"What's going on? Why aren't Sinestro and the others moving?" Tomar-Re and the other Green Lanterns didn't understand what was happening, but when they saw Sinestro and the Yellow Lanterns immobilized, a sense of foreboding crept in.
"Parallax must've attacked Sinestro and his team! We need to help them! Keep firing!" Tomar-Re shouted, rallying the Green Lantern Corps as they launched another wave of green energy blasts at Parallax. The surrounding space turned a glowing green under the barrage.
Unfortunately, their attacks barely affected Parallax. Their constructs simply lacked the power to penetrate his shifting form. Despite appearing like a dark, stormy cloud, Parallax could seamlessly shift between solid and gaseous states, and his solid form was especially resilient.
Parallax paid the Green Lanterns no mind, fully focused on absorbing the Yellow Lanterns' fear energy. In fact, he couldn't help but feel disdain for the current Green Lantern Corps. In the past, they'd defeated and sealed him under Abin Sur's leadership, even without the added power of fear. Though Parallax had since grown stronger by consuming countless lives and fears, he recognized that the Green Lanterns of old possessed far greater resolve than their modern counterparts.
Suddenly, Parallax noticed that Sinestro was struggling against his control. Intrigued, he watched as Sinestro, defying Parallax's influence, managed to move slightly. However, Parallax wasn't particularly concerned. Only those who could overcome his fear and face him in battle were worthy Green Lanterns in his eyes. As a former Guardian, Parallax held strict standards for what it meant to be a true Lantern.
As Parallax drained more energy from the Yellow Lantern rings, the energy reserves finally depleted. Like the Green Lantern rings, Yellow Lantern rings weren't infinite, and after prolonged absorption, even freshly charged rings ran dry. Now, it wasn't just a matter of Green Lanterns losing the Yellow Lanterns' protection; the Yellow Lanterns themselves were in mortal danger.
One by one, the Yellow Lanterns' bodies shriveled into lifeless husks. With their ring energy exhausted, only their fear of Parallax and death remained to sustain Parallax's hunger. Each of them became a feast for the monster.
"No!" Sinestro felt a pang of terror himself, realizing that Parallax's consumption rate corresponded to the Lanterns' willpower. His strong will meant he'd be the last to die, but it didn't change his fate on Parallax's dinner plate. The stronger his survival instinct, the more intense his fear—and the more appealing he became to Parallax.
Determined to survive, Sinestro's mind raced with a single thought: switch rings. If the Yellow Lantern ring was drained, he'd switch back to the Green Lantern ring. Though it was still unlikely to match Parallax, at least it would prevent him from being completely helpless.
"Interesting. If only the Green Lantern Corps could distract me a little more, maybe you'd have a real chance of escaping," Parallax mused, watching Sinestro struggle. The fiercer Sinestro's will to survive, the richer his fear became. From Parallax's perspective, Sinestro was ripening into an even more delicious meal.
Parallax could afford to wait, letting Sinestro's fear grow richer. Meanwhile, with the Yellow Lantern energy dissipated, the Green Lanterns were now laid bare before him, as if ready to be devoured next.
With a sinister hum, Parallax emitted waves of yellow energy that invaded several Green Lanterns. As the fear energy overwhelmed them, they collapsed, their life forces drained and bodies left floating in space like withered shells. The Green Lanterns, without any resistance to fear or capacity to wield it, were helpless before Parallax's powers.
But just as the Green Lantern Corps began to dwindle, a spark appeared in the depths of space. The spark rotated and grew into a massive portal of flame.
"What's this?" Parallax immediately noticed the anomaly. The energy signature was unfamiliar, unlike anything from the Green or Yellow Lanterns. Parallax grew wary.
"Looks like we're a bit late," remarked Tony Stark, who emerged from the portal in a specialized suit of armor. He was followed by Hal Jordan, Johnny Storm, and other Avengers who could fight in space, along with Martian Girl.
The Avengers had not deployed everyone. Doctor Strange and his team stayed behind to guard the Avengers' base, and Barry Allen, who hadn't yet fully unlocked his powers, was also kept back from the space mission.
"The Avengers?!" Even with the Avengers wearing armor, Parallax recognized them immediately. After all, he had retreated to Oa because of his caution around the Avengers, based on what he'd learned from Hector's memories.
"Is that… Hal?" The Green Lanterns were just as surprised, especially Tomar-Re, who mumbled in disbelief. "This is that Avengers team he mentioned? They really came to help us?"
Tomar-Re felt a pang of shame. When Parallax had attacked Earth, the Green Lantern Corps hadn't considered aiding the planet; they'd even contemplated sacrificing Earth to buy themselves more time. And now, as the Corps faced Parallax, the Avengers had shown up without hesitation. It was a humbling display of cosmic solidarity.
But how had a "backward" planet like Earth developed such advanced teleportation technology, enabling them to reach Oa? If Earth could move its forces across space this easily, they could theoretically strike any enemy's stronghold directly.
"Enough of that. First, I need to brief them on Parallax's abilities so they don't fall into his trap…" Tomar-Re shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside. He was about to inform Hal when Sinestro, seizing a brief lapse in Parallax's focus, replaced his Yellow Lantern ring with a Green Lantern ring. In his green uniform once more, Sinestro broke free, temporarily escaping from Parallax's grasp.
"That's a big one," one of the Avengers remarked in the comms. "I thought Doomsday was massive, but this thing could make him look tiny."
"You've clearly never seen the Celestials," Robert replied with a chuckle. "Those beings are the size of small planets. Sure, Parallax is big, but he's no match for a Celestial's foot."
"Wait, they're not afraid of me?" Parallax was momentarily thrown. Despite knowing that the Avengers were strong, he hadn't expected them to look at him so casually, even critically. Didn't they feel any fear? Weren't they intimidated by his monstrous size?
Meanwhile, Sinestro rejoined Tomar-Re and the other Green Lanterns, wide-eyed and in shock. "The Avengers from Earth? Hal's allies? That 'backward' planet… Well, they did manage to catch Parallax's attention, giving me a chance to escape."
"Contact Hal. We'll launch a coordinated attack. If we fail, no one in the universe will be able to stop Parallax, and the entire cosmos will fall into fear."
Although free from Parallax's grasp, Sinestro's fear hadn't dissipated—instead, it had only intensified. If they couldn't stop Parallax here, and if he consumed the fear energy on Oa, the universe was doomed.
"Tony, the Green Lantern Corps wants to coordinate an assault," Hal reported to Tony Stark, though he assumed Robert was the real powerhouse. But given Tony's leadership, Hal felt he should still check in with him.
Tony listened as Hal expressed his concerns about facing Parallax's massive form, considering they'd have to be cautious to avoid underestimating him.
"Fear! I can feel your fear at last!" Parallax's voice echoed through everyone's minds just as Hal finished speaking. The Avengers turned to Hal, knowing without a doubt that he was the source of Parallax's amusement.
"What? Why are you all looking at me? Can't someone else be afraid?" Hal muttered, feeling his cheeks flush under his mask. "Can't it be… her?" He pointed accusingly at Martian Girl.
"Pfft." Martian Girl turned away in disdain. "I've seen his fear tricks before. Anyone over three wouldn't be scared."
Hal's face reddened, looking almost like he was part of the Red Lantern Corps. Parallax, meanwhile, was infuriated. He sensed the Avengers' complete disregard and scorn—a response he'd never encountered before.
The Avengers weren't just fearless; they were defiant. And for the first time, Parallax found himself feeling something unsettlingly close to doubt.
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