The entire collection room was only about fifty square meters, and in the middle were neatly stacked piles of gold that filled the room. Charles Kawalsky had never seen so much gold in his life. He swallowed hard, his heart filled with disdain for such a display of wealth—contempt for such show-off behavior.
At the end of the collection room stood a huge safe. It was unclear what was inside, and the two walls were covered with jewelry, each piece looking incredibly valuable. One of the diamonds, the size of a baby's fist, shone so brightly that Charles' eyes began to dry out.
Charles pointed to a piece of metal sealed behind glass and asked, "Is that Vibranium in the glass box?"
"No, that's just an ordinary piece of metal," Bakuto replied, pointing to a metal object resembling a climbing pickaxe in the corner of the room.
"What's sealed in the glass, then?" Charles asked.
"Just a decoy, to confuse people."
Charles didn't believe it, so he grabbed Bakuto's shoulder and ordered him to open the glass lid. Bakuto obediently opened the lid, took out the metal inside, and handed it to Charles.
As soon as Bakuto took out the metal, a piercing alarm sounded in the room outside the study, and the guards outside rushed towards the study.
Charles immediately grabbed Bakuto by the head. "Are you playing with your life?" Charles said, instantly alert.
"I wouldn't dare. I opened it with a password. The alarm was triggered by the patrol outside. I'm being honest; the Vibranium is in the corner. You can check it for yourself." Bakuto didn't entirely tell the truth here. The glass box indeed contained an ordinary piece of metal, but it was alarmed to prevent theft. The idea was that anyone stealing would assume it was Vibranium and would make Bakuto open the safe, taking out the metal for them. It was a clever double protection method.
Charles gripped the metal hard with his hands, embedding several deep fingerprints into the seemingly solid piece. It was clear this was not Vibranium. Charles then took Bakuto to the corner, picked up the Vibranium that looked like a mountaineering pickaxe, and squeezed it hard.
The entire piece of metal began to vibrate in his hands, slowly shedding the rust and revealing its original metallic luster.
Charles was overjoyed. The metal was indeed Vibranium. He quickly placed it into his tactical pocket but actually stored it in the space provided by his Cheat System.
"Is there an escape route here? I'll use you as a shield when we leave. If your men fire, you'll be the first to die."
"Yes, yes, but you must promise to let me go. Otherwise, I'd rather die with you."
"I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't. Killing you serves me no purpose. But I can't guarantee anything; you'll just have to trust me."
Bakuto gritted his teeth and chose to trust Charles.
"There's a secret passage behind the safe."
Charles walked up to the safe and pushed it hard. His divine strength left palm prints on the surface, but the safe didn't budge.
Bakuto, seeing the palm prints, cursed the "monster" in his heart, then said, "The safe itself is part of the wall. You can't push it. The secret passage is behind it."
Bakuto reached out to adjust the combination lock and opened the safe door with great effort. Inside was another pile of gold. On the side of the safe, close to the wall, was a hidden compartment. Bakuto pressed it hard.
The lower part of the safe popped outwards, revealing a small tunnel, half the height of a person.
Bakuto pointed at the tunnel, "This is the secret passage. The exit is on the hillside opposite the gate."
Charles felt a slight breeze coming from the passage and knew it wasn't a dead end. He dragged Bakuto towards the opening.
Bakuto screamed, "You said you wouldn't kill me!"
Charles just tossed him out of the safe, closed the door, stuffed a few large gold bricks into his personal space, and then quickly entered the secret passage, running to the other end.
Bakuto, after being thrown, hit the gold bricks in the collection room. The neatly arranged gold fell to the floor. The guards outside the study, hearing the commotion, rushed in and were greeted by two headless corpses.
The smaller one was clearly Bakuto's 'close' bodyguard, while the other two "half" corpses attracted horrified stares. The guards, putting the severed parts together in their minds, recognized them as another guard named Carter, who died miserably, with his chest and legs separated.
At this point, the subordinates assumed Bakuto was also in danger. The clever ones began planning to grab valuable items and flee, while others thought of going back to pack up and marry in their hometowns.
Bakuto, who didn't expect to still be alive, reached out to touch his head, relieved to find it still attached to his neck. He felt a wave of joy at surviving.
Hearing the noise outside, he quickly shouted, "I'm here." When he stood up, he saw in the reflection of a gold nugget that he looked disheveled, his head bloody. Realizing his three personal bodyguards were dead, he knew that if his subordinates saw him in this state, his prestige would be ruined.
The death of his three guards would lessen his deterrence. Combined with his current loss of prestige and the temptation of the wealth in the collection room, he feared he might be in real danger.
But Bakuto, , remained clear-headed, thinking through all of this. Most people wouldn't have the capacity to do so.
"Don't come in here, I'm fine," Bakuto ordered.
The bodyguards outside, hearing Bakuto's voice, were all anxious. They'd served as bodyguards long enough to know how to act. They pretended to want to sacrifice themselves for their leader and rushed toward the collection room, ready to die.
They ignored Bakuto's instruction to stay back, eager to show off their loyalty.
Bakuto then shouted, "I'll kill anyone who comes in here."
The group suddenly stopped, looking at each other in confusion. Those with sharp eyes noticed the room was filled with rare treasures but didn't dare say a word.
Bakuto slowly walked out, holding his bleeding head, and asked, "Where's Mauro?" He wanted to ensure that Mauro was truly dead.
"Lord Mauro was also attacked. His head's gone, only his body remains," one of the subordinates replied.
Bakuto's eyes grew even colder. Originally, he planned to make a fortune by leveraging the Vibranium, but now he had lost everything—three generals and a fortune. He had suffered greatly.
"Where are Victor and Barton?" Bakuto asked again.
"Here!" Two men from the back of the group responded.
These two were Bakuto's trusted confidants. He needed them to guard the study and protect him from Charles' possible retaliation while sending others to chase after Charles.
So he ordered, "Victor, Barton, you two and your men stay in the study. Mark, take your team and 30 more from the outer courtyard to chase the killer on the opposite hillside. Bring some hounds. If you don't catch him before dawn, come back. Everyone else, reorganize the manor and restore order as soon as possible."
After issuing orders, the subordinates quickly complied and left. Bakuto shut the collection room door and headed to the telegraph room, asking Victor and Barton to guard the door while he entered.
Amidst a rhythmic ticking sound, a telegram flew out of the manor, carried by electromagnetic waves over the African continent, and reached its destination.
Thousands of miles away in Washington, a telegraph operator arrived at a room with a translated telegram and respectfully announced, "There's an urgent telegram from Africa."
"Come in," a voice, both aged and authoritative, replied from inside the room.
On the letter paper held by the telegraph operator, the first line clearly read: "Dear Mrs. Gao."
-----------
After entering the secret passage, Charles Kawalsky didn't hesitate for a moment. He ran swiftly through the narrow corridor, reaching its end in no time. Bursting through the overgrown vegetation blocking the exit, he quickly emerged onto a hillside.
Determining his bearings, Charles accelerated towards the predetermined rendezvous point.
Within 3 seconds, his speed hit 80km/h. In this state, Charles could maintain his pace for 20 minutes before exhaustion would start to set in. However, he wasn't worried—his escape had been meticulously planned. A helicopter was stationed just 15 kilometers away, ready to pick him up.
Charles calculated that it would take at least 3 minutes for anyone in the manor to begin pursuit, leaving him ample time to make his getaway. He estimated it would take around 13 minutes to reach the meeting point.
His assessment was accurate. Five minutes after his departure, the manor's forces finally responded, delayed by the unexpectedly intense disruption caused by the frontal assault team. The patrol teams had suffered significant casualties, resulting in a slower-than-expected reaction, which gave Charles the time he needed.
By the time the patrol teams arrived, Charles had already covered five or six kilometers. Under the cover of night, tracking him was difficult, and the chemicals he used to mask his scent rendered the hounds useless.
The pursuers could only approximate his escape route by examining faint footprints. But by the time they reached the halfway point, Charles had already boarded the helicopter.
...
At the Hydra base in Africa, Charles Kawalsky was greeted by someone unfamiliar to him but whose reputation preceded him—Dr. Arnim Zola.
