"Phew…"
A woman in a white lab coat sat at her desk, staring intently at the glowing monitor before her, her expression solemn.
"Professor Chambers."
At that moment, another voice rang out, followed by a platinum-blonde woman walking briskly to her side.
"How's the situation?"
"For now, it's still uncertain," the professor replied, shaking her head. "I can only hope it works."
She glanced toward her assistant.
"Of course, Sherry, this wouldn't have been possible without your help."
"I'm just doing what I must."
At the professor's words, Sherry gave a faint smile, then lowered her gaze.
"This… is the sin my father left behind in this world. It's my duty to erase it."
"This isn't your fault."
Seeing her assistant once again slipping into her usual self-loathing, Rebecca gently placed a hand on Sherry's shoulder.
"You were just a child back then—and you were a victim too."
"But if my father hadn't created the T-virus… none of this would've happened…"
Sherry's voice trailed off as she looked toward the data streaming across the screen. Everything that happened that night of nightmares had changed her life forever. Afterward, she had been adopted by Claire and her brother Chris, who had hoped Sherry could live a normal life.
But Sherry could never just let go.
She studied relentlessly, entered university, and majored in life sciences. She'd made up her mind to destroy the demon her father had unleashed—by her own hands.
Because of her exceptional talent, she became the assistant of Professor Rebecca Chambers, and together they began developing a vaccine for the T-virus. Sherry had contributed greatly to their progress.
Even so, her mood was often subdued. After all, every time she thought about how the virus that had brought so much suffering was her father's creation, she couldn't help but feel heavy inside.
"This time," Rebecca said softly, patting her shoulder, "we'll put an end to it all."
She understood how much burden her student carried—so heavy that it nearly suffocated her. But perhaps, once this vaccine proved effective, things would finally begin to change.
———————
Suddenly, the lights went out. The entire room plunged into darkness. Even the computers powered down. Moments later, iron shutters slammed down over the windows, sealing the entire facility.
"What's happening?!"
Both women froze in shock, but before they could react, a pungent smell filled the air. A wave of burning pain spread through their bodies, and both of them collapsed to their knees.
"Th-this…!"
"It's a virus… Someone released a virus into the facility…!"
Rebecca gritted her teeth and grabbed Sherry, pulling her up.
"Quick! We have to get to the biolab! If the vaccine works…"
"Yes!"
Luckily, the biolab wasn't far. The two stumbled toward it, supporting one another. Rebecca burst through the lab door, rushed to the vaccine storage, and snatched up two injectors. She jabbed one into herself, the other into Sherry, before collapsing to the floor.
Moments later, their breathing steadied, and the dark bulges beneath their skin began to fade away.
"Ha… thank God…"
After catching their breath, Rebecca rushed to the equipment, extracted the vaccine data, and backed it up.
"It looks like the lab's been attacked. We have to get out of here immediately."
"Yes."
The two left the biolab—only to hear a faint, guttural sobbing sound from the corner of the corridor.
The moment that sound reached their ears, every hair on their bodies stood on end. Memories—of that night—flashed through their minds.
"P-professor…"
"I know…"
Rebecca swallowed hard, signaling Sherry to stay quiet. They crept toward the corner—only to see, not far away, a lab technician crouched on the floor… eating another colleague's corpse.
"…"
Both women gasped.
But before they could move, a door beside them suddenly burst open—several zombies lunged toward them with shrieks.
"Watch out!"
Rebecca shoved Sherry aside and kicked one of the zombies backward, but more came from the other direction, rushing straight at her.
"Haaaah!!"
And then—
A massive arm swung past her like a battering ram, smashing into a zombie's skull and sending it flying in a shower of gore.
Rebecca turned in shock.
Behind her stood a towering bald man with a face like a demon. His left hand gripped another zombie by the head, slamming it against the wall before crushing its skull with one brutal squeeze.
"Wh-who are you?!"
Terrified, Rebecca stared up at the man who looked barely human. But before she could speak again, Sherry's eyes lit up—and she ran toward him.
"Big Uncle!"
"…Huh? Who are you?"
