DC: Chapter 226/230

Chapter 226: Deathstroke's Gamble
"It's over…"

The President of the United States stared ahead, his eyes dull, his expression lifeless. His body slumped in the chair, limp as if all strength had drained from him. In that instant, the willpower of a leader had vanished. He could not even lift a finger.

He stared blankly at the live feed transmitted by the Satellite General Administration. In space, amid the flames and the fading fireball, a clear figure stood tall in the darkness. The hope he had placed in the strike vanished in an instant.

The Oval Office fell deathly silent.

The air itself seemed to freeze, thick with suffocating despair.

The faces of the military generals turned pale. High-ranking members of the administration raised their voices in shock and panic.

"How is this possible? Those were nuclear bombs! How could anything survive that?!"

"He survived… completely unscathed."

"No damage… at all."

An elderly admiral of the Air Force spoke with a trembling voice, his body shaking as his breathing grew rapid and heavy.

The idea that any living being could endure the full force of a nuclear blast defied everything they knew.

This moment shattered their understanding of life.

A living being… more powerful than a nuclear weapon.

And worse still, it meant that no weapon on Earth could harm Barmulodi. He now stood free to dominate the planet unopposed.

The mere thought of it filled the room with dread. The generals, the congressmen—all of them fell into stunned silence as panic took hold. A heavy, oppressive fear pressed down on the room like the weight of a mountain.

The failure of the nuclear strike had crushed their last hope.

"What… what do we do now?"

The President's voice was hollow. His body remained slumped in the chair, like a man broken beyond repair. He muttered to himself in a daze, staring emptily ahead.

The realization clawed at him—the presidency he had fought so hard to win would now be remembered as the last presidency of the United States. The man who had overseen the fall of America. The last president, condemned as incompetent, buried under the ruins of his country's destruction.

That thought shattered what remained of his resolve.

His face pale, hands trembling, he reached for the drawer beneath his desk. Inside lay a custom-made Glock pistol, its surface smooth and polished like white jade. It was one of his favorites, a weapon he often handled during quiet nights alone, finding a strange comfort in its cool weight and balance.

But this time, his trembling hand raised the pistol beneath his chin, finger tightening on the trigger.

It was fear. Panic. An overwhelming desire to escape. To avoid facing the weight of history's judgment.

Sam Lane sat silently, watching the President's movements without the slightest flicker of emotion. Even the other generals, their faces pale from the horror of Bardi's survival, showed no surprise as the President raised the gun to his chin.

To them, such a death seemed almost expected. An understandable choice to avoid the greater tragedy to come—the condemnation of the American people, the shame of the world, the final disgrace of being the man who lost everything.

The room remained silent as they waited for the President to pull the trigger.

But Amanda Waller's expression suddenly changed. She stepped forward swiftly, moving to the President's side. With a sharp motion, she struck the pistol away from his chin, knocking it out of his hands.

'Bang…'

The Glock discharged with a soft crack. The bullet struck the ceiling, shattering one of the chandelier's bright bulbs. Glass fragments rained down onto the pristine floor below.

The chandelier swayed faintly, trembling as if in fright.

"Mr. President, we are not at the end yet," Amanda Waller said firmly.

Her words snapped the President out of his daze. His body trembled violently as he flung the Glock away from him. His white-knuckled hand burned red from gripping the weapon so tightly. The faint sting of pain helped jolt him back to reality.

In that brief moment of madness, he had been ready to end his life.

Now, sweat poured from his body. Goosebumps covered his arms. He had been on the verge of crumbling beneath the pressure.

"What… what else can we do to stop him?"

Breathing heavily, the President grabbed a handkerchief from the table, wiping the sweat from his face as he asked hurriedly.

His gaze turned to the gathered admirals and generals, but they could only look at one another in silence, shaking their heads.

The President's heart sank further. There was still no solution.

Then Amanda Waller spoke calmly.

"I have contacted the superpowers within the United Nations. The person who knows Barmulodi best—Deathstroke—has proposed a desperate plan."

The President immediately responded, "No matter how desperate it is… we will do it."

At this point, any possibility was worth trying. The United States would fully support any plan if there was even the slightest chance of success.

