Welcome back to Age of Miracles! Last time, so much craziness went down. Solomon Grundy joined the game, and the Misfits of Evil members Chang Tzu, Big Wheel, and Condiment King were placed into the custody of the HRL. But with that wrapped up, what is going on with Dragnarok and company? How will their adventure in Coast City go? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes, strangely, in the Dark World, where Eternal is looking over a ball of Aether-based magic, searching for something, with the Arsonist in the background)
Arsonist: I assume you have a plan to replace Frenzy.
Eternal: Patience, foolish boy. I'm pulling him over as we speak. (Seeing what he's looking for.) Ah, there you are.
(With that, Eternal collapses the ball of magic and casts it into the center of the room, summoning a figure clad in black and red armor, on his knees like the Terminator after time travel, before rising revealing the crest of the Dragon Ball series' Androids)
?: I wondered when you'd call me in.
Eternal: Mr. Fin.
Arsonist: Who's this guy? An alternate Fin Fang Foom?
Eternal: No. This is Andrew Fin, the ultimate Android of the Red Ribbon Army. True name, Android Infinity.
(With his name revealed, Android Infinity recalls his armor into his android form, revealing a pale humanoid with white hair, looking almost like a member of the Men in Black, only clad in some sort of black tattered suit, almost like something Mesogog would wear.)
Android Infinity: "Ultimate android"? Please, you flatter me.
Eternal: I assume you remember our agreement.
Android Infinity: Of course. I will join you on your next artifact quest. Once your generals return.
Eternal: Excellent.
(Now we transition to the Benatar, where Dragnarok and his team are discussing their plan)
Dragnarok: Alright team, we have no idea what we're up against here, so we need to be prepared for anything.
Captain America: Whatever Eternal's forces can throw at us, we're ready.
Hal Jordan: Wait, Eternal's operating on his own? Luthor Jr has nothing to do with this?
Dragnarok: I'll be honest, we're not entirely sure what is going on, but Eternal is so far operating on two schemes. One is working with Luthor Jr to keep him on their side. And second is whatever they're doing with these powerful artifacts, including the Central Power Battery from Oa.
John Stewart: I told you the attack on Oa was suspicious, Hal. You owe me five bucks!
Hal Jordan: I'll pay you when we get back to the Watchtower.
Dragnarok: You seem more irritable than usual, Hal.
Hal Jordan: Can you blame me? Seeing as Kyle HID THE MOST POWERFUL CENTRAL POWER BATTERY BENEATH MY HOMETOWN WITHOUT EVEN BOTHERING TO TELL ME!
Dragnarok: Speaking of, why is the Battery beneath Coast City anyways, Kyle?
Kyle Rayner: It all has to do with how I even got into this game to begin with. The aftermath of Emerald Twilight.
Hal Jordan: You hid it under Coast City to remind you of when I went crazy?
Kyle Rayner: More I hid it there to remind me to not become Parallax when I got the White Lantern Ring. Putting the only thing that can charge it underneath your hometown was a means to remind myself of how mad grief can make someone with power. Especially power like ours. Hal, people idolized you. Seeing you turn evil, it really got the entire Corps thinking. You were the greatest Green Lantern who ever lived. This was meant to be a reminder of who you were before Parallax exploited you.
Hal Jordan: (Thinking about it) Whoa.
Dragnarok: Regardless, we have to make sure whoever Eternal sent doesn't get out of there with the Battery. And make sure Coast City doesn't get destroyed again in the process.
Rocket: Head's up everyone, we're almost to Earth. Two jumps to go.
Dragnarok: We need to hit the metaphorical beach the second we get over Coast City. Hope you're prepared to dive right in. We can't waste a moment.
(With that we transition to Coast City, where the Spawns are beginning their attack, destroying everything in their sight trying to find the White Lantern Central Power Battery, and so far are having no luck except at scaring the pants of some civilians)
Scourge: (Punching through the ground beneath a statue) WHERE THE HELL IS IT?! ETERNAL SAID THIS BATTERY WAS LOCATED BENEATH COAST CITY!
Malphas: Calm yourself, brother. The meddling Green Lanterns of this pitiful planet wouldn't have just hidden it anywhere in this city. It would be somewhere of significance to them.
Sorceress: Indeed it would be, brother. Perhaps the only place worthy of holding it is the place it all began for the Green Lanterns of Earth.
Malphas: (Putting it together) Ferris Aircraft...
Sorceress: Exactly. Where else would it be? Even that fool Rayner knows Jordan paved the way for the rest. Where better to hide the ultimate power of the Emotional Spectrum, then where the first human in the Corps accessed it?
