Five police cars lined up and drove out of the police station main gate.
The formation was similar to when they had first set out: Marvin's police car spearheaded the group, followed by three police SUVs packed with civilian refugees, while Jill brought up the rear. Lear lay flat across the back seat, and Sherry knelt in the gap between the seats, guarding him faithfully.
The convoy sped through the City Center. The journey was unnervingly smooth; not a single zombie was in sight, and the silence was almost terrifying.
But the moment they reached the city exit, a massive horde of bizarre-looking zombies suddenly swarmed the street. Tentacles like thrashing antennas grew from the tops of their heads, effectively barricading the path out of the city.
"What the hell are those things?"
Marvin's voice, filled with surprise and caution, crackled over the walkie-talkie.
Over the past few days, they had encountered Lickers and faced off against a Tyrant; as horrific as those were, they still retained a basic human physical structure. But these monsters ahead of them bore fleshy lumps of coiled tentacles where their necks should be. Several thin feelers extended wildly, with a human-head-sized suction cup embedded in the center that resembled a Facehugger—grotesque and unsettling.
If Lear were conscious right now, he would never have let them step out of the cars to clear these things. He would have slammed on the gas and plowed through, saving whoever could be saved.
These were Pale Heads.
The Pale Heads themselves might not have been particularly difficult to handle, but these creatures were ordinary zombies mutated by Nemesis using its own parasites—their presence here meant that Nemesis was close by.
"Sherry, wait for me in the car. Lock the doors and don't get out," Jill instructed.
A premonition of danger flickered through her mind, but after scanning the surroundings and seeing nothing unusual, she stepped out of the car with Marvin and the others to clear the mutated zombies.
The moment the convoy came to a halt, a fierce tongue of flame suddenly swept out from deep within an alley!
The three civilian vehicles in the middle were instantly detonated. A violent explosion roared, and the cars—along with the citizens inside—were immediately swallowed by the rising wall of fire.
The officers who had exited their vehicles were caught off guard by the sudden attack, their heads snapping toward the depths of the alley.
A massive figure, roughly two and a half meters tall, was slowly stepping out of the shadows.
Ghastly white gums were exposed in a permanent snarl, and the creature's entire face was a landscape of rotting ulcers and jagged surgical stitches. It held a massive Gatling gun, radiating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
There was no doubt that the hail of bullets just now had been unleashed by this behemoth.
Nemesis stepped fully out of the darkness. It didn't so much as glance at the surviving officers nearby; instead, it slowly swiveled the dark bore of its weapon, locking its sights directly onto Jill. From its hideous, rotting mouth came a low, icy growl:
"S.T.A.R.S.!"
Jill didn't hesitate for a second. She slammed the car into reverse, the engine roaring as she sped backward the way they had come. As expected, Nemesis immediately abandoned the officers right in front of it and moved out with giant strides, chasing after her like a mad, mobile mountain of flesh.
"Marvin, move out now! It's after me. You all break out of the city first; I'll find a way to take a detour and regroup!"
Jill's voice came through the walkie-talkie, calm and clear.
"Understood! Jill, be extremely careful!"
Marvin and the others were by no means cowards, but being fearless didn't mean being stupid. Setting aside Nemesis's own combat prowess, that Gatling gun alone was enough to tear them to shreds in an instant.
Nemesis's speed was far beyond that of a Tyrant. More terrifyingly, it possessed a high degree of intelligence, flanking and maneuvering through the intricate streets and alleys with agility. Several times, it managed to cut her off, blocking Jill's intended path.
During the closest encounter, a dense hail of machine gun fire shattered the police car windows, sending shards of glass flying. Had Jill not possessed expert driving skills and an intimate knowledge of Raccoon City's geography, the car would have been destroyed and everyone inside killed long ago.
After a series of twists and turns and narrow escapes, Jill finally managed to temporarily shake off Nemesis.
She brought the car to a steady stop in front of the Kendo Gun Shop.
That's right—Jill had returned to the Police Station area. Because the pursuit had been so relentless, she had been forced to double back, ending up once again near the Police Station in the City Center.
Once stopped, Jill immediately looked into the backseat.
Little Sherry was huddled tightly over Lear, her small body arched slightly as if she were using herself as a shield to protect the unconscious Lear from the flying glass fragments.
"Sherry, let's get Lear inside."
Jill pointed toward the Kendo Gun Shop, her tone steady.
Sherry looked up immediately and nimbly opened the car door. Jill leaned in, carefully lifting the prone Lear. As her fingertips brushed against his burning forehead, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"Heh, you've really turned into a Sleeping Beauty this time."
Walking inside with hurried steps, Jill looked down at the man in her arms and made a rare joke to try and diffuse the tension, though a hint of strain remained hidden in her voice.
Jill led Sherry through the Kendo Gun Shop's front desk. Originally, this place had been lined with all sorts of firearms, but ever since Lear had escorted Kendo and his daughter to the Police Station, there was basically nothing left.
The two headed straight for a small, separate room at the back of the shop. This was where the owner usually stored miscellaneous items; it was relatively secluded and could provide a temporary buffer from the chaos outside.
Gently laying Lear down on a relatively soft pile of supplies, Jill knelt and reached out to lightly pat Sherry's head.
"It's okay. I'm here."
This time, Sherry didn't cry. She looked up, her clear eyes fixed on Jill as she nodded vigorously. Her small face was full of seriousness as she said in a small but firm voice:
"I believe in you, and I believe in Lear."
Jill's heart softened. Just as she was about to offer more comforting words, a blast erupted outside—the police car had exploded!
The sound of heavy machine gun fire shredded the air, followed by a violent explosion that made the ground tremble.
Jill's gaze froze instantly. She stood up abruptly and moved toward the exit, but she paused halfway. Reaching back, she drew her sidearm and pressed the pistol into Sherry's hands.
"Sherry, listen, there's no time to explain! Protect yourself. Stay here and don't come out. I'm going to take care of the guy chasing us, then I'll be right back for you!"
A flash of determination crossed Sherry's eyes as she nodded heavily. Her small hands gripped the pistol tightly as she looked up into Jill's eyes and said:
"Don't worry, Jill! I'll protect Lear!"
Jill said no more and sprinted out of the small room.
A second later, fierce gunfire and the sounds of a brief struggle erupted outside, punctuated by the deep, primal roars of Nemesis.
However, as time passed, the sounds gradually drifted further away before finally vanishing entirely. The Kendo Gun Shop fell back into a deathly silence.
As the sky grew darker, only faint light remained in the small room.
This time, Sherry didn't huddle in the corner in fear as she once might have. She struggled to hold the pistol as she scooted over to Lear's side and sat down quietly, her small frame standing guard beside him.
"Lear, it's my turn to protect you this time."
Sherry spoke softly while gazing at the unconscious Lear. Her voice was small, but it carried an unprecedented resolve.
Meanwhile, Lear was trapped in a raging fever. His body was burning hot as he remained in a deep slumber, showing no signs of waking.
(Translated by yourtl.app)