Night had fallen deep.
At this secret Allied airfield near the Austrian border, the temperature had already dropped below freezing. The squad—still flushed with heat after drawing their gear—couldn't help but shiver in unison.
Not far away, a C-47 transport plane sat quietly at the end of the runway. Its two massive propellers had begun to turn, slowly picking up speed.
Dugan stood beneath the boarding ladder, his trademark cigar clenched between his teeth. He didn't rush them. He simply watched as his men walked over one by one, each carrying a heavy load of equipment, their faces lit by the dim lights cast by the aircraft—every expression different.
Levi was in the middle of the line, bundled up so tightly he looked like a human rice dumpling.
He glanced at Logan, who was walking at the very front. The guy was still the same fearless monster as ever—wearing nothing but a thin leather jacket, wide open at the chest, exposing solid muscle to the freezing air.
"Freak," Levi muttered to himself, tightening his collar even more. Competing with a non-human like that in physical conditioning was just asking for humiliation.
"Listen up!" Dugan's voice wasn't loud, but it cut cleanly through the roar of the engines and reached everyone's ears.
"This operation is codenamed Hell's Kitchen.
"Our task is to create enough chaos around the target factory to draw out all of its guards.
"Remember—we're bait, not suicide troops! I want every last one of you coming back alive!"
He paused, sweeping his gaze across their faces.
"The Captain has already moved ahead. Our job is to buy him time and create opportunities. Once you hear three consecutive explosions from inside the factory, that's the signal he's succeeded. We immediately begin a staggered withdrawal and rendezvous at the western extraction point. Understood?"
"Understood!" the squad shouted in unison, their voices ringing sharply through the cold night.
"Good. Board the plane!"
At Dugan's command, the men began climbing the narrow ladder one after another.
Levi found a seat near the middle of the cabin and shoved his heavy pack down by his feet. He could feel the vibration of the engines traveling through the metal floor, pulsing through his entire body.
Once everyone was seated, the cargo door slammed shut. The cabin instantly became cramped, oppressive, and tense.
No one spoke.
Some closed their eyes, trying to conserve strength before the operation began.
Others repeatedly checked their weapons and magazines, fingers brushing cold metal as if that alone could bring comfort.
Logan claimed the farthest corner the moment he boarded. His combat knife lay across his knees as he closed his eyes, seemingly asleep. Levi knew better—at the slightest hint of danger, that beast would be the first to erupt.
Levi scanned the cabin, feeling the tension in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. These were all veterans who had clawed their way out of piles of corpses, yet no one dared underestimate the Nazis.
He sighed. He knew it was time to do something.
Dugan sat at the front of the cabin, silent, but he had been watching Levi the whole time.
He'd seen Levi handing out food. Seen that calm expression that clashed so sharply with the surrounding tension. Seen how a few casual words from him eased the squad's nerves.
Without realizing it, Dugan's opinion of this Eastern kid had risen again.
Before an operation, everyone's nerves were stretched tight. At times like this, even a small gesture—sharing a bit of food—could relieve pressure and bring people closer together.
This kid didn't feel like a rookie at all.
He felt like a natural battlefield leader.
"Levi," Dugan suddenly spoke, turning his sharp gaze on him. "You don't seem scared at all."
Levi was chewing on a piece of chocolate. He swallowed, then grinned, flashing white teeth.
"Scared? Of course I'm scared. Scared to death. But what good does fear do? German bullets don't turn into water guns just because you're afraid.
"If you're hungry, your hands shake. If you're cold, your reactions slow. Those things'll get you killed faster than the enemy. So before the Germans kill me, sir, I'd rather die full."
His words were half-joke, half-truth—sounding like the crooked wisdom of a veteran scoundrel who'd stared death in the face too many times, yet carrying an oddly open-minded acceptance of life and death.
The mood in the cabin visibly relaxed. Even Jim Morita, who'd been stone-faced, cracked a smile and pushed his glasses up his nose.
Dugan looked at Levi for a long moment, saying nothing. He simply bit down harder on his cigar—but the admiration in his eyes deepened.
Levi, meanwhile, was screaming internally.
