Chapter 136 (edited)
Kara, originally a parallax entity embodying fear and the manifestation of its power, now resembled nothing more than a mere bug in her grasp. To Kara, it looked equally appetizing.
"I'm considering cutting it in half," Kara said casually, glancing at the Asgardian woman beside her. She pondered aloud if it might taste better fried than roasted.
The Asgardian woman placed a hand on her forehead, clearly exasperated. "Kara, this is not a joke to be entertained."
"I'm not joking," Kara replied earnestly.
The Asgardian sighed, unwilling to engage further. "No. I'll take it as a joke, so please, put it back."
Kara rolled her eyes but ultimately tossed the parallax back into the Green Furnace of Willpower, where it was sealed once again by the unyielding force of will. Likely, the Ion Shark contributed to the sealing process silently, ensuring the creature would remain bound.
Kara had already confirmed this parallax was different—more of a successor than the original. Despite recognizing her, the creature seemed unwilling to retaliate. For a being that symbolized fear itself, the tables had turned dramatically; Kara was now its predator, and it was the prey. The entity didn't dare provoke her, knowing well it would end up on the menu.
The Asgardian woman, uneasy with leaving Kara unattended, escorted her back to their sanctum. There, the Asgardians formally thanked Kara for her actions five years prior. They acknowledged that the parallax threat was a result of their own mistakes, and Kara had essentially cleaned up their mess.
Their gratitude extended beyond mere words. They offered Kara insights into the unique abilities of all the Lantern rings, save for the Green Lantern and the First Light Ring, both of which she already understood thoroughly.
The Red Lantern ring, representing rage, was notable for its immense, limitless power. Like the Green Lantern ring, it could project constructs of its wielder's imagination as offensive tools.
The Orange Lantern ring, symbolizing greed, wielded an unsettling force that even the Green Lanterns feared. However, its user was often consumed by their greed, making cooperation within the Corps impossible. Its wielder could summon spectral replicas—energy constructs of those they had defeated, known as Orange Lantern Ghosts. Kara, unaffected by the ring's avarice due to the influence of her other rings, wielded this power with remarkable control.
Yellow Lanterns thrived on fear, capable of powerful psychokinesis while maintaining defensive capabilities akin to the Green Lanterns.
Blue Lanterns embodied hope. While their power was subtle and less direct, they amplified the effectiveness of Green Lanterns exponentially, nullified the power of Yellow Lanterns, and could even revive dying stars.
Compassion, represented by the Indigo Lanterns, lacked lethal attacks. Its wielder could empathize with all living beings, including enemies. Although the Indigo Lanterns avoided combat, Kara's practicality ensured this wasn't a limitation for her.
The Violet Lanterns, channeling love, specialized in creating constructs of crystalline energy, tracking loved ones, and revealing the deepest affections of others. Their most remarkable ability was reviving loved ones who had recently died, though Kara had no personal use for this power.
Finally, there were the Black and White Lantern rings, which transcended emotional spectrums.
The Black Lantern ring, representing death, could only be wielded by those who had died. Kara, recognized by the original Black Lantern ring itself, operated as an equal to Nekron, the entity that governed the Black Lanterns. This ring allowed her to impose death even upon immortals and nullify the powers of other Lanterns.
The White Lantern ring, symbolizing life, granted its wielder eternal vitality. Even without the First Light Ring, Kara's life span was infinite. She could theoretically resurrect all life within a universe, but the Asgardians cautioned her against using this power recklessly, particularly regarding Krypton.
"Why not?" Kara frowned, interpreting their warning as lingering distrust.
The Asgardians clarified, "The life represented by the White Lantern is not just personal—it encompasses the balance of life across all universes. It's not limited to the life in one universe but extends to the very equation of existence itself. Disrupting this balance could have catastrophic consequences."
Kara's understanding deepened as she integrated these abilities into her arsenal, ready to wield them not only with power but with discernment.