Resident Evil: Alpha Instinct
Chapter 1 — Savage Awakening
Erick didn't know how or why, but he had awakened in a body that wasn't his own, in a city he knew all too well — Raccoon City.
The worst hadn't started yet, but he could already taste death in the air.
With a strange system in his mind and memories of an apocalyptic future, he understood only one thing:
This time, he wouldn't be just another victim.
He would be the predator.
The sound of the alarm clock was replaced by something far more alarming: distant sirens, muffled screams, and a strange smell in the air — something between rusted iron and burnt flesh. Erick woke up drenched in sweat, eyes snapping open, pupils dilated. His instincts screamed that something had changed. Something dangerous was coming.
He slid out of bed silently, his movements smooth like those of a predator. It was still hard to get used to it, but ever since he received the system and mimicked the first instincts of a **wild cat**, his senses had become much sharper.
He had been in that world for exactly **two weeks**. Long enough to understand everything was about to collapse. He knew the events of the Resident Evil universe all too well, and he didn't have much time before true hell broke loose.
Every night, he reviewed the system panel in his mind, analyzing what he had already gained and what he still needed to evolve:
**[Predatory Adaptation System - Erick's Status]**
- Current Abilities:
> **Feline Instinct** (level 1): enhanced reflexes, balance, and coordination.
> **Raccoon Claws** (level 1): extension of claws with sharp cuts and short duration.
> **Enhanced Hearing (Bat)** (level 1): elevated sound perception in quiet environments.
> **Night Vision I** (in development): improved vision in low-light settings.
- Fusion Points: 1 available
- Possible Evolutions: "Nocturnal Predation," "Lupine Senses," "Reptilian Camouflage"
Erick often scanned this interface. The system seemed to have a will of its own at times, offering limited options as if preparing him for something bigger. That worried him. Not just because of the dangers ahead, but the fear of losing control over himself.
He didn't want to become a monster to survive... but he was beginning to understand why monsters survived better.
**[System] — Alert: New ability available for fusion.**
Erick focused, opening the mental menu.
> Unlocked Ability: **Enhanced Hearing (Bat)**
> Fuse with existing abilities?
"Yes," he thought. A slight buzz ran through his head. Gradually, he began to hear... too much. A dripping faucet in the apartment next door, the shuffle of footsteps in the hallway, something... wet, dragging.
He approached the door. Peeked through the peephole.
A man — or what once was — staggered down the hallway, white eyes, loose jaw dripping blood. His shirt was torn and an open bite on his neck exposed rotting flesh.
"It's started..." Erick murmured.
He dressed in dark clothes, grabbed the backpack he had already prepared — food, water, hunting knife, flashlight, some improvised tools — and exited through the back window. He was on the second floor, but thanks to **Feline Agility**, he jumped with precision and landed on one knee, softening the impact like a real animal.
**[System] — Side Mission Activated: Test Predatory Capabilities.**
> Objective: Eliminate 1 hostile target using only physical abilities.
> Reward: +1 fusion point, partial unlock of "Nocturnal Predation"
Erick sniffed the air — literally — and sensed the trail of blood and rot approaching from an alley. Another zombie. Alone.
"Let's see what I can do."
He crept forward, movements firm and silent. The claws he had mimicked from a **raccoon** sliced the air with precision. When the zombie turned, Erick leapt with fury, landing a spinning kick to its jaw. In midair, he grabbed its head tightly and twisted. The crack of its neck echoed like thunder in his sharpened ears.
**[System] — Mission Complete. Reward Granted.**
> New partial ability: **Night Vision I (in development)**
Erick was panting but felt... alive. As if danger energized him.
"This world will kill me if I don't become the predator," he whispered.
The city screamed in the distance. Sirens, gunfire, chaos.
And he ran toward it.
The city was no longer the same. The streets of Raccoon City were stained with blood, buildings crumbling, and death seemed to whisper from every alley. Erick moved like a shadow through the ruins—watching, listening, waiting. He hadn't found Leon yet, but he knew their fates were drawing closer.
After barely escaping a group of zombies in a supermarket parking lot, Erick took refuge in an abandoned building. Inside, he barred the door with a rusty metal rod and climbed to the second floor. The silence was strange… almost comforting. He leaned against the wall, breathing deeply. He needed a moment.
"System, open panel," he murmured, and the familiar interface lit up in his mind.
[Predatory Adaptation System - Erick's Status]
Current Abilities:
Feline Instinct (Level 1): Enhances reflexes, balance, and motor coordination. Ideal for quick escapes and close combat.
Raccoon Claws (Level 1): Retractable claws capable of sharp slashes. Short duration but useful for silent attacks.
Enhanced Hearing (Bat) (Level 1): Ability to detect low-frequency sounds and track movement from a distance.
Night Vision I (partial): Allows vision in low-light environments, still developing.
Instinctive Jump (new): Enables longer jumps and softens medium-height falls.
Fusion Points: 2 available
Possible Evolutions: "Reptilian Camouflage," "Lupine Senses," "Hunter's Focus"
Erick scanned each skill thoughtfully.
"I can move better at night now… and this jump could save me in a chase," he said aloud. "But I'm still too fragile. If a Licker finds me off guard… it's over."
To test it, he climbed to the top floor of the building and examined the gap between the roof and the neighboring structure—about three meters. He took a deep breath and activated Instinctive Jump. His body responded precisely: muscles tightened, tendons coiled like springs, and with a silent push, Erick leapt.
He landed firmly, rolling to absorb the impact.
"It works," he smiled.
Immediately, he crouched down and closed his eyes. He began listening: footsteps from someone running three blocks away, a zombie growling in a nearby alley, the metallic creak of a dumpster being pushed by something large. Enhanced Hearing was fully active.
He decided to spend a few minutes exploring the system. With a mental command, he opened the skills directory and filtered by categories: offense, defense, stealth, environmental adaptation.
"I need something to hide myself…" he murmured.
In the stealth category, he found a promising option:
Reptilian Camouflage (locked): Allows partial blending into the environment for a limited time.
"That would be useful. Especially if I have to avoid a direct fight," he thought.