Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit Fan based story; The FLASH and all related characters are owned by DC comics, the CW and anyone I may have missed.

Like I always seem to say to the point of redundancy (doesn't mean it's any less true) I love everyone who Reviews, Favorites and or Follows any of my stories. Again, if I didn't respond I apologize and just let me know.

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Just an FYI I did some editing for the previous chapter regarding Black Siren. Check it out if you get confused.

So remember how I said I was starting a new Job about two weeks ago? Yeah that's how long it took for me to realize I hated it and quit. Now I'm going to be going back to my old job since I preferred it and they haven't exactly found a replacement for me yet. I could sit here and rant to all of you but that's not why you're here. You all are here to read chapter 22 so don't mind me.

The Flash: Survival of the Fastest

Chapter 22: The Wrath of Lightspeed

The Next Day: January 27 2018

S.T.A.R. Labs Corridor

Barry and Caitlin walked down the hallway towards the cortex. They had received notice that Team Arrow had finally arrived so everyone was now gathered in the Cortex. They could hear the chatter from the cortex and Caitlin paused for a moment.

"Barry… I don't think I can do this." Caitlin said suddenly afraid.

Barry gave his fiancé a soft smile before gently taking her hand in his and stroking the back of her hand. "Cait… there's nothing to be worried about." He kissed her hand. "This is a happy occasion."

Caitlin nodded slightly. "Sorry… my hormones are all over the place right now." She also placed a hand on her stomach. "And I've been unable to keep anything down. I think I might be delirious from hunger. Maybe we should just collect about a hundred IVs and go home so I can get my proper amount of nutrients intravenously."

Barry placed his hands on her shoulders. "Cait… take a deep breath…breath in…" He motioned for her to mimic him which she did taking in a large breath of air. "And slowly exhale…"

Caitlin closed her eyes and let out the breath she was holding. "Ok… ok…"

Slipping her hand back into Barry's was the easy part. Telling the rest of the team? That was going to be a little tougher.

"Hey guys Cait and I…have…some…" Barry's sentence faded out as his jaw opened. Every screen in S.T.A.R. Labs was showing static. Cisco, Wally, Joe, Eddie, Iris, Ben, Oliver, Diggle, Thea, Felicity, Laurel, Robin and Bobby were all watching intently as the static quickly filtered into the picture of someone Barry knew; Lightspeed.

"People of Central City," There seemed to be an echo to his voice, yet it was still powerful enough to make him sound like he was in the room with them. "I am Lucien, a humble servant of the one true god."

All around Central City people were glued to their television screens watching this man's announcement.

"Many of you know of The Flash, your personal guardian angel. They say he saves people in the blink of an eye and that he only cares for the City. Well, I am here to free you of this heretic's lies! The Flash is no angel. Countless times he has placed his own wellbeing and selfish desires ahead of this great city's people. Have any of you wondered what this world would be like without The Flash? Without him, your city would be at peace. No other Meta-Humans would come to challenge him because S.T.A.R. Labs' Particle Accelerator would have never been built! There would be no Meta-Humans!" He paused for a moment as if he knew his words would get people talking. "People of Central City, I offer you this chance to abandon the pretender, and I will take you to a world of perfection. I once offered the people of my world this chance of peace and they now live happily in our oasis. I can only give you all one hour. Those who wish to stay shall suffer the wrath of the one true god. To the pretender, I issue this challenge; a battle for the soul of this City. If you're truly the hero you pretend to be face me in in front of St. Carmine's Cathedral." The camera cut to black and all televisions, phones and any other screen used to view online media returned to their former setting as if nothing happened.

Team Arrow and the rest of Team Flash turned to Barry looking to him for some kind of answer.

"What do we do?" Iris asked as she took Eddie's hands in her own.

"There's no way people are dumb enough to believe this guy." Wally said.

"No, they believe him." Bobby answered. "All over the city I can hear people gossiping and packing their things to go to this 'Better' world with Lightspeed."

"How can-" Cisco was cut off by Robin.

"Bobby has really good hearing."

"Right…" Joe barely could contain his disbelief.

Not one to beat around the bush Oliver took charge. "So, what do we do?"

