Mad Flashpoint. Part 2.

Flash nodded silently, stunned by how much everything had changed. Grabbing both companions, he sped off toward Wayne Manor—the last bastion of humanity's defense. As they approached the estate, heaps of demonic corpses came into view, but there were plenty of human bodies as well. The gates had been completely transformed: now they were tall walls fortified with turrets and guards armed to the teeth. Flash stopped just outside the fence. The turrets immediately trained on him, a multitude of laser dots marking his chest.

"Whoa, mate, take it easy, or our own guys'll turn us into Swiss cheese," Boomerang grumbled irritably.

"Oh! Boys, you're back—and you brought Flash with you!" a cheerful voice rang out. A colorful head peeked out from behind the walls.

Flash recognized the girl—it was Harley Quinn, the sidekick of the most insane villain of them all. Though now, she was dressed far more practically than in her usual shorts and tank top.

"Harley, open the gate," Deadshot said.

"Oh, right! Almost forgot." She disappeared, and moments later, the gates began to rise.

Two meters of solid steel protected the entrance. They were greeted by security personnel in field uniforms, weapons at the ready—just in case. There were even combat robots equipped with heavy weaponry stationed around.

"Yeehaw!" came an excited cry as Harley Quinn slid down a rope.

"Well, well, you showed up empty-handed," came a disgruntled voice. Waddling toward them was the Penguin, the former mafia boss. Despite the growing food shortages, he was as rotund as ever. Gotham's abundant weaponry had allowed the city to hold out longer than the rest of the world, and the criminals were the first to survive.

"All the nearby warehouses and stores have been cleaned out. We'll need a large combat team to search further," Deadshot reported.

"Got it, got it. We'll figure it out," Penguin replied, hobbling off with the help of his cane. A couple of men followed him.

"All right, let's go. Let's file the report quickly so I can finally lie down and relax," Boomerang said, stretching.

"Come on, I'll show you the way. You can tell me what it's like beyond the wall," Harley Quinn offered.

Flash silently followed them. He felt as if words failed him, overwhelmed by what the world had become. He couldn't afford to make any more mistakes—he had to talk to Batman. Together, they had to fix this mess.

Tents and makeshift homes sprawled across the estate grounds. People huddled close to one another, their faces etched with despair.

There were many civilians, but among them were familiar faces—heroes and villains alike. It no longer mattered who you had been before; now, everyone had the same goal: survival.

Entering the mansion where fighters stood guard, the group made their way down the corridors, stopping at a staircase leading underground.

"All right, I'm heading out. You guys be careful—Bats hasn't been in the best mood lately," Harley Quinn said.

"Who even has a good mood these days," Deadshot replied grimly.

They parted ways. The staircase leading downward was dimly lit, forcing them to tread carefully to avoid twisting an ankle or falling. Reaching the bottom, they were greeted by the Batcave. Jagged stalactites hung like menacing spears from the ceiling. Dark and foreboding, the space perfectly matched its owner.

The cave was vast, with a table at its center cluttered with scattered documents. In the middle stood a map of the Earth, marked in red to denote areas devastated by demons, and in blue to represent the forces still holding out.

Nearby was a workshop where advanced technological equipment was being repaired. Lex Luthor and Cyborg were hard at work, examining a mysterious device. Batman, meanwhile, was sparring with Nightwing. They fought without restraint, each probing for weaknesses to exploit. Despite Nightwing's formidable combat skills, he couldn't surpass his mentor. A missed strike left him open, and Batman landed a punch to his jaw. The blow sent Nightwing sprawling, and Batman flipped him over onto the ground.

"Stay focused," Batman commanded sternly, offering his hand.

"Could've gone a little easier," Nightwing muttered, accepting the help.

Flash, Deadshot, and Boomerang waited near the edge of the training area. Batman had noticed their presence long ago and decided to wrap up the session.

"You're back," he said curtly, heading to the table where a map of Gotham lay.

"Patrolling the nearby areas is useless; there's nothing left. Any farther out, and the demons are too thick," Deadshot reported, pointing out locations on the map.

"Understood. We'll devise a plan," Batman replied tersely, signaling the end of the conversation.

