The scene shifts back.
A helicopter slowly descended into a clearing in the dense Akeley Mountains forest, its rapidly spinning rotor blades whipping the surrounding tree branches, and the piercing noise attracted the attention of many eyes within the Akeley Mountains forest.
"..."
"Captain Wesker, I'll stay here and watch the vehicle. It's such a dark forest, it wouldn't be good if you all got lost. I'll guard the vehicle here, and if anything unexpected happens, you can call me on the radio, and I'll provide support immediately. The helicopter's lights can guide you well!"
As soon as the helicopter landed and the other Alpha Team members were about to disembark, Brad, who was sitting in the pilot's seat, took off his helmet and explained to his captain, Wesker, with a flattering expression.
His expression was full of flattery and awkwardness.
Yes—
Brad was a cautious and cowardly fellow.
The Akeley Mountains forest was eerie, clearly not a good place, and with the media's exaggerated reports about mysterious large beasts, cult gathering places, and terrorists, Brad was quite scared.
Moreover, the S.T.A.R.S members' salaries were so low, and besides being able to drive various vehicles, he wasn't proficient in handling cases or apprehending criminals. To put it simply… he was just a driver who helped out, earning a few thousand dollars a month. It wasn't worth risking his life.
As for performing missions, he'd rather not.
It was better for him to stay put and guard the vehicle. He had watched many horror movies; generally, staying put was much better than running around, especially at the initial plot point. "Hey… I won't move, I won't advance the plot, so you can't do anything to me, right!"
That's what Brad thought.
Therefore, facing his ice-faced captain, Wesker, he boldly made his request without fear.
And Wesker, wearing dark sunglasses,
Just stared coldly at Brad, then snorted and got off the helicopter without looking back. Although not directly stated, this did indeed count as permission for Brad's request, after all, this coward was… no, he was a well-known figure throughout the entire S.T.A.R.S.
So he couldn't be bothered to argue.
And he was just a cowardly waste; even if he did enter the Mansion, he probably wouldn't last a single round. Forget about testing the experimental Tyrant's combat data; he probably couldn't even defeat a zombie. Therefore, Wesker couldn't be bothered with this guy. Chris and Jill were more suitable combat subjects for the experimental Tyrant!
"..."
Of course,
Not just Wesker,
Even Chris and Jill, looking at Brad, who had no bottom line, showed helpless expressions. This guy really had no backbone. They had never seen an S.T.A.R.S member so cowardly.
He was practically on par with Javier, the newcomer from the Bravo Team next door. It was said that when that guy went on a mission the day before, he was scared to death. While other team members went lightly armed, he was fully armed to the teeth, as if he were going to war in the Middle East, even bringing an RPG. He was practically a Middle Eastern tough guy.
Now it seems…
If Brad, this timid guy, were to meet the legendary Javier, they would probably be so excited they'd want to become sworn brothers, wouldn't they? It's truly a case of great minds thinking alike…
As per the title… I'm off work and finally have a day off, so the novel will also take a day off. That's it, sorry…
Chapter Three: Canine Hunt
"Hehe…"
"Alright, since Brad is so considerate of everyone, let him guard the helicopter if he wants to. Anyway, even if we force him to come with us, he'll probably just be a burden. In that case… why bother?"
"I'll take the lead. Whatever cult organization, serial killer, or large beast, under my shotgun, they won't survive one blast. If one blast isn't enough, then two more will do!"
Seeing how timid Brad was,
Joseph, the most easygoing member of the Alpha Team, clapped his hands and laughed to lighten the mood. While he intended to lighten the mood, he was mostly mocking his companion, as Brad was practically despised by everyone in the team.
At the same time,
Joseph also raised his police riot gun high, a confident smile on his face. With a red bandana, camouflage pants, and a smug expression, this was the cannon fodder who would soon die at the jaws of the Doberman Zombie Dogs.
He was holding a riot gun specifically used by the Raccoon City Police Department. The muzzle was equipped with a nuclear-powered flashlight. This flashlight had amazing properties: if you were armed, the flashlight's light would occasionally malfunction and short-circuit, causing temporary power outages and other phenomena.
But if you had no weapon for self-defense, or if your weapon ran out of ammunition, then the flashlight would activate an infinite power system. Whether it was windy or rainy, or if you were going through fire and water, it would be invulnerable and impervious to elements, as if equipped with an Arc Reactor, shining with infinite power.
It could be said to be the most mysterious and unpredictable rule-based weapon in the entire horror game and film world…
And at this moment,
Joseph, that easygoing guy,
Was holding the riot gun and flashlight, at the front of the team, slowly advancing and exploring into the Akeley Mountains forest.
Although Joseph was easygoing,
His strength was indeed good. The Alpha Team had carried out many missions, although all were apprehending criminals in Raccoon City, Joseph was always at the very front of the team, personally clearing the way. This was enough to demonstrate Joseph's combat ability and experience, as well as his fearless, desperate nature.
On the battlefield,
What is most lacking is this kind of fearless and desperate character. As the saying goes, in a narrow encounter, the brave win. Joseph having this desperate nature has already won him half the battle against his opponents.
Of course…
Provided he wasn't arrogant or careless.
After all, although Joseph was fearless, every battle had allowed him to escape death, which had made him develop an arrogant mentality of being invincible. This was also a very fatal flaw.
"Rustle…"
The Alpha Team members advanced in a diamond formation, Joseph at the very front, several meters away from the others, while the other teammates were vigilant in different directions, their gazes fixed on the depths of the Akeley Mountains forest.