Sam Lane remained silent, his face grim, though a strange glint flickered in his eyes.

Amanda Waller pulled out a laptop and opened an encrypted communication channel. More than twenty leaders and superpowered representatives from around the world had already gathered on the line. In the face of Barmulodi's overwhelming power, these leaders had recognized the looming danger and joined forces, determined to prevent the Kryptonian's future rule.

They understood that Barmulodi's ambitions could not be contained. His thirst for domination was obvious. If left unchecked, the entire world would fall beneath his rule.

"What about Barmulodi's artificial intelligence? Won't this plan be detected?"

The President voiced his concern. They all knew Bardi's AI system, Hera, monitored most of the Earth's satellites.

Over seventy percent of all satellites were already under Bardi's control, serving as his eyes and ears across the planet.

"No," came the calm reply. "Barmulodi's artificial intelligence is not omnipotent. Our communications are disguised at the data level, registering as nothing more than background noise to his monitoring systems."

Deathstroke's voice came through the laptop's speaker.

"What is your plan to defeat Barmulodi?" the President asked again.

"For ten years, I have been studying Barmulodi. Ever since he arrived on Earth, I've been preparing for the possibility of killing him. I knew from the beginning he wouldn't just be my enemy. He would become the enemy of the entire world."

"The radiation of a red sun can suppress his ability to absorb solar energy, limiting his strength. But at this point, it's useless. His Emperor's Tower contains more than enough stored solar energy to sustain him."

"Kryptonite remains his true weakness. It can weaken him to the level of an ordinary man. It is the key to defeating him."

"But he has already swept the Earth clean of all kryptonite."

"I need people. I need the help of every superhuman on this planet."

"Barmulodi has captured Princess Diana of the Amazons and killed the King of Atlantis. These actions will undoubtedly provoke retaliation from both of these ancient powers."

"His millions of soldiers will be fully deployed to crush those two forces, leaving his Emperor's Tower exposed. That will be our moment."

"When he is preoccupied with these two ancient armies…"

"I need all superhumans on Earth to follow my command."

"We will invade the Emperor's Tower, seize the kryptonite, and kill him."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 227: Future Hal, Parallax

In space.

Bardi glanced indifferently at the Earth. His gaze swept across the nations that had launched nuclear bombs, sentencing them to death in his heart.

With a mere thought, another set of memory particle clothing formed around his body, covering him once more.

It was a high-collared trench coat, fastened at the chest with gold-gilded chain buttons. The style radiated mystery, nobility, and elegance. His powerful physique was perfectly outlined by the close-fitting black shirt beneath, further enhancing his imposing and dignified presence.

This was Raven's handiwork.

Within Bardi's body existed a storage space co-created with Raven. As long as his body was not completely destroyed, this dimensional space within his cells would remain intact. Hundreds of these coats were stored inside, each designed differently by Pamela to prevent the awkward situation of being left naked after every battle.

Bardi turned his head. His eyes swept through the dark radiation belt surrounding the area. His far vision pierced through the radiation, locating Diana.

She floated unconscious in space. Her armor was torn, revealing smooth, flawless skin. Her beautiful face held a faint trace of sorrow between her brows, stirring pity in those who saw her. Like an ancient Valkyrie fallen from battle, she drifted silently in the void, wrapped in the aura of long-endured struggle.

Bardi moved. His body's magnetic field wrapped around him as he passed through the black smoke of radiation, flying directly toward Diana.

Reaching her, he grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, lifting her effortlessly like a helpless bird. Her soft, smooth skin felt like silk beneath his fingers. Without the slightest pity for the Amazon princess, Bardi dragged her casually through space.

After collecting her shattered divine shield, the Mantra Lasso, and the God Killer Sword one by one, Bardi narrowed his eyes and scanned the distant universe with his farsight.

His brow furrowed slightly.

Hal Jordan had not been caught in the nuclear explosion's center. Instead, Hal had drifted far from the blast. Bardi could sense that his body remained intact, not shattered by radiation or the force of the detonation.

This Hal, mutated into an insect-like form, capable of absorbing Earth's fear, able to instantly fight him in space… even though Bardi could defeat him with a single punch, there was something about Hal that sparked Bardi's curiosity.

