Chapter 21: He didn't die, and he even got stronger.
Steve Rogers felt as if his blood, in that instant, had been frozen into ice, and then, in the next second, was completely ignited by the magma from the Earth's core.
It was a rage that was both extremely cold and extremely violent.
He watched with his own eyes as the Eastern Soldier, who had just been fighting alongside him, clearing countless obstacles with his accurate marksmanship, was savagely stabbed through the body by the enemy's poisoned military knife as he pushed Steve away.
At that moment, time seemed to slow down.
He could clearly see a flicker of surprise and pain on Chu Hang's face, see blood overflowing from his mouth, and see the rapidly fading light in his eyes.
This Soldier named Chu Hang, he had just memorized his name. He was brave, calm, and possessed a tactical mind and battlefield intuition beyond his age. Steve had even, in his heart, already considered him his most trustworthy comrade in this team.
But now, this comrade, to save him, fell before him.
"No—!"
A suppressed roar, pushed to its limit, erupted from the depths of Captain America's throat. His deep blue eyes, at this moment, were filled with a terrifying blood-red hue.
If in the previous battle, he still maintained the rationality and tactics of a Soldier, then now, only one thought remained in his mind.
Kill this guy in front of him! In the most brutal, most direct way!
The HYDRA Soldier code-named "Hound," after stabbing Chu Hang, showed a morbid ecstasy on his face. He failed to kill Captain America, but being able to take out an important helper by his side was enough to satisfy him. He didn't even have time to pull out the knife, wanting to kick Chu Hang's body away to buy himself a little breathing room.
But he was wrong, terribly wrong.
He was facing a completely enraged super Soldier.
"Whoosh—!"
His response was a red, white, and blue afterimage, accompanied by a sharp whistle tearing through the air.
Steve didn't even make any unnecessary movements; he simply poured all his fury into his right arm, using all his strength to swing the vibranium shield in his hand, like a brick, horizontally!
Hound's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpricks.
He only felt a blur before his eyes, and an irresistible, terrifying force, like a battering ram, solidly struck the side of his face.
"Crack!"
A bone-chilling sound of bones shattering rang out.
Hound's head bent at a completely unnatural angle to the other side. The ecstasy on his face instantly froze, replaced by extreme horror and disbelief.
He couldn't even let out a scream; his whole body, like a sack with its bones removed, flew out limply sideways, hitting a hard rock in the distance with a "bang," then sliding down, completely still.
Instant kill!
One blow! Just one blow!
This HYDRA elite, who had just been fighting Captain America back and forth, displaying super Soldierqualities, was thus completely dealt with.
But Steve didn't even glance at him.
The moment the shield left his hand, he had already turned around, rushing to Chu Hang's side in a single stride, carefully supporting his collapsing body.
"Chu Hang! Hold on! Chu Hang!" Steve's voice carried a tremor and urgency he himself hadn't noticed.
He laid Chu Hang flat on the ground, intending to bandage him.
But just as Steve was about to tear his clothes to try some futile hemostatic measures, he suddenly froze.
When his gaze fell on the wound on his abdomen that had just been gruesome.
It had already healed, with no trace of a wound.
What… what is going on?
Steve's mind buzzed, a complete blank. He even instinctively rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating due to mental tension.
But this was not a hallucination!
The wound had healed!
Just as he was overwhelmed with shock, Chu Hang, lying on the ground, let out a painful groan, his eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes.
It hurts!
It really f***ing hurts!
This was Chu Hang's first thought after regaining consciousness.
He felt as if someone was stirring a red-hot iron rod in his stomach, and the bone-deep pain almost made him faint again.
However, beneath this intense pain, he also felt a different sensation.
It was a warm, powerful feeling, like a surging river. This warm current was gushing from the deepest part of his body, flowing through his limbs and bones, nourishing every dried-up cell.
He could clearly feel that every part of his body was undergoing earth-shattering changes. His muscles were becoming tougher. His bones were becoming denser. His blood seemed to flow more powerfully.
Is this the power of the super soldier serum?
Chu Hang couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh in his heart. Although the process was a bit painful, the result was really f***ing awesome! The Healing Factor was responsible for healing, and the super soldier serum was responsible for strengthening—these two abilities were simply a perfect match!
"Chu Hang? You… how do you feel?"
Steve's voice, tinged with uncertainty and shock, rang in his ears.
Chu Hang laboriously turned his head and saw Captain America's bewildered face, filled with "Who am I, where am I, what did I see?"
His heart immediately bloomed with joy. Let you be well-informed, let you be the chosen one; you haven't seen a scene of resurrection in front of your eyes, have you?
But on his face, he displayed a perfectly timed expression of weakness, confusion, and pain.
"It hurts… Officer… Am I… dead?" Chu Hang's voice was hoarse like a broken gong, his acting worthy of an Oscar winner.
"You're not dead!" Steve answered instinctively, but then immediately realized something was wrong. He pointed at Chu Hang's stomach, his voice stammering, "Your wound… your wound it…"
Chu Hang followed his gaze downwards, only to see the military knife still stuck in his stomach, but the surrounding wound had healed by more than half, leaving only a circle of gruesome red scars.
He secretly thought, "Holy crap, this Healing Factor is too powerful," but on his face, he continued to play dumb.
"I… I don't know… I've always been… stronger than others since I was little…" Chu Hang said, extending his hand, trembling as he gripped the hilt of the knife, and then, under Steve's horrified gaze, gritted his teeth and, with a sudden pull, yanked out the military knife!
"Puff!"
A gush of blood spurted out again!
"What are you doing!" Steve jumped in fright, quickly reaching out to press down.
But the next second, both he and Chu Hang froze.
The pulled-out wound, after spurting a gush of blood, actually contracted and closed rapidly, several times faster than before! In just the blink of an eye, not even a mark could be seen!
Chu Hang was also stunned. He could feel that the new power, belonging to the super soldier serum, accelerated this process! These two powers actually produced a wonderful chemical reaction!
Steve looked at the smooth skin, then at the blood on his hands, completely dumbfounded. He opened his mouth, unable to say a word for a long time. His worldview, based on science and common sense, was shattered at this moment.
Just as the two stared at each other, the atmosphere awkward and strange, a burst of chaotic footsteps and shouts came from the nearby mountain forest.
"This way! The gunshots came from this way!"
"Quick! Everyone follow!"
It was the Howling Commandos! They finally arrived!
Soon, Dugan, Logan, and several other team members rushed out of the woods. When they saw the scene before them, like a slaughterhouse, and Steve and Chu Hang standing amidst a pile of corpses, everyone froze.
Logan's nose sniffed hard in the air. His Beast-like intuition made him immediately sense something was wrong. He first glanced at the tragically dead "Hound," then fixed his gaze on Chu Hang.
In the air, besides the strong smell of blood, he also smelled a… a new, powerful scent, somewhat similar to Captain's, yet completely different.
"Well done, Captain!" Dugan broke the silence first. He glanced at the surrounding corpses and praised sincerely. Then he looked at Chu Hang and Gabe, "You two lads, you're really lucky!"
