Chapter 517: He has developed Autonomous Coma Syndrome!!

Every horror film begins peacefully, as if to offer the audience a guarantee: "This film isn't scary, really, it isn't!"—luring unsuspecting viewers into continuing to watch with naive smiles.

The opening of *Ring* was just like that. Although the deep, dark sea at the start was a bit eerie, it wasn't enough to frighten this batch of seasoned horror-film-goers in the theater.

At this point, everyone's mood was still relaxed, and they even had the leisure to whisper to their friends about the potential plot developments.

Hirano Keinan, from the Supernatural Research Club, was one such viewer.

As a lucky winner of the ticket lottery, she had dragged her best friend along to watch this horror film, whispering snarky comments:

"What a cliché opening!"

"The atmosphere is just average, isn't it?"

When Tomoko, the character in the opening, began recounting the story of the eerie videotape, she confidently told her friend:

"One of them is definitely going to die next!"

Sitting right next to the two girls, Fukasaku Kinji was extremely annoyed. As a film director, even though he was deeply hostile toward Naoki Nagayama, he found it even more intolerable to watch people who weren't actually watching the movie.

He turned and glared fiercely at Hirano Keinan, using the stern authority of an elder to force the young girl to shut her mouth before he returned his attention to the film.

However, his own internal monologue couldn't help but start critiquing: "The idea of her turning into film stock when Tomoko dies is actually quite creative; I could use that in my next film.

Distorted photos? That's truly creepy; another good idea, it's mine now!

The transition music here is so frightening! How did they pull that off?"

But as the plot slowly unfolded, Fukasaku Kinji's internal commentary faded away, and he began to sink into the progression of the story.

After being glared at by the middle-aged man, Hirano Keinan finally watched the movie in silence.

However, the terrifying nature of *Ring* grew more bone-chilling as the plot developed.

"Ring-ring!"

In the calm, oppressive scene, the sudden ringing of the phone made Hirano Keinan jump. Watch the tape, answer the phone, and die in seven days!

She subconsciously gripped her friend's hand tightly, only to realize her friend was already clutching her arm just as hard.

On the screen, the television suddenly lit up, and from the dry well in the footage, a pale hand suddenly reached out!!!

Hirano Keinan took a deep breath, constantly reassuring herself:

"It's just a horror movie, it's all fake, it's not real!"

Still, she shifted her gaze slightly to soothe her frayed nerves.

Just then, she noticed Fukasaku Kinji beside her. The man's expression was solemn, devoid of any emotion, as if the images on the screen were nothing more than trivialities that couldn't move him in the slightest.

"He's truly impressive. If this uncle isn't scared, then I definitely shouldn't be either!"

She turned her head back to the big screen, just in time to see the female lead encounter the long-haired, white-clad Sadako.

"Ah!!!"

Screams erupted throughout the theater!

Naoki Nagayama felt quite helpless. Tanaka Yuko, sitting beside him, had also let out a small shriek and was now burying her face in her own arms, seemingly trying to shield herself.

"Yuko-san, you're the one who played the female lead in this movie... look, the lead has your own face!"

Tanaka Yuko whispered a rebuttal: "Naoki-san, stop talking! The lead is me... hearing you say that makes me even more terrified!"

Sigh. It was a mistake not to let Tanaka Yuko see it beforehand; even on her first viewing, she couldn't handle it.

Feeling a bit helpless, Naoki Nagayama shifted his focus. The theater screen was simply too large; even he didn't dare look directly at it.

As the plot continued, the female lead, Asakawa, having watched the tape three days prior, finally arrived at the volcanic island and began to uncover the truth about Sadako.

The audience followed the perspectives of the husband and wife, uncovering Sadako's story from over a decade ago. The more they learned about the past, the more they believed in the reality of the Yamamura Sadako figure.

The deathly atmosphere of Mount Mihara, the suicide-prone volcanic crater, and the gloomy, sinister mood all intensified the film's oppressive weight.

When the locations from the videotape were discovered, the audience's emotions fluctuated along with Asakawa's.

By the time the couple finally located Sadako's remains, everyone assumed the curse had been broken.

Little did they know, the true horror was only just beginning!

The plot officially entered its most terrifying segment!

Fukasaku Kinji's body stiffened slightly—a result of gripping the theater armrests too tightly. His hands were clenched so hard he felt as if he were leaving indentations in the wood!

"I underestimated Naoki Nagayama! The film is actually quite frightening!"

"But... they've already found the truth, so Sadako's curse should be over now!"

