"December 4th. We finally did it. We successfully extracted the new virus. Because it's so unique, we've named it the 'Progenitor Virus.' I want to take it back and begin investigations and research immediately..."
"August 23rd. The virus research is still ongoing, but Spencer says he wants to found a company. It's probably to create a better environment for these studies, but it doesn't matter to me. As long as I can continue researching the Progenitor Virus, he can do whatever he wants..."
"Spencer keeps asking me to be the director of the training facility, but I'm too busy with the virus research to manage other people. For the sake of the project, I agreed, but... he seems to be getting more and more overbearing."
"Still, I can probably use this. Under Spencer's name, I can obtain some special equipment and locations to uncover the secrets of the Progenitor Virus."
"October 30th. Spencer came to complain again. He thinks of the virus as just a tool for making money. Ha ha... What an idiot. But his influence is growing, and this is becoming increasingly detrimental to my research. To continue, I need to consolidate my own position."
"September 19th. At last... I've finally found a method to create a new virus based on the Progenitor Virus. By combining the Progenitor Virus with leech DNA, I can create a new virus. This will be a massive breakthrough. I will name it the T (Tyrant) Virus..."
"October 28th. No, experimenting only on rodents isn't making any progress. I must conduct virus experiments on humans themselves to achieve a breakthrough. After all, the human body is the best mammalian test subject. I might be able to secretly ask for help from the lab personnel..."
"November 15th. It seems someone has discovered my experiments, but it's probably just my suspicion. It doesn't matter. If they barge in on my experiments, I'll be so kind as to have them help me with them, since I'm just short on test subjects."
"January 13th. It's finally complete. My beautiful leeches. Those simpletons could never comprehend the joy and satisfaction I feel at this moment. I can finally stand against Spencer. I'll be able to control everything soon."
"January 30th. Someone tampered with the devices I set up to protect my virus research. It seems someone was trying to find samples of the T-Virus and my leeches. What a fool. I don't have to guess—it must be that Spencer. He's been jealous of my talent and my research achievements for a long time."
"February 11th. The things at the door have been tampered with again. If they really are after my research, it seems I need to prepare countermeasures. A bunch of greedy scoundrels, trying to steal the results of my painstaking work when they've done nothing themselves. It's utterly disgusting!"
"It seems I'll have to ask my two students, William and Wesker, for help. They're the only two I trust. And, of course, my beloved leeches! But... this won't be the end of it, will it? Spencer... I will present the T-Virus at the next company board meeting to shock all you stubborn old fools and claim the rights and status I deserve!"
The ink gradually fades. The next pages of the diary are blank. The last line of text is a much darker ink, showing Marcus's mood. A man who has toiled in research for so long has finally succeeded and is thrilled to share his results with the world.
Without a doubt... this is exactly what Javier had suspected.
As a brilliant and genius-level doctor in biology, Marcus was always a loner. He couldn't express his inner thoughts to others, so he could only use his diary to vent his emotions. But tragically, the madman was swallowed by madness.
For the sake of his research, Marcus broke a sacred taboo: human experimentation. This was a sin against humanity. Although he successfully created the T-Virus, he was ultimately killed by his two favorite students, William and Wesker.
Finishing the diary, a recovered Javier lets out a long, heavy breath. It's a story of a respected doctor who slowly becomes a beast in a suit and finally descends into complete madness.
"Javier, what are you looking at? You're so engrossed..."
At that moment, Rebecca and Billy Coen, having rested for a while, finally regain their spirits. Curious, Rebecca approaches Javier, her expression full of questions.
Javier doesn't hold back. He hands the diary to Rebecca. Marcus's sins are no secret. On the contrary, more people need to know about them to expose the evil of the Umbrella Corporation.
"It's the story of a madman," Javier says. "Rebecca, Billy, take your time and read it. Remember to keep it safe when you're done. This could be very useful evidence." Handing the diary over, Javier pats his rear and stands up. They've been in this room for too long. It's time to leave.
A while later, after reading the diary, Rebecca and Billy's faces turn grim. Without a doubt, the diary records the monstrous and unforgivable crimes of Dr. Marcus. Both of them feel a sense of righteous indignation.
"Alright, alright, don't get angry!" Javier says, trying to diffuse the tension. "You two look even more grim than I did after reading it. This isn't the time to dwell on Marcus's crimes. The most important thing is to get out of here. We have the last statue wing. Let's head back to the main hall!"
Rebecca, a fellow pharmaceutical expert, finds it hard to accept Javier's words. She can't believe such an evil person exists, especially a genius like Dr. Marcus.
Are so-called geniuses always interested in such inhumane projects? Is it only viruses, monsters, and things that violate human ethics that can excite and interest them? Thinking about this, Rebecca feels a deep sense of guilt, as she is also a researcher.
