Chapter 13 Brothers, we can't lose them!
Humans, sometimes, are truly contradictory animals.
Just like Chu Hang now, it was as if two little figures were fighting in his head.
One little figure, dressed in a suit and tie, with a shrewd expression, whispered in his ear, "Hey, Chu Hang, wake up! Why are you in this World? It's to survive, to become stronger! The opportunity is right in front of you now. As long as you go alone, get rid of this burden, you'll have a great chance to get close to Captain America and replicate the super soldier serum! Then the sky's the limit, what do you have to fear? Womanly kindness will only harm you!"
Another little figure, dressed in World War II military uniform and reeking of gunpowder, kicked the suited figure flying, then pointed at Chu Hang's nose and cursed, "Are you still a man, damn it? Why is Gabe lying here? Was it to save you? No! It was for the entire team, for the mission! Now he's injured, and you want to abandon him? What's the difference between you and those backstabbing HYDRA scumbags? Have you forgotten how Logan fought alongside you? Forgotten how Duganpatted your shoulder and said welcome to the team? The Howling Commandos don't abandon any teammate! You said that yourself, do you want to take it back?"
Chu Hang irritably ran his hand through his hair.
To be honest, the suited figure's words made a lot of sense. It perfectly aligned with his survival philosophy from his previous life as an office worker: seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, maximize personal gain. Taking Gabe along would at least increase the danger tenfold, while the chances of success would drop to less than ten percent.
No matter how he calculated it, it wasn't worth it.
But damn it, he just couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart.
The moment he closed his eyes, he could recall the resolute look in Gabe's eyes just now when he looked at him and told him to go alone. That was the look of a true Soldier, ready to sacrifice himself for the collective good.
And himself? What was he? A opportunistic transmigrator who relied on a golden finger to muddle through life?
If he really abandoned Gabe today, even if he later replicated a hundred superpowers and became as powerful as a god, would he be able to sleep at night? Would he not feel ashamed when he saw Captain America's shield again?
To hell with it.
After all this trouble, in this fucked-up World, I finally have a group of comrades I can trust with my back, and a little bit of a heroic feeling. How can I turn back into that selfish coward because of a little difficulty?
"Chu…"
Just as Chu Hang was wrestling with his inner conflict, Gabe beside him spoke again. His voice was very weak, but unusually clear.
"Don't hesitate, go. I know what you're thinking. You're stronger than me, and smarter than me. Only you have a chance to find the Captain and complete the mission. Staying here will only drag you down. Listen to me, this is the right choice."
Chu Hang suddenly opened his eyes, turned his head, and stared intently at Gabe.
"Say that again?" His voice was not loud, but it carried a suppressed anger.
Gabe was startled by his gaze but still insisted, "I said, you go alone…"
"Shut up!" Chu Hang interrupted him roughly, "My damn ears aren't deaf! I'm asking you, what do you mean by the right choice? Abandoning an injured man like you in this freezing wilderness to die, is that the right choice? Then what are we? What are the Howling Commandos? A bunch of cold-blooded machines who can sacrifice their teammates for a mission?"
His emotions were a bit agitated, and his voice unconsciously grew louder.
Gabe fell silent. He looked at the emotional Chu Hang, his eyes complex. He hadn't expected that this Eastern kid, who usually seemed a bit cynical, even a little sly, would have such stubborn foolishness deep down.
"But, the mission…"
"The mission is to take down HYDRA, that's right!" Chu Hang took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, "But the premise of the mission is that we fight like humans! Not like beasts! I'm telling you, Gabe, today, either both of us walk out of this forest together, or we die here together! There is no third option!"
After speaking, he no longer looked at Gabe, but instead took out the wireless communicator he had confiscated from the HYDRA Commander from his backpack.
Looking at the black metal box in Chu Hang's hand, Gabewas stunned: "What are you going to do?"
"Wait to die? Of course not." Chu Hang's lips curved into a familiar, slightly roguish smile again, "Since they set a trap for us, we should return the favor, shouldn't we?"
He handed the communicator to Gabe: "You know how to use this, right? Can you understand what they're yelling about?"
Gabe took the communicator and nodded: "I can use it. I also understand some German, so routine military communications should be no problem."
"That's good." Chu Hang's eyes lit up, like a hungry wolf that had found its direction in the dark, "We're like blind and deaf people right now, knowing nothing about the factory. This fake map screwed us over, but it also gave us an opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"An opportunity to listen in on them!" Chu Hang lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "They must think we've already stepped into the trap, or are walking into it. They'll never expect that we're currently hiding in their weakly defended area, holding their communicator, and eavesdropping on all their movements!"
Gabe's breathing instantly became rapid.
He understood! He completely understood Chu Hang's intention!
This was an incredibly bold, even crazy, plan! But without a doubt, it was also their only way to break the deadlock!
"Quick, open it!" Gabe urged, so excited that he even forgot about the injury on his leg.
Chu Hang carefully turned the knob and turned on the communicator.
A faint "sizzling" sound of current echoed in the small rock cave. Chu Hang adjusted the volume to the lowest setting, barely audible unless one leaned in close.
Both of them held their breath.
Fragmented German conversations came intermittently from the communicator. Gabe tilted his ear, his brows furrowed, carefully distinguishing the words.
"…Post number three, all clear."
"…Patrol team B has returned, no traces found."
"…Supply truck expected to arrive at the South Gate in half an hour."
Most of it was scattered, worthless daily communication. Although Chu Hang couldn't understand, seeing Gabe's expression, he knew there was no important information.
He wasn't in a hurry, waiting patiently. He knew that under such strict blockade and search, it was impossible for there to be no useful intelligence at all.
Sure enough, after about ten more minutes, the sound from the communicator suddenly became clear and dense.
A person who sounded like a Commander gave orders in a serious tone.
Gabe's face instantly changed.
"What did he say?" Chu Hang immediately asked.
Gabe made a shushing gesture and continued to listen intently. Only after that communication ended did he turn his head and say to Chu Hang with a grave expression, "Bad news. They confirmed that at least two people successfully parachuted from the crashed plane, because they found two parachutes with cut ropes in different areas."
Chu Hang's heart sank. Sure enough, they were exposed.
"And what else?"
"They said that regular search teams are too inefficient, and My Lord Schmidt (Red Skull) is very displeased about it. So, they dispatched the 'Hounds'."
"Hounds?" Chu Hang frowned, "Are they military dogs? We jumped into the river, so we should have eliminated our scent."
"No." Gabe shook his head, his face even paler, "'Hounds' doesn't refer to actual dogs. That's the codename for an elite tracking squad within HYDRA. It's said that their Captain is a true jungle hunting expert; if even the slightest trace is left, it will never escape his eyes."
Chu Hang's heart skipped a beat.
Damn it, just what I was afraid of. As soon as we avoided one trap, we attracted more professional killers.
This HYDRA Base really was full of hidden masters.
However, before he could digest this bad news, the communicator conveyed another piece of intelligence that surprised both him and Gabe.
A patrol Soldier reported in a tone that carried a hint of excitement and desire for credit: "Report! We found the target on the western ridge! He's wearing a blue and white uniform and carrying a round shield! Exactly like the person in the photo! We are surrounding him!"
Boom!
Chu Hang's mind exploded with a buzzing sound.
Captain America!
Captain America had been discovered!
Damn it, why was this plot completely different from the movie? In the movie, wasn't Captain America supposed to sneak into the factory undetected, rescue everyone, and then lead them out in style?
Why was he now surrounded by HYDRA alone?
Chu Hang's first thought was, did his appearance trigger a butterfly effect and change the plot?
"Don't open fire! My Lord Schmidt wants him alive!" In the communicator, the Commander immediately issued a new order, "All units converge on the western ridge! Repeat, all units, immediately converge on the western ridge! Surround him there!"
In an instant, the communication channel was filled with a cacophony of responses.