Fukasaku Kinji relaxed slightly, watching the couple return to the room.

As a man, Ryuji Takayama finally felt a weight lifted from his heart, believing he had finally protected his ex-wife and daughter. He sat in the living room, summarizing their experience, perhaps even thinking about what to write.

"Ring-ring!"

The phone in the room suddenly rang!!

The audience in the theater seemed to collectively gasp, falling into a sudden, deathly silence!

Fukasaku Kinji stiffened once more: "There's more?!"

Ryuji Takayama answered the phone with trembling hands; sure enough, there was only the sound of static, and he couldn't hear a thing!!

He hung up in a panic!

But!!

The television in the living room suddenly lit up!!

After a burst of static, the footage from the videotape appeared on the screen, and from the dry well, a pale figure slowly crawled up!!!

The television image instantly dominated the giant screen!!

Fukasaku Kinji stared at the magnified image, his hands gripping the armrests again, his mouth twitching slightly: "Heh, so there was one more instance here! It really is quite terrifying!"

On the big screen, Ryuji Takayama was terrified, seemingly wanting to turn off the TV, but he couldn't muster the strength!

The image on the TV grew larger and larger, and Sadako, crawling out of the well, leaned closer and closer to the screen!!!

Below, the ordinary viewer Hirano Keinan stared fixedly at the big screen, her body pressed hard against the back of her seat, her feet pushing off the floor as if she wanted to flee from the screen.

Her nerves grew tighter and tighter!!

On the big screen, Ryuji Takayama finally tried to escape, but even standing up took every ounce of his strength; his trembling legs were like noodles, and he had to lean against the window just to stay upright.

But by then, Sadako had already reached the outer glass of the TV!

The film's music grew increasingly frantic.

Sadako pressed against the glass screen!!

Her hand!! It reached out through the glass!!

Her head, covered by long hair!! It passed through the glass!!

Her pale body!! It crawled through the glass!!

Yamamura Sadako's terrifying, twisted figure slowly crawled out of the television!!!

Ryuji Takayama let out a wail of despair!

"Ah!!!" (xN)

The theater erupted in a synchronized scream; the men and women watching were all terrified by the scene!

The reporters Zhongxi Chitaro and Tsuji Naoto, who had come looking for a big scoop, were now clutching each other's hands like two little girls!

As for Fukasaku Kinji, his body went limp, and he tried to retreat but lacked the strength! His mouth hung slightly open, and he found it difficult to breathe!!

On the big screen, the plot continued; Ryuji Takayama, as if grabbing at a final straw, clutched the curtains...

But he fell anyway!

And Yamamura Sadako, slowly standing up in the dim light, was pale, twisted, and terrifying!!

She... slowly walked toward Ryuji Takayama, her head covered by her hair gradually coming into focus from the audience's perspective...

"Ah!"

Only a few short screams were heard, and Ryuji Takayama's life ended in absolute terror!!

And just then, the camera zoomed in rapidly, and Yamamura Sadako on the big screen suddenly turned her head—covered in black hair—toward the lens!!

She reached out her hand toward the audience!!!

With the simple naked-eye 3D effect, Sadako seemed ready to crawl right off the big screen!!

Such a terrifying image left the audience in the theater, who had been screaming in fear, momentarily speechless.

Fukasaku Kinji, who had been struggling with his weak legs, stopped breathing for a moment, as if the entire world had gone quiet.

After a long while, sound finally returned to his ears.

The director seemed to give up, his entire body collapsing into his seat, his eyes still fixed on the image on the big screen...

It seemed that once fear reached its absolute peak, one could no longer feel afraid.

Moreover, the chilly sensation he had felt earlier turned warm, and his lower body felt as if it were soaking in hot water—warm and comfortable.

Naoki Nagayama had closed his eyes at that exact moment; having edited it himself, he knew exactly where the scares were and didn't want to watch them again.

During the editing process for the naked-eye 3D, he had already been scared plenty of times.

However, Naoki Nagayama had forgotten to cover Tanaka Yuko's eyes. The young lady was now gripping his arm tightly, her entire body leaning against him.

She was muttering something, her eyes completely vacant!

"Are you okay?"

Naoki Nagayama gently patted her cheek, but she didn't respond at all... it was as if she had been "broken."

At this moment, if some pervert wanted to do something, Tanaka Yuko likely wouldn't resist at all.

But Naoki Nagayama wasn't that kind of person; worried that she had truly been frightened out of her wits, he resorted to the "Sha Wu Jing saving the Master" method and pinched her philtrum!

