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Chapter 345: The Assembled Darkness
Oa, the Central Citadel of the Guardians of the Universe.
"Listen up, you fools."
Kilowog, with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth among the crowd of Green Lanterns of all shapes and sizes from various galaxies.
"As you know, the Sinestro Corps is causing trouble everywhere. Our Green Lantern colleagues across all sectors have been attacked. Even our home planet was once surprise-attacked, and many of our brothers were killed. Without a doubt, this is a war. A Spectrum War that spans the entire universe."
The new Green Lantern recruits stood ramrod straight, listening to him like rigid statues.
"The green front line is a bit hard-pressed under the enemy's fierce offensive, and the situation looks grim. But this also happens to give you newly graduated rookies a chance to shine. However, it's time to get ready to show the enemy what we're made of."
Kilowog held out his Power Ring, and the green light it projected transformed into the shape of a planet.
"A Green Lantern colleague sent back a message, having found a clue on Planet Avadel that might lead to the Yellow Lantern Headquarters. He tried to get a closer look, but was unfortunately attacked, and we lost contact afterward. We have to assume the worst; our Lantern brother may have already been sacrificed. But his sacrifice was by no means meaningless. We might now know where the enemy is. So next, we will launch an all-out assault on that location. It might be dangerous, and many may die. But I know you will be fearless, because that is why you were chosen. Now, charge your Power Rings and get ready to test them to their limits. We'll be setting out in a moment. Now, dismiss."
The Green Lanterns immediately dispersed to make their preparations. Kilowog flew down from the stage and landed in front of Hal, who was already waiting there.
"I recognize that look," Kilowog said with a frown before Hal could speak. "Don't even think about it."
"Someone has to scout ahead, Kilowog," Hal said firmly. "That Lantern might still be alive. Maybe there's still time to save him. Besides, the clue isn't clear. We don't know for sure if that's the enemy's headquarters. It could be a decoy. Maybe Sinestro deliberately wants you to lead the entire Corps there."
"If it's a trap, it's even more dangerous for you to go alone," Kilowog frowned.
"Who said he's alone?"
A voice came from behind. Kilowog looked toward the sound and saw a dozen Green Lanterns had already flown to Hal's side.
They were all comrades who had been through life and death with them, the elite of the Green Lantern Corps.
"The Guardians have already approved the operation," one Green Lantern said. "Don't worry, everyone here is a veteran. Even Sinestro himself might not be able to take us down."
"...Alright, then you all be careful. I expect to have the Corps assembled within an hour," Kilowog said. "We'll wait for your word."
"Relax, big guy."
Hal smiled confidently.
"Maybe we'll have everything wrapped up before you even have time to assemble the Corps."
Unknown Sector.
"War report. A group of Green Lanterns has left Oa and is heading for Planet Avadel."
The report came from the yellow Power Ring on Sinestro's hand.
"How many?"
"Only a dozen or so, not many," the voice from the ring said, then paused. "But there's something you might want to know... Hal Jordan is among them."
Sinestro narrowed his eyes.
A deep voice sounded from behind him.
"It seems you care a great deal about that Hal Jordan."
A figure emerged from within. He had a burly frame, his face half-human, half-machine, the mechanical structure resembling a kind of metal skeleton. Half of his body was shrouded in a red cape.
Hank Henshaw, Cyborg Superman.
The last time he appeared in the Solar System, he had undoubtedly been blasted to smithereens. Even he thought he should have died. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
After his initial exposure to the radiation that mutated him, his life form had already transcended his physical body. He had become a wave of pure psychic energy. That change, while granting him the ability to control machinery, also cursed him with immortality.
Yes, a curse.
From life to death, and from death back to life, the past felt like a distant memory. His hatred for Superman, his longing for his wife and old friends—it had all become irrelevant.
Now, all he pursued was death.
He just wanted to be free of this curse, to attain the peaceful death his late wife and friends had.
"You'll soon understand why he's worthy of attention," Sinestro said coldly. "Otherwise, you will pay the price."
"If the 'price' is death, then I couldn't ask for more," Cyborg Superman said.
Sinestro shot him a disdainful glance.
He possessed power and innate talent, yet all he sought was death. To be honest, Sinestro didn't think much of someone so lacking in ambition and drive. Their current alliance was nothing more than a convergence of interests.
