Chapter 41: with translation of chapter title

Stalker.

The giant who stepped out of the container is a newer‑generation Umbrella bio‑weapon, a Stalker from Umbrella's Sixth Research Institute "Revenge Goddess" project.

The most widely known Stalker model is the T‑02 type from the game "Resident Evil 3", which constantly pursues Jill and keeps shouting "STARS".

This model's Tyrant contains a parasite called NE‑Alpha, which lets the host Tyrant retain some intelligence and quickly heal ordinary wounds.

The drawback is that this parasite makes the host Tyrant's temperament frantic and cruel; once injuries exceed its limit, it reverts to the Tyrant's original state—

destroying everything before its eyes.

In fact, the Revenge Goddess project produced four prototypes; the T‑01 type had strong independent thought, but it tried to escape, failed, and was eliminated by the Sixth Research Institute.

The Stalker that Sui Bian brings to assault Lockford Island is the T‑02 type, the only model that has undergone long‑term training—in other words, "the most obedient one".

"Ah… Asifort!"

The Stalker looks at the castle whose half the buildings were lost to AGM‑65 bombing, lets out a sky‑piercing howl with arms spread, then hoists a rocket launcher in its right hand and trudges heavily toward the castle.

The Stalker's current primary mission is to locate, track and kill Alfred Asifort.

The secondary mission is to assist the Mother‑Hive's forces in eliminating every Lockford Island personnel it can reach.

Since it's named Stalker, Sui Bian uses it to hunt the hidden Alfred—perfect.

As the Stalker's heavy steps head toward the ruined castle's main gate, the hovering CH‑53 opens two cargo doors.

Marini, Chris and Jill's Caron task force drops ropes through the lower doors for a rapid air‑drop, while twenty Epsilon…

"Step! Step step!"

…leaps directly from the rear of the cabin and lands steadily on the ground thanks to its Mechanical exoskeleton, much faster than Chris and the others.

This is indeed convenient, but compared with ropes it is still dangerous; the Epsilons do it just to "show off".

Even if the USS like to stay silent, in front of other company units they always need to flaunt their superiority.

For this, Chris, Carl and the others can't help but feel jealous, but they've been with the company only a short time, and the number of Mechanical exoskeletons will be enough for the USS.

Moreover, the MTF does indeed lag behind the USS, especially Alpha led by Hank.

After the twenty Epsilons land and steady themselves, they kneel half‑crouched around the perimeter, ensuring no short‑sighted guy fires a black gun.

Yet a simple glance only reveals a ground littered with bullet holes, bodies and wreckage that no longer resemble humans or vehicles.

A 30 mm Gatling cannon would tear a human‑sized being to shreds with just a touch.

The light armor and vehicles meet the same fate.

Area clear.

The Epsilons immediately spread out in groups of four toward the castle, using the Stalker as a mobile shield; Chris and the others follow.

Inside the maze‑like corridors of the castle, the space feels far narrower than the Spencer family manor—so cramped it feels petty.

This prevents the Epsilons and Chris's side from exploiting their numerical advantage and greatly raises their combat risk.

But they have the Stalker, a humanoid tank.

Inside the castle.

At the corner leading to the bunker entrance.

"Clack—! Clack clack—!" Gunfire sounds especially shrill in the enclosed space.

"Die! Die!"

"Ah! Come at me!"

In front of the bunker lift gate, thirteen Lockford Island armed guards wield AKMs, firing nonstop frantic bursts down the far corner.

These guards are Alfred's confidants; although their combat skill and experience don't match the USS, holding the high ground they're not the cartoon‑style easy targets seen in movies.

Because of the "L"‑shaped terrain, the thirteen confidants seem to have successfully blocked the Epsilons and Caron's advance, but when a three‑meter‑tall Stalker appears in view, they are completely stunned.

The 7.62×39 mm AKM round cannot penetrate the Stalker's binder (black trench coat); even if it hits exposed skin it only leaves a minor scratch.

"Ah… Asifort!!!"

Yet those small wounds infuriate the Stalker; it spreads its arms wide and roars, then charges at the clueless confidants.

"Thud! Thud!" Its massive body makes the ground tremble.

"Ku! Chi!" With a single shout, a confidant is slammed into a wall by the sprinting Stalker—its fate…

In short, mush.

The Stalker bursts into the crowd of confidants like a main character entering "Warriors" mode in a game.

Fueled by anger, the Stalker swings its right‑hand rocket launcher like a club, flinging four confidants' bodies away.

"Crack!" A sour‑tasting sound of bone snapping fills the air.

"Pop!" Four limp bodies of the confidants collapse on the ground.

Seeking the thrill of tossing people, the Stalker slaughters twelve confidants in three swift blows, leaving only one who has emptied his magazine and clings miserably to the bolt.

"Don't… come closer! Don't come closer!"

The lone remaining confidant is already mentally shaken by the rampaging Stalker.

"Whoosh!" A sound tears through the air.

"Splat!" The body is pierced by a sharp object.

The Stalker whips its left‑hand purple tendril straight through the poor creature's abdomen.

It then retracts the tendril together with the confidant's body, and lifts the head high with its left hand.

"Spare me! I beg you! Spare… Pfft!!"

The plea ends with the Stalker crushing the head in one hand.

"Ah… As… Fu… Ter…"

Looking at the corpses strewn everywhere, the Stalker seems to sigh and says a line.

After the Stalker finishes eliminating all of Alfred's confidants, the Epsilons and Caron task force finally emerge from the corner and quickly gather at the bunker lift gate.

My God…

At this moment, Bu Lai De·Weikesi of the Caron Task Force (the STARS in the game who wears a yellow vest) glanced at the Stalker, then at the corpse whose head had been smashed, couldn't help but pat his own head, and said, sighing:

"Luckily they're allies; otherwise we'd end up the same way…"

(End of chapter)