"Careless… I let that Grongi… inject its poison into my body…"
Steve spoke haltingly, his words broken by the severe toxin raging inside him.
"Captain, I'll take you back for treatment right now."
Kent supported Steve and urgently escorted him back to the base for medical care.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Base
"What's the captain's condition right now?"
Coulson asked the medical staff in a serious, almost impatient tone.
The medic's expression darkened as he shook his head.
"This toxin is something we've never encountered before. The damage it causes to the human body is extremely severe—it appears to directly destroy human cells. At present, we're unable to produce a corresponding antidote."
"The captain is only able to hold on thanks to his exceptional physical constitution, as well as a strange power within his body…"
"I'm afraid… the situation is not optimistic."
Coulson found it difficult to accept. He grabbed the medic by the shoulders.
"With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s level of technology, can't you extract a toxin sample and develop something to suppress it?!"
"I'm afraid there's not enough time. We know far too little about this unprecedented toxin."
The medic looked deeply troubled.
Coulson's expression twisted slightly as he struggled to keep control. After taking a deep breath, he spoke solemnly:
"No matter what, please try. I'm begging you."
"Something's wrong! The captain's heartbeat is weakening!"
The doctor watching over Steve shouted in panic.
Coulson and Kent immediately rushed into the ward, their eyes locking onto the changes on Steve's ECG.
"Doctor, find a way—now."
Coulson spoke unconsciously in a commanding tone.
"Prepare the defibrillator. Let's see if an electric shock can stimulate the captain's heart."
The doctor instructed his assistant.
Steve's body absorbed the electrical current completely—yet there was no response.
"This is strange…"
The doctor frowned at Steve's unmoving body.
"His body is autonomously absorbing the electrical current, which should indicate some effect—but there's still no sign of revival?"
"I'll try."
Kent suddenly spoke up.
Kent decided to attempt channeling the lightning power he had obtained from Mjölnir into Steve. Perhaps it could save him.
Coulson looked deeply at Kent, then nodded. There was no other option now.
Kent stepped up to Steve's hospital bed. Crackling arcs of electricity leapt across his hands as he pressed them against Steve's chest, pouring lightning imbued with divine thunder power into his body.
The Amadam Spirit Stone at Steve's waist sensed the divine lightning and absorbed all of the energy Kent injected.
Kuuga's belt materialized automatically, radiating dazzling pale-golden light.
Two minutes passed.
Kent had exhausted nearly ninety percent of the lightning divine power within him and was forced to stop, breathing heavily.
After all, the lightning power Kent possessed was a gift from Thor's hammer, Mjölnir—the total amount was limited and couldn't sustain prolonged, high-intensity use.
"How's the captain now?"
Coulson asked hopefully as he stared at the Kuuga belt glowing with divine brilliance.
"Captain Steve should be fine," Kent said, visibly relieved.
"After absorbing the lightning power, the Kuuga belt's energy seems to have undergone a transformation. It's preventing the toxin from damaging his cells and actively purging it."
"There shouldn't be any danger to his life."
"That's good…"
Coulson finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
"Agent Coulson!"
A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent suddenly rushed over in a panic, clearly shaken.
"What happened now?"
Coulson frowned.
"The Grongi from earlier—it's not dead. The team sent to recover its remains encountered a fully intact Grongi. We suffered heavy casualties."
The agent reported with a pale face.
"How is that possible?!"
Kent exclaimed in disbelief.
"Captain Steve clearly defeated that Grongi! I personally saw its body explode—limbs scattered everywhere! It should've been completely destroyed! How could it still be alive?!"
"But our agents absolutely encountered a fully intact Grongi. It's currently attacking them indiscriminately."
The reporting agent spoke with absolute certainty.
"Mobilize personnel immediately. We'll head to the scene and see for ourselves."
Coulson made the decision without hesitation.
After speaking, he glanced at Kent with concern. Kent had clearly overexerted himself to save Steve and was visibly exhausted.
With Steve still unconscious, both major combatants were not at full strength—facing a Grongi in this state would be dangerous.
"I'm going too."
A sudden voice spoke up.
Steve had awakened.
"Captain! You're awake—how do you feel?"
Coulson asked excitedly.
Steve smiled faintly.
"I'm fine now. The Grongi's toxin has basically been completely purged by the power of the Amadam Spirit Stone."
"I don't know how that Grongi revived, but this time, I'll make sure it's completely destroyed."
"But Captain, you just escaped danger—shouldn't you rest a bit longer?"
Coulson was still worried.
"It's fine. I haven't fully recovered yet, but dealing with that Grongi won't be a problem."
Steve leapt off the hospital bed, his voice full of vitality.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"It's definitely the Grongi I defeated earlier. Its body was destroyed by sealing energy, yet it came back to life."
Steve stared at the mushroom Grongi attacking S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, his tone filled with astonishment.
He immediately transformed into Kuuga.
However, due to lingering toxin damage, his body wasn't fully recovered, and he transformed into his Growing Form instead.
Steve paused briefly in surprise, then immediately understood.
In his current condition, only the Growing Form placed no burden on his body—and he could still switch forms instantly if needed.
With that thought, Steve charged forward without hesitation.
"Damn Kuuga!"
The mushroom Grongi roared in fury upon sensing Kuuga's presence and lunged at him.
They exchanged punches simultaneously, both staggering backward.
Feeling the Grongi's overwhelming strength, Steve's heart sank slightly.
It was even stronger than before.
Given his current condition, he knew he was at a disadvantage.
He began considering whether to unleash the newly evolved sealing power born from the Amadam Spirit Stone to end the battle quickly.
Suddenly—
A bone-chilling cold swept across the battlefield.
Pale white mist spread everywhere, and even Coulson and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents shivered uncontrollably.
Omega—Dan Kuruto's Grongi avatar—emerged slowly from the fog.
Steve instantly went on guard.
He couldn't discern the purpose of this unfathomable, deeply inscrutable Grongi's sudden appearance.
The mushroom Grongi, however, turned pale the moment it saw Omega and immediately tried to flee.
"Your belt's Spirit Stone has been destroyed. You are eliminated."
"These are the rules of the game—and they cannot be violated." Omega declared calmly.
A black python exhaled freezing air, instantly encasing the mushroom Grongi in ice.
"Please—give me another chance!" The mushroom Grongi begged.
Omega shook his head and sneered.
"The result of losing the game is only one thing—death. Do not delude yourself into thinking you can escape."
With that, the mushroom Grongi was frozen into a pure white ice statue.
An ice lance formed and smashed into it.
The Grongi shattered instantly into fine crystalline ice powder—dead beyond any doubt.
(End of Chapter)