Chu Hang could imagine that at this moment, all the HYDRA Soldiers around the factory were swarming towards the western ridge from all directions, like sharks smelling blood.
That place was about to become an inescapable net.
And Captain America was the fish in the net.
What to do?
Chu Hang's heart pounded.
His replication ability still had more than two days of cooldown. Even if he rushed over now, he wouldn't be much help and might even get himself caught.
But if he didn't go… that was Captain America! He was the ultimate goal of his mission! And he was the almost perfect hero he had always admired!
Was he just going to watch him get captured by HYDRAand then be sliced up for research?
Just as Chu Hang's mind was in a complete mess, Gabebeside him suddenly gripped his arm tightly.
"Chu! Listen!"
Chu Hang was startled and refocused his attention on the communicator.
Amidst the noisy communications of those rushing to reinforce, a faint sound, yet one that made both Chu Hangand Gabe's hair stand on end, cut in.
It was a calm, emotionless male voice, belonging to the so-called "Hound" Captain.
"Command Center, this is Hounds. I have reached the target's parachute drop zone. There are drag marks on the ground, two people, one of whom is injured. They did not head towards the trap zone, but rather… turned towards the downstream riverbank."
"They are smart, trying to use the river to eliminate traces."
"But they made a mistake."
"The arnica on the snow didn't grow legs and run into the cave by itself."
The voice paused, then slowly stated in a cold, factual tone.
"I smell them."
"They are, nearby."
Chapter 14 Feint to the East, Attack in the West
Damn it.
A cold, emotionless voice came through the communicator.
"I smell them."
"They are nearby."
These two sentences were calm, as if stating facts.
There was no shouting, no roaring, yet it instilled more fear than any threat.
It's over.
This thought simultaneously crashed into Chu Hang and Gabe's minds.
Gabe's face instantly turned pale, and he subconsciously clutched his injured thigh tightly.
The wound had been bandaged, but the faint scent of blood had likely become the signal exposing their location.
This cave was not a refuge; it was a stone coffin. The darkness at the cave entrance was like a gaping maw ready to swallow them at any moment.
They were blocked.
Chu Hang's back was drenched in cold sweat. He could imagine the scene outside the cave: a HYDRA elite, crouching in the snow like a hound, sniffing the air, his eyes already fixed on this rock face.
Run? Where to run?
Gabe's leg was a burden. The footprints and bloodstains in the snow were the clearest signposts. They wouldn't run fifty meters before being caught by that pervert, then toyed with and killed like mice.
Don't run? Stay here and wait to die?
Wait for him to find the cave entrance, then throw in a grenade with a smile? A HYDRA elite would definitely do something like that.
What to do? What the hell should they do?
Chu Hang's mind raced, but every thought led to a dead end.
Just then, the communicator rang again. It was the Commander's voice, laced with urgency: "Hound, report your exact coordinates! Do you require fire support?"
Chu Hang and Gabe's hearts were in their throats.
As soon as that monster codenamed "Hound" reported his coordinates, everything would be over.
"No need."
Unexpectedly, "Hound's" voice was full of mockery and disdain.
"To deal with two injured mice, I alone am enough. Let those fools go catch the big mouse in the star-spangled banner. The prey here is my personal time."
Silence fell over the communication channel for a few seconds.
Then, the Commander's voice rang out again: "Good. My Lord Schmidt said these two little mice are yours to dispose of as you wish."
"Understood."
The communication ended.
The cave was dead silent.
"Yours to dispose of as you wish."
These four words were a death sentence.
"Chu..." Gabe's voice trembled uncontrollably. He gripped the M1 carbine in his hand, "Listen to me, this is the last chance. I'll count to three, then I'll rush out and make the biggest commotion possible. You... you take the opportunity to run towards the river, don't look back!"
"You damn well shut up!" Chu Hang roared, cutting him off, grabbing Gabe's collar, his eyes bloodshot, "Doing this again? In your current state, how many seconds can you last rushing out? What's the point besides dying in vain!"
It wasn't that he didn't want to live; he wanted to live more than anyone!
But he couldn't abandon Gabe alone here.
Calm down! He had to calm down!
Chu Hang released Gabe, turned around, and gasped for air. The icy air stung his lungs, but it also somewhat calmed his wildly beating heart.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to replay all the information he had just heard.
"Hound," one person, extremely arrogant.
Captain America, on the west ridge, surrounded by a large HYDRA force.
All units... all HYDRA combat units, were deployed to besiege Captain America... Wait!
All units!
Chu Hang suddenly opened his eyes. A light cut through the darkness in his mind.
This was a crisis, but also an opportunity!
"Hound's" arrogance made him choose to come alone. And Captain America, as bait, attracted all other HYDRA Soldiers to the west side!
This meant that the riverbank area they were currently in, apart from the approaching "Hound," had become a military vacuum!
As long as... as long as they could lure away this sole threat!
How to lure him away?
Chu Hang's gaze fell on the black iron box beside Gabe's hand — the HYDRA radio communicator!
An incredibly bold plan began to form in his mind.
"Gabe," Chu Hang suddenly turned, lowering his voice, his eyes shining in the darkness, "Do you trust me?"
Gabe was taken aback by the question, looking at the mix of madness and excitement on Chu Hang's face, and nodded heavily: "I do."
"Good!" Chu Hang's lips curled upwards uncontrollably, "Then let's play a big one! Let's play a feint with that son of a bitch!"
"Feint?"
"Exactly!" Chu Hang snatched the communicator, waving it in front of Gabe, "Doesn't he think we're hiding nearby like mice? Then we'll use this thing to tell him he's wrong!"
Gabe's eyes widened instantly: "You mean... use their communicator to send false intelligence?"
"Otherwise?" Chu Hang squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, "Sit here and wait for him to find the cave entrance and send us on our way? Gabe, this is our only chance!"
Gabe's Adam's apple bobbed. This plan was too risky, absolutely insane! If exposed, they would die even faster.
But... just as Chu Hang said, it was their only chance.
"...How do we do it?" Gabe asked, gritting his teeth.
"It's simple." Chu Hang spoke very quickly. He took out C4 plastic explosives and a pencil detonator from his backpack. "In a moment, you'll use this communicator to imitate a patrolman's tone, reporting with the most panicked voice you've ever had, saying you found us upstream and that you're already engaged in a firefight! To make the report more convincing, I'll detonate this," Chu Hang shook the explosives in his hand, "upstream!"
Gabe understood completely: "No matter how powerful he is, he's still just a person! When he hears a clear report of a firefight and an explosion, he'll subconsciously think he misjudged! He'll immediately rush in the direction you detonated!"
"Exactly!" Chu Hang snapped his fingers, "As long as we can lure him away, even if only for ten minutes! We'll immediately go out, jump into the river, and run downstream! By the time he realizes he's been tricked, we'll be long gone!"
"Okay! Let's do it!" Gabe no longer hesitated, taking the communicator, the flame of survival rekindling in his eyes.
"Prepare yourself, think about what to say, and make it convincing! The more panicked, the better!" Chu Hanghanded the communicator to Gabe, then held the explosives, his expression solemn, "I'll go out for five minutes to set this up. Remember, when I come back, as soon as I give the signal, you report immediately!"
With that, Chu Hang said no more, took a deep breath, lowered his body, and silently slipped out of the cave entrance.
The air outside was icy cold.
Chu Hang braved the wind and snow, choosing a cluster of riverbank rocks about three hundred meters upstream. He tucked the C4 explosives into a rock crevice, inserted the detonator, leaving only a short length of fuse.
Having done all this, he immediately returned the way he came, carefully stepping in his own footprints.
When he re-entered the cave like a snowman, Gabe was tightly clutching the communicator, his lips moving, repeatedly practicing his lines.
Chu Hang gave him a thumbs-up and leaned against the rock wall to calm his racing heart.
It was all or nothing.
He nodded to Gabe and slowly made a "start" gesture.
Gabe's forehead was covered in sweat. He gritted his teeth and pressed the talk button.
