"Doctor, what is going on?" Chen Mo asked seriously.
"Do you remember the suggestion you gave me before you went to Europe?" the doctor asked, looking at Chen Mo.
"You mean improving the super soldier serum to increase the success rate of enhancement?" Chen Mo recalled that neither the original serum nor the enhanced serum injected into him and Steve had been completely successful in animal experiments.
Although the test animals' bodies were successfully enhanced, they all seemed to endure immense pain during the experiments, struggling desperately, quickly losing consciousness, falling into a coma, and eventually dying.
Post-experiment examinations revealed that their brains had been overstimulated, exceeding their limits, causing brain death.
They analyzed that this was due to the intense transformation of the body during the enhancement process, which brought about severe pain. Later experiments confirmed this.
Therefore, the existing enhancement serum required extremely high willpower from the recipients. If they couldn't withstand the pain of enhancement, they would fall into a coma and eventually suffer brain death, just like the test animals.
So Chen Mo suggested that the doctor improve the serum to make the enhancement process gentler, reduce the pain during transformation, lower the need for willpower, and increase the success rate of enhancement.
It seemed that the doctor had succeeded.
"That's right. I conducted research in the direction you suggested and found that improvements were indeed possible. Based on some theories you proposed, I conducted further research and experiments and finally succeeded in developing an improved serum," the doctor said proudly with a smile.
"The animal experiments were perfectly successful. Although there was intense struggle during the enhancement process, they did not fall into a coma, and everything was normal after the experiment."
Chen Mo looked at the doctor and asked affirmatively, "So you used yourself for human trials?"
"That's right. I succeeded, didn't I?" the doctor replied with a carefree smile.
Chen Mo shook his head helplessly. Normally, the procedure would be to use death row inmates or volunteers for experiments, as there were certain risks involved. If a scientist used themselves for experiments and failed, the entire project would be terminated.
However, the doctor was too kind-hearted. If it weren't for the orders from higher-ups and the successful precedent of the Red Skull, the doctor wouldn't have allowed Steve to undergo the experiment.
"Doctor! I hope this doesn't happen again!" Chen Mo said sternly.
"You are the core of the entire super soldier program and one of the most important core members of S.H.I.E.L.D. If anything happens to you, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
The doctor wasn't angry at Chen Mo's attitude but instead smiled gently, "Yes, sir! My commander!"
At this moment, Howard suddenly approached with shining eyes.
"Doctor, does this mean I can also undergo enhancement?"
Howard said, almost drooling at the thought of Chen Mo's powerful physique. He couldn't wait to undergo enhancement himself and then get back at Chen Mo for all the bullying he had endured!
Thinking about this, Howard looked at Chen Mo with eager eyes.
"You can, but I forgot to mention earlier that the improved serum, due to the gentler enhancement process, is much weaker than the original and enhanced versions. The enhanced physical attributes are about three times that of a normal person. The advantage is that it doesn't require exposure to vita-rays; you just need to supplement enough nutrients and directly inject the serum to complete the enhancement."
Hearing this, Howard felt deflated. Then he thought, even Steve, after being enhanced with the enhanced serum, wasn't a match for Chen Mo. He might as well stop dreaming; he wouldn't be able to turn the tables in this lifetime.
Feeling Chen Mo's teasing gaze, Howard was on the verge of tears.
At this moment, the doctor suddenly said, "Also, I have specifically researched the issues of lifespan and body freezing that you mentioned."
"After being enhanced by the serum, the body's cellular activity is extremely high. When frozen, the body's metabolism nearly stops, but once thawed, the cells quickly regain their activity. During this period, life is almost at a standstill!"
"In other words, your idea of stopping aging through freezing is feasible!"
"Additionally, I did overlook the issue of lifespan before. The serum not only enhances the body but also strengthens the cells' vitality, greatly slowing down the aging process."
"Originally, only you and Steve had successfully undergone enhancement, so there was no reference. After the improved serum succeeded, I specifically conducted animal experiments and found that the lifespan of animals enhanced by the serum was indeed greatly extended!"
"The changes in my own body also prove this!"
Hearing this, Howard instantly perked up again.
"Then what are we waiting for? Doctor, enhance me now!"
...…
The process of enhancing with the improved serum went very smoothly. Although Howard screamed in pain during the process, he successfully completed the enhancement.
After getting off the experimental chair, Howard carefully felt the changes in his body.
His previously untrained body now seemed to be filled with endless strength. When he swung his fist with force, it created a whooshing sound.
Howard was overjoyed and tried jumping in place, reaching a height of two meters, almost losing his balance and falling when he landed.
With a face full of joy, Howard eagerly ran to the mirror to see if he had become as tall and strong as Chen Mo and Steve.
Obviously, the result was somewhat disappointing. Although the improved serum was also effective, enhancing physical attributes to three times that of a normal person, with great strength, agility, and endurance, it didn't seem to break the human body's limits. The physical changes were not as significant as Steve's, only making him look a bit more robust and upright.
Seeing Howard's disappointment, Dr. Erskine smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Didn't you notice?"
Howard was a bit confused.
"Notice what?"
The doctor pointed to his head.
Howard focused and then his eyes lit up with surprise.
"Oh my God! My brain!"
"My thinking speed is so fast! And my memory!"
"God! This feels amazing!"
Watching the excited Howard, Chen Mo couldn't help but roll his eyes. How undignified!
Dr. Erskine just smiled. When he first experienced the enhancement, feeling the significant improvements in thinking, analysis, and memory, his reaction wasn't much different from Howard's.
"We all owe you our thanks," the doctor said seriously to Chen Mo.
Seeing Chen Mo about to speak, the doctor waved to interrupt him.
"In my view, the value of the improved serum is limitless. It allows ordinary people like us to undergo enhancement."
"Besides enhancing physical attributes and extending lifespan, the most important thing is its enhancement of the brain, which has greatly aided our research. Many problems that troubled me for a long time have been solved, and various experiments and studies have become much easier. Everything seems so simple now."
"You know what this means for a scientist and for the world."