Chapter 56: Raccoon City

Chapter 56: Raccoon City

"Umbrella? The Umbrella Corporation?"

Realizing he seemed to have transmigrated into Resident Evil, Luo Ke asked the boy next to him, "Is this Raccoon City?"

The boy nodded in confirmation.

At that moment, the system notification arrived.

[World: Resident Evil Movie Series]
[Main Quest: Devour and Evolve]
[Side Quest: Virus War, Clash of Two Armies]
[Note: To enhance the host's culinary experience, some game monsters will be introduced.]

Luo Ke was stunned.

Isn't there only the T-virus?
How can there be a war? Where did two armies come from?
This side quest is somewhat... wait!

He suddenly remembered the T-virus prototype test tubes; those things should be devouring-capable, and he happened to possess the biological instinct to release crimson pheromones.

Could it be that the system had already planned everything out for him?
Devour the T-virus, awaken virus-like abilities, infect and control the zombies, and then trigger a zombie civil war? Playing a game of war sandbox simulation?

I wonder if devouring zombies can extract the T-virus from their bodies?

However, Luo Ke estimated the success rate wouldn't be high. Zombies were numerous yet weak; they simply didn't deserve to grant Luo Ke new abilities.

Snake-dogs were stronger than zombies, yet they still hadn't provided any abilities, completely useless apart from increasing evolution points.

As for that note, Luo Ke truly thanked the system from the bottom of his heart.

"What stage of the plot are we at now?"

He looked around, noticing that the people of Raccoon City were still living normally.

No, wait. Umbrella's convoy had driven past in a massive hurry just now, which matched the exact opening of the second movie.

This meant that Alice had already been captured by Umbrella, and Umbrella's suicide squad had also opened the gates of the Hive, releasing nearly a thousand zombies from below.

This implied that Raccoon City was already on the verge of collapse!

"Ah—"

As if to validate Luo Ke's thought, terrified screams immediately erupted from the end of the street.

Bang!

Several cars crashed into each other, billowing thick smoke.

A crowd stumbled and scrambled in all directions.

Police cars rushed in with wailing sirens.

Screams echoed one after another.

A female television reporter was reporting from the front lines, looking panicked as she frequently glanced back. The camera captured American police officers violently subduing those even more violent "people."

"We are currently at City Hall, and the scene is in utter chaos. City Hall still has no explanation for this sudden wave of slaughter sweeping across the entire city. Atrocities are running rampant with no end in sight..."

Bang, bang, bang!

A succession of gunshots shattered the peace of Raccoon City.

Numerous American police officers were bitten during the scuffles, yet kept completely in the dark, failing to realize they had already been infected by the virus.

"Roar..."

Strange cries echoed from the alley behind him.

Luo Ke turned back to see a man in a white lab coat staggering toward him, emitting hoarse cries, his blood-stained clothes bearing the Umbrella Corporation logo.

Because of the riot, the idlers on this entire street had either fled or locked themselves inside their homes with windows barred.

"I'll start with you." Luo Ke strode into the alley.

Roar!

Sensing the exquisitely delicious aroma of fresh meat, the zombie accelerated its pace and charged at Luo Ke.

As they closed in, Luo Ke swung his backhand, striking the zombie's head with the back of his hand.

Slap—

The zombie was batted airborne on the spot, spinning five or six times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Its neck was already twisted like a rope, and seeing as it was on the verge of decapitation, the broken cervical vertebrae forced it to merely open its rotting mouth and emit incoherent sounds.

The Devouring Claw emerged from his abdomen, and an eerie glow decomposed and absorbed it.

Zombies weren't human; they were monsters. There was zero problem devouring them.

Luo Ke...

Forget the T-virus; he didn't even gain 1 evolution point. At most, his physical stamina increased by a tiny fraction, and his spirit felt slightly better. Furthermore, because zombies lost too much life essence, the effect was actually inferior to the essence of ordinary humans.