The next second, a German voice, mixed with extreme panic and heavy breathing, roared out of the communicator!
"Calling Command Center! Calling Hound! I'm on the upstream riverbank in Sector A3! Target sighted! It's the two fugitives! Their firepower is intense! I need support! They're fleeing upstream! Requesting support! Requesting..."
Bang----!!!!
Before Gabe could finish his "distress call," a dull but clear explosion boomed in the distance!
The violent explosion, amplified by the radio's current, turned into a deafening roar that spread throughout the entire HYDRA communication channel.
In an instant, all the noisy background sounds in the channel disappeared.
Inside the cave, Chu Hang and Gabe held their breath, staring intently at the small iron box.
Did it work?
Did that monster fall for it?
Time seemed to slow down.
Finally, after a deathly silence, that cold voice, belonging to "Hound," rang out again.
"Upstream riverbank in Sector A3... Very good."
"All units hold your positions, do not approach."
The voice paused, then slowly, deliberately, said.
"These two mice are a little more interesting than I imagined."
"I'll be there shortly."
Chapter 15 Run! Run now!
I'll be there soon."
When the cold voice in the communicator finished its last syllable and fell silent, the air in the entire cave seemed to freeze.
Gabe's face was devoid of color. He looked at Chu Hang, his lips moving, but he couldn't utter a single word. His eyes were full of questions and fear.
Were they tricked?
Did that monster really believe their lies and run upstream to chase a non-existent Shadow?
Chu Hang's heart was also pounding like an out-of-control pile driver shoved into his chest. To be honest, he himself wasn't sure. The guy codenamed 'Hound' felt too dangerous, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, you never knew when he would strike from which angle.
His last remark, "A bit more interesting than I imagined," sent chills down Chu Hang's spine. That didn't sound like the reaction of prey escaping; instead, it was more like… the excitement of finding a new toy?
Damn it, can't think about that much!
In Chu Hang's mind, the little man in the suit jumped out again, pointing at his nose and shouting, "Why think so much? Do you want to stay here and have tea with him, discussing life philosophy? Now is your only window of opportunity! The only one! Run a step too slow, and he'll turn you into a specimen to hang on the wall!"
Right! Run!
Now! Immediately! At once!
"Go!"
Chu Hang roared, pulling Gabe, who was still in a daze, from the ground. He didn't give Gabe any time to think or hesitate, directly slinging one of Gabe's arms over his shoulder, and using all his strength, almost half-dragging, half-carrying him, he rushed out of the narrow cave.
Whoosh—
The biting cold wind, mixed with icy snow particles, instantly slapped both their faces.
"Chu! Did… did he really fall for it?" Gabe shivered from the cold, and while being dragged by Chu Hang, he couldn't help but ask.
"How do I know!" Chu Hang gritted his teeth, feeling the heavy weight of Gabe's body, his feet sinking deep and shallowly as he struggled through the snow. "I only know that if we don't run now, we're dead! Stop talking nonsense, save your strength!"
He dared not stop for a moment, not even daring to look back in the direction of upstream. All his focus was on his feet and Gabe in his arms. With a pace that wasn't fast, but exceptionally steady, he charged towards the downstream riverbank.
Every step on the thick snow made a "crunch, crunch" sound, which sounded particularly harsh in the silent snow forest. Chu Hang's heart was in his throat, fearing that the pervert's hearing was as good as his tracking ability.
One hundred meters, fifty meters, twenty meters… The cold river, shimmering under the moonlight, grew closer and closer.
Finally, the two of them stumbled and scrambled to the riverbank.
"No time, jump!" Chu Hang glanced at the dark woods behind him, always feeling as if a pair of eyes were watching them. He didn't have time to think, let out a loud shout, and with Gabe in tow, he plunged into the river.
"Splash!"
The bone-chilling river water instantly engulfed their bodies.
"Fuck!"
Even with Wolverine's physique, Chu Hang couldn't help but curse the moment he touched the river water.
It wasn't cold; it was pain! It was the excruciating pain of thousands of ice needles seemingly piercing every pore of his body at the same time! His blood felt like it was freezing instantly, and his heart skipped a beat.
If he was like this, let alone Gabe beside him.
Gabe's body stiffened abruptly in the Water, he didn't even cry out, almost passing out directly from the intense cold and the pain in his leg.
"Wake up! Gabe! Don't you dare fall asleep!" Chu Hangfelt Gabe's body go limp, scared out of his wits. He knew that at this temperature, once consciousness was lost, death was truly not far away.
He slapped Gabe hard on the back, then used all his strength to drag him towards the center of the river.
The river was shallow, mostly only chest-deep, but the current was swift. The icy river water furiously washed over their bodies, stripping away their last bit of warmth. Chu Hang's teeth began to chatter uncontrollably, and he could feel his body's functions rapidly declining.
The Healing Factor indeed made him much more resilient than ordinary people, but it wasn't omnipotent. He could feel his wounds healing and his physical strength recovering, but the speed of this recovery simply couldn't keep up with the rate of heat loss.
He had to get Gabe out of this damned river as quickly as possible.
While struggling through the Water, he used his enhanced vision to quickly scan the downstream riverbank, searching for a place to hide.
Just then, his ears twitched slightly.
Amidst the rushing sound of Water and the howling wind and snow, he seemed to hear another sound.
The sound was very faint, coming from the upstream direction.
It was like something… moving quickly through the treetops.
Not footsteps, but a… lighter, swifter sound, like the slight rustling of branches when an ape leaps through the forest.
Chu Hang's pupils contracted sharply.
That 'Hound'! He wasn't moving on the ground! He was moving in the trees!
This thought instantly made Chu Hang's scalp tingle.
No wonder, no wonder they hadn't heard any pursuing footsteps all along! This pervert wasn't tracking in a conventional way at all! He was like a true jungle ghost, moving silently through the canopy above their heads!
Was he tricked? Perhaps.
But he had absolute confidence in his tracking ability. He might have genuinely thought he'd made a mistake and gone upstream. But once he didn't find anyone there, what would he do?
He would immediately realize he had been fooled!
Then, he would follow this river downstream at the fastest possible speed!
Chu Hang's heart sank to the bottom.
He had originally thought that by jumping into the river, everything would be fine. Now, it seemed they had only pushed the God of Death's scythe away a little bit.
"Faster! Even faster!" Chu Hang roared frantically in his heart. He dragged Gabe, almost stumbling and crawling through the Water, rushing downstream.
After struggling in the icy river for nearly ten more minutes, Chu Hang felt his consciousness beginning to blur. He saw a dense reed bed not far downstream, where the riverbank seemed to form a small indentation, appearing to be a good hiding place.
That's the spot!
He used his last bit of strength to drag the semi-conscious Gabe ashore, and then both of them collapsed into the withered yellow reeds.
The thick reeds shielded them from some of the biting cold wind.
Chu Hang lay on the cold muddy ground, gasping for breath, his chest burning. He felt like a piece of pork just pulled from liquid nitrogen, his whole body stiff and not his own.
He dared not rest, forcing himself to sit up and check Gabe's condition.
Gabe's lips had turned completely purple, his face was as pale as a sheet, his breathing was weak, and his body was trembling violently and uncontrollably.
"Gabe! Hey! Gabe!" Chu Hang slapped his face hard.
Gabe's eyelids fluttered a few times, and he barely opened a slit, his eyes unfocused, clearly on the verge of hypothermic shock.
No, if this continued, he would truly die.
Chu Hang gritted his teeth, tore off his relatively dry undershirt, laboriously stripped off Gabe's soaked outer clothing, and vigorously rubbed Gabe's body with the cloth, trying to bring him a little warmth.
After doing all this, he himself was almost exhausted.
He leaned against a clump of reeds, feeling his eyelids heavy as if filled with lead.
No, he couldn't sleep.
He pinched his thigh hard, and the intense pain made him slightly more alert.
