Chapter Sixty-Three: The Entire Army Advances

If the ability to read and sacrifice cards enables an individual's power to surge rapidly, even growing stronger in the face of adversity, then this third, entirely new granting card ability extends that trait to an entire team or faction.

"In this way, after the Second World War ends, the plan to cultivate a family power will take another significant step forward," Kyle mused, his excitement difficult to contain. Previously, even with plans to build a power base, he merely possessed a massive ancient Dragon Turtle Island as his territory's seed. But the granting card ability would truly serve as the foundation and heritage for the creation of a family.

Natasha, bound in restraints, noticed the increasingly peculiar look in Kyle's eyes and turned her face away, biting her lip. Hmph, men... always creatures ruled by their lower halves, even American heroes are no exception.

"Am I really going to meet my end here?" Natasha glanced furtively around the cold, cramped interrogation room, herself bound with ropes and a collar...

"What are you observing? I told you, don't even think about escaping," Kyle snapped, returning from his futuristic blueprint reveries to stare coldly at Natasha, whose head was constantly darting about.

Natasha murmured with a hint of resentment, "Fine, we can do whatever you want, but at least untie me first. It would make things more comfortable for both of us."

"Comfortable? What nonsense," Kyle glared at her before softening. "Natasha, is your only dream to grow stronger? If I could make you even more powerful, would you still want to return to the Red Room?"

"You want to turn me?" Natasha's eyes flickered, and she refused outright. "Whether I return or not isn't up to me. If I betray the organization, they'd send agents to kill me."

"If you join me, would you fear the Red Room at all?" Kyle scoffed, but fell silent, deep in thought. His words lacked the power to truly persuade. No matter how strong he was, it was difficult to face a superpower's elite agent organization alone. And although he was a US major general, his available resources were essentially the country's.

He didn't yet possess the trump card to convince Natasha to betray the Red Room, so this conversation would have to wait for another time.

"Think it over by yourself. I can't promise much now, but from this moment, I can at least guarantee your personal safety," Kyle said, standing up from his chair. He reached behind his back to draw the sodium-carbon steel sword and sliced through the ropes binding Natasha's waist.

In the next instant, the ropes fell away, dropping to the floor.

"One day, you'll understand: the choice I've given you today is a grace even God couldn't bestow," Kyle declared confidently, opened the interrogation room door, and prepared to leave.

Natasha called out, "At least take off this collar around my neck!"

"Be good. I'll have someone bring you food regularly. Don't even think about escaping," Kyle shrugged, stepped outside, and locked the reinforced door behind him.

If she wanted to escape, even a whole squad of American soldiers might not be enough to stop her. But if she harbored even the slightest desire to leave the Red Room, she would accept her status as a captive and remain.

It was a subtle psychological game.

With the battleship about to set sail, Kyle decided to leave these matters until after the upcoming campaign.

"He really left?" Alone in the interrogation room, Natasha slumped in her chair, head tilted as she pondered Kyle's proposal.

Betray the Red Room and join him?

"No matter how you look at it, it's the worst possible choice," Natasha grumbled, scratching her head before giving up and resting her head on the table.

Years later, as the top family spokesperson and deputy director of SHIELD, Natasha would tell the visiting media, "Others—and even I myself—find it hard to imagine that the most important turning point of my life came while I was a captive, a collar around my neck."

...

On the deck of the battleship, beneath the blazing midday sun, thousands of American soldiers in combat gear and armed with rifles stood at attention in neat ranks, their gazes fixed on the cold young man clad in a general's uniform.

"Anchors have been raised..."

"Naval sailors are in position at all battle stations!"

"Captain and first mate are ready in the control center!"

"All combat troops are fully equipped and ready for battle!"

Fury finished his report, set down his communicator, and saluted the young man by the railing. "Departure time is imminent! Awaiting Major General Kyle's orders!"

Kyle nodded, gazing out across the boundless sea. "Then set sail! Our target—the Normandy coast!"

"Yes, sir!" Fury replied, immediately relaying instructions through his communicator.

Soon, the battleship led the fleet, forging ahead as the vanguard, cutting through the waves. Hundreds of other ships followed, advancing across miles of sea in a mighty procession.

On the turbulent waters, thousands of aircraft like swarms of bees filled the sky, heading in the same direction.

The Allied forces this time numbered over two million soldiers! Weapons and ammunition beyond counting! The coming landing operation would be unimaginably fierce.

Standing at the bow, Kyle shed his general's coat, revealing the seamless black venom combat suit beneath.

A sodium-carbon steel sword rested on his back, his right arm and hand encased in cold vibranium armor, twin energy pistols strapped to his thighs, and new gravity magnet gear affixed to his belt—a fully armed warrior.

Fury approached Kyle and whispered, "Don't charge ahead too recklessly this time. You're a major general, a priority target for the enemy."

Kyle smiled. "Relax, you're handling rear command for the troops I lead, aren't you?"

"I just worry..." Fury trailed off, realizing he was wasting his breath and shrugging helplessly.

Kyle was not someone he needed to fret over.

After all, Kyle had never been a mere paper commander; he was a true super-soldier on the battlefield.

Fury explained, "Once our battleship reaches the coast, the Allied forces will split into five groups for the landing. The ships and aircraft will support us, suppressing enemy tanks and fortifications. The troops will advance, capturing everything in their path, eliminating enemy forces, and liberating France from German occupation."

"Just give me the direction and range of attack," Kyle replied coldly.

Offensive operations were his domain!