Chapter 557: Sinestro Corps
Luke and Diana's Subtle Connection
For the next while, Luke remained busy. He went to the office in the morning and returned in the afternoon to continue developing the Divine Wing Armor.
Diana did not return to Washington but stayed at the villa, ostensibly to help modify the armor and shield, but in reality, she was taking care of Luke's meals and daily life.
The relationship between the two was subtle.
On one hand, Luke felt this was unwise and would lead to huge trouble. On the other hand, he found it quite pleasant, somewhat sweet. Diana was different from Linda and Carol. Perhaps because she was several thousand years older, she had none of the petty temperament of younger girls. She was composed, elegant, and full of tolerance. She rarely interrupted Luke's work but was always there to help whenever he needed it.
This was the charm of maturity!
Sinestro's Horror on Korugar
In Sector 1417 of the universe, on the planet Korugar.
After escaping Oa, Sinestro immediately returned to his home planet, Korugar. This was the place of his birth and the gathering place of all his cherished memories. His wife, child, friends, and people were all on this planet. He loved it deeply and was willing to sacrifice everything for it.
However, the scene before him left him dumbfounded.
Korugar, renowned for its peace and stability, was engulfed in war. Fighting raged in every city, as the rat-like rebel forces attacked the local government with various weapons.
City after city fell, regimes were toppled, and the heads of the former authorities were hung beneath flags, becoming a badge of honor for the rebels. One of those heads belonged to his confidant.
Sinestro was furious. He manipulated the power of Fear, draining the life from the "rats," leaving them as dried husks. He then flew toward the capital.
The closer he got to the capital, the uglier his expression became. Everywhere he looked, there was not prosperity, but ruins billowing black smoke. Rebel flags were planted on the rubble. Clearly, this had become their territory.
"Why is it like this?"
Sinestro clenched his fist. He had only been gone for two years, and the nation he had painstakingly built was now in this state. Damn the rats! Why did they bring war? Why did they oppose me?
Was peace not good? Was revitalization not good? I sacrificed everything for Korugar, and you choose to destroy it?
Rage burned in his heart, transforming into a violent intent to kill.
Sinestro manifested a giant energy cannon.
Boom!
A yellow pillar of light dropped from the sky. Accompanied by a roar, a mushroom cloud rose from the ground. The violent shockwave claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers.
The air became eerily silent. The surviving rebels looked up. After seeing the figure hovering in the sky, their eyes filled with endless terror.
"Thaal Sinestro?"
"Run! The demon is back! Quick, everyone hide! Run!"
The rebel captain screamed in horror, his voice echoing across the battlefield. In that moment, Sinestro clearly felt the fear in the soldiers' hearts intensify several times over.
They are afraid?
Afraid of whom?
"Is it me?"
Sinestro muttered to himself, completely unable to understand. It wasn't just the rebels; the civilians' eyes were also filled with fear.
Shouldn't you be welcoming me?
The doubt lingered, and with no answer forthcoming, Sinestro surveyed the surroundings and chose to leave. The people below instantly sighed in relief, but the fear in their eyes did not diminish; instead, it continued to strengthen.
The great demon has returned. Everyone will die, just like before.
Korugarans were not a peace-loving race. Due to their unique culture, they were extremely belligerent. Sinestro was a child born of war, and his solution for Korugar was a totalitarian regime: he used the Green Lantern ring to create a planetary defense network, monitoring everyone's actions and heartbeats, enforcing peace and turning Korugar into a prosperous utopia.
He was immensely proud of this.
However, all that prosperity came to an abrupt end. The capital was breached. Rebel flags were planted on the city gates, and citizens were singing, dancing, and loudly cheering, welcoming the rebels.
Sinestro's jaw trembled uncontrollably. He rushed madly into his home, only to see two headless corpses—one was his wife, the other his daughter.
Parallax quietly manifested behind him, its voice laced with temptation.
"Kill them all! Devour them! This planet isn't worth saving."
"What are you waiting for? Don't you want revenge for your wife and daughter? Are you going to just watch their heads become trophies?"
"Squeak! Squeak!!!!"
"Come, Sinestro! Let's merge and spread fear! Use fear for revenge!"
The Sinestro Corps is Born
The tempting voice echoed in his mind. Sinestro's eyes turned deep yellow. A wave of fear radiated from his body, covering every corner of the city.
Half an hour later, Sinestro rose and left, leaving behind a city of death littered with dried husks.
The well-fed Parallax squealed with excitement, urging him to continue spreading fear. Sinestro, however, was unmoved. He carried the bodies of his wife and daughter back to the place where they had first met, burying them under a red rock tree, and stood vigil there for three days and three nights.
His eyes were completely devoid of emotion, as if he were dead.
A few days later, Sinestro left Korugar, paying no further attention to the planet now engulfed in war.
"What do you plan to do next?"
Parallax shouted. "Don't forget my other half! You must find it! It's on Earth."
Parallax's words were full of threat. "To possess the power of Fear, you must act according to my will!"
Sinestro stared at it expressionlessly. "You want to betray me too?"
Parallax laughed. "Thaal Sinestro, know your place! I helped you escape Oa! I gave you power! Accept the gift and obey the command. Now, go immediately to Earth and retrieve the other half of my body!"
Sinestro reached out his right hand, grabbed the creature by the neck, and pulled it close to his face.
"Listen carefully, big bug. I will not listen to you, nor will I go to Earth now and walk into the Guardians' trap. If you want to be whole again, you will follow my lead: cultivate a force, build the Sinestro Corps, and use the Corps' power to reshape the rules."
Sinestro Corps?
Parallax suddenly grew interested.
"What is the Sinestro Corps?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
Sinestro offered no further explanation. He turned and flew into the depths of space. The rumor was that a Weapons Master resided in the deep dark, a person who possessed the legendary technology to forge Lantern Rings.
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