A new day began.
The weather was gloomy, heavy gray clouds smothering the sunlight and weighing down the city's mood. Barry Allen left his home, planning to report to the CCPD first. If there wasn't much to do, he would head over to S.T.A.R. Labs to continue his training.
Over the past several weeks, Barry's progress had been remarkable. His speed had more than doubled since the day the lightning struck him, and for the first time, he felt confident. Even if he had to face Jack Kadere again, he believed he wouldn't be toyed with so easily.
But the moment he stepped inside the police station, Barry noticed the shift in the atmosphere. Detectives, officers, and clerks moved frantically, carrying files and answering phones with grim urgency.
"Barry!"
Detective Joe West spotted him and quickly strode over. His tone was sharp, his face tense. "You came at the right time. We need you."
Barry blinked. "Where to? What case?"
Joe shook his head. "Not you as Barry Allen. I need you—the one who runs fast."
The hint was clear. Barry lowered his voice, glancing around cautiously. "Metahumans?"
"And not just one." Joe's voice was grim. "They've already pulled off several jobs in a row. First, they broke a prisoner out of Iron Heights. Then they wiped out the Dabbin Rock crime family—every major member—and even killed a sitting judge. And now…" Joe exhaled, "…we've just gotten word their next target may be Simon Stagg."
"Simon Stagg?" Barry frowned. "The corporate head who just won an award for his organ cloning research? But Joe, how do you know these criminals are metahumans?"
"It's not just us, Barry. The whole city knows. They didn't even bother to hide their powers." Joe placed a firm hand on Barry's shoulder. "I didn't want you caught up in this life. But now… it has to be you."
Barry nodded firmly. "I understand."
In a flash of lightning, he was gone.
,.....
At S.T.A.R. Labs, Harrison Wells, Cisco Ramon, and Caitlin Snow were already deep into research. By the time Barry arrived, the large central monitors glowed with information and images. Cisco immediately began to brief him on the findings.
The four metahumans weren't working randomly—they were organized, working with a purpose. Each of them had been wronged, and now they were carrying out revenge.
Barry listened closely, but a question gnawed at him. "Is there any real connection between them? I mean, it can't just be coincidence that they all found each other, all with powers?"
Cisco gave him a hesitant look. "You're not gonna like this. The truth is, they didn't know each other before. But every one of them—from Multiplex to the teleporter we're calling Peek-a-Boo—has one thing in common. They were all tracked down and recruited by the same man."
Cisco tapped the keyboard, and images filled the screen. Blurred streaks of red lightning and distorted snapshots appeared, each one showing the moment of capture.
Barry's heart sank. He knew that figure instantly.
"Jack Kadere."
Cisco nodded. "Yeah. He's been off the radar for a while, probably putting this team together. On the surface, it looks like they're just chasing their own vendettas, but if Kadere's involved, there's no way it's that simple."
Caitlin spoke up. "I tried to contact him, to reason with him—but he's not answering."
Harrison Wells leaned forward in his wheelchair, his face serious. "Barry, listen to me. You shouldn't get involved. You may be faster now, but you're still inexperienced. Four metahumans, each with dangerous abilities—you're not ready for that fight."
The truth of his words hung heavy in the air. Barry knew Wells was right. But another truth was stronger: he couldn't stand by and do nothing while innocent lives were in danger.
"You know I can't ignore this. People are counting on me." Barry's eyes hardened with determination. "And I know you'll help me figure out how to stop them."
A crackle of lightning sparked across his frame, and in a blur, he was suddenly in his red suit—the Flash, standing tall.
"Barry—Barry, wait!" Wells tried to stop him, his voice urgent.
But Barry was already gone, a streak of scarlet lightning vanishing out of the lab.
"Damn it!" Wells cursed under his breath, slamming a hand on the armrest of his chair.
Barry was walking into a deathtrap. Facing four metahumans at once was suicide. If Barry died, all of Wells's painstaking plans would crumble to dust. He had even tried to divert Jack Kadere's attention by tipping off the Birds of Prey, but clearly, those women had failed to slow him down. "Unreliable," Wells muttered bitterly, before signaling to Cisco and Caitlin. "Get moving. Help Barry deal with this before it's too late."
...
"As expected, he came."
When the Flash arrived at Simon Stagg's corporate headquarters, the four metahumans were already lying in wait.
Multiplex instantly split into countless identical copies, surrounding the entire block in a tide of bodies. Gangbeam, his form fully transformed into living steel, came straight at Barry with a massive punch. The Mist dissolved into cyanide vapor and drifted toward the upper floors where Simon Stagg himself was holed up. Peek-a-Boo, meanwhile, hung back for the perfect opportunity, quietly watching the battlefield.
Barry froze for a split second. Four opponents, each deadly in their own way.
Girders metal fist swung, and Barry dodged at the last instant, countering with a lightning-quick jab.
Bang!
Agony shot up his arm as the bones in his wrist cracked on impact. Girders hardened body hadn't even flinched.
"Too slow," Gangbeam sneered, throwing another punch that forced Barry to retreat.
The swarm of Multiplex clones tightened the circle, cutting off escape routes. Barry blurred through them, knocking several aside, but for every one he hit, two more took its place. It was like trying to run through quicksand.
Then—whoosh!—Peek-a-Boo materialized directly in his path, her boot slamming into his chest.
Barry crashed back into a wall of Multiplex clones. They swarmed him instantly, fists and kicks raining down. There was no coordination to their attack, but sheer numbers overwhelmed him.
Yare yare… even a tiger can't fend off a pack of wolves forever.
Gritting his teeth, Barry forced a surge of speed, scattering clones with a shockwave of motion. But just as he regained his footing—
Bang!
Girders steel fist smashed into him.
Barry crumpled to the ground, gasping in pain before unconsciousness overtook him.
"Pathetic," Gangbeam said with a sneer. "I expected more from Central City's so-called Scarlet Speedster. Looks like the legend ends here."
He raised his fist high and aimed at Barry's defenseless body.
But before the killing blow could land—
Whoosh!
A streak of crimson lightning burst through the doorway.
In an instant, the newcomer's punch connected with Girders jaw. The steel-skinned brute was launched backward, crashing into the ground. His metallic form flickered and vanished, reverting to human flesh just as a yellow-gloved hand blurred and phased directly into his chest.
Girders eyes widened in horror. His body convulsed once, twice—then went still.
Dead.
The room froze in silence. Multiplex's clones and Peek-a-Boo stood shocked.
The figure in the yellow suit slowly withdrew his vibrating hand, his face completely obscured by the mask. His crimson lightning still crackled in the air.
A speedster. But not the Flash.
If not him… who?
Clap. Clap. Clap.
From the shadows, Jack Kadere emerged, applauding casually. His smile was sharp and knowing.
"As expected of the Reverse-Flash," Jack said smoothly. "Killing someone like Gangbeam barely takes you a second. But what I'm curious about is… can you really afford this?"
He tilted his head, eyes glinting.
"At this distance, with your speed, you can't be in two places at once. So to save Barry Allen, you've revealed the identity you've worked so hard to hide for years. Was he really worth the risk, Wells?"