If Hal were to hide and continue absorbing the fear of life across Earth day after day, there might come a time when he could actually threaten Bardi.

But by then, Hal would likely lose control, consumed by fear, transforming into a true monster.

It was precisely this mutation that allowed Hal to approach so quickly and confront Bardi directly in space.

Suddenly.

Bardi's eyes narrowed. Hal's body, drifting in space, was already three million kilometers away—an immense distance.

Considering that Earth's diameter was about 12,742 kilometers, Hal's position was equivalent to nearly three hundred Earths away. It was illogical that Hal, simply blown away by a nuclear explosion, would end up at such a distance. This oddity made Bardi suspicious.

Even more puzzling, Hal's body continued drifting steadily toward the depths of space.

"Found you."

Bardi raised an eyebrow. Without hesitation, he acted immediately. Cutting through the black mist of nuclear radiation, he flew toward Hal at high speed.

Diana, still unconscious in his grip, dangled like a lifeless puppet under the force of his rapid flight, her limbs swaying helplessly in the momentum.

However.

At that moment, Bardi's body froze, and he came to an abrupt stop.

He saw Hal's body suddenly react, as if sensing Bardi's approach. The insect-like limbs on Hal's back extended wildly, propelling him forward at terrifying speed. Like a spider skimming across the surface of water, the ten insect appendages coordinated perfectly, accelerating Hal's body through space. Fragmented meteorites shattered in his path as he streaked toward the far reaches of the universe, as though an invisible force were pulling him away.

Bardi quickly calculated. Even with his own speed, judging by Hal's current acceleration and position, it would take at least thirteen years by Earth's time to catch up.

And as Hal's speed continued to increase, the chase might take a hundred years or more—possibly even leaving Hal completely beyond his reach.

In that span of time, who knew what might happen to Earth?

Faced with this reality, Bardi gave up the pursuit.

His interest in capturing Hal was driven mainly by curiosity. He wanted to study Hal's mutation, to explore the fusion of Green Lantern energy, Yellow Fear energy, and the Parallax entity—this unique blend of willpower-based technology.

Such willpower technology was extraordinary. Beyond the Green and Yellow Lanterns, the Black and White Lanterns held tremendous power. The pinnacle of willpower technology was the Miracle Machine, capable of granting any wish—reversing time, resurrecting the dead, even reshaping the universe itself.

Even Bardi, with all his power, had not been able to comprehend how such a thing could exist.

"Parallax…"

Bardi frowned, watching as Hal's body shrank into the distance, vanishing into the depths of the cosmos.

A premonition stirred in his heart.

Hal, already overtaken by fear, was heading toward the source—the true body of the Parallax entity.

The next time they met, Hal would no longer be himself. He would be fully merged with Parallax, transformed into the Parallax Demon.

Parallax, the embodiment of fear, forces its host to succumb to the emotion it represents. Hosts possessed by it are consumed, becoming living vessels of terror.

The Ion entity, the spirit of willpower, supports its host, empowering the Ion Lantern. But Parallax dominates its host completely, taking control of body and mind, merging as one.

Parallax itself was a cosmic monster, once sealed away by the Guardians of the Universe on Oa. It exists to sow fear and chaos, feeding on terror and conflict.

As an energy being formed from pure fear, Parallax normally could not directly interact with physical matter. However, it possesses an overwhelmingly strong will. Even Bardi, chosen once by a Green Lantern ring, had stood immune to Parallax's influence due to the unique nature of his soul.

Parallax could not conquer Bardi through fear alone.

But a Hal possessed by Parallax—fully merged, transformed into the Parallax Demon—would not be limited to spreading fear through willpower alone. With Parallax dominating his body, Hal would gain terrifying power on the physical level as well.

The Parallax Demon would become a true cosmic monster, fusing willpower and fear into destructive force.

In his current state, Bardi was not confident he could match the Parallax Demon.

"Parallax Demon…"

Bardi silently contemplated, piecing together the chain of events.

The death of Abin Sur. The Green Lantern ring arriving on Earth. The breaking of Parallax's seal, allowing it to roam free across the universe.

