Chapter 262: Returning to Marvel Comics, as a Multiversal God!
Author: Great Demon Spirit
Ever since Volthoom fell into Du Wa's hands, there had been no new information. The Lanterns from every part of the spectrum were uneasy.
The Guardians were the same.
The vast majority of the Guardians had been wiped out on Earth, but one of them had managed to survive—Saide.
Like Ganthet, he was a Guardian who had recovered a small amount of emotion over the course of a billion long years. However, the other Guardians had noticed this and attempted to capture the two of them for brainwashing.
The result was that Ganthet was captured again, once more becoming a ruthless, cold machine, but Saide had escaped in advance, luckily avoiding disaster.
"Is that so? I already know..." Saide's expression was hesitant as he stared blankly at the strange ring before him.
"Saide, where are you? We should unite!" Kyle tried to win over Saide, the only remaining Guardian who still had a sliver of self-emotion, to the Lanterns' faction.
But Saide directly cut off the communication channel with Kyle and the others.
With the protection of this ring's power, Kyle wouldn't be able to find him for a short while.
Saide's expression was uncertain, clearly using his limited emotions to make some kind of painful decision.
Boom!
Saide's hidden fortress was breached by a green monster, and Frank burst in.
"Found you. If it weren't for the coordinates left by Volthoom, I really wouldn't have been able to pinpoint your location. How did you do it?" Frank, looking even more like a Green Lantern than an actual Green Lantern, looked down on Saide.
"This ring, the Phantom Ring, can simultaneously channel the seven visible light wavebands of the Emotional Spectrum, and it's constantly changing, enough to disrupt any possibility of you using the Power Ring to lock onto this place."
Saide pointed to the strange, levitating ring on the stone platform. "I imagine this is why you're here, isn't it? I don't believe you'd wander the universe alone, risking being besieged by various Corps, purely for sightseeing. Although I'm not sure what's going on with that ring you're wearing, since Volthoom has been captured by Du Wa, I'm afraid some of the secrets in his head have already been dug out."
"The Volthoom I'm talking about isn't the same as the Volthoom you mentioned... but never mind, they were originally the same person anyway."
Frank subconsciously glanced at the Power Ring on his finger. An eerie green light surged, and a continuous stream of deformed monsters were born and perished according to his will.
This ring wasn't just a mutated Green Lantern Ring that stood in opposition to the green of Will; it also sealed away a vast amount of knowledge and secrets left by the Volthoom of Universe 3, especially the mysteries related to the Emotional Spectrum.
Don't forget, before his separation from his true form, the Volthoom from Universe 3 was the first human in the Multiverse to come into contact with and use the power of the Emotional Spectrum. The information he left behind was more than enough for Frank to feast on.
Furthermore, the moment the Volthoom of Universe 3 fused with his true form, before completely detaching from the Power Ring, a portion of the massive amount of information generated by the fusion flooded into the Power Ring, allowing Frank to benefit even further.
"But you're wrong about one thing. I came here because Du Wa gave me a command. Otherwise, based on the information left by Volthoom alone, I wouldn't have noticed this Phantom Ring," Frank said as he landed.
In the Main Universe, there were all sorts of miscellaneous rings. Since Frank already possessed the Power Ring, he generally wouldn't be interested in any other rings.
But this time was different. Du Wa had ordered him to obtain and wield the Phantom Ring.
"So that's how it is... A Multiversal God can see through the timeline. He may not have completely mastered the Emotional Spectrum yet, but he can definitely observe the history of the Main Universe and see what we have done."
Saide reached out and pushed the Phantom Ring over to Frank. The entire process was incredibly smooth.
Frank created a deformed monster to grab the Phantom Ring, then looked at Saide in confusion. "Why hand it over to me so easily? Isn't this the backup weapon you Guardians painstakingly created? I thought you would resist to the end, and I was prepared to kill you before the other Lanterns arrived."
Saide's old, wrinkled face was filled with bitterness. "I have no other choice. Ganthet and the others are already dead. Although they deserved it, it also proves that the Main Universe is no longer what it was for the past billion years... Even an incomparably powerful Deity can't change the current situation of the Main Universe."
The era of the Xenomorphs has arrived. In an extremely short period, they have replaced the order that the Guardians, who wielded the Emotional Spectrum, took a billion years to establish.
Too fast. Everything happened too fast.
