Chapter 91: The Fire is Fading, But Ava Has Disappeared
On the fifth day, the last day of the fair, many players and media outlets noticed something. In front of Nebula Games' booth, in Hall 6, many people were surprised.
"What's going on? Why has the style changed?"
"Damn! Is this a preview of Alex's new game? Not just Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics, but a new game!" "A medieval-style game? That armor and two-handed greatsword are cool!"
"Finally! Finally, a girl! But why is she blindfolded?"
At Nebula Games' booth, all the previous posters for Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys had been replaced.
A black knight, clad in a triangular, pointed iron helmet, a black leather vest wrapped in chainmail, and a scarlet cape fluttering in the wind, enveloped in a black cloak, held a sword and shield. A king-like warrior, wielding a sword and a dragon-hunting spear, rode an ancient dragon. A burly knight wielded a sword.
A knight wielded a sword and shield, wearing onion-shaped armor. A blind woman, dressed in a black robe and a white crown covering her eyes, held a flame.
Meanwhile, the previously colorful Fall Guys cosplayers transformed into a riot of armor, weapons, and shields. At the beginning of the exhibition, it would have been difficult to attract much attention, as everyone looked the same. But after four days of watching and listening to the Fall Guys cosplayers, many players had gotten used to them. This sudden change of style only piqued their curiosity.
Some of those who had arrived at Nebula Games' booth on the first day had some ideas. On the first day, Alex had told them that on the last day they would make an important announcement.
'Would Nebula Games bring a new blockbuster?'
Players outside the booth formed a huge, three-tiered circle. Then, Alex finally took the stage, looked at the audience, and smiled. "I'm sure many of you have already guessed."
"Yes, that's right. Today we have another piece of news for all of you. We have been secretly developing a blockbuster PC game."
"Constantly seeking self-improvement, constantly exploring all unknown mysteries. Now that the fire is about to die out and the king is nowhere to be seen, this will be a story of fire and its bearers."
"Stay tuned."
When Alex finished speaking, the players at the booth applauded enthusiastically. Even some media outlets that were at booth six were surprised. 'Is Nebula Games developing a blockbuster? Is this the highlight of Nebula Games' exhibition? Are Three Kingdoms Tactics and Fall Guys just appetizers?'
Similarly, game designers and developers at other booths were heartbroken.
'What the heck! This is a fair! A fair! Do they even know what a fair is? Why do you, Nebula Games and Alex, always have so many aces up your sleeve? This isn't a game launch for you!'
Seeing the countless players gathered, everyone was visibly annoyed. Even NetDragon and Aether Games, who had been keeping an eye on the situation. Especially Mark Stone, who still hadn't recovered from the shock.
'This shouldn't be! It shouldn't be! What went wrong? He was the one who started it all! Whether it was the blockbuster or the promotion, why was the final result so different?'
However, for the average player, the previous four days of Fall Guys and Three Kingdoms Tactics had already ignited their passion. If it had been the first day, Alex's announcement about the supposed new game would have been big news. But now, it was completely different.
Amidst thunderous applause and cheers. The prepared LCD screen displayed the computer-generated animation, completed during two months of overtime.
Unlike the simple scenes of Dark Souls, while the content remained unchanged, the visual aspect was undoubtedly on another level.
After all, Alex commissioned a prestigious national computer animation company to produce this simple scene, and the visual result was absolutely exceptional. To put it tritely, just by looking at it, it was clear that it was a top-notch production.
Additionally, due to time constraints, the computer animation company worked tirelessly and, of course, the pay was not low. The cost of this less than three-minute computer-generated animation almost rivaled the total development cost of Outlast.
The screen briefly went dark, and then an old woman's voice was heard:
"Yes, it's Lothric!"
"Home of generations of Lords of Cinder, a place where wanderers converge."
After the old woman's aged voice, a desolate and ruined royal city slowly appeared on the screen. Although it was now ruined, one could still vaguely perceive the prosperity it had possessed in its heyday.
Under the dim light, a biting wind swept snowflakes into a mist. A cloud of gray dust enveloped the vast royal city, and the world fell into absolute silence.
[Thus, the pilgrims headed north and understood the meaning of the parable.]
Amidst the intense snow, a group of hunched figures, with chains woven on their backs like turtle shells, staggered forward, leaning on crutches, as they gazed at the freezing wind and snow. Thick clothes covered their bodies, but their exposed arms were black and cracked like burnt firewood, with even faint reddish glimmers of light through them.
Finally, one of the pilgrims, unable to bear it any longer, collapsed to the ground, motionless.
[The fire is almost extinguished, but the king is nowhere to be seen.]
The dull drum roll gradually rose, accompanied by the old woman's melancholic narration. The countless players present felt as if they had entered a mysterious world, eager to discover what kind of game and story it was.
[When the flame of inheritance is extinguished, the bells will ring everywhere, awakening the ancient Lord of Cinder sleeping in his coffin.]
Accompanied by the muffled ringing of bells, a symphony of violins and the intermingled chants of soprano and tenor. The camera instantly changed.
A huge coffin opened, revealing a vast, dark, and viscous mass emerging from the gloomy underground caverns, a constant pulsation and agitation. A crown was vaguely glimpsed within.
[Abyssal Saint - Aldrich the Devourer of Gods]
Among the coffins and the mountain of corpses, a group of armored soldiers, wielding greatswords, slowly rose, their blood-stained crimson cloaks fluttering in the wind behind them.
[Watchers of the Abyss - Farron Undead]
A huge machete struck the ground, raising a cloud of dust. From inside the coffin, a mountain-like colossus slowly rose. Cracks appeared on the arm holding the machete, visible through the armor, and wisps of flames could be seen.
With a roar that shook heaven and earth, the flames within the giant rekindled.
[The Lonely King of the Sin City—Yhorm the Giant]
After Yhorm the Giant's roar, a mix of male and female tenor chants reached a crescendo. Accompanied by the violin melody, each performer experienced a sense of epic proportions.
But then, all sound abruptly ceased. The screen plunged into darkness and the world fell silent.
The old woman's voice resonated once more.
[Indeed, the king will finally abandon the throne, and the fireless ashes will pour out.]
[That is the nameless undead, cursed, unable to serve as kindling.]
A pair of white hands appeared on the screen, slowly placing the blindfold, which oozed a dark, liquid substance, over the candelabra. The camera pulled back, revealing the woman slowly rising. With her long silver hair, black robe, and tall figure, she looked like a saint.
[That is why the ashes yearn so much for the embers.]
The flames still burned in the darkness. The blindfolded woman turned, carrying a "corpse" and slowly advancing.
The screen finally went dark, and the game title appeared in the center: "Dark Souls."
Below, a line of small, less visible text read: "Release date to be determined."
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