Earth, positioned at the center of the universe, absorbed fear energy faster than anywhere else, making it a perfect feeding ground.

Bardi glanced at the Green Lantern ring still on his finger. His thumb brushed across the smooth surface of its plastic and steel construction.

Perhaps, when the time came, he would recite the oath and truly take up the mantle of a Green Lantern—to stand against the Parallax Demon.

In the end, Bardi turned his gaze toward the distant universe, watching Hal Jordan's insect-like form fade into the stars.

A cold glint flashed through his eyes.

Turning around, Bardi flew back toward Earth.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 228: Readiness, Unity

At night, the fireworks display caused by the nuclear explosion continued to stir unrest.

Bardi carried Diana from space, pierced through the atmosphere, and flew back to Earth.

Under the moonlight, the glass exterior of the Emperor Building shimmered like breathing fish scales. The reflection of the bright moon gave the building a faint glow in the darkness.

At the top floor, the composite light-absorbing glass roof opened directly. Bardi, like a meteor, descended through the friction-heated air, shooting into the top level.

His figure came to a sudden stop, hovering mid-air. The heat from his high-speed descent dissipated quickly. His black hair fluttered, the hem of his trench coat swayed violently, and a wave of air rippled outward before gradually calming.

Landing on the ground, Bardi glanced around the top-floor residence. Noticing that Raven and Pamela were not present, he left.

Stripping Diana completely, he handed her over to one of the research Heras. She was imprisoned, and a file was established to begin studying the divine energy and structure within her body.

Following this, Bardi descended to the 390th floor, his personal office.

He summoned the supreme commander of the Kryptonian Legion, Ultra.

When Bardi obtained the Kryptonian spacecraft, two infants—a boy and a girl—were in the process of being genetically engineered. Otto, the male child, had been implanted with high-level genes, comparable to those of General Zod. Over the past decade, he had become the commander of the Kryptonian Legion and was considered the highest-potential genetic warrior among all those catalyzed.

The female child, on the other hand, had been given a body through the injection of data from the Hera artificial intelligence.

"Your Majesty, their actions are unforgivable!"

Otto's face was stern. His tall, powerful frame knelt on one knee atop the soft carpet, his expression filled with anger. Bardi had designed him for absolute loyalty, incapable of tolerating any offense against His Majesty.

The veins on Otto's square jawline bulged faintly with fury. His fists pressed firmly against the carpet as he knelt, looking up at Bardi, unable to suppress the rage burning in his chest. His desire to unleash his heat vision and burn the offenders to ashes was barely contained.

"Yes. The war has begun."

Bardi spoke lightly, smiling as he did.

"Otto, select fifty thousand Kryptonian warriors. Carrier fleet permissions are open. You will lead the attack on Atlantis. I want all of Atlantis under my control."

Otto's body trembled with excitement. His eyes lit up fiercely as he shouted, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

His genetic makeup included aggressive traits, giving him an intense passion for conquest and war.

"Go. I will have the Magic Academy allocate thirty thousand sets of anti-magic armor to your forces," Bardi added calmly.

"Your Majesty will not be disappointed!"

Otto pounded his chest with his right fist in the Kryptonian gesture of military oath, his face solemn with resolve.

Without another word, he turned and strode away to assemble his troops, receive the mothership, and prepare for the invasion of Atlantis.

After Otto departed, a ten-year-old girl with soft, round features, wearing a sheep-patterned nightdress, sleepily pushed open the door to Bardi's office. She leaned her head lazily against the sofa.

This was Hera.

Unlike Otto's accelerated genetic growth, Hera had chosen natural development, experiencing the full process of life from infancy to adulthood to better understand what it meant to be human.

"What are you doing? The teacher said to go to bed early. Tomorrow we're supposed to go to Metropolis Park for a field trip."

Little Hera squinted her sleepy eyes, her legs kicking lightly. Her bare calves pushed up the hem of her nightgown as she curled up sideways on the sofa, yawning lazily.

At ten years old, Hera was still attending school.

Bardi found amusement in this. Hera's experience of life had been designed with extraordinary thoroughness.

