Chapter 54: The Forcefield Device, Confronting Zoom.
In a hidden underground facility deep within Central City, Zoom stood before an ominous piece of machinery. The dim lighting flickered over the sleek, blackened surface of the particle bomb, a device bristling with conduits and glowing with pulsating energy. The dark matter generator hummed ominously, its vibrations resonating through the room like a low growl.
Zoom's piercing red eyes gleamed as he observed the final piece being locked into place—a small, spherical antimatter capsule, stolen from a high-security research facility weeks earlier. The capsule glowed faintly, its containment field barely holding the destructive force within.
A group of coerced scientists, fear etched into their faces, worked frantically around the machine. Zoom's intimidating presence loomed over them, his voice a chilling whisper.
"Faster," Zoom growled. "You don't have much time left, and neither does this world."
One of the scientists hesitated, his trembling hands dropping a wrench. Zoom appeared beside him in a blink, his hand gripping the man's throat.
"You seem to misunderstand the stakes," Zoom hissed. "If you fail, you won't have the luxury of a quick death. I'll ensure you experience pain beyond comprehension."
The scientist nodded rapidly, and Zoom released him with a sneer, watching as the team redoubled their efforts. The dark speedster turned his gaze to the towering particle accelerator in the center of the room. It was a grotesque amalgamation of stolen tech and experimental designs, its framework pulsating with energy. The machine thrummed with raw power, crackling as it began drawing dark matter, X-radiation, and exotic particles.
Zoom's lips curled into a sinister grin.
"This city, this world," he murmured to himself, "will crumble under the weight of its own creation. Dark matter, X-radiation, antimatter… a perfect storm of destruction. And as the singularity tears this planet apart, the barriers between universes will weaken."
He clenched his fists, vibrating slightly with anticipation.
"They'll never see me coming," he said, his voice dark and triumphant. "My path to the speedsters of every reality will be clear. Unchecked. Unstoppable."
One of the scientists hesitantly stepped forward. "The... the countdown is set, sir. The particle accelerator will reach critical mass in three hours."
Zoom turned to him, his red lightning flickering ominously. "Good. Ensure nothing disrupts the process. If anyone interferes…" He didn't need to finish his sentence; the menace in his tone said it all.
Zoom took a step back, his arms crossed as he watched the machinery come alive, its lights growing brighter and its hum intensifying. The walls of the facility shook slightly, and the energy within the bomb began to stabilize, preparing to release its cataclysmic payload.
"Three hours," Zoom whispered. "And this world will cease to exist. A perfect example of my power and the futility of resistance."
He vanished in a flash of blue lightning, leaving the terrified scientists alone with their impending doom. The countdown continued, a grim reminder of the annihilation to come. The clock was ticking.
Ethan and Barry arrived at the location where Zoom's energy signature was detected. The night was eerily silent, with the occasional crackle of blue lightning streaking through the air. The ominous hum of power in the atmosphere sent shivers down Barry's spine.
From the shadows, Zoom stepped forward, his black suit glinting in the dim light and his red eyes glowing with malevolence. His voice was a low, menacing growl.
"Well, well," Zoom said, his gaze flicking between Barry and Ethan. "Barry Allen, still clinging to hope. And you…" He turned to Ethan. "A stranger in this world. Did you come here seeking salvation? Or just to die?"
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Inside the bustling laboratory of S.T.A.R. Labs, Ethan Harper and Cisco Ramon worked tirelessly over a table cluttered with tools, wires, and glowing components. The two had been at it for hours, trading ideas and jokes to keep the atmosphere light despite the looming threat of Zoom.
"I'm telling you, man," Cisco said, tightening a bolt on the prototype device, "if this works, I'm naming it the Cisco Containment Cube."
Ethan raised an eyebrow as he carefully soldered a circuit. "What happened to collaboration? We're both working on this."
Cisco smirked. "Fine, fine. The Harper-Ramon Containment Field. Happy?"
"Much better," Ethan replied, a rare smile gracing his face.
The concept was deceptively simple yet immensely complex in execution. By creating a forcefield so dense that even speedsters like Zoom couldn't phase or vibrate through it, they would finally have a way to trap him. With Ethan's knowledge of alien technology and Cisco's engineering genius, the device was finally coming together.
Ethan stood back, examining the prototype, a compact cube-like device with pulsating blue light running through its seams. "Helios, run a diagnostic scan on the containment field generator."
Helios responded promptly. "Scanning... The device is operational. The forcefield density exceeds projected requirements. The probability of containment is 92%."
Cisco whooped in excitement. "92%! I'll take those odds any day!"
Ethan gave a curt nod. "Let's test it. Barry!"
Barry Allen zipped into the room in a blur of red. "What's up?"
"We need you to test this," Ethan explained, holding up the device. "We're going to create a forcefield around you. Try to get out of it."
Barry hesitated, eyeing the glowing cube. "You sure this is safe?"
"Don't worry, Flash," Cisco said with a grin. "If it works, it'll hold Zoom. If it doesn't... well, you can phase through anything, right?"
