Ginza! Ikebukuro! Shibuya! Akihabara!

Overnight, Sekiro’s figure appeared in all the major commercial districts of Higashitsu!

Although not many in number, the spots they occupied were increasingly eye-catching!

Especially!

When the vertical posters of Sekiro appeared on the video game building funded by Komera!

All players worldwide were jaw-dropped by this shocking sight!

‘?’

‘Holy crap, it’s fierce! I just saw the Sekiro poster hanging under the KOMINA sign…’

‘What the hell…?’

‘No way… Honestly, this is ridiculously impressive!’

‘Oh—I get it! Little Yellow’s “Yellow” is actually “yellow-haired”!’

‘Lol! That’s hilarious hahahahahaha!’

‘How is this any different from putting a cheating photo on the victim’s front door?’

‘@Gu Sheng Sam, you really get it, Old Thief!’

‘Damn! I’m seriously shocked! I declare this the biggest betrayal in gaming history!’

‘This poster will probably become legendary hahahahaha…’

‘Too outrageous… I almost thought it was photoshopped…’

‘Hahaha, too funny…’

Indeed!

Moriya Tetsuya’s premonition was absolutely right.

Golden Wind’s continuous defeats and full retreat in the overseas publicity battle were all to prepare for the “horse’s charge into Higashitsu”!

Just as Moriya said before.

No matter how many tricks or flashy moves both sides used, or what kind of promotional methods they adopted,

In the end, both sides would inevitably return to the theme of “games” and the place “Higashitsu” for a final showdown!

Yes.

From the very start!

Gu Sheng had already targeted Higashitsu as the battleground.

To gain enough attention at the gaming festival, promoting in Higashitsu was absolutely essential.

But the problem was that nearly all the promotional channels in Higashitsu were tightly controlled by Komera.

Therefore, Gu Sheng and the senior executives of Golden Wind discussed and finally decided on a surrounding and dividing tactic.

First, attack Komera’s overseas market to erode and absorb their overseas strongholds, forcing them to split their forces to deal with Golden Wind’s publicity.

Then, while Komera was busy putting out fires and cleaning up the overseas mess, launch a lightning strike, gathering funds and connections to launch a focused breakthrough attack on Higashitsu!

News spread.

Chaos broke out inside Komera!

President Uekoe Kagemasa was furious and immediately ordered the removal of the Sekiro promotional poster on Komera’s building!

However, Golden Wind’s momentum advancing into Higashitsu was already unstoppable!

Because the Higashitsu Gaming Festival.

Had arrived!!!

……

“Gathering gaming news, focusing on what players love. Hello everyone, I’m Tian Tian, reporter for Daily Gaming News!”

Three days later!

Amidst the raging heated discussions!

In the face of competing publicity forces!

Neon!

Higashitsu!

Outside Exhibition Hall 1 at the International Exhibition Center, the crowd swarmed!

At this moment, outside the over 160,000 square meters massive venue, game enthusiasts of all races and languages from all corners of the world gathered to join this grand event!

Amidst the roaring crowd!

Tian Tian’s voice was excited and energetic, raising it to address the camera:

“As you can see, I am currently standing outside the door of the Higashitsu International Exhibition Center,”

“According to reports, compared to the last event, there are more participating companies this time, with nearly seven hundred and twenty game developers worldwide joining,”

“At the same time, over two hundred thousand game players and global gaming media will gather here to celebrate!”

At this,

Tian Tian paused slightly, then continued:

“This gaming festival features not only super-large companies like Neon Komera and American Yunwei Weiwangdi,”

“But also large Chinese companies such as Nuyan, Zhenting, and Guangyao Games, who will release their annual flagship titles,”

“Of course!”

