In space.
Bardi glanced indifferently at the Earth. His gaze swept across the nations that had launched nuclear bombs, sentencing them to death in his heart.
With a mere thought, another set of memory particle clothing formed around his body, covering him once more.
It was a high-collared trench coat, fastened at the chest with gold-gilded chain buttons. The style radiated mystery, nobility, and elegance. His powerful physique was perfectly outlined by the close-fitting black shirt beneath, further enhancing his imposing and dignified presence.
This was Raven's handiwork.
Within Bardi's body existed a storage space co-created with Raven. As long as his body was not completely destroyed, this dimensional space within his cells would remain intact. Hundreds of these coats were stored inside, each designed differently by Pamela to prevent the awkward situation of being left naked after every battle.
Bardi turned his head. His eyes swept through the dark radiation belt surrounding the area. His far vision pierced through the radiation, locating Diana.
She floated unconscious in space. Her armor was torn, revealing smooth, flawless skin. Her beautiful face held a faint trace of sorrow between her brows, stirring pity in those who saw her. Like an ancient Valkyrie fallen from battle, she drifted silently in the void, wrapped in the aura of long-endured struggle.
Bardi moved. His body's magnetic field wrapped around him as he passed through the black smoke of radiation, flying directly toward Diana.
Reaching her, he grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, lifting her effortlessly like a helpless bird. Her soft, smooth skin felt like silk beneath his fingers. Without the slightest pity for the Amazon princess, Bardi dragged her casually through space.
After collecting her shattered divine shield, the Mantra Lasso, and the God Killer Sword one by one, Bardi narrowed his eyes and scanned the distant universe with his farsight.
His brow furrowed slightly.
Hal Jordan had not been caught in the nuclear explosion's center. Instead, Hal had drifted far from the blast. Bardi could sense that his body remained intact, not shattered by radiation or the force of the detonation.
This Hal, mutated into an insect-like form, capable of absorbing Earth's fear, able to instantly fight him in space… even though Bardi could defeat him with a single punch, there was something about Hal that sparked Bardi's curiosity.
If Hal were to hide and continue absorbing the fear of life across Earth day after day, there might come a time when he could actually threaten Bardi.
But by then, Hal would likely lose control, consumed by fear, transforming into a true monster.
It was precisely this mutation that allowed Hal to approach so quickly and confront Bardi directly in space.
Suddenly.
Bardi's eyes narrowed. Hal's body, drifting in space, was already three million kilometers away—an immense distance.
Considering that Earth's diameter was about 12,742 kilometers, Hal's position was equivalent to nearly three hundred Earths away. It was illogical that Hal, simply blown away by a nuclear explosion, would end up at such a distance. This oddity made Bardi suspicious.
Even more puzzling, Hal's body continued drifting steadily toward the depths of space.
"Found you."
Bardi raised an eyebrow. Without hesitation, he acted immediately. Cutting through the black mist of nuclear radiation, he flew toward Hal at high speed.
Diana, still unconscious in his grip, dangled like a lifeless puppet under the force of his rapid flight, her limbs swaying helplessly in the momentum.
However.
At that moment, Bardi's body froze, and he came to an abrupt stop.
He saw Hal's body suddenly react, as if sensing Bardi's approach. The insect-like limbs on Hal's back extended wildly, propelling him forward at terrifying speed. Like a spider skimming across the surface of water, the ten insect appendages coordinated perfectly, accelerating Hal's body through space. Fragmented meteorites shattered in his path as he streaked toward the far reaches of the universe, as though an invisible force were pulling him away.
Bardi quickly calculated. Even with his own speed, judging by Hal's current acceleration and position, it would take at least thirteen years by Earth's time to catch up.
And as Hal's speed continued to increase, the chase might take a hundred years or more—possibly even leaving Hal completely beyond his reach.
In that span of time, who knew what might happen to Earth?
Faced with this reality, Bardi gave up the pursuit.
His interest in capturing Hal was driven mainly by curiosity. He wanted to study Hal's mutation, to explore the fusion of Green Lantern energy, Yellow Fear energy, and the Parallax entity—this unique blend of willpower-based technology.
Such willpower technology was extraordinary. Beyond the Green and Yellow Lanterns, the Black and White Lanterns held tremendous power. The pinnacle of willpower technology was the Miracle Machine, capable of granting any wish—reversing time, resurrecting the dead, even reshaping the universe itself.
Even Bardi, with all his power, had not been able to comprehend how such a thing could exist.
"Parallax…"
Bardi frowned, watching as Hal's body shrank into the distance, vanishing into the depths of the cosmos.
A premonition stirred in his heart.
Hal, already overtaken by fear, was heading toward the source—the true body of the Parallax entity.
The next time they met, Hal would no longer be himself. He would be fully merged with Parallax, transformed into the Parallax Demon.
Parallax, the embodiment of fear, forces its host to succumb to the emotion it represents. Hosts possessed by it are consumed, becoming living vessels of terror.
The Ion entity, the spirit of willpower, supports its host, empowering the Ion Lantern. But Parallax dominates its host completely, taking control of body and mind, merging as one.
Parallax itself was a cosmic monster, once sealed away by the Guardians of the Universe on Oa. It exists to sow fear and chaos, feeding on terror and conflict.
As an energy being formed from pure fear, Parallax normally could not directly interact with physical matter. However, it possesses an overwhelmingly strong will. Even Bardi, chosen once by a Green Lantern ring, had stood immune to Parallax's influence due to the unique nature of his soul.
Parallax could not conquer Bardi through fear alone.
But a Hal possessed by Parallax—fully merged, transformed into the Parallax Demon—would not be limited to spreading fear through willpower alone. With Parallax dominating his body, Hal would gain terrifying power on the physical level as well.
The Parallax Demon would become a true cosmic monster, fusing willpower and fear into destructive force.
In his current state, Bardi was not confident he could match the Parallax Demon.
"Parallax Demon…"
Bardi silently contemplated, piecing together the chain of events.
The death of Abin Sur. The Green Lantern ring arriving on Earth. The breaking of Parallax's seal, allowing it to roam free across the universe.
Earth, positioned at the center of the universe, absorbed fear energy faster than anywhere else, making it a perfect feeding ground.
Bardi glanced at the Green Lantern ring still on his finger. His thumb brushed across the smooth surface of its plastic and steel construction.
Perhaps, when the time came, he would recite the oath and truly take up the mantle of a Green Lantern—to stand against the Parallax Demon.
In the end, Bardi turned his gaze toward the distant universe, watching Hal Jordan's insect-like form fade into the stars.
A cold glint flashed through his eyes.
Turning around, Bardi flew back toward Earth.
(To be continued.)
***
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