Chapter 232: The Mind of the God of Xenomorphs is Difficult to Fathom
"Great Master, I can already feel my original self. He has thrown the entire Emotional Spectrum into turmoil."
The Power Ring pulsed with an eerie green light. As the consciousness powering it, Volthoom was overcome with immense excitement, trembling all over.
So strong, so incredible. Is this my original self? The one who cut me out to create the Power Ring, then carried a travel lantern to continue wandering the Multiverse?
Back then, his original self was, in essence, just a mortal, not yet possessing the ability to turn the Emotional Spectrum into a powerful force that could be used at will!
But now… the entire Emotional Spectrum was in an uproar because of him.
"Calm down," Du Wa said, his voice eerily placid. "I've seen everything your counterpart has done. He is capable of far more than this and can do even better."
Honestly, even while sealed, the First Lantern, Volthoom, could easily wield the power of the Emotional Spectrum to interfere with the connection between all the Lanterns in the universe and their rings. This power was indeed formidable.
But that was only in the eyes of an ordinary Lantern. To Du Wa, it was merely decent.
Especially now that Du Wa was wearing the Power Ring, he could also make contact with the Emotional Spectrum and was already beginning to probe this power, one of the seven great forces of creation.
"The Emotional Spectrum... for a mortal, being chosen by a ring means the chance to ascend in a single leap, transforming from an ordinary person into an incredibly powerful superhero in minutes. On a universal scale, they would even be considered a 'powerhouse.'"
To instantly possess the ability to wield high-level energy, to use the ring's energy to create various weapons and armor, was equivalent to having super defense, on top of faster-than-light flight...
However, a power like the Emotional Spectrum was not worth a deity like Du Wa, who had already found his own path to ascension, deigning to use it. He did not need to use the Emotional Spectrum to enhance his own strength or to expand his concepts.
Du Wa continuously stroked the Power Ring, using his own powerful consciousness to forcefully wield it. The ring's inherent ability to corrupt and destroy its wearer's will was instantly neutralized the moment it met Du Wa's boundless, ocean-like consciousness cluster, losing all effect.
However, Du Wa himself did not need it, but he was more than happy to let one of his subordinates contend for this force of creation.
It didn't matter if they were enemies for now. He just needed to turn them into his own people in the end. Du Wa was an expert at this.
Power Ring Volthoom said with utmost loyalty, "Master, are we just going to watch quietly? As far as I know, your subordinates are all taking different, sometimes conflicting, actions. Is that really all right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Ah… I mean, why don't we gather all our strength at once, crush all the Lantern Corps, and let the entire Main Universe bathe in your great radiance…"
Although there was no emotional fluctuation in Du Wa's tone, Power Ring Volthoom couldn't help but shiver and hurriedly tried to justify his words.
Du Wa said faintly, "You are a creature with a distorted mind. Your worldview is completely different from the one you had as a human. I don't blame you—I never criticize others for trivialities. But if you keep testing my patience without producing satisfactory results, I will destroy you."
Besides, this fellow, Power Ring Volthoom, wasn't even a Xenomorph, but a Lantern Ring with a mutated program.
As for those Xenomorphs acting on their own? Du Wa paid them no mind at all, simply letting them do as they pleased.
He was currently observing the spectacular performance of these Guardians, watching them modify one Xenomorph after another.
...
Under the cover of night, people continuously moved toward the place where the seven-colored lantern battery had descended.
The Justice League had issued a call to assemble, but in the end, only four people arrived.
"What's going on? Why isn't Batman here?" Wonder Woman asked, puzzled.
"Sorry, I was delayed."
Out of the darkness, Batman walked out.
The gazes of the heroes present sharpened as they stared warily at this Batman.
"The details of your suit are different. What's up with you?" Aquaman quietly tightened his grip on his trident.
"As you can see, I captured the Batman you know and replaced him."
