Chapter 4 - Power

A Goal.

Something one worked towards, their hunger never being satiated until they got it.

However, sometimes this determination wasn't enough. 

Sometimes, no matter how hungry or desperate you are, you can't achieve your goal.

Why was this?

Because you weren't destined to? Because you simply weren't good enough?

Maybe.

However, what if there was a way…what if there was something that allowed you to build a smooth bridge that led straight to your goal without any obstacles?

Something that felt like it was almost a cheat to life, like it almost wasn't fair to have.

'Power…'

Would you work toward that cheat? Or risk achieving your impossible goal without it.

Believe it or not, there was only one right answer.

***

"It's done, my Lord." 

In the grassy plains, the bright light disappeared as the chill and darkness of the night rightfully took its place.

Derek lay on the ground, completely unconscious as Alchemy and Savitar stood over him.

"It went exactly like you said it would." Alchemy bowed, complimenting his master.

"Did you doubt me? With this, I will prepare now for an inevitable victory and…"

Savitar paused in his words as he stared into blank space. 

Alchemy looked up, confused, only to see Savitar slowly look back, as if to catch something.

And as he did…

-VUAM!!!

-VRRR!!!

"Well well well…"

Savitar stared at a figure who suddenly appeared in the grassy plains, Star Labs behind them as red lightning crackled around him.

With a skin-tight yellow suit, blurred face as if it were being shaken side to side at unfathomable speeds and menacing red eyes, the figure spoke with a boom in their voice.

"Who screwed up the Timeline?"

"Thawne." 

A hint of distaste seeped into Savitar's voice as he faced the figure.

"I thought I went crazy when I sensed the SpeedForce energy of a second Barry Allen. Really, it was just you. Savitar, God of Speed."

Thawne spoke, clapping as he feigned enthusiasm in mock.

"You shouldn't be here yet."

"Should you be the one to speak of meddling within the Timeline, Thawne?" Savitar replied, causing the latter to shrug.

"Fair enough."

At that moment, Thawne, traced his glowing red eyes over Alchemy, dismissing him as they lingered on the unconscious boy lying on the ground.

"Who might he be?" 

Being from the future, it was rare that Thawne didn't recognise anyone important. 

"Is he the reason for this Aberration?" Thawne asked. 

"That is of little concern to you."

Thawne turned his gaze back to Savitar.

"Be that as it may, whatever caused this is of little concern to me. However, you being here risks my plans."

"I think we both know your current presence here is doing you more harm than good. The Flash is still not ready."

"Your time will come. As will Zooms and as will Devoe. But until then, be patient."

Thawne simply stated the obvious. And no matter what their relationship may be, Savitar could not dispute this.

Well, that was before Derek at least.

"An hour ago, I'd have agreed with you. However, things have changed. Things will change. And you have no place or relevance to my plans."

Savitar slowly bent his legs, glaring at the quiet Thawne.

"I know you're just a Time Remnant of him, but you piss me off all the same."

Thawne's tone lowered as he too bent his legs, his hands by his side.

"I was just about to say the same thing."

With this...

-CRACKLE!!!

-BOOM!!!

-VUAM!!!

-VRRR!!!

In less than a second, the two disappeared as their figures were replaced with bright White and Red lightning respectively.

The streaks of lightning raced around the grassy plains, conjoining a few times before one of them was tossed into a random direction, usually the Red one.

"Amazing. He's matching Lord Savitar in speed." Alchemy muttered, trying his best to catch as much as he could but to no avail.

However, even he could tell who had the upper hand.

Despite this spectacle, Alchemy was distracted as he noticed a familiar downed youth slowly make his way to his feet.

***

'What the fuck just happened?'

I made my way to my feet, my head ringing with pain as I tried to focus on the screen before me.

-CRACKLE!!!

-VRRR!!!

However, my heart skipped a beat as a familiar noise entered my ears. 

I slowly looked up to confirm my thoughts, only to see a streak of White Lightning and another Red Lightning zooming around the grassy plains where they stood.

"Reverse Flash...When..."

Before I could finish my question, my eyes wide and heart rapidly beating, another voice cut me off.

"How..."

I turned to see Alchemy, his eyes under the mask so wide they almost popped out of his skull.

"What did you do?!" Alchemy raised his voice.

'I've only wielded the Stone for a short time but even then, I still can't sense it anywhere inside him.'

Alchemy thought, eyeing the youth up and down.

"I'll be honest, I'm not too sure myself." I smiled as I answered.

I didn't smile to mock him or because I had something "Up my sleeve".

-CRACKLE!!!

-VRRRR!!!

No, it was simple really.

I looked around, seeing the two speedsters were nowhere to be seen, their battle continuing elsewhere.

I knew I needed to leave since I didn't want what happened before to repeat itself.

However, the previous torture I endured was still fresh in my mind. 

Therefore, before I did...

"You will tell me what happened..."

Alchemy reached out his arm in an attempt to grab me.

However...

-BANG

To Alchemy, it looked as if I suddenly disappeared from his sight.

However, with my body low, both hands on the ground as my hips swung, my legs moving upwards with this movement, my foot cracked him around his face like a whip.

"I'm going to make you pay for what you did to me," I muttered, glaring at Alchemy who stumbled backwards.

The masked man grabbed the point of impact, shaking his head in an attempt to dispel the dizziness the blow caused.

I didn't give him a chance to recover as I dashed forward.

'I'm not strong nor am I fast. I need to put my whole body into the attack and hit him in his vitals. As for speed...'

Alchemy and my eyes met as he watched me raise my right hand, about to throw a cross, to which he raised both hands before his face to protect himself.