“Among the many Chinese companies, the most watched by everyone is naturally Golden Wind,”

“I believe the viewers who have been following our live stream have already seen,”

“Now in the prominent advertising zones of Higashitsu’s major commercial districts, you can see traces of two games: Sekiro and Torii,”

“These two games have been dubbed ‘the hottest two projects at this gaming festival’ by domestic and international media,”

“Torii’s new-generation FPS design language is eye-catching,”

“While Sekiro, with multiple halos and an overwhelming publicity campaign, has become the target experience for all kinds of players and media,”

“So, which is better? What are the pros and cons of these two games? We are about to reveal…”

Meanwhile!

In the noisy, crowded queue, a golden metal pole extended, holding a small wireless GoPro at the front.

The owner of the GoPro, wearing a baseball cap, greeted the viewers on camera:

“Hello friends! As you can see! I’m here live at the Higashitsu Gaming Festival!”

This person looked about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, young, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, sporting a stylish beard.

Indeed!

This was streamer Pew, returning once again to the gaming festival!

The chat barrage was as noisy as the crowd—

‘I heard there are quite a few horror games this time’

‘Pew will definitely try them all (evil grin)’

‘The first experience should be Torii, since that’s Komera’s suspenseful 3S-level FPS masterpiece’

‘Hope to get to play Sekiro earlier’

‘Sekiro is so mysterious, we still don’t even know what kind of game it is’

‘Look at Sekiro!’

‘Look at Torii!’

‘Look at Sekiro…’

For a time, the viewers in the live stream split into two camps, some eager to unveil Sekiro’s mysterious gameplay first,

Others wanting to experience Torii’s new FPS charm vicariously.

“All right, all right friends,”

Seeing the heated debate in the chat, Pew hurriedly waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop arguing:

“After all—where I should go doesn’t seem to be up to me.”

Speaking,

Pew rotated the GoPro.

Around him, countless players jostled shoulder to shoulder, and fans surrounded him like a tide.

Pew even suspected that even if his feet lifted off the ground, his body wouldn’t fall.

At that moment.

Just as Pew finished speaking!

Suddenly, from near the front of the queue close to the exhibition hall entrance, an excited shout burst out!

Then, the tightly packed crowd surged like a tide in an instant.

Pew also shouted excitedly, raising the GoPro to live stream this spectacular scene—

“The zombie horde is coming—!!!”

Opening!!!

……

Once inside the door!

The comfortable warm air from the climate-controlled ventilation hit the face!

As Tian Tian introduced, the two major exhibitors directly facing the entrance stood like gatekeepers, grand and imposing!

“…Everyone can see, on our left side, with an overall white and green color scheme, is the Yunwei Weiwangdi booth,”

Tian Tian introduced:

“This time, Yunwei also brought two major titles, one focusing on multiplayer shooting, the other a racing game, targeting Komera’s Hotspot Rally: Return.”

Then.

The camera panned over the dense crowd, turning to the other side’s red and white Komera booth.

“As for this side, it’s naturally Komera’s booth,”

Tian Tian introduced:

“This time Komera brought not only the Hotspot Rally and Wild Dunk EX we just mentioned,”

“But their most important project is of course the 3S-level shooting masterpiece ‘Torii: Phantom Shadow’ with over 200 million dollars invested!”

At this moment.

On Komera’s huge display screen, a promotional video started playing.

Yes, generally speaking, game expos differ from industry conferences like GDC.

At expos, companies battle independently, usually without long speeches, mostly relying on auto-play trailers for promotion.

If they want to attract players’ attention, they might put on short, fast-paced singing or dancing shows, or hold lottery events.

The goal is to keep players around and showcase their games.

But for a giant like Komera, singing and lotteries are beneath them.

With strong early publicity, they don’t need special recruitment tricks.

Just a brief trailer and countless players and media swarm over.

And indeed, that’s exactly what happened.

Especially when players and media saw the name Torii: Phantom Shadow on the screen!

A light cheer instantly rose near the booth!

People surged forward, surrounding the booth and standing on tiptoes to watch the huge screen.

Then!

The screen lit up, showing a first-person perspective of the protagonist standing on a neon-lit street, the ground wet as if it had just rained.

