"There it is..." As Rebecca and I were examining the reservoir, a colossal centipede, at least ten meters long, suddenly emerged from its depths. My God, it was like a monstrous centipede spirit!
Rebecca gasped in shock. Despite encountering various monsters before, the sight of such a gigantic centipede was still profoundly unsettling. Could we really defeat such a beast?
"Retreat first!" I decisively led Rebecca away from the spot. Just as we cleared the area, the centipede's forelimb smashed down where we had just been standing, shattering the stone pavement with its immense strength. Not only was its attack formidable, but its metallic-shimmering carapace also suggested formidable defense.
With our current weapons, it would be challenging to swiftly defeat this creature. Success would require not just brute force but strategic wit as well.
With time pressing, I quickly expended 100 energy points to attach a grenade launcher to my 4A1. This multi-functional approach seemed fitting. Turning around, I fired a grenade, its explosion forcing the giant centipede to retreat a few steps. The grenade caused damage, but unfortunately, it didn't hit a critical spot.
"Senior Zhang Fan, what should we do now? Should we call for backup?" Rebecca looked at me, slightly panicked. Could we really handle such a formidable centipede on our own?
"No need. More people would only complicate things. You cover me here, and I'll figure out how to handle this big guy," I replied, shaking my head. It wasn't arrogance; too many people would indeed make it harder.
The area was confined, and the centipede occupied half of it. To defeat it, maneuverability was key. Though I was strong, I wasn't yet powerful enough to break through its armored back. A larger group would only become easy targets for the centipede.
"Be extremely careful, Senior Zhang Fan," Rebecca cautioned me. Without turning back, I gave her a thumbs-up and then quickly moved to the centipede's side, launching another grenade at it.
The explosion caught the centipede's attention. Its movement, burdened by its heavy body, was no match for my speed. But a careless moment could still lead to a surprise attack.
"Bring it on, crawler!" Seeing my strategy working, I relaxed a bit and continued using the grenade attack. The weapon's power was impressive, though limited to explosive, area-effect damage.
Wait, if it's raw power I needed, didn't I have a better option?
Suddenly, I remembered the game store's .44 Magnum revolver, a weapon so powerful it could fell an elephant. It would be perfect for taking down this colossal centipede.
I promptly accessed the game store, and for a mere 300 game points, I acquired the mighty .44 Magnum revolver. Exchanging my 4A1, I loaded the revolver and took aim. The recoil was immense, making me regret my decision to shoot one-handed. But the power was undeniable; even without precise aiming, the bullet tore through the centipede's head, spilling its vile innards. It convulsed and lay still.
"A well-earned 150 game points," I mused. The experience gain was significant, bringing me closer to a breakthrough in my abilities.
"Amazing!" Rebecca looked at me in awe. We had indeed vanquished the giant centipede. Holding the Magnum, she realized its formidable power was beyond her capacity to wield.
"You see? Told you I'd be fine," I said with a slight smile, appreciating the revolver's effectiveness.
"Yes, Senior Zhang Fan is the best," Rebecca replied, her face blooming with a radiant smile. Being near me seemed to give her a sense of security, a feeling of true happiness.
"Just received a new discovery, everyone regroup in the hall!" came the voice of our team leader over the radio. A new discovery? Rebecca and I exchanged glances, and I stowed away my weapons, reclaiming the P5K as we headed back to the hall. Some secrets were meant to stay between us.
Reuniting with the team, we learned the details. The cadre training facility was built atop a cliff with no direct exit. However, a door in the back led to a research facility, providing us an escape route.
The search yielded valuable findings, including the vice-director's diary and other data on biochemical experiments. Kennien's discovery of the facility's blueprint revealed an exit through the research institute located behind the facility.
We quickly moved to the third floor, where everyone was astounded by the centipede's corpse. Proudly, Rebecca stood beside me, basking in the admiration of her peers.
"You're something else!" Foster gave me a thumbs-up, admitting his inability to face such a formidable foe. He sighed at the unfairness of life, seeing my superiority in both combat and charm.
In the hall, we discovered the research facility's grandeur, adorned with an Umbrella Corporation emblem. The lavishness was astounding, especially for such a remote location.
"Everyone, be cautious. This place has an unsettling air," I warned, knowing the facility's affiliation with Umbrella Corporation meant danger.
"Right, stay alert," the team leader instructed. We had encountered scattered zombies, indicating potential threats.
We continued upstairs. On reaching the locked door to the third floor, I impressively breached it with an explosive. Rebecca, still amazed by my abilities, followed as we advanced.
"What's this?" On entering, we were confronted by two massive, wingless mosquitoes. Each stood two meters tall, a nightmarish sight.
I swiftly eliminated them, earning 100 game points. Our journey led us to a vast pool, possibly a chemical treatment area. It seemed Umbrella might be using this place for more sinister purposes.