For those who've watched the Resident Evil films or played the games, the terms "Stairway of the Sun" and "Mold" won't be unfamiliar.
The Stairway of the Sun was the root cause behind the outbreak in Resident Evil. The T-Virus, G-Virus, T-Abyss Virus, Veronica Virus, C-Virus, second-generation Las Plagas parasites, and the Uroboros Virus all trace back to research on the progenitor virus found within it.
And the Mold...
That's another terrifying creation.
Resident Evil 7 and 8 center around this substance, which can turn humans into horrifying monsters under the control of the Mama Mold The "happy family" in Resident Evil 7 was its handiwork, and just remembering that storyline made Herman shiver.
"Damn it, it really is Umbrella!"
Herman's composure cracked.
He'd thought the identity given to him by the [All-Seeing Eye] was tied to some "ordinary" biotech company. Who could've imagined it was actually planting the ultimate bomb in the Marvel universe?
Though not a hardcore fan of the Resident Evil series, Herman remembered a few key figures from what he had seen.
"Who's heading this research?"
He wanted to shut this twisted experiment down immediately—he had no intention of letting this Marvel Universe become a zombie apocalypse.
"Dr. James Marcus," Helen Cho answered without hesitation.
Great. Another stacked buff.
Wasn't this the guy who created the original T-Virus?
"Keep your experiments running as usual. I'll approve your withdrawal from the Stairway of the Sun project." Herman was constantly skimming Helen Cho's surface thoughts and knew she wouldn't reveal much more about it anyway.
After reminding her to focus on perfecting the [Regeneration Cradle Technology], he turned, stepped into the elevator, and pressed the button for Level -11.
That was where the Stairway of the Sun research was being conducted.
From Helen's surface memories, Herman had already pieced together some information. The elevator quickly descended into Umbrella's underground complex.
"Chairman."
The head of security in the underground lab greeted him at once—this facility's security protocols were far stricter than those in Helen's lab.
It made sense. Any place studying bio-weapons would naturally be fortified. Still, Herman felt it wasn't nearly secure enough.
"Is Dr. Marcus here?"
He needed to know if the T-Virus had already been synthesized.
"He is. He just got off the phone with the military—sounded like they were arguing over something," the security chief reported.
"The military?"
Herman blinked in surprise.
He grabbed a wall-mounted LCD tablet and, using his highest-level clearance, dug into the files.
Sure enough, the project had military backing. The goal of the Stairway of the Sun research was to use the progenitor virus inside it to enhance human physiology. The Stairway of the Sun itself was originally just a flower from primeval forests, containing an RNA-based virus.
It could massively boost physical abilities and drastically extend human lifespan—much like Wakanda's Heart-Shaped Herb.
No wonder the military was interested. In fact, they had their hands in plenty of similar projects.
Ever since Captain America worked miracles in WWII, the U.S. military had been obsessed with human enhancement.
"But the Stairway of the Sun isn't the Heart-Shaped Herb. That herb doesn't turn people into monsters," Herman recalled a creator once saying before he transmigrated.
Eating the Stairway of the Sun flower directly could sometimes enhance physical abilities, but more often it meant instant death—or mutation into a bio-monster.
Back in ancient Africa, there had been a powerful tribe.
Like Wakanda, they used the Stairway of the Sun to strengthen their chieftain. But one such chieftain mutated into a monster.
The tribe was wiped out overnight.
"Chairman, what brings you here?"
Dr. Marcus, a blond middle-aged man with stubble on his face, immediately set aside his work when he heard Herman enter the lab.
"All research on the Stairway of the Sun is to be suspended. Seal all experimental data at once, and ensure all related materials are properly disposed of." With absolute authority at Umbrella, Herman wasted no time giving his order.
"Stop the research? No, Chairman! We've already found a direction. The discovery of the Mold could help us effectively control that virus... Give me time—three years, no, just two years, and I can show you results!"
"The Mold combined with the virus inside the Stairway of the Sun will create something with even greater cultivation potential."
The moment Herman announced the shutdown, Dr. Marcus's expression shifted drastically. He pleaded and promised desperately, unwilling to let go of his research.
But he didn't realize...
His words made Herman's blood run cold.
Good god.
Researching a fusion of Mold and the Progenitor Virus?
That's poison stacked on poison!
Herman couldn't shake the feeling that Umbrella's buff stack was already maxed out.
He could practically see it—mold-ridden, unkillable bio-monsters clawing their way out of Umbrella Corporation one after another.