Future Flash

Hearing Zhang Tianran say that it was not over yet, Martin Stein's joy froze on his face, and he gradually calmed down from his excitement.

"As long as you can let me return to my original life, I can give you the Firestorm Matrix," Martin Stein said after hesitating for a moment.

Zhang Tianran smiled faintly. "Professor Stein, don't misunderstand. I have no interest in the Firestorm Matrix."

"Nor do I intend to spend any effort on it afterward. It is only because, if I want to completely solve the problem between you and Ronnie, the Firestorm Matrix is something I must master."

"Of course, if you are confident that you can solve this problem yourself, I can have Wells lend you STAR Labs' equipment."

Zhang Tianran's target truly was the Firestorm Matrix, but he was not lying either.

The expression on Martin Stein's face turned somewhat awkward. He wanted to explain, but did not know what to say. In the end, he could only offer a dry apology before voluntarily providing the remaining information on the Firestorm Matrix.

Since there was still some time before the Firestorm energy eruption, Martin Stein could only continue waiting. Triggering such a drastic change in advance was simply too risky.

Besides, this time could also be used to complete the Firestorm Matrix.

That night, Zhang Tianran was alone in his private laboratory, writing code for an artificial intelligence, when a fluctuation in the Speed Force suddenly came from behind him.

"Wells, I warned you... Barry?" Zhang Tianran turned around with an unpleasant expression, only to discover Barry Allen standing behind him in the Flash suit.

"Dr. Zhang, I need your help." Barry spoke with utter sincerity, completely unlike his usual optimistic self.

Seeing the obvious differences in the other man's Flash suit, Zhang Tianran had already guessed what had happened.

"You're not the Barry I know, are you?" Though it was only a guess, Zhang Tianran was already certain.

Barry had gone home earlier that night, and Zhang Tianran had not sensed any Speed Force activity near STAR Labs. Therefore, this could not possibly be the Flash of the current timeline.

"That's right. I came from the future. I need your help to increase my speed..." Future Flash said with great sincerity.

Looking at the Flash before him, Zhang Tianran could not help falling into thought.

Choosing to seek help from him meant that he could no longer be found in the future, didn't it? Only because they could not find him in the future would they return to the past.

Had he died... or gone to another world? It was rather surprising that Barry had not gone looking for Wells.

Something was wrong. The time was too short. There should only be a few months at most, perhaps even less.

"Crossing timelines is truly something you shouldn't do." Zhang Tianran shook his head, abandoning the subject before asking, "In the future, did I die?"

"No, but Cisco and I couldn't find your whereabouts no matter what we did. So we had no choice but to do this. Listen to me... I encountered a powerful enemy, a Speedster."

Future Flash began explaining very seriously, but unfortunately, a Time Wraith passing through the wall interrupted their conversation.

"Time Wraiths? This really is troublesome... Run, Barry." Zhang Tianran sighed, grabbed Barry, and immediately began fleeing.

There was no helping it. These things came from within the Speed Force and specialized in hunting Speedsters who traveled through time. Once they got close, the Speed Force within their target would be taken away, and the target would eventually become one of them.

"Dr. Zhang... you can already..." Barry ran with all his strength while staring in surprise at Zhang Tianran, whose entire body crackled with white lightning.

Zhang Tianran did not care about exposing himself.

Since Barry had searched for him in the future, it proved that his future self had not hidden his Speed Force. "After studying you for so long, it was only natural that I gained something. But take note—I can't maintain this speed for long." Zhang Tianran found an excuse and casually brushed him off.

Barry Allen looked at Zhang Tianran with a complicated expression but said nothing more.

Very quickly, the two of them shook off the Time Wraiths. Though those things were quite dangerous, they were actually fairly easy to deal with.

"Alright, we finally got rid of them. What rotten luck, getting dragged into this for no reason..." Zhang Tianran panted heavily, pretending to be exhausted.

"Alright, tell me now. What exactly happened to Reverse-Flash? After all, he was technically my foster father. It's not like I would avenge him or anything, but I should at least ask. Judging by you, Future Reverse-Flash probably still didn't listen to my advice."

Zhang Tianran pretended to rest for a while before asking.

Future Flash hesitated, but ultimately did not conceal it. "Eddie gave up his life, and Reverse-Flash vanished because of a temporal paradox."

Hearing that, Zhang Tianran sighed. He continued, "Then what about me? When did I leave this world?"

"I shouldn't keep talking..." Future Flash shook his head and did not continue.

He did not speak, but Zhang Tianran said directly, "Based on my deductions, it should have been shortly after Reverse-Flash vanished because of the temporal paradox. It's fine. To me, time is more familiar than the Speed Force."

"By the way, you really should not have traveled through time. If you want to become faster, entering the Speed Force is a good choice, provided you can communicate with it properly."

"As for the other method... forget it. Come on. I'll give you the speed formula. You can try building a Superluminal Particle Generator in the future."

After saying that, Zhang Tianran ignored Barry and turned into a streak of white lightning, returning directly to STAR Labs.

Inside STAR Labs, the Time Wraiths' rampage had left things somewhat messy, but it was only disorderly and had not caused any serious damage.

After copying Wells' speed formula and the Superluminal Particle Generator blueprints from the computer, Zhang Tianran handed the flash drive to Future Flash.

"Thank you. This is crucial to me." Barry's eyes reddened, as though he had finally found hope after suppressing himself for a long time.

"Barry, hurry back. The longer you stay here, the greater the damage to the future. Unless it is necessary, do not try to toy with time—unless everything in this world no longer matters to you."

Out of goodwill, Zhang Tianran offered a friendly reminder. After all, in his memory, nothing good had ever come from Barry traveling through time.

"Mm, I'll remember that! Dr. Zhang, though I don't know where you went in the future, everyone at STAR Labs and I miss you very much. If you have time, remember to come back and see us." Barry bid Zhang Tianran farewell.

Then he accelerated into a run, preparing to return to the future, but at that moment, the Time Wraiths appeared behind Barry once more.