Leon leaped over Ryan and jumped out of the guard room.
At that moment, the window opposite the room suddenly shattered, and a zombie crawled in!
"Ryan, get out here quickly! I think we're about to be surrounded again!"
Ryan released the zombie he had pinned down, kicked it hard back into the guard room, and slammed the door shut.
By then, Leon had already fired, breaking the leg of the zombie that had climbed in through the window.
Seeing Ryan escape, Leon waved at him.
The two ran back the way they came. The door near the press room, which had previously been boarded up, had now been smashed open. Three zombies staggered out and lunged at them.
Ryan quickly asked:
"How are your hand-to-hand combat skills? I don't think we have enough ammo to take them all down."
After all, this was reality. Ryan wasn't sure if the 1998 version of Leon had the same combat abilities he displayed in later events.
Especially the version from the CG movies… that guy was practically a war god.
Leon hesitated, then nodded. He holstered his pistol.
"Not sure… but we'll have to try."
They took a deep breath and charged forward.
Just as they were about to collide with the first two zombies, they exchanged a glance and simultaneously threw themselves backward onto the ground.
Using the momentum of their sprint, they slid forward and kicked the zombies' legs.
The zombies collapsed instantly.
Ryan was shocked.
The one Leon kicked had its head slammed so hard into the ground that it was nearly crushed.
"…Is this the power of a protagonist?"
But Ryan didn't have time to think.
The zombie he had knocked down was already getting back up.
He turned and kicked it again.
"Hah… classic close combat!"
Leon, focused on the fight, charged at the last zombie.
By the time Ryan snapped the neck of his target, Leon had already finished his.
Ryan ran over and patted Leon's arm.
"Not bad. First point to you."
Leon gave a bitter smile.
---
They rushed to the shutter door, crawled under it, and pulled it tightly shut behind them.
"Looks like we can finally catch our breath…"
Click.
Ryan suddenly heard the sound of a gun being cocked behind him.
He instinctively reached for his pistol—
"Don't move, or I'll shoot."
Ryan froze.
Leon did the same.
Not knowing who the person was aiming at, both of them slowly raised their hands.
"Turn around!"
They turned.
A Black man in a police sergeant's uniform stood behind them, clutching his stomach wound with one hand and holding a shotgun with the other.
But the moment he saw Ryan—
He lowered his weapon.
"Ryan? You're still alive!"
Ryan didn't even need to recall his memories.
"Sergeant Marvin!"
It was Marvin Branagh.
Seeing the wound on his stomach, Ryan immediately understood—he had been bitten.
Ryan quickly supported him and helped him sit on the sofa near the Goddess Statue.
Leon followed, observing silently.
Marvin took a few deep breaths and looked at Leon.
"Is this the survivor you found? Good work."
Ryan shook his head.
"This is our new officer—Leon S. Kennedy. I ran into him outside the hospital."
Marvin smiled bitterly.
"Leon, huh… Raccoon City turned into hell in just one day. With all the emergency calls, we forgot to tell you not to come."
"Who would've thought you'd walk straight into it…"
Leon scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.
Ryan couldn't help but laugh.
Who would've thought this slightly awkward rookie would become such a legendary figure?
---
As Ryan thought about it, he suddenly felt lost.
If he escaped… would he return to his original world?
Or would he remain Ryan Smith forever?
---
Meanwhile, Leon, under Marvin's guidance, found a police uniform and changed into it.
While doing so, he told Marvin about Elvin.
Marvin sighed.
"Elvin… he did well."
Ryan stayed silent.
Survival came first.
---
Marvin studied Elvin's notes.
"If this is correct, the passage beneath the Goddess Statue leads to the parking lot."
Ryan took the notebook and placed it inside his vest.
Marvin stood up with difficulty, handed Ryan a small knife, and said:
"I sealed the west corridor switch. Use this to cut it open."
Ryan nodded.
He was about to leave when Marvin suddenly grabbed his arm.
Ryan froze—but Marvin's expression was serious.
"Ryan… I know you care about this city. About your colleagues."
"But remember this!"
His voice grew heavy.
"When you see those things… whether they're wearing uniforms or not—you run. You shoot."
Ryan saw the veins bulging on Marvin's hand.
He understood.
Marvin then looked at Leon.
"The same goes for you, rookie."
---
After that, Marvin collapsed back onto the sofa, breathing heavily.
Ryan and Leon nodded, then moved toward the west corridor gate.
Ryan cut the tape, pressed the switch, and watched the gate slowly rise.
Leon remained silent.
Ryan asked:
"What's wrong?"
Leon hesitated.
"Can't we take Marvin with us?"
Ryan sighed.
"Marvin is strong. Skilled. Experienced."
"But even he got injured."
His expression darkened.
"A zombie bite… turns you into one of them."
"Marvin knows that."
Leon fell silent.
---
The gate fully opened.
Ryan tapped Leon's shoulder.
"Let's go."
They entered the west corridor.
It was dark.
Only the lobby had working lights.
They turned on their flashlights and moved forward.
Leon asked:
"Where to next?"
Ryan answered quietly:
"The three medallions open the hidden passage under the Goddess Statue."
"One is near the library on the second floor."
"One is in the west storage room on the third floor."
"The last is above the statue itself."
Leon smiled.
"You really know this place well."
Ryan forced a smile.
"I just wander around…"
(Not like I've played this game dozens of times…)
---
They walked down the corridor.
A corpse hung from above.
Ryan flinched.
"After we get out of here… I'm getting back at him…"
But before he could think further—
BANG!
A zombie slammed against the window.
"This isn't a game…"
Ryan and Leon rushed into the command room and blocked the entrance with a ladder.
CRASH!
The window shattered behind them.
Ryan clenched his jaw.
"Damn it… how did Leon survive all this with just a pistol…?"
---
Marvin Branagh
A wounded sergeant who understands his fate and chooses to guide others instead of saving himself.