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Chapter 188: Ch.187 The Moment Arrives

"We might cause a blackout in Brooklyn, but I\'m ready, as always."

This made Steve even more nervous. Why did Howard\'s voice suddenly get quieter when he said, "as always," and why did he turn his head away as if he couldn\'t look at me?

Before Steve could ask, Howard had already slipped away, almost like he was just there to cause some mischief.

Dr. Erskine adjusted his round glasses, signaling that the experiment was about to begin. "Agent Carter, I believe you\'ll be more comfortable in the observation room."

"Oh, yes, Doctor," Peggy replied.

Peggy glanced at Steve, walking away but turning back every few steps. She noticed Steve was watching her too, so she gave him a reassuring smile.

That made Steve feel a lot better. Even though Bucky and Mr. Wilson weren\'t here, at least Peggy was.

Yes, he had a crush on her, but he was too shy to say anything. How could he make promises to someone when he wasn\'t even sure he would survive?

He watched Peggy\'s back as she climbed the stairs and took a deep breath. If the experiment worked, he decided he would confess his feelings to her. At least then no one would laugh at her for dating a short guy.

But would it work? He wasn\'t confident. He\'d never done something like that before, let alone gone on a date.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he lay back down, staring at the ceiling.

In the observation room, people were busy making connections and networking. In politics, relationships were everything, and every opportunity had to be seized. Whether the setting was a laboratory or a high-end cocktail party, it didn\'t matter to them.

"Colonel, I heard Mr. Wilson also made donations to your team. Did you invite him today?" Senator Brandt asked, noticing that the experiment was about to begin but not seeing the person he was looking for.

He had learned that Wilson Enterprises was not only a defense supplier but also a retail giant, and Mr. Wilson himself had mysteriously become well-connected with many military leaders. In wartime, aligning with the military was a strategic move.

Brandt had been hoping to network with him, or he wouldn\'t have bothered coming down to a basement in Brooklyn despite his busy schedule. He had expected Colonel Phillips to invite all the investors to showcase the results and secure more funding. But Wilson wasn\'t here.

The colonel understood what the senator was getting at. "I did invite him, but his secretary said he\'s vacationing in Hawaii. Apparently, he dislikes the rainy and slushy weather in New York."

Brandt nodded in disappointment. Well, maybe after the experiment, he could chat with Stark. Stark Industries was also very wealthy.

Suddenly, a loud screeching noise filled the observation room, causing everyone to wince. It was like nails on a chalkboard—except it was electric.

Dr. Erskine, preparing to speak below, looked up at the politicians with a hint of resignation. No matter the country, politicians were always the same.

"Ahem, gentlemen, can you hear me? We are about to begin the experiment." He tapped the microphone and cleared his throat. "Today, we are not taking a step toward destruction, but toward peace."

Behind him, Steve could see the medical staff bustling around. The nurses brought a large box filled with rows of test tubes, each containing a blue liquid.

They removed the tubes and inserted them into connectors on both sides of the experimental pod, then swung several metal braces over to secure them to Steve\'s body.

"First, we will administer a series of micro-injections into the subject\'s major muscle groups. The serum will immediately induce cellular-level changes."

As the doctor explained the procedure to the higher-ups, Peggy Carter pursed her lips, nervously watching Steve from above.

Dr. Erskine continued describing the experiment and ensuring the nurses were doing their jobs correctly. "Next, the subject will be exposed to a saturation of Vita-Rays, which, when combined with the serum, will rapidly trigger beneficial mutations."

After giving a brief explanation, Dr. Erskine set the microphone down. The higher-ups didn\'t care about the subject or the experiment itself; they were here as if attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Whether it was a hotel or a laboratory didn\'t make much difference to them. Dr. Erskine was tired of speaking to uninterested ears.

He returned to Steve\'s side. A nurse was injecting something into Steve\'s arm—a small syringe delivering a transparent liquid into his body.

"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

"Not bad, I guess. That was pretty quick," Steve replied, noticing no immediate changes.

Dr. Erskine rolled his eyes. "That was penicillin. I haven\'t even started yet."

"Uh..." Steve muttered.

Dr. Erskine placed a reassuring hand on Steve\'s shoulder, signaling for him to relax. Then, he turned to the staff and gave the order.

"Serum injection, begin countdown."

Everyone\'s eyes were on Steve. Peggy stood up, tense.

"Five, four, three, two, one."

Two metal plates covered in needles pierced Steve\'s arms, and the blue serum was injected into his body at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Instantly, intense pain overwhelmed him. It felt like his blood was boiling. He clenched his teeth and forced his eyes open, staring upward, his body curling like a shrimp, but the restraints kept him from moving.

Every inch of his muscles felt like they were being torn apart. His bones began to change. His soul felt like a small boat in a storm.

Dr. Erskine knew this was a normal reaction. The transformation was extremely painful, so the faster they worked, the less Steve would suffer.

"Mr. Stark, begin the radiation!"

Howard nodded, put on his sunglasses, and began operating the control panel.

The ship-shaped platform closed around Steve like a flower, encasing him in what now resembled a coffin. Hydraulic systems lifted the chamber upright, and the staff connected oxygen tubes to the chamber.

Dr. Erskine knocked on the leaded glass of the chamber. "How are you doing, Steve? Hanging in there?"

Steve gritted his teeth, feeling as if ants were crawling through his body, but he managed to hold on. "I\'m guessing it\'s too late to ask for a bathroom break?"

Dr. Erskine chuckled and turned to Howard, giving him the go-ahead. Howard twisted a large dial, and the spiral-shaped bulbs in the chamber emitted a bright white light, illuminating the basement so intensely that everyone had to turn away, eyes watering.

Meanwhile, in the antique shop above, the elderly woman guarding the entrance looked up, her expression shifting drastically. She reached under the counter and pulled out a submachine gun, opening fire on the intruder, but only sparks flew.

The bullets ricocheted off the intruder\'s black-and-yellow armor, striking the clocks hanging on the walls, sending springs and gears flying.

The tall figure seemed unfazed, steadily advancing toward the woman, a red glow emanating from the single eye in his mask.

This was the demon from New York\'s urban legends, a figure blamed for countless disappearances and deaths. But the woman had never believed he was real.

Deathstroke was supposed to be a myth, a figure like vampires or Frankenstein\'s monster, existing only in fantasy.

But the reality in front of her shattered that belief. The legendary creature stood before her, and the agents outside hadn\'t even made a sound before being taken down.

The intruder stood right in front of her, allowing her to empty her gun. Only when the submachine gun clicked empty did he tilt his head, intrigued.

The old woman heard a voice, distorted and deep, like it came from the depths of hell:

"I\'ve got a question—does the Strategic Scientific Reserve provide you with health insurance?"