Dr. Zola was no ordinary scientist. Among the top ten geniuses of the Marvel Universe, Zola had, in an era when computer technology was in its infancy, managed to digitize his consciousness and upload it into a computer. He was also humanity's greatest genetic scientist, renowned for his work in mind transfer technology.
Digitizing consciousness and integrating it into a computer was a monumental achievement, more revolutionary than creating artificial intelligence. Zola's intellect was decades ahead of contemporary science.
Given such credentials, Charles had no doubt that the organization trusted Dr. Zola with the task of studying Vibranium.
Dr. Zola had been eagerly awaiting Charles's return at the entrance of the base. Upon hearing about Vibranium—a metal with unique force-absorbing properties—he could not contain his curiosity. Moreover, he was excited to study Charles, the first successful recipient of the Super Soldier Serum at this base. Dr. Zola had volunteered to conduct research on both Charles and Vibranium.
As soon as Dr. Zola saw Charles, he became so engrossed that he momentarily forgot about Vibranium. In Charles, Zola saw the potential for human evolution—a subject he had dedicated his life to studying. Despite having numerous blood samples from Charles, much like Dr. Abraham Erskine, Zola had been unable to uncover the secret of Charles's success.
The beauty of science lies in its mysteries—answers awaiting discovery through rigorous study. The satisfaction of unraveling these mysteries surpasses even the most intense of experiences.
Dr. Zola meticulously examined Charles's body, his gaze hungry with curiosity. "Zero, how are you?" he asked, unable to mask his excitement.
The Vibranium itself was of secondary importance; the real value lay in discovering its source, which could potentially determine the outcome of the war.
Charles remained silent, recognizing that Dr. Zola, without a military badge, was not in a position of authority. Despite knowing the significance of the situation, Charles refused to answer.
The base's former top commander quickly reminded Dr. Zola, who then rephrased his request: "Obey, and you will be rewarded."
Charles immediately snapped to attention. "If I obey, I will be rewarded," he replied.
"Number Zero, report your mission's outcome."
Charles recounted the mission in detail, explaining how the Vibranium was acquired and how the trail went cold after Bakuto killed the first informant.
Dr. Zola pondered for a moment. "It appears the Vibranium likely originates from an alien civilization. I'll report this to our superiors. Did you obtain a sample?"
Charles reached into his tactical pocket, retrieving the Vibranium from his portable space, and handed it to Dr. Zola.
Dr. Zola, after receiving the Vibranium, handed it to the base's former top commander, instructing him to store it in the laboratory. For Zola, studying Charles was far more urgent than examining the Vibranium.
Zola prided himself on being a leading geneticist, though his approach differed from Dr. Abraham Erskine's. While Erskine focused on enhancing the human body, Zola's work involved manipulating the mind—eventually allowing him to predict people's futures through algorithms. Despite their divergent paths, Zola was intensely interested in the superhuman that Erskine had created in Charles. Now, with the opportunity to study Charles's physiology, Zola was eager to uncover the key factors behind his success—factors that even Erskine hadn't discovered.
...
July 1938, Hydra African Base.
"How can this be? I must be missing something!" Dr. Zola raged at the mountain of experimental data in front of him.
In less than a month, Charles had been drained of nearly a hundred tubes of blood. While his enhanced physiology and nutrient dense solution allowed him to recover quickly, the procedure was excruciating. Charles's body was so resilient that standard needles couldn't penetrate his skin, requiring special methods for blood collection.
Initially, Dr. Zola used a mild combination of anesthetics and muscle relaxants to lower Charles's defenses, allowing blood collection while he was unconscious. However, Charles soon developed resistance to these drugs, rendering them ineffective.
As time passed, Dr. Zola's frustration grew. In a fit of rage, when Charles remained conscious after an anesthetic injection, Zola fired a submachine gun at Charles's arm, tearing away muscle and bone. Blood poured from the wound, and Zola eagerly ordered it to be collected.
But Charles, driven by a survival instinct that even brainwashing couldn't fully suppress, lunged at Dr. Zola, intent on killing him. However, Zola, panicking, shouted, "Soldier, stop! Obey the order, obey!"
Charles halted mid-attack. "If you obey, you will be rewarded," he recited.
Now was not the time to rebel. Charles knew he had to bide his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. When the time came, Zola wouldn't escape, not even to transfer his consciousness.
Seeing Charles stop, Dr. Zola, still shaken, calmed himself. "A tool is just a tool. Strong muscles but no brain—only fit to be used by others," he muttered, dismissing Charles as he ordered more blood to be collected.
The base's original commander soon heard about the incident. Unable to report beyond his rank, he approached Dr. Zola, warning, "Dr. Zola, although Number Zero has been successfully brainwashed, he still has a self-preservation instinct. I hope you'll take care."
But Dr. Zola, waving him off, replied, "I know exactly what I'm doing. You may leave—I have research to continue." His tone was dismissive, as if swatting away a fly.
Infuriated by Zola's arrogance, the base commander left, seething at the disrespect. Although Zola's position made him untouchable, the commander couldn't shake the sense that Zola was pushing his luck.
From that day on, Dr. Zola's treatment of Charles grew more brutal. He had Charles restrained on the examination table, administering aerosolized anesthetics and muscle relaxants over long periods while repeating, "Obey, and you will be rewarded." Zola seemed indifferent to whether Charles lived or died.
This grim routine continued for over ten days, until finally, a turning point emerged.
----------
In August 1938, Johann Schmidt sent a telegram to the African base, ordering Charles Kawalsky to immediately bring vibranium to the base where the serum was being tested. There were reports that the Allies were preparing to send a team to attack, targeting the research results from the serum experiments.
After the last base was mysteriously discovered, Schmidt felt an inexplicable sense of unease. The base had been deserted, and there was no large-scale mobilization. The Allies were focused on the broader war effort and shouldn't have noticed such a small base—unless there was a traitor. Although Schmidt couldn't identify the informer, he had spies within the Allies who provided valuable intelligence.
This time, according to a spy's report, the Allies had sent several teams, approximately 200 troops, to operate near this base. Conveniently, the spy was part of this operation. Upon learning of the plan, he immediately informed Schmidt, who deduced that the teams were likely targeting him.
At the time, there were fewer than 50 soldiers stationed at the base. While they had sufficient experimental equipment, they were unlikely to be able to fend off the incoming force. Schmidt decided to recall Charles Kawalsky, instructing him to bring vibranium back to help defend the base. He also planned to evacuate himself, Dr. Abraham Erskine, and some valuable scientific researchers.
Charles Kawalsky set out that night and arrived at the base early the next morning.
From the plane, the Hydra base was barely visible, hidden among strange rocks and dense forests, like a poisonous snake. Kawalsky's eyes deepened with a sense of foreboding—this could be the perfect opportunity to escape from Hydra that he had been waiting for.
Upon safely landing, a soldier approached him and said, "Master Schmidt ordered you to go to the laboratory to find him immediately."
Kawalsky promptly went to the lab where Johann Schmidt was waiting. Upon seeing him, Schmidt said, "No. Zero, you will be rewarded if you obey."
"If I obey, I will be rewarded," Kawalsky responded, standing at attention.
"Very good. Now, bite off a piece of your own flesh and give it to me," Schmidt demanded, his expression anxious, as if he were trying to solve an impossible problem.
Kawalsky immediately bit into his arm, hiding his inner turmoil as he tore off a piece of flesh and handed it to Schmidt.
Schmidt took the flesh and passed it to Dr. Abraham Erskine, who looked solemn.
Several hours later, as the lab was analyzing the sample, a soldier rushed in to report: "Sir, as you suspected, a group of unidentified troops has been spotted outside."
Already on edge, Schmidt pulled out his gun and ordered, "No. Zero, come with me and eliminate those ungrateful insects. Doctor, you stay here; we'll deal with them before we move."
Following orders, Kawalsky headed toward the perimeter. He wanted to observe whether the intruders were there to retrieve Dr. Erskine. According to the timeline, Erskine should have been headed to the United States by now. If the intruders were indeed here for him, today would be the perfect time to break away from Hydra. If not, Kawalsky planned to kidnap Erskine and hand him over to the Allies, thus abandoning the dark side for the light. Then he would blame Schmidt for his previous actions.
