Marvel: Beginning with the Collection of Shinra Tensei

Hearing that Captain America would be coming, the Winter Soldier's expression grew conflicted. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. After all, staying here indefinitely wasn't an option.

Originally, he had thought he might secure a position at the general store. However, after the incident with Pierce and while teaching Quicksilver how to "clean up," he realized he simply didn't have the skills to work here.

Quicksilver had super speed. Wanda could plunge someone into a nightmare with just a glance. As for Ultron—though the Winter Soldier hadn't seen him act directly—anyone who could calmly watch others descend into madness without flinching was certainly no ordinary being.

In fact, Ultron might very well be the strongest among them. Compared to them, the Winter Soldier felt almost mundane.

To ensure that all traces of Hydra's programming had been purged from the Winter Soldier's mind, Ultron double-checked his neural systems and even fine-tuned his metal arm for good measure.

Meanwhile, Han Yu dialed Captain America's private number. "Rogers, are you free right now?"

"Hold on a second!"

On the other end of the line, Steve Rogers's voice briefly replied before the sound of the phone being set down came through. Faintly, Han Yu could hear pained grunts—though they clearly weren't from Rogers himself.

Raising an eyebrow, Han Yu stood and waited. Within two minutes, Rogers was back on the line.

"What's up, Han?"

"Are you in the middle of a mission? I can call back later if you're busy," Han Yu said.

"Yeah, I'm working on something right now—cleaning up Hydra agents covertly. By the way, the 'Thorns' and 'Loyalty' enchantments you added to my shield are incredible! Every time those guys shoot at me, nearly half the damage reflects back onto them. They can't handle it."

Since Han Yu had the highest-level clearance in S.H.I.E.L.D., Rogers didn't hide his actions. Han Yu could easily access their mission details if he wanted to.

Normally calm and composed, Rogers now sounded unusually excited. Ever since Han Yu had enchanted his vibranium shield, Rogers had taken the initiative to request missions from Nick Fury. He wanted every chance to put his newly-enhanced shield to good use.

Random practice didn't excite him. He couldn't use it on civilians, of course, but with proper missions, he could wield the shield to its fullest potential.

"I've got a little 'gift' for you," Han Yu said with a chuckle. "Do you have time to come by and pick it up? But you'll have to come alone."

"A gift?" Rogers sounded surprised. Though he didn't know what it was, anything Han Yu deemed a "gift" was bound to be something exceptional. He immediately agreed. "No problem. I'll wrap up here and be there in half an hour."

After ending the call, Han Yu went to check on Ultron's progress.

In the workshop, he found Ultron circling the Winter Soldier's metal arm, performing a series of intricate operations that neither Han Yu nor the Winter Soldier could begin to understand.

"How's it coming along?" Han Yu asked.

Han Yu didn't need to understand the details; as long as Ultron knew what he was doing, that was enough. Han Yu trusted Ultron deeply—if he said he'd do something, it would get done. That bond of trust was unshakeable.

"All set," Ultron replied. "I've integrated a small amount of nano-vibranium particles into the arm. It's now linked to his neural network. The amount I added is sufficient to allow him to coat his fist for enhanced offense and defense or generate simple melee weapons."

"I don't understand," the Winter Soldier interjected, looking puzzled. "Why are you doing all this for me? Clearing Hydra's programming was already more than I could ask for. Now you're upgrading my equipment too? I can't help but feel you want something in return."

Han Yu pulled over a chair and sat in front of him. "Let me put it this way: I want you to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and work alongside Rogers. It's your best path forward. I hold the highest clearance in S.H.I.E.L.D., so if you join, it'll benefit me as well."

Seeing that he could be of use to someone, the Winter Soldier felt relieved. If they had upgraded his equipment without asking for anything in return, that would have been truly unsettling.

There's no such thing as a free lunch—this much he understood. Now, all he needed to do was quietly wait for Captain America to arrive.

In less than twenty minutes, Steve Rogers had already shown up.

As soon as he entered, his eyes landed on Han Yu. Just as he was about to greet him, his gaze shifted to the figure seated beside Han Yu. The familiar face froze him in place, and with disbelief etched across his expression, he said, "Bucky?"

"He's here. Go ahead," Han Yu said with a smile, patting the Winter Soldier on the shoulder.

The Winter Soldier nodded, stood up, and walked over to Rogers. He stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking in a low, familiar voice: "It's been a while, Steve."

That voice struck a chord deep in Rogers's memory. Overwhelmed, he reached out, gripping Bucky's shoulders as he took in the sight of his old friend. Then, without hesitation, he pulled him into a hug. "You're alive. This is incredible."

Two old friends reunited, their eyes brimming with tears.

If Han Yu hadn't understood the depth of their friendship, anyone witnessing the scene might have mistaken their bond for something even deeper.

Han Yu made sure to inform Rogers of the full truth about the Winter Soldier's identity, including the fact that he had been responsible for the deaths of Stark's parents. Rogers listened silently, nodding to show he understood.

"I get it. I owe you for this. If there's ever anything I can do for you, just say the word," Rogers said earnestly. The reunion with his old friend, free of Hydra's brainwashing, was entirely thanks to Han Yu and his team. Without their help, the two would likely have met under far worse circumstances—possibly on opposite sides in the fight against Hydra.

As Han Yu watched Rogers and Bucky leave, an idea seemed to strike him. A faint light flickered in his hand, coalescing into a card that shot toward Rogers.

The process was almost instantaneous. The card embedded itself into Rogers's body without him feeling a thing. In the next moment, it returned to Han Yu's hand. The once-empty card now displayed an image of Rogers holding his shield. Below the image, in the center of the card, was his superhero name.

"Character acquired: Captain America!"

"Sequence activated: [Avengers – First Generation]. For every one-third of the set completed, upgrade points will be awarded. Completing the full set grants a grand prize!"

Hearing the announcements echo in his mind, Han Yu's eyes lit up. The item he'd used was the Decade Transformation Card, a reward he had obtained after completing a hidden mission on the Lemurian Star.

"I knew this wasn't just a transformation device," Han Yu muttered, his delight evident.

When he had first heard the task of harnessing the Debt King's Power, the store hadn't given any clear indications of how to proceed. But with blank cards capable of "copying" individuals, he had all the hints he needed.

With only three cards in total, even the ones intended for experimentation needed to be used wisely. He couldn't afford to waste them.

The Winter Soldier's gear wasn't particularly appealing to Han Yu, but Captain America's shield was another story. That's why he had chosen Rogers to test the card. After all, transforming into a character also granted access to their equipment and combat capabilities. Using it on an ordinary person would have been a massive waste.

"And now there's a 'card collection' feature? Great. Looks like my grind is about to get real." Han Yu sighed, rubbing his temples but smiling at the thought of his newfound potential.

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