#<- III // V - [ UNFORMATTED ] - O N H X ->

[lasplaga]

A stick of deodorant.

「𝔖」 After the last sacrifice amounted to overwhelming displeasure, the next that followed only served to provoke his patience, which was LIMITED concerning insolent human beings. At first, Osmund was speechless with the brazen presentation & the offensive implication. No doubt he carried the nauseating lang of a rotting corpse, but such was natural for a creature TAINTED with undeath. It was unquestionably an insult to his face pertaining to his complete lack in hygiene, an unfortunate symptom of Las Plagas infestation, enthralled to worship disease.

But, then... The Priest began to chuckle. Lazed upon his throne made of skin & bone, he nudged an accompanying zealot, & pointed at the foreign offender, frivolously.

" Oh, esto es tan cariño. ¡El humano piensa que es gracioso! " Naturally, those who were previously flabbergasted, as well as The Priest, suddenly broke into an uproar of laughter. Cackles & crows of vicious brain-dead Ganado filled the room COMPLETELY at William's expense. " ¡Espera, espera, espera! ¡Deseo ver su cara cuando se dé cuenta de que lo vamos a matar! "

In seconds, immediately, everyone was hushed silent. The amusement was cut short before The Doctor was suggested the idea that a VIOLENTLY TERRIBLE ambush was about to occur. Osmund, despite his previous outburst of hysterics, was quick to properly clear his throat, gently accept the gift, & 'give his formal respects'.

" We have a sacred phrase : 'Ahogar al hombre en aceite hirviendo.' " ------ Oh... if only Dr. Birkin knew... " It is a heartfelt expression of our utmost... appreciation. Thank you, your contribution 'shall be paid in full'. "

[lasplaga]

[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 ] : receiver is trying to win sender's trust in order to escape later.

「𝔖」 Researchers did not stand by the promise of faith --- yet desired to play God, if not BECOME him. It was sickening, how they craved power which never belonged to them. Yet, Osmund stood as a very descendant of ADAM, a manifestation of Omega, The Last Judgment. Time & time again, humans had forsaken the gift which The Almighty had planted for them to find, ages past. Earth WAS the seedbed for Paradise, but the overwhelming blasphemers were TOO BLIND to see, too ignorant to reap the heavenly fruit.

How was this doctor any different from the last who had betrayed him? Who believed doctrine & discipline were for the weak-minded? That science was the key to unraveling the secrets of the holy worms & insects? --- They truly imagined themselves far more intelligent than a divine creature that wished to spread it's blessings far & wide across the cosmos? That kept a piece of every prior host, manifesting as something new, BECOMING MORE PURE, every following generation?

They --- these parasites puppeting their vessels skin, were masters of biological evolution. Their prisoners, who could not so much survive 3 days without drinking water, WERE NOT. Devoted of Las Plagas would dare not fathom single-minded solitude, if it meant sacrificing everything that made them strong. Every mutation, beneficial or decaying, which made them superior in virtually every aspect. William would have to persuade the unwavering beliefs of a religious missionary in order to survive unmarked by THE PLAGUES.

" I am not so easily fooled by children, vastly immature and unspiritual. No less, little lambs so disgustingly feeble. " Osmund's words were poison & bitter to swallow as he censured the scientist, chancing he could out-smart the master manipulator. Naming every imperfection, such as being limited in form, possessing weak hide, hideously pathetic regeneration, & flesh that made no guarantee to last a half-century. Quite IRONIC coming from the likeness of a walking corpse, seeping black death from every orifice. " You would fare better under my heel, Dr. Birkin. After all, your pitiful kind were bred to serve and be repurposed. "

[lasplaga]

「𝔖」 It was the summer of 2000 & approaching the precipice of Los Iluminados ingenuity. Countless were delivered to the altar on behalf of glorifying The Holy Insects, ascending humanity to the likeness of their arthropodal brethren. Humans delivering divine maggots as if sons & daughters, blood transfused with black water & twisting hosts into nigh immortal creatures. --- The blessings of Las Plagas seemingly knew no boundary. With a congregation possessing a limitless pursuit for knowledge, to push the ceiling of scientific discovery, to ransack their enemies sacred texts were innate. European employees of Umbrella were swayed to the faith & their laboratories plundered, but in a daring attempt to obtain information that not even Dr. Serra was privy, Osmund ordered an assault upon foreign soil.

The Arklay Mountains were far enough from human civilization for an invasion of demons to go unnoticed, The Devil taking front with an entourage of fluttering Unseen & a swarm of skittering parasites under the cover of night. With hundreds of eyes spanning the air & forest floor, NEST, as well as DR. BIRKIN would inevitably be found. Soldiers that guarded the woods & marshalling yards would find themselves plucked & consumed midflight, or left skewered upon branches. Any that had the misfortune of encountering Lord Saddler directly would be dispatched in a myriad of gruesome ways, the slaughter captured on grainy surveillance footage. --- WANTING them to be aware of their arrival, using mass panic of measly scientists & potential vessels to their advantage. Armed weapons were a tool that could be turned against them, as simple as tendrils burrowing through kevlar & into their spines.

By the stroke of midnight, screams & throes of agony sent the sprawling facility into high alert, outsiders dangerously close to breaching the elevator shaft. Alarms blared as chaos erupted up above, with a library of desired research, technology, experiments & viruses stashed below.

[lasplaga]

𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 ⇏ The outsider has trespassed the village & awaits judgement.

