As my body fully recovers from the icy trials, Marcus and Wesker are already preparing the next series of experiments. Marcus, still a bit tense after the previous incident, remains silent, focusing intently on the instruments. He knows he can't afford any more mistakes, especially after being turned into a toy for the lionesses.
"Alright," Wesker declares, consulting his notes. "We've done cold. Now it's time for extreme heat."
I raise an eyebrow. "Extreme heat, huh? I hope you're not planning to throw me into a volcano."
Wesker looks at me with his usual stoic expression. "No volcano, but we'll be testing conditions close to that. Several levels of intensity to see how your body adapts."
I turn to Marcus, who's unusually quiet this time, his eyes glued to the equipment.
"Marcus, you're looking pretty calm this time," I say with a smile. "No mistakes on the horizon, I hope."
He shoots me a quick, slightly nervous glance and shakes his head. "No, no. No mistakes. We'll go gradually, I promise," he mutters. "And no lionesses, please."
I chuckle a little before stepping toward the container once again. "Let's do it. I'm ready."
Wesker adjusts a few controls before the container opens again. I step inside, and this time, instead of the biting cold from before, I feel a gradual warmth building around me. Nothing unpleasant at first, it's almost like a sauna.
"First stage," Wesker announces in a calm voice. "Moderate heat, around 50 degrees Celsius. We're starting gently."
I relax in the container, feeling the warmth spread across my skin. It's comfortable, like being in a well-heated bath. I close my eyes, enjoying this easy phase.
"How are you doing, Gérald?" Marcus asks cautiously, as if making sure everything is under control.
"I'm fine, Marcus," I say with a smile. "Feels almost like a vacation, so far."
Wesker adjusts the parameters, and I immediately feel the heat increase. The temperature climbs to 100 degrees Celsius. It's like standing in a scorching desert. My body starts to sweat, but I remain relatively comfortable. My regeneration factor is already compensating for the heat, preventing my body from overheating.
"Next stage," Wesker declares. "We're moving to 200 degrees Celsius."
The heat is now truly intense. The air around me seems to vibrate. I begin to feel a slight burning sensation on my skin, but my body quickly adapts. My muscles, tense at first, relax as my regeneration kicks in.
Just then, the door to the lab swings open, and one of Jordan's clones walks in, looking puzzled as he sees the control screens displaying hellish temperatures. He takes a quick glance around the room, his eyes landing on me, trapped inside the container.
"What are you doing to the boss?" he asks, utterly confused, looking back and forth between Marcus and Wesker.
Without even lifting his eyes from the screen, Wesker responds calmly, in his usual monotone voice. "We're roasting him."
Jordan blinks, baffled. "You... you're roasting him?"
Marcus, nervous after the helium incident, tries to correct him. "No, no, it's a controlled thermal test! A process of adaptation, you see?" He glances at Wesker, then at me. "Nothing dangerous this time... I think."
"You think?" I growl from inside the container, feeling the heat rise even more. "Marcus, if you pull another stunt like last time, I'll have you on a giant barbecue with the lionesses."
Jordan scratches his head, looking even more perplexed. "Wait, so you're literally cooking him? Is that normal?"
Wesker, impassive, continues adjusting the settings. "Perfectly normal. Gérald needs to develop extreme heat resistance."
Jordan's eyes widen, staring at Wesker as if he's lost his mind. "Ah, okay... so, it's like 'STARS Masterchef' or something?"
I can't help but laugh, despite the scorching situation. "Exactly, Jordan. They're trying to turn me into the perfect roast."
Marcus gulps nervously. "Gérald, are you holding up? We can slow down if you want."
I shoot a sarcastic glance at the two scientists. "Oh, don't worry, Marcus. Compared to the freezing helium treatment you gave me, this is a walk in the park. But I swear, if you crank up the temperature any higher without warning me, I'll make sure you get cooked to perfection next."
Jordan bursts out laughing. "Well, if you turn out as good as a steak, boss, let me know, I'll handle the sides!"
