Boom!
Steve's kick landed with brutal precision, sending the German soldier flying before he could even raise his weapon. Without breaking stride, Steve twisted his body and hurled his shield toward a noncommissioned officer who was scrambling onto a motorcycle, trying to escape the chaos.
The shield struck like a cannon shot.
The man was blasted backward instantly, blood spraying from his mouth as his body crumpled lifelessly onto the ground. Steve didn't spare him a second glance. His focus was already shifting, his movements fluid as he retrieved the shield and vaulted onto the motorcycle.
The engine roared to life beneath him.
He was just about to accelerate when a rocket screamed toward him, trailing fire and smoke. Instinct took over. Steve abandoned the motorcycle in a split second, launching himself off just before impact.
The explosion followed immediately.
The bike he had just claimed was engulfed in flames, torn apart in a violent blast that sent debris scattering across the ground. Steve rolled to his feet, his expression tightening as he scanned the battlefield.
Ahead of him, the Hydra agent was already running.
A flicker of confusion crossed Steve's face. He could have sworn that man had been far ahead just moments ago. Yet now, somehow, he had reappeared behind him.
It didn't make sense.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Steve surged forward again, his stride long and powerful as he gave chase. Behind him, American forces finally broke through the remaining defenses, their gunfire erupting in a relentless storm that echoed through the massive underground base.
The added pressure from allied firepower cleared his path. Steve vaulted over obstacles, weaving through the chaos as he closed the distance.
Ahead, the Hydra agent's expression darkened. Pain lingered somewhere in his body, a reminder of the earlier encounter, but his focus remained sharp. He glanced back repeatedly, tracking Steve's pursuit.
Then his eyes lit up.
The open runway stretched out before him, and at its center, a fighter jet was beginning to move. Its engines roared to life as it rolled forward, preparing for takeoff.
Without hesitation, he accelerated.
Three strides became two, then one. He slammed his foot against the ground and launched himself upward just as the plane began to lift. His hands caught the rear edge, and with the help of soldiers inside, he pulled himself into the aircraft.
Steve reached the runway seconds later.
The jet was already gaining speed.
Frustration surged through him as his eyes darted around for anything he could use to catch up, but the area was empty. No vehicles, no options—nothing.
Then—
A thunderous roar erupted from behind.
Through the flames and debris of the collapsing tunnel, a sleek, heavily armored vehicle burst forward like a beast breaking free. Its engines howled as it tore across the ground, closing in on Steve in seconds.
Steve's eyes widened as he recognized the figures inside.
Chester. Carter.
And—
His gaze locked onto the man behind the wheel.
"Colonel Locke!"
The vehicle didn't slow.
Steve reacted instantly, planting his foot and launching himself forward. He timed it perfectly, leaping into the passenger seat in one smooth motion as the vehicle continued at full speed.
"Colonel…" His voice faltered slightly as he stared at Locke, disbelief and relief crashing together in his chest.
Locke glanced at him with an easy smile and reached over, giving his shoulder a firm pat.
"I've been inside Hydra's territory this whole time," Locke said calmly. "Tracking their plans, figuring out what they're building. I heard what happened out there. You did good, Steve."
The words hit harder than Steve expected.
A grin broke across his face as he bumped fists with Locke, the gesture simple but filled with meaning. His gaze shifted to Carter, who was watching from the side, and without thinking, he leaned in.
The kiss was brief but real, a quiet moment stolen in the middle of chaos.
Locke turned his head away immediately, his expression twisting slightly.
Seriously? I'm sitting right here.
Steve, catching Chester looking away awkwardly, raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not kissing you," he said dryly.
Chester recoiled instantly. "Don't even joke about that!"
The tension broke.
Laughter filled the vehicle, light and genuine despite everything they had just been through. For a brief moment, it felt like the storm had passed.
But the war wasn't over.
With the sheer power of the armored vehicle, they quickly caught up to the fighter jet as it sped down the runway.
