As Wally stepped forward, Solivar's gaze shifted toward him, exhaling deeply as his malice redirected to the speedster. Barry, seeing Wally approach Solivar, tensed unnaturally. He wanted to say something but eventually held back, swallowing his words.
He had also noticed a strange effect in the building. His speed felt restricted, and he guessed Cisco was likely affected too. In the past, this might have caused him to lose control of his speed.
But Barry knew his current growth was thanks to Wally's help. He decided to trust him to get them out of this situation.
Wally stopped just short of Solivar's throne, his gaze falling on the titan. The Gorilla's malice didn't waver—it seemed to grow even stronger. But Wally remained unfazed, standing firm against the oppressive killing intent.
The reason Wally stepped forward was simple: he had already deduced that Solivar had made up his mind to kill them all. Any human who entered Gorilla City was marked for death. Wally could see it clearly in the Gorilla's eyes—a deep-seated hatred that refused to waver.
From this, Wally reasoned that Solivar had likely suffered an unfortunate encounter with humans before. Perhaps greedy researchers or experimenters had attempted to study or exploit the Gorillas' intelligence. It was no wonder Solivar harbored such malice toward mankind.
As Wally approached, he suddenly felt a prickling sensation, a mental intrusion attempting to breach his psyche. He resisted it almost instantly, shrugging off the attempt—but not entirely. Instead, he allowed the intrusion into the part of his brain that stored long-term memories.
Some might call it foolish or reckless to permit a telepath access to one's mind, but Wally had long since overridden such vulnerabilities. Not only was he a speedster—naturally resistant to mind control due to the rapid speed of his thoughts—but his intellect had been enhanced far beyond normal thresholds.
Wally's speed and intellect worked in tandem. His thoughts operated at astonishing velocities, and his enhanced brain granted him unparalleled control.
At this point, Wally could control 70 to 80 percent of his brain functions, an ability that allowed him to nullify emotions, block sensory inputs, and recall information with perfect accuracy. To him, the attempted intrusion was little more than a faint ripple in the vast ocean of his mind.
Even with Wally's enhanced capabilities, the intrusion lasted only half a second. In that fleeting moment, the information he wanted Solivar to see was transmitted with precision.
Solivar stared at Wally in silence, his imposing frame still as the memories began to process. The Gorilla's mind struggled to keep up with the sheer speed of what it had received; the details were too rapid, too overwhelming to decipher immediately. It took nearly a minute for clarity to settle, during which the tension among the team grew palpable.
Most of them wanted to call out to Wally, but Barry quickly stopped them, gesturing for silence. He knew Wally wouldn't stand there without a reason. Watching Wally's unwavering stance, Barry felt a growing sense of confidence.
Wally had so many tools at his disposal—strategies, abilities, and knowledge—that it seemed almost impossible for things to go wrong. And with Flashtime in his arsenal, Barry knew Wally could resolve any conflict in the blink of an eye.
Finally, Solivar exhaled heavily, the malice in his eyes dissolving in an instant. In its place, a calculating gleam emerged as he seemed to reevaluate his stance.
Wally almost chuckled to himself. The memory he had shared with Solivar wasn't just a simple message—it was a carefully curated demonstration of power. He had shown the Gorilla glimpses of his encounter with the Dominators, how they had threatened those he cared for, and how he had dealt with them. Of course, many key details were omitted, while others were cleverly fabricated or exaggerated to enhance the effect.
He had even showcased the potential of his abilities in Flashtime, painting a chilling picture of what he was capable of at his peak. The memory made it clear: if Wally wanted to, he could wipe out every threat in Gorilla City without breaking a sweat.
The message wasn't just a threat to Solivar; it was a warning about the consequences for Gorilla City as a whole. Solivar now had to rethink his approach, not out of fear for himself, but for the well-being of his people.
However, if there was one thing Solivar had beyond his intelligence, it was his pride. Simply releasing the intruders without any form of challenge would be perceived as a sign of weakness among the Gorillas. Such an act could embolden others to question his authority, perhaps even attempt to overthrow him.
Yet, the threat conveyed by the human before him was unmistakable. The memories had made it clear that this individual was far more dangerous than any human he had encountered. Even if Solivar didn't fully believe everything he had seen, the possibility that some of it was true was enough to give him pause. As a leader, he couldn't afford to think like a warrior driven by ego; he needed to prioritize the safety and stability of Gorilla City.
After a moment of heavy silence, Solivar finally spoke, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber. "Gorilla City is off-limits to humans, and trespassing upon our lands is a grave crime. A crime punishable by death."
Barry quickly interrupted Solivar, his voice firm. "We have reasons to believe it was one of your kind who brought our friend here."
Solivar paused, his expression hardening as he studied Barry. "None of my kind have stepped outside our territory in the past year. If you have no proof to back your claims, do not waste my time with baseless accusations."
Barry was about to argue when Wally quickly stopped him allowing Solivar to continue. "However I am willing to give your friend a chance at freedom,"
Solivar paused his eye scanning the team" "One of you must prove your worth in combat," Solivar declared, his deep voice booming with finality. "A trial, a battle against one of my finest warriors. If you emerge victorious, I will consider sparing your friends lives and granting your freedom."
For a moment the team considered what Solivar he had said. Surprisingly the team weren't panicked. Instead they wondered which one of the speedsters would face battle. But most of them instinctively choose Barry but even Barry hadn't chosen himself, his gaze fell on Wally who nodded in response.
-x-X-x-
The ground trembled as deafening roars echoed through the massive coliseum. In the center of the grand arena stood a lone human, largely ignored by the crowd of gorillas that filled the stands. Their thunderous chants weren't for him—they were for their champion.
With a heavy groan, the gate on the gorilla side creaked open. Out stepped Grodd, clad in bronze armor, a spear in hand and a shield strapped to his arm. The sight of him sent the crowd into a frenzy, their roars intensifying as they hungered to witness human blood spilled on the arena floor.
Solovar regarded the situation thoughtfully. As much as he wanted to challenge the human before him, he hesitated. Losing would harm his reputation far more than abstaining from the fight. Instead, he seized the opportunity to humiliate Grodd, knowing his rival had ambitions for the throne.
"Why didn't you participate?" Julian questioned, his tone sharp and disapproving. "You have a better chance of defeating Grodd than Wally does."
Barry shook his head at Julian's words. "It's the other way around. Wally has a much better chance of beating Grodd."
Barry's gaze rested on Wally, and he let out a quiet sigh. Deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling of being sidelined ever since Wally gained his powers. It stung even more knowing that Wally had already achieved feats Barry never could. He hated to admit it, but the creeping jealousy was starting to weigh on him.
In the arena, Wally and Grodd locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Wally broke the silence. "I have a feeling this is exactly what you've always wanted," he said, his tone edged with suspicion.
Something about Grodd felt off to Wally. He couldn't shake the sense that there was more to this than it seemed. Then, the battle signal rang out, and the fight began.
Determined to end the battle swiftly, Wally moved into action, but an odd sensation stopped him in his tracks. His gaze snapped to Grodd just as a strange energy seemed to bubble within the gorilla. Grodd's eyes lit up suddenly, and a surge of psychic energy erupted from him.
Wally recognized the source almost immediately. His suspicions were confirmed—this wasn't an ordinary fight. The energy Grodd wielded was tied to a cosmic force, one connected to wisdom, knowledge, and perception. This was no ordinary power.
It was the Sage Force.