Seeing the temperature of the character slowly returning to normal upon changing its clothes — making the moderate hypothermia change into a mild one, causing its reducing health to slow down to 0.5% per minute...
Clark, understanding that staying further in the room would increase the chances of his exposure, hurriedly yet meticulously approached the entrance of the room.
Crouching before cautiously peeking toward the depths of the second floor.
Creak~
Simultaneously, just after the character's head peeked through the edge of the almost broken door, toward the direction of the next room, the chilling sight of the back of the abomination, unfolding its oddly shaped spine that was seemingly about to burst from its body, reflected on the dim screen...
Causing Clark's body hair to stand on end as he suddenly froze in his movement, seemingly forgetting to control the character as he just stared at the abomination opening the door to the 3rd room.
Staring at the leaking, decapitated head it was holding in repulsion, making his stomach churn.
Thud!
Soon, after the abomination entered the 3rd room, vanishing within the character's line of sight, Clark finally regained his senses. His eyes carried unprecedented confusion as he had no idea why his body suddenly acted that way.
Moreover, he also felt an uncontrollable sensation of panic arising within his mind upon seeing the complete silhouette of the abomination.
As if his instinct was screaming at him, reminding him that a simple movement of his might alert the other party, leading to the gruesome death of his character.
"I guess I've been really stressed these past few days, causing my body to react strangely.
"Fortunately, playing this horror game might help me vent the pressure that accumulated within my mind."
Brushing the uncomfortable sensation within his body. Clark used the opportunity presented in front of him to quietly sneak toward the staircase nearby, holding his breath before silently descending to the first floor.
...
Huff~
"It's only 10 minutes when I left the first floor..."
Looking at the three passages in the short distance—leading to the left wing, right wing, and toward the depths of the mansion where he had first seen the abomination...
Watching their respective space being shrouded by unnerving darkness, seemingly containing countless secrets that he didn't want to unveil, yet his curiosity made his mind unable to stop...
Clark, observing the three passages, couldn't help but fall silent. His dark eyes glanced behind him from time to time as he began to ponder which path he would take.
"The passage beneath the staircase should be excluded from the choices."
Remembering the grand appearance of the abomination earlier when the game had just started — exiting the passage beneath the staircase just to close the entrance of the mansion...
Clark knew that after the abomination found out that there was no human within the second floor, it would likely return and enter the path in the center. Hence, increasing the chances of death and exposure if he chose the said passage.
"As for the left and right wing of the mansion... since I'm already close to the left side, I should choose it.'
Already deciding which path he would take, Clark immediately took out the "Candle and Match" inside his inventory, holding them carefully in his hands before advancing forward.
Carefully and slowly, avoiding creating noise if possible.
...
[ Do you want to consume one matchstick in order to light up the candle? (Current matchstick left *24) ]
"Accept."
Soon, after entering the passage beside the right staircase. Clark immediately controlled the character to ignite one matchstick, instantly creating a momentary burst of flame that lasted for 3 seconds...
Followed by the resurgence of a weak flame that silently appeared within the tip of the candle, creating a weak glow that illuminated the short distance—bringing forth warmth to the character's being, causing its low temperature to start rising at a slow pace.
"As expected."
Seeing that the character's temperature returned to 33 degrees, slowly depriving its state of hypothermia, Clark couldn't help but unfold contemplation on his face.
Lightly glancing at the character's health resting at 69% before inspecting the surrounding area with cautiousness.
Preparing himself if something unexpected occurred.
"This."
Immediately, the sight of the seemingly unending corridor, obscured by pure darkness and filled with broken furniture, reflects within the dim screen, giving Clark an uncomfortable sensation even though he had no bathophobia (fear of endless hallways or corridors).
On the left side of the corridor, rows of broken arch windows, running until the end of the character sight—being covered in thick grime, dust, and gray moss in varying degrees—greeted Clark's eyes.
Their huge gaps unfold the depressing black-and-white scenery outside, showing the unceasing churning of clouds above the firmament and the intense rustling of countless trees on the far horizon.
"What a coincidence, the storm outside the dormitory and the storm within the horror game seem to look like the same..." Mumbling to himself with a light smile, Clark brushed the horrendous thought within his mind before gazing at the left side of the corridor.
Contrary to the chaotic left side of the corridor, the right side of the corridor remains serene, only showing rows of unending closed rooms within.
However, even though that was the case, Clark's expression changed upon seeing them. He couldn't help but remember the certain door on the second floor, feeling that he had developed a phobia of opening old doors.
Tsk- Tsk-
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, not hurried on searching the rooms for items and objects similar to inferior clover, Clark began controlling the character, slowly advancing toward the depths of the corridor while avoiding the fragment of glass scattered around the damp ground.
Fortunately, although the cold wind was continuously entering the place through the broken windows, the candle he was holding retained a glimmer of flame, enough to illuminate the short distance, allowing him to easily avoid the sharp glass and old pieces of furniture beneath.
"I wonder what would happen if I upgraded the candle and match a couple of times. Would they be able to ignite like a lightsaber?"