He subconsciously brought up the system interface in his mind.
[superpower copier]
[Current replications: 0]
[Cooldown countdown: 1 day 16 hours 23 minutes…]
Just over a day left… If he could just hold on for a little over a day, he would be able to use the copying ability again.
By then, as long as he could find Captain America and copy his abilities… No, that's not right, Captain Americahimself was surrounded now, whether he could survive was still a question.
Chu Hang's gaze, passing through the sparse reeds, looked towards the direction of the western ridge in the distance.
Fighting must have already broken out there.
He could almost hear the faint sounds of gunfire and cannons from afar.
In his current state, let alone saving someone, just keeping himself and Gabe alive was already a blessing.
What to do?
Was he really going to hide here like a stray dog, trembling and waiting for fate's judgment?
No.
Chu Hang's eyes slowly, gradually, became sharp again.
He was no longer the wage slave who could only resign himself to fate.
He possessed the top physical qualities of this era, and he had the most overpowered golden finger in this World.
He wasn't here to escape.
He was here to… hunt.
He glanced at Gabe, who was almost out of breath beside him, and then at the distant, war-torn ridge.
A crazier, bolder idea slowly took root and sprouted in his heart.
Perhaps… he didn't need to go find Captain America.
He could make Captain America… come to him.
Chapter 16 Taking a gamble, dragging the captain down with him
Cold.
Biting cold.
Chu Hang felt as if the blood in his entire body was about to freeze into ice shards. He leaned in the damp, cold reeds, and every breath he took was like swallowing a handful of broken glass, scraping from his throat all the way to his lungs, a burning pain.
Gabe next to him was in a worse state; the trembling of his body had gone from violent at first to a small, almost imperceptible twitch now. Chu Hang knew this wasn't a sign of improvement; it meant that his body no longer had the strength to generate heat through shivering. If this continued, in half an hour at most, Gabe would be a cold corpse.
And he himself wouldn't last much longer.
Healing Factor was amazing, but it wasn't a perpetual motion machine; it also required energy. In this extremely low-temperature environment, the pitiful energy in his body was like an engine leaking oil, rapidly draining away.
What to do?
Wait to die?
Chu Hang's gaze, through the swaying reeds, looked towards the distant ridge, which was flickering between light and dark from the artillery fire.
Captain America, Steve Rogers.
That muscular man, wielding a 'pot lid' shield, hailed as the 'embodiment of justice,' was now there, surrounded by HYDRA's main forces like dumplings.
His own situation was probably no better than Chu Hang's.
To count on him to save himself? That was a pipe dream.
But... what if it wasn't about him saving him?
A lightning bolt seemed to strike Chu Hang's mind, illuminating the darkness shrouded in cold and despair.
His almost frozen brain, at this moment, began to operate at an unprecedented speed.
A thought, a thought so crazy that even he found it absurd, surfaced uncontrollably.
Why should I wait for him to save me?
Why can't I drag him down with me?
"Gabe." Chu Hang's voice was a little hoarse. He vigorously shook his teammate, who was almost unconscious beside him, "Wake up, listen to me."
Gabe's eyelids lifted with difficulty, forming a slit, and his unfocused eyes showed no spirit.
"I... have a plan." Chu Hang leaned close to his ear, speaking quickly in a voice only the two of them could hear, "A plan that can keep us both alive. But this plan is crazy, so crazy that if we make one wrong step, we'll die instantly without a burial place."
Perhaps the words "stay alive" stimulated Gabe, and a faint ripple finally appeared in his eyes.
"You... say..." He used all his strength to squeeze out two words from his throat.
"Listen," Chu Hang's speaking speed was extremely fast, "Right now, all of HYDRA's main forces are drawn to Captain America on the western ridge. And that damned 'Hound' has been tricked by us to the upstream. This means that the area we are currently in is a huge military vacuum! This is our disadvantage, but it is also our greatest advantage!"
"We need to use this vacuum to 'invite' Captain Americaout of that damned encirclement!"
Gabe's eyes widened suddenly. He seemed not to understand Chu Hang's meaning.
"How to invite him?" Chu Hang's lips curved into a grin that looked particularly grim in the cold night, "Of course, in HYDRA's own way!"
He patted the cold iron box in his arms—the radio communicator.
"We just used it to trick the 'Hound' once. Now, we're going to use it to trick them again! But this time, we're going to trick HYDRA's entire command system!"
Gabe's breathing suddenly became rapid. He finally understood what Chu Hang wanted to do; this plan was a hundred times crazier than the feint they had just pulled!
"You... you're going to impersonate a HYDRACommander?" Gabe's voice carried a hint of incredulous terror.
"Exactly!" Chu Hang's eyes gleamed with a light called "madness," "I'm going to impersonate a high-ranking officer and issue a false order to the encircling troops on the western ridge! An order they must execute no matter what!"
"I'm going to order them to open a gap in the eastern encirclement, which is the defense line near our side of the riverbank! Say that the main force of the Allied forces has been discovered to the south and emergency reinforcements are needed! This way, Captain America, if he's not an idiot, will definitely discover this sole breakthrough! He will fight his way towards our direction with all his might!"
Gabe was completely stunned by Chu Hang's wild plan.
This... this was practically dancing on the tip of a knife! And with the highest difficulty moves!
"But... but wouldn't that expose us too?" Gabestammered, "That 'Hound,' and HYDRA's command, as soon as they cross-reference the order, they'll immediately realize it was you! By then, we'll become everyone's target!"
"Exactly! We will be exposed!" Chu Hang nodded without hesitation, his gaze, however, became exceptionally firm, "But so what? Gabe, listen carefully, we are like two people who have fallen into an ice hole; if we sit still, we'll freeze to death. If we try to climb out, we don't have the strength. The only way is to drag the strongest guy on the shore down with us! When he falls, the commotion will be big, and it might even alert everyone else!"
"Captain America is that strongest guy! As soon as he rushes to our vicinity, HYDRA's pursuers will follow! By then, this place will become a new battlefield! A chaotic battlefield! Only in chaos do we have a chance! A chance to fish in troubled waters, to survive!"
Chu Hang's words were like a shot of adrenaline, plunging fiercely into Gabe's almost-stopped heart.
Yes, it was death either way.
Rather than freezing to death in this reed bed like this, cowardly and without dignity, it was better to take a spectacular gamble!
Win the gamble, live!
Lose the gamble, still better than now!
"Okay... let's... let's do it!" Gabe gritted his teeth, and a glimmer of the flame of survival rekindled in his eyes, which had originally lost their light.
"Excellent!" Chu Hang took a deep breath. He knew that from this moment on, they had no turning back.
He adjusted the communicator's frequency back to HYDRA's public command channel.
The noisy static and German shouts instantly poured in.
"Western firepower increased! Don't let him break through!"
"Medic! Where are the medics! We have wounded here!"
"Repeat, target is moving east along Hill 3! Request fire support!"
Listening to the chaos in the channel, Chu Hang knew that the battle with Captain America had reached its most intense point.
Now!
He closed his eyes, trying to recall the tone and accent of those HYDRA officers giving orders that he had heard before. That superior, unquestionable arrogance.
He imitated the accent of the HYDRA squad leader he had killed.
He cleared his throat, then pressed the talk button.
"Quiet!"
A short, but authoritative German shout came from his mouth. He deliberately lowered his voice to make it sound more steady and older.
In an instant, the entire noisy communication channel really fell silent.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden, unfamiliar voice.
Chu Hang's heart was in his throat; he knew the most crucial moment had arrived.
"This is 'Observer'." He continued, using a made-up, weighty-sounding codename, "I have just received the highest directive from My Lord Schmidt. South line, Area A7, traces of the main Allied forces have been discovered; they are attempting to outflank us. Order: All Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Squads responsible for the eastern encirclement are to immediately abandon their current positions and move at full speed to Area A7 on the south line to construct a new defensive line! Repeat, this is a supreme directive, and it must be executed within ten minutes!"
