Chapter Thirty-Four: The Sword of Carbon-Sodium Steel

“All right, since Kyle has already said so, let Steve use this shield,” Howard said after a moment of thought. “Actually, there’s another piece of equipment. Though it doesn’t match this shield overall, its offensive power is several times greater.”

“Don’t keep us in suspense—if you’ve got another weapon, bring it out now,” Kyle urged him.

“Just a moment,” Howard replied, opening another cargo crate and retrieving an object resembling a longsword. The hilt fit snugly in the palm, while the rest was sheathed in a leather scabbard.

“What is that…” Kyle’s gaze locked onto the item, and immediately a blue card’s message flashed before his eyes.

Sword of Carbanium Steel: A high-craftsmanship longsword forged from Carbanium alloy. Blue item card.

Carbanium is a radioactive metal, not as hard as Adamantine, but exceptionally ductile, which allows for an extremely thin blade. This longsword is both resilient and razor-sharp, capable of suppressing the body’s healing factor and inflicting permanent wounds.

While it lacks a rare prefix, its blue quality alone testifies to its excellence.

“A longsword made of Carbanium steel,” Kyle murmured, reaching out to take the sword. Gripping the cold hilt, he drew the blade from its sheath, and a chill blue gleam instantly danced through the basement.

It was a single-handed sword, the crossguard stretched into a cruciform with the blade, its edge sharpened to perfection—no one could doubt its ability to cleave through iron as if it were mud.

Howard explained, “The Carbanium alloy for this sword came from the Russians, and there was only enough to make a small one-handed sword. I designed it in a medieval style—hope you like it.”

“I like it very much,” Kyle nodded immediately, unable to hide the satisfaction on his face.

With the vibranium bracers for defense, what he needed most now was an offensive weapon. Against German troops equipped with advanced energy weapons, his Nepalese combat knife could no longer keep up with the intensity of battle.

This Carbanium steel sword was the perfect replacement for his old knife, whose blade was now chipped and worn.

“All right, then. One of you wields the shield, the other the sword. As the leaders and top combatants of the team, you’ll be even more confident in storming and destroying the German factory bases,” Howard said. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Tell me your requirements for the combat suit in a bit. I can have it made tonight. That way, both of you will be fully equipped.”

Kyle nodded; after all, it was just a matter of modifying Captain America’s battle suit. As long as the color scheme, patterns, and the cowl were changed, he could just about accept it.

Steve said, “Our team is pretty much assembled—no more, no less, capped at five hundred. With the Germans’ new energy weapons as the mainstay and conventional arms as backup, we’ll have an elite assault force ready.”

“It seems that we can begin as soon as the intelligence officers finish their analysis and Headquarters gives the order,” Kyle said with a cold edge to his smile. “Red Skull, let’s see how long you can keep hiding.”

Seeing Kyle’s face harden, Fury instinctively took half a step back, for the first time feeling sorry for the Germans—after all, they were now in the sights of a living god of war.

Another day passed.

That morning, after an hour-long discussion with the general, the base’s colonel finally received the official attack order.

The highest authority was given to Second Lieutenant Kyle, with Captain Steve as the team leader. The two would lead a five-hundred-strong force into enemy territory, advancing thirty miles into the warzone with the first factory base as their target.

The assault order was named: Operation White Star.

That afternoon, in the base’s underground lab.

Carter hurried down the corridor, looking around as if searching for someone, and finally jogged toward the research room.

As soon as she opened the door, a powerful explosion tinged with blue light erupted inside. Two researchers in lab coats were blown off their feet by the blast wave and landed awkwardly on the floor.

“Stark, are you all right?” Carter called out, startled as she looked at Howard and his assistant, both sitting on the ground.

“It’s nothing. We were just experimenting with the Germans’ new energy source,” Howard replied, climbing to his feet and frowning. “What brings you here? Isn’t Kyle and Steve’s team about to set out?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask you!” Carter said, glancing around the empty lab with a frown. “I thought they were here getting ready.”

Howard shook his head. “No. Kyle picked up his combat suit last night, but I haven’t seen either of them since. They’re probably organizing the team in the plaza.”

“They really are a handful,” Carter muttered, stamping her foot before hurrying toward the base’s main square.

When she arrived at the central plaza, she found it packed with soldiers, all craning their necks and pushing forward to get the best view.

Just then, a cold, commanding voice rang out from the inner circle: “By my order, everyone sit down—now!”

In an instant, over a thousand American soldiers obeyed, settling down and plunging the bustling square into sudden silence.

On the outer edge of the crowd, only Carter, who had just arrived, remained standing in confusion.

Following her gaze to the center, she saw that the five hundred-strong assault force was gathered in the inner ring, while the rest of the base’s soldiers formed the outer circle.

In the five-meter radius of open space at the center, two tall, well-built young men stood facing each other.

One wore a blue-and-white combat suit, a silver star of American justice on his chest, a dark-blue mask covering his face, and a brilliantly colored metal shield strapped to his back.

The other wore a black-and-gold version of the same suit, with a spinning cross symbolizing death on his chest. He was bareheaded, revealing sharp, handsome features, and a single-handed sword in a leather scabbard strapped to his back.

“Steve, Kyle—what on earth are you doing?” Carter muttered in bewilderment, watching as the two men became the focus of the crowd’s attention.

In the center, Kyle stared straight at Steve and said coldly, “Steve, are we really going to fight? Our departure time is almost here.”

“Yes! Consider it a warmup,” Steve replied firmly, clenching his fists and dropping into a close-combat stance.

“I won’t be holding back,” Kyle warned, narrowing his eyes. He didn’t know why Steve suddenly wanted a spar before setting out, but he had no reason to back down.

“Show me everything you’ve got,” Steve said resolutely.

“Very well,” Kyle replied, a faint smile crossing his lips. He too ignored the weapon on his back, raising his fists and mirroring Steve’s fighting stance.

So I’ve heard you’re a match for anyone you face? Then today, let me give you a proper lesson.