Chương 49: It Is Time
The bright morning sun streamed through the windows of S.T.A.R. Labs, casting long beams of light across the polished floors. Barry stood in the training room, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Sweat clung to his forehead as he finished another round of speed drills, the air crackling faintly with residual energy from his movements. His focus was unwavering, every step, every punch, every dodge executed with precision.
"Come on, Barry," he muttered to himself, wiping sweat from his brow as he reset the simulation. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned with determination. Zolomon was out there, lurking, plotting, and Barry refused to be caught unprepared. His movements were fluid yet sharp, his muscles flexing as he dashed across the room, narrowly dodging holographic projectiles and landing counterattacks with pinpoint accuracy. Each successful move brought a flicker of satisfaction to his face, though it never lingered—there was always more to improve.
Meanwhile, Billy adjusted to his new life in Central City, blending his dual identities as Shazam and a high school student. In the bustling hallways of Central High, Billy moved with the easy energy of a teenager, though his sharp eyes occasionally betrayed the weight of his responsibilities. He walked into class, sliding into his seat with a casual grin, exchanging high-fives and banter with classmates. But every so often, his gaze would drift out the window, his fingers tapping absently against his desk as he thought about Zolomon and what lay ahead.
At lunch, he sat with his usual group of friends, laughing at their jokes and chiming in with his own, but there was a subtle distance in his smile—a flicker of thoughtfulness as his mind wandered back to Barry's training sessions at S.T.A.R. Labs. He admired the Flash's relentless drive, his focus, his unwavering commitment to protecting the city. It inspired Billy to push himself harder, to make sure he was ready for whatever threat loomed on the horizon.
That evening, Billy returned to S.T.A.R. Labs, his school backpack slung over one shoulder as he walked into the training room where Barry was still running drills. The room smelled faintly of ozone, and the faint hum of the treadmill filled the air.
"You've been at this all day, haven't you?" Billy asked, dropping his bag on the floor. He crossed his arms, a teasing smile playing on his lips, though there was genuine admiration in his eyes.
Barry slowed to a stop, stepping off the treadmill and grabbing a towel. He chuckled, shaking his head as he wiped his face. "And you've been in school all day. How was algebra?"
Billy groaned dramatically, flopping onto a nearby bench. "Don't get me started. But at least I didn't have to dodge lasers," he said, gesturing toward the holographic setup. His grin widened as he watched Barry, his earlier nervousness around him replaced by easy camaraderie.
Barry tossed the towel onto a rack and sat beside Billy, his expression softening. "You're doing great, Billy," he said, clapping a reassuring hand on the teenager's shoulder. "you'll get through this. Together."
Billy nodded, his grin fading into a more serious expression. "Yeah," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We will."
Barry stood up, patting Billy's shoulder lightly before stepping away. "Take a breather. I'll be back in a bit," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes betrayed the slightest flicker of preoccupation. He tried to keep his steps measured as he walked across the training room, his sneakers barely making a sound on the polished floor. The tension in his shoulders, however, was harder to mask.
Billy watched him go, his head tilted slightly, his lips pursed in curiosity. He leaned forward on the bench, his elbows resting on his knees, as if debating whether to ask where Barry was headed. But then he shook his head with a soft chuckle, figuring it was probably some "Flash thing" he wouldn't understand yet.
Barry exited the training room and entered the adjoining corridor, his hand brushing lightly against the wall as he walked. The light overhead flickered faintly, and his footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. His expression, calm and reassuring moments ago, now hardened into something more analytical. His brow furrowed, his jaw tightening as he approached the inconspicuous door to the time vault.
Sliding his hand along the biometric scanner, Barry waited as the vault's door unlocked with a soft hiss. He stepped inside, the faint hum of advanced technology enveloping him.
Stats:
Level: 8
Experience Points (XP): 0/1200
Health: 100%
Currency: 5700 Credits
---
Abilities
Speed Force:
Enhanced Speed (Level 8): Speed surpassing Barry Allen in Season 5 of The Flash. Capable of breaking the speed of light and advanced time manipulation.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Accelerated Healing (Level 8): Heals nearly instantly, including fatal injuries, provided he retains enough energy.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Enhanced Perception (Level 8): Hyper-accelerated mental processing allows for real-time calculation and evasion of complex threats.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Speed Force Knowledge (Level 8): Extensive mastery over the Speed Force, enabling advanced energy manipulation and dimensional travel.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Temporal Awareness (Level 8): Near-perfect awareness of time fluctuations, parallel timelines, and impending temporal anomalies.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
---
Strength Force:
Enhanced Strength (Level 8): Lifts weights exceeding 300 tons with ease and delivers strikes capable of causing earthquakes.
