"Boom!"
Diana was caught off guard and struck by the bolt of lightning, sending her crashing into a wall before falling to the ground.
Before she could recover, a pair of gloved red hands pinned her down.
"Don't move, or I don't know what I might do!"
A human voice came from her assailant.
Diana looked closely. It was a man clad in red armor and a helmet, with only his eyes and mouth visible.
"You're human? Or is this just a form you've taken?"
Diana narrowed her eyes and questioned him.
"I'm human! What do you mean, form? Who are you, and why have you killed so many people?"
The man shouted, clearly agitated.
"Me? Kill them?"
Diana raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Yes! Witnesses said someone used a whip to drag people underground and a sword to impale others. That's you, isn't it?"
The man's tone was accusatory.
"A whip and a sword?"
Diana glanced at the lasso at her waist and the sword in her hand.
"Exactly! Who are you? Why are you killing so many people and digging these massive tunnels?"
The man demanded answers, growing increasingly frustrated.
"Is this your first time trying this? Pinning someone down by their shoulders won't subdue them. Or is it that you don't know how to handle a woman?"
Diana abruptly changed the subject, catching the man off guard.
"Huh? What?!"
Her remark seemed to hit a nerve, leaving him flustered and speechless.
"Bang!"
In a swift motion, Diana kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him flying.
"Oof!"
The man clutched his chest in pain, groaning as he struggled to get up. For a moment, he thought he was going to die.
"Listen, kid. If you want to subdue someone, you need to be a lot more decisive," Diana said as she calmly walked toward him.
Seeing her approach, the man's body erupted with lightning, and he instantly moved to a safer distance.
"You can control lightning?"
Diana asked, intrigued by his ability.
"No, I can move as fast as lightning. Wait, why am I explaining this to you?"
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a guttural, beast-like roar echoed through the tunnels. It was eerie and otherworldly, sending chills down their spines.
Thick sulfuric smoke began to seep out of the tunnels, filling the air with its acrid stench.
"What's making that sound?!"
"The thing you're looking for—the Flame Giant," Diana replied, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Finally, her quarry was making itself known.
"What? So you're not the killer? I'm so sorry!"
Realizing his mistake, the man quickly bowed in apology.
"Now's not the time for apologies. Get ready to fight. That thing isn't friendly," Diana said, her twin swords gleaming as she prepared for battle.
"Okay, come on, Barry. You should've figured this out sooner. They described something massive, and this woman is clearly not it," he muttered to himself, berating his own oversight.
"So your name is Barry," Diana said, picking up on his self-talk.
Barry froze, realizing he had revealed his identity. He flailed awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'm Diana, but most people know me as Wonder Woman. And you?"
"I'm the Flash. That's what they call me in Central City," Barry answered hastily.
A violent wind suddenly swept through the tunnels, bringing with it waves of scorching heat. Flames erupted around them, setting the ground ablaze.
"What in the world is this?"
Barry stared in disbelief at the fiery chaos surrounding them.
"It's here!"
Diana turned toward the source of the disturbance, raising her sword and slashing into a nearby tunnel. A radiant beam of light shot through the darkness, illuminating the space.
The explosion that followed shook the ground and walls violently.
A torrent of fire erupted from the tunnel, surging toward Diana.
Diana swiftly raised her shield. When the flames struck it, an invisible force split the fire, diverting it harmlessly to either side.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Loud, heavy footsteps echoed from the tunnel. Each step caused the ground to quake.
Through the inferno, a towering figure emerged.
It had a red-hot, rock-like body with massive ram-like horns on its head. In its left hand, it wielded a colossal sword, and its right hand was coiled with a whip.
With each step, the fire around it intensified, transforming the cavern into a blazing hellscape filled with suffocating smoke.
If an ordinary person were here, they would have been incinerated or suffocated instantly.
"What... is that? A living statue?"
Barry stammered, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief.
"Kid, it's time to fight. Take care of yourself," Diana said, launching into action.
She swung her Excalibur, unleashing a flurry of radiant blades that rained down on the Flame Giant like a storm.
The light blades carved deep gashes into the giant, yet no blood flowed. Instead, flames erupted from the wounds, and the damaged areas quickly regenerated as if they had never been harmed.
"RAAAAAH!"
Diana let out a fierce battle cry, charging at the giant with her Excalibur.
The Flame Giant countered with its massive sword, clashing with Diana's.
"Boom!"
The impact of their weapons created a shockwave that fractured the surrounding rock walls.
Barry watched in awe, his jaw dropping. He had never seen a human fight with such overwhelming power.
On the Yellow Lantern Jet
Bruce Wayne observed the battle on his screen while keeping an eye on Barry.
"Barry... The Flash. Alfred, investigate this person immediately," Bruce commanded, taking a deep breath.
Although Gotham had seen its share of superpowered criminals, none had abilities quite like Barry's lightning-fast movements.
Bruce's cautious nature compelled him to gather every bit of information on Barry. If this newcomer turned out to be a threat, Bruce wanted to be prepared.
(End of Chapter)
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