"Ha, are all villains this honest nowadays? Who are you? A shapeshifter? A clone?" Aquaman thrust his trident directly at the man's neck.
He could sense that this Batman was likely a superhuman; his breathing, heart rate, and the speed of his blood flow could not escape his ears.
Wonder Woman threw out the Lasso of Truth, binding one of this Batman's hands. "I have a better way to verify this. Now he can only tell the truth. But, Superman, why aren't you saying anything?"
"Because he already knew what happened, but it was too late to stop it. When I made my move, my counterpart in this universe was talking to Superman. He could use his Super Vision and Super Hearing to learn that I had defeated and captured my counterpart in this universe," DCEU Batman said, looking coldly at the people before him.
"Where do you come from, and what is your purpose?" Wonder Woman asked coldly.
"I come from an unnumbered universe. My purpose in capturing Batman was to better protect him. His strength is too weak, insignificant in the face of the impending disaster, and his wisdom is useless."
"This is absurd!"
Wonder Woman suspected she had misheard. It was like killing a hostage to better protect them. "Where did you hide him?"
"I don't know. I just handed him over to the Xenomorphs."
"Xenomorphs?"
The expressions of the Justice League heroes present flickered. They certainly knew of the dangerous creatures known as Xenomorphs, but this race had been quiet on Earth for a very long time. Why would they suddenly act now? And mix with this visitor from a parallel universe?
Superman asked, "What is your relationship with the Xenomorphs? Why can you control the Xenomorphs of our universe?"
Just then, a voice came from the distant darkness.
"Your universe? Don't be mistaken. All Xenomorphs in the entire Multiverse ultimately belong to *that one*. You just never realized it."
"Who's there?!"
"Oh no, these guys are…"
Main Universe Superman saw the rapidly approaching figures at a glance, his face showing intense astonishment.
DCEU Superman, DCEU Wonder Woman, Owlman, Ultraman…
The people who appeared could form a more intimidating Justice League on their own, not to mention the large number of Xenomorphs swarming around them.
"Every one of us is a Xenomorph. Because the more powerful ones are busy, it's up to us, the less worthy ones, to deal with your Justice League."
Alexander Luthor stood before them, smirking at the few Justice League heroes from the Main Universe, then turned to the restrained DCEU Batman. "Your methods are too crude. There's no need to cooperate with these people, and don't expect to use them to defeat Du Wa. Can't you see Du Wa doesn't care about your actions at all? I saved you."
"I never thought that way. I was just planning to use them to deal with you and the other Luthor. You two are definitely brewing some terrible conspiracy."
After speaking, DCEU Batman removed the Lasso of Truth. He looked at the people from the Main Universe. "I'd rather not see you all die needlessly. The Guardians are using the Xenomorphs to create terrible killing machines. You shouldn't fall in this disaster."
"Outsiders, I don't know what you people hope to achieve by coming to our world, but there's one thing you clearly don't know: we are strong," Aquaman said, watching these people warily.
Ultraman laughed heartily. He was meek and subservient before Du Wa, but against these heroes, he struck hard. "Strong? What a joke. No matter how strong you are, you can't possibly match the omnipotent God of Xenomorphs! Although I haven't figured out the reason either, ever since the Xenomorphs appeared in this universe, everything you have was destined to no longer be your own!"
"You're the Superman from a parallel universe? To think you'd worship some strange god like a common believer." Main Universe Superman's expression was grim. He could see that all these people had been parasitized by Xenomorphs, becoming puppets.
But what was more terrifying than their bodies being controlled was that their minds had also changed.
God of Xenomorphs? So these Xenomorphs also have a god?
Main Universe Superman said in a deep voice, "That colored light that fell from the sky, was that caused by your god?"
"No, those blue-skinned guys who manipulated the colored light to descend on Earth didn't receive my master's command, but they did come for the Xenomorphs, that's for sure. They understand the greatness of the Xenomorphs better than you do, so they are taking practical actions to align with them," Ultraman jeered, looking at his Main Universe counterpart, eager for a fight.
