CHAPTER 145

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[David Lance POV]

As I flew across the empty space with Dex-Starr reaching Sector 2814, two figures shining in a soft hue of blue appeared on the horizon. The figure on the left was tall as a tree, and he looked like a king of some Troguta, or the DC version of it, with broad shoulders and a thick neck that sloped down to his chest, wearing nothing but blue.

The other figure was small, and it looked like an anthropomorphic squirrel. His face had a slight smile around the mouth, but it seemed almost forced, and his eyes were wide open as if he expected something bad to happen at any moment. And judging by the way he held himself, he did indeed expect something bad to come out of nowhere. Like his friend, he was also wearing only blue.

Blue Lanterns.

"What do you two want?" I asked them, my ring glowing more and more.

"Hello stranger, I know that this might sound strange to you, but we come here because we seek to help you," The small one replied, taking a deep breath as he did so.

I scoffed as Dex-Starr began to angrily yowl at them, his own ring shining brighter. "I have no need for your help, now move, or be moved."

Dex-Starr hissed in agreement, the fur of his tail going up as he readied himself for battle, which he seemed to be expecting eagerly.

"There's no need for that," The blue man said, holding his hands up apologetically. "We truly mean you no harm."

I knew why they were here, they were here to try and take the Red Lantern ring from my hand, but I would not allow that; I needed this power to kill Superman, and kill him I would, even if that was the last thing I did.

Without the ring, I lacked the power to end him. I needed the ring.

"I know what you want, and you can't have it," I growled menacingly, clenching my ring hand. "Superman will die by my hand, and no one will stop me."

"The ring is corrupting you," The small one said, moving forward. "It's not too late to turn back; you don't have to do this. Not while your wrath consumes you."

"Move!" I snarled through the ring, baring my teeth.

The tall man sighed as the squirrel looked at him as if seeking an answer of some kind. Eventually, the tall alien shook his head, and the small one reluctantly stepped back.

"You hate Superman, right?" The squirrel asked, his eyes softening slightly as he looked at me. "Then why are you following his steps?"

"You dare?!" I snarled as the aura of my ring grew exponentially larger in a single moment, to the point their blue hue was no more, for even they looked to be wearing red in the face of my fury.

"You're behaving just like he did when he lost everything," The squirrel pointed out. "He was angry, and in his anger, in his overwhelming grief, he forgot everything that used to be important for him."

"Keep talking, and I will rip that furry head of yours right off you!" I snarled through the ring, my fists clenching so hard that blood was coming out of them.

The squirrel remained in place, looking at me as he continued. "You're not a bad person; I can see that, even through all that rage; you keep yourself from hurting us, even though you want to, you want to a lot. So, before you go ahead and kill Superman, think about your actions; what would your loved ones say if they saw what you've done? And would that hurt them deeply?"

"Don't presume to know anything about me! How can you expect me not to kill this piece of shit who killed my sister! How can you expect me not to kill him after he robbed Conner of having a mother?! I need to avenge her death!" I replied, my wrath growing larger and larger, begging me to destroy them.

The squirrel smiled softly as he looked down. "And what about Conner? Doesn't he need you?"

I...

Conner, I had left him alone...

I...

How could I do that?

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[Inside David's Head.]

Within David, unbeknownst to him, a voice whispered to his ear, pushing his rage higher and higher, feeding the hate within his heart.

Rage is all you need, is all we need.

"Conner..." I muttered as the squirrel stared at me in confusion.

This is wartime; this is our time! You will show the one who took everything from you what it means to truly suffer! He deserves this! You know that! This is justice! True Justice!

"Superman deserves to die," I snarled, glaring at the squirrel.

"Kid, something is not right," The tall alien interjected.

They want to stop you! They want to stop a just cause! Don't let them! Show them that we won't be denied! Crush them and feed the fire that is raging inside you, and use that fire to eliminate your enemy! Show them strength that just can't be defied!

"I don't think you've fully understood your positions. When I give an order, your only course of action is to obey!" In a fit of rage, I blasted toward them before they could react, grabbing them both by their heads before smashing their heads into the ground of a planet nearby.

However, even after such an attack, both lanterns managed to stand, their faces bleeding heavily.

Let the beast inside you be woken! You know you need this power; without it, you would die! And in this world, only the strong will survive! So don't hold back, and don't show mercy to those that oppose you! Heed the call of confrontation, and tear everyone in your way!

"Kid, something is playing with your head," The squirrel said, barely keeping himself on his two paws. "This power isn't only your rage... something is feeding your ring power and your heart corruption."

"You two prattle long enough!" I snarled, using my ring to crush them back into the ground with devastating force. This time, they didn't stand up, their bodies remaining deep within the crust of the planet, so far inside that, I couldn't see a thing. "Let's go, Dex-Starr."