57 Chapter 56

The sun extended its soft, golden rays across the skyline, enveloping Central City in a warm and tranquil embrace as it embarked upon yet another ordinary morning. The city, with its tall buildings and busy streets, came alive, promising a peaceful start to the day. The gentle buzz of traffic mingled harmoniously with the joyful chirping of birds, creating a serene symphony of urban and natural sounds.

On the sidewalks, people leisurely walked, their faces adorned with contentment, basking in the gentle glow of the morning sun. Cafés and shops opened their doors, releasing the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee, heralding the arrival of a new day. The air was filled with optimism as if the city itself breathed a sigh of gratitude for the tranquil atmosphere that surrounded it.

The parks dotted around Central City played host to joggers, dog walkers, and individuals seeking solace in the embrace of nature. The vibrant colors of flowers in bloom painted a picturesque scene, and the gentle rustle of leaves added a soothing background melody. It seemed as though time itself had decided to take a pause, allowing the city's inhabitants to relish in the simple beauty of an ordinary morning.

As the clock ticked away, the city's heartbeat echoed through the peaceful streets. No ominous shadows lurked in the corners, and no foreboding signs hinted at impending chaos. It was, by all accounts, just another day in Central City, a day where the residents reveled in the normalcy that surrounded them, blissfully unaware of the twists and turns fate might have in store.

Until the sounds of sirens, gunshots, and thunder were heard, suddenly a pair of thugs were hanging upside down with their pants down.

Flash had once again prevented another crime from escalating. As Barry sped away from the two thugs, he could hear his earpiece buzzing.

"Nice job, Barry!" Cisco cheered from his earpiece.

"Thanks, I'm heading back to Star Labs," Barry said before pausing. "How's Dr. Wells?"

There was a silence. Harrison Wells had been getting more angry and restless than usual. Heck, Cisco found him staring at Myles' for six hours straight as if he were some sort of boogeyman or weeping angel.

Except Cisco said he didn't look scared of Myles. If anything, he was pissed, as if he found out something that ruined his whole life. He had also been experiencing weird headaches lately, so it was normal for them to be worried about him.

Still, what on earth did Dr. Wells find to make him hate Myles like that?

***

Myles found himself fixated on his Godslayer suit, particularly the powerful core that fueled it—the calcified speedforce, to be precise. Just below him, Melanie was recovering with a bewildered expression. Although they hadn't engaged in any sexual activity, Melanie's numerous intense orgasms were comparable to the aftermath of such encounters. Myles was still working on addressing the side effects of granting people powers while getting them high.

It was also why he was using women with metagenes so he could harvest the eggs and create copies of their powers once he got the necessary tools to make clones.

Currently, he sat on Melanie's stomach, ensuring she remained still so the transformative process could work its magic on her body.

Grodd's voice came through the mental link, breaking Myles' reverie. "You've been staring at that stone for hours. Any particular reason?" he inquired.

Myles remained silent, unsure of how to explain his thoughts. In simple terms, having the Primal Force as a power source was amazing, but the downside was that it could abandon him at any moment, especially during a crucial fight. Additionally, continuously utilizing the Primal Force put a strain on his body, which was further amplified when he employed multiple abilities simultaneously.

Choosing the calcified speedforce wasn't a favorable alternative either. It acted as a beacon and an artificial gateway for Black Flash, creating an opportunity for Nora to eavesdrop. While Myles enjoyed toying with the Speedforce's servant, he didn't want to deal with the obnoxious presence 24/7. That's precisely why he refrained from using the armor against Deathstorm, even though it provided the necessary boost to prevent a catastrophic overload when using his powers to their fullest extent.

He wasn't foolish enough to waste time pursuing the unattainable Primal Force. Instead, he focused on finding a better alternative to acquire power without any cost or sacrifice. The current body he inhabited wasn't designed to sustain such an intense power output. He had been fortunate that the body could withstand the strain of granting powers at all.

Reclaiming his original body would inevitably alert Snow, and Myles knew he lacked the necessary self-control around her. However, this decision also contradicted his goal of allowing his body sufficient time to heal. Ironically, Snow's power served as a safeguard, preventing his body from deteriorating prematurely. Until his body fully recovered, Myles had to find enjoyment in the process, despite the challenges posed by his slower physical capabilities. Imagine how embarrassing it was for his employee to witness him sprinting around like a child, momentarily forgetting that he couldn't utilize superspeed without causing an explosion.

As he pondered over this, a sudden recollection of a name crossed his mind. Gabriel Yu Law. This man had committed the act of murdering his alternate versions to harness their energies, nearly becoming a singularity in the process. However, Myles recognized that Yu Law's approach was far too time-consuming. He didn't want to waste his own life by hopping between dimensions.

Myles realized that he needed a device capable of terminating his alternate selves and collecting their energies for his benefit. But here arose the challenge: how on earth was he going to construct such a contraption? Building something so intricate would take centuries, especially considering that Myles didn't possess all of his powers, further prolonging the endeavor.

A twisted grin stretched across Myles' face as he thought about Barry, his team, and even Zoom. Yes, yes, that could work.

He had contemplated the concept of employing Rick's little trick of time manipulation through the power of motivation. In simple terms, Myles could motivate himself to travel back in time, summoning his future self, who possessed the device, and offering it to his present self.

However, that approach seemed dull. Besides, he was already employing a similar tactic with Thawne as his victim. Speaking of which, Myles couldn't help but wonder how his fellow psychopath was faring, particularly with the gifts he had provided.

