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

Chapter 458: The one to kill the Jester [3]

”.....”

The silence between Seth and Kyle stood in sharp contrast to the chaos around them. And yet, the tension between the two far outstripped anything that was around them.

BANG!

An explosion resounded.

It shattered the nearby surroundings as the Jester’s power grew increasingly stronger.

”He... HAHe!”

With every second that passed, the Jester’s power would evolve in some twisted and terrifying way. Slowly but surely, even the Paragons were starting to feel a sense of crisis.

”Hurry!” one of the Paragons shouted, urgency ringing through their voice as they rushed toward the Jester. ”Faster...! Get rid of him faster! Its laugh is changing!! We need to hurry! ”

The Paragon’s voice was followed by several other voices.

”Hold it back! Anything! Silence it!”

”T-that’s...!”

Every scene. Every moment. Every angle.

It was all recorded and broadcast to the entire world, every single person holding their breath as their attention remained fixed on the fight between the Paragons and the Jester.

Could they win?

Were they enough to defeat the Jester?

BANG!

Another explosion resounded, the anomalies under the Jester’s control attacking from unexpected angles, and forcing several Paragons to shift their attention away from the Jester.

”Damn it!”

One of the Paragons swore under their breath, a burst of bright light flaring around their body as they barely managed to block the sudden attack. In the next instant, they retaliated, tearing the anomaly apart piece by piece.

But the moment one fell, two more took its place.

”Damn it! Damn it—!!”

The situation was growing more and more chaotic.

By now, everyone had lost control of the situation. Anomalies poured in from every direction, crawling up from beneath the ground and tearing their way out of the space around them. Coupled with the laughter echoing through the air, it pushed many to the brink, their movements growing desperate as the pressure continued to mount.

All those spectating stood at the edge of their seats, many forgetting to breathe as the situation grew more and more despairing.

But what nobody paid attention to was the silent figure that was making its way towards the two individuals standing behind the Jester.

Swooosh!

The world didn’t know, but the Paragons knew. They were aware of the importance of the two figures, or more specifically...

Seth.

CLANK!

’Just a little more...’

As Paragons fought, they kept looking in Sylas’s direction.

They hoped.

Prayed that he’d make it.

*

Swoosh—!

Dark tendrils clung to Sylas’s body as his nodes churned.

[Shadow Walk]

[Sound Distortion]

[Body Lightening]

Ranked within the Top 20 of the Sentinel Decree, Sylas was the perfect person for any type of mission that involved stealth and assassination.

Staring down the Jester, he moved faster.

’It still hasn’t discovered me. I don’t think it will even if I get near it. I should be safe for now.’

There weren’t many things he could claim absolute confidence in. But when it came to his stealth, he had no doubts. He was certain that unless they were already within close range, not even the Jester would notice him.

That certainty was what allowed him to move forward without hesitation. It was why he believed he could see this through.

’All I have to do is kill one person. I’m sure I can do it.’

Lifting his head, he fixed his gaze on his target.

Seth.

’From the information that I’ve gotten, he should just be a regular person with no powers. However, is that really the case...?’

Sylas’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Seth’s exposed back.

By now, he was almost certain that his target had something to do with the Jester. He wasn’t the only one, but most of the higher-ranked Paragons thought the same. Although they weren’t absolutely certain, so what if they weren’t?

The worst that could happen would be his death.

This was a risk they were willing to take in order to resolve the situation.

’...Okay, I’m almost there.’

Sylas drew nearer and nearer to Seth, his movements practically soundless.

The closer he drew, the clearer Seth’s outline became.

He was standing opposite another person whom Sylas wasn’t very familiar with. However, it looked like the two were conversing. The surroundings were too chaotic for him to hear what was being said, but this was perfect.

’If he’s distracted, it makes things a lot easier for me...’

But there was something else that caught his attention. Not far from the two, Sylas spotted two more figures.

Hm?

His movements came to a short pause as he stared at them.

Although he wasn’t quite familiar with one of them, he was familiar with the other one. He had seen her in the annual rankings. And as if sensing his gaze, her head turned to face his direction.

”....?”

For a moment, Sylas didn’t know how to react.

He was stunned.

’She... detected me? No, that’s not quite right.’

Looking at her, Sylas realized that while she didn’t detect him, she did sense something. The realization caught him off guard. Given how refined his stealth was, that shouldn’t have been possible.

’What terrifying perception.’

His surprise lasted only a second before he deliberately eased his stealth, allowing his presence to surface. In that instant, Clara finally noticed him.

