"Plant 42 Report Log—"
"The incident occurred four days ago, and Plant 42 is growing at an alarming rate. While there are still many unknowns about this plant, one thing is certain: the T-virus has had a significant impact on it. The T-virus has completely altered the host's structure and size. From its current state, it's impossible to imagine its original appearance. There is no other similar organism on Earth. We have also discovered that Plant 42 has two main sources of nutrients. One is absorbed through its roots, which have penetrated into the basement."
"After the incident, a researcher went mad and attacked the large water tank, which then turned the basement into a swimming pool. It is highly likely that the chemicals in the water tank contributed to the rapid growth of Plant 42, but it is still uncertain what the exact ratio of the chemicals and T-virus residue is."
"A spherical object from Plant 42 is suspended from the ceiling on the first floor. We can confirm it reached the first floor through the ventilation ducts. The countless vines and tentacles can extend from the spherical object. We believe its second source of nutrients is through hunting with its tentacles. When prey approaches, the vines will quickly wrap around it and use the tentacles to suck its blood. We have also discovered that it seems to have intelligence. When it is not hunting or is in a dormant state, it uses its tentacles to block door frames to prevent intruders."
"Unfortunately, several of our researchers have been attacked by Plant 42. However, we have also discovered a pattern: when the petals of its spherical object open, it becomes very aggressive."
"May 21, 1998, Henry Sutton."
Looking at the report in their hands, Jill and Barry exchanged glances, their expressions showing some hesitation. The documents were scattered on the floor, and in front of them was an area with wooden walls and doors. Some emerald-green vines were seeping through the cracks of these walls and doors, like the ivy people love to plant. Its tendrils were tightly rooted in the walls, forming a kind of armor. This method makes Plant 42's defense system more complete; the wooden walls reinforced with vines seem to be just as strong as cement walls made of bricks. Plant 42 can rely on these reinforced walls to protect itself. Furthermore, the external vine tendrils can act as Plant 42's fourth, fifth, and so on eyes. It can keenly sense any living creature that passes by on the other side of the wall.
Therefore, even with only a wooden wall and vines separating them, Jill and Barry were certain that the area ahead was Plant 42's lair. This made them very hesitant. They had followed the clues to get here, but what awaited them was the immensely powerful Plant 42, which put them in a difficult position. Inside, they might find more crucial clues or the third cursed mask, but it could also expose them to unprecedented danger. After all, they had little experience dealing with this kind of monster. But if they gave up, they would feel remorseful. Not only were there clues and the third cursed mask inside, but the existence of a monster like Plant 42 was something Jill and Barry were determined to eliminate.
According to the report, Plant 42 grows astonishingly fast, has a strong ability to survive, high reproductive capacity, and a rich source of nutrients. It can eat meat or simply rely on its roots to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, making it very difficult to kill. So if Jill and Barry were to leave it alone, even if they managed to escape the mansion, as long as Plant 42 didn't die, it might take over the entire mansion, with its reproductive tendrils everywhere, turning the mansion into a forest castle. It could even use the mansion as its base to spread outwards. If it were to leave the mansion, the Arklay Mountains are full of countless prey and water sources. At that point, Plant 42 would become even more powerful and could even take over the Arklay Mountains, freely attacking prey and people in the surrounding area, causing a much greater disaster.
To prevent Plant 42 from becoming even stronger, Jill and Barry wanted to eliminate it. But looking at the dense vines and tendrils present in every corner of the walls, it felt as if the plants had eyes and were breathing, making Jill and Barry feel the fear of being constantly watched. They understood that Plant 42 was an incredibly powerful opponent that they couldn't simply deal with. They had to find a perfect solution.
"We definitely can't fight it head-on. We have to be clever... How about using a weedkiller, Barry? You go collect the weedkiller. It's in the plant cultivation greenhouse from before. One bucket of weedkiller definitely won't be enough, but what about a lot of weedkiller? If we can't solve this with guns, then weedkiller will definitely work, since Plant 42 is still a plant!"
After thinking for a while, Jill came up with a plan. It was a simple and brutal one: weedkiller. She had noticed the research team's own weedkiller in the plant cultivation greenhouse where they found the first cursed mask. It was a growth inhibitor specifically for Plant 42. If they used that as a weapon, it would be much more effective than just guns. At the very least, it could cause real damage to Plant 42. So this was a good idea, but how to get a sufficient amount of weedkiller was a challenge. If Plant 42's main body was as big as the report described, it probably wouldn't be solved with just one bucket or bag of weedkiller. They would likely need to prepare ten or more buckets or bags.
"That works... that's a good idea. In that case, let's not waste any time and get started. Jill, you look for the spray equipment and a water source, and I'll get the weedkiller. We'll meet back here later. Once we have enough weedkiller prepared, we'll take on Plant 42 inside!"