「𝔖」 ALL WERE GIVEN A RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL, but the tribulations began at the iron works, imprisoned in the depths below. Encased behind unyielding bars of steel & shackled with heavy chains --- few choices remained : To fight for survival against this nigh immortal army of undead, retrieving weapons & ammunition, littering the grounds of Valdelobos RED. Scavenging stolen gear & attempting to escape the mountainous region alive. Or, as the presence of their FALSE GOD grew closer with gut-wrenching steps down the stairwell, entertain the possibility of being set free, unharmed, by their own volition. If not BARGAIN A DEAL, depending upon what circumstances landed Jill in this nightmarish Hellhole. Was she seeking The Cult DELIBERATELY?

Lord Saddler had no formal knowledge of Jill Valentine & the description of her infringe upon his Kingdom left much to the imagination. Parchment papers in regards to her prowess & organization were uncomfortably BLANK. Whatever the cost, he intended to gather information on the reasoning of her intrusion. This fine religious community was isolated from the rest of the world, & FOR GREAT REASON.

Humans --- he assumed of her biology, were a danger to them, & continuously proved to be a danger. But on the occasion an unknowing tourist happened to trip their way past barbed wire, cement blocks & metal snares, two possibilities were presented depending if lots had been casted : Swift ritual sacrifice, or deliverance to the outskirts of the forest. Outsiders who sought them WILLINGLY out of good faith were such a rarity, they could not put their continuous survival as a species to chance.

As the existence of mutants were stifled under the public eye to prevent mass civilian panic, there was not much of a concern if kidnapped victims broadcasted their unfortunate experience ; Being ambushed by Ganado with tranquilizers & then jailed in the decrepit factory ( for now ) beyond the quarantine marker. The reality of demons, or possessed spirits, were seen as nothing more than conspiracy theories or folk legends. Those who perpetuated such stories were dubiously believed, or seen as kooks.

The outsider was bound to wake up soon, if not awake already, Lord Saddler in tow with an olive branch : Scraps of fresh food & a bowl of clean water. Humans, as he understood, perished in days if not provided --- & the only good use of a human corpse was for eating.

[lasplaga]

❛ Tell me what you want. ❜

「𝔖」 Though Los Iluminados was FORCIBLY shoved into a remote corner of the world, did they truly make an attempt to HIDE what they were? IT WAS OBVIOUS, WASN'T IT? What fate they REPRESENTED to humanity? Everything about them screamed death ; Death of the individual. Death of the body. Death of the mind. Death of the very SOUL. Las Plagas warped everything it touched, with no discrimination or remorse. Until the planet was flesh-ridden, covered in mountains of hives, globally swarmed with holy insects, their crusade was left incomplete.

From the ruthless militants which were left necrotized to the bone, fanatical zealots that seeped black water from their own skin, to the innocent villagers with bloodlust staining their eyes --- they were far too gone to hide in any civilian populace. There was no harmony to be found with this bioweapon. No hope of coexistence. No dream of mutually-established peace. The parasite has made it abundantly clear it is an environmental predator, HUMAN BEINGS it's natural prey. Horrific above all, the innocent protected by their own mother's were not safe from it's pestilent 'grace'.

" We simply wish to share this gift with as many as possible. " It was humble, selfless, respectful & obedient --- they believed. After all, how could you be afflicted with disease & suffering if you MANIFESTED such? If you became what you feared, what ailed your species, is that not a true representation of Heaven? " Harmony between all nations, religions, creeds. Our desire --- " Emphasized with the use of plurality, that despite him representing 'the leader' of this Hivemind, aptly distinguished in royal vestments, this was a goal shared with OTHER'S in mind, throughout generations. " --- is the coming of a new world, free of misfortune. "

The highest devotee of Los Iluminados could, HAS proselytized for ages. No amount of heresy, itching ears, banishments or executions would dissuade him. & certainly not one lone scientist of Umbrella. Not when he has 'converted' reseachers of his own FORCIBLY wrapped around his finger, with imprisoned plunges of the ampoule.

[lasplaga]

❝ i’m not falling for your mind games. ❞

「𝔖」 'Mind games' insinuated that his intentions were not pure. It suggested that Osmund did not have humanities best interests at heart. Knowing they willingly dove themselves further into sin & Las Plagas possessing THE key to salvation, was it not his solemn duty to save the wicked from themselves? The Prophet breathed with an air of disdain : " Such irreverence is unbecoming, little one. " Before pressing onward, the glint of his eyes suggesting he ROLLED them in light derision. The youth questioned most above all & delighted in the pleasures of ignorance, but it was only a matter of time before faith would nestle in the cavity of their chest, tapping into their spines.

Preying upon the weak-minded was second nature to a demon. Tempting an innocent soul to forsake the greatness humanity had to offer, even more so. For humans were vulnerable, desperate, wishing for an end to inconvenience rather than continuously enduring the hardships of life. Others were lured with the promises of vengeance, glory & power. Or... the blessing to forget. To willfully obey, their mind & body overtaken by an invading organism, presenting itself as a Holy Spirit. Whatever turmoil disturbed, he was determined to claw & find it --- for EVERY being was burdened with some manner of sin or disease in need of cleansing.

" Come now, let us reason together. I approach faithfully, in hope to release you. " Exclaims The Devil, preaching the word of God. " Humans are filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. --- Have you not suffered by their hands? "

As a brother of the first man, was it NOT his purpose to grant peace? Was it NOT possible to achieve eternal life through death of the individual, surrendering themselves to a greater purpose? The Lord's mission was clean as white wool, never stained by bloody crimson. Why did they oppose & accuse of falsehoods when deliverance was presented unto them? --- They are human. Iniquitously so, but deserving of patience & forgiveness, nonetheless.