Earth.
The First Continent, original city site: Detroit.
There are many Earths, and this one secretly houses a series of alien artifacts. Many of these are magical items—undetectable, incomprehensible in their construction and purpose. They're all stored here.
The security measures here are top-level.
Then—
A piercing alarm blared within the Item Building. On the smooth surface of the experimental structure, an unprecedented, first-of-its-kind alert suddenly sounded.
"A speedster is invading!"
"He vibrated through the wall!"
"According to data, comparing light and shadow arcs, the red-yellow intersecting afterimage—it's highly probable that it's the Flash on record!"
"Impossible! The Flash's data was erased by the Hera Terminal. That means the Flash is no longer a threat. He's gone. Dead."
"Regardless, he's a speedster and trying to steal His Majesty's items!"
"Where is he now?"
"F-level corridor, just entered the D-level item storage room. He's searching. This speedster has a purpose."
"He's entered the C-level. Very fast. He's vibrating through walls as he moves."
"Activate the protective shields. Block his movement. Deploy the imitation speed-armor bio-warrior. Kill him!"
"No, we're too slow. The activation time alone is enough for him to escape. He's already entered the B-level storage room and he's stopped there."
"Energy shield activated. We've trapped him!"
"No! He vanished! Wormhole travel? Spatial teleportation?"
"What did we lose?"
"A Class B protected item—Pandora's Box!"
"Damn! Are B-level protections still too weak? If he had reached the A-level area, he wouldn't have been able to pass through the wormhole. That area guarantees death!"
"Report to the higher-ups. A speedster has stolen a Class B protected item. Requesting enhanced security. The imitation speed-armor bio-warrior initiates too slowly to counter a speedster."
"Understood!"
...
Route 6.
The area has been restored. The road once destroyed by the battle between Bardi and the Flash has been repaved with asphalt. At one end of the highway sits a small base camp spanning nearly ten kilometers. It has been stationed here, waiting for Bardi's return.
The weather is scorching. Under the blazing sun, the asphalt emits the smell of burning tar. The air distorts from the heat.
On both sides of the road, withered weeds sway in the intense sunlight. The yellow desert sands and Gobi terrain radiate with heat.
In the distance, a yellow-red blur streaked across the twisted stretch of Route 6, forming a yellow arc in the air as it sped forward.
The afterimage raced to the very spot where Bardi and the Flash had once vanished. It stopped, and the trailing illusions converged back into a single figure, like train cars returning to their engine.
This wasn't the Flash—at least, not Barry Allen.
He wore a red bodysuit with golden lines across it. His gloves were gold, his cowl was silver, and he wore goggles. His face was pale and malevolent.
"What a wonderful world."
Johnny Quick's lips curled into a savage grin. He concealed himself in a corner, eyeing the nearby camp, waiting for the return of the emperor of this world—Emperor Barmulodi.
This world was perfect for Johnny Quick. Their Emperor Barmulodi had vanished.
And Johnny had accidentally crossed over from a destroyed world. Just from running, he arrived in this unified world. Here, they possessed the same technological creations from his world. And with Pandora's Box, the gateway to both universes could be opened. This had to be destiny. They were meant to conquer this world.
As long as they killed this world's top combatants and took control of this unified realm, they could enjoy everything again: power, honor, status, safety, and the privileges of absolute rule.
Take over this world, and escape the ruin of the last.
Thinking about his former world—consumed by a terrifying being and turned into food—Johnny Quick's exhilarated expression darkened.
"Good thing I crossed over. And Pandora's Box is right here!"
Johnny Quick licked the corner of his lips, his heart trembling with fear and joy. The excitement surged through him. In his hands, Pandora's Box radiated a menacing energy.
The box looked like a golden skull, gleaming with a terrifying aura in the sunlight.
Johnny Quick glanced at the nearby base camp, then cautiously stepped toward the spot where Bardi and the Flash had vanished. This was the weakest point in Earth's spatial fabric, the most suitable place to open Pandora's Box. It was the signal for his allies to arrive and erase this world.
"Open it, the gateway connecting two universes—Pandora's Box."
Johnny Quick smiled grimly. His body trembled with excitement. He set Pandora's Box down on Route 6.
The sun distorted as it hit Pandora's Box.
Pandora's Box began to shake on the asphalt. The golden skull-like artifact started to open, radiating a disturbing magnetic field. The surrounding air twisted into a vortex, then split open—like a vertical eye slowly peeling open.
Pong!
A ripping sound echoed like tearing cloth. The air split apart, and the space itself was torn open.
A vertical crack appeared in the searing sunlight and the twisted air, like a spatial eye opening. Inside swirled multicolored light, flowing with brilliance.
"Success!"
Johnny Quick's eyes widened. His clenched fists trembled with excitement. He did it. He could finally escape that horrifying existence.
He could once again rule a planet, become the supreme leader, and do whatever he pleased.
Imagining this world falling under his control, Johnny Quick couldn't stop trembling. His heart blazed with ambition.
Finally, he would reclaim the throne. The supreme position once more!
This world.
Would belong to the Syndicate!
At that moment, from the crack emerged a towering, jade-white, naked figure.
On the man's shoulder sat a little girl with white hair and horns. She patted his chest repeatedly. Whether from an upset stomach or indigestion, the little girl hiccupped.
"Tighten your magnetic field. Seal your pores!"
"Don't let your aura leak. You'll crush the continent and create a black hole."
"Shut up. I know."
The man and the girl strolled out of the spatial rift.
Johnny Quick's ecstatic expression froze. He stared at the towering, naked man and the girl on his shoulder. He was petrified.
"Who the hell are you?"
(To be continued.)
***
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