"Summon two hundred thousand Kryptonian warriors and super-powered gene soldiers. I will have the Ravens support you. Surround Paradise Island and observe their reaction before making the next move."

As Bardi spoke, he approached Hera and gently adjusted her disheveled nightdress, smoothing out the wrinkles. She looked neat, adorable, and well-groomed. Bardi nodded in satisfaction.

But Hera suddenly bounced up, energized. Her skirt, freshly arranged by Bardi, wrinkled again. The baby fat on her cheeks made her look especially innocent, but her words were mature.

"What about the Olympian gods behind Paradise Island?"

"It doesn't matter," Bardi replied calmly. "I have tested Diana's strength. I am confident I can unify the Earth."

He sat down beside Hera, pressing her head gently onto his thigh, letting her lie back on the sofa. His fingers combed through her messy hair, smoothing it carefully.

Diana was a reliable benchmark for gauging the strength of the Olympian gods. Even the stronger ones would not significantly surpass her. Those weaker than Diana were of no concern at all.

Moreover, Bardi possessed the Green Lantern ring. Combined with his Kryptonian physique, he had no weaknesses.

"Fine. I will try to persuade them to surrender. After all, the Amazons are a valuable resource. They could become an important force for future battles across the universe."

Little Hera leaned against Bardi's thigh, nodding with a mature air.

"In addition, execute the upper echelons of the dozens of countries that launched the nuclear strikes. Have our agents take control of their governments. Do not fear civil unrest."

Bardi's voice remained soft, his fingers never stopping as he gently combed Hera's hair.

"In war, there will always be sacrifices."

Little Hera nodded again, her reply quiet but certain. This could have been done long ago. They had only delayed to ensure a smooth transition, placing agents deep within each government to minimize resistance.

But now, the timing was perfect. The unification of the world had entered its decisive phase.

After witnessing Diana's strength firsthand, Bardi had no more doubts.

Little Hera, processing millions of calculations through her direct connection to the central Hera AI system, began to feel tired. Though she was artificial, her living body required rest.

As Bardi gave the order, she had already linked to the central system, beginning the deployment of personnel to execute the commands.

Bardi's gaze softened as he gently stroked Hera's hair.

Soon.

Bardi carried the sleeping Hera back to the top-floor residence, tucked her into bed, and covered her with a blanket before quietly leaving.

Afterward, Bardi headed to Pamela's Plant Kingdom on the 392nd floor, then brought her to Raven's Magic Academy.

The so-called Magic Academy was, in truth, a fusion of various magical weapons and technologies from Azarath, adapted for Bardi's use.

Over the past decade, Raven had become a key logistics officer, supplying magical equipment and crafting anti-magic gear for the Kryptonian Legion.

Bardi ordered them to prepare for battle, spending a moment with both Pamela and Raven before moving on.

He then descended to the fourteenth sublevel below ground, where he extracted Jenny's bionic body—a near-perfect replica, 95 percent identical to the original. It was enough to serve as a replacement, allowing him to restore Jenny.

Bardi placed Jenny's bionic body into his personal storage space, preserving it carefully.

With all preparations complete, Bardi turned and made his way toward The Flash.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 229: Worst Enemy

Emperor Building.
Negative ninth floor. The steel walls were cold, with a faint oily smell from fresh machinery.

The Flash's condition was grim. His body hung suspended in the air, arms and legs spread wide in a restrained position. Thick tubes connected to his limbs, his legs replaced by mechanical prosthetics. The smooth steel surface of the prosthetics reflected a cold, gelatinous sheen.

Dozens of transparent tubes, the width of arteries, pierced into his body, connecting directly to his heart and blood vessels. Anesthesia flowed through him continuously. His blood was drawn repeatedly for monitoring and research.

'Zzz…'

Yellow arcs of electricity flickered across his body, crackling and discharging into the surrounding air, leaving burn marks where the dust met his skin.

Through the pipes connected to him, a yellowish energy mixed with his blood was extracted, collected, and transported to other areas for study.

Speed Force.

His abilities were restricted. The frequency of the Speed Force within his body was controlled and drawn out through the system, slowly harvesting this power for measurement and research.