From the near-total annihilation of the Guardians to Du Wa sweeping across the Main Universe and triggering multiple terrifying divine battles that were impossible to assess, the entire Multiverse was shaken.
But no matter who came, in the end, Du Wa was still Du Wa—as dominant and stable as ever. For anything he got his hands on, he was prepared to wage a great war to protect it.
"The era of the Maltusians has ended, and the era of the Xenomorphs has come. At this stage, any power that attempts to resist this new order is destined for destruction," Saide said in a low voice. "As a member of the Guardians, I participated in the entire process of the First Legion and the Green Lantern Corps establishing order throughout the universe. I also witnessed firsthand the Xenomorphs destroying the results of all our efforts."
Frank immediately showed an expression of shared honor. "That's right. You're not a stupid Guardian. It shows that having emotions has made you capable of sizing up the situation. Any action that obstructs Du Wa is foolish. The Xenomorphs are the future. Only where there are Xenomorphs can there be lasting peace and stability."
What did the Guardians pursue? The answer is an order of peace and stability. To this end, they were mad enough to extract the power of Volthoom to establish the Third Army and assimilate all life forms in the entire universe.
When every living being in the entire universe became a robot-like being, a mere appendage to the power of the Emotional Spectrum, then the Guardians would naturally obtain their new order of absolute stability.
But this method was undoubtedly extreme, no different from killing everyone to end all conflict between people.
In the perception of a die-hard fan like Frank, there was no order more stable and peaceful than Xenomorph society. Only those who embraced Du Wa and joined the Xenomorphs were worthy of enjoying this rare peace.
"You've made the right choice. Now, I permit you to speak Du Wa's name and become my compatriot. Although you look a bit old, it doesn't matter. We even have a Deity among us. Age is not an issue at all; status is what matters." As Frank spoke, he took off the Power Ring and put on the Phantom Ring.
He had completed the mission Du Wa gave him.
Frank wasn't the least bit worried that Saide would attack him in the interval while he was swapping rings. He always remembered one thing clearly: he, Frank Lamisji, was a Xenomorph first, and a Lantern second!
Without a Lantern Ring, at most he lost the ability to rapidly traverse the universe, but he still possessed immense power from his Xenomorph genes. Moreover, the Xenomorph inside him was no ordinary one—it carried Kryptonian genes!
Frank could already easily wield basic abilities like flight, super-strength, and super-speed. Even if his stats were far from matching Superman's, it was more than enough.
Saide looked at the human before him with a complex expression. The man had taken off his ring and could still somehow maintain a state of levitation.
"The Phantom Ring is dangerous. Not just anyone can wield it, even if you are a Xenomorph..." Saide wanted to dissuade him, but he quickly shut his mouth.
Because Frank's body simultaneously erupted with multi-colored lights. The Phantom Ring had allowed Frank to access all the spectral wavebands except for black and white at the same time, concentrating them all on him in an instant.
What truly stunned Saide was that after a brief moment of pain, Frank quickly began to adapt to the power of the Phantom Ring.
Various colored lights appeared on Frank's body in rotation, and the Phantom Ring frequently switched into various colored Lantern Rings.
"The Emotional Spectrum isn't being controlled by a Xenomorph, which means that person... Du Wa didn't help him. But how could he adapt to the Phantom Ring in such a short time?" After his astonishment, Saide gradually understood why Du Wa had taken an interest in the unremarkable Frank.
Frank, as one of only two Lanterns under Du Wa, had a mediocre background that was no secret to the various colored Lanterns across the universe.
He was once obsessed with becoming a Green Lantern, using every means at his disposal. He even came close to success; a Green Lantern Ring had flown before Frank and announced that he had been chosen, only for it to fly away at the last moment and choose the criminal Simon Baz instead.
For something so outrageous to happen meant that Frank was completely unworthy of being a Green Lantern and had absolutely no talent. Yet, Du Wa had chosen Frank and even given him the Power Ring!
Now, Saide understood.
"The insight of the God of Xenomorphs is completely different from someone like me, who fancies himself an expert on the Emotional Spectrum. No wonder he is a Deity." Saide watched as the Phantom Ring switched to an orange Lantern Ring, and extreme greed erupted on Frank's face. Yet, he gritted his teeth against this extreme emotion, took off the Phantom Ring, and tossed it in his hand.
