Chapter 22: This Is Really Hard

Captain America stared at Jiang Chen, his eyes sharpening with resolve. He raised his chin and said firmly, "I don't need to know who you are. I just know that I represent justice."

Jiang Chen chuckled, sighing as if amused by the declaration. "If that's the case, I really don't mind being the villain."

Captain America's brow furrowed.

The reality was sinking in—if this battle was purely about strength, he might not stand a chance. Jiang Chen's raw power and flames had already proven overwhelming. But there was one thing Captain America still had over him: speed.

Jiang Chen might be strong, but he wasn't as fast as Captain America. Speed is my key, Cap thought, confidence returning. If he used his agility to outmaneuver Jiang Chen, the fight could turn in his favor. With a combination of long-range and short-range attacks using his shield, he could wear him down.

A plan began to form in his mind.

Cap's eyes narrowed as he said, "If that's how you want it, I could spend the whole day here with you."

Before Jiang Chen could reply, Captain America had already thrown his shield, the iconic weapon slicing through the air with a fierce howl.

Jiang Chen barely saw it coming. The shield was moving at an incredible speed, almost as if it would slice his face in half. But just as it was about to hit, it veered off course, whizzing past him and clattering to the ground a few feet away.

Jiang Chen blinked, realizing how close it had been. He sighed in relief. That was almost my face… He scowled at Captain America. "Really? You're aiming for the face? Isn't that a bit much?"

Captain America, who had been preparing to execute his brilliant plan, stood there in disbelief. The shield was supposed to ricochet back to him, perfectly timed for another attack. But now, it was lying uselessly on the ground behind Jiang Chen.

What the hell just happened? Captain America thought, dumbfounded.

The shield, made from vibranium, was supposed to be indestructible—its unique properties gave it perfect balance and elasticity, making it the ultimate throwing weapon. Captain America had thrown it with precision, using 80% of his strength. It should have hit Jiang Chen hard, bounced off, and returned right back to his hands.

But now, here he was, standing shieldless.

This… this makes no sense! Captain America clenched his fists, trying to figure out how his perfectly executed move had failed. But there wasn't time to overthink it. If I missed once, I'll just try again, he thought.

But before he could move to retrieve the shield, Jiang Chen unleashed another wave of fire. Without his shield to block it, Captain America had no choice but to dive out of the way, rolling to the side to avoid being engulfed in flames.

In that moment of distraction, Jiang Chen casually picked up the shield, inspecting it with a mock expression of impatience. "Whose turtle shell is this?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't make me throw it away."

The taunt stung. Captain America's eyes flashed with frustration. He knows it's mine. He's just trying to provoke me.

And it was working.

Without wasting another second, Captain America launched himself forward, using every ounce of speed and strength he had, aiming a punch directly at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen, still holding the shield, raised it just in time.

BOOM!

The impact of Captain America's punch rang through the night air like a thunderclap. The force reverberated in Jiang Chen's ears, but he held his ground, though the shockwave shook the earth beneath them.

That punch would've hurt, Jiang Chen thought, thankful for the shield's defense.

But Captain America felt it, too. The hardness of the vibranium shield resonated through his arm, sending a jolt of pain through his entire body. It was like punching a solid steel wall—only worse.

He gritted his teeth, his knuckles aching from the impact.

How did this guy leave a mark on something this hard? Captain America thought in disbelief. He glanced at the black scorch mark that Jiang Chen had left on the shield earlier. Now, after experiencing the raw toughness of the shield for himself, the mark seemed even more impossible.

What is this guy made of?