The terrifying waves surging in Bardi's heart could not be calmed. His gaze remained fixed on The Flash, his expression constantly shifting.
In almost all the well-documented worlds of DC Comics, the more detailed universes, without exception, The Flash's mother is killed by Reverse Flash.
The foundation of Barry Allen becoming The Flash often stems from the tragedy of his mother's death and the loss that shaped his path.
There are only a handful of parallel worlds where The Flash's mother survives. These worlds are few, scattered, and often regarded as insignificant.
But in this world, The Flash's mother was not killed. He still became The Flash. He still possesses a complete, happy family. In this respect, he is the ultimate winner in life.
If The Flash's mother did not die, it strongly suggests that this world is not the main continuity of DC.
Or… could Bardi's arrival in this world have stifled the birth of Reverse Flash in advance, preventing the tragedy and allowing Barry's mother to survive?
In either scenario, Bardi felt no fear or worry.
What truly unsettled him was a third possibility—one far worse. Perhaps The Flash, overwhelmed by grief and longing for his mother, had traveled back through time and altered reality. Perhaps this is a world reshaped by Barry Allen's own hand, where his mother never died.
With a grim expression, Bardi forced down the wave of terror crashing in his heart. His mind began to race, recalling every detail of his journey so far.
Memory surged from the depths of his mind. Every choice, every action, every moment. Every person he had touched. Every decision that had changed a path.
From his awakening on Krypton, to his rebirth, his growth and learning, his strategies and manipulations, his rise to power as a general, the revolution he ignited, his defeat, the ambush by Jor-El with the Codex of Life, his escape through the siege, and his flight to Earth.
And then… capture.
His memories froze there.
Could it be… had he replaced Superman? Was he the one captured by humans for research?
Bardi's eyes narrowed, flickering with dread. The magnetic field of his planetary-level power instinctively radiated outward. Gravity twisted around him. His clothes trembled. Memory particles rippled along the surface of his windbreaker. The air nearby bent under the force of his presence. The ground mist churned violently beneath his feet, swirling outward.
The atmosphere grew unbearably oppressive. The space around him pressed down like the weight of a mountain.
In the sealed chamber where only The Flash remained, the wounded speedster—already weak and tormented by the threat against his parents—was caught under the crushing wave of Bardi's leaking magnetic pressure.
It felt as if he had been struck head-on by a speeding car.
'Pffft!'
The Flash coughed up blood violently, the mist of red hanging in the air. Bardi's pressure struck his body again, splattering red across his pale face. Gasping, weak, Barry's head dropped low. He passed out, unconscious from the strain.
This sudden loss of consciousness snapped Bardi out of his spiral of thought.
Bardi looked at The Flash's slumped figure, his expression dark. He reined in his emotions, retracting his magnetic field pressure. Turning to Ferdinand Swan, he ordered coldly:
"Stabilize him. Inject nutrients. Keep him awake."
Ferdinand nodded quickly, following the command. But despite their efforts, the critically weakened Flash could not regain consciousness immediately.
Bardi stood still, arms crossed, his thumb rubbing against the palm of his hand in an increasingly rapid motion. His mind ran like a supercomputer, analyzing, cross-checking every possible thread of logic.
His eyes remained sharp and thoughtful.
"Could it be… is that the truth?"
Had he replaced Superman and been the subject of early human research? Even with his calculating mind and intelligence, comparable to Kryptonian supercomputers, Bardi could not determine the answer.
He muttered softly, continuing to search through his memories.
From the underground research facility in Nevada, where he first encountered Earth natives—the known characters of the DC Universe. The one he met there was Deathstroke.
Bardi continued to calculate. If he had never arrived, would Deathstroke have still abandoned his military life, becoming the king of mercenaries? Would he have met Lex Luthor and perished together in the English Channel?
There was no definitive answer, but the possibility weighed on Bardi's mind.
After escaping Nevada, Bardi had traveled across much of the United States and eventually arrived in Gotham.
There, he witnessed the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents.
Could his mere presence, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings, have altered the fate of the Wayne family? Had his existence in Gotham disrupted the chain of events that led to Batman's creation? Had he prevented the transformation of Bruce's mother into the Joker of that timeline?
Bardi's brows furrowed tightly as he thought, puzzled.
The more he analyzed, the less clarity he found.
However, with the recent emergence of Atlantis and Paradise Island, Bardi's calculations led him to believe with 80 percent certainty that his presence had triggered significant changes.
In the DC Comics continuity, the birth and rise of Atlantis and Paradise Island rarely have specific, fixed timelines. Their appearance into global affairs often lacks defined dates.
But here, in this world, their emergence seemed perfectly timed.
Just when the world was enjoying peace, these two ancient nations stepped into the spotlight.
Their timing was too precise. The chance meeting of Atlantis and Paradise Island appeared almost deliberate.
Their proposal for cooperation—even marriage between the two peoples—seemed natural on the surface.
However, human nations would never accept such an alliance. No country on Earth would tolerate two ancient superpowers stepping into the United Nations as equals. It would be seen as an overt challenge, a threat to global balance.
Naturally, resistance would follow. Bombing Paradise Island to prevent the alliance. Pushing Orm's ambition into motion. The death of Diana's mother would shatter the possibility of union between Atlantis and Themyscira. Mistrust would grow, conflict would ignite.
Diana's rage would lead her to execute Mera, Aquaman's queen, decapitating her.
Aquaman's fury would spark the war between Atlantis and the Amazons, plunging Europe into chaos. Britain, Ireland, France—all reduced to ruins beneath the waves. Hundreds of millions dead.
This is how Flashpoint begins.
The timing of every event. The sequence. It all fits too well.
Flashpoint's ignition is never truly random. The Flash is merely the catalyst, the spark that allows the world to spiral into a different timeline.
If Bardi had never appeared, this world likely would have followed that very path.
Bardi stared at the unconscious Flash for a long moment.
Then he fell silent.
He closed his eyes, standing motionless, waiting.
Waiting for The Flash to wake up.
Finally, with a groan of pain, The Flash's eyelids fluttered weakly open. His body trembled, and his breathing was labored.
Bardi opened his eyes.
This time, he needed confirmation. The truth. The exact direction of this world.
Looking straight at The Flash, Bardi spoke, his voice low but clear:
"Tell me… where is this world headed?"
(To be continued.)
***
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