Since his own virus research capabilities were insufficient, he decided to create a genius who was exceptionally good at virus research, solving the problem from its root. In a sense, Alexander was also a rare talent.
At least he understood the strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'...
However,
After creating the siblings Alexia and Alfred, Alexander, perhaps finding Alexia too monstrous, or having already seen through the true nature of these unfilial siblings, secretly developed a new weapon in addition to genetic engineering:
The Linear Particle Emitter—
Also commonly known as an electromagnetic railgun.
(PS: The railgun in the game can actually fire dazzling, deep blue electromagnetic beams, whereas real-life railguns simply use electromagnetic force to propel a heavy iron slug. Please note the difference!)
And it was a single-person model, which was quite outrageous.
Electromagnetic railguns are typically massive experimental weapons for the U.S. military, requiring large equipment to operate, as they are currently only theoretical weapons. They struggle to inflict significant damage in actual combat, and their stability, fault tolerance, and accuracy are difficult to compare with basic fuel missiles.
Therefore,
These types of weapons remain in an experimental state with the U.S. military.
But Alexander? He actually developed a single-person electromagnetic railgun. In a sense, every member of the Ashford Family is a talent. One excels at genetic engineering and weapon research, another at makeup, disguise, and voice acting, including being an Oscar winner, and another is a top all-around academic genius. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Why bother researching viruses at all!
The family's descendants are talents in various fields.
They could simply launch an all-out invasion of various sectors. It's truly a case of 'meeting a virus ruins a lifetime.' If only the Ashford Family could be more normal, they would be a force to be reckoned with in society. Unfortunately... this group was led astray by the former patriarch, Edward, stubbornly fixated on virus research.
"..."
"Oh, what kind of high-tech weapon is this big guy? It's so cool! Can it shoot lasers?! Like, 'pew, pew, pew,' and blow up spaceships!"
Walking into the genetic engineering Laboratory,
Steve's gaze was quickly drawn to the Linear Particle Emitter, reinforced and stored in the corner of the wall. The seventeen-year-old boy, without a doubt, had no resistance to such high-tech weapons. The technological patterns and design on the particle cannon deeply fascinated Steve.
Its unconventional and innovative appearance, distinct from traditional weapons, was just like Steve, the ambitious young man himself—independent, unique, and eager to gain more attention.
"Don't touch that...!"
"We don't even know what this weapon is yet. It would be bad if we accidentally triggered some mechanism. Who knows why such a large and conspicuous item is placed here."
Facing Steve's fumbling hands,
Claire quickly reprimanded him. Her experience was far richer than Steve's. Whether in Raccoon City or later at the Umbrella Corporation branch base in Paris, Claire had encountered many mechanisms and traps. Thus, she didn't rule out the possibility that the object before them was also some kind of mechanism, specifically designed to lure impulsive boys like Steve to their deaths.
And seeing this,
Hearing Claire's stern reprimand from behind,
A helpless Steve could only retract his hand sheepishly.
He had already experienced Claire's strictness and did not want to have his ear twisted and be scolded again. That was something Steve could not accept.
After stopping Steve's impulsive behavior, the clever Claire began searching for clues in the genetic engineering Laboratory, including the large pile of documents on the shelves, which might contain useful information, such as how to defeat the T-Veronica Virus.
After all, Javier and the others were still trapped in the poisonous mist created by Alexia. Although the two of them had escaped, it didn't mean the matter was over. Claire didn't want to hold Javier and the others back, nor did she want to be a traitor who abandoned everyone and escaped alone.
Therefore,
Claire would do her best to contribute and help Javier and the others who were currently fighting fiercely. Don't underestimate these outsiders... Sometimes, it is precisely the outsiders who can provide the most crucial assistance.
And after several tens of minutes—
Claire and Steve indeed discovered a secret document on a computer. Hidden within the document was a video with the title description "The End of Genetic Engineering." This made Claire very curious, so she casually clicked on the video:
"Hiss..."
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."
To Claire and Steve's surprise,
This video was recorded decades ago, and even the footage was old black and white, indicating its age. Accompanied by the familiar sizzling electric current sound, the face of a handsome middle-aged man slowly appeared before Claire and Steve.
The middle-aged man wore a sharp suit, a high-collared ruffled white shirt underneath, with a bow tie at the collar. His golden hair was slicked back, and he had a grizzled short beard.