"Guess we'll head out then," Boomerang said awkwardly, scratching his head. Batman merely nodded.

Once they left, Batman turned his full attention to his guest.

"Flash, what's the news?" he asked.

Flash froze, struggling to recall what Batman was referring to. Then it hit him—he had been sent to survey the Earth for survivors still fighting back. In America, there were none left except Gotham. The last strongholds had fallen.

"They're all dead. We're the last ones," Barry answered, his voice heavy with guilt. Those words were hard to say, especially since he felt responsible for all their deaths.

"That's grim news," Batman said, "but we've learned that Trigon has left Earth to conquer the galaxy. This gives us a chance to reclaim our home."

"Yeah... maybe," Flash said hesitantly, his fear of admitting the truth weighing on him.

"Is there something else you want to talk about?" Batman asked, immediately sensing Flash's unease.

"Yes, but in private," Flash requested, pulling off his mask to reveal the burden of his mistake etched onto his face.

Batman gave a short nod and led him to a secluded section of the cave where the roar of a waterfall was loud enough to mask their conversation.

"I made a mistake, and I want to fix it. I created Flashpoint," Flash admitted, his heart pounding as he awaited Batman's reaction.

"So, everything can be different?" Bruce's eyes didn't show anger but hope. "What was reality like before you decided to change it? Was it really worse than this?"

"Better, but not without tragic consequences. We managed to defeat Trigon, but at great cost," Flash replied.

"And you decided to change the future, leading to this outcome. What were you thinking, Barry? I thought you'd grown up," Batman said. Flash stood in silence, like a child caught breaking something precious. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Batman roared, his voice echoing through the cave and startling the bats. They erupted from their perches, swirling chaotically.

"I only wanted to make things better," Flash said quietly.

"Better? You think this is better?" Batman snapped.

"No, that's why I came here—hoping to fix what I've done," Flash said, gathering his courage.

"We're already suffering the consequences of your so-called fix," Batman replied, though his tone had softened. He gripped the railing and stared into the depths of the cave. "Tell me everything—leave nothing out. Everything that happened."

Flash began recounting the events—everything he remembered and everything he had done.

"You killed that possessed man, knowing he was just a child who had been sent to Hell?" Batman asked in disbelief at the end of Flash's tale.

"I didn't think Doctor Fate would kill him," Flash said, then added more quietly, "I didn't want that to happen."

"You are unworthy of being called a hero, but right now, you're the only one who can fix the future," Batman said, shaking his head in disappointment. "You'll go back to August 14th, the day before it all began. You must find me and only tell me that we have to prevent Doctor Fate's death while also ensuring Brian isn't killed. They're both critical to the events that follow. A living Doctor Fate is essential to stopping the portals from being opened on Earth. In this reality, he fell at the hands of the League.

"We need protection against demonic control, which means we can't let Wonder Woman be taken. Her Lasso of Truth is the fastest and best option for defense, but in the worst-case scenario, it might require a lethal blow. The rest is in your hands now," Batman concluded.

"I won't fail," Flash said, vanishing in a bolt of lightning.

"I hope so," Batman muttered, watching as objects began to disappear—signs that the future was already changing.

Flash once again ran through the time stream, searching for the right moment. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a streak of red lightning far off in the distance, but it vanished almost instantly. Without looking back, he found the exact moment he needed. Emerging from the portal, he saw the city of Central City restored, intact, and vibrant. For a fleeting moment, he felt joy at the sight of living people. Then, without wasting any more time, he raced toward Gotham.

His first stop was the manor, but it was empty. Finding the entrance to the Batcave, he descended, only to find Alfred sitting alone at the computer.

"Alfred, I need Batman immediately," he said.

The calmly seated Alfred jumped up suddenly, pulling out a shotgun and aiming it at Flash.

"Oh, it's you. You shouldn't appear so suddenly—I could've fired," Alfred said, lowering the shotgun.

"Ahem, I urgently need Bruce," Flash said.

"Master Bruce is currently occupied. He's tracking the Joker," Alfred replied.

"The fate of the entire world is at stake," Flash countered seriously.

"I'll contact him," Alfred said, pressing a button on the computer. "Master Bruce, Flash is here with me, and he says it's a serious matter."

