071. Chinese Animation Goddess?
—— At the end of an alley in Brooklyn.
"I can do this all day."
...
"Is that him?"
"Yeah."
"I bet he's going to get beaten to the ground again."
On a rooftop somewhere in the alley, two figures looked down from above.
Sure enough, the skinny little guy was hit hard in the face by a heavy punch from the big, burly guy, a Sanguang Pao Chui punch. The skinny one was sent flying, crashing headfirst into an aluminum trash can, leaving a deep dent.
Then, he didn't move, like a pile of mud.
"See, I told you!" Diana frowned. "Are his teeth okay?"
"They should be, right?"
Duke didn't remember the 'Captain America' version of Steve missing any teeth. Could it be that his teeth grew back when his pecs got bigger later? If that's the case, this big guy is all show and no substance; he hit him so many times and didn't even knock Captain America's teeth out. Is this guy just a weakling, or... is Captain America's teeth abnormally strong?
Hmm, he could go endorse toothpaste.
Suddenly, Bucky appeared and sent him flying with a flying kick to the rear.
"Where did this person appear from?" Diana asked, curious.
"Heaven knows, but he certainly didn't teleport." Dukeshrugged; he was curious too.
In the movie, you can clearly see that Bucky didn't walk from one end of the alley to the other. He turned around for barely a second; one second there was no one at the head of the alley, and the next, he had teleported to the end of the alley, a distance of twenty or thirty meters.
He probably walked out of that small door on the side while they were fighting, right?
"This person is too weak, weaker than Charlie. Are you sure you didn't see wrong?" Diana was very curious.
Back then, Charlie managed to take several heavy punches from the big guy before falling, but this guy... one punch and he's down, so fragile!
"Should... be, right?" Duke smiled mysteriously. He couldn't say anything yet. "Alright, nothing left to see. Let's go first. Rest up, tomorrow night we go to the 'Tomorrow worldExpo'!"
"Oh."
Duke opened a portal and returned to Karazhan.
"Howard looked for you a few days ago, why didn't you see him?" Diana asked.
"No rush, it's not time yet."
"Time?"
"Tomorrow it will be." Duke smiled mysteriously.
Diana rolled her eyes: "I find you are becoming more and more mysterious."
"It wouldn't be fun if I announced the answer in advance."
Duke just wanted to see if there was a 'Captain America' person. Although Steve Trevor couldn't help them join the Strategic Scientific Reserve, he did find James Barnes. Following Bucky, Duke found the 'future Captain America' Steve Rogers. Then, sure enough, on the day before the 'Tomorrow world Expo', he saw the scene where Captain America was beaten up.
Hmm, it seems Captain America does exist.
"Fine."
—— Meanwhile, in the alley.
The future Captain America, Steve Rogers, finally woke up. The heavy punch from just a moment ago had left him a bit dizzy, his mind a bit muddled.
"Sometimes I think you just like getting beaten up! How many times are you going to do this? Heh, this time it was a Paramus guy. Do you know that falsifying enlistment forms is illegal? And you even put New Jersey..." Bucky shook his head, speechless.
"Did you get your orders?" Captain America asked, very envious seeing his buddy wearing a military uniform.
"107th Infantry Regiment, Sergeant James Barnes, setting sail for England tomorrow morning."
"I should go too."
"Come on, buddy. It's my last night before joining the army, let me help you get a new look first." Bucky put his arm around Steve's shoulder and said with a smile.
ヽ(￣ω￣(￣ω￣〃)ゝ
"What, where are we going?"
"The future."
Taking the newspaper and looking at it, "Tomorrow worldExpo"?
—— Meanwhile, what was Duke doing?
He was in Karazhan modifying Vika, the final step in finalizing Vika's body.
Speaking of which, the sprite Vika is equivalent to a'soul body'. Because she was summoned from pure Water elements, her original body is transparent.
When summoned, she was just a ball.
For her, the external form makes no difference, even if she turned into a brick.
Under Duke's intervention, she began to grow in the direction of a mature woman.
It's also time to reap the rewards.
In the'studio', Diana watched, stunned: "You... you actually... aren't you being too shameless?"
"Honey, what do you mean shameless? This is art." As he spoke, Duke reached out and grabbed, then made the shape more perfect.
"You—forget it, let's just pretend you're sculpting." Dianacovered her forehead, with black lines on her head.
She was a bit confused in her heart, and while Duke wasn't looking, she glanced at her own mounds. Could it be that Duke likes big ones? But, even if hers aren't very big, they can't be called'small'.
Hmm, should I add a glass of papaya juice every day?
Lian was originally in the studio too, but after Duke started working, he chased her out.
Children shouldn't watch.
Although she is already 27 years old, her soul body has returned to the appearance of a 12-year-old, and Dukesubconsciously still thinks of her as the Lian from her apprenticeship days.
Lengthen the neck a bit, raise the lip line, no, lower it a bit, the ears need to be a little pointier; the arms should be thinner, the fingers need to be rubbed longer; the legs seem... a bit short, lengthen, lengthen; the buttocks... not enough, pat, pat, pat.
After a good while, Vika's final version was finally determined.
Finally, inject the mana ruby.
To shape a body for Vika, one mana ruby is enough; she can't handle a ruby crystal.
With the injection of vitality, Vika's body gradually solidified, and it was no longer transparent water-blue. Bit by bit, it began to look human.
Skin like congealed fat.
Long, waterfall-like flowing hair began to turn ink-black.
Eyes that previously lacked any light also began to turn pitch black.
Lips like red, eyebrows like willows.
Watching, Diana gradually opened her mouth wide. She actually felt a trace of 'jealousy'... This woman is too good-looking, right?
"Nirvana Nine-Layer Fire Hairpin, smiles light and ethereal like clouds and smoke.
Beautiful maiden wild and free, like a painting of an immortal, her lovely face charming as she passes her prime.
Light silk trails, autumn eyes slightly rippling, slender fingers startle the willow-leaf eyebrows.
...
The wind rises, brushing against dark hair, dancing sleeves swirling, laughing at the palace maids.
...
Bright, like light clouds veiling the moon; fluttering, like snow flowing in a whirlwind.
Cold as frost, beautiful as peach blossoms.
A beauty that topples cities and kingdoms, unparalleled in the world.
..."
Diana had black lines on her head. Why are you reciting poetry: "Is this... your former lover?"
"Huh?"
Duke was stunned, a bit confused. Why would Wonder Woman think that?
He immediately understood.
"How is that possible? I'm just an ordinary person. If I had such a beautiful girlfriend, I would have died long ago."
Not from 'exhaustion', but from being beaten to death!
"This is a 'Chinese Anime Goddess' self-proclaimed by otaku."
"What is an otaku?"
"People who stay at home and don't want to move."
"And what is Chinese Anime?"
"Cartoons."
"Oh."
There were color cartoons in '37, so Wonder Womanunderstood this.
"A character from an animation, then what is her name?"
"Yan Lingji."
"Oh..."
Angel Yan, Yan Lingji, Zhu Zhuqing, Shao Siming, Yun Yun, Liang Bing, Qiang Wei, Nong Yu, Tushan Yaya, Su Jiu'er, Yue Ji, etc., etc. Duke had thought about who exactly to shape?
In the end, he chose Yan Lingji!
As the head housekeeper of Karazhan, Vika is of great significance. After thinking about it, Duke decided to shape Vika into the appearance he was familiar with.
Just to keep a trace of the 'hometown' flavor.
072. That's Right, a Computer Is a Brain That's Been Electrocuted
"Boss, here are the tickets for the Stark Expo... *cough, cough, cough*... Who-who are you?" Samir pushed the door open and entered, freezing in shock upon seeing the new version of Vika.
Then, he felt a sense of deep attraction.
Following that was an infinite sense of inferiority.
Damn, he didn't dare look directly at her!
Her unique Chinese-style long black hair added a few touches of enchantment.
Her blue eyes, which held a serene tranquility within the darkness, gave him a deep, hallucinatory feeling, making him subconsciously avoid eye contact.
Yan Lingji's clothes were her blue dancing outfit—the one from when she danced for Han Fei—rather than her black and red combat suit. Of course, Duke didn't remember the exact details of the dance dress, but the general style was correct.
