Ultimate Threat

The corrosive liquid sizzled across the floor, sending up curls of white smoke that carried a sharp, acidic stench, as though it could seep into their nostrils and burn their organs.

Led by Ada Wong, everyone raced toward Laboratory B-07. The metal floor beneath their feet had become terribly fragile after prolonged corrosion, and every step came with an unsettling creak, as if it might collapse at any moment. The emergency lights along the corridor walls flickered on and off, their crimson glow stretching their shadows into twisted shapes that danced endlessly across the walls like souls elongated by fear, foretelling the horror that awaited them.

Wanda remained unconscious, her pale face utterly bloodless, her disheveled hair stuck to her forehead with cold sweat. Lee's arms had long since gone numb from carrying her, and the aching spread from his shoulders through his entire body. Every step felt like torture, yet the sincere desire in his heart to protect his companions and stop this disaster had not faded, driving him onward without slowing down.

When the laboratory doors burst open, a cold gust carrying the pungent smell of disinfectant and decay rushed into their faces, nearly making them vomit. Mixed into that rot was a sickeningly sweet, bloody odor, like countless rotting corpses blended with bioweapon experiment waste. A massive cultivation chamber occupied the center of the laboratory. Inside, the Virus Mother Strain emitted an eerie red glow like a beating heart, while the viscous culture fluid rose and fell with its pulse, resembling a vat of boiling blood beneath the crimson light. The countdown on the chamber ticked mercilessly—00:15:00. The red digits were especially glaring in the dim room. Each passing second seemed like a funeral bell tolling for the destruction of the world, every flicker bringing Death one step closer.

"You finally made it." A cold voice came from the shadows, like a whisper from Hell, carrying a bone-chilling frost. A figure in a black trench coat slowly emerged. Red sunglasses concealed his eyes, making his emotions impossible to read, while a teasing smile hung at the corner of his lips. It was Albert Wesker. With every step he took, the floor trembled faintly. An oppressive aura that made their skin crawl radiated from him, and every gesture displayed the overwhelming presence of someone above all others. Beneath the black trench coat, bulging veins could vaguely be seen along his neck, twitching now and then as though living creatures were writhing beneath his skin. The grotesque sight was deeply unsettling.

"You think the likes of you can stop Umbrella Corporation's great plan?" His voice was filled with contempt, as though he were looking at a group of insignificant ants.

Ada Wong's face turned paper-white in an instant. Even her vividly painted lips lost their color. Her grip on her gun tightened unconsciously, her knuckles whitening with force and the veins on the back of her hand standing out clearly. "Wesker... so you really are here." Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes full of vigilance and dread. Their past history of working together had taught her all too well how terrifying this man was, and dark memories involving him surged into her mind like a flood.

Wesker gave a soft laugh, utterly devoid of warmth, as though it had come from the depths of the underworld. The next second, his body shot toward them like lightning, so fast that the naked eye could barely follow it, leaving behind only a black afterimage.

Lee saw only a black blur flash before his eyes before an immense force slammed into his chest, as though he had been hit head-on by a speeding train. It felt as if his internal organs had been shattered. He was sent flying by the tremendous blow and crashed heavily into the wall. The Protective Suit's alarm shrieked, piercingly abrupt in the silent laboratory. Lee felt as though all his organs had shifted out of place. A mouthful of blood burst uncontrollably from his lips, staining the Protective Suit across his chest red. The taste of blood filled his mouth as he endured the agonizing pain and tried to rise again.

Natasha reacted swiftly, firing both pistols at once. The bullets shot toward Wesker like meteors. Yet the instant they approached him, he casually flicked them away with his hand. Sparks flew from the clashing metal, and the crisp sounds echoed through the laboratory. "Foolish insects." Wesker snorted disdainfully, then struck out with his palm. An invisible shockwave swept toward Natasha. The powerful blast sent her flying, and her back smashed hard against an experiment table. She let out a muffled groan, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. For a time, she struggled to get up, feeling as though every bone in her body had fallen apart.

