"It was because of me that their homes were destroyed. I never intended to bring disaster to others. I... I... I can only do more in the future, do my best to make up for it and protect them!"
The Flash shivered in the cold wind, the sorrow on his face lingering. His fists were clenched tightly, his fingertips digging into his palms, and faint traces of blood dripped down.
Every time he saw people suffer because of his actions, he felt deeply distressed and heartbroken.
He had no way of turning a blind eye to those in need.
"Then why didn't you submit?"
Bardi suddenly spoke.
Before he shattered the island of New Guinea with a single step, he had already ordered the Flash to submit.
But he didn't!
If you're truly that kind-hearted and compassionate, why didn't you submit?
"Kneel and surrender, and you could have prevented the deaths of millions."
"You're not really that noble, Flash!"
"You're just following your inner desire to be a hero, your desire to save others, feeding on the satisfaction of pitying the suffering of the world."
"Saving others allows you to savor that sorrow."
Bardi's voice was slow but biting, provoking and sharp—just like him. The faith of others, their fanaticism, gave him satisfaction and joy.
He basked in their admiration from above. All of it made Bardi feel powerful.
The Flash, too, followed his inner sense of gratification.
Bardi's words pierced The Flash's heart. His body trembled instinctively. His pupils dilated in fear, and his legless body curled in on itself, full of fear and the urge to escape reality.
"No... I... I just..."
"Don't say you just didn't expect me to be this cruel! That you didn't think I'd really destroy tens of millions of lives!"
"No...!!!"
The Flash curled up in Bardi's hand, clutching his arms tightly. He hesitated, filled with regret and remorse. Tears fell from his eyes, scattered by the cold wind, carried away and torn apart.
This was the end.
Nothing had changed.
If only he had kneeled and submitted, then tens of millions wouldn't have died. The island of New Guinea wouldn't have been destroyed by Barmulodi. The tsunami wouldn't have formed. Australia wouldn't have been burdened by over four million refugees. The country wouldn't have collapsed.
All of this could have been avoided—if he had just kneeled.
But in the end, The Flash chose to resist Bardi.
Such resistance was certainly worthy of praise. Because once you surrender to evil, you set a precedent. There will always be another surrender. A never-ending descent into darkness.
Just as superheroes do not kill, and The Flash does not kill. Once he takes a life, he betrays the principles he's always followed.
In the biting wind, his trench coat flapped fiercely.
Bardi gripped The Flash's neck, coldly staring at the back of his head. The Flash remained curled up in his hand, in pain and despair.
"Actually, you don't need to blame yourself for all this evil."
"It's me."
Bardi grinned behind The Flash. The sunlight shone through his smile. It was bright, but also strange. Because in his eyes, there was no warmth—only ruthless coldness.
At this moment, he was like a colossal demon god cloaked in shadows, with his mouth stretched wide, teeth bared behind The Flash. He was a web of endless schemes.
If not for The Flash being tormented by guilt, Bardi wouldn't have bothered with so many words.
In Hera's record database, Bardi had been simulating with her, analyzing the psychology of everyone around him, constantly updating based on observation. He understood extremities and how to weaponize them.
And when needed, he used them to their full extent.
Sure enough, The Flash did not feel any relief from Bardi's words. Instead, his nails dug into his arms, drawing blood. He gritted his teeth, muscles tense and shaking, consumed by fear and regret.
The curve of Bardi's smile stretched almost to his ears. His eyes, cold as ever, flickered with satisfaction.
Time travel.
He hadn't planned to use time travel to conquer or expand his empire. It was meaningless. It would only lead to chaos, countless changes, and might even undo everything he had already achieved.
The only value The Flash had to Bardi was that there were still people who loved him deeply, waiting in pain for him to come save them.
To go back in time and save that monstrous, burning figure writhing in agony in the flames of the night.
That figure, unable to bear the pain, had finally self-destructed.
Hundreds of millions of lives could not compare to the one who loved him deeply.
Bardi chose the one who loved him.
So... The Flash!
Was only for his use!
"I have money, power, and status. I am the uncrowned king of as many as ten developed countries, the king of the nation of Barmulodi."
"I have food, armies. I can save Australia. I can save over four million refugees. I can provide food, shelter, and aid for all those affected by the tsunami around the Atlantic."
"It's just... I need you to accompany me through time, go back to the past, and save someone!"
Bardi said, his tone—for the first time—sounding a little gentler, no longer cold or aggressive.
The Flash had ordinary people he wanted to save. And Bardi had someone he wanted to save.
If he refused…
Then watch millions die!
"I promise you."
Without hesitation, The Flash responded. His fingers dug deeper into his arm, and a glimmer of hope rose in his dark pupils.
As long as there's even a sliver of hope, anyone would cling to it.
Especially when he had already sunk so deep into self-blame and despair, pushed by Bardi to confront his own heart.
"Good. Thank you."
A smile appeared at the corner of Bardi's mouth. Inside, he loosened the last bit of icy restraint and let out a breath of relief. This time, his smile wasn't cold or cruel. It was bright under the sun, radiating pure warmth and ease.
His expression softened as he looked at the tormented Flash.
Subconsciously, he said:
"Do you know the difference between you and me?"
"When you arrest criminals, you believe you're not qualified to take a life. You don't kill, and you let the law decide."
"But me... I'm the one who makes the laws that decide they die."
(To be continued.)