Before she could react, Sylas raised a finger to his lips and subtly shifted his gaze toward Zoey, making his intentions clear.

’Stay put. Do not interfere.’

This was all he did before deepening his concealment and once again moving towards Seth. From that point forward, he no longer paid the two any attention.

Five meters.

Three.

One.

Seth’s back was now to Sylas, his sharp dagger gleaming in the darkness as he prepared to ambush and take Seth out in a single, decisive strike.

Even though he was very close, he could just barely make out their conversation.

”Rat.”

”Failed... Given up.”

”...Real body.”

”Do for now.”

Sylas closed his eyes and drowned out all the noise. He didn’t even pay attention to Kyle. Right now, he couldn’t care less about what they were saying.l

He had a job to accomplish.

’...I’m ready.’

Sylas drew in a slow breath. His muscles locked tight, coiled like drawn wire as energy surged through him, his nodes accelerating, roaring beneath his skin. The air itself seemed to tense.

And then—!

His eyelids flew open, and all the tension coiled within his body snapped at once. The release was so sudden and violent, it felt like a gunshot had gone off inside him.

’Now!!’

BANG!

Everything was perfect.

The target was locked. The Jester’s attention was away from him. His condition was great.

Everything was great.

In that instant, he appeared before Seth and brought the blade down in a single, fluid motion. The strike was flawless, and he felt the unmistakable resistance as the blade cut through flesh and drew blood.

SPURT!

Blood sprayed in all directions.

Success!

He had succeeded!

He had...

”Huh...?”

All it took was one blink.

By the time he blinked once, he...

Found himself standing still. Right where he had been a moment prior. But as opposed to before, he felt something else.

Something more terrifying.

And when he slowly turned his head, he saw it.

”.....!!”

The Jester’s gaze.

”H-aaa...”

Sylas’s breath left his body, his mind processing the situation.

’It... makes no sense.’

How come nothing had happened? He had clearly felt the knife stab into Seth’s flesh, and yet...

”Kh—!”

By now, Sylas was fully out of his stealth. His presence was completely exposed, every part of him laid bare as the Jester’s gaze locked onto him and refused to let go.

That one moment seemed to last for a lifetime as his gaze wandered around the Jester.

Sylas felt the weight of countless stares settle on him. From the Jester’s unblinking gaze to the Paragons around them, mouths parting as if the world had slowed, every one of them seizing that moment to move, turning their attention toward the Jester and preparing to strike.

BANG!

A thunderous explosion rang out as an attack struck the Jester head-on, spiderweb cracks spreading across its mask. Before the shock could settle, another blow followed, then another, each impact deepening the fractures as more cracks crawled outward, carving into its expression bit by bit.

BANG! BANG—!

The sounds thundered across the surroundings as the Jester remained standing, its gaze still, as numerous anomalies crawled from all directions to attack the Paragons.

While the Jester was still standing, it was obvious that it was slowly starting to lose.

It was the sudden turn of events that snapped Sylas out of his daze, especially when he took note of the other Paragons starting to overwhelm the Jester.

’Fuck, I can’t get distracted!’

Sylas clenched his teeth until his jaw creaked under the strain.

’No, I have to go...!’

Sylas tightened his grip over the dagger, his nodes churning even harder as he stepped forward and released all the built-up tension within his body. He wanted to finish it before Seth could even have the chance to react. Even if Seth was aware of his presence, he was still confident in his skills.

Knowing the potential connection Seth had with the Jester, Sylas didn’t want to take any risk.

It had to be done quickly!

But... things never panned out the way that he wanted them to.

SPURT—!

”....!!”

A sudden spurting sound rang out, followed immediately by blood splattering across the ground.

It was just simple blood, and yet, the moment it stained the ground, it was as if something within the atmosphere shattered.

The Jester, which had been looking at him a moment prior, altered its gaze, turning it towards the source of the blood, the cracks on its mask growing even wider. The Paragons’ attacks grew even more relentless.

”Keep attacking!”

”We’re almost there...!!”

Everyone could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

They could see and feel the eventual fall of the Jester. They had to push just a little bit more!

BANG! BANG—

But even amidst the numerous attacks, the Jester’s gaze never faltered. It remained fixed in the same spot.

Towards the two figures standing opposite one another.

...And it was that unsettling calmness that drew a tension over the surroundings, unlike anything that had been there before.

One... that made Sylas freeze.

”Not good.”