Caitlin had been observing Barry's cell data in the Star Labs control room. She had previously examined Barry and gathered a lot of unusual data, which she needed to organize and meticulously study the differences between Barry and ordinary people.
Just as she was engrossed in watching the computer, a warning sound suddenly came from the speakers.
It was the adjacent computer, its screen displaying a street completely shrouded in white fog. Red warning circles encompassed the entire street, indicating danger.
This was Cisco's reconnaissance computer, linked via satellite to monitor Central City. It would automatically alert them if any unusual situation arose.
Normally, Cisco would be here, coordinating with Barry in his heroic endeavors, but today, they had all gone out. Dr. Wells had taken a few days off, leaving only Caitlin.
Upon seeing the alert, she hesitated for only a moment before pulling out her phone and calling Barry.
"Barry, a strange dense fog has suddenly appeared on Ye Demai Street. The citizens there might need you."
Caitlin wasn't particularly fond of Barry being a superhero, but with such an odd fog suddenly appearing, she feared ordinary people might get hurt. Driven by this concern, she notified Barry, and also Cisco, though her tone with him wasn't as pleasant.
"Cisco, you and Lin Li, come back immediately to do your backend command."
She hung up the phone.
"Cisco, Lin Li, I'm heading out first."
With that, Barry vanished in a blur, leaving a trail of yellow lightning.
The inspection was also complete, with no findings.
Cisco and Lin Li did not stay there.
Cisco hurriedly said, "Let's go, Lin Li, we need to return to Star Labs immediately to assist Barry."
"No, Cisco, we're going to Ye Demai Street," Lin Li said as he walked.
If his guess was correct, this should be the first metahuman to appear in the TV series, Clyde Mardon, the Weather Wizard, who possessed the ability to control wind and weather.
Clyde Mardon's ability to control wind and weather was very powerful, far from as weak as it was depicted in the TV series.
This ability required a certain amount of channeling time. It might be weak at first, but even then, it could seriously injure or kill ordinary people.
Moreover, once he successfully channeled the weather patterns, nature would be continuously exploited by him, following the weather patterns he guided.
For example, in the original first season's storm, once Clyde Mardon successfully initiated a tornado, if Barry hadn't stopped him then, the tornado would have intensified wildly in a short period. This intensification would be irreversible, and even Clyde Mardon might not be able to control it in the end, because ultimately, it would be a product of nature, with Clyde Mardon merely being a guide.
The power of a fully formed tornado was especially terrifying and horrifying. While a tornado's speed wasn't fast, its wind speed was similar to Barry's, around 350 kilometers per hour, and its path could even exceed 2 kilometers. The energy released was even more terrifying; an hour's worth of energy would be equivalent to 8 atomic bombs, definitely enough to destroy Central City.
Not to mention, Clyde Mardon could also control the weather to form heavy rain, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, dense fog, and various other natural weather disasters.
As long as he had some time to channel the weather patterns, destroying Central City would not be difficult.
Therefore, Lin Li did not dare to underestimate this Weather Wizard, even though Mardon seemed weak and was shot dead by Joe.
He needed to ensure Barry's safety. He couldn't guarantee what impact his arrival would have on this world. When a person suddenly intervenes in the world's original trajectory, Lin Li wasn't sure what changes would occur. Even in the original TV series, Barry's casual time travel, even small changes, eventually led to very big mistakes, let alone a transmigrator like Lin Li. He would find it strange if there were no changes.
Cisco followed Lin Li out of the Central City Police Department, saying as they walked, "We should go back to Star Labs to provide backup for Barry, monitor his surroundings, and offer advice so Barry can resolve the anomaly faster."
Lin Li refused again, stating firmly, "No, Cisco, trust me, dense fog will prevent satellite cameras from monitoring anything. Moreover, I suspect this sudden appearance of dense fog is suspicious."
Cisco thought about it, and indeed, it was true. Although he didn't know how big the fog was, the fact that his own software had issued an alert meant it was no ordinary fog, and Caitlin had also said it was very strange.
Cisco agreed with Lin Li, pulled open the car door, and sat in the driver's seat. Once Lin Li also sat in the passenger seat, he started the vehicle and drove towards Ye Demai Street.
"Why did dense fog suddenly appear? I just finished watching the weather report this morning: temperature 19%, humidity around 40%, few clouds, light breeze. It's autumn, the weather is dry, and atmospheric moisture is insufficient. How could dense fog form?"
Cisco asked, puzzled. No wonder Caitlin said this fog was strange; it certainly was a bit odd, as if it had appeared out of nowhere.
Lin Li sat in the passenger seat, his eyes flickering with electricity. Silver-white lightning flashed across his hands as he adjusted his state, activating all his cells.
Lin Li slowly said, "I can create lightning without electricity or magnetic fields."
Cisco suddenly understood, then exclaimed in shock, "You mean… the sudden fog is man-made? There's a metahuman who can create fog?"
Lin Li nodded and continued, "Of course, technology can also achieve such an effect, by storing and releasing a large amount of water vapor. Under stable atmospheric conditions, if the relative humidity reaches 100%, fog forms."
Cisco nodded, strongly agreeing with Lin Li. Either way, it was highly probable. Regardless, even if they returned to Star Labs, with the streets shrouded in dense fog, the cameras certainly wouldn't be able to see anything and couldn't assist Barry. Only by being on site could they help Barry.
Cisco quickly drove the research vehicle to the street.
He stopped the car at a point on the street; he couldn't drive further in.
The area was filled with white fog. Even from the edge looking in, visibility was limited to about five meters, and even then, things were blurry.
Lin Li, with his better eyesight, could only see about thirty meters.
There, the fog churned and surged violently.
"Ah…" A painful cry echoed.
Lin Li's heart tightened; he recognized Barry's voice.
He quickly got out of the car, a strong gust of wind 'whooshing' past his cheek.
A red figure tore through the dense fog and slammed heavily onto the hood of the research vehicle. The car was pushed several meters by the impact, and inside, Cisco yelled and desperately gripped the steering wheel, bracing himself.
It was Barry.
The hood of the car was dented with his shape, and Barry's horrific condition made Lin Li gasp.
His suit, worn for only a few days, was torn. Barry's chest looked as if it had been slashed by a sharp knife or exploded by a bomb. A diagonal gash ran across Barry's chest and abdomen, his ribs broken, revealing internal organs. Flesh on his right chest was blown open, and his pale, fractured ribs were clearly visible.
"You know, you're going up against a god, right?"
The fog churned, and a figure emerged from within.