However, her shoes weren't those crystal mid-heel dance shoes, but rather white long boots. Looking at her this way, she had an extra air of a 'Heroine' about her.
Of course, she also had a set of black and red combat gear.
The mana ruby contained powerful vitality, but it was, after all, the condensation of a red dragon's magic, and the nature of a red dragon's magic was fire. Originally a water Elemental Spirit, after being infused with the 'mana ruby', she gained the ability to control fire.
Before, she only had 'Water'.
Now, she truly was as gentle as water and as passionate as fire.
[Splosh—]
A huge water ball falling from the sky hit Samir right on top of his head, soaking him like a drowned rat.
He gave a violent shiver.
"Ah—are you... are you Vika?"
He finally realized.
"Her name is Yan Lingji now."
"Ah... oh." Samir was stunned for a moment. Although he knew Chinese, he didn't quite understand the meaning of those three characters.
"Give them to me."
He reached out and took the tickets.
Although Duke had tried his best, he couldn't adjust her 'vocal cords'.
Why?
To be precise, although her exterior looked no different from a human's, her interior was still distinct. Her body lacked bones, organs, blood vessels, and the like, let alone 'vocal cords'. You could think of her as a life-sized figure that had come to life.
Her appearance could be adjusted and shaped, but her voice couldn't be modified.
Fortunately, pure Elemental Spirits inherently possessed the ability of 'mimicry'—not just changing their appearance, but also imitating voices. After countless pointers from Duke, she finally simulated a similarity of over 90%.
At least she sounded like Yan Lingji, rather than feeling like another person.
"Oh. Um... then I'll head out first." Samir fled in a panic.
Watching this, Duke felt like laughing and teased, "You didn't fall for her, did you?"
"Cough, cough, how could I? Boss, don't joke around." Samir was instantly embarrassed, nearly tripping flat on his face.
"It's good that you don't have that idea!" Duke snorted coldly. "Although her appearance has changed, her body hasn't. She can't have children. You, even if you want to find a celebrity to marry, I won't stop you. But as for Yan Lingji, save yourself the trouble!"
Even though that was the case, Samir still heard a hint of 'warning' in his tone. He secretly cursed himself: *So damn stupid, she must be the boss's 'woman'.*
"Cough, cough, Boss, you're joking. How could someone like me get married? I'm already satisfied having a few lovers... anyway, I'll head out first." Saying this, he turned and went down the stairs.
Samir had already stepped into the realm of magic, and his lifespan was destined to be greatly extended in the future. Coupled with the existence of Karazhan, as long as Karazhan didn't fall, he would be 'immortal' forever.
Marriage?
That was a distant thought!
Although he had a 'Magic Mask' and could 'grow old' with a wife, it wouldn't be real aging. It wouldn't matter when the wife died; he could just remove the Magic Mask. But what about children... meeting their father in New Yorkwhile he still looked like he did in his youth?
Would he have to say they had the wrong person?
Having a son but unable to acknowledge him.
Having a daughter but unable to be close to her.
How painful would that be?
Once he chose to step into the mystic realm, Samir had prepared himself mentally early on. How could it be easy to find a 'wife' to accompany him? He would need to find someone with equal magical aptitude, and it would also require the boss's approval to grant them magic.
But how could the boss agree so easily?
Besides, he wouldn't go and beg Duke.
So he never thought about finding a wife to spend his life with. Instead, he had several lovers by his side, including some minor celebrities. After all, he was wealthy, humorous, and full of mystery, which was extremely attractive to young girls. If he wanted to vent his energy, he could just find a few lovers; if he wanted to carry on his lineage, there were plenty of women willing to bear his children.
In the United States, as long as you had money, what couldn't you buy?
As the boss of Hells Kitchen... er, Hells Kitchen, how could he not have a few lovers? That would be too embarrassing.
In reality, Samir didn't know that if he really found a wife and came to beg for magic, his wife wouldn't be his wife anymore, but would become Duke's 'wife'.
With over ninety percent loyalty, she would do anything he asked.
Heh, how many couples do you think have a loyalty level of 90%?
60% would already be considered good.
If it really reached 90% loyalty, she wouldn't even let Samir on the boat anymore.
So, Duke wouldn't do such a thing.
He wouldn't teach Samir's wife magic...
It was a matter of integrity.
It couldn't be discarded!
"..."
Watching Samir's departing back, Duke didn't say anything. This really was a kind of 'warning'; how could Yan Lingji be coveted by a foreigner?
However, saying she couldn't have children was actually a lie.
Elemental Spirits could conceive 'children'.
First, they would split off a small piece from their elemental core. This small piece wouldn't have the ability to condense an elemental body on its own and would need to be nurtured within their body until it could become independent.
This would count as their child.
Therefore, for Elemental Spirits, mothers could give birth, and so could fathers.
Although the nature was different, it was... more or less the same?
However, she truly was unable to 'mate' with humans and produce offspring.
This wasn't as simple as being cross-species.
"Master, do you really like this big sister?" Lian floated out from somewhere, like a ghost.
No, she was a ghost.
"Why are you calling her big sister?" Duke was puzzled.
"She's made of water elements! As for elements, who knows how many years they've existed in this world?" Lian said as if it were obvious.
Well, she had a point.
"Hey, Master, you haven't told me yet."
"Told you what?"
"Do you like this big sister?"
"Nonsense, who knows how many people like her! In another 73 years, you might even see her on a computer." Duke said.
"What's a computer? A brain that's been electrocuted?" Lian was very curious.
*Pfft—* What kind of imagination was that?
A brain that's been electrocuted...
"A computer is... that's right, a computer is a brain that's been electrocuted." Duke brushed her off and waved his hand, throwing Lian out of the room.
"Humph, stinky Master."
"You go rest first, Yan."
"Okay."
Elemental Spirits didn't have human-like emotions; they only had moods like happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy, but lacked the complex feelings of humans.
They were relatively simple!
Time to pack up; he had to go to the Expo.
073. Uncle Duke
"Anti-gravity technology? He really did come up with something good!"
Duke and Diana stood in the crowd, slowly sipping their milk tea.
"Do you think he'll succeed?" Diana asked.
"What do you think?" Duke asked back.
"He'll definitely fail."
"Huh? Why are you so certain?" Duke was a bit dazed; he had been hoping to place a bet.
"Didn't he just say it would take a few more years?"
"That works?"
As expected, the specially made red car fell to the ground with a 'boom', sparks crackling.
"I told you it would take a few more years, didn't I?" Howard Stark gave a self-deprecating smile.
It probably wasn't just a few years; it would be a long, long time.
Duke couldn't remember clearly. Who was it that drove a maglev flying car like this? Tony? Doesn't seem like it! Ah right, he remembered now. In 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.', Phil Coulson's 'girlfriend' Laura was a flying vintage car.
Could it be this very one?
"Let's go, it's time to meet him."
"Mhm."
The two walked toward the exhibition hall.
"By the way, honey, you seemed to have a glass of papaya juice today, right?"
"I didn't! Don't talk nonsense, you must have seen wrong." Diana bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "You... you definitely saw wrong. It was milk, just milk."
Duke smiled and said nothing. She must have been provoked by Yan Lingji.
Although he liked the feeling of being in control, a surging sense of explosiveness was also quite good!
Howard Stark was directing the staff to clear away the broken car.
"Howard!"
"...?" He turned around and froze. After a long while, he lunged forward in surprise. "Uncle Duke, it really is you!"
Then, a big hug.
The staff behind them looked at Duke, then at their boss. This... who was whose uncle?
"Waking up from that sleep, you've grown so big? You were only this tall back then." Duke pressed his hand down, recalling.
"I had to grow up eventually, but you... you're still the same as I remember." Howard Stark ignored the startled looks of his subordinates and smiled at the person beside him. "Aunt Diana, you're still as beautiful and moving as ever."
"You too. I heard... you've charmed quite a few innocent young ladies."
Although Howard Stark hadn't seen Duke in twenty-one years, he saw Diana often, for instance, on New Year's Day, Christmas... all sorts of holidays.
