Thor's words rekindled a glimmer of light in Barry's dimmed eyes.
How do you acquire abilities?
On a stormy night in the laboratory, he was struck by lightning, and his clothes were soaked with a mixture of chemicals... Every detail of that accident that changed his life was etched into his mind.
"I... I was struck by lightning," Barry said uncertainly, "In a laboratory full of chemicals."
"Then let's do it again," Thor said casually, as if he were talking about what to have for dinner.
Barry was stunned.
One more time?
That's an almost one in a billion coincidence, how could it possibly be replicated?
"This..."
"Nothing is impossible," Thor interrupted him, pointing to the faint light filtering into the cave.
" The Themyscira and Atlantis of this world are being stirred up by a massive upheaval; the global climate is in turmoil, and thunderstorms will be more frequent and intense than in your world. As for the chemical agents, I believe in Mr. Wayne's financial resources; buying all of Gotham's chemical plants wouldn't be a problem."
He turned to Thomas Wayne, who had remained silent to the side, his gesture more like a notification than a discussion.
Thomas led them through a hidden passage to the rooftop terrace of the Wayne Manor.
A cold, damp wind swept through Gotham, the sky was so overcast it looked like it was about to drip water, and thick, dark clouds piled up, making it hard to breathe.
In the distance, streaks of purple lightning occasionally flashed across the horizon, while muffled thunder rumbled deep within the clouds.
Thomas Wayne, hands in his pockets, leaned against the weathered railing, staring blankly at the rolling thunderclouds in the distance.
After listening to Thor's "plan," he let out a sneer from his throat after a long pause.
"You're all crazy!" He turned his head, his weathered eyes filled with mockery and disdain.
"Being struck by lightning and then treated with chemicals can create Metahuman? Should I find a bat to bite me? Maybe then I can fly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Death Tetiyu, who had been standing quietly behind Thor, leaned close to Thor's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Are you sure this will work? Although, most Barry Allen in most universes have succeeded this way..."
Her presence was peculiar; she was standing there, yet seemed ready to blend into the background at any moment. If she didn't speak up, she would almost be overlooked.
Thor glanced at the elegant Death Tetiyu and said irritably, "Isn't that your problem? This Flashpoint Universe you brought me to looks completely off to me; it's not the Flashpoint I know at all."
He remembered clearly Flashpoint in the comics, while Thomas Wayne was also a ruthless Batman, his core motivation was to avenge Bruce, and he ultimately helped Barry correct the timeline.
The Thomas before me exuded an aura of despondency, as if saying, "Destroy it already, I'm tired," showing no concern for the survival of the world.
He even felt that if the three of them hadn't been there, the other side might have set off fireworks to celebrate.
Death Tetiyu, still with that same cheerful expression, gently asked Thor, "So, what is your understanding of the Flashpoint Universe like?"
She blinked, and in her deep, all-consuming eyes, a childlike curiosity shone through.
Thor glanced at her again, too lazy to explain, "Can't you read my mind? You can see it with just one look, right?"
Unexpectedly, Death Tetiyu simply smiled, then, like an innocent little girl, put her hands behind her back and swayed slightly as she said, "I respect every independent individual, so I won't pry into other people's thoughts."
Thor immediately uttered a curse in his mind.
You're talking nonsense!
You warned me before when I spoke ill of you, so what are you pretending to be, this pure and innocent saint here?
The thought had barely formed in his mind when he saw Death Tetiyu turn his head and give him a meaningful smile, "You're talking bad about me in your heart again, aren't you?"
"..."
Thor was completely speechless.
Trying to outsmart someone of this caliber is simply asking for humiliation.
She doesn't play by the rules at all; she doesn't even pretend.
But what can you do when she has the biggest fist?
When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
Death Tetiyu seemed quite pleased with Thor's discomfiture, but she quickly steered the conversation back on track, her expression becoming more serious. "You still haven't answered my question. What if... he really got struck by lightning and died?"
Thor was stunned when he heard this, then turned around and looked at her as if she were an idiot.
"Aren't you right here?" he retorted matter-of-factly. "He's dead, so you drag him back from the realm of death, stuff him back into your body, then chop him down, let him die again, drag him down again, until he successfully obtains the Speed Force."
As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the rooftop.
Even the distant rumble of thunder seemed to have been muted.
Barry Allen stared wide-eyed at Thor in disbelief, opening his mouth but unable to utter a single word.
What did he hear?
Death? Pull it back? Chop it again? Is this a solution a human could come up with?!
He's a human being, okay? He's not some vicious supervillain!
Furthermore! We live in a society governed by the rule of law! Even criminals are entitled to human rights!
Even Thomas Wayne, who was usually indifferent to everything, froze on the spot, forgetting to light the cigarette that was dangling from his lips, letting the cold wind blow it to the ground.
He had seen Gotham's most insane criminals and heard the most absurd plans, but none of them could compare to the shock he felt when this man casually uttered these words.
Death Tetiyu's eternally gentle smile finally froze on his face.
She gazed at Thor silently for a very long time, her eyes, reflecting the birth and death of the universe, filled with emotions too complex to describe.
Finally, she sighed softly and uttered a heartfelt assessment.
" Thor," her voice was soft, yet carried a strange weight, "You're a devil."
Thor almost laughed out of anger at her words.
This is utterly contrary to the Heavenly Dao!
He was internally ranting and raving.
You, a being who holds the power of death and watches billions of lives perish every day, call me, a guy who wants to save people, a devil?
Is there no justice left? Is there no law left? Have you forgotten the principles of this universe?
He felt that his values were being repeatedly trampled on by this unreasonable "god".
However, Death Tetiyu ignored the roar in his heart.
She simply stood there quietly, her gaze passing over Thor and landing on Barry Allen, who was trembling with fear and a twisted hope.
Her gaze was gentle and compassionate.