American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 209 Barry Allen.

Once the decision is made, there is no hesitation in taking action.

Locke stood on the wooden floor in the center of the barn, worn smooth by time, surrounded by piles of hay that emitted a faint fragrance.

"Platinum Star" quietly appeared behind him, gripping the legendary demonic blade tightly in his hand.

A faint blue light flowed slowly across the blade, sometimes solidifying like a substance, sometimes dissipating like mist.

Rong En remained silent for a moment.

Finally, he spoke again, in the same calm and even tone:

"Why don't you send a text message to the 'you' in the other universe to schedule a visit? Otherwise, if you see a spatial rift appearing at your doorstep, you'll think the enemy has attacked."

As always, it's a dry joke, but this time...
Locke found it unexpectedly amusing.

The tense atmosphere immediately eased.

He turned to look at Rong En, a smile in his eyes:

"Rong En, that joke is very fitting!"

Then he flicked his wrist slightly, and the demonic blood within him that transcended time and space intensified, causing the demonic blade to blaze with blue light.

The blade, imbued with immense energy, was about to slash fiercely down into the void ahead.

"Om-!"

It was forcibly stopped.

Locke paused for a moment.

He stopped exerting force, and the eerie light surrounding the blade dimmed slightly.

Turning to look at Rong En, who was standing guard to the side, he coughed lightly:
"Rong En, before we leave, go to the kitchen and get me some things."

"?"

Rong En looked surprised.

But he didn't ask any more questions and his figure blurred.

A few minutes later, he reappeared, carrying a rather sturdy-looking basket filled with some things.

Locke took the basket with satisfaction and carried it in his hand.

then
He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and slowly closed his eyes. No longer relying on his limited vision, he immersed himself in the world, using the extraordinary perception of the "Platinum Star" behind him to penetrate his spiritual senses into his Dragon Court space.

He searched and captured carefully in that vast and chaotic inner space.

When Shen Du traveled with him to a parallel universe, he unintentionally or instinctively left behind an extremely faint yet incredibly clear and unique aura at the connection point between the Dragon Court space and that universe.

That perfect time-space anchor point.

Is this it? The residual energy is too faint...

Is it this? I feel like I'm going in the wrong direction...

Why is that kid marking his aura everywhere?

Locke frowned slightly, and after a moment...
found it!
A very distant aura, like a lighthouse in a dark ocean.

Locke suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharpening.

He made a loose clenching motion with his left hand, as if he had grasped that invisible and intangible anchor point of energy.

Behind him, the demonic sword gripped by "Platinum Star" once again burst forth with a dazzling azure light.

This time, the blade trembled and emitted a pleasant hum. It not only sensed the weak points in space, but also, under Locke's powerful will, locked onto that specific spatial node.

"Star Platinum!"

Locke gave a low shout and no longer hesitated.

His stand-in moved accordingly, and the Yama Blade drew a cross of cold light in the void in front of him!
"Hiss-!"

There was no earth-shattering noise, only the sharp sound of silk being forcibly torn.

In the center of the barn, like a canvas torn open by an invisible giant hand, a cross-shaped crack suddenly appeared, its edges twisting and flashing with chaotic energy and eerie blue arcs of electricity!
The inside of the crack is not pure darkness, but rather a bizarre, rapidly flowing display of colors and blurry images.

Through the center of that unstable passage, one could even vaguely see the scene on the other side.

—It's the same farm, but bathed in the warm, golden-red glow of the setting sun.

This is the Kent Farm from that parallel universe!
Locke, with his precise control over the "Platinum Star," forcibly created this inter-universe space tunnel!

He waved his hand, said no more, and stepped into the passage.

As the spatial rift silently closed behind him, the last trace of chaotic energy fluctuations subsided, as if they had never existed.

Locke landed steadily on the land of this parallel universe.

Above that territory known as 'Heaven'.

He stood on the familiar edge of the field, his gaze calmly sweeping over the surroundings.

here……

At first glance, it seems that there is no visible difference between it and the Kent farm in his universe, which was always filled with the fragrance of earth and the vitality of life, when he left in a hurry last time.

The golden-red sunset cast its warm glow upon the earth, and the red paint of the distant barn appeared deep and serene in the twilight. Jeans that looked like Clark's usual style hung on the clothesline, and even the air was filled with the dry scent of hay.

Everything looked so perfect, so...real.

Locke watched quietly for a few seconds, then strode towards the familiar rocking chair on the front porch of the farmhouse.

This is Jonathan's favorite spot.

He sat down without any hesitation, causing the chair to creak slightly, breaking the excessively perfect silence.

He casually placed the basket he was carrying on the small wooden table next to him.

Then I relaxed and leaned back in my chair, raised my eyes, and quietly gazed at the sky.

In the sky, the clouds drifted slowly, bathed in the magnificent colors of the setting sun, outlining various random shapes, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

However, in Locke's eyes now, this 'sky' presents a completely different picture.

His perception had already surpassed what it had been before.