After he finished speaking, he immediately released the talk button.
The entire channel fell into a deathly silence.
Chu Hang could even hear his and Gabe's heartbeats, like drums.
Did it work?
Would they believe it?
Time passed, second by second.
Just as Chu Hang was about to lose his patience and shout again, a young officer's voice, with obvious doubt, sounded in the channel.
"...Received, 'Observer'. But, once we withdraw, a huge gap will appear in the eastern encirclement, that American..."
"Idiot!" Chu Hang didn't wait for him to finish, pressing the talk button again and roaring in a furious, exasperated tone, "Are you questioning My Lord Schmidt's decision? Is one U.S. soldier more important than the flank security of our entire Base? I don't care how you do it, execute the order! If the south line falls, I will personally twist your head off and kick it like a ball!"
This roar, mixed with threats and anger, clearly had an effect.
The young officer no longer dared to question anything.
"Yes! Yes! At once! We will execute immediately!"
In the channel, the sounds of troops assembling and vehicles starting up soon followed.
It worked!
Chu Hang and Gabe exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of ecstatic relief in the other's eyes!
They had really used a fake order to mobilize HYDRA's troops!
However, before they could rejoice for more than three seconds.
A cold, emotionless voice, yet filled with endless killing intent, abruptly sounded in the communication channel.
That voice, Chu Hang and Gabe would never forget in this lifetime.
It was "Hound."
"What a wonderful performance, My little mouse."
"Not only can you dig holes, but you can also imitate your Master's voice."
The voice paused, as if savoring Chu Hang and Gabe's current fear, and then, he spoke slowly in an almost cruel, deliberate tone.
"However, you seem to have forgotten one thing."
"I am responsible for the southern reconnaissance."
"There, besides the wind and snow, there is nothing."
"Now, I know where you are."
"Game over."
Chapter 17 Dead End and Opportunity
Game over."
The emotionless voice from the communicator faded.
Chu Hang felt his blood freeze.
It's over.
Only these two words remained in his and Gabe's minds.
Cold poured into their bodies from all directions, no longer seeping, but eroding. With every breath, their lungs felt scraped by ice shards.
Gabe's condition was worse.
His bloodless black face had turned bluish-gray, and his lips were purple. His body no longer trembled, and even his convulsions had stopped. He was like a frozen sculpture, with only a barely perceptible rise and fall in his chest.
"We're... dead..." Gabe's lips barely moved, his voice squeezed from his throat, tinged with a sob, "He knows we're here... He's coming..."
He couldn't continue, the last spark in his eyes extinguished, and he slumped down, as if waiting for Death.
Chu Hang's heart sank with him.
Damn it.
He couldn't help but curse inwardly.
He had calculated everything, but he hadn't accounted for "The Hound" being in charge of the southern reconnaissance. This was a classic case of Murphy's Law. A seemingly flawless deception, yet he had stepped right into their trap.
He had overplayed his hand.
A battlefield deception worthy of a textbook, instantly exposed due to a mere coincidence.
Now, the pervert who reveled in torture and murder was slowly approaching from downstream. He and Gabe were like turkeys on a Thanksgiving dinner table, waiting for the hunter to decide where to make the first cut.
Wait for Death?
Just wait for Death so miserably, in cold and fear?
No.
Those two words were not in Chu Hang's dictionary.
Just as despair was about to swallow him, his mind suddenly jolted.
No! Things weren't at their worst yet!
"The Hound" was smart, but he made a fatal mistake—he was too arrogant. He thought that by exposing the deception, he controlled everything, and even couldn't resist declaring victory on the public channel, savoring his prey's fear.
But he forgot that on the battlefield, information transmission has a delay. What kind of chaos would his words cause for others!
"Gabe! Listen to me!" Chu Hang suddenly grabbed Gabe's shoulder and shook him hard, "Look at me! It's not over yet! We still have a chance!"
"A chance?" Gabe's unfocused eyes struggled to focus, "What chance? A chance to see what knife he uses?"
"No!" A wild glint flashed in Chu Hang's eyes. He leaned into Gabe's ear and spoke rapidly, "That bastard, he used the public channel! Everyone heard it! The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Squads, who just received my fake orders, they heard it too!"
Gabe was stunned.
Chu Hang ignored him and analyzed to himself: "A HYDRA squad leader, about to reinforce the south. Suddenly, another guy code-named 'The Hound' says on the channel that the orders are fake. What will he think? What will he do?"
Gabe subconsciously replied, "I... I'd stop... I'd be confused..."
"Exactly! It's chaos!" Chu Hang's voice rose slightly, "They'll be suspicious, they'll hesitate, they'll call headquarters to confirm! Before that, they're just a bunch of headless flies! This is the chance we bought with our lives!"
"More importantly!" Chu Hang's gaze swept towards the distant ridge, "Captain America! Steve Rogers! He won't care if HYDRA's command is in disarray! As long as he sees a loosening in the encirclement on the east side, what will he do?"
"He'll break out!" This time, Gabe's answer was without hesitation.
"Right!" Chu Hang's lips curved into a savage smile, "He'll use his last breath to rush towards this only gap!"
"So, the situation now is that 'The Hound' is coming from downstream to kill us. Captain America, with HYDRA's pursuers, is desperately rushing towards us from upstream!"
"We are right in the center where these two torrents are about to converge!"
Gabe was astonished by this scene.
"Then... isn't that even more dangerous?"
"Dangerous? No, this is called being pushed to the brink of Death to find life!" Chu Hang pulled him up from the ground and roared, "What we need to do now isn't to run! It's to gamble! Gamble that Captain America arrives a step before that pervert! As long as he and his pursuers arrive first, this place will turn into a new, chaotic battlefield! We can fish in troubled waters and disappear completely!"
With that, Chu Hang helped Gabe up, dragging his injured leg, and rushed towards a shallow ditch next to them, filled with rocks and withered bushes.
"Hide behind this rock! No matter what you hear, what you see, don't move! Unless I call you!"
Chu Hang settled Gabe, took a deep breath, and pulled out C4 plastic explosives from his backpack.
His fingers were somewhat stiff from the cold, but his movements were steady. He placed the explosives at the edge of the reed bed where they had been hiding, a path that "The Hound" would inevitably take from downstream.
Then, he removed a shoelace, found a dead branch, and made a crude tripwire. One end of the string was tied to the detonator pin, and the other end rested lightly between two bushes.
He knew this wouldn't kill "The Hound," but all he wanted was a signal.
A loud bang.
A signal that would tell Captain America, "Hey, run this way, there's a surprise."
After doing all this, he rolled back to Gabe's side. The two of them pressed against the cold rock face like stones, slowing their breathing.
Time passed second by second.
The sound of the wind, the snow, distant gunshots and explosions, and the drumming of their heartbeats.
Chu Hang's gaze was fixed on two directions.
Downstream, there was Death ("The Hound").
On the western ridge, there was hope (Captain America).
Who would come first?
Hurry up! Steve! If you don't hurry, I'm going to be made into a specimen! Chu Hang roared in his heart.
Just then!
A volley of dense gunshots and explosions suddenly came from the western ridge! The sound was like a bursting dam, sweeping towards the riverbank!
They're here!
Chu Hang and Gabe exchanged glances, both seeing the wild joy in each other's eyes.
Captain America had broken out! He had gambled correctly!
However, at the same moment.
By the dead silent riverbank downstream, in the shadows of the reeds where they had set their trap, a tall figure appeared silently.
He walked slowly, even somewhat leisurely.
His long black trench coat was still in the cold wind. His gaze, like a laser, locked directly onto the reed bed.
It was "The Hound."
He had arrived faster than expected.
Chu Hang's heart sank.
On one side, there was hope desperately breaking through.
On the other, the God of Death had quietly arrived.
And Chu Hang and Gabe were caught in the middle.
Chapter 18 A Gamble with Life and Death! Just Three Seconds Left!
