Chapter 8 — Umbrella Prologue
Before the world fell into chaos, before the dead walked among the living, there existed a corporation.
It presented itself as a pharmaceutical empire. Genetic research, vaccines, technological advances. The Umbrella Corporation was synonymous with innovation. Behind the shiny logos and luxurious buildings, the real monsters hid.
No one knew for sure when it began, but rumors circulated behind the scenes of power: Umbrella was meddling with things that humans should never touch. Genetic alteration, biological weapons, immortality projects.
Secret documents spoke of the T-Virus Project, a virus mutation capable of regenerating cells… and transforming corpses into killing machines. The virus, tested in underground bases, soon got out of control.
The rest, the world knew as an apocalypse.
New York, like so many other cities, became a stage for horror.
But in the midst of the chaos, few had the chance to make a difference. I was one of them.
The System Awakens
We were hiding in the building, preparing supplies, when the voice rang out again.
A soft, sweet, almost childish voice. Incompatible with the brutality of the world.
— "Good morning, Daniel! Systema online. Inventory unlocked."
The invisible screen shone in my vision. Only I saw it. Only I heard it. The system, the secret that had been keeping me alive.
[INVENTORY UNLOCKED]
Total capacity: 1000 cubic meters
Current storage: 0% occupied
Function: storing objects, equipment, ammunition, food, miscellaneous items
Access: mental or by verbal command (only you can see it)
My eyes widened. A space that size… meant I could carry virtually everything we needed. Weapons, supplies, ammunition. And no one would notice.
The system continued:
— "Also… congratulations! You have accumulated improvement points."
I opened the internal menu:
🎯 CURRENT STATUS
Strength: 3
Speed: 2
Stamina: 2
Vitality: 12
Available Points: 4
Red Crystals: 5
Blue Crystals: 1
System Store: Available
My heart raced. Each point could be the difference between life and death.
Suggested distribution:
1 point in Strength → more lethal strikes
1 point in Speed → faster movement
1 point in Stamina → increased resistance
1 point in Vitality → combat survival
I accepted the suggestion. The system updated:
🎯 UPDATED STATUS
Strength: 4
Speed: 3
Stamina: 3
Vitality: 13
A wave of energy ran through my body. I was… different. Stronger. Faster. The system was real, powerful, and only I had access to it.
The virtual loli's voice continued:
— "Crystals have more uses. In addition to strengthening, they can be used in the System Store to purchase items, weapons, or unlock hidden abilities."
I opened the mental store. The options were tempting:
Advanced Medical Kit — 2 red crystals
Legendary Weapon (locked) — requires 100 red crystals
Infinite Ammo for 1 hour — 10 red crystals
Life Detector — 5 blue crystals
Red Queen (Combat AI) — unavailable, requires 10,000 crystals
My eyes stopped at the last option. Red Queen… the legendary supercomputer. Something that was clearly connected to Umbrella.
The system blinked:
— "Hidden information unlocked: The Umbrella Corporation has developed the Red Queen. Autonomous AI capable of controlling entire facilities, with extreme levels of defense and security."
I took a deep breath. That fit. The Umbrella facilities, the virus, the mutations… all interconnected.
But to get to the AI, I needed resources. Lots of them.
I focused. The group was still gathered, Helena was talking to her parents, Gabriel was organizing supplies, Amanda was cleaning a knife. They didn't know… and they couldn't know. The system was my secret advantage.
I grabbed the shotgun, checked the AR-15 and took a deep breath. We needed to move soon.
But something else weighed on my mind: the system's final voice.
"Alert: abnormal activity detected. Umbrella transmission begins at 3 kilometers. Investigate recommended. High rewards possible."
I looked out the window. The horizon was smoking, zombies were crowding the streets, sirens echoed in the distance.
But the real war… was just beginning.
The Truth Begins to Emerge
As I reviewed my mental inventory, the system released new data:
Umbrella Files — Fragmented
Human Experiments: Confirmed
Creation of the T-Virus: Confirmed
Evolution of Bioweapons: Ongoing
Testing in New York: Incomplete Data
Military Involvement: High Level
Probable Base Location: Underground, Industrial Zone
My blood ran cold in my veins. Umbrella had not only created the virus… but had been testing it here, in my city, before the fall.
The mutations, the Alpha zombies, everything pointed to something worse. They were… controlling the phases of the infection.
My fists clenched. This wasn't just survival. This was war.
The system concluded:
— "Daniel… time is running out. More hordes
are organizing. The enemies are evolving. Your strength must keep up. Grow stronger. Explore. Discover. And prepare yourself… the true face of Umbrella will soon be revealed."
I took a deep breath. I was ready.
The world could have ended.
But my fight… was just beginning.
To be continued…