Sarah, who had been sleeping quietly, slowly opened her eyes as the carriage continued onward.
"Mom… are we there yet?" she murmured softly.
There was no immediate answer. Abigail seemed too absorbed in what lay ahead to hear her at first. As Sarah rubbed her eyes and lifted her head, her question faded on its own.
The forest had changed.
What had once been swallowed by darkness was now alive with light. Leaves across the towering trees shimmered in hues of cyan and emerald, pulsing gently as if the forest itself were breathing. Lines of natural magic ran through bark and branches, illuminating the road without fire or flame. Even the shallow streams beside the path glowed faintly, reflecting the stars above—as though the sky had spilled into the woodland floor.
Sarah's eyes widened.
"Woah…" she whispered.
Jill stared ahead in silence, her breath caught in her chest. After a moment, she glanced toward Raviel.
"So… this is what you meant," she said quietly. "It really is more beautiful at night."
Excella nodded slowly, her gaze following the drifting motes of light floating lazily through the air—like fireflies guided by unseen spirits.
"This place feels… alive," she said. "Like it's watching us—but not in a hostile way."
Abigail gently pulled Sarah closer, resting a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"This… this is Ionia," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "The land itself breathes."
She reached out, letting her fingers brush against the glowing leaves as they drifted down, shedding soft light like falling petals. "This place is truly beautiful."
At the front of the carriage, Raviel smiled faintly. The silver strands of her hair caught the forest's glow, reflecting it like moonlight on water.
"Welcome to the edge of harmony," she said calmly. "This is only the outer path. The deeper we go, the stronger the balance becomes."
The white, horned beast pulling the carriage released a steady, peaceful breath, clearly at ease within this land—as though it belonged here. Around them, the forest whispered—not with words, but with presence. An ancient equilibrium of nature, spirit, and magic intertwined, watching without judgment.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
They simply gazed ahead, wrapped in the quiet radiance of Ionia's night, as the road before them shimmered like a dream slowly unfolding.
They soon arrived at a point where the forest grew deeper and the carriage came to a gentle halt atop a quiet hill. From there, the view was breathtaking. Rolling waves of glowing woodland stretched endlessly beneath the night sky, and far in the distance, a small village could be seen resting peacefully, its lantern lights flickering like scattered stars.
Raviel stepped down from the carriage and looked around, her gaze calm yet satisfied.
"This place should be good enough," she said softly, her eyes settling on a small, unassuming tree growing near the crest of the hill.
The others exchanged curious looks. Jill tilted her head slightly. "Here?" she asked, glancing around. "It's beautiful, sure, but—"
Raviel didn't answer right away. Instead, she walked toward the small tree and gently placed her hand against its bark. Her touch was light, almost affectionate.
CRACK—!
The ground beneath them trembled.
Fine fractures spread across the earth like a spiderweb as a surge of radiant energy flowed from Raviel's palm into the tree. The once-small trunk began to glow, veins of golden and emerald light pulsing through it. Before their eyes, the tree grew—no, expanded—at an impossible speed.
Roots burst from the soil, carving elegant terraces into the hillside rather than destroying it, as if the land itself welcomed the change. The trunk widened and twisted gracefully, branches stretching outward and upward, weaving together like living architecture. Leaves unfurled in shimmering colors, forming roofs and balconies, while glowing vines shaped walls, windows, and archways.
In mere moments, the tree had transformed into something extraordinary—a colossal, living mansion grown entirely from Ionian wood and spirit. Its structure blended seamlessly with the land, neither forcing itself upon nature nor disturbing its harmony. Soft light flowed through leaf-shaped windows, and the air around it hummed with tranquil magic.
What stood before them now was no ordinary tree.
It was a massive mansion grown directly from the land itself, standing tall on the hill as if it had always belonged there.
Jill stared in disbelief. "…Next time you do something like that, maybe give us a warning first?"
Excella let out a slow breath, and the other girls did the same, still feeling a bit numb after witnessing what Raviel had just done. It was clear now—there was probably no limit to what she could pull off if she wanted to.
