DOTM: Chapter 288/289

Chapter 288: Turning Turning

Ethan deliberately left Ada, the only one who hadn't fallen into the illusion, for a reason.

"Given your identity and habits, I assume you can quickly determine our current location and where the nearest safe house is?"

He had promised Annette, so he had to keep his word, but before Umbrella completely collapsed, those lunatics could still operate for a while, and he didn't want them showing up at his doorstep.

His time was meant for training. He didn't have time to deal with a bunch of lunatics. Moreover, federal agents would undoubtedly be looking for them. Ethan believed that once Leon reported this incident, he himself would become a target of those officials.

In this situation, he needed someone with relevant experience to act as a "guide." Coincidentally, there was a suitable candidate among this group. How could Ethan not make use of her?

"You knew my identity all along?"

Earlier, Ada had introduced herself as being in Raccoon City to investigate her missing boyfriend, and Annette had indirectly confirmed that Ada's boyfriend was an Umbrella researcher named John.

Adding to that the fact that Ada had always kept a low profile and barely participated in combat, she seemed no different from an ordinary passerby—just a little prettier.

"As I said, I know a lot of things." Ethan had been emphasizing from the beginning that he knew many things, but no one had taken him seriously. Even Ada hadn't expected Ethan to know so much.

What Ada didn't know was that Ethan's understanding of her wasn't actually all that extensive, because Ada's background was always vague in the original material.

At first, she appeared to be one of Wesker's subordinates, but her actions showed little loyalty, even though she completed the missions Wesker assigned her.

Later plotlines in subsequent titles indicated that Ada had worked for Derek Simmons, who served as a National Security Advisor, for quite some time. This suggested that Ada was actually a double agent sent to infiltrate Wesker's camp. Of course, it could also be a matter of chronology, as it was never clearly stated whether these roles overlapped.

By the time that information came to light, Ada had already left Simmons. At that point, she seemed to be on "vacation." The official materials never stated who she worked for afterward, so Ethan naturally didn't know either. Based on what was available, Ethan speculated that Ada was likely a freelance spy, not someone loyal to a single faction.

Judging from the timeline, Ada was preparing to infiltrate Wesker's circle. She aimed to steal the G-virus to earn his trust and prove her worth. Whether she was already working for Simmons at that point was unclear.

Without a fixed allegiance, loyalty didn't matter. For Ada, the situation was clear: she couldn't defeat Ethan, and it didn't seem like she had any chance of escaping.

This vast and empty desert offered no cover. Against a mage with strange abilities, how could she possibly flee?

"You waited until now to expose my identity on purpose."

"You are an excellent spy. If not for the current environment, it would probably be difficult to get you to agree to my request."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Ada wasn't at all pleased to be complimented. Although she maintained a smile on her face, she felt this assignment had been a complete disaster—the biggest failure since she had become a spy.

However, considering she was up against a mysterious mage with unknown abilities and no way to counter them, being put in a difficult position didn't seem completely unacceptable.

Thinking that way, her mood improved slightly. Ada finally pointed in a direction, signaling Ethan to walk that way.

"You just said you triggered the illusion on Leon. So you had already done something to us earlier?"

She had wanted to ask this question earlier, and it was also the reason she so readily pointed the way for Ethan. She realized that she might also have been subjected to something by this mage, and she had no power to resist.

"We've been moving through Raccoon City together for so long. I had more than enough time to prepare that spell."

Ethan had been able to send everyone into the illusion with just a snap of his fingers not because his illusion magic was so powerful that it could be cast freely. There were a few necessary conditions that made it so effortless.

First, Ethan had spent a long time with these people. He had been laying the groundwork for the illusion throughout their journey. In other words, he had ample time to complete the complex spell. The snap was merely a switch; even without it, a thought would have sufficed.

Second, although they were no longer under the pressure of imminent death, after so long of running through Raccoon City, their physical and mental states had reached a low point, which significantly reduced their resistance to illusions and other mental attacks.