"Astonishing, but there's still room for improvement. It would be great if it could simulate the White Lantern and the Black Lantern," Frank exclaimed in amazement.
Saide looked at him. "As expected. Although you are a Xenomorph, the cold mindset of a Xenomorph couldn't assimilate your emotions... Being able to overcome the greed of the Orange Light, I know why Du Wa took a liking to you. However, your time is running out."
Kyle and the others were in pursuit. They had detected the fluctuations in the Emotional Spectrum caused by the Phantom Ring's rapid switching.
"Don't worry. They may have numbers and a White Lantern, but I have my own backup, and he's a Lantern too." Frank didn't care. His help had also arrived.
The Steel Lantern transformed into a streak of green light, appearing beside Frank a moment later.
"A step too late, but I'm glad to see you're still alive." The Steel Lantern sized up Frank, focusing his armor's scanner on the Phantom Ring. "It seems you've completed your mission well. You can even wield two types of Lantern Rings at once."
The Steel Lantern was genuinely surprised. Half of him was Tony Stark, whose super-high intellect allowed him to figure many things out and override the thoughtlessness of his Hal Jordan half.
After his defection to Du Wa's side, the Steel Lantern hadn't been very attentive to many matters, lacking enthusiasm. Du Wa never cared whether his subordinates were enthusiastic or not. When it wasn't necessary, Du Wa never paid attention to what his subordinates were doing or thinking. But when it was necessary, they had to act, no matter what.
This time, however, the Steel Lantern's interest was finally piqued. "I roughly understand why Du Wa needs you... You can use the Phantom Ring to completely master the Emotional Spectrum. I think that's his goal—to create another Deity. How does the name 'God of the Emotional Spectrum' sound?"
"What? Really?" Frank was overjoyed.
"It's not the first time he's created a Deity, anyway. Wasn't that guy Thanoseid propped up by him? Like Thanoseid, you've accomplished what Du Wa asked of you through your own efforts. The part that's still lacking is what Du Wa will handle."
The Steel Lantern looked up. "However, before you confirm this with Du Wa, we need to repel these Lanterns first. I'm having a headache figuring out how to deal with Kyle Rayner. The White Lantern can largely ignore attacks from the seven visible light rings. I imagine you, with your new toy, should have a way."
"I do, but it's not very refined yet. How about using the Phantom Ring to simulate all seven visible light rings at once? Kyle Rayner also became the Life White Lantern by wearing seven Lantern rings."
Frank had already begun to try.
A single Phantom Ring began to transform at high speed, and seven colors appeared on Frank's body at the same time.
Kyle, who had arrived leading the team, looked at Frank in utter shock. "What is that ring? Why can Lamisji simultaneously channel seven types of colored light? Saide, what did you do behind our backs again?!"
The Lanterns were about to explode with anger. It was happening again. The Guardians were hiding things from everyone, scheming behind their backs, and in the end, it was still up to the Lanterns to come out and clean up the Guardians' mess!
"This time is different. He did this with his own ability. Even I didn't expect the Phantom Ring could be used like this," said Saide.
But to become a White Lantern like Kyle, Frank still needed more time.
At this critical moment, Du Wa made his move.
"Not bad. Frank is on the path he was meant to walk." Du Wa spared a bit of his precious attention to admire Frank's performance.
Normally, Frank would have found the Phantom Ring under Volthoom's deception and, relying on his strong willpower, would have voluntarily taken off the Phantom Ring and handed it over to the Green Lantern Corps.
That's right. A person who could, through his own efforts, overcome the greed of the Orange Light and voluntarily give up the Phantom Ring—a ring that could grant him a shortcut to success—was judged by the Green Light's standards as someone who "lacked a firm will."
"Before I completely leave this world, I might as well give Frank a push. After this, unless a major crisis event occurs, I probably won't put too much thought into the DC side of things."
Du Wa dragged out Volthoom, violently extracted his power, and forcibly mobilized the Emotional Spectrum to assist Frank, helping this "mediocre Earthling" take the most critical step—becoming a White Lantern.
The moment a brilliant white light pierced through the Main Universe, Du Wa stood up, tossed the screaming and wailing Volthoom aside, and devoted a portion of his attention to deciphering the Emotional Spectrum.
"With Frank and Volthoom, conquering the Emotional Spectrum is just a matter of time."
Then, it was time to return to the Marvel World... as a Multiversal God!
(end of chapter)