Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 563: Sacrifice [1]

The query caused the whole group to fall into silence.

Gazing toward Leon, I felt at a loss for how to reply or what expression to show. Could his statement actually be accurate?

Glancing at the others, a heavy feeling settled in my chest upon noticing their faces mirroring my own confusion.

It seemed they shared the exact same doubts.

"...That makes two from my team."

Standing near the location of his fallen teammate's decapitated head, Leon shook his head with clear regret.

"Michael was his name. He possessed real skill. It's unfortunate he met this end, yet ultimately, his death proves he lacked what it takes to stay in my squad."

Members of Leon's squad tensed up, remaining quiet as he sheathed his blade and surveyed the area, his gaze sweeping over everything. Finally, he approached a tree and settled against its shadowy trunk, reclining comfortably.

Watching him closely, I couldn't figure out his next move.

Yet in that instant, his mouth opened.

"That's irritating."

His eyes locked onto the mist enveloping us.

"It's been nagging at me for a while now. Hey, you there."

Leon tilted his head toward Drake.

"Clear it away."

"What...?"

Drake's features hardened at the abrupt order.

Leon tilted his head slightly.

"Didn't you catch that?"

The edges of Leon's eyes crinkled, giving the look of a sly grin.

"...I told you to get rid of it. I know your abilities. You're perfectly equipped to handle this."

Drake's expression grew stormier from the directive, but before words could escape him, a hand landed on his shoulder as his team leader shook his head in warning.

Drake's face contorted more, his teeth grinding as he finally relented.

"Alright."

Directing his focus to the encircling fog, I sensed a change in the atmosphere, accompanied by a faint crackling noise echoing around. Simultaneously, Drake's power nodes started to activate while his hand balled into a firm fist.

I remained on the sidelines, watching quietly.

'I'm curious about his Decree. I reviewed the Decrees of all the leading figures, but he wasn't among those I examined.'

Suddenly—

BANG!

With a quick strike, he slammed his fist into the fog.

The force from that one blow whipped my hair and garments about chaotically, making the fog twist violently before it squeezed into the impact point and vanished entirely.

Once finished, Drake panted roughly while turning toward Leon.

Leon responded only with a grin.

"Well done. I'm pleased I can rely on you."

His demeanor suggested he'd always known Drake could pull it off. Meanwhile, I wrestled with the scene I'd witnessed, pressing my lips tight to conceal the astonishment on my face.

'He packs that much power...?'

Actually, this shouldn't shock me.

No one in the top 100 ranks would lack such prowess.

'His cockiness tracks now. Still, it's evident his high position stems from raw power rather than smarts. I'm also taken aback he waited this long, though his heavy breathing explains it probably.'

Strength he had in spades, but wisdom? Not so much.

Sensing Drake's intense stare as I averted my eyes from him, I scanned the surroundings before fixing on a nearby tree. Absorbing all the fresh insights, much weighed on my mind that required sorting.

I longed to take a seat and mull it over.

However—

"Ah, I believe I've pieced it together."

Leon rose abruptly.

My eyes expanded a bit as I glanced upward.

'What? He's already solved it?'

This fellow...

"This area thrives on your dark feelings. Right from stepping inside, it amplifies every bad emotion stirring within you, pushing you toward self-destruction. That's the intent behind this woods or realm."

Indeed, this was common knowledge.

So what insight had he gained?

"The escape method is straightforward."

All at once, Leon lifted his finger and jabbed it into his right eye.

Spurt—!

Blood sprayed outward in every direction, prompting shocked looks from everyone. Yet Leon stayed utterly calm as crimson trickled from his socket, withdrawing his finger shortly after and smearing the bloody digit on his attire.

"Yes, my guess holds true."

A grin spread across his face suddenly.

"...You must give up something precious to reveal the path. Only by doing so do you prove you can release your grip and avoid being trapped by what weighs you down. The tighter your hold on what you can't release, the fiercer the shadowy urges grow. This persists until you end your own life."

His words hit me like a jolt, my pulse quickening.

This...

'Factoring in that we're in Limbo and its deeper meaning, his theory fits perfectly. But how did he deduce it so fast? Is he aware we're trapped in hell? What kind of freak is he?'

"As anticipated, the route appears."

Leon peered into the far-off distance.

Meanwhile, a teammate stepped up beside him.

"Your eye..."

"No big deal. A Mender can fix it soon enough."

He pivoted then.

"Lucky for you all, since I made the sacrifice, none of you have to. So just trail after me. I'll guide everyone out of here."

His smile beamed brightly as he said it, his face radiating warmth.

But beneath the brightness, something twisted and fractured lurked.

So this is it...?

This is the way a top Paragon functions?

***

Nearly two days had passed since the World Congress kicked off. The event's hype soared sky-high, smashing TV viewership records.

Yet trouble brewed.

"We must halt this immediately! Multiple squads have vanished without a trace, leaving us clueless on their survival. If this keeps up, we'll suffer a huge loss in manpower."

A conference unfolded among Guild Masters from major Guilds and the tournament's coordinators.

Even with the outcry, the organizers showed no concern.

Vice-Director Vale, leading the discussion, eyed the assembled Guild Masters and addressed them.

"This happens annually. We've warned you all about the dangers involved. Sure, we've lost signals from some teams, but that doesn't confirm their demise. Trust in your people's abilities."

"Easy words from you!"

"You're not facing the potential wipeout of a key asset!"

"This is outrageous."

Outbursts erupted from various Guild Masters, but the Vice-Director stayed unmoved, casually scanning the room.

Until—

"Let's table the issue of the missing groups for now."

One Guild Master interjected.

Featuring long ebony locks, striking azure eyes, and a youthful look defying his years, silence enveloped the area as he uttered a word. He was Ian Rashmold, head of the Evening Sun Guild, among the world's elite.

"I've come to address another concern."

His fingers drummed the table ahead, summoning a holographic display.

The image showed a particular team.

A group somewhat known to many, though the Evening Sun leader's stare particularly zeroed in on a woman with silver tresses.

His finger paused on the surface briefly before shifting focus to someone nearby, a metallic sign marked [Severed Stars Guild] placed in front of them.

Their eyes connected as the Severed Stars Guild Master offered a grin.

"I trust you all grasp why I'm raising this, right?"

The Evening Sun Guild Master withheld any smile.

"This team..."

Instead, his features hardened further.

"...I insist they face disqualification from the event. Their actions cross every line of propriety for this contest. It's utterly intolerable."