Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 650: Sending a Message [2]

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The reverberating applause filled the vast chamber, the sound echoing off its walls. As Cedrick and the Team Leader turned their heads, a subtle hardening of their expressions accompanied their gaze towards the source of the noise.

"Honestly, I hadn't anticipated learning so much from a mere conversation. In a manner of speaking, you could consider me profoundly grateful."

The instant the two met eyes with the individual responsible for the sound, the Team Leader's composure faltered noticeably. His eyes widened progressively as the realization dawned upon him.

"You...?"

Cedrick, in contrast, displayed a minimal outward reaction, though the barely perceptible deepening of his frown indicated that he too found the circumstances unexpected.

"I was awaiting the opportune moment to intervene, but upon overhearing your discussion, I decided a small delay would be appropriate. You two were engaged in quite the exchange, though I grasped some of it already. Nevertheless, if you wish to proceed, please do."

Seth nonchalantly gestured with a hand, signaling for them to continue. His demeanor exuded an air of complete self-assurance.

It was as if the presence of the two individuals before him had entirely slipped his mind.

He had privy to their conversation, yet his absolute serenity created a palpable tension in the atmosphere. A tension that even Cedrick perceived.

However, this feeling of tension proved ephemeral as Cedrick's lips curved, and he began to speak, "I did anticipate encountering you soon, though not quite this promptly. Judging by your expression, it appears you orchestrated this entire event. Well, this is convenient. In that case, I can eliminate both of you simultaneously. It will considerably simplify my task."

His declaration was laced with an air of dismissiveness. In essence, it was.

While the situation was unforeseen, it did not instill any sense of apprehension within him.

Seth simply offered a smile upon hearing Cedrick's pronouncement. Orchestrated? One could assent to that, but it was somewhat more complex than a simple plan. He had indeed foreseen these events transpiring, although the precise unfolding differed slightly from his expectations.

Nonetheless, the current circumstances were still favorable.

Interlacing his hands behind his back, Seth advanced a few paces, moving at a deliberate, unhurried rhythm.

"To be candid, my objective is rather straightforward—"

Seth paused, his silence amplifying the stillness that settled over the expansive hall. Both the Team Leader and Cedrick fixed their gazes upon him, simultaneously scanning their surroundings to decipher his intentions.

"—I intend to convey a message."

Seth's voice remained even, his tone almost conversational, as if addressing a pair of intimate companions.

"Yes, I aim to deliver a message."

He reiterated, nodding softly as he silently mused, 'Indeed, a message. That is precisely my intention.'

"A message?"

Cedrick tilted his head, his posture relaxing. Instead of apprehension, a hint of amusement began to surface.

He comprehended Seth's statement. Undoubtedly, he did.

Yet, it was precisely *because* he understood that he felt at ease. For Seth to speak with such audacity... it was evident he possessed no true comprehension of the forces at play. Glancing at the "Team Leader" and observing his ashen countenance, Cedrick found that expression far more befitting of someone aware of the underlying reality.

'He is oblivious to the true nature of this situation, and he erroneously believes his meticulously crafted plan might actually succeed... ultimately, he is merely naive. A gullible fool.'

The Team Leader inwardly shook his head. Nevertheless, he remained inactive. He had navigated numerous analogous predicaments in the past and possessed the acumen to manage unforeseen circumstances. Perhaps this very reason accounted for his inaction towards Seth thus far.

But above all else—

He was intrigued.

Cedrick's lips suddenly pulled into a grin.

'What instills in you such certitude that your endeavors will effectively transmit a message?'

From whence did this naive confidence originate? Come now.

Ha, perhaps in a peculiar way, he could leverage this opportunity to disseminate a message of his own.

A soft, suppressed chuckle escaped Cedrick as Seth's voice intermingled with the ambient air.

"It appears you have been anticipating this."

Cedrick raised his gaze, meeting Seth's eyes directly.

"Then I should cease delaying things further."

Once more, it felt as though he could perceive Cedrick's thoughts. Had his intentions been too transparent? Cedrick pondered while maintaining his stare.

But just as he prepared to articulate his thoughts, Seth reached into his pocket. His movements were neither hasty nor sluggish, retaining the same composed demeanor he had exhibited from the outset.

And then—

He drew it forth. A long, gleaming blade that caught the subdued light, its edge shimmering faintly as it emerged into view.

Neither Cedrick nor the Team Leader exhibited any significant reaction; in fact, neither appeared to recognize the object for what it was. Even upon observing it, the weapon seemed unremarkable. This perception did not escape Seth's notice, and he raised his own.

"It seems the establishment does not stock identical items. Well, I suppose this is understandable."

The Team Leader stirred, his lips thinning as the bracelet he held in his hand trembled slightly.

Cedrick kept his eyes on him, but made no move. He was curious to see the effect of the knife.

Though he examined it closely, the blade appeared to be merely an ordinary one. It possessed an unusual aura, yet it did not feel like an artifact of significant power. If that was the case, what was the wielder’s intention? To dismember them?

Nevertheless, Cedrick maintained his observation. His prior research had informed him.

Understanding Seth’s abilities was key, but Cedrick wasn’t foolish enough to believe Seth lacked hidden strategies. This was precisely why he watched, eager to uncover this particular maneuver.

Yet, a part of him was also driven by curiosity.

’For someone like him to materialize within the game unexpectedly, he must possess a unique secret. What could it be?’

Cedrick felt a strong urge to uncover the truth.

