Chapter 7 – First Blood, First Heal
The night after their daring escape from the Umbrella compound was thick with tension. Jill was safe, recovering under Alice's watch, and Kuro finally had a moment to breathe. He sat under a collapsed overpass, lightning lazily tracing over his knuckles. Yumi was perched on a cracked bench nearby, eyes scanning the quiet city as she slowly rotated a glowing blue orb between her fingers — the Basic Healing Pulse.
She had used it once already — on a wounded civilian they'd found barely conscious in an abandoned pharmacy. The moment the pulse left her hands and the gashes on the man's torso began to close, something in her changed.
"I didn't think it would feel like that," she said softly.
"Like what?" Kuro asked, sparking a small flame to cook a salvaged can of meat.
"Like… I actually made a difference. Like I was useful."
Kuro chuckled. "Yumi, you literally saved a life. That's more than useful."
She looked down at the orb again, the glow pulsing in time with her heartbeat.
They didn't have long to rest. The system pinged Kuro early the next morning.
"System Notice: Umbrella activity detected. Nest Gamma located near Raccoon High Stadium. Infected cluster estimate: 100+. Mutant Class: Active."
"Suggested Objective: Controlled companion grind. Deploy Yumi for field leveling."
Kuro stretched his arms with a grin. "Time to show me what you can do."
Yumi looked uncertain. "You sure I'm ready?"
"You'll never feel ready. That's why we go now."
The stadium was partially collapsed. The parking lot was overgrown with weeds and shattered glass. Dozens of low-level zombies lingered near the outer gate, and further in, faint growls echoed from the tunnels.
Kuro led Yumi slowly, taking point and drawing the first five zombies with a bottle toss. When they turned, Kuro darted in and disabled two with swift strikes. He pulled back, letting the remaining three approach Yumi.
"Your turn," he said. "Remember, pulse if you get scratched. Let them come."
Yumi's heart pounded. She raised her reinforced baton — a short staff Kuro had crafted from steel pipe and wire — and swung clumsily at the first zombie. It staggered but didn't go down.
It lunged.
Her scream was cut short as she slammed the staff into its side again — this time cracking the skull. The second one grabbed her shoulder, and instinctively, her palm flared.
Healing Pulse: Activated
A burst of blue light washed out from her, knocking the infected slightly back and restoring her balance. The minor wound on her arm sealed almost instantly.
Kuro stepped forward and sliced the last one down. "Good. You didn't panic. That was a real heal."
"I almost did panic," Yumi said, panting.
"But you didn't. That's the part that matters."
For the next three hours, they worked through the perimeter of the stadium. Kuro handled the brutes and ranged threats, while Yumi supported, healed, and occasionally took down a lone straggler.
By the time they reached the inner corridors, she was limping slightly, covered in grime but smiling.
"System Alert: Combat Companion Yumi Aoyama has leveled up. Current Level: 2."
"XP Accumulated: 100/250."
Kuro nodded in satisfaction.
Then the ceiling shook.
From the far corridor, a bestial growl echoed. A huge shadow shifted in the dark.
"System Alert: Mutated Cerberus Pack – Mini Boss Detected."
"Threat Level: B. Units infected with prototype T-Virus strain. High speed and corrosive bite. Advising caution."
The pack came into view — six twisted hounds, eyes glowing red, drool sizzling on the floor. One was at least twice the size of the others.
Kuro took a deep breath. "Yumi, this is going to be tough."
"I'm with you."
"System — any upgrades for her?"
"Available Skill: 'Vital Surge' – Rapid regeneration of major wounds. 1-use per combat. Cost: 2,500 AP."
Kuro bought it without hesitation.
"Vital Surge equipped."
Then the fight began.
Kuro launched the first arc of lightning, disorienting two dogs. The rest lunged.
He danced between them, slicing with surgical precision, but even he couldn't keep all six at bay. One broke past him — jaws snapping — and lunged at Yumi.
She screamed and flung her staff instinctively. The hit wasn't enough. The creature latched onto her arm.
Blood sprayed.
"YUMI!"
But she gritted her teeth. Her free hand pulsed with blue light.
Vital Surge: Activated
Her wound closed mid-bite. With a shriek of defiance, she slammed her baton into the beast's skull repeatedly until it dropped.
Kuro tore through the rest with rage and lightning — his aura flaring wildly. The last hound howled before Kuro electrocuted it into ash.
Silence returned.
Yumi slumped against the wall, breathing hard.
"System Alert: Yumi Aoyama has leveled up. Current Level: 3."
"Bonus Trait Unlocked: Nerve of Steel – Reduces healing cooldowns by 1 second in high-stress situations."
Kuro knelt beside her, hand on her shoulder. "You did incredible."
"I didn't freeze," she whispered. "I really didn't."
"You were amazing."
He stood, helped her up, and looked toward the dark tunnel ahead.
"Let's keep going. We've got a city to cleanse."