(Just as this reveal is made, the Benatar can be seen in the sky, opening the cargo bay to let team members exit the ship while Star Lord keeps piloting the ship. From the cargo bay we can see Dragnarok, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Star Sapphire, Za-Mag-Nu, Indigo-1, Saint Walker, Toxicus Abiete, Ant-Man, Gwen Stacy, Sub-Zero, Captain America, Rocket, Groot, Mantis, and Drax landing on the battlefield in front of the Spawns.)
Hal Jordan: I'm not the original human Green Lantern, that's Alan Scott. (Sarcastically) But even then I'm flattered you think I paved the way.
Dragnarok: (Seeing the Spawns) I might have guessed Eternal sent you three.
Sorceress: Only the best are allowed to go anywhere near these artifacts, Father.
Dragnarok: I AM NOT YOUR FATHER! Darkblood is dead!
Sorceress: (Preparing her magic) Don't be too sure.
(As soon as Sorceress says that, Dragnarok is held in a state of shock, barely able to escape the insinuating magic blast that ends up shocking him back to reality as he dodges it. The first strike fired, the rest of Dragnarok's group starts fighting back)
Sorceress: (To Malphas and Scourge) Keep them busy. I'll go for the Battery.
(With that, Malphas and Scourge strike back while Sorceress teleports herself away from the battlefield. Dragnarok sees this, then turns to the Lanterns in the air)
Dragnarok: They've split up! Sorceress is going for the Battery! (To Captain America) Cap, think you and Sub-Zero can handle these two?
Captain America: (Deflecting a bolt of Malphas' black magic with his shield) Please, I can do this all day!
Sub-Zero: (Absorbing icy bolts from Scourge) As can I.
Dragnarok: I expected nothing less from you two. (To Kyle Rayner) Break off the Lanterns, we're heading after Sorceress!
Kyle Rayner: Alright then. She's heading for Ferris Aircraft then. Follow me!
(With that, Kyle Rayner and the Lanterns fly off from the battlefield, with Dragnarok not too far behind, Kyle Rayner leading the way to the Ferris Aircraft facility outside of Coast City, where immediately Sorceress re-emerges outside one of the hangars)
Sorceress: The symbolism of it all. This is where it all began for the Green Lanterns as we know them. (Ignites her hands with magic) How fitting this is where it burns to the ground.
(With no mercy, Sorceress torches the hangar, foundation and all, revealing beneath it a small white lantern, emanating an energy unlike any of the Lanterns prior)
Sorceress: Excellent. Exactly what we were looking for.
(But before she can claim it, Dragnarok and the Lanterns land between Sorceress and her prize.)
Dragnarok: You're not taking this lantern, Sorceress. Not so long as we stand here.
Sorceress: (Sighs) If only we didn't have need of you. (Ignites her hands with magic) The rest of you though, are expendable.
(As this group rushes into battle, we transition back to downtown Coast City, where the rest of Dragnarok's forces are continuing their battle against Malphas and Scourge. Given Scourge's inability to feel pain and the sheer range of Malphas' attacks, the battle is pretty evenly matched, until Captain America throws his shield into Malphas' head, reflecting the blow into Scourge's groin before the shield ends up back in Cap's hands)
Malphas: (Firing a bolt at the Star Lord operated Benatar) This farce is growing most annoying.
Scourge: Perhaps it's time we called upon our other power set then, brother.
Malphas: I couldn't agree more.
(With that pronouncement made, Malphas and Scourge undergo a metamorphosis, transitioning from their human states into, of all things, dragons. Malphas becoming a gray dragon with a violet underbelly and horns, black feathered wings, red eyes with yellow markings resembling a second pair of eyes under them, and a red gem in the center of his forehead. Scourge meanwhile becomes a blue and white dragon with red eyes and icy features)
Scourge: Much better.
Malphas: Now then, brother. Let us end them!
Rocket: Wait, since when can they do that?!
Captain America: The whole time apparently.
Sub-Zero: This turn of events does not change our goal. We cannot let them rejoin their sister.
Captain America: Then we fight on to the bitter end!
(Now the charge begins. In their dragon forms, Malphas and Scourge hold a definite strength advantage, but the sheer tenacity of the remaining combatants has the duo defeated in no time, via a combination of Gwen Stacy's webbing, Captain America's shield, Sub-Zero's ice powers, and Star Lord's firepower)
Toxicus Abiete: (Seeing Malphas and Scourge are firmly bested) Time to cast them out! (To Groot) Ready Groot?
Groot: I AM GROOT!
Toxicus Abiete: I thought so.
(With that, Toxicus Abiete summons plant life to bind the twin dragons in a cage of old oak, which Groot then picks up after Sub-Zero freezes it solid)
Toxicus Abiete: Mr. Lang, if you would?