"Colonel, I'm going ahead!" Steve called out, his tone sharpening as his focus returned.
Without waiting for a response, he jumped.
The force of his leap carried him several meters into the air. His hands caught the edge of the aircraft just as it lifted off the ground, his grip locking tight as the plane surged upward.
As Steve hauled himself inside, Locke moved.
Under the stunned gazes of Chester and Carter, he stepped onto the vehicle's frame and launched himself upward with effortless ease. His body arced through the air, landing cleanly atop the ascending aircraft.
Chester blinked, his mouth slightly open.
"Why does that guy look more like a super soldier than the actual super soldiers?" he muttered, disbelief thick in his voice.
Carter didn't answer.
She simply nodded.
The plane roared out of the tunnel and into the stormy sky, leaving them behind.
"I just hope everything goes smoothly…" Carter said quietly, her expression complicated as she watched the aircraft disappear into the clouds.
Chester exhaled and leaned back slightly, forcing a grin onto his face.
"Relax. With Locke up there? Nothing's going wrong," he said confidently. "That guy's the greatest combat legend this country's ever had."
His hand slipped into his pocket, brushing against something that hadn't been there before—a small bottle, unfamiliar yet strangely reassuring.
…
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Dark clouds swallowed the horizon, lightning splitting through the air in jagged flashes. Inside the aircraft, the cabin flickered between blinding white and deep shadow, the tension rising with every passing second.
Steve moved carefully through the rear compartment, his shield raised in front of him. Every step was measured, his senses stretched to their limit as he advanced.
Click.
The faint sound barely registered.
Then—
Gunfire exploded.
Muzzle flashes lit up the darkness as bullets slammed into his shield, sparks flying as metal met metal. Steve reacted instantly, pivoting and throwing the shield forward.
It struck true.
The German soldier who had opened fire was sent crashing backward, his body slamming into the others behind him.
More enemies poured in from the sides, drawn by the noise. The confined space turned the fight into a brutal close-quarters battle.
Steve moved like a storm.
He slipped between gunfire, using the darkness as cover as he closed the distance. His fists came down hard and fast, each strike precise, each movement efficient.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He ripped a gun from one soldier's hand and fired without hesitation, dropping multiple enemies in quick succession. Within moments, the entire squad lay motionless.
Without stopping, he pushed forward.
The door ahead creaked open as he stepped through—
And a crushing force slammed into him.
The blow struck his shield, but the impact still sent him crashing into the side of the aircraft. The metal wall buckled slightly under the force as Steve steadied himself, his eyes snapping forward.
The Hydra agent stood there.
Black shield in hand. Eyes locked onto him.
"You actually caught up," the man said, his voice low and steady. His gaze flicked briefly past Steve, scanning the darkness behind him. When he saw no one else, he exhaled slightly.
One-on-one.
That, he could handle.
The fight resumed instantly.
They clashed with explosive force, their movements blurring as fists and shields collided again and again. Steve fought with everything he had, his anger fueling every strike, every step.
But his opponent matched him.
Blow for blow.
Neither gained the upper hand.
Steve shifted, using his superior technique to evade a strike before countering. His fist drove upward, connecting cleanly with the Hydra agent's jaw.
"Damn it!"
The man staggered, then reacted immediately, drawing his pistol. Gunfire erupted as he fired at point-blank range.
Steve dove aside, raising his shield while pulling his own weapon. The two of them opened fire simultaneously, exchanging shots from only a few meters apart.
Then—
Click.
Both guns ran dry at the same time.
Steve moved first.
He hurled his empty pistol forward, the metal striking the Hydra agent square in the head with a sharp crack. The brief stun was all he needed.
He surged forward, unleashing a rapid series of punches that drove his opponent backward, leaving no room to recover.
The Hydra agent faltered, unable to keep up as the blows rained down.
Steve raised his shield, ready to finish it—
And something moved.
From the shadows beside the bunker, a fist shot out.
Boom!
....
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