The End of an Era

Whether they were mutants or mutates with special genes, masters of extraordinary magic, or experts in developing Black Technology, all those who could stand above ordinary humans were simply called "evolvers."

Evolution could be said to be the primal instinct innate to all living things: becoming stronger than others of the same kind and living longer. Even Master Gu Yi, who wielded magic containing the mysteries of the universe and devoted herself to protecting Earth, could not avoid using the power of the Dark Dimension to forcibly prolong her life.

Transcending nature, superpowers, immortality—these were the ultimate goals of evolution for the races of the universe!

And Kyle bluntly told every new card disciple that within the Karl family, not only money, fame, magic, and Black Technology, but even lifespans ten or a hundred times longer than that of humans could be obtained.

The blue Super Agent Ability Card had given the card disciples a path into becoming evolvers. Now, Kyle illuminated the steps of the pyramid for them, allowing them to see the ultimate goal at its peak.

If they wanted to reach the top of the pyramid and gain the chance to keep evolving, then they had to use their own hands and feet to climb their way up within the Karl family, step by step!

Kyle had first opened the door of opportunity for the card disciples, then given them enough motivation to strive for their entire lives. How could that not drive them mad?!

The children adopted by the manor desperately wanted to become family members—"card disciples." Those who had already become card disciples were even more energetic and driven, shouting every day that they wanted to become powerful evolved humans and live forever…

Thus, not long after arriving at the manor as an assistant instructor, Natasha realized something truly terrifying—

Every new card disciple really possessed physical abilities no weaker than hers, and they also had an ultimate goal, competing healthily with one another from childhood onward!

In less than half a month, Natasha felt that the Karl family’s lowest-level combat strength had already begun to catch up with the Red Room. That was only because the card disciples were too young and had zero combat experience.

But the problem was that the Red Room could only ever stand at the peak of ordinary organizations; it had long since been unable to break through any further. The Karl family, however, possessed every condition needed to evolve and grow stronger, endlessly cultivating true hero-class powerhouses.

Watching all this, Natasha began to feel uneasy. She had originally thought that, as a Super Agent from the Red Room, her status would certainly not be low after joining the Karl family. Yet before long, new card disciples were already striving to catch up with her.

Natasha understood very clearly that in the eyes of the Karl family, once she lost sufficient potential value, her status as a latecomer would continue to decline. So, she quickly withdrew her dismissive gaze from the card disciples, faced her remaining advantage in experience, and threw herself wholeheartedly into her work as an assistant instructor.

This was the basement beneath the manor’s storage building, and the entrance had already been sealed shut.

The room had originally been piled with useless odds and ends from the manor. After careful cleaning and treatment with disinfectant and air freshener, it was spotless and empty under the bright white lights, with nowhere for anything to hide.

Personally modified by Howard, a state-of-the-art cryogenic chamber that transcended its era stood alone in the center of the dark room. Its open door continuously spewed White Frost Energy, which spread into every corner of the basement.

Two young men stood beside the cryogenic chamber, looking at the white frost energy before them in silence, each lost in his own thoughts.

Kyle raised his eyes and looked at Bucky, dressed in Winter Soldier gear, before asking in confirmation, "Bucky, have you really made up your mind?"

After a pause, he continued, "Once you enter the cryogenic chamber, you might sleep for ten years, half a century, or even a century before someone opens it again. Before that, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"

Sleeping across the passage of time was no different from traveling into the future. It was an incredibly cruel thing.

Bucky did not answer. He raised his Mechanical Left Arm and lightly gripped the door of the cryogenic chamber in silence before finally asking, "Do you think Steve Rogers is still alive?"

"I don’t know." Kyle shook his head, then said with certainty, "But that guy—I believe he won’t die so easily. Maybe he’s sleeping somewhere in the world too. One day, he’ll wake up and return."

"That’s what I think too. That’s why I chose to enter this cryogenic chamber."

Bucky nodded as he stepped into the cryogenic chamber, turned around, and lay down inside. Facing Kyle, he said, "World War II is over. I have no more wishes left. So I might as well be completely frozen here and sleep with the end of the war."

"If Steve is still alive, maybe he and I can meet again in the future. We can finish the victory drinks we never drank, chase the girls we never got to chase, and talk about the world peace topics we never had time to discuss."

Just like the vast quantities of guns and ammunition from World War II, which many countries gradually began to clear away and eliminate after world peace arrived.

Bucky, who had become the Winter Soldier, had begun with war and would be frozen after the war. That was not a bad choice. At least it could restrain his actions and keep him from completely becoming a killing tool used by others.

"Then goodbye, Bucky Barnes." Kyle operated the controls as the chamber door slowly began to close. Shrugging, he said, "I hope you sleep comfortably and peacefully."

"You must live well too, Major Kyle. Sergeant Bucky, Sergeant Steve—I believe the three of you will meet again sooner or later…"

The cryogenic chamber door closed firmly, cutting off Bucky’s words inside. Through the glass, Kyle could see Bucky close his eyes and fall asleep as the frost energy inside rapidly coated his body in a thin layer of ice.

Bucky Barnes was frozen in the basement of the Karl family’s first manor in late 1944, unknown to the world.

Kyle sighed with emotion. One by one, he was bidding farewell to old comrades from the World War II era. Before long, even he would leave Earth himself and head into the unknown universe beyond the stars.

They had not stood at the peak of an era. Their very existence represented an era—the era of iron and blood, war and fire!

Unfortunately, it was time for this era to come to a complete end with the end of the war.

"Captain America, Winter Soldier, we’ll meet again if fate allows." Kyle murmured. A faint sadness flashed through his azure eyes before quickly vanishing without a trace.

In its place came icy resolve, blazing fighting spirit, and unwavering conviction.

"I will watch this era come to its end."

"And my own battles and journey are only just beginning!" Kyle turned resolutely, opened a portal that seemed to burn with raging flames, and walked away without looking back.

He had decided that before long, he would embark on a journey into the cosmic starry sky. No matter how dark and distant the road ahead was, he would fight to the death to reach the other shore and embrace the evolution of new life!

After Kyle left, the lights in the sealed basement went out and dimmed. In the darkness, the cryogenic chamber containing the sleeping Winter Soldier seemed to sink silently into time’s enormous vortex.

I overslept. I’ll post another chapter late tonight.