Chapter 122 (edited)

Kara could sense Tomar-Re's sincerity. Perhaps he truly made these efforts initially.

Yet, Kara wasn't particularly fond of these so-called Lantern Rings, and she considered simply returning them.

She carried an unwavering confidence in herself. Even if conflict arose after removing the rings, her strength as a Kryptonian would suffice to demonstrate to Oa the true might and terror of her people.

However, neither the Green Lantern ring nor the Red and Black Lantern rings could be removed. 

The Green Lantern ring resisted Kara's power with the willpower of the entire universe, while her attempt to remove the Red and Black rings caused the entire planet of Oa to tremble violently.

A surge of red and black energy erupted, shaking Oa to its core.

Every Green Lantern instinctively looked up, as did the Guardians of the Universe. Above Oa, the once-dominant green hue was being overtaken by an ominous red and black, with the green light receding as if in submission.

It felt as though two ancient, ferocious beasts were awakening, and the power of the Green Lanterns was utterly inadequate to contain them.

If the disturbance continued, no one could predict the outcome.

"Stop this immediately!" shouted one of the Guardians. "If this continues, the catastrophic powers we sealed away long ago will awaken entirely, plunging the universe into chaos!"

"But if we let her keep the rings, she'll become an even greater threat," another countered.

"She hasn't even recited the oaths yet!" someone argued.

A fierce debate broke out among the Guardians about whether to intervene or allow Kara to continue her attempt.

Amid this, as Kara's power clashed with the resistances of the Red and Black Lantern rings, the colors began to seep into her body. Her blue Kryptonian attire turned a deep red, while the red "S" emblem, cape, and skirt turned black.

Kara's eyes changed as well. In a trance, she murmured words unfamiliar to most:

"With blood and rage of crimson red, 

Ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, 

Together with our hellish hate, 

We'll burn you all—that is your fate!" 

The Red Lantern oath flowed from her lips. 

The red energy surged through Kara, representing not only anger but also a deep thirst for vengeance.

Kara felt the boiling power coursing through her, attempting to invade her very essence. The red light wasn't just external—it sought to replace her blood with its own furious energy. If successful, the ring would become inseparable, and removing it would mean certain death.

As the red energy pushed deeper, Kara's body suddenly erupted in golden radiance, the product of decades of absorption from Earth's sun. The red light's attempt to take over her body was halted entirely.

Yet Kara, still entranced, began reciting another oath:

"The blackest night falls from the skies, 

The darkness grows as all light dies. 

We crave your hearts and your demise, 

By my black hand—the dead shall rise!"

The Black Lantern oath echoed across Oa, signaling Kara's inadvertent induction into the Black Lantern Corps.

Or perhaps, more accurately, her ascension as its leader, for it was her power that reawakened the sealed forces of the Red and Black Lantern Corps.

"This is disastrous!" one Guardian exclaimed.

The Red Lantern Corps, known for its destructive anger, had been one of the most dangerous factions in the universe. Its power was so overwhelming that those wielding it often lost themselves entirely, becoming beasts driven solely by fury. 

And with Kara's Kryptonian abilities amplifying these energies, she could become an unparalleled threat.

To make matters worse, she now also wielded the Black Lantern ring, symbolizing death itself.

But before anyone could act, Kara began reciting yet another oath, her voice clear and calm:

"In brightest day, there will be light, 

To cleanse the soul and set things right. 

When darkness falls, look to the skies, 

A new dawn comes, let there be light."

As soon as she finished, the red and black energies surrounding her were replaced by a pure, radiant white light.

A serene voice echoed gently: "Daughter of Krypton, you are a beacon of hope for the universe. Welcome to the White Lantern Corps, guardians of life."

The Guardians and Lanterns were stunned into silence, their disbelief etched into their expressions. Kara had somehow activated the rings of rage and death, yet now she bore the light of life itself.

When the luminous display subsided, Kara stood calm and composed. The Red and Black Lantern rings rested obediently on her right thumb and index finger. A new ring, shining with a brilliant white glow, adorned her right pinky. 

On her left hand, the Green Lantern ring radiated faintly, and the lights from all four rings pulsed in unison.

The Guardians finally comprehended the impossible: Kara was balancing the conflicting forces of will, rage, death, and life within her.

"Enough willpower to harness the resistance of the universe… enough rage to awaken its slumbering fury… enough resilience to command death itself… and enough purity to be embraced by life," one Guardian murmured. "This Kryptonian… defies all known logic."

Kara glanced down at her hands, her expression a mixture of curiosity and frustration. "Four rings?" she muttered. "Why do I have four rings?"

One of the Guardians stepped forward and addressed her solemnly. "Kara Zor-El, your strength, and spirit have defied the natural order. On behalf of the Guardians of the Universe, I invite you to join the Green Lantern Corps."

Kara looked up, her expression cold yet amused. "When you can't win, you try to recruit me? Clever."

She crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "Before I agree to anything, I want answers. Show me what happened 100,000 years ago—the truth about Krypton and everything you've hidden."

The Guardians exchanged uneasy glances, knowing they had little choice.