping.

"Hmm? This person... isn't he the dangerous guy from the supermarket parking lot earlier?"

Han Dong glanced through the car window at the person waving, noticing that they seemed to have a pair of strange eyes that gleamed with black light, and sensed an indescribable danger emanating from them.

Just as the car was about to enter the town, a thick fog suddenly enveloped it, temporarily obscuring all Outside World. (Ordinary fog provides visibility of about 5-10 meters.)

Five minutes later, the thick fog dissipated.

The familiar supermarket appeared before everyone... just like coming back after going around in circles in the town.

"What's going on!?"

Continue driving.

Half an hour later, when they arrived at the town's exit again, the man shrouded in black robes was still standing by the roadside waving... This time, Han Dong secretly used his Lesser Demon Eye to observe, but he couldn't see through the black robes.

After ignoring the man once again, they drove out of town.

The same situation occurred.

As the thick fog dissipated, the school bus returned to its starting point in front of the supermarket... A sense of despair washed over me.