Chapter 164 Life, Death, and Souls
"Can you actually sense that clearly?" Steve's eyes flashed with surprise. After signaling the surrounding agents to leave, he walked towards Bucky with Robert and asked in a low voice.
"Yes, I've encountered a few individuals similar to you, but their energy was even more powerful..." Robert nodded and replied softly with a smile, "Oh, right! One of them even had a shield similar to yours, but I took it from him and gave it to Uncle Long."
"Eh? That's really good news. I felt he had a knack for it when he used my shield before, but I didn't expect he would get a shield of his own..." Upon hearing Robert's words, Steve instantly realized Robert had encountered super soldiers, even the successors to his own title, but Steve didn't mind too much.
From the moment Steve parachuted from the plane and went into hiding, he was no longer the Captain America of the past. If someone could truly inherit the title, it might not be a bad thing.
"Indeed, Uncle Long does have a talent for weapons." Robert agreed with a nod, approaching Bucky to closely examine him.
At this moment, Bucky's energy was extremely chaotic, as if two different commands were controlling various energies inside him, colliding with each other. However, these energies dared not clash too violently, as doing so would mean mutual destruction, and everything would be over...
"Can you wake him up?" Robert raised an eyebrow and asked Steve, "I mean, awaken his own consciousness. I want to see what he was originally like..."
"I can try..." Steve nodded, then woke the brainwashed Bucky. He expected Bucky to continue his ranting upon awakening, but instead, Bucky stared directly at Robert, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes as his body trembled slightly, sensing some threat from Robert.
"Hmm?" Steve sensed something was off, feeling a pressure from Robert he hadn't felt before. This was Robert releasing his spiritual oppression, mixing with his energy to create a powerful aura that could make weaker enemies lose their ability to resist.
"Steve... who is this?" Under Robert's dual oppression, Bucky regained consciousness without waiting for Steve to speak. However, his expression was still wary, and he looked at Robert with some fear, avoiding Robert's gaze.
"Well, it's somewhat similar to Laine, actually. This is essentially a different personality, and the energy changes accordingly. At least under this personality, his energy isn't as chaotic..." After careful observation, Robert concluded. However, as he was speaking, Robert suddenly looked outside.
"What's wrong?" Steve was about to answer Bucky's question when he saw Robert stop suddenly, asking in surprise.
"Somebody's coming, their energy is somewhat similar to those guys before!" Robert turned back to Steve, warning him, "Tell your people not to interfere, to avoid unnecessary casualties. Do you have your shield with you? If not, it's best to stay back..."
"Those monsters?" Steve's expression tensed, thinking of the animal soldiers from previous battles, "Are they with the people controlling Bucky from the same force?"
"Yeah, probably Hydra people." Robert nodded, speaking casually, "I've already had several encounters with them..."
"What?! Hydra?!" Steve, who had remained calm, suddenly changed color. After all, he was Hydra's old adversary. Hydra had been defeated by Steve in the past, with Red Skull falling at Steve's hands.
Moreover, after successfully parachuting, Steve had specifically instructed Peggy Carter to handle Hydra's aftermath, and Peggy did it well, leaving no fanatics of Hydra behind.
So, in Steve's view, Hydra should have completely disappeared with his retirement. Yet, now he was hearing about Hydra from Robert, even learning that Robert had several encounters with them, suggesting Bucky's current state might also be Hydra's doing...
These thoughts flashed through Steve's mind, instantly energizing him. He felt as if he had returned to the years of battle, even appearing younger.
"Eh?" Robert looked at Steve with some surprise, smiling, "It seems your spirit has rejuvenated. But first, handle the situation here. They're still a distance away. I'll restore your friend first to prevent him from being unable to move and getting hurt!"
"Having a new target naturally revitalizes me!" Steve shook his head, looking at Robert with anticipation, "Can you restore Bucky? How long will it take?"
"Not long, very soon!" Robert waved his hand, releasing his energy to envelop Bucky's body, murmuring as if casting some spell, fortunately without needing to perform any strange gestures.
With a "buzz," as Robert's energy began to transform, Bucky's soul was expelled from his body. Robert saw not one but two souls emerging: one appeared confused, and the other filled with viciousness, facing each other.
Although the principles of souls were unclear, it seemed Robert had transformed each personality or consciousness into a soul state.
With a roar, the vicious Winter Soldier soul was the first to recover, charging at Bucky's soul.
With a "sizzle," Robert's energy swept towards the Winter Soldier's soul, erasing it directly. The transformed energy magic was effective against these soul forms, avoiding the issue of energy blasts missing intangible entities.
With another "buzz," after dealing with the Winter Soldier's soul, Robert's energy swept again. Amidst Bucky's soul's fearful state, his soul returned to his body, gasping for fresh air like someone rescued from drowning.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!" Fear and bewilderment flashed in Bucky's eyes as he saw Robert and Steve, now holding his shield again, asking in disbelief, "Wait, I'm not dead?"
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