Chapter 16 : The Battlefield

The Battlefield

The night was alive with fire and fury. The ground trembled under the relentless bombardment of artillery, tracer rounds carved burning streaks through the sky, and the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder and blood.

Steve Rogers moved like a man possessed. His shield was a blur, deflecting bullets, striking down Hydra soldiers with brutal efficiency. To his men, he was a beacon. A symbol of unyielding strength in the face of overwhelming odds.

But there was something in the darkness watching him.

Standing atop a ruined building, the Emperor observed in silence. His golden eyes flickered as he studied the battlefield, his psychic senses stretching far and wide. The chaos was familiar, yet different. He had fought in wars before but never one like this.

Technology and sorcery. Mortals and monsters.

This was a battlefield shaped by more than just man's ambition. Something darker lurked beneath it all.

His gaze settled on Steve Rogers.The super soldier fought with precision and determination, undaunted by the horrors surrounding him.The Emperor had seen warriors like him before men who stood against impossible odds, refusing to break.

And yet… this one was different.

There was something deeper in Steve Rogers. Something that reminded the Emperor of the heroes of old.

The thought intrigued him.

Then, as if sensing the gaze upon him, Steve turned.

Their eyes met across the battlefield.

For a split second, Steve felt something off. A presence unlike anything he had encountered before. A weight in the air. A pressure on his very soul.

Then, the Emperor *moved.

The First Meeting

Steve barely had time to react before the shadow of a figure landed beside him.

The moment was surreal. One second, he was alone in the fight. The next, a tall man in a long coat stood beside him, completely untouched by the chaos.

Steve instinctively raised his shield, stepping back into a defensive stance.

"You're not one of ours," he said warily, eyes narrowing. "Who the hell are you?"

The Emperor didn't answer immediately. His golden gaze flickered toward the Hydra forces regrouping ahead. "You are outnumbered," he said calmly. "But not outmatched."

Steve frowned. The way this man spoke… it wasn't just confidence. It was certainty.

Before he could respond, a squad of Hydra troopers rushed forward, opening fire.

Steve raised his shield but the Emperor was faster.

In a blur of motion, he stepped forward, weaving through the gunfire with unnatural ease. Bullets zipped past him, missing by impossibly narrow margins as if the very air bent around him.

Then, he struck.

His movements were flawless. Each motion precise, efficient like a warrior who had perfected the art of combat over countless lifetimes.

With a single step, he closed the distance to the nearest Hydra soldier. A palm struck the man's chest and he collapsed as if his entire body had shut down.

A second soldier swung a rifle but the Emperor was already behind him. A single strike to the back of the neck, and he crumpled without a sound.

The rest of the squad hesitated. They had seen monsters before. But this was something else.

Steve, watching the display, felt his grip on his shield tighten. Who the hell was this guy?

The Emperor turned back to him. "You fight well, Captain Rogers."

Steve exhaled. "Yeah? You don't fight too bad yourself."

More Hydra troops were closing in. The Emperor turned to face them, but stopped when Steve moved past him.

"I got this," Steve said, stepping forward. "You wanna help? Cover my back."

For the first time in centuries, the Emperor felt a flicker of amusement. How many had ever dared to give him orders?

Still, he stepped back.

Perhaps it was time to see just how much potential this world's new warrior truly had.

Meanwhile… The Investigation

Back at a secret Allied base, Howard Stark and Peggy Carter sat in a dimly lit room, surrounded by piles of files and reports.

Weeks of investigation had led them nowhere.

No records. No birthplace. No known affiliations.

It was as if the Emperor had appeared out of thin air.

Peggy exhaled, rubbing her temples. "We're chasing a ghost."

Howard, however, wasn't ready to give up.

He shuffled through the files again, frowning. "No. Not a ghost." He tapped one of the reports. "There are traces. Small ones. Too small for most people to notice."

Peggy leaned in. "What do you mean?"

Howard pointed to a list of eyewitness reports spanning decades, even centuries.

- A nameless warrior aiding a rebellion in the 18th century.

- A mysterious strategist advising generals in ancient wars.

- A shadowy figure appearing throughout history, always in the background, never leaving a trace.

Peggy felt a chill. "This can't be the same person."

Howard gave her a look. "Can't it?"

Peggy hesitated.

Howard leaned back in his chair. "This guy… he's not just a soldier. He's something else. And if he's been around this long… then I gotta ask—what the hell is he waiting for?"

Peggy exhaled. "Maybe he's waiting to see if we're worth saving."

The thought unsettled them both.

Back on the Battlefield

The last Hydra soldier hit the ground, unconscious.

Steve exhaled, adjusting his grip on his shield. "Not bad."

The Emperor watched him for a moment. "You are more than just a soldier, Captain Rogers."

Steve frowned. "Yeah? And what are you?"

The Emperor's golden eyes gleamed. "A reminder that history is watching."

Before Steve could press further, the Emperor turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.

Steve watched him go, mind racing. That man… he wasn't normal.

And somehow, he felt like this was only the beginning.

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To Be Continued…