Kawalsky had rehearsed his lines in his head: He would explain that he was kidnapped by the evil Hydra for human experimentation, turning him into a pitiful guinea pig (his tone would be filled with righteous indignation against the wicked Hydra). He would describe how Hydra brainwashed him, making him a mindless tool of Johann Schmidt. Though he was unconscious of his actions, he felt immense pain for the murders he had committed. He would recount the daily torture he endured at the hands of the mad scientist Zola, and how, once he regained some clarity, he wanted to kill Schmidt but lacked the opportunity. Finally, he would reveal that upon learning of the Allies' mission to eradicate Hydra, he resolved to remain useful, cooperating with the martyrs to kill Schmidt. He would then express his desire for peace and deep hatred for the Nazi Party, praising the Allies' glory with tears of gratitude.
As Kawalsky was lost in thought, sprinting ahead, Johann Schmidt suddenly halted and ordered him, "No. [0], continue forward and prepare to eliminate the intruders." Schmidt then turned back, leaving Kawalsky alone with a few soldiers. Kawalsky wondered if his boss was planning to escape without him.
Watching Schmidt retreat, Kawalsky had a sudden realization. He ran forward with the remaining soldiers, and at a sharp turn, he spun around, grabbing two soldiers by the neck and snapping their necks with ease. The remaining five or six soldiers behind were unaware of what had just happened.
Without hesitation, Kawalsky shot the remaining soldiers. Sparing them the torment of further struggle was his final act of mercy. Then he sprinted back toward the base.
...
Meanwhile, in the laboratory, Dr. Erskine noticed that Schmidt and Kawalsky had gone far away. He began to pack up his research notes and the serum he had developed. He had previously made contact with Allied personnel and was willing to defect to the Allies. Originally, the last base was raided by the Allies to retrieve him, but the mission had failed. After being relocated to this base, he had not been moved since.
The Allies were particularly interested in Kawalsky, a successful test subject, and had expressed a desire to bring him and Erskine to their side. Of course, they were indifferent to whether Kawalsky arrived alive or dead, so they had instructed Erskine to wait for his return.
Just days earlier, the Allies had used Hydra spies to leak information that they were planning an attack on the base. Upon hearing this, Schmidt recalled Kawalsky, and the Allies, informed by Erskine, commenced their operation.
Dr. Erskine felt a pang of guilt. His research was originally meant to end the war—his intentions were noble. However, every side wanted to exploit his results for their own gain, even the United States, which preached justice and freedom, seemed no different.
In truth, this was understandable. Just as the inventor of E=mc² could never have anticipated that his equation would bring "nuclear peace" to the world, science itself was neither good nor evil. It was like a miner who works hard to extract metal; whether that metal is used to build houses or forge weapons, the miner has no control over its fate.
Erskine was the same—an old man with knowledge but no power. Regardless of what happened, he believed that the world was better off in the hands of the Allies than under the control of the Third Reich.
As Dr. Erskine packed the serum and his notes, he failed to notice a figure armed with a gun slowly approaching him from behind.
--------
"Put the serum down and turn your body slowly, doctor." John Schmidt pointed the gun at Abraham and said.
Hearing this familiar voice, Abraham's heart trembled, and he immediately put down the serum and turned around obediently.
Abraham smiled bitterly and said, "You have already doubted me, right?"
"Since the last base was taken down, I have started to secretly clean up some of the spies I know. But this time our base was exposed again, and I began to suspect that the spies came from our top. Of course, the person I least want to suspect is you, Doctor. The Third Reich has given you great honor and respect, and the head of state has personally received you and praised your career. I don't understand why you would betray the Third Reich and our great glory." John Schmidt said coldly.
"For this experiment and the glory I once believed in, I have seen the Third Reich persecuting innocent people with my own eyes. I watched people, including civilians and children under ten years old, die tragically in front of me. My original intention in inventing a serum was to bring peace to the world, not to help the evil rulers fulfill their desire to conquer," Abraham said.
"Evil? When we eliminate other hostile countries and make our great Third Reich the sole ruler, our descendants will call us heroes. You know, history has always been written by the victors. After we win, we are the embodiment of justice." John Schmidt said enthusiastically. "Let me guess which country persuaded you to betray our great Third Reich. It should be the hypocritical USA. They always like to pretend to be righteous. They are worse than a vile creature to achieve their own dirty purposes. Believe it or not, if they win this war, the USA, which you think is just, will use the banner of justice to interfere in the affairs of other countries, provoking disputes within those countries to maintain the dominance they gained through this war!"
At this time, Abraham remained silent. He was a man who could be called a great figure in the scientific community, but he was not skilled in navigating the conflicting interests among national political groups. However, the expression on his face already expressed his determination. Now he would rather die than continue this work of harming his compatriots for the Third Reich.
"Since you are so ignorant, just go to hell. Even without you, we still have a successful sample called Zero. According to your experimental data and documents, sooner or later we will uncover the secret recipe for super soldier enhancement. If you let the Allies capture you, it may cause irreversible damage to our Third Reich." After saying this, John Schmidt placed his finger on the trigger.
Abraham closed his eyes and waited silently for death.
With a 'bang', Abraham fell to the ground. At this time, his mind began to review his life like a lantern.
When he was young, he worked hard to obtain a doctorate in genetics and conducted research on human body enhancement. After the military learned about his research direction, he was recruited into the army.
Not long after, he was even met by the Hitler, who encouraged him to contribute to the country and praised his research.
At that time, he was very high-spirited. Not long after, he was selected into Hydra's research department and led the team to conduct serum research. At the same time, he also saw many innocent people die tragically in his project. At that time, he began to doubt whether the career he was engaged in was as just as he imagined.
But he didn't dare to think about it, just like many years ago when the geocentric theory was popular, people didn't dare to think about whether the heliocentric theory was correct. Later, people from the Allied Powers contacted him, hoping to enlist him in their fight for justice. On that day, he hesitated and hesitated in his heart, not knowing which was just—his country or the USA.
He recalled the day Zero successfully passed the test, and he felt extremely excited because this success proved that his research was correct and his theory was feasible.
He thought again of Zero, an Austrian boy who was only eighteen or nineteen years old. When he first met him, Abraham didn't pay much attention to this frail young man. At that time, he was so disgraced that it was impossible to tell that he was still a child. At this young age, he was brutally experimented by Hydra and ruthlessly brainwashed into a murder tool.
Abraham had no heirs in his life, and he always regarded Zero, the first enhanced human he successfully created, as his own child. This also made him hate Hydra even more, hate Hydra's cruelty, and hate his own inability to stop it. If he and Zero could live, he really wanted to adopt Zero and make him a normal child instead of a killing tool.
The doctor fell heavily to the ground. The strange thing was that he did not feel the arrival of death. Instead, he felt a little pain in his buttocks from being squatted.
"Doctor, what are you acting here for? It's like the bullet hit you." Charles Kawalsky looked at the pistol he had kicked away, and then at the doctor who fell on the ground. The doctor's expression and posture were so standard that it felt rehearsed. Charles even doubted whether a bullet had really hit him.
After hearing this, Dr. Abraham, who was lying on the ground, touched himself and felt no blood or pain. He quickly sat up and checked. He was sure that there were no wounds on his body. Only then did he raise his head to look. Seeing who the person was, he realized that the person who saved him was...
"Number Zero! What are you doing?" John Schmidt, whose pistol was kicked away, shouted loudly, "Number Zero, I order you to kill Abraham."
He saw Number Zero staring at him unmoved, with a face full of teasing. John Schmidt felt a chill. Then he yelled without giving up, "Number Zero, obey the order, obey, obey and you will get..."
Before he finished speaking, Charles Kawalsky went up and slapped John Schmidt on the face. The force of the slap was so strong that half of John Schmidt's teeth were knocked out.
"Obey! Obey! I won't obey . You were very happy when you ordered me around before, and you even stabbed me. It's true that you stabbed me. I asked you if you felt very happy." Charles became more and more enraged as he spoke, grabbed John Schmidt's collar, and started working on his face.