The blood of the devil, the breath of the devil.

He could see it clearly.
The azure sky, the magnificent sunset, and the slowly drifting clouds are not actually atmospheric particles or water vapor.

These are illusions precisely simulated and constructed by countless extremely minute bio-force field particles that shimmer with a faint golden light, strictly following a certain preset program.

The trajectory of every cloud, the angle of every ray of light, is perfect...

It lacks any of the randomness and flaws that nature should have.

This is a space that has been created, or rather...

A sand table perfectly replicated from memory.

His throne…

His fortress of solitude...

That Kryptonian boy who once ran in the sunlight ultimately built his throne on an eternal simulation of lost warmth.

Locke sighed inwardly.

He sat there quietly, watching the eternal yet illusory clouds drift and gather in the sky.

It was as if he were just an old farmer resting after a day's work, waiting for the return of the true owner of this land.

until
He raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to catch a fleeting glimpse of a faint, swift golden light, like sunlight reflecting off water, gone in an instant.

But when he looked closely, all he could see was that meticulously simulated pastoral scene, nothing else.

Locke's lips twitched.

If he guessed correctly.
That guy who can't stop should be here.

He didn't make any big movements, or even change his posture, but an invisible and intangible aura, as heavy as a vast ocean, quietly spread from his body.

It was not a violent energy surge, but rather like a gently expanding bubble.

It silently enveloped the entire farmhouse.

The air within the area seemed to thicken, and the light seemed to settle down, as if an absolute 'slowness' had descended.

And just as this aura was fully enveloped...
On the small wooden table next to it.

The lid of the picnic basket from the main universe was silently lifted a crack.

A visible red afterimage flashed by, and half of a sandwich wrapped in plastic wrap in the basket was instantly gone.

But gradually...
As Locke forcibly reduced the flow rate in this area to an extremely low level, the red afterimage naturally solidified beside the small wooden table, eventually revealing a man wearing streamlined red armor.

He looked to be around thirty years old and had a fit physique.

He was leisurely leaning against the edge of the table, holding half a sandwich in his hand, eating it with relish. His helmet had been removed at some point, revealing a rather carefree profile.

Locke didn't turn his head; his gaze remained fixed on the farmland ahead. He simply spoke, breaking the forced silence:
"Is it good, Mr. Barry Allen?"

"It's delicious, Mr. Locke!"

The man answered instinctively, still chewing on his food, his voice muffled with satisfaction, "Tomatoes, lettuce, roast beef... this sauce is absolutely perfect!"

“My God, I haven’t had such ‘human’ food in years. It makes me miss my late friend, Mr. Ron Jones.”

"This sandwich looks exactly like the one he made."

Once he started talking, he seemed unable to stop, habitually rambling on and on, describing in detail the possible ingredients of the sauce and then reminiscing about amusing incidents with Rong En.

It was as if they had finally found someone to talk to, and they wanted to pour out all the words that had been pent up for so long.

However, after rambling for about ten seconds, his chewing motion suddenly froze.

The relaxed and content look on his face froze.

He stiffly turned his head to look at the man sitting on the chair next to him, whose posture hadn't changed at all from beginning to end.

Locke turned his head at the opportune moment, his calm and unwavering gaze falling on his face.

Barry swallowed the food in his mouth with difficulty, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

He tentatively waved at Locke, his voice slightly distorted:

"You...you can see me? You...you can talk to me? In this state?"

No! wrong!

Barry's heart tightened instantly. As a user of the Speed ​​Force, he immediately realized the crux of the problem!
It wasn't that this man could capture him at top speed, but rather...

He felt the spacetime around him become unusually viscous, as if he were trapped in amber, and the flow of the Speed ​​Force particles began to gradually stagnate...

The spacetime flow in this area was forcibly slowed down to a relatively static state by this man in some way that he could not understand!
He, on the other hand, was 'trapped' in this slow-moving amber of time!

Barry broke out in a cold sweat. Looking into Locke's deep, all-consuming gaze, he swallowed instinctively, forced a smile, and weakly said:
“Um… Mr. Locke… if I said this afternoon tea is on me… would you accept Heavenly Currency for payment?”

Seeing the Flash's embarrassed state, Locke couldn't help but chuckle, a faint smile curving his lips.

This is one of the initial applications developed from the Kan River.
Locke understood.

Unlike the thunder that represents "destruction and purification" and the mountain that represents "devouring and assimilation", this energy originates from the water of Kan and its characteristics tend to be "sluggish" and "erosive".

It does not forcibly interrupt or destroy with violent force, but rather, like invisible mercury, it silently seeps into the surrounding spatial structure and energy field.

It doesn't freeze time, but it makes the passage of time feel viscous.

It doesn't tear space apart, but it can make the transmission of space as sluggish as a quagmire.

Especially for someone like Barry Allen who relies on the Speed ​​Force and operates in the realm of extreme speed, this omnipresent 'slowness' effect is practically a cage specifically built for him.