"I'm a bit busy right now, Alfred," came Bruce's voice, breathless over the speaker.

"Listen, Bruce, nothing else matters as much as what I need to tell you," Flash interjected.

"Barry, the Joker's up to something, and his actions could harm people," Batman said firmly.

"Trust me—nothing is more important than the threat I'm here to warn you about," Flash insisted.

"Fine. Meet me at the old abandoned chemical plant, and you can tell me everything," Bruce relented.

Flash took off, speeding toward the industrial district. Once there, he quickly located Batman examining empty chemical barrels.

"Batman," Flash announced his presence.

"Talk," Batman said without looking up from his investigation.

Flash explained the impending catastrophe and the plan to prevent it.

"Batman to Justice League—emergency assembly. Threat level: maximum," Batman announced over the comms. "And you, Barry, keep a low profile."

The Justice League began gathering at the Watchtower. The hall filled with Earth's summoned heroes, even those who weren't part of the League but still fought for good. Batman outlined the looming threat, and the team was split into two groups: one to protect the Teen Titans and the other to confront the Possessed and Doctor Fate.

John Constantine and Giovanni Zatara devised protective spells against demonic possession, which significantly improved their chances.

This was the day that would change everything. The two groups stood ready to act at a moment's notice, waiting for the events to unfold. Then, the portal opened, and a demon burst forth. The League immediately attacked, binding the creature. It struggled but to no avail.

"Now, let's set you free and see," Constantine said, staring into the demon's eyes.

"Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.Krahavat:" Constantine recited the incantation.

The demon began to emerge from the body, and the shadow immediately tried to flee, but the circle drawn on the ground activated a barrier, preventing its escape.

"Well, there's our little pest. Now, go back to where you came from. Vade in mundum daemonium tuum!Krahavat. Go to your demonic realm!" Constantine concluded the spell, and the shadow began to vanish, wailing plaintively.

Brian, bound and on his knees, showed visible relief. Despite his distorted face, tears of blood streamed down it as he managed a faint smile.

"I'm back," he said.

"We did it. Now it's up to the second group," Superman declared.

Meanwhile, the Teen Titans' base came under attack by demons and their possessed hosts. Despite this, attempts to seize members of the Justice League proved futile. Giovanni Zatara successfully protected Raven from her father's influence.

The victory over the forces of darkness seemed so effortless that many found it hard to believe. Flash, hiding nearby, let out a sigh of relief. Satisfied that things were under control, he decided to return to his own time to confirm the outcome.

Speeding up, he began to run. The time rupture reappeared, and Flash dove into it. The time tunnel was different this time—bolts of lightning filled the space, dangerously striking near him, forcing him to dodge. Flash thought this instability was a result of changing the future, and resolved never to alter it again. This time, however, things appeared to have turned out perfectly.

Emerging from the portal, he found himself in an eerie scene in Central City. A greenish mist hung over the city, and an unnatural silence prevailed. Cautiously, he began walking through the streets, which were completely deserted.

Suddenly, he noticed a man standing by a shop window and decided to approach.

"Excuse me, sir, what happened here?" Flash asked, his memories of recent events still fuzzy.

The man, who had been standing calmly, turned around. His eyes were unnaturally wide, and his smile stretched so broadly that all his teeth were visible.

"AH-HA-HA-HA-HAHA-HAHAHA!" The man laughed maniacally.

Flash recoiled in horror, but then his face and eyes started to itch. He realized the mist was poisoned.

"HA-HAHAH!" Laughter unexpectedly burst from his own mouth.

Realizing he couldn't stay there any longer, he sped up, escaping the mist's effects. He knew he needed filtered masks, and STAR Labs was the best place to find them. As he ran, fragmented memories began flooding back into his mind:

"The easy victory over the forces of evil had left the Justice League complacent. The attack came without warning. Joker had created chemicals and spread them across the nation. In an instant, they detonated, and clouds of gas filled cities, turning everyone into deranged, laughing maniacs who kept laughing until they died.

Even the heroes weren't spared. Their enhanced physiology made them last longer than ordinary people, but some succumbed. Those who didn't were captured by Joker, who conducted experiments on them, transforming them into his deranged likeness.