XP Required to Level Up: 450
Durability (Level 8): Withstands nuclear-level impacts without significant damage.
XP Required to Level Up: 450
Force Projection (Level 8): Projects force fields and energy blasts strong enough to decimate reinforced structures.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
---
Sage Force:
Enhanced Intellect (Level 8): Develops counter-strategies instantly, even for opponents with complex abilities.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Mental Fortitude (Level 8): Immune to most mental manipulation, psychic attacks, or illusions.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Telepathy (Level 8): Can read minds across vast distances and communicate mentally with multiple individuals simultaneously.
XP Required to Level Up: 700
---
Still Force:
Time Manipulation (Level 8): Slows down or halts time entirely over an expanded area for up to 10 minutes.
XP Required to Level Up: 800
Inertia Control (Level 8): Adjusts the kinetic energy of moving objects and opponents, effectively freezing or redirecting attacks.
XP Required to Level Up: 800
Time Travel (Level 8): Flawless time travel, with greater control over destination points and fewer risks of timeline fractures.
XP Required to Level Up: 900
---
Deadpool's Abilities:
Regenerative Healing Factor (Level 8): Heals instantly, even from complete disintegration. Effectively immortal.
XP Required to Level Up: 700
Enhanced Reflexes (Level 8): Reflexes fast enough to dodge hypersonic projectiles effortlessly.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Pain Suppression (Level 8): Completely nullifies the sensation of pain, allowing him to push limits indefinitely.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
Combat Skills (Level 8): Expert in all known martial arts and advanced weaponry; capable of adapting mid-battle to any opponent.
XP Required to Level Up: 600
---
New Abilities Gained:
1. Electrokinetic Control (Speed Force): Harnesses and manipulates lightning generated by the Speed Force for both offensive and defensive purposes.
XP Required to Level Up: 700
2. Enhanced Kinetic Absorption (Strength Force): Absorbs and converts incoming kinetic energy to amplify his strength and durability temporarily.
XP Required to Level Up: 750
3. Dimensional Awareness (Sage Force): Perceives and identifies dimensional shifts and rifts, with the ability to stabilize or disrupt them.
XP Required to Level Up: 800
4. Chrono Stabilizer (Still Force): Automatically protects himself and allies from time-based attacks and anomalies.
XP Required to Level Up: 850
5. Energy Redirection (Deadpool's Abilities): Redirects absorbed energy (kinetic, thermal, or electrical) into powerful attacks.
XP Required to Level Up: 750
Inside the time vault, Barry took a moment to glance at the shimmering interface displaying his updated stats. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he studied the enhancements. His fingers hovered over the glowing panels, scrolling through the list of abilities.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. The faint hum of the vault seemed to amplify the words. "Enhanced kinetic absorption, dimensional awareness, chrono stabilizer... These are going to come in handy."
Barry flexed his fingers, a spark of Speed Force energy crackling at his fingertips. He could feel the sheer potential coursing through him. It wasn't just the power—it was the precision, the control, the understanding that came with it. He was no longer just running faster or hitting harder; he was evolving, becoming something more.
But even with the satisfaction of growth, Barry's gaze shifted to the centerpiece of the vault: a small, glowing artifact encased in reinforced glass. The Philosopher's Stone. Its surface shimmered with an unearthly light, pulsating faintly as if it were alive. Barry approached it, his expression hardening with purpose.
"It's time," he said quietly, his voice steady. His hand hovered over the scanner, the glass case sliding open with a soft hiss. The moment the stone was exposed, the energy in the room seemed to shift. A low hum resonated, filling the air with an almost tangible pressure. Barry reached out, his fingers wrapping around the stone carefully.
The moment he touched it, a surge of raw energy coursed through him. Barry inhaled sharply, his eyes glowing faintly as he steadied himself. The power within the stone was overwhelming, ancient, and potent beyond measure. He felt its connection to the fabric of reality, its ability to grant and shape powers with precision.
"This is it," Barry murmured, his voice firm but laced with anticipation. He turned and exited the vault, the stone clutched securely in his hand.
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