Diana had long grown accustomed to this form of address.
"Ahem, don't bring up my past blunders." Howard Starkcoughed awkwardly. "Those were just the absurdities of the past. I'm much better now."
"Really? Didn't you just kiss a lady a moment ago?" Dukejoined in the teasing.
"That was just etiquette... ahem, you know." Howard Starkfelt quite embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "Come, let's go inside and sit down."
The two stopped teasing him. Duke had some understanding of Howard—a talented but philandering man. It seemed all talented people were like this. Wasn't his son, Tony, the same? Must be hereditary.
"Here, Uncle Duke, this is your favorite Tieguanyin, the orchid fragrance type." Howard ran back and forth attentively; he had brought the tea leaves himself.
"You even carry it with you?" Duke found it quite novel.
"To be honest, after drinking it for twenty-three years, I'm still not quite used to it, but I do like this orchid fragrance. Besides, this was recommended by Uncle Duke, so of course I have to keep it." Saying this, Howard took a deep sniff and a sip.
Hot.
"Your father..."
Howard Stark glanced at Diana and immediately understood. "Sigh! It's nothing. It was the old man's own choice."
He took a metal box from his jacket pocket; inside was a bottle of medicine.
"The old man left instructions on his deathbed, so I've kept it on me. He said that in this life... meeting you... was his greatest fortune."
Saying this, he wiped his eyes.
"Let's not talk about him. Uncle Duke, this period of secluded cultivation... was the breakthrough successful?"
"Of course."
"Then congratulations. We must drink three rounds today," Howard Stark said, clapping his hands excitedly.
After hanging out with Duke for two years, he had learned quite a bit of polite banter.
Of course, he still felt somewhat bad in his heart. Uncle Duke said his magic aptitude was good and he was suitable for learning magic, but didn't teach him. The reason was that a scientific brain suited him better, and Duke hoped he would continue down the path of science. And now, he hadn't disappointed, finally carving out a place for himself, even surpassing his old man.
Stark Industries had been founded not long ago.
The arms trade was also established at this time.
It was World War II, after all.
Not long ago, before joining the war, it was the perfect time to vigorously sell arms abroad.
However, after the United States declared war, such trade decreased; after all, one couldn't openly screw over their own people. Foreign sales shifted to domestic ones. The the military alone couldn't produce that much ammunition and supplies.
"Alright, we'll talk about that later."
"Uncle Duke, did you come to see me for something?"
"Yes, I want to join the Strategic Scientific Reserve," Dukesaid.
"Strategic Scientific Reserve? How did you know about it?" Howard Stark was curious; he had only accepted the invitation the year before.
"I'll tell you when the time is right. Can you do it?" Dukesaid.
The Strategic Scientific Reserve, or S.S.R. for short, was founded during World War II. Directly under the US Government and utilizing a militarized organization, it oversaw several secret projects, including the 'Super Soldier Program'. Shortly after the end of World War II, the Strategic Scientific Reserve was reorganized into the scientific and technical division of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In 1940, with World War II in full swing in Europe, then-President of the United States Franklin D. Rooseveltrealized that America's entry into the war was inevitable. He signed an order to form the Strategic Scientific Reserveto provide the military technology and intelligence support for the United States.
The first Commander of the Strategic Scientific Reservewas Colonel Chester Phillips. Later, Colonel Phillips asked industrial tycoon Howard Stark to join as well, and the latter agreed quickly after considering it.
"It shouldn't be a big problem. Can I reveal your identities to Colonel Phillips? If so, it would be more certain," Howard Stark said in a low voice.
Simply put, the current 'Strategic Scientific Reserve' was still just a scientific research institution. It wasn't as secretive or strict as the later S.H.I.E.L.D., but not just anyone could enter casually.
Diana glanced at Duke, who nodded. "It doesn't matter."
Their identities weren't something that could be completely hidden anyway. A tower as large as Karazhanappearing and disappearing had already become one of New York's great miracles.
Besides, Duke wasn't the type to do good deeds anonymously.
"Then I have no problem. It's just, what capacity do you and Aunt Diana want to join in, Uncle Duke?"
"External Instructors."
"External Instructors? Alright!"
074. Feeling Like a Monkey
"Don't do anything stupid until I get back," Bucky said.
"How could I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Captain America said with a smile.
"You punk."
"You jerk."
The two shared a brief hug and then parted.
"Be careful... don't win the war until I get there," Captain America said.
Bucky gave a salute and then went off to dance with the girls.
Watching his friend leave, Steve looked a bit dejected. He glanced at the'soldier cutout' behind him and turned to walk away.
Behind him, Dr. Abraham Erskine was peeking out stealthily.
Just as Steve turned around, a cigar appeared before his eyes. It was lucky he stopped quickly, otherwise, it would have surely bumped his nose.
He stepped back a little.
"Care for a smoke? It's a special cigar, not a cigarette. It's not harmful to the human body."
Steve didn't take the cigar. Instead, he took another step back and asked warily, "Who are you?"
"Duke."
"You're the 'Duke'?" Captain America made a dry joke.
"I'm even more formidable than a Duke. Won't you try one? The taste is quite good," Duke continued to gesture.
Steve hesitated for a moment but eventually took it. "I'm Steve. Steve Rogers."
In the next instant, the cigar was lit, making Captain America's eyes nearly pop out.
What?
What happened?
Was it automatic?
He took a cautious puff. It was cool in his mouth, with a hint of mint, but not as sharp as real mint. It was very mild; with one puff, it felt like his lungs had been cleaned.
"I didn't lie to you, did I?"
"That fire just now..."
"Just a magic trick, no need to make a fuss. Steve, right? I know you." Duke exhaled a smoke ring. "I also have a friend named Steve Trevor. He's an Air Force Colonel."
"You know me? Wait, Colonel... can you get me into the army?" Steve's eyes suddenly lit up.
"You want to join the Air Force?" Duke looked surprised.
"As long as I can enlist, any branch will do. Although... I still want to go to the 107th Infantry Regiment!" Steve's voice grew quieter as he spoke.
He knew the possibility of joining the Air Force was basically zero, while there might still be hope for the infantry. The screening regulations for pilots and the physical and fitness requirements were ten thousand times more difficult than those for the infantry.
It was impossible to get in even with connections.
"I'm curious, why are you so insistent on joining the army?"
Duke had always been curious: why was Steve Rogers so persistent about enlisting? His mother was a nurse in a tuberculosis ward; she didn't make it after being infected. His father was in the 107th Infantry Regiment and died of mustard gas. Enlisted during World War I? Looking at him, it seemed he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, yet he didn't want to kill anyone or be a bully!
(PS: That's what he said when talking to Dr. Abraham Erskine.)
Then why are you joining the army? To play house?
Or do you think you're Desmond Doss, the combat medic from three years later?
He was faithful to his beliefs, resolutely refusing to pick up a weapon on the battlefield and unwilling to aim a gun at anyone on the front lines. He went into battle alone, carrying a medical kit, fearless of the hail of bullets and the brutal Japanese Army, constantly praying and begging to save just one more person with his meager strength. By the time he was exhausted, 75 wounded comrades had been miraculously transported to safety by him, allowing them to survive.
Do you think you're a Legendary combat medic?
And you're unwilling to kill?
If you're unwilling to kill, why be a soldier? Why enlist?
Do you think you were born just to become the grand and righteous Captain America?
Why the scrawny Steve Rogers wanted to enlist is simply a mystery.
"I..." Steve Rogers paused, then became wary again. "Who exactly are you? Why are you asking this? Are you... a recruitment... officer?"
Duke smiled and exhaled a puff of smoke. "You could say that. If I'm satisfied with your answer, I can give you an 'opportunity.'"
"Really?" Steve Rogers's eyes immediately lit up.
"My time is very valuable."
Meaning, he had no time to joke around.
"I... I don't know. Maybe I want to... prove myself?" Steve Rogers thought for a moment before giving his reason. "Of course, there's also my father's influence."
Is that so?
In Duke's view, perhaps this really was the reason Captain America enlisted.
