He could swear that he never had trypophobia before, but now...
If he managed to survive and return, he would definitely see a psychologist to check if he had developed trypophobia. The psychological shadow cast by this scene would haunt him for life.
Foundation Sub-base Command Room.
"Report, President! We have pinpointed the exact location of Containment Item-307. It's time to act!"
Dr. A167 excitedly stared at the screen in front of him.
"Thanks to that terrorist leader who gathered people together, and the armed squad that infiltrated the camp, these two waves of bait were incredibly effective. Without their sacrifice, it would've been difficult to draw out the cunning predator that is Containment Item-307."
Dr. A167 was thrilled and happy. He showed no concern for the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Ten Rings members who became bait.
Sacrifices were inevitable when containing anomalies.
The fact that no Foundation members were sacrificed was already very fortunate.
Moreover, the sacrifices of these people had nothing to do with the Foundation. Dr. A167 felt no psychological burden.
Natasha, standing silently beside Beichen, glanced at his slightly smiling face.
She had a nagging feeling that all this was part of Beichen's plan.
"Could it be that we've been exposed? If that's true, then this must be a trap. He deliberately let Coulson send the information, using Tony Stark as bait to lure S.H.I.E.L.D. agents."
Natasha suspected that everything was Beichen's conspiracy, but without evidence, she kept her thoughts to herself.
With the plan succeeding, Beichen felt elated and immediately ordered, "Send the location of Containment Item-307 to 6547. Order them to act immediately—first rescue the survivors, then proceed with the containment!"
...
Inside the cave, Tony operated the Iron Man suit, crushing the encroaching vines underfoot. With Yinsen unconscious on one shoulder and Sharon Carter on the other, he struggled toward the cave entrance.
Tony noticed that the suit's movement was slowing down. The energy was depleting rapidly under the relentless assault of the vines.
"Could it be..."
"No! If I do that, I'd rather die here!"
Tony shook his head vigorously.
He actually had another way out, activating flight mode and flying out, but that would mean abandoning the two people on his shoulders. Proud Stark could never forsake his friends and family for his own survival.
Just three turns away from the cave entrance, the Iron Man suit lost power. All lights went out, and Tony, now completely trapped in the suit, watched in despair as the vines crept closer.
"Becoming plant food! What a lousy way to die," Tony lamented bitterly.
He had recently witnessed the purple vines' feeding method firsthand, an experience he swore he'd never forget. Yellow mucus oozed from every pore of the bodies... the sight made Tony shudder. He couldn't imagine dying in such a way.
Trapped and awaiting death, Tony noticed something odd.
"Hmm! Why is it getting colder?"
"Is this what it feels like to die? The body gradually cools down..."
In a daze, Tony saw several figures approaching. They wore armor-plated suits and iron gas masks, wielding strange weapons that emitted cold air.
Leading the way, Coulson spotted Tony and the two unconscious people on his shoulders. He excitedly shouted into the comm channel, "They're here! They're just unconscious, hurry and help!"
May checked them over and said, "I'll take the two on his shoulders out. As for the guy in the Iron Man suit, see if we can open it; it's too heavy to move."
6547, realizing the urgency, said, "Do as she says. We need to retreat quickly! The cryo-sprayers won't hold Containment Item-307 for long."
Without time to reprimand the S.H.I.E.L.D. duo for overstepping, 6547 nodded to the C-grade combat members. After some fumbling and knocking, the Foundation members finally opened the Iron Man suit and pulled out the unconscious Tony.