Chapter Five: The Super Soldier Project

In the underground office of the training facility’s highest authority.

Personal file of Kyle Dowd:

Male, age 22, height 178 cm, weight 68 kg.

Born in 1921, hometown at 199 Hailan Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA.

Current family status: single. Both parents served in the U.S. military and died honorably in a secret war in 1935, posthumously recognized as martyrs.

This year, he passed the physical examination at the World’s Fair recruitment office, becoming a recruit in this round of super soldier selection and beginning his training at the base.

On the first day of recruit training, he competed in marksmanship against Officer Bryant; with superb handgun skills, Kyle won flawlessly.

On the second day, he sparred in close combat with Officer Joseph. He lost due to exhaustion, but three days later, in a rematch, Kyle emerged victorious.

The third day of training, …

———

Agent Carter recommends him as the top candidate for the super soldier project.

Officer Bryant recommends him as the top candidate for the super soldier project.

Officer Joseph recommends him as the top candidate for the super soldier project.

———

At the bottom of Kyle’s file were also the signatures of the three officials overseeing the super soldier selection process.

“I didn’t expect that the review, scheduled for a week, would yield three or more joint recommendations for a single soldier on only the sixth day,” the tall, imposing middle-aged man said, putting down the file. His general’s uniform and four-star insignia spoke of his distinguished status.

“To be honest, I still don’t like that soldier Kyle,” Officer Bryant muttered, sighing. “But I have to admit, he truly possesses every talent and aptitude a soldier could need.”

Officer Joseph nodded in agreement, remarking, “Indeed. Just five or six days of training, and he has qualities that rival the very best special forces operatives. General Chester, if you hadn’t reminded me that the super soldier serum hasn’t undergone final testing, I’d have suspected Kyle was already a product of some secret experiment.”

“If the serum works on him, he could be the most versatile and perfect soldier America has ever seen,” Agent Carter commented coolly.

“Let’s correct that—not just America, but the world!” Officer Joseph declared with certainty.

When the three finished, General Chester turned his gaze to an elderly doctor wearing glasses and asked, “Dr. Abraham Erskine, what do you think? After all, the super soldier serum is your creation, and you should have a say in the choice of the first candidate.”

“Kyle is indeed remarkable in both physique and willpower,” Dr. Erskine answered slowly, then, steeling himself, voiced his true thoughts: “However, I believe Soldier Steve is more suitable. His resolve and sense of justice are essential qualities for the perfect soldier.”

Steve had always been his preferred candidate for the super soldier, but Kyle’s sudden emergence was simply too outstanding, eclipsing all the other recruits at the base.

“Three to one, then.” General Chester tapped his fingers on the table and turned to the last man in the office. “Howard Stark, as the scientific strategy lead for the super soldier project, do you have anything to add?”

Dressed smartly in a suit, Howard Stark shrugged and smiled. “I’m only responsible for the scientific side of things. Selecting soldiers is your job. I have no objection to whomever you choose.”

General Chester pondered for a moment and said, “Very well. First, have someone approach Kyle, let him learn about the super soldier project, and see where he stands.”

“I’ll go,” Carter, usually reserved, volunteered abruptly.

“All right, you go,” General Chester agreed with a nod, his tone grave. “Tomorrow, prepare for the final super soldier experiment!”

In the recruits’ military dormitory.

Kyle had just finished showering, his tousled golden hair still dripping, dressed only in shorts and bare-chested before the mirror.

His features were as if chiseled by a master sculptor, both striking and sun-kissed, but above all, his physique was powerful and upright; his abdominal muscles seemed forged from steel.

“This is the result of over ten green physical ability cards,” Kyle mused with satisfaction at the statue-like reflection before him. He was certain that, in terms of strength, speed, and physique, he now outclassed even seasoned special forces soldiers.

He hadn’t wasted a single moment these past days. Besides physical ability cards, he had continued drawing white and green cards without fail. Now, his collection of green professional ability cards had reached thirty-six, and his white ability cards numbered a staggering four hundred!

So-called genius and versatility—this was what they truly meant.

“It’s been nearly a week since my rebirth. According to the timeline of the first Captain America film, the super soldier experiment should be starting soon,” Kyle calculated, when suddenly—the door to his dormitory swung open.

“Steve?” Kyle called out, stepping out of the bathroom, only to be surprised by the woman who entered. “Agent Carter? Did you come to the wrong place? This is the recruits’ dormitory.”

Indeed, it was Agent Carter. Her usual military skirt uniform accentuated her mature figure, and she carried a folder under one arm, striding briskly into the room and halting in the small common area.

“No mistake. I came here specifically to find you.” Carter frowned slightly, her tone cool. “Isn’t this supposed to be group training time for recruits? Why are you showering in the dorm?”

“Haha. Consider this a small privilege for breaking the base’s solo training record,” Kyle replied with a laugh, making no rush to dress, merely draping a towel over his shoulders. “I’m afraid I can’t offer much hospitality, so please make yourself comfortable wherever you like, Agent Carter.”

Carter maintained her calm and aloof demeanor, scanning the dorm. Finding nowhere else to sit, she finally settled on the edge of a bunk.

“So, what brings you to see a recruit like me?” Kyle asked without pretense, toweling his wet hair as he sat down on the other end of the same bed—so close that barely a meter separated them.

“Why are you sitting so close?” Carter shot him a cold look. Kyle merely shrugged. “This is my bed. Isn’t it natural for me to sit here?”

Carter was momentarily speechless; she hadn’t realized she’d chosen Kyle’s own bed by accident.

Kyle wore a faint smile—he had his reasons for sitting so close. After all, Carter still possessed nearly ten green ability cards he didn’t yet have.

Chatting with a beautiful woman while drawing cards at will—this was far more enjoyable than the past few days.

“I’ll get straight to the point: how much do you know about the super soldier project?” Carter asked, her legs pressed together.

“Super soldier?” Kyle feigned surprise. “All I know is that we recruits were selected for this project in the first place. Beyond that, not much.”

“Let me explain. The super soldier project is Dr. Erskine’s research. It involves injecting a serum into the human body to activate cellular vitality, transforming the physique from the inside out. In theory, it can enhance a person’s physical capabilities by at least threefold—creating single soldiers far superior to the average,” Carter explained. “The training officers should have told you that this week, one candidate will be chosen to undergo the first super soldier experiment.”

“I’m aware,” Kyle nodded, though his attention seemed to wander. He smiled, “So, have you chosen me?”

“No final decision yet. I’m here to ask about your intentions,” Carter replied, her gaze briefly lingering on Kyle’s sculpted abs before quickly darting away.

“The super soldier experiment?” Kyle repeated, leaning on his hand in thought.

In the film, Steve was selected as the first subject for the experiment, gaining the most perfect human physique and becoming Captain America. But as soon as the serum succeeded, Hydra spies attacked. The serum was destroyed, Dr. Erskine was killed, and the super soldier could never be replicated.

Now, because of his own outstanding performance, could he replace Steve as the first super soldier?

Kyle narrowed his eyes, looked at the nearby Agent Carter, and—with a decisive smile—said, “I’m sorry, but I must refuse the honor of being the first candidate for the super soldier project.”