Barry agreed with Jill's plan. He also believed it was the only way. To deal with a plant, besides fire, weedkiller seemed to be the only option. They hadn't found a large amount of fuel, and fire would be too dangerous, as it could burn down the entire mansion. If the mansion burned down, the fire could spread to the entire Arklay Mountains, which, while it might kill everything, would be a Pyrrhic victory. The value of the entire Arklay Mountains was not something that the S.T.A.R.S. team members could take lightly. So, all that was left was a weedkiller-based attack!
However, just as Jill and Barry were about to start their mission, a loud bang and violent tremors suddenly erupted from within the mansion. The floor shook as if a major earthquake had occurred, and dust fell from the ceiling, which seemed on the verge of collapsing. Jill and Barry's faces changed, and they quickly grabbed onto a nearby pillar in the hallway to steady themselves.
"What was that sound?!"
"Damn it, was that an earthquake? Or is the mansion collapsing!"
Feeling the violent commotion, Jill and Barry muttered with solemn expressions. They couldn't imagine what could cause such a violent tremor in the mansion. A bomb? An explosion? Or a natural disaster?
But in the next second, a series of hurried footsteps and a familiar voice rang out.
"Thump thump thump…!!!"
"Thump thump thump…!!!"
"Hurry, Rebecca, just a little further! We're almost at the next area. Don't let that giant snake catch up. It's right behind us."
"I'm about to collapse... whew, Javier, don't you have a plan? This giant snake is too much trouble. We can't shake it off. How about we just set the mansion on fire? It would be so much simpler."
The two voices were so familiar that Jill and Barry's hearts sank. They didn't know why, but it seemed that whenever Javier and Rebecca were involved, things would become incredibly complicated and difficult to resolve. So when Jill and Barry heard their voices, their faces became extremely grim. They had a premonition that something very bad was about to happen. No, it wasn't a premonition; it was an absolute certainty. In Jill and Barry's experience, Javier and Rebecca were bad luck charms. Whenever they were around, nothing good happened, and this time was no exception...
And this time, their intuition was spot on. At this very moment, Javier and Rebecca were leading the T-virus-mutated giant snake right toward them. An unimaginable battle was about to ensue, so calling Javier and Rebecca bad luck charms wasn't an exaggeration.
"Roar—!!!"
A thunderous roar echoed through the air, followed by an even more violent tremor, like the calm before a storm or the pressure before a flash flood. Looking at the calm wooden door behind them, Jill and Barry felt a chill for the first time.
Finally, in the next second, the nightmare… no, the terror arrived!
"Clang—!"
Javier and Rebecca burst through the door. The M500 revolver immediately blasted the wooden door to pieces. With a fierce kick, Javier and Rebecca stumbled in. They were both in a terrible state. Rebecca's face was covered in sweat, and her cheeks were flushed from her rapid breathing. Her shirt was soaked, and she looked exhausted. Javier was no better. He was carrying a heavy tactical backpack that could hold up to 30 kilograms, but thankfully, some of the bullets inside had been used up. Otherwise, with such a heavy load, he would have run himself to death. He had also taken off the bothersome gas mask; running for so long made it hard to breathe, and he felt he would suffocate with it on. The mask would also fog up, blocking his vision.
"Pant… pant…"
The two of them breathlessly ran into the new area. But when Javier and Rebecca looked up and saw the stunned faces of Jill and Barry, they themselves froze. What a coincidence. Could it be that no matter where they ran, they all ended up meeting here? However, feeling the tremors behind him getting more and more violent, Javier didn't have time to explain anything to Jill and Barry. He could only shout a warning:
"Run—!!!"
"Don't stay here! There's danger! A big guy is right behind me!"
But before he could finish, a loud bang and a crash came. The wooden door, as fragile as a piece of paper, was instantly shattered, along with the wall. Dust and debris flew everywhere, and a terrifyingly huge figure squeezed in. Its car-sized head lifted up, and its yellow-green lantern-like vertical pupils glowed with a dangerous light. Its gaping maw was wide open, ready to attack. With a twist of its body, the dust on its dense scales was shaken off, and its massive 20-meter body squeezed into the area where Javier and the others were.
A giant snake!
A gigantic snake monster that should only exist in movies, a bizarre creature that could easily prey on wild cattle and elephants. How could it be here? That was the first thought that came to Jill and Barry's minds when they saw the giant snake.
But the giant snake had no time to worry about what Jill and Barry were thinking. It was raging with anger and roaring fiercely, its yellow-green vertical pupils filled with fury. It had been fooled by Javier and Rebecca for so long, and now it was furious. It didn't even notice that this area already had another master. It aimed for the backs of the fleeing Javier and Rebecca and quickly accelerated, twisting its huge body. With the power of its strong muscles, the giant snake moved like a ghost, charging straight toward the two rats. It was only a few meters away from them and was so excited that it opened its abyss-like mouth.
But...!
"Jump—!!!"
With a single command, Javier and Rebecca, with perfect synchrony, jumped to the sides, leaping to the left and right, and instantly dodged the giant snake's lunge. The snake, unable to stop, crashed head-on into the defensive vine wall of Plant 42's lair!