After all, because he had been born scrawny and weak, he had been bullied since he was a child. Men bullied him, women looked down on him; it was already good enough that he hadn't developed a dark psyche after such long-term suppression. However, the current Captain Americastill had some inferiority issues. His greatest virtue was that he dared to admit his shortcomings.
Like what he said while riding in the car with Peggy Carter.
He was very frank.
His heart was relatively pure.
During the recruitment screening, he hoped to go to his father's 107th Infantry Regiment, which indeed showed his father's influence.
And during this era, there weren't many ways to prove oneself.
The simplest and most direct way was to join the army.
When he first became 'Captain America,' he went around campaigning, selling bonds, and seeking sponsorships. To be honest, he actually quite liked that job at first.
After all, he wanted to prove himself, not go to the front lines to kill. As long as he could prove he was 'useful' elsewhere, he was happy. It was only later that he grew tired of it, feeling like a monkey. Then, hearing that his best friend was in trouble, he resolutely stepped onto the battlefield.
"Your father?"
"The 107th Infantry Regiment, died of mustard gas?"
"World War I?"
Although Duke had stopped General Ludendorff, mustard gas had actually already been released on the front lines.
Could Captain America's father really be that unlucky?
To happen to die in one of the few front-line positions where mustard gas was released... that's really something. Blame it on his bad luck.
"Yes."
"Go to the recruitment office inside. You'll get your wish." Duke finished his cigar, tossed the butt into the trash can, and turned to leave.
"Go inside... Hey, who exactly are you?" Steve Rogers was a bit dazed. Was that it? Turning his head, he saw the man was already gone and quickly called out a question.
Without looking back, Duke waved his hand. "We'll meet again!"
"... So mysterious?" Steve Rogers was a bit confused.
After thinking it over, he discarded the cigar and walked toward the recruitment office inside, figuring he might as well give it a try.
Dr. Abraham Erskine had long been watching Captain America. Although he disappeared after seeing Duke come out, is it hard to influence a person's subconscious?
Soon after entering, Captain America encountered Dr. Abraham Erskine. After the usual questions, Steve finally got his wish and became a [1-A] soldier.
A recruit at Camp Lehigh.
————
Diana was waiting outside. Seeing Duke come out, she immediately stepped forward and asked, "Well, what do you think of him?"
"Probably... still the same Steve Rogers I've seen," Dukesaid with a smile.
"Probably again?"
Duke shrugged. "At least for now, it seems so."
He couldn't act like he was completely omniscient, after all.
075. The Doctor Must Die
Camp Lehigh.
"Mr. Stark, this isn't a game," Colonel Chester Phillips said, sounding very angry.
"I'm not playing games." Howard shrugged.
"You know how much effort we've put into this project, and I've had to grovel before those... God knows what they're called... bullshit committees!"
Colonel Chester Phillips looked at Howard with a look of 'regal disdain'.
"And now, you actually want to arrange for two bullshit'special external instructors' whose names I don't even know? I believe Agent Peggy Carter is more than capable of handling the duties of an 'instructor'."
"She certainly is—valiant and heroic, just my type—but..." As he spoke, Howard pulled out a photograph and handed it over.
"What is this?" Colonel Chester Phillips took the photo, looking a bit stunned; this photocopied picture looked quite old.
Indeed, this was the same photocopied picture Robert Stark had received. After the old man passed away, Howard had kept it with him.
"Feld town, taken in November 1919, roughly a week before the end of World War I."
Colonel Chester Phillips was a bit dazed. "Feld town... that name... it sounds familiar. Ah, I remember now. It was one of the few remaining German Army strongholds that was still resisting at the end, right?"
"Yes, and behind it was the German Supreme Command and a German combat base," Howard added.
"Yes, I know that too. People were sent to check it out later; the Supreme Command was in a miserable state, killed by mustard gas. It's said the Kaiser was there too—heh, if that rabbit hadn't left early, humph! As for the base, it looked as if it had been hit by an earthquake, and the German soldiers... most were killed by sharp swords."
Naturally, there were secrets Colonel Chester Phillipsdidn't know. Back then, he was only a Major. Although he had served in World War I, the information he had access to was limited.
Aside from the'sword' wounds, there were also marks of tearing from claws and teeth like those of a beast, but this had been covered up. As for the 'earthquake-like scene', it was officially classified as the result of concentrated carpet bombing.
After all, the effects were truly quite similar!
Fire, lightning, the ground being upturned—wasn't that very similar to an explosion? It was just on a slightly larger scale.
"Don't tell me that battle was the work of these nine people in the photo!" Colonel Chester Phillips had a face full of disbelief.
To Diana's left were Duke, Doutzen Kroes, Logan, and Victor; to her right were Steve, Samir, Charlie, and the Chief—nine people in total.
A combat base would have at least nearly a thousand men, or several hundred at the very least.
Nine people against hundreds?
Who do you think they are, Rambo?
Wait, who is 'Rambo', and why do I know that name? Well, never mind!
"As much as I hate to say it, they did," Howard shrugged.
"Those sword wounds were caused by these two, right?" Colonel Chester Phillips pointed to the two women in the photo.
Only they were holding swords.
"Perhaps."
Aside from the people of Feld town, outsiders had no idea what had actually happened back then.
"Who are these two special external instructors you mentioned? These two?" Colonel Chester Phillips asked, pointing at Diana and Steve.
"No, no, no, it's him and the man on the other side."
"Him?"
Colonel Chester Phillips immediately frowned again. A yellow-skinned Oriental? He didn't have any ill will toward yellow-skinned people, but he didn't have much of a favorable impression either. If he had to choose, he would definitely pick the one next to him.
"Fine, let them have a try. Do they need to be entered into the archives?"
Howard thought for a moment and then shook his head. "No need, but they will need identification cards."
"I can do that."
————
What was Duke doing at this moment? He had already moved into Camp Lehigh and was currently standing by the training ground, chatting with Dr. Abraham Erskine.
"Have you ever thought about what happens after this project succeeds?" Duke asked.
"Afterward? I haven't thought about it!" Dr. Abraham Erskine shook his head. He was quite wary of this overly familiar Oriental man and inconspicuously took a step back. "And you are?"
"Duke, the new 'external instructor'," Duke said, extending his hand.
"Oh, hello, I'm Abraham Erskine."
Although he was still puzzled and wary of Duke's background—a yellow-skinned instructor appearing in the US Army was a very rare thing; usually, it was the other way around—he still gave a brief handshake.
He knows about this secret project?
That makes him unusual.
"Let's continue our previous topic. Have you thought about what happens after'success'?"
The doctor smiled. "Success? You seem to have a lot of faith in me. I don't even have a guarantee of victory, so how can I consider what comes after?"
"You might as well think about it."
"..."
"In truth, there are only two outcomes for you: one is [death], and the other is [being on the road to death]," Duke continued without waiting for Dr. Abraham Erskine to speak.
"What... do you mean?" The doctor frowned.
"Once the Super Soldier Serum is successful, Schmidt's people will definitely not let you go. His people will carry out continuous assassinations against you; if one fails, there will be a second, until you are dead. Those people are fanatics; I believe you should be well aware of that. So it's either [death] or [being on the road to death]. Do you think I'm right?" Duke smiled.
The doctor's face turned ashen.
"In other words, even if you are lucky enough to survive, you will become a puppet controlled by the US Government. You will be forced to manufacture the Super Soldier Serum."
The doctor adjusted his glasses and gave a bitter smile. "Replicating the Super Soldier Serum isn't that simple. It took me several years just to perfect the formula. To mass-produce the serum... heh... that's an impossibility."
"Then that's where the problem lies! When you are unable to complete the tasks assigned by the US Government, what will they think? They will think you aren't putting in your full effort, that you're being perfunctory, that you don't want to make more super soldiers because you're afraid too many of them will disrupt the world. Maybe in the short term... but what about in the long run? Your end—will still be 'death'." Duke laughed.
The doctor broke out in a cold sweat.
No one wants to not live well; no one is willing to just die like that.
If possible, everyone wants to die of natural causes.
"Who exactly are you?"
"The Master of Karazhan."
Dr. Abraham Erskine's eyes suddenly widened. "You are the Master of that tower that disappeared twenty-one years ago?"