"Your Majesty, his cellular regeneration is dozens of times faster than that of an ordinary human. The nucleus of each cell emits a strange energy during operation. This energy appears and disappears within thousandths of a second. It is extremely difficult to capture or utilize."

"We can only extract small amounts of Speed Force through regular blood draws while monitoring the fluctuations of this energy. Due to the nature of time manipulation involved, our research remains in the early exploratory stages."

"But there is one very unusual discovery. We still do not know the true source of his energy, but as long as he continues receiving nourishment, his body keeps generating this strange Speed Force."

"It appears, Your Majesty, that as long as he maintains proper nutrition, the energy consumption and output remain entirely disproportionate. He is, effectively, a humanoid perpetual motion machine."

Ferdinand Swan, a gray-haired scientist, stood nearby, excitement shining in his eyes. His cheeks were flushed as he reported his findings.

Despite having witnessed many technological marvels within the Emperor Building's underground research labs, any of which could easily win the Nobel Prize, he remained stunned by this living being, whose body possessed such extraordinary energy reactions.

This energy, known as the Speed Force—the source of The Flash's power—was utterly astounding.

For Swan, who specialized in researching biomechanical power sources, The Flash represented a groundbreaking specimen, capable of revolutionizing flesh-and-blood mechanical lifeforms. If this Speed Force could one day be harnessed for a biomechanical spaceship, it could allow for superluminal travel across the universe without the need for wormholes.

Theoretically, because the Speed of Light represented a boundary where time itself could be manipulated, there was potential to test and achieve time travel—changing history itself.

Although there were many technical barriers, Swan firmly believed that with time and research, it would be possible to unlock the potential of the Speed Force. Superluminal travel, and perhaps even time manipulation, would no longer be fantasy.

Bardi held the report tablet in hand, flipping through pages of data. His expression remained indifferent, but the glowing data reflected in his eyes as he rapidly browsed through dozens of pages.

He nodded slowly, glancing at Ferdinand Swan. Originally, Bardi had involved Swan merely because of his surname and modest reputation in scientific circles. But Swan had far exceeded expectations, deducing early theories about the efficiency of Speed Force utilization in such a short time.

The scientists of this world truly possessed wild brilliance.

"Well done. Keep him nourished. Wake him up. I have something to discuss with him."

Bardi handed the tablet back to Swan as he spoke.

Swan's expression froze. He hesitated for a moment before carefully taking the tablet. His tone grew cautious.

"Your Majesty… if we allow him to regain consciousness, even slightly, he may absorb Speed Force at full capacity from its unknown source. I fear he might break free…"

Until now, The Flash had remained sedated, his blood slowly extracted while he was kept in a dazed state. Even with cooling devices suppressing his metabolism and dampening the Speed Force, Swan dared not fully awaken him. His calculations suggested that the Speed Force's true power might far exceed their control systems.

Bardi's gaze turned cold, casting a sharp glance at Swan.

The old scientist lowered his head, no longer daring to protest. He could only obey Bardi's order, administering proper nutrition and halting the anesthesia to allow The Flash to awaken. However, they maintained just enough restriction to prevent him from regaining too much power too quickly.

Even so, the weakened Flash opened his eyes slowly, dazed and groggy.

The moment his eyes landed on Bardi, yellow electric arcs surged violently across his body. His veins bulged, rage burning in his eyes as he roared:

"Barmulodi!!!"

The Flash struggled fiercely, clenching his fists tightly. His body trembled violently as he hung in the restraints. But the arcs of electricity quickly faded. Blood mixed with Speed Force was drawn steadily through the tubes, draining his strength.

Pain contorted his face. The constant extraction gnawed at his body like parasites, weakening him. The flickering arcs faded into silence as his head sagged, breath heavy, face pale.

"I kept my promise to you. Now, it is time for you to fulfill yours."

Bardi's tone was calm, indifferent.

The Flash panted heavily, eyes half-lidded. Slowly, he raised his gaze toward Bardi, forcing a bitter smile.

"You, Barmulodi… aren't you supposed to be all-powerful? Even you want to go back… to change the past, to fix your regrets?"

Bardi remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on The Flash.