Third, the illusion Ethan created replicated scenes they had just experienced—memories that were still fresh and deeply imprinted. Casting the spell at such a moment made it easier for the targets to confuse illusion and reality, and fall into the dream state.

Otherwise, even a group of ordinary people wouldn't be so easily trapped in an illusion, especially those with strong willpower, who would likely notice something was off and snap out of it quickly.

Most importantly, this illusion of Ethan's was non-aggressive. If it were meant to cause real harm, the complexity and difficulty of casting would have increased exponentially.

"A dream about how they would have escaped Raccoon City without your help?"

"Yes."

In truth, it wasn't that simple. Out of a sense of personal mischief, Ethan had also left behind some small gifts for the poor rookie who was about to start his job but lost it before even clocking in—if he could find them...

Even if he couldn't, the dream would still bring Leon considerable benefit. Just like in the original storyline, it was the experience of facing this crisis that allowed Leon to grow into the legendary Leon S. Kennedy.

But without having to face all the crises alone this time, Leon was still just a rookie cop. Maybe through future hardships he would eventually shine, but Ethan thought it was better to accelerate that growth. Otherwise, the president's daughter might really be in danger.

"What do you think that situation would have been like?"

Since he had nothing else to do, Ethan didn't mind chatting a bit with a beautiful woman. And looking at Annette beside him, she also seemed curious about the question.

"What would it be like?"

Ethan stroked his chin and briefly described the likely fates of the group.

"Robert Kendo, the gun shop owner, would be the first to die. That guy had no awareness of danger. With monsters all over the city, he didn't even lower the rolling shutter. That fragile glass storefront would become his death sentence."

Ada and Annette didn't know much about Robert Kendo or his circumstances, so they stayed silent and waited for the rest of the story.

"Ben Bertolucci would probably be the next. He thought hiding in the holding cells would keep him safe, but William, who had injected himself with the G-virus, would easily kill him."

"Why would William kill him?"

Ada was curious. William didn't seem to have a reason to kill a journalist, right?

"William wasn't trying to kill him. After being injected with the G-virus, William lost all personal consciousness. What drove him was merely instinct."

Annette had more insight on this point, since she had fully participated in the development of the G-virus and clearly understood what Ethan was referring to.

"Reproduction."

In his G-virus state, William would seek out living creatures for reproduction. He would inject a G-embryo into any creature he encountered. However, the embryo could not develop normally in a non-blood-related host, and would instead grow into a large larva that would eventually burst out of the body.

Given that, Ben's fate was obvious.

"What about those two young people, Leon and Claire?"

"They would escape successfully, taking Sherry with them."

Ada was very surprised. She hadn't expected that overly righteous rookie cop to survive. She had always assumed that with his personality, he would have died early on.

Annette, hearing that Sherry would escape safely even without Ethan's help, felt a bit conflicted about whether her earlier decision had been unnecessary.

But then she realized Ethan only said Leon and Claire would escape with Sherry. He hadn't mentioned her own fate.

"So I would die there too?"

"Yes."

Annette fell silent. At this moment, she no longer questioned whether her earlier choice had been wrong. Who would choose death if they had the option to live? Although she still doubted how accurate Ethan's description was.

"Would I die in that city too?"

"You?"

Ada's question caused Ethan's expression to change slightly, a rare occurrence. He revealed a playful smile, which made Ada a bit uneasy.

"Everyone thought you died there, but although you were seriously injured, you still escaped from Raccoon City and completed your mission."

Ada's steps paused slightly. An ordinary person might not have noticed, but Ethan did.

"You know my mission?"

"To retrieve a sample of the G-virus and gain Wesker's trust."

Until now, Ada could treat Ethan's words as nothing more than storytelling. But now she realized she couldn't see it that way anymore. She had been shocked once by how much Ethan knew, but now she saw that he seemed to know more than just "a lot."

"You know everything that was supposed to happen in this world?"

Ada's response was worthy of her status as a top-level spy. Ethan also knew she had been testing him, but the fact that she realized this so quickly still proved her competence.