My God, this has really gotten out of hand.
Chu Hang felt his heart almost leap out of his throat, then it was shoved back in by a cold hand, suffocating him.
To his left, Captain America was running for his life, with a string of HYDRA Soldiers screaming behind him; gunshots, explosions, and roars mixed together like a moving rock concert, only the instruments were Death.
To his right, the "Beast" who had emerged from the darkness like a ghost stood silently, not saying a word, but the chilling coldness and killing intent emanating from his bones were more terrifying than the entire orchestra on the left combined.
What do you call this? This is a wolf in front, a tiger behind, and two nearly frozen White rabbits caught in the middle.
Chu Hang's brain was working frantically at this moment.
The west ridge was about eight hundred meters away from here, and Captain America's running speed was extremely fast; considering the snow and complex terrain, it would take him about a minute and a half to reach here.
The pursuing Soldiers behind him were about a hundred meters away and would arrive about ten seconds later.
And the "Beast" downstream was less than fifty meters away from them! Although he wasn't moving fast, that was just intentional.
With the explosive power of such an elite Agent, how long would it take to sprint fifty meters at full speed?
Five seconds? Or three seconds?
Damn it, no matter how many seconds, it's faster than Captain America!
It's over, this gamble is lost. Chu Hang's heart sank to the bottom with a thud.
His carefully designed plan to let two floods collide and then fish in troubled Water was completely ruined by this damned few seconds' time difference.
The situation now was that before the reinforcements arrived, that perverted butcher would reach the "kitchen" first and then calmly deal with them, the two "main courses."
"Gabe, prepare to fight to the Death." Chu Hang's voice was extremely low, almost squeezed through his teeth.
He tightly clutched the MP40 submachine gun he had stripped from a HYDRA Soldier, the cold steel touch his only reliance at this moment.
Gabe didn't answer, but Chu Hang could feel his body, which had almost given up resistance, tensing up again.
When facing a deadly predicament, people either completely collapse or they erupt with a final burst of madness.
Downstream, the man known as the "Beast" moved.
He didn't rush over as Chu Hang had expected, but instead walked towards the reed bed where they had been hiding, with elegant, unhurried steps, as if attending a dinner party.
His gaze remained fixed on that area, and a faint, mocking smile even hung at the corner of his mouth.
He was enjoying the process.
He was like a top bomb disposal expert admiring a flawed bomb set up by a novice.
Closer, even closer.
Chu Hang's palms were slick with cold sweat, his index finger already on the MP40's trigger.
He knew that if the other party took two more steps forward, he would step on the tripwire he had made from shoelaces.
Although that thing definitely wouldn't kill him, it could at least blow him up and make him look disheveled, buying them a momentary opportunity!
However, the "Beast" stopped less than half a meter from the thin tripwire.
He just stopped, tilted his head slightly, and looked at the thin string, almost invisible in the cold wind, with keen interest, his eyes full of contempt, as if watching a child's childish prank.
He found it!
Chu Hang's heart was squeezed tight once again.
This guy's observational skills were simply abnormally sharp!
The "Beast" slowly raised his foot, seemingly intending to stomp on that crude device and completely crush Chu Hang and Gabe's last hope.
But just as he lifted his foot!
"Whoosh——!"
A sharp, piercing sound of something cutting through the air suddenly came from the direction of the west ridge!
Immediately after, a red, White, and blue circular shield, carrying an unstoppable momentum, like a cannonball out of a barrel, spun and whistled, smashing over fiercely!
Its target was neither the "Beast" nor Chu Hang and Gabe, but a White birch tree about the thickness of a bowl behind the "Beast's" side!
"Clang!"
A deafening clang of metal!
The shield, upon hitting the tree trunk, burst forth with powerful kinetic energy, accompanied by flying wood chips, and bounced back at an incredible angle!
And the direction of its rebound was precisely the "Beast's" back!
This sudden turn of events was too fast, too abrupt!
Even the "Beast" hadn't expected it at all!
His originally relaxed and composed posture instantly vanished, replaced by a Beast-like instinctive reaction.
He almost instinctively gave up on stepping on the tripwire, twisting his body sharply to the side at an angle that defied physical common sense!
"Bang!"
The shield almost grazed his back as it flew past, smashing heavily into the frozen ground behind him, splashing a large amount of cold mud.
Although he dodged the vital spot, the violent force from the shield still caused him to stumble, his body uncontrollably lunging forward.
And the direction he lunged was, coincidentally, precisely the tripwire device Chu Hang had set up!
The "Beast's" pupils suddenly contracted to pinprick size at this moment!
He tried to stop himself, but it was too late!
His military boot stepped heavily on the thin shoelace.
"Snap!"
The shoelace snapped in response.
The pull-ring connected to the fuse was instantly yanked out.
Chu Hang roared wildly in his heart: Now!
"Boom—!!!"
An earth-shattering roar!
The powerful force of the C4 explosive was completely unleashed at this instant!
Orange-red Fire, mixed with black smoke and shattered ice, snow, and dirt, formed a terrifying Impact, sweeping wildly in all directions!
The entire riverbank seemed to tremble violently!
The arrogant "Beast," without even having time to let out a muffled groan, was completely blown away by this sudden explosion, like a broken sack, tumbling twice in the air, and then with a "plop," he fell heavily into the icy river nearby.
All of this, from the shield flying in to the explosion, sounds slow in the telling, but it actually happened within one or two seconds!
So fast that no one reacted!
Chu Hang and Gabe stared dumbfounded at the dramatic scene before them, their minds blank.
They… succeeded?
No, it wasn't that they succeeded.
That man had arrived!
Chu Hang suddenly turned his head, looking west.
He saw a tall and burly figure rushing out of the chaotic woodland.
He was wearing a blue, White, and red tight-fitting combat suit, with a White five-pointed star on his chest shining brightly in the Firelight.
His face was covered in gunpowder smoke and mud, his breathing was rapid, and his eyes were full of fatigue, but his perfectly straight spine was like a javelin that would never bend!
Captain America, Steve Rogers!
He finally arrived!
He was three seconds later than the "Beast," but his shield was three seconds faster!
It was these three faster seconds that saved Chu Hangand Gabe's lives!
"Get down!"
Just as Chu Hang was in a daze, Captain America's loud and urgent roar had already reached them.
Immediately after, dense bullets, like a hail storm, swept over the place where they were hiding!
It was the HYDRA Soldiers who had caught up from behind!
Chu Hang jolted, quickly pulled Gabe, and pressed their bodies tightly behind the rock.
Bullets hit the rock, sparking tiny flames, and gravel(shattered rock fragments) flew everywhere, stinging their faces.
Chaos!
Utter chaos!
Captain America was running ahead, looking for cover, the HYDRA Soldiers were frantically pursuing and shooting behind, and the "Beast," who had been blown into the river, was of unknown Death or survival.
This small riverbank instantly turned into a meat grinder!
Opportunity!
Chu Hang's eyes shone terrifyingly bright at this moment!
This was the kind of chaos he wanted!
He no longer continued to hide, but suddenly poked half his body out from behind the rock, raising the MP40 submachine gun in his hand.
His target was not Captain America, nor were they the pursuing HYDRA Soldiers.
But the flank!
He immediately noticed that there were three more HYDRA Soldiers in the woods on the flank, attempting to outflank Captain America!
"Captain! To your right! Three of them!"
Chu Hang yelled at the top of his lungs in English!
Almost at the same time his shout rang out, the MP40 in his hand also spat out angry tongues of Fire!
"Da da da da da!"
A burst of bullets sprayed out precisely!
He didn't expect to hit anyone; all he wanted was to use the gunshots and bullet trajectories to mark the enemy's position for Captain America!
Captain America, who was looking for cover in a shell crater, obviously heard his shout.
He almost without any hesitation, rolled on the ground, picked up the shield that had just smashed into the dirt, and then, without thinking, threw it with a backhand in the direction Chu Hang had warned!
