Hammerhead, accustomed to violence at the slightest disagreement, had never faced such a barrage of sharp words. Matthew's rapid-fire insults left him momentarily speechless, but he quickly decided to resort to violence.
"Matthew Lawrence, I gave you a chance."
"But since you chose not to cherish it, then die here!" Hammerhead sneered, his gun barrel snapping up to aim at Matthew.
"Die here? Me?" Far from showing fear, Matthew's face twisted into a cold, mocking smile. "Heh... I do not think so!"
The moment his words fell, BOOM!!!
A colossal, mountain-like figure leaped down from a nearby rooftop without warning, crashing like a human cannonball into the dense crowd of Maggia members.
"Wh, what is going on?! An earthquake?!"
"Ahhh! My leg! My ass! My ass! I cannot feel my ass anymore!"
"Motherf*cker! Your ass fragments splattered on my face!"
"Monster! Monster!!"
"Stay back! Do not... Argh!!"
"Tat-tat-tat-tat..." Dozens of muzzles spat fierce flames, flickering wildly in the swirling dust and briefly illuminating a colossal shadow rampaging through the crowd. Though each of them held 'truth' (guns), their counterattacks were fragile and easily shattered, like children waving toys, against such absolute power.
*Splurt!* A jet of blood shot out from the dust. Immediately after, a head with wide, frozen eyes, along with a headless corpse, flew out whistling like a carelessly discarded bowling ball. It slammed hard into other gang members trying to flank Matthew from behind. Those gangsters who had not yet figured out what was happening were instantly knocked over like bowling pins, bones cracking and screams mingling together. Those who luckily were not knocked down hastily raised their guns, trying to spray bullets at the colossal shadow in the dust. However, just as they pulled their triggers...
Several dark figures suddenly darted out from the shadows on both sides of the street like phantoms. They were terrifyingly grotesque, their bodies covered in slick, reflective scales. Spiked claws extended from their fingertips, leaving no doubt they could easily tear human bodies apart and smash through walls. Even without direct contact, a brutal, icy, purely predatory aura, born for the hunt, permeated the entire scene as if tangible.
"WTF?! What the hell are those things!"
"Lizardmen?"
"Incorrect."
"Their name is 'Hunter,' a mass-produced BOW... Of course, they can also be called biological weapons." Matthew's calm voice cut through the chaos, clearly audible amidst the screams and the clatter of dropped firearms. As for whether they heard his explanation... Matthew turned his head to look. Where those few people had been, there were now only reddish-tinged puddles, and severed limbs and minced flesh floating in the water.
"Matthew Lawrence!!"
"What have you done!" Hammerhead burst out of the dust, his figure disheveled. The barrel of the Thompson Submachine Gun in his hand was now twisted beyond recognition. Not only the gun barrel, but he himself looked a mess. His neat blue suit was covered in the blood of his subordinates, and his meticulously slicked-back hair was now disheveled. For some reason, one of his eyes was even blinded.
Under the umbrella, Matthew calmly gazed at Hammerhead, who looked like a wounded beast. He said unhurriedly, "As the head of the Security Department, it is perfectly reasonable for me to have a few strong bodyguards, is it not?"
"Bodyguards?! You call these monsters 'bodyguards'?" Hammerhead gritted his teeth, looking at the grotesque figures standing behind Matthew.
"That is none of your business," Matthew shrugged. "As long as I am happy, I can call a steamroller a bodyguard if I want."
Faced with Matthew's somewhat absurd cold joke, Hammerhead could not find it in himself to laugh. As they spoke, the incessant gunfire gradually subsided.
*Whoosh*, a large hand dispersed the dust. The T-103 Tyrant's body, like a black iron tower, came into Hammerhead's view, accompanied by heavy footsteps that seemed to stomp on people's hearts. This was Matthew's [System Pass reward] for saving Raccoon City. Of course, besides the T-103 Tyrant, the [System] also rewarded him with several Beta Hunters. Unfortunately, he did not get to use them; this group of people was already mostly dead. Behind the Tyrant, severed limbs and broken arms were scattered everywhere. Some were so mangled it was impossible to tell they were once human; if not for the strong smell of blood, Matthew would have thought it was a puddle of chili sauce.
The Tyrant, having completed its orders, slightly turned its ashen eyes to look at the one-eyed Hammerhead. Just as it was about to act, Matthew suddenly raised a hand to stop it. "Hammerhead, right?"
"I hear your head is very hard... Coincidentally, my head is not exactly soft either!" Matthew beckoned to Hammerhead.
Hearing this, Hammerhead wanted to beg for mercy. But seeing the menacing Tyrant behind him, and then the Hunters behind Matthew, drooling as if waiting for a meal, a fierce glint suddenly flashed in his eyes. *Whoosh*, Hammerhead suddenly lunged at Matthew. His move was very simple, a headbutt. This was not to say his move was clumsy; on the contrary, he intended to defeat his enemy in one blow. One should know that his head could directly stop a speeding car. If this hit an ordinary person, it would probably shatter their bones and internal organs. But unfortunately, Matthew was just messing with him and never intended to actually hit his head. He drew a Glock Pistol from his waist. Without the slightest hesitation, he fired two shots, piercing Hammerhead's knees, causing the charging Hammerhead to immediately fall flat on his face. Then two more shots took out his arms, and one shot took out his lower leg. Only when Hammerhead was left with just his head able to move did Matthew step forward.
"You... you are dishonorable!" Hammerhead said indignantly. 'Did you not say your head was not soft either? Why did you not retaliate with your head, but instead drew a gun? And if you are going to draw a gun, why did you not shoot me in the head, but only shot my limbs?'
"Oh, come on! In this day and age, how can you become a grandmaster if you do not use a gun?" Matthew shrugged. "Besides, why do you believe everything I say? If that is the case, I say: 'I am going to plant you in the ground and cosplay as a ginseng root,' would you believe that?"
Hammerhead stewed for a moment, then spat out two words. "...I do not."
"You have to believe this, because I really do have that idea." Matthew's lips curled into a smile worthy of a demon.
Not long after, several Umbrella Corporation vehicles pulled up beside Matthew. A dozen burly men skillfully took out tools from the cars. They got out one by one to clear the scene, and also carried Hammerhead and Nicole into the vehicles. Only when the scene was completely cleared, the cars gradually drove away, and the belated siren sounds began to wail from down the street. Then Walsh, who had been lying under a streetlamp pretending to be unconscious, shakily stood up.
Just as he secretly swore to completely forget the events of this night, a familiar voice almost made him wet himself. "Walsh, I greatly admire your courage... Interested in working as security for my company?"
"Annual salary, two hundred thousand."
[System Points +50. Walsh is moved by your sincerity and intends to serve you for life.]