"Hmm? Naoki-san!" The young lady gasped for air and immediately grabbed the hand on her face.

Sure enough, the traditional method worked; after a firm pinch, Tanaka Yuko regained her senses.

"What are you doing?!"

"Haha, I thought you had fainted from fright," Naoki Nagayama laughed it off. "Are you alright?"

"..."

Tanaka Yuko calmed down and realized her heart had seemed to stop for a moment; it was now pounding rapidly, and despite the winter chill, she was covered in a thin layer of sweat.

"Let me recover for a moment..."

In the final segment of the plot, Asakawa discovered Ryuji Takayama's death and realized Sadako's curse hadn't ended.

Furthermore, in a dream, she saw Ryuji Takayama's ghost wearing a headscarf, pointing to a bag on the sofa—which contained the copied videotape.

She understood why she hadn't died after seven days: she had shown it to Ryuji Takayama... in other words, to survive, she had to show the tape to someone else!!!

Thus, for the sake of her own life and her daughter's, she decided to show the tape to her father...

At the end of the film, although there were still a few scary moments, compared to the most terrifying parts, this felt more like a way for the audience to slowly recover.

It was like a hundred-meter dash—you can't just sit down and rest immediately; you have to keep walking for a while.

As the film ended, the lights in the theater came back on.

Yet, the audience remained seated for a long time, the theater deathly silent.

After about ten minutes, the theater finally began to grow noisy.

Hayano Riko had been waiting outside for a long time, and noticing that the screening time had passed but no one was coming out, she walked in to check.

The viewers inside still looked a bit limp, but they were slowly regaining their spirits. Some of the younger ones had already begun discussing the film's terrifying scenes!

"Keinan-chan, that was truly a super scary movie!!!" Hirano Keinan's friend said. "I almost had a heart attack from fright!!"

Hirano Keinan nodded: "Yeah, yeah, it was like she was going to reach out of the screen!! It was too scary! I couldn't move at all, and my body still feels soft..."

"This movie is completely different from previous horror films!"

Hirano Keinan had also recovered a bit by now. For people who seek thrills like them, the feeling after being scared was one of total relaxation, as if their brains had been intensely massaged. After such strong stimulation, their spirits were calm, entering a state of "post-nut clarity."

She turned and looked around. Some people were already leaving, but the uncle sitting next to her remained completely still.

"Uncle, you're quite impressive! You weren't scared at all~"

Hirano Keinan said easily, "Excuse me, I'm heading out."

Fukasaku Kinji didn't respond; he remained limp, unable to even speak.

"Uncle?"

Seeing the man still didn't respond, she tapped him lightly, but he still didn't react!

"Something's wrong with this uncle!!"

Hirano Keinan and her friend immediately shouted: "Manager-san!! This uncle seems to be having a medical emergency!!! Help him, someone!!"

"Coming!"

Hayano Riko had been checking to see if anyone had been scared into a medical crisis. Hearing the commotion, she immediately responded and called the two security guards at the door: "Quick, help this gentleman to the ambulance!!"

The burly security guards walked over to the seat, grabbed him by the arms, and began to carry him toward the door.

The lobby was already crowded with media and reporters, as the press conference was about to be held there.

Zhongxi Chitaro and Tsuji Naoto, being young, had recovered quickly and were already in the lobby.

"Chitaro-san, that movie really was scary... it looks like there won't be any big news." Tsuji Naoto said.

Zhongxi Chitaro had no choice: "No way around it. Let's start recording; maybe there will be something interesting at the press conference."

Matsuzawa Shinnosuke was in a corner of the lobby, rubbing his weak legs: "Damn Naoki Nagayama, making me this scared... I'll unleash my fury during the press conference!"

Just then, a commotion erupted from the entrance of the screening hall:

"Make way, medical emergency!!"

They saw two security guards carrying a figure out.

Reporters have sharp eyes, and there were even reporters planted by Fukasaku Kinji himself, so they recognized him instantly:

"Is that... Director Fukasaku Kinji?!"

"Did Director Fukasaku come to watch Naoki Nagayama's movie too?"

"Why is he being carried? Ah... could he have been scared?!"

The reporters' minds rang like bells; this was a huge scoop!! In an instant, the sound of shutters clicking filled the air.

Fukasaku Kinji desperately wanted to cover his face, but with both arms held, he had no way to do so. He had to muster his spirit to try and argue his way out.

