Chapter 91

Seeing them hesitate, Carnage put his hands down. 'The time is neigh. They will see that they are somewhat like me. A greedy being.' Carnage thought, a smirk appearing on his face. "I see you haven't fully grasped what killing me would accomplish. Don't worry. I will show you."

Carnage fixed his suit before looking over to C-1, who was now fully healed with her dress in ruins. "Time to bounce, Octavia."

Red lightning flashed around Carnage's body as he disappeared in a red streak. C-1 quickly squatted, shooting up into the sky and disappearing. The Justice League looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

~~~~~

Back at Mount Justice, the Justice Leagues members, with the absence of Flash and Wonder Woman, sat on their seats in the mission control room. No one spoke, Carnage's words repeating in their mind.

"We need to kill Carnage." Green Lantern said, drawing every attention to himself.

"We will find another way to stop him, no killing." Batman disagreed, looking into Green Lantern's eyes. "Once you kill, it will become easier to kill. Soon you will fall into a deep pit with no way to come out."

"Don't talk to me like a child, Bruce. I have killed hundreds already. I am a member of the Green Lantern, and when lethal force is needed to keep the universe safe, we deliver it." Green Lantern said, determined. "He gave us his weakness, so we shouldn't miss this chance."

"I agree with Hal," Cyborg said, scanning the reaction from his fellow heroes. "From my calculations, if Carnage keeps killing at his current rate, he would kill a thousand in a month."

"Less than I expected," Batman muttered, a look of confusion coming from Cyborg. "Back in Gotham, he killed once killed more than a thousand in a day. I guess he has more self-control now."

"See! That's more reason to end him." Green Lantern shouted, standing up. "Our inability to kill-"

"Is a problem." Superman finished. His arms were crossed, with a serious look on his face. "When I was undercover as a bartender in an underground bar, a man went on stage and said that living as a criminal is the easiest life you can have. He said this: 'You rob a bank and use the money to enjoy yourself. When a hero comes to take you in, surrender. Let them hand you in to the cops and when you see the chance, escape from their grasp. Rince repeats the next day. What are the heroes going to do? Kill you?"

Superman brought up a good point, and it was true. A criminal can have a better life than a working citizen, no matter how you see it. 50% of the criminals they capture end up being free, going back to committing the same crimes as before.

"Look at Joker and Harley Quinn, Bruce. No matter how many times you put them in that prison of yours, they always escape whenever they want. It is like their house now." Hal insinuated.

Hearing this, Bruce's eyes widen. "Are you suggesting we should kill them too? This is what I mean. One kill will lead to another, and another, till you start killing as easy as eating. Just like Carnage."

Hal said nothing more and sat back down, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I with Batman on this one. As you all now know, I am a kid. I don't want to kill anyone." Shazam, in his adult form, spoke out.

"Haah." Batman sighed, standing up. "I will think of a way to stop Carnage without killing. Leave it to me." He left the mission control room, going to the hospital to meet Diana and Berry. When he reached the hospital, he noticed Barry was missing and Diana sitting on her bed, rubbing her jaw. "Are you all right?"

Massaging her jaw, she said, "Yes. That punch from Clark showed me how strong he really is when he gets serious."

"Yes. The first time he displayed that level of power was when he fought Carnage for the first time. Although now he has more control, it seems he is more reckless around Carnage." Bruce said, leaning against the wall next to Diana's bed.

"That makes sense. Carnage can regenerate from every damage he receives, so I understand Clark being reckless around him." Diana said, sighing. "But he put those around him in danger."

The room went silent, both sides thinking about something.

Breaking the silence, Diana said, "I will kill Carnage myself. No need to get your hands stained with blood. In the team, only Hal and I have killed, so let us do this. He told us his weakness, thinking we can't do anything about it. We have to kill him before he goes too far."

Bruce smiled at Diana before asking, "Where is Barry?"

"He decided to head home," Diana said, her voice lowering her voice. "He is the one affected the most by Carnage. Carnage his friends and family right in front of him and was forced to leave his wife. When he tried to save them, he unintentionally destroyed half of the united states, killing millions. I am surprised he hasn't broken yet."

Bruce said nothing, understanding where Diana is coming from. It is starting to seem like Barry is the main target of Carnage. Whenever they fight with Carnage, he always comes back the most wounded. Now, it seems like his speed healing is evolving to keep up with the number of times he gets injured and their severity. Soon, his regeneration will be as fast as Carnage.

"I will speak to him," Bruce said as he started walking towards the door. Before he left the room, Bruce said, "Tell the others to keep it within the six of us. About the Ultimate time wraith, I mean."

~~~~~~~~~~~

With an orange streak, Barry appeared in his new home located in Gotham. After the explosion, Bruce invited him to come to live in Gotham, giving him 100 million dollars to help to settle down. He bought a 2 story Cottage House and has been living in it since then. Opening the door, a young boy appeared in front of him with a yellow streak. He had spiky red hair, freckles, and green eyes. He had a lean yet slightly muscular build.

"Uncle, I am getting better at controlling my speed. I played an entire game of call of duty with 4 controllers and won." The boy began rambling on about his day, using his super speed.

This is Wally West, the nephew of Barry. Wally managed to survive the explosion due to him being on a school trip that day and came to live with Barry in Gotham. Due to an accident, he gained a connection to the speed force, granting him super speed.

"I also stopped a robbery." Wally finished, jumping around like a little child.

Barry froze, "You what!?"

"Don't look so worried. I am fine. In fact, it was awesome." Wally shouted, a broad grin on his face.

"Don't do that again, Wally. You aren't ready." Barry sighed, patting Wally's shoulder as he walked past.

Hearing this, all of Wally's excitement flooded out his body. "I have powers, and I want to use them to help people. Why don't you allow me to assist you!? Look at Robin. Batman isn't hiding him in his Batcave or wherever they stay." He yelled, pointing at the TV, which is news about Robin and Nightwing stopping a gang.

"You don't know what you are talking about. You think being a hero is just about stopping crimes. No. It is more to that." Barry shouted multiple memories he wished to forget coming back to him. "There are multiple heroes with more ability than you, yet can't do anything against someone with virtually the same power as them."

"I am not like them. I can move at Mach 3. No criminal in Gotham can move that fast! I am ready! Why can't you see that?" Wally shouted, clenching his fist.

Barry looked at the angry Wally, and with a calm voice, spoke. "Don't do it again."

Hearing this, yellow lightning flashed around Wally's body as he zoomed upstairs, into his room, slamming the door behind him. Barry slumped down on the couch, burying his face in his hands.

"Wally, you are the only family I have left. I don't want to lose you too." He mumbled, choking on his words. "I won't lose you."