Raviel only smiled, completely unfazed by their reactions.
"Come on," she said lightly. "We should go inside."
....
Back in Raccoon City.
Several days had passed, and Allen had successfully evacuated a portion of the women under his protection, ensuring they made it out of the city safely before the situation worsened. For now, the ones still with him inside Raccoon City were Ada, Svetlana, Rebecca, and Rachel.
Allen himself wasn't staying idle. He was currently operating alongside his Black Rose team, working together with Leon, Kevin, and other RPD officers. Their mission was clear and urgent: assist in securing the Raccoon Police Department and evacuate the civilians who were still sheltering inside the building. The RPD had become one of the last relatively secure strongholds in the city—a place where frightened families, injured survivors, and exhausted officers clung to the hope that help would arrive in time.
Officially, the city was under lockdown. Chief Brian Irons had issued strict orders for civilians to remain inside their homes, lock their doors, and wait for police or military units to escort them to evacuation points. Sirens echoed day and night, blending with distant gunfire and the occasional explosion. Smoke hung low in the air, and the streets felt like a graveyard—abandoned cars, flickering streetlights, and dark alleys filled with unseen movement.
Yet despite all the evidence of horror unfolding around them, there were still people who refused to believe the truth.
Near City Hall, a group of reckless civilians had gathered, openly defying the curfew. They shouted, protested, and demanded answers, accusing the authorities of lying, of staging everything to control the population. Some of them banged on the building's doors, others held signs, completely unaware—or unwilling to accept—that death was already roaming just a few blocks away.
"They say it's all fake," one officer muttered bitterly while checking his ammo.
"Yeah," another replied, eyes fixed on the dark street ahead. "Until one of those things tears into them."
From a distance, Allen watched the situation unfold with a calm but cold expression. He had already seen too much—bodies in the streets, survivors breaking down, and the virus spreading faster than any evacuation plan could keep up with. This city was dying, and denial was only speeding up its end.
"People don't believe in monsters," Leon said quietly beside him, adjusting his grip on his weapon. "Not until they see one up close."
Allen nodded. "By then, it's usually too late. Okay, let's get back to work, Leon, so we can have time to rest later."
"Yeah lest go" Without another word, they moved forward with their teams, preparing to escort another group of civilians out of the RPD.
["Central to all nearby units. We've received reports of civilians trapped near a building close to Raccoon City University. Multiple distress calls. They're requesting immediate assistance."]
Allen grabbed the radio.
"Roger that, Central. This is Allen with Leon. We're en route."
Leon glanced over from the passenger seat as Kevin floored the accelerator. The police vehicle lurched forward, tires screeching as they turned onto a debris-littered street leading toward the university district.
"University area, huh…" Leon muttered. "That place has been quiet for a little too long."
Allen narrowed his eyes, staring through the windshield at the dark skyline ahead.
"Yeah. And that usually means something's very wrong."
The engine roared as they sped toward their destination, unaware of the grim reality waiting for them.
They had no idea that the building near the university was no longer just a refuge for trapped civilians.
It had become a battlefield.
Deep within the shadows of the university complex, Thanatos—Dr. Muller's Tyrant—was still on the hunt. Umbrella operatives were being torn apart one by one, their screams swallowed by concrete corridors and shattered lecture halls.
And now, Allen and Leon were driving straight toward it.
Upon arriving at the university grounds, Leon immediately slowed to a stop, his eyes scanning the area with visible unease. The place looked like a battlefield that had only recently gone silent. Spent shell casings littered the ground, scattered across the pavement and grass, while several bodies lay sprawled in unnatural positions—each bearing clear gunshot wounds.
"What the hell happened here?" Leon muttered, his grip tightening around his weapon.
Allen crouched beside one of the bodies and carefully rolled it over. His expression hardened the moment he saw the familiar red-and-white emblem stitched onto the uniform.
"Umbrella…" Leon said quietly, recognizing the logo. "These guys are Umbrella?"
