A Deal with Reverse-Flash

"What exactly was going on? Why was I affected when Barry crossed the timeline?" Zhang Tianran asked Reverse-Flash, his brows tightly furrowed.

Wells froze at the question. Surprise flashed through his eyes before he said unhurriedly, "You should understand the consequences of time travel now. Unfortunately, some people don't. Or rather... they do, but they don't care."

Zhang Tianran said nothing after hearing Wells's words.

The timeline was like a river, flowing without end.

If someone threw a small stone into the upper reaches, the water would ripple, the disturbance gradually spreading outward.

But if the river was cut off, everything downstream would dry up and vanish.

As for the river's new course after being cut off, it might appear no different from before, but it would be an entirely different world.

Zhang Tianran did not know whether the previous world still existed. Yet in the scenes he had witnessed, everything had disappeared, as though it had been erased.

"Every time a Speedster traveled through time, they destroyed one world and created another? No... that theory is too absurd. Even the Speed Force couldn't do something like that." Zhang Tianran shook his head, dismissing his own speculation.

"Your guess is correct, but incomplete," Reverse-Flash added. "Only massive changes to the future could possibly produce such a result, and the conditions are quite demanding."

"As everyone knows, the future is uncertain. But if the future is set in stone and then altered, what happens next is obvious."

"This is called a Time Paradox. It is erased by the timeline. The old future is erased, and a new future is born. Destruction and creation—that is the power of a god..."

A red glow gradually appeared in Reverse-Flash's eyes. Zhang Tianran could not tell whether Reverse-Flash hated such a thing, craved it, or worshiped it.

After a long while, Reverse-Flash finally calmed down. A faint smile was forced onto his face, which still bore a trace of madness, as he said to Zhang Tianran:

"This is what I've been waiting for. It's also something you must experience for yourself before you can understand it. Well? Isn't it shocking?"

Zhang Tianran shook his head. "No. If anything, it made me hate this world even more. It makes me want to leave."

Reverse-Flash had not expected such an answer. But he did not care, merely saying, "Indeed. Going to another world can effectively avoid the consequences of a Time Paradox, but you have no need to do that right now."

"Likewise, I have no need to stay in this world," Zhang Tianran said. He had already begun to have second thoughts and did not care much about his deal with Reverse-Flash.

Reverse-Flash was not worried in the slightest. He simply said, "Yes, indeed. You can leave. Speedsters live much longer than ordinary people. Once you've hidden long enough, you can enter the Speed Force and enjoy eternal peace."

Reverse-Flash's words were actually meant as a reminder to Zhang Tianran.

Although the Speed Force had granted him speed, his final destination would be within the Speed Force. He might even become a mindless Time Wraith.

An ordinary Speedster might not mind merging with the Speed Force after their life ended.

But Zhang Tianran clearly did not want that.

So Zhang Tianran had no interest in continuing to beat around the bush with Reverse-Flash. He said directly:

"Enough. I don't need you to remind me of that. I can work with you, but I need to see hope of success. So far, I haven't found any way to target the Speed Force."

Reverse-Flash was very satisfied to have gotten the answer he wanted. However, he did not actually have any concrete plan for achieving his goal.

If he had, he would have done it himself long ago. Speedsters did not lack time, nor did they lack helpers.

"First, I need you to help me return to the future," Reverse-Flash said.

Zhang Tianran had initially held great expectations for Reverse-Flash. After all, the man was Flash's arch-enemy. Perhaps he truly had some way to deal with the Speed Force.

But Reverse-Flash's first request immediately disappointed Zhang Tianran.

"If you want to return to the future, just run there yourself. Hasn't your Negative Speed Force always been roughly on Barry's level? Barry can cross timelines now, so you should be able to as well," Zhang Tianran said, unable to hold back.

"Of course I can do it, but not now. I do not merely want to return to the future. I want Barry Allen to send me back personally. I think you can guess what that means." A faint smile curled at Reverse-Flash's lips.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Zhang Tianran's mind.

As the creator of the Speed Force, Barry Allen had the closest connection to it. If there truly was a way to take the Speed Force away, targeting Barry Allen was undoubtedly the wisest choice.

"You'll fail," Zhang Tianran said calmly.

He was not tempted by Reverse-Flash's words. It could not be that simple. Even if Reverse-Flash succeeded, it would not change anything.

"With your help, I won't. I didn't choose just anyone to cooperate with," Wells said meaningfully.

"You're that certain I'll help you?" Zhang Tianran asked.

"It's not helping me. It's cooperation between both sides. Before I leave, I'll drain Barry Allen's Speed Force completely. The rest will be up to you." Madness shone in Reverse-Flash's eyes as he finally revealed his purpose.

In truth, Reverse-Flash's target had never been the Speed Force itself, but Barry Allen. The Speed Force was almost impossible to defeat, but Barry Allen was not.

Completely extracting the Speed Force from Barry Allen and returning to the future—that was Reverse-Flash's plan.

As for the true Speed Force... although it was born from Barry Allen, there were countless Barry Allens across different timelines.

"Completely? Cleanly? Those are interesting words. It seems your goal isn't merely the Speed Force inside Barry. Fine. I can help you to a certain extent." After thinking for a moment, Zhang Tianran actually agreed.

On the surface, Zhang Tianran seemed to gain nothing from this deal.

But both Reverse-Flash and Zhang Tianran understood that if the plan truly succeeded, Zhang Tianran would be the one who gained the most.

"You're even smarter than I am, and your ambition is greater than mine." Reverse-Flash spoke with a trace of emotion.

"Ambition? I'm only doing what I believe is right. This world is truly terrible. If there's a way to improve it, that would be nice," Zhang Tianran said evenly.

"By the way, why was I affected by Barry's timeline?"

"I don't know either. No Speedster has ever had an experience like yours..."

"Oh, I see."