Facing the virtual boss— WWII-era Kyle— each individual test space felt like a small-scale hell, with participants emitting heart-wrenching cries of desperation. Within these three minutes, many test screens dimmed and went out one by one.
When participants "died" in the virtual space, they were ejected from the floating platform, marked by the God system as disqualified from the super-powered competition.
The memory of death in this hyper-realistic virtual space etched an indelible terror into their very souls.
On this day, many people finally recalled the deep fear instilled by Kyle's dominance.
The oppressive atmosphere was not confined to the test spaces. The audience present, as well as those watching through the SkyNet platform, held their breath and kept their eyes wide open, afraid to miss even a single moment.
Over a hundred live broadcast screens from the test spaces left viewers dizzy, most focusing only on the participant they were rooting for.
High on public support were heroes like Iron Man and Captain America. They were the cornerstones of the Avengers and the original veteran superheroes, making their performance in this super-powered competition particularly noteworthy.
''On screen 088'', in a random urban map, Iron Man maintained air superiority as he engaged the symbiote-infused Kyle. High above, Iron Man unleashed relentless barrages of energy lasers and small missiles, raining down on Kyle below with the fury of fireworks, temporarily suppressing his powerful physique.
Given the state of this battle, it appeared Iron Man would at least survive the three minutes, even if he couldn't defeat WWII Kyle.
"No surprise, it's Iron Man— always surpassing expectations!"
The crowd marveled at his resilience, unaware that his combat prowess was honed during years of being trounced by Kyle aboard the Eagle Class Spaceship on their way to finding their people in the Galaxy.
''Meanwhile, in Test Space #001'', Captain America's setting was a WWII- era military base training field. Clad in the same attire as always, the clash between WWII Kyle and Captain America was a nostalgic battle, a throwback to their iconic wartime encounters, where the sword that represented conquest met the shield of protection.
Despite his efforts, Captain America was still on the receiving end, but his Vibranium shield and the super-soldier's resilient body held their own, earning the audience's admiration for his legendary durability. It was clear that he would pass this test as well.
Beyond Iron Man and Captain America, fan favorites like Black Widow and Scarlet Witch also drew attention. While Black Widow's combat skills seemed modest compared to other heroes, her survival and evasion skills, honed through years of dealing with the Hulk, were unmatched.
Placed on an underground cave map, she was effectively playing a game of Temple Run, dodging and weaving through obstacles.
The real surprise came with Scarlet Witch, a newer member of the Avengers. Using her extraordinary powers, she managed to hold WWII Kyle at bay, even forcing the symbiote to separate from his body.
"Incredible, times really have changed."
With WWII Kyle as a benchmark, viewers were both thrilled and anxious. They were excited about Earth's rising heroes but worried about whether mere diplomatic agreements could control such strong people.
"Look at Test Space #027!" someone from the audience shouted. Part of the crowd turned to screen #027, where the battlefield was a tropical savanna. A humanoid Black Panther charged at Kyle in his normal form, fangs bared.
The Carbonadium Sword slashed at Black Panther, but it didn't even leave a mark or spark on the battle suit. The blade simply rebounded.
Ignoring the sword's attacks, Black Panther closed in and engaged Kyle, dressed in his dark battle suit, in a contest of pure combat skill.
"Is that the Black Panther?"
"I heard he's the new king of Wakanda."
"No way, what's that suit he's wearing?"
A few spectators began discussing Black Panther. Wakanda's portrayal as a poor nation made it hard to believe it had produced such an indestructible suit.
Before they could finish their conversation, less than three minutes passed before one screen went dark, and a figure suddenly reappeared in the dueling arena.
It was a woman in a robe!
''The Ancient One, Sorcerer Supreme!''
''Ancient One was the first to leave the test space, standing alone in the vast dueling arena with a faint smile on her face. She did not look as if she had been through a battle, but rather as if she had just finished a casual meal and tea.''
The audience in the stands and those watching on the SkyNet platform fell silent, stunned as their gazes focused on Ancient One. Emerging from the test space before the three-minute countdown ended— what did that signify?
It signified that this woman had swiftly defeated WWII Kyle, a legendary force once deemed invincible by the world!
After a moment of silence, the audience erupted into applause and cheers, their eyes filled with awe for Ancient One. Sorcerers watching via the SkyNet platform were puzzled, questioning why the Sorcerer Supreme, who had protected Earth from the shadows for centuries, would suddenly display her power so openly.
Only a select few, including Kyle, understood. Ancient One's lack of hesitation signified that her time was nearing its end...
Some stars remain dim and unnoticed for their entire existence, lingering in the dark expanse of space, only to burst into their brightest, most brilliant light at the very end, streaking across the sky like meteors.
Not long after Ancient One returned to the arena, three more figures reappeared almost simultaneously. One was Hellfire, wielding a shattered axe and wreathed in green flames; another was Scarlet Witch, combining beauty with formidable power; and the third was Vision, with the gem embedded in his forehead (Thor, due to other matters, was absent from this competition, but he would likely have been among them).
Before the three-minute mark concluded, Iron Man, Raina, Lucy, and Agent Venom also returned. These were members of Kyle's close circle, and defeating the ailing WWII-era Kyle served as a testament to their own capabilities.
"Eight people managed to overcome a legend of the past…"
The audience was beyond words, struck silent with shock.
Five more seconds passed, and the three-minute countdown officially ended. The screens above the arena collectively shut down, and suddenly, nearly thirty figures returned to the dueling arena.
"Phew!" Spider-Man, resembling an actual spider, lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily. "I was so close to being taken down by Mr. Kyle."
"Spider kid, that was just virtual reality. Your physical stamina shouldn't have been affected— it's just a psychological illusion," Deadpool teased but nervously rubbed his left arm.
"You all made it through, huh?" Ant-Man smiled in relief.
"More like we endured it. I was cut into a dozen pieces," Deadpool shrugged, glancing at the silent Agent Venom with admiration. "The moment we returned to the arena, I noticed you. Unlike the rest of us, you actually defeated him, didn't you?"
Spider-Man and Ant-Man looked at Agent Venom, knowing firsthand how difficult it was.
"I suppose so," Agent Venom replied, uttering only those two words.
'(Chapter ends)'
I have finished translating this fanfic, IMUC (I Am In Marvel With Unlimited Cards) and have posted all the advanced chapters on Patreon (90 Chapters). (https://www.patreon.com/c/marvel6395). You can read all the advanced chapters there.