Chapter 54: Decision Node

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Decision Node

[Acquired: Paralyzing Fish Red Pigment (E-level material)]

[Description: Contact with skin will cause temporary numbness. It might be usable on prey, and can also act as an anesthetic when treating oneself!]

’Oh?’

"It might be usable on prey?"

Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes lit up as she repeated the phrase, turning to look at the mass of black water still blocking her doorway. ’If the concentration of this stuff is high enough, I could totally use it to poison fish!’

She just didn’t know if there were any fish left in the aerial lake at her door.

Seraphina Sinclair suppressed the thought and continued reading.

[Acquired: Rainbow Fish Scale (E+ Level Material)]

[Description: Emits a faint glow in the dark. Can be processed into a decorative item!]

’This...’

’They actually stated the use for this material.’

’But it can only be processed into a decorative item? That’s really useless.’

’They probably only mentioned it *because* it’s useless...’

Seraphina Sinclair muttered to herself, stuffing the fish scale into her Silver Moon Earrings as well. She then crouched in front of the aerial lake again, trying to lure fish with the glowing fish swim bladder for a while. When nothing approached after a long time, she stood up and stretched.

The fish-poisoning plan would have to be put on hold.

It was time to rest.

This was the latest Seraphina Sinclair had stayed up since arriving in the Black Mist World, but her haul had been excellent!

After washing up, she lay back down on her bed, feeling a bit exasperated as her hand touched the wound on her face. Auric Young had only given her a small cut that had bled just a few drops. Using an Advanced Medical Kit for such a minor injury would be a total waste.

Seraphina Sinclair couldn’t bear to.

So, she decided to just ignore the wound.

「On the seventh day in the Black Mist World, Seraphina Sinclair woke up much later than usual.」

It was eight-thirty when she finally opened her eyes—the first time she had woken up after daybreak.

She had gone to bed too late last night. Perhaps as a side effect of the Spiritual Pollution, she’d been dreaming all night, and her head still felt groggy.

She forced herself to wake up and first checked the regional channel.

’They said today was the decision point. Surely these people would have gathered some useful information by now?’

Seraphina Sinclair forced her eyes open and scrolled through the messages on the regional channel.

But she was soon disappointed.

No one was talking about the decision point at all. They were all still buzzing about Blacktiger Ford’s server-wide announcement from the middle of the night.

"Huh? So it was real? I think I woke up in the middle of the night, but maybe I didn’t... I thought I was dreaming, but it actually happened?"

"Seriously? What the hell is going on? This Blacktiger Ford guy is way too OP, isn’t he? Someone needs to put him in his place!"

"Blacktiger Ford, drop the guide! Blacktiger Ford, drop the guide! Blacktiger Ford, drop the guide!"

’I’ll give them...’

Seraphina Sinclair frowned, now wide awake. She had thought she’d missed a lot, but it turned out these people were still hung up on last night’s events.

She suddenly wasn’t in a hurry anymore. She started a fire and made herself some breakfast.

Fish soup~

Silverfish soup!

Seraphina Sinclair stirred the pot with a wooden spoon, her eyes fixed on the roiling, milky-white broth. The bones and flesh of the silverfish had long since dissolved in the boiling water, creating a soup as thick as cream. A fine layer of golden oil droplets floated on the surface, looking absolutely mouth-watering.

But without green onions or ginger to cut the gaminess, or salt to enhance the flavor, even the most delicious ingredients tasted a bit plain.

She couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.

’Considering other people are still gnawing on disgusting bread and compressed biscuits...’

’My little complaint would probably sound like showing off to anyone else, wouldn’t it?’

Seraphina Sinclair shone the lantern on her Sunflower and propped her chin in her hands, contemplating her next move.

The lantern could store a maximum of 200 sunshine, but her Sunflower now consumed 300 points of sunshine a day. This meant Seraphina Sinclair still needed to complete an arm-strength workout for 100 saturation points.

It was a real pain.

Seraphina Sinclair took out the unprocessed Black Fog Crystal from her Silver Moon Earrings.

’This thing has no other use right now. Making another lantern... seems like a good option.’

Seraphina Sinclair hesitated for only a moment before making up her mind.

Do it!

’Why have materials if you’re not going to use them?’

’Suffering now doesn’t guarantee you’ll get to enjoy life later, but enjoying life now is the real deal!’

Seraphina Sinclair had always had a positive mindset. She went to the bathroom, brought back the necessary materials, and quickly synthesized a second lantern.

Waiting for it to collect sunshine bit by bit would be too slow. Today, Seraphina Sinclair once again chose to do it herself!

By nearly ten o’clock, she had finally collected the three hundred sunshine for the day!

Before initiating the move, Seraphina Sinclair opened the wooden door to check. The aerial lake was still there, but not a single fish was in sight.

’Yep... they’re really gone. I can move now.’

Seraphina Sinclair closed the door and infused the sunshine into the door card. Today, she only infused 100 sunshine. It was going to be like this from now on, so it was best to get into the habit early.

This time, however, the cabin didn’t start moving immediately. Instead, a selection screen popped up in front of Seraphina Sinclair.

[Dear survivor, you have reached this week’s decision point! Please make your choice!]

[Two paths have appeared before you...]

Seraphina Sinclair stared at the text that appeared before her, her fingertips tightening slightly.

"Two paths..."

The black mist churned outside the door, as if awaiting her choice.

Two options appeared before her.

The path on the left was shrouded in thick fog, with a faint, ghostly blue fluorescence flickering in the depths. The fog thinned and thickened intermittently, as if it were breathing. ℴ

It was labeled: "The Misty Path."

Seraphina Sinclair raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at the other option.

This one was a rust-stained metal passageway. Twisted pipes snaked along it like the blood vessels of a giant beast, sharp Metal Fragments were scattered on the ground, and long-deactivated machinery hung from the ceiling, occasionally letting out a grating "CREAK" that set one’s teeth on edge.

Its name was: "Ironrust Corridor."

Seraphina Sinclair narrowed her eyes, her fingers unconsciously stroking her Silver Moon Earrings.

"It doesn’t say what the difference is, it doesn’t say what the dangers are... There’s no information at all. What kind of decision point is this? It’s just a gamble!"

She didn’t rush to make a decision, instead opening the regional channel to take a look.

It wasn’t early anymore, and many people had already triggered the decision point. They were on the regional channel asking which one to choose.

"Which one should I pick? There are two choices!"

"Wait? Does everyone have the same options?"

"My choices are The Misty Path and Rust Corridor. Are yours the same?"

"An honest one, huh?"

"Does anyone have different ones?"

"Give me a break. Stop trying to fish for info! What’s the big deal? It’s just a choice. What’s so special about it?"

Someone argued back, but Seraphina Sinclair just scrolled past. Everyone was asking which path to choose, but no one was giving any answers.

Seraphina Sinclair closed the regional channel. She looked at the two paths and thought for a moment. After a brief silence, she suddenly used Insight on both of them.

It was a move that even she felt was ridiculous...

But it actually worked!

Two simulated areas materialized in front of Seraphina Sinclair. But no matter which path, both were shrouded in black mist. She couldn’t see any information at a glance.