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Chapter 491: Die, or Give Me the Speed Force Technology (2)
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
Tony casually summoned a chair and sat down, leaning back comfortably. His calm gaze sized up Harrison, whose expression had suddenly turned cold.
"I've come to ask you for something," Tony said.
Harrison suddenly smiled, the curve of his lips just right, showcasing the composure of a middle-aged man. He slowly removed his glasses, no longer concealing his sinister eyes.
The glasses were placed on the adjacent table. Harrison sat in his wheelchair, narrowing his eyes.
Anyone familiar with him knew that this gesture—removing his glasses—meant his murderous intent had surfaced, that he could lash out and kill at any moment.
"I'm very curious, Mr. Tony—it's alright to call you that, isn't it? What could a doctor from a private research institute possibly have that would interest you?"
"The technology of the 25th century, and the technique you possess for extracting the Speed Force. I want those," Tony said coolly, sitting motionless in his chair.
Harrison suddenly laughed. "So you do know. The one who holds the title of Sorcerer Supreme can use the Time Stone to see through the Timeline. I suppose I couldn't hide my origins from you after all."
He stroked his chin, seeming somewhat troubled. His fingers fidgeted, seemingly unconsciously, while his venomous, snake-like eyes were filled with ruthlessness.
For a split second, he wanted to use his super speed to instantly kill Tony. They were too close, less than a meter apart. To him, a meter was within arm's reach. He could just reach out and plunge a hand, vibrating at high-frequency, into Tony's heart.
Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't kill Tony. It would be useless even if he exhausted all his Speed Force, unless he was solely focused on escaping.
"Thawne, a great scientist from the 25th century who chanced upon the tattered battle suit of the 21st-century The Flash—perhaps The Flash died at some point in time, and his suit drifted into your era, where you found it."
A cold sneer touched the corner of Tony's mouth. He slowly rose to his feet and walked over to Harrison—no, it should be Thawne—and looked down on him.
Thawne no longer feigned his disability and stood up from the wheelchair. His muscles tensed, and a faint yellow arc of electricity flashed in his eyes.
"Die, or give me all the technology you know, and I'll leave immediately," Tony said icily. "Even if you are a Speedster, I am confident I can kill you. And even if the other versions of you from other points in time come to avenge you, I will kill them one by one."
Thawne suddenly burst out laughing. He turned casually, then yellow arcs of electricity erupted, and in an instant, he was in front of Tony. A small hurricane kicked up, sending papers flying everywhere.
"So, if I give you the technology, you'll stay out of my business?"
"Correct. I won't interfere no matter how you tamper with Barry's suit to steal the Speed Force. Once I have your technology, I'll leave Earth immediately. You can do whatever you want then. You're a smart man, Thawne. You know what you should and shouldn't do. For instance, your meddling in Central City—neither the Ancient One nor I have bothered with you. But if you try to turn the entire Earth and universe into your battlefield..."
Thawne scoffed. He stared into Tony's eyes for a second, then stiffly took a step back. It was as if his very bones were trembling.
Thawne opened his computer and, using his super speed, skillfully typed in a password. He was so fast that he left numerous afterimages in the air, a movement honed through countless repetitions. A massive amount of complex data was transferred to a USB drive, which he then unplugged and tossed to Tony.
"I've transferred all the 25th-century technology I possess. The Speed Force technology is in there too."
Thawne maintained his composure, trying to alleviate the immense mental pressure with varied expressions and subtle movements.
His sixth sense had been blaring warnings frantically. His perception, enhanced by the Speed Force, was feeding him fatal signals. The moment he tossed the USB drive over, the sense of crisis suddenly eased.
"You're very smart, Thawne," Tony said, giving him a deep look.
The long string of code Thawne had just entered wasn't a password to unlock the data packet, but a command to re-edit a seemingly meaningless stream of data.
Any other top-tier hacker would be unable to sort through the chaotic, disordered data stream. Even if they knew the correct sequence for arranging the data, it would take them years to piece it together.
Even Tony himself wouldn't have been able to sort through that chaotic data; he couldn't possibly analyze the structure of a skyscraper from a pile of scattered sand.
What Thawne did in those few seconds was use the super speed and super-thinking granted by the Speed Force to rearrange the data, compiling each piece of top-tier technology.
That was why Tony said he was smart. Too smart.
Tony snatched the USB drive. The Allspark particles activated, and he instantly grasped its contents. He comprehended the key Speed Force technology, which involved complex technologies like temporal observation and small-scale spatial jumps.
