Barry's Story

Dr. Wells sensed Caitlin's intensity and stepped in to mediate.

"Barry," Dr. Wells said kindly, "Caitlin means your body is a treasure trove, containing countless medical marvels, vaccines, genes, cells, and more. We need to research it further. Unlocking its potential could benefit all of humanity, perhaps reducing diseases, curing genetic conditions, or even solving various cancers. Human optimization, or evolution, might be deeply embedded within you."

"If anything were to happen to you, it would be a global loss. And yet, you're willing to risk it all just to be a hero? Do you understand?"

Barry was silent for a moment, then continued, "Lin Li can also help you with your research. He and I both gained our abilities after being struck by lightning."

Caitlin interjected, "Lin Li is different. His cells and genes have mutated; he's an independent organism with none of the typical traits of a human. He's no longer within the scope of humanity. The lightning turned him into an anomaly."

"It's only you who is special. Your cells and genes might still be compatible with ordinary humans."

Barry's lips moved, but he couldn't find words. He was unable to refute them. This argument, appealing to his profound sense of altruism, struck a chord with his kind heart. To act stubbornly now would be a disservice to himself and the world.

Barry lowered his gaze, his mood profoundly somber. Tears welled in his eyes, and he spoke slowly, "When I was eleven years old, my mother was murdered."

Everyone fell silent, listening to Barry's story with unspoken empathy.

"It was late at night. I was woken by a noise. I went downstairs, and then..."

"I saw something like lightning, surrounding my mother."

"There was a figure inside. He killed my mother."

"The police arrested my father, believing he murdered my mother, and locked him up in Iron Heights Prison."

"No one, not the police or the psychiatrists, believed us."

"For fourteen years, I've been researching abnormal cases and individuals, searching for a miracle."

"Until yesterday, when I gained super-speed. I believe others must have also experienced miracles."

"Perhaps others have gained super-speed too, and one of them might even be my mother's killer."

"I will fight crime and won't let someone like that harm anyone else. I need to find out who killed my mother and clear my father's name. I will not give up."

Barry, embodying kindness, justice, and stubbornness, was unchangeable once he set his mind to something. At least, none of the people present possessed the means to alter his resolve.

Everyone present fell silent.

Lin Li clapped Barry heavily on the shoulder, then hugged him. "I support you. I can see your righteous and kind heart. As I said, if you need any help, I'll be there for you."

Barry nodded and hugged Lin Li back.

Dr. Wells removed his glasses and looked directly at Barry. "Barry, you might be the only one with super-speed. Fourteen years ago, there was no particle accelerator, no particle accelerator explosion. None of this would be happening now..."

"Not necessarily..."

Lin Li interrupted Dr. Wells, hesitating. He moved his lips, but in the end, said nothing.

This clearly conveyed that he knew of another speedster but didn't know who it was, and for the sake of avoiding complications, it wasn't the right time to reveal it, so he simply remained hesitant and said nothing further.

The others' curiosity was piqued by Lin Li's words. Barry gripped Lin Li's arm tightly, looking at him with anxious anticipation.

Dr. Wells narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding with suspense as he gazed intently at Lin Li.

"Not necessarily. After all, what happened to Barry and me is too miraculous. Anything is possible."

Finally, Lin Li managed to utter a vague statement.

The others' suspended anticipation subsided, leaving them with a strong urge to slap Lin Li.

Barry's disappointment was evident on his face.

Following this, the group did not express outright agreement or strong opposition to Barry's decision, maintaining an ambiguous and indecisive stance as they pondered.

Then, they began packing up the equipment and returning to STAR Labs.

Barry, overwhelmed by sadness and disappointment, had wandered off somewhere.

Lin Li lent a hand, helping to unload all the equipment and place it according to Cisco's instructions.

In the main control room, he found Dr. Wells.

With a thoughtful yet troubled expression, as if unable to find a solution, Lin Li said to Dr. Wells, "Dr. Wells, I need to talk to you."

He then excused himself from Cisco and Caitlin, and they walked down a corridor.

Lin Li said solemnly, "Dr. Wells, if someone like Barry were to appear with super-speed, how would we deal with him?"

This was Dr. Wells' moment to shine with his acting skills.

Dr. Wells did not answer directly, instead asking Lin Li with feigned surprise, "Is there another speedster like Barry?"

Lin Li replied with an enigmatic expression, "No, I was just asking."

Dr. Wells smiled appropriately and said, "Barry and you are both miracles. How could there be another? If there were, we would simply need to restrain their speed."

Lin Li cursed inwardly. It was easy to say. Once Reverse-Flash or Barry entered their speed mode, they possessed ultimate speed and super-speed thinking. That kind of thinking was definitely more powerful than Lin Li's super-speed thinking, so powerful that everything appeared to be stationary.

Any attack would be seen through and anticipated clearly. The only way would be to ambush them when they exited their speed mode.

In fact, in the TV show, The Flash was ambushed and successfully attacked by enemies multiple times when he exited his speed mode.

He was even ambushed by ordinary people, which Lin Li couldn't understand.

After all, even Barry, when not in speed mode, still possessed the physical capabilities of an ordinary person at their peak. To be defeated by an ordinary person like that, Lin Li could only attribute it to Barry's incredibly poor combat skills.

Lin Li realized for the first time how difficult speedsters were to deal with. There were very few speedsters like Barry who would foolishly charge head-on. For a moment, he felt that speedsters were truly overpowered; they could attack and leave as they pleased, and you definitely couldn't catch them. You would need a specific scenario to set a trap. Otherwise, if they dragged you along, you'd be like a marionette, being pulled along.

Independent of the four fundamental forces.

No wonder there's a saying in wuxia: "Of all martial arts under heaven, none can break the speed."

It's not easy to get valuable information from Dr. Wells.

Nothing much happened in the next few days.

Barry came over every day for checks and to be studied by them. He happily told Lin Li, while keeping it a secret from the others, how many criminal gangs he had busted and how many people he had saved. However, he wasn't without his troubles. His biggest worry now was that he had already burned through seven or eight pairs of shoes and over a dozen outfits, which was quite frustrating. He felt he needed a suit that was resistant to friction, fire, and high temperatures. Lin Li wholeheartedly agreed.

The biggest buzz at STAR Labs was Lin Li. He cleared out a training area in the basement. Every day, he spent five hours studying science on his tablet, two hours learning various martial arts and combat techniques online, and then set up dozens of punching bags to practice close-quarters combat. He also practiced controlling electromagnetic fields, memorizing and distinguishing different magnetic fields, training his physical strength, and practicing with electricity. He did this every day, which benefited him greatly.

Late one night, it was already two in the morning. After taking a shower, he sensed someone in the research lab through his electromagnetic induction. It was Cisco. He could now precisely sense the differences in everyone's magnetic fields.

Still in the research lab this late? Although Cisco loved to invent, this was a bit too crazy. He was practically in the research lab until two in the morning every day. What was so worth researching so diligently?

Lin Li wanted to find out. He walked directly to the research lab door and called out, "Cisco!"

"Ah!"

Cisco was startled, his face a little pale.