***
The pitch-black Hydra fighter jet rushed toward the mountain wall, flying into the colossal peak through a hidden passage that suddenly opened upon its surface.
Erik Killmonger had finally arrived at the holy place in his heart: the Hydra headquarters, the top-secret Base Zero.
Upon arrival, Erik Killmonger was taken away. Like every elite member who completed their assessment and entered the base for the first time, he began a series of physical examinations, tests, evaluations, training, and further brainwashing procedures.
When all this was completed, they would receive different levels of Super-Soldier Serum enhancement according to their individual situations. Of course, most were injected with the improved serum, as it carried the lowest risk and highest success rate.
Even though these individuals, having passed the rigorous assessment to officially join Hydra, were one-in-ten-thousand elites with willpower far stronger than ordinary people, there were still very few—like Chen Mo and Steve—who could withstand the original serum's transformation.
This version of the serum, more powerful than the improved one, had requirements for willpower that were too harsh. In the past seventy years, fewer than ten people had met the conditions for its use and were successfully enhanced.
Every elite warrior was a valuable asset to Hydra. Without complete certainty, they were not allowed to take the risk of receiving the original serum.
The effect of the improved serum was already very powerful. Possessing three times the physical fitness of an ordinary person, a recipient would hardly meet a match in the outside world. Combined with their strict training since childhood, their enhanced strength was considerable, allowing them to maintain an absolute advantage and complete any difficult task.
There was no need to let a large number of Hydra elites die in vain, pursuing greater power.
Therefore, the pre-enhancement tests were very strict. The strength of one's willpower directly determined the level of serum they could use, and thus their future combat power.
From boarding the advanced Hydra fighter to entering the hidden, spectacular top-secret headquarters, Erik Killmonger's mood was hardly calm. All he saw and heard made him deeply feel Hydra's power.
The cutting-edge technology that transcended the times, the majestic base hidden within the mountain, and even everyone he met shocked him.
Whether it was a fully armed guard holding a sci-fi rifle whose appearance suggested immense power, a polite middle-aged researcher in a white coat, or even a young woman in a short skirt hurriedly carrying documents, the faint aura they emitted made Erik's keen perception sense a great threat.
In other words, not only the guarding soldiers, but even the unarmed research and civilian personnel in the base possessed strength above his own and could pose a significant threat to him.
He was shocked by this discovery. He trusted his feelings; they had never failed him all these years. But it was still somewhat unbelievable. His strength was formidable in the outside world; he was considered a top-tier powerhouse. Over the years, he had experienced countless battles, killed thousands of enemies, and found no one who was his match.
The soldiers in the base were understandable; they were the headquarters' defense force, undoubtedly the most elite soldiers, and it made sense that they could threaten him with such powerful-looking weapons.
But how could those researchers and civilian staff be stronger than him?!
Erik Killmonger's doubts did not last long. Soon, someone answered him.
Previously, he hadn't known much about Hydra. For him, it was more like a lofty, ethereal temple he could only look up to.
Hydra was his savior. When his father was killed, leaving him and his mother alone, it was Hydra who saved them, settled his mother, and offered him an extraordinary path—a path to become strong and control his own and others' lives.
Without Hydra, he might have died in a dark alley after his mother was killed, or perished quietly in a hovel from hunger and illness. At best, he would have become a slum gangster, his life destined for gloom.
Now, he had graduated from a prestigious university, joined the Navy SEALs and the US Joint Special Operations Command, becoming a powerful warrior and a god of death on the battlefield.
He enjoyed this feeling of controlling his own life and the lives of others. It was Hydra that changed his life and gave him all this.
Hydra rescued him from the abyss of despair, shaped him, and ultimately made him who he was!
He was willing to dedicate his loyalty and faith to Hydra, and devote the rest of his life to it.
Now, his loyalty and dedication had been recognized. He would officially become a member of Hydra. The feeling was like a believer stepping into a temple, permitted to serve by their god's side.
