Back with Shredder and his team, they had just finished inspecting the Black Power battery before leaving the wasteland and heading in a certain direction.
"So studying the battery yielded absolutely no Intel whatsoever." Charming complained.
"Apparently not; it looks like the battery is protected by a special barrier, preventing us from properly studying it." Magica said.
"So we're basically back to square one, which is fantastic." Charming said.
"Are you going to complain the whole time while we're flying?" Jasper questioned in annoyance.
"Where are we even heading to anyway?" Charming questioned.
"To Africa," Shredder said.
"Why Africa?" Magica questioned.
"Because I discovered the location of the black power rings," Shredder explained.
"I see, and that's where we're headed now." Jasper guessed.
"Yes, so we will see what these new lanterns are capable of." Shredder said.
After an hour of flying,
The Sinestro team finally touched down in Africa and looked around.
"Alright, we're here, so where's these new lanterns?" Charming questioned.
"We won't know until we actually look, moron." Jasper said.
"But where do we even begin to look?" Africa is a big place, and there's only four of us." Magica said.
"Not to mention that it could take days before we find anything." Jasper said.
"What!? But we don't have that kind of time!" Charming complained.
"It does not matter how long it takes; we will continue searching until we get results." Shredder said.
"And what, pray tell, are you four looking for?" A voice spoke from behind them.
They turn to see an old man with slightly tanned skin, no eyebrows, blue eyes, a large, bushy white mustache, and long hair. His outfit consists of a black vest with big orange shoulder sections and long yellow sleeves, dark brown pants and black and white shoes, and a cylinder-shaped hat with a familiar symbol on it.
"His hat has the same symbol the rings had." Jasper said.
"So he's one of the ones chosen by the rings." Shredder said.
Gero stares at them with a raised brow.
"So you've been looking for us?" He questioned.
"Us?" Jasper questioned.
Suddenly, three more figures appeared from behind him.
"So these are the new yellow lanterns?" Tai Lung was questioned.
"It would appear so," Sombra said.
"So who do we have the pleasure of addressing?" Charming questioned.
"I am Dr. Gero," Gero said.
"I'm Sombra." The evil unicorn said
"The name is Scar," Scar said.
"And I am Tai Lung." The Leopard Kung Fu master said
"And we are the Black Lanterns," Gero said.
The Sinestros shared a look.
"Black lanterns, huh? You certainly fit the color scheme." Charming said.
"Why were you looking for us?" Tai Lung was questioned, ignoring Charming's comment.
Shredder stepped forward.
"Heed me Black Lanterns, we have come here to offer a deal." He said.
"And what may I ask about this deal?" Sombra questioned.
"Aide us in destroying the Green Lanterns and our most hated enemies, and you will be rewarded handsomely." Shredder said, holding his hand.
The Black Lanterns shared a look before bursting into laughter, surprising Shredder and his team.
"And what do you pray is so funny?" Charming questioned.
Gero turned to them.
"What's funny is how foolish you all are." He said.
Shredder's eyes narrow.
"You dare insult the shredder?" He questioned angrily.
"Oh, we dare." Tai Lung said.
"What's wrong with you?" We're offering you the deal of a lifetime, and you laugh at us!" Charming said.
Gero chuckles.
"Tell me, do you know what fuels our rings?" He questioned.
The sinestros looked at each other.
"No, what fuels them?" Jasper questioned.
Gero smirks evilly.
"Our rings are fueled by death." He said it shocked Shredder's team.
"D-death?" Magica stuttered.
Gero laughs.
"Yes, death; the more lives we take, the stronger our power becomes, and soon we'll bring destruction to the entire multiverse!" Gero said before letting out a maniacal laugh.
"Destroy the Multiverse?" "That's insane. Why would you want that?" Magica exclaimed.
"Why we want that is of no concern, only that we will stop at nothing to achieve it." Sombra said.
Suddenly, Shredder charges at the Black Lanterns and slices Gero's head clean off, surprising his team.
"Let that be a warning. The multiverse is mine to conquer. Continue to try to destroy it, and you will feel my wrath." He said.
Suddenly, he's knocked to the ground.
To the Sinestro's shock, they see that Gero's body knocked Shredder down before picking up his head and reattaching it.
"How did he take your head clean off?" Jasper was questioned in shock.
"Well, aside from being an android," Gero said, after making sure his head was on the right.
"You can't kill what's already dead." He said it with an evil smile.
Terrified Charming, Jasper, and Magica backed up in fear.
Shredder, on the other hand,
"I WILL DESTROY YOU!" He shouted.
Sombra smirks.
"Oh, I'm afraid that you'll be far too busy for that." He said.
As soon as he finished that sentence, a low growl could be heard.
"What was that?" Jasper questioned.
The Black Lanterns smiled.
"Your demise." Tai Lung said.
Suddenly coming out of the tree were a large group of people, but something was wrong; their skin was pale, their eyes were blank, and they were wearing skin-type uniforms with the Black Lantern's symbol.
"Behold our army!" Gero shouted.
As the monsters crept closer, each of Shredder's team had varying reactions. Charming and Jasper were wondering what type of disease these creatures are. Magica looked horrified, as she couldn't come up with the appropriate words to describe the terror she's feeling. As for Shredder himself, he tries striking the creatures, hoping to kill them, but no matter what he does, they won't stay down.
"What are these things? They won't stay down!" Charming exclaimed, scared out of his mind.
"Because they're like us, they're already dead." Gero said.
"We can't stop them; we have to retreat!" Magica exclaimed.
"No! We can still destroy them!" Shredder said.
"Are you insane? "If you want to stay and get yourself killed, then be my guest, but we're out of here! Jasper exclaimed as she, Magica, and Charming flew away.
"Cowards!" Shredder yelled.
As he turns to the creatures, however, he realizes that even if he decided to stay, nothing he did would keep them down.
After considering his options, Shredder ultimately decided to follow his team's lead and take to the skies.
"Go ahead and run! It doesn't matter; soon all your worlds will fall to the Black Lanterns!" Gero declared before he and his fellow Black Lanterns laughed maniacally.
Can the Black Lanterns be stopped, or will the Multiverse fall into darkness? Find out next time on Lantern's Light.
Disclaimer
Hey everyone, chapter 56 is up. Just a note: the Magica de Spell in this story is from the 2017 Ducktales reboot, and the Shredder is the Utrom Shredder from the 2003 Tmnt. Anyway, let me know what you think, and I will see you later.