Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 648: Crawling Unease [4]

A faint melody persisted, weaving through the environment with an almost hypnotic quality. While not overpowering, its presence was undeniable, clinging to every surface. The instant the Team Leader perceived it, a sense of calm began to wash over his mind.

Yet, his expression shifted abruptly as he broke free from the daze, taking a reflexive step backward.

’What is this…?’

He possessed a keen sensitivity to such phenomena and immediately recognized an attempt to manipulate his psyche, a clear manifestation of [Sonorous Decree]. The gentle music drifting through the air evoked a sudden, unsettling memory.

’…Him?’

The Team Leader instinctively covered his mouth, his thoughts racing back to the notorious <A> Ranked Gate incident that had occurred in Malovia. The melody brought it all back, causing his lips to press together in a tight line as he struggled to piece together the perplexing situation.

Under these circumstances…?

"It must be him. Is all of this happening because of him?"

But how could this possibly be? He should have had no knowledge of his plans or his true identity. Moreover, he had meticulously arranged everything to ensure Seth would be the one to encounter him. From every angle, it seemed utterly impossible.

Scratch! Scratch!

The Team Leader resumed scratching the side of his neck, his face contorting with increasing irritation as his breathing grew more ragged. The more he felt his control falter, the more he fought to maintain his composure.

His mind resisted, but his body moved independently, each step echoing as he began to advance toward the source of the music. Initially, he battled this involuntary movement, but he soon made a crucial realization.

Glancing at the walls beside him, he noticed the doors were different from before. In fact, not far ahead, he could discern a corner.

This was an undeniably clever strategy, yet he simultaneously understood that the more he yielded to the music's influence, the deeper it penetrated his consciousness, coiling around his thoughts and eroding the control he so desperately clung to.

Scratch! Scratch!

The prolonged ordeal intensified his discomfort. However, he also recognized that this path was the only viable one to resolve his predicament. More importantly, as he allowed the music to seize control of his body, he finally perceived it.

Ding—!

A long-awaited notification appeared, causing his breath to hitch.

[Scenario Spotted!]

[Operation: Emergency escape!]

Class : ■■■

Something's amiss. The halls are contorting, looping back on themselves regardless of the direction you choose. Escape appears impossible.

Yet, a subtle melody drifts through the corridors. Follow the sound; it may offer a path to freedom.

Exercise caution. The music is more than a mere guide. Lose yourself within its notes, and you may never depart.

[Scenario candidates will be joining shortly. Do you wish to use any item?]

[You have ten seconds]

’I knew it…’

He was trapped within a Gate.

Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump!

The powerful, yet steady thrumming of his heart resonated in his mind, momentarily overpowering the ambient music. His expression grew increasingly grave as his hand resumed scratching his neck with renewed vigor.

At some point, he felt a dampness trickling down.

Yet, none of this occupied his concern.

By now, any suspicion of Seth's involvement was completely dismissed. In his mind, Seth had not yet unlocked the Gate Developer function. While it was possible he had, developing a Gate of this complexity demanded extensive research into the surrounding environment. Furthermore, his intelligence indicated Seth had not yet opened a single Gate. He had previously suspected Seth of orchestrating the Malovia Gate, but later learned it was unrelated, as the Gate's source code did not belong to Seth.

But that wasn't the only reason! If anyone could pinpoint his exact location and discern his entire plan, it had to be them!

"B-but… why? Why are they targeting me? Eliminating him should also be their objective. I’m merely… no, I must escape."

Having grasped the gravity of his situation, the Team Leader abandoned all pretense of composure. He frantically fought against his body's involuntary movements, scanning his surroundings and rummaging through his pockets for any item that might offer assistance.

His node pulsed simultaneously, but without any nearby anomaly, he was effectively as vulnerable as a normal human.

"Ha…! Haa!"

Despite his desperate struggle, the music only intensified. It muffled his thoughts, making his resistance all the more arduous. His body continued to act of its own accord, yet he could feel himself slipping away. The longer this persisted, the more difficult it became to resist.

’Anything! Something…!’

Frantically searching his pockets, he finally managed to grasp and pull out an object. It was a small orb, roughly the size of a baseball, its surface exceptionally smooth.

His expression hardened upon seeing it, his heart clenching with pain, yet he understood his lack of alternatives as he flung the object skyward. The instant it was airborne, the orb ruptured, and an immense figure began to unfurl. Without the slightest hesitation, the Team Leader lunged toward the entity, multiple nodes within him activating simultaneously.

The very moment his hand made contact with the creature, his nodes pulsed with accelerated speed.

The entity before him thrashed, but its struggles were fleeting, lasting mere seconds before it finally ceased its movements.

Gasping for air, the Team Leader surveyed his surroundings before redirecting his focus to the creature now before him. [VILE-1011]. Such was the designation of the anomaly that stood in his path, a being capable of effortless alteration and reformation into any shape it desired.

Through his [Skinwaver] Decree, he possessed the capability to assert complete dominion over anything he physically encountered. In essence, he shared a commonality with the [Whisperer] Decree, yet his power was constrained by the requirement of physical contact with his target. Whether it was an anomaly, a human, or an animal, he could command them all, provided he touched them. However, the complexity of this control fluctuated based on the anomaly's inherent power.

"Haa... Haaa..."

Drawing ragged breaths, the Team Leader observed the anomaly, whose form had begun to morph into something resembling a horse, upon which he promptly mounted. Though it was regrettable, he had no choice but to abandon his reservations. This was a desperate race against the relentless march of time.

Without uttering a single word, the anomaly commenced its journey towards the source of the music. The Team Leader sensed his cognition progressively clouding. Despite his most ardent efforts to resist, the melody was beginning to infiltrate his defenses, creeping into the fringes of his mind as the anomaly navigated the labyrinthine corridors, making sharp turns as the music intensified.

The crescendo of the music amplified its allure, yet the Team Leader remained undeterred, his entire focus locked on escape. His grasp on the anomaly tightened as it galloped forward, his heart hammering against his ribs as a peculiar luminescence materialized in the distance.

The light swelled, almost obliterating the oppressive gloom that had enveloped him moments before. In that transformative instant, the anomaly completely disintegrated, reconstituting itself into a bracelet, a form the Team Leader maintained as he pressed onward.

...Exercising control over an anomaly proved to be a significant mental burden, and given the pervasive music, he was disinclined to court further risks. Retaining the anomaly in bracelet form was a pragmatic choice as he advanced. Guided by the intensifying light, he moved closer to the radiant glow, which grew more potent with every step.

Concurrent with the burgeoning light, he felt the music penetrating the depths of his consciousness, causing him to teeter on the brink of oblivion. Biting his lip to maintain his awareness, he moved through the light, and his surroundings underwent a profound transformation.

His eyes, initially narrowed against the intense illumination, widened as his heart pounded; he remained vigilant, his nodes whirring, and the bracelet adorning his wrist became taut, poised for immediate offensive action.

A pervasive sense of disquiet lingered, and it wasn't long before his vision cleared, revealing a scene that caused his expression to falter.

Confronted by the spectacle that unfolded before him, his entire countenance shifted dramatically.

"What...?"

"Haha, you have arrived."

A familiar face and voice greeted him, stirring a sense of recognition.

Approaching with an unhurried gait, Cedrick's form became distinct.

"I have been anticipating your arrival."

"But, but..."

Scratch. Scratch.