Leon frowned, dumbfounded. "You... want to perform a surgical procedure? In a place like this?"
"Yes," Rian replied casually but firmly and extended his right hand towards Leon. "Do you have first aid?"
"I brought it," Leon replied quickly. He quickly reached into his fanny pack and handed over a small dark green spray.
Without wasting time, Rian took the first aid spray from Leon's hand.
"I'll handle it," he said briefly.
With quick but careful movements, Rian tilted Luis, then laid him on his stomach on the metal platform they were standing on.
The faint sound of clinking metal could be heard as Luis' brown leather jacket was removed from his back, revealing a deep, deep red, puncture wound still oozing warm blood.
Luis gritted his teeth, but said nothing. His breathing was labored, and his body barely moved. He was too weak to fight the pain.
Leon just crouched at their side, watching with serious eyes. His hands were ready to move, but he chose to give space to Rian who had taken the initiative.
"The wound... it's really bad..." Rian muttered softly, his voice turning serious.
From his fanny pack, Rian took out a small bottle, in the shape of a long test tube of clear glass. Inside, the red liquid glistened like blood and reflected the dim light of the mine.
The cap was made of thick glass, tied with a tight silver thread.
A healing potion.
"Alright. This handsome man will bet," Rian whispered, half-joking to calm himself, then opened the bottle carefully.
Without hesitation, Rian sprayed the fist aid on the deep puncture wound on Luis' back. Luis moaned in pain.
Then, Rian opened the lid of the healing potion. Without hesitation, Rian doused the wound on Luis' back with 1/4 of the volume of the healing potion.
The wound suddenly sizzled, white smoke came out and tissue damage ranging from flesh and skin recovered quickly.
Leon was surprised by the effect of the strange medicine Rian poured, 'That medicine... It's really unusual. But Hunigan said, the technology Rian used in the mission can't be.'
After the wound closed, Luis' body was straightened by Rian. The cigarette still in Luis' mouth was taken away, "Stop smoking first."
Then, Rian stuffed the healing potion, so Luis drank it down. Because the wound on his back had healed, Luis was able to swallow the healing potion.
As soon as the potion was finished, his body felt very refreshed. The lost blood regenerated very quickly, within ten seconds.
"¡Dios mio... a-I'm not dead?" Luis' voice sounded low, almost unable to believe the reality he felt.
Rian nodded slowly, his lips curling slightly. "Of course not. Even the god of death had to ask this handsome man for permission to take someone's life."
Leon, who had been checking Luis' condition, frowned. His pupils dilated slightly.
"No sign of mutation," Leon muttered in a low tone, "the effect is similar to G-Virus, but not G-Virus. That strange drug is... amazing."
Meanwhile, Rian stood up and stretched his body casually, exhaling a sigh of relief.
"Luis," Rian said, turning around, "you now owe me one life. That medicine... is the only thing I have right now. And I'm giving it to you."
Luis slowly rose to his feet, still limp but now able to support himself. Leon also stood up, looking at Rian questioningly.
"What do you mean...?" said Luis, confused.
Rian turned his head slowly, touching his chin in a thoughtful manner. "As compensation, make me some Toner and SPX Cream for my facial."
Leon blinked, not sure if he heard correctly. While Luis just blinked, then looked at Rian in disbelief.
From behind his sunglasses, Rian glanced at both of them and said in a proud tone, "Having a bio-weapon scientist acquaintance as a skincare doctor... not a bad idea, right?"
Hearing that, both of them let out a long breath simultaneously. In unison. Resigned.
Unbeknownst to them other than Rian, in fact, first aid was no ordinary medicine. According to the theory of Resident Evil fans, first aid spray was one of Umbrella's products that contained microscopic doses of G-Virus, mixed with various other ingredients.
That's why the healing effect of first aid is so fast, even severe wounds can recover in seconds. Leon and other characters also rely heavily on it in brutal battles.
However, to save the life of Luis who was already on the verge of death, Rian could not just rely on first aid alone.
Rian realized the risks of injecting additional G-Virus, even in small doses, into an already weakened body could be very dangerous, even if Rian had a G-Virus sample.
Instead, Rian utilized his own healing potion, which he bought from the Infinity Room Shop.
