[[Perfect T-Virus Enhancement] T-virus made according to the host gene, without any side effects after injection, can obtain a Superman-like physique.]
[There is a certain chance of Awakening some kind of Super Ability.]
[Do you want to extract?]
Rio stared at the system's introduction to the T-virus, letting out a long sigh of relief. At least all the rewards would be applicable to his body - no point in getting something that would just kill him.
In the world of the Resident Evil movies, only two people had survived the T-virus injection without turning into brain-dead zombies. Not only did they avoid becoming monsters, but they also awakened abilities that made them damn near invincible.
First was Albert Wesker, one of the franchise's major antagonist - a real piece of work who gained extraordinary speed and reaction abilities, plus a healing factor that could survive a nuclear explosion. Then there was Alice, the heroine who might not have shown much recovery ability, but she had telekinesis in place of that.
Now Rio had the opportunity to potentially awaken all this abilities simultaneously, since the system claimed it was adjusted to his genes. Even if he didn't awaken any super abilities, becoming a super soldier would give him enough self-protection in this world to avoid being a sitting duck.
At least he wouldn't be completely powerless against the various assassination attempts that were sure to follow. People in this business had a tendency to hold grudges, and Rio had no intention of becoming another casualty.
"Extract."
Rio didn't hesitate. Hesitation was for people who had better options.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Rio felt his arm go cold, as if something had been injected directly into his bloodstream.
The system really was thoughtful - he'd been wondering how exactly he was supposed to inject himself with a virus without proper equipment. If that thing had accidentally fallen on the ground or leaked out, he was pretty sure it wouldn't be long before the whole earth fell into a biochemical apocalypse.
Compared to the world of Resident Evil, this reality had many superheroes and villains with extraordinary powers. Once these superheroes got infected, the disasters that followed might not be limited to Earth. He'd single-handedly be responsible for birthing anew zombie Marvel universe - and that was definitely not the kind of legacy he wanted to leave behind.
A cooling sensation spread throughout his body, starting from his arm and flowing through his veins like liquid ice. Rio's abdomen began experiencing bursts of itching right where he'd been shot not long ago. The wound that had landed him in this hospital bed was responding to whatever the hell was happening to him.
Rio opened his hospital gown and carefully peeled off the gauze, half-expecting to see infection or worse.
Instead, the wound was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. The torn flesh knitted together like some kind of time-lapse video, and within minutes, the entire wound had disappeared without a trace. Not even a scar remained.
But that wasn't all. His previously flat stomach gradually began showing defined abdominal muscle lines, as if months of dedicated training had been compressed into mere moments.
"Well, I'll be damned," Rio muttered, running his hand over his newly defined abs. "This is awesome."
Just when he thought the mutation was finishing up, the cooling sensation began rushing along his spine toward his brain. The sensation was intense, almost overwhelming.
"What the hell is this—"
Before Rio could finish the thought, he felt a burst of coolness flood his mind. Everything around him became extraordinarily clear - he could see dust particles floating in the air, hear conversations from rooms down the hall, even sense the electrical current running through the hospital's wiring.
Then, without any conscious effort on his part, small objects around the room began to slowly float upward.
Telekinesis.
Rio couldn't help but grin. Not only had he obtained a super soldier-like body, but he'd also awakened a super ability that could prove incredibly useful in any line of work.
Under Rio's focused control, the small objects began moving around the room in intricate patterns. A pen traced circles in the air, a plastic cup performed lazy loops, and his phone hovered obediently wherever he directed it. The control felt natural, as if he'd been doing this his entire life.
After getting familiar with his new ability, Rio carefully placed all the objects back in their original positions. The last thing he needed was for some nurse making her rounds to witness his little magic show. In this world, people with special abilities were labeled as mutants, and mutants weren't exactly popular in this society. Being associated with that crowd would bring unwanted attention from both the government and various extremist groups.
"System, how do I get more lottery draws?" Rio asked aloud, his curiosity getting the better of him.
He couldn't wait to watch Resident Evil 2 and see what other rewards he could potentially unlock. The possibilities were endless, and he was already planning how to use his newfound abilities to his advantage.
The system remained silent, offering no response to his question.
Apparently, he'd have to figure that out on his own. Trial and error had always been his preferred method of learning anyway.
"Is there a status screen or something?"
[Host: Rio Fisk
Unlocked movies: Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 apocalypse.
Viewing times: 0
Remarks: You can still watch the movie without the number of viewing times, but the number of lottery draws will not be provided
Remaining number of lottery draws: 0]
So it seemed he'd have to focus on accumulating viewing times rather than just watching movies for entertainment. The system had its own rules, and Rio would have to learn to work within them.
Suddenly, there was a new conversation outside his room. His enhanced hearing picked up every word with crystal clarity - he could probably hear a mosquito's wings flapping from three rooms away.
"Sir, we've identified the people who tried to assassinate young master Rio."
The voice was respectful but a little tense.
"Who was it?"
The second voice was deeper, more commanding. The majestic middle-aged male voice carried an unmistakable hint of murderous intent. This was Kingpin - his adoptive father - and the man was clearly not pleased.