Especially when considering his present predicament. While he remained affiliated with ’The Hand,’ he was insignificant compared to the monstrosities they faced.

’Still, he must have some kind of advantage.’

Many had acquired the system ages ago. However, observing Seth’s progress suggested a recent acquisition, or perhaps a delayed activation. But even that raised suspicions.

It was a matter warranting further investigation, hence Cedrick’s decision to observe. Above all, he was confident.

He trusted implicitly in his own capabilities.

SWOOOSH⎯

Cedrick remained impassive as the Team Leader beside him acted. A wriggling bracelet on his wrist unleashed something that hurtled towards Seth, slicing through the air with a faint, almost silent hiss.

It moved with the speed of a bullet.

The assault was swift, but as Seth moved, an unseen force materialized beneath his feet, rising to meet the projectile with a muted 'thump,' absorbing the impact. The encroaching darkness dissipated almost immediately, causing the Team Leader to frown as his gaze swept the vicinity.

"What? Where did he go...?"

The maneuver was executed in a fraction of a second; the moment the attack failed, Seth’s form seemed to vanish completely.

Only one individual maintained composure, a smile playing on his lips.

His attention then shifted to the right, where a figure emerged from the floor, reaching up to wipe sweat from his brow.

"That was a close call!"

Despite his words, he appeared entirely unfazed. The Team Leader’s head snapped in his direction. Just as he was about to speak further, his expression contorted in shock.

"⎯⎯!!"

Even Cedrick’s brow furrowed, his head tilting slightly.

Standing rigidly, a large, contorting entity appeared in Seth’s grasp. Its body hung limply, a mere spark of life remaining. Upon closer scrutiny, it was evident that it bore no resemblance to a human.

The Team Leader’s face stiffened at the sight of the creature.

"That’s...!"

An icy dread permeated the air in that instant as the Team Leader cried out.

"Those are my anomalies...! How do you possess them?!"

His exclamations reverberated through the surroundings as he stared at Seth, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had initially attributed the chaotic transformation process to Cedrick, but that was incorrect!

From the beginning, Seth had orchestrated everything!

'No, that became apparent a short while ago. But I believed he had nullified the transformation... Instead, he acquired one of them? What is his ultimate objective in doing this?’

The sight caused the Team Leader’s heart to ache. He had invested considerable time and effort in preparing the ritualistic circles and arranging all the components. He had even abducted numerous individuals to amass a considerable collection of anomalies for his magnum opus.

His grand plan was to forge a Gate powerful enough to convulse the entire island.

And yet...!

"Honestly, it’s a shame I cannot revert them to their human forms. I would have..." Seth paused, then absently scratched his face. With a shrug, he concluded, "I don't know, perhaps. Well, most likely. Whatever, it is irrelevant. I lack the capability, therefore it holds no significance."

He gazed intently at the anomaly clutched in his hand.

"I am relieved they are merely empty vessels. I can discern their formidable power, but you implemented countermeasures to prevent them from attacking you, correct?"

Seth lifted his head, meeting the Team Leader’s gaze with a grin.

A wave of nausea washed over the Team Leader. He took a step forward, but at that moment, Seth reached down, severing the anomaly’s head with a swift motion. A sickening, wet sound filled the air as he dropped the lifeless husk to the ground.

Thump!

Dark blood splattered across the floor, and an oppressive silence descended, broken only by the slow trickle of ichor from the anomaly’s remains. The Team Leader stood stunned, his eyes following the detached head as it rolled, his hand unconsciously rising to his neck. A building rage consumed him.

Meanwhile, Cedrick continued his detached observation, his focus fixated on the knife in Seth’s hand. For reasons unknown, he found himself utterly captivated by it.

Why...?

"Shall we proceed to the next one?"

Seth extended his hand once more, a strange liquid pooling beneath him; then, another figure emerged from the ground, reaching out towards his grasp. The Team Leader's expression contorted once more upon witnessing this anomaly.

Even Cedrick found himself taken aback.

However, their surprise was fleeting, lasting only a few seconds before Seth unleashed another downward slash.

SPURT!

Once again, blood erupted in all directions as Seth brought the knife down, the crimson spray drenching the ground, his clothes, and even his face. A wider smile stretched across his lips.

Cedrick's eyes darted, his gaze fixated on the knife once more. For some inexplicable reason, he couldn't tear his eyes away from it.

Ba... Thump!

At that precise moment, the surrounding world seemed to fall silent. His gaze remained locked on the knife, every minuscule detail etching itself into his memory as his eyes swept over its form. Then, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"⎯⎯!"

As if sensing his dawning realization, Seth's gaze shifted, turning towards him.

With a flick of his wrist, freeing the knife and sending droplets of blood scattering across the ground, he reached into his pocket once more, producing a small white mask.

"It appears the secret is out. Though, it hardly matters~"

He slowly lifted the mask to his face, positioning it carefully. His attention then turned to the pair before him. Though they couldn't discern his features, they could feel it... The triumphant smile hidden beneath the mask.

The same sinister, twisted smile as his voice resonated once more.

"As I stated... I am orchestrating all of this to deliver a message. A clear and potent message."

As his gaze swept between the two, his face began to contort and enlarge. His ears elongated, and his eyes blazed with a blood-red hue. Soon, a pig's head replaced his own, and the pungent aroma of rust and iron permeated the air.

Subsequently, the knife in his grip began to emit a glow, and the faces of Cedrick and the Team Leader fell.

Even Cedrick couldn't remain composed as he clearly felt it.

The formidable power radiating from the knife held within Seth's grasp.