Global Fog Survival

Chapter 145: The Broken System

When this stream of data appeared, Colin already realized what it was. Although it looked similar to the previous information clusters, the strange and unique “vitality” it emanated made Colin understand that this was the “system”—the same entity that had repeatedly issued warnings to survivors and had been forcibly erased by the “Night.”

Colin had been considering how to communicate with it, but he never expected the entity to come directly to him.

“I can confirm that, compared to what I felt during the ‘Sanction,’ this stream of ‘data’ indeed shows no hostility…” Colin pondered.

As he contemplated, the information cluster began to change. The deep red data rapidly unfurled in Colin’s mind. It seemed to be… a mission log?

[Detected system damage rate has reached 91%, and the damage is continuing to expand. Reorganization is imminent…]

[Reorganization complete…]

[“Civilization Database” selection complete; preparing for deployment…]

[Error occurred during deployment; target error…]

[The system cannot abandon civilization…]

“Is this… a mission log?” Colin was taken aback; he hadn’t expected the information from the system to be like this. Was this from their current iteration?

[…]

[Detected that the ‘Observation System Template’ is under ‘unknown’ influence, severely corrupted and distorted…]

[Safety module activated…]

[Complete destruction of this function has been implemented; ‘data analysis,’ ‘personnel panel,’ and ‘life measurement’ functions will no longer be provided…]

“This isn’t from our iteration; this is from the previous system’s mission log.” Upon seeing the data analysis and other features, Colin immediately realized that these functions were not present in their iteration; they belonged to the previous one.

Wait?!

Deployment error?

“Does this mean that the previous iteration is actually ours? Because of some error, we didn’t receive what we were supposed to have?”

Colin was shocked. He had thought that the “civilization content” swap was a cruel joke by the system; he hadn’t expected the true reason to be this.

Suddenly, Colin’s heart tightened…

[Detected that the ‘Observation System Module’ is still operational…]

“Didn’t it just get destroyed a second ago?” A wave of horror surged within Colin as the mission log appeared again.

[Safety module activated…]

[Safety module under invasion…]

[Highest-level alert; entering maximum load state. Maximum computing power engaged…]

[‘Unknown’ invasion has been expelled…]

[‘System Sanction’ function lost…]

[System attempting repairs…]

[Attempt failed…]

[Based on comprehensive judgment, the system has no more computing power to recreate or retrieve the ‘Sanction’ function and will abandon this incident…]

[This incident has failed…]

“So, this is the reason for your chaotic sanctions?” Colin suddenly realized, damn it, the system’s functionality was snatched away.

No wonder the sanctions seemed so contradictory. According to Russell, sanctions would arrive on the same day, while he had seven days. It was likely that the system achieved this through some backdoor.

“Is the one who stole the ‘Sanction’ function that eyeball lurking in the dark space?” Colin couldn’t help but wonder if that giant eyeball had laid traps for the highly perceptive individuals.

Why would it do that?

But he didn’t have time to think too much because more horrifying information kept refreshing…

[… Detected that the system’s ‘Savings Module’ is under ‘unknown’ corruption, invasion, and plunder.]

[System security procedures are initiating…]

[This incident has failed…]

[Only ‘servants’ and ‘hardened black bread’ data templates retained…]

So this is why we only have servants and eat bread every day? Colin furrowed his brow; he didn’t understand. Wouldn’t it be easy to repair this?

[Tip: You suspect this is something similar to a ‘template,’ just like a model for printing paper money, making it difficult to replicate.]

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…

[Detected the appearance of ‘Arrivers’ in the deployment group; attempting to eradicate them failed; the ‘Sanction’ function has been lost…]

[Detected that the system’s graphical function has suffered ‘unknown’ attacks…]

[Attempting repairs…]

[Attempt failed…]

[Detected that the system’s ‘Final Civilization Seed Bank’ has been invaded!!!]

[The supreme protocol ‘Final High Wall’ will be activated!]

[Successfully expelled the invaders…]

[To ensure the operation of the ‘Final High Wall,’ other templates are under heavy attack…]

[The system’s ‘Mission’ function’s content has been extensively altered…]

[Attempting repairs…]

[Attempt failed; in order to maintain the ‘Final High Wall’ protocol operation, there is no more computing power to invest in it…]

[Attempt failed…]

[Attempt failed…]

[Attempt failed…]

A multitude of “attempt failed” messages kept refreshing, and Colin’s gaze froze, leaving him at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected that what he thought was a high-level civilization or a system from a lofty position could be reduced to this state.

Suddenly, scenes of brutal wild dogs feasting on prey in the wilderness flashed through Colin’s mind. The “system” on the log resembled the prey being devoured in such a cruel manner.

“I suspected your condition was bad before, but I didn’t think it could be this bad. No, it’s not just bad; it’s akin to being a human pig,” Colin exhaled, feeling his thoughts buzzing and chaotic. “I thought you were scheming so many conspiracies. I didn’t expect you to be this pathetic.”

Invasion, alteration, plunder, attack, corruption, erasure… Colin realized that these actions were not just from a single “unknown” entity but from a large group. Each “unknown” took a bite out of it…

“Then… what are the ‘Arrivers’?” Colin recalled what the system log mentioned earlier about its intended targets for sanctions.

[You suspect these are some ‘polluted’ survivors who have fallen into a fervent worship of certain incomprehensible entities…]

Is this the reason for the sudden division of Russell’s civilization? Colin pondered. But clearly, it suggested terrifying entities like the Night, so he prudently refrained from delving deeper. However, at this moment, Colin suddenly understood one thing: the “unknowns” that lurked within the system were likely what it feared from the beginning…

The current system was like a human pig; its eyes had been gouged out, its tongue cut out, and its limbs severed. It couldn’t do anything at all, nor did it have the ability to act.

And amidst the multitude of failed attempts, all functions like daily check-ins, maps, bullets, and other random features had lost their efficacy. At that moment, Colin felt a chill in his heart. How was he supposed to win?

Just then, after several minutes, or perhaps even longer, of “attempt failed” messages, the system seemed to finally reach its breaking point.