After all, Hank Henshaw's modified Machine Hunter Legion was undoubtedly the bane of the Emotional Spectrum. In the Spectrum War, anyone who could master this power would hold an absolute advantage.
"That Lord has personally set a trap on Avadel. The Green Lanterns have no idea what they're about to face," Cyborg Superman said icily. "They don't stand a chance."
"Hmph, you'd better be right."
Sinestro snorted, not wanting to say more, and flew away.
Cyborg Superman watched his retreating back and muttered to himself, "The Guardians don't know what they're truly facing, nor do they know the true objective of any one of us. The war has begun, and the Green Lantern Corps will be destroyed. But that's not the point. The point is that the Blue Lantern Corps will not stand aside, and their corps' Guardian, that unknown light from Earth..."
As he spoke, he turned and knelt on one knee before the presence behind him, saying in a deep voice.
"...The Light is destined to be extinguished."
A crimson glow appeared in the darkness, where a mechanical body loomed high above, suspended in the shadow.
"Excellent, Hank Henshaw. The Light will eventually be extinguished, and that unknown creature of Light will become my most precious and special collection. After all, in the end..."
The figure emerged from the darkness, revealing a bizarre body of green skin, a fusion of biology and machinery.
"...all things will belong to Brainiac."
The Sinestro Corps, the infamous cosmic collector of civilizations, Brainiac, and the vast army of Manhunters led by Hank Henshaw.
This was the power they had assembled for this war.
Cyborg Superman lowered his head, kneeling silently on the ground.
"You have something you wish to say?" Brainiac asked.
Cyborg Superman said in a heavy voice, "I was once blown to fragments, my body torn apart. Yet even so, I lived. That cosmic accident killed my friends and drove my wife mad, but what it left me was the curse of immortality. They had the chance to end their lives, but I wasn't so lucky."
"When you have completed your mission, I will naturally grant your wish," Brainiac said coolly. "I possess the knowledge of countless galaxies. The technology I command is beyond the imagination of others. When the time comes, I will use that technology to do what no one has done before... I will kill you, Hank Henshaw."
Cyborg Superman lowered his head, a tear falling from his one remaining human eye.
"Thank you."
(end of chapter)
Oa, the Central Citadel of the Guardians of the Universe.
"Listen up, you fools."
Kilowog, with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth among the crowd of Green Lanterns of all shapes and sizes from various galaxies.
"As you know, the Sinestro Corps is causing trouble everywhere. Our Green Lantern colleagues across all sectors have been attacked. Even our home planet was once surprise-attacked, and many of our brothers were killed. Without a doubt, this is a war. A Spectrum War that spans the entire universe."
The new Green Lantern recruits stood ramrod straight, listening to him like rigid statues.
"The green front line is a bit hard-pressed under the enemy's fierce offensive, and the situation looks grim. But this also happens to give you newly graduated rookies a chance to shine. However, it's time to get ready to show the enemy what we're made of."
Kilowog held out his Power Ring, and the green light it projected transformed into the shape of a planet.
"A Green Lantern colleague sent back a message, having found a clue on Planet Avadel that might lead to the Yellow Lantern Headquarters. He tried to get a closer look, but was unfortunately attacked, and we lost contact afterward. We have to assume the worst; our Lantern brother may have already been sacrificed. But his sacrifice was by no means meaningless. We might now know where the enemy is. So next, we will launch an all-out assault on that location. It might be dangerous, and many may die. But I know you will be fearless, because that is why you were chosen. Now, charge your Power Rings and get ready to test them to their limits. We'll be setting out in a moment. Now, dismiss."
The Green Lanterns immediately dispersed to make their preparations. Kilowog flew down from the stage and landed in front of Hal, who was already waiting there.
"I recognize that look," Kilowog said with a frown before Hal could speak. "Don't even think about it."
"Someone has to scout ahead, Kilowog," Hal said firmly. "That Lantern might still be alive. Maybe there's still time to save him. Besides, the clue isn't clear. We don't know for sure if that's the enemy's headquarters. It could be a decoy. Maybe Sinestro deliberately wants you to lead the entire Corps there."
"If it's a trap, it's even more dangerous for you to go alone," Kilowog frowned.
"Who said he's alone?"
A voice came from behind. Kilowog looked toward the sound and saw a dozen Green Lanterns had already flown to Hal's side.