Steve didn't answer; he just gave Chu Hang a deep look, his eyes extremely complex. There was gratitude, shock, and doubt, but more than that, there was a sense of recognition, like looking at one of his own.
He stepped forward, bent down, and pulled Chu Hang, who was still a bit weak in the legs, up from the ground.
Then, he extended his thick, powerful hand and heavily patted Chu Hang's shoulder.
"Welcome back, Soldier."
Chapter 22 Now, are we the same kind of people?
The strength from his shoulder was steady and carried a reassuring warmth.
Captain America Steve Rogers's palm, like the man himself, was broad, powerful, and full of reliability.
Chu Hang was pulled up from the snow by him and stood firm. To be honest, his legs were still a bit weak, not because of injury, but mainly because of the series of life-risking and acting maneuvers just now; his spirit was highly tense, and now that he relaxed, the lingering fear surged up.
Fortunately, he won the gamble.
He could now clearly feel that earth-shattering changes were occurring within his body. Streams of hot liquid, like boiling Water, rushed through every corner of his body. Muscles, bones, internal organs, everything was being reshaped and strengthened in an incredible way.
This feeling was like being thrown into a furnace, shattered, and then put back together, both painful and exhilarating.
He knew this was the super soldier serum taking effect.
The Howling Commandos around him all looked at him as if he were a monster. They had just seen the knife plunge into Chu Hang's body, but now, other than being a little White in the face and having a hole in his clothes, he looked as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, kid, are you made of iron?" Dugan, cigar in mouth, walked over and poked him, finding him hard and full of muscle.
Chu Hang grinned, saying nothing. He couldn't very well say, 'I just activated a cheat, and now I'm leveling up,' could he?
His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Logan.
Logan stood not far away, his brows tightly furrowed, his sharp, Beast-like eyes fixed on him without blinking. His nose twitched continuously, as if discerning some scent.
Chu Hang's heart skipped a beat.
He had forgotten about this. Logan was not comparable to ordinary people like Dugan. His senses, especially his sense of smell, were as keen as a dog's... no, even keener. With the Healing Factor and super soldier serumchurning in his body, the scent must have changed dramatically.
This might fool others, but it might not fool him.
Sure enough, Logan strode over, stopping directly in front of Chu Hang, scrutinizing him up and down, his gaze like he was looking at some creature in human skin.
"Something's not right with you, kid," Logan's voice was low and carried an undeniable certainty.
The atmosphere around them suddenly became subtle.
"I... what's not right with me?" Chu Hang felt uneasy, but he still feigned a bewildered expression.
"The smell," Logan said concisely, pointing to his nose, "Your scent has changed. Just now, after that guy stabbed you. It's become... a bit like Captain's, but different. More... wilder."
Chu Hang's eyelid twitched.
Good heavens, does this nose have a radar? Can it even smell 'wild' or not?
His mind raced, thinking of a countermeasure. Dealing with such an intuitive tough guy, any complex lie might be seen through at a glance. The only way was to be half-truthful, using a seemingly absurd but irrefutable reason to muddle through.
"Perhaps... I've awakened," Chu Hang sighed, a melancholic expression of gazing at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle appearing on his face, his acting instantly top-notch.
"Awakened?" Logan's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Yes," Chu Hang said with a World-weary look, "I heard elders from my hometown say that in our East, there's a saying: 'To be reborn from death.' Some people, when experiencing a brush with death, will have something hidden within their bodies stimulated. What just happened to me... might be that situation. After all, not everyone gets the chance to experience being stabbed through the stomach with a knife."
He said this so convincingly that even he almost believed it. Mysterious Eastern powers, bloodline awakenings—such things were perfect for fooling foreigners, always effective.
Logan looked at him with a mixture of belief and doubt, his expression changing. Although he found it all a bit far-fetched, Chu Hang's miraculous recovery had indeed happened right before his eyes. Besides this absurd reason, he couldn't think of any other explanation.
"Alright, Logan."
Just as the atmosphere became tense, Captain America Steve walked over. He placed a hand on Logan's shoulder and shook his head.
"Whatever happened to Chu Hang, he is our comrade. And he just saved my life."
Steve's words were like a calming pill, instantly easing the tense atmosphere. His prestige as Captain was still quite high.
Logan gave Chu Hang a deep look, said nothing more, just grunted, and turned to check on Gabe's injuries. Although he stopped pressing, Chu Hang knew that the suspicion in his heart had certainly not been dispelled. In the future, he would have to stay away from this guy, lest he smell out more things.
Having dealt with the trouble of Logan, Chu Hang finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned his gaze to Steve.
He found that Steve was also looking at him, his gaze as complex as an incomprehensible philosophy book.
"Captain, we..." Chu Hang wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.
"Let's find a place to talk alone," Steve interrupted him, then turned to Dugan and said, "Dugan, take the men to check the surroundings, clear the spoils, and prioritize the wounded. Chu Hang and I will scout ahead."
"Understood, Captain," Dugan saluted crisply.
Steve nodded, then gestured to Chu Hang and led the way into the depths of the forest.
Chu Hang knew that the real test was just beginning.
The two walked one after another through the snow-covered woods, neither speaking. It was quiet all around, with only the crunching sound of their feet on the snow.
Chu Hang could feel the hot current in his body slowly subsiding, replaced by an unprecedented sense of power. His senses became incredibly acute. He could hear the sound of snow sliding off distant treetops, smell the fresh scent of pine needles and earth mixed in the air, and even clearly see the tiny footprints of a wild rabbit in the snow dozens of meters away.
Strength, speed, endurance, reaction... everything had undergone a qualitative leap.
Is this what it feels like to be a super Soldier?
Chu Hang couldn't help but clench his fists, feeling the explosive power. This feeling was truly captivating.
"What exactly is going on with your body?"
Finally, Steve, who was walking ahead, stopped. He turned around, his azure eyes looking at Chu Hang with intense seriousness.
Here it comes.
Chu Hang sighed inwardly, but a somewhat helpless wry smile appeared on his face.
"Captain, if I said I'm not entirely sure myself, would you believe me?"
Steve said nothing, just looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Chu Hang knew that this question had to be answered flawlessly. He organized his thoughts, refining and elaborating on the excuse he had used to fool Logan.
"I can only say that I might... be inherently different from others," Chu Hang said slowly. "From a young age, I was very healthy, and I recovered from injuries faster than others. I always thought it was just because I was robust. Until just now... when that knife plunged into my body, I felt like something inside me, 'pop,' just broke. Then, it became as you see."
He spoke, observing Steve's expression.
Steve's face showed no emotional changes, but the probing in his eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
"Just like Dr. Erskine said?" Steve suddenly asked.
"Dr. Erskine?" Chu Hang was startled.
"Yes, Dr. Abraham Erskine, the creator of the super Soldier project," Steve's eyes showed a hint of nostalgia and sadness. "He once told me that the serum's effect isn't just to strengthen the body. It's more like a key that infinitely amplifies what's already within you. The good will become better. The bad will also become worse."
He paused, looking intently at Chu Hang: "So, you mean that your body inherently harbored this... powerful Healing Factor. And this near-death experience, like a key, completely unlocked this potential?"
