The Poor Rely on Mutation

Super Soldier ability was an essential piece. No matter how severe its restrictions were, Kyle had no reason to give up on drawing it.

Moreover, the restriction only applied to blue rare-quality Ability Cards. Blue Ability Cards without rare attributes could still be drawn. However, given the current point in time in the Marvel world, there were not many people for him to draw from who possessed abilities above the super-green tier.

That half-hour of continuous card-drawing time made Kyle go to great lengths, talking himself hoarse as he carefully explained the previous counterattack campaign to Steve and Carter.

Of course, he skipped over matters such as the Stealth Ability Card, the [Vicious Dog] Creature Card, and Gem Energy.

"...That was how I infiltrated the armory of that large base... Who would have thought that I would happen to encounter the enemy commander in the warehouse basement... After killing him, I planted a timed bomb in the warehouse."

"After that, it was simple. All I had to do was escape the German Soldiers' pursuit, leave the warehouse, and detonate the bomb. Once the base's internal defenses collapsed, they would have difficulty stopping our hundred-man force's subsequent raid." To stall for more card-drawing time, Kyle finished the tale as though he were simply telling a story.

He took a sip of water, feeling somewhat parched, only to realize that Steve and Carter were still immersed in his account of the battle.

"A single soldier infiltrated the enemy base and destroyed its defense system alone. That really was incredible." Steve praised him with lingering excitement, a trace of envy flashing through his eyes.

That was exactly the kind of experience he had always dreamed of.

"You infiltrated a base alone? You really dared to do that? Were you trying to get yourself killed?" Carter summed it up coldly.

"I wonder if you've heard this saying—if you lose your passion, the rest of your life will become dull and colorless." Kyle smiled confidently and looked at the two before him. "Even if I were given another chance, I would still bet my life on the side filled with both rewards and risks."

"Rather than be one of the stars that merely accompany the moon, I would rather burn myself as I streak across the cosmos, shining and blazing as I challenge the sun."

I don't care what kind of main character you are, or what kind of invincible villain you are. If you stand in my way, I'll fight you anyway.

As long as I'm here, Marvel has no protagonist!

That was Kyle's creed for life in this world. No one could make him submit.

Looking at the man before her, whose conviction and presence were both overwhelmingly powerful, Carter could not help revealing an unusual emotion in her beautiful eyes.

"Kyle, you're right. Life should be this passionate and exciting." Steve quietly clenched his fists, as if he had been injected with adrenaline. He was so excited that he wanted nothing more than to head to the front lines immediately and challenge a base by himself.

"Don't worry. Gold will always shine. Steve, your abilities are the real deal. You're absolutely qualified to fight beside me—I'm certain of that." Kyle said with a smile.

After all, as one of Marvel's iconic heroes, once Steve had his shield, he was nearly evenly matched against anyone.

"By the way, Carter, you've been following Steve so closely. You two wouldn't happen to be..." Kyle winked teasingly.

Carter shot him a cold glance. "It's just work. I'm collecting follow-up data on the Super Soldier."

"Exactly. Kyle, don't talk nonsense." Steve hurriedly waved his hands in explanation as well.

"You two are quite compatible, though. Are you really not going to consider it?" Kyle continued.

Clang!

The spoon was tossed onto the metal tray. Carter could not help rising from her seat. Throwing out a curt, "I'm done eating," she headed for the cafeteria entrance.

Steve sighed and complained, "Kyle, that was way too blunt."

"I was creating an opportunity for you." Kyle patted his shoulder as though he were doing him a favor, then gestured toward the door. "You sure you're not going after her?"

"Uh... I understand. I'll find you this afternoon." After being enhanced by the Super Soldier Serum, Steve's mind had become much sharper as well. He quickly nodded and chased after Carter.

Only after the two had left did Kyle finally let out a breath. He pressed a hand tightly against his chest as sweat poured from his forehead.

Super Soldier, draw complete!

The rare blue Ability Card had barely been stored in Card Space before it seized the dominant position at the very top of all his cards.

At the same time, a stabbing pain spread from the inside out, making Kyle feel as though he were being repeatedly forged on a grill.

He knew that the Super Soldier, a physique-type Ability Card, had begun thoroughly transforming his genes and physique.

"I need to find somewhere to complete this genetic transformation." Kyle muttered to himself, quickly thinking of a safe and reliable location.

The Training Base's public shower room.

Since the performance over at the stage had not ended yet, the shower room was empty at this time.

Entering one of the partitioned stalls, Kyle removed his clothes and equipment, turned on the shower, and let cold water pour over his head, washing across his toned body covered in all kinds of scars.

Even so, the stabbing pain and burning heat in his body only grew stronger! Even his bones creaked!

Something inside his body was breaking! Tearing apart! Then being forcibly remade!

"Urgh!" Kyle's eyes filled with bloodshot veins. He materialized the card-form Nepalese Kukri and clenched it hard between his teeth as a stress reliever, preventing himself from crying out in pain.

If anyone else had been there, they would have seen Kyle's naked body gradually swelling, then gradually adjusting back, as though it were being tuned toward its most ideal form.

Veins shifted and bulged beneath his skin, while his muscles became even firmer and leaner after expanding and contracting.

The mutation lasted three minutes.

"Whew!"

Kyle opened his mouth, and the kukri dropped straight to the floor. A neat row of clear tooth marks had appeared on the blade of the finely forged steel weapon.

His pectorals were still heaving rapidly, but they were gradually calming down. Heat rose from his skin, and the scars that had once covered it seemed to have been washed away by water, leaving no trace of their former existence.

The transformation had succeeded!

Kyle clearly realized it, because he could feel that his body was filled with power he had never possessed before.

"Although a Super Soldier is supposed to possess the most perfect physique humanity can achieve, I probably can't be considered human anymore, can I?" Kyle muttered. His lifespan, cellular aging, physical strength, learning ability, memory, and speed of thought were now all beyond the top tier of what humans could be defined as possessing.

Calling him a humanoid monster would not be an exaggeration.

"At last, I have a trump card that can let me gain a foothold in this world." Kyle also let out a sigh of relief, easing much of the burden and pressure on him.

Before this, even though he had Card Draw Ability, he had still remained within the bounds of humanity. If a bullet hit his body, he could still die easily. But now, even if a bullet struck him, it would only inflict a minor injury, no longer a life-threatening wound.

Therefore, the Super Soldier ability was a major step forward in Kyle's growth in strength, as well as an indispensable step.

After finishing his shower and putting on his officer's uniform, Kyle noticed that he had grown a little taller, now nearly 185 centimeters.

His physique and abdominal muscles had also become much tougher and stronger, stretching his clothes taut and making him appear even more imposing.

No wonder they said the poor relied on mutation.

Kyle sighed inwardly and leisurely left the shower room.