They were all comrades who had been through life and death with them, the elite of the Green Lantern Corps.
"The Guardians have already approved the operation," one Green Lantern said. "Don't worry, everyone here is a veteran. Even Sinestro himself might not be able to take us down."
"...Alright, then you all be careful. I expect to have the Corps assembled within an hour," Kilowog said. "We'll wait for your word."
"Relax, big guy."
Hal smiled confidently.
"Maybe we'll have everything wrapped up before you even have time to assemble the Corps."
Unknown Sector.
"War report. A group of Green Lanterns has left Oa and is heading for Planet Avadel."
The report came from the yellow Power Ring on Sinestro's hand.
"How many?"
"Only a dozen or so, not many," the voice from the ring said, then paused. "But there's something you might want to know... Hal Jordan is among them."
Sinestro narrowed his eyes.
A deep voice sounded from behind him.
"It seems you care a great deal about that Hal Jordan."
A figure emerged from within. He had a burly frame, his face half-human, half-machine, the mechanical structure resembling a kind of metal skeleton. Half of his body was shrouded in a red cape.
Hank Henshaw, Cyborg Superman.
The last time he appeared in the Solar System, he had undoubtedly been blasted to smithereens. Even he thought he should have died. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
After his initial exposure to the radiation that mutated him, his life form had already transcended his physical body. He had become a wave of pure psychic energy. That change, while granting him the ability to control machinery, also cursed him with immortality.
Yes, a curse.
From life to death, and from death back to life, the past felt like a distant memory. His hatred for Superman, his longing for his wife and old friends—it had all become irrelevant.
Now, all he pursued was death.
He just wanted to be free of this curse, to attain the peaceful death his late wife and friends had.
"You'll soon understand why he's worthy of attention," Sinestro said coldly. "Otherwise, you will pay the price."
"If the 'price' is death, then I couldn't ask for more," Cyborg Superman said.
Sinestro shot him a disdainful glance.
He possessed power and innate talent, yet all he sought was death. To be honest, Sinestro didn't think much of someone so lacking in ambition and drive. Their current alliance was nothing more than a convergence of interests.
After all, Hank Henshaw's modified Machine Hunter Legion was undoubtedly the bane of the Emotional Spectrum. In the Spectrum War, anyone who could master this power would hold an absolute advantage.
"That Lord has personally set a trap on Avadel. The Green Lanterns have no idea what they're about to face," Cyborg Superman said icily. "They don't stand a chance."
"Hmph, you'd better be right."
Sinestro snorted, not wanting to say more, and flew away.
Cyborg Superman watched his retreating back and muttered to himself, "The Guardians don't know what they're truly facing, nor do they know the true objective of any one of us. The war has begun, and the Green Lantern Corps will be destroyed. But that's not the point. The point is that the Blue Lantern Corps will not stand aside, and their corps' Guardian, that unknown light from Earth..."
As he spoke, he turned and knelt on one knee before the presence behind him, saying in a deep voice.
"...The Light is destined to be extinguished."
A crimson glow appeared in the darkness, where a mechanical body loomed high above, suspended in the shadow.
"Excellent, Hank Henshaw. The Light will eventually be extinguished, and that unknown creature of Light will become my most precious and special collection. After all, in the end..."
The figure emerged from the darkness, revealing a bizarre body of green skin, a fusion of biology and machinery.
"...all things will belong to Brainiac."
The Sinestro Corps, the infamous cosmic collector of civilizations, Brainiac, and the vast army of Manhunters led by Hank Henshaw.
This was the power they had assembled for this war.
Cyborg Superman lowered his head, kneeling silently on the ground.
"You have something you wish to say?" Brainiac asked.
Cyborg Superman said in a heavy voice, "I was once blown to fragments, my body torn apart. Yet even so, I lived. That cosmic accident killed my friends and drove my wife mad, but what it left me was the curse of immortality. They had the chance to end their lives, but I wasn't so lucky."
"When you have completed your mission, I will naturally grant your wish," Brainiac said coolly. "I possess the knowledge of countless galaxies. The technology I command is beyond the imagination of others. When the time comes, I will use that technology to do what no one has done before... I will kill you, Hank Henshaw."
Cyborg Superman lowered his head, a tear falling from his one remaining human eye.
"Thank you."
(end of chapter)
