Gouram, the entity Steve discovered in the ruins and revived with the energy of the Spirit Stone, appeared in response to Steve's call.
Obeying Steve's intent, Gouram swooped down and caught the out-of-control helicopter. It descended slowly and steadily; had the helicopter crashed into a nearby building, it wouldn't have just endangered the civilians inside. It could have triggered a chain reaction, causing structural damage that would send glass and reinforced concrete raining down from the heights, resulting in further casualties on the streets below.
Seeing that Gouram had successfully averted the crash, Steve immediately turned his focus to the officers the Grasshopper Gurongi had thrown from the helicopter.
Steve knew catching them wouldn't be difficult for him physically, but at a freefall from a hundred meters, the sheer force of the impact—even if he caught them—would still be fatal to the officers.
"Unless I can jump high enough to catch them mid-air," Steve thought, his fist tightening as a strong resolve surged within him.
The Amadam Spirit Stone on his Arcle belt sensed his will. It pulsed with light, shifting to a deep blue, and Steve's Kuuga form instantaneously transformed into the Dragon Form.
With a slight mental nudge, Steve leaped. He easily soared dozens of meters into the air, intercepting the falling officers safely.
The Grasshopper Gurongi naturally noticed Kuuga's change into the blue Dragon Form, but it had no intention of lingering. It turned and leaped away, attempting to make its escape.
However, Steve was not about to let it go. In Dragon Form, he possessed immense jumping power and extraordinary speed, matching that of the Grasshopper Gurongi. Steve began leaping between buildings, staying hot on the monster's heels.
"You really are persistent, Kuuga," the Grasshopper Gurongi muttered. Seeing that it couldn't shake Steve, and having reached a sufficient distance where the three G3 armored warriors couldn't catch up immediately to interfere, it came to a halt. It was ready for a final showdown.
"Those Rinto in the strange armor interrupted my game earlier. Defeating you will be the perfect way to earn my points," the monster said, facing Steve.
Steve simply shook his head. The Gurongi tribe viewed hunting humans as a game; they were enemies that had to be defeated, and there was nothing more to be said.
The Grasshopper Gurongi struck first with a kick, but Steve—agile and fluid in his Dragon Form—dodged it with a simple side-step. Simultaneously, he threw a punch that connected squarely with the monster's chest.
Though the blow slightly caved in the Grasshopper's chest and sent it flying nearly ten meters back, the creature remained vigorous. The fist print on its chest vanished in the blink of an eye.
"The blue power makes you fast and your jumps high enough to keep up with me... but your strength has weakened," the Grasshopper Gurongi remarked, patting its chest.
Steve looked at his own fist. While the Dragon Form granted him incredible mobility and speed, it significantly reduced his raw power.
"To keep up with this Gurongi's speed, I have to use Dragon Form. But Dragon Form's strength isn't enough to deal fatal damage..."
As Steve hesitated, the Grasshopper Gurongi lunged again. Steve hastily raised his arms to block, using the momentum to move back several paces. He took the opportunity to unmount the shield from his back.
He met the Grasshopper's subsequent attacks with the shield. Although Steve's defense was impenetrable and his Dragon Form movements were nimble—rendering the monster's flurry of attacks useless—Steve lacked the offensive means to hurt his opponent.
"Does Kuuga's Dragon Form have no way to win?" Steve wondered.
"I clearly remember from the battle fragments I saw in the Amadam Spirit Stone... the Dragon Form used a staff-like weapon. But where am I supposed to find a weapon right now?"
As the desire for a weapon manifested in Steve's mind, the power of the Amadam Spirit Stone flowed into the shield in his hand. The shape of the shield began to shift and elongate, transforming into a long staff.
Steve stared at the transformation in a brief daze, but he immediately swung the Dragon Rod, striking the Grasshopper Gurongi. The monster took a heavy hit, staggering back while clutching the spot where the rod had landed.
Steve pressed the advantage, raining blows upon the monster with the Dragon Rod. Finally, he thrust the rod—laden with sealing energy—into the creature. The thrust sent the Grasshopper Gurongi flying into the air as the glowing runes of the sealing energy appeared on its body where the rod had struck.
The Grasshopper Gurongi exploded mid-air.
Steve lowered his gaze to the Dragon Rod in his hand, feeling conflicted. Could it not change back? Had the shield that had been with him for decades just become a permanent stick?
However, as soon as Steve willed it, the Dragon Rod instantly reverted to its shield form. Steve breathed a sigh of relief, though he was inwardly amazed.
"Did I just change the state of matter? And I can revert it at will? It seems because I wanted a weapon, it was able to transform the shield for the Dragon Form."
As the owner of the shield, Steve knew its properties better than anyone. It absorbed all kinetic energy and was virtually indestructible. Until now, nothing had been able to damage or deform it. Howard Stark had crafted it specifically because of the metal's unique properties.
While the Vibranium shield was nearly impossible to reshape due to its energy-absorbing nature, Kuuga possessed the ability to manipulate molecules and atoms, allowing Steve to restructure matter at the fundamental level.
After the Grasshopper Gurongi was eliminated, Steve notified Coulson before returning to the SHIELD-arranged base. The task of negotiating with the NYPD was left to Coulson.
"Commissioner Stacy, if we hadn't stepped in this time, that grasshopper monster would likely have escaped," Coulson said with a squinting smile. "Perhaps we should revisit the terms of our cooperation."
"That monster was no match for us! If it hadn't run so fast..." one of the G3 operators grumbled indignantly.
"That's enough," George Stacy sighed. "Regardless, we failed to capture the subject this time. Fortunately, it was eventually neutralized. Otherwise, there's no telling how many more innocent citizens would have been killed."
Glancing at the seemingly harmless Coulson, George said flatly, "We do owe you for this one. Very well. From now on, if a Gurongi murder occurs, the NYPD will notify you immediately, and you may deploy at your own discretion."
Coulson smiled with satisfaction. "A wise decision, Commissioner Stacy."
(End of Chapter)