ALL NOVEL Chapter 8: Burning Building
**Central City - Morning**
Three weeks had passed since Barry Allen began his intense training regimen. With each passing day, he felt himself growing stronger, faster, more adept at harnessing the myriad forces and abilities now at his disposal. This morning, he was testing his newfound speed as he raced through Central City, the familiar rush of the Speed Force coursing through his veins. His pace had increased dramatically, nearly matching the velocity of the original Barry Allen in his prime during the first season of "The Flash."
Barry's commlink crackled to life as he continued his morning sprint, weaving effortlessly through the bustling city streets. "Barry, we've got an emergency," Cisco's voice came through, urgent but composed. "There's a fire in a high-rise downtown. People are trapped inside, and the fire department is struggling to reach the upper floors."
Without breaking stride, Barry replied, "I'm on it, Cisco. Guide me in."
"Roger that. The building is at 15th and Main. I'm sending you the schematics now," Cisco responded, his fingers dancing across the keyboards back at S.T.A.R. Labs.
Barry's HUD displayed a map of the building, highlighting the critical areas where people were trapped. He pushed himself harder, the world around him blurring as he accelerated. Within moments, he arrived at the scene, the acrid smell of smoke filling his nostrils. Flames licked hungrily at the structure, and the sound of sirens and panicked cries filled the air.
He didn't hesitate. Barry dashed into the building, his enhanced perception and speed allowing him to navigate through the smoke and debris with ease. The first floor was relatively clear, but he could see that the real danger lay above.
As Barry burst onto the 14th floor, time seemed to slow. The heat was intense, waves of it distorting the air around him. He could see every individual ember floating through the smoke-filled room, each crackle of flame stretching into a long, languid dance.
He spotted a group of people huddled in a corner, their faces pale with fear. Barry's mind processed the scene at lightning speed. He could hear their rapid heartbeats, sense the rise in their body temperatures, and see the path he needed to take to get them to safety.
He moved. In the slowed time, each step was a deliberate action, each motion fluid and precise. He reached the group in what felt like a heartbeat. "Stay calm," he said, his voice steady. "I'm here to get you out."
Before they could fully register his presence, Barry scooped up the first two people—a young mother and her child—and sped them down the stairs to safety. He repeated this process with the rest, each trip a mere blink of an eye to the untrained observer. In his perception, though, he meticulously ensured their safety, checking for any signs of injury or distress before placing them in the care of the emergency responders outside.
Barry raced back into the building, aiming for the 15th floor, where the fire was at its most intense. As he ascended, he activated his Still Force abilities, slowing down the flow of time even more within his immediate vicinity. The blazing inferno now appeared as a slow, roiling wave of destruction, giving him precious moments to navigate and plan his next moves.
He found a group of office workers trapped in a conference room. The thick smoke had rendered them nearly unconscious, and the heat was oppressive. Barry's enhanced perception picked out each individual's condition, prioritizing the ones in the most immediate danger.
In one swift motion, he picked up the nearest person, an older man struggling to breathe, and carried him out. He placed the man gently on the ground outside, then dashed back in. Over and over, he moved people to safety, each rescue a carefully choreographed maneuver executed with superhuman precision.
--
Barry's last trip into the building was the most challenging. The fire had weakened the structure, and parts of the ceiling were beginning to collapse. He could hear the ominous groans of the steel beams struggling to hold the weight.
Inside a small office on the top floor, he found a woman trapped under a fallen beam. Her pulse was faint, and her breathing labored. Barry's enhanced strength surged through him as he lifted the beam, freeing her. He cradled her gently, focusing on keeping her stable as he dashed through the crumbling building.
As he neared the exit, a massive chunk of debris fell in his path. Barry tapped into his inertia control, shifting the kinetic energy of the falling debris to slow it down just enough for him to slip past safely. He emerged from the building, the woman securely in his arms.
Outside, the firefighters and paramedics were ready. Barry handed the woman over to them, then took a step back, his heart pounding from the exertion but his body quickly recovering thanks to his accelerated healing.
"Barry, are you okay?" Cisco's voice was laced with concern.
"I'm fine, Cisco," Barry replied, catching his breath. "Everyone's out. The building's clear."
---
**Central City - The Aftermath**
As the firefighters continued to battle the blaze and the paramedics tended to the injured, Barry took a moment to reflect on the past three weeks. His system tab flashed a new notification.
**Level Up:**
- **New Level:** 3
- **Experience Points (XP):** 150/300
- **Health:** 100%
- **Currency:** 12 Credits
**Abilities Upgraded:**
**Speed Force:**
- **Enhanced Speed (Level 3):** Speed comparable to the original Barry Allen at the end of Season 1 of "The Flash."
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Accelerated Healing (Level 3):** Even faster recovery from injuries.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Enhanced Perception (Level 3):** Further improved reaction time and information processing.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Speed Force Knowledge (Level 2):** Deeper understanding of the Speed Force and its capabilities.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Temporal Awareness (Level 2):** Increased awareness of time fluctuations and potential future events.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
**Strength Force:**
- **Enhanced Strength (Level 2):** Greater physical strength beyond normal human limits.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 150
- **Durability (Level 2):** Enhanced resistance to physical damage.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 150
**Sage Force:**
- **Enhanced Intellect (Level 2):** Access to even vaster knowledge and rapid learning capabilities.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Mental Fortitude (Level 2):** Stronger resistance to mental attacks and influence.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
**Still Force:**
- **Time Manipulation (Level 2):** Greater ability to slow down or temporarily stop time in a localized area.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 300
- **Inertia Control (Level 2):** Enhanced control over kinetic energy, allowing for more precise manipulation of motion.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 300
**Deadpool's Abilities:**
- **Regenerative Healing Factor (Level 2):** Near-instant healing from injuries, effectively granting near-immortality.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 400
- **Enhanced Reflexes (Level 2):** Superhuman reflexes and agility.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Pain Suppression (Level 2):** Further reduced sensation of pain, allowing for higher pain tolerance.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
- **Combat Skills (Level 2):** Increased proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and weapons use.
**XP Required to Level Up:** 200
Barry smiled, feeling the weight of his responsibilities but also the satisfaction of his progress. He knew there was still a long way to go, but for now, he could take solace in the lives he had saved and the trust he had earned.
"Hey, Cisco," Barry said, switching back to the comms. "Let's run a diagnostic when I get back. I want to make sure everything's in top shape."
"Copy that, Barry. And hey, great work out there," Cisco replied, his voice filled with admiration.
Barry took a final look at the scene before him—the firefighters had the blaze under control, and the paramedics were tending to the last of the injured. He took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air fill his lungs, and then he was off, a streak of red lightning disappearing into the distance.