Chapter 33: The First Toll
Jonathan approached his friend, sat beside him, and looked into the distance as many were more excited than sad, something truly strange given the concerning situation they were in.
"This is insane. How are you feeling?" Jonathan asked with a reassuring voice.
Alex shivered upon hearing that question, then said, "Titans are terrifying, Jonathan..."
"What were the missions assigned to you?"
Alex, who was under some stairs, thought about all those traumas and finally said, "Just survive..."
Jonathan was surprised. Just survive? That didn't make much sense. Compared to his missions, Alex's was so simple that even a child could have completed it. So why was Alex acting this way? All Jonathan could think is that it wasn't as simple as he thought, but it's still hard to imagine.
"In what circumstances?"
"In the first phase of the story when the damn titans attacked the city... Everything was chaos; I didn't know where to go. After the titans reached my position, I had no choice but to escape." Alex visibly trembled and pointed, "It's all complete madness. I didn't know if I'd be eaten, and everything I knew about the plot was useless..."
"I hid, managed to escape, and took refuge in an attic... Hearing all those screams, cries of pain, and blood was just a small part compared to those horrible titans." Alex, in the process of narration, started to cry. He was extremely terrified and spent over forty hours hidden in that house, which was more than torturous.
"Did you get any sleep?" Jonathan asked as he observed his friend's state. He couldn't say anything comforting because each of them would have to travel back to that simulation and face the monsters they had just survived.
"I couldn't sleep. The noise of the titans was thunderous; it kept me awake throughout the mission process and the time needed to complete it... I shouldn't have chosen that damn gate, even if I knew what world I was heading to." Alex said, gritting his teeth in pain.
At that moment, Orlando appeared in the distance, and after seeing Jonathan with Alex, he sighed in relief. "It's good that we're all alive; that's what matters."
"I'll probably be screwed in the next part of the story. At least I have in mind that I won't come out alive from that place..." Alex said as tears fell silently from his eyes.
"Don't say that."
"It's the truth. At least, if any of you make it to the end, you could take care of my sister until she marries a good man... I swear I'll haunt you if any of you do that. Can you guys help?" Alex forced a smile as he looked at his two friends in silence.
Orlando, who was the angriest, said, "Stop being a damn inconsiderate man. Do you even know what worlds we're in? Jonathan survived a world of huge monsters much more lethal to humans than titans, I'm surviving a damn near-immortal monster of which I'll surely be its victim..."
"I'm just assuming; one of us will have to survive and do everything we ever wished for in our lives... One of us would do that for the other; I would be willing to take care of Jonathan's parents as well as look after your grandfather, Orlando."
Jonathan smiled and said, "We will all survive. You just have to adapt to the plot you're simulating and use the people with you to survive... It's not that complicated, no matter what happens, just make sure to complete the missions regardless of the ratings."
Orlando nodded and said, "At least it's not that bad. We know we can come back alive; we just have to kick some ass and kill a few zombies to come back alive."
After that brief exchange of words, each began to talk about the worlds they had to survive, explaining different crucial details necessary to know for the next phase.
Orlando was a gaming expert, so he gave Jonathan many more tips for the next phase, along with surviving adequately by fulfilling other objectives. As for Orlando, Jonathan took care of telling him how the easiest way to survive Jonson and kill him would be.
As for Alex, he had to manage on his own since he knew his world better than anyone else.
...
A few minutes later, on his own game panel, Jonathan saw his score and statistics.
Now aware that he achieved the highest possible score, it was all thanks to exploring the Umbrella Training Center, and none of this would have happened if he hadn't fired at the beginning, as that forced him to go in a different direction and later enter the mansion.
The two days were spent exploring two completely different locations.
With Rebecca, Jill, and Billy, they experienced countless dangers, unlocked numerous mechanisms, and killed two major enemies, including a giant leech queen.
Jonathan had fulfilled many tasks that others couldn't even have touched.
If he hadn't achieved a higher score, then he wouldn't have imagined how he should achieve an even greater achievement.
Looking at those rewards, Jonathan felt much more confident, but still, he didn't convert any of this, knowing his situation.
The most valuable thing in Jonathan's current possessions was the simulation reset card, something he could use to get accustomed to a plot and easily obtain a higher score.
The T-virus injections without side effects would be saved directly for future subordinates; perhaps he would give some to his friends if such a function could be performed and if it could be used wisely.
As for something that would be extremely powerful, that would be the dose of the Progenitor Virus, which, knowing it had no side effects, he consumed directly.
In an instant, his body began to heat up, and each of his senses felt very clean.
The Mother Virus, the Progenitor of all known viruses, granted Jonathan a latent strength that began to rise as a side effect.
His thoughts in his brain became more active, and after a few minutes, Jonathan could stabilize his body to this new sensation.
After the muscles in his body contracted, cold sweat, and feeling how his body twisted, increased in size, taking on a unique appearance of a gifted athlete.
"At this point, I'm probably as powerful as Albert Wesker... No, maybe more powerful than him." Jonathan recalled his idea of killing Wesker and couldn't help but laugh; it was a good joke since that thought would be impossible.
"[... Name: Jonathan Hale
Nickname: Jonathan
Participant Number: 2907
Location: Area A
Strength Level: Superhuman Grade A
Speed Level: Superhuman Grade B
Agility Level: Superhuman Grade B
Superhuman Abilities: 1
Ability 1: Cold Heart
Ability 2: Agile Mind
Ability 3: Immune to Viral Infections
Ability 4: Superhuman Healing
...]"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone