According to Newton's first law, the law of inertia, force is what changes an object's state of motion. Without force, an object will either remain at rest or continue moving in a straight line at a constant velocity forever.
After a bullet leaves the barrel, regardless of its initial speed, it is only affected by gravity and air resistance. This means the net force is directed downward and backward, so the bullet will only slow down and fall.
Because the speed of the bullet is extremely fast compared to the acceleration of its fall, gravity and air resistance can be ignored over a short distance. At this point, it can be considered free from external forces and will travel in a straight line at a constant velocity. Even if we only consider gravity, it would only perform a slight parabolic motion, so it's impossible for the trajectory to change in any direction other than the vertical—
Therefore, true "Gun Shaking Skill" does not exist. There is no cool "Mousetail-spit-shaking-five-consecutive-lightning-whips" that can make bullets fly just by flicking your wrist. However... this is the world of Resident Evil. Newton's laws of physics are not so strict here.
To put it bluntly, his sacred laws are not so powerful in Resident Evil... and in other dimensions, he's often seen being tossed around in a coffin.
Therefore, "Gun Shaking Skill" exists.
Javier looked at the Gun Kata in front of him with a helpless expression. It seemed to be the only reliable thing in the entire store. No other practical skills had been refreshed. So, in a way, Javier had no choice.
Besides, things like Pistol Mastery and Close-Quarters Combat Mastery didn't need to be purchased. Because again... this is the world of Resident Evil, not some simple military hero adventure. These things have no special effect against zombies. Do you plan to get into a close-quarters brawl with a zombie? Or are you going to fight a towering Tyrant with your fists?
So, without genetic body enhancements, these things were useless. As for Pistol Mastery, for a shooting genius like Javier, he could master it in just a few months of practice, so there was no need to waste points on it.
After all that deliberation... it seemed that only the impractical Gun Kata could quickly enhance his combat power. So, with no other choice, Javier used his remaining 300 points to buy Gun Kata. Looking at the one point left on the panel, Javier felt a bitter pang.
"Fine," he thought. "As long as I don't die, I can always earn more money. If I'm gone, then no amount of money will matter."
[Ding...]
[Gun Kata purchased successfully, 300 points spent. Remaining points: 1. Now beginning the learning of Gun Kata skill. Please prepare, Host—]
The familiar electronic, mechanical female voice rang in Javier's ears. The system panel turned blue, became a beam of light, and quickly flowed into Javier's mind. At that moment... Javier felt a huge change in his body.
A torrent of memories that didn't belong to him flooded into his mind, and his arm's muscle memory also changed. He now possessed a skilled gun-flicking motion, as if he had practiced it countless times. At the same time, Javier could clearly perceive his own heart rate, whether it was high or low. It was all crystal clear. It was as if, whenever Javier wanted to, he could simply flick his wrist and send the bullet from his Desert Eagle flying in any direction, even with a curve. It was ridiculous!
Could it be... this was the legendary Gun Kata's ultimate secret—the Mousetail-spit-shaking-five-consecutive-lightning-whips! With lightning speed, in 0.0001 seconds, he could simultaneously perform five high-speed attacks. No matter where the enemy was, he could easily kill them with this ultimate technique. It was the highest secret created by the most reputable martial artist, theorist, debater, face-saving individual, and "my face is swollen but my mouth is still hard" master of the Hunyuan Tai Chi sect, Grandmaster Ma Baoguo. The fact that it could be so flawlessly incorporated into a mere firearm technique showed how astonishing its power must be.
This was the highest purity of "skill"—!
Okay, the composition was a bit complicated.
In short, this Gun Kata was indeed usable and effective in this world where Newton's laws of physics were not a big deal. That's why Javier felt confident again and had rambled for so long.
A New Beginning
"Wait!"
"Javier, Billy, look up there! I really chose the right path! This lift platform really does lead to the facility's exit! This is great... we don't have to die together in this godforsaken place anymore," Rebecca's excited voice pulled Javier out of his trance. The girl was waving her arms and pointing at the front of the lift platform.
Javier snapped out of it and quickly looked ahead.
Sure enough... there was a bright tunnel exit in front of them. The scenery beyond the tunnel was not a biological weapons factory, but a lush green lawn and a brilliant orange sunrise. The tunnel exit was on a hillside, and it happened to be dawn with the first light of day. Javier, Rebecca, and Billy were lucky enough to witness a beautiful sunrise. The warm, radiant sunlight slowly shone through the clouds, casting a beautiful, sparkling glow on the ground as if it were draped in a thin veil.
This beautiful scene symbolized the trio's survival after the disaster!
"Buzz..."
"Clang—!"
At that moment, the lift platform reached the end of the tunnel. There was no more track, and it couldn't go any further. The three of them had to quickly jump off and run toward the tunnel exit.
"Beep, beep, beep..."
"The executive training facility's self-destruct countdown is over. The self-destruction is over. It is now beginning its self-destruction, now beginning its self-destruction—!"
Just as Javier, Rebecca, and Billy successfully ran out of the tunnel, the facility's self-destruction began. At the deepest part of the central control system, a red bomb fell, creating a domino effect. Hidden bombs in the above-ground research labs, underground labs, and every corner of the biological factory began to detonate!
"Buzz..."
"Rumble——————————!!!!"
A deafening explosion suddenly erupted. Javier, Rebecca, and Billy, who had just escaped the tunnel, heard a terrifying sonic boom behind them. Their eardrums ached, and a strong gust of air knocked them down, slamming them onto the grass. Countless dust and debris flew over their heads.
