Trial Candidate

"Move it! Run faster!"

The reserve soldiers were on another long-distance march. Steve unsurprisingly ran at the very back. His stamina was still far below the others', but he gritted his teeth and kept up, trailing far behind the group.

"Halt!"

Halfway through the run, they saw Agent Carter waiting for them in a jeep not far ahead. The instructor ordered the unit to stop, then pointed at the flagpole by the roadside and shouted at the recruits.

"This flag means you've only run half the distance!"

"The first person to take it down gets to ride back to camp with Agent Carter!"

"Go!"

At his words, the soldiers rushed forward, scrambling to be first. But the flagpole was far too slippery; they would climb only a short distance before sliding back down.

"Is that all you've got?"

"This unit is finished!"

"Come on! Climb!"

The instructor mocked them from the side, watching their embarrassment with great amusement.

"For seventeen years, no one has been able to get that flag."

After enjoying the spectacle long enough, the instructor prepared to resume the march. "All right, fall back in! Get back here and line up!"

The others had no choice but to give up and return to the roadside with their heads hanging low. At that moment, Steve, who had only just caught his breath, walked forward.

"Rogers, I said fall in!" Seeing Steve ignore his orders and head straight for the flagpole, the instructor barked angrily.

Steve ignored the instructor's roar. He looked up at the flagpole, then bent down and pulled out the securing pin at its base. The pole immediately began to tilt.

"Clang!"

As everyone stared blankly, the flagpole crashed to the ground. Steve stepped forward, easily took the flag, and Agent Carter watched him with a small, approving smile.

Steve walked past the soldiers who were still staring at him stupidly.

"Thanks, sir." He stuffed the flag into the stunned instructor's hands and climbed into the back seat of the jeep.

Agent Carter could not help laughing. She held it in with difficulty, and after he got in, Carter turned and nodded to Steve behind her.

The jeep carried the two of them away, leaving a group of bewildered soldiers standing in the dust.

The instructor watched Steve ride off in style, then looked down at the flag in his hands. Deep down, he felt utterly confused...

Steve had shown his intelligence and earned Agent Carter's favor as well.

During that time, Han Lin unlocked a close-combat skill: Melee Hunter: Close-range attack range +10%.

Through his continued sparring sessions with Agent Carter, Han Lin's fighting ability improved rapidly. He was like a sponge, absorbing all of Carter's combat knowledge before gradually integrating it into his own.

After obtaining the skill, Han Lin could no longer activate it while sparring with Agent Carter. He could feel that even ten percent of his current strength was much greater than before. He tested it in Howard's laboratory.

Punching force: 650 kg. Kicking force: 1100 kg.

His strength had not increased, but his attack damage had been amplified.

After all the skills granted by the system were applied to his body, his body itself did not change. It was more like gaining a buff in a game from his previous life; the effects manifested directly. Even if Agent Carter blocked a punch that she could have blocked before, the additional ten percent damage would directly affect her. The first time, when Han Lin had not realized it, Carter took a punch to the arm. To him, it felt like needle-like pain piercing deep into her body, as though the muscles inside her had been torn apart. After that, Han Lin never dared activate the skill again.

He met Steve twice during that period. Since the improved Super Soldier Serum had yet to be completed, Steve and the others continued undergoing recruit training. What had originally been expected to take one week had been delayed by three, making Steve feel increasingly useless.

"Steve, look up." Han Lin did not know how to comfort the dejected Steve, who had his head lowered.

Steve only raised his head slightly and stared at the ground before him. "Lin, do you think I'm useless? I'm starting to feel that way myself. Maybe Bucky was right. I should find a job at a factory instead of wasting time here."

"Listen, Steve. Although I know why Dr. Erskine let you come here, all I can say now is that you're doing great. You earned Agent Carter's approval. She's my combat instructor now, and when she trains with me, she talks about you more than anything else. Your intelligence, determination, courage, and unyielding spirit—those are all your strengths. All you need to do now is wait. Don't worry too much, buddy."

Han Lin brought up Carter because he knew that as long as he reignited that flame of hope in Steve's heart, Steve would bravely persevere.

As the research progressed day by day, Han Lin came to understand more and more about the Super Soldier Serum, and his help to Dr. Erskine grew greater and greater. In the end, the new generation of serum, improved through optimization, was finally developed. The human trial, delayed for nearly a month, was finally about to begin.

The question of the test candidate was once again placed before them.

Colonel Phillips was dissatisfied with the frail Steve. He believed that only a strong soldier could become the test subject.

But Dr. Erskine thought highly of Steve. Steve's kindness and integrity had moved him. Humble, steady, serious, and persistent—those were the qualities a Super Soldier Serum candidate needed.

Unlike Colonel Phillips, the doctor valued inner character more. Without question, Steve was better in that regard.

That day, the two argued over the matter again.

Unable to persuade him, the colonel decided to use facts to prove that his own view was correct.

"War depends on courage." After saying that, Colonel Phillips threw a fake grenade into the crowd.

"Grenade!" the colonel shouted as a warning.

The moment they heard there was a grenade, the soldiers scattered, each searching for cover. Steve, however, threw himself forward without hesitation and pressed his body firmly over the grenade.

"Take cover!" Steve roared.

Agent Carter, who had reacted a beat too slowly, stopped in her tracks. Watching the scene, Han Lin knew that Steve was still the same Steve. He had not been defeated by his own cowardice.

Seeing Steve use his body to buy them time, the soldiers around him were filled with shame.

When no explosion came for a long time, everyone finally realized it was merely a training grenade.

Colonel Phillips and Dr. Erskine exchanged a glance. There was something different in both their eyes. Dr. Erskine felt gratified, while Colonel Phillips felt regret.

That night, Han Lin went to Dr. Erskine's room.

"Lin, why are you here? Is something wrong?" The doctor was somewhat surprised when he opened the door and saw Han Lin. "Come in first."

Previously, Han Lin and Dr. Erskine had spent many days neglecting food and sleep while researching the serum. The work had finally ended that day, and they had at last been able to rest, yet Han Lin had come looking for him.

After inviting Han Lin in and sitting down, the doctor asked, "Is this about the experiment?"

"Yes, Doctor." Han Lin spoke directly. "I know the test candidate has already been decided, right? It's Steve, isn't it?"

Dr. Erskine knew what Han Lin wanted to say. "Your prediction was right. We chose Steve. You should know what that means. We do not fully believe everything you said, but we will take it into consideration."

Han Lin smiled and nodded. "Then what do you think of the super army plan?"