The wind was fierce.
The briny tang of seawater mingled with the smell of ozone, forcing its way into his nostrils.
Barry stood on the breakwater along the West Side coast. He wasn't wearing his red Costume, only a gray hooded T-shirt.
Directly ahead of him, a black wall of water dozens of meters high blotted out the sky. The tsunami roared like tens of thousands of beasts howling at once. Even the concrete beneath his feet shook violently.
Mark Mardon hovered among the dark clouds, surrounded by violent currents of air visible to the naked eye.
"Run, Flash!" The wind amplified Mark's voice, shrill and frenzied. "Let's see which is faster-you or my tsunami! My brother died because of you!"
Barry stared fixedly at the advancing wall of water.
His heartbeat accelerated. The pounding in his chest grew faster and faster.
"Beep-"
The black metal ring on his right index finger gave an almost inaudible electronic tone.
115.
A weak but sharp high-voltage current shot through the ring into Barry's nervous system.
Barry grunted. His legs buckled, and he dropped to one knee. His muscles spasmed slightly against his will, and the Speed Force flickered erratically inside him.
"Now!" Mark seized his chance and thrust both hands downward.
Two crescent-shaped blades of compressed wind tore through the air toward Barry.
Barry wanted to dodge. His mind had already mapped out an escape route.
But his body was a fraction too slow.
Bang!
The wind blades struck Barry squarely in the chest. His gray T-shirt tore open, and blood sprayed out. He flew backward like a rag sack, slamming into the hard concrete wave breakers behind him.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his chin red.
S.T.A.R. Labs, the Main Control Room.
The shrill alarms were almost enough