So Damn Scary, I Almost Didn't Outrun It
Inside a privately Construction Space, in the attic of Bell Tower.
As more and more people cleared the dungeon of the Construction Club, more and more posts criticizing them appeared, leaving the six people present somewhat overwhelmed.
wrong.
Five people.
After making those insect-like remarks, the female leader never came back, probably because she was a little annoyed.
However, if she doesn't come, the others can't not come.
Because the leaders of these amateur Builder Group all received a preview of that version update.
Do you think they're envious of that reward?
be envious.
However, the reason why he rushed to log into the dungeon after hearing what the leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group said was not only for the vague reward, but also to change the status quo.
Ever since the Goddess Intervention and took back the Architect's pricing power over dungeons.
These independent Builder Group are finding it increasingly difficult to survive; the entrance fees for various dungeons are now only in the single digits, and nobody wants to enter them.
Lu Xiu's three copies are like an insurmountable mountain, standing firmly over the heads of all folk Architect.
These three mountains stand there, not only blocking their path of deception and fraud, but also like a merciless mirror, reflecting their current ugliness and depravity.
In fact, the people in the attic did indeed step into the gray area without hesitation in order to earn Survival Points and survive in this cruel gamified world, even exploiting and scheming against players as expendable Consumable.
But when they first became Architect, they also harbored a certain ambition and pride.
Who wouldn't want their self-built dungeon to amaze countless players? Who wouldn't want to be praised by other players on the forums?
But later they discovered that seriously completing dungeons was too difficult, and another way to earn Survival Points was too fast.
So they chose to compromise, choosing to be parasites hiding in the gutter, comfortably sucking blood.
They had long been accustomed to the stench of decay in the shadows, even numbing each other by saying that this was the Truth of survival, and that everyone did it this way.
But now, Lu Xiu has appeared.
She actually succeeded!
Success!
Without any tricks or manipulation of the rules, they earned money honestly and fairly, relying solely on the pure quality of their dungeons and amazing rewards, making all the major powers envious!
This attitude of meticulously Constructed Instance to pave the way to success is truly dazzling.
The blinding light struck unexpectedly, making those who had long lived in darkness, their backs to the sun, feel utterly exposed.
Who wouldn't want to be that kind of person?
He was highly sought after and treated as an honored guest by the Coordination Bureau.
Instead of being treated like rats in the street, with players pointing fingers and calling them beasts and scum.
That's why they were so eager to imitate Resident Evil this time, wanting to take advantage of the new version to transform their business, and wanting to prove that they, as a group of veteran Architect, can actually create amazing and serious dungeons when they get serious.
result.
Reality slapped them hard across the face, delivering a resounding blow.
The posts criticizing them kept piling up, but none of the five people remaining in the attic closed their windows.
It's not that I don't want to turn it off, it's that turning it off makes me feel even worse.
At least watching those insults tells me that someone cares, someone sees it, and even insults are better than being ignored.
only.
After looking at it for a while...
I'm really a little angry.
Why should I?!
Why are they all the same dungeons?! One of them even got an S-rank rating! They're exactly like Resident Evil!
But in their words, every single point seemed to be wrong, with nothing to offer.
Is it really completely devoid of any redeeming qualities?
There are only so many elements that can be created within the same framework!
Why can't you just offer a word of praise?
Even just one sentence!
The second hand outside the Bell Tower continued to tick.
"Why should I!"
The leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group searched through countless posts on the forum.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find a single post that praised him.
The only thing that barely makes it in comparison is the cheap ticket price.
Tickets are cheap!
This finally made him unable to hold back any longer.
The others were drawn to his sudden roar and looked up.
"Even if it's imitation, the recipe is the same! Why can't I even get a word of acknowledgment!"
The leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group was panting. Even though his face was obscured, one could sense his intense resentment and anger. "We're all within the same framework, we've exhausted every possible element! Why can't we even get a kind word from them!"
When there is a huge gap between expectations and reality.
When you get used to taking shortcuts, and finally put in the effort together seriously, this is the result you get.
He lost his composure.
"What do these people know about Constructed Instance?! They know nothing!"
The voice of the leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group echoed in the attic, hoarse. "Do they think Constructed Instance is child's play? They probably can't even build a scene themselves! What right do they have to criticize and nitpick here! Lu Xiu's work is a treasure, but what we make using the same framework is garbage?"
"A bunch of idiots who only know how to follow the crowd! Useless parrots!"
After the roar...
He grew angrier the more he thought about it.
"And that Lu Xiu! Do they really think of her as an omnipotent goddess?!"
The leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group clenched his fists, staring intently at the forum before him, his breathing becoming increasingly labored. "A bunch of ignorant idiots! The framework and limits of horror-themed dungeons are already set! Darkness, oppression, resource scarcity, and terrifying surprises around every corner—these elements have been completely exhausted by Resident Evil! This is the limit!"
As they talked...
He seemed to have grasped some Truth that could prove he wasn't so bad after all. "Don't they even use their brains? Why did Lu Xiu immediately go on to make Sekiro and Titanfall after Resident Evil? Why didn't she continue making horror games?"
"Isn't it because she herself knows that within the framework of the horror dungeon, she's already done her best?"
"Isn't it because she knows that even if she does it herself, the same trick will be used in every other horror game!"
Aside from what she's already done, can't she conjure up anything new? What are these idiot players complaining about?!
He spoke louder and louder.
His hysterical roars echoed in the attic.
Does he really think his copy is flawless?
No, he's not blind.
However, when he mustered the courage to try to wash away the stench of the sewers and want to touch that light with dignity, reality kicked him back into the mud and trampled him underfoot.
This feeling of being completely rejected—it hurts, it hurts so much.
The other four people sat in the shadows, and no one responded or argued back.
They remained silent.
This deathly silence is, in fact, a form of acceptance.
Their mindset at this moment is exactly the same as that of the leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group.
After a while.
"I also----"
Finally, someone spoke up.
But as soon as he spoke, the communication interfaces of the five people present all popped up.
The group of people were taken aback.
Then open them together.
Immediately afterwards, a message from an external member, along with a system announcement pushed out by the system projection, appeared directly in front of them.
It was as if they were being mocked.
[Unofficial Dungeon - New Item Launch Preview]
[Architect: Lu Xiu]
[Instance Name: Outlast]
[Genre: Horror/Stealth/Survival]
"
The leader of the Spirit Pivot Construction Group, who had just been trying to convince himself with the framework limit theory, suddenly caught his breath, his gaze fixed on the line [Type: Horror/Stealth/Survival], his eyes instantly turning bloodshot.
I almost had a brain hemorrhage.
At the same time.
Chen Capital.
Dungeon Resource Management Division.
Sun Yi and Feng Yan were sitting next to each other, refining their respective design plans for the simulated version of the game.
The two of them did take Shen Nian's words to heart.
Without significantly altering the plot, the two couldn't really think of a better theme than "the Ordinary Person's Courage."
However, if they were to drastically change the plot, they would have no idea how to present a Resident Evil story within a completely new framework.
"Ah----"
The tall Sun Yi leaned back in his chair, sprawling out. "This is simply impossible to accomplish overnight. Do we have to rewrite the entire horror framework, starting from scratch, to fit a relatable theme and setting? Do we have to change it to a more expansive setting? How do we do that? Lu Xiu has already perfected this genre!"
The chubby man Feng Yan, also stopped what he was doing, sighed with a bitter face, and said, "Yeah."
Unlike those Builder Group that are purely in it for the money, they were Architect officially recruited by the Coordination Bureau and Coordination.
There wasn't such strong resentment.
However, knowing the problem is one thing, and knowing how to solve it is another.
Knowing that [Resident Evil] is good, and being able to create [Resident Evil], feel like there's a hundred brains between them.
But seriously----
Sun Yi stared at the rejected drafts on the screen, a hint of resentment still lingering in his eyes. Remembering what had happened before, he still felt a bit resentful, saying, "Even if we didn't do a good job, Miss Shen Nian saying we didn't even have one-tenth of Lu Xiu's ability is too much of an exaggeration! We at least recreated that eerie and terrifying atmosphere; if not seventy percent, then at least three or four tenths, right?"
"There's nothing we can do; they were the first to do it, so there must have been some filters involved."
Feng Yan leaned back in his chair, twirled the pen in his hand, and muttered, "Actually, the tricks of horror-themed dungeons are pretty much the same. I really hope Lu Xiu can create another horror dungeon to demonstrate. Let that Miss Shen Nian see that, in the same genre, the methods used are actually quite similar."
Even if she got a perfect score of 100, we should at least get a passing score of 50 or 60, how could we possibly get less than 10%?
Sun Yi nodded. "Yes, it would be great if Lu Xiu could produce another one, so everyone could see it, but that's unlikely—"
But he had barely finished speaking.
suddenly.
A commotion broke out on the east side of the office area.
Immediately afterwards, a discussion arose from the workstations not far away.
"Cough cough cough! Holy crap!"
What's going on?
"Really?! That fast?"
A commotion instantly erupted in the office area, with many colleagues standing up, their faces filled with disbelief.
Sun Yi and Feng Yan exchanged a glance, somewhat curious, and then stood up and went over, only to find that there was a system projection there.
Meanwhile, the system projection is previewing a new unofficial version of the story.
