With a loud crash, Barry's body slammed into a nearby chair, shattering it into fragments.
At the same moment, Adrian moved.
Barry, still partially connected to the Speed Force, could only watch in disbelief as his opponent advanced through the slowed perception of his speed state. The man closed the distance instantly, appearing right in front of him and reaching for his arm.
Barry reacted immediately. Enduring the pain in his body, he twisted mid-motion and attempted to retreat.
But Adrian was faster than anything Barry had encountered. Even as Barry managed to avoid the direct grab, Adrian caught him by the collar and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.
A second later, Barry was slammed down hard.
The impact echoed through the hall.
Outside the immediate clash, Rachel's vision blurred for a moment as everything unfolded too quickly. When her focus returned, Barry was already on the ground.
And the man standing over him was walking toward her.
"Brother?"
The realization hit Barry like another shock.
The man who had just subdued him was Adrian.
He had arrived from Smallville to Central City after sensing something was wrong with Rachel. He did not expect to walk straight into a robbery in progress, with Rachel already involved in the chaos.
Barry, still clutching his chest as he tried to rise again, froze when he heard Rachel speak.
Brother.
That single word changed everything.
Barry stared at Rachel in disbelief.
That terrifyingly strong man was her brother?
Are they all like this?
Before he could process it further, Adrian had already reached Rachel. Without hesitation, he tapped her forehead lightly.
Thump.
Rachel immediately covered her head, glaring.
"Brother, you always do that."
"Compared to your recklessness, this is nothing," Adrian replied, his tone firm. "You are not an adult yet. Act like your age."
Rachel lowered her gaze slightly, then muttered, "I know I was wrong, Brother Adrian. I will not act impulsively again."
"Again?"
Adrian ruffled her hair.
"There will be no 'again'. You are not leaving Smallville or Metropolis without permission next time."
"That is unfair, I will be bored," Rachel protested.
"Then stay with Dana, Jenna, and Bart when you go out. Otherwise, you do not go anywhere alone."
The fog that had filled the hall began to thin as they spoke.
Visibility slowly returned.
Barry, still on the floor, could now see the entire scene clearly.
Across the room, Sophia's family huddled together in shock, staring toward Rachel.
On the stage, Cisco stood beside Dr. Wells' wheelchair, both of them watching the situation unfold in silence.
Caitlin, who had appeared nearby, looked between Adrian and Rachel with a conflicted expression.
Near the elevator exit, several robbers were already unconscious, clearly taken down quickly and efficiently.
Barry realized none of them had even seen the attacks properly.
Adrian had done it before anyone could react.
The only one still standing was the masked leader.
He stared at Adrian in disbelief, unable to understand what had just happened. His men were down, and he had not even seen the strikes that took them out.
Fear began to creep in.
"What are you?" he demanded.
Everyone in the room shifted their attention toward Adrian.
"My name is not important," Adrian said coldly. "But I know you. Ma Dong."
The masked man stiffened.
"How do you know me?"
"I know you are not just a criminal. You are a metahuman. I have a habit of observing people like you. Most of them are disappointingly weak."
Ma Dong's expression twisted.
"You think you understand me?" he snapped. "After the S.T.A.R. Labs explosion, my plane went down. I survived. When I woke up, I understood everything."
Barry pushed himself upright, still injured.
"What did you understand?"
Ma Dong turned toward him.
"I am God."
Silence hit the room.
Barry let out a bitter laugh.
"God does not rob people with a gun."
Without waiting, Barry rushed forward again, activating his speed.
But Ma Dong was ready.
He swung his arm.
A violent gust of wind erupted instantly, forming a compressed storm that struck Barry head-on. The force lifted him off his feet and threw him across the room.
He crashed into the wall hard, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Barry!"
Caitlin and Cisco rushed down from the stage to help him.
Ma Dong looked down at Barry with pride.
"You think speed makes you special? I control wind, rain, lightning, everything. I am the weather itself."
Barry struggled to breathe.
"I have never seen a god who robs people for money," he muttered.
Ma Dong smiled.
"Then you will see more."
The air around him began to twist violently. A tornado formed, expanding rapidly and tearing through the hall. Debris lifted into the air as the structure groaned under the pressure.
People were forced back as the wind intensified.
Ma Dong rose into the air, standing within the storm.
"I am a god," he declared.
"No," a voice cut through the wind.
Ma Dong looked down.
Adrian stood untouched by the storm.
Not even his clothes moved.
He stepped forward and walked directly into the wind pressure as if it did not exist.
Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco stared in shock.
Adrian rose into the air, stopping level with Ma Dong.
Face to face.
Ma Dong froze.
"You…"
Before he could react, Adrian grabbed him by the neck and slammed him down.
The tornado collapsed instantly as Ma Dong hit the ground.
The impact shattered the floor beneath him.
Ma Dong groaned in pain, barely able to move.
Adrian descended slowly, looking down at him.
"You are not a god," Adrian said calmly. "I am."
Ma Dong trembled, fear overtaking his expression as he stared up at him.
Around them, Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin stood frozen, unable to process what they had just witnessed.