Dante had initially thought this would be a battle with virtually no suspense.
But what he hadn't expected was that Carnage's combat power far exceeded his imagination.
He actually managed to hold on for three minutes and thirty-three seconds even in his Three-Lantern Great Buddha state.
However, that was his limit.
After Dante once again grabbed him, then forcibly separated Carnage and Joker, turning it into a double grab, Carnage finally could no longer withstand the terrifying might of the three Lanterns shining together.
"Cough, cough! Dante! You despicable human! To defeat you, I crossed countless years and devoured ninety-nine of my kind!" Carnage, now in the shape of a slime in the Three-Lantern Great Buddha's hand, let out a sharp, explosive sound. "Why am I still not your opponent! Even you, who doesn't even have a White Lantern!"
"Uh, dear little Carnage, first of all, I don't know you, I'm only twenty-five years old," Dante held Carnage up to his face. "Secondly, whatever I did to you, that was the future me. If you have the guts, go find him, okay? Being a coward is being a coward. Thinking you're enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens is just your own unclear self-perception."
Dante was very interested in this Carnage.
The battle just now seemed like a complete rolling by him, but in reality, although Carnage's defense wasn't high, his attack power was somewhat exaggerated.
He was able to damage the Three-Lantern Great Buddha many times.
He truly lived up to an attack power that could even wound Adamantium.
However… that was all there was to it.
This Carnage had clearly only devoured many Symbiotes, greatly increasing the Symbiote's basic stats, and specifically directing that increase towards attack power.
But he hadn't possessed many people, and Joker might even be only his second host.
Because powerful Symbiotes, after possessing a host, will replicate the host's abilities.
Although it cannot be 100% replicated.
But theoretically, as long as Carnage possesses enough people, he can gain all superpowers.
"However, what kind of unforgivable things did the future me do to you? It can't be that he treated you like a slime and played with you in his hand every day, right?"
Although Carnage was a Symbiote, Dante could still feel the emotions within him. That rolling fire of anger was not fake.
"That Dante forged me into a Sword of Slaughter. To make its power stronger, he even forced me to devour the Dagon stone…"
"My soul was almost torn to shreds by the dark Universe power within the Dagon stone!"
"Then I was bestowed by that tyrant to his most terrifying assassin, the Banshee Peggy Carter."
"The hundred years I spent as the Sword of Slaughter were the most terrifying and tormenting experience of my life!"
At this point, Carnage even fell into agitation again.
Dante frowned.
What the hell?
He had originally thought that what Carnage was talking about was the middle-aged Dante who formed the Legends.
As a result, where did another Tyrant Dante pop out from?
Damn it, how many Dantes are there on the timeline?
What Dante Council?
However, such a thing happening in a Universe primarily structured around Marvel and DC was actually quite normal.
Multiverse plus multiple timelines.
Isn't it normal for there to be a few more Dantes?
He just didn't know if these Dantes were homologous variants from other Universes, or himself from a branching timeline, or…
His future self from the main timeline.
But that wasn't important.
Dante had long since come to terms with it.
He himself would only be himself.
However, Joker, who was beside him, had a mocking smile on his face.
"It seems you're not someone who can maintain a firm stance on justice either."
"Alright, Joker, no one's talking to you, are you really acting like you're hot stuff?" Dante rolled his eyes. "Did you not bring your brain with you for these two resurrections? An Extreme Speedster and a Symbiote, neither of them told you their purpose… they purely used you as bait to attract my attention."
"Hahahahaha, I'm well aware of that," Joker raised an eyebrow, his face full of indifference. "It's a bit regrettable that I couldn't kill Harley Quinn or you, but it's much more interesting than dying again and again cooped up in that metal lump!"
Dante pursed his lips.
There was nothing more to say to these two things.
He just stared at Joker.
Even Joker began to feel uneasy under that gaze.
His smile gradually faded.
"I've been researching this Dionysus factor thing."
"It wasn't until my abilities were strong enough that I began to understand just the tip of the iceberg of this thing."
"But thanks to the Green Lantern Ring, I finally deciphered part of the Dionysus factor's secret."
Joker's eyes widened when he heard this.
"What do you want to say?"
Dante detached from the Three-Lantern Great Buddha and flew in front of him.
He stretched out his hand and placed it on Joker's face.
"The Dionysus factor, although it exists, cannot be observed."
"Batman didn't even study your corpse during the time he imprisoned you."
"The conclusion is that no abnormal substances were found."
"But… as a kindred spirit, the Dionysus factor will always flow towards the stronger person."
"Which means…"
Dante didn't continue speaking. Three colors of light instantly lit up in his hand, piercing into Joker's skin.
He closed his eyes, feeling the Dionysus factor that had originally been dormant within him.
The moment it touched Joker's blood, the Dionysus factor began to move.
The Dionysus factor within Dante and Joker began to attract and pull each other, attempting to completely merge the other with itself.
At this point, Dante didn't need to say anything more. Joker's expression instantly changed.
That unknown power hidden deep within his body was gradually detaching from his body under the immense pulling force.
"No! This is impossible! This is my fun alone! You can't take him away!"
Joker's hands and feet were held by the Great Buddha, unable to move an inch. He could only shake his head uselessly.
But this could not stop the Dionysus factor from gradually being stripped from his body.
Dante took a deep breath.
The gradual strengthening of the Dionysus factor greatly expanded his understanding of the entire Universe.
He truly lived up to being the most outrageous of the five great DC metals, and it was not in vain that the word "God" was in its name.
The absorption speed was very fast.
After all, Dante's current strength of will and power were far greater than this madman Joker's.
Then he casually threw Joker to the ground.
Now, he had transformed from an immortal madman into a mortal madman.
But Joker still crawled forward on his hands and knees.
"It's okay, as long as I find that green pool again, I'll still be the omnipotent Joker…"
Dante looked on coldly. With a thought, the Three-Lantern Great Buddha raised one of its legs high.
"Joker, this is a real Universe, not a personal comic book revolving around you alone."
"Farewell."
He stomped down.
There was no dazzling light, only the barely perceptible sound of bones and flesh shattering.
Just like squashing an annoying mosquito.
(To be continued.)
***
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