[Unofficial Dungeon - New Item Launch Preview]
[Instance Name: Outlast]
[Architect: Lu Xiu]
[Genre: Horror/Stealth/Survival]
Sun Yi and Feng Yan were both completely bewildered. "----?"
ah?
no.
Lu Xiu —Are you serious?!
At the same time.
The Coordination Bureau Strategy Group also received the news that all the top players at headquarters were gathered in front of the system projection.
This also includes Shen Nian and Jian Li.
Most top players were surprised when they saw the new product preview, especially considering the recent controversy surrounding the amateur Builder Group. Many even thought that Lu Xiu was doing it on purpose—to slap them in the face.
However, considering the release date of this instance...
Many people still can't believe it.
Jian Li remained expressionless, but her beautiful eyes lit up once more.
As for Shen Nian...
Shen Nian silently took a step back, shielding everyone in front of her, pretending to be invisible.
She recalled the idea that Lu Xiu had told her, and her delicate body trembled.
no.
Really do it.
And it was done so quickly!
Please, please, don't show any videos verifying your success in this game! If you do, please don't mention me! I feel like I'll get killed!
Shen Nian began to pray.
If the elites in these Coordination Bureau received the message, then other ordinary players must have received it as well.
At this critical juncture, seeing such a preview, not only did the elites of the Coordination Bureau feel that Lu Xiu was being slapped in the face, but ordinary players felt the same way.
On the forum.
The posts that were originally criticizing the Construction Club were instantly flooded with comments.
New posts flooded in like a burst dam.
[Huh? A new storyline for Lu Xiu? Like Resident Evil? This is going to be a slap in the face, isn't it? This is definitely going to be a slap in the face!]
[Hahahaha, this has to be a slap in the face! Otherwise, the timing is too coincidental! Those lousy Construction Club just started to emerge, and Lu Xiu directly released a dungeon with the same theme. Isn't this a slap in the face?!]
[Holy crap, are they personally getting involved in regulating the market? But now I'm a little hesitant to enter.----]
[Yeah, that crappy S-rank dungeon from the previous Builder Group gave a 20% kneeling speed boost, it was just plain annoying—I wonder what the rewards will be for Lu Xiu's second run of a similar dungeon.]
I don't know, but it shouldn't be garbage, right?
[Hard to say, let's wait for the dungeon to be released. I'm a bit traumatized by these kinds of horror dungeons now, mainly because the dungeons Construction Club are so bad. I'm a little afraid of Lu Xiu's dungeon too... I remember the system announcement said they'd show gameplay footage to verify the completion, right? Let's wait and see.]
[Yeah, let's wait and see!]
[----]
As someone brought up the previous copy.
Many players recalled the grand occasion when the Titanfall Instance was first announced.
They gathered in front of the system projection, rubbing their hands together, holding their breath, and waiting for the system to play a video of Lu Xiu himself verifying his success, just like it did with Titanfall, so that they could get a glimpse of the dungeon's details and rewards in advance.
However.
A minute passed.
Five minutes passed.
Ten minutes passed.
However, the system projection still did not show the scene of Lu Xiu personally verifying the completion of the dungeon.
This time, the trailer seems to consist of only a few lines of dry text.
This disappointed many players, who had hoped to get a glimpse of the whole picture.
Actually, the system does want to play it.
But someone ran way too fast, it was so inhuman, there was absolutely no suitable clip to broadcast.
"Call."
Lu Xiu, slightly out of breath, gently patted her chest. "That was really scary, I almost couldn't run away."
Less than three hours.
The Architect had simply run through the entire game without suffering any damage except for the performance, adopted a smug attitude, as if he had survived a catastrophe.
[----]
A system window pops up.
This time the system started at zero frames, so I'll just say ellipses.
Lu Xiu rolled her eyes and ignored her.
Two seconds later.
[Dear Architect! You have successfully completed the dungeon you constructed. Congratulations!]
[System is generating clearance rating 1]
[Comment: What flew by? Are you doing parkour here?]
[Evaluation Summary: You've proven from your own experience that as long as you run fast enough, any elaborately designed horror plot will lose its effect. But who would run an obstacle course in a horror instance? Perhaps only you, you really are----]
A brief pause.
A new window pops up.
[Instance Completion: 100%]
[Overall Customs Clearance Rating: SSS]
[Please check the settlement page for related rewards]
[Automatic teleportation in 60 seconds]
"Pah! More of that sarcastic talk!"
Lu Xiu stretched her slightly sore shoulders and said matter-of-factly, "If you can't fight the enemy to Outlast, the only way to survive is to hide or run away. Is there a problem with me running? Is there a problem with Architect understanding their own instance? Is there a problem with running a little faster?"
No! If you don't like it, don't play!