Chapter 10

Two weeks ago, Howard Stark's life was threatened in a brutal attack, revealing that a Nazi organization had him in their crosshairs. In response, he joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) on suggestion of colonel Phillips to utilize his genius-level intellect and resources to develop innovative weapons and technology to aid the war effort. Upon his arrival, Colonel Phillips assigned Levi Hart, a highly skilled and dedicated agent, as Stark's personal bodyguard. 

Howard Stark, a mischievous glint in his eye, turned to Colonel Phillips and said, "I've got a proposition for you, Colonel. Let's have a friendly spar between Levi and my butler, Edward Jarvis. Jarvis was a former British army soldier, you know. It'll be a great way to test Levi's skills."

Colonel Phillips raised an eyebrow. "A spar, Howard? What's the point of that?"

Stark grinned. "Oh, just a little entertainment, Colonel. And to make it interesting, let's make a bet. If Levi wins, he becomes my official bodyguard. But if he loses... well, he doesn't have to be my bodyguard."

Levi's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Howard. I'm here to protect you, not to engage in friendly spars."

Stark chuckled. "Come on, Levi. It'll be fun! And Jarvis is a worthy opponent. He's been itching for a chance to test his skills against someone new."

Jarvis, who had been standing quietly in the corner, spoke up. "Indeed, sir. I would be delighted to engage in a friendly spar with Levi."

Levi hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, fine."

Stark grinned. "Deal! And if you lose... well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Stark, a sly grin spreading across his face, had other plans in mind. He was not just looking for a friendly spar, but a way to entertain himself and test Levi's skills at the same time. He thought to himself, "Let's make this spar more interesting. I'll secretly instruct Jarvis to use his advanced combat training to push Levi to his limits. That way, I'll get to see what Levi's really capable of, and it'll be a fun way to pass the time." With a wink, he gave Jarvis a subtle nod, and the butler's eyes flickered with understanding. The stage was set for a spar that would be anything but friendly.

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The training area was a large, open space with mats covering the floor. Howard Stark and Colonel Phillips sat on one side, watching with interest as Jarvis and the main character faced off in the center of the room. Levi did some stretches and a light jump to warm up, his eyes fixed on Jarvis.

Jarvis, his expression serious, bowed slightly and assumed a martial arts stance. Levi responded with a similar bow and stance, his hands up in a guard position.

The fight began, with both men circling each other, sizing each other up. Jarvis launched the first attack, a swift kick that Levi easily blocked. Levi countered with a punch, which Jarvis dodged and countered with a series of rapid-fire punches. Levi blocked each one, his eyes never leaving Jarvis' face.

The fight intensified, with both men using different martial arts moves to engage each other. Jarvis used his training in Krav Maga to deliver quick, brutal blows, while Levi utilized his knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to grapple and throw Jarvis across the room.

But as the fight wore on, Jarvis' moves became more lethal, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity. Levi realized that Jarvis was not holding back, and he responded in kind, using his enhanced strength, stamina, and agility to overpower Jarvis.

The two men clashed, their movements lightning-fast as they exchanged blows and counters. Levi used his double strength to deliver a powerful kick that sent Jarvis flying across the room, but Jarvis quickly recovered and launched himself at Levi with a series of vicious punches.

Levi blocked each one, his arms straining with the effort, but he refused to back down. He knew that Jarvis was testing him, pushing him to his limits, and he was determined to pass the test.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Levi saw his chance. Jarvis had left himself open for a split second, and Levi seized the opportunity, delivering a devastating kick that sent Jarvis crashing to the ground.

The room was silent for a moment, and then Howard Stark and Colonel Phillips erupted into applause. Levi helped Jarvis to his feet, grinning. "Good fight," he said, his eyes shining with respect.

Jarvis nodded, his expression serious. "You're a formidable opponent," he said. "I underestimated you."

Levi chuckled. "You won't make that mistake again," he said.

Howard Stark walked over to them, a smile on his face. "Well done, Levi," he said. "You've passed the test."

Levi bowed, his eyes never leaving Jarvis' face. "Thanks to Jarvis," he said. "He's a tough opponent."

Jarvis smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You're not so bad yourself," he said.

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In the laboratory of the SSR in Queens, New York City, Dr. Abraham Erskine was working tirelessly to perfect the serum. Howard Stark stood by his side, helping to stabilize the formula for proper use. Levi Hart, ever vigilant, stood guard at the laboratory gates, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

"Damn it, Howard," Dr. Erskine muttered, frustration etched on his face. "We've failed again. The test subject became violent and died shortly after injection."

Stark frowned, examining the data on the computer screen. "It's like the serum is overloading the subject's cells. We need to find a way to balance the formula."