The air between them filled with quiet tension. The faint coolness of the underground lab pressed against their skin like a creeping chill.

After a moment of stillness, Bardi finally spoke slowly.

"I could easily track down your loved ones… all of them. Anyone who has ever opposed me."

"But from the beginning, I have chosen not to investigate their whereabouts. I have no desire to drag innocent people into this simply because of your foolish resistance."

"This… is my respect for you."

"I have only targeted you. But that does not mean you can mock me here or refuse to fulfill your promise."

Bardi's voice lowered, sharp as ice.

"Flash, are you telling me… you refuse to honor your end of the deal?"

The Flash's face twisted in pain and anger. He clenched his teeth, breathing hard. Rage boiled from deep within as he growled through gritted teeth:

"Bar… mu… lo… di!!"

Bardi stood silent, staring at him expressionlessly.

The Flash's fury gave way to grief. Helpless, heartbroken, and in deep agony, he finally spoke:

"I will help you go back… but you must swear. Swear to me… you will never harm my family. Not my parents."

For a moment, Bardi fell silent. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at The Flash, a flicker of curiosity crossing his expression.

"…Your parents? Your father? Your mother?"

"Wasn't your mother killed when you were a child… by a home intruder?"

In that instant, Bardi froze. For the first time, a chill crept down his spine.

All this time, he had never confirmed which version of the multiverse this was. The number of parallel universes in the DC world was unimaginable, far beyond fifty-two. Determining which world this was had always been uncertain.

But in only one rare timeline… The Flash's mother had survived.

"Enough, Barmulodi! I will cooperate! I will obey your commands! Just… just let my parents go!"

The Flash's teeth clenched. Tears streamed down his face, dripping onto the icy steel floor. The droplets fell through the faint mist of the cold laboratory, rippling silently on the ground.

Bardi narrowed his eyes, stunned. His limbs felt cold as a storm of realization surged in his chest.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 230: Is It a Flashpoint?

The terrifying waves surging in Bardi's heart could not be calmed. His gaze remained fixed on The Flash, his expression constantly shifting.

In almost all the well-documented worlds of DC Comics, the more detailed universes, without exception, The Flash's mother is killed by Reverse Flash.

The foundation of Barry Allen becoming The Flash often stems from the tragedy of his mother's death and the loss that shaped his path.

There are only a handful of parallel worlds where The Flash's mother survives. These worlds are few, scattered, and often regarded as insignificant.

But in this world, The Flash's mother was not killed. He still became The Flash. He still possesses a complete, happy family. In this respect, he is the ultimate winner in life.

If The Flash's mother did not die, it strongly suggests that this world is not the main continuity of DC.

Or… could Bardi's arrival in this world have stifled the birth of Reverse Flash in advance, preventing the tragedy and allowing Barry's mother to survive?

In either scenario, Bardi felt no fear or worry.

What truly unsettled him was a third possibility—one far worse. Perhaps The Flash, overwhelmed by grief and longing for his mother, had traveled back through time and altered reality. Perhaps this is a world reshaped by Barry Allen's own hand, where his mother never died.

With a grim expression, Bardi forced down the wave of terror crashing in his heart. His mind began to race, recalling every detail of his journey so far.

Memory surged from the depths of his mind. Every choice, every action, every moment. Every person he had touched. Every decision that had changed a path.

From his awakening on Krypton, to his rebirth, his growth and learning, his strategies and manipulations, his rise to power as a general, the revolution he ignited, his defeat, the ambush by Jor-El with the Codex of Life, his escape through the siege, and his flight to Earth.

And then… capture.

His memories froze there.

Could it be… had he replaced Superman? Was he the one captured by humans for research?

Bardi's eyes narrowed, flickering with dread. The magnetic field of his planetary-level power instinctively radiated outward. Gravity twisted around him. His clothes trembled. Memory particles rippled along the surface of his windbreaker. The air nearby bent under the force of his presence. The ground mist churned violently beneath his feet, swirling outward.

The atmosphere grew unbearably oppressive. The space around him pressed down like the weight of a mountain.

In the sealed chamber where only The Flash remained, the wounded speedster—already weak and tormented by the threat against his parents—was caught under the crushing wave of Bardi's leaking magnetic pressure.

