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

Chapter 662: Soran [2]

’You can’t fail. The moment you fail, everything will crumble at once. For the first step, we’ll have you integrate with the Ranking system. Given your talent, it shouldn’t be hard for you to make it to the very top.’

There existed a system within the world.

One that dictated one’s value based on the Ranking that they received.

However, the Ranking System was far from an accurate measure. In reality, it only took into account individuals who were still considered recruits. The moment someone became a Section Chief or a Guild Master, they automatically left the Rankings.

In that regard, while the Rankers were considered to be the strongest, there existed individuals stronger than them. Only that they were a lot more restricted in their actions.

It was a restriction that the BUA had created, known as Article 57.

The truth behind such Article?

Only those in such positions knew.

Article 57 also restricted Guild Masters and Section Chiefs from acting beyond a certain scope. Soran had always been curious about that restriction, but she assumed she would eventually learn the reason once she reached their rank.

Well, at least that was what she thought before.

’...Disappointing.’

Even now, Soran could still remember the Guild Master’s cold words as the first cracks appeared in her node. She had barely had time to make a name for herself before the cracks began to spread, and the Guild Master stopped paying attention to her.

It was laughable.

Looking back, all of this had happened because of the pressure that came with the Guild Master’s expectations. She wasn’t even sure why she had pushed herself so hard. The more the Guild Master gave her, the more she felt compelled to push herself further.

It was such a vicious cycle of expectations that led her to where she was now.

Perhaps...

She would still be able to enjoy life without the constant pain in her mind.

The constant checkups with doctors would never have been necessary, and most importantly, she would still be able to act instead of watching others fall before her while she could do nothing but watch.

’Well, it’s food for thought.’

Soran took a single step forward, her nodes churning inside her mind as everything around her seemed frozen. Even the Butcher.

Or at least, that was how it seemed at first.

Staring at the Butcher, Soran could tell that it was still moving. The knife was still cleaving downward.

Her lips curled at the sight.

"I know I’m rusty, but damn... I’m really dealing with something like this the moment I use my nodes again. This is one tough bastard."

Soran reached toward her nodes, wiping her finger beneath her nose as her eyes lingered on the red staining her finger. It was hardly an unexpected sight.

In fact, it was better than she expected.

Step. Step—

Soran didn’t rush as she finally arrived before the Butcher. Standing before the thing, she raised her head and narrowed her eyes as she stared at it. Despite the frozen time, it seemed to be staring back at her.

The knife also moved faster.

Soran’s brow raised, feeling something wet trickle down both her ears and eyes.

She could hear several cracking sounds coming from deep within her mind.

"Well, it really seems like I am rusty~"

Soran glanced at the people near her. In particular, the Section Chief and the other Chiefs from the other Guilds.

She sighed at the sight of them. Especially considering that they were all trying to protect the people behind them.

"...Dear me. In the end, I’m the only one that can truly act."

Soran’s left eye twitched.

The pain she was experiencing would normally have caused someone to pass out on the spot, but Soran had grown used to pain. She was almost indifferent to it as she continued to stare at the Butcher.

She knew she didn’t have much time left, and after thinking for a moment, she retrieved several items from her purse and attached them to the Butcher.

"Honestly, I need permission in order to use these since they can cause a lot of damage, but I’m sure they’ll let it pass this once."

She placed the items around the Butcher’s body. They were brick-shaped, and the moment she pressed them against its flesh, they adhered to it.

The Butcher’s movements became even faster. At the same time, Soran felt all of her nodes churn at once as a constant cracking sound reverberated through her mind.

She paid no mind to it as she continued attaching the items around the Butcher. But the more she placed, the harder it became to keep herself moving. Blood continued to spill in all directions as her vision began to blur.

This didn’t really help considering that she was already losing her sight.

"Oh dear~"

Soran scratched the back of her head while looking down at the pool of blood that had formed beneath her feet. In that moment, she knew that she couldn’t go on any further as she took several steps back.

As she did, the Butcher’s movements were now almost at the same speed as before.

"What a tough bastard."

Looking at the situation, Soran understood that she had no time to waste. She flicked her finger, and the items attached to the Butcher detonated at once.

There were no fanciful fireworks or anything of the sort. The moment Soran flicked her finger, the bricks exploded at once, and a terrifying burst of energy erupted outward, reaching Soran in less than a fraction of a second.

Just as the heat was about to reach her, Soran’s nodes churned even faster than before. They spun so violently that the pool of blood beneath her feet grew even larger, and her vision went completely dark.

"He... He."

Despite this, Soran laughed as she pressed her hands together.

Cra Crack! Cra Crack! Cra Crack!

The constant yet deafening sound of her nodes cracking resounded through her mind as the edge of the explosion stopped right before her.

Then—

As if time had begun to reverse, the explosion started to retract, drawing back toward the point from which it had come. At the same time, time outside the explosion began to return to normal, and Soran started to hear voices in the background.

Still...

She wasn’t done.

Keeping her hands together, Soran’s nodes continued to crack as the explosion shrank further and further, condensing around the spot where the Butcher had been standing as the terrifying energy churned within the "time bubble" she had created.

The more she condensed the bubble, the denser the energy within it became, subjecting the Butcher to the full force of that terrifying power all at once.

Cra Crack! Cra Crack!

Soran’s nodes cracked under the heavy pressure, the pain enough to make anyone scream. And yet...

All Soran did was smile while staring in the direction of where the Butcher was.

She couldn’t see, but she still smiled.

And soon—

The bubble condensed further, taking on the outline of the Butcher as Soran finally lowered her hands, remaining upright even as blood continued to pour from every orifice.

A tense silence followed her actions, not a single sound echoing through the surroundings. There was no grand explosion or anything of the sort.

Just silence.

No one said a single word.

But that silence didn’t last long.

Step—

The sound of a single footstep shattered the silence, causing Soran to blink rapidly. Then, as she realized where it had come from, she suddenly burst out laughing, turning her head and pointing in the direction of the step.

"...hey, hey, hey~"

Her eyes blinked rapidly.

"I know that I’m rusty, but am I seriously this rusty? There’s no way it’s still standing after that. The hell is this thing made out of?"