"I fight him." Barry spoke suddenly and allowed the room to erupt into arguments from Team Flash.

"Last time you fought him he kicked you through several buildings and landed you in a coma!" Iris argued

"I don't know, but this time… this time I know I can beat him."

"You are not fighting him alone!" Caitlin practically commanded a little louder than she would have liked. Her little outburst drew the attention of everyone in the room. "I almost lost you before Barry. I won't be able to lose you for real. Not now."

"I have an Idea!" Ben said suddenly.

"Well, what is it?" Barry asked

"Listen closely, because this will take all of us."

One Hour Later

ST. Carmine's Cathedral

Lightspeed stood atop the steeple of the house of god overlooking the city. This had been a long time coming. Ever since he was cursed he longed for the day of his salvation. Once Lucien had looked to the God of Speed Savitar for salvation but he was an absentee god, a charlatan, Godspeed has time and time again proven to be the one true God of Speed trapped in an unending war with the Devil himself.

Over the last hour people from around central city, mostly the elderly, had come accepting his offer to travel to his reality, to a true paradise. It brought a smile to Lucien's face to know how easy the Flash lat these people down, how easy it was for them to lose their faith in him. Truly these people deserved the happy ending Lucien had promised them.

"People of Central City!" Everyone gathered looked up to Lucien. "You have accepted my offer! Today you shall join me in paradise!" He raced down from the roof and pulled out a small metallic object. He threw it into the Church's entryway and a blue breach ripped open. "Come" He extended his hand for the first person to take.

The elderly woman hesitated for a moment but took his hand and he led her through the portal, to Paradise.

Earth-777

Twenty Years Ago

Earth-777 a world where all the monotheistic religions of the world melded together to create one religion and the world was at peace. In many regards, it was similar to Earth-Prime. But everything changed on the day Earth-777's Harrison Wells engaged his version of the Particle Accelerator and the world was decimated.

Lucien was just a simple altar boy on his earth when it happened. The wave of unknown energies and dark matter washed over Lucien at the same moment a bolt of lightning tore the main stain glass window and struck him through the heart. Lucien screamed in pain as every cell began to vibrate at accelerated speeds until the luminescent proteins in Lucien's cells emanated a light so bright the sun seemed dim.

The following day Lucien was left to wander the wasteland left behind by the explosion. His body was more radiant than the sun and burned five times hotter than the surface of the sun. He moved so fast he circled the entire globe in 0.13 seconds but he left nothing but destruction in his wake. He could not stop. In a second he circled the globe ten times. In a minute Six hundred times.

Lucien was no longer human, he was beyond even meta-humans, he was a force of nature, a god. His speed was so immense that he actually drew the attention of The God of Speed Savitar. The gigantic iron clad speedster appeared before Lucien and demanded a challenge of the budding Meta-Human. What Lucien did not know was Savitar planned to pull him into the Speed Force in order to free himself from his prison. Luckily for Lucien he moved so fast that not even the self-proclaimed God of Speed could keep pace with him. Within mere moments Savitar was pulled back into the Speed Force without his prize. Their race decimated the earth leaving humanity as nothing more than frightful creatures desperate for an explanation.

Lucien continued to race around the world nonstop for what felt like decades but in actuality it was merely a single hour. He finally was able to stop when a Speedster clad in white caught him and forced him to finally stop. The Speedster introduced himself as Godspeed, the Heir to Savitar's mantle. Though initially hesitant to trust the newer speedster Godspeed quickly proved his intentions by acquiring a suit for Lucien. Godspeed explained that the suit was designed much in the same way Savitar's was, it contained his powers, allowing for better control as well as shielding himself and the world around him from his volatile power.

With his new suit and better control thanks to Godspeed's teachings Lucien united as many people as he could create a new people living in what was left of Central City. Up until this point in Earth-777's history there had never been anyone like Lucien. People fell to his feet in worship (whether by fear or true devotion Lucien would never know) as if he were some heavenly person and while he didn't see himself as one initially Lucien quickly fell into the role of their savior.

