The Tyrant prototype and the Leech Man granted me 700 and 500 game points, respectively. However, perhaps due to my elevation to the level of a Divine Servant, the experience gained from these foes was less bountiful than anticipated, offering only a slight increase in strength. Not as impressive as I had hoped.
This must be it! Arriving at the final door, I resorted to my tried and true method of violent entry. Upon breaching the door, I was greeted by a world of leeches - they writhed on the floors, walls, and even the ceiling. And there, standing before me, was the mysterious man I had seen outside the train. According to Cai Cai, he was the Leech Queen.
"Welcome, young one, to my grand party. It's a shame your teammates have left; I would have prepared a splendid welcome feast for all," he said, extending his arms in a gesture of grandiose hospitality.
"So, you're the Leech Queen?" I squinted, aiming my 4A1 at the mysterious man's head.
"It seems you're well-informed, young man. But, as I have learned, those who know too much don't last long," he replied with a laugh, seemingly undisturbed by my recognition of his identity.
I was now certain this man had suffered some mental trauma, probably recently released from an asylum.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked, chuckling. Before I could respond, he transformed. Yes, he metamorphosed from a young man into a white-haired, elderly figure - none other than James Marcus, the founding director of the facility, depicted in the portrait at the training facility.
So, this was James Marcus. My interest piqued. I had thought him long dead, yet here he was, the Leech Queen herself.
Marcus then recounted his transformation into the Leech Queen - a tale typical of cinema, involving betrayal by his two protégés and subsequent death, leading to his fusion with leeches in the sewer, and his resurrection with a vendetta against humanity. The outbreak in Raccoon City and the train incident were his doing.
An interesting twist was that his betrayers were none other than S.T.A.R.S. Captain Wesker and G-Virus creator William Birkin, information previously unknown to me.
"Now, let the world perish in the flames of my vengeance! Hahaha…" Marcus concluded his story with maniacal laughter. Faced with such lunacy, my only response was a grenade.
The explosion silenced Marcus momentarily, but it was far from enough to kill him. Suddenly, countless leeches poured out of his body, merging into a grotesque, gigantic leech monster. This monstrous being, barely human in shape, was dripping with revolting slime.
Against such a beast, my only thought was to kill. This abomination was responsible for the horrors unleashed upon Raccoon City - unforgivable. My 4A1 bullets hit the Leech Queen, causing damage, but they were insufficient for a kill.
Switching to grenades, I launched an attack. In response, the Queen lashed out with lightning-fast tentacles. Dodging three but ensnared by the others, I discarded my 4A1 and swiftly drew my Magnum revolver from my personal space, aiming to finish her off.
The powerful bullet pierced the Queen, causing significant damage. Following up with three more shots to sever the tentacles, I took a moment to reload before aiming once more at the monstrous Queen.
Just as I prepared for another round, the factory's PA system blared with a synthesized female voice: "Self-destruct sequence initiated. Please evacuate immediately. T-minus ten minutes…"
Who in the world activated the self-destruct mechanism? I wanted to curse out loud, but time was critical. Picking up my 4A1, I left the Queen behind, presuming the impending explosion would bury her underground - a pity for the lost experience.
Reaching the emergency elevator, I quickly powered it up. This was an escape route, capable of taking me directly from B9 to the surface. At this rate, I would reach safety in three minutes.
As I ascended, I reflected on the battle and the revelations of the day. While the mission to find the Leech Queen remained incomplete, I had made significant strides. For now, it was time to rest and prepare for the next challenge.