Bucky's combat power after being controlled truly seized everyone's attention. Compared to before, it had skyrocketed to an astonishing level.
[The moment Bucky boarded the helicopter, the propellers roared to life. As the blades spun faster and the aircraft gradually lifted off the platform, a powerful downdraft swept across the area.]
[At that instant, Rogers burst out of the corridor. By the time he arrived, the helicopter had already risen more than two meters above the ground.]
Just when everyone believed Bucky was about to escape safely...
[Rogers leaped forward, both hands locking onto the helicopter's landing gear. Under the uneven and brutal stress, the aircraft lurched violently, and Captain Rogers' body was dragged into a wild swing. With sheer force, he forced the helicopter's altitude to drop.]
[Bucky looked down coldly. His expression remained utterly emotionless as he adjusted the direction, steering sharply to the side. The helicopter's terrifying maneuverability came into full play, dragging Rogers toward the edge of the platform.]
[Rogers clenched his teeth, and his boots scraped frantically against the ground. The overwhelming power sent sparks flying as the steel protection net at the platform's edge shattered under pressure, and then Rogers was yanked violently toward the steel-wire barrier.]
Just as he was about to be dragged off entirely, Rogers made a move that stunned countless viewers.
[His right hand pulled fiercely on the helicopter's landing gear, and his left hand grabbed the platform's guardrail. Eyes shut tight and teeth clenched, a deep, guttural growl escaped his throat. His arm muscles bulged violently, veins standing out like steel cables. Relying purely on physical strength, he forcibly pulled the helicopter back.]
[Bucky sneered inside the cockpit and pushed the control to its limit. The blades spun faster, and the helicopter's horsepower surged again.]
[Rogers roared once more. One hand anchored to the guardrail, and the other locked onto the landing gear; he refused to let go. Like a steel cable, he held the helicopter suspended in mid-air.]
Viewers flooded the comments.
"F*CKING HELL! What did I just see?!"
"Pulling a helicopter with bare hands?!"
"Is he even human?!"
"That muscle power is insane!"
"I always thought Rogers just had longevity, turns out he's a walking fortress!"
"Heh, pulling a helicopter? I can do that too."
"Are you seriously ill?!"
"Years of single-arm training…"
At the Administration, the director and the expert panel were frozen, mouths nearly forming perfect O-shapes. The impact of this scene was overwhelming.
After a long silence, the director finally spoke in disbelief: "I… I can't believe it. One person… pulling the power of a helicopter with his bare hands."
Darwin rubbed his aching eyes. Just now, afraid of missing even a second, he hadn't blinked once. "I know Rogers is no longer an ordinary human," he said hoarsely. "But this… It's completely illogical."
At the training ground, Kasey stared blankly at the stalemate between Rogers and the helicopter. Behind him, Elenora and the others were even more astounded.
Compared with other Avengers, Rogers had always seemed extraordinary, but not overwhelmingly so. His strength, at least on the surface, didn't appear far beyond the rest. That was what they believed until now. Pulling a helicopter by hand was a brutal display.
Louis scratched his head and muttered to Kasey: "Brother… he's ridiculously strong."
"Brother, can you pull a helicopter like that? You probably can't. If you tried, your arm would snap."
Kasey karate-chopped Louis on the head, and his face darkened. "Of course I can't!" he snapped. "But can you shut up?!"
At the Human Potential Development Organization, Ashton and his team sat beneath a tree in a daze. This pure muscular strength from Rogers eclipsed even the mysterious powers of Wanda and Killian.
Kayden stared at the screen, her heart trembling. There was something she had never told anyone. Not only had she awakened her genetic memory, but she had also awakened a superpower. When no one was watching, she once deformed a five-centimeter-thick steel plate with a single punch. Yet, compared to Rogers wrestling a helicopter head-on, it felt trivial.
Ashton let out a long sigh. "Human potential is infinite. That's all there is to say."
This scene shook the world. Some viewers even captured screenshots of Rogers deadlifting the helicopter and set them as their desktop backgrounds. Others uploaded them to the internet, instantly turning them into headline news. Terra reacted almost exactly the same way it had when Tony once transformed his watch into a suit component.
[Rogers and the helicopter struggled in mid-air for over ten seconds. Under the intense strain, the landing gear began to deform.]
[Inside the cockpit, Bucky sneered. Suddenly, he tilted the helicopter sideways, and the spinning blade slashed toward Rogers, but Rogers twisted sharply to dodge. The helicopter slammed into the platform and exploded violently, with the tail propeller whirling past as Rogers struggled to his feet.]
