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### **
The thunder roared across the night sky, followed by streaks of blinding lightning that split the heavens. Deep in the enchanted forest outside Magnolia, Laxus Dreyar stood in the middle of a scorched clearing. Sparks of his **Dragon Slayer lightning** crackled around him as he practiced his newest spell, a risky fusion of his own magic and a raw form of thunder magic he'd been experimenting with for months.
The air was thick with energy, and his golden hair whipped wildly in the storm he'd conjured. Then, without warning, the experiment went awry. A burst of light and sound ripped through the clearing as an overwhelming surge of energy swallowed the sky.
When the light faded, Laxus stood frozen, staring at the smoking crater left behind. His breathing was heavy, and his brow furrowed. "What the hell…?"
Amid the debris, a figure appeared—small, barely the size of a child. A boy, no older than ten, lay motionless, his body surrounded by fading arcs of electricity.
Laxus blinked in confusion and instinctively rushed forward. "Oi! Kid!" he shouted, kneeling next to the boy. His tattered clothes were singed at the edges, and his vibrant red boots stood out against the dull gray of the soot-covered ground. The boy's pale face was calm, but his lips trembled as if trying to form words.
Laxus hesitated, guilt creeping into his chest. *Did my magic do this? Did I summon him here?*
"Gramps needs to see this," Laxus muttered, carefully lifting the boy in his arms. The moment he touched him, a faint spark danced between them, startling Laxus. "What the—?!"
The boy's eyes fluttered open for the briefest moment, hazy and unfocused. He muttered something, his voice barely audible over the distant rumble of thunder.
"...Fairy Tail…? Multiverse…? SpeedForce…"
Laxus froze, his grip tightening slightly. "SpeedForce?" he repeated under his breath, an unfamiliar chill running down his spine. But before he could say more, the boy's head lolled back, unconscious once again.
Without wasting time, Laxus bolted through the forest, carrying the boy straight to the one person he trusted with strange situations: Porlyusica.
---
### **Scene: Porlyusica's Cottage**
The boy awoke to muffled voices, his eyelids heavy and his vision blurry. The first thing he saw was the faint outline of three figures: a young man crackling with lightning, an elderly woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, and a stout older man with a surprisingly warm presence despite his scolding tone.
"Laxus, you idiot!" Makarov's voice boomed. "What kind of magic experiment ends with summoning a child into a blasted crater?!"
"It wasn't intentional!" Laxus snapped, his voice defensive. "I thought it was just lightning—how was I supposed to know this would happen?"
"And now you've brought him to *me*," Porlyusica grumbled, glaring at both of them. "The boy is clearly injured, and you two are just standing there like fools! Out! Both of you!" She waved her hands like a bird shooing off predators, her sharp gaze leaving no room for argument.
The boy groaned, drawing their attention. His lips moved weakly, mumbling words they couldn't quite hear.
"Wait," Laxus said, leaning closer. "What did he just say?"
The boy's voice was faint but clear enough this time: "...SpeedForce…"
Laxus's eyes narrowed. The word tugged at something in his mind—something intriguing yet foreign.
"Laxus," Porlyusica snapped, snapping him out of his thoughts. "I said out! Let me work!"
Reluctantly, Laxus stepped back, shooting one last glance at the boy before following Makarov out of the room.
---
### **Scene: Barry's Mind—The SpeedForce System**
Inside his mind, Barry found himself surrounded by an endless expanse of electric blue light, humming with energy. He recognized this place immediately—the SpeedForce, but…different.
"So, this is your second chance, huh?" a voice echoed.
Barry spun around, startled, and saw a humanoid figure made entirely of shimmering electricity. Its form was indistinct, constantly shifting, but its voice was calm and sharp.
"Who…?" Barry began, his voice hoarse.
"I'm the SpeedForce. Or rather, a manifestation of it, tailored just for you," the figure explained. "You can call me…The SpeedForce System."
Barry frowned, his mind racing. "System? What does that mean?"
The figure chuckled. "Think of it like a video game. You've been reset—your speed, your abilities, everything—but I'm here to help you unlock it all again. Step by step. Quest by quest."
"Wait, reset?" Barry's chest tightened. "Why? Why did you bring me here?"
"Because you deserved a second chance," the System replied simply. "You've made mistakes, Barry Allen. Big ones. But deep down, you're still a hero. And now, you're in a world where you can start over. No Flash, no Savitar—just you. And this time, no shortcuts. You'll have to *earn* it."
Barry clenched his fists. Memories of his life—his victories, his failures, his death—flooded his mind. "I don't deserve this…"
"That's for you to decide," the System said, its tone softening. "But if you're going to survive in this world, you'll need to adapt. Magic, guilds, dragons—it's not Central City anymore."
Barry let out a shaky breath. "So…where do I start?"
The System's form flickered, and a glowing text interface appeared in front of Barry's eyes, displaying his stats:
**SpeedForce System - Level 0**
- Speed: Locked
- Reflexes: Locked
- Stamina: Level 1
- Abilities: None
**Quest Unlocked: Adapt to the New World**
- **Objective 1**: Learn about the world of Fairy Tail.
- **Objective 2**: Gain trust from the guild that saved you.
- **Objective 3**: Unlock basic speed abilities.
"Looks like you're starting from scratch, champ," the System teased. "Good luck."
---
### **Scene: Waking Up in Reality**
Barry's eyes snapped open, and the electric blue glow of the SpeedForce faded from his vision. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light of the room. The walls were lined with herbs and potions, and the faint smell of antiseptic filled the air.
Sitting nearby was the old woman, Porlyusica, muttering under her breath as she ground some herbs.
Barry groaned, trying to sit up. The movement caught Porlyusica's attention, and she turned to glare at him. "Lie back down, boy! You're in no condition to move!"
Barry flinched, muttering, "Not even a 'good morning'? Tough crowd…"
Porlyusica narrowed her eyes. "Smart mouth for someone who was half-dead when they arrived."
Before Barry could respond, the door burst open, and Laxus and Makarov entered.
"You're awake," Makarov said, relief evident in his voice. "Good. Now, who are you, and what were you doing out there?"
Barry hesitated, his mind racing. How could he explain any of this without sounding insane? He glanced at Laxus, who was watching him closely, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
"I…don't remember much," Barry lied, his voice shaky. "Just…a lot of lightning."
"Lightning, huh?" Laxus muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Barry's stomach churned under the weight of their scrutiny. *This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.*
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