The courtyard is adorned with finely carved marble statues, representing mythological and heroic figures. These works of art add a touch of elegance and mystery to the place. In the center of the courtyard, a resting area invites you to relax, surrounded by a few carefully trimmed shrubs. The boxwood and lavender bushes give off a sweet fragrance that mixes with the fresh air, creating a soothing atmosphere.
The stone benches, arranged around this small oasis, offer a welcome resting place after crossing the manor. Behind this resting area, a stone passage leads to an artificial waterfall, its soft murmur adding a musical note to the atmosphere. The waterfall falls like a curtain in front of a narrow passage, blocking access to the hidden area behind it. The water sparkles under the light, creating dancing reflections on the stone walls and on the damp ground.
The small size of this space creates a feeling of intimacy and tranquility, isolated from the rest of the mansion. The statues, shrubs, and waterfall form a harmonious, almost surreal tableau, contrasting sharply with the oppressive and dangerous atmosphere of the other parts of the mansion.
Lisa marvels at the statues and waterfall, her eyes shining with curiosity and joy. "Dad, look at these beautiful statues and the waterfall!" she exclaims, gently tugging on my hand to take me for a closer look.
"Yes, it really is beautiful," I say with a smile, enjoying this rare moment of peace. "Let's take a moment to rest here before we continue."
We sit on one of the stone benches, surrounded by the beauty and serenity of this hidden place. Zombies G and Steve stand alert, ensuring our safety while respecting the tranquility of the area. The artificial waterfall continues to flow gently, its soothing murmur filling the air, giving us a moment of respite before we continue our exploration of the manor.
My eye catches the slight movement of a snake, but it is quickly captured by my Aquila. The enormous bird dives with impressive grace and speed, its talons wrapping around the reptile in an implacable grip.
"Bring it to me," I say, and the Aquila obeys, carrying the snake with ease. The bird lands in front of me and gently releases the snake into my hand. I look at the creature, a simple grass snake that probably slithered here by accident.
"No message," I think, realizing that this snake is neither a threat nor a bearer of information. I watch Lisa as she explores the surroundings under Steve's watchful eye, while the Jordans have already begun to secure the other passage.
I decide to experiment and plant a seed in the snake's mouth to test its adaptability. Unfortunately, the snake dies quickly, without the system reacting.
I throw the snake's body to the Aquila, which skillfully catches it and devours it in a few moments. Once its meal is finished, the enormous bird rises gracefully into the air, its outstretched wings casting an imposing shadow on the ground. It hovers above me for a moment before slowly descending, landing majestically on my shoulder.
The Aquila, with its bright plumage and piercing eyes, observes me quietly. Its presence on my shoulder gives off an aura of power and majesty. The bird adjusts its feathers with dignity, like a vigilant guardian ready to protect me at any moment.
I gently stroke the Aquila's beak, appreciating the strength and beauty of this exceptional ally. Together, we continue to watch over Lisa and the rest of the group, ensuring that our exploration of the mansion goes smoothly.
DING
Aquila got an upgrade to her abilities.
Strengthened by fusing Plant Seed 40 with her body.
Ability infected T-virus mutations with Plant 40.
Unlike the Plant Zombie, the Bald Eagle's feathers turn green and I see small spores developing on its feathers.
Lisa, always curious, approaches us with stars in her eyes. "Daddy, the bird is so big and beautiful!" she says in wonder.
"Yes, my dear," I reply with a smile, stroking Aquila's feathers. "He's here to watch over you, just like me."
I decide to summon a few useless T-Zombies, lining up their seemingly human forms in front of me. Aquila, perched majestically on my shoulder, patiently awaits my orders. With a wave of my hand, I release him to begin his work.
The Aquila soars into the air with imposing grace, its vast wings spread creating powerful currents of air. It hovers above the T-zombies, its feathers glinting in the light. Soon, small spores begin to release from its feathers, floating gently towards the zombies below.
The spores fall like a fine golden dust, settling on the seemingly normal bodies of the T-zombies. Upon contact, the spores sink into their flesh, quickly seeping into their systems. A change begins to occur almost immediately.
The T-zombies' bodies begin to writhe and convulse, as if a new energy is coursing through them. Their skin, previously pale but intact, quickly becomes covered in greenish veins, plant shoots emerging from their flesh. Roots and vines wrap around their limbs, spreading and branching into an intricate web of living vegetation.
Their eyes take on a greenish glow, and strange flowers begin to bloom on their bodies. Leaves and stems sprout from their mouths and ears, transforming these human-looking creatures into a macabre fusion of death and plant life.
In less than a minute, the process is complete. The T-zombies are now plant zombies, their appearance completely altered. They stand there, motionless for the moment, but their threat potential has been radically increased by this transformation.
I look at the result with satisfaction. The process of creating plant zombies is not only efficient, but it greatly simplifies the conversion of these creatures to my needs. The Aquila returns to perch on my shoulder, its piercing eyes calmly observing the plant zombies.
"Good work," I say to the Aquila, gently stroking its feathers. I then turn to Lisa, who watches the scene with fascination. "Ready to continue, sweetheart?" I ask with a smile.
She nods, her eyes shining with excitement. "Yes, Dad. Let's go."
I collect the zombie plants in the factory, bringing their number to about thirty, which should be enough to approach plant 42.
