Chapter 21: Why Do I Need to Know Who You Are?

Jiang Chen didn't give Captain America a chance to grab his shield.

A ball of fire shot directly at Captain America.

Reacting quickly, Captain America rolled to the side, barely dodging it. Even though he avoided the hit, the sheer heat radiating from the fire left him feeling scorched, discomfort creeping across his body.

He frowned, realizing the situation. The man standing in front of him wasn't just a strong opponent. He controlled fire—an intense, burning flame that made this fight far more difficult than he had anticipated.

I need my shield, he thought. It was the key to turning the tide.

As if on cue, another fireball hurtled toward him. He rolled again, narrowly evading the attack. This time, however, his hand grazed the edge of the shield.

Relief surged through him—until he tried to pull the shield out. It wouldn't budge.

What the...? Captain America tugged harder, but the shield was wedged too deep into the ground. A flicker of embarrassment crossed his face.

It was the first time he'd been in a situation where he couldn't retrieve his own weapon.

Jiang Chen wasn't about to give him any time to recover. A stream of fire roared toward Captain America's position. Acting on instinct, the superhero dove behind his shield, using it as a barricade.

BOOM!

The flames collided with the shield, creating a deafening noise as they were blocked. Smoke billowed in all directions.

Jiang Chen, however, was unfazed. Seeing his flames deflected, he sneered and charged forward, his fist cocked and engulfed in flames. The air around him rippled from the heat, the temperature rising with each step. His presence was overwhelming, pressing down on Captain America like a crushing weight.

I can't stay on the defensive forever, Captain America thought as he gritted his teeth, yanking on the shield with all his strength. This time, it came free just as Jiang Chen's flaming fist swung toward him.

Reacting swiftly, Captain America raised the shield to block.

BOOM!

Jiang Chen's punch slammed into the shield with such force that the ground trembled, a shockwave ripping through the air. The impact sent Captain America skidding backward several meters, his boots digging trenches into the earth. A deep fissure cracked open beneath his feet.

Captain America's entire body felt numb. His ears rang from the explosive force of the punch, and his hands trembled as he held the shield.

What is this guy? Captain America thought in disbelief. He had expected Jiang Chen to be strong, but not this strong. The flames amplified Jiang Chen's strength far beyond normal human limits, making him a force unlike anything Captain America had ever faced.

Glancing down, Captain America's eyes widened. There, on the surface of his shield—a weapon forged from virtually indestructible vibranium—was a blackened mark, scorched into the metal by Jiang Chen's punch.

Impossible... Captain America thought. His shield was supposed to withstand anything—extreme pressure, temperatures, even radiation. Yet Jiang Chen had left a burn mark with his bare fist.

He looked back at Jiang Chen, his mind racing with questions. Who is this guy? Where did he get such power?

Captain America knew that continuing this fight head-on was a losing strategy. His priority now was getting the terrified little girl to safety. But Jiang Chen wasn't about to let that happen so easily.

As Captain America pondered his next move, Jiang Chen stood there, a smirk spreading across his face.

"You throw your shield at me without a word, don't listen to any explanation, and if it wasn't for my luck, your shield might've killed me." Jiang Chen chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "You showed up all grand and heroic, but you're not leaving so easily."

Jiang Chen stepped closer, his body still crackling with flames. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous spark.

"Are you a turtle or something? Is that why you're hiding behind that shell?" he taunted, pointing at the shield.

Captain America clenched his jaw but remained silent, his grip tightening on the shield.

Jiang Chen laughed again. "And one more thing… I've been meaning to ask since the beginning: why do I need to know who you are?"

The fire around him intensified as he continued, his voice filled with a quiet confidence.

"Shouldn't you be the one who's eager to know who I am?"