Chapter 50: The Stolen Kill

The precision with which I threw the grenade was a skill I had acquired from Xiao Tong and Xiao Lei. This expertise in hidden weapons was taught to me by these two girls. Although I rarely practiced, my impromptu performance didn't bring me any embarrassment.

Captain Enrique highly commended my resolute action. I was often at the forefront of our operations, a fact that filled our veteran team members with both pride and a sense of inferiority. Little did they know that my actions were largely motivated by 'monster hogging' – this giant bat alone was worth 200 game points, and including the smaller bats I incinerated, my tally from this battle alone was a hefty 232 points.

Rather than a research institute, the facility appeared more like a chapel in disguise. Kenyon's map lacked specific information about the institute, hinting at potential hidden mechanisms.

As we continued our separate searches, Rebecca and I stepped out of the chapel's main door and stumbled upon an electrical switch. Flicking the switch, we were surprised to find it still functional.

"I've found something!" I quickly notified my teammates. Upon activating the switch, a nearby defunct elevator whirred to life.

So, the elusive research facility was hidden underground! Taking the elevator to B2, we realized we had missed a floor. Collaboratively, Rebecca, Kenyon, Foster, and I accessed B1 through a hole in the ceiling, a level the elevator didn't reach.

Upon entering B1, Rebecca and I faced off against two formidable foes in a room – a pair of Hunter α creatures. These green-skinned monsters, oddly paired, were no match for my newly acquired ultimate weapon, the Magnum revolver. Despite their speed and defensive capabilities, they were powerless against the Magnum's .44 caliber might.

Flipping the Magnum with a nonchalant air, I couldn't help feeling a bit too at ease. I knew, however, that had the Hunters been prepared, the fight wouldn't have been so straightforward.

Rebecca wasn't surprised by my easy victory over the Hunters. In her eyes, such feats had become expected from me. After dealing with the Hunters, we pressed on, finding our path unobstructed until we reached another locked door – this time secured with a password.

Opting for force over finesse, we broke through the door and were greeted with a pleasant surprise – a vast cavern with an aerial tramway hanging midair. Activation of the tramway would finally allow us to escape this dreadful place.

"Great, this can take us back!" Rebecca relaxed, visibly exhausted from the night's events. The tramway, unfortunately, was inoperable due to missing parts, but Chalid seemed confident in finding replacements, sparing us the effort.

As we sat down, waiting, Rebecca, leaning against my shoulder, seemed on the verge of saying something. However, our moment was abruptly interrupted by a disturbing presence – a meter-tall albino ape, its white fur and exposed rotting muscles a grotesque sight.

Annoyed, I drew my P229, but to my surprise, the creature dodged the bullet with astonishing speed. Realizing that brute force wouldn't suffice, I readied my P5K. Despite the ape's clever evasion tactics, I was determined to outsmart it.

Just as I was about to change my attack pattern, a gunshot rang out, and the bio-ape was killed instantly – a clean shot to the head. It was a clear case of kill-stealing, a role reversal I wasn't accustomed to.

"Ha, we finally got to help you out," Captain Enrique joked as the team regrouped. It was just a monster, after all. Any fleeting annoyance I felt vanished in light of the team's camaraderie.

With the team back together, we headed for the aerial tramway, our gateway out of the caves. The tramway led to an abandoned factory in the mountains – not an immediate return to Raccoon City, but a path to the surface, leaving our next course of action for Captain Enrique to decide.

As I sat back against the wall, relieved, Rebecca joined me, her closeness and the warmth of her gratitude evident. Our shared experiences had forged a strong bond, one that would undoubtedly grow stronger with each challenge we faced together.