Chapter Six: Heading to the Front Lines

Refused? He actually refused?!

Hearing Kyle’s straightforward answer, Carter was stunned. Her usually cool and composed face now showed a mix of surprise and uncertainty. “Why? This is what every recruit in the training bases dreams of.”

Kyle smiled, slowly raising one finger and spoke in a relaxed tone, “First of all, this is an experiment. I cannot ignore the possibility of failure, even if the odds are low.”

“I believe in myself. Even without the super soldier serum, I can become the most outstanding soldier.”

Kyle then lifted a second finger, his gaze meaningful. “Second—and this is the most important point.”

“What is it?” Carter asked, her curiosity piqued as never before.

“Although I declined the opportunity to be the first super soldier, I can recommend someone—Steve. He has potential equal to mine! I hope you’ll seriously consider him.”

Those were Kyle’s final words.

Leaving the barracks, Carter remained in a daze. To her, Kyle had given up the chance to become the first super soldier for Steve. She couldn’t decide if it was foolish or admirable loyalty.

“But now, the candidate for the super soldier experiment is practically settled for tomorrow.” Carter sighed. With Kyle, the top candidate, withdrawing, the second candidate, Steve, would take his place.

Inside the barracks, Kyle was still examining the green ability card he’d extracted from Carter. Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud smack, and a thin figure rushed in.

“Steve, what’s got you so worked up?” Kyle didn’t even look up, knowing it was Steve.

“Kyle! Why?!” Steve hurried over to the bed, his face full of confusion as he shouted, “Why did you give up your place as the super soldier?”

“Oh, you found out so quickly?”

“Dr. Abraham came to me and told me.”

“So tomorrow you’ll leave the barracks and head to the secret lab, won’t you?” Kyle smiled knowingly. “Isn’t that good? For you, this is a chance to rise overnight. If you become a super soldier, your whole life will be transformed.”

“For me, of course it’s a dream come true. But you need this opportunity too!” Steve said, struggling with his words.

“If you really want to know why… I can only say that this opportunity is more important for you.” Kyle answered softly. His decision was the result of careful consideration.

As long as he had the card-drawing ability, he could quickly and safely extract others’ abilities. There was no need to risk himself in the super soldier experiment.

Although Steve succeeded as the protagonist in the first Captain America film, the serum’s perfection was never guaranteed. (Even if it worked, there was always a chance of ending up like Red Skull.)

And without Captain America, the main Marvel storyline could derail—something Kyle did not want.

“If you want to thank me, then work hard and complete the super soldier experiment for me. Don’t let me down.” Kyle smiled, sincerely patting Steve’s shoulder.

Brother, you go get stronger and come back, so I can draw your abilities. It’s the most lucrative investment—getting something for nothing.

“Kyle, you’re so good to me.” Unaware of the truth, Steve’s eyes glistened, making Kyle shudder. He almost kicked him off the bed.

The next morning.

Steve packed up and left the training base in secret. None of the recruits knew where he was going, except Kyle, who understood that the super soldier plan had officially begun in a hidden underground base.

Another day passed.

Commander Bryant gathered all the new recruits in the training base and announced the termination of the super soldier project, causing an uproar among the recruits.

Kyle knew everything was unfolding according to Marvel’s history. The first artificial hero in Marvel’s annals—Captain America—had quietly come into existence.

In the commander’s office.

“Unfortunately, the doctor is dead, and the super soldier serum can no longer be produced. Soldier Kyle, you’ve lost your only chance to become a super soldier,” Commander Joseph said regretfully. He truly felt sorry for Kyle.

“This is God’s will,” Kyle replied with a sigh, though inwardly he felt not the slightest ripple.

With the card-drawing ability in hand, who said you needed the super soldier serum to become a super soldier?

Kyle spoke up with a request, “Commander Joseph, I heard Steve succeeded. May I see him?”

“I’m afraid not.” Commander Joseph shook his head and explained, “Steve is at a secret base, undergoing personal training to adapt to his new body. General Chester has ordered that no one be allowed to disturb him.”

“When will the training end?” Kyle asked anxiously.

“Not for several months,” Commander Joseph answered truthfully.

“Several months.” Kyle frowned. This mirrored the plot of the first Captain America film, but he hadn’t expected the training to be so completely closed off. Without access to Steve, he couldn’t extract his ability card.

“Those months will pass quickly. By the way, General Chester has a new mission for you,” Commander Joseph said gravely. “Soldier Kyle, due to your outstanding performance during training, you’ve been selected as an elite recruit to join the 102nd Battalion at the front lines!”

“The front lines?” Kyle’s heart raced. The news was sudden and far exceeded his expectations.

“Kyle, you’re about to face real war. Don’t die so easily at the hands of the Nazis,” Commander Joseph finished, placing combat gear, rifle ammunition, and mission documents for the front lines on the desk.

“Soldier, I’ll follow the General’s orders.” Kyle accepted the items, feeling a bit unsettled.

He hadn’t expected to be sent to the front so soon, to take part in World War II!

He had planned to obtain the super soldier ability card from Steve and face the war with strong assurance, but now it had come suddenly!

It was, in a way, the consequence of his outstanding performance in training—he graduated from the base ahead of schedule and was sent to the front.

Commander Joseph waved in farewell. “A helicopter will come to pick you up this afternoon. Go prepare yourself.”

“Yes.” Kyle nodded, carrying his belongings out of the office.

“Come back alive, kid,” Commander Joseph sighed as he watched Kyle leave. In the midst of large-scale war, no matter how talented, every soldier faced a high probability of death.

Opening the door, Kyle was greeted by warm sunlight that swept away the gloom in his heart.

He loosened his grip on the combat uniform and smiled freely.

The path will reveal itself as you walk. Now, whether in physique or skill, he was the best of the best, and with the card-drawing system, there was no reason he would die in this mere World War II!

If he were to die, let it be under Thanos’s snap in the future.

Kyle encouraged himself, regaining his spirit, and strode forward with renewed confidence.