If This Is a Dream

Thirty minutes wasn't enough time for Aiden to make any drastic moves. The closer he got to success, the more cautious he became. The soldiers beside him were fully armed in the equipment room, and so was he.

He donned a black half-face mask, a black tactical vest, and assault boots.

Aiden meticulously tied his shoelaces, tucking his pant legs into his boots, checking his footwear repeatedly. This action drew the attention of the soldiers, but as Hydra's loyal hounds, they dared not question their new commander.

Aiden selected a 41 assault rifle with a 2031 grenade launcher attached. His eyes flickered with a faint glow as he meticulously checked the firearms and ammunition, setting them on the table in front of him.

He also inspected a 61 Scorpion submachine gun and slid it into the holster on the back of his tactical vest.

Picking up two 226 semi-automatic pistols, he loaded the magazines and holstered them on either side of his thighs.

Returning to the military uniform he had just removed, he tucked a derringer into his tactical vest's inner pocket.

"That one, and that one," Aiden gestured casually.

Two soldiers moved towards the 13 grenade launcher and the 1071 Barrett sniper rifle. Meanwhile, Aiden grabbed a Gerber Mark II combat knife with a serrated edge and slipped two butterfly knives into the back of his vest as spare blades.

"Ten minutes. Grab your ammo, meet at Hangar 6." Aiden's voice was firm as he exited the equipment room. The gear he chose wasn't typical for the year 2002, but since it was available in this game world, he didn't hesitate to select it.

It was unclear whether Aiden did it intentionally or not, but his ensemble closely resembled the original Winter Soldier's gear. Minus the disheveled long hair, there was little to distinguish Aiden from the iconic image of the Winter Soldier.

An assassination mission? Aiden's lips curled slightly as he boarded a shuttle, racing towards the hangar.

Ten minutes later, under Aiden's direction, two soldiers took their places in the cockpit, while the other three, laden with bags of guns and ammunition, boarded the military aircraft. The helicopter took off smoothly, with Aiden sitting firmly on the left row of seats. Across from him sat three soldiers, not too closely packed together.

Aiden gestured to one soldier while sorting through the guns and ammunition.

The soldier handed over the Barrett 1071, and Aiden, suppressing his excitement, maintained a stoic expression as he silently cleaned the long silver rifle, waiting for the right moment.

Three hours later, a gunshot rang out!

Without hesitation and in full view of the startled soldiers, Aiden fired two more shots. He strode towards the cockpit and, after two seconds, two bullet holes appeared in the heads of the pilots.

"If this is a dream, please don't ever wake me up," Aiden murmured as he moved to the rear of the cabin, pressing a button forcefully. Amidst the shaking aircraft, he quickly returned, grabbing a large package as the rear hatch began to rise.

"If this is a dream, please don't ever wake me up," Aiden repeated, almost as if under a spell, as he launched himself out into the open sky, greeted by a cluster of clouds that looked like delicious cotton candy from a carnival, offering no tangible sensation.

Aiden, clutching the package, ascended vertically as the wind howled past him, ruffling his short hair and chilling his cheeks, sharpening his mind.

A distant explosion followed by a rolling blast of air rushed towards Aiden. The sound of the exploding aircraft was music to his ears. He discarded the small detonator and continued his skyward journey.

Gradually, Aiden's view was enveloped by clouds, leaving him in a "mist" above a sea of clouds, with no sight of the ground below. Far away, the fiery sun was a brilliant presence. Aiden steadied himself, away from the noise, the shackles, the damp and cold prison, alone amidst a sea of clouds.

The experience was similar to what one might see from an airplane window, yet the emotions and state of mind were utterly different. Between heaven and earth, it felt as if he was alone, with only the blazing sun in the distance for company. Aiden stood silently for a long time, finally completely relaxed, no longer cautious or compromising. There was no need to heed any critical eyes or cold rules, no fear of being disturbed or discovered.

Gently, Aiden released the package, the large black bag floating beside him. Though he was still fully armed, he was now in his most relaxed state.

Slowly closing his eyes, Aiden shielded them with his hand, the roiling sea of clouds above and the searing sun beyond were blinding. Through the gaps between his fingers, Aiden saw a white light, truly feeling as if he were in heaven.

"If this is a dream, please don't ever let me wake up," Aiden said for the third time, the current scene as surreal as the clouds beneath him.

For ten long years, the collar around his neck had been removed. The heavy chains that bound him were finally cast off at this moment.

Aiden finally smiled, though the black half-face mask still hid his grin, his expression rigid. Perhaps he had forgotten what a sincere smile required. In fact, his feigned smiles were probably more natural.

What pained Aiden the most was that this moment might be the first time in ten years he had truly relaxed, yet he dared not linger. Even here, above the billowing clouds and the vast sky, the word Hydra still loomed over his heart.

Aiden immediately accessed his character template, the solitary light orb his most precious possession at this moment.

"Mutant Frenzy," Aiden whispered. Maybe that world was full of bizarre mutants, perhaps more dangerous than the "Avengers" universe, but Aiden didn't care. There was no Hydra there, and it would be where he could finally be free.

At least, his body could be truly free.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Kid, you shouldn't choose that damn world of mutants," a flippant voice suddenly intruded on Aiden's solitude.

Aiden's body tensed, scanning his surroundings, but he found no one. The world was vast, the sea of clouds deep, and only Aiden's lone figure stood, without any trace of others.