Adrian stared at Hal, unsettled by the transformation before him. Streaks of white now threaded through Hal's hair, and an unfamiliar, terrifying aura radiated from his body. Every subtle movement carried immense power.
For a brief, disorienting moment, Adrian thought he saw Hal's eyes glowing like lanterns, emitting a harsh yellow light. Behind him, grotesque, segmented limbs seemed to anchor him in place, lifting him as though he were no longer bound by gravity.
"Adrian."
They faced each other in the vast emptiness of space. Hal's expression was eerily neutral, his emotions seemingly locked beneath the surface.
"You destroyed the Green Lantern Corps?" Adrian asked.
"Yes. I had no choice," Hal replied. "I needed that energy."
His tone remained steady. "I didn't kill them. I only took their rings. I ensured they had a chance to survive."
Adrian gave a faint nod. "That changes very little. Once you took control of the Central Power Battery, every ring lost its source. Whether scattered across space or hiding in distant sectors, their fate was sealed."
He spoke without emotion, stating the reality plainly. Even if Hal had not struck them down directly, the result was the same. With the exception of a few imprisoned Lanterns, the Corps had likely been wiped out.
A fleeting thought crossed Adrian's mind. Perhaps those he had imprisoned had survived because of it. An unintended act of mercy.
Hal clenched his fists. "I needed that energy."
Pain suddenly twisted his expression. He grabbed his head, as though something inside him was tearing at his thoughts.
"No… I can't think about that. I need to fix everything."
A strained groan escaped him.
"Coast City… I have to restore it. I'll sacrifice anything. No one will stop me."
His mind was clearly fractured, caught between his own will and something darker pressing in.
"Hal," Adrian said, frowning. "You don't look well."
"I'm fine. Better than ever," Hal insisted, though his breathing was uneven. "We're brothers, Adrian. You can help me. You have Green Lantern rings. Give them to me, and I can make things right. With enough power, we can undo everything. The past doesn't have to stay broken."
His eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity.
"I know what you've lost," he continued in a low voice. "I can bring it back."
Adrian narrowed his eyes, unable to fully grasp Hal's mental state.
Hal continued, voice softer now. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. Not the Corps, not anyone. They're my family. But the Guardians sent them after me."
Regret flickered across his face. "Everything spiraled out of control. I know I can't justify it. I made mistakes."
He looked at Adrian with sincerity. "But I'm trying to fix it. I just need one more chance."
Adrian fell silent before answering. "You've done enough, Hal."
To him, it was already over. The Corps was gone, Hal had achieved his objective, and nothing good would come from pushing further. Time was the only thing that could heal what remained.
But he understood Hal's intent. He wanted to rebuild Coast City, to restore it as it once was, no matter the cost.
"No," Hal said firmly. "Not yet."
He lowered his head, grief shadowing his features. "I failed them. All those people… I should have saved them. That's what a hero does."
His voice hardened. "So I'll correct it. Coast City, the Corps, everything. I'll restore it. If I don't, then I'm no hero. I'm just another villain."
He looked up again, pain and determination locked together. "You're the only one I trust, Adrian. Help me."
Adrian studied him for a long moment. "You're losing yourself, Hal."
Despite that, he extended his hand and passed over several Green Lantern rings. Rings once belonging to Lanterns like Kilowog, Toma, and Chip.
"I won't interfere with Coast City," Adrian said. "But you'd better understand what you're doing."
Old memories lingered between them, enough to soften Adrian's stance. He did not approve of Hal's actions, but he chose not to stand in his way.
From Adrian's perspective, Hal's goal did not threaten him. Even if the city that emerged was nothing more than a construct.
Hal exhaled deeply as he took the rings. "Thank you. This gives me a chance to make things right."
His expression shifted.
"No one will stop me now. Not even you, Adrian."
A surge of green energy erupted from his ring.
The blast struck Adrian without warning, hurling him backward through space. His body was flung thousands of meters away in an instant.
"Sorry," Hal said coldly. "I don't know what you would have chosen. This removes the risk."
Any trace of hesitation vanished. The sorrow he had shown moments earlier was gone, replaced by cold resolve.
Without another glance, Hal turned and flew toward Earth.
He was confident the attack had incapacitated Adrian. Even if it had not killed him, it would leave him drifting, unable to interfere.
After all, the same power had already destroyed the Guardians who stood against him.
As Hal descended, a satellite crossed his path.
It exploded on impact, bursting into flames that scattered across the void.
From within the fiery debris, Hal emerged, cutting through the explosion with unstoppable force. His green uniform was torn and stained, his presence more intimidating than ever.
His cape whipped violently before flattening against his back as his speed increased. Flames licked across his form from the friction of his descent, his hair blown sharply backward.
Like a blazing meteor, he tore through Earth's atmosphere, leaving a burning trail behind him.
People across the world looked up, watching a green streak blaze across the sky.
Then he struck.
Hal crashed into the ruins of Coast City with devastating force. The ground shattered beneath him, cracking outward into a massive crater. Dust and debris surged into the air.
The city, already reduced to ruins, absorbed the impact without further destruction.
Hal rose slowly from the center of the crater. His cape, scorched at the edges, smoldered before he tore it away and cast it aside.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the devastated city he had once sworn to protect.
Then he looked up.
A figure stood in the distance.
Sinestro.
"What's wrong, Hal Jordan?" Sinestro called, a faint smile on his lips as he approached. "No words for an old friend?"
Hal clenched his fists.
"This ends now," he said. "If you value your life, stay out of my way."
By now, Hal's mind was no longer his own. Parallax had taken hold completely, driving him forward with relentless force and a hunger for control.
===
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