"Doctor, what's going on exactly?" Chen Mo asked seriously.
"Do you remember the suggestion you gave me before you left for Europe?" the doctor asked, looking at him intently.
"You mean improving the Super Soldier Serum to raise its success rate?" Chen Mo recalled that both the original serum and the enhanced version that he and Steve had received were far from perfect in animal trials.
Though the test animals' bodies were successfully strengthened, every one of them had suffered immense pain during the process. They struggled violently, quickly lost consciousness, slipped into comas — and finally died.
Post-experiment autopsies revealed massive neural damage. Their brains had been overstimulated beyond endurance, leading to brain death.
They concluded that the transformation process was simply too extreme, inflicting unbearable pain. Later trials confirmed this.
Thus, the current serum required extraordinary mental resilience — a will strong enough to withstand the agony. Anyone who couldn't endure it would end up just like those animals: unconscious, brain-dead, and gone.
So Chen Mo had suggested that the serum be redesigned to make the process gentler, reduce the agony of transformation, and lessen the psychological strain — thereby increasing the overall success rate.
Judging by the look on the doctor's face now, he must have succeeded.
"Exactly," the doctor said with a proud smile. "I followed the path you proposed and found real potential for improvement. Based on your theories, I ran further research and experiments — and finally succeeded in developing an improved version of the Super Soldier Serum."
He smiled, brimming with satisfaction.
"The animal trials were a complete success. There was some pain and struggle during enhancement, yes — but none of the subjects lost consciousness. All survived and recovered normally afterward."
Chen Mo gave him a sharp look. "So you went ahead and tested it on yourself, didn't you?"
The doctor spread his hands, smiling wryly. "And as you can see, I succeeded."
Chen Mo sighed and shook his head. "You should've tested it on a death row inmate or a volunteer first. You know the risk. If you'd failed, the entire project could've been lost."
Erskine only smiled gently. He had always been too kind. If not for orders from above — and Red Skull's earlier success — he never would've allowed Steve to undergo the procedure back then.
"Doctor," Chen Mo said sternly, "I hope this doesn't happen again. You're the cornerstone of the Super Soldier Program — one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most valuable members. If anything happened to you, the consequences would be catastrophic."
Erskine didn't take offense. Instead, he gave a calm, knowing smile. "Understood, my commander."
Just then, Howard's eyes lit up like a child's.
"Doctor, does that mean I can take the serum too?"
He was practically drooling. The idea of possessing Chen Mo's superhuman physique thrilled him. He could already imagine himself finally getting even for all the times Chen Mo had bullied him.
Chen Mo met his hopeful gaze with amusement.
"You can," Erskine answered, "but I should warn you — the improved serum's effects are weaker than the enhanced version. Because the process is gentler, the transformation less intense, the resulting physical strength is about three times that of an ordinary person. On the bright side, it no longer requires exposure to Vita-Rays. As long as you take in proper nutrition, a single injection will complete the enhancement."
Howard's excitement deflated instantly.
Three times normal? That was powerful, sure — but still far below Chen Mo or Steve's level. He sighed internally. So much for overthrowing his "tyrant."
He caught Chen Mo's teasing glance and nearly burst into tears.
Then Erskine added, "Oh, and about the two issues you raised — lifespan and cryogenic suspension — I've done some special research."
Chen Mo's attention sharpened.
"After enhancement, the body's cells become extremely active," Erskine explained. "When frozen, metabolism slows to an almost complete stop. Upon thawing, the cells quickly regain vitality — meaning the body essentially enters a state of suspended life."
"In other words, your idea of halting aging through cryostasis is entirely feasible."
"Moreover, I previously overlooked another factor — lifespan itself. The serum not only strengthens the body but also enhances cellular vitality, drastically slowing the aging process."
"Since only you and Steve had successfully undergone the old serum, we lacked data. But after the improved serum's success, I ran further animal trials — and indeed, their lifespans increased significantly. My own condition is proof of that."
Howard's eyes lit up again.
"Then what are we waiting for, Doctor? Give me the injection now!"
…
The enhancement process went smoothly.
Though Howard screamed in agony throughout, he ultimately survived — successfully enhanced.
When he stepped off the experimental platform, he could feel the difference. His body, once soft and sedentary, now brimmed with explosive energy.
He swung a fist — and the air cracked with a sharp whistle.
Ecstatic, he tried jumping — and nearly hit the ceiling, soaring over two meters high. He almost stumbled when he landed, wide-eyed at his newfound strength.
Grinning ear to ear, Howard ran straight to a mirror, eager to see if he now looked as tall and muscular as Chen Mo or Steve.
The result… was disappointing.
The improved serum had indeed boosted his physique — strength, agility, endurance, all tripled — but he hadn't surpassed human limits. Outwardly, he looked only somewhat fitter, not dramatically transformed.
Seeing his dejection, Dr. Erskine chuckled softly and patted his shoulder.
"You haven't noticed yet?"
Howard blinked. "Noticed what?"
The doctor tapped his temple.
Howard focused — and his eyes suddenly widened in awe.
"Oh my God… my brain! My thinking — it's faster! And my memory— it's incredible!"
"This is amazing!" he shouted, giddy as a kid on Christmas morning.
Chen Mo rolled his eyes at the spectacle. Hopeless.
Erskine simply smiled. He remembered feeling the same elation when his own mental faculties had sharpened after injection — faster thought, clearer analysis, stronger recall.
"We all owe you thanks," he said earnestly to Chen Mo.
When Chen Mo began to reply, the doctor raised a hand to stop him.
"In my eyes, this improved serum is of immeasurable value. It allows ordinary people to undergo enhancement safely."
"Beyond the increase in strength and lifespan, its most profound benefit lies in its effect on the mind. It greatly amplifies cognitive capacity — giving us scientists a tremendous advantage. Problems that once stumped me for years are now easy. Experiments flow smoothly. Everything feels simple."
"You understand, don't you? What this means — not just for us, but for the world itself."