"It should be starting any time now."

***

Thawne had been staring at the holographic screen for hours, completely engrossed in the list of his family tree. As he scanned through the names that were connected to the Thawne family by marriage, one face stood out—Myles Walley. Every name on the list brought up the same single face: Myles Walley.

Thawne had never experienced such intense hatred before, not even towards Barry. Myles possessed the one thing Thawne had longed to do to Barry—ruin his life and escape unscathed.

However, Thawne couldn't understand the persistent headaches he had been suffering from for weeks. These headaches were accompanied by new memories that he couldn't recall ever happening. While the negative speedforce shielded his core memories from alterations in time, it didn't mean he was completely unaffected.

Most of his childhood had been altered, with Myles always appearing in these memories. This sparked a sense of paranoia within Thawne, making him question the implications of these memories. To make matters worse, these new memories suggested that Myles and his mother had engaged in a particular act multiple times, and made made him watch intentionally.

That's why Thawne decided to obtain a sample of Myles' DNA and compare it to his own. For the first time, Thawne found himself praying that his worst fear wouldn't become a reality. He hoped Myles wouldn't be so cruel as to commit such a heinous and disgusting act. Yet, what followed shattered Thawne's soul even more than Barry ruining his debut as a "hero."

Within the Time Vault's concealed chamber, Thawne anxiously awaited the results of the DNA analysis. The room was filled with the hum of advanced technology as Gideon, the AI interface, initiated communication.

"Eobard Thawne, greetings. The DNA analysis has been completed," Gideon announced with her distinct digital tone.

Thawne leaned in, fixing his intense gaze on the holographic display. "So what's the verdict?" he asked impatiently.

Gideon's holographic interface displayed swirling patterns that gradually focused on a single point. "The analysis confirms a significant genetic match between Myles Walley and yourself, Eobard Thawne. The likelihood of a familial relationship is exceptionally high."

Thawne's eyes widened as shock and realization washed over his face. Under his breath, he muttered, "No."

Gideon continued in a calm and unwavering tone, "The genetic markers and sequencing align with that of a father-son relationship. Myles Walley is, without a doubt, your biological father."

Thawne's mind raced to process this astonishing revelation. It felt like a terrible dream that shouldn't be possible. A mix of emotions swirled within him as he scowled, questioning the accuracy of the findings. "How can I be certain this is accurate?" he demanded to know.

Gideon swiftly responded with the utmost confidence: "The DNA analysis is conducted with unparalleled precision and reliability. The probability of error is negligible. The match is conclusive."

Overwhelmed by the weight of this revelation, Thawne rose from his seat, grappling with the harsh reality that confronted him. In the face of such undeniable truth, he did something rational—he let out a scream of rage, despair, and vengeance. Furiously, he grabbed his chair, smashing the glass that held his suit.

Thawne blamed it all on Barry. If Barry didn't exist, none of this would have transpired. Myles wouldn't exist, and Thawne wouldn't be trapped in the past.

He had nothing left. Barry had stolen his chance to return home, and Myles had made certain he would never recover it.

"Barry!" Thawne yelled as sparks of red electricity enveloped his body before seizing the yellow suit and leaving the vault.

***

Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, and Joe were having a drink when the liquid started floating up. Snow who recognized it, could only utter one word. "Ah shit."

Right on cue a blur of yellow slammed into Barry and smashed into a wall.

"Barry!" Joe yelled before pulling out a gun while Caitlin switched places with Snow.

Barry, on the other hand, was shocked; he knew this man. The killer of his mother Rage erupted in his heart as he growled, "You-"

"Ruined everything!" The man in yellow yelled as he tossed Barry onto the table. His left hand vibrated, ready to pierce the hero's heart before dodging Snow's ice blast and making a beeline straight towards her, only for the frost to start to farm around his body.

Barry pushed himself up and tackled the man before the two started pushing each other back and forth as they exited the premises.

"What the heck was that!?" Cisco yelled in shock and confusion.

"A petty psychopath," Snow answered as she chased after the two.

***

Barry grunted as he took a punch to the gut before avoiding the second attack and countering with an uppercut to the plexus. As much as he wanted to know why the man killed his mother, he was also confused about what on earth the killer was yelling about.

What did he mean? This was all his fault? He didn't do anything to him.

The man spat out a tooth as he roared in rage and appeared in multiple places. Barry wasted no time and performed the same move. The two left after images as they attacked each other like wolves. Barry was putting up a better fight because of Myles but it was clear the man in yellow was in the lead.

Barry grunted as the man tripped him and kicked his stomach, causing him to roll across the parking lot. Yet Barry used the momentum to right himself as he stood up. "I don't know who you are!" Barry yelled.

"YOU WILL!" The man yelled, throwing a bolt of lightning.

Barry immediately caught it but this was a distraction as the man grabbed him before smashing him onto an in-coming car. Yet the hero retaliated as quickly as he grabbed the man by the head and smashed his face first into the same car.

"Why!? Why did you kill my mother? Answer me!" Barry yelled as he pressed the man's head harder.

"None of it matters now!" The man yelled as he escaped Barry's hold, elbowed him in the face, and kicked him away.

As Thawne was about to attack again, he narrowly avoided being frozen by Snow, who hovered in the air.

The man glared at Barry with so much hate that the hero couldn't help but question why the man hated him this much.

"This isn't over." The man growled as he left the park.