Mark had taken on Superman's appearance.
But Zala and the members of the Ten Rings under him had spent years in war-torn Afghanistan, where they did not even have internet access. Cut off from the news, they had no idea who the now-famous Superman was.
So they were brave enough to raise their guns and pull the triggers as soon as Zala gave the order.
Worried he might accidentally hit Tony inside, Mark refrained from using Heat Vision again and walked into the cave.
RAT-TAT-TAT!
Gunfire erupted inside the cave, and a hail of bullets flew toward Mark.
As soon as the bullets reached the Biological Force Field around him, they froze in midair, then clattered to the ground.
"A Metahuman?"
Zala was stunned by the sight.
As the Ten Rings' leader in Afghanistan, he knew a thing or two.
There were quite a few Metahumans among the Ten Rings' upper ranks. They were terrifyingly powerful, far beyond what ordinary people could handle.
If they had not been trapped inside the cave, Zala would have fled with his men on the spot.
"He must be here to save Stark! Grab Stark and use him as a hostage!"
Zala shouted to the dozen or so surviving members and rushed toward Tony's workshop.
It was the only chance of survival he could think of.
Mark started forward, intending to stop them.
But when he heard movement deeper in the cave, he halted.
A heavy object was moving inside. Tony's Mecha had clearly started up.
And judging by Tony's ragged breathing, he was furious.
The Ten Rings members charging in now would probably give him a way to vent that fury.
Mark made his way into the cave at an unhurried pace.
As he passed Yinsen, he found the man was still breathing.