"Once we reach the safe house, you can ask anything you want."

Ethan recalled the crew list he had originally planned and realized he needed to think carefully about how to rope this spy onto his ship in the days ahead.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 289: Changes in the Holy Light Cross

After walking for an unknown distance, Ethan sensed that the illusion he had cast had dissipated. This spell had been pre-arranged and directly triggered, and after its activation, he had basically not interfered with it at all.

It could be said that although it was a dreamlike illusion, it could also be treated as something they had truly experienced.

At the same time, when the illusion ended, everything that had happened within it condensed into a stream of information that was transmitted back to the caster—Ethan—allowing him to know exactly what had taken place.

"The treasures I left behind were all found."

Ethan had placed certain things within the illusion, which were more akin to "knowledge" than actual physical items. Once discovered, the contents would be imprinted into their minds, allowing them to remember all the details clearly.

As long as Leon and Claire practiced according to the knowledge, they might gain abilities far beyond that of ordinary people. Of course, this knowledge wouldn't remain in their minds permanently. If they didn't believe in it or were unwilling to practice it, then over time, the knowledge would fade.

And it would be completely forgotten. Later, even if they wanted to recall the details, it would be impossible. At most, they would remember that they had once obtained some knowledge.

I gave you the opportunity. If you don't want it, then I'll take the good stuff back.

"I wonder what kind of choice those two will make."

Would Leon and Claire, after receiving that knowledge, truly believe in it and actively train? Ethan said he was looking forward to it.

As for them passing the knowledge to others? Ethan certainly wasn't concerned about that.

In this magic-less world, it wasn't easy to cultivate any special abilities. The knowledge Leon and Claire obtained also contained a "seed." Without that seed, the training methods would seem like something made up, just like the techniques described in fantasy novels.

Ethan's sudden urge to leave easter eggs for Leon was actually related to his Holy Light Cross.

When he entered the research facility to collect virus samples, the journey had been relatively easy. With Tyrant and G-form William already eliminated, the remaining ordinary zombies posed no threat to the group. At that time, Ethan was able to collect virus samples while simultaneously examining his Holy Light Cross.

After repeatedly checking, he found that the Holy Light Cross had undergone some very unusual changes. He even discovered Marvin Branagh's soul inside the cross.

It was the Black police officer he had "saved" with a single shot. His soul was immersed in a sea of holy light, praying devoutly, with the surrounding holy light constantly purifying his soul.

If that were all, Ethan's first reaction would have been to purge the soul, as he was worried Marvin might eventually evolve into some spirit within the cross. However, he found that as Marvin prayed devoutly, not only did the holy light gradually increase, but strange transformations also began appearing within the cross.

"It seems to be slowly forming a kind of domain?"

A ground made of holy light. A life-sized cross. Marvin knelt before the cross, praying continuously.

Ethan was sure his cross had never looked like this before. Marvin's soul seemed to be influencing the interior of the cross, pushing it to evolve into a miniature world.

"Perhaps Marvin's thoughts affected the holy light, causing it to begin constructing a heaven based on his 'prayers'?"

Ethan couldn't directly probe Marvin's thoughts, but he could gather clues from the words Marvin muttered while praying. The officer seemed to believe he had reached heaven, and the holy light made him feel like his soul had been elevated. Especially when a place to stand appeared in this "heaven" as he prayed, he became even more devout.

This change left Ethan speechless. Although he sometimes pretended to be a con man, he hadn't expected to become a literal one. He discovered that Marvin often mentioned him in his prayers. Through the holy light, Marvin understood that Ethan was the source of this power and seemed to revere him as one would revere a god.

As time went on and the miracles of the holy light continued to unfold, Ethan's position in Marvin's heart would eventually surpass even that of the great one.

Regardless of how Ethan had inexplicably become a divine figure in Marvin's heart, he was now very curious about what Marvin's soul would ultimately become. It seemed like an illusion, but Ethan sensed a faint outline of wings forming behind Marvin. Could this guy actually turn into an angel?