He knew about it; he had even once gone to study that'supernatural phenomenon'. Unfortunately, he couldn't get in at all and could only wander around outside. After turning in countless circles, even when you were clearly walking straight in, you would end up walking back out in a daze.
He had been completely bewildered, with no idea what had happened.
"It's me! If you don't want to die, and you don't want to become a puppet slave under the control of the US Government, you can come work in my Karazhan. Do you have no interest in trying out... 'Occult' research?" As he spoke, Duke patted the doctor's shoulder. "Think it over carefully."
Not far away, Colonel Phillips walked over.
076. Ah, It's You
Upon first seeing Duke, Colonel Chester Phillips was a bit stunned. Holy crap, it's been twenty-three years, and he hasn't changed a bit?
"You didn't tell me they look exactly the same as they did twenty-three years ago." The Colonel turned his head and glared at Howard.
"Did I not?" The latter feigned ignorance.
"Did you?"
"Fine, I forgot."
The old man rolled his eyes with a 'regal disdain', shook his head, and walked over: "It's good to see you, Mr. Duke."
"Hello, Colonel Phillips."
"Your appearance..."
"Oh, I just take good care of myself!"
Cough, cough—Howard Stark behind him almost choked on his own saliva. Take good care of himself?
Colonel Chester Phillips was also speechless. Do you think I believe you? "Where is that... beautiful lady?"
"Over there." Duke lifted his hand and pointed into the distance.
"Where...?"
The old man's eyesight wasn't great. After looking around, he finally spotted the beautiful lady standing on the very top of the highest building in Camp Lehigh, looking around.
"How did she get up there? Fine, it seems our camp is going to be a lot livelier from now on."
With that, he stopped paying attention to the three of them and walked straight toward the formation.
In the formation, the big guys were looking at the short, thin, and small Steve Rogers, whispering to each other. They seemed quite curious: Why did a husky get into the wolf pack?
At this moment, Captain America's girlfriend, Peggy Carter, arrived on the scene.
"Recruits, attention!"
The group of soldiers quickly snapped to attention, heads held high, chests out, stomachs tucked in, standing straight as arrows.
Peggy Carter marched in to the beat of a drum. She was quite broad-built, a typical European/American large-framed style, with a sturdy waist. Her demeanor was heroic and spirited, but... her face was just a bit too square.
"Gentlemen, I am Agent Carter."
"For the next while, I will be responsible for overseeing all matters of this department."
This was an era extremely unfriendly to women. Having a woman train them naturally made the soldiers unhappy. However, no matter how unhappy they were, they understood the hierarchy. Of course, there were still some oblivious idiots.
"What's with your accent, Queen Victoria? I thought I was serving the U.S. Army." A troublemaker appeared.
"What is your name, soldier?"
"Gilmore Hodge, your Majesty."
"Step forward, Hodge."
"Are we going to spar? I have a move you might like..."
Pow—a heavy punch landed squarely on his face, and the latter fell to the ground in a sorry state.
"Agent Carter!"
"Colonel Phillips!" Peggy Carter quickly straightened her clothes, turned, and saluted!
"It seems you've hit it off with our recruits. Not bad." As he spoke, Colonel Chester Phillips walked to the front of the formation, "Get your butt off the ground, then return to the formation and stand at attention until someone tells you to stop."
"Yes, Sir!"
Gilmore Hodge quickly stood at attention. He dared to provoke Peggy Carter, but he didn't dare to cross the old-school local Colonel.
"General Patton once said..."
What followed was Colonel Chester Phillips' one-man show—oh, no, his personal lecture time. Duke had no interest in this. He slowly walked to a spot not far from Carter and winked at her.
He looked quite flippant.
"That punch just now was good. It had plenty of power, but it lacked a bit of technique. If you had used a bit of an arc, the 'impact damage' you dealt to him would have been greater."
Have you ever noticed that in boxing matches, fighters often use left hooks, right hooks, and the like, while straight punches generally focus on speed to disrupt the enemy, with power being secondary?
"Who are you?" Peggy Carter turned her head and looked Duke up and down askance. She had a terrible impression of this flippant person.
Hmm?
In fact, she felt the same way about all flippant people.
"Duke,'Special External Instructor'." Duke reached out his hand.
"Peggy Carter."
They shook hands briefly.
"I haven't heard of any new instructors."
And a'Special External Instructor' at that?
"Oh, it hasn't been officially announced yet. Can I invite you for a drink later?"
"Sorry, I still have work to do." Peggy Carter decisively refused.
Duke didn't mind. He didn't really want to invite Peggy Carter; besides, this woman's square face was nowhere near as good as Diana's.
He was just socializing upon meeting a famous person.
"Ah, it's you!"
An exclamation.
It was the future Captain America, Steve Rogers.
"Kid, I hate it when people interrupt me! Push-ups, 100, start now!" Colonel Chester Phillips roared.
"But he..." Steve pointed at Duke, his expression still full of surprise.
"What about me? Have we met?" Duke smiled mysteriously.
"Two hundred!" Colonel Chester Phillips roared again.
"I..."
The future Captain America, Steve Rogers, miserably lay on the ground and started doing push-ups. Of course, he couldn't do two hundred. Let alone two hundred, he could barely manage twenty. Finally, after struggling to reach fifty, he collapsed from exhaustion, barely able to get back up.
Impossible to finish; it was simply impossible to complete.
Colonel Chester Phillips didn't insist on the two hundred and let him off, out of sight, out of mind.
"Next, let me introduce this person: this is Duke, your'Special External Instructor'. He will be responsible for your..." As he spoke, Colonel Chester Phillips paused, turned, and asked, "What are you responsible for again?"
He had absolutely no idea.
Things were a bit sudden...
The soldiers in the formation were instantly speechless and nearly fell over. Colonel, do you have to be so unreliable? You invited a'Special External Instructor', and yet... you yourself don't know what he does?
Duke was also speechless at him, though he knew this guy was doing it a bit on purpose.
"I am here to train your combat skills."
"OK! Combat skills. This external instructor is responsible for..." Colonel Chester Phillips clapped his hands and said.
"Wait a second. I'm responsible for the rest; my wife will be responsible for your combat skills." As he said this, Dukewaved at Diana on the rooftop in the distance. "Honey, you can come down now."
Consequently, Peggy Carter's impression of Duke became even more disgusted. He had a wife and was still coming on to her!
Then, the soldiers of the entire Camp Lehigh witnessed a scene that shattered their worldview forever. This image would be deeply etched in their minds until the day they died.
Whoosh—
Diana took a massive leap from the top of the barracks three hundred meters away, traveling in a 'parabolic arc'... and landed in front of the formation with a loud [Boom].
The ground was cracked by her landing.
"Hello everyone, I am Diana. For the next while, I will be responsible for your'Special Combat Training'."
The soldiers looked at each other: We're screwed, we're screwed, we're screwed. Is it too late to quit now? This is Superman, right... Superwoman?
Colonel Chester Phillips, Dr. Abraham Erskine: Do we still need to continue the Super Soldier project? Just let her go kill Adolf.
Howard Stark: Aunt Diana is still as cool as ever.
Peggy Carter: This woman is that guy's girlfriend? Can he handle it? Why hasn't his waist been snapped in two yet?
Steve Rogers: Is this a goddess? Damn, I've embarrassed myself.
077. Training Them Like Special Forces
Camp Lehigh was completely abuzz.
The original one-week training period was forcibly extended to two weeks because of the arrival of Duke and Diana.
One week was for the basic physical fitness and battlefield skill training of the grunts, while the other week was for Diana's combat training!
Looking at the pillars that suddenly sprouted from the ground, Colonel Chester Phillips was a bit dazed: "You're training them like'Special Forces'... no, even Special Forces don't have a training method like this."
"Colonel Phillips, I hope you won't interfere with my training methods," Diana said, turning her head.
"Of course, that was our agreement." Colonel Chester Phillips nodded. "But... I'm still a bit worried. They won't fall off and die, will they? Never mind these kids, I'm afraid I couldn't have done it even when I was young!"