Of course, if the quantity was massive, it might cause a quantitative change leading to a qualitative one—say, a few hundred zombies for 1 point?

"I still need the T-virus prototype. That means I'll have to clash with the Umbrella Corporation." Luo Ke pondered, hoping those Umbrella members left behind for rear-guard duty hadn't transferred the virus away.

"Whatever, no rush. Let's go catch a few Lickers to taste something fresh," Luo Ke muttered to himself, taking this opportunity to appreciate the scenery of the Land of Freedom amidst gunfire.

As he walked, he reminisced. He had watched the Resident Evil movie series, but his memory of the actual plotlines and foreshadowing was very vague, and he had only skimmed the final installment. Therefore, using information asymmetry to overlook the whole situation was somewhat difficult for him.

It was just a commercial film; watching it for the thrills was enough.

Intellectual warfare wasn't going to work, so it was time for Luo Ke's preferred method: rolling right over everything.

Kill whoever blocks the way, devour whatever can be devoured, search for the T-virus prototype along the way, complete the side quest, and leave after devouring the relatively powerful monsters in the final chapter.

Luo Ke formulated a rough plan for himself—in short, no plan, just adapt on the fly.

While the street was in utter chaos, Luo Ke looked up at a large sign: it was a Walmart.

Behind him, zombies were pouncing on people and gunshots rang out continuously, yet he strolled leisurely into the large supermarket.

A group of people were hiding inside the supermarket, all crouching behind the checkout counters with peeking glances, their eyes filled with blank confusion.

So when Luo Ke walked in looking completely relaxed, they were all dumbfounded. One middle-aged woman couldn't help asking, "What's happening outside? Are there robbers?"

A young white guy piped up, "Must be those black gangs acting up again, a bunch of restless scumbags!"

This remark angered the dozen or so black people in the supermarket, and both sides immediately began cursing and arguing fiercely, showing faint signs of coming to blows.

"I suggest you all keep quiet. And if possible, close the door," Luo Ke reminded them kindly.

"What's happening outside?" the first woman asked again.

Luo Ke thought for a moment. "Human primal needs have triumphed over reason, and they aren't afraid of prion diseases."

Would they believe him if he said a zombie virus outbreak had occurred?

Some people in the Land of Freedom only blindly believed their own thoughts; even with facts staring them in the face, they would talk nonsense with their eyes open and pretend not to see.

A chorus of question marks from the crowd: ???

However, hearing the terrifying screams growing louder outside, a few store clerks complied and got up to close the doors.

Just as they were about to double-lock them, a couple rushed in, slamming their blood-stained hands frantically against the glass doors. "Let us in! Hurry! Hurry!"

The store clerks had no choice but to let the two in.

The argument inside the store stopped abruptly. Everyone stared in terror at the couple; their arms were covered in grotesque bite marks, blood pouring out like water.

Judging by the tooth marks, they looked precisely like human bites!

Luo Ke took a glance, ignored them, and walked deeper into the supermarket, browsing seriously.

"Toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, shampoo, toilet paper, sanitary..." Luo Ke muttered to himself. These seemingly basic supplies were immensely precious in *Ling Cage*. One had to remember that during the Lighthouse era, many dust-born civilians couldn't even bathe a few times a year, let alone use fragrant body wash.

Every aisle Luo Ke left behind had an entire shelf of goods completely swept clean.

The zero-dollar purchase event began once more!

"Huh? Bro, what are you doing here?" Luo Ke spotted a fat man between two shelves.

The man was cowering inside, his rolls of fat trembling wildly while emitting heavy, labored breathing.

Hearing Luo Ke's voice, he froze for a moment, then slowly turned his body around two seconds later, revealing a stiff face, vacant eyes, and drool stringing from his mouth.

On his neck was a stark, bloody bite mark.

"Roar..."

Dragging his two-hundred-plus-pound body, he lunged ferociously toward Luo Ke.

The low roar caught the attention of the crowd at the checkout counter, and they all hurried over.