After a series of slaps, not even a single tooth was left in Johann Schmidt's mouth. His once cold and handsome face was now swollen into a pig's head, and no trace of his original handsomeness remained.
It can be said that if the current Johann Schmidt were thrown in front of his mother, she would not even recognize him as her son. Of course, if he had a mother.
Seeing John Schmidt being beaten to such a state, Abraham couldn't help but step back, trying desperately to reduce his presence. Charles Kawalsky was only transformed because of his research project. If he beat Schmidt and then came to trouble me again, he was too old to bear the trouble.
"Doctor, don't step back. Your acting skills just now are deeply rooted in people's hearts. How could I forget you?" Charles Kawalsky said calmly.
When Abraham heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and he lowered his head in dismay.
"How did you get rid of control?" John Schmidt said vaguely.
"That's all thanks to Dr. Zola." Charles Kawalsky glanced at Abraham, who was also listening intently, and thought to himself: I am also telling you this.
"Thanks to him torturing me all day long at the African base, and always talking nonsense about being rewarded if you obey, I suddenly woke up one day and wanted to kill him right then. If I hadn't wanted to wait until I saw you and kill you, I wouldn't have come here again." In fact, there were many loopholes in Charles Kawalsky's words, such as why he wanted to save Abraham when he wanted to kill Schmidt.
In reality, Charles didn't come here specifically to kill Schmidt. Schmidt couldn't be killed. After killing him, Captain America would not be frozen, and the Avengers team would lose their key characters, making it difficult to resist Thanos.
Abraham cannot die. After killing him, Captain America cannot be born. Charles Kawalsky's original understanding of the Marvel Universe was limited to a few movies and some film reviews. If the plot changes too much, it would be even more difficult for him to control the subsequent development.
"No!" Charles Kawalsky suddenly thought that the biggest impact of his coming to this world was to replace Schmidt and become the first enhanced person. However, because the successful enhancement was the effect of the title rather than the specialness of his own body, it did not bring special results to Abraham and the others. Even the Vibranium that appeared before this could not be traced due to the death of the clue person. Even the Vibranium itself was in its own portable space, causing the world's understanding of Vibranium to be limited to Bakuto's boasting, and it did not affect the world structure.
The Butterfly Effect was first introduced by American meteorologist Edward Lorenz in a paper presented to the New York Academy of Sciences. Lorenz had created a computer program capable of simulating climate changes and displaying them graphically. Upon returning from a coffee break, he was astonished to find significant differences in the results. In a subsequent lecture, he likened it to a seagull flapping its wings, later refining the metaphor to a butterfly. This led to the popular saying that a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a storm.
To simplify understanding, the concept uses the contrast between a butterfly, a minor influence, and a storm, a massive one. This example helps people grasp the idea, though it does not suggest that a butterfly literally causes a storm.
Charles Kawalsky believes that while the Butterfly Effect may apply to data calculations, in real life, it more closely resembles the pond effect: minor changes, like a stone thrown into a pond, create ripples that eventually settle back to calm. In the end, the only difference is the stone's presence, insignificant in the grand scheme. Of course, larger stones create bigger ripples, but the principle remains.
Despite Charles Kawalsky's remarkable combat abilities, he can only influence small-scale encounters. Captain America's efforts inspire the masses, boost the economy, and invigorate soldiers, achieving far-reaching effects. Charles Kawalsky's actions have long been balanced out by others.
This led Charles Kawalsky to wonder if many events in the Marvel Universe were predestined. Would Captain America inevitably be frozen? Would Iron Man be kidnapped? Would Wanda be studied? (Charles Kawalsky's preference is clear: Wanda should not be taken by a robot—she's his.) Would the Red Skull always rise to serve the Soul Stone?
As he pondered, Charles Kawalsky envisioned significant changes. If he could truly make a difference, he would seize the Space Gems beforehand to prevent Thanos from enacting his cosmic plan.
The first target was naturally Johann Schmidt, the future Red Skull. If Charles Kawalsky could eliminate him, it would prove that he could alter the future.
Determined, Charles Kawalsky released Schmidt's collar, placed his hands on Schmidt's head, and mustered all his strength to eliminate the Red Skull in his infancy.
Charles Kawalsky's grip on Schmidt's head was unyielding. There was no chance this attack would miss. Even if hit by an RPG, Schmidt wouldn't survive.
Concentrating all his energy, Charles Kawalsky entered a state akin to 'bullet time'. Everything around him seemed to slow down. He observed Schmidt's eyes growing bloodshot under the immense pressure—an indication of rising intracranial pressure and bursting capillaries.
The bloodshot veins spread inward slowly as Charles Kawalsky's focus intensified, speeding up his actions. But as the bloodshot veins reached halfway across Schmidt's eyes, they slowed and nearly halted.
"No, it didn't just slow down; it has stopped completely," Charles Kawalsky realized. Everything around him had frozen.
"Who are you?" a clear voice resonated in his mind.
"I am Number 0, who are you?" Charles Kawalsky responded.
"You seem to know who I am, but I don't know you. I know that you are not Zero, nor the original owner of this body before transformation. So, who are you?" The voice spoke again.
"I don't know who you are; just tell me your name," Charles Kawalsky said, his suspicion growing.
"I am the Soul Stone."
"Then, as you say, I'm just Charles Kawalsky."
The voice disregarded Charles Kawalsky and continued: "The person you are trying to kill is my future servant and cannot be eliminated by you." The tone was filled with condescension.
"He has tormented me enough. Why should I just let it go? I want to end this," Charles Kawalsky retorted, feigning anger.
"I can grant you a favor or a wish in exchange for sparing my servant," the Soul Stone offered calmly.
Realizing that challenging such powerful entities was futile, Charles Kawalsky reluctantly agreed. Despite his frustration at the seemingly preordained nature of the Marvel world, the promise of a wish brightened his spirits. He declared eagerly:
"I wish to be spared if I am judged to be erased in the future!"
--------------
"You know a lot, but don't you know that life on Earth will be resurrected after this?" the Soul Gem said nonchalantly.
"If I make a request and you complete it, I will naturally let Schmidt go," Charles Kawalsky replied.
The Soul Gem had more considerations. Charles Kawalsky's request couldn't be simpler compared to Thanos's plan to wipe out half of the population. Each of their gems had its own role.
The Power Gem provided the energy foundation, and the Time and Space Gems worked together to transmit this power instantaneously across the universe, allowing annihilation to occur simultaneously. The Reality Gem eliminated physical bodies, and the Mind Gem controlled random people. As for the Soul Gem, it unfolded the soul imprint of all living things in the universe, displaying all intelligent life in front of the Mind Gem, which made random judgments.
It was very simple to prevent Charles Kawalsky from being selected, as long as he did not provide information about Charles Kawalsky. Since he did not have this person's soul information, he didn't mind agreeing to him.
Originally, if Charles Kawalsky wanted to kill Red Skull, he could have directly modified his will even without the soul imprint.
In fact, he had already attempted this but had always failed, which made him cautious and choose to negotiate with Charles Kawalsky in person.
Now, since Charles Kawalsky's request required no effort on his part, he naturally answered happily: "Yes, I agree to your request."
Seeing how readily he agreed, Charles Kawalsky didn't mind if his words seemed arrogant and said, "Then you can give me a blessing or something. When the time comes, the Purple Titan will snap his fingers, and I will reveal my identity. Let the others know that I am yours, and then everyone can say goodbye harmoniously."
The Soul Gem did not care much and directly applied a layer of protection to Charles Kawalsky's soul. After a ball of orange light fell into Charles Kawalsky's body, he could feel the light existing in his body as long as he concentrated. A refreshing sensation spread from his body to every hair, more invigorating than a full-body massage after a hot spring soak.
Charles Kawalsky thought the Soul Gem was really considerate. If he had this ability, he would certainly learn from the Soul Gem and be just as considerate.
Charles Kawalsky left Schmidt and said, "The transaction was successful. Thank you for your patronage, and welcome to visit next time."
The Soul Gem was too lazy to argue and left directly, and time resumed in the real world.
