Ernst was one of Viktor Fleischer's most powerful and warped experiments, and one of the most frightful. He serves as one of the main antagonists of Rise of Nightmares.
Rise of Nightmares[]
Prior to the events of the game, Ernst and his wife Yeli were captured and held captive by Viktor, who subjected them to cruel experiments to drain their O Zhuvindo, or life force. While imprisoned in their cell, they encounter private investigator, Roland Childs. Unable to open their cell, Roland told them that he would return and rescue them, not knowing that it was a lie. After the two managed to escape, Ernst volunteered himself to act as a decoy and draw the altereds' attention, buying Yeli enough time to escape. While Yeli succeeded escaping the mansion, Ernst himself was captured and transformed into the masked juggernaut.
Ernst was later seen kidnapping Josh's wife Kate after slaughtering several passengers on board the train, as well as one of two Romanian military officers who unsuccessfully attempted to subdue him. Yeli, who was also on board the train, tries to reason with her transformed husband, but to no avail. The train derails shortly after, and the surviving passengers, including Josh, take refuge in a nearby cave. Josh and the others further explore the rumored cursed forest, discovering a hidden manor along the way, but are found by Ernst. He kills Monica, and kidnaps the remaining survivors under his master's bidding. Ernst is seen again patrolling several parts of the mansion where Josh is forced to either flee or freeze to avoid an automatic death upon being spotted. Although Josh remains hidden, Ernst catches Jane by surprise and forcefully pulls her through the wall to her doom.
Ernst continues to patrol the mansion until Josh finds Kate, and is summoned by Viktor with orders to kill Josh. Thanks to Josh's newly acquired sacred weapon, Azoth, Ernst is defeated. Viktor, disappointed by the failure of Ernst's capabilities in combat, commands him to keep fighting, but Ernst regains control of his mind and body long enough to aid Josh and Kate in their escape. He asks them to tell Yeli that he loves her, before Viktor executes Ernst, angered by his creation's betrayal.
Ernst's body was later used as a vessel for Josh's mind, allowing Viktor's conscience to be transplanted into Josh's body under his continuing ploy to fool Kate. Josh, now in Ernst's body, is left imprisoned in a cell as Viktor escorts an unaware Kate outside the mansion under the guise of her husband. Josh escapes thanks to Aaron and Katja opening his cell door, though the two are frightened by his appearance in the body of Ernst and are killed by a trap.
Josh continues to navigate through the mansion, fighting off Viktor's creations and eventually the altered Jane. As he makes his way through the outer forest, completely exhausted, he encounters Yeli, who offers to help Josh reclaim his body. Yeli sends Josh into Viktor's dream realm to confront him, and Josh emerges victorious. Once he returns from the dream realm, Josh vomits Viktor's parasite from his original body, regaining control of himself at the cost of Yeli's own life. Mortally wounded by a stab wound, Yeli embraces Ernst's dead body and dies alongside her husband.
Appearance & Abilities[]
Ernst wears a ragged trench coat and an odd-looking mechanical helmet covering most of his head which opens spontaneously when he hears a sound, revealing a gruesome zombie face underneath. Although the helmet severely obstructs his vision, Ernst compensates for his hindered eyesight with superhuman hearing and instead detects his potential victims through the subtle audible sounds of their movements. If he senses any changes, he will immediately target the source with intent to kill.
Aside from possessing immense strength, Ernst is capable of sending out a chain with a tipped drill at the end that impales itself into his victims, allowing him to rip his victims into pieces.
Trivia[]
- Ernst's physical appearance bears a strong resemblance to Mr. X, or more specifically, the T-103 Tyrant from Capcom's Resident Evil series.
- Ernst's chain attack is similar to the signature move of Scorpion from the Mortal Kombat series.
- Ernst's reflection could be seen briefly in the restroom mirror early in the game, foreshadowing Josh's consciousness being transferred into Ernst near the end of the game.
- Ernst and Yeli are mentioned in Tapes 14 and 16.
Gallery[]
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The Detective • The Child • Odessa • Military Man • Conductor • Minor characters | |||