League Invitation

Inside the Batcave, the air seemed to freeze solid. Bruce's words—"I am Batman"—were like a depth charge dropped into a calm lake. Not only did they leave Barry Allen, standing nearby, completely blank-minded, they also plunged the three people at S.T.A.R. Labs in distant Central City into deathly silence.

Over the comm channel, Cisco and Caitlin's breathing became cautious. From that simple sentence, they could sense an indescribable pressure. It was an aura born of absolute confidence and control—cold, powerful, unquestionable.

Cisco Ramon, the tech nerd who usually loved cracking jokes, stood there with his mouth hanging open, oblivious even when his favorite snack fell to the floor. Caitlin Snow, the calm biologist, instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, as though that chill could cross hundreds of kilometers and seep straight into her bones.

In the end, Professor Harrison Wells, seated in his wheelchair, was the first to break the silence. His voice still sounded gentle and wise, but a careful listener could detect a trace of gravity hidden beneath it—and... a flicker of barely concealed excitement.

"Mr. Wayne... or should I call you Batman? This is... a truly shocking meeting. Thank you for helping Barry, and thank you for... being so candid about your identity."

Professor Wells adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses deep and unreadable.

Bruce Wayne... Batman... Wells—or rather, Eobard Thawne's—mind raced at Speed Force levels. In the history I know, Batman was a stubborn mortal who adhered to a no-killing rule, a troublesome moral benchmark. But this one... he killed Bane, unified Gotham, and acted with iron-blooded decisiveness. He isn't the Batman I know. He is an entirely new, more dangerous variable. But... his resources, Wayne Enterprises' technology... If I can obtain them, my plan to return to the future could be advanced by decades!

A storm raged in Thawne's heart, but his expression remained unchanged. Cooperating with this new, unknown Batman was a tremendous risk, but it was also an unprecedented opportunity.

"Candor is the foundation of cooperation, Professor Wells." Bruce's voice came clearly through the encrypted channel to Central City. "I didn't invite Barry here today to show off my garage. I came to propose a plan."

Ignoring Barry's still-roaming gaze, like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate for the first time, he walked straight to the Batcomputer. With his hands folded, his fingers tapped rhythmically across the console. The massive holographic screen immediately displayed S.T.A.R. Labs' financial situation, technological bottlenecks, and even data from several of their recent failed experiments.

"S.T.A.R. Labs possesses top-tier talent, but it has always been constrained by funding and equipment. The particle accelerator explosion only made your situation worse." Bruce's voice carried no emotion, yet it was like a scalpel, precisely cutting open S.T.A.R. Labs' most desperate reality.

"I can provide you with virtually unlimited funding, whether for rebuilding the particle accelerator or developing new cutting-edge equipment that can better assist Barry. Wayne Enterprises' technological reserves—especially in materials science, energy science, and bioengineering—can be fully opened to you."

The terms Bruce offered were like one heavy bomb after another exploding in Cisco and Caitlin's hearts. Unlimited funding? Wayne Enterprises' technological reserves? To scientists who had barely kept their operation alive by selling patents, it was an irresistible temptation. Cisco's eyes were already shining as countless blueprints for awesome gear filled his mind.

"In exchange," Bruce continued, his tone shifting as his cold gaze seemed to pierce the screen and stare directly into Wells' eyes, "I need your research results on the Speed Force. And... at certain critical moments in the future, I will need Barry—need The Flash—to provide me with Speed Force support."

It was a naked transaction. Resources in exchange for power.

The comm channel fell silent again. Cisco and Caitlin both turned to Professor Wells, waiting for his decision.

Professor Wells pondered for a moment before slowly speaking. "Mr. Wayne, your proposal... is extremely generous and sincere. But this is a major matter. We need time to consider it. After all, this is not merely a business partnership—it concerns The Flash's future."

After speaking, seemingly to prevent Bruce from pressing further, he took the initiative to say, "We'll temporarily take Barry's communications offline, so that he can... focus more fully on speaking with you. We will give you an answer later."