The moment his consciousness returned to reality, Charles Kawalsky released Schmidt's head, and Schmidt immediately collapsed to the ground as if he had lost all his bones.
Although his head was not crushed by Charles Kawalsky, John Schmidt was so severely injured that if he did not receive medical attention promptly, he would not survive for ten minutes. Even with treatment, he would likely suffer a future cerebral infarction and remain bedridden for the rest of his life.
Having made a deal with the Soul Gem, Charles Kawalsky couldn't just collect his payment and leave. He threw a serum at John Schmidt's feet and said, "You've been torturing others, so today you get to experience the serum's pain yourself."
John Schmidt was in a desperate situation. He knew that if he was not injected with the serum, his best outcome would be to be paralyzed in bed for life—a fate he found unbearable. He preferred to die in battle rather than suffer such a fate. He picked up a serum and began injecting it directly into his body.
John Schmidt had previously been bitten by a bullet ant in the rainforest, which felt like a rusty nail being driven into his heel, followed by walking barefoot on hot coals. Now, it felt as though countless bullet ants were biting his blood vessels and internal muscles. The severe pain made him unable to scream; it spread through his body like fire, burning his internal organs bit by bit. The pain intensified, reaching from his heart to his head. He wanted to tear the flesh from his face as the unbearable agony seemed to burn his face. His facial features melted away, and his head turned into a red-hot iron. In less than a minute, only his skull remained, and his body twitched on the ground.
Abraham, watching the scene, couldn't help but retch at the sight of his former colleague in such a miserable condition.
To avoid leaving a cruel impression in front of Abraham, Charles Kawalsky said preemptively, "What kind of serum did you develop? It's more poisonous than any poison. If I hadn't been lucky, I would have been in such a state!"
Faced with Charles Kawalsky's questioning, Abraham suppressed his nausea and said, "This serum behaves differently in everyone's body, but this is the first time I've seen such effects. Other test subjects are not so miserable." He was genuinely afraid that Charles Kawalsky would lash out in anger. It would be better to be shot by Schmidt; at least it would be more satisfying.
Seeing Abraham's distress, Charles Kawalsky comforted him, "Forget it. At least I succeeded. I am still grateful to you. You are just a researcher, and there is no right or wrong in science. I was just used by these conspirators with ulterior motives. If I had not been transformed, I might have been used for other research and sliced up for medical contributions."
Abraham's eyes lit up upon hearing Charles Kawalsky's words, and he suddenly felt that his work was very meaningful. He was impressed by Charles Kawalsky's understanding and respect.
Seeing Abraham cheer up, Charles Kawalsky continued, "In a way, you can be considered my 'creator,' and I won't hold you responsible. This time, I've saved you and sent you to a safe place. I can help you with three things within my ability as a reward."
Charles Kawalsky said this to establish an image of gratitude and righteousness in front of Abraham, intending to deepen their connection and improve Abraham's sense of identification with him. By offering "three things," he aimed to maintain a positive relationship with Abraham.
Abraham was so moved that he could hardly contain himself. He said, "I had planned to go to the USA to engage in serum research and help end this senseless war."
Charles Kawalsky said, "Then I will send you to meet those soldiers, and we will go our separate ways. If you are killed in the future, I will avenge you."
"Aren't you coming with me?" Dr. Abraham asked.
Charles Kawalsky looked into the doctor's eyes, and they shared a silent moment. They both understood the risks. Regardless of Charles Kawalsky's No. [0] identity, he could either be the first person to successfully enhance the serum or be used for research at a Hydra base after the USA obtained him. If not, he would be dissected for study.
"Let's not talk about this anymore. When you arrive safely in the USA, I will find a chance to see you. After all, you are the only one I can consider a 'relative' in this world," Charles Kawalsky said, almost shamelessly for the sake of deception.
When Abraham heard this, he was nearly in tears. He had no wife or children, and no relatives. Charles Kawalsky's words touched him deeply, and he said, "Number Zero, how about you be my son?"
Charles Kawalsky was speechless. The sense of recognition seemed a bit excessive.
Just as he was about to politely refuse, a sudden change occurred behind him. John Schmidt, who had been lying on the ground, woke up and launched a vigorous attack behind Charles Kawalsky.
-------
Abraham saw the Red Skull getting up and quickly reminded Charles Kawalsky to pay attention.
The enhanced Red Skull was much faster than before, but he was still no match for Charles.
Charles reached him first, bent down, and struck the Red Skull in the abdomen with his elbow, sending him flying. He stepped forward, pressed his foot down on the Red Skull's chest, and patted his large, crimson head with a smile. "You're much more interesting now that you've turned into this ghastly figure."
The Red Skull, lying on the ground, tried to pry Charles' leg off his chest but failed.
"Impossible, I am a superior German! How could someone like you, an insignificant ant, succeed where I have failed?" John Schmidt's thoughts spiraled into madness. The pain from the serum enhancement was bearable, but the humiliation of being trampled underfoot by someone as lowly as Charles Kawalsky was far worse.
Charles knew that the enhanced Red Skull was indeed more powerful than before, but his strength was still limited. He opened his panel and checked the attributes of the Red Skull.
Name: John Schmidt (Red Skull)
Race: Human (serum-enhanced mutated version)
Intelligence: 4 (possesses extraordinary learning talent)
Strength: 3 (a failed experiment, can bear twice his own weight)
Speed: 3 (40km/h)
Endurance: 3 (has strong recovery ability)
Combat Skills: 5
As expected, Schmidt's enhancement was flawed. He was stronger than a normal human, but still limited. However, if this kind of enhancement could be widely adopted, it would raise the combat effectiveness of an army to terrifying levels. Of course, only if they were willing to become like this—neither human nor monster.
Charles didn't want to kill John Schmidt just yet. He had already made a deal with the Soul Stone, and he wasn't about to go back on it. But now he was more interested in Schmidt's tank, so he threw the Red Skull out of the lab and said, "Interesting, you didn't die from the serum enhancement, but it doesn't matter. This form, neither human nor monster, suits you. I won't kill you. You can spend the rest of your life like this."
With that, Charles took the stunned Abraham to the base's gate. The battle outside was still raging. Although the Allies had sent more than 200 soldiers to assault the base, the Hydra soldiers, well-supplied with ammunition, still held the upper hand.
However, anyone could see that these Hydra soldiers would eventually be captured once their ammunition ran out. Even John Schmidt hadn't expected to rely on these fifty soldiers to fend off the invading forces. He had placed his hope in Zero, but now Zero had not only failed to help them win but had contributed to their failure.
Charles moved through the base with ease, and the surrounding soldiers were unprepared for his presence. With careful planning and his superior physical condition, he quickly eliminated more than 20 of them.
He didn't want to engage directly with the Hydra soldiers, knowing that the Allied soldiers outside might not hesitate to capture him. With only about 20 soldiers left, the battle would soon end.
At that moment, the sound of helicopter propellers roared above the base. John Schmidt was fleeing in a helicopter. The other Hydra soldiers saw this, and upon realizing that their commander had abandoned them, they lost their fighting spirit and surrendered.
Seeing this, Charles said to Abraham, "We part ways here. I have something to retrieve and then I'll be leaving. The war is chaotic. Stay safe."
With that, Charles headed deeper into the base.
He reached the garage, where, in addition to an armored vehicle, there was a sleek, six-wheeled convertible sports car. The vehicle had delicate, smooth lines and was aerodynamically designed. Four headlights adorned the front, giving it a domineering look, while the rear design with two wheels greatly enhanced its off-road performance. The car was equipped with weapon boxes, radios, and other gear. Despite the simple interior, the sports car boasted a 16-cylinder engine, making it a combat sports car that combined speed with off-road capability.
Charles was extremely satisfied with the car. He jumped in, started it up, and was pleased with the powerful but stable engine. He shifted gears, released the clutch, and the car shot out like an arrow, racing out of the base.
Meanwhile, Abraham had met up with the team sent to retrieve him at the base's gate. Thanks to Charles' help, they had only sustained about 20 injuries while capturing the base—an unbelievably low cost. This success only deepened their leaders' interest in the serum. But that's a story for another time.