Chu Hang's heart was practically applauding Captain America.
What divine assistance, Captain!
He had been wondering how to make his lie sound convincing, but unexpectedly, the other party had completed the logic himself, and so seamlessly and reasonably!
"I... I guess that must be it," Chu Hang followed his lead, showing an appropriate "Oh, I see, now I finally understand" expression.
Steve looked at him, silent for a long time.
He wasn't a fool; he knew Chu Hang's words surely held some concealment. However, the terrifying Healing Factor and his selfless act of saving his life were undeniable realities.
Moreover, Dr. Erskine's words also provided him with an acceptable explanation.
Perhaps, in this World, there truly existed miracles that science could not explain. Just like himself.
"Good," Steve finally nodded, as if making a decision. "I understand. I will keep this matter a secret for you. This is your own secret."
He reached out and once again patted Chu Hang's shoulder heavily.
"But, Chu Hang, you must remember. Greater power also means greater responsibility. I hope you will use it well."
Looking at Steve's face, filled with integrity and sincerity, Chu Hang felt an inexplicable touch in his heart. He nodded, saying solemnly, "I understand, Captain."
At this moment, an unspoken understanding seemed to form between the two.
They were kindred spirits.
"Alright, we should head back," Steve's face once again showed a smile. "We still have a factory to destroy and a group of brothers waiting for us to rescue."
Chu Hang also smiled.
Yes, the story had just begun.
Chapter 23 This body is incredibly useful!
Walking back with Steve, one behind the other, Chu Hangfelt like a completely different person.
Just a moment ago, he was a "squishy tank" relying solely on his Healing Factor to survive, with physical attributes only slightly stronger than an ordinary person. But now, he felt his entire body brimming with explosive power.
How to describe this feeling? It was like before, you rode a broken bicycle where everything rattled except the bell, and you had to rest three times for every pedal. Now, you've switched directly to a fully fueled Harley; as long as you dare to twist the throttle, it will take you flying.
He could clearly feel his breathing become long and powerful. Each inhale felt like he was swallowing the surrounding cold air into his lungs, then transforming it into streams of warmth that coursed through his limbs and bones. Earlier, after fleeing through the snow and falling into the icy river, his body had been somewhat stiff with cold, but now, he only felt warm all over, as if he had a small stove tucked inside him.
His eyes could also see further and more clearly. Before, he had normal human eyesight, but now he could clearly see several crystal-clear icicles hanging from the branch of a pine tree a hundred meters away, and even the tiny reflections of himself and Steve on the icicles.
His ears were the same. The "rustle" of the wind through the treetops, the "swish" of snow sliding down the distant slope—he could even distinguish Dugan's loud cursing as he commanded something from the team's direction, and Logan's impatient growl.
This was practically a living radar!
Chu Hang was overjoyed. Healing Factor plus the super soldier serum—this combination was a match made in heaven. One was responsible for taking hits and regenerating, the other for offense and mobility. Now, he had truly upgraded, from a mere Soldier barely surviving to a genuine Super Soldier.
"How do you feel?" Steve, walking ahead, seemed to notice the change in his mood and asked.
"I feel… great." Chu Hang grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, "I feel like I could punch a cow to death."
Steve also smiled, a heartfelt smile tinged with relief. He nodded: "Adapt to it well. This power will become your most reliable companion."
The two said no more and quickly returned to where the team was resting.
The Howling Commandos had already briefly cleared the battlefield, collecting all usable weapons and ammunition. Gabe's injuries had been re-treated; Dugan, somehow, found some wooden planks and fashioned a makeshift stretcher for him with military straps. However, his leg, injured by the bear trap, was still a bloody mess, and the situation was not optimistic.
Seeing Steve and Chu Hang return, everyone's gaze focused on them.
"Captain, what's the situation?" Dugan came forward. He looked at Steve, then at Chu Hang, who followed behind as if nothing had happened, his eyes filled with surprise.
"It's safe ahead. We need to leave here as soon as possible." Steve's expression became serious again. "Gabe's injury can't wait any longer. Our top priority is to find a safe place for him to receive treatment."
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the team immediately became somewhat heavy.
They were deep behind enemy lines, surrounded by HYDRA Soldiers. Finding an absolutely safe place would be incredibly difficult. Moreover, they were carrying a severely wounded man who could die at any moment.
"Captain, I think we should go straight to the factory."
Just then, Chu Hang suddenly spoke.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to him.
Steve also looked at him with some surprise: "Chu Hang? You mean?"
"I mean, the most dangerous place is often the safest place." The super soldier serum seemed to have also enhanced Chu Hang's thinking, making his thoughts clearer than ever. He pointed to the brightly lit area in the distance, illuminated by searchlights, "HYDRA's people would never expect us not only to not flee but to actively deliver ourselves to them. Their main forces were just drawn away by you, so the factory's internal defenses must be unprecedentedly weak right now."
He paused, then continued: "Furthermore, there must be a medical bay in the factory. As long as we can sneak in, we can save Gabe. After saving him, we can also take the opportunity to blow up the factory and rescue our captured brothers. Three birds with one stone, which is much better than us aimlessly wandering around in this icy wilderness like headless flies."
Chu Hang's words were well-reasoned and clearly articulated.
The team members listened and felt that there was indeed logic to it.
Dugan, puffing on his cigar, pondered for a long time before nodding: "This kid is right. We can't get far with Gabe. Rather than being hunted down by HYDRA's pursuers like rabbits, we might as well go big with them."
Steve looked at Chu Hang, a hint of approval in his eyes. He noticed that not only had Chu Hang's body changed, but his mind and courage had also undergone astonishing growth. This daring to strike back in desperation was precisely the quality an excellent Commander must possess.
"Alright, let's do it!" Steve made an immediate decision, "Target: HYDRA factory!"
Once the decision was made, the team immediately began to move.
Gabe was placed on the makeshift stretcher, carried by two strong team members. Chu Hang originally wanted to help too; he felt he had boundless energy now. Not to mention carrying a stretcher, he could probably carry Gabe on his shoulders and run without even breaking a sweat.
But his suggestion was rejected by Dugan.
"You and the Captain are our team's strongest firepower. You need to be responsible for leading the way and covering the rear, ready to deal with any sudden situations." Dugan patted his shoulder, then, without question, stuffed most of the captured ammunition and grenades into his backpack.
The backpack was heavy, probably fifty or sixty pounds. In the past, Chu Hang would have been panting after a few steps with that thing. But now, he just casually slung it over his shoulder, and it felt like carrying a schoolbag, light and without any weight at all.
"This guy…"
Logan, standing nearby, watched Chu Hang's relaxed demeanor and let out a low growl from his throat. His Beast-like intuition once again told him that this Eastern kid had completely transformed into a "monster" unlike them.
The team set off again.
Steve walked at the very front, shield in hand, like a drawn sword, cleaving the path for the team.
Chu Hang, on the other hand, voluntarily requested to walk at the very back of the team, responsible for covering the rear.
He carried his heavy equipment, an captured MP40 submachine gun in his hand, and followed the team with light steps. The superhuman physique brought by the super soldier serum made him feel no fatigue at all. He even had the leisure to observe his surroundings carefully as he walked.