The moment he finished speaking, the comm channel was cut off unilaterally.

As expected, very cautious. Bruce was not surprised. Reverse-Flash naturally knew how formidable he was and would not dare agree so easily. But Bruce believed no one could refuse this temptation. He had cast the bait; now, all he had to do was wait for the fish to bite.

Inside the Batcave, with the communications cut off, the atmosphere instead relaxed considerably.

Barry Allen, the fastest man alive, was now darting around the enormous cave like an endlessly curious child. He was so fast that one second he was examining the giant Joker playing card in a display case, and the next he was standing before a lifelike mechanical Tyrannosaurus Rex model several meters tall.

"Whoa! Is... is this real?" Barry's eyes widened, his face filled with excitement and disbelief. As a forensic scientist with tech-nerd tendencies, everything before him sent his adrenaline soaring. Driven by intense curiosity, he carefully reached out to touch the Tyrannosaurus Rex's rough skin covered in metal rivets and its dagger-sharp teeth. "Oh my God, this is so cool! Where did you get something like this? Jurassic Park?"

"It's a trophy." Bruce's voice came from behind him without warning, making him jump.

"A trophy?" Barry turned back in confusion. What kind of battle could result in capturing a Tyrannosaurus Rex?

"At the same time, it is an alarm system." Bruce walked over beside the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes—a memory belonging to another Batman. "If an enemy forcibly enters the Batcave, it will activate."

As soon as Bruce finished speaking, he lightly pressed a concealed control panel on the base.

"—ROAR!!!"

Two scarlet beams, like searchlights, suddenly lit up in the eye sockets of the previously motionless Tyrannosaurus Rex model! Its massive mechanical head slowly turned with a speed utterly at odds with its size. Its enormous maw, bristling with fangs, snapped open as it unleashed a deafening roar that mingled the scrape of metal with the howl of a beast!

An invisible pressure, heavy with primal savagery and the scent of slaughter, instantly engulfed the entire Batcave! Countless bats hanging upside down from the ceiling scattered in panic with piercing cries, and the whole cave seemed to tremble beneath that roar!

"Ah—!"

Barry was scared out of his wits. He felt a chill shoot from his tailbone straight to the top of his skull. Driven by his survival instincts, the Speed Force surged to its limit. He became a blurry red afterimage, yanked his hand back in a flash, and fled behind Bruce dozens of meters away. Only his head peeked out as his heart hammered wildly and his face turned pale.

Seeing Barry so thoroughly frightened, the corner of Bruce's mouth beneath his mask curled into an almost imperceptible smile. He raised his hand and pressed the console again. The red lights went out, the roar stopped abruptly, and the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex returned to its silent, historic pose.

"Just a... small demonstration," Bruce said flatly, as though he had merely turned on a desk lamp.

Barry patted his chest and gasped for breath, staring fearfully at the now-peaceful Tyrannosaurus Rex model. He no longer had the slightest desire to touch it. He swore that, in that instant, he had truly felt like the steel beast was about to swallow him whole.

"All right, Barry." Bruce turned around, his expression becoming serious again as the oppressive aura of the Dark Knight descended once more. "What I told your team just now was only an appetizer. Now I'll tell you the real reason I brought you here."

Barry immediately put away his joking expression as well. He took a deep breath and looked at Bruce seriously. He knew the main event was about to begin.

"I sought you out not merely for a technology exchange, nor merely to have you help me handle some... trouble." Bruce's voice became low and grave. He turned and walked toward the Batcomputer, his back to Barry. "I sought you out to form a League."

"A League?" Barry froze for a moment. The word felt somewhat unfamiliar and distant to him.

"Yes, a League." Bruce stepped before the Batcomputer, his long fingers dancing swiftly over the virtual keyboard. Several files marked "Alpha-Class—Top Secret" were pulled up on the massive holographic screen.