A roar came from the base as Charles sped away in the sports car. The team tensed, but the car quickly disappeared into the forest before they could react. Abraham realized what Charles had acquired.
Charles' voice echoed from a distance, "We'll meet again, Doctor. Remember my name. My name is Charles Kawalsky!"
"Until we meet again! May God bless you, and I hope we cross paths once more," Abraham murmured, silently wishing Charles well as he watched him disappear into the night.
As Charles raced through the forest, the wind howled around him, filling him with endless joy. He had finally escaped Hydra and forged a bond with Abraham. With his new, enhanced abilities, he felt like a dragon swimming in the air, exhilarated by the possibilities ahead.
Perhaps it was the serum's effect, or perhaps it was his innate yearning for freedom, but the passion within him surged. He was determined to make a name for himself in this world and experience sights he had never seen in his previous life.
"Thank you, God, for giving me a second chance. In my previous life, I was ordinary—working hard for a little money, a car, a house—losing my childhood dreams in the process. But now, with endless potential for growth, I swear to live by my own will, refuse to do anything I don't want to do, and pursue my ambitions. I'll traverse mountains, rivers, and seas, explore the universe and the galaxy. I want to experience all the romance the world has to offer." Even though he was now free, tears welled up in Charles' eyes.
"But, Dad, Mom, I miss you so much." Large, hot tears rolled down Charles' cheeks. Though he was on the verge of a new life, he had lost the most important thing from his previous one.
The night was silent, offering no comfort.
The bright moon shone gently, like water.
-----
Whether it was to ensure his survival in this world or to live a happy life, strength was essential for Charles Kawalsky.
From what Charles knew as a casual Marvel fan, had read on forum that "the rich rely on technology and the poor rely on mutation." However, there were also unique treasures, much like those found in novels, that could enhance one's abilities.
For example, the Jabari tribe's white apes could grant immense power by killing the legendary white gorilla, consuming its flesh, and drinking its blood while undergoing ancient rituals.
There was also the heart-shaped herb from the Black Panther tribe, which could grant powerful abilities upon consumption.
These two sources of power were at the forefront of Charles's mind because he had been to Africa before and was familiar with the conditions there. His first goal was to obtain the power of the white ape. As for the power of the Black Panther, Charles knew he had to find a way to deal with Vibranium before he could safely obtain the heart-shaped herb. He had a plan, but it required patience.
November 1938, Africa.
It took Charles two months to reach Africa. At this point, the chances of forcibly seizing the heart-shaped herb were slim, and he had no means of locating the true entrance to Wakanda. His best option was to pursue the power of the white ape.
Based on the depiction in the Black Panther movie, the Jabari tribe had retreated into the mountains, isolating themselves from the outside world. The movie suggested that their territory was in a snowy mountain range. After T'Challa fell into a river, he was carried by the current to the Jabari tribe's territory.
Using this information, Charles arrived in Wakanda and began his search. The people of Wakanda had always been wary of outsiders. It was challenging to obtain information from them, especially after several individuals had harassed the Wakandans in search of Vibranium. Their suspicion of outsiders had only increased.
Given the situation, Charles abandoned the idea of asking the locals for directions. Since the news had spread that Vibranium was in Wakanda, many powerful figures and treasure hunters had flocked to the area. They searched for Vibranium, but everyone returned empty-handed. Gradually, the craze subsided. However, some people still hoped to strike it rich overnight, so many continued to roam the land, trying to gather information about Vibranium. Charles asked a few treasure hunters about the nearest snow-capped mountains and rivers near Wakanda and whether they knew the location of the Jabari tribe.
This question indeed raised some eyebrows.
According to the treasure hunters, more than 200 kilometers upstream from Wakanda, there was a river that split into two branches, flowing from the north and south sides of Wakanda. The northern branch was relatively slow, while the southern branch passed through a waterfall before surging eastward through Mount Kilimanjaro.
Charles's eyes lit up at this information. The waterfall was likely the location of the ritual combat scene from the Black Panther movie. In other words, if he followed the river downstream, he would find the snow-capped mountains where the Jabari tribe was hidden.
Armed with this knowledge, Charles immediately set off toward the southern river. Little did he know that after he left, several of the people he had questioned reported his whereabouts to Bakuto, the largest arms dealer and warlord in Africa.
After Charles had previously killed Bakuto's three major bodyguards, Bakuto was severely weakened and besieged by rival arms dealers seeking to carve up his territory. Initially, the plan worked, with Bakuto's influence shrinking as he shed parts of his business to protect what remained. However, the bosses of these rival forces were not able to celebrate for long—within a month, they were all found dead in their heavily guarded estates.
Survivors claimed that a group of black-clad assassins had scaled the walls and killed the bosses with knives. At first, no one believed this story—how could a group of sword-wielding assassins defeat well-trained, gun-wielding guards? But when survivors from several other forces reported the same story, rumors began to spread about a ghost team working for Bakuto.
Just when everyone expected Bakuto to seize this opportunity to consolidate his power, something unexpected happened. After regaining his original business, Bakuto stopped expanding and accepted compensation from other arms dealers. Everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened. Some speculated that Bakuto had stopped because his power had grown too large. Further expansion would have likely provoked a united front of local businessmen against him, leading to his downfall. Bakuto ignored the speculation and instead placed a bounty on Charles Kawalsky in the black market. The bounty included a single photo, seemingly taken from a surveillance camera, with a brief description:
"Anyone providing information about this person's whereabouts, verified as accurate, will be rewarded with 10 ounces of gold. Capturing this person, dead or alive, will result in a reward of 100 ounces of gold and a diamond over 5 carats."
The announcement sent the entire black market into a frenzy.
Since Charles entered Africa, he had been ambushed by numerous attackers. Each time, he eliminated them with ruthless efficiency, leaving no survivors. He initially thought these attacks were simply due to people coveting his car—a situation he had encountered many times before. Since he left no survivors, his whereabouts remained unknown, and no one had been able to claim Bakuto's bounty.
The treasure hunters Charles questioned knew they couldn't afford to offend him, so they were content to earn information fees. After receiving their intel, Bakuto immediately announced Charles's whereabouts to the black market and increased the bounty. Simultaneously, he dispatched a team of ninjas to track down Charles. Since Bakuto had last reported his situation to Madame Gao, she had sent three ninja teams to assist him in completing the assassination and reclaiming his territory. After all, African arms trafficking was highly profitable, even for rival organizations like the Hand. They could not tolerate competition but were also wary of monopolizing the market too conspicuously, as that would invite even greater trouble.
...
Charles arrived at the river in Wakanda, knowing that the river would lead him to the Jabari tribe's hidden location. Following the surging river, Charles drove eastward.
Over an hour after Charles had left, a team of ten arrived at the river in a helicopter. They began tracking him in the direction he had gone. This was the ninja team sent by Bakuto. This time, Bakuto was determined to use them to deal with Charles, cleanse the shame of his earlier defeat, and reclaim his lost territory. Madame Gao shared his sentiments—after all, the original three bodyguards were skilled operatives, even by the Hand's standards. It was not in the Hand's nature to let such an insult go unavenged.
Based on the traces left by Charles, he was following the river. The ninjas reasoned that if he intended to reach the snowy mountains, he would continue following the river. After 40 kilometers, the road would become impassable, with forests and rocks blocking the way. Only helicopters could navigate this terrain, so they resumed tracking him along the river.
Charles continued along the river, driving for about ten minutes until he encountered a forest blocking the road. He had to store his car in his carry-on space and proceed on foot. He was still over 70 kilometers from the snow-capped mountains and could cover that distance in about an hour.
As Charles began running, he regretted not thinking of buying a motorboat earlier. Even a simple raft would have saved him energy by letting the current push him forward. If his carry-on space hadn't been so cluttered with other items, he might have considered buying a small helicopter to store there. As he pondered these thoughts, Charles kept running toward the snowy mountains, driving when the road was clear and running when it wasn't. This approach inadvertently caused significant problems for his pursuers.
