"Cannon fodder."
Or perhaps "free XP"—call them what you will.
They are those enemies you harvest by the dozen, grinding their bones to pave the way to the "Boss."
A trivial obstacle upon which the player creatively shows off their new skills.
Just a simple warm-up before the real battle.
You might wonder, why am I saying all this?
Kshhh—
"Delta 2, come in... What is your status? Over."
A familiar female voice rang out over the radio.
"..."
I scanned my surroundings.
It was utter chaos—bloodstained dolls and scattered entrails.
And there, on the broken mirror, a smile was drawn... in blood.
My reflection stared back: a man in a full tactical suit, a gas mask completely concealing his features.
I pressed the transmission button and answered in a calm voice.
"Delta 2 here. Area B secured..."
I paused for a moment, my eyes fixed on a small hand, barely two spans long, lying on the ground. Its stiffened fingers still clutched a stuffed doll dyed deep crimson.
"I see nothing but remains. It is likely the samples have been completely exterminated... Over."
I finished the report coldly.
Yes, what they called "samples" were just children in an orphanage.
Faint emotions of sorrow and horror washed over me simultaneously.
Yet, my hand gripping the MP5 did not tremble in the slightest.
Kshhh—
"...We've lost contact with Delta 1 and Delta 3. Move to the location immediately. Priority is to search for any surviving samples in Area A. There must be at least one sample. Once finished, initiate the purge protocol. Execute!"
An order akin to a suicide mission—just as expected from an evil organization.
But I didn't care.
"Copy that."
Here we go.
The game's cinematic opening.
Scene one: Helios Corporation's Delta Unit enters the hospital to investigate, only to be crushed by a strange phenomenon.
I sat on a small children's chair and began cleaning my weapon.
Try as I might, I cannot believe this world is merely a game.
Are the memories and feelings of a normal life that haunt me nothing but hallucinations?
"Was it called Resurrection?"
I whispered the name as I picked up the doll the child's hand was still clutching.
These details were too precise to be mere hallucinations.
I couldn't deny it; just thinking about my situation up to this moment...
"Is it time to meet the heroes of this game?"
The game was teeming with heroes—nineteen of them, to be exact, not to mention the supporting characters—spread across thirteen installments of the series.
It is ironic that I exist as a mere obstacle in their path, my sole purpose being the loot I drop when I fall.
"..."
I glanced at my Glock holster, then stood up and headed toward Area A, after gently placing the doll back on the ground.
***
Damn it, I shouldn't have brought the trainee.
Bang! Bang!
I emptied my magazine into the nearest dog, watching the bullets pierce its body, yet it kept running as if nothing had happened.
"These aren't normal dogs!"
I shouted, backing away, my eyes searching for any exit.
"Bullets don't affect them!"
Their eyes glowed in the dark—they were clearly mutants!
A shot rang out from behind me.
Bang!!
The trainee was gasping for breath, but her finger was still on the trigger.
I took another step back, dragging her with me deeper into the forest.
I glimpsed something through the branches.
A medium-sized building surrounded by a metal fence.
"Mark! Over there!"
Marilyn shouted; she had spotted it too.
I hesitated for a split second.
An isolated place in the middle of the woods?
But there was no time to think.
"Run, Marilyn!"
I ordered, firing another burst to delay the mutants.
Marilyn dashed toward the fence, stumbling over roots and branches, while I ran behind her, covering her back.
Is this the price for disobeying orders from above?
If I were alone, I would have accepted the consequences, but I had dragged an innocent trainee into this hell.
Marilyn reached it first. She reached out to push open the fence gate.
And then...
A man in a dark military uniform stepped out from behind the fence.
He aimed the barrel of his rifle directly at her head.
She froze.
Even I stopped.
A cold voice spoke from behind the mask.
"Would you mind lowering your head a little?"