His senses, at this moment, played a huge role.
"Wait!"
As they passed through a dense pine forest, Chu Hangsuddenly raised his hand and shouted in a low voice.
The entire team instantly stopped. Everyone cautiously raised their guns and looked around.
"What's wrong?" Steve, who was at the front, turned around and asked.
"Ahead, about three hundred meters away, on the other side of the ridge, a patrol is approaching." Chu Hangclosed his eyes and listened carefully, "Not many people, about five or six. They're walking very slowly and seem very lax."
The team members were stunned.
Three hundred meters away? On the other side of the ridge? How the hell could he hear that?
Dugan even put his ear to the ground and listened for a long time, but heard nothing but the wind. He looked at Chu Hang suspiciously: "Kid, you didn't mishear, did you? How come I don't hear anything?"
Only Steve, upon hearing Chu Hang's words, had no doubts whatsoever. His own hearing had also been greatly enhanced; although not as clear as Chu Hang's, he had vaguely detected an abnormal movement.
He immediately made a judgment: "Everyone, take cover! Don't make any sound!"
Although the team members were skeptical, they unconditionally obeyed their Captain's order. Everyone immediately dispersed, quickly hiding themselves using the surrounding trees and rocks.
Chu Hang also found a thick pine tree, leaned against it, and held his breath.
Time passed, minute by minute.
After about three or four minutes, just as some team members began to suspect that Chu Hang had made a mistake, a flurry of footsteps and German conversation finally came from behind the ridge.
Immediately after, a six-person HYDRA patrol team, cursing and grumbling, came down from the ridge, exactly as Chu Hang had described.
At that moment, all eyes on Chu Hang changed.
If his resurrection earlier had brought them shock and disbelief, then now, his early warning ability, like a clairaudient, brought them a tangible sense of security and awe.
On the battlefield, a Sentinel who can detect enemies in advance is invaluable!
The patrol team had no idea that they had just passed by the God of Death's scythe. After they lazily walked away, Steve made a gesture, signaling the team to continue forward.
As he passed Chu Hang, Steve looked at him deeply and said in a low voice: "Well done."
Chu Hang smiled, but said nothing.
He knew that from this moment on, he had truly integrated into this legendary team.
And his enhanced body was only just beginning to show its terrifying value.
Chapter 24 Sentry Check? I'm an expert at this!
The team continued to move through the woods, but the atmosphere had completely changed.
Previously, although they were a team, they were ultimately a temporary сбор, and there was some estrangement in their hearts. However, after the ambush and counter-kill just now, especially when Chu Hang's miraculous "clairaudience" was revealed, all the small calculations in everyone's hearts instantly vanished.
Now, they looked at Chu Hang as if he were some rare treasure.
Dugan, the old smoker, even uncharacteristically extinguished his precious cigar, leaned closer to Chu Hang, nudged him with his elbow, and winked as he whispered, "Hey, kid, your ears are something else. I'm telling you, with that skill, after the war ends, you go to the casinos in Monaco and you'll definitely win the pants off those noble gentlemen."
Chu Hang was amused and exasperated by him. He thought to himself, it would be a waste to use the enhanced senses from my super soldier serum to listen to dice. Besides, I'm someone who knows the stock market trends for the next few decades; do I need to gamble? What a joke.
Even Logan, who had always looked at him with disdain, had reined in much of his fierce, unapproachable demeanor. He still didn't say anything, but when he walked, he would intentionally or unintentionally maintain a distance from Chu Hang that allowed him to provide support at any time. Chu Hang could feel that the Beast-like wariness this guy had for him had disappeared.
This counts as a form of recognition, Chu Hang thought, feeling pleased. Sure enough, no matter in which World, recognition earned through strength is always the most dependable and reliable.
The team continued for about another half an hour. The snow underfoot became thinner and thinner, and the fresh scent of the forest in the air gradually faded, replaced by a cold smell of industrial exhaust and metal. Steve, who was walking at the very front, suddenly raised a hand, and the entire team immediately paused as if a stop button had been pressed. Everyone instantly stopped and silently crouched at the edge of the forest, merging with the darkness.
Chu Hang looked in the direction Steve was gazing, and the next second, he felt his breathing stop.
Oh, my goodness.
Ahead of the forest was a vast, almost luxurious expanse of open snow. And at the end of the snowy field, an enormous steel fortress, like a primordial Beast fallen into slumber in the darkness, lay menacingly on the horizon.
This is HYDRA's factory?
In his previous life, Chu Hang had been to many places and seen some large industrial parks, but none could compare to the monster before him. This was not a factory; this was clearly a military fortress built for war!
The thick walls, dozens of meters high, were covered with layers of barbed wire, emitting a mournful 'woo woo' sound in the cold wind. Every fifty meters, there was a towering concrete watchtower. On top of the towers, huge searchlights, like the emotionless eyes of a demon, scanned every inch of the surrounding land at a constant frequency, illuminating the pale snow outside the entire factory as bright as day.
Under the dazzling beams of light, Chu Hang could even clearly see the German Army standard MG42 machine guns mounted on the watchtowers with his enhanced vision. The dark muzzles seemed ready to spew the tongues of Death at any moment, tearing apart any creature daring to approach.
Teams of fully armed HYDRA Soldiers, dressed in black uniforms, led fierce military dogs as sturdy as calves, patrolling tirelessly back and forth along fixed routes beneath the walls. Their footsteps were uniform, making a 'crunch, crunch' sound on the snow, like precise killing machines.
The entire factory was armed to the teeth, like an enormous steel hedgehog, giving one a deep sense of powerlessness at first glance, making it impossible to know where to begin.
"It seems Schmidt has invested all of HYDRA's assets here," Dugan had lit another cigar at some point. He harshly snuffed out the butt on the ground, his expression more solemn than ever. "Trying to enter from the front is no different from queuing up to meet God."
Everyone fell silent. The oppressive feeling brought by the fortress was too strong; it was like an invisible but tangible wall weighing on everyone's hearts. Let alone their dozen or so people, even if an entire regiment were brought here, they would probably be battered and bruised against this defense line composed of steel, concrete, and Death.
For a moment, everyone's gaze, by prior agreement, once again turned towards Chu Hang.
Their eyes held anticipation, nervousness, and a final glimmer of hope.
Chu Hang suddenly felt immense pressure. He knew what everyone was thinking: since he could hear footsteps from the other side of the ridge three hundred meters away, could he also find a tiny flaw in this seemingly impregnable fortress?
"I... I'll try."
Chu Hang took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and then slowly closed his eyes.
At this moment, he focused all his attention on his hearing and vision. The super soldier serum in his body activated all his cells, pushing the sensory enhancement to its limit. All surrounding sounds seemed to be filtered; the rustling of wind through the treetops, the nervous breathing and heartbeats of his teammates... all became distant and blurred.
In his World, only the enormous factory ahead remained.
Countless sounds, like a breaking tide, surged madly into his ears.