'I'll bluff!'

This sight was like a gift to me as I lowered my hand, moving low as I traversed around his body, my eyes locked on the side of his body.

"I win, Malfoy."

-BANG

"GAH!!!"

I landed a solid punch onto Alchemy's liver, causing him to heave whatever air he had in his lungs.

I watched his body shut down as he dropped to one knee.

-BANG

I refused to let up as I threw another kick, my shin bone landing square in his face.

His head was flung back. The damage was so great it caused blood to ooze from the side of his mask.

Alchemy landed on his back, arms spread out as he heaved.

Despite this clear indication of submission, I made my way toward him.

I breathed heavily, my stamina depleted.

But I didn't stop as I slumped onto Alchemy, raising my hand.

-BANG

Then again, I raised my other.

-BANG

And again.

-BANG

-BANG 

-BANG

'What...am I doing?'

As a minute passed, I continued. 

But this thought occurred to me as I struck Alchemy who had long stopped moving.

'I need to leave. I...they'll be back at any moment.'

I knew this. I knew it was unwise to stay for so long unneserily. 

Yet...I didn't want to go.

[You have selected the latter]

'No, that's not true. I know why.'

I wanted it.

What the Reverse Flash and Savitar had.

The power.

If I left right now, I'd only end up running into Savitar or the Reverse Flash later.

I couldn't...I wouldn't achieve my goal like this. 

Looking over my shoulder and hoping something like this wouldn't happen again if I tried to act.

I didn't want that.

I didn't want to be weak.

So what was stopping me from turning and engaging the speedsters?

Why was I still wasting time on Alchemy when he was probably dead right now?

Why was I...

"I'm scared!"

-BANG!!!

I raised both fists, striking Alchemy once more as I finally stopped, breathing heavily.

I still remember it. The overpowering feeling Savitar gave off as if he were a predator and I was a scared prey.

The cold metallic fingers wrapped around my forearms, restraining me as I couldn't do a single thing about it.

What changed now? Why would it be different now if he decided to engage?

Thinking this, I turned my head, staring at the screen that was still hovering in the corner of my eye.

[The Requirements for the Holy Grail have been met]

'Holy Grail?'

[You have chosen the path of Power]

[You have unlocked a new feature of the System, exclusive to you]

'Exclusive to me? Does that mean to say there are others?'

[Congratulations! You have Unlocked the Feature "Attribute Collection"]

[You desire this world's power. You can now collect Attributes]

I stared at this last screen for a few seconds. 

In the next second, I rose to my feet.

'I'm scared...'

It was true.

However, I remembered this story. What it meant to me. 

I'd be damned if I let this squander this opportunity.

In the end, my ambition was more powerful than my fear.

"I...will perfect this story!"

I yelled, snapping my head back, eyes wide and heart racing.

I instantly noticed the streaks of Red and White Lightning racing in the distance.

Raising my hand, I pointed it at the white lightning as best I could.

"Collect!"

-WISHHHH

I blinked as a blue card appeared before me, exuding a blue gas as it split into three.

'Of course. I don't know why I expected this to be simple.'

I thought, the System replying quickly after.

[A Story that demands no suspense is a flawed one...]

'Yeah yeah, I get it.'

I waved off the screen.

With no time to waste, I snatched the left card as a bright glow caused me to squint my eyes.

[You have collected an Attribute from the Character "Savitar"]

[You have gained the Eclipse Suit]

I read this, my expression quickly contorting to an unamused one.

[Savitar created the suit to benefit him as a speedster. Therefore, it would be of no use to you.]

[The Eclipse suit will undergo a transformation to adapt to you.]

'His suit? What kind of Attribute is that?'

When he half expected to become a speedster, he was met with this.

However, to his surprise, he was answered.

["Attributes" can be a range of things. From Superhuman abilities, learnable techniques, Physical/Mental perks and even Items.]

[The grade of the Attribute depends on how well you "Understand" the character]

'You're only telling me this now?'

I scratched my head, knowing time was tight. 

'This raises more questions than it answers. What does it mean "Understand"?'

I had watched this show countless times to completion. 

I probably understood most of these characters better than they did themselves at this point in time.

'Ugh, I don't have time to figure it out right now.'

[The Eclipse has been completed.]

[Attribute acquired]

[Item: Eclipse]

[Description: Once functioning as an Armour for Savitar that allowed him to boost his speed among other things, it has undergone changes to adapt to wearer Derek Bond]

[Abilities: 

Adaptability: The Eclipse now functions to suit the user's needs, whatever they may be. As a malleable material, it will obey the user's commands. Whether it may be armour, a weapon or even simple clothes.]

Out of thin air, an obsidian, slime-like ball the size of a football appeared from thin air, hovering before me.

Though I read the description the system gave on it, I didn't need to notice the…connection I had with the ball.

It was a mental one as if the ball was drawing me in, wishing for a command.

However, I didn't have time to appreciate this as I looked away from the ball, witnessing the two speedsters still battling.

He placed his hand over the slime, focused as a simple thought of his caused the slime to shift.

-GLOB

In a second, it went from a smooth sphere to a long simple spear, hovering in the air over me as I pulled back my arm as if I were getting ready to throw.

However…

'This won't work. I can't even see them.'

I thought as I sweat, eyes squinted but to no avail.

I couldn't even follow along with his eyes. What chance did I have at hitting them?

'Shit…'

I raised my free hand, pointing at the two speedsters. Or one of them to be more specific.

'One more chance. I just need a single advantage. Come on!'

I yelled inwardly, my teeth gritting as I directed my attention to the Red Lightning.

"Draw!"