[Bucky's metal arm burst through the shattered cockpit glass and clamped tightly around Rogers' throat. The controlled Bucky showed no restraint as Rogers' face flushed crimson.]
[The helicopter, already destabilized, slid rapidly off the platform. Both men, along with the wreckage, plunged into the massive pool below.]
[After a long moment, Rogers emerged, dragging the unconscious Bucky to the surface. But he didn't return to the platform; instead, he took Bucky away.]
"Goddamn, this is insane!"
"Nothing else matters; this alone is legendary!"
"Incredible! He dragged a helicopter back by force!"
"Where is Rogers taking Bucky?"
"What about the psychologist who activated him?"
"He escaped! That kind of person is a ticking bomb!"
"Huh? Where are we now?"
[The footage flickered, and an old factory came into view while Bucky's metal arm was locked beneath a massive hydraulic press. Bucky woke slowly, glancing at his arm.]
[Sam noticed and rushed to call out, "Cap!"]
[Rogers ran over, and Bucky whispered weakly, "Steve..."]
[Rogers asked quietly, "Who are you really, Bucky?"]
[Bucky paused, then said, "Your mother's name was Sarah. You used to stuff newspapers into your shoes." He then laughed softly.]
[Rogers smiled faintly. "The museum doesn't mention that."]
[Sam frowned. "Is that really the point?"]
[Bucky asked, "What did I do?"]
[Rogers answered, "Everything."]
[Bucky laughed bitterly. "I knew it would end like this. What Hydra put in my head is still there. All he had to do was say those cursed words."]
[Rogers asked, "Who was he?"]
[Bucky shook his head. "I don't know."]
[Rogers said slowly, "Many people died. The bombing, they did it just to be alone with you for ten minutes. Think carefully."]
[After a moment, Bucky said, "He wanted to know about Siberia. That's where they kept me, and he wanted the exact location."]
[Rogers asked, "Why?"]
[Bucky looked up. "Because the Winter Soldier wasn't just me."]
[Rogers leaned against the wall. "Who are they?"]
["The most elite death squad Hydra ever created," Bucky replied, "They've killed countless people before the serum."]
[Sam asked, "Are they all like you?"]
[Bucky shook his head. "Worse."]
[Rogers asked, "Can that doctor control them?"]
["Yes," Bucky said quietly. "Perfectly."]
[Rogers recalled the psychologist's words. "He said he wanted to see an empire destroyed."]
[Bucky nodded. "They speak many languages. They excel at infiltration, assassination, and destabilizing governments. They can topple a country overnight without leaving a trace."]
[Sam stepped closer. "A week ago, we might've stopped it."]
[Rogers sighed. "What about contacting Tony?"]
[Sam shook his head. "He won't believe us. And even if he does… the agreement might not allow him to help."]
[Rogers exhaled slowly. "Then we do it ourselves."]
[Sam paused. "Not necessarily, I know someone."]
The screen flickered as if new footage was about to begin. However, the audience was deeply stirred, both fascinated and shaken, by what Bucky revealed about the Winter Soldier.
"Is this really a terrorist? How can someone be this powerful?"
"Everyone should understand, he comes from the same era as Rogers. He wasn't trained by modern systems."
"Hydra was terrifying back then."
"Do you think people like this exist in our Federation?"
"So it's all from injected serum? What kind of serum is that?"
"Can someone really pull an aircraft with their bare hands?"
"That's absurd. One person bringing down a country in a single night? Come to the Terra Federation and try it."
"Who exactly does Sam know? He sounds extremely confident."
"So when Bucky was controlled, his lethality skyrocketed… does that mean what he did before wasn't his own will?"
"Hey, be kind."
"If that really is Bucky's combat strength, the possibility isn't low."
It wasn't just the audience discussing heatedly. Inside the Administration, countless experts reacted with visible shock to the existence of Bucky and the so-called Winter Soldier.
Xiaotian spoke first, his words sharp and merciless: "Winter Soldier? Frozen Soldier? What a self-glorifying name. People like this are nothing more than terrorist tools. They should be eliminated outright, Bucky included."
Another objected softly, "But they were controlled. They didn't choose to kill."
Xiaotian showed no hesitation or sympathy. "Killing is still killing. If they aren't destroyed, what if someone with ulterior motives uses them again? Who will take responsibility then?"
Hawking nodded slowly. "I agree with him on this point. You can't excuse unrestricted killing just because someone is being controlled. Of course," he added calmly, "the true masterminds behind it must also be punished severely."