It wasn't impossible. Marvin, having been continuously bathed in the holy light, could eventually condense into a pure energy body. Such a form, existing between the real and the illusory, would naturally no longer be limited by his appearance in life. It would undergo changes based on his inner beliefs, spiritual nature, and the properties of the energy.

Given the cultural understanding of angels in this land, and Marvin's conviction that he had arrived in heaven, it was likely he aspired to become one. With the holy light influenced by his thoughts over time, it was indeed possible for it to form an angelic body.

What's more, Ethan's holy light was derived from the collective faith power of a large number of Christian believers and already carried that attribute. Marvin's thoughts merely acted as a catalyst, activating a quality that had always existed.

It was precisely after seeing these strange changes in Marvin and the Holy Light Cross that Ethan became interested. He added some things to the illusion, embedding the holy light power as a small seed and placing it within the dream as a treasure.

A method to train mental strength. A path to cultivate and nourish the seed. Techniques for cold and hot weapon combat, including methods of channeling energy into weapons to enhance their power.

Ethan didn't just leave behind holy light power. He also incorporated the theories of Azeroth's holy light and shadow into this training system.

Theoretically, although what he left behind was a seed of holy light power, if the recipient had sufficient talent, they could also awaken shadow power.

Light and shadow never exist independently. This principle applies across nearly all cosmic planes.

As for whether Leon could comprehend and develop shadow power, Ethan wasn't going to interfere. He had already given so much. Should he be responsible for teaching too? Even if Leon came asking to be his disciple, Ethan would still have to consider whether to accept him.

"If Leon masters those powers, I wonder if the cross will respond."

This could be considered an experiment. If successful, the Holy Light Cross might truly evolve into a powerful divine artifact. However, if that happened, this biohazard world would become something he had to pay attention to, no longer just a world to exploit and leave.

"Nothing's gone wrong so far, so continued observation isn't a bad idea."

Shifting his focus back to the present, after parting ways with Leon and the others, Ada led Ethan and Annette to a nearby small town.

Ethan hadn't even heard the name of the place.

There were many such unremarkable small towns in North America. Many of them had little contact with the outside world for years, living in isolation. The townspeople followed the same routines year after year. The children who grew up there would also spend their entire lives in the same town, just like their parents.

These towns were insular and resistant to outsiders, but the advantage was that they provided peace. Even federal agents or Umbrella's special forces would find it difficult to locate someone hiding here.

Ada had set up a safe house in this town, and for the short term, it would be very secure.

If they stayed long enough, Umbrella would have to face pressure from the federal government and public outrage. By then, they wouldn't have the resources to deal with Annette's group.

"Just stay put here for now."

Although it was called a safe house, this small villa with its own yard was very comfortable. The environment of this remote town was pleasant, and in winter, the only road out was easily blocked by heavy snow. Ethan could quietly study the virus samples he had collected here.

"Won't it be too dangerous?"

This was Ada's safe house, not a secret lab. Even if they brought in some lab equipment, it would be nothing special. There was no fully secure environment for experimentation. And the virus samples in Ethan's hands were all extremely dangerous.

"I'll set up a safe space myself. You don't need to worry about a Raccoon City repeat happening here."

To prove his point, he showed Ada and Annette the Mirror Dimension spell.

Seeing such a miraculous space, both women were no longer worried that Ethan's experiments would cause any danger. Instead, they began to grow curious about this thing called magic.

"Can ordinary people learn your magic?"

"Of course they can."

Not only was Annette surprised, even Ada, who had undergone all kinds of training and was usually calm, felt her heartbeat quicken slightly.

But Ethan promptly poured cold water on their hopes.

"That just depends on whether someone has the talent to learn it."

Anyone could study it, but not everyone could actually learn it. Not to mention the magical knowledge passed down by Merlin or the advanced magic of Asgard—even the most basic beginner spells from Kamar-Taj weren't something just anyone could master.

Mage, in any world, has always been a profession with an extremely high threshold.

(To be continued.)