But soon, the heroes of the Main Universe had no time to deal with these guys, because even more vicious monsters had appeared.
These were special Xenomorphs, entirely silver, without any distinct angles or structures. They were breaking away from the Guardians and spreading toward the surrounding cities.
These strange Xenomorphs only needed to touch a human to make them fall in agony. After a struggle, they would be twisted from the inside out into a new, strange Xenomorph.
"Our forces are growing exponentially. Each soldier not only possesses the strength of the soldiers we originally intended to create but can also acquire and utilize the host's best genes, unleashing even greater power with greater potential."
"Excellent. The more powerful the host, the stronger the soldier! Ordinary humans are still too weak to be of any consequence."
"It's already quite good. The Third Army will grow rapidly in both quantity and quality. In at most two months, all life forms in the Main Universe will be converted into soldiers."
The Guardians were satisfied with the performance of these new soldiers.
"However, this is not enough. We can create an even greater power… a god under our control."
Ganthet set his sights on Volthoom. The stronger the Third Army became, the lower his patience grew. He led a group of Guardians and went straight for Volthoom.
The entire Earth descended into chaos. Everyone stood up to resist. Facing the all-pervasive, strange Xenomorphs, the only path was to fight to the death; surrender was impossible.
As for escaping? Even if some lucky few broke through the Third Army's encirclement, they were only delaying their own deaths.
Main Universe Superman was exceptionally powerful, taking out a Third Army soldier with each punch and effortlessly blowing them to pieces. "Retreat immediately, gather more people! The enemy's numbers are too great. We can't go on like this. We'll be facing billions of enemies before long."
The Justice League's heroes saw that these visitors from the parallel universe also took action against the strange Xenomorphs.
"You guys are with these silver Xenomorphs, aren't you!" The Main Universe Aquaman was furious. He swung his trident, summoning a massive amount of seawater to wash over the land, crushing a large number of Third Army soldiers and buying a little precious time.
"You don't understand Du Wa. Otherwise, the moment you saw that these so-called monsters were also Xenomorphs, you should have realized something was wrong. This must be Du Wa's handiwork again," Owlman said chillingly, like an owl in the darkness. "And Du Wa, as the god of all Xenomorphs, has the ability to resurrect them. Whether they kill us or we kill them, it is all within his sight."
The Main Universe Wonder Woman cut down two Third Army soldiers with her sword and couldn't help but say, "Resurrect you? How is that possible!"
"Why would it be impossible? Didn't you also experience the Blackest Night and the Brightest Day, and witness countless dead people being resurrected?"
"Correct. Whether they die or not is unimportant. What's more important is what Du Wa intends to do by allowing these semi-artificial Xenomorphs to appear. That's what I want to figure out. Perhaps to control the Emotional Spectrum?" DCEU Batman knocked down a silver Xenomorph with a punch, and several other Xenomorphs immediately rushed in and tore it to shreds.
"The Guardians control the Emotional Spectrum. Combined with the colored light, they must have used the Emotional Spectrum to modify these Xenomorphs. I refuse to believe that Du Wa would lose control of the Xenomorphs in this universe, even if this is the all-important Main Universe."
These visitors from the parallel universe displayed an incredible composure and calm. They paid no mind to the ongoing slaughter or the rapid expansion of the Third Army, instead pondering other things.
This attitude made the hearts of the Main Universe heroes heavy.
The Guardians, who created these weapons with some unknown colored substance, were infuriating. But the God of Xenomorphs, so highly revered by so many people and Xenomorphs, was clearly more mysterious and unfathomable.
The actions of the Guardians were predictable, but the God of Xenomorphs was difficult to contact and understand.
"Let's team up. We'll cooperate. No matter what, to ensure Earth doesn't fall, we must first dismantle the Guardians' conspiracy," Superman said to the outsiders present, left with no other choice.
(end of chapter)