Marvel: Copying Abilities

After giving Steve a few final instructions, Wang Ye stepped back onto the observation platform.

Seeing that the master and disciple had finished talking, Dr. Erskine turned to Howard Stark and said:

"Begin, Mr. Stark!"

Howard nodded, put on his sunglasses, and began flipping the activation switches. Once the enhancement platform closed and formed the enhancement chamber, he turned a valve to start injecting the vita-rays.

A bright white light burst immediately from the chamber, so intense that it forced people to look away.

"Ten percent…"

"Twenty percent…"

"Forty…"

"Sixty…"

"Eighty…"

As the vita-ray dosage increased, the intensity of the white light also grew.

Inside the chamber, Steve felt like all the bones in his body were breaking and reforming. His muscles tore and healed repeatedly, the pain nearly causing him to faint.

Yet even under such excruciating pain, he clenched his teeth and endured—

Not a single scream escaped his lips.

The experiment continued.

Everyone outside watched the chamber with tense, anxious expressions.

"Ninety percent…"

"One hundred percent!

We're at full power!"

Dr. Erskine looked at the increasingly blinding light inside the chamber, worry written all over his face.

But Wang Ye knew: Steve was just about to complete his final transformation!

This was the calm before the storm.

Soon, due to the high power load, the machinery began to spark and smoke.

Eventually, the equipment shut down completely, and the white light inside the chamber faded. The whole lab fell eerily silent.

Everyone held their breath.

Dr. Erskine signaled to Howard to manually open the chamber door.

Under everyone's nervous and hopeful gaze…

The chamber slowly opened.

Inside stood Steve, now tall, muscular, and transformed.

The experiment was a total success.

Seeing the drastically changed Steve, everyone finally exhaled in relief.

Steve, who had just gone from a scrawny youth to a chiseled super-soldier in mere minutes, wore a look of joy on his face.

He felt completely reborn. He could sense the surge of power within him, though his body hadn't yet adjusted—it left him a little weak.

Wang Ye and Dr. Erskine stepped forward to help the still-recovering Steve down from the platform.

"Master… I did it!"

Steve's voice was weak, but his joy couldn't be hidden.

"How do you feel?"

Wang Ye smiled, pleased, looking at the now nearly eye-level Steve.

Steve glanced around.

"Feels like I've grown taller~"

"You did grow taller—quite a bit!"

At that moment, Agent Carter also stepped forward. Usually serious and stone-faced, even she couldn't help but give Steve's now-perfect physique a quick squeeze.

Even the nearby nurse was visibly drooling.

But just as everyone was basking in the joy of success and a hopeful future—

A Hydra spy, hidden on the high platform, triggered a remote bomb.

In the ensuing chaos, the "spy" pulled a gun and shot Dr. Erskine in the chest. Blood sprayed, staining his white lab coat a crimson hue.

The doctor stared at the blood on his chest, stunned and not quite reacting.

Seeing that the target hadn't fallen, the spy fired again—this time hitting the other side of his chest. Now, Erskine finally reacted.

Clutching his chest, he fell to the ground in pain. His expression was a picture of anguish and fear.

Seeing the target "eliminated," the "spy" grabbed the last vial of super serum, stuffed it into his pocket, and made a break for it.

All this happened in a flash.

By the time everyone reacted—

Dr. Erskine was already lying on the floor, barely breathing.

Steve rushed forward in a panic, trying to help the doctor up.

The "dying" doctor shook his head and pointed a trembling finger at Steve's chest, silently reminding him to stay true to himself and never forget who he is.

Then, dramatically, he bit down on the fake blood capsule in his mouth and spat out a mouthful of dark blood. With a final tilt of his head, he "passed away."

"Nooo!"

Steve let out a furious roar to the sky and took off after the spy.

According to the plan, Agent Carter had already started chasing the fleeing spy.

However, the spy had backup outside the store. He jumped into a getaway car, ready to vanish.

Agent Carter, planning to stick to the script, raised her gun and prepared to fire a few shots just for show.

But—Steve didn't know the script.

Seeing the spy about to drive off, he roared and took off at full speed, legs pumping with all his newly enhanced might!

With a few swift leaps, using passing cars as springboards, Steve landed squarely on the roof of the fleeing vehicle.

Fueled by rage, Steve ripped a gaping hole in the car roof with one hand, reached inside, and yanked the stunned "spy" out, tossing him onto the road.

(Hulk: "Dang, nice move!")

Bystanders on the sidewalk stared in awe at the scene, whispering among themselves. Some even pulled out cameras to snap photos.

In the distance, Agent Carter stared, stunned, marveling at the power of the super serum. But as she looked at the spy lying crumpled on the ground, a flicker of worry flashed in her eyes.

That was one of her most reliable subordinates.

"Speak! Who sent you?!"

Steve grabbed the spy by the collar, eyes burning with rage—Erskine's "death" had shaken him to the core.

The spy, realizing the mission had failed, bit down on a poison capsule hidden in his molars.

"I was just the vanguard. You're doomed to fail. Hail Hydra!"

With that, he foamed at the mouth and died on the spot.

As the adrenaline wore off, Steve finally came to his senses. He looked at the crowd gathering around, then down at his own body, dizzy from it all.

At that moment, Wang Ye arrived with a squad of soldiers. They quickly carried the "spy's corpse" away.

"Master… the doctor, he…"

Steve's voice trembled. Though he hadn't known Erskine long, the doctor had been like a mentor and father figure to him. And Steve hadn't protected him.

Wang Ye gently patted Steve's shoulder.

"The doctor passed peacefully. You are his life's work—don't forget his final message."

"I… I won't…"

Steve wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, then blacked out on the spot.

Wang Ye quickly caught him and laid him gently on a prepared stretcher.

Medics rushed over and carried Steve into an ambulance.

"Is he okay?" Agent Carter came over, concern written on her face.

"He's fine. Just not used to the serum yet," Wang Ye waved it off with a smile. "Good thing Pat reacted fast and gave the doctor that extra bullet—otherwise the whole act would've flopped!

But the doctor nailed those facial expressions at the end. Especially that mouthful of fake blood—classic. Hahaha..."

Agent Carter rolled her eyes hard.

"You still have the nerve to joke?! Get back inside—there's a whole mess to clean up!"

With that, she spun around and headed back to the lab.

Wang Ye glanced at the curious crowd still lingering, and gave a faint smile—

And followed her inside.