David Stoll adjusted his police uniform, a sly grin on his face as he stood in Raccoon City. Ten years in this zombie-filled Resident Evil world, and he had fought his way to a solid spot. Not bad for a guy who started with nothing but a dead system.
When he first arrived, he thought the system would make him unstoppable. Instead, it stayed quiet, a blank screen mocking him. * Useless junk, * he thought back then, anger burning. No powers, no tricks. Just his brain.
Over ten years, David played smart and dirty to rise. Bribes got him a patrol cop job. He worked with gangs, taking money from their dark deals. Raccoon City was a mess, where money and power ruled. Weak people got crushed or eaten.
He glanced at the system's empty screen. * What do I need to make you work? * No answer, as always.
The patrol car shook as Chris Redfield jumped into the front seat. "Hey, David, drive me to Baker Street."
Chris, a STARS member, was all muscle and confidence. His team, funded by Umbrella Corporation, had nice dorms, free meals, and big paychecks. STARS was the city's best, rebuilt last month, and Chris was its star.
"Sure, I got time," David said, keeping it friendly. He liked Chris but stayed careful. Chris's nickname, "Team-Killer Chris," came from real bad luck. David wasn't getting caught in that.
The back door opened, and a sweet scent filled the car. Jill Valentine slid in, her short hair framing a sharp, beautiful face. Her tight uniform showed off her curves, making David's cock twitch. * She's so fucking hot, * he thought, shifting in his seat.
"Hey, Jill, you look sexy as hell," he said, grinning wide.
Jill smiled, her eyes flicking to the bulge in his pants. Pride and disgust mixed in her look. "We're working a case. Can you drive us?"
"Happy to help," David said, voice smooth. "If you solve it, I'll buy dinner tonight. Been too long since I hung with you big-shot STARS folks."
He was good at this, acting like the nice guy. His money came from dirty deals, not honest work. As an outsider in Raccoon City, clean money wasn't easy. But he knew how to make friends. Free food, small favors, and suddenly people owed him. Cops ignored his scams, and he built a web of allies.
"Free dinner? Count me in," Chris said, no judgment in his voice.
Jill's eyes sharpened, but she nodded. "Fine."
David hit the gas, speeding through traffic to Baker Street's slums. "Good luck, you two. Call if you need me," he said, mimicking a phone with his hand as Chris and Jill joined their team at an old factory.
He drove to a bar on the slum's edge, his territory. The place hid an underground casino and sold illegal guns. Money poured in, and David ran it all. An outsider didn't climb high in Raccoon City on smiles alone. Cash opened doors.
Inside, he grabbed a beer and sat across from Alyssa, a blonde reporter in a red suit. Her short hair hid one eye, giving her a mysterious vibe. Her sharp face and fierce eyes showed she was no pushover. * Another sexy one, * David thought, sipping his drink.
Alyssa was a big deal, a survivor from Resident Evil's Outbreak, even showing up in later games. David spotted her early, but she didn't like him. To her, he was a crook running gangs and breaking laws. Still, they had a deal: he gave her secrets on rival gangs and city corruption; she shared news.
"What's going on at the West Street warehouse?" he asked, sliding her a drink.
She didn't look up from her notes. "You're the cop. Shouldn't you know?"
"Come on, Alyssa, throw me something," he said, leaning closer. * She's tough, but I'll get her, * he thought.
They'd worked together for years, but she kept him distant. He wanted more, her trust, her body. If charm didn't work, he'd try something else.
"Alright," she said. "Some outsiders stole from Umbrella. Now Umbrella's goons and STARS are hunting them."
"Stole data?" David asked, his gut buzzing. This sounded huge.
"Don't know. You're the boss here. Go check it out," she said, her smile cold.
* Still shutting me out, * he thought, irritated. Two years, and she wouldn't give in. He'd have to play dirtier.
Leaving the bar, he grabbed Cindy, the waitress, squeezing her ass. "How's your dad doing?"
Cindy, another Resident Evil character, was trapped. Her dad's illness cost too much, and David "lent" her $500,000. She worked at his bar to pay it off, stuck forever. She tensed at his touch but didn't pull away. "He's better, thanks to you," she said, her voice empty.
"Just helping out," David said, smirking. * Keep her thankful, keep her mine, * he thought.
He drove back to the warehouse, where gunfire exploded. A massive blast shook the ground, too big for a normal fight. Grabbing his pistol, he moved closer.
In an alley, two strange guys in samurai armor and kimonos ran toward him. David ducked behind a wall, pulled a grenade's pin, and threw it.
"Get down!" one shouted.
The explosion killed the kimono guy instantly. The armored one crashed into a wall, stunned. David fired twice, bullets ripping through his head. * No chances, * he thought, heart racing.
He checked the bodies, but they vanished, leaving two wristbands. As he grabbed one, a sound rang in his head.
[System: Activation Started]
[Status: Charging]
David snatched the second wristband, hiding in a warehouse corner. The system spoke again.
[System: Story System Activated]
[Host: David Stoll, Age: 20]
[Skills: Basic Shooting, Basic Fighting]
[Identity: Raccoon City Patrol Officer]
[Function: Collect resources from Story Realms for points. Complete Nexus challenges for rewards.]
"Is this a one-way Nexus system?" David asked.
[System: After three Nexus challenges, unlock Story Realm Pass. Complete tasks to claim world resources. Use this world as your base.]
"Sounds like a game. How do I get points?"
[System: Newbie Task - Eliminate Invading Players]
[Goal: Kill all Players in this world]
[Total Players: 5, Remaining: 2]
[Reward: 3000 points]
[Penalty: One escapee deducts 1000 points. Failure destroys system.]
* Five Players, two still alive, * David thought, tightening his grip on his gun. He followed the gunfire, seeing dead STARS members, some sliced by swords. These Players were strong.
Inside the warehouse, Chris and Jill fought a huge Player in leather armor. Another in a black trench coat tried to escape, pinned by STARS gunfire.
David found a wristband on the ground, three Players dead. He crept forward, spotting the trench coat guy running his way. A blast threw the guy into the air, black mist swirling around him. He hit the ground, coughing, alive.
David emptied his pistol, ten bullets tearing through the guy's chest and face. Blood spread, and the Player's eyes went dead. David grabbed his wristband, feeding it to the system.