The faint 'creak' of the searchlight bearings lacking oil as they rotated... the subtle differences in the sounds of patrol footsteps on different surfaces, 'crunch' for snow, 'clack' for flagstones... the low growls from the military dogs' throats, and the 'swish swish' of their claws scraping frozen earth as they dug... he could even hear the extremely faint 'humming' vibration in the air from the high-voltage electricity running through the barbed wire on the walls... To ordinary people, these sounds were just a chaotic cacophony. But in Chu Hang's brain, they were rapidly analyzed, organized, categorized, and then, like a puzzle, little by little, they constructed an incredibly clear, incredibly precise three-dimensional sound map.
Time passed minute by minute. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chu Hang's forehead, and his face became somewhat pale. This extreme state of perception consumed far more mental energy than he had imagined. He felt his brain was like an overloaded computer, burning up.
"On the east wall, there are two fixed machine gun bunkers, providing overlapping fire that covers the entire sector with no blind spots. Patrol teams exchange shifts here every fifteen minutes, and each exchange creates a thirty-second window of vulnerability, but the time is too short for us to do anything."
"The south side is the main entrance, the most heavily defended. I heard the heartbeats of at least twenty Soldiers; they are permanently stationed there. Behind the main gate, two engines are idling, likely armored vehicles."
Chu Hang spoke out the information he "heard" one by one. The more detailed he was, the more the team members' hearts sank.
The defenses were impenetrable.
"The west side..." Chu Hang's voice paused, as if he was trying to distinguish something. "There's a blind spot in the searchlight coverage on the west side. In the gap where the two beams intersect, near the corner, a dark area of about three seconds appears every one minute and twenty seconds."
At this, a few team members' eyes lit up, but Chu Hang's next words poured cold Water on them.
"However, the barbed wire in that area has the highest voltage; I hear a louder electrical current sound there than anywhere else. And... beneath that snow, I heard many extremely faint 'click, click' sounds of metal firing pins frozen. There... are landmines buried."
A dead silence fell over the team.
Is there really no way?
Steve's brows were also tightly furrowed, like two drawn swords. He looked at Chu Hang's face, which was pale from intense mental concentration, and was about to tell him to rest and not push himself too hard, when Chu Hang suddenly opened his eyes.
"North side!"
His eyes gleamed with a nearly frantic excitement, like a traveler who had trekked through the desert for three days and three nights finally seeing an oasis.
"North side! Near the riverbank! There's a drainage ditch there!"
He pointed his finger, distantly indicating the dark riverbank north of the factory. His speech quickened due to excitement: "I heard dripping Water! Very regular, one drop, another drop, not a naturally occurring sound. The sound is coming from a very large pipe, it should be the factory's drainage outlet! The guard there is minimal, probably because the smell is too foul. I heard the patrol teams instinctively hold their breath and quicken their pace to avoid it every time they pass!"
He caught his breath and continued, "Most importantly! I heard a slight rattling sound from the iron grate at the pipe's opening, 'clank... clank...' as if it's been constantly washed by Water, and the bolts holding it in place have loosened!"
Drainage ditch!
These three words, like a lightning bolt across the sky, instantly illuminated the despairing gloom in everyone's hearts.
Steve's eyes instantly lit up, as if stars were burning in his blue eyes.
"Well done, Chu Hang!" He could no longer suppress his excitement, slamming a heavy fist onto Chu Hang's shoulder. The force was so great that if it had been the old Chu Hang, he probably would have collapsed on the spot, but now, he only felt a slight tingle in his shoulder. The solemnity on Steve's face vanished, replaced by burning fighting spirit. "That's our way in!"
Logan also came closer, his Beast-like sensitive nose sniffing hard, then he bared his teeth in a savage grin: "The kid's right, with the wind, I think I can already smell that stink. It's really something."
Now that they had found a breakthrough, the rest of the task would be much easier.
Steve immediately gathered everyone. He spread out a simple map confiscated from a HYDRA Soldier and, by the faint moonlight, began to assign tasks. His voice was not loud, but steady and powerful, like a stabilizing needle in the sea, making everyone who heard it feel incredibly secure.
"The plan is as follows." He drew on the map with the tip of his dagger. "Chu Hang, Logan, and I will form the first assault team. The three of us will infiltrate the factory through the drainage ditch. Our primary mission is to find the factory's power distribution room and cut off the electricity to the outer barbed wire. Then, we need to find a way to open a side door from the inside, creating conditions for the main force to enter."
He looked up, his gaze like electricity, sweeping over the remaining team members.
"Dugan, you will lead the others to form the second team. Your mission is to bypass the factory to the west, to the area with landmines, and conceal yourselves on the perimeter. After we cut the power, I will notify you via communicator. At that time, you are responsible for breaking through the west gate that we open and heading directly to the prisoner camp marked on the map to rescue our brothers. Remember, keep the commotion to a minimum, and try to avoid engaging in Fire before rescuing the people."
"Understood, Captain!" Dugan nodded heavily.
"After we enter, we will use this to contact you." Stevetook out a captured HYDRA communicator from his pocket and handed it to Dugan. "Remember, the communication code will be three short signals. When you hear the signal, act immediately. If... if we don't send a signal within an hour, it means we have failed."
At this point, his voice paused, becoming incredibly serious: "At that time, you must retreat immediately, take Gabe and leave here, without any hesitation! This is an order!"
"Captain..." Dugan's lips moved, wanting to say something, but seeing Steve's unquestionable gaze, he ultimately didn't speak, only clutching the communicator tightly in his hand and nodding heavily. "You yourselves, please be very careful."
Steve smiled, patted his shoulder, and then turned to look at Chu Hang and Logan.
"Are you ready?"
Logan licked his chapped lips, his finger joints cracking, and his deep eyes were filled with bloodthirsty excitement, like a Beast about to be released from its cage.
Chu Hang also took a deep breath and nodded forcefully.
To be honest, he was still a bit nervous. The thought of going with Captain America and Wolverine to crawl through a foul-smelling sewer to raid a heavily guarded HYDRA Base felt utterly surreal.
Just a few months ago, he was a corporate drone, sitting in a cubicle every day, losing hair over KPIs and his boss's moods. Now, he was doing something only seen in Hollywood blockbusters.
Life, oh life, is truly more thrilling than a movie.
"Move out!"
With Steve's low command, the three-person team, like three ghosts merging into the darkness, silently broke away from the main group, using the cover of night like three sharp daggers, heading straight for the foul-smelling riverbank.
The night wind carried a cold chill, blowing through the reeds by the riverbank.
The three quickly found the large drainage outlet, half-hidden by dense weeds and thick mud. Even before they got close, an indescribable stench, mixed with cold dampness, surged out from the dark pipe. The smell was like a highly pungent mixture of rotting garbage, industrial waste, and some kind of biological excrement, fermented for several months.
Logan's face immediately turned green, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath in a dirty word from his hometown.
Steve also instinctively frowned, but he didn't hesitate for a moment, still being the first to walk over and grasp the rusty, enormous iron grate. The muscles in his arms instantly bulged, veins protruding, and with a harsh 'creak' of friction, the iron grate, weighing hundreds of pounds, was forcibly pulled open by him, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.
A more intense, more foul stench mixed with cold sewage surged out of the pipe.