At that moment, Tonio suddenly spoke: "The Winter Soldier and Rogers were both frozen in the past. After decades of unsealing, they could still function like normal humans."
Tonio lifted his head, his eyes scanning the room. "What if the freezing lasts even longer?"
The room fell dead silent, and a chill crept into everyone's spine.
The director felt his body go numb. "You mean… they might still be frozen somewhere, until now?"
Tonio nodded, his face pale.
If seventy years were possible, then why not seven hundred? Seven thousand? The director's heart skipped violently. This intelligence had to be reported to the High Council immediately.
[As the newly stabilized footage played, the scene shifted, and a bureaucrat stepped into the office. Black Widow and Tony stood inside.]
["I assume you still don't know where they are," the bureaucrat said coldly.]
[Tony replied calmly, "I will. The local border guards have established checkpoints. Reconnaissance aircraft are in the air, conducting full surveillance. They'll find clues. We can handle the rest."]
[The bureaucrat turned toward the window. "You don't understand. This matter can't be left to you. You can't keep things balanced. I'm deploying special forces."]
[Black Widow frowned. "And when a firefight breaks out? Are you going to kill Rogers?"]
[The bureaucrat replied indifferently, "If he forces us." Turning back, anger crept into his voice. "If it weren't for him, Bucky would've been dealt with back then. Those who died would still be alive."]
[He stared down at Tony. "Am I wrong?"]
[Tony shook his head. "This can't be solved with soldiers and artillery. You have to let us handle it."]
[The bureaucrat scoffed. "How is this different from last time?"]
[Tony answered quietly, "Because this time, I won't be wearing leather shoes and a shirt. Seventy-two hours. Guaranteed."]
["Thirty-six," the bureaucrat cut in.]
The chat flared.
"So they're arresting Rogers too?!"
"Damn it, is this turning into a full-scale war?"
"Tony said he wouldn't wear leather shoes, battle suit confirmed!"
"There's definitely going to be a fight!"
"Rogers was clear, if it's slander, what's there to hide?"
"Didn't they worry before that Tony wouldn't help?"
"Rogers really can't read people. He trusted Sam, but Tony is under insane pressure."
"Now Tony has to handle everything alone. He's terrible at this kind of thing."
"This is hilarious. I have a full new understanding of teamwork."
"Let's see if Rogers dares to hit him."
"The Avengers are divided again."
"Maybe the world really will be destroyed by them."
"And what about the purple-skinned monster?"
[After the bureaucrat left, Tony clutched his chest violently. He took a deep breath, forcing a smile.]
["My left arm's numb," he said lightly. "Is that normal?"]
[Black Widow stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"]
["It's fine," Tony replied. "Thirty-six hours… damn."]
["We're severely understaffed," Black Widow said quietly.]
["Yeah." Tony leaned back. "If only the Hulk were here. Think it's possible?"]
[Black Widow smiled and shook her head. "Do you really think he'd side with us?"]
[Tony thought for a moment, then answered honestly, "No."]
["I have an idea," Black Widow suddenly said.]
["So do I," Tony replied. "Where are your people?"]
["Downstairs. Yours?"]
[Tony smiled faintly. "Same here."]
[The screen flickered, revealing a cozy room. Tony sat on a sofa across from an elegant, intellectual woman. The door opened, and a young man walked in, headphones around his neck. "Hey, Aunt May."]
["How was school today?" she asked.]
["It was okay." He glanced toward the window. "There's a luxury car outside…"]
[Mid-sentence, he noticed Tony. Shock and disbelief froze his face.]
[Tony raised a cookie. "Hello, Mr. Parker."]
[Peter hurriedly removed his headphones. "Why are you here..."]
["My name's Peter," he added, flustered yet excited. "What brings you here?"]
["It's time we met," Tony said calmly. "You've been intercepting my mail, haven't you?"]
[Peter instantly understood. "Uh… yes."]
[Aunt May looked surprised. "You never mentioned funding?"]
["The September fund," Tony said. "I approved it. So we'll be working together."]
Viewers stared at the screen in disbelief.
"This is Tony's foreign aid?"
"He looks way too young!"
"A student?"
"But Tony came personally…"
"Tony really is rich enough to do whatever he wants."
"That kid looks like a celebrity."
"And Tony's eyes, black and purple."
"No time for treatment in thirty-six hours."
"He must really recognize Parker's strength."
[Tony and Peter entered the bedroom. Tony stared at the scattered parts and computers. "Wow. Retro tech? A thrift store?"]
