Winter Soldier Legion

Name: James Buchanan Barnes

Gender: Male

Age: 26

Height: 175CM (5 feet 9 inches)

Weight: 81KG (180 lbs)

"Sergeant Barnes of the 107th Infantry Division, that name doesn't sound right. Can I call you Bucky?"

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes!"

"Bucky, it looks like our food is pretty good. You've already gained weight in just two days since you were captured..."

In the sealed metal laboratory, Russell held the medical report, scrutinizing Captain America's best friend from head to toe. The latter had thick eyebrows, large eyes, and well-defined, deep-set features; he was clearly a good guy.

Dr. Zola delivered Bucky to the branch base as promised. He had the right and the reason to deal with the prisoners. The Super Soldier experiment at the branch base needed lab rats. Ten America prisoners were also with him. This was done to cover up the truth.

"Bucky, I've looked at your resume. You've been in the military for a year and a half, and your rank hasn't changed at all. I bet you're not well-liked by your superiors. How about it, how about considering switching to Hydra?"

"Although Hydra has a bad reputation, it has a good corporate culture. The salary is high and the benefits are good. When you join, you are given an electronic robotic arm and human enhancement modification. Becoming Super Soldier is no longer a dream."

Upon first meeting Bucky, Russell knew he was the perfect candidate for his superhero/villain experiment, not because of his 175cm height, but because of his unruly eyes and the cold, wolf-like glint in them—a man destined for greatness.

"..."

Bucky was strapped to a metal chair, and to prevent him from using the flying device, a leather strap was fastened to his mouth by a researcher. He couldn't speak, and could only gasp for breath, staring at Russell with a fierce look.

"Oh, I forgot you can't speak..." Russell snapped his the Snap: "Jason, unbuckle the sergeant's belt, I need to talk to him."

Bucky was wondering who Russell was talking to when he saw a tall figure suddenly emerge from the corner of the wall. The figure had a mask on its face and a Great Cleaver at its waist.

Was someone here just now?

Bucky was puzzled but didn't pay much attention to it. The moment his belt was unbuckled, he spat at Russell.

Drink... ptooey!

Snap!

Jason stepped Russell and caught the saliva carrying over 600 microorganisms and bacteria with his chest. Then he grabbed Bucky's neck and tightened his grip with his Five Fingers like iron pincers.

With his carotid artery ceasing to supply blood to his brain, Bucky's face turned bright red, but even so, his eyes remained fierce as he looked past Jason and stared straight at Russell.

"Bucky, don't make things difficult for yourself. If you refuse to cooperate, I'll have to put the belt back on you." As Bucky's eyes became bloodshot and he was about to suffocate, Russell reached out and patted Jason, telling him to stand aside.

"Cough! Cough! Cough..."

Bucky gasped for breath, coughing several times before finally looking up at Russell: "You wicked Hydra, don't even think about making me surrender, and I will never serve you."

Russell shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, you're too weak right now, you're not qualified to serve us."

"What!?"

Russell picked up a newspaper from the table and spread it out in front of Bucky. The entire page was filled with articles about the superstar Captain America, along with a black-and-white portrait of him.

Bucky frowned. "Captain America... who is this? Why are you showing me a comedian?"

In the photo, Steve is dressed in a Stars and Stripes costume and wearing a mask. He is muscular and has a huge physique, which is completely different from the lean and skinny guy Bucky remembers. It's normal that he doesn't recognize him.

"His name is Steve Rogers, a household name and a major star in America..."

"Wait, who did you say he is?"

"Steve Rogers!" Russell waved the newspaper. "It's not a coincidence of names. He's your good brother, the asthma guy you've known since childhood."

"Are you kidding me? Steve isn't even 1.6 meters tall. How could this burly man in the photo be him?" Bucky's eyes widened. He refused to believe that the person in the photo was Steve. Any one of those pectoral muscles was bigger than his face.

"Your good brother participated in a secret military experiment and was injected with a Super-Soldier Serum, which gave him superhuman physical abilities. He can take on ten soldiers like you."

"This...this..." Bucky's feelings were complicated. He was genuinely happy for Steve, but at the same time, he felt a strange sense of loss. Steve's growing strength meant that he no longer needed to protect him.

Suddenly, Bucky realized something. "Is this your reason for arresting me? To use me to threaten him?"

"No, you've misunderstood. He's just a Super Soldier, not a super team. I don't even consider him a threat." Russell spread his hands. "Chief Schmidt thinks you're a promising talent, with the same potential as Steve, and has decided to transform you into Super Soldier."

"What!?"

"The America has Captain America, and we must have Hydra Captain. The leader has a vision that you mere mortals cannot comprehend." Russell said with a sinister laugh, "But the leader really has a twisted sense of humor, specifically choosing you as Steve's opponent. Your battle will surely be very interesting."