Wesker, still stoic, finally makes a comment. "Jordan, if you plan to stay for dinner, you could make sure Marcus doesn't mess up again. He's good at that."
Marcus, offended, finally reacts. "Hey! I'm not good at messing things up! It's just… let's say… experimental."
"Alright. Next stage: 400 degrees Celsius," Wesker declares in his calm and unwavering tone. "This time, we'll see how much your body can withstand the heat of a wildfire."
At these words, Marcus glances quickly at the screen. "400 degrees? That's... a bit extreme, don't you think? I mean, he's resistant, but… this is starting to feel like a cremation oven!"
Wesker, unfazed, adjusts the controls. "He can handle it. We need to test his limits, that's the goal, Marcus."
Inside the chamber, the heat becomes suffocating. The air thickens, as if weighed down by invisible flames. My breath becomes harder to control. Each inhale feels like a wave of lava, burning my lungs without actually damaging them. My clothes stick to my sweat-soaked skin, and my hair, still damp, flickers under the intensity of the heat. I feel like I'm melting, yet never fully succumbing to the burn.
Jordan watches the spectacle with his arms crossed. "Is it just me, or is this starting to look like some weird reality TV show?" he quips with a half-smile. "Like, 'Survive Hell,' episode one: Chef gets cooked under the sun."
"This isn't a joke, Jordan," Marcus interjects, looking nervous. "400 degrees is wildfire temperature. He should be... you know... burning."
Wesker, ever stoic, doesn't take his eyes off the screen. "Not yet. His body should start showing active signs of resistance now."
Marcus furrows his brow, throwing another glance at me. "Are you sure? I mean, it's Gérald in there. We're not just grilling him alive for fun, are we?"
Jordan, still mocking, pats him on the shoulder. "Relax, Marcus. The boss here isn't ground beef. He's more like 'extra-resistant prime rib.'"
"I'm not sure this is the time for that," Marcus mutters, his hands trembling on the control panel.
I feel my skin drying out slightly, my fists clench as my regeneration struggles against this infernal heat. Yet, I don't burn. I hover constantly on the edge, that invisible line between scorching and survival. It's almost... exhilarating.
"We're approaching critical temperatures," Wesker comments. "This is where it gets interesting."
Marcus waves his arms, almost panicked. "Interesting? You're kidding, right? He's at 400 degrees! I think we can stop here, Wesker. 400 degrees is more than enough. No need to push it further, we've tested his limits more than enough, haven't we?"
But Wesker shakes his head, as cold as ever. "One more stage."
Jordan bursts out laughing, almost hysterically. "One more stage, he says! Are you sure you're not creating a superhero here? At this rate, Gérald's going to end up being able to barbecue on the sun itself!"
Wesker, unfazed, adjusts the chamber one last time. The temperature climbs to 600 degrees Celsius, a heat unbearable for any normal human being. The air inside the chamber seems to vibrate, as if it's about to ignite. I feel the heat scorching me, every breath searing my throat. My muscles, as tight as steel cables, fight to avoid breaking down.
"Hang in there, Gérald," Wesker says calmly, his eyes fixed on the readings. "This is the last stage."
I grit my teeth, refusing to give in. My body slowly transforms, my cells adapting, strengthening their structure to survive this hellish temperature. Finally, the door of the chamber opens with a hiss of steam, and I stagger out, legs trembling, my skin marked with burns. My body is literally on fire in places, with third-degree burns visible on my arms and torso.
Without thinking, I summon Yawn, the gigantic serpent, and leap onto its back with a sigh of relief. The creature's cold scales cool me instantly, sending a wave of comfort through my body. My burns begin to heal at an accelerated rate, as the scars literally melt away thanks to my regeneration.
Jordan, ever the joker, leans forward with a mocking smile. "Ahhh, too bad Yawn's here! We could've had a little beauty contest if you stayed like that. Naked as a worm, but with abs of steel." He bursts out laughing.
I look up, tired but amused. "Sorry to disappoint you, Jordan, but I'm going to keep a little modesty."