When they turned around, they saw that the once-massive executive training facility had instantly turned into a pile of fragmented rubble. It was as if a building made of blocks had been instantly blown apart by a firecracker. Walls, glass, and roofs were instantly annihilated. The various rooms inside also turned into nothing, leaving no remnants behind. All of them became piles of rubble and debris on the ground.
Even the underground facility was blown into a huge hole, as if a sinkhole were hidden inside. The depth of the depression was very great, and it was not only pitch-black but also had its underground waterways burst open. The surging underground river water began to pour in, and perhaps in a few hours, it would become a lake.
The spectacular power of this explosion was a testament to the Umbrella Corporation's thoroughness. They left no loose ends. With an explosion of this magnitude, any data or equipment would be reduced to ashes by the high temperatures. Even the underground facility turned into a wide underground lake. Even if there were any remaining data, it would be buried deep underground. And who would be willing to go to all the trouble to search for seemingly remaining data in an underground lake?
No... no one would ever choose to do that. It would be too time-consuming and labor-intensive. No organization, including the US government, would have the time for it. Therefore, because of this explosion, the facility's secrets would never be fully exposed.
"Damn it..."
"These people are truly despicable. The facility is so thoroughly destroyed by the self-destruction that there is no useful information to be found!" Rebecca said angrily with a furious expression on her face as she looked at the rubble of the distant facility. Unfortunately, no amount of cursing would change anything. The matter had come to an end.
Even the tunnel exit they had just escaped from was blown apart by the explosion. All entrances were now inaccessible. It could only be said that the Umbrella Corporation's way of handling its tracks was quite ruthless.
"..."
"It's okay, Rebecca. Even though the facility was destroyed, we can still continue to expose the Umbrella Corporation's crimes. Don't be discouraged. We still have to move forward," Javier said, comforting Rebecca, who was as angry as a little lion. He then opened his tactical backpack and took out three bottles of fine wine, which he tossed to Rebecca and Billy. How could they not celebrate their survival?
This was the fine wine he had managed to get from the facility's cellar. For a country with only 200 years of history like the United States, its vintage was already considered a top-tier rarity. Therefore, they had to enjoy it.
As if he had thought of something, Javier threw the wine to Billy and then pointed to the silver dog tag on Billy's neck, saying, "This is our real survival. By the way, Billy, give me your dog tag."
When he heard this, Billy's expression froze slightly. He didn't understand what Javier was going to do and even frowned, thinking Javier was going to go back on his word and arrest him. Billy didn't know what Javier's intentions were, as a dog tag was a symbol of a soldier's identity.
In war, many soldiers on the battlefield wear dog tags. If they die in battle or are blown to pieces by a bomb and their face is disfigured, they rely on this dog tag for identification. Of course, there was another situation. Dog tags could also be used to represent the number of kills. What did that mean? It meant that the more people you killed on the battlefield, the more dog tags you brought back to earn military honors. So Billy Coen's first thought was that Javier would use his dog tag to claim a kill. He had been framed by his comrades and captain before, so he reacted very strongly when someone tried to take his dog tag.
But...
"Clatter—!"
Without giving Billy Coen a chance to react, Javier yanked the dog tag off Billy's neck and explained calmly, "You're not wrong. I am going to use your dog tag to claim a kill. After all... the Billy Coen you know is dead, isn't he?"
Without any hesitation, Javier nodded and admitted it. Hearing Javier's words, Billy's expression froze again, but when he looked at Javier's smiling face, Billy suddenly understood. The expression on his face also turned into a smile.
"Yes!"
"The person named Billy Coen no longer exists in this world. He's dead, killed by S.T.A.R.S. members Rebecca and Javier. Thank you... Javier, and Rebecca. Thank you both for being willing to believe in me!"
"And I know I can never clear my name. It's a miracle that I even got a second chance at life. After I've dealt with everything, I will gradually live the rest of my life anonymously," Billy said with a look of relief. He thanked Javier and Rebecca and clinked his wine bottle against theirs. Then, Billy chugged the wine in one gulp. The warm, radiant sunlight shone on Billy's face, and at that moment, he felt as if he had been reborn.
Yes, this was Javier's intention. Billy could never clear his name. The corrupt US government would not allow such a major scandal to be exposed. So, Billy Coen could only live the rest of his life anonymously. But compared to being sent to a military court for execution, it was already a very lucky outcome. But before he left, he could still repay his teammates and captain who had framed him. After all, the plot of a framed military hero returning for revenge was very common in movies. A flawless plan, a secret assassination... anything was possible. Plus, as a former Marine Corps second lieutenant, Billy had the ability to perform a precise assassination. So Billy Coen could get his revenge before he left!
"In that case..."
"I can't go the rest of the way with you. Rebecca, Javier, I hope you can find evidence of the Umbrella Corporation's crimes and expose this ugly company. I wish you all the best!"
"Former Marine Corps Second Lieutenant, Billy Coen, thanks you—"
He finished the wine in his hand and threw the empty bottle aside. His cool face was slightly red, but Billy Coen still managed to hold back his drunkenness and gave Javier and Rebecca a serious salute.
"Step, step, step..."
With the farewell over, Billy Coen turned and walked away... his broad back gradually disappeared in the distance on the hillside. In his final glance, Billy slowly raised his thumb. This was the encouraging gesture that Rebecca had given him at the beginning, and now Billy was returning it to Javier and Rebecca.
Resident Evil 0—The End