Knife in Hand, Kill the Simp

In the commercial district, Ren Ze was taking Alice on a massive no-pay shopping spree.

After changing clothes, perhaps because of what she had gone through in The Hive, Alice had developed a fear of insufficient firepower. At the gun store, she picked out a shotgun, two submachine guns, two pistols, and several magazines.

As for Ren Ze, he merely looted a large number of coins from cash registers everywhere.

"Ren, honestly, who exactly are you? My memories have returned, but I have absolutely no recollection of you before the Hive incident. Why do you know so much about Umbrella Corporation? Can you tell me who you are?"

Seeing the earnest look on Alice's face, Ren Ze shrugged. "Honestly, Alice, I don't want to lie to you, but I really am just an ordinary person. Maybe I'm just a little stronger than most. Whether it was in the underground Hive facility back then or here, all I want is to survive—and, while I can, save more people."

"You know, there's one thing I'm certain of: this world is about to be destroyed, and Umbrella Corporation is the source of that destruction. Before long, Zombies will be running rampant across the world!"

"And the vast majority of ordinary people will either become food for Zombies or struggle miserably to survive in this apocalypse. But no one would believe this if I said it now. Umbrella Corporation might even launch a nuclear missile to cover it all up and erase everything here."

As he spoke, Ren Ze took Alice's hand and said seriously, "Maybe many people would think I'm crazy after hearing what I want to do. After all, aside from Raccoon City, the rest of the world is still peaceful. Umbrella Corporation is too powerful to be destroyed by just one or two people!"

"So, I really need companions! I need companions who can fight beside me all the way, people who can entrust their lives to each other."

Hearing Ren Ze's words, Alice did not pull her hand away. Back at the Hive facility in Raccoon City, during the time when she had lost her memory, Ren Ze had always stayed by her side and protected her, giving her an immense sense of security.

"I believe you. And I can feel that after being altered by the T-Virus, I'm no longer a normal person. You protected me before. Now, I'll protect you!"

Alice clasped Ren Ze's hand in return and smiled.

"What's the plan next?"

After the two had finished resting, Alice asked Ren Ze.

"Umbrella Corporation has probably sealed off all of Raccoon City by now. It wouldn't be hard for the two of us to get out, but I want to save someone!"

"Oh? Who?"

Alice asked curiously.

"Dr. Ashford, one of the key developers of the T-Virus. The T-Virus was originally created by Dr. Ashford to treat his daughter, but Umbrella Corporation stole his research and began developing biological weapons. Only by saving both him and his daughter, then finding a way to take over an Umbrella research facility, will he have a chance to develop a drug that can completely reverse the T-Virus..."

Ren Ze was still speaking when Alice suddenly dropped to her knees, clutching her right arm with a pained expression.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her like this, Ren Ze hurriedly crouched down and asked with concern.

"I... I think there's something inside my arm!"

Alice stared at her right arm in agony.

Ren Ze looked at Alice's right arm and saw something seemingly crawling upward beneath the skin.

At that moment, Alice remembered what had happened after she had separated from Ren Ze. Grabbing his arm, she said helplessly, "They increased the dose of T-Virus they injected into me. I don't know what kind of mutation has happened to my body. Maybe... maybe I'll become like those Zombies outside..."

Before Alice could finish, Ren Ze pulled her straight into his arms.

"It's okay. Don't worry. It's been so long already. If you were really going to turn into a Zombie, you wouldn't still be conscious now!"

Feeling Alice's helplessness and her terror at the thought of becoming a Zombie, Ren Ze held her tightly in his arms.

No amount of comforting words could give her more security than real action.

"How do you feel now?"

After a while, seeing that Alice had stopped trembling, Ren Ze asked softly.

Alice raised her head and saw the concern in Ren Ze's eyes. A genuine smile appeared on her face.

"I'm fine now!"

With someone caring for her so deeply, Alice felt a great warmth in her heart.