Marcus, on the other hand, is frozen with terror in a corner of the room, his eyes wide as he watches Yawn and the two G lionesses slowly approach me. He tries to hide behind a stack of boxes, clearly not ready to face these creatures, especially after nearly turning me into a well-done steak.
"Marcus, you look tense," I say, laughing as I pet the two lionesses that have snuggled up to me to help warm me up. "Don't worry, they won't eat you unless I ask them to."
"No barbecue, I promise! No need for that this time!" Marcus panics, raising his hands, cowering against the wall.
Wesker, meanwhile, is focused on the readings, ignoring the comical scene unfolding. He finally looks up and, for the first time, gives a slight smile. "Impressive, Gérald. At this rate, you really will become invincible."
"Well, if you could avoid burning me alive next time, that'd be perfect," I replied with a smirk, while slipping into clothes hidden by my protective lionesses.
Jordan, still grinning, quipped, "Don't worry, Wesker, at the rate this is going, we'll soon be able to slow-cook him for our next family barbecue."
As I rested for a moment against Yawn, satisfied with my progress against the heat, a loud rumble echoed through the room. My stomach growled so intensely that even Marcus, still cowering in a corner, jumped in surprise.
Jordan burst out laughing. "Well, after surviving a trial by fire, it's only natural you'd be hungry. Sounds like you could devour an entire buffet!"
I straightened up, laughing along. "You're not far from the truth. Alright, I'm getting out of here. Marcus, Wesker, thanks for the… 'treatment.' I'll leave you to handle the rest. I've got an important date with a burger."
I left my companions behind, and once outside, I picked up Jill on the way. She seemed happy to see me, but raised an eyebrow when she noticed I looked a bit worn out.
"What have you been up to this time?" she asked, suspicious.
"Nothing serious. Just a little training at the lab," I said with a shrug, trying to downplay it.
"A little training, huh?" she said, crossing her arms, clearly skeptical.
We laughed together as we arrived at school to pick up Lisa. As soon as she saw me, she ran toward me at full speed, leaping into my arms.
"Daddy! You came to pick me up with Aunt Jill!" she said with a big smile.
"Of course, my princess. How about we go get something to eat?"
"Oh yes! I'm so hungry!" she exclaimed.
Jill, walking beside us, chuckled. "I hope you're hungry, Lisa, because I think your dad's hungry enough to eat all the food at the fast food place."
We headed to a local fast food restaurant. As we entered, I walked straight to the counter and ordered… enough food for eight people. Jill and Lisa stared at me, completely stunned.
"Daddy… did you really order for everyone?" Lisa asked, her eyes wide.
Jill laughed, shaking her head. "You told me you were hungry, but I didn't expect this. Seriously, Gérald, do you really think you're going to eat all of that?"
I shrugged with a smile. "Well, after what I went through today, I think my stomach has a bit more appetite than usual."
A few minutes later, the server arrived with several trays piled high with burgers, fries, and drinks. Lisa's eyes widened at the mountain of food.
"Daddy, that's huge! Are you really going to eat all of it?" she asked, incredulous.
Jill took a sip of her soda and shot me an amused glance. "I'll be honest, I want to see this."
I started devouring the food, eating one burger after another. Lisa and Jill watched me, their eyes wide in disbelief. Halfway through the meal, I noticed that Lisa had practically stopped eating, too focused on observing my outrageous appetite.
Jill burst into laughter. "This is incredible! I've never seen anyone eat this much!"
I looked up, still chewing, and said with a grin, "I told you I was hungry."
Lisa leaned toward Jill and whispered, thinking I couldn't hear her. "Aunt Jill, do you think Daddy is an ogre?"
Jill laughed again. "I think we should keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't eat us next!"
I smiled, amused by their reactions. "Don't worry, I'll leave you out of it," I said, glancing at Jill slyly before thinking to myself, "… for now."
(Note: I know I'm a bit behind, but I promise I'll try to get back to the one-chapter-a-week pace. I hope you enjoyed this little chapter. Let me know in the comments which Resident Evil 2 monster you'd like me to introduce in the next chapters ^^)