Adamantium Shield

A day passed.

Steve gathered the soldiers they had rescued before, quickly forming a force that had begun to take shape.

This was also thanks to his personal charisma, his strong sense of justice, and the natural affinity he seemed to possess for the role of captain.

Around noon, a helicopter landed at the Training Base. Fury stepped down from the aircraft with a military pack on his back, looking around in confusion. He still had no idea why he had been transferred here alone from the front lines.

The frontline commander had only informed him that there were important deployment orders, then hurried him into packing his gear and shoving him onto the helicopter.

"Fury, long time no see."

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him. Fury turned around, and upon seeing who it was, his mouth fell open. "K-Kyle?"

"Address me as your superior." Kyle deliberately put on a stern face and pointed meaningfully at the rank insignia on his chest.

"Yes, Second Lieutenant Kyle. Don't tell me you were the one who transferred me here this time?" Fury said irritably. He had already learned at the front that Kyle had been promoted to second lieutenant, so he was not too surprised now.

"What do you think? Besides me, who else would specifically use military authority to transfer you?" Kyle shrugged.

"Tell me, then. Why did you transfer me here? Don't tell me I'm supposed to go to the battlefield with you again?" Fury's voice trembled slightly. Although working with Kyle last time had earned him the military merit for a promotion to sergeant, that battle had been utterly insane in retrospect.

Kyle was not someone who fought cautiously and methodically. If he could charge head-on, he would never back down; if he could not, he would simply find another way to keep charging. Calling him a war maniac would not have been an exaggeration.

"We're not going to the front lines," Kyle reassured him.

Fury was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when Kyle's next words nearly made him choke. "We're heading behind enemy lines to attack six German Factory Bases."

"You're dragging me into this," Fury thought bitterly, nearly coughing up blood.

"I'm deliberately looking out for you. This will let your command talent shine ahead of time." Kyle smiled like a devil.

There was no reason for a talent like the future Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to be wasted in the deadlock of the frontline battlefield.

The basement level of the base.

Dim yellow lights glowed along the walls of the surrounding corridors, which were divided into numerous research departments and underground rooms. Many communications officers, researchers, and military officers were analyzing the situation in the frontline war zone here.

Kyle led Fury deeper inside. The moment he stepped through the entrance to the Scientific Strategy Department, someone inside seemed to notice him. A blue-clad figure quickly came over.

"Kyle, you came at just the right time. What do you think of my new Combat Suit?"

It was Steve. He stopped at the door and asked for Kyle's opinion.

"Well..." Kyle's gaze fell on Steve. He had changed into a tight leather outfit that was far better in both quality and style than before. It still used blue as its main color, though, with a conspicuous silver star on the chest and a dark blue mask covering half his face.

How should he put it? The outfit was certainly eye-catching, but was this really something to wear into battle?

Kyle silently complained. The enemy would not even need to think about it to know that the person dressed so flamboyantly was the leader. If they were not focusing fire on him, who would they focus on?

But despite his thoughts, Kyle's evaluation was entirely different. "Excellent! It fits your title of 'Captain America' perfectly. As captain, you'll stand at the forefront and lead the team in the most dazzling way possible, giving the soldiers tremendous courage and faith!"

"Really? That's great." Steve nodded in satisfaction, only then noticing Fury behind Kyle. "And this is?"

Kyle introduced him. "Nick Fury. He's a command talent I specifically had Carter transfer from the front lines."

"Hello, I'm Steve Rogers, one of the leaders of this newly formed team." Steve cheerfully held out his hand and shook Fury's.

The future Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the symbolic figure of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s predecessor thus completed their historic meeting early in this basement, brought together by Kyle.

"Kyle, I knew you'd be satisfied with the Captain America Combat Uniform I made. The material isn't ordinary leather. It's a high-fiber material that's not easily damaged, dustproof and heat-resistant, with a certain degree of bullet resistance."

Howard emerged from the laboratory and gave his explanation, then added as if he were deliberately preparing a surprise for Kyle, "I've also prepared a set for you. The materials were just airlifted here."

"Ah, that won't be necessary, will it?" Kyle forced a smile. Wearing the same Combat Uniform as Captain America into battle? The embarrassment would be off the charts.

Howard said seriously, "It's necessary. I promised to provide the two of you Super Soldiers with support in scientific strategic armaments. This is my work for the military."

After repeatedly refusing to no avail, Kyle reluctantly agreed. "You can make the Combat Uniform, but the general design will need to be modified according to my requirements."

"No problem." Howard nodded and waved to them. "Come on, let me show you something."

Howard led them into the laboratory, took an item from an airfreight crate, and displayed it before everyone.

Kyle's eyes widened first. It was a smooth, disk-shaped round shield with a metallic sheen. At the same time, the shield's card information appeared before his eyes.

Adamantium Shield: Made from Proto-Adamantium. Its specific composition consists of Vibranium, iron, and a certain chemical.

Nearly indestructible. It could withstand immense pressure, extreme temperatures, radiation, electromagnetic wave spectra, and other assaults; prevent the transmission of kinetic energy; and possessed perfect aerodynamic properties (its force and angle could be controlled, allowing it to return to its point of origin after being thrown).

Blue Rare Item Card!

"This shield was made from a material created by accident. Since neither the synthesis process nor the proportions of its various components are known, this metal can no longer be reproduced. It can be called a one-of-a-kind piece of equipment in the world." After finishing his introduction, Howard looked toward Kyle and Steve.

There was only one shield. Who should receive it?

Both were Super Soldiers. If it had been before, he would have given it to Steve, who had become a Super Soldier first. But now, whether for public or private reasons, Kyle was clearly the best candidate to use the shield.

"Kyle..."

Before Howard could say anything, Kyle took the shield. He tapped its hard surface with his finger and said with feeling, "It really is an excellent piece of equipment."

"Steve, take it and use it." Kyle casually stuffed the shield into Steve's arms, startling everyone present.

"Kyle, this..." Steve held the shield in both hands, somewhat at a loss as he tried to refuse.

"Enough." Kyle heavily patted Steve on the shoulder, cutting him off. "Why are you being so formal with me? Take the shield. Just don't hold me back on the battlefield from now on."

"Yes, I understand!" Steve did not stand on ceremony. He gripped the shield tightly, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.

Good. Just like that.

Kyle smiled faintly. He had the Vibranium Bracer as defensive equipment. Though the shield was good, it did not suit his combat philosophy that offense was defense.

Besides, how could Steve possibly go fifty-fifty with villains without a shield?

Captain America should be like this: wearing the most eye-catching Combat Uniform, holding the toughest shield, charging at the front, and taking the hardest beatings.

Adamantium = Edelman

Different transliterations.