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The black ring on Joker's hand shattered. A scream ripped through the air, not from the Joker, but from the entity animating him an ancient, alien shriek that vanished in an instant. His body collapsed, limp, the grin frozen on his rotting face, scattering across the floor of Arkham.
One by one, the other Black Lantern rings burst into violet-black cinders, their screams devoured by the power of Arthur's shadow ring. Silence fell.
Arthur lowered his hand slowly, the glow fading, his chest rising with calm, measured breath. his violet eyes lingered on their remains, his voice a whisper meant for no one but himself.
"Just to make sure..."
Arthur violet light burning from his eyes, the shadows stirred and from the black maw of nothingness behind him, a towering figure emerged. A massive orc, skin like red and eyes burning with an inner inferno, stepped forward. He carried with him the Orb of Avarice, clutched in one clawed hand, its surface swirling with the greedy, hungry fire of destruction. The air itself seemed to tremble at his presence.
The orc dropped to one knee, lowering his head in reverence, his guttural voice echoing through the hollow ruin.
"My liege."
Arthur didn't turn. His gaze was fixed on the last traces of Joker's corpse, like a broken puppet laying on the ground. His voice, however, was cold and resolute.
"Burn them to cinders until there is nothing left. I won't see the Joker resurrected again, not in this place, not in any place. Destroying this part of the city is fine, do what you must."
The orc's tusked grin widened, wicked and reverent all at once. His head bowed deeper, his voice carrying both reverence and bloodthirst.
"It shall be done, my liege."
Arthur raised his ringed hand, conjuring a swirling portal of violet and black flame before him. The glow spilled across his face, lighting the hard set of his jaw, the small, satisfied smirk that curved his lips. He didn't even look back, he knew very well that the task will be done swiftly.
He stepped into the portal, shadows closing around him until his form vanished into nothingness.
Behind him, Tusk rose to his full, terrifying height, the Orb of Avarice now burning in his grasp. The raw energy pulsed, cracking the stone beneath his feet, filling the broken streets of Arkham with a suffocating heat. He lifted the orb high, tusks glinting in the firelight as he began to chant, his deep voice carrying uttering spells of an ancient, monster language.
"Hymn of the Fire Dragon…"
The words were a growl, a song of destruction. The orb answered, blazing like a star, until its light was unbearable. Then, with a roar that shook the foundations of Arkham, and fire erupted.
The spell was not mere flame, it was a dragon of fire itself, clawing its way out of the orb, scales of molten fury, wings of blazing destruction. It opened its maw and screamed, a sound like steel melting and worlds burning.
****
JUMP CITY -
Arthur moved with haste through the crowded streets of Jump City, his coat flaring behind him. The city around him, oblivious to the storm brewing beyond its skyline. He reached up, fingers brushing the small device nestled in his ear, and his voice cut into the comms with sharp precision.
"Owl, do your thing and hack into Robin's contacts. I need to talk to Batman. Now."
There was a brief pause, five seconds that stretched longer than they should have but then Owl's calm voice responded.
"Done. Should I link you directly?"
Arthur blinked in mild surprise. 'That fast? ' he thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah. Do that."
Miles away, the Batwing cut through the darkened clouds over the ocean as Batman were handling certain matters before heading towards the Watchtower. The device in his cowl beeped, indicating an incoming call. He narrowed his eyes at the source 'Jump City.' Who would be calling him from there other than the Titans.
"Who is this?" he said, voice clipped, wary.
"Arthur Blackwynd," came the answer, calm and unyielding. "Listen carefully, Bruce. I'll keep it short. I know how to deal with the Black Lanterns. I've already eliminated some, but if you're in the Watchtower… let Raven, and my shadow soldier, handle Doomsday alone. She'll explain to you how to deal with the Black Lanterns themselves."
Batman's jaw tightened. "I'm on my way to the Watchtower."
