My motto in life: run forward toward your dream with such speed as if the devil himself is chasing you. And if he catches up to you, well, you can politely ask for an autograph, like a devoted fan.
But the devil is nothing.
Seriously, why am I so popular that naked blondes, sparkling with excitement, are chasing me? Alexia spent fifteen years in cryogenic sleep, and apparently, luck with men did not smile upon her even in the world of dreams. And now, the first man she meets — who personifies the ideal of perfection — is forced to confront her fifteen years of abstinence.
Wait a minute, so that's why Alexia is so desperately chasing me! Everything falls into place. Being as perfect as I am is not easy, but I have accepted it. And, to be honest, Alexia is beautiful; perhaps I'll even give her a chance… sometime later, when she cools down. Girls covered in fire are a bit not my taste. But without the fire… Alexia has great potential to become my mistress.
In the next corridor, I came across guards and staff of the Antarctic base, infected with the T-virus. They flooded the corridor, as if deliberately, to interfere with my morning jog — which was absolutely unsuspicious and unrelated to escaping a more dangerous enemy.
To prove this, I drew my katana and rushed into battle.
Overtaking the monster and pulling alongside Claire, I decided to start with a neutral greeting, like between old acquaintances.
— Also on a morning jog? — I nodded, expressing support for her desire to take care of her health and figure. In recent months, she has visibly toned her body, which could not help but attract attention. To certain parts. Their firmness and potential could be described in poetry: it is impossible to take one's eyes off her, she seriously draws one in, let the rest be beautiful too, but what is most important…
— Wesker! Do something about this! — she exclaimed desperately. — He… khah-khah… He jumped out of nowhere and devoured the infected, and then turned into a giant ant!
— How awful, who released this creature? — I feigned non-involvement in this crime, continuing to run next to her.
— If I find him, he'll pay! — she threatened sweetly. It was difficult to suppress a laugh at such an innocent threat, but I managed; the villainous laughter only sounded in my head:
— Definitely, — I nodded wisely, trying not to look at the zombie ant.
— You're not afraid of him, are you?
Afraid? Who does she take me for?! I am Albert Wesker! I am not just a man; I am the creator of a new world, the architect of the future! My achievements are not only personal victories but milestones on the path to the greatness of our race. The world, which was once plunged into the dark ages of uncontrolled mutations, is now illuminated by a new light. And all thanks to me — Albert Wesker! I am the one who dared to go against the tide, who was not afraid to destroy outdated dogmas. Since my very birth, I have believed in the power of science and the potential of the human mind. With my ingenious developments, I have brought humanity closer to a new era, where there is no death from disease, where evolution obeys human desires, not nature. No catastrophes are frightening with me. Why did the dinosaurs die out? Because there was no Albert Wesker among them! None of them could open new horizons for their race. But I can! I will create an army of immortal soldiers, capable of resisting any threats. I will bring the T-virus to perfection and rid humanity of all problems: hunger, pollution, poverty, wars, aging, and even death. I will build megacities of the future, where order, prosperity, and safety will reign. I am like the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end! Only I can lead humanity to an era of greatness and power.
People like me do not know fear, especially in the eyes of girls!!!
— I'm just on a run, — I answered briefly, dismissing her absurd suspicions. However, words were not enough to change Claire Redfield's mind. Action was needed: I unclipped a fragmentation grenade, pulled the pin, and threw the grenade at the opponent behind. It was torn to pieces. It is almost dead, but still regenerating.
— You had grenades?! — Claire exclaimed with indignation, stopping and staring at me.
— You didn't ask before, — I shrugged, pulling out a modified .50 caliber pistol from the holster, the Wesker Eagle. The bullets of this weapon burst on impact, injecting an anti-virus vaccine into the infected body. I didn't go down to NEST-2 for nothing for what Jill delivered to the military. Firstly, I increased my body's resistance to the vaccine so that enemies couldn't use it against me. Secondly, I developed the Wesker Secret Weapon against especially dangerous infected. After all, be it the G-virus or T-Veronica, everything originates from the T-Progenitor, the basis of all existence. The vaccine harms everyone.
— You had an elephant gun?! — she asked even more indignantly.
— You didn't ask before, — I repeated and, firing several times, finally destroyed the target, interrupting the mutation process. Alexander Ashford became unsuitable for absorption due to the vaccine, but even in Claire's presence, it was foolish to risk revealing unpleasant facts about myself. She should also be punished for suspecting my cowardice! Wesker doesn't…
A tentacle flew out of the passage, forcing me to act immediately. Before the plant got close, I instantly moved to the zombie ant's corpse, kicked it, and sent it straight into the tip of the tentacle. The plant was probably receiving biomass for its existence through its end, but now it received deadly poison.
Next, I shifted my body to the side and ran along the corridor wall, only to then rebound and release the virus. Part of the biomass separated, flowing along the katana in hundreds of red and black lines. All this was done so that the powerful scent would initiate the equivalent of a slash attack at a distance. The attack was so destructive that it easily severed the tentacle. The circulatory system has already absorbed the vaccine, and now it is only a matter of time before the plant finally dies.