The ninjas following Charles were growing increasingly frustrated. They had followed the river to a forest where they planned to check for Charles's tracks again. However, the tire tracks leading into the woods abruptly vanished, leaving the ninjas puzzled. It was as if someone had mopped a spotless floor only to find a trail of muddy footprints that suddenly disappeared. It was as if an invisible intruder had tiptoed away without leaving a trace.
But a car, as large as it was, couldn't be carried like a pair of shoes.
The ninjas found themselves at an impasse. They could try intercepting Charles at the snowy mountains, but that risked alerting him. If he had already entered the mountains, they would have no explanation to offer when they returned. Reluctantly, they decided to search the woods for any signs of Charles.
Sure enough, they found clues in the chase. Charles hadn't realized he was being pursued and moved quickly, bending many bushes in his path. To the ninjas, these signs were as obvious as lice on a bald man's head. Strangely, the tracks resembled those left by a wild boar. But it was noted in their briefing that the target's physical prowess was comparable to that of a wild boar, matching the description they had been given.
The ninjas continued tracking Charles. After passing through the woods, they found the tire tracks again at the edge of the forest. This time, without hesitation, they boarded their helicopter and resumed their pursuit toward the snowy mountains.
-------
After arriving at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, Charles Kawalsky put the car into his pocket dimension again and checked the supplies stored there. He was ready for a long-term mission. Half of his pocket space was filled with food and water. Since time was stationary within the pocket dimension, the food stored there would not spoil. He was also equipped with tents, gas, and medical kits, ensuring that he could survive for a year in the snow-capped mountains without relying on any external resources.
After completing his inspection, Charles didn't hesitate and began his journey into the mountains.
Twenty minutes later, a ninja team tracking Charles arrived at the foot of the snowy mountains, albeit belatedly. The tire marks in the snow made it clear that their worst fear had come true—their target had already entered the mountains. Finding someone in this vast expanse of snow would be no easy task.
Trained since childhood, these ninjas were not ones to give up easily. Knowing that Charles had entered the mountains alone with limited supplies, they devised a two-pronged approach. Two of their companions would stay behind to ambush at the mountain pass, ready to strike if Charles returned. The ninjas were aware of Charles's extraordinary resilience, so they left the heavy weapons they had brought with them at the pass to ensure a successful ambush.
The remaining eight ninjas entered the snow-covered mountains to search for their target. Although the falling snow had covered the footsteps of the previous travelers, making tracking impossible, their intelligence suggested that Charles's destination was the Jabari tribe. This secluded tribe lived deep within the mountains, and while its exact location was unknown, it was common knowledge that any settlement, especially in such a rugged environment, would be situated near a river. Thus, the ninjas decided to follow the river, believing it would lead them to the Jabari tribe.
They agreed to divide into two teams every 30 kilometers. Each team, consisting of four members, would scout either the south or north bank of the river. Their search area extended 10 kilometers on either side of the river. If they found any sign of human habitation or encountered Charles, they were to avoid engaging in solo combat. Instead, they would leave one person to trail him or fire a flare to alert their teammates.
Charles had a similar strategy, but with one significant advantage—the knowledge he gained from watching the movie. After all, M'Baku of the Jabari tribe had mentioned that T'Challa was saved by a fisherman while he was fishing, and later transported by a yak-drawn cart to M'Baku. This implied that the Jabari land was not far from the river—within 30 kilometers, at most. Otherwise, T'Challa would not have survived the icy conditions.
Moreover, in the movie, the Jabari tribe reached Wakanda quickly to aid Black Panther. This was partly because they were familiar with the terrain, but also because their village was not deep within the mountains. Charles estimated that it was only 10 kilometers from the mountain pass and within 100 kilometers overall.
However, this still meant he had to search an area of 5,400 square kilometers. Even though Charles was prepared for a prolonged search, he couldn't help but feel a chill at the daunting task ahead. Still, he was determined to pay the price to become stronger.
----
Months had passed since Charles first arrived in the mountains, but he had yet to find the Jabari tribe. One afternoon, after almost a month of searching, he decided to set up camp. He pulled out a tent from his pocket space and then grabbed a broom to clear the snow for his campsite. After setting up the tent, he took out a gas stove, lit a fire, and began preparing a meal using the ingredients he had packed.
As someone who prided himself on his culinary skills, Charles was not willing to compromise on food, even in the wild. He had a large quantity of ingredients and cooking equipment to ensure he could still enjoy a good meal. Today, he planned to make a clear broth hotpot, starting with a chicken he had bought back in town.
The shopkeeper had told him the chicken was a Sussex, imported from the UK, and it was said to be exceptionally delicious.Without asking the price, he had casually handed the shopkeeper a gold brick. The shopkeeper had been so astonished that he nearly offered Charles the entire store. When Charles tore a chunk off the gold brick as if it were soft clay, the shopkeeper's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
When Charles tried to hand the man a small piece of the gold brick as payment, the shopkeeper had refused vehemently, insisting on giving the chicken to Charles for free, claiming he just wanted to be friends. But Charles had simply left the gold on the counter and walked out, leaving the shopkeeper standing there, dumbfounded.
Charles took the chicken to the river to clean it, then chopped it into bite-sized pieces for the hotpot. As the soup simmered, he added a variety of mushrooms he had purchased. Soon, the rich aroma of mushroom soup filled the air. He also had beef, mutton.
As Charles sat enjoying his meal, three children—two boys and a girl, all about 16 years old—caught the scent of his cooking. They were from the Jabari tribe and had come down the mountain to play. With no dangerous beasts in the area—thanks to their tribe's successful efforts to clear out all predators within a hundred-mile radius—the children were carefree. In fact, the Jabari tribe had cultivated herds of animals for food, ensuring a steady supply.
The children, led by Klin, the son of M'Batu, and his friends Bam and Kara, were bored with life in the tribe and had ventured down to the river for a change of scenery. When they caught the smell of delicious food, they assumed someone from the tribe was cooking something tasty and eagerly followed the scent to Charles's camp.
Charles, sitting outside his tent, was enjoying a steaming hotpot in the snow, with hot wine warming on the fire. He was content, thinking that life couldn't get much better. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly and stood up with excitement in his eyes. Could it be?
------------------------
When Charles Kawalsky saw several teenagers approaching from a distance, he suddenly became excited. However, he pretended not to notice them to avoid alarming them. It was like when he encountered a puppy or kitten in his previous life: if they noticed you, and you wanted to approach them, you had to attract their attention, pique their curiosity, and then gradually win their favor by feeding them.
The teenagers drew closer and realized something was off. The person they saw wasn't from their tribe as they had imagined. They stopped at a distance.
"This guy isn't from our tribe. His skin is white. He must be one of those outsiders the elders talk about," said Klin, son of M'Batu.
Bam added, "He can't be from Wakanda. The elders said so."
Kara countered, "The elders said people from Wakanda look just like us."
The teenagers debated without reaching a conclusion. Seeing Charles enjoying his meal alone, Bam suggested, "Why don't we go ask him if he's lost and see if we can help him?" He thought maybe they could get some food from him too, as the aroma was irresistible.
Kara nodded in agreement, "The elders emphasized that our tribe should unite and help each other. Even though he's not from our tribe, he might be lost, so let's help him." Kara's eyes were fixed on Charles's steaming hot pot.
Klin, almost drooling, made the final decision. "Then let's go ask him if he needs help. If he's dangerous, we know what to do."
Having lived in the snowy mountains for years, the Jabari tribesmen were fierce. They learned hunting skills from a young age and were used to bloody scenes. Although Klin was only sixteen, he was just as decisive and determined when facing enemies or prey.
"Hey, you over there! What are you doing?" Klin stepped forward and asked in the local dialect, not considering whether Charles could understand.
Since Charles transmigrated into this world, he could automatically understand different languages. This was a stark contrast to his previous life, where he barely passed his Spanish exams. Now, not only could he understand everything, but he could also communicate fluently. This proficiency in language seemed to be a perk of his transmigration.
Noticing the two boys and a girl approaching, Charles recognized them as members of the Jabari tribe. Klin led the trio, with Kara and Bam following. They stopped three meters away from Charles and began communicating.
Charles remained calm and responded in the local dialect, "I am an explorer. I came here looking for traces of the savages."
