Black rings were pouring down from the sky in a dense storm—there was no way this could be good.
Liu A'dou and the two Green Lanterns had managed to intercept seven layers of rings at the last moment. But even here alone, hundreds had already hit the ground. These rings would seek out the spirits of the dead and turn them into wraiths.
"This is seriously bad!" Kaitou Kid stared at the mass of rings in their hands, cold sweat dripping down his face. "Hey, you Green Lanterns have any idea how to deal with this?"
Hal gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid we're on our own. This is happening all over the galaxy. And I think we're the only two Green Lanterns left on Earth."
"Looks like we'll have to mobilize Earth's native forces," Liu A'dou thought. Time to gather the Justice League again. "Batman, Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman—have you seen the Black Lantern rings yet?"
The answer was obvious. Not only had they seen them, there were a lot.
"What are those things?" asked Flash.
"They're Black Lantern rings. And I'm guessing it won't be long before an army of undead shows up," said Kaitou Kid, not sure how to handle any of this.
"An undead army?" Flash found it hard to believe. "But… what's their goal?"
"To let death rule the universe," Liu A'dou said. Classic villain stuff. "Black Lanterns have no weaknesses. You can't kill them with physical attacks—only seal them. And they retain all the memories and skills they had in life. They gain power by killing. Don't show fear when facing them—fear feeds them too."
He shared everything he knew, but even that wasn't enough for the superheroes to fully overcome the threat of the Black Lanterns.
Liu A'dou knew that now the full-scale assault had begun, the Black Lantern Corps wouldn't bother hiding anymore. They'd soon reveal their real goal.
Hal used his ring to create a massive green pouch, and the three of them packed all the intercepted rings inside.
The three looked at one another. Liu A'dou said, "Don't we still have three prisoners? You should question them first."
He needed to inform the general and get the military ready. This wasn't just another fight. If the Black Lantern Corps truly emerged, superheroes alone might not be enough.
But the interrogation didn't yield anything. The three prisoners were just puppets. Even if they knew anything, they were still under the control of the Black Lantern rings and wouldn't betray the Corps.
Looking at heroes of the past twisted into ruthless murderers left them furious and heartbroken.
"Black Lanterns are the worst," Li Cong muttered, stomping the ground in frustration. He used to idolize Li Jong. Seeing him like this now made his blood boil, but there was nothing he could do.
Just then, someone passed by Li Cong—Wuxin Biyue, still alive, her body kept functioning by the Force.
Without a heart, Biyue surprisingly felt lighter. She had no desire to keep living, but now… she could do one last thing for the next generation.
Covered in blood, a gaping hole in her chest, Biyue stood before Li Jong. Her face, usually clouded in gloom, was clear and bright like sunlight breaking through clouds. A faint smile even touched her lips.
"Jong-ge, who would've thought… a single wrong choice would lead us here."
She knew Li Jong had loved her. And she had loved him too. But a love forced by the Fountain of Youth, a love that bent the laws of nature, was never truly beautiful.
"I should've realized sooner… death is the only eternity. Maybe now we both serve the Nekron, working to rule the entire universe," Li Jong said. "But it's a shame—you still won't give up your pitiful life and join the Black Lantern Corps."
Something felt off. Liu Su looked at Biyue's back and suddenly recalled the gentle woman from his dream. Now Biyue had returned to that version of herself. No, to be exact, that gentleness had never disappeared. It had just been buried deep, suppressed all this time. Without a heart, like the saying goes—when death is near, even words become kind—the kindness she'd hidden was finally released.
Liu A'dou wanted to stop Biyue but froze when she gestured for him not to interfere.
"Jong-ge, I really miss those days, even if they were so short," Biyue said.
The happiest time between her and Li Jong had been when they were on the run from the Southern Kingdom's king. That was when the spark of their love first lit.
"What are you doing?" Li Jong felt a bad premonition.
Biyue suddenly wrapped her arms around the restrained Li Jong. Her body glowed with a white light.
"Jong-ge, you're wrong about one thing. I am willing to give up my life. If it can bring you back to being the upright, brave man I once loved—my hero—then I'm willing to give anything."
She was burning up the last of her life. That gentle, kind soul was now trying to make up for her past mistakes.
"Jong-ge, please forgive me. Forgive me for staining your name. Please..."
A single crystal-clear tear fell onto Li Jong's ring.
"Ahhh—!" he screamed.
A tear filled with genuine emotion was the best weapon against a Black Lantern. Combined with the power of Biyue's very existence, it hit Li Jong hard.
Even Death itself sensed danger—the danger of love.
Biyue's released kindness, fused with their deepest love, struck the Black Lantern force with a devastating blow. The connection was severed...
Boom.
Li Jong's eyes cleared. "Biyue, I finally see you again!"
"Jong-ge, forgive my selfishness. I shouldn't have handed you over to the Black Lantern Corps," said Wuxin Biyue.
"I forgive you. And please forgive me too—for making you drink the Fountain of Youth." Li Jong's voice was full of regret. "I was selfish too."
"It's all in the past now," said Biyue.
She had made mistakes too. She had once brought Li Jong back from death.
Now they were even.
Li Jong's ring finally shattered completely. White light burst from both their bodies as they transformed into souls.
Before Liu Su and Mingwu stood two transparent figures—Li Jong and Biyue's souls.
"Sorry for causing you all this trouble," said Li Jong.
"Was it you who appeared in my dream?" Liu Su asked.
Biyue nodded… then shook her head. "Back then, I couldn't control myself. That was the only way I could send a warning."
Li Jong turned apologetically to Mingwu. "I'm sorry. I killed your brother. I know I can't make up for it… I won't ask for your forgiveness."
Mingwu knew Li Jong had been under someone else's control. The real killer wasn't him. So he replied, "To be honest, my brother and I didn't get along very well anyway."
That tsundere response made Li Jong laugh. "Thank you. And one last thing—your brother really did love you."
With that, the souls turned to blue smoke. This pair of tragic lovers finally found peace, their essence glowing as they ascended into the sky, becoming clouds.
It was moving. Beautiful, even.
But… the actual problem still wasn't solved.
Liu A'dou looked up, feelings mixed. A couple reunited, love restored, hearts untangled—great. But the crisis of the Black Lantern Corps was still looming.
Now what?