Ghost House
I gave it some thought. The answer was clear. This time around, there was no choice but to search every single building one by one!
For a moment, the future looked bleak, but I quickly steeled myself. Steady progress is always the fastest way. If I tried any tricks and ended up lost, I'd just waste more time. Fine then—shall I start from the opposite side of the 1st Squad? No need to act all blatant anyway!
Decision made, I approached the nearest building. No signals whatsoever. I gave the outer wall a light tap with my fist, and it cracked right open. Hmm, definitely just a normal building. The surrounding signals were so chaotic that I checked it out, but my senses aren't that dull, apparently. With light steps, I headed to the next one.
This time, there was something like the faint buzz of flies. I poked it with a finger. Squish! The building was soft and squishy. And now it's bleeding like it hurts. Ugh... feels weird. Like it's sucking on something? But more than that, it felt filthy! Probably some instinctive trap preying on the urge to crave living blood... Fine, you can have it all!
I sprayed blood wildly from my finger. The thing had no idea it was signing its own death warrant as it slurped it up greedily. Bye-bye now!Splat! The building, dyed bright red, burst apart in an instant. Red liquid and chunks of flesh splattered everywhere. Of course, I deflected it all with blood tentacles I'd whipped up. Can't have flesh bits sticking everywhere—looks sloppy.
A feeling was coming over me. Long-range signals are tough, but up close, I could tell real buildings from fakes. Kinda like whack-a-mole. Except the moles are out in advance, and the size of small villas!
I picked up the pace a bit. For intact buildings, I just checked for signs of life. For the infested ones, I carefully blew them up with blood. Rinse and repeat, and soon I'd cleared all the outer buildings.
Hmm... looks like no one's out here. And the Infiltration Origin's reactions are weak too. As expected, the survivors must all be clustered inside. Which pretty much confirms my prediction that they're half-dead by now!
The deeper in I go, the more likely everything visible is made of its cells. Honestly, anyone surviving unscathed this long could've escaped the area ages ago. I headed straight inward.
I'd just taken one step down an alley when the signals spiked. Like all that before was just a warm-up. And it wasn't just signals—its presence was stirring everywhere. Sounds of something moving just beyond sight.
Yeah, almost got disappointed there. Looks like the prepared theme park starts now.
I scanned the terrain. On the surface, just ordinary ruins. But once you realize it's alive, it looks plenty suspicious. Clearly funneling toward a specific area. Humans would naturally follow the intact-looking paths over crumbling buildings and roads. But all the "intact" stuff? Part of its body. Surface hardened to mimic pavement, but I could see right through it.
I followed the path. Ignoring such a thoughtfully prepared road would be a betrayal to the Infiltration Origin!
A rock fell somewhere. Creaky hinge sounds timed to my footsteps. Guess this amusement park's theme is haunted house.
But hey, newbie operator, huh? A few sloppy mistakes. Ears, eyes, mouths protruding here and there. Kinda subtle at a distance—you might miss 'em... but not me! And that CCTV? Looks normal, but eyes blinking inside. Creepy as hell. Can't be helped—freshly opened park and all. Gotta enjoy the amateur charm too.
Following the guided path led to buildings that really drew the eye. How? Bloodstains and ID cards glittering in plain sight, like an invitation.
Never imagined it'd be this thoughtful. No need to make finding comrades this easy. Surprisingly considerate. I picked up the ID. Stranger, as expected. First time seeing the name or face. But that's not the point.
Leaving it right at the door like this? Gotta be an invite inside. I knocked on the door. And like it was waiting, it swung open on its own! (My eyes and ears caught the biometric motor whirring, but sure, let's say it opened itself!)
Inside, a cup of tea steaming like it'd just been brewed. Bulletproof vest draped obviously over a chair. Still warm...!
I stepped in without hesitation. Checked the cup's contents visually. Curious about the taste, I took a sip. Plain black tea?
Bang! The door slammed shut. My heart pounded. What's next? What's coming?!
Tension peaked. The building opened its eyes. From walls, floor, ceiling. Everything in sight started mutating.
Huh, kinda lame actually? Or am I just too strong? Horror needs that heart-pounding thrill... this feels premature.
I reached out. My arm turned red, sprouting a massive tentacle. Devour it all! Crunch—a huge, savage maw chomped the whole building. The structure blinked in apparent panic, eyes wide. But no use looking so pitiful—the train's left the station. I gave it a 2/10. You're out—try harder next time!
