"Incredible… absolutely incredible! Is this what a super soldier looks like?"
Chester stepped forward, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Steve's transformed body. The frail recruit from before had completely vanished, replaced by a man whose physique looked sculpted from steel itself.
Carter stood directly in front of Steve, her gaze sweeping across his body with undisguised curiosity. Without hesitation, she reached out and pressed a hand lightly against his firm chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath.
"How does it feel?" she asked, a strange glint flashing through her eyes.
"Feels… amazing," Steve replied, his voice filled with awe.
Locke watched the scene with quiet amusement. This moment—this exact reaction—was almost identical to what he remembered. It was genuine, unfiltered, and completely real.
Steve slowly turned, taking in the people around him. For the first time, he no longer had to look up at anyone. His posture changed subtly, his perspective shifting as he flexed his arms, feeling the power coiled within them.
Then his eyes found Locke.
"Thank you, Colonel," Steve said sincerely, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
He turned slightly toward Erskine as well.
"And thank you, Doctor… for everything."
"Haha! It worked! My serum worked perfectly!" Erskine laughed, his face glowing with excitement as he patted Steve's shoulder. Pride radiated from him, years of effort culminating in this single success.
But then—
His expression changed.
Something in the crowd caught his attention. His eyes widened slightly, his body stiffening as if he had suddenly realized something terrible.
A gunshot rang out.
The sharp crack of the weapon echoed through the chamber, cutting through the air like a blade.
Erskine's body jerked violently as the bullet tore through his chest.
Everything happened in an instant.
Before anyone could react, a man in a suit lowered his gun and immediately triggered a detonator in his hand.
Boom!
The explosion rocked the entire facility. Glass shattered, flames erupted, and the shockwave sent debris flying in all directions. Panic spread instantly as people shouted, ducked, and scrambled for cover.
Through the chaos, the man rushed forward. Without hesitation, he grabbed the last remaining vial of serum, clutching it tightly before turning and fleeing.
"Damn it! Stop him!"
"After him!"
Soldiers surged toward the exit, weapons drawn, voices filled with fury.
Locke's gaze flicked toward Steve, who had already dropped to his knees beside Erskine. The old scientist's life was slipping away, blood staining his clothes as his breathing grew shallow.
This was the moment.
The moment that would define everything.
Erskine raised a trembling hand, tapping weakly against Steve's chest. There was no need for words. The meaning passed between them instantly.
Steve nodded, his jaw tightening.
The hand fell.
Something inside him snapped.
Rage ignited in his eyes as he turned and sprinted after the fleeing spy.
Locke stepped forward, crouching beside Erskine. He leaned in close, as if checking his pulse, his expression unreadable.
"How is he?" Chester asked urgently, his view partially blocked.
Locke slowly lowered the body, shaking his head.
"He's gone."
The words settled heavily over the room.
"Colonel, go after that spy!" a congressman shouted, his voice sharp with panic. He didn't trust Steve—not yet. In his eyes, Locke was the one who should handle this.
Locke gave a slight nod.
His eyes followed Steve's retreating figure, then shifted upward toward the structure above. In the next moment, he grabbed onto a railing and pulled himself up with explosive strength, his body rising to the second level in one fluid motion.
Gasps broke out behind him.
Moving like a shadow, he vaulted over obstacles, crossed the upper platforms with effortless precision, and leapt out through a shattered window, disappearing from sight.
Outside, Steve was already in pursuit.
His newly enhanced body moved with incredible speed, his strides long and powerful as he chased the fleeing spy through the base. Soldiers blurred past him, unable to keep up as he closed the distance.
Locke moved along a different path, taking advantage of higher ground. For a time, he even outpaced Steve, crossing rooftops and structures with calculated efficiency.
Then—
He slowed.
Ahead, the spy burst into a vehicle, attempting to escape.
Locke dropped down from above, landing near the road just as the car accelerated. He surged forward, closing the gap in seconds, and smashed his fist through the window with brutal force.
Glass shattered.
He reached in and dragged the man out violently.
The vial nearly slipped from the spy's grasp, but he caught it just in time. His eyes darted wildly—then, without warning, he grabbed a nearby child and yanked them in front of him.
The gun snapped up, pressed against the child's head.
"Don't move!"
Locke stopped instantly, raising a hand.
"Easy," he said calmly.
Then—
Bang.
The gun fired.
Locke's body jerked, and he collapsed to the ground.
"No!"
Steve's roar tore through the air as he arrived just in time to witness it. His eyes burned with fury as he launched himself forward, leaping several meters into the air in a single bound.
The spy panicked, shoving the child aside before diving off the bridge into the river below.
Steve hesitated.
For a split second, he looked between the fleeing enemy and Locke lying on the ground.
Then he ran to Locke.
But a hand stopped him.
"Go… check on the kid," Locke said, his face pale, his voice strained.
Steve's chest tightened.
He turned, rushing to the edge, only to see the child splashing in the water.
"I'm okay!" the child shouted. "I can swim!"
Steve immediately turned back, kneeling beside Locke. His hands trembled as he pressed against the wound, feeling the warmth of blood seeping through.
"It's nothing," Locke said with a faint smile. "I've taken worse. Grenades, artillery… this is nothing."
His body trembled slightly, but his eyes remained steady.
"Go," he urged, patting Steve's shoulder. "Don't let him get away."
Steve hesitated.
Then, gritting his teeth, he carefully lowered Locke to the ground before sprinting off again.
He reached the river just in time to see the spy escaping in a waiting submarine. Without hesitation, he dove in, cutting through the water in pursuit.
But it was too late.
The submarine accelerated, disappearing into the depths.
Steve surfaced, frustration written across his face. He swam back toward the bridge, exhaustion and anger weighing heavily on him.
By the time he returned, soldiers were already lifting Locke onto a stretcher.
"Make way!"
They carried him toward a waiting military truck.
Steve rushed forward, but Carter stepped in front of him.
"He'll be taken to the best hospital," she said firmly.
Her eyes scanned him quickly, relief flashing when she saw no injuries.
In the aftermath, everything unraveled at once.
The final vial of serum was gone.
Erskine was dead.
And Colonel Locke—the greatest combat hero in the army—had been critically wounded.
The news spread rapidly, reaching the highest levels of government. Under mounting pressure, the military responded with overwhelming force, launching an extended bombardment campaign against German positions that lasted an entire week.
Back at camp, Steve stood in uniform, his expression subdued as he faced Chester.
"You're not going to the front," Chester said firmly. "You're too valuable."
Steve said nothing.
"You'll stay here. Participate in the morale tours. We'll also monitor your blood—see if we can recreate the serum."
Chester placed a hand on his shoulder, then turned and walked away.
The tent fell quiet.
Only Carter remained, watching him.
"How is he?" Steve asked finally, unable to hold it in any longer.
"Stable," Carter replied. "He's recovering."
She paused, then added softly, "He wanted me to tell you something. You're not the same person anymore. Don't forget what Professor Erskine taught you."
Steve nodded slowly.
Then he turned and walked out of the tent.
He had orders to follow.