Beside him, Dr. Abraham Erskine's eyes were somewhat burning—well, his gaze towards Duke. Of course, he hadn't fallen in love with him; he was just deeply shocked by this ability to create things out of thin air.
He couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Occultism...?"
"What are you saying?" The Colonel turned to look.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Duke gave a ghostly smile.
"Colonel Phillips, you needn't worry. In my homeland, to become a qualified warrior, one must cross a minimum distance of 100 meters in under 10 seconds while stepping on pillars ten times taller than these," Diana said calmly, pointing at the stone pillar formation.
What?
Colonel Chester Phillips was completely dumbfounded.
These stone pillars were at least two meters high; ten times that would be at least twenty meters?
Crossing a minimum distance of 100 meters in under 10 seconds while stepping on a pillar formation like this?
He wanted to say that this was definitely not something a human could do. Then he reconsidered... well, she really wasn't human.
"I became a warrior through this when I was eight years old," Diana said, pointing to the stone pillars nearby. "And that was probably my toy when I was three."
A toy at age three?
Colonel Chester Phillips's lip twitched. Damn it.
This was the strength of the Amazon Warriors. To be honest, these stone pillars, two meters high and half a meter in diameter, were child's play to them. They played on giant stone pillar formations nearly thirty meters high and less than half a meter in diameter, and the distance between the pillars was much greater.
Besides this, they would also run at high speeds across reefs that emerged from the sea during low tide. Those had no flat surfaces; they were uneven and slippery, and one careless move would lead to bruises, sprains, or falling into the sea.
But the stone pillar formation Duke created for Captain America and the others only had a distance of one meter between each pillar.
Just one meter.
You could even jump across.
It was just a bit high; falling from a two-meter stone pillar wouldn't kill you, but it would definitely hurt.
Of course, there was still a risk of 'death'.
Because they were close together, if you didn't maintain your balance and fell, your chin or the back of your head might hit a pillar. So, there was still a certain chance of death.
This was exactly what Colonel Chester Phillips was nervous about. Although these grunts had signed 'casualty consent forms' upon entering the camp, and the training camp had a certain quota for deaths... he was still nervous. If something really went wrong, a trip to the military court would be inevitable.
The soldiers stood on the platform in front of the stone pillar formation, looking at each other, pushing and shoving, but not one dared to step onto it.
This was too terrifying!
They had never seen training like this.
"What, no one dares to go up? I thought you were all prepared, but I didn't expect you to be a bunch of weaklings," Diana mocked.
"I protest!"
"This will kill people."
"I... I want to quit!"
Colonel Chester Phillips's anger flared up instantly. He raised his hand and pointed into the distance: "Anyone who wants to quit, get the hell out! Make it quick, and don't let me see you again."
Although he was also worried about whether someone would die, if you didn't even dare to stand up there, what kind of soldier were you? Such people would only be deserters on the battlefield; they should be kicked out of the'Super Soldier' project immediately.
The one who shouted about quitting left with his head bowed.
"Weaklings!"
"Move aside!"
"I'll give you a demonstration."
Diana jumped onto a stone pillar, then with a tap of her toes, she sped across as if on level ground. Before the group of grunts could even react, she was already standing on the other side.
"Is it hard?"
The soldiers didn't say it aloud, but they were grumbling in their hearts: Of course it's not hard for you.
Duke also walked onto the stone pillars with a grin: "I'll also give you a demonstration."
Saying so... 'Blink'.
Whoosh—he went straight to the other side, like the wind, like a phantom, passing through instantly.
Diana was speechless.
The rest of the grunts were also dumbfounded.
"What? I bet you all think I'm cheating, right? Actually, it's fine. My requirement is for you to cross the 100 meters of stone pillars within one minute. As for how you get across, heh, I didn't specifically emphasize that. Even if you crawl over... that's fine too," Duke said.
Then he glanced at Captain America.
"Steve Rogers!"
Huh?
Captain America was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward: "Here!"
Regardless, this man was now his instructor.
"You give them a demonstration."
"Ah... me?" Captain America was stunned.
"What, didn't you say you wanted to prove yourself? You don't even dare to get on a stone pillar?"
"No... I... I just..." Steve Rogers grit his teeth; he wasn't ready yet.
How should he put it?
This kind of training was completely different from the conventional training methods of the military camp. It was the first time in history, and his mind was reeling. Although the pillars didn't look far apart—only one meter—and the diameter of the pillars was a full half-meter wide, normally enough to squeeze five people on top, but if one were to run on them...?
Half a meter wouldn't be enough.
One lapse in concentration, one misstep, or one error in body coordination, and you could fall off the pillar.
At this moment, the spacing of the pillars became a lethal weapon instead. Because if you fell, you certainly wouldn't fall straight down; you'd likely fall backward. In that case, either the back of your head or your spine would hit a stone pillar. This was damn near suicidal.
"It seems your motivation isn't quite enough?" Dukeglanced mischievously at Peggy Carter nearby. "If anyone can reach the finish line within one minute, they can enjoy a wonderful candlelit dinner with Agent Carter."
Hearing this, the soldiers immediately began to whistle, feeling their motivation building.
Peggy Carter immediately became anxious: "Hey—when did I..."
"Ahem..." Colonel Chester Phillips also laughed along, joking, "If I were ten years younger, I'd want to go up and try too."
Peggy Carter was speechless: "Colonel Phillips."
"Alright, just a joke. However, I'll pay for it." Colonel Chester Phillips laughed, then pointed at the soldiers and scolded, "Boys, making a lady wait is not a virtue."
078. Make Her Sing Conquest
'Hey—kid, don't you want to win the beauty's heart?' Dukeinitiated a 'Secret Sound Transmission' soul dialogue.
"Who?" Captain America trembled violently, turning his head to look around.
"Who what who? Are you sick? If you're not going up, then get the hell down and move aside, let me go." Someone behind him gave him a hard shove.
It was Gilmore Hodge, the one who had been punched by Agent Carter.
He was a scoundrel.
He really wanted to see what kind of reaction that high-and-mighty, arrogant woman would have when he won the candlelight dinner. It would probably be quite spectacular. Of course, if he could sleep with her, that would be even better; he'd definitely make her sing 'Conquest'.
'No need to look around, the one talking to you is me. Well, kid? I can tell that Agent Carter is a bit interested in you.'
'Of course, if you're not interested, I'll just find someone else.'
"That guy, what's-his-name, Hodge..."
"Wait! Who said I wasn't going?" Steve Rogers suddenly grew anxious. He blocked the way with his arms and subconsciously glanced at Peggy Carter.
The latter was very blunt, directly rolling her eyes at him.
This was 'goodwill'?
Steve Rogers was very depressed; to be honest, the one he liked was Diana.
That day, her stunning appearance had instantly conquered him. However, he also had self-awareness; compared to Instructor Duke, he was just a 'monkey'. He could only cast those budding feelings out of his mind. The two were not from the same world, and then... besides Diana, the only female Agent in the camp also gave him a different feeling.
To be honest, Carter also attracted him. After all, in this era, most women sat in offices as secretaries or the like. Even if they joined the army, it was for logistical work like handling files. Someone like Carter, who became an Agent... was truly rare and extraordinary.
Let's put it this way: she was rarer than a giant panda.
Duke hadn't expected at all that his sudden intrusion would almost create a love rival for himself.
But it didn't matter.
Diana was so beautiful, her figure was so good, and her temperament was so noble, unique, and mysterious. It would be strange if no man liked her.
Old Steve was still single even now, and Duke always felt that this must be part of the reason.
"I'll go!"
Saying that, Steve Rogers leaped onto the platform and began jumping toward the finish line, one pillar at a time.
You don't know until you try, and trying it was a shock!
This Stone Pillar Array didn't look difficult, but in reality... it was [very hard].
Although the gap between pillars was only a meter—honestly, you could just step across with one stride—the key issue was that these stone pillars were arranged irregularly. They weren't in straight rows or columns; there was no discernible pattern at all.
When Steve Rogers took his first step, he realized that his eyes couldn't keep up and his body couldn't coordinate.
His left leg would frequently trip over his right foot.
His upper body would twist left while his lower body rotated right.
And then there were the visual blind spots...