"Clang! Clang! Ah!"
The shield drew a graceful arc through the woods, accompanied by two muffled thuds of metal colliding and a miserable shriek, and then flew back into Captain America's hand.
The three HYDRA Soldiers attempting to outflank were instantly silenced.
Captain America, shield in one hand, half-squatted in the shell crater, his gaze like electricity, for the first time, formally, cast a complex look towards Chu Hang, mixed with surprise, vigilance, and a hint of gratitude.
The battle had just begun!
Chapter 19 Captain America
A wisp of smoke still curled from the muzzle.
Dozens of meters away, the man in the shell crater was quietly watching Chu Hang.
That gaze was like a knife, cutting through the air and through him. Chu Hang felt as if he was seen through, from the inside out.
That was Captain America, Steve Rogers.
He was right there, alive and real. Not the moral paragon from the movies, nor the idol from propaganda posters. This was a Soldier who had just fought his way out of a hail of bullets.
His face was covered in gunpowder and dirt, his blonde hair plastered to his forehead, wet with sweat and melted snow. His chest heaved violently, each breath exhaling a large cloud of white mist. His eyes held weariness and vigilance, but even more, an iron-like will.
This guy, he's the real deal.
Only one thought remained in Chu Hang's mind. Before, watching him on a screen, he only thought he was a good fighter. Now, face to face, he felt the aura of a man who could hold an entire front line by himself.
"Hey! Recruit! What are you staring at! Do you want to die!"
Captain America's furious roar jolted Chu Hang out of his daze.
A new round of gunfire rained down. More HYDRA Soldiers charged down from the ridge, their firepower even fiercer than before.
Chu Hang flinched, his head instantly retracting behind the rock. He cursed under his breath, almost forgetting this was a battlefield.
"Gabe! Cover me!" Chu Hang yelled behind him, then rolled on the ground, sliding out from the other side of the rock.
He couldn't hide anymore. Captain America was drawing the frontal fire, and he had to seize this opportunity. The fighting instinct within him also urged him to fight, to tear the enemy apart.
The desire to survive overwhelmed everything. To live, he had to eliminate those who wanted him dead.
As Chu Hang charged out, he was already half-kneeling, raising his gun, aiming, and firing. The series of actions was incredibly fast.
"Da da da!"
The MP40 submachine gun roared again. He ignored the miscellaneous Soldiers hiding behind cover, instantly assessing the biggest threat—a newly set up MG42 machine gun to his front-side. If that thing opened fire, they would all be finished.
Chu Hang desperately held down the muzzle, spraying an entire magazine of bullets. The dense bullets drew a deadly dotted line, and the HYDRA machine gunner's chest burst with several blooms of blood before he fell backward. The assistant gunner next to him also took a hit, clutching his leg and howling on the ground.
One down!
He immediately rolled, dodging bullets coming from the side. The bullets whizzed past his scalp, bringing a mix of fear and excitement.
Just as Chu Hang rolled, Captain America moved.
He leaped out of the shell crater, shield raised, and charged into the hail of bullets.
Crazy!
Only this thought remained in Chu Hang's mind. A network of dozens of guns, and he just charged into it?
The next second, Chu Hang knew he was wrong.
Captain America's charge path swerved left and right, always dodging the densest bullet trajectories. Most bullets were blocked by his shield, making crisp "ding-ding-dang-dang" sounds, not even leaving a mark. That was a Vibranium shield.
Occasionally, a few bullets hit him, only making him sway slightly, unable to stop his advance.
This was a Super Soldier, a human weapon.
Chu Hang felt his blood burning. This was it! The ability he had always dreamed of!
"Left! The one with the Rocket launcher!"
Chu Hang's peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a guy in the woods to his left, shouldering a dark iron tube aimed at Captain America. The front of the tube glowed with a blue light, a HYDRA energy weapon.
If that hit, even if he were made of iron, he'd lose a layer of skin.
Chu Hang raised his hand and fired a shot.
The distance was too far, and the bullet only hit the tree trunk, kicking up a burst of wood chips.
But it was enough.
Captain America, mid-charge, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. The moment Chu Hang's gun fired, he sharply flung his left hand, and the shield flew off!
"Whoosh—!"
The shield spun terrifyingly, not flying towards the Rocketlauncher operator, but smashing into a man-high rock next to him.
"Clang!"
A loud crash.
The shield ricocheted at an odd angle, hitting the Rocketlauncher operator squarely on the head.
With a muffled "thud," the guy didn't even groan before he slumped down.
The shield arced through the air, flying steadily back into Captain America's hand. He caught it without breaking his stride.
Beautiful! That was damn beautiful!
Chu Hang cheered in his heart. He had only fired a warning shot, and Captain America instantly understood and resolved the threat in the most effective way.
This feeling was exhilarating.
With Chu Hang providing fire support and observation from the flank, Captain America completely plunged into the HYDRA lines, unleashing a Carnage.
He blocked with his shield, striking enemies' throats and joints with its edge. His fists and kicks carried immense power; anyone hit directly flew backward with broken bones and torn muscles.
Chu Hang's task became simple. Using his positional advantage, he provided suppressive fire for Captain America and hunted down any stragglers attempting a sneak attack.
An unspoken understanding formed between them.
With a short burst, Chu Hang could tell Captain Americathat at three o'clock, behind the rock, someone was about to throw a grenade. And Captain America always reacted the instant he fired, a shield throw sending the unlucky fellow and his grenade skyward.
One attacked, the other supported.
The rhythm of the battle was completely controlled by the two of them.
The HYDRA Soldiers finally broke. Their bullets couldn't penetrate that damned shield, and their encirclement attempts were always stifled by bullets from an unknown source.
Panic spread among them.
Someone let out a strange cry first, throwing down his gun and turning to run. This action was like pushing over the first domino, and the remaining Soldiers completely lost their will to fight, crying out as they scattered and fled.
The battle was over.
Only the sound of the wind, the smell of blood, and a ground littered with corpses remained by the riverbank.
Chu Hang leaned against a tree, almost collapsing from exhaustion. He gasped for breath, the barrel of his MP40 hot enough to fry an egg.
He looked at the tall figure not far away, also leaning on his knees and panting, feeling a sense of unreality.
They... won?
At that moment, the man moved.
Captain America slowly straightened up, slung his shield onto his back, and walked towards Chu Hang step by step. His gait was steady but cautious.
Chu Hang instinctively raised his empty submachine gun, the muzzle slightly lowered, indicating no hostility.
"Don't be nervous, Soldier." Captain America's voice was a little hoarse, but still steady, "The battle is over, I'm not your enemy."
He stopped a few meters in front of Chu Hang. His gaze swept over Chu Hang's ill-fitting HYDRA uniform, then passed him to Gabe behind him.
"Are you members of the Howling Commandos?" he asked.
"Yes, Officer!" Chu Hang instinctively stood at attention and replied.
Captain America's gaze returned to Chu Hang's face, his blue eyes showing inquiry and a hint of approval.
"What's your name, Soldier?"
"Chu Hang, Officer! From D Company!"
"Chu Hang..." Captain America mumbled the name with a somewhat stiff pronunciation, then offered a tired but sincere smile.
"You did well, Chu Hang. Very well." He paused, then added in a more solemn tone, "I haven't seen a Soldier as outstanding as you in a long time. Welcome to this war, Soldier."
Chapter 20 is ready! Now!
To be honest, being praised by Captain America to his face, Chu Hang's small vanity was instantly greatly satisfied.
This wasn't just praise from anyone; this was Captain America! The real deal! The one who could fight! And the Captain America who had just fought alongside him!
It felt just like when you were in school, racking your brains over a math problem you thought was incredibly difficult, only for the top student in the whole school to walk over, pat you on the shoulder, and say, "Dude, your problem-solving approach is awesome."
It was the exact same feeling.
Awesome! It was awesome to the core!
Chu Hang even had a momentary impulse to pull out a small notebook and ask for an autograph.
