The Flash of the Future

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

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

Zhang Tianran merely smiled at that. "Professor Stein, don't misunderstand. I'm not particularly interested in the Firestorm Matrix."

"I don't intend to devote any further effort to it, either. It's just that if I want to completely solve the problem between you and Ronnie, the Firestorm Matrix is something I have to master."

"Of course, if you're confident you can solve this problem yourself, I can have Wells lend you S.T.A.R. Labs' equipment."

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

Martin Stein looked rather embarrassed. He wanted to explain himself, but had no idea 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 Firestorm's energy erupted, Martin Stein could only keep waiting. Triggering such a drastic change ahead of time was simply too risky.

Besides, he could use this time 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 appeared behind him.

"Wells, I warned you... Barry?" Zhang Tianran turned around with an unfriendly expression, only to suddenly find Barry Allen standing behind him in The Flash's suit.

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

Noticing the obvious differences in The Flash's suit, Zhang Tianran had already guessed what had happened.

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

Barry had gone home tonight, and Zhang Tianran had not sensed any Speed Force fluctuations coming from around S.T.A.R. Labs. It was therefore unlikely that this was The Flash from the current timeline.

"That's right. I came from the future. I need your help getting faster..." Future Barry said earnestly.

Looking at The Flash before him, Zhang Tianran could not help sinking into thought.

Choosing to seek his help meant that he could no longer be found in the future, didn't it? Only because they could not find him in the future had Barry returned 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 off. The time frame was too short. It should be no more than a few months, perhaps even less.

"Crossing timelines really isn't something you should do." Zhang Tianran shook his head and dropped the subject before asking, "Did I die in the future?"

"No, but Cisco and I couldn't find you 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 Barry explained very seriously, but unfortunately, a Time Wraith that passed through the wall interrupted their conversation.

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

There was no helping it. Those things came from within the Speed Force and specifically hunted Speedsters who traveled through time. Once they got close, the Speed Force inside a person's body would be taken away, and they would ultimately become creatures like them.

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

Zhang Tianran did not care that he had exposed himself.

Since Barry had gone looking for him in the future, that proved his future self had not hidden his connection to the Speed Force.

"I've studied you for so long, so naturally I've gained something from it. But keep this in mind—I can't maintain this speed for long." Zhang Tianran made up an excuse and brushed the matter aside.

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

Before long, the two of them shook off the Time Wraith. Though the thing was quite dangerous, it was actually fairly easy to deal with.

"Alright, we finally got rid of it. What bad luck, getting dragged into this for no reason..." Zhang Tianran panted heavily, pretending to be out of strength.

"Alright, tell me now. What exactly happened to Reverse-Flash? He was my foster father, after all. It's not like I'd avenge him or anything, but I should at least ask. Judging by you, the future Reverse-Flash probably still didn't take my advice."

Zhang Tianran pretended to rest for a while, then asked.

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

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

"I shouldn't keep talking..." Future Barry shook his head and said no more.

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

"By the way, you really shouldn't travel 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."

Having said that, Zhang Tianran ignored Barry and turned into a streak of white lightning, returning directly to S.T.A.R. Labs.

S.T.A.R. Labs had become somewhat messy due to the Time Wraith's rampage, but it was only disorganized and had not suffered any major damage.

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

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

"Barry, go back quickly. The longer you stay here, the greater the damage to the future. Unless it's absolutely necessary, don't try to toy with time—unless everything in this world means nothing to you."

Out of goodwill, Zhang Tianran gave him 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, I don't know where you went in the future, but everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs and I miss you very much. If you have the chance, remember to come back and see us."

Barry said his farewell to Zhang Tianran.

Then he accelerated into a run, preparing to return to the past. But at that moment, the Time Wraith appeared behind Barry once more.