His face bore the marks of time; although he had entered middle age, it still couldn't conceal his handsome and mature features.
He was like a handsome, mature nobleman from the European Middle Ages, possessing a gentle and refined demeanor that ordinary people could not match or possess.
A man with such a temperament must have come from a noble family, as even now, descendants of last-century aristocrats still exist in society, living their own way of life.
And the handsome middle-aged man before them was Alexander Ashford, the genetic engineering expert who had been declared missing or long dead, the former patriarch of Ashford, and the father of the monstrously talented siblings Alexia and Alfred—
He was also the original host of the Nosferatu mutation, who had been defeated by Javier using the Breathing Technique in the Institute corridor outside and burned to ashes by a Molotov cocktail...
"Hiss, hiss, hiss... Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."
"I hope the person who opens this video file is not you, Alexia. If it is... then I can only sigh and say you are truly intelligent, worthy of inheriting Ms. Veronica's genes."
"At the same time, I also want to apologize to you. It was my selfishness that caused this tragedy. When I created you, I was overjoyed, but I overlooked your almost insane and stubborn personality."
"It was then that I realized your birth might not be entirely good. At least I could see a hint of destructive madness in your eyes. But you have already been born into this world, and as your father, I have no right to deny you at this moment."
"Therefore, I can only apologize to you once more. It was my mistake that led to your distorted birth in this world!"
"But even so, I still harbor a sliver of hope that you can turn back and reform, to re-examine everything in this world with a fresh perspective, every object, including people, instead of being confined by your own narrow views."
"As for your brother, Alfred, he is slightly more fortunate than you. Perhaps after I leave, he will live a normal life, no longer tormented and bound by the name of the Ashford Family..."
"And if you are not Alexia, then I implore you to help me rectify all of this. The seed of evil has already been sown and taken root. At this very moment, Alexia may have already awakened, but do not worry or be afraid. I foresaw the stubbornness of these siblings, so to prevent any accidents, I made amends in the little time I had left."
"This Laboratory is the place Alexia is least interested in, because coming here always reminds her of her origins, so she despises it."
"Genetic engineering is what she hates the most, so there's no need to worry about the security here. The weapon on the wall is the result of my final painstaking research. It can put an end to that child Alexia's ambition."
"Take it, and use it. Use it to end that child Alexia's near-mad obsession and desire. Although I really want that child to enjoy this world properly, I have to admit that she is deformed and wrong."
"The power of the Linear Particle Emitter is enough to annihilate any carbon-based life form, but it requires a massive current to fire. The circuit here can move a hundred meters, and it can also be disconnected for charging and firing, but it can only fire once at most."
"I hope you can end all of this..."
The image on the computer screen slowly finished playing.
The content within it greatly shocked Claire and Steve. Only now did they realize this was the true secret regarding Alexia, and they also understood how far-sighted their father, Alexander, was.
However, very quickly,
their gazes fell upon the weapon hanging on the wall.
It was a device similar to a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. The surrounding metal was covered with technological patterns, and its entire body was white and blue. There was no loading port, only a long, thick cable connected to its rear, which served as its energy source.
A large amount of current is output,
and then incredibly compressed within the device before bursting forth, forming an electromagnetic high-pressure beam capable of destroying everything. The powerful heat can instantly melt any metal armor, and in front of this powerful weapon, any resistance from Alexia and the T-Veronica Virus is futile.
The only drawback is that
this weapon requires a massive current output. Therefore, to maximize its output power, one must drag a very thick cable while moving.
However, Alexander's wisdom allowed it to temporarily transform into a single-person model. The current could be charged within the weapon, allowing the cable to be detached for mobile, disconnected firing. But due to the weapon's limited stored current, this disconnected firing can only be done once. The rest depends on the wielder's accuracy.
...
On the other side,
Freezing Chamber Laboratory —
"Pfft... Boom...!"
Loud noises continued to assault them.
Two masses of flames, each of a different color, were fiercely clashing. As they collided, a large amount of residual heat spread through the surrounding air. The place seemed to have turned into a volcano, filled with rolling hot winds and waves.
But even so,
the two figures at the center of the flames remained locked in a death struggle. The massive Alexia, with a distorted face, continued to exert all her strength to output flames. She hated the tiny figure before her and felt that only by putting her to death could she appease her hatred.
Similarly,
Lisa, on the opposing side, looked at Alexia with a cold expression. The output of flames from her hands showed no signs of weakening and continued to pour forth. However... compared to Alexia's desperate struggle, Lisa appeared much more at ease.