"Dream on!" Bucky said through gritted teeth. "I'd rather die than serve Hydra, let alone become a Hydra Captain."

"This isn't up to you. The leader values you, so we will do everything in our power to nurture you." Russell said as he walked out of the laboratory. "You can also try to commit suicide, but I guarantee that even if you die, we can resurrect you."

Jason unlocked the shackles on the metal chair, grabbed Bucky by the Bucky and lifted him into the air, following behind Russell.

Being carried like a chicken, Bucky resisted angrily, but the difference in size and strength was too obvious. Even if he hit Jason, he couldn't make the latter waver.

Russell arrived at a training room, Jason carried Bucky inside and slammed him to the ground.

"Becoming Hydra Captain won't be easy. Your physique is too weak. I'll have Jason train you properly."

"With this big oaf around, it's hard to say who'll teach whom a lesson!"

Bucky shook his head and got up from the ground. He rushed towards Russell in a few strides. He knew that Russell was of high status and that if he could kidnap Russell, he might be able to escape from the base.

Bang!

Jason blocked the way and landed a hook punch on Bucky's stomach. Bucky groaned, clutched his stomach, staggered back two steps, and collapsed to his knees, vomiting bile.

Bang!

Jason kicked Bucky in Bucky cheek again, the force sending him flying sideways and crashing into the training room wall with a thud.

Seeing Bucky lying on the ground like a dead fish, Jason strode over to him, grabbed him by the hair, and lifted him up. Just then, Bucky suddenly opened his eyes and punched Jason in the Adam's apple.

Jason released his grip, paused slightly, and took two steps back.

"Big dummy, with your skills, I could play with you all day!" Bucky wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, licked his loose teeth, and unconsciously uttered his best friend's famous saying.

As he spoke, he rushed toward Jason, then suddenly slid to slow down as he got close, dodging Jason's attacks. He landed a series of punches and kicks, each one delivered with full force, striking Jason heavily.

Snap!

Jason neither dodged nor flinched; his eyes behind the mask were devoid of any emotion. After taking a dozen or so blows, he reached out with both hands, grabbed Bucky's fists, and slowly pried them apart.

Bucky roared desperately, veins bulging in his neck, but even his best efforts couldn't change the fact that he was being crushed. Just then, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he launched a flying kick between Jason's legs.

Smack!

Everything went wrong!

"Wow! Dude, I'm sorry, that kick might have been a little too hard." Bucky laughed smugly, his voice clear and pleasant.

Bang!

Jason didn't utter a sound, but headbutted Bucky on the forehead. Bucky's eyes rolled back, and he felt the world spin before collapsing to the ground with a thud. He tried to get up, but he was dizzy and his legs slipped, so he couldn't stand up.

"Good fighting spirit. You guys keep playing, I won't bother you any longer."

Russell turned and left after speaking; he still had to research the Super Soldier Serum and didn't have time to stay and watch the battle. After a year of research, he had to admit that replicating the Super Soldier Serum was extremely difficult, and Schmidt and Steve's success was truly a miracle.

If we raise the bar even higher, Steve is the only successful example.

Although Schmidt gained power, he became neither human nor ghost, and the side effects were too obvious. From a scientist's point of view, he could not be considered a success; at most, he was a half-finished product.

Unable to crack the Super Soldier Serum, Russell had to settle for creating a weakened version. This weakening didn't mean the enhanced abilities were diminished; rather, it referred to the success rate, which was already one in ten thousand, becoming even lower.

The weakened version of the serum has very high requirements for experimental subjects. In addition to physical strength, it also requires an extremely strong mental will. Especially in terms of mental strength, the enhancement process is accompanied by intense pain from gene recombination, and people who have not undergone mental training simply cannot endure it.

While Enslavement Bucky's soul could indeed increase the success rate, Russell cannot do so; the system rejects superheroes/villains created through such opportunistic methods. For example, Jason, possessing Immortal Body, would be a supervillain without any modifications, but the system doesn't acknowledge this, even though Jason's body was indeed bestowed upon him by Russell.

Bucky was the primary candidate for the experiment, but not the only one. The weakened serum was too risky, and Russell's work style dictated that he wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket. He needed backup mice, the more the better.

The World Anchor has been dropped, Russell will stay in the Marvel Universe for a long time. He hopes to build a super army by his own hands.

Arriving at his desk in the lab, Russell picked up a pen and paper and quickly wrote down the words 'Winter Soldier Legion' and '0-9'.

Ring ring ring~~~ Ring ring ring~~~~

The phone on his desk rang, and Russell picked it up. It was Dr. Zola calling.

Zola spoke rapidly, "Sir, Erskine's belongings have come knocking, and he has released the prisoners. Schmidt has ordered the abandonment of the Klausenburg base and has activated the self-destruct mechanism; we are in the process of evacuating."

"I understand. I will also prepare to evacuate."