He forced his voice to be deep and addressed the nearest reporter:

"I just bumped my foot, that's all! It's just inconvenient to walk right now!!"

The surrounding reporters naturally heard him and instinctively looked at his feet...

Gray-white trousers, black leather shoes—his feet looked perfectly fine.

"Wait a minute!!!"

A reporter suddenly roared, causing the security guards to stop.

"Director Fukasaku, what's wrong with your pants?!"

"What's wrong?"

Fukasaku Kinji looked down at his own pants in surprise.

The eyes of the entire lobby turned toward Fukasaku Kinji's lower half.

There, on the inner thigh of his gray-white trousers, was a large, wet stain. Even though ten minutes had passed, it was clearly fresh...

A pale yellow watermark; those standing close could even smell a faint, fishy stench.

Fukasaku Kinji froze, and the reporters in the lobby fell silent...

After a long while,

A "click" of a camera flash broke the silence, followed by a continuous barrage of shutter sounds!!!

"Director Fukasaku, is that urine on your pants?"

"Director Fukasaku, did you lose control of your bladder?"

"Director Fukasaku, did you piss yourself from fright?!!"

Questions came one after another. The reporters, having caught a massive scoop, were like hyenas pouncing on prey, opening their bloody maws!!

Fukasaku Kinji's head buzzed; this was going to be a disaster!!

However, his instinct, honed over many years, kicked in to defend his reputation:

"Ah, it's just a drink I accidentally spilled on my pants."

"Me, scared to the point of pissing myself? How could that be?!"

"Don't talk nonsense! I'll sue you for defamation!!"

"Security, keep moving, why are you stopping..."

After saying a few words, he was blocked by more and more questions. In the dead of winter, large beads of sweat rolled down Fukasaku Kinji's head.

"Oh, my heart... I have a heart condition, I can't breathe..."

Fukasaku Kinji tilted his head and leaned against the security guard's shoulder, making the two guards, who were already struggling to move through the crowd of reporters, worry.

"Excuse me, the patient is in danger! Please clear the way!!"

"Move, move! The patient needs emergency care!!"

With things like this, the reporters naturally couldn't block the path anymore and had to clear a way for the security guards to get Fukasaku Kinji into the ambulance!

Zhongxi Chitaro grabbed Tsuji Naoto by the neck: "Did you get it? Did you record it?!! From the moment Fukasaku Kinji left the hall!!"

"Yes..." Tsuji Naoto gasped for air. "The camera was running the whole time."

"Haha, I told you there would be a big scoop!" Zhongxi Chitaro was ecstatic. "Wait a little longer, see if anyone else comes out. As soon as the press conference ends, we'll send the footage back to the station; we can broadcast it tonight!"

"Haha, we'll definitely be the first to break the news!!! Tsuji Naoto, our year-end bonuses are going to be huge!!"

"Yes!!!" Tsuji Naoto was also very excited.

After the security guards sent Fukasaku Kinji into the ambulance, they returned to the screening hall and carried out two or three more weak viewers, causing the reporters in the lobby to keep clicking their shutters.

Hayano Riko said to Naoki Nagayama: "Naoki-san, it looks like today's press conference is going to be very exciting."

"Haha, let's go~"

Inside the ambulance, the security guards had sent in another weak viewer.

The doctor on duty checked their blood pressure, pulse, heartbeat, and pupils as usual:

"Nothing serious, just a sudden emotional shock. Rest a bit, drink something hot, and you'll recover soon. Just sit here and rest for a while~"

"Yes, thank you."

The viewer noticed that there were already four people in the ambulance. Three were resting on the seats on either side, occasionally chatting, while one person lay in the middle, eyes closed, appearing to be unconscious.

"Doctor-san, this person is unconscious, shouldn't he be sent to the hospital?"

The doctor looked at the lying Fukasaku Kinji with a strange expression: "Him? He has developed Autonomous Coma Syndrome. Just let him rest there~"

"Autonomous Coma Syndrome?" The viewer was confused.

"Yes!" The doctor said with a straight face. "Anyway, don't disturb him~"

"Autonomous Coma Syndrome..." The viewer chewed on the words, his expression turning strange. "Isn't that just faking sleep!!"

But seeing the doctor make a "shh" gesture, the viewer swallowed the words he was about to say, and his gaze toward Fukasaku Kinji became even more peculiar.

A 6,000-character chapter. If I were thick-skinned enough to split it into two, I would have paid off my debt. But I'm not that kind of person... I expect there will be another chapter in the early hours of the morning~

(End of chapter)