Over the next twenty years Lucien led his people to prosperity. They renounced the sciences of Man that had led to the destruction of the world and instead embraced the Light of God. It was during this time Lucien discovered that his cells were nearly weightless and therefore allowed him greater speeds than anyone else in addition to defying gravity. with the help of several of his new religious scientists Lucien had the process reverse engineered in order to create a weightless metal which was then used to rebuild Central City. When the time came Lucien activated a great machine that he built under the city the people were in pure awe as Central City was ripped from the earth and raised six thousand meters into the sky making it a city in the clouds.

Central Heaven, as it was renamed became a literal paradise. During the Catastrophe (as it was now called) Dormant volcanoes such as Mt. St. Helen's began to go off. Volcanic Ash floated into the sky and mingled with clouds seemingly indefinitely. The People of Central Heaven found they could uses these clouds as fields for crops. The fields had properties similar, if not superior to, volcanic soil. The air was thinner, but also fresher allowing the people increase their red blood cell count and acclimatize to their new home. In time people began to call Lucien by another name. They called him Cassiel, which means The Speed of God.

Present Day

Earth-Prime

Within minutes the hundreds of people who gathered had been transported to Earth-777 as Lightspeed admired his work. So many lives have been spared the retribution he was about to bring down on them.

"LIGHTSPEED!" The angelic warrior turned around to see the Flash standing not too far from him. "Looking for me?"

Lightspeed seemed to smirk. The Flash was foolish enough to face him once more in battle. "I've been looking forward to this blasphemer." Lightspeed's hands began to glow violently. "It'll be glorious to crush you beneath my boot."

"Well, today is your lucky day." The Flash seemed to smile and fold his arms across his chest.

"Why is that?" Lightspeed was confused by the Flash's statement.

There was a flash of yellow lightning and suddenly there were two Flashes standing side by side in identical suits.

"Because there are two of us!" The other Flash chuckled at Lightspeed's disbelief

"Two Flashes?" He was so discombobulated he could no longer form coherent sentences.

"Make that Three!" There was another crack of thunder and flash of yellow lightning and another Flash appeared making it a trio of Flashes.

"Four!"

"Five!"

Two more Flashes joined the group in their own crackling yellow lightning.

Lightspeed was in disbelief as he stood alone against five identical Flashes. How could this be? There are only two ways for a speedster to truly be in two places at once, The Flash should only be capable of one of those feats, and there is no way he would be foolish enough to utilize Time Remnants unless he wanted to draw on the wrath of the Speed Force.

"I demanded you fight me alone!"

"Actually, you said 'I issue this challenge; a battle for the soul of this City. If you're truly the hero you pretend to be face me in in front of St. Carmine's Cathedral.'" One of the Flashes said. "So here we are, Five Flashes vs One Lightspeed. Now what are you going to do?"

Lightspeed looked down the line of the five identical speedsters and clenched his fists. "I'll just kill you all!"

Lucien charged forward at the speed of light giving the five Flashes barely any time to evade him. He whirled around and made a beeline towards the nearest scarlet speedster striking him in the chest. Lightspeed then quickly moved to the next Flash and landed a solid kick into his stomach before blitzing a third Flash with a spinning kick to the skull. Lucien blocked a kick from the fifth Flash before slamming an elbow into his chest and catching the Fourth Flash's fist in his free hand and flipping him to the ground. Despite the odds being against him in a five against one match up Lightspeed was holding his own remarkably well.

S.T.A.R. Labs Cortex

Caitlin, Iris and Felicity hovered around the main computers watching the fight unfold with baited breath. So far things were not looking too good for The Five Flashes, but this was only part one of their plan.

Ben had suggested they use the Transmogrifier from Earth 19 to make Wally, Ben, Eddie and Jay all look exactly like Barry does in his signature suit. Ben called it Operation Five of a Kind. With Five 'clones' of Barry running around Lightspeed would have a difficult time figuring out which one is the real Flash. The way Lightspeed is he is obsessed with killing the Flash, he sees it as a mission from his god. He cannot risk killing the wrong person because he fears the possibility of eternal damnation.

Lightspeed had boldly declared he would kill them all and that worried both Iris and Caitlin. They were both hoping and Ben was right that Lightspeed would be bluffing.

