Chapter 1042: Tonight, Gehrman Joins the Hunt
A filthy transfusion bottle held a viscous, amber-yellow liquid. The bottle's exterior was caked with dried bloodstains, dust, and fine scratches.
A single drop of thick, deep-red blood, shimmering with a luster like molten wax, fell from above the bottle and mingled with the amber-yellow liquid.
The bloodstain slowly bloomed.
Diluted within that amber-yellow fluid, the blood drop did not turn a bright red, but instead became a deep crimson, almost black, like a single drop of ink mixed into clear water.
It spread slowly, spreading...
The blood moon hung low.
Bells tolled.
Victorian-era Gothic architecture, bathed in the crimson moonlight, appeared both mysterious and terrifying.
A few dim, yellow streetlights illuminated the chaotic streets and alleys, which were in complete disarray. An empty baby carriage sat abandoned in the middle of the street, ignored by all.
A low, raspy melody began to play. The cacophony of the orchestral strings further accentuated the oppressive atmosphere of the scene.
A lantern swayed.
An old man in a felt hat, lurking in the shadow of a lamppost, cast an ambiguous glance.
The bells tolled again.
A crowded tide of humanity, moving like mindless zombies.
Each person held a torch.
Each person clutched a butcher's knife.
This procession moved through the streets and alleys as if on patrol, oppressive and stifling.
A diseased hunting dog, its entire body covered in a blur of bloody flesh, looked like a pile of mud, still dripping black, putrid pus.
But in the next second, it became a corpse.
It was dragged into a dark alley by a serrated cleaver, its skull split open by the sharp teeth, and left there forever.
A soaring aria, accompanied by a gradually intensifying background score, seemed to lament this eternal night of the hunt.
The Hunter's right hand swung forcefully. The serrated cleaver, which had been folded, snapped open and slammed down viciously onto the zombie-like figures.
Under the cover of night, the slaughter continued.
Amidst the carnage, the Hunter raised a short-barreled blunderbuss, aiming it at the head of the last "survivor."
This "survivor's" face was already covered in bestial black fur. His teeth were sparse, his pupils were dilated, and in his cloudy irises and bloodshot eyes, there was no trace of any consciousness left.
"BANG!!"
A gunshot rang out, and the screen faded to black.
A stark white logo appeared in the center of the screen.
Bloodborne.
The blood moon in the sky hung low, seeming to descend further, as if about to touch the earth.
Beneath the blood moon, a lone Hunter stood, solitary and isolated.
"Yharnam is the home of blood ministration. You must unravel its mystery."
"But as an outsider, how can you possibly achieve this?"
"Simple. Just let a little Yharnam blood flow through your veins."
"No matter what happens, you will only perceive it as..."
"A nightmare."
Wandering crowds.
Burning corpses.
In a church filled with incense, bells rang out.
In the shadows, a figure frantically clutched its own throat, letting out a bestial roar.
Bloodthirsty beasts, ferocious werewolves, indescribable, terrifying creatures...
Master Willem sat in his wheelchair, his voice hoarse and despairing.
"We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood."
"Our eyes are yet to open..."
"Fear the Old Blood."
Amidst the eerie melody, the Hunter walked alone towards a frenzied beast.
"The night is filled with foul filth."
"The air is thick with the stench of decay."
"Consider carefully. You are prepared to indulge in slaughter."
A variety of different weapons.
A variety of ferocious monsters.
Beneath this blood moon, within this nightmare.
A hoarse voice whispered:
"Tonight, Gehrman joins the hunt."
...
...
This was a trailer brimming with violent aesthetics, with blood and terror that seeped into the very marrow of one's bones.
But for the players, they could glean much more from this trailer.
Same formula, same flavor.
Wasn't this just the exact same style as *Dark Souls*?!
Especially that scene of the Hunter maneuvering against a giant beast, it was filled with a strong sense of *Dark Souls* déjà vu.
No wonder the players' reactions were so intense after seeing this trailer; it clearly stirred up those painful memories.
But for the die-hard fans of *Dark Souls*, it was a feeling of genuine joy, to the point where they wanted to run out into the street and shout it three times.
A full three years had passed since the release of *Dark Souls*, and three years had done little to extinguish the players' passion for the game.
Although Chen Mo had since created universally acclaimed masterpieces like *The Last of Us*, *The Legend of Zelda*, and *GTA*, it had to be admitted that a certain group of players had a unique, unwavering love for *Dark Souls*.
Chen Mo had hinted on many occasions that the story of *Dark Souls* was over, and there would be no sequel.
But a large number of players still refused to give up. They speculated that the story after *Dark Souls* would likely emerge as an independent IP.
Even if the two stories themselves had no connection, the subsequent games would surely serve as a spiritual successor to *Dark Souls*, continuing this distinctively styled genre.
And now, the appearance of *Bloodborne* confirmed their suspicions. Although Chen Mo had never admitted it was a sequel to *Dark Souls*, nor acknowledged any plot connection between the two, regardless, the most authentic, original Souls-style combat had returned.
For *Dark Souls* players, they were incredibly fortunate. The matrix game pod remastered version of *Dark Souls* had just been released not long ago, and now another Souls-like game was coming out. It was practically a double blessing.
Although the matrix game pod remastered version of *Dark Souls* was fundamentally different from the original, many players still felt it had lost some of that initial shock, or perhaps... terror.
After all, as a game that had been played repeatedly for three years, *Dark Souls* had become a hack-and-slash plus parkour game for many players. What kept them playing now was nothing more than "nostalgia" or "faith."
What they didn't know was that when Chen Mo created the remastered version of *Dark Souls*, he hadn't actually "gone all out."
Because at that time, he hadn't unlocked a very crucial technology point: "consciousness implantation."
If someone were to truly soul-transmigrate into the world of *Dark Souls* or *Bloodborne*, who could guarantee that the player wouldn't have their SAN value plummet or have a close encounter with an Old One?
Compared to *Bloodborne*, *GTA* was as pure as a newborn baby.
So, when creating the remastered version of *Dark Souls*, Chen Mo deliberately held back a lot.
But now, with consciousness implantation, it could effectively eliminate the negative psychological effects of violence, anger, pain, fear, and sadness on the player during gameplay, ensuring that players wouldn't lose their SAN value while playing *Bloodborne*. This meant the time was ripe to release this game.