"Behave yourself, Thawne. And get the hell back to your own time as soon as possible."
Leaving him with those cold words, Tony started walking towards the laboratory's exit, moving at a slow pace like an ordinary person.
For Thawne, this was an agonizing process.
Only after Tony's figure had receded into the distance did Thawne collapse weakly back into his wheelchair, his forehead beaded with sweat as he panted heavily.
"How could this be... that guy... How could he possibly make me feel fear!"
He buried his face in his hands, his venomous eyes peering out from between his fingers.
He feared no one, because he could never truly die; countless versions of him were active across the Timeline. But when he got close to Tony and looked him directly in the eyes... he truly felt that he could die.
He saw it, and could clearly taste death.
Tony was like an infinitely massive mountain, one that could shatter the Timeline and crush every single version of him to death in one fell swoop.
"The Speed Force is sending me a danger signal," Thawne said through gritted teeth, his expression grim.
The Speed Force is intertwined with the Timeline; it cannot lie.
Tony truly possessed the ability to annihilate every version of him.
The lights flickered, adding an indescribable gloom and chill to the laboratory. The Reverse-Flash, Thawne, sat silently in his wheelchair, then picked up his glasses and put them back on. He said nothing, his face terrifyingly dark.
Tony reached the entrance of the laboratory, where a few young people were gathered together, shooting the breeze, each holding a cup of steaming latte.
Barry handed a sealed cup to Tony. "I got one especially for you."
Tony took it with a smile and said, "Being fast is certainly convenient."
Pietro shot Tony a glare and muttered something under his breath.
"Pietro, if you don't want to go back to New York, you can stay here. I'll come get you after I've established a foothold in outer space," Tony said.
"No way! You have to take me first!" Pietro leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, clamoring for Tony to take him to explore the universe first. Tony promptly opened a portal and tossed him through to New York.
Barry shrugged. "Are you two... done talking?"
"We're done. I was consulting Dr. Harrison about some technical issues. You know I'm getting ready to build a planet, and I'm facing a lot of problems."
"Oh, about that, um... actually, while I'd love to go exploring in space, I think I prefer it here on Earth..." Cisco ventured cautiously.
Tony: "???"
(end of chapter)
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
Tony casually summoned a chair and sat down, leaning back comfortably. His calm gaze sized up Harrison, whose expression had suddenly turned cold.
"I've come to ask you for something," Tony said.
Harrison suddenly smiled, the curve of his lips just right, showcasing the composure of a middle-aged man. He slowly removed his glasses, no longer concealing his sinister eyes.
The glasses were placed on the adjacent table. Harrison sat in his wheelchair, narrowing his eyes.
Anyone familiar with him knew that this gesture—removing his glasses—meant his murderous intent had surfaced, that he could lash out and kill at any moment.
"I'm very curious, Mr. Tony—it's alright to call you that, isn't it? What could a doctor from a private research institute possibly have that would interest you?"
"The technology of the 25th century, and the technique you possess for extracting the Speed Force. I want those," Tony said coolly, sitting motionless in his chair.
Harrison suddenly laughed. "So you do know. The one who holds the title of Sorcerer Supreme can use the Time Stone to see through the Timeline. I suppose I couldn't hide my origins from you after all."
He stroked his chin, seeming somewhat troubled. His fingers fidgeted, seemingly unconsciously, while his venomous, snake-like eyes were filled with ruthlessness.
For a split second, he wanted to use his super speed to instantly kill Tony. They were too close, less than a meter apart. To him, a meter was within arm's reach. He could just reach out and plunge a hand, vibrating at high-frequency, into Tony's heart.
Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't kill Tony. It would be useless even if he exhausted all his Speed Force, unless he was solely focused on escaping.
"Thawne, a great scientist from the 25th century who chanced upon the tattered battle suit of the 21st-century The Flash—perhaps The Flash died at some point in time, and his suit drifted into your era, where you found it."
A cold sneer touched the corner of Tony's mouth. He slowly rose to his feet and walked over to Harrison—no, it should be Thawne—and looked down on him.
Thawne no longer feigned his disability and stood up from the wheelchair. His muscles tensed, and a faint yellow arc of electricity flashed in his eyes.
"Die, or give me all the technology you know, and I'll leave immediately," Tony said icily. "Even if you are a Speedster, I am confident I can kill you. And even if the other versions of you from other points in time come to avenge you, I will kill them one by one."
