Dr. Elena Vasquez was the facility's lead virologist until the first containment breach, when she witnessed test subjects transforming in ways that defied scientific understanding. Rather than flee in horror, she experienced what she called 'viral enlightenment,' believing the contamination was not an accident but a divine gift meant to elevate humanity beyond its biological limitations. She now leads a growing congregation of infected researchers who view the spreading plague as sacred scripture written in mutated DNA.

Viral Cultist appears as a grotesquely transformed scientist whose lab coat hangs in tatters over flesh marked by deliberate exposure to multiple experimental viruses. Her skin displays a patchwork of different mutations - scales, luminescent growths, and extra sensory organs - each representing a different strain she has willingly infected herself with as acts of devotion. She carries vials of concentrated viral samples like holy relics, using them to 'baptize' new converts into her twisted faith. Her voice carries an otherworldly harmonic quality, as if multiple vocal cords have grown to create an unsettling chorus effect.

Viral Cultist serves as both a vector of contamination and psychological corruption, actively seeking to convert players to her belief that mutation represents humanity's next evolutionary step. She appears at critical moments during rounds to offer 'gifts' of viral enhancement, presenting contamination as a blessing rather than a curse that players should embrace rather than avoid.