Arthur's violet eyes seemed to glow in his mind's eye as he considered the situation. "I don't recommend that... You should probably tell the League to evacuate. The level of destruction my shadow can unleash especially against another Doomsday… it won't discriminate."
"Fair enough," Batman said, voice low, a note of grim understanding threading through it. "This is just the start, isn't it?"
Arthur paused, the bustling city around him fading from focus as he absorbed the weight of the prophecy in his mind. "Yes. Their numbers are likely far greater than this. This is only the beginning of the Blackest Night. But I know how to handle it. We'll discuss the full scope once everyone is gathered. Just make sure no one dies, or we'll be adding them to the ranks of the Black Lanterns."
Batman exhaled slowly, his mind running through the possibilities, threats, and strategies. "Hal told me about the prophecy. About the Blackest Night. And… your little involvement with the Guardians of the Universe recently."
Arthur chuckled softly, a dry, knowing sound that carried both amusement and exasperation. "Shit happens," he said, and ended the call, his comm falling silent. his violet eyes narrowed as he slowed his pace for a brief moment, the sounds of Jump City around him fading into background noise.
"Now," he murmured to himself, voice low and calm, "to find this other source…"
****
OA -
Oa still bore the scars of the relentless assault. Shattered constructs, scorched floors, destroyed building, and the eerie echoes of the black lanterns' screams hung in the air. Superman hovered midair, fists clenched and eyes glowing with heat vision, he was like a wing of light slicing through a swarm of mindless black lanterns. Kara darted between foes, her speed a blur, destructive punches erupting from her, cutting down the undead monstrosities that swarmed the Lanterns' ranks. Hal Jordan, ring blazing, carved through another wave of black lanterns with emerald constructs, each swing precise, calculated, and merciless.
"These things… they don't stop!" Hal yelled over the chaos, sweat streaking his determined face as another black lantern lunged at him.
"They're mindless," Kara shouted, flipping midair and striking down two at once. "But merciless! Nothing we've fought before is this relentless!"
Superman's eyes narrowed, scanning the battlefield. "And they don't tire… they just keep coming.."
Kilowog's booming voice carried over the chaos. "Green Lanterns! Focus your energy! Don't let up, no matter what!"
Just when it seemed the black lanterns might overwhelm them, a surge of sapphire energy swept through the battlefield. Blue Lanterns, radiant and commanding, appeared in formation, their energy constructs pulsing with a soothing, stabilizing force. The black lanterns recoiled for a moment, their movements faltering against the calm, unyielding light.
Hal's eyes widened. "Blue Lanterns… their light makes ours stronger.."
One of the Blue Lanterns, voice calm but firm, addressed Hal. "We felt the imbalance some time ago. We knew something like this would happen. We're here to aid Oa."
The tide of battle shifted almost instantly. The black lanterns, aggressive and mindless as they were, began retreating, drawn away by the blue and green energy that pierced their corrupted essence.
Kara floated slightly above the ground, her arms crossed as she watched the retreating hordes. "They are retreating? ...Maybe… Arthur knows how to deal with them," she said quietly, a hint of hope in her tone.
Superman turned to look at her, expression grim. "If he does, we'll need him soon. These things don't stop, and they won't stay contained in a prison.. We have to destroy them."
Hal surveyed the battlefield, emerald light flickering around his hands as he sent the last wave of black lanterns fleeing into space. "I think a combination of emotional energies can destroy them for good, either way that won't be the last of them we will see them again and soon." he said, voice low and measured.
Kara shook her head slightly. "I'll return to Earth now. There's work to do there."
Superman's normally confident face paled. "I will do that as well."
"There's a fight ongoing in the Watchtower too… I can't leave it undefended."
Hal clenched his jaw, looked at superman and said, "Damn it! It has to be them too, I'll come with you."
The blue and green glow of the Lanterns' energy bathed the battlefield as they regrouped, catching their breath, knowing that while the immediate threat had been pushed back, the night was far from over. As the shadow of the blackest night still lingered.
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want