The rest of their heavy hitters were waiting in reserve, dropped off in specific locations by Cisco and his breach powers.

"That's Lightspeed?" Felicity asked after seeing the angelic speedster for the first time. She turned to Iris and Caitlin. "How's everyone supposed to beat him?"

"We have to have faith in Ben's plan." Iris replied. "He knows more about Lightspeed than any of us." Unlike everyone else Iris still felt uneasy about their conflict with Lightspeed. Something about it felt orchestrated, much in the same way she felt about August before he gave his mantle to Ben. None of it made her feel any better.

"I guess." Felicity turned to Caitlin who had been quiet the whole time. "Caitlin? You OK?"

Felicity's question snapped Caitlin out of her trance. "What? Oh, I'm fine." She reassured the two other women. "I've just been feeling a little under the weather lately, and I-" On the monitors Caitlin watched as One of the Flashes took an exceptionally nasty hit. "BARRY!" Instinctively Caitlin cried out the name of her fiance while she moved her hand from the table to her stomach. An action that initially went unnoticed by Iris.

Cathedral Battlefield

No matter how many times Lightspeed struck or knocked a Flash down they just kept getting back to their feet.

'This is hopeless.' He clenched his fist in frustration as he eyed the downed speedsters. 'The Blasphemer could be any one of them!' He was caught off guard in that moment and two bolts of lightning collided with his stomach knocking Lightspeed to the ground.

"Nice one kid." A Flash said as he placed a hand on the shoulder of the Flash who threw lightning at Lightspeed.

"Now!" Cisco's voice came up over the intercom. Oliver, Robin and Thea leaped out from three breeches firing arrow after arrow at Lightspeed. Still dazed from the attack Lightspeed barely managed to avoid the projectiles when he was struck by one to his back.

Cisco smirked from his position, so far Ben's plan was working. Using his powers to open multiple breaches Cisco was effectively allowing the three archers to fire at Lightspeed from all directions simultaneously. Even with his crazy speed it would force him to run in only one direction, straight for the church, which he did.

Bobby and Laurel were waiting for him. Their was a ear splitting scream from inside the church as two sonic screams tore the doors from their hinges and collided with Lightspeed.

For the first time in a long while Lightspeed felt blood trickle from his ears. He hadn't bled in so long. As he fell to his knees thanks to the alternating screams of Black Siren and Sonic Boom The three Archers, Vibe and the five speedsters quickly surrounded him giving him no room for escape.

Lightspeed got back to his feet and took a few steps back. Perhaps it was time he unveiled the gift Godspeed had given to him in preparation. Good thing he planned ahead and stored it within the cathedral. Suddenly two beams of heat connected with his back, forcing him back to the ground. They were not but nowhere near as hot as his body temperature naturally was. when it stopped he glanced up to see Supergirl hovering over him with her hands on her hips. How quickly the tide had been turned against him.

"Stay down." Supergirl ordered. Lightspeed didn't obey so Kara used her super breath to pin him to the ground once more.

"GIVE HIM EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!" One of the Flashes yelled.

In tandem the speedsters launched lightning, Supergirl fired off her heat vision, Vibe fired a concussive blast Sonic Boom and Black Siren screamed as loudly as they could, and The Green Arrow, Speedy and Black Arrow fired off several explosive arrows. Everything collided and exploded throwing everyone back.

"Is it over?" Speedy asked.

"I think so." Cisco responded out of breath.

Unfortunately, within the pile of debris there was some stirring and Lightspeed stood up once more, only this time his armor was gone.

"COVER YOUR EYES!" A Flash yelled desperately.

In less than one second it began to vibrate, in another it unleashed a brilliant light that definitely blinded everyone present. "This isn't over, not by a long shot!" He vanished into the church and before any of the Flashes could follow bright light emanated from every window before it quickly died down. For a moment, it was absolutely gorgeous with all the colors from the stain glass windows changing the shades of Lightspeed's light.

Lightspeed's unarmored body had effectively taken out Six of their main fighters; Vibe, Green Arrow, Speedy, Black Arrow, Black Siren and Sonic Boom had all been temporarily blinded.