You think I'm not scared?! I'm scared shitless!
He was acting calm for two reasons. First, to steady the team—higher morale meant better odds of survival. Second, because he had his biggest trump card: the healing factor. As long as he wasn't blown into pieces or shot clean through the head, he'd live.
The only thing he truly feared was that his ability was still on cooldown.
[Remaining cooldown time: 3 days, 9 hours…]
He had to stay alive and kicking until he met Captain America.
Just as his thoughts spiraled—
BAM!
The plane jolted violently!
A bout of turbulence so severe no one could stay seated slammed through the cabin, sending bodies lurching in every direction.
An ear-piercing alarm shrieked as red emergency lights began flashing.
"Anti-aircraft fire! German flak positions! We've been spotted!"
The pilot's panicked shout echoed from the cockpit, his voice cracking.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Dull, heavy impacts rang out as shockwaves from exploding flak shells battered the aircraft.
Levi's heart leapt straight into his throat.
What the hell?! This wasn't in the plot!
In the movie, the Captain flew in alone, and the Howling Commandos joined up later. Why was their transport getting turned into target practice mid-flight?
Was this the butterfly effect caused by him?
Or had the movie just skipped this part entirely?
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted on the right side of the plane. The entire cabin tilted sharply. Through the window, Levi saw thick smoke and flames pouring from the base of the right wing, writhing like a dying fire dragon.
"Right engine's on fire! We're losing altitude! Controls are failing!"
The pilot's voice was filled with despair, on the verge of tears.
"Prepare to jump! Everyone! Check your parachutes—get ready to bail out!"
Dugan reacted instantly. He grabbed an overhead support bar to steady himself and roared at the top of his lungs.
Jump…?
Levi's mind went blank.
In his previous life, he'd never even tried bungee jumping. And now he was supposed to skydive—into a warzone—from a plane that was about to fall apart?!
He instinctively reached back and touched the heavy parachute pack. Dugan had explained how to use it before departure—but that was theory only! He'd never practiced!
"Don't panic, goddammit! Check your chutes and wait for my order!"
Dugan shouted as he staggered toward the rear of the cabin and kicked the cargo door open.
WHOOSH—
Freezing, knife-like wind roared inside, mixed with snowflakes and the acrid stench of gunpowder. It was so strong Levi could barely open his eyes, barely breathe.
Through the open door, all he could see was darkness—endless snow-covered mountains and forests rushing past below.
"We're off the planned route! Unknown mountainous terrain below! After jumping, head east—toward the lights of the factory! Priority is linking up with Captain America!"
Dugan leaned half his body into the storm, shouting out final orders.
"Go! Go! Go! Jump!"
He led by example—leaping straight out of the aircraft without hesitation, his figure swallowed instantly by the darkness.
Then Gabe. Then Jim. One by one, the others grit their teeth, clutched their weapons, and followed.
Soon, only Levi and two young soldiers remained in the cabin—both pale as death, shaking uncontrollably.
The plane's descent accelerated. The metal frame creaked and groaned, sounding like it would tear itself apart at any second.
"Jump! Or you wanna die here?!" Levi roared at them.
He was terrified himself—his legs shaking like sieves—but he knew staying meant certain death. Jumping at least offered a chance.
His shout snapped the two soldiers out of their daze. They exchanged one final look, screamed, and scrambled toward the door, hurling themselves into the void with their eyes squeezed shut.
Now, only Levi remained.
He gripped the icy edge of the open hatch, staring down at the dark mountain shadows racing beneath him. His heart hammered so hard it felt like it would burst from his chest.
He sucked in a breath. The freezing air burned his lungs, making him cough.
What are you scared of?! he yelled at himself.
You've got a healing factor! Break a leg—it'll heal! Miss the landing—still better than getting blown to ash! As long as you don't faceplant into meat paste, you'll live!
That thought finally pushed him over the edge.
Gritting his teeth, Levi shut his eyes and jumped.
At that very instant, a massive fireball bloomed in the night sky. The explosion lit up half the heavens—and briefly illuminated Levi's face, frozen in pure terror.
As the flames blossomed behind him, Levi's heart sank straight to the bottom.