Horror Game Designer

Chapter 215: Open the Door

“Is this the key to open the door to Situ An’s home? A death portrait of him?” He Yi calmed down after he saw the words on the back of the picture. As Situ An’s most ‘loyal’ dog, he knew what they meant. Once one took the death portrait, one had to follow the written rules. In other words, they would take over Situ An’s fate and become the world’s enemy. Situ An’s item was alluring, but one had to be alive to enjoy it.

Someone with Situ An’s fate would live between two worlds and would die if they were slightly careless.

“The person in the portrait wasn’t Situ An at first. After Situ An became the new parent, he took over as the core of the family.” Jiang Chan seemed to know many secrets. The ghosts in the shadow world existed in the form of ‘families’.

“If we only open the door, take what we need and leave…”

“No one can leave… or rather leave alive, before the new parent arrives.” Jiang Chan interrupted He Yi, “The shadow world’s Han Hai corresponds to the real world’s Han Hai. This city once represented order, but it died for some reason.”

“Then, why don’t you or someone become the new parent?” He Yi heard footsteps outside the door. He immediately shut up and turned to the corridor.

“Leader, the newbies chosen by Fu San are here.” The security members stood to the sides with guns, aiming at the newbies. Clearly, they were not being treated as colleagues.

“Fu San is horrible, but he has a good eye. Every one of these investigators has great potential.” He Yi pretended to walk towards the newbies. “The chief is missing, and the ghosts terrorise this building. The tragedy is here. Do you want to gain the power to fight the ghosts?”

The newbies had heard humours about the security department. Many of them nodded.

“All of you are the best investigators and the seeds with the best potential. You are the east city’s only hope. Normally, it’ll take a lot of complicated processes to join the security department. However, considering the situation, I will tell you the secrets of the security department…” He Yi scanned them when he saw Su Mo at the back of the team, “Why is there a delivery guy here?”

“I…” Before Su Mo could speak, Yan Lin covered his mouth. “We’re normal citizens who accidentally got here, hiding from the tragedy. We’ll leave now.”

“Since you can survive until now, it means that you have potential too. You will come with us.” He Yi ignored Yan Lin’s protest, “Everyone, come with me.” They exited the office. The security members returned to their posts. They were like machines that had their humanity removed.

“To gain the power to fight ghosts, you have to have superhuman determination. If you cannot conquer your most basic fear, you are trash.” He Yi pointed at the bloodred door in the middle of Floor Ten. “Stand before that door and imagine the head of the door guardian. No matter what you see, do not be afraid! You’re trash if you retreat! Then, you’ll be eaten by fear!”

The newbies were forced forward by the guns. When they got close to the door, they realised there were a lot of broken flesh and bones around the door. Many people had died there.

“The second condition to join the security department is to have a strong physique. No matter what, you have to carry on until the door opens for you!” He Yi patted Xiao Yong’s shoulder. He had the highest hope for Xiao Yong, “If you need help, think about your memory in real life. The regrets and pain that you can’t let go might save you.”

Su Mo stood at the side. He realised what He Yi said was related to the player’s five attributes. This made him trust He Yi even more.

“You can do it. You’re not worse than them.” He cheered himself on. Su Mo stared at the bloody door. “This is the investigation centre’s power. If I can gain this power as a horror game player, then it means I’ll have two skill trees!”

“Are you alright? How deep are you in the whole illusion?” Teacher Xia’s voice came out of Zhang Lian’s lips. His tone was gentle, “If you need help later, come to me.”

“Help me? Wait… Your voice…” Su Mo stood next to Zhang Lian. He had no idea when, but Zhang Lian had drawn some strange pictures on his back. Su Mo had no idea what those drawings were, but he felt like they looked like the drawings of the dead people on the wall.

“Ah!” The scream curdled everyone’s blood. A newbie’s head was pierced by tentacles. The first head grew on the headless door guardian’s neck. The head had giant tentacles that were as sharp as knives.

“Don’t be scared. This is just his imagination.” Xia Yang looked at the door guardian with interest, “Enjoy this. When it’s my turn, all of you will die.”

The newbies backed away out of instinct. However, as He Yi said, people who backed away would die. The tentacles attacked those who moved away from them. Xiao Yong remembered this rule. He gritted his teeth and moved towards the door. Once he got close to the door, the tentacles stopped attacking him. The other newbies did the same. They were all selected by Teacher Xia. They reacted quickly and entered the safe zone.

At that moment, the door guardian returned to normal. However, the bowl of white rice beside the door toppled over. No one knew who did it. The white rice mixed with the blood on the ground. Hands reached out from the ground. The newbies avoided them as they were forced to get closer to the bloodred door. In the panic, someone accidentally touched the door. The blood capillaries on the door instantly climbed all over the man. The headless door guardian’s heart started to bead.

“Open the door! You need to push open the door to live!” He Yi’s voice came from behind them. “All of you have been selected as the live sacrifice! If you don’t open the door, you’ll be eaten and become part of the meat pieces underneath your feet!”

The truth exploded like thunder. Su Mo remembered how the security members retreated before forcing them to get closer to the bloodred door.

“We have to open the door to live?! What is behind this door?”