"What's an explorer?" Kara asked before Klin could speak.
"An explorer travels around the world, venturing into dangerous or inaccessible places to discover new things," Charles lied smoothly. Then, he quickly changed the subject, "It's freezing here. Why don't you come and have some hot food to warm up?"
With that, Charles filled a bowl of meat and handed it to them, along with forks. Then he served himself another bowl and began eating.
Seeing that Charles seemed harmless and was eating the same food, Klin and his friends let their guard down and started eating.
One bite was enough to win them over. The complex flavors of chicken soup, fungi, sliced beef, lamb, and spices like pepper and cinnamon were a far cry from their usual plain fare. Their tribe had been secluded in the snowy mountains for centuries, with limited access to spices. The food was usually boiled with some salt or roasted over a fire. Charles's cooking was a revelation.
The three teenagers were quickly won over. Everything they had previously eaten was bland compared to this. Charles had intentionally used the allure of his cooking to gain their favor.
After the meal, they introduced themselves.
"How did you kids end up in this snowy mountain? Aren't you afraid of danger?" Charles asked.
"We live in the snowy mountains. Today we came down to play," Bam replied.
"Your tribe is isolated and mysterious," Charles said. "I've traveled far and wide, and finding a hidden tribe like yours is a rare surprise."
"You've been to many places?" Kara asked curiously.
"My adventure started recently. Strictly speaking, this is my first stop. But in the future, I plan to travel across the world and beyond the stars," Charles said, his spirit undaunted.
The teenagers were impressed by Charles's determination. Though they didn't fully grasp his words, they were inspired by his ambition.
"What's next?" Klin, as the son of M'Baku and future leader of the Jabari tribe, was curious about the outside world.
"Can you take me to your tribe? I want to let the world know about the tribe that bravely faces the harsh nature. Your tribe's resilience should be known," Charles said, genuinely excited. If he could reach the Jabari tribe, the White Ape would be within reach, offering him another chance to grow stronger.
The teenagers looked at each other. Although there were no rules against outsiders entering their tribe, no one had visited in hundreds of years, so they were unsure.
Finally, Klin made the decision. "Our tribe hasn't had guests for hundreds of years, but since you've brought us such good food, we won't refuse a friend. You can come with us."
Charles was overjoyed. "Since you treat me as a friend, I'll share more good things with you." He took out a large cake from his portable space and divided it among them.
While they enjoyed the cake, a snow leopard was drawn by the scent of chicken feathers and offal left by Charles when preparing the meal.
The snow leopard had been wandering deeper in the snowy mountains but had been displaced by humans searching for something. These humans had alarmed the white apes, causing the leader to chase them. The snow leopard, also chased by the white ape leader, had ventured into this restricted area. Now, hungry, it was drawn by the scent of blood.
As it approached, it spotted Charles and the teenagers eating. The aroma made its stomach growl. As a carnivore, it instinctively crouched low, using its fur for camouflage, and silently approached, preparing to strike its prey for a feast.
---------
The snow leopard's stealth was so exceptional that even Charles Kawalsky didn't notice it until it was only ten meters away. As it closed in, the snow leopard's body coiled like a tightened bowstring. Its two hind legs tensed, gathering strength like a spring, while its claws dug deep into the ground for traction. Then, in a lightning-fast motion, it launched itself.
The ten-meter gap vanished in a single leap, thanks to the leopard's incredible agility. By the time Charles saw it, there was no time to warn the others.
The three people caught in the snow leopard's shadow realized instantly that danger was imminent. Their panic was clear in their eyes, a reflection Charles caught just before he acted. In a split-second decision, he thrust his hands backward, using the force to propel himself into the path of the snow leopard.
The snow leopard was swift, its small size offset by the momentum it carried. It collided with Charles, who reached out and locked his arms around the leopard mid-air.
The force of their collision sent both crashing into a tent. The snow leopard's powerful jaws found Charles's arm, biting down hard. Even with his enhanced durability, Charles winced under the pressure of the snow leopard's sharp teeth.
Nearby, Klin and his two companions narrowly escaped the snow leopard's initial pounce. Klin, the next in line to lead the Jabari tribe, showed remarkable presence of mind. He quickly rallied Bam to advance while instructing Kara to fall back and send out a signal to summon help.
Kara promptly grabbed a bag of dried wolf dung mixed with herbs and tossed it into the bonfire that had been keeping them warm. Thick black smoke spiraled upward, a signal the tribe's lookout immediately recognized. Within moments, seven or eight warriors were dispatched to their aid.
But the Jabari tribe wasn't the only one to notice the smoke. A team of ninjas, who had been scouring the area for Charles, also caught sight of it.
Earlier, the ninjas had been searching for days, venturing over 300 kilometers into the mountains with no sign of their quarry. Their only find was a small white ape. Frustrated, one of the ninjas had casually thrown a poisoned kunai at the creature. The ape cried out in pain, surprising the ninjas with its resilience. Despite being poisoned, the little ape had held on much longer than any human would.
The ninja, irritated by the ape's cries, approached to finish the job with a sword. He decapitated the young ape, silencing its wails. As he sheathed his sword, another, much louder cry echoed through the forest—a call that sent chills down the spines of the team.
A horde of white apes had heard the cry for help and arrived just in time to witness the cub's death. The sight drove them into a frenzy. Their rage-filled roars shook the branches, and the ninjas quickly realized they were in grave danger. One of them sent out a distress signal, but they knew it would take at least 20 minutes for reinforcements to arrive.
The apes, however, were not inclined to give them that time. By the time help arrived, they found the last of the ninja team torn apart by the enraged white apes.
After confirming their comrades were dead, the remaining ninjas decided to retreat. However, they underestimated the white apes' determination for revenge. A thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the mountains, signaling the apes to pursue the fleeing ninjas relentlessly.
Along the way, a snow leopard became inadvertently entangled in the chaos, chased out of the mountains by the white apes. This led to its encounter with Charles and the others.
As Charles grappled with the snow leopard, Klin and Bam, both young but seasoned warriors of the Jabari tribe, reacted without fear. They drew their short blades, ready to assist Charles. The man had saved their lives; it was only right that they repay the favor, even if it meant facing the ferocious predator head-on.
"Stay back!" Charles ordered, despite the searing pain in his arm where the snow leopard had bitten down. "I've got this. Don't get yourselves hurt."
With his right hand, Charles formed a spear-hand, leaving only his index and middle fingers extended. He jabbed them into the snow leopard's sensitive nose, applying pressure until the beast finally released its bite. The leopard's claws lashed out in retaliation, tearing through Charles's clothing and leaving bloody marks on his chest. But Charles remained calm, knowing his body would heal quickly.
Gripping the snow leopard's neck with his left hand, Charles lifted it and slammed it into the ground with a force that stunned the animal. As he prepared to finish it off, he noticed that the leopard was female. Realizing that killing her could jeopardize the snow leopard population in the area, Charles decided to spare her life.
As the leopard stood up, still snarling, Charles tossed a large chunk of mutton from his storage space. The leopard froze, eyeing the meat warily. After a tense moment, it decided that continuing the fight wasn't worth it and snatched up the meat before fleeing into the night.
Klin and the others were left in stunned silence. They couldn't believe their eyes—a man who looked so unassuming had just fought off a snow leopard and was still standing, seemingly unscathed.
Charles, acting nonchalant, rummaged through the tent and retrieved a medical kit. Though his body was resilient, it was still important to tend to his wounds. He cursed under his breath, "Damn you, Schmidt."
Klin approached Charles, gratitude evident in his voice. "Thank you for saving our lives. If you're willing, we can take you to our tribe now. We have doctors who can treat your injuries."
Though curious about Charles's abilities, Klin understood there were more pressing matters. The fact that predators like the snow leopard were venturing into Jabari territory indicated something strange was afoot in the mountains. It was likely the white apes were responsible. He needed to report this to his father and the tribe immediately.
Just as Charles was about to agree, a spear shot out from the woods, its speed almost too fast to see. The spear, forged from an unknown material, made no sound as it sliced through the air. It struck Charles's thigh with precision, pinning him to the ground.
--------