Years of experience told them,
There was the scent of large beasts here…
However,
Joseph, at the very front, paid no heed, shaking the flashlight on his gun wildly. He didn't believe there were any large beasts here; even if there were… they would just be casualties of his gun. He had hunted many beasts in his time; neither wild boars nor brown bears could withstand a few shots from him.
But,
Joseph didn't realize that he was getting further and further away from his Alpha Team. Because the other Alpha Team members behind him were all vigilant of their surroundings, moving slowly, only Joseph himself, fearless, walked at the very front. This way of leading the charge… would undoubtedly be the quickest way to die!
The next second…
"Thump thump thump—!!!"
"Thump thump thump—!!!"
Sure enough,
Just as the rest of the Alpha Team were on alert, a series of rapid footsteps suddenly came from the surrounding dark forest, as if some beast was charging.
"Alert!"
"Watch your surroundings!"
Hearing the hurried footsteps,
The inexperienced Chris and Jill quickly shouted warnings, sweeping their flashlights across the surrounding dark forest. Their formation almost began to panic. This was not due to their lack of experience or insufficient training, but because at this moment…
Night, mountains, dense forest, unknown beasts, uncertain locations—all these factors combined would cause significant disarray in any formation, even for seasoned soldiers, let alone their mere few members, unless they were suicidal.
"Hiss… Woof—!!!"
A low growl,
In the dark forest, a Doberman Zombie Dogs infected with the T-Virus suddenly rushed out, barking loudly in front of everyone.
This made the Alpha Team members slightly stunned, then they quickly raised their guns and began shooting at the Doberman Zombie Dogs in front of them.
"Bang bang bang—!!!"
Several scattered gunshots,
Repelled the Doberman Zombie Dogs that was attempting to attack. A bullet hit the zombie dog's abdomen, and after a wail, the zombie dog quickly turned and fled into the forest.
"Damn it!"
"I thought it was some big beast, but it turns out it was just a dog. It scared me for nothing!"
Joseph, at the front, was holding the riot gun, his chest heaving.
Looking at the Doberman Zombie Dogs that had been shot and fled, he couldn't help but be stunned, cursing angrily. Although he was furthest from the team, the large beast Joseph had just seen was just a Doberman.
He was really pissed off.
He had said there were no large beasts in the Akeley Mountains. A group of people were scared senseless by a dog. If this got out, they'd probably be laughed to death!
"Something's not right,"
"That was a Doberman, no mistake, but I clearly saw many festering wounds on its body just now. How could such a scarred dog come out and attack people? It should be fighting to hide, after all, in nature, injury already means half-dead!"
Unlike Joseph,
Jill, by his side, put away her gun, her beautiful eyes full of doubt as she murmured. The flashlight's beam had clearly illuminated the Doberman for a moment. Whether it was her imagination or not, Jill not only saw festering skin on the Doberman's back, but even its abdomen seemed to be largely hollowed out.
"Hehe…"
"Jill, caution isn't a bad thing, but being overly cautious is a big problem. It's just a wild dog, no matter how strange it is, it can't pose any threat to us."
Facing Jill's hesitant words, Joseph scoffed. If it were a black bear, fine, but a Doberman, what kind of threat could that thing pose? Forget about using a gun, Joseph himself could easily kill it with a small knife!
You know,
He was a professional dog butcher back home.
All the big and small vicious dogs around were killed by him!
However,
Just as Joseph was about to continue boasting,
Another strange noise came again.
"Thump thump thump—!!!"
It was the sound of hurried footsteps again.
This time, Joseph was busy bickering with Jill, the beautiful woman, and had no time to guard against the surroundings. A black shadow quickly darted out, as if purposefully, heading straight for Joseph's calf.
"Hiss… Woof—!!!"
A dog's bark,
The Doberman Zombie Dogs, infected with the T-Virus, suddenly opened its foul-smelling, slime-covered, sharp fangs, and bit down on Joseph's calf, which was covered by his camouflage pants. Even without the virus, Dobermans are aggressive, and now with the virus, it's even worse.
A single bite of its fangs,
Like steel needles and sharp blades, instantly pierced through flesh and blood, clamping down firmly on the bones of Joseph's calf.
"Ah!!!"
"My leg, damn… damn dog—!"
A scream,
Joseph felt waves of intense pain from his calf, and as the Doberman, which was biting him, held on tightly, he didn't hesitate. Anger surged in his eyes, and he pressed the riot gun against the Doberman Zombie Dogs's neck, pulling the trigger hard.
"Click… Bang—!!!"
"Pfft…"
The riot gun's power was still immense.
With a single shot, the Doberman Zombie Dogs's lower body was instantly blown apart, scattering countless pieces of flesh and blood, and its entire body collapsed dead on the ground. The Doberman Zombie Dogs's head, which had been biting Joseph's calf, also fell off instantly.
However,
Just as Joseph thought he had been ambushed and the matter was over…
"..."
"Jill, hurry, get the first aid kit and bandage me up. I feel like my calf can't take it anymore."
Joseph's lips trembled slightly as he asked Jill for help. Yes, Jill, the beautiful woman, served as the support in the Alpha Team. Although she wasn't a formal medic like Rebecca, Jill was also responsible for the team's medical treatment, which is why Joseph, being injured, would ask Jill for help.
After all, only Jill,
Would carry a first aid kit with her.
Listening to Joseph, Jill was a bit helpless, but she could only walk forward. Just as Jill was about to treat Joseph, a series of hurried footsteps continued to approach.
"Thump thump thump—!!!"