The Flash : Please Kill Me (Complete Remake)

Chapter 5: The Calm Before the Storm – (REMAKE)

The air in Central City in early 2014 was thick with anticipation. Not just for Adam, who knew exactly what was coming, but for everyone. The Particle Accelerator at S.T.A.R. Labs was nearing completion, and the city buzzed with a mix of excitement and skepticism. News channels ran endless segments about its potential, scientists debated its safety, and regular folks just hoped it wouldn't cause a city-wide blackout. Adam, however, knew it would cause something far more… flashy.

" It's like watching a really slow-motion car crash, except the car is the entire timeline, and I'm just sitting here, snacking on popcorn, waiting for the inevitable explosion. This is either going to be amazing, or I'm going to regret every life choice that led me here."

He had reached a comfortable financial standing, enough to live without constantly worrying about rent or food. He'd even invested in a nice set of noise-canceling headphones, just in case the explosion turned out to be louder than expected. Priorities, people.

His main focus now was positioning. He needed to be in Central City when the particle accelerator decided to throw its cosmic tantrum. He also needed a plausible reason to be close to the immediate aftermath, without looking like a deranged fanboy. He settled on the idea of volunteering for local community watch programs, leveraging his newfound "Urban Navigation" to suggest efficient routes for emergency services during potential disasters. It was a flimsy excuse, but it gave him a badge (metaphorically speaking) and a reason to be near the action.

He still needed three more deaths to hit System Level 3. He decided to go for things that were annoying but ultimately harmless, aiming for skills that might actually come in handy during the coming chaos.

First up, a particularly aggressive goose in a park. Don't ask. Geese are terrifying.

[SYSTEM ALERT: DEATH DETECTED. CAUSE: MINOR ANIMAL AGGRESSION (GOOSE).] [LIVES REMAINING: 0/2 (Current Life Activated)] [DEATHS ACHIEVED: 8/10 (Next System Level: Level 3)] [SKILL ACQUISITION: 'ENHANCED FLIGHT RESPONSE' HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!] [DESCRIPTION: Improves reaction time and speed when initiating evasive maneuvers from perceived threats.]

" Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me. 'Enhanced Flight Response'? Is that just a fancy way of saying 'I can run away faster'? Because I was already pretty good at that. This System really wants me to be an Olympic-level coward."

Next, a rogue shopping cart at a supermarket. It seemed so innocuous, yet so capable of chaos.

[SYSTEM ALERT: DEATH DETECTED. CAUSE: MINOR COLLISION (SHOPPING CART).] [LIVES REMAINING: 0/2 (Current Life Activated)] [DEATHS ACHIEVED: 9/10 (Next System Level: Level 3)] [SKILL ACQUISITION: 'MINOR IMPACT ABSORPTION' HAS BEEN UNLOCKED!] [DESCRIPTION: Slightly reduces the force and discomfort from minor physical impacts.]

" Finally! Something useful! Now I can take a casual tumble down a flight of stairs without completely hating my life. Or, you know, survive a rogue grocery run."

His tenth and final death for Level 3 was a classic: tripping over his own two feet while walking on a perfectly flat sidewalk. It was embarrassing, but effective.

[SYSTEM ALERT: DEATH DETECTED. CAUSE: MINOR SELF-INFLICTED FALL.] [LIVES REMAINING: 0/2 (Current Life Activated)] [DEATHS ACHIEVED: 10/10 (LEVEL UP REQUIREMENTS MET!)]

[CONGRATULATIONS, HOST! YOU HAVE REACHED SYSTEM LEVEL 3!]

[LEVEL UP REWARDS:] [1. SYSTEM UPGRADE CHOICE (Choose one below)] [2. NEW SYSTEM SHOP ITEMS UNLOCKED!] [3. FUNDS ACCUMULATION TIER INCREASED! (Next: $500,000)]

Adam lay there for a moment, enjoying the brief, blissful absence of systemic pressure. He was Level 3. He had new upgrade choices, new shop items, and a much higher financial goal. The stakes were subtly rising, just as the real stakes of the Arrowverse were about to kick in.

He chose his upgrade carefully.

[SYSTEM UPGRADE OPTIONS:] [A. INCREASED LIVES PER KILLER: Increases the number of lives granted per designated killer by +1. (Current: 2 lives per killer)] [B. PASSIVE REGENERATION (MINOR): Grants a slight, passive acceleration to natural healing processes.] [C. MINOR MENTAL FORTITUDE: Improves mental resilience against fear, despair, and minor psychological attacks.]

" Okay, 'Passive Regeneration' sounds tempting, because who doesn't want to heal faster? But 'Increased Lives' is still a solid choice, especially with the literal super-powered murderers coming. And 'Mental Fortitude'? Honestly, my mental fortitude has been tested by this System more than anything else. But in a world with mind-controlling gorillas and fear gas, maybe it's not a bad idea."

He thought about what was coming. The Reverse-Flash. Zoom. Savitar. Literal speedsters who could vibrate their hand through his chest. He needed more lives. He needed more chances.

"I choose A," he said, decisively. "Increased Lives per Killer. Three lives per killer. That sounds like a solid safety net. A net made of my own repeatedly resurrected body, but a net nonetheless."

[UPGRADE SELECTED: INCREASED LIVES PER KILLER! (Current: 3 lives per killer)]

His System now proudly displayed: [LIVES REMAINING: 0/3 (Current Life Activated)]. This meant that if a singular villain, like, say, the Reverse-Flash, managed to "kill" him, he'd get three "respawns" from that specific killer. It was a comforting thought, a little cushion against the inevitable pain.

He checked the System Shop. New items! He didn't have enough funds for anything major, but he saw some interesting new skills. 'Basic Parkour' for 1500 Funds, 'Minor Invisibility' (short duration) for 5000 Funds. Too rich for his blood. He was still at $50,000, nowhere near the new $500,000 fund tier.

" Alright, System, I get it. You want me to be a millionaire. Or half-a-millionaire. In a world with supervillains and exploding particle accelerators, that seems like a reasonable request. Not a stressful one at all."

The feeling of nervous anticipation grew with each passing day. The local news was practically a countdown to the S.T.A.R. Labs activation. Adam went over his plan one last time: Be in Central City. Be near the explosion, but not too near. Have a plausible reason for being there (community watch). And most importantly, know where Barry Allen was going to be. That was the key. Get to Barry. Get into Team Flash.

He stood on a hill overlooking the city as dusk settled, the S.T.A.R. Labs building a beacon of scientific ambition in the distance. The calm before the storm. The last few moments of normal.

" Here we go, universe. You wanted a show? You're about to get one. And I'm going to be right in the front row, offering sarcastic commentary and trying not to get erased from existence. Again. My life is truly an adventure. A deeply, profoundly weird adventure."

He took a deep breath, the taste of ozone already lingering on the air. It was time.