Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary!

Chapter 660: Explosion [3]

It all happened extremely quickly. The moment the cracks expanded rapidly, everyone understood what was happening as a barrier had already formed around the building. What followed was an intense wave of pressure as the cracks expanded further and further.Until⎯

BOOOOM!

A deafening blast tore through the air as the space around the building shattered into countless fragments, slamming outward into the barrier and making it tremble violently.

"Watch out!"

"Run! Move back!"

The Guild members rushed back, ushering civilians with them as they watched in horror. Though the barrier contained much of the blast, a powerful force still surged from within, driving everyone farther away.

"Move! Move! Move!"

Zoey shoved people aside, sweat running down her face, her heart pounding as she glanced back at the building. The Section Chief’s words echoed in her mind as she fixed her gaze on the barrier again.

What about...

"It’s not over. Evacuate everyone."

A cool voice whispered into her head, making her pause as she turned her head to see the Team Leader moving next to her, as she too looked back towards the barrier as well. Her brows furrowed as she looked at it.

Rattle! Rattle!

"As things stand, it won’t be able to last very long. We need to evacuate before coming back here. I feel the presence of something terrifying inside."

Her expression turned incredibly grim as she looked away.

Zoey’s lips parted, but she soon closed them and nodded.

"I understand."

Without wasting another second, she rushed toward the citizens with the others and helped push them back. Despite the obvious danger, some still resisted and forced their way forward.

"We will no longer buy your bullshit! This is something that you all planned! I know it is!"

"Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!"

"Wait! Stay back!"

Zoey and the others had a headache trying to push these people away, but in the end, they were just regular people, and with a bit of force, they managed to evacuate everyone without any issues.

"Make sure that they stay as far away as possible from this area!"

Barking a few orders, Zoey turned back to face the building. But just as she did, her expression shifted, her eyes drifting toward the barrier surrounding it.

Oh, no...

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Staring at the thumpers pounding so fast she could barely keep up, Zoey watched as the barrier trembled violently, the intense energy within beginning to crack its surface. Standing right next to the barrier were the numerous Section Chiefs as they delegated orders back and forth.

Zoey was just about to move when a hand pressed against her shoulder, stopping her.

"Huh? What⎯"

"Don’t take another step forward."

The Team Leader’s soft voice whispered into her ear as she stared at the distant barrier.

"...There’s nothing we can do right now. The barrier is about to crack, and the energy inside will burst outward. That isn’t what worries me, however." The Team Leader’s voice dropped as her eyes narrowed. "I’m more concerned about what’s hiding within the—"

BOOOOM!

Soran never managed to finish her words, as in that instant a massive crack spread across the barrier and everything gave way at once. Zoey barely had time to react before the explosion surged toward her, and if not for Soran suddenly throwing something in front of them, she would’ve likely been caught in it as she stumbled back.

But that wasn’t all.

"Huek! Hu... ek! Heuk!"

Clutching her throat, Zoey suddenly found herself struggling to breathe. It was as if she’d been plunged into the deepest part of the ocean, with no air left to draw. No, it felt even more suffocating than that.

Both hands at her throat, Zoey felt her world spin as a sharp ringing filled her ears. Lifting her head, she could still make out the Team Leader standing before her, but even she seemed to be struggling, her face noticeably pale.

"T-t..." Zoey tried to speak. She tried to say something, but the moment she tried, her words appeared to stop at once.

Especially when she heard it.

Step!

The sound of a single step.

One that seemed to resound throughout the entire area as all noise seemed to cease at once.

As the dust blanketing the area began to settle, Zoey’s gaze drifted into the distance, where a pair of blood-red eyes emerged. The instant she saw them, it felt as if her chest were being crushed, the little air left in her lungs vanishing all at once.

Dread.

Dread, unlike anything she had ever felt before, filled her vision as, with the settling dust, a pair of ears emerged, followed by an elongated nose and a fluttering apron stained in what could only be described as blood.

Drip! Drip! Drip!

A rhythmic, steady dripping echoed through the surroundings as dark red liquid ran along the blade of a small knife. As its figure came into view beneath the settling dust, Zoey’s face shifted at once as she recognized it, her eyes widening.

That’s...!

"VILE... 2023."

Soran’s voice whispered across the surroundings.

"...The Butcher."

As her words trailed off, Zoey’s attention shifted elsewhere. To a figure in the distance. She stared at the creature, her eyes wide, her body trembling.

’Catherine...’

Zoey understood her sister’s reaction all too well. How could she not? This wasn’t the first time her sister had encountered such a creature. And... she knew far too well about how terrifying it was.

’But how...? Why? Why is it here...?’

Zoey turned her attention back to the creature as the bloodlust hanging in the air only intensified, making it even harder to breathe than before. She could hardly keep herself standing as each breath appeared to be heavier than the last.

Despite this, she still kept herself upright.

She had no choice... Or so she thought. Until a certain voice whispered close to her.

"I... need you to evacuate. This isn’t something that you can handle."

"?!"

Zoey’s attention shifted to the Team Leader. She wanted to speak, but the moment her lips parted, another step echoed out, and the entire area seemed to shift as the tension in the air tightened even further.

To the point where Zoey found herself stepping back involuntarily.

"See?"

Without even looking, the Team Leader seemed to have already noticed her as Zoey hurriedly shook her head, trying to explain herself. But it was too late.

"Leave. Quickly."

Pushing Zoey back, the Team Leader surged forward with incredible speed, pulling out several items. At the same time, the Butcher moved, its bloodlust spiking as it raised its hand and slashed downward.

"Watch out!"

It was but a mere slash...

Just one single slash. That was all Zoey saw.

And yet⎯

That was all she needed to see.

For a moment after it struck, silence swept the area as Zoey stood frozen, trembling. Her head slowly turned to the massive gash carved into the earth, along with the blood that had spilled across the surroundings.

"A-ah."

Zoey covered her lips, a heavy dread settling over her as she looked back at the two blood-red eyes at the source of it all.

’This is bad. This is... really bad.’