System Conspiracy

Central City. Red maple leaves along Alman Street danced and swirled endlessly in the autumn chill, yet even that cold wind couldn't dampen the fierce intensity of the scene.

Alex rode his sleek, futuristic Lightning Motorcycle, a black helmet covering his head. Within his field of vision lay only the gray, monotonous road ahead.

Vroom... vroom...

The low, rumbling growl of the motorcycle accompanied Alex as he took a turn, exiting the Alman Residential Area and heading straight for the main flow of traffic on Central City's Fifth Avenue.

At the same time, the traffic on both sides began to thicken. In an instant, he left the quiet, maple-leaf-strewn Alman Residential Area behind and entered a bustling, noisy, chaotic roadway.

The sounds of surrounding traffic, voices, and revving engines filtered through the motorcycle helmet pressed against his skin, like a thin membrane covering his ears, allowing only a muffled, low-decibel hum to reach them.

"System, come out!"

While riding, Alex suddenly spoke inside his helmet.

"Host, please diligently complete the mission. Otherwise, elimination."

Alex's brow furrowed beneath the helmet. Up ahead, a traffic light at an intersection turned red. Alex brought the Lightning Motorcycle to a stop at the line, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Before he had a chance to rely on Barry, whether Alex was showering or eating, the system had never responded to his calls.

Back then, Alex had been calling out to the system mentally.

He thought that was the system's basic function—at least being able to communicate telepathically with its host. But now, Alex found it a bit strange.

Could it be... that this system didn't have the ability to read his mind?

Such a useless system?

Next, Alex called out to the system in his mind dozens of times. The system didn't react at all.

This was genuinely a bit odd?

While waiting for the light to change, Alex lightly tapped the handlebars of his motorcycle with his finger. He wasn't wearing gloves. The autumn wind scraped across his fingertips, bringing a slight chill to his skin and a sharp clarity to his thoughts.

A system that couldn't communicate telepathically could only transmit sound directly into his ear.

And this mission the system had issued...

From what angle was it judging the mission as complete? Did it want him and Barry to be close and affectionate? Did it want Alex to unilaterally consider Barry a friend? Or Barry to unilaterally consider Alex a friend? Or did it require outsiders to see them as friends? Or did the system itself deem them friends?

If it meant genuinely considering Barry a good friend in his heart, that was impossible. At best, Barry was just an ordinary acquaintance in Alex's mind—so ordinary he could barely be called a friend.

If the mission standard was for Barry to consider Alex a friend, then, without a doubt, the mission was already complete from the very start.

Barry had always considered Alex a friend.

Alex was very clear on that.

He felt that this system might not be as powerful as the legends claimed. It was also highly possible that the system was lying to him.

Moreover, with his peak physical condition, he possessed a danger premonition and instinct sharper than a wild beast's. If the system inside his body threatened to eliminate him, his life-threatening danger instinct should have reacted.

Alex trusted his body, his danger premonition, and his sudden flashes of insight regarding his own safety. This was something he had honed through long-term training. His own body would never deceive him.

No warning! That proved the system's threat wasn't real, that there was no danger. The system couldn't threaten his life at all.

Alex speculated inwardly, then spoke aloud, his tone extremely rude.

"I don't need you. Get out of my body."

"Host, please have a clear understanding. In this DC world, your peak physical limits will not allow you to live long. As a transmigrator, it is extremely foolish not to cling to and befriend the many righteous superheroes, using that friendship to protect yourself."

The system's electronic voice was emotionless, stating what it believed to be fact.

In the DC universe, powerhouses were as numerous as oxen hairs. Relying solely on the limits of a human body, he absolutely wouldn't survive long in the future. Even if he didn't cause trouble, countless disasters would rain down on him out of nowhere. By the time wars that destroyed Earth, the solar system, or even the universe came around, he would be less significant than an ant.

'It can't read minds!'

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly. He was somewhat certain now. This system couldn't read minds; it could only respond when he spoke aloud.

At this moment, Alex's mind was churning with guesses.

The system knew he was a transmigrator. That meant it had likely been with him as he grew up in this world. It knew about the falling out between him and Barry, and it had issued a mission to make him reconcile with Barry. Why reconcile?

To use Barry's abilities to protect him?

Why protect him?

Something as lofty as a system...

Was it because it was connected to him, so protecting him meant protecting itself?

So... it was just using him for self-preservation?

Not necessarily. Then why did the system only appear recently?

Was it because, based on the timeline of various heroes' appearances, it knew Barry was about to become The Flash, and it was impatient to get Alex close to Barry, wanting to seize Barry's Speed Force?

Alex made these guesses silently. He had never had the slightest intention of trusting this system!

He had never believed in free lunches. He would rather believe the system had a sinister plot to seize Barry's Speed Force, to control him, to get him killed, or any number of other malicious schemes, than believe the system would protect him.

Besides, if it wanted to protect him, why issue a simple mission right from the start—one that required minimal effort but threatened elimination if not completed? Did it think it was some kind of Main God? An Infinite Cycle?

Alex unhesitatingly believed that if he were afraid of death and completed this simple mission—becoming good friends with Barry—then, step by step, to save his own life, he would continue to fall under the system's control, becoming a puppet carrying out its missions.

Alex was not foolish enough to believe in such a system, nor would he be so easily manipulated!

Beep-beep-beep-beep...

A horn blared behind Alex. The red light ahead had already turned green, but he was so lost in thought that he blocked the entire road. A driver behind him had already leaned out of their car window, shouting abuse at full volume.

Alex snapped back to reality, let out a low hum, and twisted the motorcycle's throttle. With a roar, the sleek, futuristic Lightning Motorcycle shot forward like an arrow.

"Get out of my body. Life or death—whatever happens, it's my choice. I don't need you meddling."

Alex's voice was low and muffled inside his helmet.

"Are you sure?"

The system asked, about to continue speaking, but Alex cut it off directly.

"Sure."

Without a hint of hesitation, Alex confirmed.

This mysterious system inside his body wanted to control him. He wouldn't let it become his crutch, and he wouldn't allow any part of himself to be manipulated.

Moreover, Alex had a vague feeling that the reason he couldn't surpass human limits this morning was because the system was inside him, sabotaging his efforts.

The system seemed choked by Alex's blunt reply, but then it continued as if nothing had happened.

"The system possesses the pinnacle of technology, enough to let you rule the universe."

"The most powerful Idealistic Gene!"

"Any ability from movies, sci-fi, novels, or anime can be granted to you."

"Enough to transform you into a god, an immortal celestial being!"

"Boundless weapons of creation and destruction!"

"Endless evolution like Doomsday."

"Countless wondrous and vast idealistic abilities."

"Mystical, fantastical idealistic powers."

"Whether it's the Ninjutsu from Naruto."

"Or the Devil Fruits from One Piece."

"Or the Zanpakuto from Bleach."

"Or the Super Saiyan Genes from Dragon Ball!"

"All of it is available in the system."

"All of this..."

"Heh, are you still giving up the system?"