W-what is that?
My eyes drift towards the intruder. The black claded man slowly walks inside of the estate. His steps being the only sound that echoes throughout the courtyard.
Everything else is in dead silence. Even the soothing sound of crickets is now nowhere to be heard.
The man walks slowly, each step filled with utter confidence, as if an untouchable god descended down to the mortal world.
My body won't move. I-is that even a human?
I slowly tilt my head down, seeing my trembling body. The unrestrained fear taking over every cell, every muscle within me.
A-am I going t-to die?
In my darkest despair, a glimmer of hope appears deep within me as I hear the creak of the mansion doors.
My body...! P-please, just one peek...!
I battle with my body, exerting all my willpower just to tilt my head to the side.
As I spot the familiar figures in the doorframe, the glimmer of hope grows stronger.
P-Patriarch! Elders! Thank goodness.
A relief washes over me as I look at their expression. Elders faces look concerned, but Patriarch seems confident.
Seeing this, my body relaxes a little, enough to take a look at the guards around me. They all think the same. W-we must be ready for Patriarch's orders.
Seeing a movement from the corner of my eye, I glance at the elders again, but this time, everything is different.
The Elders are down on the ground, their hands cluthing their head as if something blunt cracked their skull open.
W-what happened?!
I look at Patriarch, begging for an answer. But what I see sends a shiver down my spine. Blood drips down the Patriarch's lips, his face pale and body trembling.
Step...Step...Step...
The rhythm of the black figure's footsteps returned, and with each step, my heart feels like it's about to burst.
W-we will all die.
The sliver of hope deep within my chest was short lived, now replaced with utter despair.
How is Fear like this even possible? M-my body just wants to bow down and beg...Not for mercy, but death.
''I pray you all have had a wonderful evening so far.''
The figure speaks, voice filled with dread and malice. My knees grow weak in less than a breath, my body falls to the ground without any resistance. When I land, there's no pain... There's no feeling at all.
I-is it really D-Death itself?
''G-good evening, Esteemed Guest. May I ask, what b-brings such a powerful cultivator to our humble family...?''
Patriarch...Even Patriarch is scared...
''I've come for a feast, of course.''
The unsettling figure speaks, every word feels like it tears into my soul, doing irreparable damage.
F-feast? What feast?
''I-If the Esteemed Guest wishes for a feast, we will spare no effort t-to make it memorable.''
The faint tremble in the Patriarch's voice could not escape my ears. The longer I stay here, the more I feel like my body begins to eat itself from within.
''You misunderstand, Patriarch Zhan. You do not need to prepare anything, as all the dishes are already here...''
The intruder's voice reverberates across the courtyard. Every syllable echoes in my ears again and again, slowly eating away at my sanity.
Dishes...? D-dishes....?
My stomach twists. I don't want to know what he means, but I can't stop the image from forming within my head. Guards served on platters, the elders head steaming like soup, Patriarch's body portions neatly as the main dish.
Yes...Dishes...You are a dish too...So fresh~
W-what was that?! Who is talking?
No...No. S-stop thinking...stop thinking...
''W-what do you mean by that, Esteemed guest?''
The Patriarch's voice wavers much more than previously. The voice in my memory was always commanding, proud... not like this...not so brittle...
The figure chuckles at Patriarch's words. The chuckle is low, guttal. Not human. Not human. My ears..My ears ring...W-why is there two of him...
Step. Step. Step.
Each step cracks something deep within my. What is it? My heart? My bones? My...sanity?
He's coming closer...so...so much closer...
Please no...D-don't come closer...
I glance at the guards beside me. They are...smiling? Why are they smiling? Is this funny? Is that's happening funny? Yes...Maybe it's funny...
Hehe...
Why am I smiling too? Am...Am I not scared anymore?
Yes~ You are smiling...So happy...so delighted~
NO! I'm going crazy, these voices... I need to stop thinking...Please stop thinking.
I close my eyes, wishing for a different sight for when I open them again.
Please let this be a dream...let this be just a bad dream...
Open your eyes~ Everything is good~ You are safe~
Yes...I'm safe...It's just a nightmare...I j-just need to open my eyes...
My eyes open in a snap.
Their faces are normal, terrified. Good...Good? Why is that good? Why do I feel relief...?
''H-honored guest, please be reasonable...''
Patriarch's tone becomes pleading. His will to fight, his arrogance, his power...everything is gone.
THUD!
Everyone drops to the ground. My forehead tightly pressed against the dirt. The pressure from the figure increases tenfold. The world itself bending under his godly might.
You worship him...So devoted~ The almighty god loves you~
I-it wasn't me! I-I-I don't worship him... NO! M-my b-body moved on it's own, i swear. I swear. H-he's not a god! I d-don't love him!
''Y-you dare! This is the Zhan estate, not-''
Booom!
A red mist covers the place where Patriarch's head used to be. The only other voice in the courtyard of madness....is now gone.
W-what? What happened? I can't see his head... Is it gone? I-is it really gone?!
''That's better.''
The chilling voice speaks again, b-but from where? Where is the go- No! T-the intruder. Where is the intruder?
He's right there~ Can't you see? He's looking at you~
L-looking at me? No...I...I can't find him...He's gone...
''As for the rest of you...''
R-rest of us? Who is us? Us? Is me us? I d-don't want to.
You... He's talking about you... Yes~
Please. Please. Please....
I want death. I want nothing. Anything but this.
''I wish you all have a pleasant night.''
I-it's gone? Just like that? No...no it's not gone...I- i feel it. I-it's inside of me. No...NO!!!
Before i know it, a smile creeps on my face. My tears flowing, but my lips can't help but smile from the utter despair.
Die...Death...Murder...Yes... Die...Die...JUST DIE!!!
Let me die...Let me die...Let me die...
.
.
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[STATUS]
[Name: Han Ye]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Terror Manifestation Realm - Late Stage ▸ Qi condensation - Early Stage]
[Fear Points: 2 538]
[Trauma: +517/day]
[Fear Points needed for the next stage: 6 000]
[Techniques: Shadowless Step, Thousand Faces Arts (incomplete), Silent Pulse Breathing, Crow Shroud Technique]
Authors note: If you're enjoying the novel so far, please add it to your collections! Every single one goes a long way. Honest review will be Great too!
Powerstones: If we can reach 70 power stones in a week, I will make one more chapter a day for 1 week. Let's do it!