Chapter 573: On the Usage of the Yellow Lantern Ring
The Super-Popcorn Gambit
After recognizing the capabilities of the Lantern Ring, Luke suddenly had an idea.
"Diana, I have an idea that needs your help," he mentally transmitted.
Diana, hearing the message, immediately doubled back.
"What do I need to do?"
Luke spread his arms, a faint smile on his lips. "Hold me tight."
Diana hesitated. "...Don't be ridiculous. This is a battlefield."
"It is precisely because this is a battlefield that I need you. I need to focus my mind on one thing. For that time, my safety can only be entrusted to you."
"Hurry, we're out of time."
Parallax opened its massive mouth and spat a gigantic energy beam.
High heat and fierce energy rushed at them with a world-destroying aura. Diana had no choice but to grab Luke, flash away, and teleport. Her Valkyrie Armor was at full power, turning into a streak of incredibly swift red light, weaving back and forth through space.
Parallax pursued relentlessly, launching energy blasts one after another.
The two circled in space. Although Parallax was enormous, its speed was not top-tier. Diana, flying at full speed, slowly widened the gap.
Luke was focused, holding his breath, concentrating his Willpower and connecting with the Ring to push his construct manifestation ability to the limit. Soon, a projectile over thirty meters long took shape. The inside of the shell was filled with compartments: microcomputers, data boards, fuses, detonators... various components materialized one by one, followed by the main materials: deuterium-tritium mixture, uranium isotopes, plutonium isotopes, and so on. This step required the most mental effort.
As time passed, the secret weapon was finally fully formed.
Luke let out a small sigh of relief, then grew excited. This hydrogen bomb was one of the largest ever conceived on Earth, possessing a terrifying yield of 430 megatons of TNT equivalent. If it were dropped on Europe, an entire section of the continent would be missing. Only in outer space would he dare attempt such a thing.
Diana felt an uneasy tingling, like a spike in her back.
"What is that?"
"Super-popcorn, specially prepared for the big bug."
Luke activated his communicator, notifying everyone to evacuate and stay away from Parallax. He then signaled Diana. She slowly reduced speed. As Parallax was about to catch up, Luke released his grip and tossed his "gift" forward.
The projectile slowly moved through space, inching closer to Parallax's mouth.
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
BZZZ!
A point of aurora exploded in the sky, followed by an overwhelming wave of radiation light. The light wave spread rapidly outward, centered on Parallax's body. Everything in its path was reduced to nothingness.
The energy churned space, and the universe trembled.
Parallax shrieked hysterically. A circle of white light appeared at its mouth. In just two seconds, the circle expanded to dozens of kilometers, tearing its enormous body to shreds.
Shockwave and New Resolve
Linda and the others watching from afar were stunned, their eyes wide.
Parallax's power—its size, strength, speed, and seemingly infinite energy—had left a deep impression on them. Every attack was heart-stopping.
Even a character like Clark, with maximum strength and defense, dared not face it head-on. As they worried about how to defeat it, Luke delivered this astounding answer.
J'onn couldn't help but ask, "What was that secret weapon?"
"It wasn't a weapon," Barry said, swallowing hard. "It was a hydrogen bomb. A super hydrogen bomb. That light circle is the radiation pulse created by the nuclear explosion."
Clark gave a wry smile. "I didn't even know he had built a hydrogen bomb."
"He just built it," Linda said, clenching her fist, her face filled with disbelief. "I saw it. He used the Yellow Lantern Ring to manifest a hydrogen bomb."
The others were speechless.
Barry looked at Hal Jordan.
"The Lantern Ring can do that?"
Hal Jordan gave a bitter smile. "In principle, yes. Whether you can actually build it is another matter entirely."
"Could you build one?"
Hal fell silent, his feelings complex—disappointment, unwillingness, mixed with an inexplicable awe. As a Lantern user, he knew how difficult it was to manifest a nuclear bomb. First, you needed to be proficient in nuclear physics, then the manufacturing process and material ratios for nuclear weapons. Only then could you attempt the actual construction, all while maintaining extreme focus to monitor the internal workings and avoid any error.
One slip-up and the person would be instantly annihilated.
Hal never imagined that the first thing Luke would do with the Yellow Lantern Ring was manifest such an object.
Only a madman would build a hydrogen bomb.
He is indeed a madman!
With a single hydrogen bomb, the entire world went silent.
The Yellow Lantern Ring's energy was also near exhaustion. Diana quickly took out a new ring and put it on Luke's finger. Recalling the sight of being chased by the light wave, she shivered.
"Luke, you are a complete bastard, a thoroughgoing menace."
Luke laughed heartily. "I originally planned to manifest a Star-Destroyer Cannon to blast Sinestro back home, but the ring didn't have enough energy, so I had to settle for less."
"Judging by the effect, the hydrogen bomb was enough."
Diana ignored his boasting and snorted coldly. "What's the plan now? Don't tell me you're going to throw another hydrogen bomb. If you do, I'm not sticking around."
Luke's laughter subsided, and he became incredibly serious.
"The big bug is just a shell. Sinestro is the real killer."
Sinestro's Transformation
The hydrogen bomb inflicted unprecedented damage on Parallax. Its body cracked open, and its core essence was affected, making it unable to re-condense its body.
"Kill him! Kill that Earthling! I will tear him to shreds!"
Parallax roared furiously, the killing intent in its eyes practically materializing. Luke's actions reminded it of a very unpleasant memory. It had been defeated by the Guardians using this exact method. Its massive size provided both strength and defense, but it also created a fatal flaw.
The larger the size, the greater the area of impact. If an opponent used a weapon of mass destruction, such as a star-destroyer cannon or a nuclear bomb, it simply couldn't dodge and had to endure the hit.
Sinestro said nothing more. He raised his right hand. Parallax transformed into countless swirling lines and merged into his body.
The giant monster vanished, replaced by a man—a red-skinned Korugaran, less than two meters tall.
Compared to Parallax, Thaal Sinestro seemed insignificant, like an ant. However, no one relaxed. Instead, they grew increasingly serious.
Size and strength are not always proportional. Often, concentrated power is the most potent.
After merging with Parallax, Sinestro's armor changed, becoming heavier, more three-dimensional, and gaining a cape on his back.
Energy boiled around him, condensing into tangible lines.
Bang!
The figure vanished. A streak of yellow light appeared in space, speeding directly toward Luke and Diana. Before it even got close, the surrounding space shifted, enveloped by a strange, unsettling power.
Luke frowned slightly. He raised his hand and fired a yellow light beam. Simultaneously, the Divine Wing Armor, now controlled by Ava, launched a forked lightning bolt straight at the incoming Sinestro.
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