The piercing roar of high-pressure seawater jets was instantly cut off by more than half!
"Urrghhh—!"
Steve's body convulsed violently as he let out an agonized roar, suppressed to the very limit.
The high-pressure seawater was like billions of steel needles, madly battering and crushing the hand and arm he had pressed over the crack!
His scales groaned under the immense strain. The keratin layer was ground flat in an instant, while the muscle tissue beneath endured unimaginable tearing pain.
Dark blue, nearly black blood began pouring out in greater quantities from the gap between the edge of his palm and the metal bulkhead, swiftly staining a patch of seawater around him black.
But he had succeeded!
That fatal breach had been forcibly plugged, at least for now, by his flesh and blood!
"Steve!"
Tony's voice trembled as never before.
He had witnessed that brutal, heroic scene with his own eyes.
Using his body to plug a breach at ten thousand meters beneath the sea... what kind of terrifying willpower and spirit of sacrifice did that require?!
"Captain... he..."
Even J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice carried a faint, nearly imperceptible tremor.
"He has temporarily prevented a large-scale influx of seawater. However... his arm is currently enduring water pressure impacts and low-temperature erosion far beyond its limits. The rate of tissue damage... is extremely high."
"I know! I know!"
Tony felt his eyes burn as he forced himself to calm down.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.! Recalculate it! How far are we from that damned 'Safe Zone'? Give me the fastest route! At any cost!"
"Calculating... Sir, based on the latest route and current propulsion efficiency, it will take at least another seven minutes. But that is contingent upon the propulsion system and... the 'Bio-Engine' maintaining their current output."
J.A.R.V.I.S.'s answer was cold and cruel.
Seven minutes!
At