Barry sighed. "Fine. Let's do it."
Ethan activated the device, and a shimmering, translucent forcefield formed around Barry, enclosing him in a perfect cube. Barry moved to phase out, his body vibrating at super-speed, but the forcefield held firm. He tried running against the walls, punching, and even generating lightning, but nothing worked.
"This thing is solid!" Barry exclaimed, stopping to catch his breath.
Cisco pumped his fist in the air. "Yes! We're geniuses!"
Ethan deactivated the field, and Barry stepped out, shaking his head in amazement. "If this can hold me, it'll definitely hold Zoom."
As they celebrated, alarms blared from the lab's main console. Cisco hurried over, his cheerful demeanor vanishing as he scanned the readings.
"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, moving to stand beside him.
"Zoom," Cisco said grimly, pointing to the screen. The satellite feed displayed a familiar blue lightning trail streaking across the city. "He's active."
Barry's expression darkened, and he suited up immediately. "Where is he?"
Cisco tapped the screen, triangulating Zoom's energy signature. "He's in the industrial district. Looks like he's moving fast—no surprise there."
Ethan grabbed the containment device and nodded to Barry. "Let's go."
The two heroes sped out of S.T.A.R. Labs, ready to confront Zoom and put their invention to the ultimate test.
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Ethan's silver-white suit shimmered under the dim light as he stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Zoom. "I've seen your kind before—tyrants who think they can break others to feed their own ego. You won't get away with it here."
Zoom let out a dark laugh. "Bold words for someone who doesn't understand what they're dealing with."
"Try me," Ethan replied coolly, his fists glowing faintly with moon energy.
Zoom didn't wait. In a burst of blue lightning, he lunged at Barry, their clash sending shockwaves through the air. Ethan jumped in, swinging with his immense strength, forcing Zoom to dodge. Zoom blurred away, his voice echoing from different points in the battlefield.
"You're strong, stranger," Zoom taunted. "But strength means nothing if you can't catch me!"
Barry zipped around, trying to corner Zoom, but the villain was always one step ahead. Ethan watched, analyzing Zoom's movements. When Zoom lunged at Barry again, Ethan unleashed a blast of moon energy, forcing Zoom to veer off course.
"You're fast," Ethan said, his tone measured. "But you're predictable."
Zoom's red eyes narrowed. He charged Ethan at blinding speed, landing a punch that sent Ethan sliding back but did no real damage. Ethan retaliated with a ground-shaking blow, narrowly missing Zoom, who twisted away at the last second.
The fight raged on, with Barry and Zoom exchanging rapid blows. Ethan strategically used his strength to create shockwaves, disrupting Zoom's rhythm and forcing him to stay on the defensive.
Zoom suddenly lunged at Ethan, aiming for a quick takedown, but Ethan's eyes flashed with a petrifying light. Zoom froze mid-step, his movements sluggish as the beam's effect momentarily overcame him.
"Barry, now!" Ethan shouted.
Barry raised the cold gun Cisco had built and fired a concentrated blast of freezing energy at Zoom. The speedster struggled against the icy grip but found his movements slowed drastically.
"You think this will hold me?" Zoom growled, his voice venomous.
Ethan and Barry activated the forcefield generator. A shimmering dome of energy surrounded Zoom, trapping him. He tried to vibrate through it, but the ultra-dense field resisted even his speed.
Zoom let out a mocking laugh. "You might have trapped me, but you're too late. This world is already doomed."
"What are you talking about?" Barry demanded, his voice filled with urgency.
Zoom's red eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction. "I built a particle bomb, infused with dark matter and antimatter. In just under two hours, it will detonate, flooding this world with energies that will create a singularity. Your precious Central City—and everything else—will be gone. And the barriers between universes will shatter."
Ethan's expression darkened. "Where is it?"
Zoom smirked. "Do you really think I'd make it easy for you? By the time you find it, this world will be ash."
Before Ethan or Barry could respond, Zoom cackled. "You've stopped me, but you haven't stopped the inevitable. Good luck, heroes."
Back in S.T.A.R. Labs, alarms blared. Cisco's voice crackled through their communicators.
"Guys, we're picking up massive energy readings—dark matter and antimatter—emanating from somewhere in the city," Cisco said, his voice panicked. "It's the biggest reaction we've ever seen. If it detonates, it could collapse into a singularity and take this universe with it."
Caitlin chimed in. "We need to find the source and deactivate it. Fast."
Barry looked at Ethan, determination in his eyes. "We have to stop this. Now."
Ethan nodded, his tone resolute. "Let's move."
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Good day everyone, I am your favourite author, sorry for not uploading yesterday, I had something important to do.
Uploading will continue as usual with 3 chapters per day.
And I want to use this medium to tell you that I have started writing a new novel, Hero in ancient Greece. It will be very interesting. It is available here on webnovel. Just input the name Hero in ancient Greece.
I hope to see you support me, and by the way I need some power stones please. Thanks