Horror Game Designer

An open taunt!

It had been quite some time since someone dared to do this to Jing Tuoshen. He looked at the man on the screen in the strange mask as he took out a black box from his chest. Jing Tuoshen looked at the man as he opened the box. A strong scent of decay floated out. He extended his fair fingers and pulled out a doll made from old clothes. Without any hesitation, Jing Tuoshen pierced his clean fingers through the doll’s heart.

The cries echoed in the room. The security members averted their eyes. The doll cried like a baby. Its small limbs wiggled about as blood oozed from its chest. Jing Tuoshen gripped the doll tightly as it struggled in his palm. The doll eventually disappeared into the shadow.

The investigation centre had many cursed items. The research department’s job was to analyse them and use them to deal with the shadow world. They separated the cursed items into many levels. The one Jing Tuoshen used was an extremely rare item. Once the user knew the target’s name and appearance, the user could summon tragedy on them.

“Qian Junran is a student from Class 13. We still haven’t found him. Who would have thought he’d appeared like this?” Chen Guan’s gaze was complicated. They were supposed to attack the horror game players, but these people were the ones who saved the public when tragedy struck. “I’ve not heard of this group of people before. How did they grow under the watchful eyes of the investigation centre?”

“The issue is they’ve provided Han Hai with a new choice of faith.” Chen Yuntian glanced at Jing Tuoshen. The chiefs talked among themselves. Jing Tuoshen didn’t stop them. He waved behind him. The security member opened a black box and took out a heavily damaged black band.

Jing Tuoshen activated the band and closed his eyes to wait. A few minutes later, a woman’s voice came, “Hello. This is Perfect Life’s fourth chatroom. How can I help you?”

Jing Tuoshen rambled off a bunch of codes, and the woman’s tone changed, “Please ensure there are no living humans around you. Please switch on the signal disruptor. The reply from the inner world will be sent back to you in a minute.”

Jing Tuoshen picked up the band, left the chiefs and walked to another room. He closed the door and touched the band. A projection appeared on the wall. In the projection, the man wore the uniform of the investigation centre. He was inside an abandoned hospital… probably a morgue.

“Jing Tuoshen?” The projection was blurry. The voice was intermittent.

“When the anomalies exploded at Xin Lu half a year ago, you reached an agreement with the monsters and entered the so-called inner world to conduct your training. How is your situation now?” Jing Tuoshen stared at the wall. He lowered his posture even though they were of the same level.

Half a year ago, Xin Lu sealed up a super virtual reality game. The game that should change the world became a taboo. Only part of the areas at Xin Lu could still access it. Apparently, the game could look into the human hearts and accidentally open the door to the shadow world. It released the monsters inside the human hearts, and it was how the anomaly first appeared. It was when the game was sealed off that the investigation centre was set up at Xin Lu. Only those investigators who had a record at Xin Lu could still play the game. The investigation centre was built on the basis of this game. The core members of the centre had all played this game before. However, for some reason, they tried everything they could to prevent normal people from interacting with this game.

“I can’t differentiate between the game world and the real world anymore. Maybe the inner world is a part of the real world. After experiencing so much, I don’t think I’ll be able to survive in the real world anymore.” The man in the projection shook his head. “The strongest exploration team has entered the core of the inner world and disappeared into the night. We have had no reply from them over the past year. For now, Perfect Life’s surface world’s game lobby and garden have been taken over by the investigation centre. It’s very safe now.”

“Since Xin Lun doesn’t need you anymore, leave the game immediately and come back to Han Hai.” Jing Tuoshen ordered him. “The monsters at Jiujiang hide behind the doors. Xin Lu has that game as a buffer. Only Han Hai has to face the shadow world directly.”

“What do you mean?”

“The shadow world wants to drag Han Hai into the shadow because there are anomalies everywhere now.” Jing Tuoshen looked at the number on the black band. “You are an investigator from Han Hai. You were sent into the taboo game half a year ago, but Han Hai needs you now.”

“Understood. We’ll exit the game as soon as possible, but…” The man hesitated, “I heard someone say in the game that they plan to give up on Han Hai. That city will soon be sealed off.”

“Abandoned?”

“Every city has its own rules and missions. Han Hai has been prepped to be involved in the infusion with the shadow. Of course, these are just hearsay.” The man didn’t continue this topic, “I’ll lead my team to return as soon as I can. Get those security members with self-consciousness to protect you.”

The projection disappeared. Jing Tuoshen didn’t touch the black band but took out a napkin to wipe his already clean hands.

…

Gao Ming returned the girl to her mom, and he entered the east city investigation centre. Xia Yang was more capable than he thought. All the danger inside the centre had been removed. The only danger inside the building was Xia Yang.

Seeing the doodles and the self-portraits of the investigators on the wall, Gao Ming admitted he had underestimated Xia Yang’s capability. He hoped that Xia Yang would possess Fu Ning’s son and cooperate with everyone, but Xia Yang cleared the game on his own.

“You can’t let people like Xia Yang and Situ An become ghosts.” Zhang Ding touched the walls. He sensed the breathing from the paintings. Even he thought this was too creepy.

“The security members have already taken away all the resources.”

Through the God of Flesh and Blood in his heart, Gao Ming knew Xia Yang’s location. He and Zhang Ding took the elevator to the 10th floor.

Gao Ming frowned when he smelled the blood in the air. Xia Yang was not a bloodthirsty person. He was simply crazy.

“Someone has conducted a blood sacrifice here.” Zhang Ding removed his mask and said seriously, “Look at that half-open blood door!”

The mutated newbie investigators wiggled inside the door. They looked like they’d be happier dead than alive.