Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 659: Explosion [2]

Cra Crack⎯

Cracks spiderwebbed across the building's facade, multiplying with each passing moment as the unleashed energy surged outward. A palpable sense of dread washed over everyone nearby, their breaths catching in their throats, growing shallow and strained.

"Everyone fall back!"

Velrik's booming command cut through the rising panic, jolting many from their stupor as they scrambled away from the structure's immediate vicinity.

"Establish a perimeter around the building and clear out all civilians! Ensure no one remains! I've requested backup; this area is becoming increasingly unstable."

Velrik's directives were issued with a steady calmness as he directed the response, though a tremor of unease entered his voice. He was not alone in this feeling. Other Section Chiefs were simultaneously issuing their own orders and coordinating with the main Guilds. All eyes were fixed on the building, and all of them could feel it.

The suffocating pressure radiating from within.

"Hurry! Hurry! This is a state of emergency!"

Word of the unfolding crisis had undoubtedly reached the media and the BUA's higher echelons. The entire island was likely being evacuated as they spoke, but as the Section Chief of the Severed Stars Guild surveyed the scene, his expression darkened.

"...I doubt we'll have sufficient time to evacuate everyone."

Gazing at the expanding fracture lines marring the building's exterior, he recognized the grim reality: at this rate, a full evacuation before a potential explosion was impossible.

"It resembles a Gate."

A familiar voice drew the Section Chief's attention. Soran stood nearby, her gaze fixed on the building, her eyes languid as she gestured towards the spreading cracks.

"Observe more closely."

The Section Chief followed her indication. His eyes sharpened the instant they focused on the building.

"The cracks aren't originating from within the structure itself. Examine them carefully, and you'll see they are emerging from a different subspace. It's as if a mirror has shattered. Notice the section that's misaligned. There's no question; a Gate resides within the building, and whatever lies beyond it is attempting to brute force its way through."

The Section Chief grasped the anomaly of the situation with swift clarity. The moment the Team Leader highlighted it, he saw it too and immediately understood the gravity of the unfolding events, his expression growing even more severe.

"If that's the case, the danger is far greater than I initially assessed." He glanced towards Velrik, who was also observing the cracks. Like himself, Velrik comprehended the situation and was relaying information over his communicator while issuing commands.

As Velrik spoke, he felt the Section Chief's scrutiny and turned to face him.

No words were necessary between them. The Section Chief gave a curt nod before turning his attention back to Soran.

"Let's establish a containment perimeter around the building. Our primary objective is to prevent the Gate's explosion from affecting the citizens. They are our priority. We must also contain whatever is emerging while awaiting reinforcements."

"Understood."

Soran's assessment aligned perfectly. She turned from the building and began relaying instructions to the other members. Similar actions were taking place throughout the area as personnel withdrew from the immediate vicinity of the building, forming a tight cordon and deploying various devices.

Thump!

Zoey, along with several other Guild members, placed similar objects onto the ground. They possessed a peculiar appearance, their metallic surfaces gleaming as they were driven into the soil. Their mushroom-shaped caps burrowed downwards with a soft 'thump'.

Thump! Thump!

Each muffled impact resonated with others originating from every direction, the rhythm accelerating. Zoey observed as every deployed unit surrounded the building, their machines emitting loud thumping sounds.

As the thumpers activated, a nascent barrier began to materialize around the structure. Zoey watched its formation, her expression remaining grave.

Thumpers are standard issue equipment for Guilds and the BUA, utilized for area containment. Powered by fragments sourced from Gates, they are capable of generating formidable shields resistant to high-density energy emissions.

Yet, as she gazed upon the escalating energy within the building before her, Zoey felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach.

That...

Her eyes remained fixed on the multitude of cracks splintering across its surface, their numbers increasing with every passing second.

Thump! Thump!

The soft, yet distinct thuds of the thumpers reached her ears, and Zoey swallowed nervously.

Could they truly hold?

Could these thumpers contain whatever entity lurked within the Gate?

"Get out!"

"Get the hell out of here!"

A voice sliced through her thoughts, prompting Zoey to turn her head, her gaze sweeping over the multitude of people who had suddenly materialized around them.

Her brow furrowed deeply.

"Hey, tell them to get away from here! It’s dangerous."

Zoey commanded, her eyes scanning their surroundings. As she spoke, several individuals stepped forward to address the crowd and urge them away. However, their pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the people remained rooted to their spots, watching with evident agitation.

This growing unrest began to impede their work, the crowd swelling in numbers and their voices escalating.

"What are you doing?"

"Get out of here! We don’t want you here!"

"Leave!"

Even as the recruits attempted to explain the gravity of the situation, stating, 'We've detected a dangerous energy emanating from within. Please maintain a safe distance. It's hazardous!'

Yet, their words were entirely disregarded. Instead, the citizens’ clamor intensified.

"We don’t need you here! You’ve already messed things up for us!"

"We don’t trust you! Get out! Get out!"

The cacophony of cries and shouts became so overwhelming that it made it increasingly difficult for the teams to proceed with their tasks.

‘What on earth is happening?’

Zoey’s gaze flickered between the thumpers and the distressed citizens. As she observed, the rhythmic thumping grew more rapid and insistent.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

But so did the citizens’ wails.

"Get out of here!"

"You already screwed us over once! We won’t let you do it again!"

"My home is here! Are you going to take that away from me again? Are you going to throw me out onto the streets once more!? Even after I’ve only just managed to recover from what you did!?"

Their cries turned frantic, and the citizens could no longer be restrained. Abruptly, they all began to advance towards the thumpers.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Zoey surged forward, attempting to halt the approaching citizens. Her node surged within her, but the moment she moved to act, she found herself unable to proceed. There were specific regulations that prohibited her from directly employing her powers against the civilians.

Zoey glanced at Soran, who had materialized beside her. She observed the unfolding scene with a remarkably neutral expression, and as if sensing Zoey’s gaze, Soran raised an eyebrow.

"Hm? Why aren't you intervening?"

"That's... because I'm not permitted according to the l⎯"

"Please."

Soran let out a scoff.

"You are permitted to use your powers if their actions impede our work. Observe. Look." Soran gestured towards the other teams, who were now utilizing their own nodes to push the citizens back. Witnessing them in action, Zoey’s hesitation dissolved, and she prepared to engage.

But just as she took a step forward⎯

It occurred.

Cra CRACK!

A deafening crack reverberated.

It was so immense that it seemed to shake the entire island, silencing all other noises.

Slowly, all eyes turned towards the building as the fissures surrounding it expanded with alarming speed. The growth was so rapid it was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye, and Zoey's expression shifted dramatically.

"Watch ou⎯!"

BOOOOM!

An explosion erupted.