Ant Man: Gladly.
(Seeing his opportunity, Ant Man presses the button on his suit, causing him to grow to giant size. As soon as he reaches his maximum size, Groot throws the oak cage containing Malphas and Scourge to Ant Man, who then promptly soccer kicks the two out of Coast City)
Ant Man: (Returning to his normal size) GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!
(As Malphas and Scourge are kicked into the distance, we transition back to Ferris Aircraft, where Sorceress is having a bit of a hard time countering the power of each of the Lanterns, but after a few minutes of this, she blows them back with her magic and concentrates it on herself)
Sorceress: Enough of this farce!
(And thus, just like her brothers, Sorceress channels her innate Aether energy, inherited from Darkblood, transforming into her dragon form: a green dragon with golden horns, black markings on her forehead, and black wings with red spirals on each of them.)
Sorceress: Witness my true form and despair!
Hal Jordan: She's a dragon too?!
Dragnarok: Her father was a dragon, so of course she can become one.
Kyle Rayner: Looks like we're going to need some extra firepower.
Dragnarok: Go for it.
(With that, Kyle Rayner puts his clenched fist into the White Central Power Battery, replacing his Green Lantern Ring with a White Lantern Ring, giving Kyle Rayner his full White Lantern powers.)
Sorceress: Ah, the power of the White Lantern. Now I see why Eternal is after you.
Dragnarok: What is he planning anyways? And why is Luthor Jr that essential to you?
Sorceress: You do not need to know. Yet.
(Just as Sorceress is about to throw a bolt of magic to the Lanterns, Captain America's shield comes out of nowhere and smacks her in the back of the head before returning to the Captain's hands, revealing the rest of the team has arrived. And with that the battle begins. Sorceress in her dragon form again holds a strength advantage against all but Dragnarok, who is of course a dragon himself. But after a few minutes of this, things get out of hand. WAY out of hand. As a stray bolt of Sorceress' magic strikes the White Central Power Battery, cracking it. Seeing the opportunity, Sorceress attempts to suction the energy into an orb of magic. Realizing what needs to be done, Kyle Rayner uses his ring to counter-suction the energy. But Sorceress' power is somehow stronger than the ring, and pulls Kyle Rayner into it. Knowing the only reason this is here at all is because of him, Hal Jordan fires a construct at Kyle Rayner, knocking him out of the beam, before picking up the suction himself, and getting pulled into the beam, starting to seemingly tear him apart molecule by molecule.)
Star Sapphire: HAL!
Hal Jordan: (Amidst his pain) Go! Get out of here! I'll hold her off!
Kyle Rayner: Are you crazy, Hal?! That's going to kill you!
Hal Jordan: You said yourself on the flight here that I'm the reason it's here. I went mad in grief after Coast City was destroyed. I only now realize how much it affected me. Parallax is the reason nobody trusts me. A distrust that upon contemplation on Oa and even up till now, I see was earned. I can only hope this even slightly redeems me in your eyes.
(With very little left of him, Hal Jordan manages to slow the suction of the light, but not enough to stop his own death, as Sorceress finishes containing the energy, before casting it back into the lantern and making the magic she used into a containment sphere.)
Sorceress: (Levitating the containment sphere) Let your friend here act as an example. Stay out of our way, unless you want to die.
Dragnarok: (Now enraged) You... vile... PRICK!
(As Dragnarok charges at Sorceress, she realizes what he's going to do and tries to teleport away, but only succeeds in sending the White Central Power Battery away before she's tackled. But even then, the fight doesn't last very long, as Sorceress is able to throw Dragnarok off pretty quickly before transporting herself away. But the rage still boiling in him, Dragnarok lets off a surge of frustrated Aether, as the rest of his team can only stare in shock at Hal's corpse)
Dragnarok: His death will not go unavenged. And now that they've given away what they're up to, it should be easier.
John Stewart: Wait, you know what they're up to?
Dragnarok: I have a theory based on what Sorceress has said. But that's not important now. (Looking back at Hal Jordan's corpse) For now, we must send our departed friend to his eternal rest...
(As the group silently mourns Hal Jordan's sacrifice, we transition to the Dark Realm, where Sorceress has arrived with the White Central Power Battery, much to Eternal's delight)
Eternal: Ah, so you've got it. I see it took your true dragon forms to retrieve. (Realizing she came alone) Wait, where are Malphas and Scourge?
(And of course, just as he asks, Malphas and Scourge, still in their dragon forms, arrive, picking leaves and twigs out of their wings and horns)
Sorceress: What happened to you two?
Scourge: Long story.
