In a new world where silence was enforced under Superman's rule, those unwilling to accept his dominance began to speak out, one after another, moving towards the opposition of the ruling government.
…The power of resistance was like the hidden currents beneath a seemingly calm river, gathering into an immense ocean.
A shift in the tide of war must always start from the smallest corner.
And the pill obtained through the "Prometheus Plan" was the spark that would alter the battlefield.
Peter was silent for a moment.
He said futilely, "But you, you, you're still injured… your wings…"
"I don't necessarily need those wings… I can be just me," Soren curled up his legs, hugging his knees, resting his chin on them, his eyes shining with an incredible light. "I need you to do me a favor, Peter."
…
Fifteen days later.
On the offshore helipad that rose from the underground, a squad of about a hundred soldiers filed out of the underground passage.
The real sunlight made them squint slightly, shielding their eyes with their hands as they adjusted to the surface environment.
Whitney Fortman was responsible for piloting the fighter jets for this mission.
Having served in the Air Force since enlistment, he had decades of flying experience and was one of the most outstanding fighter pilots at Howard Air Force Base, an elite among elites.
Captain America had repeatedly explained the risks of this mission to everyone, and Fortman had made thorough preparations to face a potentially fierce battle.
He boarded his fighter jet and began checking its condition.
At that moment, the plane's hatch was opened, and out of the corner of his eye, Whitney saw Spider-Man, dressed in his black and red Iron Spider suit, board.
Today, Spider-Man was unusually quiet.
Whitney remembered that this youngest Avenger usually babbled incessantly, and though he wasn't very familiar with Spider-Man, he knew well enough about his talkative nature.
He looked back at Spider-Man with curiosity, sensing something was off.
"You—"
Spider-Man interrupted Whitney before he could ask.
The Iron Spider suit activated its interrogation mode, modulating Spider-Man's voice into a deep, electrical hum.
He explained to Whitney, "I have a special mission that needs to remain confidential."
From the cockpit's rearview mirror, Whitney observed Spider-Man.
From this angle, Spider-Man seemed quite normal.
Captain America's voice came through Whitney's earpiece: "F42 Andes ready, C15 transport is in position, preparing for takeoff."
He quickly diverted his attention, gripping the control stick. "Roger, F42 is in position, all systems normal."
"OK, takeoff in three minutes."
On the C15 transport, Steve adjusted his in-ear communicator, closing the link with the F42 Andes, and looked at the soldiers in the large cabin.
The mission was extremely risky.
They had dispatched a supersonic transport and three supersonic fighter jets, comprising about 112 soldiers, several senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and superheroes, all aiming to rescue Korknan with minimal cost.
The plane took off from the offshore helipad and began its flight toward the Indian Ocean.
Due to the fact that the mother boxes possessed by the resistance had been marked with radioactive elements, each time they opened a boom tube, it generated significant heat signatures, making it highly likely to alert the Justice League.
Therefore, except for emergencies and lightning-fast operations, they generally avoided using boom tubes for transportation.
This mission was completely confidential, and to avoid detection, the aircraft used were all stealth planes that could not be tracked by radar.
According to intelligence, Kong Kenan was being held at the Shell Prison located near the Sunda Strait—the Sunda Strait is a narrow waterway between Sumatra and Java Islands.
The seabed is rugged, making it impossible for large cargo ships to navigate.
Not only is it extremely difficult for prisoners within the prison to escape, but it is also hard for outsiders to reach the prison through normal transportation methods.
They can only land on the islands on either side of the Sunda Strait to reach the prison.
Everyone in the cabin was meticulously checking their equipment, and Steve once again explained the strategic arrangements for the operation.
If too many people acted simultaneously, there was a high risk of detection.
Therefore, they would split into two teams: one team would advance overland from the island with Steve, while the other team would stand by in the rainforest.
If the first team suffered significant casualties, the second team would replace them.
Steve reiterated the principle of prioritizing lives; they needed to avoid unnecessary casualties as much as possible during the mission.
If rescuing Kong Kenan proved impossible, they would immediately retreat to avoid attracting Superman's attention.
The resistance's forces were already significantly outmatched by the Regime army, so every living force was crucial, and they would not abandon anyone.
After finishing these instructions, Steve scanned everyone in the cabin and suddenly fixed his gaze on a young man seated at the back of the cabin.
"Peter," he walked over to him, "where's your suit?"
Peter Parker, who had been called out, straightened his back immediately.
He was wearing a helmet and a camouflage combat jacket like everyone else, nervously lifting his wrist to show Steve the flat, roughly one-inch-long band: "I'm equipped with the new nano suit, so I can put it on anytime."
Steve nodded, "Remember to be prepared in advance. You and I will be leading the assault."
"Got it, Captain."
Peter lightly tapped his thigh with his fingers, his gaze fixed on the floor.
After several hours of flight, the team arrived over an unnamed island in the Sunda Strait.
The soldiers aboard the C15 transport plane parachuted down one by one, while Whitney piloted the Andean Condor at low altitude, circling the island's coast, scouting the area around Shell Prison, and preparing to handle any emergencies.
Spider-Man, aboard the plane, leaped from the aircraft as it decelerated and began its low-altitude flight.
Whitney glanced down and saw Spider-Man with his arms outstretched, two web-like wings extended beneath him, gliding toward the island.