Unfortunately, the virus damaged the titanium base, and the katana cracked, a part of the blade sadly falling to the floor. My money! Well, I'll make Alexia Ashford compensate for the loss of the titanium katana. She will work it off in kind…
— Were you always this strong? — Claire asked in surprise, her mouth wide open.
— You didn't ask before, — I honestly reminded her.
A pity about the katana; it was like a loyal friend to me. Although I only equipped it yesterday, we could have done so many interesting things together. Now I will have to fight Alexia without the Wesker Eagle, because then I won't be able to recruit a good assistant; the dead are not very compliant and ready for cooperation right now. And I will have to fight without the katana, my most powerful weapon, now broken.
Claire motivated me to act quickly and effectively, but at the same time ruthlessly toward the katana. She will also have to work it off in kind, because my titanium friend broke because of her!
I should also think about combining the efforts of Alexia and Claire. Working together to atone for their mistakes could be a good experience for them. Moreover, they look great in tandem.
— What are you thinking about? — Claire asked when I replaced my sunglasses with new ones — the previous ones couldn't withstand the speed granted to me by the virus.
Fortunately, I always have spare glasses.
— Just happy to see you. How about you, did you find the self-destruct system activation button? — I quickly changed the subject, leaning against the cold wall.
— Not yet, and it looks like you haven't either… — she sighed. — I'll try searching the prison block where the test subjects were kept. And… Albert, can I call you by your first name?
— Hmm? — I raised an eyebrow in surprise. — We're not strangers — we survived Raccoon City together. Call me whatever you like.
— Yes, right, — she agreed, leaning against me. — Why were such inhuman experiments happening here? I found hundreds of records of people being kept like livestock, tortured, and… I have to give this to journalists!
— Don't become a target for attack; I will worry, — I advised, smiling warmly, though in reality, I was weaving a lie with a slight intention of sleeping with her.
I cannot allow her to harm the reputation of the Ashford family, the aristocratic lineage I planned to use to promote "GENTEK," a subsidiary of "Wesker Corporation."
Speaking of which…
I should apply knowledge of the future to accumulate influence for the development and improvement of the superhuman serum. With its help, I can influence politicians, promising them immortality and extracting funds from them to improve the world under my guidance. In ten, twenty, or in the worst-case scenario, thirty years — the plan will be realized. So much to do. But I cannot run "GENTEK" publicly. It's better to delegate this to the smart Alexia Ashford, the genius who considers herself a queen. Let her work for the unrivaled god of the new world, for me, and for that, she needs a good reputation. Claire should not become her enemy, but rather an ally in the matter of "working it off in kind."
— Um, okay, then I'll go. And yes, I saw a hangar with a fighter jet here. When everything starts, we can fly away in it, though not far… — she frowned.
— I'll give you a ride, — I shrugged, raising my hands. — And for now, I'll head to the mansion at the Antarctic base.
— There's a mansion here? — Claire's mouth dropped open.
— A classic, — I chuckled. — Try to stay away from it; it's not safe there.
Throwing out my farewell words, I headed to the supposed location where Alexia is. By the end of the conversation, the blonde should have caught up with me, but since her appearance didn't happen, she most likely headed to the recreation area. It was remodeled into an "Ashford-style" mansion: with curved staircases, Persian carpets, French columns, and Italian paintings. And indeed, upon reaching the mansion, I met Alexia Ashford in a bright purple dress.
— Alexia! — I cheerfully waved my hand at her.
The time has come!
I am not the same as I was an hour ago. I have gathered biomass from half the complex, and I have become a skilled swordsman… without a katana. I'll have to transform my hands into blades if necessary.
— Albert, — she said coldly, but I restrained myself from replying in kind.
— Wesker, — Alexia continued. — You are unworthy of my power. What were you even hoping for by coming here? To capture the works of the Ashford family?!
— You are mistaken, — I shook my head. — I came not for your strength, but for your abilities, intellect, natural charm, and potential. The power of T-Veronica, of course, is stunning, but my T-Wesker power is much mightier. I need you, entirely, not in parts. The right to possess you is far more enticing.
— Oh really? — she asked sarcastically and crossed her arms. — Do you think I, a queen, will bow before an ordinary scientist, a dog of Umbrella?
She clearly could use access to the internet, as she missed all the events. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since we worked in the same corporation and conducted research with the Progenitor. Although, her love for royal airs and sense of self-importance still surprise me. However, my ambitions and sense of self-grandeur are also not to be scoffed at. It's not for me to judge her.
— Kings bow only before gods, — I adjusted my glasses, unhurriedly ascending the staircase toward the girl standing at the fork. — And you are lucky: one of them is right in front of you. The only god in the whole world you can bow before, five steps away.
— Is that so? — she arrogantly tilted her chin up, before her body was enveloped in flames, burning her dress and triggering the mutation process. Unlike Golgotha, Veronica was focused on control, so Alexia could return to normal at any moment. But even in her mutated form, she retained her humanity: part of her body was covered in fire, and the other — with green lines and scales. The girl imagined herself the mother of nature, a golden dragon, and the mistress of flame. — Then show me what you're capable of.
Jumping back sharply, I avoided a ruthless strike to the face.
No way, I just replaced my glasses; I won't replace them again.