He Probably Injected Fake Serum

Minutes earlier.

Colonel Phillips, in the control room, exchanged pleasantries with one of the council members, Councilman Brand.

"I'm glad you could make it, Councilman," the Colonel said with a smile.

Normally, his temper wouldn't allow him to deal with politicians.

Because those bastards were too hypocritical!

Always smiling on the surface, but inwardly calculating the benefits each decision would bring.

That didn't sit well with Colonel Phillips, a military man who valued the bigger picture.

But as the head of the Strategic Scientific Reserve and a participant in the Super Soldier program, he had to learn to interact with politicians.

After all, research funding and resource allocations required the council's approval.

"Is that the 'Super Soldier' you picked? Good heavens! He looks like he hasn't eaten in days!"

Councilman Brand stood in the second-floor control room, looking down below.

Seeing the short, scrawny Rogers, he looked astonished.

That wasn't quite the Super Soldier the council had in mind.

"Rogers is... a backup in case of failure. Councilman, you see him there? Luke Cahill—the finest soldier I've ever seen!"

Colonel Phillips showed a hint of embarrassment, pointing down at Luke.

He didn't have high hopes for Rogers; the only reason the man was here was because Dr. Erskine had insisted on it.

"A lot of people are applying for funding at this stage, but the budget allocated to the Strategic Scientific Reserve is always the largest! Colonel, don't let the President down."

Councilman Brand dropped a veiled warning and sat down with his accompanying press staff.

He hadn't come out of a love for science.

He wanted to claim the credit for himself as soon as possible.

Councilman Brand keenly saw the propaganda value inherent in the Super Soldier.

Whether it could change the war's outcome didn't matter—what mattered was capturing the public's attention!

Five minutes later, the serum injection experiment entered its final phase.

The power switches on the two metal devices had been turned to seventy percent.

A blinding white light nearly drowned the surrounding space.

Screams of intense agony came from inside the metal devices.

That was Rogers!

For him, the serum injection felt like thousands of knives viciously slicing every cell and nerve in his body.

Especially as the energy output increased, the transformation he endured grew fiercer, and the pain inflicted on his body and mind became greater!

"Steve!"

Dr. Erskine's right hand trembled. Everyone knew the serum injection could kill the test subject.

Only the one who successfully endured it could become a Super Soldier.

But it looked like Rogers couldn't take it anymore.

"Colonel, what's going on?"

Councilman Brand tilted his head and asked.

Two identical metal devices, both test subjects receiving the serum injection.

Why was Rogers in such agony, while Luke showed no reaction at all?

Could it be that he'd been injected with a fake serum?

Faced with Councilman Brand's confusion, Colonel Phillips shrugged, wearing the same puzzled expression.

"Unlocking subsequent templates relies on reputation... Isn't this just like when I play games?"

Luke, lying inside the metal device, was unaware of the outside changes.

He processed the vast amount of information flooding his brain and began to understand how the so-called "templates" worked.

First, there was the level setting displayed on the character panel.

According to different tiers, the game divided Kryptonians into six levels.

LV1, Commoner.

LV2, Warrior.

LV3, Scientist.

LV4, General.

LV5, Archon.

LV6, Emperor.

Each time he leveled up, he could draw an item exclusive to Krypton.

For example, key items like the Fortress of Solitude and the Codex of Life.

"And the Superman Template I have right now is 'Commoner'—in terms of overall quality and ability, it's temporarily inferior to the genuine Superman next door..."

Luke looked at the many templates still grayed out and locked, feeling a bit regretful.

The cheat he'd received was essentially a game panel.

So the mechanics still followed that model of grinding reputation, leveling up, and completing daily quests.

"Clark Kent is a naturally born Kryptonian with limitless potential; as for General Zod, also a Kryptonian, he's a born general—probably around LV4 or LV5!"

Luke's thoughts wandered, recalling the two Kryptonians that left the strongest impression on him.

Even though he was currently stuck at the lowest rank, LV1 "Commoner," it was still enough.

Kryptonian bloodline was essentially a giant power bank—as long as he absorbed the stellar energy of a yellow sun, his physical abilities would keep growing stronger.

But if he wanted to have the same infinite potential as the real Superman, he'd have to work hard at grinding reputation and leveling up to raise his ceiling.

Otherwise, relying solely on sunbathing to become the Golden Superman was completely unrealistic!

"One hundred percent!"

The metal instrument was cranked to maximum power, the blinding white light nearly searing their eyes.

The console burst with a shower of electric sparks, and Rogers, who had been crying out in pain, suddenly fell silent.

Erskine hurriedly told Howard Stark to open the metal instrument; for the moment, he ignored Luke, who hadn't made a sound, and focused on saving Rogers first.

A cloud of white vapor dispersed, and everyone wore expressions of stunned disbelief.

Steve Rogers!

That scrawny little guy had transformed in an instant into a tall, imposing, broad-chested captain!

It was like he'd become a completely different person.

The next moment!

Everyone in the control room cheered and rejoiced, swept up in ecstasy, as if they wanted to throw a celebration party right then and there.

Councilman Brand was especially brimming with bold ambition, shouting boasts like "Berlin should be nervous" and "We'll capture Hitler alive."

In his view, with a Super Soldier army like Rogers, the Allied Nations were as good as victorious—they'd win this war without a doubt!

But Colonel Phillips and Councilman Brand, caught up in their excitement and elation, didn't notice that one of the control room's attendants had crept close to Dr. Erskine while everyone was distracted.

"Hail Hydra!"

The attendant, who had come over to offer congratulations, quietly whispered this into Dr. Erskine's ear.

The latter looked up in surprise, only to meet a pair of cold eyes.

Hydra?

Dr. Erskine realized it immediately.

The attendant didn't give him time to call for help. A PPK automatic pistol pressed against his chest, and the trigger was pulled without hesitation.

The bullet pierced his heart, blooming a flower of blood.

Dr. Erskine felt a flash of pain, then collapsed weakly.

The gunshot echoed through the room, mingling with shouts of "Protect the councilman!" as the guards rushed over.

Then, a thunderous explosion erupted in the control room.

A blaze of fire swept outward!

The shockwave shattered the glass windows!

Colonel Phillips shielded the panicked councilman, while the guards were thrown by the blast like kites with snapped strings, crashing into the walls.

Screams, explosions, gunfire...

These noises interrupted Luke's thoughts about the future.

He frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then easily broke free of the restraints binding him—a necessary measure to prevent test subjects from moving and harming themselves.

Creak! Creak!

Luke punched through the sturdy shell of the metal instrument, ignoring the crackling sparks, and with both hands, he tore open the alloy casing.

With a grating, teeth-clenching sound, Luke jumped out of the metal instrument the next moment.

He saw Dr. Erskine, shot and fallen, and Rogers, now tall and strong.

Councilman Brand was cowering, shielded by the others off to the side.

And the suited man, the suspected Hydra assassin, shot down a few guards, ran up the stairs, and vanished from sight.

ps: As usual, I'm shaking you down for recommendation tickets and collections! Hand them over now! (Super fierce.jpg)

ps2: The six ranks roughly correspond to Earth-level, Skyfather-level, Single Universe, Multiverse, High-Dimensional Universe, and Omniverse... Theoretically, comics don't have these ranks, but the author referenced some data and feats and used this classification~