Thawne suddenly burst out laughing. He turned casually, then yellow arcs of electricity erupted, and in an instant, he was in front of Tony. A small hurricane kicked up, sending papers flying everywhere.
"So, if I give you the technology, you'll stay out of my business?"
"Correct. I won't interfere no matter how you tamper with Barry's suit to steal the Speed Force. Once I have your technology, I'll leave Earth immediately. You can do whatever you want then. You're a smart man, Thawne. You know what you should and shouldn't do. For instance, your meddling in Central City—neither the Ancient One nor I have bothered with you. But if you try to turn the entire Earth and universe into your battlefield..."
Thawne scoffed. He stared into Tony's eyes for a second, then stiffly took a step back. It was as if his very bones were trembling.
Thawne opened his computer and, using his super speed, skillfully typed in a password. He was so fast that he left numerous afterimages in the air, a movement honed through countless repetitions. A massive amount of complex data was transferred to a USB drive, which he then unplugged and tossed to Tony.
"I've transferred all the 25th-century technology I possess. The Speed Force technology is in there too."
Thawne maintained his composure, trying to alleviate the immense mental pressure with varied expressions and subtle movements.
His sixth sense had been blaring warnings frantically. His perception, enhanced by the Speed Force, was feeding him fatal signals. The moment he tossed the USB drive over, the sense of crisis suddenly eased.
"You're very smart, Thawne," Tony said, giving him a deep look.
The long string of code Thawne had just entered wasn't a password to unlock the data packet, but a command to re-edit a seemingly meaningless stream of data.
Any other top-tier hacker would be unable to sort through the chaotic, disordered data stream. Even if they knew the correct sequence for arranging the data, it would take them years to piece it together.
Even Tony himself wouldn't have been able to sort through that chaotic data; he couldn't possibly analyze the structure of a skyscraper from a pile of scattered sand.
What Thawne did in those few seconds was use the super speed and super-thinking granted by the Speed Force to rearrange the data, compiling each piece of top-tier technology.
That was why Tony said he was smart. Too smart.
Tony snatched the USB drive. The Allspark particles activated, and he instantly grasped its contents. He comprehended the key Speed Force technology, which involved complex technologies like temporal observation and small-scale spatial jumps.
"Behave yourself, Thawne. And get the hell back to your own time as soon as possible."
Leaving him with those cold words, Tony started walking towards the laboratory's exit, moving at a slow pace like an ordinary person.
For Thawne, this was an agonizing process.
Only after Tony's figure had receded into the distance did Thawne collapse weakly back into his wheelchair, his forehead beaded with sweat as he panted heavily.
"How could this be... that guy... How could he possibly make me feel fear!"
He buried his face in his hands, his venomous eyes peering out from between his fingers.
He feared no one, because he could never truly die; countless versions of him were active across the Timeline. But when he got close to Tony and looked him directly in the eyes... he truly felt that he could die.
He saw it, and could clearly taste death.
Tony was like an infinitely massive mountain, one that could shatter the Timeline and crush every single version of him to death in one fell swoop.
"The Speed Force is sending me a danger signal," Thawne said through gritted teeth, his expression grim.
The Speed Force is intertwined with the Timeline; it cannot lie.
Tony truly possessed the ability to annihilate every version of him.
The lights flickered, adding an indescribable gloom and chill to the laboratory. The Reverse-Flash, Thawne, sat silently in his wheelchair, then picked up his glasses and put them back on. He said nothing, his face terrifyingly dark.
Tony reached the entrance of the laboratory, where a few young people were gathered together, shooting the breeze, each holding a cup of steaming latte.
Barry handed a sealed cup to Tony. "I got one especially for you."
Tony took it with a smile and said, "Being fast is certainly convenient."
Pietro shot Tony a glare and muttered something under his breath.
"Pietro, if you don't want to go back to New York, you can stay here. I'll come get you after I've established a foothold in outer space," Tony said.
"No way! You have to take me first!" Pietro leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, clamoring for Tony to take him to explore the universe first. Tony promptly opened a portal and tossed him through to New York.
Barry shrugged. "Are you two... done talking?"
"We're done. I was consulting Dr. Harrison about some technical issues. You know I'm getting ready to build a planet, and I'm facing a lot of problems."
"Oh, about that, um... actually, while I'd love to go exploring in space, I think I prefer it here on Earth..." Cisco ventured cautiously.
Tony: "???"
(end of chapter)