When it finished dying down Lightspeed came out of the cathedral and the Flashes could see his full body covered from shoulder to toe in intricate golden armor. Designs of heavenly angels adorned his armor while his head was still covered with a white hood and his face glowed like the sun itself. Spreading from his back were four massive wings their shape was difficult to determine due to their brilliant glow.

All five Flashes were mesmerized by the deadly beauty of Lightspeed's armor. There was a mighty flap of the wings and Lucien took to the skies like a heavenly avenger.

"He can fly?!" One flash yelled out loud.

Lightspeed flapped his wings and unleashed a torrent of laser beams forcing the Flashes to dodge and weave at their absolute limit. Each laser beam exploded when it came into contact with anything that was in their way.

"And he can fire laser beams that explode?!"

"Doesn't matter!" Another Flash shouted back. "They can only travel in straight lines!"

"I will burn this city so that it can be reborn in my holy light!" Lightspeed declared as he turned his attention to the rest of the city. Why did it seem like when he tired to spread the message of Godspeed he was constantly met with resistance in need of obliteration? It had been like this back in his home reality.

Earth-777

Two Years Ago

After guiding his people with a paradise in the sky Lucien, or rather Cassiel had decided it was time for them to spread their light to the heathens on the planet's surface.

"No Mercy for the Heathens!" Cassiel declared as the heavenly armies of Central Heaven descended to the war-torn lands of the world below them. These lands were once theirs and now they were being desecrated by the people who now occupied them and constructed their vile buildings to 'science' or rather the Devil's Teachings as Cassiel called them. He watched with satisfaction as his holy followers purged the land and rounded up the heathens. Cassiel had brought forth several commandments for his men, never spill the blood of Women, Children, the innocent or the repentant and to Abandon the old ways that led to the destruction of their world.

The world below had one line of defense, A lone speedster just like Cassiel he had been granted his speed by the Particle Accelerator, though unlike Lucien this speedster fell alongside the more common speedsters in terms of his abilities. There wasn't too much special about him. His suit, if it could even be called that, was a thick dark red jacket and pants with golden lightning shaped bans running around his shins, biceps, wrists, waist and halfway across his chest, the center of each band had a silver reflective material within. His head was covered by a crimson helmet with a black visor covering his whole face. The visor on his face had device where the mouth was located that resembled a re-breather. Strapped to his back were two tanks one was connected to a breathing apparatus and the other was connected to a nozzle on his right wrist. In his left hand was a three-foot axe ready to be used at a moment's notice. His suit covered him head to toe leaving no skin visible, all in all it heavily resembled the suits worn by firefighters.

The speedster stood alone in front of Cassiel's army just to protect the people behind him. "Stand down!" He commanded. One of Cassiel's followers stepped forward and quick as lightning there was a line in the ground. "whoever crosses this line forfeits their life. This will be your only warning." The speedster said. One of the zealots chuckled and stepped over the line, an instant later he fell to the ground dead. "All of you leave now!" He commanded once more, this time many of the zealots whispered and wavered.

"You are quite interesting Speedster." Cassiel stepped forward, yet not over the line. "Tell me your name?"

The Speedster didn't make any moves. "Doesn't matter." He said. "I don't need the people to chant my name in the streets."

"Very well," Cassiel eyed the unnamed speedster like a predator, looking for any and all vulnerabilities. "I am in a generous mood. Have your people lay down their weapons and join us. There will be no slaughter and we shall all be united in heaven. All you need to do is renounce the heinous acts that led us down this path."

The speedster looked away for a moment to the crowd behind him. "I don't think so." Cassiel waved his hand for his men to charge. Almost immediately The unmanned speedster raised his right hand and a stream of high pressure water burst forward like a fire hose drenching all the men and forcing them back. Lightning charged up in his left hand and all he needed to do was place his hand on the ground. The lightning traveled along the wet ground and electrocuted every member of Cassiel's army that he had sprayed with the hose. They all collapsed to the ground unresponsive. It was unknown whether they were alive or not but that didn't matter.