It felt as if he had been struck head-on by a speeding car.

'Pffft!'

The Flash coughed up blood violently, the mist of red hanging in the air. Bardi's pressure struck his body again, splattering red across his pale face. Gasping, weak, Barry's head dropped low. He passed out, unconscious from the strain.

This sudden loss of consciousness snapped Bardi out of his spiral of thought.

Bardi looked at The Flash's slumped figure, his expression dark. He reined in his emotions, retracting his magnetic field pressure. Turning to Ferdinand Swan, he ordered coldly:

"Stabilize him. Inject nutrients. Keep him awake."

Ferdinand nodded quickly, following the command. But despite their efforts, the critically weakened Flash could not regain consciousness immediately.

Bardi stood still, arms crossed, his thumb rubbing against the palm of his hand in an increasingly rapid motion. His mind ran like a supercomputer, analyzing, cross-checking every possible thread of logic.

His eyes remained sharp and thoughtful.

"Could it be… is that the truth?"

Had he replaced Superman and been the subject of early human research? Even with his calculating mind and intelligence, comparable to Kryptonian supercomputers, Bardi could not determine the answer.

He muttered softly, continuing to search through his memories.

From the underground research facility in Nevada, where he first encountered Earth natives—the known characters of the DC Universe. The one he met there was Deathstroke.

Bardi continued to calculate. If he had never arrived, would Deathstroke have still abandoned his military life, becoming the king of mercenaries? Would he have met Lex Luthor and perished together in the English Channel?

There was no definitive answer, but the possibility weighed on Bardi's mind.

After escaping Nevada, Bardi had traveled across much of the United States and eventually arrived in Gotham.

There, he witnessed the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents.

Could his mere presence, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings, have altered the fate of the Wayne family? Had his existence in Gotham disrupted the chain of events that led to Batman's creation? Had he prevented the transformation of Bruce's mother into the Joker of that timeline?

Bardi's brows furrowed tightly as he thought, puzzled.

The more he analyzed, the less clarity he found.

However, with the recent emergence of Atlantis and Paradise Island, Bardi's calculations led him to believe with 80 percent certainty that his presence had triggered significant changes.

In the DC Comics continuity, the birth and rise of Atlantis and Paradise Island rarely have specific, fixed timelines. Their appearance into global affairs often lacks defined dates.

But here, in this world, their emergence seemed perfectly timed.

Just when the world was enjoying peace, these two ancient nations stepped into the spotlight.

Their timing was too precise. The chance meeting of Atlantis and Paradise Island appeared almost deliberate.

Their proposal for cooperation—even marriage between the two peoples—seemed natural on the surface.

However, human nations would never accept such an alliance. No country on Earth would tolerate two ancient superpowers stepping into the United Nations as equals. It would be seen as an overt challenge, a threat to global balance.

Naturally, resistance would follow. Bombing Paradise Island to prevent the alliance. Pushing Orm's ambition into motion. The death of Diana's mother would shatter the possibility of union between Atlantis and Themyscira. Mistrust would grow, conflict would ignite.

Diana's rage would lead her to execute Mera, Aquaman's queen, decapitating her.

Aquaman's fury would spark the war between Atlantis and the Amazons, plunging Europe into chaos. Britain, Ireland, France—all reduced to ruins beneath the waves. Hundreds of millions dead.

This is how Flashpoint begins.

The timing of every event. The sequence. It all fits too well.

Flashpoint's ignition is never truly random. The Flash is merely the catalyst, the spark that allows the world to spiral into a different timeline.

If Bardi had never appeared, this world likely would have followed that very path.

Bardi stared at the unconscious Flash for a long moment.

Then he fell silent.

He closed his eyes, standing motionless, waiting.

Waiting for The Flash to wake up.

Finally, with a groan of pain, The Flash's eyelids fluttered weakly open. His body trembled, and his breathing was labored.

Bardi opened his eyes.

This time, he needed confirmation. The truth. The exact direction of this world.

Looking straight at The Flash, Bardi spoke, his voice low but clear:

"Tell me… where is this world headed?"

(To be continued.)