I tentacled the remnants and chewed them up. No power surge, sadly. An area-type cadaver's P.V. Virus concentrates in the core. This flesh is just scraps.
The surroundings got noisy. Infiltration Origin must be panicking. First customer like me? Experience is everything, pal. No trials, no reaching 6.0-stage perfection.
I pressed on. Felt the ground squish underfoot. Glanced down—tiny eyes sprouting along the path. Subtle tentacles tugging at my feet. Tsk, rude to a guest. Newbie operator doesn't know better, I guess. Take this! I stomped an eye pointedly. Blood squirted; the path rippled in pain. The wriggling tentacles subsided. Now I can focus again!
Back to checking buildings one by one. But reactions got weird. Try to open a door, railing collapses out of nowhere. Clear debris, door handle pops off. No choice—tentacle the door away and enter.
Hmm, blood everywhere. And what looks like human corpses. Picked up an arm-like thing. Super realistic, but faint signals mean it's flesh. Great prop—why no reaction? At least open an eye!
I stared desperately, but nothing. Boring. I left.
Now, a child's cry echoed. Terrain had shifted subtly. Instead of the original path, a new one prettily decorated with blood and flesh.
Instinct screamed: Infiltration Origin's masterpiece. But recent visitors? Only inspectors! Luring with baby cries? So obvious. Newbie limitations. But so much effort—rude not to follow. I headed down with high hopes.
Found bleeding inspectors instead of a kid. What? Expected at least a kid silhouette? Suddenly this friendly?
"No! Stay back! It's a trap...!" They desperately warned me, even while bleeding.
Inspectors, you're too flustered. A hooded girl in uniform in a place like this? Suspicious from the start, no?
The ground turned red instantly. Sharp teeth emerged savagely. Oho, gonna chomp from below? Felt the Infiltration Origin's resolve. Gotta show mine too...!
Special move: Not finger, but palm blood cannon! Max output, untested! My palm went fully red. I unleashed hyper-compressed blood.
BOOM!! Its massive maw scattered into red chunks before reaching me.
-Kieeeek!! The city screamed. More like the Origin's shriek. It has a mouth? Where? Or all the building mouths leaked it in shock? Whatever—time to meet survivors.
Thought they'd be done for, but limbs intact despite blood. Not that bad?
"Wha—huh?" Inspectors lost their words. Sinkhole in the floor—fair reaction. Plus buildings dropping mimicry: tentacles sprouting, eyes forming, rippling alive.
Terrifying for normals. But I'm here—relax!
I approached the spooked inspectors slowly. "Wh-who... who are you?" Tough question. Dark Knight suits nameless better.
"...Fuck."
One sighed in relief, tossing his gun. I arrived amid cheers.
Then I noticed: head felt light. Hood gone—shockwave? No biggie. Wearing a mask. Detachable bio-mask from blood! Spray to form, absorb to remove. Linked to nerves, mimics expressions. Wasn't planning to reveal, though.
I sighed inwardly, looking down. Inspectors started shivering hard. Their vibes could make music.
Suddenly, a gun aimed at me. Gonna shoot?Bang! No hesitation. Steady breathing—planned from start!
Bullet floated lazily. Didn't dodge. Hit mask, big shockwave. Yup, bio-round. Way stronger than normal bullets! (Never seen normal ones, but!)
"Fucking psycho...!" I tilted my head at the shooter, but reaction came elsewhere. An uncle type punched him wildly.
Ooh, infighting? "You nuts?! You're the psychos! Staring invites heaven's wrath?!"
Shooter counterpunched. No popcorn—pity. Uncles too hyped, ignoring the protagonist.
Hmm... what now? "Um, please...!" Uniformed woman clung to me. Wait, why cling? I'm a monster, y'know?
"My baby's here. Please, save him...!" Lady's lost it. Baby here? Hallucinating from stress. Get off!
"Crazy bitch?! What're you doing? That monster gets words?!" Shooter wouldn't calm. Time for a head tap.
Smooth move toward hyped uncle. "Wha—?" Thought I was fast; good reaction. Body can't keep up? Eat this. Enlarge blood hand, grab head, slam—face'd shred. Nah! Ultrahigh-speed noogie.
Warning: my noogies sting. Knockout level!
"Guhk...!" Uncle's eyes rolled white, collapsed.
"Quality..." All stared, mouths shut. Not what I wanted. Whatever—time to bolt!