Chapter 20 20: Cooldown Complete! Right Now!

To be honest, being praised face-to-face by Captain America sent Levi's little bit of vanity straight through the roof.

This wasn't praise from some random nobody—this was Captain America. Alive. In the flesh. A man who could fight. And who had just fought shoulder to shoulder with him.

The feeling was indescribable.

It was like back in school, when you'd wrack your brains solving a math problem you thought was insanely difficult, only for the top genius in the entire school to walk over, clap you on the shoulder, and say, "Man, that solution of yours? Brilliant."

Pure bliss. Straight down to the bones.

For one fleeting second, Levi even had the absurd urge to pull out a notebook and ask for an autograph. Thankfully, the last shred of rational thought in his brain stopped him—this was a battlefield, after all. Doing that would probably earn him a vibranium shield straight to the face for being a Hydra lunatic.

He forcibly suppressed his excitement and tried to look like a battle-hardened, ice-cold veteran instead of a fanboy meeting his idol. He twitched his lips in what passed for a restrained response, then deliberately shifted his gaze to Gabe behind him.

"Sir, my teammate is badly injured," Levi said in a low voice, dragging the conversation back to reality. This wasn't the time for pleasantries. Staying alive came first.

Captain America's smile vanished at once, replaced by focused concern. Without hesitation, he strode over and dropped to one knee beside Gabe.

He glanced at Gabe's face—pale as paper from blood loss and cold—then followed the line of sight down to the roughly bandaged thigh. When he saw the torn flesh and bone-deep wound, even he couldn't help but frown.

"A bear trap?" Steve's voice carried restrained anger. Only Hydra's deranged bastards would set something this vicious in a place like this.

"Yes, sir," Levi replied. "We were scattered during the drop. He landed right on it."

Steve reached out, checking Gabe's pulse, then lifted his eyelids briefly. His expression grew even more severe.

"He's lost too much blood and he's hypothermic. Without proper treatment, he won't last long."

He stood and scanned the surroundings, clearly evaluating their next move—

And then—

Splash—!

A harsh sound of water erupted from the nearby river.

Levi and Steve tensed instantly, snapping their heads toward the noise.

From the ice-cold water, a drenched figure staggered upright like a revenant clawing its way out of hell.

It was the Hound.

He was still alive.

A near-point-blank C4 explosion—and he'd survived.

He looked horrific. His black combat suit was shredded, blood smeared across his face and hands. Gaping wounds curled open across his body, making him look like a demon dragged from the underworld. One arm hung twisted at an unnatural angle—clearly broken—but in his remaining hand, he still gripped a combat knife gleaming with cold light.

He didn't look at Levi. Didn't even glance at the gravely injured Gabe.

Those bloodshot eyes—burning with fury and pain—locked solely onto Captain America.

To him, Levi was nothing more than a pesky fly that fired opportunistic shots. The man in the star-spangled uniform was the true target—the one who had ruined his perfect hunt.

"You… should die."

The Hound's throat released a low, animalistic growl. Ignoring his own injuries, he kicked off the ground with his good leg and charged like a maddened bull, roaring straight at Captain America.

A lunatic.

Steve reacted instantly. In the same motion, he shielded Levi and Gabe behind him, raising the vibranium shield in front of his body.

CLANG—!

The knife slammed into the shield, throwing off a shower of sparks.

The sheer force made Steve stagger half a step. He could feel it clearly—this wasn't normal human strength. This monster had been enhanced too, at least to some degree.

The Hound didn't pause. His assault became a storm—abandoning defense entirely, every strike a suicidal, kill-or-die exchange. The blade carved vicious arcs, stabbing, slashing, cutting—every move aimed at Steve's throat, eyes, heart.

Steve stood firm like a mountain.

His shield became an unbreakable wall. No matter how frenzied the attack, it was blocked, deflected, absorbed. Metal rang against metal, sparks flew, and the clash made Levi's scalp prickle.

This was a true duel between top-tier monsters—speed, power, skill, all pushed to the extreme. Even with a healing factor, Levi knew that compared to these two, his combat experience was laughably crude.

And then—

A sound only he could hear rang out inside his mind.

Ding!

"Cooldown complete. [Ability Copier] is ready."

It was here.

Levi's heart skipped a beat.

He'd waited far too long for this moment. Ever since he'd first seen Captain America in footage, he'd dreamed of this exact chance.

His eyes locked onto the two figures locked in deadly combat, his mind racing at unprecedented speed.

An opportunity—he needed an opportunity. A way to touch Captain America naturally, without drawing suspicion.

Rushing in to help? Impossible. With the level of combat on display, that would be suicide—and far too conspicuous.

Waiting for them to wear each other down? Even worse. If Steve got seriously injured, Levi would have no one to cry to.

So what now?

Just as panic crept in, the fight shifted.

The Hound, seemingly losing patience after failing to break through, let out an inhuman roar and slammed his already-broken arm straight into Steve's shield.

Steve clearly didn't expect such a self-destructive move. Caught off guard, the shield shifted—just a fraction.

A gap.

Now!

Ecstasy flared in the Hound's eyes. His knife struck like a viper, thrusting toward Steve's side at terrifying speed.

If it landed, even with the suit, it would be devastating.

Steve's pupils contracted. He tried to recover the shield—but it was too late.

Damn it!

Levi's mind went blank.

In that split second, instinct overrode all planning.

"Captain—watch out!"

Levi roared and launched himself forward like an arrow.

He didn't aim for the Hound.

He didn't aim for the knife.

He aimed for Captain America.

Using every ounce of strength he had, Levi slammed his shoulder into Steve's back.

BAM!

Steve felt a massive force—far beyond what a normal soldier should possess—crash into him from behind, sending him stumbling forward.

That stumble saved his life.

The blade skimmed past his waist, leaving only a pale scratch on the combat suit.

And in that same motion—

Levi's hand pressed firmly against Steve's broad, solid back.

Now!

In his mind, Levi screamed with everything he had.

Copy!

"Target detected: Steve Rogers. Copyable ability found: [Super Soldier Serum]. Copy?"

YES. YES. YES—COPY IT!

"[Super Soldier Serum] copied successfully. Integration in progress. Full physical enhancement will complete within twenty-four hours."

A warm, powerful current surged from Levi's palm, flooding through his limbs and bones. Every cell in his body seemed to cheer. It felt like parched earth finally drinking rain, like a drifting ship finding harbor.

An overwhelming sense of strength and security filled him.

It worked.

Finally—it worked.

But before he could savor it, searing pain exploded in his side.

The Hound's failed strike flowed seamlessly into another. Without hesitation, he reversed the blade and drove it straight into Levi's abdomen.

Thunk.

Levi felt a sudden coldness. Looking down, he saw the knife's tip protruding from his side, blood pouring down the steel.

Damn… that hurts…

That was the last thought to drift through his mind as his vision darkened and his body collapsed.

"Levi!"

Captain America's furious shout was the final sound Levi heard before consciousness slipped away.

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