"Good morning."
"Good morning, Doctor."
Under Agent Carter's leadership, Rogers arrived at the secret laboratory. Senior officials and generals of the United States had gathered, awaiting the results that could determine the outcome of the war.
Chatting with Rogers helped ease his nerves, though it would be a lie to say he wasn't anxious. This experiment would consume most of Brooklyn's power supply for the next few days. A large team of researchers, including Stark, had put in tremendous effort. If the experiment failed, they risked losing government funding.
"Gentlemen and ladies, today we are not taking a step toward extinction but the first step on the road to peace," Dr. Erskine explained as the team behind him prepared Rogers.
"First, we will perform minimally invasive surgery on Rogers, injecting the serum directly into his muscle groups. After the serum is administered, it will trigger rapid cellular changes and growth. The serum will then be absorbed by the body through targeted high-energy rays. Nutrients needed for this rapid growth will be supplied later."
The law of conservation of matter holds true; rapid growth requires a substantial amount of nutrients, which will be provided through the syringes in the enhancement chamber.
As the countdown progressed, Rogers' breathing became increasingly labored, but with the serum injection complete, there was no turning back.
The chamber was sealed, and Dr. Erskine tapped on the lid, asking, "Rogers, can you hear me?"
"Uh, is it too late to go to the bathroom now?"
Rogers tried to lighten the mood with a joke, though only Dr. Erskine could hear him. Outside, everyone donned sunglasses to shield their eyes from the imminent glare.
The instrument was activated, and a blinding light emanated from the chamber. Accompanied by the intense light, Rogers screamed in pain, startling everyone present.
Agent Carter immediately called for the experiment to be stopped. Stark was about to shut down the machine when they all heard Rogers panting.
"No, don't stop—I can still hold on."
The rapid proliferation and transformation of his cells caused unbearable pain, as if his flesh were being torn apart, his bones shattered and reassembled. Yet, Rogers remained conscious, his will as strong as steel. More than that, he felt the changes in his body.
His previously frail physique was becoming solid and muscular, and the bruises left by illness were fading. This was monumental for Rogers, who had a righteous heart but lacked the body to act on it. Now, with the opportunity in front of him, he couldn't afford to give up.
Given Rogers' resolve, the experiment continued. His cries grew louder, and though Agent Carter turned away, unable to bear the sight, Dr. Erskine and Stark grew increasingly excited.
When the progress reached 100%, the high-energy rays ceased, and the chamber slowly opened with a shower of sparks from an overloaded circuit.
The frail man who had entered the chamber was gone, replaced by a towering, muscular figure, over 1.8 meters tall, and still distinctly Rogers.
Seeing that the enhancement was successful, everyone rushed forward. Agent Carter was the first to reach Rogers. She gazed at his muscular form with astonishment.
"How do you feel?"
"Taller," Rogers replied with a grin.
Unable to resist, Carter touched Rogers' firm chest muscles but quickly pulled her hand back, realizing the situation. She handed him the nearby clothes to cover her embarrassment.
While everyone was celebrating the success, they were unaware of the danger lurking nearby.
Boom!!
A violent explosion shattered the joy, plunging everyone into panic. Agent Carter immediately drew her gun, ready to face the enemy, but it was already too late.
A spy at the back of the crowd, clearly prepared, took the last remaining vial of serum and pointed a pistol at Dr. Erskine.
Agent Carter, terrified, tried to push through the crowd to block the shot, but she was too far away.
Two gunshots rang out, and the doctor collapsed.
Carter managed to break through the crowd, but the spy was already fleeing. She aimed for his exposed leg and fired, but even as blood poured from his wound, the spy kept running. The situation was dire.
The spy escaped with the crucial serum, and Dr. Erskine's condition was critical.
The bullets used in the M1911 semi-automatic pistol were .45 ACP rounds. This type of blunt, heavy warhead could cause significant damage to unprotected targets, even at subsonic speed. Dr. Erskine's life could be declared over after being hit by such ammunition.
Important items were lost, and an important figure had died. The mood among the councilors and senior officials shifted from euphoria to despair, their hearts sinking.
They had invested and worked hard, only to have their victory stolen at the last moment. It wasn't just the fruit of their labor that had been taken—the entire tree had been cut down!
While they seethed with anger, they had no choice but to bear it, for the spies had already ambushed the soldiers at the door and seized a submachine gun to continue their rampage.
Agent Carter, ever the elite, dashed out of the store and spotted the fleeing spy in a car. She took aim and fired, killing the driver with a precise headshot.
But the spy in the car was no amateur. Seeing his comrade killed, he quickly took control of the steering wheel, pushed the body out, and continued driving.
Carter kept firing, trying to stop him, but the car was approaching too fast.
At the critical moment, Rogers leaped out and tackled Carter to the side. Without a word, he glanced at the fleeing car and started sprinting after it.
Rogers knew the streets of Brooklyn well. Even if the spies had planned their escape routes, they wouldn't have accounted for the narrow alleys Rogers could use to cut them off.
With a single leap, he easily cleared a two-meter-high fence.
Accelerate, and accelerate again.
As he ran through the streets, Rogers felt better than ever. He could feel his powerful heart pumping blood throughout his body.
Ahead, the yellow Beetle was within sight, and Rogers' eyes burned with anger—the murderer was inside!
Rogers leaped onto the car with ease, gripping the door frame like a vice. The spy frantically tried to shake him off, but it was no use.
The spy then forgot one crucial detail—they were in the bustling streets of Brooklyn.
A car accident occurred. The yellow Beetle rolled over, throwing Rogers aside.
The spy, struggling out of the wrecked car, ran toward the river. Spotting a crowd nearby, he grabbed a child as a hostage, trying to buy himself time.
The spy fired two shots at Rogers, who quickly reacted by grabbing a car door from the ground to block the bullets.
While the idea of a car door blocking bullets is far-fetched, the metal sheet did significantly reduce the bullets' kinetic energy. Even so, one bullet managed to hit Rogers' side.
Blood soaked through his white shirt, but Rogers' enhanced physique allowed him to shrug off the injury.
The spy, still holding the child, reached his escape point. As he sat in the cockpit, a shadow flickered outside.
Suddenly, a long knife pierced through the glass, striking the spy's neck with deadly precision.
A man in a black diving mask crawled onto the submarine. He easily cut through the glass with his knife, searched the spy's body, and retrieved a small blue vial.
This was the super-strengthening serum that nations had dreamed of acquiring.
But this serum had been secured in a hidden pocket by someone with unknown intentions.
The serum could only be retrieved by killing him.
After securing the serum, the man in black smashed an identical vial and threw it into the submarine. He then pressed a button on his waist.
Ultrasonic waves traveled through the water, and a dolphin equipped with a sonar system quickly swam over.
The man in black grabbed the rope attached to the dolphin and followed it swiftly through the water.