Steve looked back at the other two, said nothing, only gestured with his eyes, then was the first to bend down and, without hesitation, plunged into the bottomless, foul-smelling darkness.
Chu Hang looked at the dark entrance, feeling his stomach churn, almost throwing up the compressed biscuits he had for dinner.
He glanced at Logan, who had a similar constipated expression, sighed, and followed resignedly.
Alright, a sewer is a sewer.
After all, this was a sewer he was crawling through with Captain America and Wolverine. If he could survive this experience, he'd have bragging rights for a lifetime at the drinking table.
Chapter 25 This flavor is too addictive!
Plunging into the pitch-black drainage pipe, Chu Hangfelt his entire life turn gloomy.
My goodness, this smell is too much!
If the smell outside was just an appetizer, now he felt like he had plunged into a biochemical weapon pool that had fermented for eight hundred years, a mix of aged pickled cabbage and a public restroom.
The stench permeated every pore, comprehensively and without escape, making his eyes stream with tears.
He instinctively wanted to hold his breath, but then he remembered he was a Super Soldier now, with an excellent lung capacity, able to hold his breath for over ten minutes without a problem.
The issue was, even if he could hold his breath, he couldn't stop the smell from drilling into his nose!
Icy cold sewage covered his calves, feeling sticky, and he didn't know what good things were inside.
Chu Hang only felt a soft squishiness underfoot, occasionally sensing slippery things swimming past his feet.
Thinking about what those things might be, his stomach churned, and he almost vomited the compressed biscuits he had for lunch on the spot.
He suppressed his nausea and looked up at Steve, who was walking in front.
Goodness, he truly was Captain America.
Steve held a small waterproof flashlight in one hand and his precious shield in the other, his back straight, stepping through the sewage without splashing much water.
The expression on his face was as calm as if he were walking in his own backyard, chillingly so.
It was as if this foul stench, potent enough to knock a person over, was no different from fresh country air to him.
Looking back at Logan behind him, his expression was much more interesting.
Logan's features were almost twisted into a knot; his Beast-like sensitive sense of smell was a curse in this environment, and the mental pollution he suffered was probably several times that of Chu Hang.
He had an unlit cigar in his mouth, emitting continuous 'grumbling' growls from his throat, like a wild bear ready to rampage at any moment.
"Fuck... this damn place is stinkier than the bear dens I've dug out in the Canada woods," Logan finally couldn't hold back, muttering a curse in a hoarse voice.
Chu Hang empathized.
Indeed, this was no place for humans.
In his previous life, watching movies, he thought it was cool when protagonists crawled through ventilation ducts or sewers, but now that it was him, he realized movies were all lies.
The reality was, you not only had to endure the stench and claustrophobia but also constantly worry about stepping on something you shouldn't.
"Keep your spirits up." Steve's steady, strong voice came from ahead, like a shot in the arm, clearing Chu Hang's almost-fainted brain a little.
"Chu Hang, pay attention to your surroundings.
We don't know where this pipe leads, nor what might be inside."
"Understood." Chu Hang responded, forcing himself to shift his attention from the disgusting smell to his ears.
The super soldier serum's enhanced hearing once again proved its worth.
He closed his eyes; the nauseating smell around him seemed to fade slightly, and countless subtle sounds began to converge in his mind.
The 'whooshing' of flowing sewage, the 'dripping' of water from the pipe ceiling, and the 'splashing' of their three pairs of feet in the water.
Besides these, he heard something else.
"To the front left, about fifty meters, there's something," Chu Hang said in a low voice.
Steve and Logan immediately stopped, looking vigilantly in the direction he pointed.
The dim yellow beam of the flashlight couldn't reach that far; ahead was still a deep darkness.
"What is it?" Steve asked.
"I hear a lot... a lot of tiny crawling sounds, 'rustling,' and also sounds of gnawing on something." Chu Hangfrowned, trying to distinguish, "There are a lot of them.
It's like... rats, and they're quite large."
Logan sniffed hard, his face growing even uglier: "He's right, I smell that musky odor.
Damn, they're really big ones."
Steve's brows also furrowed.
It wasn't strange to encounter rats in the sewer, but such a large number of them, and quite big, was a bit abnormal.
In a HYDRA Base, who knew what strange things they might conjure up.
"Can we go around them?"
"I'm afraid not." Chu Hang shook his head, "The sound is coming from the entire cross-section of the pipe; they seem to be blocking the way ahead."
Steve was silent for a moment, then made a decision: "Let's go take a look, be careful."
The three continued forward, and the further they went, the stronger the rats' peculiar musky odor became, mixing with the inherent stench of the sewer to form an even more indescribable, terrifying smell capable of making an ordinary person faint on the spot.
Soon, Steve's flashlight beam illuminated the scene ahead.
Even with his mental preparation, Chu Hang couldn't help but gasp when he saw the sight before him.
Ahead in the pipe, countless black rats were densely packed.
These rats were several sizes larger than any Chu Hanghad ever seen, each one like a small kitten, their crimson eyes glinting with bloodthirsty and greedy light under the flashlight beam, like countless red gems.
They seemed to be gnawing on something, making a grating 'crunching' sound.
In the center of the rat swarm, a nearly gnawed-away skeleton of some unknown creature was vaguely visible.
"My God..." Chu Hang felt his scalp tingle.
If he fell in there, not even bone fragments would be left.
"Fuck! These bastards!" Logan let out a low growl from his throat; he seemed to have a natural aversion to these filthy creatures, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged, indicating he was ready to unleash his claws.
"Don't be rash, Logan!" Steve grabbed his shoulder, "Too much noise will draw people from above."
He looked at the nauseating tide of rats before him and calmly analyzed: "They're just ordinary rats attracted by food, possibly mutated in size due to factory waste pollution.
They're afraid of Fire."
Saying this, he took a flare from his tactical backpack and snapped it forcefully.
"Sizzle—"
With a soft sound, a dazzling red flame instantly ignited in the dark pipe, staining everything around it with a strange, blood-red hue.
The rats, which had been baring their teeth and stirring, immediately shrieked in terror as if they had encountered a natural predator the moment they saw the flame.
The rat swarm instantly exploded, countless rats like a tide, frantically retreating to both sides and the top of the pipe, desperately trying to get away from the terrifying flame.
Soon, a path wide enough for one person to pass was cleared in the rat swarm.
"Go!"
Steve didn't hesitate for a moment, holding the burning flare, he strode through the middle of the 'path' made of rats.
Chu Hang and Logan followed closely.
Chu Hang walked in the middle, feeling like Moses parting the sea.
However, on either side of him were not seawater, but countless pairs of red-glowing eyes, full of malice and greed.
He could even feel the heat emanating from the rats and their fear-raised fur brushing against his pant legs.
This feeling was so damn exhilarating.
After an uneventful passage through the rat swarm, the three walked another hundred meters or so, and a fork in the road appeared ahead.
One path went left, one went right.
"Which way?" Logan seemed a bit impatient; he just wanted to get out of this dreadful place as quickly as possible.
Steve was also a bit troubled; the map didn't mark the sewer structure.
Taking the wrong path would not only waste precious time but also potentially lead to unknown dangers.
"Chu Hang?" He once again placed his hope in Chu Hang.
Chu Hang nodded, closing his eyes again.
This time, he listened even more carefully.
In the left pipe, the sound of Water flow seemed louder, and he vaguely heard some strange 'humming' sounds, like a large fan rotating.
And in the right pipe... Chu Hang's eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Right!" He pointed to the right fork, saying with certainty, "I hear... footsteps! And the sound of metal clashing! It's above us, slightly to the right! That should be very close to the factory's interior area!"
"Good! Let's go right!" Steve decided instantly.
The three immediately turned and entered the right pipe.
This pipe was narrower and drier than the main pipe, and the foul smell seemed to have diminished considerably.
The further they went, the clearer the sounds Chu Hangheard from above became.
He could hear uniform footsteps, likely patrolling Soldiers.
He could hear the 'clanging' sound of heavy metal doors opening and then closing.
He could even hear someone shouting loudly in German.
They were getting closer and closer to their target.
After walking another two hundred meters, Steve, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped.
"Dead end."
Chu Hang peered ahead and saw a rusty metal ladder extending from the sewage up to a square, iron-barred exit at the top of the pipe.
Finally, they were getting out!
Chu Hang's heart surged with joy.
Steve made a shushing gesture, then, like a nimble cat, silently climbed the ladder.
He pressed himself against the cold pipe wall, put his ear close to the iron bars, and listened carefully to the sounds outside.
A moment later, he nodded lightly to the two below and mouthed: Safe.
He gripped the iron bars with both hands, the muscles on his arms bulging again.
This time, he controlled his strength, not making too much noise.
Only a grating sound of metal twisting was heard, and the seemingly incredibly sturdy iron bars were forcibly pried out of the concrete by him.
A relatively fresh air, carrying the smell of engine oil and rust, rushed in.
Chu Hang and Logan greedily took a breath, feeling as if they had come back to life.
Steve was the first to squeeze out of the exit, followed by Chu Hang, and finally Logan.
When Chu Hang's feet finally landed on the solid concrete floor, he let out a long sigh of relief.
They had successfully infiltrated.
He looked around and found themselves in a narrow, dim corridor.
This seemed to be a subterranean maintenance passage of the factory; the ceiling was covered with various thick pipes and wires, and explosion-proof lights emitting a dim yellow glow were spaced along the walls.
The air was filled with a damp, moldy smell and a strong odor of engine oil.
"We are currently in the northeast corner of the factory; this should be the underground level of the boiler room and power system." Steve glanced at the internal structure map hanging on the wall and quickly made a judgment, "The power distribution room is on the floor above us, not far from here."
Just then, Chu Hang's ears suddenly twitched.
"Shh!" He suddenly raised a hand, lowering his voice, "Someone's coming! Two people! Heavy footsteps, they must be patrolling Soldiers wearing heavy military boots! Less than thirty meters from us!"
No sooner had he spoken than clear footsteps and German conversation sounds came from around the corridor's corner.
Steve and Logan's eyes instantly sharpened.
Steve quickly scanned the surroundings, pointed to a pile of miscellaneous items covered with a tarpaulin nearby, and made a gesture to conceal themselves.
The three immediately darted behind the clutter, holding their breath.
The footsteps grew closer and closer...
Chu Hang's heart also rose to his throat.
He tightly gripped the MP40 in his hand, his palms slick with sweat.
Now, it was finally time for the real action.
Chapter 26 Textbook-Style Cooperation
The sound of footsteps grew closer.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Heavy yet rhythmic, it was the distinct echo of German military boots on concrete. In this underground corridor, dead silent except for dripping pipes and the distant hum of machinery, the sound was amplified several times, like the God of Death's pendulum, striking Chu Hang's heart with each swing, precise and unwavering.
He was hunched over, like a cat preparing to hunt, hiding himself tightly behind a pile of miscellaneous items covered with heavy tarpaulins. Every muscle in his body was unconsciously tensed, like a violin string stretched to its limit. He could even feel his accelerated heartbeat due to tension, sounding like a drum under the super soldier serum-enhanced hearing.
To be honest, was he scared?
A few minutes ago, when he had just crawled out of that stinking sewer, he must have been scared to death. But now, that fear had been replaced by a much hotter emotion.
It was a strange feeling, a mixture of tension, excitement, and a hint of bloodlust.
What a joke! What was his current setup?
He glanced to his left. Steve Rogers, Captain America, the pinnacle of human physique, a tactical master who could turn combat into an art form, a living legend. He was half-crouching in the shadows, his entire being seemingly integrated with the darkness, only his blue eyes, still bright in the dimness, calmly watching the direction from which the sound came. It was absolute focus, a confidence that held absolute control over the battlefield.
He looked to his right again. Logan, Wolverine, an old monster who had lived for decades, even centuries, a Mutant with beastly instincts and an immortal body. This guy's posture was less refined; he was practically sprawled on the ground, his body subtly rising and falling, a faint growl, like a Beast before a hunt, emanating from his throat. The ever-present cigar in his mouth was almost bitten through, and his brown eyes gleamed with undisguised primal bloodlust.
Then he looked at himself. Chu Hang took a deep breath, feeling the surging new power in his limbs and bones. The super soldier serum brought not just strength and speed, but a complete transformation. He could clearly feel the flow of his blood, hear every beat of his heart, and smell the complex mixture of engine oil, rust, and distant food scraps in the air. His brain, like an overclocked supercomputer, calmly and efficiently processed the massive amount of information coming from his five senses.
This kind of combination, to deal with those two HYDRA Soldiers outside who, by the sound of their footsteps, were clearly distracted and probably complaining about the food?
This was beyond using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; this was like using an aircraft carrier to bomb a fish pond.
So, Chu Hang wasn't scared. He was just nervous, a nervousness similar to a primary school student performing on stage for the first time. He felt like a rookie, following two top-tier big shots who had already made a fearsome name for themselves in the underworld to 'scope out the place,' afraid of making a mistake and embarrassing the two big shots.
The voices of the two HYDRA Soldiers were already very close. They were speaking German, and Chu Hangcouldn't understand a single word, but this didn't prevent him from analyzing their state through their tone. One voice was lazy, carrying weariness and impatience, while the other kept complaining about something, speaking quickly and full of negative emotions.
Chu Hang's brain worked rapidly: Two targets, relaxed mood, extremely low vigilance, threat level: Zero.
Just as the shadows of these two unlucky fellows appeared around the corridor corner, Steve, who had been motionless like a statue, moved.
His movements were light, slow, yet full of a unique rhythm.
He first extended a finger, exceptionally steady in the dim light. He pointed to himself, then towards the outside of the corridor, silently mouthing: "One."
Next, his gaze shifted to Logan, his blue eyes containing only pure tactical instructions. He similarly extended a finger, pointing in another direction, his mouth forming: "Two."
Finally, his gaze fell on Chu Hang. At that moment, Chu Hang felt as if he was being stared at by a sleeping lion, a powerful oppressive force washing over him, but in that gaze, there was more an unquestionable trust. Stevedidn't gesture numbers but pointed to the front and back directions of the corridor, and then, finally, pointed to his own ear.