But soon, with the comforting words of Javier and Billy, Rebecca recovers. She swears that she will expose the ugly face of the Umbrella Corporation!
Tread, tread, tread...
With their emotions now in check, the trio leaves Marcus's office and continues on. They arrive at a makeshift medical storage room. There are hospital beds and various scattered medicines, but this isn't the virus research area. In a nearby planter, a few herbs that haven't withered are growing.
Javier immediately recognizes them as the red, green, and yellow herbs from the game. Even the first-aid spray on the shelf looks familiar.
Unfortunately, these herbs and sprays aren't as powerful as in the game. They only help with things like stopping bleeding, promoting blood creation, and preventing poisoning.
In the storage room, Rebecca finds a functional chemical mixer, a device for compounding medicines. As a pharmaceutical expert, she recognizes it immediately and puts it in her bag. With this, she can mix medicines anywhere, which is perfect since her supplies are running low. The storage room has enough herbs and materials to be the perfect place to restock.
The Main Hall
After wandering around, Javier and the others finally return to the central main hall of the facility. Since they had cleared out the zombies earlier, the path is unobstructed. All that's left is to find the secret of the statue of the Goddess of Balance.
"Click!"
After reattaching the wing of the evil statue, a black, bat-winged devil statue stands before them, lifelike. Without hesitation, Javier places this black evil statue and the previous white good statue onto the golden scales of the Goddess of Balance.
"Clang!"
With both statues in place, the tilted scales become level. On the base of the white goddess statue, a line of text is inscribed: "When good and evil are in balance, a new path will be born."
This is clearly the key to the puzzle. And now that they have placed the statues, the mechanism should activate...
"Rumble...!"
"Clank—!!!"
A sudden, loud rumble and vibration fill the air, as if a large mechanism has been triggered. The portrait of Marcus in the center of the main hall begins to shake. Dust billows out as the massive portrait transforms into a large door that slowly lowers, revealing a dark, underground staircase. It seems this is the true entrance to Marcus's virus lab.
The area outside was just a decoy to throw people off.
"The mechanism has opened," Javier says. "Let's go in!"
Javier, Rebecca, and Billy exchange glances and nod. Without a moment's hesitation, they grip their weapons and slowly descend into the depths of the underground stairs. The walls of the basement are thick with dust. The place is covered in cobwebs. The dim lighting and spooky atmosphere are enough to make their hair stand on end. It feels less like a basement and more like the entrance to hell.
Fearing an ambush, the trio proceeds with caution. Javier takes the lead, Billy guards the rear, and Rebecca is protected in the middle. The underground tunnel is very narrow. If they get cornered, they'll be in deep trouble.
However, as the cobwebs on the walls get larger and the air fills with a strange smell, Javier is overcome with an ominous feeling, as if some terrifying monster is waiting for them up ahead.
"Wait a minute..."
"Be careful. Something feels wrong. Rebecca, you use the shotgun!"
Trusting his instincts, Javier stops and hands his M1897 shotgun to Rebecca. He then takes a Molotov cocktail from his tactical bag and puts his hand on the Desert Eagle holstered on his thigh.
In such narrow terrain, a Molotov cocktail is an excellent way to block a path, even if it risks burning themselves. If zombies rush them, the fire would seal the way, giving them a chance to retreat and save their lives. If they were trapped from both sides, they'd be completely helpless. No amount of firepower could suppress them. So, no matter how dangerous it is, Javier is prepared to use the Molotov.
"Hiss...!!!"
At that moment, a strange sound echoes from around the corner ahead. It's similar to the squealing of the Plague Crawlers from before, but much louder. Javier guesses it must be an even larger mutated insect, like the giant mutated centipede they encountered earlier.
The next second!
"Chitter-chitter-chitter—!!!!"
The sound of skittering feet grows more urgent. Two shadowy figures suddenly dart out and climb onto the walls. In the dim light, Javier and the others finally get a good look at the two creatures on the wall. They're so fast. Could they be Lickers?
No! Of course not. The Umbrella Corporation doesn't have the technology to create Lickers yet. The creatures have a black-and-gray shell and an oval body with multiple giant, crab-like legs covered in coarse hairs that look like a hedgehog's spines. Their large abdomens trail behind them, and their small heads glow with a crimson light in the darkness. Their mouths are filled with sharp, distinctive fangs that can tear through anything.
They are two mutated Spiders!
They are as big as large dogs. Like the Plague Crawlers, they are a breed improved by the Umbrella Corporation using the T-Virus. A spider of this size could easily prey on large animals like lions, tigers, and even humans.
Thinking about this, Javier can't help but touch the webs clinging to the wall. The white fibrous liquid is as hard as steel wire, and its elasticity is even more absurd, just like a bungee cord. It has both strength and toughness beyond the scope of normal science!
Speaking of which... If I get bitten by this spider, is there a chance I could become a real-life Spider-man?