Gwen hurriedly helped Ashley up from the floor, trying to find cover from Wesker's attacks. Ashley's face was pale, tears of terror filling her eyes as her body shook uncontrollably. Then Wesker casually waved a hand, and the nearby laboratory equipment flew toward them like cannonballs at terrifying speed. At the critical moment, Wanda suddenly opened her eyes. Scarlet light ignited in her previously dim gaze, carrying a hint of determination and resolve. Scarlet Magic surged forth like a tide, forming a solid barrier before everyone. Magic collided with the metal equipment in a dazzling burst of light. The tremendous impact shook the ground, and cracks appeared across the laboratory walls. Wanda endured the blow and spat out another mouthful of blood. Her face grew even paler, and her body swayed as though she might collapse, but she still forced herself to remain standing.

"Interesting." Wesker looked at Wanda with keen interest, licking his lips as greed flashed in his eyes, as though he had found a treasure he had long dreamed of. "This power... it will be perfect for improving my experiment." As he spoke, he tore open his shirt, exposing a chest covered in veins. The veins were an eerie purple, like twisted little snakes writhing beneath his skin, occasionally producing faint gurgling sounds. He took a syringe filled with green liquid from his pocket and, without hesitation, drove it into the area over his heart, injecting all of the fluid into his body.

As the virus entered his body, Wesker began to undergo a horrifying transformation. His muscles swelled rapidly, stretching his skin until it shone. His black trench coat burst apart, strips of fabric drifting down like snowflakes. A layer of hard scales emerged across his skin, glinting with an eerie blue sheen under the red light. His fingers grew long and sharp, his nails becoming razor-like claws that could leave deep gouges in the ground with a casual swipe. A spiked tail grew from his back, capable of smashing nearby experiment tables to pieces with a careless swing. His power rose sharply, and an invisible pressure engulfed the entire laboratory. The surrounding equipment began to twist and warp, while glass containers exploded one after another with piercing cracks.

Lee struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Wesker with unwavering resolve, fury burning in his eyes. "We won't let you succeed!" He activated the Protective Suit's full power. The Shock Gauntlet blazed with dazzling light as he charged at Wesker. But Wesker's speed and strength now far surpassed what they had been before. With a slight sidestep, he avoided the attack and lashed out with a claw at the same time. Lee could not evade in time. Three bone-deep wounds tore across his shoulder, blood spraying out and instantly dyeing half his body red. The searing pain nearly made him faint, but he endured it and charged at Wesker again.

Ada Wong seized the opportunity to circle behind Wesker, driving her dagger toward his heart from behind. Her eyes were filled with hatred and resolve. The humiliation of being manipulated by Wesker for so many years erupted in that instant. But Wesker seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. His tail swept across like a steel whip and struck Ada Wong heavily in the abdomen. Crying out in pain, she dropped her dagger and was sent flying into the wall. She lost consciousness upon impact, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth as her body slid limply to the floor.

Just as everyone fell into despair, Gwen suddenly shouted, "Lee! Look at those cables! The Virus Mother Strain's Energy Core is connected to the main lines in the ceiling! If we cut them, we might be able to stop the virus from activating!" Her voice carried both urgency and hope. The detector in her hand flashed red as it continuously sounded its alarm.

Lee looked in the direction Gwen pointed and saw dense cables connecting the Virus Mother Strain to the massive device on the ceiling like a spiderweb. The cables flickered with an eerie blue light, like the virus's veins. He gritted his teeth and charged at Wesker again despite his injuries. This time, he no longer attacked head-on. Instead, he used the Protective Suit's agility to dodge Wesker's attacks again and again while drawing closer to the cables. Every evasion was perilous. Wesker's attacks grazed his body, leaving bloody marks across him.

Wesker quickly noticed Lee's intention, and irritation flashed in his eyes. "You want to destroy the core? Dream on!" He increased the frequency of his attacks, every punch and kick carrying enough force to kill. The surrounding air warped under his blows, forming small whirlwinds. Yet, driven by unyielding will and a desire for victory, Lee weaved through the storm of attacks. More wounds kept appearing on his body, and blood stained every step he took, but he never stopped moving.

Seizing his chance, he leaped into the air and smashed the Shock Gauntlet down on the cables. Boom! Sparks burst in every direction as the lines were severed, and countless tiny fragments of metal rained down. The Virus Mother Strain's red light began to flicker erratically, and the countdown stopped as well. But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, Wesker let out a furious roar. The deafening sound seemed capable of bringing down the entire laboratory. Glass shattered throughout the room, fragments spraying everywhere. "You bastards!" His body began to swell further, his power increasing exponentially. He had clearly been completely enraged. His eyes turned crimson, scorching breath pouring from his mouth. A still more thrilling battle for life and death had only just begun.