A voiceover began—

[During Torii’s development, we adopted the world’s most advanced Phoenix-2 engine]

[Whether it’s the overall presentation or fine details, we strive for perfection]

The game protagonist began to move.

Footsteps splashed on the wet ground, stirring water droplets.

Small puddles rippled, distorting the reflected neon lights.

Besides that.

The delicate rain, the dynamic movement of plants, even the protagonist’s palm lines and fine arm hair…

It was clear that Komera pursued perfection in visual details, pushing industrial capability to the highest level, aiming to immerse players in the motion-sensing pod.

[As for gameplay]

Amid light cheers, the voiceover continued:

[Players will no longer rely on firearms but instead use exorcism powers]

With the voiceover,

The protagonist approached two faceless men holding umbrellas.

Hand forming seals, green energy waves formed in the palm.

At this moment, the two ghosts noticed the protagonist and roared as they charged.

“Ha—!”

With a sharp shout, the protagonist’s green energy transformed into wind blades, instantly sweeping the two faceless men away.

Then, stepping forward, hands changed seals again, energy waves turned blue, and with a push of both palms, countless raindrops like needles struck the monsters, staggering them.

Taking advantage, the protagonist formed seals again, golden energy gathered into two threads, binding the monsters and pulling them close.

At the same time, the right hand pierced the two ghosts’ chests!

Bang!

The crystal cores in their chests were crushed, and the two faceless men turned to ashes, dissipating in smoke.

“Whoa—”

As the live demo proceeded, the gathered players gave light cheers and discussed—

‘So cool…’

‘The visuals are truly top-notch, combined with this fresh seal-making technique, it looks really good’

‘Industrial level is high, this graphics can be called world-class’

‘Seems like wind, thunder, water, fire, earth—these spells have attributes’

‘Being an onmyoji in a motion-sensing pod, hmm, interesting’

‘But this combat… looks a bit boring…’

‘Indeed, monster aggression is too low’

‘Flashy but looks like a standard main quest + side quest structure’

‘The atmosphere is pretty good though…’

‘…’

Players watched Torii’s live demo, sharing opinions, with many queuing to try it.

High-quality game industry standards combined with a fresh “alternative” shooting experience.

Players stopped to watch, light cheers occasionally breaking out.

Especially when the in-game mini-boss— a suited man holding a hammer with one hand and an umbrella with the other— appeared.

Dazzling spells and the suit man’s heavy hammer attacks earned approving nods from players.

Especially when the protagonist’s energy bar filled, unleashing a fiery spell blast, sparking a small climax around the booth.

Innovation was Torii’s selling point.

Glamour was its feature.

“…Hmm, it’s obvious that everyone recognizes the quality of Komera’s Torii,”

After watching a while, Tian Tian said:

“World-class visuals combined with innovative attack settings truly refresh the mind. I believe…”

Just as these words were spoken!

Suddenly!

From behind the Komera booth.

A piercing, crisp metallic clang erupted suddenly!

[Clang!!!]

Because Torii was currently showing the “stealth kill” segment, the overall volume was low.

This made the sharp metallic clang from behind the booth especially attention-grabbing!

Tian Tian was stunned!

Players near Komera’s booth all turned their heads to look.

Then!

One after another, loud metallic clangs rang out, like hammering iron, like warriors dueling—

[Cling! Cling! Tang! Clang—!!!]

Strong! Crisp! Bright!

Then!

Screams and shouts exploded from the direction of the hammering sound, a huge commotion!!!

“OHHHHHH—!!!”

“Oh my fvking goooooooood!”

“Damn? Damn! Da—mn—!”

“DNM Old Thief—!”

“…”

The sudden uproar in the venue startled Tian Tian, who leaned over to see what was going on and exchanged a shocked glance with the cameraman!

Both saw disbelief in each other’s eyes.

What’s going on?!

Sounds like the game over there…

Exploded?!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com