Guarded with My Life

Within the tornado, the supreme power that created it, Mardon, trembled madly. In the tornado, he was like a god, controlling the destructive storm, tearing everything apart, twisting everything, destroying everything.

"I am God."

"IamGod."

Mardon laughed maniacally, the tornado swirling around him, terrifyingly tearing everything apart.

He, who created this scene, was filled with an indescribable excitement.

"After today, I will become a god."

"IamGod."

"God, who destroys all beings."

"You will all crawl at God's feet."

"Humble existences..."

Mardon's face contorted, his swollen cheeks making him look even more terrifyingly deranged.

His heart was twisted to perversion.

Everything that stood in his way would be torn apart, ripped to shreds.

At that very moment.

A yellow lightning bolt once again surrounded him.

It was Barry.

No.

It was The Flash.

The Flash, who was prepared to sacrifice his life to protect everything.

Mardon roared to the sky, "Foolish mortal, you dare try to stop God?"

Mardon raised his hands above his head, an invisible control seeping into the tornado, causing it to spin violently once more.

The earth was plowed, forming deep trenches. Tree roots clung to the ground, shaking wildly before breaking, uprooting trees that were then flung everywhere.

The even stronger tornado made it difficult for Barry to move, more difficult than before.

Yet, holding onto his resolve to die, his belief in protecting everything.

He ran with determination.

The yellow arcs intensified.

Arcs of electricity flashed across The Flash's eyes, the dense yellow lightning flickering rapidly.

His form was invisible to the naked eye, enveloped by swirling yellow lightning.

Running, tearing through the tornado.

Barry let out a smile.

The past decade and a half living with Joe, I thank heaven for giving me another father, and all my friends.

His hands moved even faster, his legs disappearing. At such speeds, no one could see them.

He was faster.

Mardon, inside the tornado, could see the yellow lightning more and more clearly.

Barry's smile grew brighter.

Lin Li, thank you for teaching me everything. This is what I must protect with my life.

His speed broke through once again.

The yellow lightning formed a circle, its beginning and end unseen, generating an incredibly powerful current that tore at the tornado in the opposite direction.

The world turned gray, the tornado raged, surrounded by yellow lightning.

Mardon howled, intensifying the tornado further, using his last reserves of strength to increase its furious rotation.

Everyone waited for this moment with composure.

Joe.

Cisco.

Caitlin.

Lin Li.

They were all looking to Barry, hoping.

Lin Li had never doubted Barry's ability to succeed, even though his own transmigration had changed many things.

He had touched the Speed Force and knew its power, and he knew its terror.

Especially in Barry's hands, the Speed Force was an absolute, truly broken ability.

The Speed Force was more than capable of achieving this.

What was lacking was Barry's confidence.

It was Barry's will.

Caitlin was in the control room, watching the images displayed on the screen.

Barry's current speed was 250 meters per second, running head-on into the tornado, but it still wasn't enough.

It wasn't enough to counteract the tornado; counteracting the tornado required the sonic boom wind speed generated by Mach 1, and he was far from that now.

The strenuous exertion was already causing Barry's vital signs to decline. If he continued, the situation would be dire.

At such high speeds, his body would be torn to shreds. While protected by the Speed Force, he had clearly reached his limit. He couldn't increase his speed any further; he would die.

Caitlin urgently warned, "Barry, you can't keep going like this! You'll die! You'll die!"

Caitlin's voice didn't reach Barry.

The tornado continued to rip apart everything in the sky and on the ground.

Mardon, inside, was still laughing contemptuously at the yellow lightning.

The Flash, transformed into lightning, circled the tornado.

Once again, Barry accelerated.

The smile vanished from his face.

Images of his childhood sweetheart flashed through his mind.

With Speed Force thinking, Barry glanced at Central City—beautiful, wonderful Central City, where everything he held dear, everyone he loved, resided.

Central City, I will protect you!

His face was resolute, his eyes shone with determination, his lips were pressed together, gritting his teeth.

Suddenly, countless yellow electrical arcs erupted from his body in an instant.

Yellow electricity coiled around his entire body.

His whole body trembled violently, sending out streaks of yellow arcs.

His cells were overloaded, feeling like they were exploding from deep within, the small arcs spreading out and converging on his entire body.

His hands were tired.

His legs were weak.

His body felt like it was falling apart.

So what?

Even if he died, collapsed, or disappeared.

His run would not stop.

Innumerable chaotic winds, with immense pressure against him, bore down on The Flash.

He was like a bolt of lightning.

Tearing through heaven and earth.

Tearing through the tornado.

Mardon's triumphant laughter abruptly ceased. He discovered in terror that he had lost control; he couldn't control the tornado.

Before his eyes, everything was filled with those yellow electrical arcs, reflecting his terrified gaze.

Yellow light formed the scene before him.

Yellow lightning filled the space around him.

He screamed in terror, "NO..."

"BOOM..."

With a massive explosion caused by the opposing forces, the moment Barry broke the sound barrier and created a sonic boom, the tornado was counteracted and dissipated. Trees and dead leaves were swept into the sky and then fell.

Dust filled the air, creating a hazy gray expanse.

The loud explosion startled Joe, who tried his best to shield Eddie's body from falling debris and rocks.

Everything was too intense, too surreal, like watching a science fiction blockbuster.

He stood up, searching, calling out, "Barry! Where are you?"

A short while later, after most of the tree branches and rocks had completely fallen.

Joe looked around.

The ground was plowed, strewn with rocks and broken wood, a messy, chaotic scene.

It looked like a battle had taken place.

As the dust gradually dispersed, the sky cleared, but there was no sign of anyone. Barry and Mardon had vanished.

He didn't know where they had been blown off to.

Joe looked around.

In the deep pit plowed by the tornado, he found Mardon.

A sharp wooden stake pierced Mardon's chest, passing through him. His life force was extinguished, and he was no longer breathing.

His eyes stared with resentment, unable to close in death.

Joe ignored Mardon and continued searching for Barry.

Finally, Joe found Barry under a covering of dead leaves on some trees.

Tensely, Joe reached out and felt Barry's neck. A faint pulse transmitted, perceived by his fingers, making him breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, Joe immediately pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance and notify the police.

Meanwhile, at STAR Labs, in the control room lobby.

Caitlin saw the tornado disappear and Barry's condition. She spoke into the communicator with relief, "Good news, Barry canceled out the tornado. Bad news, Barry's vital signs are extremely low, and he's in a deep coma. I estimate you'll need to carry Barry back."

Hearing Caitlin's words, Lin Li and Cisco's tense hearts relaxed.

Although they trusted Barry, the changes from the crossover still made Lin Li's heart clench. If Barry had really died in the first episode, Lin Li believed he would have gone mad. Of course, Dr. Wells would have likely been even more frantic.

Sensing no movement from the Speed Force in his mind, Lin Li knew at least that Barry was safe.

He also said with relief, "Don't worry, Barry will be fine. We're still waiting for the fifth red light."

Facing the villain in the first episode, Lin Li's turn concluded after waiting for five red lights.

No matter what, Lin Li couldn't have predicted that it was precisely because he waited through those five red lights that he would become a Speedster!