Cyborg's speed was extremely fast—on par with Iron Man's, and even faster than the current Iron Man, who had yet to develop more advanced armor models.
Both could easily achieve supersonic flight.
At Mach 2, Anton needed less than three hours to fly from New York to Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Tropical rainforest.
As Anton sped forward, he simultaneously activated Cyborg's abilities, continuously monitoring General Ross and the military's temporary flight base where they were stationed.
He couldn't see what was happening inside the interrogation room, but he did catch sight of Stockman being carried out, the scene falling squarely into his field of vision.
Clearly, Ross had begun to understand what Phil's group was after.
Stockman was certainly not the loyal and trustworthy type.
Unlike the ninjas, this guy didn't follow the Foot Clan's orders out of admiration for Shredder—it was purely opportunism.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Anton thought for a moment, but his speed did not decrease.
Behind him, the sonic boom generated as he broke the sound barrier rippled outward, unleashing deafening waves across the sky.
The flight base was close now.
The closer he drew, the higher the chance of being detected.
But Anton had never planned to hide his approach.
He could block the radar signals detected by the flight base, but the sonic booms and shockwaves generated by supersonic flight could never escape the soldiers' ears.
Besides, how could he snatch people from the military without showing force?
Boom!
A violent gust swept through, the pressure wave rolling in from a distance.
Inside the flight base, the soldiers on night watch opened their eyes wide, sensing something wrong. They immediately sounded the alarm.
Within minutes, fully armed soldiers were already assembled on the open ground, awaiting orders.
Ross finally arrived.
His expression was ugly as he stared at the silver figure slowing down in the sky ahead. His gaze lingered on the half-exposed human face, brows tightening.
"Who are you?"
Ross, completely unfamiliar with the man before him, asked in a deep voice, "What do you want?"
He had been operating in Brazil recently and knew nothing about the newly famous American superhero—Cyborg.
As for movies, novels, comics, or any other pop culture featuring Cyborg… those were even further outside Ross's interests.
"That doesn't matter."
Cyborg's transformed Anton hovered above the flight base, voice calm, the red electronic eye locked on Ross. The blue dot on his forehead glowed even brighter.
"You captured the people I came for."
"Oh?"
Ross immediately understood.
"Stockman, and those other two losers?"
He sneered. "I don't care who you are. Once they fall into my hands, they're my prisoners. If you want to take them away from me, you'd better first consider whether the guns in my hands will agree."
"As expected—there's no point talking to you."
Anton wasn't surprised. He only felt a hint of regret.
Regret for Ross.
"Ross! Are you sure… you want to oppose me?"
As he finished speaking—
His hands shifted into sonic cannons. Energy gathered, and with a loud boom, a sonic blast landed beside the soldiers, carving out a massive crater, stones flying everywhere.
The shot was a warning—Anton had made sure not to injure any soldiers.
"Fire!"
Ross, expressionless, ignored the warning and issued the order.
Bang!
A shell launched toward Cyborg-Anton.
Anton moved slightly—only to find the shell adjusting course, chasing him.
A tracking round?
The thought flashed through his mind. He casually tossed out a ball of energy, detonating the shell mid-air above the flight base.
Boom!
Flames surged, shockwaves rolling outward.
Ross's expression darkened. He could tell this enemy was not someone to trifle with.
"Too little firepower! Increase it!"
He barked, "Don't let him get close to the base!"
"General, he's too strong. With our current equipment, we might not be a match…"
A subordinate spoke nervously, hinting—perhaps they should hand the three captives over.
"Impossible!"
Ross gritted his teeth, his voice firm and cold.
"If you dare say that again, you can get out of my army!"
"Yes—yes, sir!"
The soldier was drenched in sweat, terrified to anger Ross further.
He didn't understand—Ross couldn't hand over Stockman and the others.
The mission had failed, and Ross needed something to report back with.
Even if the failure wouldn't impact his position, successfully delivering Stockman and his mind-transfer research would undoubtedly raise his standing.
This technology, in terms of global strategic value, far surpassed his "white moonlight"—Bruce Banner.
And the robot-like man in front of them—of course he was here for Stockman's mind-transfer tech.
"This technology cannot fall into anyone else's hands!"
Ross's eyes burned as he glared at the man flying effortlessly through a storm of artillery fire, strolling as if walking through a garden, fists clenched.
"Move the three of them somewhere else."
After a moment of thought, he ordered, "I'll hold this thing off."
"Yes, sir!"
The subordinate hurried into the base, heading for the holding room where Stockman's group was kept.
…
"Oh?"
While dodging artillery fire, Anton simultaneously monitored the room holding Stockman and the others.
Seeing them being escorted out, he instantly guessed Ross's intention.
"What a greedy old fox."
He sighed. There was no need to drag this out any longer.
Swoosh!
He suddenly stopped mid-air, letting the shells race toward him. He placed his hands before his chest as powerful energy ripples burst across his body.
In the next second, he flung his arms wide.
A circular sonic barrier expanded violently, forming visible waves that swept across the entire flight base.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Under the stunned gazes of every soldier—including Ross—countless shells froze in mid-air, as if time stopped for a moment.
Rumble!Rumble!
A heartbeat later, all the shells exploded in succession, blossoms of fire blooming like fireworks.
The brilliant explosions triggered massive shockwaves that sent soldiers tumbling, unable to stand upright.
Even the ground trembled.
Several fighter jets on the base were flipped over by the violent shockwave and air blast, plunging the entire area into chaos.
"W-what—?!"
Ross's face twisted in shock.
This scene far exceeded anything he had imagined.
He had never thought anyone could possess such terrifying power.
He had seen the Hulk—Bruce Banner—but even with that knowledge, this display shattered his expectations.
If anything, his precautions had been miles from enough.
Not even close!
Seeing Ross still stubbornly resisting, intent on leading his troops into a hopeless fight, Anton lost all patience.
His deep voice echoed across the flight base.
"Ross—the question I asked you earlier… that was your last chance."
(End of Chapter)