["Garbage heap," Peter admitted.]
["Recycling genius," Tony laughed. Then Tony projected a video, and a red figure descended from the sky, silk threads snapping outward.]
["You," Tony said lightly, and Peter froze. Then another clip played, a three-ton sedan at full speed was stopped. By hand.]
[Tony smiled. "Forty to fifty yards per hour. Impressive."]
[Peter stammered, "It's fake… computer-generated…"]
[Tony only smiled wider.]
The viewers were momentarily at a loss. Only two short clips had been shown, both slightly blurry, yet the content within them stunned everyone.
"Is that really a superhuman?"
"Is that black car actually okay after hitting something head-on?"
"Damn it! That's some kind of high-altitude emergency cleaning transformation!"
"What's that white thing? Rope? It's so thin, how is it pulling people up?"
"The justice falling from the sky is way too strong!"
"That thing shot out of his hand!"
"What a monster… Tony is incredible."
"These kids are superhumans. I'm so jealous."
"Maybe not, could it be fake?"
"Uh… yeah. What if Tony picked the wrong person?"
Human Potential Organization, Ashton removed his glasses, rubbed them vigorously, then put them back on. "Stopping a crashing car with ease, relying purely on physical strength, that's definitely a superhuman."
Kayden looked shocked. "Even Rogers can't do that, right?"
"Maybe Black Panther?" someone suggested.
A staff member added, "Is the red outfit he's wearing made of some kind of material similar to vibranium?"
Ashton narrowed his eyes and pointed at the slender white silk on the screen. "That's very likely a high-strength, high-elasticity biological silk thread. It's strong enough to pull him away midair."
Kayden asked blankly, "Mr. Ashton… does something like that really exist?"
Ashton nodded and smiled faintly. "If spider silk is twisted into a rope, its mechanical strength surpasses stainless steel rebar of the same thickness. It can bear over five times the weight of steel without breaking. When spider silk proteins encounter acidic conditions, their molecules interlock into chain structures, dramatically increasing tensile strength. Though spider silk is far thinner than human hair, about one-thirtieth the diameter, it's extremely flexible and can stretch more than twice its length before snapping."
"There are already researchers developing body armor from spider silk. Even bullets traveling won't cause much damage." Ashton paused, then added calmly, "If he's using a similar material, then the probability is extremely high."
Kayden was stunned. "But if Tony is right… Then he's just a student… and that white silk relies on Parker's extraordinary physical abilities."
Ashton scratched his head and sighed. "Honestly, I don't know what to make of it."
Suddenly, someone behind them spoke up. "What if… he produced it himself?"
Kayden replied speechlessly, "What are you thinking? That must be launched from a device. If someone could naturally spin silk, they wouldn't even be human anymore."
In the Administration.
After watching the two short clips Tony had played, a room full of experts fell silent. Only Odom spoke up in amazement: "Parker's control over distance and spatial positioning is extremely precise. His aiming and trajectory calculations are flawless. If the silk isn't anchored to something solid, flight would be impossible."
The director smiled slightly. "Seems this superhuman isn't weak at all. No wonder Tony is so confident in his external support."
[Tony casually picked up a clothesline nearby and glanced at the ceiling. "Yeah… like a flying saucer over Essence."]
[He poked upward, and the ventilation opening shattered, causing a red suit to fall from above. "What's hidden up here?"]
[Startled, Tony picked it up. "Don't!"]
[Parker rushed over, snatched the suit, shoved it into the closet, and leaned against the wall, eyes wide with panic. "Uh… this is…"]
[Tony stepped closer and studied him. "So… you're the little spider? The crime-fighting spider? What, Spider-Boy?"]
[Parker pressed his lips together. "I'm Spider-Man."]
[Tony glanced at the suit. "And you're fighting crime wearing… baby pajamas?"]
["They're not baby pajamas," Parker protested.]
["I'm actually really lucky today, you know?" He nervously recounted everything that had happened on his way there.]
[Tony pulled the suit back out of the closet. "Does anyone else know about this?"]
[Parker shook his head. "No one."]
[Tony unfolded the suit. "Doesn't even Aunt May recognize your logo?"]
[Parker panicked. "No! She doesn't know! She'd be terrified if she found out. If she panics, I panic too, and then, "]
[Tony snapped off what looked like a USB drive from the suit. "Do you know what I think is the coolest part? The web."]
[He casually tossed the launcher to Parker. Without even looking, Parker caught it effortlessly.]
