18 CHAPTER 18

Yuri clicked on XLR8's avatar, and a virtual screen appeared above the omnitrix.

There were two images on the screen. The one on the left was the normal XLR8, while the one on the right had undergone significant changes.

It had become much larger in size, with a lightning symbol on its chest and golden arcs of electricity surrounding it, like a Flash version of the XLR8 itself.

There was also a description below the image.

"This form is a Kineceleran variant. After absorbing unknown energy, its speed will increase by a geometric multiple, and the upper limit of amplification is difficult to calculate. The Omnitrix energy core cannot convert this type of energy, so the duration of transformation will be greatly reduced, and constant recharging is required."

As one of the seven basic forces in the DC universe, the Speed Force is not something that can be easily converted.

Only speedsters can connect with the Speed Force, and the Flash Family is the group with the closest connection to the Speed Force among speedsters. Barry nourishes the Speed Force, Wally surpasses the Speed Force, and Bart merges with the Speed Force.

Yuri himself is not a speedster and cannot connect with the Speed Force. The omnitrix also cannot forcibly communicate with the Speed Force, so it can only use the bit of Speed Force absorbed by Wally as a medium to quietly contact the Speed Force Wall and steal Speed Force energy from there as a supplement.

The advantage of this is that the transformation relies entirely on Speed Force energy, without consuming the omnitrix's own energy, and it is based on energy transformation rather than DNA, so it can bypass the omnitrix's protection mechanism.

Even if the stored Speed Force energy is exhausted, the transformation will not be undone, but will automatically revert to the normal form of the XLR8, and the protection mechanism will only be activated at that time.

The disadvantage is that the stealing speed is relatively slow, and storing energy for a day can only maintain transformation for three minutes.

Fortunately, the omnitrix energy core has a new Speed Force storage module, which can store Speed Force energy for about thirty days.

Stealing Speed Force energy is not a rare technique. In the battle between the New 52 Flash and Gorilla Grodd, Dr. Elias, a mortal, secretly absorbed countless amounts of Speed Force by studying Barry.

There is also the Reverse-Flash, Daniel, who accidentally came into contact with the Speed Force. He himself cannot connect with the Speed Force, so he steals Speed Force energy from other speedsters.

Yuri is not sure about the secrets of speedsters, but he knows that the XLR8's new version cannot be used as a regular form. Three minutes a day is neither long nor short, and currently, it can only be used as a last resort.

"The name 'XLR8 variant' is too long. How about calling it... the Speed Star?"

Yuri rubbed his chin and nodded as he came up with a name for the new form.

"What should I do next?"

He finished reading the information and analyzing the Speed Force results.

The sun was high in the sky, and there was still a long time before it got dark. He had finished reading the books in the central library and had no classes or books to read.

Practice? If he could awaken the potential of his omnitrix, Yuri could spend time studying magic, but there was nothing to practice with the omnitrix.

As for turning into an alien and running around, Yuri was not a ten-year-old anymore and had long passed the age of being playful, and it was also easy to get into trouble.

After thinking about it, Yuri began to feel bored.

"If only I knew where the network was, I could just go find it and not be idle now..."

Although he already had the idea of retiring to Blue Valley, Yuri was a very practical person, and he couldn't move to another city without money in his pocket.

Driving all the way there would cost a lot of money just for gas, and he didn't know if he could afford to rent a room with the remaining money. Although he could live in his old car, he still needed to replenish water and electricity, and he had to eat.

Yuri didn't have a degree, so he could only find the lowest-level jobs. He would work hard every day and still not earn much money.

Could someone with a cheat like him survive this kind of life?

Yuri was afraid that he would turn to the dark side in less than two days.

He had to make some money from the network!

"Where is the network anyway..."

Yuri looked out the window with his head tilted and saw a bar across the street called "Spinning Drink." It was closed because it was daytime.

Yuri stared at the bar's sign, then his eyes widened for a bit as he suddenly remembered the bar where he was yesterday.

At that time, Axel openly mentioned the Rogue's in the bar, but the bartender and other customers didn't react.

That bar might not be a network industry, but it was also likely to be similar to the network which is a place where criminals often gathered.

Thinking about this, Yuri immediately jumped out of bed, sat in the driver's seat, and drove to the bar he visited yesterday.

—-—

On the other side, Hunter Zolomon's studio.

After a night of discussion, Hunter sorted out a clear path for James and Wally.

"First is Jesse Quick. Half a month ago, five hundred million dollars of her company was illegally transferred, causing the company's account to be frozen. To stabilize the situation and find out the truth, Jesse Chambers must personally sit in the board of directors."

Unlike Wally and the Flash, Jesse Quick was not an anonymous hero. People knew her true identity, and she was not afraid of being exposed because her father was Johnny Quick, her mother was Liberty Belle, and the three of them were all superheroes. No ordinary villain dared to seek revenge on Jesse's family.

"Second is the Old Flash, who went to Denver because his wife was diagnosed with late-stage cancer."

"Next is Chunk. A week ago, he was shot by a sniper who has not been found yet while shopping with his wife. Fortunately, the Flash appeared in time to save him, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Finally, the Flash himself disappeared a few days ago after the Weather Wizard suddenly appeared and attacked him."

Hunter recounted everything that had happened in the past half month.

James and Wally listened carefully.

"These events seem unrelated, so we thought that the crime rate in Twin City had increased, but in fact, they are related."

He opened his personal computer and called up the backup data.

"The network has had close contact with many criminals, not just metahumans, but also ordinary criminals. After all, criminal organizations always need to absorb fresh blood. At that time, we didn't pay too much attention to this, and even if we did, it wouldn't have helped because these people disappeared after contacting the network."

"You see, a year ago, the Network recruited a killer nicknamed Plunder, who is proficient in various firearms. Nine months ago, Blacksmith frequently contacted a hacker genius. Six months ago, the second Mirror Master, Evan McCulloch, joined the network. The Network may have contacted the Weather Wizard through the Mirror Master's relationship..."

"And so, long time ago, Blacksmith had been plotting against the Flash."

Hunter concluded.

"I'm not sure what Blacksmith's intentions are, maybe she wants to rule Twin City or destroy it, or maybe she just wants to deal with the Flash, but it's definitely not a good thing."

James stepped forward to add.

"In any case, their next plan must be to continue targeting Twin City's superheroes, and the only active superhero left besides Kid Flash is..."

"Oh no!" Wally exclaimed.

*****

A/N: Gimme them stones.

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