The speed force particles were still shining, but under the erosion and slowing effect of the Kan water, their vibration frequency was forcibly reduced, and their flow path was blocked layer by layer.

The two forces canceled each other out, which resulted in Barry remaining in a normal human state even after accelerating.

"No need for currency."

Locke spoke again, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery, breaking the silence, "However, it's not a good habit to steal other people's food without permission, Mr. Barry Allen."

The moment the words fell, the sticky feeling in the air receded like the tide, and Barry felt a lightness all over his body, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Muscle memory almost made him subconsciously activate the Speed ​​Force again, but he forced himself to resist.

"Long time no see, Mr. Locke."

He scratched his head a little sheepishly, reverting to his usual slightly carefree demeanor, and tried to bridge the gap with a familiar tone, "It's just been so long since I've smelled such delicious food! You probably can't imagine, although everything in this 'heaven' is advanced and full of energy, except when it comes to food..."

"Well, it's a bit too 'quantitative' and 'standardized,' lacking a bit of surprise."

"haven't seen you for a long time?"

Locke was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then realized that Barry was probably referring to his deceased self in this parallel universe.

He gently shook his head and corrected him in a calm tone, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Allen. I am not the Locke you know."

Barry's smile froze for a moment.

Yes
Mr. Locke, the one who would smile and hand him a freshly baked blueberry pie, chat with him about mundane things in the sunset, and use the Platinum Star to pause time and give him a good spanking.
It has passed away forever, remaining in the irretrievable past.

He carefully sensed the aura emanating from the man before him.
It possesses a power that is subtly similar to, yet fundamentally different from, the gentle farmer in his memory.

In particular, the unfamiliar sense of oppression emanating from the unfathomable power hidden beneath the peaceful exterior made his heart tighten slightly.

"Um"

Fortunately, the unique, reassuring gentleness within the core remains the same.

Barry's expression relaxed slightly, and he smiled with a touch of emotion:
“Aside from this… well, your immense power, you still give off the same feeling as before.”

“I come from the ‘past’, only from the ‘past’ of another universe.”

Locke shrugged indifferently and explained simply.

"Too……"

Barry stroked his chin, his eyes somewhat unfocused. "Time and the universe are truly wondrous things... I never imagined I could see my departed loved ones again in this way."

There was a hint of melancholy in his voice.

If only it were him...

Locke looked at him and chuckled, then said in a casual, experienced tone, "You can't see the future if you're stuck in the past, young man."

Barry was taken aback by these words. His eyes flickered, as if he was touched, but in the end he just gave a noncommittal twitch of the corner of his mouth and did not reply.

If he could have let go of the past so easily, why would he need to hide himself here?

Numb yourself with busyness and speed.

"Mr. Locke, this time..."

"Oh, right." Interrupting Barry, Locke seemed to suddenly remember something, his gaze falling on the half-eaten sandwich Barry was still clutching in his hand, and he said with a start:

"I forgot to tell you, your sense of taste is correct."

“This thing in your hand, and those things in the basket that you’ve been eyeing… were all made by Rong En.”

“Puff—cough cough!”

Barry nearly choked on his own saliva. He looked sharply at the once incredibly delicious sandwich in his hand, his face turning slightly green.

Although reason tells him that this is Ron, who is from another universe and is alive and well.

But the thought that Ron had sacrificed himself many years ago, and that he was now chewing on a sandwich made by Ron and digesting it in his stomach...

An extremely strange sense of unease arose spontaneously.

Barry shivered, suddenly realizing that the lingering aroma of roast beef and tomato in his mouth had become a little... strange.

Okay, let's hope we see fewer of these wondrous things like the universe and time.
But at least for now
Food itself is innocent, and it is so delicious!
Put minor psychological barriers behind you.

Barry took two more big bites of his sandwich, chewing as a look of satisfaction returned to his face.

Meanwhile, his other hand was also busy, pulling out a crispy and delicious-looking blueberry pie from somewhere.

While chewing, he asked indistinctly:

"Speaking of which, Mr. Locke, from what you just said... according to the historical process of your universe, you actually already met Ron? And you even started learning to cook?"

"The progress seems to be much faster here than we are."

Locke blinked, keenly catching the hidden message in Barry's words.

How come there was no such brotherly battle in this world?

“Yes, I have already met Ron.” Locke shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with emotion. “Now, because of some things that have happened, I’ve become very interested in the differences in the historical processes at certain… key junctures between the two universes.”

"I've taken the liberty of visiting you this time, not only to see Clark, but also to ask you about these things."

Upon hearing this, Barry quickly stuffed the rest of the blueberry pie into his mouth, patted the crumbs off his hands, and a hearty smile appeared on his face.

"Although the emperor is still fighting on the frontiers of the universe."

"But no problem! Feel free to ask!"

He straightened his back, and although he was still wearing that red armor, his demeanor was like that of an excellent student preparing to answer a teacher's question.

"I can't speak for other things, but I guarantee I'll tell you everything I know about major events that have happened!"

(End of this chapter)