Chapter 140: Captain America Awakens

"Tony, Jarvis, is the Captain America you both speak of the same one I've read about in books?" Pepper asked from the side, looking a bit uncertain.

"If Jarvis's information is correct, then yes, it is that Captain America."

"But Pepper, there's no need to be so surprised. We've already joined the Void and have been exposed to new worlds."

"A guy who died long ago in history suddenly reviving is rare, but it's not impossible," Tony said nonchalantly as he poured himself a drink.

"Jarvis, display the data regarding Captain America's combat records for me to see."

Tony gave the instruction.

"Yes, sir."

Upon hearing this, Jarvis projected all the records of Captain America’s past combat feats and the capabilities demonstrated by his physical form directly in front of Tony.

"He has two tons of lifting strength? While he can grow, the serum's enhancement capabilities are always limited; he can't even withstand bullets with his bare flesh. It seems his power isn't much to speak of," Tony remarked, sipping his drink and giving a low assessment of the data.

With his Iron Man armor performing at full capacity, he was confident he could hold his own in a battle against the supersonic Renoli. Fighting an opponent with Captain America’s level of strength was no different from dealing with ordinary terrorists. Even his early fourth or fifth-generation armor could have taken out an opponent of this caliber in seconds.

Captain America's physical constitution was far beyond that of an ordinary person, but without the ability to shrug off bullets, his survival capabilities were mediocre at best; any number of weapons could easily finish him off.

"Although his strength isn't particularly high, Nick Fury will likely recruit him into the Avengers Initiative," Jarvis noted.

Having traveled to Xandar and connected to the cosmic network, Jarvis’s horizons had expanded significantly. By these standards, Captain America's strength was at most equivalent to a member who had only recently joined the Void God Sect on the Void Island. Compared to those who had been in the sect for a long time or those who possessed inherent superpowers, Captain America’s strength—which merely exceeded that of a normal human—was truly nothing to look at.

"Even though his physical prowess is far beyond normal, it isn't strong in the grand scheme of the universe. However, Captain America is still capable of dealing with some terrorists on Earth."

"Nick Fury doesn't have many people under his command right now, so it’s no surprise he would recruit him."

"Instead of focusing on his news, let's keep a closer eye on various regions. The alien invasion is the most pressing matter," Tony said.

Only after dealing with the alien invasion would he have the time to go out into the universe and set himself free, rather than being held back on Earth. Therefore, Tony was unusually concerned about the alien invasion; he even hoped they would arrive sooner so he could resolve the issue and head out to enjoy himself in peace.

"Yes, sir," Jarvis replied immediately.

Tony chatted with Pepper for a while longer before returning to his research. He had acquired a vast amount of knowledge that required time and verification before it could be transformed into his own wealth and combat power.

***

A month passed, and the calendar turned to May.

In a house in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York, a handsome, sturdy man with blonde hair and blue eyes was looking at a room whose furnishings were remarkably similar to those of the past.

Steve Rogers had been awake for three days.

He had learned that he had been frozen for decades and had been revived in the modern era of 2011. During these decades, the United States had developed rapidly, and many people might have fantasized about traveling to the future. But when actually experiencing it, he found that the people he once knew were mostly dead, while he remained in the form of his younger self.

The feeling of being in a strange world left Steve with neither a sense of joy nor any anticipation for the modern era. Looking at the old items in the room and the bustling, prosperous scene outside the window, he felt a profound sense of loneliness.

However, since he had been revived, Steve certainly wouldn't commit suicide. No matter what, he had to see what the United States he had once served had become.

So, Steve walked out of his home and onto the bustling streets. Some of the shops and people from his memory had long since vanished, replaced by towering skyscrapers. Amidst these high-rises, a person felt incredibly small.

Steve walked through the neighborhood, observing everything around him until he spotted a building with a terrible sense of aesthetics. Seeing the "Stark Industries" label on the building, he sat down at a nearby café. Fortunately, even though decades had passed, the language hadn't changed much, so he didn't find it difficult to communicate with others.

Steve sipped his coffee while looking at the exceptionally flashy building. He could tell that Stark Industries had withstood the ravages of time; after decades, it showed no signs of decline, but rather, it had thrived. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to build such a high-rise in this central location in New York.

He had also read in the newspapers that the current head of Stark Industries was Howard Stark's son, Tony Stark. Both father and son were genius inventors, possessing minds and wisdom that were ahead of their time. However, compared to the self-disciplined Howard Stark, his son Tony was more of a playboy and far more flamboyant.

As far as he knew, Tony Stark was born in 1970 and was now forty-one years old. He didn't seem to be married, but instead, he was immersed in playing the role of a hero that countless people worshipped, calling himself Iron Man. To Steve, who had experienced the cruelty of war, this was nothing more than a child playing house.

After finishing his coffee, as soon as Steve returned home, a bald black man wearing an eye patch appeared in his apartment.

"Who are you?" Steve looked at the man, his eyes narrowing slightly, but he showed no fear as he spoke.

"My name is Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"It was I who successfully rescued you from the ice and ensured your awakening."

"I think we need to talk."

Nick Fury sat in a single-seat sofa and looked at Steve.

"It seems I don't need to introduce myself. So, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury, what do you want to talk about?" Knowing that he had indeed been saved by S.H.I.E.L.D., Steve leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and asked.

"You are a super soldier who was injected with the super serum. If you count your age while frozen, you are much older than I am."

"Following the principle of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, you can just call me Fury," Nick Fury replied.