It seemed like there were only 66 stone pillars to the finish line, but... after a minute, Captain America had only jumped to the 20th. Just as he stepped toward the 21st, his right leg tripped his left.
[Thud—] He fell over headfirst.
!!!
The sudden accident stunned everyone present.
"Watch out!" Peggy Carter shouted.
Colonel Chester Phillips' heart almost jumped into his throat.
Dr. Abraham Erskine's mouth hung wide open. Was the man he chose about to... 'perish like a falling flower'?
Well, in the Doctor's eyes, Captain America was equivalent to a beautiful woman.
As it turned out...
He slammed his head into a pillar and then landed flat on his face on the ground.
Actually, it didn't hurt.
'Kid, don't say anything.'
Captain America was a bit dazed. Just now, he thought he was a goner. He had completely lost his coordination and couldn't adjust his body in mid-air; he could only watch helplessly as his head lunged toward the stone pillar.
He thought his head would definitely be bloodied, but the impact felt like... hitting rubber. And after falling to the ground, it felt as if he were being buoyed up by water.
After hearing Duke's words, he understood.
This was a test for everyone.
Peggy Carter ran up quickly and helped Captain Americaup: "Are you okay?"
Seeing the slight look of concern in Agent Carter's eyes, Captain America was a bit stunned. Could what the instructor said be true?
Being stared at for so long, Peggy Carter got a bit annoyed: "Did you hit your head and go stupid?"
"No, no." Captain America scratched his head, "It... it still hurts quite a bit, it's just... not as much as I imagined. I-I can still take it."
Saying that, he let go of Agent Carter and walked back to the starting point with a slightly red face.
"You lot—"
"Hurry up! Get in line, move it... what—none of you want to go up, is that it?"
Duke directly used magic. Small fireballs went 'boom boom boom boom' as they smashed into the starting area, making the soldiers shiver with fright.
Their faces were full of misery, carrying a tragic sense of going to their deaths.
"Very good!" Duke clapped his hands, revealing a devilish smile. "Congratulations, you've made the right choice. Because, starting tomorrow, instead of going up one by one... it will be everyone together..."
Before he could finish, thud—Gilmore Hodge fell off.
"Ah—!"
His fall was much harsher.
"Ouch—my head."
In fact, the Stone Pillar Array was surrounded by a Spell Formula. Except for Captain America, everyone else's fall damage would be reduced by half—for example, a 'fracture' would be reduced to a 'hairline crack'.
If someone could still die like this, they could only blame their own stupidity.
The soldiers were also dumbfounded.
If they were falling off one by one, wouldn't it be total chaos if they all swarmed up at once? When the time came, everyone would set their sights on a single pillar; I jump, you jump, he jumps. Then, the three of them would [bang] into each other, and the outcome goes without saying.
"So, you'd better master it by the end of today. Otherwise... hehe."
When Diana and the others passed this test, they didn't go one by one either; they went as a group. What mattered then wasn't just vision and coordination, but also reaction speed.
It was common for two people to jump onto the same pillar, and three wasn't unheard of.
What would you do then?
That would depend on your adaptive reactions.
The squad of thirty soldiers flopped around all day, each of them covered in black and blue bruises.
Duke smiled.
His main goal was actually to train Captain America.
Captain America hadn't received systematic training. He only stayed at Camp Lehigh for a week, and then the Doctor died right after he became a muscular man. After that, he started promoting war bonds all over the country.
His fighting style relied entirely on his extraordinary adaptive reactions.
But that wasn't enough.
He could be even stronger.
Amazonian combat techniques would take him to the next level.
079. It Seems I've Been Played
Colonel Chester Phillips' mouth twitched: "It's like they're dropping like flies..."
They really were dropping like flies.
On the stone pillars, people were falling off one after another with a series of thuds.
Two, three, or even four people would choose the same pillar at once, resulting in a collision. Some were slow to jump and were knocked off by those behind them.
Some did it on purpose, while others were simply unlucky.
They were all grunts, young men with hot tempers; after falling a few times, they inevitably started cursing and fighting.
At a time like this, all you need is a bucket of water from above to settle things.
A week isn't exactly short, but it isn't long either.
It passed quickly...
"Yes—Congratulations to Steve Rogers for clearing the Stone Pillar Array in 59.57 seconds, earning the honor of dining with Agent Peggy Carter." Duke clapped his hands loudly, then gave Carter a playful glance.
Naturally, he was met with a roll of the eyes.
Captain America was a bit bashful, scratching his head as he looked over expectantly.
In the end, she just turned her head and walked away... away... way...
"..."
"Don't be sad. Don't let Agent Carter's strong exterior fool you; she's actually quite shy on the inside," Duke said, putting an arm around Captain America's shoulder.
"Then... Instructor, what should I do?"
After spending two weeks together, Steve Rogers truly admired this instructor.
"Do I have to teach you how to pick up girls too?" Dukerolled his eyes, looking speechless. The key was that he didn't have much experience himself either. "Just remember one thing—[Don't be a wuss, just go for it]."
"Huh?"
In the distance, Colonel Chester Phillips and Dr. Abraham Erskine were whispering. It seemed... the time for the final decision had come.
Duke patted Captain America's shoulder and said, "Training is over. Tomorrow, I'll give you your final lesson."
Saying that, he jumped down from the stone pillar. As his feet touched the ground, mysterious magic circles lit up beneath him, and the Stone Pillar Array disappeared. The grunts looked at each other in bewilderment. If not for the dents in the ground from their falls, they would have thought it was all a dream.
The Stone Pillar Array had been rigged; only Steve Rogerscould truly master the Amazonian combat techniques, even if it was just a 'movement technique.' However, once his physical coordination improved, he would be able to exert his strength better after becoming a muscular man.
As for the others, they just became a bit more flexible.
Agent Carter walked back at some point: "Attention!"
The soldiers quickly fell into formation.
In the distance, the two big shots were still in a heated discussion...
"You're not really thinking of choosing Rogers, are you?"
"It's not that I'm thinking about it; I've already decided on him."
"When you brought a 90-pound asthmatic kitten into my unit, I didn't object. I thought, whatever, maybe you're just using him as a guinea pig. I never thought you'd actually pick him. This kid's arms are thinner than noodles; I could cry just looking at him."
"I value quality over physique."
"Hodge passed every test. He's strong, he's fast, he follows orders—he's a soldier."
"He's a bully."
"You don't win wars with kindness, Doctor."
"But Rogers also passed Duke and Diana's training."
"Do you really think I can't see what those two are up to? I don't know what tricks they played, but I know they're here for that asthmatic kid." Colonel Chester Phillips curled his lip and snorted.
He might be old, but his eyes weren't.
Over these two weeks, he had seen clearly that Duke and Diana were there specifically for Steve Rogers. When the others fell, they wailed in pain, but Rogers... he didn't seem to suffer as much. With that guy's physical condition, how could it not hurt when he fell?
He was very repulsed by this kind of highly 'purposeful' behavior. Furthermore, he really disliked this feeling of being manipulated, as well as... Duke and Diana's mysterious behavior.
He couldn't place his 'trust' in two people of unknown origin, even though Duke and Diana had indeed destroyed the German Army's high command, thereby accelerating the German surrender.
They seemed like good people, but he was extremely resistant to this sense of mystery.
Consequently, he also grew to dislike Steve Rogers.
Even though he didn't understand why Duke and Dianawould choose this asthmatic kid.
"The final test. Winning a battle depends on guts."
As he spoke, he pulled the pin and threw the iron lump.
"Grenade!"
!!!
...
The group of grunts was completely dumbfounded and scrambled in all directions. Only Steve Rogers lunged forward, using his body to cover the grenade.
"Run!"
"Get down!"
Then... nothing happened?
Emmmm...
It was a dummy grenade!
Duke smiled and turned to leave. This scene was too fake and a bit cringey. This was a military camp; how could a Colonel throw a real grenade into the ranks? Wasn't he afraid of actually blowing someone up?
This wasn't a battlefield, after all.
"He's still too frail." Colonel Chester Phillips left awkwardly with a look like he was constipated.
—The next day, in the car heading to the final Laboratory of Destiny.