Allen nodded. "Looks like it. And not regular employees either—these are special forces. USS, most likely." He glanced around again, taking in the damage. "This wasn't a small skirmish. Whatever they were fighting, it hit them hard."
The atmosphere felt wrong—too quiet, like the calm after a storm. Even the usual distant groans of zombies were absent, replaced by an unsettling stillness.
Leon exhaled sharply. "I don't like this place."
"Neither do I," Allen replied, standing back up. "Which is exactly why we shouldn't stay here any longer than necessary. Let's find the civilians and get out. If Umbrella was involved, this area's not safe."
Leon nodded in agreement, and the two of them moved toward one of the university dormitory buildings. The front doors were cracked open, dark inside, with faint streaks of dried blood along the walls.
They entered cautiously, weapons raised.
"R.P.D.!" Leon called out as they began clearing the first floor. "If anyone's here, respond!"
No answer.
They moved down the hallway, checking each room one by one. Doors were knocked on, slowly pushed open. Some rooms were empty, others showed signs of a hurried escape—overturned furniture, half-packed bags, shattered windows.
"Clear," Allen said after checking another room.
They advanced to the stairwell and headed up to the next floor. The higher they went, the heavier the air felt, thick with the smell of gunpowder and iron.
Leon spoke quietly, almost under his breath. "Whatever happened here… I've got a bad feeling it's not over yet."
Allen didn't respond immediately. He simply tightened his grip on his weapon and continued forward.
"Stay sharp, Leon".
Leon nodded, and they moved up to the next floor. By the time they reached the fifth floor of the dormitory building, the atmosphere had grown heavier—thick with tension and the stench of blood and decay. The corridor lights flickered weakly, some completely shattered, leaving long stretches swallowed by shadow.
Then they heard it.
Footsteps.
Slow at first… then hurried.
Allen raised his hand, signaling Leon to stop. He stepped closer to one of the doors, his weapon held steady.
"Hello! This is the R.P.D!" Allen called out firmly. "Is anyone there?"
For a brief second, there was only silence.
Then suddenly—
BANG! The door burst open, and three civilians came running straight toward them, their faces pale with terror.
Allen and Leon instantly raised their guns, fingers tight on the triggers.
"Don't shoot!" one of the civilians shouted desperately. "We're not monsters!"
Before either of them could respond, a chilling groan echoed down the hallway.
Behind the civilians, several zombies staggered out of the darkness. One of them lunged forward, grabbing a woman by the arm and yanking her back. She screamed as the creature dragged her closer, its jaw opening wide.
"No! Please—help me!"
"Get down!" Allen shouted.
The civilians instinctively ducked.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunfire thundered through the hallway as Allen and Leon opened fire with controlled precision. Bullets tore through rotting flesh and shattered skulls, splattering the walls with dark, foul-smelling blood. One zombie collapsed instantly. Another staggered forward before Leon put it down with a clean headshot.
The last zombie screeched and raised its claws—
Bang!
It dropped to the floor, unmoving.
Smoke drifted from the barrels of their guns as the echoes faded. The woman fell to her knees, shaking, clutching her arm but alive.
Leon lowered his weapon slightly and exhaled. "You're safe… for now."
Allen scanned the corridor again, eyes sharp. "Are there more of you?" he asked the civilians. "Anyone else still hiding in this building?"
Shaking their heads, "No, the others are dead and have been eaten by those monsters."
They clearly answered with fear. Leon lowered his weapon slightly. "You're safe… for now."
Allen glanced down the corridor, eyes still alert. "We need to move then. Staying here any longer is asking for trouble."
The civilians nodded shakily, fear still gripping them as they realized how close they'd come to dying.
Somewhere deeper within the university, something far worse than zombies was still on the hunt.
******
Throw me your Power Stones and your reviews please.
Every bit of Power Stone and review helps me a lot in staying motivated and creating consistently. ❤️
If you want access to more than 30 chapters, you can get them on my P@tr^on.
Link: P@treon(.)com/RRam784
January discount 60% for Patreon
Code: 2A1F7