Duanmu Huai blinked in confusion as the young woman threw her arms around him. He'd just entered the instance, materializing in a sealed facility full of zombies. Naturally, he'd smashed his way through first, then noticed these two being attacked—so he saved them.
But now this woman was acting like she knew him?
"It's me! I'm Sherry—Sherry Birkin!"
"Sherry?"
He stared at her blankly, then looked closer.
The last time he'd seen Sherry, she'd been a little girl. Now… she'd grown into a full-grown woman.
As people said during New Year's family visits—
Well I'll be damned, hasn't the girl grown up nicely?
No wonder there was a vaccine now—it must've been, what, at least ten years since then?
"So… what's going on here? I just got here, and there are zombies everywhere. Another virus leak?"
"N-no, it's not a leak!" Sherry said anxiously. "Someone attacked the research facility! They released gas through the ventilation system!"
"I see… So what now? We're supposed to protect the vaccine creator and the data, right?"
"The data's safe—but they might go after the database next!"
"Understood. Take me there."
"Okay, this way!"
Sherry hurried ahead with Duanmu Huai following close behind. Rebecca trailed after them, uneasy.
"Sherry, he…"
"Don't worry, Professor. Big Uncle's a good guy! He looks scary, but he's not a bad person. I know he'll help us."
"Uh…"
Rebecca still looked doubtful, but seeing Sherry's conviction, she decided to trust her.
Soon, they reached the database room. Rebecca pressed her palm to the fingerprint scanner—the door slid open.
Inside stood a woman in a black leather suit, her back turned, working hastily at the console.
"Who are you?!"
Rebecca shouted, and the woman spun around, gun already drawn.
Bullets flew—
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
But before they could hit, Duanmu Huai stepped forward, pulling Sherry and Rebecca behind him. The bullets struck his chest and ricocheted harmlessly off.
"Come on then, bitch!"
He clenched his fists, blocking the doorway, glaring at the intruder. For a moment he'd thought it was Ada Wong—but no, this one looked different. Whoever she was didn't matter. She was an enemy, and that meant only one thing: elimination.
There was no exit from the room behind her. Once he blocked the door, she'd have no choice but to fight.
Realizing her bullets were useless, the woman's expression hardened. She pulled a grenade from her belt, yanked the pin, and hurled it.
Duanmu Huai caught it with one hand.
"BOOM!!"
The explosion rocked the room—but when the smoke cleared, he stood there, unscathed. Only the glove on his right hand was torn to shreds. His skin wasn't even scratched.
"…"
The woman's eyes widened. She drew a combat knife, leapt like a cat, and darted through the air with inhuman agility. She twisted midair, aiming straight for Duanmu Huai's eyes—
But before she could land the strike, his hand shot up, clamped around her wrist, and slammed her to the floor with a single motion.
BAM!!
She hit the ground hard, disarmed. Duanmu Huai's boot came down on her spine, pinning her flat.
"Who sent you?"
He asked coldly, staring down at her.
She said nothing—only glared.
"Fine."
He raised his fist and brought it down.
CRACK!
Her body twitched once, then went limp, lifeless.
Duanmu Huai straightened, dusted his hands, and turned to the others.
"Couldn't get anything out of her. She's dead. You two check for clues yourselves."
"Big Uncle, you're still as strong as ever…"
Sherry said in awe. Rebecca, on the other hand, was staring at him like he was some kind of monster.
Bullets and grenades didn't even scratch him? Is he even human?!
"Ratatatatata!!"
Suddenly, the sound of boots echoed rapidly from the corridor. Duanmu Huai glanced that way, then back at the women.
"Looks like your reinforcements are here. I'll be taking my leave."
"Wait, Big Uncle! You're not staying?"
"I don't care for complicated messes. I'll find you again later. For now—goodbye."
And with that, he turned and walked off down the opposite corridor.
Just as Sherry opened her mouth to call after him—
"Are you two all right?!" a voice shouted from the far end of the hall.
Sherry instinctively turned toward it—and when she looked back…
Duanmu Huai was already gone.
(End of Chapter)