Gamers all over the internet were fired up thanks to Legends of the Three Kingdoms and Fall Guys.
At the Gameplay Expo, you could see groups of regular players playing both games together across all the booths.
But on the fifth day—the final day of the event—
Many players and game media outlets noticed something strange.
In front of the Nebula Games booth at Hall 6, everyone looked shocked.
"What the hell? Did they change the whole theme?"
"Holy crap, is this a trailer for Lucas's new game? Looks like it's not just Fall Guys and Legends of the Three Kingdoms anymore!"
"Is this a medieval-style game? That armor and greatsword look sick!"
"Finally! Finally there's a female character! But... why are her eyes covered?"
Over at the Nebula Games booth, all the Legends of the Three Kingdoms and Fall Guys posters had been replaced.
There was a black knight in a pointed iron helmet, chainmail under a black leather vest, a blood-red cape fluttering in the wind, holding a sword and shield, covered in dark armor.
A warrior riding an ancient dragon, armed with a dragon-slaying spear, looking like a king.
A bulky knight holding a huge saber like Guan Yu's.
Another knight with sword and shield, his armor shaped almost like an onion.
And finally, a blindfolded woman in a black robe, holding fire in her hands, wearing a white crown that covered her eyes.
At the same time, the brightly dressed Fall Guys cosplayers had turned into a group of people in all kinds of armor, holding weapons and shields. If this had been the scene on the first day of the event, it probably wouldn't have drawn much attention from players—because almost everyone was dressed like that.
But after four days of seeing Fall Guys cosplayers everywhere, players had gotten used to them. Now, with this sudden change, many players became even more curious.
Some players who had been at the Nebula Games booth on the first day also remembered something.
On that first day, Lucas had told them that there would be a big announcement on the last day.
So… did Nebula Games bring a brand-new major title?
Outside the booth, players formed layer after layer of crowds.
At this moment, Lucas finally stepped onto the stage. Looking at the players below, he smiled and said, "I believe many of you have already guessed."
"Yes, that's right. Today we have another piece of news for you—We've been secretly developing a major title that will be released on PC."
"Always pushing ourselves to break limits, always exploring every unknown mystery; now the fire is almost gone, yet no king is in sight—this will be a story about the flame and the ones who carry it."
"Please look forward to it."
As Lucas finished speaking, the crowd erupted into cheers at just the right moment.
Even some members of the media who happened to be in Hall 6 were shocked.
Nebula Games is making a major title?
So this was the real highlight of Nebula Games at the expo?
Were Legends of the Three Kingdoms and Fall Guys just appetizers?
Other game designers and companies at the event also looked completely pained.
Seriously!?
This is an expo!
An expo! Do you know what an expo is supposed to be?
Why is it that you, Nebula Games—no, you, Lucas—always pull stunts like this?
This is not supposed to be your personal game launch event!
Watching the massive crowd gather, everyone looked frustrated.
Even NetDragon and SkyNova's key people, who had been keeping a close eye on things, felt the same way.
Especially Marcus—he still hadn't recovered from the blow.
It wasn't supposed to be like this!
It really wasn't!
Where did things go wrong?
He was supposed to be the one in the spotlight!
Whether it was a big title or its promotion, why did the ending turn out differently?
But for the regular players, the past four days with Fall Guys and Legends of the Three Kingdoms had already fired them up completely.
If Lucas had announced this so-called new game on the first day, people might've just nodded and moved on.
But now, things were completely different.
The applause and cheers were like a tidal wave.
On the large LCD screen, which had been prepared in advance, a CG cutscene began playing—something that had been rushed to completion over the past two months with countless hours of overtime.
Unlike the simple cutscenes in the original Dark Souls, the content hadn't changed much, but the visual quality was on a whole different level.
After all, for this one short cutscene, Lucas had hired one of the top CG studios in the country. From the visuals alone, it was obvious that this was AAA-level work.
And because of the tight schedule, the CG studio had been working overtime almost every day—not that they were underpaid for it.
Just this less-than-three-minute CG cutscene had cost almost as much as the entire development budget of *Outlast*.
The screen faded to black. An old woman's voice began to speak.
[Yes, that is Lothric]
[The homeland of generations of Lords of Cinder, and the place where all wanderers gather]
As the old woman's weathered voice spoke, a ruined and desolate royal city slowly appeared on screen. Though now in decay, you could still faintly feel how grand and prosperous it must have been in its prime.
Under the dim light, a bitter cold wind swept up the swirling snow.
Gray dust shrouded the vast royal city, and the whole world was silent and lifeless.
[And so the pilgrims all head north, coming to understand the meaning of the legend]
In the heavy snowfall, a group of stooped figures, carrying turtle shell–like burdens bound with chains, leaned on walking sticks as they trudged forward against the biting wind.
Thick clothes wrapped their bodies tightly, but the bare arms exposed outside were black and cracked like burnt firewood, with faint spots of orange-red light glowing from within.
At last, one pilgrim could go no farther. He collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
[The fire is fading, yet no king is in sight]
A deep drumbeat began to sound, accompanied by the old woman's hoarse narration.
It was as if every player watching was drawn into this mysterious world, eager to know what kind of game, what kind of story, lay ahead.
[When the flame of inheritance fades, the bell will ring out, waking the ancient Lords of Cinder from their coffins]
With the heavy toll of the bell came the sound of violins, and a blend of male and female voices in solemn chant.
The scene cut instantly.
A massive coffin was pushed open. In a dark, deep underground cavern, countless black, viscous fluids surged and pulsed, and in their midst a crown could faintly be seen.
[Saint of the Deep — Aldrich, Devourer of Gods]
Amid coffins and piles of corpses, a group of armored soldiers holding greatswords slowly rose. Dark red cloaks, stained with blood, fluttered behind them in the wind.
[Abyss Watchers — The Undead Legion of Farron]
A giant cleaver slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. From a huge coffin, a massive figure like a small mountain slowly rose. On its armored arm that gripped the blade, cracks ran deep, with heat and flame seeping through.
With a thunderous roar, the giant's flames blazed again.
[The lonely ruler of the Profaned Capital — Yhorm the Giant]
As Yhorm's roar echoed, the chanting of male and female voices reached its peak.
With the violins in harmony, every player could feel something truly epic.
The next moment, all sound cut off.
The screen went dark, and the world fell silent.
The old woman's voice returned.
[In truth, kings will one day abandon their thrones, and the ashen ones will come in droves]
[They are nameless, unfit to be kindling, and cursed to be undead]
A pair of pale hands appeared on screen, slowly placing a blindfold, like a liquid black substance flowing from a candle, over their face. Then the camera pulled back as the woman slowly stood.
With silver-white hair, a black robe, and a tall, graceful figure, she looked like a saint.
[And so the ashen ones yearn so deeply for the flame]
In the dark, the fire still burned. The blindfolded woman turned, carrying a "body" in her arms, and walked forward slowly.
Finally, the screen faded to black. The game's title appeared in the center: "Dark Souls"
Below it, in small, almost unnoticeable text: Release date undecided.
(End of The Chapter)
---
Read +90 advanced chapters on my patre*n
patr eon.com/GustinaKamiya
Free Tier can read 3 advanced chapters
---