AM I SUPERMAN?

CENTRAL CITY

According to the laws of the United States, law enforcement officers are authorized to use lethal force against criminals deemed an imminent threat to public safety, especially after all warnings have been ignored.

The yellow Hummer sped through Central City, evading police pursuit. When surrounded by squad cars, the driver adjusted his course, deliberately ramming a patrol vehicle.

"Damn it! This guy's insane!"

Cursing, Detective Joe West raised his service weapon and fired several shots at the cab of the Hummer.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A series of bullets streaked through the air, aimed precisely at the driver. However, instead of incapacitating him, the rounds ricocheted harmlessly off his body, sparking upon contact.

"No way..." West muttered, his eyes wide. The driver's skin had momentarily transformed, shimmering like steel under the flashing red-and-blue lights.

"He's... a metahuman?" West realized in disbelief.

Before he could react further, the Hummer accelerated to a breakneck speed of 120 miles per hour, roaring directly toward him. The massive vehicle bore down on him, leaving no time to evade.

At the last possible moment, a streak of lightning zipped past, and West found himself whisked away to the safety of the sidewalk. Dazed but unharmed, he looked up to see the unmistakable red-clad figure of the Scarlet Speedster.

Boom!

Behind them, the Hummer plowed through two police cars blocking its path, leaving a trail of destruction as its driver's maniacal laughter echoed in its wake.

"Detective West, are you okay?" an officer called out, rushing to his side.

West nodded, shaking off the shock. "Thanks to him, yeah."

He turned to Flash, gratitude and worry etched on his face. "Barry, that guy isn't normal. Be careful!"

"Don't worry, Joe. I'll handle it." Flash grinned reassuringly. With a burst of Speed Force energy, he was gone, a streak of crimson lightning chasing after the fleeing vehicle.

In seconds, Flash had overtaken the Hummer, appearing suddenly on the road ahead. He stood with his arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Alright, buddy, this joyride's over. Step out of the car—slowly."

The driver, recognizing Central City's hero, grinned mockingly. He slammed on the brakes, bringing the Hummer to a halt. With deliberate slowness, he opened the door and stepped out.

The man was massive, his muscles straining against a sleeveless vest. His eyes gleamed with malice as he leaned against the car door. "Sure thing, Flash..."

Without warning, he ripped the car door from its hinges and hurled it at Barry with astonishing force. Flash dodged effortlessly, his enhanced reflexes kicking in.

"Yup, definitely a metahuman," Barry muttered under his breath. He dashed forward, aiming a swift punch at the man's jaw.

"Ahhhh!" Barry screamed in pain as he hit the ground. His wrist was bent at an unnatural angle, clearly broken.

Inside S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco Ramon's voice crackled through the headset. "Barry, your heart rate just spiked. What's going on? Talk to me!"

Gritting his teeth, Barry forced himself up, clutching his injured wrist. "My hand's broken. The guy... he's a metahuman. His skin can turn into metal!"

On the other side of the comms, Cisco's eyes widened as he looked at the monitors tracking Barry's vitals. "What?! Metal skin? Oh, that's just great. You okay, man?"

Before Barry could respond, the towering man approached, his heavy footsteps echoing with menace. His sneer revealed a cruel delight. "Your powers are pathetic, Flash. All that speed, and you're still so easy to break."

The metahuman's fists clenched, his arms shimmering as they transformed into solid metal. He lunged forward, throwing a crushing punch aimed directly at Barry.

Barry barely dodged, but the air pressure alone from the swing sent him tumbling backward. Struggling to his feet, he staggered and gasped, his body battered and his mind racing.

"Barry!" Caitlin Snow's urgent voice cut through the comms. "Your vitals are dropping fast. You're taking damage equivalent to being hit by a truck. You need to retreat!"

Cisco chimed in, panicked. "Yeah, Barry, get out of there. Run. Now!"

The metal-skinned man advanced relentlessly, laughing. "Run if you can, Flash. It won't save you!"

Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Barry activated the Speed Force. Injured and in agony, he bolted away, heading toward S.T.A.R. Labs. The journey, normally a blur of seconds, stretched into an eternity. His broken ribs burned, and he stumbled and fell multiple times, but sheer determination kept him moving.

Inside S.T.A.R. Labs, Cisco and Caitlin watched the monitors anxiously. When a flash of lightning flickered into the lab, they rushed to Barry's side as he collapsed onto the floor.

"Oh my God!" Caitlin exclaimed. "His hand bones are shattered, three ribs are broken, and he's showing signs of a concussion. Get him onto the test bench, now!"

The team worked quickly. Caitlin, S.T.A.R. Labs' resident bioengineer and physician, took charge of stabilizing Barry's injuries. Even Harrison Wells, sitting in his wheelchair, observed silently, his expression unreadable.

After over an hour of treatment, Barry regained consciousness, groaning from the pain. Caitlin stood at his side, a mixture of concern and frustration in her tone. "You've outdone yourself this time, Barry. Thirteen fractures in your hand, three broken ribs, and a concussion. You're lucky you're not dead."

Barry winced. "That bad, huh? Great. And here I thought I'd have time to pick up Iris from work."

Caitlin shot him a stern look. "Don't even think about moving. Even with your accelerated healing, you'll need a few hours just to be functional."

Harrison Wells leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "Barry, tell us what happened. What did you encounter out there?"

Barry sighed, his mind replaying the fight. "The guy who stole the Hummer—he's a metahuman. When I hit him, his skin turned into steel. My punches didn't even faze him."

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