Previously on Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!...
A building began to crack as immense pressure erupted from within, hinting at a Gate's imminent breach. As authorities scrambled to evacuate the area and establish a perimeter with specialized equipment, a crowd of citizens, angered by past grievances, disrupted the efforts. Despite the chaos, the structure finally exploded.
Everything unfolded with lightning speed. The instant the fissures spread with alarming rapidity, everyone grasped the situation as a protective barrier materialized around the structure. What ensued was an overwhelming surge of immense pressure as the cracks continued to widen.
Until⎯
BOOOOM!
A concussive blast erupted, shattering the space around the building into countless fragments that propelled outward, violently impacting the barrier and causing it to shudder intensely.
"Watch out!"
"Run! Move back!"
The Guild members retreated swiftly, guiding panicked civilians with them as they watched with sheer terror. Although the barrier absorbed the brunt of the impact, a formidable force still emanated from within, compelling everyone to move further away.
"Move! Move! Move!"
Zoey shoved people aside, perspiration beading on her forehead, her heart hammering as she cast a glance back at the building. The Section Chief's words echoed in her mind as she refocused her gaze on the barrier.
What about...
"It’s not over. Evacuate everyone."
A calm voice resonated in her thoughts, causing her to pause. She turned to see the Team Leader approaching, her attention also fixed on the barrier. Furrowing her brows, she observed it.
Rattle! Rattle!
"As things stand, it won’t last much longer. We need to evacuate before returning here. I sense a terrifying presence inside."
Her expression grew exceedingly grim as she averted her gaze.
Zoey’s lips parted, but she quickly closed them and nodded.
"I understand."
Without another moment's delay, she hurried towards the citizens with the others, assisting in their relocation. Despite the evident peril, some individuals stubbornly resisted, attempting to push forward.
"We won't buy your lies anymore! You all planned this! I know you did!"
"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!"
"Wait! Stay back!"
Zoey and her companions experienced headaches dealing with these individuals, but ultimately, they were just ordinary people. With a bit of firm persuasion, everyone was evacuated without significant incident.
"Ensure they remain as far away from this area as possible!"
Issuing a few commands, Zoey turned back towards the building. But the moment she did, her expression shifted, her eyes drawn to the barrier encasing it.
Oh, no...
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Observing the rapid, almost frantic pulsations, Zoey watched as the barrier vibrated violently, the intense energy contained within starting to fracture its surface. Positioned directly beside the barrier were numerous Section Chiefs, busily issuing and receiving directives.
Zoey was about to move when a hand was placed on her shoulder, halting her progress.
"Huh? What⎯"
"Don’t take another step forward."
The Team Leader's soft voice murmured in her ear as she gazed at the distant barrier.
"...There’s nothing we can do right now. The barrier is on the verge of collapsing, and the energy within will surge outwards. That, however, isn't what concerns me." The Team Leader's voice deepened, her eyes narrowing. "I’m more worried about what’s concealed within the—"
BOOOOM!
Soran never completed her sentence, for at that precise instant, a massive fissure spread across the barrier, and everything gave way simultaneously. Zoey had barely any time to react before the explosion careened towards her. Had Soran not suddenly thrown something in front of them, she would have likely been engulfed as she stumbled backward.
But that wasn't all.
"Huek! Hu... ek! Heuk!"
Clutching her throat, Zoey suddenly found herself gasping for air. It felt as though she had been submerged in the deepest ocean trench, completely devoid of breath. No, it was far more suffocating than that.
With both hands gripping her throat, Zoey felt her world tilt as a sharp ringing filled her ears. Lifting her head, she could still discern the Team Leader standing before her, though even she appeared to be struggling, her face noticeably pale.
"T-t..." Zoey attempted to speak. She tried to utter a word, but the moment she did, her speech seemed to halt abruptly.
Especially when she heard it.
Step!
The sound of a single step.
One that seemed to reverberate throughout the entire vicinity, silencing all other noises instantly.
As the dust began to settle across the area, Zoey's gaze drifted into the distance, where a pair of blood-red eyes materialized. The instant she saw them, it felt as if her chest were being crushed, the meager air remaining in her lungs vanishing completely.
Dread.
Dread, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, flooded her perception as, with the settling dust, a pair of ears emerged, followed by an elongated nose and a fluttering apron stained with what could only be described as blood.
Drip! Drip! Drip!
A steady, rhythmic dripping sound filled the air as a dark crimson liquid snaked its way down the length of a small knife. As the figure beneath the swirling dust began to materialize, Zoey's expression underwent an immediate transformation, her eyes expanding in recognition.
That's...!
"VILE... 2023."
Soran's voice was a low whisper that permeated the surroundings.
"...The Butcher."
As her words faded, Zoey's gaze drifted away, fixing on a distant silhouette. She gazed at the monstrous form, wide-eyed and quivering.
'Catherine...'
Zoey intimately understood her sister's reaction. How could she not? This was not the first encounter her sister had endured with such a monstrosity. And... she knew firsthand just how horrifying it truly was.
'But how...? Why? Why is it here...?'
Zoey redirected her attention to the creature, the palpable bloodlust in the atmosphere intensifying, making each breath a struggle. Standing upright was an immense effort as each inhalation felt heavier than the last.
Nevertheless, she remained on her feet.
She had no other choice... or so she believed. Until a soft voice murmured near her ear.
"I... need you to evacuate. This is beyond your capabilities."
"?!"
Zoey's focus snapped to the Team Leader. She yearned to respond, but the instant her lips parted, another heavy footstep resounded, and the entire vicinity seemed to warp as the tension in the air grew even more severe.
To the extent that Zoey found herself stumbling backward without conscious intent.
"See?"
Without even turning, the Team Leader appeared to register her reaction, and Zoey hastily shook her head, attempting to convey a denial. But it was unequivocally too late.
"Leave. Go now."
Propelling Zoey backward, the Team Leader surged forward with astonishing velocity, brandishing several implements. Concurrently, the Butcher initiated its movement, its eagerness to slaughter escalating as it raised a limb and brought it down in a sweeping arc.
"Watch out!"
It was merely a single strike...
Just one solitary slash. That was all Zoey comprehended.
And yet—
That was sufficient for her to grasp the severity of the situation.
For a moment following the impact, an unnerving silence enveloped the scene as Zoey remained rigidly still, trembling. Her head gradually swiveled to observe the enormous fissure gouged into the earth, alongside the fresh blood splattered across the vicinity.
"A-ah."
Zoey clapped a hand over her mouth, a crushing sense of dread descending upon her as she turned her gaze back to the twin, blood-red eyes at the epicenter of it all.
'This is dire. This is... truly, irrevocably bad.'