Dr. Erskine shook his head. "I've tried every combination, every permutation. Nothing seems to work."

Levi, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "Excuse me, gentlemen. I couldn't help but notice that the serum seems to be causing an adverse reaction. Perhaps we're missing something."

Dr. Erskine and Stark turned to him, intrigued. "Go on," Stark said.

Levi hesitated, unsure if his suggestion was worthy. "Well, I'm no scientist, but I've learned some about human biology. So, What if we added a radioactive vita ray to the serum? It might help stabilize the formula."

Dr. Erskine raised an eyebrow. "A vita ray? That's an interesting idea. Howard, what do you think?"

Stark nodded. "It's worth a shot. Let's run some simulations and see if it makes a difference."

But Dr. Erskine's expression turned guarded. "I'm not sure I'm willing to share the formula with anyone just yet. It's too dangerous."

Stark's eyes narrowed. "Come on, Abe. We need to work together if we're going to make this work."

Dr. Erskine shook his head. "No, Howard. I can't risk it. The serum is too powerful. I won't let it fall into the wrong hands."

After weeks of tireless work and countless experiments, the team finally succeeded in stabilizing the serum in test subjects. The breakthrough came after they incorporated Levi's suggestion of adding a vita ray to the formula, which helped to balance the algorithm and prevent the violent reactions they had seen earlier. The vita ray had been the key to unlocking the solution, as it helped to stabilize the DNA alterations and prevent the subject's cells from overloading. 

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Colonel Phillips burst into the laboratory, his face alight with excitement. "Dr. Erskine, I've heard the news! The serum is ready! We can start using it on our soldiers immediately!"

Dr. Erskine's expression turned cautious. "Not so fast, Colonel. We need to proceed with caution. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - this serum is too powerful to be used without proper testing and evaluation."

Colonel Phillips' face reddened. "Testing and evaluation? We don't have time for that! We need to get our men enhanced and out on the battlefield as soon as possible. And I know just the man to start with - Levi Hart."

Dr. Erskine's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that's not possible, Colonel. I will not allow the serum to be used on anyone without thorough testing and evaluation. And even then, I will only consider candidates who meet the strictest criteria."

Colonel Phillips' voice rose in frustration. "Damn it, Erskine! You're not listening to me! Levi Hart is the perfect candidate - he's strong, capable, and loyal. And I'm willing to bet my life that he'll make an excellent super soldier."

Dr. Erskine stood firm, his voice unwavering. "I understand your enthusiasm, Colonel, but I will not be swayed. While I agree that Levi Hart is an excellent choice, I also want to give another candidate a chance. Someone who possesses the necessary qualities and attributes that would make them an ideal subject for the experiment."

Colonel Phillips' eyes narrowed. "Who is it? Who is this other candidate you've chosen?"

Dr. Erskine's smile was enigmatic. "That, Colonel, is for me to know and you to find out. But rest assured, I have made my decision and it is final. Levi Hart and this other candidate will be the ones to undergo the experiment."

Colonel Phillips' face darkened, but he seemed to realize that he was not going to win this argument. Finally, he nodded curtly. "Very well, Dr. Erskine. I accept your terms. But I better see results, and fast."

And with that, the first phase of Project Rebirth came to a close. But Dr. Erskine knew that his work was far from over. He still needed to find the second candidate, and fast. He couldn't delay the experiment any further, not with the Colonel breathing down his neck. He began to scour the files, searching for the perfect candidate. Someone with the same qualities as Levi Hart, but with a different skill set. Someone who would complement Levi's abilities and help to ensure the success of the project. The clock was ticking, and Dr. Erskine knew that he had to find the perfect candidate before it was too late.

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Author's Note:

I want to take a moment to apologize for the delay in posting new chapters. I know it's been a few days since my last update, and I appreciate your patience and understanding.

As some of you may know or not, I'm a college student, and my semester has recently started. My coursework and assignments have been keeping me busy, and unfortunately, I haven't had the time to work on my novel as much as I would like.

I know it's easy to think that this is just an excuse, and that I'm being lazy. Believe me, I've thought the same thing when reading other authors' updates! But the truth is, writing a novel takes a lot of effort and dedication. It's not just about putting words on paper; it's about creating a story that's engaging, coherent, and meaningful.

I'm committed to producing quality work, and I don't want to rush through my writing just to meet a deadline. I want to take the time to get it right, to make sure that the story is the best it can be.

So, please bear with me, dear readers! I'll do my best to post new chapters as quickly as I can, while still balancing my academic responsibilities. Your patience and support mean the world to me, and I'm grateful for your understanding.

Thanks again, and stay tuned for more updates! ✌️