Sorceress: Regardless, we have what we came for. Did Jinmen keep his end of the bargain?
Eternal: He should be back soon.
(With his name even spoken, the Black Lantern Jinmen emerges with the Black Lantern Central Power Battery behind him)
Jinmen: Let it never be said I don't keep a deal.
Eternal: Excellent. I expected nothing less from you. Now we just await the rest of our associates. Then we can begin this part of the ritual.
Sorceress: I take it you weren't bored while we were gone.
Eternal: (Gesturing to the altar) On the contrary, I was rather productive. Gathering a few odds and ends to power the Master up even more. Kronika's Crown, Albedo's Ultimatrix, Beerus' Hakai energy, a few Outsider Shards, a Hyperwave Beacon, Shredder's Kuro Kabuto helmet, fragments of Krang's Technodrome, the Motherboxes we no longer have need of, even Ozymandias' Intrinsic Field Subtractor. You would not believe how hard it was to get that thing.
(As Eternal finishes explaining what he was up to, a few familiar faces enter the room. Bane is first to arrive, followed shortly by the Arsonist with the Indigo Central Power Battery, Hunter Zolomon, Brother Eye, Ebon, Android Infinity and surprisingly Reverse Flash, Mister Negative, and Kilgrave, better known as the Purple Man)
Eternal: Ah, good to see you all could make it.
Kilgrave: Let's just say you talk a big game, one that I couldn't resist playing if I wanted to.
Eternal: Your skills should more than make up for the loss of Frenzy. (Looking to Mister Negative) As will yours, Mr. Li, and Mr. Fin.
Android Infinity: (Summoning his battle armor) A battle I am ready to enter.
Mister Negative: Just make sure you keep your end of the bargain.
Eternal: Of course. I wouldn't dare double cross you. Just so long as your Demons follow orders, we won't have an issue. (To Reverse Flash) They're all going to give a sample correct?
Reverse Flash: It took a while to convince Kilgrave, given his bad history with medical samples. I assured him all we needed is his breath.
Kilgrave: And you'd better not be lying about that, Thawne.
Eternal: I can vouch for him there, Mr. Kilgrave. Now please give over what you owe.
Kilgrave: (Takes out a test tube, breathes into it, then caps it quickly) There.
(Following his example, Mister Negative pulls out a vial containing a sample of his unique energy signature, as well as a strange red fluid, that capsule labelled "GR-27" or "Devil's Breath", while Bane removes a Venom capsule from inside his wrist-mounted dispenser, before all three of them hand their items to Eternal, who then gestures to Reverse Flash, who starts running around the altar, imbuing it with his power.)
Reverse Flash: There. A sample of the infinite power of the Speed Force. Just as the Master required.
Sorceress: You're not the Reverse Flash who served Father, why do you acknowledge him with such subservience?
Reverse Flash: You see, that's the thing with being a living paradox. I have memories of all versions of myself, including the one you worked with. And all versions of me have chosen to serve Darkblood.
Eternal: (Placing the four samples on the altar) As they should. (To Ebon) I assume you have what we sought?
Ebon: (Pulling out the canister of Quantum Vapor he stole from Static, and stretching his arm to give it to Eternal) Surprised that researcher was able to distill pure Bang Baby Gas from D-Struct's bloodstream. I guess it was the only way he could develop an antidote.
Eternal: (Taking the canister from Ebon's literally outstretched hand) You will be rewarded greatly once our Master returns. Now, for the Batteries
(At his statement, Sorceress lifts up the Indigo, Black, and White Central Power Batteries, merging them with the now distinctly dragon looking void above the Altar, before adding the various items Eternal and his sources have provided as well. And once the void stops pulsing from the energy ripples, the dragon like appearance only becomes clearer as a shockwave is released, the sheer awe of which sends Eternal, the Spawns, and literally everyone in the room to their knees)
Eternal: Soon, Master. Soon we will have everything we need to restore your greatness! (Rising to his feet again) Now, we prepare for our next assault. Only one world remains to invade. Now, we set our sights on the Crystal Gems. Their Temple holds some of the last objects needed to restore the Master.
(With their plan made, the group rises and prepares to set out, as our tale ends for today)
And that's going to wrap up for today. Yes, I do know a bit about Green Lantern comics to know about Hal Jordan's past. And even though I dislike him, his death took Parallax with him, and he willingly became the Spectre for a time to atone for his past. I felt he needed an ending fitting of that. So he sacrificed himself to try and save the multiverse from a threat they don't even know about yet. But it looks like Dragnarok does. At least now he does. And now it looks like the Crystal Gems are the targets of Eternal's next attack. So how's that going to go? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!