CHAPTER 144

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[David Lance POV]

In a matter of days, I had mastered everything Atrocitus had to teach and more. Yet, I felt no closer to controlling my rage at all. No matter what I did, I felt my rage deep within, beneath my skin, scratching at my head like a wild animal, struggling for control.

Perhaps there was no controlling what I was going through.

There was also the chance that Atrocitus was simply withholding what I needed from him, but I highly doubted that to be the case.

I had talked with Atrocitus a few times, and I had made sure he was being honest each time in the only way he knew.

"I have taught you all I know," Atrocitus growled, blood coming out of his mouth as his body was pressed into the ground by my foot.

"It seems you have," I replied, using the ring.

Now that I had learned everything I could from the pathetic excuse of a leader the Red Lantern corps had, it was time for round two with Superman.

And as it was, I could hardly wait.

"Hiss!"

Hearing the hiss, I turned around to see Dex-Starr floating a few inches away from me. "What do you want?"

Dex-Starr yowled in response, which only served to further my annoyance.

"You have the ring, cat, so use it to talk before I rip it out of your tail," I said, baring my teeth.

"I find who hurt Dexter. I revenge. I good kitty. Good kitty help you, you help good kitty?" Dex-Starr said in broken sentences.

I scoffed, pressing my foot on Atrocitus hard to make the point clearer. "I need no help."

"Dex-Starr useful. Dex-Starr help you. Help you get Superman. Then you help Dex-Starr?" The Cat said, his tail twitching in anticipation.

I stared at the cat for a moment.

"What do you think you're doing, Dex-Starr?!" Atrocitus shouted, seemingly not happy with Dex-Starr's offer.

So Atrocitus doesn't like the idea of Dex-Starr coming with me? What an interesting development.

Grinning at Atrocitus' response, I took my foot off of his chest as I walked over to Dex-Starr. "Very well, cat, you help me, and I'll help you. I like that."

"Deal," Dex-Starr said, holding out his paw.

I stared at the paw for a moment before shaking it. I didn't need the cat's help, not at all, but seeing it bothered Atrocitus, well, it made taking the cat with me worth it.

What can I say? I didn't like Atrocitus.

Though, to be fair, right now, I don't like anyone.

"Very well," Atrocitus growled, getting up from the ground. "You made your choice, Dex-Starr, don't come to regret it later."

Dex-Starr simply ignored Atrocitus as he floated next to me, his tail swishing back and forth.

"Are you done throwing out empty threats?" I asked, not really caring for Atrocitus' bravado. "Let's go, Dex. Before I get the urge to rip him apart."

With that said, I turned around, not sparing Atrocitus a second glance as I blasted out of the planet with Dex-Starr on my side, ready to eliminate Superman. I had permitted that Kryptonian to live more than he should've; it was time I avenged Dinah, once and for all.

And I guess the cat would be there to see it all.

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[B'dg POV]

[Injustice]

Even from afar, in the middle of the cosmos, I could feel the one I had promised to help flying in our direction, making his way to sector 2814 at full speed.

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Bro'Dee, who, by the looks on his face, had also felt this. "He will reach us in an hour or two if he keeps that pace."

Bro'Dee nodded, his face dawning in contemplation. "Any idea of how to approach this?"

I shook my head, not really knowing. "I am not sure."

No matter how we approached this, I had a feeling this was going to be a delicate situation; that much was certain. Rage is a terrible emotion, one that doesn't want to let go no matter what, one that is always looking for reasons to remain, creating a shroud of darkness around a poor soul.

Hope was the beacon to that darkness.

Hope was a powerful emotion. One that inspires us to do the impossible and helps us carry on during difficult times.

"I propose we initiate with a talk," Bro'dee said after a while, his voice breaking the silence. "Letting him know we only seek to help."

I nodded, agreeing with him. "That would be the best course of action, I think. But keep in mind that those in rage often strike those that wish them the best."

I had no doubts that the power of Hope would help this suffering soul, but that didn't make me a fool... After all, no beast is more savage than a man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured," Bro'dee replied with a calm nod. "I'm fully aware of the risks behind such a task, do not worry."

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[Batman POV]

[Injustice]

Once again, I had failed.

Once again, I had lost more allies.

When would this nightmare end?

I had thought, naively, that by using a Kryptonite bullet to incapacitate Superman, I would be able to put a stop to his tyrannical reign. But it was all for naught; I had failed to account for the Yellow Lantern rings, one of which had given Clark the power to simply take the bullet away, allowing him to kill Dinah.

I had failed her. I had failed all of them. Again.

"Batman!" An echoing scream through the base, followed by the symbol of fate, appeared in front of me, creating a magical gate.

"Dr. Fate, what's the meaning of this?" I asked, not really in the mood to deal with Nabu's antics.

"Do you have any idea of what you have done!" Dr. Fate boomed, his voice full of anger.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to think where he was going with this. Unfortunately, the lack of information prior to his sudden visit had me in a blank.

"In your foolishness, you have set in motion a chain of events that could possibly lead to the end of all things!" Dr. Fate exclaimed, staring right into my eyes.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Explain."

"Black Bolt has, unbeknownst to him, in his grief and anger, allowed a monster far beyond your mortal comprehension to take hold of him," Dr. Fate continued his voice heavy with worry.

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as realization hit me. In my careful planning, I had anticipated multiple outcomes, but none like this. Black Bolt was supposed to be our secret weapon against Superman.

His power and genetic relationship with Dinah were key components to ensure optimal results, but if Fate was right, in my lack of foresight, I had unwittingly unleashed a horror upon the world that could potentially bring about its end.

"You knew?" Dr. Fate asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I remained silent. Black Bolt's DNA had been a challenge to read. In fact, it was downright impossible. However, through Dinah's DNA, I had found the key to understanding his own DNA, at least just enough to draw a few solid conclusions.

"I see, and yet you still used him as a pawn in your war without telling either of them," Dr. Fate accused me, his voice dripping with venom.

"If Dinah had known he was her brother, she wouldn't have allowed him to come with her, but he would've come anyway, making the mission an impossibility to accomplish," I replied.

"I wonder if you can still look at yourself in the mirror," Dr. Fate mused before vanishing in a swirl of yellow light.

With him gone, I was left alone with my thoughts, which were not pleasant ones. I had once again failed, and like that fateful time in Metropolis, I had put the world at risk.