Far from the burning streets of Raccoon City, on its outer perimeter, a temporary military tent buzzed with controlled tension.
Inside, fluorescent lights flickered over rows of monitors.
"Sir," a researcher said nervously, staring at the unstable graphs on his screen, "the viral infection has reached critical levels."
Standing before the glowing display was Cain.
His lips slowly curled upward.
"A perfect opportunity," he said softly.
He stepped closer to the monitor, eyes gleaming.
"Initiate the Nemesis Project. And make sure all combat data is recorded in real time."
"Yes, Officer."
Outside the tent, something massive was being awakened.
---
Meanwhile, in the city itself—
The five of them fought and retreated through the streets, leaving the cemetery and the remaining church zombies behind.
Their breathing was heavy.
Gunfire echoed in the distance.
The sky was darker now.
And then—
Ring. Ring. Ring.
A phone booth on the side of the street began to ring.
Deadpool turned his head instantly, eyes lighting up.
"Oh? Plot device?"
He stepped toward it.
"Ignore it," Alice said firmly.
Deadpool stopped.
"…Fine."
They continued walking.
Not even a minute later—
Another phone booth ahead of them began ringing.
This time, the sound felt deliberate.
Alice's brow tightened.
Jill slowed down and glanced around carefully.
Then she reached out and lightly touched Alice's shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
Alice didn't answer immediately.
Jill pointed upward.
Cameras.
Every security camera along the street was turned toward them.
Moving.
Tracking.
Someone was watching.
"Walk faster," Alice said.
They quickened their pace.
But every phone booth they passed began to ring.
Over and over.
Finally, Alice exhaled sharply.
"I'll answer it."
She stepped into the booth.
Deadpool stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"How cunning," he muttered. "She won't let me answer, but she answers herself."
Through the glass, they saw Alice's mouth move.
Her expression darkened.
A minute later, she hung up and stepped out.
Her tone was grave.
"Guys… we're in serious trouble."
---
On the other end of the line had been Dr. Ashford.
The inventor of the T-virus.
His family carried a genetic defect—progressive lower body paralysis.
He himself lived in a wheelchair.
He refused to let his daughter, Angela, suffer the same fate.
So he created the T-virus.
Used correctly, combined with a stabilizing antidote, it could halt the degeneration.
Angela could live normally—if treated regularly.
But Umbrella discovered it.
And Umbrella did what Umbrella always did.
They claimed it.
Dr. Ashford and his research became company assets.
When the outbreak occurred in the Hive beneath Raccoon City, Umbrella evacuated him immediately.
But Angela's extraction vehicle crashed near her school.
She fled back inside.
Ashford begged Cain to send a rescue team.
Cain refused.
So Ashford used what little access he had left.
He reached out to survivors inside the sealed city.
The reward?
A way out.
Because Umbrella had already made its decision.
At dawn—
They would detonate a tactical nuclear warhead over Raccoon City.
Official explanation?
A catastrophic nuclear power plant malfunction.
In reality?
Total evidence eradication.
The T-virus.
The research.
The people.
All erased.
The city would become a "radiation zone."
No one would investigate.
And Umbrella would later send "rescue teams" to clean up whatever the blast didn't destroy.
Inside an abandoned bus, the group sat in stunned silence as Alice finished explaining.
Deadpool raised a finger.
"Can a nuclear plant accident really match a nuclear bomb explosion?" he asked.
He leaned back casually.
"Chernobyl released radiation 400 times greater than the Hiroshima bomb. But immediate deaths? Around thirty."
He looked at them.
"Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Completely different scale."
Alice didn't argue.
"It doesn't matter," she said quietly. "All it takes is enough money and influence. The truth becomes irrelevant."
Peyton clenched his fists.
"Damn Umbrella."
Jill looked at Alice steadily.
"So what do we do?"
"Leave before dawn."
Tali's face paled.
"The city is sealed. They're shooting civilians. We can't just walk out."
"That's why Ashford contacted us," Alice said. "He claims he knows an exit route."
"What's the catch?" Peyton asked.
"We rescue his daughter. She's trapped at Raccoon City Middle School."
Peyton closed his eyes briefly.
"A school," he muttered. "Great. High population density. Excellent zombie buffet."
"Are you rested?" Alice asked.
No one really was.
But time didn't care.
They exited the bus.
And that's when Alice stopped walking.
Her entire body went rigid.
She stared down the street.
"What is it?" Jill asked.
Alice didn't blink.
"Something's coming."
She felt it.
A pressure in her chest.
A primal warning.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed from around the corner.
Then—
It appeared.
A massive figure turned into view.
Over seven feet tall.
Grotesque.
Its bald head was carved by a long scar that ran diagonally down over one eye.
Its gums were exposed.
White fangs glistened.
Thick, purplish-black veins pulsed along its neck and chest like living cables.
In its left hand—
A rocket launcher.
In its right—
A massive rotary heavy machine gun.
It opened its mouth and roared.
The sound shook the street.
Nearby zombies scattered like frightened animals.
The Pursuer.
The Nemesis.
Deadpool calmly pulled off his mask and tapped his ear.
"Big guy," he said casually, "could you lower the volume? You're shaking loose ancient earwax."
Nemesis ignored him.
It raised the heavy machine gun.
Alice's pupils shrank.
"Run!"
She dove behind a car.
But Deadpool did the opposite.
He stepped forward.
He drew his twin swords.
And charged.
The barrels of the rotary gun spun.
DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!
Yellow muzzle flashes lit up the street.
Bullets—massive, brutal rounds—tore forward in a stream.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal screamed against metal.
Deadpool's swords moved faster than sight.
His arms blurred.
His blades formed a shimmering silver dome in front of him.
A hemispherical shield of flashing steel.
Sparks exploded around him.
Each bullet was deflected.
Redirected.
Split.
Behind him—
Alice, Jill, Peyton, and Tali stood in stunned silence.
In front of Deadpool—
War.
Violence.
Death.
Behind him—
Calm.
Stillness.
Protection.
For a brief, impossible moment—
He stood like a wall between two worlds.
Bullets hammered his shield.
Sparks showered his red suit.
His boots dug into the asphalt.
Deadpool grinned wildly.
"Is that all you've got?" he shouted.
Then—
A metallic click.
The rotary gun stopped spinning.
Smoke curled from its barrel.
Deadpool lowered one blade slightly.
He tilted his head.
"Reloading?"
Nemesis didn't respond.
Instead—
It slowly lifted the rocket launcher.
Deadpool blinked.
"Oh."
Alice's voice cut through the air.
"Wade! Move!"
But Deadpool's grin widened.
Behind the maskless face, his eyes gleamed.
"Now we're talking."
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