But his remaining sanity told him that they were on a battlefield, and doing so would likely result in him being mistaken for a crazy person sent by HYDRA and smashed to death with a shield.
He forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, trying to make himself look more like a seasoned, battle-hardened veteran rather than an ecstatic fan meeting his idol.
Mimicking the tough guys in movies, he merely twitched the corner of his mouth as a response, then turned his gaze towards Gabe behind him.
"Officer, my teammate is seriously injured," Chu Hangsaid in a deep voice, bringing the conversation back to business.
Now was not the time for pleasantries; surviving was the top priority.
Captain America's smile immediately faded, replaced by a look of grave concern.
Without the slightest hesitation, he strode over and knelt beside Gabe.
He first looked at Gabe's face, which had turned as pale as paper from blood loss and cold, then his gaze shifted down to his thigh, which Chu Hang had hastily bandaged.
When he saw the gruesome wound and the bone-deep laceration, even he couldn't help but frown deeply.
"Beartrap?" Steve's voice held a hint of anger.
Setting up such a insidious device in this place could only be the work of those deranged individuals from HYDRA.
"Yes, Officer," Chu Hang replied, "We got separated during the parachute jump, and he was unlucky enough to step on it when he landed."
Steve reached out and lightly touched Gabe's neck, checking his pulse, then lifted his eyelid to look, his expression becoming even more serious.
"He's lost too much blood and shows signs of hypothermia.
He needs professional treatment immediately, or he won't last long."
As he spoke, he stood up, his gaze sweeping around, seemingly rapidly assessing the next course of action.
But just at that moment!
"Splash—!"
A piercing splash of Water suddenly came from the nearby river!
Chu Hang and Steve's nerves instantly tensed, and almost simultaneously, they turned their heads to look in the direction of the sound!
In the icy, bone-chilling river Water, a soaking wet figure, like a Water ghost, was swaying as it rose from the Water!
It was the "Beast"!
He was actually not dead!
The close-range explosion of the C4 even failed to take his life!
At this moment, he looked utterly miserable.
His black combat uniform was torn to shreds by the explosion, his face and hands were covered in blood, and gruesome wounds were gaping open, making him look like a demon crawled out of hell.
One of his arms was unnaturally twisted, clearly broken, but in his other hand, he still clutched a gleaming combat knife!
He didn't look at Chu Hang, nor did he even look at the severely injured Gabe.
His bloodshot eyes, red with anger and pain, like two burning embers, were fixed, absolutely fixed, on Captain America!
In his eyes, Chu Hang, a minor character, was just a fly that could shoot from a distance.
But the man in the Stars and Stripes uniform before him was the biggest target on his mission list, the culprit who ruined his perfect hunt!
"You... deserve to die!"
The "Beast's" throat emitted a low growl, like an animal.
Ignoring his injuries, he slammed his intact leg against the ground, and like a raging bull, he roared and charged straight at Captain America!
This guy was a lunatic too!
Steve's reaction was lightning-fast; almost the instant the other party moved, he shielded Chu Hang and Gabebehind him, and at the same time, raised his left arm, the indestructible vibranium shield already firmly blocking in front of him.
"Clang—!"
The military knife struck the shield fiercely, erupting in a shower of dazzling sparks!
The immense force made Steve's body sway slightly.
He could clearly feel that the opponent's strength was definitely not the level an ordinary Soldier should possess.
This guy had likely undergone some form of human enhancement!
Missing his initial strike, the "Beast's" attacks were like a relentless storm.
He completely abandoned defense, every move a life-for-a-life style.
The military knife in his hand carved out tricky and deadly trajectories, stabbing, slashing, or wiping, each move aimed at Steve's vital points: his neck, eyes, and heart!
Steve, however, was as steady as a mountain.
The shield in his hand was like an insurmountable wall; no matter how frantic the opponent's attacks, he blocked them one by one.
Between offense and defense, the clang of metal against metal was incessant, sparks flew everywhere, a truly heart-stopping sight.
Chu Hang watched from the side, his palms covered in cold sweat.
This was a true showdown between top masters! Speed, strength, and skill, none could be lacking!
Although he had the Healing Factor, compared to these two monsters in front of him, he was like a baby who had just learned to walk in terms of combat experience and skill.
It was also at this moment that a voice, audible only to himself, suddenly rang out in his mind.
"Ding!"
"Cooldown ended, [superpower copier] is ready."
It's here!
Chu Hang's heart suddenly skipped a beat!
He had been waiting for this moment for far too long!
From the moment he saw Captain America in the promotional video, he had been constantly anticipating this day!
His gaze was fixed on the two fiercely battling figures, his brain working at an unprecedented speed.
An opportunity! He needed an opportunity! An opportunity that would allow him to legitimately touch Captain America without arousing any suspicion!
Rush up to help directly? No! With the strength he had shown so far, getting involved in a battle of this level was no different from seeking death; it would be too deliberate.
Wait for them to both suffer? Even worse! What if Captain America met with an accident? Who would he cry to then?
What to do? What exactly should he do?
Just as Chu Hang was burning with anxiety, the situation on the field suddenly changed!
After failing to break through for a long time, the "Beast" seemed to have run out of patience.
He let out an inhuman roar and slammed his already broken arm fiercely into Steve's shield!
Steve evidently hadn't expected him to attack in such a self-destructive manner, and caught off guard, the shield was knocked slightly askew, revealing a tiny opening!
Now!
A look of wild joy burst forth in the "Beast's" eyes, and the military knife in his other hand, like a venomous snake striking, pierced straight towards Steve's side waist with extreme speed!
If this strike connected, even with the combat uniform protection, it would definitely be a severe injury!
Steve's pupils suddenly constricted; he wanted to bring his shield back to defend, but it was too late!
It's over!
Chu Hang's mind went blank with a "buzz"!
And it was at this critical juncture that his body's instincts overrode all thought and calculation!
"Captain! Watch out!"
Chu Hang let out a furious roar, and like an arrow released from a bowstring, he suddenly rushed in from the side!
His target was not the "Beast," nor was it the deadly military knife!
It was Captain America!
He used all his strength, slamming his shoulder hard into Steve's back!
"Thud!"
A muffled thud!
Steve felt a huge force, one that should not belong to an ordinary Soldier, come from behind, pushing him forward uncontrollably into a stumble.
And it was this stumble that allowed him to narrowly dodge the fatal blow!
The gleaming military knife practically grazed his lower back, leaving only a shallow White mark on his combat uniform.
And Chu Hang, the moment he pushed Steve away, his hand also naturally rested on the other's broad and thick back.
Now!
Chu Hang roared wildly in his heart, using the loudest voice he had ever used in his life!
Copy!
"Target detected: Steve Rogers.
Copyable ability found: [super soldier serum].
Copy?"
Yes! Yes! Yes! Copy it for me!
Chu Hang felt his soul screaming!
"[super soldier serum] successfully copied.
Ability is integrating with the host, a comprehensive improvement in physical fitness is expected to be completed within twenty-four hours."
An indescribably warm and powerful current instantly surged in from where his palm made contact, then rapidly spread to all his limbs and bones!
He felt every cell in his body cheering, leaping with joy!
That feeling was like parched seedlings finally receiving sweet rain, like a drifting boat finally finding its harbor!
An unprecedented sense of power and security filled his entire being!
It's done!
It's finally done!
However, before he could even celebrate, a sharp pain came from under his ribs!
The "Beast," missing his strike, instinctively retaliated with a reverse grip, fiercely stabbing into Chu Hang's body!
"Pfft!"
Chu Hang only felt a chill in his body, and looking down, the tip of the military knife had already emerged from his side abdomen, and blood was gushing out along the blade.
It really hurts like hell...
Chu Hang grimaced, this thought flashed through his mind, then his vision went Black, and his body softly collapsed.
"Chu Hang!"
Steve's anxious and furious roar was the last thing he heard before losing consciousness.