Rio recognized the voice of one of Kingpin's trusted lieutenants. The man must have been sent to investigate the assassination attempt, and from the sound of it, he'd found answers.
"It's that upstart Jack from the sixth block. We're still investigating why they suddenly decided to target Master Rio, but the others are gathering more intelligence as we speak."
"Why else would it be?" Kingpin's voice carried a cold snort that promised violence. "Their group specializes in human trafficking. Now that the cargo ships in the port are all under my control, they have to go through me if they want to bring in their merchandise. Naturally, they're unhappy that their profits have dropped significantly."
"That makes sense, sir. Should we proceed with the standard response?"
"Yes." Kingpin's voice became calmer, more controlled. "I'll go see Rio first. Make sure Jack doesn't see tomorrow's sunrise. And be careful - under no circumstances should Rio learn about any of this business."
"Understood, boss. You can count on us."
As one of Kingpin's most trusted confidantes, the subordinate naturally knew that Kingpin had been hiding his true identity from Rio for years. In front of Rio, there was no Kingpin - only Wilson Fisk, a well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist in New York City. The charade had been maintained flawlessly for ten years.
What Kingpin didn't know was that the current Rio basically knew everything about his adoptive father's double life. The memories he'd inherited painted a very clear picture of Wilson Fisk's true nature.
After Kingpin gave a few more instructions, he dismissed his subordinate and began walking toward the ward.
Rio, having heard the entire conversation, allowed himself a small smile. The expression was sharp and predatory - nothing like the innocent young man Kingpin believed he was protecting.
"Jack," he murmured to himself, testing the name. "Looks like I'll get the chance to test out my new powers tonight."
In his previous life Rio had been someone who did anything for money, but he still maintained certain principles. If someone wronged him, he will deliver the consequences himself- that was one of his core beliefs. Jack and his crew had made a mistake when they decided to put a bullet in him.
Knock knock.
"Rio, are you awake?"
The voice outside was completely different from the cold, efficient tone Kingpin had used with his subordinate. This was the voice of a concerned father, warm and caring.
"Come in, Dad."
The door opened to reveal a bald man in an immaculate white suit. Despite his two-meter height and mountain-like build, he moved with surprising grace. In his massive hands, he carried what appeared to be a mini fruit basket - though it only looked small in comparison to his enormous frame.
While Kingpin might look like he carried extra weight, Rio knew better. Beneath that white suit was more than ninety percent muscle mass. Without the presence of superheroes and mutants in this world, Kingpin would easily rank among the top tier of human combat effectiveness.
Seeing Rio sitting up in his hospital bed, apparently full of energy, Kingpin's face broke into a genuine smile. He approached the bed with careful steps, settling into the chair beside it with practiced ease.
"How are you feeling today?" Kingpin asked, his massive hands surprisingly gentle as he began skillfully peeling an apple. "Is there anything else that's bothering you? Any pain or discomfort?"
Although the Kingpin sitting before him was relatively unfamiliar to Rio's current consciousness, he had inherited all of the original Rio's memories. Those memories painted a clear picture of a man who had cared for him with unwavering dedication and genuine affection.
For that reason alone, Rio felt comfortable calling him "Dad."
"I'm recovering well," Rio replied, unable to keep a slight smile from tugging at his lips. "Actually, I think I'm ready to be discharged from the hospital. Sitting around here is driving me crazy."
Kingpin paused in his apple-peeling, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Rio's face. "You were unconscious for a week. The doctors said you needed at least a week more for observation."
"The doctors don't know everything," Rio said with a casual shrug. "I feel fine. Better than fine, actually. I feel like I could run a marathon."
"That's the painkillers talking," Kingpin replied, though his tone carried a hint of amusement. "You always were impatient when it came to recovery."
Rio watched as his adoptive father continued peeling the apple with methodical precision. The man's hands were steady despite their size, and Rio found himself wondering how those same hands had probably ended dozens of lives over the years.
"Dad," Rio said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Do you know who shot me?"
Kingpin's hands stilled for just a moment before resuming their work. "The police are investigating. I'm sure they'll find the person responsible."
"Right. The police." Rio's tone was dry, almost mocking. "Because they're so effective at solving crimes in this part of the city."
"Rio." Kingpin's voice carried a warning note. "I don't want you thinking about revenge or taking matters into your own hands. That's not the kind of man I raised you to be."
The irony wasn't lost on Rio. Here was one of New York's most notorious crime lords, lecturing him about avoiding violence and letting the authorities handle things. The same man who had just ordered someone's execution was trying to keep his hands clean.
"Of course not," Rio said, his voice carefully neutral. "I'm just curious about who would want to hurt me. I mean, I'm nobody special - just a college student."
Kingpin finished peeling the apple and began cutting it into neat slices. "Sometimes violence is random, son. Sometimes people get caught in situations that have nothing to do with them personally."
"Okay if you say so." Rio decided to drop the matter for now and accepted a slice of apple from his father's massive hand. "Can you tell the doctors to release me already, it's boring here."
"Okay I will call for them, brat." Kingpin's tone held a hint of amusement.