She stood up and moved her arm, then gave a bitter smile. "Although I won't become a Zombie, I don't know whether I can still be considered human. I can feel it—my strength, speed, and everything else have surpassed ordinary people by far. So, I..."

Before Alice could finish, Ren Ze laughed. "Isn't that a good thing?"

As he spoke, Ren Ze picked up an iron rod from the ground with one hand and casually twisted it into a spiral.

"I'm the same as you. My physical abilities are far beyond those of ordinary people!"

Seeing what Ren Ze had done, Alice was slightly surprised before smiling. "It seems no one is more suited to being companions than the two of us!"

"Something's not right!"

Sitting behind Ren Ze on the motorcycle, Alice held onto him with one arm while shooting the Zombies blocking their way.

As they passed a church, they suddenly heard roars and gunfire.

"Ren, there are living people in the church!"

Pointing toward the church in the distance, Alice spoke.

"Hold on to me!"

Before Alice could suggest saving them, Ren Ze called out to her from the front, then twisted the throttle and charged straight toward the church.

Inside the church.

Jill and the others were surrounded by three Lickers.

"I'm out of bullets!"

Jill stared at the Licker above the church and spoke softly to Peyton.

"Damn it, I'm out of bullets too!"

Peyton replied in a low voice.

"What... what should we do now?"

Terri trembled as she held up her DV camera and filmed the surroundings, her face filled with terror.

Just when everyone thought they were doomed, the roar of a motorcycle suddenly came from outside the window. Then a motorcycle burst through the window from midair and crashed inside.

With a sharp drift and sudden brake, the motorcycle came to a stop in the middle of the church.

At that moment, one of the Lickers could no longer hold back and lunged at them.

Jill saw a figure flicker before her eyes. In the darkness, a cold flash of blade light appeared, followed by a hum that tore through the air.

Then, the Licker that had pounced at them was beheaded in an instant!

Seeing the Licker's head fall before them, its long tongue still hanging out, Terri screamed in terror.

Ren Ze glanced back at Alice, and Alice immediately understood his intention. She raised her gun and moved to protect the three of them.

"Are you all right?"

Standing behind Ren Ze, Alice held a shotgun as she looked at the three of them and asked.

"I'm fine. Aren't you going to help your friend?"

Jill lit a cigarette and put it to her lips. She looked unconcerned about the Licker just now, but in truth, she was trying to ease the fear in her heart.

Hearing Jill's words, Alice seemed to recall how easily Ren Ze had dealt with the Licker in The Hive. She smiled. "No need. Just watch."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ren Ze rushed toward the remaining two Lickers.

Thud! Thud!

The battle blade flashed with a dim, chilling gleam in the darkness. Jill heard only two heavy impacts hitting the ground. The faint red glow of the cigarette she had just lit revealed the two Lickers nearby, both beheaded and completely motionless.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Watching Ren Ze effortlessly take out all three Lickers in just a few moves, Jill could no longer hold herself back and cursed.

"There's no time to explain. Let's get out of here first!"

After saying that, Ren Ze headed outside.

Hearing Ren Ze's words, Peyton looked at him. "Why? Isn't this place safe? You took care of those three monsters. We should stay here and wait for rescue! Once it gets light, the rescue—"

"There won't be any rescue. If we want to get out of here, we can only rely on ourselves!"

Ren Ze turned to look at Peyton, then said, "We only have one night to leave Raccoon City. Once dawn comes tomorrow, this city will be destroyed and turned into ruins!"

"What?"

Hearing Ren Ze's words, Terri immediately cried out. Just as she was about to question him, Jill walked over to Ren Ze's side. "Do you know something? This city will be destroyed tomorrow morning? Destroyed by whom?"

"Those people from the Umbrella Corporation, of course!"

Alice walked to Ren Ze's side and looked at Jill. "The Umbrella Corporation won't let these Zombies leave Raccoon City. So, to cover up the evidence, the best solution is exactly what Ren said—boom, erase this city completely!"