Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 651: The one they call the Butcher [1]

"We should do something about that knife," Cedrick's voice resonated calmly, his gaze fixed upon the blade. He now understood its nature. 'A growth-type item, one that absorbs anomalies to increase its power.' The rising energy from the knife made his expression grave, especially as Seth retrieved another anomaly, causing the blade to slash down once more, its power surging. '...I'm surprised he obtained a growth-type item, though there must be a drawback to its use.' Cedrick's eyes narrowed at the pig-like visage before him. He wished to observe further but knew he couldn't.

"Not bad for a trump card," he murmured, his internal nodes stirring. The subsequent events unfolded with astonishing speed. Adjusting his attire, Cedrick blinked. In that instant, the space behind Seth ruptured, revealing a colossal, yet eerily beautiful, eye. It was immense, dwarfing Seth and everyone else present. The iris, a deep, bruised gold, held a slowly shifting pupil that settled upon Seth with an almost casual intensity. Dark veins branched out from its edges, pulsing faintly. Thin tendrils of black-red bled from its corners, vanishing into nothingness. It remained motionless, silent, simply observing.

Yet, this was enough to make Seth falter as Cedrick activated his first Node. [Judgement]. A subtle, wet sound filled the air as the eye blinked, releasing soft droplets. When it opened again, the pupil had transformed into an eerie blood-red hue, the very atmosphere seeming to warp. Seth's movements immediately became sluggish.

Cedrick adjusted his clothes again. He was far from finished. [Observe]. The eye blinked once more, its pupil shifting from blood-red to a celestial blue. It transformed from demonic to angelic, the oppressive weight in the air dissipating. From the side, the Team Leader watched, feeling suffocated as he gazed at Cedrick. 'What kind of Decree is this?' His lips trembled as he frantically searched for an escape, his plans having unraveled unexpectedly. Everything had been orchestrated to deal with Seth, but he seemed aware of the plot, and 'they' had intervened. With his anomalies now out of his control, the situation was dire. He was no better than an ordinary person with only one anomaly remaining. Though he had backup items, he was at a severe disadvantage. 'I need to think of a way out, quickly. As things are, I--!'

The Team Leader's thoughts were cut short as he turned. A massive eye hung behind him, its glistening surface absorbing all light. Its celestial pupils were fixed on him with an unnerving stillness. The darkness in the pupil reflected nothing of the room; it consumed light, offering nothing back. "H-ha." His breath hitched as he stared, instinctively stepping back. His gaze shifted to Cedrick, who offered a thin smile. The Team Leader's heart plummeted. 'Shit.'

But he reacted instantly. His hand flicked, sending something hurtling towards Cedrick with incredible speed, faster than his attack on Seth. He fumbled in his pocket for something else, not even looking to see if his projectile had hit. His sole focus was escape. 'I need to leave this place!' He clutched a reserve item, intended only for emergencies, knowing inaction would be fatal. "Hmm, no. I don't think so." A soft whisper halted him. The eye before him widened, and the Team Leader felt his entire body freeze. Before he could comprehend the situation, Cedrick's calm footsteps approached, his hand reaching into the Team Leader's pocket. "Let's have a look at what you have here." He calmly produced a folded piece of paper, revealing a chipped piece of metal. After a brief examination, Cedrick smiled. "I see. So that's what you were betting on."

His gaze drifted to the immobile Team Leader, whose eyes darted nervously. Gazing back, he found himself completely unable to move; his body felt numb. Every passing second saw his nodes slow further as Cedrick retrieved the scrap metal.

"I'll manage it well."

The Team Leader's expression twisted, but the shift was fleeting as a splattering sound echoed. Turning, Cedrick's attention was drawn to a pig-like entity.

The eye concealed behind the pig remained unnervingly still, observing him in the dim light. The 'pig' was motionless, its crimson eyes flickering malevolently as they remained fixed upon the two of them. This sheer inactivity held them captivated.

More crucially…

'Where did that sound originate from?'

Cedrick's eyes scanned the surroundings, eventually settling on a shadowy figure brandishing a knife in one hand and an anomaly in the other. A flicker of surprise crossed Cedrick's brow.

"Your node is functioning? That should be impossible."

His ability was supposed to neutralize all nodes. How was this individual...?

"What do you believe my Decree entails?"

The pig inquired abruptly, its voice raspier than before, as if an external force was asserting control over its mind.

Cedrick blinked slowly, then shifted his gaze to the Team Leader. Though no words were spoken, his posture conveyed a clear message.

"Not quite~"

A hint of amusement colored the voice behind the pig mask as a soft 'thump' sounded, and the anomaly fell to the ground. Cedrick's eyes lingered on it briefly before shifting to the knife.

'It possesses even greater power.'

He felt a premonition of dread when looking at the knife.

An aura of pure bloodlust.

Yet, above all…

"You cannot contain something like this. Your mind…"

"That is not your concern."

The pig’s voice grew hoarser as its eyes deepened to a crimson hue. The anomaly under its command conjured another, bringing the knife down in a swift arc.

SPLASH!

Blood sprayed outward, and the concealed eye widened. He attempted once more to disrupt Seth's nodes and halt his actions, but…

Nothing happened.

…Absolutely nothing.

The anomaly continued its onslaught, summoning another, while the knife’s bloodthirsty aura intensified.

'This predicament is quite dire.'

Cedrick quickly understood that if this continued, even he would face considerable trouble. He wished to intervene, but Seth wasn't the primary threat; it was his anomaly. With the anomaly acting independently, Cedrick found himself in a difficult position, unable to intervene effectively.

This was especially true since he was already employing multiple abilities simultaneously.

'But more importantly, if he grasps that knife, his mind will be obliterated. He will devolve into a mindless killing machine. I already suspected his sanity was questionable, but I never anticipated he would push himself to such a point of no return. No…'

Cedrick was suddenly reminded of the World Congress.

'…Right, I should have grasped this sooner.'

Still—

"Why is his anomaly still active? It shouldn’t be. I should have—"

"He… is not subject to the same Decree as I am."

The Team Leader's voice faintly reached Cedrick, interrupting his words as his other nodes began to stir, and more eyes materialized throughout the room.

A crushing weight bore down on the pig's frame, yet it remained upright, its gaze fixed on Cedrick, the red glow in its eyes intensifying to a near blaze. As more blood stained the floor, the Team Leader's words finally registered with Cedrick.

"His anomalies operate independently of him. He…"

The voice whispered.

"…does not command them."

"Not entirely."

The pig's voice grew even more strained as it met Cedrick's gaze. Cedrick's frown deepened, and he extended his hand toward the Realmwalker. His six nodes whirred in unison as he focused on the knife and spoke.

"Don't."

His voice held a clear note of alarm.

"If you take that knife, you will be—"

"Too late~"