Chapter 45: Late Redemption

Inside the core laboratory, the cold air seemed to be completely ignited. Chris looked at the hideous Tyrant before him, which exuded a lethal pressure, then at the fanatical Wesker beside it. Fury surged into his chest, and he could no longer suppress his shock and anger, shouting, "Wesker, are you insane?!"

He couldn't understand how Wesker could so calmly create such an inhumane monster, sacrificing the entire S.T.A.R.S. team and turning the Arklay Mountains into a living hell. This madness had long since crossed the line; Wesker had become a complete puppet of viruses and power.

Wesker walked slowly, heading straight to the front of the awakened Tyrant. He looked up at the tall, muscular ultimate lifeform, his pupils filled with obsession and fanaticism. Completely ignoring Chris's outburst, his tone was light and carried an extreme madness: "Chris, you don't understand. It's magnificent."

This was the moment he had spent all his effort waiting for—the perfect bio-organic weapon that the Umbrella Corporation had pursued all its life. In his eyes, the Tyrant before him was not a killing machine, but a masterpiece capable of overturning everything, the best tool to realize his ambitions.

Just as Wesker was immersed in his fanaticism and preparing to order the Tyrant to strike again, a crisp gunshot suddenly shattered the dead silence of the laboratory!

The bullet whistled through the air and struck the Tyrant's head with unerring precision. The powerful impact caused the Tyrant's massive body to pause slightly, letting out a dull roar. Dark red blood instantly seeped from its head, but it didn't cause fatal damage; instead, it completely enraged the monster.

The sudden turn of events startled both Wesker and Chris. They turned their heads simultaneously toward the direction of the gunshot.

The iron door of the laboratory was slammed open. Barry stood at the doorway holding a Revolver, his body tense. His previously conflicted and guilty eyes had become incredibly firm, showing no more hesitation or cowardice. The muzzle of his gun remained steadily aimed at the Tyrant; that shot just now had come from him.

"Barry!" A flash of unbelievable joy crossed Chris's eyes. The anger and disappointment in his heart were instantly replaced by relief. He knew that Barry had come back after all.

Barry stepped into the laboratory and slowly lowered his gun, walking toward Chris step by step. His hand hanging at his side clenched slightly. Looking at Chris with eyes full of guilt and self-reproach, his voice was raspy but firm: "Chris, I know I've done many wrong things. I betrayed you, I betrayed the whole team. I don't ask for your forgiveness."

During this time, he had been blackmailed by Wesker using his family, compromising step by step and violating his conscience repeatedly. Watching his teammates fall into danger, the internal torment had long since tortured him into agony.

Every step he took leaving the laboratory earlier felt like walking on knives. He could no longer continue living in shame, unable to watch Chris die. While family was important, the teammates he fought alongside were friends he could not abandon.

"It's okay, Barry. I don't blame you," Chris said immediately, his tone sincere. He understood Barry's lack of choice and knew he never truly wanted to betray them. Turning back now required immense courage.

Barry looked up at Chris, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes before they became even firmer. He said word by word, "Even though doing this will endanger my family and damn me eternally, I cannot betray my friends again!"

These words were his inner redemption and an account given to all the sacrificed teammates.

Seeing Barry return and openly defect, Wesker's face instantly darkened. A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes, and his mouth curled into a cold sneer as he shouted, "A foolish choice. Chris, Barry—go to hell together!"

As his voice fell, he stepped aside, completely revealing the enraged Tyrant behind him. He gestured, ordering the Tyrant to act immediately and tear the two traitors to shreds.

The Tyrant let out an ear-splitting roar, its massive body arching slightly into an attacking stance. But unexpectedly, it did not charge at Chris and Barry according to Wesker's command. Instead, it slowly turned its head, its cold, heartless gaze locking directly onto Wesker behind it!

The previously fanatical Wesker's face changed abruptly. A flash of shock and calculation crossed his eyes as he feigned a look of not expecting such a turn. He frowned and murmured in disbelief, "What? Is it not yet mature..."

Before Wesker could react, the Tyrant moved.

Its movement was swift, possessing a flexibility that didn't match its massive frame. Its giant claws carried a sharp wind, piercing fiercely toward Wesker's chest!

"Wesker, look out!" Seeing this, Chris was startled and immediately shouted a warning, wanting Wesker to dodge the fatal blow.

But it was too late.

The sharp claws penetrated Wesker's body without resistance. Dark red blood sprayed out instantly. Wesker's face was full of shock as he looked down at the claws through his chest, his eyes filled with resentment and disbelief.

He didn't even have time to scream before being violently tossed aside by the Tyrant. His body slammed heavily against the cold alloy wall and slid to the floor, motionless—his life or death unknown.

In a short instant, the situation had completely reversed.

