In truth, once Captain America realized the enemy was Hydra—and that their target was very likely him—he didn't hesitate at all.
"Please let me join the fight!" Rogers requested of Shen He.
"Mr. Rogers." Shen He looked at him seriously. "You know what that requires—the reason for fighting, and the identity with which you fight."
"Mr. Shen, they're Hydra." Rogers finally found his answer this time. "I'm familiar with them. I can help you against them. I can reduce your casualties. Isn't that reason enough to fight?"
For Captain America, anything else might change, but one thing was certain: you must never show weakness to the enemy, or it meant handing them victory. So he simply couldn't bring himself to hide in the rear.
"And what about the identity with which you fight?" Shen He continued.
"I can join your group," Rogers answered without a second thought. "I've already retired. I know many veterans join mercenary companies after retirement. As long as you're fighting to protect civilians, then I can be your soldier."
He was confident in this—and believed no mercenary company would reject him.
But to his surprise, Shen He didn't hesitate for even a moment. He shook his head."Mr. Rogers, I truly appreciate your regard—but we can't let you join us. Not as you are now."
"Why?" Rogers couldn't understand at all.
But Shen He didn't answer. He only frowned and looked up toward the sky.
"The military is coming."
The words had barely left his mouth when Rogers also heard aircraft engines.
Several American fighter jets—familiar models—appeared overhead, circling at low altitude.
It looked like the battle was nearly over, Rogers thought.
But Shen He took a deep breath."Everyone, prepare to break out! This will be a real, brutal fight!"
"What?" Rogers thought he'd misheard.
He quickly learned otherwise. The American jets overhead began dropping bombs. Enormous fireballs erupted against the golden halo barrier. And when the fully armed troops crashed through the perimeter walls and stormed inside, their rifles didn't target the Hydra forces—they aimed straight at the group defending the hospital building, unleashing a mad barrage.
Jeanne staggered slightly, clear strain showing on her face.
Rogers was stunned by the sudden turn of events.
"Arm the civilians. We can't protect them anymore." Shen He tossed a machine gun to Rogers. "What's wrong? Still confused?"
Holding the weapon, facing enemies wearing U.S. military uniforms, Rogers could only ask Shen He, "Why?"
"The times have changed, Mr. Rogers." Shen He chambered a round. "Your war was one of clear black and white. But today's world is composed of countless shades of gray. There is no place left with absolute justice…A month ago, we discovered a high-ranking official in the U.S. government who was a Hydra leader. We don't know how many more spies there are within the government—or how many officials have joined them.So tell me, can you fight these American soldiers who are merely following orders?"
As soon as Shen He finished speaking, he strode forward, raised his machine gun, and unleashed a furious barrage. One American soldier after another fell before his muzzle.
The changes of the past seventy years had allowed the monster called "reality" to devour that innocent, righteous world—while Captain America had been left behind, outside of that change.
Only now did Rogers finally understand why Shen He kept insisting: they were not soldiers, and they did not need soldiers.
"Captain…"
A voice appeared suddenly beside him.
He turned—and saw Coulson, his devoted fan.
"Captain." Coulson held a weapon as well.His eyes were full of sincerity and trust. "You can lead us to victory… right?"
"…Of course."
Rogers took a deep breath. No more hesitation.
Even if he no longer fought for the U.S. government—even if he was no longer Captain America—he was still that scrawny kid who just wanted to help people.
And right now, there was a group of people beside him who needed his help.
"Mr. Shen, the enemy is weakest at the three o'clock direction. We need an elite team to tear open an opening!" Rogers' rifle spat bullets alongside everyone else. "Also… can I get a shield?"
"Give him one," Shen He ordered with a wave of his hand. "Are you ready to face this gray world?"
"I don't know." Rogers continued cutting down enemies with precise accuracy. "But I know who I'm fighting for."
"Even if doing so makes you a war criminal? Accused of treason by the nation you love—and served your entire life?"
"As long as it protects the people!" Rogers grabbed the new shield—he was already prepared to charge.
"Then lead them out—and you've passed Chaldea's test." Shen He pushed him forward.
"Test?"
Rogers didn't understand that last word—but the situation gave him no time to think.
He charged with his comrades, shield raised high, protecting civilians as they surged through the hail of bullets! Only in battle was there no hesitation, no weakness—for he could not let the enemy win!
Commanding, defending, fighting, evading…
It all felt so familiar.The Captain America who once dominated the battlefield had returned to it.
At last, he tore open a breach in the enemy lines.
And the moment Rogers' feet crossed the wall—
—the world changed.
In an instant, all gunfire, explosions, shouts, even the stench of scorched flesh and the metallic reek of blood under his boots—vanished completely.
Around him was now a quiet, peaceful lake.His weapon and clothing had changed entirely.He turned in confusion and saw Shen He and Coulson behind him—
—and a bald Black man with an eyepatch.
"Marvelous work, Mr. Rogers." Shen He walked forward, lightly applauding.
"Th-this is…" Rogers was utterly baffled—mind and face equally blank.
"This is virtual reality."
With a casual wave of Shen He's hand, massive holographic screens rose around them, slowly displaying the development of the real world over the past seventy years.
Finally, the image froze on a VR company facility, showing Rogers lying inside a capsule bed—and the three men before him as well.
"So…" Rogers looked at the on-screen explanation of virtual reality. "Everything that just happened… all of it was fake? Just a test?"
"No. Aside from the world itself being fake, everything else was real." Shen He waved his hand again, bringing up new documents. "Everything about Chaldea, about Hydra, and about the choices you made was real. Even Coulson really is your number-one fan."
-----------------------
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