Theodore was operating at peak performance, acting as the vanguard.
His AGI combined with the active Wind Walk skill made him the fastest thing in the forest, and he used that speed to shield the group.
[Wind Walk Duration Remaining: 45 seconds]
He zigzagged wildly, constantly maneuvering his path to keep himself directly between Chris Redfield's advancing Hound Wolf Squad and the five people following him.
Alcina, though furious at the interruption, kept pace as best she could, while her daughters, Bela and Cassandra, used their cured, high natural speed to flank Theodore and guide Ethan and Daniela through the confusing terrain.
Ethan, with his enhanced stamina, ran hard, cursing under his breath.
"They are too fast! I can't get a lock! The giant woman is shielding them!" came the frustrated yell over the enemy comms.
Chris Redfield, running hard, realized the group was intentionally using the fast man as a decoy to prevent a clean shot at the Dimitrescu targets.
"Ignore the fast one! Focus fire on the perimeter! Surround them!"
Theodore knew he needed to secure their exit immediately. He reached into his limited inventory and pulled out a handful of Prism Stones (Dark Souls).
He quickly scattered them near the base of a dense grouping of trees, illuminating the area briefly.
This momentary, colorful distraction drew Chris's focus just as the whole group rounded a final thicket.
Theodore shouted the command:
"Final push! Gorge, now!"
He pushed his remaining Wind Walk energy to the maximum, accelerating himself and forcing his allies to follow suit.
[Wind Walk Duration Remaining: 5 seconds]
They burst out into a narrow, snow-covered gorge—the final, isolated funnel point leading away from the pursuit.
Theodore collapsed against the ancient, moss-covered monument that marked the boundary of the Beneviento Estate, the last of the Wind Walk speed fading.
The group, winded and shaken, gathered around him as the sound of the helicopter pursuit finally faded.
[Skill Cooldown Activated: Wind Walk (110s)]
He reached for his flask of Cerulean Tear (Elden Ring). He drank deeply, instantly restoring his focus and stamina.
Alcina straightened up, smoothing her dress, her rage a palpable force.
"Master, those men... they were trained. They were not Mother's usual cannon fodder."
"That was Chris Redfield, Alcina. He's the highest level soldier,"
Theodore explained, pulling out his map.
"They're gone for now, but they'll be back."
He pointed up the winding, foggy trail leading to the desolate manor house.
"This is House Beneviento. Donna Beneviento. This section is all about puzzles and psychological horror. No brute force, no fighting your way out."
He looked at his inventory and his status.
"My Wind Walk and Eagle Eyes are on a heavy cooldown. My LUK is zero. We have to solve every single puzzle perfectly, or we get wiped."
Ethan gripped his gun.
"Puzzles... What kind of puzzles?"
Theodore gave them a grim smile.
"The kind that makes you face your deepest fears."
"Alcina, you and your daughters have the best knowledge of the traps. You will be our eyes and our memory. Ethan, you are the distraction if needed. We move slowly. We move precisely. We follow the rules of the house."
Theodore began his cautious ascent toward the oppressive, silent manor.
The next phase of the game had officially begun.