Chapter 576: The Battle of the Giants
A Clash of Soul and Power
Near the Conquest, after tending to Diana, Clark and the others gathered, gazing solemnly into the distance.
Two giants were locked in combat in the void. One had two heads and four hands wielding massive swords of different elemental properties (fire, frost, thunder, poison). Its golden-yellow body radiated suffocating energy fluctuations.
The other wore ancient armor, with six arms. Each hand gripped a distinct weapon: a saber, a spear, a sword, a mace, a bow, and arrows. Its body was enveloped in green flame, which churned and morphed, sometimes turning into lightning, sometimes into a fierce beast.
The two engaged in a monumental battle. Every collision sent out visible tides of raw energy.
The golden-yellow energy and the green flames intertwined, turning the surrounding tens of kilometers into a deadly, uninhabitable zone for ordinary beings.
Barry swallowed hard.
"Boss is so strong."
J'onn nodded, unable to hide his admiration. "A materialized soul—it's unimaginable."
Clark chimed in, "It seems Sinestro's ability doesn't work on the soul."
"It's not just the soul; psychic abilities also have a similar effect."
J'onn explained, "I noticed it when I used my psychic attack on him earlier. Reality warping failed to affect the mind. Luke must have detected this, too. Unfortunately, my psychic ability is countered by Parallax, so I can't help."
"Um..." Hal coughed. "Shouldn't we be doing something?"
The group exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly. This battle was far beyond their ability to intervene. All they could do was wait for the right opportunity.
The Turning Point
Unknowingly, two hours had passed. Facing a full-power Sinestro, Luke was gaining no advantage. His opponent possessed seemingly infinite energy, constantly transforming into a small sun whenever he was cornered.
The two traded blows, trying every means to inflict damage.
Blade clashed with sword. Lightning and fire raged.
The prolonged fight caused Luke to feel a hint of exhaustion. Sinestro was in a similar state. While his body was fine, his soul could not withstand the continuous barrage of green flame attacks.
After another fierce collision, they both stopped simultaneously. Luke caught his breath and rasped,
"Surrender. You're almost finished."
"You are the one who should surrender!"
Sinestro brought a sword down. Luke raised his saber to block. The impact sent out a massive shockwave. Simultaneously, their other weapons clashed.
Boom!
The shockwave magnified tenfold.
Luke roared, "Don't forget, I have six arms!"
With his two remaining free hands, one drew the bow, and the other nocked an arrow. Whoosh! The arrow struck Sinestro's face. The resulting flame explosion contorted his features. Luke seized the opportunity, pushed back the giant sword, and kicked Sinestro in the chest. The powerful blow forced him backward.
"Die, you scum!"
Luke raised his Tiger-Head Saber, the blade boiling with flame until it was practically solid.
Swoosh!
A green flash tore through space. A blade of green light over a hundred meters long slammed into the giant beast's body. Crack! A fissure appeared, and the light blade penetrated deeper inside.
Sinestro spat blood, forcing himself to gather energy despite the soul-shattering pain.
A yellow sun appeared in the sky.
Boom!
Blinding light and a world-destroying pulse wave rushed forward.
"Again!"
Luke cursed under his breath and quickly retreated.
The pulse wave lasted for over ten seconds before finally dissipating.
Luke gasped, a look of deep fatigue in his eyes. This won't work. He had to change his approach. If the battle dragged on like this, even if he defeated Sinestro, he wouldn't be able to handle Parallax.
Sinestro sneered.
"What, tired already?"
"I'm tired of your mother's head!"
Luke drew his bow. Six soul arrows streaked through the void, targeting Sinestro's vital points. Sinestro sneered, layering barrier upon barrier. The arrows struck the barriers and erupted in flame. Luke appeared from the flames, slammed his mace into the barrier.
"Give up, Sinestro. If you surrender, I will grant you one wish."
"Get lost."
Sinestro swung his four giant swords, blasting Luke away. Luke immediately charged back in.
"Don't you want to hear what the condition is?"
"Not interested."
"What if it's resurrecting your wife and daughter?"
"What!"
Sinestro froze in shock.
Perfect opportunity!
Luke was merciless. He swung his Tiger-Head Saber, shifting from solid to ethereal. The moment he reached the target, he turned solid again.
Spurt!
Blood rained down as Sinestro was sliced in half.
"Aaaarrrggghhh!"
"Die, Earthling!"
"I can save them. I'm not lying to you."
"Believe me, it's true."
Luke simultaneously explained and dodged. With a flick of his finger, the green flames suspended around them turned into lightning arrows, shooting at Sinestro from all sides.
Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
The arrows breached the outer barriers of the giant beast, leaving countless scorch marks and holes in its body.
"Don't you want to see them again? Think about it. Those were the two people you loved most. Agree to my terms, and I'll give you a chance."
"Go away!"
Sinestro opened his mouth and spewed a massive energy column, sweeping away the green flames and lightning.
Luke phased from solid to ethereal, evading the beam, then charged back in.
"You are consumed by rage over your dead wife and daughter—so furious you've lost all reason! Does a senseless wreck like you even deserve to be a host for Parallax?"
Luke threw all his force into a punch, sending Sinestro flying.
"Tell me, Parallax, why would you choose a waste like him as your master?"
"He is not my master."
Parallax emerged from behind Sinestro, its eyes cold.
"Is that so?"
Luke sneered, continuing to mock while attacking. "But it looks to me like you're his servant. A magnificent Emotional Entity hiding inside a Korugaran's body, giving him whatever he wants without a single word of protest. Is that not obedience?"
"Of course, I understand your predicament. Without a host, your power cannot be utilized 100%, let alone defeat the Guardians of Oa."
"You want revenge on them, don't you?"
Parallax remained silent. It hated this damn Earthling, but it also felt a growing dissatisfaction with Sinestro.
"Abandon this failure. You should choose a new partner. Choose me."
Luke rapidly swung his weapons, engaging Sinestro in a new round of fierce combat.
"A superior being should partner with a superior being, not be subservient to a failure! Look at him—full of anger, insecurity, and madness! Does he possess an ounce of the strength needed? Are you truly counting on a failure like this to help you kill the Guardians?"
"I'm telling you, it's impossible. You know the Guardians' power firsthand. Even if you recover the other half of your essence and become complete, what then? You will still lose. But I am different."
"I possess transcendent technology, an unparalleled soul, and green flame that makes even gods tremble. I can compensate for your weaknesses and make you perfect. If we partner, we will be the supreme power! Don't you want to destroy Oa, kill the Guardians, and make every living being in the universe live in eternal fear?"
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