Extreme

"I've decided. I'm going to use this ability to fight evil, protect more innocent civilians, and protect Central City."

Barry's face shone with righteousness. He felt that having this ability was simply wonderful. Being able to help innocent people and take down evildoers made him feel exhilarated.

"Lin Li, you and I are both people with abilities. We can fight crime together, protect innocent people, and make this world a better place."

Barry excitedly extended an olive branch to Lin Li.

The Flash was born right before Lin Li's eyes.

He pondered it. This should be enough to steer the future back onto the right path and set everything back on track. To be safe, he decided to add more fuel to the fire later.

Lin Li did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he said painfully, "Barry, what I need more is to return to my own world."

Hearing that, Barry's excitement gradually faded. He felt ashamed of himself. He had only thought of how good it felt to fight evil, never considering the pain and despair Lin Li must have felt after being torn away from home. At the same time, he remembered the pain of his mother being murdered with nowhere to seek justice, the despair of being powerless. Barry believed no one should have to endure that. It only strengthened his resolve to fight evil. He would fight crime while uncovering the truth behind his mother's murder.

"Barry, I'm sorry I can't fight evil with you, but whenever you need me, I'll help you."

Lin Li forced out a smile and patted Barry on the shoulder.

"Lin Li, I'm sorry. Thank you. Don't give up. We'll work hard together."

Barry hugged Lin Li, tears glimmering in his eyes as he spoke emotionally.

Lin Li discovered that foreigners really loved hugging. Happy? Have a hug! Sad? Have a hug! Meeting someone? Have a hug! Touched? Have a hug!

In just the few days since Lin Li had crossed over, he had already hugged Barry several times.

What a child starved for affection!

With a sigh, Lin Li opened his arms and hugged Barry.

After that, the two chatted for a while longer and changed into the tight suits for the test.

Barry's had not changed. It was still that red, one-piece bodysuit extending to his thighs.

Lin Li's was black, also a one-piece suit that extended to his thighs. The material was much thicker than Barry's. According to Cisco, it was made from a heat-resistant fiberglass that could effectively withstand the heat generated by electrical currents.

They stepped outside the van.

Cisco came up to them and said, "Partners, how do you feel?"

"It's tight. This thing makes me feel a little embarrassed."

"It feels like my muscles are being squeezed."

Cisco laughed. "Relax, my friends. Once you start running your hearts out, you'll be able to take those suits off soon enough. Who's going first?"

Lin Li raised his hand to go first. He wanted to take off the bodysuit as soon as possible. He felt a little embarrassed because it was so tight that his crotch was showing, which made him deeply uncomfortable.

"Okay, Lin Li. Start running from the launch platform and give it everything you've got. Dr. Wells will monitor your electrical output, Caitlin will monitor your vital organs, and as for me—this is where I shine. Lightning, I made something special just for you."

Cisco took out a small round device marked with a yellow lightning bolt.

"I made this: a two-way earpiece with enhanced communication capabilities. As long as you don't deliberately electrocute this little thing, our communications will remain uninterrupted. I also plan to add cameras, biometric monitoring, and other equipment later, but that's for the future."

Lin Li took the small device. This was the emblem Cisco had originally given The Flash for testing, and now it was in his hand. It gave him a troublesome feeling.

Lin Li had a feeling that everything meant for The Flash seemed to be tilting toward him—his connections, his title, his future.

Barry, let me give you a push and help you become The Flash.

Lin Li crouched at the launch platform, raising his hips.

"3... 2... 1, GO!"

Cisco shouted and punched the air.

Silver arcs of electricity erupted, scorching a black ring into the ground. Not a trace of current leaked out; Lin Li controlled it perfectly.

Lin Li transformed into a silver, lightning-wreathed humanoid and shot forward in an instant.

He ran like a train, his feet thundering against the ground. Lightning blazed around him with immense force, as though the air itself had been seared by heat, while a charred trail was left behind him.

Lin Li squeezed the air within his body to its utmost limit, violently accelerating the rotation of positive and negative electron nuclei to generate electricity.

Faster!

Damn it! Faster!

Lin Li roared inwardly. His physical speed, coupled with lightning acceleration, pushed every cell in his body to its absolute limit.

He did not feel like the wind was racing past him, nor did he feel any exhilarating freedom in running.

The wind resistance slammed into him like a sheet of plastic wrap stretched before his face, impossible to break through.

Countless crackling sounds came from his body. As his body reached its limit, an electromagnetic field enveloped a three-meter radius around him, wrapping his entire body in a mass of lightning.

"Ah..."

Lin Li let out a roar from the depths of his throat. He could not break through any further.

He ran for fifteen minutes, driving himself with all his strength, pushing every ability he possessed to its ultimate limit.

The electric light dispersed. Lin Li breathed heavily as he slowed into a jog and turned around.

By the time he returned to the research van, Lin Li had already regained his stamina, and even the sweat on his body had evaporated.

"Lightning, you're amazing! You were like a runaway locomotive!"

Cisco shouted.

Compared to Barry and Reverse-Flash, this speed was far too slow. He could not even break the sound barrier. But Lin Li understood himself. His strengths did not lie in speed; lightning, electromagnetic fields, and even the high temperatures produced by electron friction were all his advantages. He neither belittled nor overestimated himself. In his heart, he held a ruler, measuring and calculating his own abilities.

Lin Li smiled. "That was way too slow. Barry could leave me nine blocks behind in an instant."

Caitlin said with some surprise, "Mr. Lin Li, your body truly is extraordinarily strong. After pushing yourself to your physical limit, you only need a few dozen seconds to recover completely. That's incredible. Your average speed was 58.4 meters per second. Starting from the twelfth minute, your speed increased to a maximum of 96.8 meters per second. Although you could only maintain it for three minutes, that's still extremely impressive. The maximum current your body released just now would have been enough to power STAR Labs for several months."

Dr. Wells's anxiety finally settled. Just now, he had seen Lin Li's maximum power output. Its imposing might was thunderous force, vast and overwhelming, as though Lin Li could smash through heaven and earth themselves. That terrifying momentum struck fear into one's very will. Dr. Wells was Reverse-Flash, Lin Li's enemy, and his heart had been violently shaken. If he had faced Lin Li head-on, he would have been smashed to pieces.

As the data came in, his heart settled completely. Though Lin Li looked and felt incredibly powerful, his maximum speed was only 96.8 meters per second. At that speed, Lin Li could not even touch the hem of his clothes. What was there to worry about?

Lin Li, you can't even touch the hem of my clothes!

He sneered contemptuously inwardly, but a sincere smile appeared on his face.

Dr. Wells gave Lin Li a thumbs-up. "Excellent. From now on, we'll be relying on you for our power supply."