"Roar!"
The mutated soldier let out a low roar, his legs pushing off the ground with immense force. The floor cracked instantly as he shot towards Steve like a cannonball.
"Watch out!" Rosen shouted, but it was too late.
Steve instinctively raised his shield to block.
BOOM!
The terrifying impact, like a high-speed train, slammed into the shield, the force transferring through it to his entire body.
Even with his body enhanced by the Super-Soldier Serum, Steve was instantly knocked back several meters, his back crashing heavily against the wall, which spiderwebbed with cracks.
Steve looked down and saw a massive fist print on his shield, the metal surface slightly dented.
Rosen, standing to the side, knew it was his turn to act.
He quickly drew his pistol, aimed at the mutated soldier's heart, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
The bullet hit its mark, piercing directly through the mutated soldier's chest.
The mutated soldier slowly turned its head, its blood-red eyes fixing on Rosen. With a sweep of its hand, it sent the gun flying from Rosen's grasp.
Rosen took half a step back, his right hand already drawing the dagger from his waist.
He lunged forward, the tip of the blade aimed straight for the mutated soldier's throat.
Thud!
The blade pierced the flesh, but it felt like stabbing into thick leather, meeting immense resistance.
The mutated soldier didn't even flinch. It slowly turned its head, its blood-red eyes locked on Rosen.
"Watch out!!" Steve's eyes widened.
Just as he spoke, the mutated soldier swatted its hand as if shooing a fly, sending Rosen flying. He crashed heavily into the laboratory equipment.
Clang!
The equipment shattered, sparks flying everywhere.
"Damn it!" Rosen clutched his chest as he rolled to the ground.
On the bed, Bucky was struggling desperately, the metal clasps groaning.
Finally, his left hand broke free.
"Steve!" Bucky shouted, reaching to undo the restraints on his other side.
The mutated super-soldier charged forward again, bringing one hand down like a sledgehammer.
Bang!
The fist and shield collided. Amidst the dull thud, Steve's boots scraped two long marks on the concrete floor as he was pushed back.
"This thing's strength... is too much!" Steve gritted his teeth, his arms numb, his body barely able to withstand the pressure.
"Captain... America..." the mutated soldier suddenly spoke.
Steve's heart jolted. The creature still possessed reason!
"Its target is me!"
In his shock, Steve quickly assessed the situation. He scanned the lab, his eyes locking onto a half-open security door to the left.
"Bucky, Dio!" Steve commanded loudly. "Get out through that door! I'll hold it off!"
"Are you kidding me?" Bucky roared, yanking at the last restraint. "I'm not leaving you!"
"That's an order! Go now!" Steve roared back.
Suddenly, the mutated soldier released the shield with its left hand and grabbed Steve's shoulder, its nails digging into his flesh.
BOOM!
Without any fancy moves, the mutated soldier simply pushed Steve, charging like an out-of-control heavy truck, and smashed him through the concrete wall of the laboratory.
"Cough!"
Steve spat out a mouthful of blood.
He struggled to look up and found himself in another spacious laboratory.
He gritted his teeth and stood up, a stabbing pain coming from his ribs. Every breath felt like a knife cut.
The mutated soldier stood just a few steps away, motionless, its blood-red eyes fixed on him.
It walked slowly towards him, a strange smile appearing on its greyish face.
"This thing is toying with me!" Steve's heart sank, and the hand holding the shield trembled involuntarily.
Death. For the first time, Steve truly felt its presence.
He had never faced an opponent like this.
Not some punk in a Brooklyn alley, not a cardboard Hitler on a stage, but a monster that could easily crush his bones.
Dr. Erskine's experiment had made him stronger, but in this situation, he had no idea if he could last even ten seconds.
His palms were sweaty, his breathing was ragged, and his heart was pounding like a drum. Steve felt it was hard to even breathe.
But he took a deep breath, forcing down his fear. He couldn't retreat.
"I have to hold it off... buy time for Bucky and Dio."
He raised his shield. If someone had to be sacrificed, it would be him.
A red light flickered in the mutated soldier's eyes. It suddenly exerted its strength and charged forward like a bolt of lightning.
Steve dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding the attack. At the same time, he put force into his right arm, swinging the shield at the mutated soldier's abdomen.
Bang!
The edge of the shield struck the mutated soldier heavily, but the creature stood its ground. Instead, its five fingers clamped onto the edge of the shield like steel pincers.
"Not good!"
Before Steve could let go, the mutated soldier let out a low roar and flung him, shield and all, towards the ceiling.
BOOM!
Steve's back slammed into the ceiling, sending down a shower of concrete fragments. He then fell heavily to the ground.
Just then, the mutated soldier rushed forward and raised its right leg.
Thwack!
The kick landed squarely in a vital area. Steve felt a searing pain and was sent flying like a rag doll, crashing into a wall before falling back to the ground, unable to get up.
Steve gritted his teeth, his fingers clawing at the floor. It couldn't end like this. There wasn't enough time.
He endured the excruciating pain and shakily pushed himself up.
He had just gotten halfway up when the mutated soldier was upon him, landing a heavy punch to his stomach.
Thump!
The fist hit like a cannonball. Steve doubled over, falling to his knees, blood spewing from his mouth.
Steve tried to raise his arm but found he no longer had the strength to lift his shield. His vision grew blurry, and his consciousness began to drift.
The mutated soldier stood before him, unhurried.
"This is real war..." Dio's mocking voice echoed in his ears.
At least... Bucky and Dio are safe...
The thought flashed through Steve's mind, bringing a sense of peace. He had at least done one truly right thing.
The mutated soldier raised its massive fist, its shadow enveloping Steve's vision.
This blow would be enough to completely shatter his skull.
Whoosh!
In the nick of time, a scalpel cut through the air and precisely pierced the mutated soldier's right eye.
"Roar!"
The mutated soldier let out a bestial howl and staggered back, clutching its injured eye. Dark red fluid seeped through its fingers.
Steve turned his head in astonishment, looking at where the scalpel had come from.
Rosen stood by an operating table, a scalpel in each hand.
"Dio?" Steve gasped. "I told you to leave!"
"Who listens to the orders of a circus clown in tights?" Rosen dodged nimbly, avoiding the mutated soldier's furious pounce.
CRASH!
The monster's fist smashed into the operating table. The metal surface instantly caved in, and glass beakers shattered all over the floor.
"Giving up already?" Rosen shouted at Steve. "Is that all Captain America's got?"
Hearing this, Steve's body jolted.
He took a deep breath, endured the pain, and with a sudden roll, grabbed the shield that had fallen to the ground.
"What?" Steve panted, but a smile touched his lips. "I can do this all day."