AM I SUPERMAN?

Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, stood in silent desperation. His mind raced, searching for any leverage he could use to convince Kaius to spare his life.

Wealth? Useless. Kaius could access any bank in the world undetected.

Power and influence? Equally pointless. Someone like Kaius had no need for political favors or alliances.

Watching Kaius's brutal efficiency in dealing with Slade Wilson, Thawne knew he couldn't appeal to mercy—Kaius had none to spare for those who crossed him. If Kaius had decided to kill him, nothing short of a miracle would save him.

But Thawne wasn't ready to die. He'd always prided himself on finding ways to survive, and this time was no different. With no other options, he proposed becoming Kaius's subordinate, swearing loyalty in exchange for his life.

If this failed, he'd fight until his last breath. After all, while Thawne's death in this timeline wouldn't erase his existence in others, this Thawne—the one standing here—would be gone forever. And no other version of himself would truly feel that loss.

Just as Kaius contemplated Thawne's offer, a familiar notification chimed in his mind:

"Ding! Friendship expansion triggered. The system will now upgrade, unlocking the expansion content: Slave Card!"

The message continued:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring the first slave card: Reverse-Flash (Eobard Thawne) – Purple Hero Card. Upon completion of the upgrade, the host will have full control over the life and death of the slave and gain an additional skill. Estimated system upgrade time: 24 hours."

The announcement startled Kaius, though he kept his composure. The system is upgrading? While unexpected, it didn't seem to affect his current abilities, as his Superman card and other equipped powers were still active. However, it meant he couldn't swap character cards during the upgrade, which could limit his adaptability in certain scenarios.

Seeing Kaius's silence, Thawne grew more anxious. "Everything I've done has been to ensure I can return to my time," he pleaded. "I have no intention of opposing you. Please, spare me. I beg you!"

Kaius considered the situation. After the system upgrade, he'd have complete control over Thawne's fate. The system's evaluation of Thawne's state of mind reassured him—if Thawne even entertained thoughts of betrayal, Kaius could eliminate him instantly.

Finally, Kaius spoke. "I'll give you one chance, Eobard Thawne. Only one. If you betray me—or even think about betraying me—I'll erase you from the timeline entirely."

The weight of Kaius's words sent a shiver down Thawne's spine. He nodded frantically. "No, Master Avenger, I swear I'll never betray you!"

Kaius smirked faintly. "Good. Then prove it."

Thawne hesitated for a moment, then asked, "May I ask your name?"

"My name is Avenger," Kaius replied, his tone measured. "As for who I am… well, we met yesterday."

Thawne's eyes widened with realization. "Ah… of course, Master Avenger. That explains everything."

Kaius noted Thawne's choice of words but decided not to dwell on it. Master? Well, it's not like I mind. He shifted his attention to Oliver, who was watching the exchange with a mix of confusion and unease.

"Oliver," Kaius said, his tone softening slightly, "I'm heading to Star City. Slade's car isn't far from here. Do you want to take Moira and Thea home first?"

Oliver nodded, his focus shifting to his mother and sister. Both women were shaken but unharmed, and he wanted nothing more than to get them to safety. "Yeah, I'll get them home," he said. "But be careful out there."

Kaius turned back to Thawne, his gaze stern. "Stay close and don't cause any trouble. Your life depends on it."

"Yes, Master Avenger," Thawne replied, his voice subdued, though the weight of his submission still lingered in the air.

Kaius took one last look at the group, then launched into the air, heading toward Star City and the chaos Slade had left behind.

Oliver looked at his mother and sister, worry etched on his face. "Mom, I'll take you and Thea home. It's not safe here."

But Moira shook her head, her expression firm. "Oliver, you need to go with Mr. Avenger. Star City needs you more. I can drive us back myself."

Oliver hesitated before offering a compromise. "Okay, Mom. Thea, go with her to Central City. Stay there for a day until things settle down, then come back tomorrow."

Before anyone could respond, Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, piped up, his voice strained with desperation. "If you're going to Central City, take me with you! I'm injured—I can't travel on my own!"

All eyes turned to Thawne, and the air grew tense. Oliver's gaze sharpened as he pointed at him. "Can we trust him?" he asked Kaius.

Kaius crossed his arms, his voice measured. "I don't know. This man is one of the most dangerous villains I've ever met. He's more calculating than Slade, but who's to say he isn't planning something even worse?"

Thawne flinched at the accusation, though he managed to suppress his indignation. Killing without blinking? That's not entirely true, he thought bitterly. While Thawne was undoubtedly a villain, he considered himself a principled one. Most of his actions had been calculated to further his plans or hinder Barry Allen—not random acts of cruelty. And in the future, he had even become Barry's twisted version of a mentor.

Kaius's words made Oliver hesitate, but Thea stepped forward, her voice soft. "Look at him. He's in no condition to hurt anyone, and he didn't attack us earlier."

Oliver sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll trust him this once." Turning to Kaius, he added, "Let's go."

Moira and Thea took the car Slade had left behind, helping the injured Thawne into the backseat. As they drove toward Central City, Oliver and Kaius took to the skies, heading for Star City.

In Star City, life seemed normal. People went about their routines—commuting, shopping, working—unaware of the impending chaos.

Suddenly, in various corners of the city, men wearing half-black, half-orange masks emerged from the shadows. As if moving in unison, they detonated explosives, unleashed gunfire, and attacked indiscriminately. Each masked man carried out his attack with precision and ruthless intent, spreading terror across the city.

Shopping malls, hospitals, streets, and stations became war zones. Explosions rocked buildings, wounding dozens. Masked attackers fired into crowds with submachine guns, leaving trails of blood and destruction. Panic erupted as civilians ran in every direction, desperate to escape the carnage.

Screams filled the air, mingling with the deafening sounds of bombs and gunfire. The moans of the injured, the cries of children separated from their parents, and the frantic shouts of bystanders created a cacophony of chaos. Within moments, Star City was plunged into a living nightmare.

At the Star City Police Department, phones rang incessantly as reports of the coordinated attacks poured in. Sheriff Quentin Lance stood in the middle of the chaos, barking orders to his officers.

"Get every officer on this, including those off-duty!" he shouted. "I don't care if they're on vacation—call them in! We need every hand on deck, or this city will fall apart!"

As officers scrambled to respond, a terrifying scene unfolded within the station itself. A recently arrested criminal broke free of his handcuffs, his eyes cold and determined. Pulling a black-and-orange mask from his pocket, he slipped it on before snapping the necks of two officers with his bare hands.

Lance turned, stunned by the brutality. "What the hell—" he began, but the man lunged at another officer before he could finish.

Meanwhile, Oliver and Kaius flew over the city, the scale of the destruction becoming clearer with each passing second. Fires raged across multiple districts, and the streets were filled with panicked civilians and emergency responders struggling to keep up.

"This is Slade's plan," Oliver said grimly, his jaw tightening. "This is his revenge. Even in death, he's trying to destroy everything."

Kaius's expression hardened. "We won't let that happen. Let's split up. You focus on getting civilians to safety. I'll take out the fortified attackers."

Oliver nodded. "Be careful. These people are enhanced—like Slade."

Kaius smirked faintly. "I've dealt with worse."

As the two heroes descended into the chaos, Star City's survival hung in the balance.

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