Arriving at the end of the path without confrontation, we face a wooden door that blocks access to the building. With a sharp blow, I break the handle and the six of us enter the building. Unfortunately, Aquila can't follow us due to the narrowness of the place, so I send him back into the factory.
"Lisa, close your eyes and count to 20," I say softly. The little girl obeys without hesitation, closing her eyes confidently. While she counts, I quickly summon leeches and create 15 clones of Marcus, which I send out to explore to make up for the time lost while I was unconscious.
"20," Lisa says, opening her eyes again, her face lit up with an innocent smile. I smile back at her, reassured by her trust in me. I gently take her hand and we head towards the staff dormitories.
As I walk forward, I notice a hole in the floor that doesn't inspire confidence. There's nothing to plug the gap, and I know we have to be careful. "Lisa, stay close to me," I tell her, squeezing her hand a little tighter to convey a sense of security.
I summon one of the plant zombies and have it plug the hole with its body and the vines it extends. Its fusion with a root of Plant 42 confirms my fear, thankfully I'm careful.
"See, sweetie, we're safe," I say, gently stroking her hair.
"Daddy, how do you always know what to do?" she asks admiringly, her eyes shining with innocent curiosity.
"I'm doing my best to protect us, Lisa," I reply with a comforting smile. "And I have you with me, which gives me even more strength."
She looks at me with unwavering confidence and nods, reassured. "I know you'll always watch over me.
A few zombies wander the hallway, but nothing insurmountable for me. With ease, I capture them one by one. However, it's something else that makes me jump. A giant spider suddenly falls on one of Jordan's clones, its hairy legs extending menacingly.
Lisa lets out a small cry of terror as she sees the creature attack. "Daddy!" she cries, gripping my hand tighter.
"It's okay, Lisa," I reassure her, focusing on the spider. Fortunately, I've captured similar specimens before, allowing me to quickly neutralize it. With a simple touch, it disappears, added to my arsenal of controlled creatures.
There are two more in the bar of the residence. Preferring to avoid the risk of a poison spray, I decide to shoot them before they can react. I rush into the room, my movements precise and quick. The spiders don't have time to react before being shot with a magnum bullet.
With the room now secure, I take the time to examine the interior. Several barrels of pure alcohol catch my eye. "Perfect," I mutter, thinking of their usefulness for storage and perhaps for an explosive confrontation with the master of the place.
Unlike Umbrella, who sees the Tyrants as ultimate weapons, I simply see them as more powerful zombies. Thanks to my ability to grasp and control all the bioweapon mutations, I don't consider them a major threat. The real threat here is Plant 42, a creature of a much more unpredictable nature and power.
Lisa, now a little calmer, looks around the room curiously. "You've been very brave, Lisa," I say, gently stroking her hair. "Stay close to me, we'll make sure this place is safe."
She nods, her eyes still wide with wonder and awe. Together, we continue our exploration, aware of the dangers but ready to face them, hand in hand.
I feel an urgent call from a Marcus clone confronted by wasps. They are bigger than a hand and their sting is toxic. "Lisa, wait for me here, there are poisonous wasps. I'll take care of them and come back right away," I say, looking at her seriously.
"Yes, Dad," she replies obediently, as I quickly go through the door, closing it behind me to protect her.
As soon as I enter the room, I see a dozen large wasps stinging the Marcus clone in a loop. The leech clone, insensitive to pain, does not really react to the attack, which makes the scene slightly comical despite the threat.
With blinding speed, I leap into the room. My movement is so fast that the wasps do not have time to react. I catch one of the wasps in mid-flight, its wings buzzing frantically as it struggles in my hand. The other wasps try to sting me, but their stingers slide uselessly on my reinforced skin, unable to penetrate my defense.
DING
A benign mutation to the T-virus detected or wasp, absorption will take 5 seconds.
The time will be reduced by 10 seconds due to the bonus on mutations to the T-virus
5, 0
T-virus mutation or wasp successfully absorbed available in the factory
1 wasp will be produced every 1 minute. You have 50 wasps directly in the factory.
You will be able to instantly subdue any wasp that is not under your control with a simple touch.
With a fluid movement, I move from one wasp to the next, capturing them one by one with unmatched precision.
The remaining wasps try to escape, but I intercept them before they can get away. Each capture is quick and efficient, leaving no chance for the venomous insects to counterattack or flee. In less than a minute, all the wasps are neutralized, captured in my factory.
I tear apart a wooden wall in front of me before entering the hole I just made, capturing all the wasps present in the hive, bringing the number in my possession to 150 individuals.
I quickly check on Marcus' clone, who is still standing there, impassive. "Return to your mission," I order, and the clone resumes its exploration without showing the slightest sign of disturbance.
I return to the door, open it gently and find Lisa, who is waiting patiently for me. "It's over, my dear. The wasps will not be a problem for us anymore," I say, holding out my hand to her.
She looks at me with admiration and relief, taking my hand with confidence. "Thank you, Dad. You are the best."
I smile at her, gently stroking her hair. "Come on, let's continue our exploration. I'll protect you, no matter what."
We find a ladder in one of the rooms leading to an underground complex under the residence.
(Editor's note: small chapter in perspective, I plan to take more liberty so I hope you'll still like it ^^)