It was from this moment that he began to understand this ethereal temple more deeply.
Hydra was created by their great leader, the eternal lord, the powerful god "Hydra." As their name suggested, the god they believed in was the mythical, powerful Hydra, said to have nine heads, and for every one cut off, two would grow back.
No one truly knew if the myths were real, but their god did have many mortal identities. The Red Skull from World War II was one of them. As for the other identities, except for the Base Commander and Colonel John, no one else was qualified to know.
But he did learn one thing: the reason everyone he saw in the base made him feel threatened.
It turned out that seventy years ago, when their god left the mortal world and returned to his divine kingdom, he left behind three types of divine water. Anyone who passed Hydra's strict assessment and became a full member could receive enhancement from this divine water according to their situation, thereby gaining the powerful strength bestowed by the god.
Everyone in the top-secret base was an official Hydra member, all enhanced by the divine water. This was why even the researchers and civilians were stronger than him.
Although Erik Killmonger's strength was considerable among ordinary people, it was extremely weak compared to the power granted by the god. Even the female civilians, enhanced by the weakest variant, could surpass him in strength.
Learning this shocking news, Erik was both astonished and secretly anticipatory.
He had thought himself very strong, only to find he was at the bottom within the base. How powerful was the god-given strength? Erik couldn't help but look forward to the day he would be enhanced.
Simultaneously, he gained a new understanding of the Hydra god. Before, he only knew Hydra was an organization founded by their god in the mortal world, with the purpose of secretly overseeing the world, protecting Earth's security, and guarding against external threats.
Although he was loyal to Hydra and believed in the god who created it, he hadn't fully understood its purpose or what "external forces" meant. He was a devout believer but knew little of their god's deeds.
Now, all he heard gave him a deeper understanding. It turned out their god was not just an ethereal presence; he had truly walked the earth and performed miracles.
Albert, the current Hydra commander, was appointed by the god himself seventy years ago. Before that, he was a gray-haired old man. On the day of his appointment, he suddenly became decades younger, turning into a vigorous middle-aged man, and had been leading Hydra ever since.
There were many of the god's servants from that era. Some slept underground, while others managed the base's various operations.
Erik Killmonger slowly digested all these astonishing revelations while waiting for his enhancement day to arrive.
A few days later, the routine procedures were completed, and his test results were sent to Chen Mo.
Erik Killmonger was not just an ordinary member who passed the assessment; his identity was special, related to Chen Mo's next series of plans, so Chen Mo personally inquired about him.
Albert stood before the desk and reported to Chen Mo. "Based on past enhancement experience, Erik Killmonger's willpower is strong enough to withstand the transformation of the original Super-Soldier Serum, with a ninety-five percent success rate."
Chen Mo looked at the data on the report and nodded slightly. Having personally participated in and completed the development and testing of the improved serum, and having been enhanced himself, Chen Mo knew the serum well. Indeed, as Albert said, Erik's willpower and related data were excellent, and there was no problem with him receiving the original serum.
"Then enhance him immediately," Chen Mo said in a deep voice, placing the report back on the table.
"Yes!"
...
The long-awaited Erik Killmonger finally got his wish and received the enhancement of the "Divine Water"—the highest level with the strongest effect.
Erik was very satisfied; it showed his qualifications were the best, and his enhanced strength would be the strongest. Although the process was agonizing, it was worth it.
After the enhancement, Erik possessed five times the physical fitness of an ordinary person. Combined with his formidable combat skills and rich experience, he now had strength comparable to Captain America.
Before he could fully recover from the joy of his surge in power, Colonel John—who was said to have been a servant of the god seventy years ago—appeared before him.
Looking at Erik, who was now taller and more imposing, like a human beast, John nodded in satisfaction. He then waved his hand, signaling the soldiers behind him to bring the prepared new uniform.
"Get ready, soldier," he said.
"The God wants to see you!"