The meaning was clear.
He, Steve Rogers, would take care of the first one.
Logan would take care of the second one.
And Chu Hang's most important task was to use his unparalleled extraordinary hearing to act as the team's ears, keeping watch on the surroundings, ensuring that no accidents would occur within the few seconds they took action.
Chu Hang understood instantly. A warm current surged from his chest, spreading throughout his body. He nodded heavily, his eyes resolute.
In that instant, the nervousness of his first battle vanished, replaced by an indescribable excitement and a strong sense of belonging.
It turned out he wasn't just there to make up the numbers.
It turned out that in this team of legends, he was also an indispensable link!
The two unfortunate HYDRA Soldiers were oblivious to the impending doom. One seemed to be boasting about stealing a sausage from the kitchen last night, while the other was cursing enviously. They completely failed to notice that, less than three meters away in the shadows, three top predators had already bared their fangs.
Just as the two walked side by side past the pile of clutter, completely exposing their unguarded backs.
Steve and Logan moved!
Those were not movements a human could make.
They were like two prehistoric cheetahs suddenly pouncing from the darkness, silent yet as fast as lightning!
Chu Hang's eyes could barely keep up with their movements, even though his dynamic vision had been enhanced to an incredible degree by the serum.
In his vision, Steve's figure was like an elongated blue blur, and with a flash, he instantly appeared behind the Soldier on the left. A large, muscular hand, like precise iron tongs, clamped tightly over the Soldier's mouth and nose before he could make any sound. The Soldier's cry of alarm was stifled in his throat.
At the same time, Steve's other arm, like a steel python, wrapped around the Soldier's neck with a cold gust of wind. He simultaneously lifted his body and twisted his arm forcefully to the side and back!
"Crack!"
An extremely faint but incredibly clear snap of bone echoed abruptly in the dim corridor. To his enhanced hearing, the sound was like breaking a dry twig next to his ear.
The HYDRA Soldier's body stiffened abruptly, then slumped down like a rag doll from which the bones had been removed. Steve smoothly pulled him into the deeper shadows, soundlessly.
The entire process was fluid, full of violent aesthetics, clean and efficient to the point of being chilling.
On the other side, Logan's style was completely different.
If Steve was textbook-perfect precise assassination, Logan was pure, unadorned wild violence.
He pounced almost simultaneously with Steve. He didn't even think about covering the mouth, but used a more direct, cruder method.
His body suddenly sank downwards at the moment of impact, shoulders hunched forward, like an enraged bull, slamming fiercely into the complaining Soldier's back.
"Thud!"
A sickening thud, and the poor fellow flew forward like a broken kite, the air in his chest instantly squeezed out, his eyeballs almost bulging.
However, it wasn't over yet.
Before he even landed, Logan had followed him like a shadow. One hand gripped the back of the Soldier's neck like an eagle's talon, while the elbow of his other arm, carrying a tearing gust of wind, slammed upwards into the back of his head.
"Thunk!"
Another dull impact, and the Soldier couldn't even let out a grunt, his head lolling limply, and he passed out on the spot.
Logan, like dragging a dead dog, single-handedly lifted him and casually tossed him behind the pile of clutter.
From the moment they started until the battle ended and the scene was cleared, Chu Hang counted in his head: four seconds.
No more, no less, exactly four seconds.
Chu Hang, hiding behind, was dumbfounded, his heart skipping a beat.
My goodness!
This... this is what you call professional!
In his previous life, he had seen countless Agentassassination scenes in movies, but now, witnessing this artistic dual hunt firsthand, he realized that the movie portrayals were child's play compared to these two gentlemen!
Steve's calm, precision. Logan's wild, efficiency.
One like a scalpel, one like a felling axe. Two completely different styles, yet achieving the same perfect result.
Chu Hang subconsciously swallowed, quickly shaking off the jumbled thoughts in his head, forcing himself to perform his duty. He closed his eyes again, maximizing his hearing, meticulously scanning every corner of the corridor like a radar, not even missing the ventilation ducts on the ceiling.
Good, no new footsteps, no alarms, nothing.
That brief but deadly encounter was like a small stone dropped into a still lake, disturbing no one.
He lightly shook his head at Steve and Logan, who had finished dealing with the "trash" and turned their heads, giving an internationally recognized gesture for safety.
Steve gave him an approving look, with a barely perceptible smile in his eyes, as if saying: "Well done, kid."
Logan merely snorted a hot breath from his nose in disdain, but Chu Hang noticed that his constantly tensed shoulders seemed to relax a little. He rudely rummaged through the two unlucky fellows on his own, quickly finding several spare magazines and two German stick grenades, which he unceremoniously stuffed into his pockets.
Chu Hang followed suit, also searching. When his hand touched one of the still-warm bodies, his heart still skipped a beat, but he quickly suppressed the discomfort and unhooked a loaded magazine from the Soldier's web belt, then hung the other grenade on his own waist.
No matter how small the mosquito, it's still meat. In a place like this, any bit of supplies could be life-saving at a critical moment. This was war, not a dinner party.
After a brief rest, Steve said no more, simply pointing to the rusty metal staircase leading to the next floor nearby, gesturing to continue forward.
The three once again transformed into ghosts merging with the darkness, pressing against the cold walls, silently moving towards the staircase.
With that textbook-level perfect coordination just now, Chu Hang's confidence had grown significantly, and his steps became more steady and assured. As he walked, he concentrated on listening to the sounds around him, willingly acting as a human-shaped mobile radar for the two big shots.
Soon, they arrived at the bottom of the staircase.
The staircase was an old-fashioned, open-frame iron structure, with non-slip iron plates laid on top. It was imaginable that a single step would surely produce a loud "clank, clank" sound.
Steve stopped, turned back, and looked at Chu Hang, his eyes full of inquiry.
Chu Hang immediately understood, closing his eyes again, concentrating all his attention on his ears, carefully listening to the sounds from above.
Unlike the almost abandoned maintenance tunnel below, it was clearly much "busier" upstairs.
He could hear a continuous low "humming" sound, like the distinctive sound of countless powerful electrical currents passing through large transformers. He also heard the very regular "clack" of large mechanical gears meshing and operating.
Besides that, there were footsteps. Not two, but at least four different sets of footsteps, moving back and forth in different positions, forming a crisscrossing patrol network.
"Upstairs is the power distribution room," Chu Hangwhispered, his voice so low that only he could almost hear it, "I hear strong electrical currents and the sound of transformers working. However, the guards have also increased significantly, at least four patrolmen. Two are doing regular patrols along the outer walkway, and one is basically stationary, probably in front of a control console. The fourth... his footsteps are erratic, without pattern, like he's supervising, or maybe just wandering around."
Steve nodded, no surprise on his face. The power distribution room was the energy heart of the entire factory, so tight security was to be expected.
He looked up at the stairwell leading upwards, which was tightly covered by a large square iron plate, leaving only a narrow gap through which light could pass.
"Looks like we're going to give them a big surprise," Steve's lips curved into a cold, confident smile.