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

Chapter 659: Explosion [2]

Cra Crack⎯

The cracks on the surface of the building spread with each passing second, growing more numerous as the energy pouring out of it pushed outward. As it emerged, everyone standing nearby felt a rising sense of dread, their breathing becoming shallower and more strained.

"Everyone move back!"

Velrik’s voice bellowed out, snapping several from their daze as many rushed away from the building’s perimeter.

"Set up an encirclement around the building and evacuate anyone nearby! Make sure there’s no one left here! I’ve already called for backup. This area is starting to destabilize."

Velrik’s orders were calm and precise as he organized everyone around, though a note of apprehension crept into his voice as he spoke. He wasn’t the only one. The other Section Chiefs had begun issuing orders of their own while also communicating with the main Guilds. With everyone looking in the direction of the building, they could all feel it.

The terrifying pressure coming out of the building.

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

News of the situation had likely already reached the media and the higher-ups of the BUA. By now, the entire island would probably be evacuated, but as the Section Chief of the Severed Stars Guild looked around, his expression couldn’t help but grow grimmer.

"...I don’t think there we’ll have enough time to evacuate everyone."

Looking at the cracks spreading across the building’s surface, he knew that as things stood, there’d be no way to evacuate everyone before it all exploded.

"It looks like a Gate."

Hearing the familiar voice, the Section Chief turned to see Soran staring at the building with languid eyes, pointing at the cracks that spread around the building.

"Take a closer look."

The Section Chief followed where she pointed. His eyes narrowed the moment he looked at the building.

"The cracks aren’t forming directly in the building. If you take a closer look, you can see that the tracks are coining from a different subspace. Look, its almost as if a mirror has broken. Look at how that section is misaligned. There’s no doubt about it. There’s a Gate inside of the building, and whatever is inside of the Gate is about to break it apart."

The Section Chief noticed the peculiarities of the situation quickly. The moment the Team Leader pointed them out, he saw them too and immediately understood what was happening, his expression turning even more serious.

"If that’s the case, then things are even more dangerous than I expected." He turned to look in Velrik’s direction. Velrik seemed to be watching the cracks as well, and like him, he understood exactly what was happening as he relayed everything over the phone while barking out orders.

As he did, the Velrik felt the Section Chief’s gaze as he turned to face him.

Nothing needed to be said between the two. The Section Chief nodded and turned to look at Soran.

"Let’s set up a perimeter around the building. Our goal is to make sure the explosion from the Gate doesn’t reach the citizens. They’re our priority. We’ll also make sure whatever’s inside doesn’t get out while we wait for reinforcements."

"Understood."

Soran shared the same view. She turned away from the building and began relaying orders to the other members. Similar scenes unfolded across the area as everyone moved away from the building, forming a tight perimeter around it and placing several items on the ground.

Thump!

Zoey, along with several others from the Guild, tossed similar items to the ground. They looked rather peculiar, their metallic sheen catching the light as they planted themselves into the soil. Their caps, resembling mushrooms, began to ’thump’ as they burrowed into the ground.

Thump! Thump!

Each ’thump’ began to echo with the others coming from every direction, growing faster and faster. Looking around, Zoey saw that every group had surrounded the entire building, their machines thumping loudly through the area.

As the thumpers moved, a small barrier began to form around the building. Zoey watched it take shape, her expression remaining grim.

Thumpers were standard equipment used by Guilds and the BUA to secure an area. They utilized fragments obtained from the Gates as a power source and were capable of creating extremely durable shields that could withstand high-density energy.

But as she looked at the energy building up in the building ahead, Zoey felt her stomach churn.

That...

Her gaze lingered over the numerous cracks forming across its surface, the number increasing by the second.

Thump! Thump!

Hearing the soft, yet muffled thumps from the thumpers, Zoey swallowed nervously.

Could they really hold it back?

Could the thumpers really hold back whatever was inside the Gate?

"Get out!"

"Get the hell out of here!"

A voice cut through her thoughts, and Zoey turned her head, her gaze shifting toward the numerous people who had suddenly appeared around them.

Her brows furrowed tightly.

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

Zoey commanded, her eyes sweeping the surroundings. As she spoke, several people stepped out to talk to them and move them away. However, it didn’t seem like they wanted to listen, remaining where they were and watching with clear restlessness.

Such restlessness grew to the point where it started to become difficult for them to work as the crowd grew bigger, and so did their voices.

"What are you doing?"

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

"Get out!"

Even as the recruits tried to explain the situation to them, saying things like, ’We’ve detected a dangerous energy coming from within. Please stay away. It’s dangerous!’

However, all words went to deaf ears. Instead, the citizen’s cries grew even louder.

"We don’t need you here! You’ve already fucked us up!"

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

The cries and shouts grew so loud that it started to become harder for the groups to work properly.

’Just what the hell is going on?’

Zoey’s gaze shifted between the thumpers and the citizens. As she watched, the thumping grew faster and louder.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

But so did the citizen’s cries.

"Get out of here!"

"You’ve already fucked us over once! We’re not letting you fuck us over again!"

"My house is here! Are you going to take that away from me again? Are you going to thrown me out in the streets again!? Even after I just barely managed to pick myself back up after what you’ve done!?"

Their cries grew frantic, and the citizens no longer stood still. All of a sudden, they all started to move towards the thumpers.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Zoey moved forward, trying to stop the citizens. Her node churned, but the moment she acted, she could only stop herself. There were certain rules in place that prevented her from directly using her powers against the citizens.

Zoey looked at Soran, who had appeared beside her. She was watching the scene with little expression, and as if sensing Zoey’s gaze, Soran raised a brow.

"Hm? Why are you not doing anything?"

"That’s... because I’m not allowed based on the l⎯"

"Please."

Soran scoffed.

"You’re allowed to use your powers if what they’re doing interferes with our work. See? Look." Soran pointed toward the other groups as they began using their own nodes to push the citizens back. Seeing them in action, Zoey dropped her hesitation and prepared to move.

But right as she took a step forward⎯

It happened.

Cra CRACK!

A loud crack echoed.

One loud enough to be felt throughout the entire island as all noise ceased.

And slowly, all heads turned in the direction of the building as the cracks surrounding it enlarged rapidly. So fast that it was hard to follow with the naked eye as Zoey’s expression changed drastically.

"Watch ou⎯!"

BOOOOM!

An explosion took place.