Steve was sent flying, but he did not lose his balance.
In midair, he adjusted his posture, and the shield slid from his back into his hand.
The instant he landed, he braced himself with the shield and rolled, bleeding off most of the impact.
He knelt on one knee and looked up, his blue eyes locked onto the Skrull.
"Your combat skills are impressive," the Skrull said.
"I studied every recording of you, from World War II to Washington, from Sokovia to Siberia.
Do you know what your greatest weakness is? You rely too much on your body.
Your body is indeed strong, but it is merely the limit of human potential.
And the limit of humanity means nothing to me."
As he spoke, the Skrull vanished right before his eyes.
It was not invisibility or teleportation. He was simply so fast that Steve's visual system could not track him at all.
Steve only felt a gust of wind from the side, then a heavy blow struck his abdomen. His body folded like a shrimp, and stomach acid surged into his throat.
Before he could react, a second blow struck his back, and a third hit the back of his head.
But he was wearing a helmet. The strike did not deal fatal damage, but it was enough to make his vision go dark and his ears ring.
The Skrull reappeared in front of Steve, standing beside his fallen body and looking down at him.
"Do you know why I chose to become Tony Stark?" the Skrull asked.
"Not because of his armor, not because of his intelligence, but because his body is the frailest among all of you.
His strength comes from outside, from that suit of armor. Without it, he is nothing.
And you, Steve Rogers, your