The whole world became a twisted reflection of Joker's madness."

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Flash couldn't understand why, despite all his efforts, the world continued to spiral into chaos. Arriving at STAR Labs, he grabbed a mask with a filter and put it on, allowing himself to breathe freely. Suddenly, his legs buckled, and he almost fell. Gaps formed in his memory of the past month. Struggling to stand, he asked himself, "What's happening?"

He felt as though parts of himself were scattered somewhere far away, but they were quickly closing in. Rising to his feet, he gathered his thoughts and ran outside. Heading straight for him was a crimson streak of lightning—another speedster.

In moments, he stood face-to-face with... himself. Or rather, a slightly different version. The suit was darker, the mask completely covered the face, and the eyes glowed red.

[image]

"I've been waiting for you," the newcomer said in a low, menacing voice.

"Who are you?" Flash asked, surprised.

"I am the Red Death, the better version of you," the figure replied before accelerating.

Flash barely managed to react, dodging the attack. He swung back, but Red Death quickly grabbed his arm and hurled him over his shoulder, sending him flying. Flash crashed into a car, leaving a dent, only to be struck again—this time in the jaw, followed by several hits across his body.

Flash tried to defend himself, but it wasn't effective—his opponent was too fast. Catching a brief moment, Flash managed to slip away and started running. Red Death immediately gave chase, his speed exceeding Flash's. In no time, he caught up, and their battle resumed at breakneck speeds. Red Death maintained the upper hand, landing blow after blow until Flash's face was a bloody mess.

Grabbing Barry by the throat, the alternate Flash slammed him into the wall of a building. With accelerated punches, he pounded away until Barry lost all strength and collapsed onto the asphalt.

"You're such a disappointment. I can't believe I was ever like you," Red Death spat, his hand vibrating.

He raised his hand to deliver a finishing blow, but at that moment, an arrow struck him, followed by an explosion that threw him aside. Above, Green Arrow stood with a filtration mask on.

"Run, Barry! I'll hold him off!" Green Arrow yelled as he descended, shooting another arrow.

Red Death caught the next arrow and snapped it in half.

"YOU!" he roared, accelerating and appearing before Green Arrow in an instant, plunging his hand into the hero's chest.

"Urgh," Green Arrow choked, spitting blood. Gripping Red Death tightly, he activated all his explosive arrows.

"No!" was all the speedster could say before a powerful explosion ensued.

Red Death's body was flung into the air, landing on a car. His right arm was mangled into pulp, and half his face was stripped to the bone.

Flash weakly stood up, staring at his friend's sacrifice. Gathering the last of his strength, he resolved to try and fix everything one more time. At first, he limped, but then he picked up speed, transitioning into a run until the Speed Force carried him forward. This time, accelerating was much harder and took more time, but he managed to enter the temporal tunnel.

The space was filled with lightning, and vortices appeared everywhere, consuming chunks of reality. Flash realized something was wrong. He needed to stop himself before all the changes, to return to the first jump. He searched for the moment when he entered the tunnel. There he was, spotting his own back. He began chasing his past self, but suddenly something struck him from behind, halting his pursuit.

"You… will not… change the future," Red Death said haltingly, his body still wounded.

"I'll try," Flash retorted, gathering himself and preparing to fight.

Accelerating, Flash struck from Red Death's blind side, targeting the injured eye. The blow landed, sending Red Death flying. The roles reversed—now Flash dominated, and Red Death could only defend.

The temporal tunnel started collapsing. Lightning struck more frequently, and the vortices grew larger. Flash, engrossed in the fight, didn't notice the chaos until a massive fracture split the space. From all the vortices emerged countless copies of Flash, each desperate to change time, each trying to alter their version of events.

Flash managed to defeat Red Death, but as he looked around, horror dawned on him. The scene was pure madness.

"What's happening?" he uttered, as a flood of memories from alternate histories overwhelmed him.

"A-A-A-A-AH!" he screamed as he realized the truth.

Time was breaking apart. The deaths of billions, resurrected and then killed again, had disrupted the balance of the universe. History became unstable, triggering a collapse of time itself.