War Hero

Along the British coast of Europe, at the American army’s temporary main base.

After the leaders of the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union decided at a war council to form the Allied Forces and launch a massive invasion of Germany, less than a month had passed before the American temporary base here had expanded outward more than fivefold. Countless temporary military tents had been densely erected within it.

American forces once scattered across the various front-line battlefields of Europe had also all received orders from the five-star general to converge here, while vast quantities of weapons and ammunition were transported here day and night.

And this was merely the preparation stage for the American fleet. Most soldiers would cross the channel by ship and land directly in Germany across from the British coast, while tens of thousands of air force planes were also busy preparing at other bases.

This was the eve of a massive campaign! More than a hundred thousand American soldiers, serving as the main force, were temporarily stationed within the main base, waiting for the moment to assemble and attack.

At the American temporary main base, bare-chested American soldiers trained in groups across the wide open grounds of the camp, the midday sunlight filling the air with an iron-blooded aura of raw hormones.

"The plane carrying Major Kyle is about to arrive!"

"The hero who symbolizes America’s strength and conquest is coming to our main base…"

No one knew who had first spread the news, but it quickly became a powerful, sensational hurricane that swept through the entire American main base.

"Kyle is here!"

This demonic slogan, capable of instantly stopping German children from misbehaving and crying, produced an entirely different effect when it fell upon the ears of Americans and American soldiers, inspiring almost fanatical admiration.

In just half a minute, nearly every idle American soldier rushed toward the main base’s landing area to welcome the plane. For a time, dust rose along the roads throughout half the base.

Joseph, who was also at the main base, opened the doors and windows of the officers’ meeting room. Watching the soldiers run outside in a frenzy, he could not help but sigh. "That kid Kyle is truly remarkable! As long as he shows up, the morale of the entire base rises at lightning speed. That’s the charm of a War Hero."

Brandt sat gloomily at his desk, staring blankly as the main base suddenly became lively. He pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Joseph blinked. "Brandt, are you still hung up over that old conflict? I believe Kyle has long forgotten that little matter."

"Of course he has." Brandt shook his head and said irritably, "I’m still a Second Lieutenant, while he’s already a major—and an American Hero. Having once competed in marksmanship with an American Hero was my honor."

Joseph sighed inwardly, knowing that Brandt still could not let go of what had happened during training. Indeed, a recruit he had once thought little of had made half the world remember his name in less than a year. It had dealt far too great a blow to a recruit instructor’s reputation.

But who could he blame?

"I’ll go take a look too. It’s dusty outside, so stay in here." After saying that, Joseph put on his cap, walked out of the meeting room, and closed the doors and windows behind him.

Brandt was left sitting blankly at his desk. The words of grievance he wanted to voice ultimately turned into a single sigh.

Originally, two American Heroes could have emerged from the recruits he had trained at the same time…

At the main base’s landing area.

The transport plane roared as it descended onto the runway at the far end and came to a stop. Four soldiers holding guns jumped out of the cabin first. After lowering the stairs, they took up positions facing one another on the open ground before the aircraft door.

Kyle stepped out of the transport plane using the stairs lowered from its body.

He wore his usual black, cold-looking Combat Suit. Two compact Energy Pistols were strapped to the outside of his thighs, while a Sodium-Carbon Steel Sword sheathed in leather hung across his back. A demonic cross insignia marked the chest of his suit, and the insignia of an American major rested on his left shoulder.

The sunlight outside was dazzling. Kyle had intended to raise a hand to shield his eyes, but after walking down from the transport plane and looking ahead, he froze slightly the next moment.

Tens of thousands of American soldiers in military Combat Suits filled the vast open space beside the transport plane, stretching beyond sight.

When they saw Kyle, they did not cheer or whistle in any disrespectful manner. Instead, with affection and smiles on their faces, they quickly raised their hands and began to applaud.

The waves of applause gathered into thunder, echoing endlessly through the skies above the main base.

"Kyle, you’ve finally returned." From among the crowd of soldiers, a Black officer wearing an eyepatch over his left eye pushed his way out and approached Kyle excitedly.

"You said it yourself—I’m a war maniac. How could I miss a large-scale war?" Kyle shrugged, then embraced Fury in a bear hug as they patted each other on the back.

"Hiss, your strength has increased quite a bit again. Go easier on me." Fury drew in a cold breath and took half a step back.

"Nothing special." Kyle smiled. A Super Soldier’s physique had already been fixed at its peak and could not improve through training. The increase in strength Fury felt merely came from the ever-growing enhancement of the Venom Suit on Kyle’s body.

"Kyle!" A booming voice rang out as Joseph also spent quite some effort squeezing out from the crowd of soldiers.

"Instructor Joseph, you came here too." Kyle nodded at him, then casually asked, "You often return to New York. How is Lucy doing now?"

"She’s doing well. I already spoke with the local precinct police, so don’t worry." Joseph smiled.

"Then thank you. The next time you go back, please help me bring something to her." Kyle nodded. He had not forgotten Lucy, who lived in his home, but the battlefield had remained in Europe, leaving him little time to return to New York.

"No problem." Joseph agreed immediately.

Fury urged him from the side. "Kyle, I’m not just here to meet your plane. I’m also carrying orders from General Chesters. He said that once you arrived at the main base, you were to immediately report to the base’s main command room to see him."

"General Chesters, the Allied Forces’ commander-in-chief for this campaign?" Kyle nodded and immediately had Fury lead the way.

As Kyle walked forward, the tightly packed soldiers instantly parted to either side, clearing a smooth path for him.

Other than soldiers from the former Training Base, the 102nd Regiment, and the Howling Commandos, soldiers from more front-line units and newly enlisted recruits had never seen Kyle before. Now that they saw the War Hero himself, their excitement was easy to imagine.

All that fervent emotion was conveyed through thunderous applause, which only gradually subsided after Kyle’s figure disappeared into the crowd.

Reading note: This is the Earth of a Marvel fanfiction. Don’t use specific real-world military history or technology to nitpick nonsense, or you’ll only make trouble for yourself.

Don’t connect it to the real world. Treat everything as a high-tech Marvel parallel world, and it’ll be a lot more enjoyable.

As usual, please vote with recommendation tickets. Two updates daily: around 12:00 and 22:00.