"Can I invite you to... dinner tonight?" Steve Rogers said, looking slightly bashful.
"Did I ever agree?" Carter snorted. She was quite repulsed by Duke's behavior of 'not giving a heads-up.' Fortunately, the one who won in the end was Steve Rogers.
"But, the instructor..."
"I'm also your instructor."
"Uh..."
"There will be dinner, but did I say when? When I'm in the mood!"
"Huh?" Steve Rogers scratched his head, feeling as though he'd been played. "I'm familiar with this neighborhood. I've been beaten up in that alley, and that parking lot... and behind that diner."
Conveniently, they had arrived at a familiar place, so he quickly changed the subject. Although the new topic was still a bit awkward.
"Why didn't you run away?"
Captain America shook his head. "If you run once, you'll keep running forever. But if you stand up and fight back, there will be a chance one day, right?"
"I feel a bit the same way. Always being rejected."
Captain America was stunned for a moment and said, "I don't understand why you joined the army. You're a beautiful lady—I mean, a beautiful woman... an Agent, not a lady. You're very beautiful..."
He trailed off, unable to continue. Captain America felt that he was being... very awkward right now.
Sure enough, it had the opposite effect.
"You don't know how to talk to women, do you?"
"This is probably the longest conversation I've ever had with a woman... They aren't willing to dance with a man who steps on their toes," Captain America said with a self-deprecating smile.
"After all these years, I don't really care anymore. I guess... I'm waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"The right partner."
Agent Carter smiled and didn't say anything.
This is a montage technique, echoing the 'dance' at the end.
For a long time, neither of them quite understood why they felt differently about each other. It was only much, much later that they realized they were both the kind of people who worked hard to prove themselves.
I suppose this is what they mean by 'birds of a feather flock together.'
080. Remember to Jump from the Plane
— 'Brooklyn Antiques Shop'
Duke walked in slowly.
An old woman greeted him: "Wonderful weather today, isn't it?"
"Yes, but I always carry an umbrella," Duke smiled.
This was the old woman who would provide the Hydraagent with the submachine gun—just a bit-part extra with only one line.
The code was matched. The old woman walked to the desk and pressed a switch, but Duke didn't go in. Instead, he asked with a smile, "There's a car outside, license plate SM·553A. Whose is it?"
"SM·553A? Oh, that belongs to Mr. Greg Clemson, State Department," the old woman said.
"State Department?"
"Why, is there a problem with him?" The old woman grew alert.
"Oh, I just..."
Just then, [Boom—!], a violent explosion rang out. Even upstairs, a strong tremor could be felt.
The old woman was dumbfounded. Did something really happen?
She pulled out a submachine gun and was about to head inside...
Duke grabbed her: "You stay here and guard. That sedan outside with license plate SM·553A is likely an enemy spy. Don't go out looking for death. Kill anyone who comes in with a gun."
As he spoke, he had already lunged inside.
"Arcane Barrage!"
Bang— Bang— Bang— Bang-bang!
Countless Arcane Rune Arrows, as thick as a forearm, thudded into Greg Clemson, instantly turning him into a sieve. Naturally, that last vial of Super Soldier Serum he had snatched was also shattered by the Arcane Barrage. Flames rose, and the splashing liquid was instantly evaporated.
"What the hell is that?"
Duke feigned a gesture, brushing off debris that hadn't even splashed near him.
At the same time, Peggy Carter ran out with a gun. She froze for a moment upon seeing Duke, then ran forward to check. No need to look; the man was already dead.
"Who is this guy?"
Better pretend not to know about the Hydra business.
"He's dead." Peggy Carter kicked the corpse in frustration, looking at the shattered test tube fragments. "Where's the serum? Why is it gone?"
"What serum? What are you talking about? Oh, the Super Soldier Serum? You mean that's what he was holding? Oh, sorry. I'm sorry! I didn't notice that, I accidentally broke it." Duke put on an 'I didn't know, don't blame me' look.
"You... are you with them?" Peggy Carter stood up angrily, instinctively wanting to point her gun at Duke, but she quickly realized she was no match for him.
Bullets probably wouldn't work anyway!
"Are you out of your mind? If I were with him, I would have teleported him away long ago. Why would I kill him? If I wanted the serum, I would have taken it long ago, and you wouldn't have even noticed. Besides, I wouldn't even look twice at this piece of junk." Duke gave a look of 'royal disdain.' "Isn't the Doctor still here? If it's gone, just make more."
Peggy Carter gritted her teeth in anger: "The Doctor was killed by him."
"Ah—? Is that so? Then I'm sorry. Oh, by the way, that car outside with license plate SM·553A is likely with this guy. When I came in, they gave me a few looks that felt malicious. I was wondering, I don't even know them, why would they feel malic—"
Before he could finish, Peggy Carter bypassed him and rushed out.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"To kill people!"
"What a fiery temper. I hope that kid Steve Rogers can handle it." Saying this, Duke chuckled and stepped further inside.
It was time to reap the rewards.
Dr. Abraham Erskine pointed at Captain America's chest, likely meaning 'don't forget your original intention and be a good man,' then closed his eyes forever.
Captain America's eyes turned red with rage. He lunged forward, then... froze instantly.
"In... Instructor?! Why are you here?"
"You are... Steve Rogers? It seems they succeeded. No, you succeeded. Not bad, not bad, you've grown taller. By the way, is it strange for me to be here? I said I'd give you one last lesson, so of course I had to come."
"Sorry, Instructor, we'll catch up later. First I have to..."
"Hey, wait a second."
Captain America originally wanted to go around him to chase the spy outside, but he was held back by the instructor's hand on his chest. No matter how hard he pushed, he couldn't move forward an inch.
He originally thought that while he hadn't gone bald, he had grown taller and stronger. Who would have thought he still couldn't last a single round against the instructor?
"I've already taken care of the guy."
"Then... what about the serum?"
"I didn't know anything about a serum. I accidentally broke it." Duke shrugged and said.
"Huh?" Steve Rogers' mouth slowly fell open.
"What are you 'huh'-ing about? I was supposed to be here a long time ago, but I overslept. As soon as I arrived, I heard a 'boom' inside. Before I could figure out what happened, a guy rushed out and started shooting at me. Naturally, I had to fight back. How was I supposed to know he was carrying some serum..."
The kind-hearted Captain America could never have imagined that Duke was lying.
He walked slowly toward the corpse. Sure enough... glass shards were scattered everywhere, and the serum was long gone.
He had wanted to collect some of it.
The sound of gunshots came from outside.
"What happened?"
"Oh, your girlfriend went out to arrest his accomplice."
"Shit."
Steve Rogers cursed and scrambled out—not at Duke, of course.
"By the way, the last lesson is to tell you: [Remember to jump from the plane]!"
"Huh?" Steve Rogers, who was rushing out, was full of question marks. Jump from a plane? What plane? Jumping from a plane is the last lesson? What the hell is this?
The laboratory was a mess.
"Colonel, is this... considered a failure for you?"
Colonel Chester Phillips was already furious, and hearing this, he said crossly, "What are you doing here? Your training is over, and your position is automatically terminated."
"Who is he?" Senator Brad asked.
"Oh, this is my uncle, and also the'Special Instructor' invited for this occasion," Howard Stark said quickly.
"Uncle? Hmph, what are you doing here?" Senator Braddidn't like a yellow-skinned person appearing in their secret laboratory for white people. "Guards!"
"No need to shout, I'm leaving. By the way, here's something for you." Saying this, Duke took out a letter, flicked it, and handed it to Colonel Chester Phillips.
"What's this?"
The Doctor's suicide note, his last will."
"What?" Colonel Chester Phillips froze for a moment, then quickly opened it and began to read. "—'If one day I die, please hand my body over to Mr. Duke for him to handle.'"
"In fact, Doctor Erskine wanted to commit suicide. He didn't want to become a tool for creating'Super Soldiers'. Having completed his life's work, he said... it was worth it. It's just a pity that before he could commit suicide, he was..."
As he spoke, Duke waved his hand, and Doctor Erskine's body floated up. Under everyone's astonished gaze, he slowly walked out.
"Goodbye."