[Tony continued, impressed. "That tensile strength is ridiculous. Who made it?"]
["I did," Parker replied.]
[Tony raised an eyebrow. "And wall-crawling? Sticky gloves?"
[Parker leaned on the table awkwardly. "It's… complicated."]
[Tony noticed the dark lenses on the suit and picked them up. "God, can you even see wearing these?"]
[Parker rushed over, grabbed the suit, and stuffed it back inside the cabinet. "Yes! I can see!"]
[Tony frowned. "I can't see a thing."]
[Parker explained quickly. "My senses are… enhanced, so I receive too much information. These lenses help me focus."]
[Tony smiled thoughtfully. "You need an upgrade. Top to bottom. That's why I came to you."]
[Parker sat stiffly on the bed.]
[Tony asked, "What drives you to do this? What makes you get up every day?"]
[Parker looked at his palms. "Because…"]
[He rubbed his hands together. "I used to be normal. I got these powers after I read books. I build computers. I wanted to play football. I couldn't fight before. I still can't fight well now."]
[Tony leaned against the wall. "Because you're different."]
[Parker nodded softly. "Yes, but I can't tell anyone." He sighed. "If you have power… and you don't act… and something bad happens… then it's your responsibility."]
[Tony stared at him, visibly shaken. After a long moment, he said, "So you want to help the weak. Make the world better?"]
["Yes," Parker said quickly. "Help the weak. That's all I think about."]
As Parker and Tony talked, viewers watching reacted differently, many falling into deep reflection. The shock wasn't about Parker's equipment, nor about how much Tony favored him. It was about what Parker said.
"With great power comes great responsibility!"
"He's so young, yet his sense of responsibility is terrifying."
"If everyone thought like that, the world would be completely different."
"For the first time, I truly understand what justice means."
"To think I spent decades just to be lectured by a kid from a different era."
"Honestly… if I had that power, I might not do the same."
"Yeah. That's probably human nature."
"But Parker talks a lot… nonstop."
"I'm kneeling, this power came by accident! I want it too!"
"I think Tony saw himself in Parker."
Inside the training ground, Ren Kasey smiled as he watched Parker. "A young man with a strong sense of justice."
Louis looked up. "Brother, why do I hear sarcasm?"
Ren Kasey shook his head seriously. "No sarcasm. I've just been moved. If you had his power… or ours… would you help the weak?"
Louis thought carefully, then shook his head. "Maybe not. But I'd definitely help my brother."
Ren Kasey burst out laughing. Elenora and the others watched them, envy in their eyes.
[Tony sat down beside Parker and sighed, patting his shoulder. "Do you have a passport?"]
["No."]
["A driver's license?"]
["No."]
["Have you been to Arden?"]
["No."]
["You'd love it."]
[Parker hesitated. "I can't go abroad."]
["Why?"]
["I have homework."]
[Tony froze. "…I'll pretend I didn't hear that."]
["I'm serious," Parker insisted. "I can't drop out."]
[Tony walked to the door deliberately. "There could be danger. Better tell your beautiful Aunt May."]
[As he reached for the handle, a massive burst of spider silk shot out, pinning Tony's hand to the doorknob.]
["Don't tell Aunt May!" Parker pleaded.]
[Tony sighed. "Okay, Spider-Man."]
The chat exploded.
"He actually said he has homework!"
"Tony is literally interviewing Spider-Man!"
"They're like father and son."
"Homework before saving the world, legendary."
"That launcher is insane!"
"Instant large-scale kidnapping!"
[Outside the new Avengers base, an explosion erupted. Wanda and Vision stood by the glass.]
["What is that?" Wanda whispered.]
[Vision replied gravely, "Stay here." Then he phased through the wall.]
[Wanda suddenly turned. Dark red energy seized a fruit knife and slashed backward. But the blade froze midair.]
[Hawkeye stood fully armed, pushing it aside. He smiled. "Guess I should've knocked."]
["Oh my God," Wanda gasped. "What are you doing here?"]
["I released my kids' pigeons," Barton said casually. "Was supposed to take them skating." He pulled Wanda along. "Captain Rogers needs help."]
[Vision returned through the wall. "Clint! You shouldn't be here."]
[Barton shrugged. "Yeah? I've been retired five minutes, and everything's on fire."]
Viewers worldwide, tension skyrocketed.
"Hawkeye joined Rogers?"
"Tony left Vision guarding Wanda; this won't end well."
"How will Wanda choose?"
"No matter what she chooses… the conflict has already begun."