It seems there is still a significant difference in endurance between the G Virus and the T-Veronica Virus. After all, in terms of hematopoiesis alone, the G Virus has no worries. The platelets in Lisa's body, enhanced by the G Virus's power, can produce a large amount of blood for unrestrained supply, with no fear of running out.
Alexia also seemed to have noticed this.
A ruthless expression once again appeared on her face.
Immediately, the massive pink plant bud beneath her body began to squirm. What appeared to be a plant bud was actually Alexia's oviducts and reproductive organs. Swallowed prey could continuously produce Soldier Ants from within.
Originally, Alexia had no infection targets, as there were no creatures around for her to infect. But now... in order to fight for her life, Alexia intended to produce Soldier Ants to fight for her, even without infection targets, because she knew... if she continued to consume herself by using bio-flames in this manner, she would eventually be the one to lose.
Therefore,
Alexia planned to consume her own energy to create Soldier Ants. The T-Veronica Virus and flesh within her body would produce Soldier Ant dependents to fight for her. She had to free up her hands to attack Lisa in other ways to have a chance of winning this internal conflict.
So,
Alexia, with a ruthless expression, was now determined to fight to the death—!
Chapter 29: Twists and Turns
"Gurgle..."
Strange noises emanated.
Just as Alexia was desperately using bio-flames to resist Lisa, the giant pink bud beneath Alexia's abdomen began to squirm. The enormous oviducts and reproductive organs drew energy and flesh from Alexia's body.
Before long, an unknown mass of flesh was vomited out from the pink bud below.
"Gurgle gurgle..."
"Bang..."
It was a hard, dark mass of flesh.
It rolled onto the ground like dried, hardened excrement, but it was covered in a large amount of mucus, proving that it was indeed a newborn just birthed from its mother's womb. And after the mass rolled onto the ground and came into contact with fresh air, it expanded and grew at a visible rate.
Its volume rapidly increased,
its outer shell hardened and turned black and glossy, like armor. The characteristic large black ant eyes and antennae pointing skyward also grew out, followed by its saw-like sharp lower jaw. Various segmented limbs slowly emerged, covered in barbs, and its large abdomen was filled with highly corrosive ant acid, which could be sprayed from the saw-toothed mouth of the lower jaw through poison glands, easily corroding steel.
And on its back were the thin wings of a male ant, providing them with short glides. These combined abilities, along with other monstrous features, were the Soldier Ants produced by Alexia, resembling a giant insect.
Newly born, it
immediately locked its black ant eyes on Lisa. No command was needed; it could sense from the Queen's emotions that the slender, frail woman before them was their enemy.
"Hiss hiss hiss...!"
It let out a piercing shriek from its mouth.
Without any hesitation,
the Soldier Ant, having received its emotional directive, instantly flapped its thin wings and rapidly charged towards Lisa. During this, it skillfully maneuvered around the scalding hot bio-flames. Its abdomen, filled with a large amount of ant acid, trembled slightly, and it aimed its saw-like sharp lower jaw at Lisa, intending to spray.
"Pfft... Whoosh—!"
A sound of something cutting through the air rang out.
From the saw-toothed lower jaw of the Soldier Ant, a green, steaming liquid immediately sprayed out like a high-pressure water gun, rapidly attacking Lisa. This was one of their few long-range attrition methods.
Although these Soldier Ants were not as powerful as mutated infected bodies, dealing with mere humans was easy. However, it was clear that Lisa was not a mere human.
"Pfft... Boom...!"
With a wave of one hand,
the originally massive gushing purple flames suddenly parted. A pillar of raging fire tore open and swept towards the green corrosive liquid from another direction.
As for Alexia on the other side, Lisa showed no fear at all. She met her head-on with one hand, her slender, pale arm suddenly swelling. A more turbulent purple flame burst forth. With just one hand, she withstood Alexia's full-force attack and even managed to free up a hand to counter the Soldier Ant's sneak attack.
The disparity between the two could be said to be enormous!
And after the green corrosive liquid encountered the purple flames, it immediately could not withstand the scorching high temperature, instantly turning into rolling white smoke and steam that dissipated into the air.
And the rolling stream of fire, after evaporating the green corrosive ant acid, quickly turned its aim and continued to sweep rapidly towards the black Soldier Ant!
"Buzz—!"