Cassiel watched quite surprised. He had definitely heard rumors about this speedster. Rumors that said Whenever the signal called, whenever there was danger (natural or Meta), he was always there, constantly tested by the danger and preforming rescues at lightspeed. The people called him the Red Rescuer, or the Fast Fireman, he had no true moniker because he never made one for himself. He admired and hated this man, the kind of person who would always do the right thing.

With nothing much left to lose Cassiel charged the unnamed speedster. He would spread his light to the whole world even if it meant killing this everyday hero.

Their battle was vicious and lasted an hour in speedster time, which was really only a minute or two as the real world viewed it. Their battle seemingly ended when The Red Rescuer slashed Cassiel across his chest, breaking open his armor just enough for him to hold his fire hose at point blank in the crack.

"FREEZE!" he commanded. "Don't make me do it!"

"Do what? Your little fire hose cannot hurt me." Cassiel chuckled "I am an angel of god."

"I've amped up the pressure to 90,000 psi." The nameless speedster replied. "It's got more than enough to puch a hole clean through you!"

"You're bluffing!" Cassiel argued. "Even if that little toy of yours could punch a hole in me you should know that my armor contains my power. If it is destroyed Hell will be unleashed on the world!"

"I'm warning you!"

"JUST DO IT!" Cassiel challenged loudly.

The nameless speedster dropped his right hand. "No, this isn't the right way." He actually turned around and began to walk away. He'd beaten Cassiel but right now he had more important things to do, there were people that needed saving.

Cassiel was shocked and enraged. How dare this nameless goodie two shoes not only defeat him, but also humiliate him by refusing the killing blow. "HOW DARE YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!" He charged ready to deliver a fatal blow from behind.

The nameless speedster turned around and dropped to the ground while extending his right hand. It coursed with electricity before he shoved it into the crack in Cassiel's armor. A heartbeat later a high-powered stream of electrified water pierced through Cassiel's armor leaving Lucien shocked. With his armor compromised his power began to fluctuate at alarming speeds and a moment later, both Cassiel and the nameless speedster were swallowed by a massive golden explosion.

Present Day

Earth-Prime, Central City

Beams of death fell in Lightspeed's wake punching holes through the earth itself and detonating anything flammable.

As the five Flashes raced to quell the destruction and stop Lightspeed one Flash noticed an SUV detonate blasting a smaller car into the side of a building and onto it's roof. Immediately he raced over and wrenched open the door to get the people out before the car could explode.

The man and woman inside were panicking trying to escape.

"It's OK I've got you." The Flash said as he cut through the seatbelts with his vibrating hands and pulled the man out of the car first and then went back for his wife. He barely got her out before the car exploded right in front of him.

The Flash was thrown into a fire hydrant and the image of Barry Allen's Flash was shattered as his real form of Ben Allen's Godspeed was unveiled. Ben's ears were ringing and his sight was dulled by the brilliance of the explosion. He looked around and saw the woman checking over her husband. Both of them had cuts from the glass as well as light burns from where the explosion singed them.

"Are you OK John?" The woman asked

"I'm fine." John quickly glanced around. "Come on, there are people who need our help." They both looked up to see the white clad speedster known as Godspeed standing in front of them.

Ben froze in place when his vision returned and he got a good look at the two people he just rescued. Right in front of him were the people who murdered Barry and Caitlin.

This is the end of the chapter

Just a little fun fact; Cassiel is the name of an angel/archangel that appears in monotheistic works. His name translates both to 'Speed of God' and 'God is my Anger' both of which fit nicely with Lucien/Lightspeed's mythos. Not only this but he's the angel of Saturn, which is named after the roman god of harvest and also associated with the passage of time.

In all honesty Lightspeed/Lucien/Cassiel's story was a lot cooler in my mind. I had a difficult time portraying it here specifically the reasons for why Lightspeed/Lucien/Cassiel did the things that he did. I mean they essentially boil down to he's a religious fanatic.

Please tell me what you liked, didn't like, look forward to/think will happen, or your general thoughts and comments, this will help me make the story better; I'm a big boy so I can take criticism. And if you Review you get a Shout Out and questions answered either privately or in the next chapter.

Please share this with everyone you can via whatever platform of social media you want. I would love it if the whole fandom got to enjoy this story and not just the one on fanfiction.

Have a Fantastic day