By combining first aid and the healing potion, Rian created the maximum regeneration effect, enough to save Luis from the brink of death.
But everything still depended on one thing, the accurate calculation of Rian's Six Eyes.
If Rian was wrong, then the worst outcome: Luis could mutate into a horrible creature. Just like in Resident evil 2.
But if it worked... then Luis would survive, without any side effects.
Rian bet on the second possibility, and for once, luck was on his side.
Rian's gaze gazed into the distance - more precisely, at the towering brownish-yellow rocky cave wall. Rian raised his right hand forward dramatically.
"Alright! Sir Gawain is healed! Sir Lancelot," Rian grinned and said, "let's save the princess! As Sir Tristan... I announce, this is our last war!"
Then, Rian turned quickly, pointing at Luis with his left hand and blazing eyes: "You too, Gawain! But remember, no extra lives, this isn't a Super Mario game!"
Leon raised one eyebrow, then let out a short sigh before putting the gun into his holster.
Standing up straight, Leon turned to Rian with a flat expression and a flat voice, but the teasing tone could not be hidden, "If you're Tristan... don't run off with Isolde in the middle of the mission, okay?"
A small smile played on his lips, thin, rare, but sincere. Leon pulled the trigger of the gun to check the ammunition. Ready for combat.
Luis, who had just recovered, stood up slowly even though his body still felt weak. He grinned, patting his chest with his right hand.
"Sir Gawain is ready for battle..." Luis said taking a cigarette, "as long as there are no mutant dragons or zombie ex-girlfriends waiting ahead."
Chuckling softly, Luis turned to Leon with a thin expression full of dry humor, "If this is a suicide mission... at least we have Tristan to bring the spirit of theater."
Rian, nodding triumphantly, stepped forward with style, as if the stage was his.
With a loud voice and gestures like he was giving the closing speech of an opera, Rian said: "Then... for honor, love... and flawless skincare!"
***
Their footsteps echoed on the old staircase inside the Clock Tower. The air was heavy, dusty and the smell of metal hung in every corner of the room.
The shadow of a giant clock with hands that were motionless due to repairs loomed above their heads.
"Hurry up," Leon said shortly. His voice was low, but firm, reflecting the time pressure that was eating away at their pace. "We have to save Ashley before it's too late!"
Luis was behind Leon and Rian next to him, staring ahead, his jaw hardened. Although his body had not fully recovered, his steps did not falter.
Suddenly, a mad scream shattered the silence. From the stone passage on the left side, a group of Ganado appeared, flaming torches in hand and empty eyes full of madness. Without thinking, Leon prepared to raise his weapon, but someone moved first.
Rian stepped forward. Calm. Firm. As if the world was not crumbling, he picked up a butcher knife lying on the floor, taking it with one hand.
The weapon looked rusty, but still sturdy. In his right hand, Rian checked it and swung the butcher knife.
"Amigo..." Luis blinked, unable to believe what he was seeing. "I don't mean to be dismissive. But, are you sure you're using that thing? Don't you have a revolver?"
"This handsome man's bullets are running out," Rian said in a calm tone, "There happens to be a Weapon... Why not use it? Well... The point is to cover me from behind."
Leon and Luis chose not to say anything. Their eyes were only glued to the quick movements of Rian, who had now charged into the Ganado's ranks.
In one swing, two heads were separated from his body, and in a follow-up movement, a butcher knife sliced through the third Ganado and so on.
The bodies of the Ganado lay cold on the stone floor, their blood forming abstract patterns that would never be purified.
Soon, the Ganado were all gone, and amidst a pile of Ganado corpses, Rian turned around.
"If there's an impromptu gladiator tournament, sign me up first," Rian said, calmly.
Suddenly, Leon pulled the trigger, shooting one mutated Ganado who stood up.
BANG!
"You're using that in a gladiator tournament?" muttered Leon then sighed. "Clearly, there's going to be a massacre."
Luis chuckled, "At this rate, you won't be Tristan. But a butcher in a butchery."
Rian replied lightly, "It depends on my spa schedule. And depending on whether the next enemy is a mutant, a vampire, or an ex. All are treated differently."