After dealing with Wesker, the Tyrant slowly turned its head. Its cold, heartless gaze locked onto Chris and Barry once more. A low growl vibrated in its chest as it lunged at them with startling speed.

"Bring it on!" Barry snapped back to his senses, immediately raising his Revolver and aiming at the Tyrant. His eyes were firm, without a hint of retreat.

Chris also quickly adjusted his stance, gripping his Shotgun. He said to Barry in a deep voice, "The terrain here is complex. We'll split up to distract it. Don't take it head-on!"

The two immediately dispersed, using the scattered consoles, glass cultivation tanks, and complex pipelines in the lab to maneuver around the Tyrant. The Tyrant was massive and incredibly strong; a swing of its claws could deform an alloy console. However, under their flexible movement, it failed to hit either of them.

Relying on his agile movements, Chris constantly circled to the Tyrant's side, seizing opportunities to pull the trigger of his Shotgun. The buckshot accurately hit the Tyrant's wounds and joints, slowing its movements time and again. Barry used the range of his Revolver to keep shooting at the Tyrant's head and chest, drawing its attention and leading it toward narrow passages to limit its movement space.

The Tyrant was furious, frantically destroying everything around it. Equipment in the lab was smashed one after another, sending fragments flying, yet it couldn't touch either man. Chris and Barry cooperated perfectly, one distracting while the other attacked, gradually wearing down the Tyrant's stamina and vitality. Even when caught in the shockwaves of the Tyrant's attacks and sustaining several wounds, they gritted their teeth and persevered.

The battle lasted for a long time. The Tyrant's movements became increasingly sluggish, blood continued to seep from its wounds, and the beating of its exposed heart in its chest grew weaker.

Finally, under the combined assault of Chris and Barry, the Tyrant's massive body knelt heavily to the ground. It let out one last roar of resentment before collapsing completely, no longer moving.

Chris panted heavily, his body soaked in sweat and his strength nearly exhausted. He leaned on his Shotgun, slowly straightening his body. Looking at the fallen Tyrant, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After a brief rest, he walked over to Wesker's body. Looking at his former captain, now lifeless, he couldn't help but sigh softly. A teammate who once fought side-by-side had ultimately fallen victim to ambition and met such an end; it was truly tragic.

He crouched down and searched Wesker's clothing, soon finding a sealed file folder. It was labeled "Observation Records" and signed by William Birkin.

Chris opened the file and began reading quickly. The contents sent a shock through his heart:

【The discovery of the G-Virus occurred 21 years after the discovery of the Progenitor Virus. After a prototype parasite obtained from the French Research Facility was administered to a test subject, the parasite remained latent within the subject for 21 years before mutating (evolution would be a more appropriate term).

Through further refinement and testing, I have created the G-Virus, which surpasses the T-Virus. This breakthrough will change the history of B.O.W.s henceforth. I can't wait to see the look on that bitch Alexia's face the day I publish my research!

Thanks to S01 from Ark Laboratory, I found a way to stabilize the G-Virus. Unfortunately, I must wait a few more years to fully verify the research results.】

Every word in the document revealed a deeper conspiracy by the Umbrella Corporation, far more terrifying than the T-Virus leak. The existence of the G-Virus was undoubtedly a greater disaster. Moreover, the mention of Ark Laboratory and the Subject S01 filled his mind with clouds of doubt.

Just as Chris finished the file and fell into thought, a weak cough suddenly sounded, interrupting his train of thought.

He turned to look and saw Barry leaning against a corner not far away. His face was pale, he bore many scars from the fight, and he looked exhausted and faint.

Chris immediately tucked the file away and hurried to Barry's side, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"

"Sorry, Chris, I was careless. I was hurt by the Tyrant's shockwave earlier and lost my strength," Barry said with a bitter smile, his tone full of self-reproach. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked up sharply and asked urgently, "Where's Wesker?"

Hearing this, Chris turned to look at the spot where Wesker had fallen. The sight before him made his pupils shrink.

The spot was empty. There was no sign of Wesker, only a pool of wet blood proving what had just happened.

Wesker's body had actually disappeared!

Both their hearts sank simultaneously. A sense of foreboding washed over them. If Wesker was still alive, it undoubtedly left a massive hidden threat.

Barry forced himself up and stood slowly. Looking at Chris, he suggested in a deep voice, "It's too dangerous here. Wesker's whereabouts are unknown, and there's an unknown conspiracy. Let's get out of here first and find Jill and Rebecca."

Chris nodded, knowing it was not the time to linger. He immediately stepped forward and carefully supported Barry. Looking out for one another, they didn't pause for a second and walked quickly out of the laboratory, preparing to leave this Arklay Research Facility full of sin and danger as soon as possible, find their lost teammates, and escape this living hell.