Chapter 168 – Dawnbreaker vs Allen
The invasion from the Dark Knights immediately caught the attention of the highest levels of government.
Among them, four individuals active in America felt an immense pressure.
Fortunately, the situation in Metropolis offered some relief—at least there were no large-scale casualties.
But the same couldn't be said for the other two cities.
Evergreen City.
This city, primarily maintained by Cyborg for public security, was currently under assault by a killing machine.
The clash between two biomechanical beings drew serious attention from the authorities.
Presently, the government showed strong favor toward the Eye of Providence.
Unlike S.H.I.E.L.D., which operated independently, the Eye of Providence adhered strictly to an "America First" philosophy, earning it massive state backing.
Inside a conference room.
Through satellite surveillance, they observed the situation unfolding in Evergreen City.
Among the top brass, subtle scheming had already begun to take shape.
"This unknown entity… has significant research value."
The speaker was a bald man in a suit—calm and confident—commanding respect from all the officials present.
Lex Luthor, current CEO of LexCorp, and a key governmental partner.
"What's your plan?"
The question came from Amanda Waller, the corpulent African-American woman in charge—she was the supreme commander of the Eye of Providence.
"You've all heard of the Amazo Project, haven't you?"
Lex proposed, "After years of research, it's been perfected. Now, allow me to demonstrate its results."
"I look forward to your performance," Amanda agreed without hesitation.
The Eye of Providence had once infiltrated LexCorp to steal intel on the project, so she was certainly eager to witness the Amazo Android's power firsthand.
At that moment, Amanda's phone lit up on the table beside her.
Seeing the name Nick Fury on the screen, a flash of irritation crossed Amanda's eyes. She casually declined the call.
A sharp-eyed senator, wearing a strange expression, reminded her, "Commander Waller, please don't let personal feelings interfere with national interests."
"I don't need your reminder, Senator Stan Lee."
With that, Amanda decisively turned off her phone.
---
Seaside City.
The Blackout Protocol had enveloped the entire city, plunging it into an endless night.
Justice League heroes arrived immediately to protect and evacuate the civilians.
Because amid the Blackout Protocol, Dawnbreaker had unleashed countless terrifying beasts.
In Universe-32's Dark Multiverse, this version of Bruce Wayne never became Batman. On the night his parents were murdered, he received a Green Lantern Ring. By sheer force of will, he bypassed the ring's prohibition against killing—unlocking lethal authority.
Thus began his fall from grace.
His most infamous act? Singlehandedly annihilating the entire Green Lantern Corps.
In the multiverse, the Corps' status was on par with Uncle Devourer—being wiped out was practically routine.
After Bruce obliterated the Corps and entered the Central Power Battery on Oa, he later emerged as the Dawnbreaker.
A veil of impenetrable blackness now shrouded Seaside City.
Superman, The Flash, and Allen paused upon arrival, hesitant to proceed.
"Can you get off me already?"
Barry looked helplessly at Allen, who clung to him with arms locked tightly around his neck.
"What's wrong with hugging your old man, huh?" Allen quipped cheekily.
Thud!
Barry threw him to the ground without ceremony.
If they weren't in a rush, he'd never have brought this lunatic along.
Allen refused to be carried on his back—insisted on being held like a child instead.
"You sure you're good without armor?" Clark asked, puzzled.
Back in Metropolis, Clark had returned Allen's armor, but now the guy showed up in nothing but a hospital gown.
"A man should never say he's not up for it."
Hands on hips and pelvis thrust forward, Allen smugly boasted, "Check my frequency. I don't need gadgets. What a joke."
"…"
Clearly, we're not talking about the same thing.
"Forget it. Just be careful," Clark advised, then stepped into the darkness. Barry followed right behind him, and both vanished into the abyss.
"Kekekekeke…"
Once the two were gone, Allen let out a chilling laugh. He slowly raised his arms and murmured ominously, "That ring… I will claim it."
Righty, once you gain the ability to manifest a physical body, we can unlock even more positions.
Lefty, if you want the ring first, give me the triple-S ranked ultimate rotational soul-sucking twist!
Lefty, listen to me—I wasn't tempted just now. You know my heart belongs to you.
"…"
As he muttered, Allen walked into the darkness.
When he came to his senses, he was surrounded by pitch black.
Monstrous beasts, formed from the energy of the Green Lantern Ring, were rampaging through Seaside City.
In the distance, cries of terror echoed as overwhelmed heroes struggled to save civilians.
"Allen, it's time for your shot."
Suddenly, a chilling voice whispered near him.
He spun around in fright—only to see a figure from his nightmares.
A middle-aged nurse, conjured from ring energy, approached with a syringe in hand.
Allen had always been terrified of shots, especially from older nurses whose precision and speed made every injection unforgettable.
"Aaaah! I'm not sick! I don't want a shot!"
Allen screamed, clutching his face, and took off in a panic.
---
Meanwhile, at the city center—
The Dawnbreaker was utterly dominating the Green Lantern.
"The greatest Green Lantern in history? I don't see what's so great."
He mocked the struggling Hal Jordan, who was trying to rise from the ground.
"Without green light, what do you have to fight me with?"
Hal was completely overpowered—he couldn't land a single blow.
Dawnbreaker's powers countered all other Lanterns.
The Blackout Protocol absorbed every kind of light, turning the battlefield into a void. Within this darkness, Dawnbreaker was virtually invisible—undetectable to any senses.
If not for Hal deliberately exposing himself, he would never have found his enemy.
Any green energy emitted by Hal's ring vanished like a stone into the sea—absorbed instantly and rendering him unable to use willpower to materialize attacks.
Even though Hal's willpower once rivaled that of the universe itself, it was useless without a medium to influence the physical world.
With a wave of his hand, Dawnbreaker conjured a monstrous beast, ready to strike the killing blow.
FZZZAM!
A golden bolt of lightning flashed, snatching Hal away.
"He escaped?"
Dawnbreaker sneered. "Unless you're ready to abandon the entire city, you'll live in regret forever."
The monstrous energy beasts continued to ravage the city. All were constructs from the ring's energy—an endless army, created at will. The only real solution? Kill the ring bearer.
Dawnbreaker silently melted back into the shadows. As long as he didn't reveal himself, no one could find him within the black zone.
Walking through the fear-drenched city streets, he savored the sounds of battle and screaming—like a symphony of death.
Suddenly, he stopped. His eyes fixed on graffiti on a nearby wall:
"Congratulations, Bruce! You've won a prize →"
"Who's the clown pulling this stunt?"
Scowling, Dawnbreaker followed the arrow's direction.
All Batmen across the multiverse shared the name Bruce. He wanted to know who dared mock him… so he could deliver the most brutal execution imaginable.
"← Please enter alley to claim one free Parent Exchange Voucher"
In that instant, memories he had long buried surged back.
A dark alley. A tantrum. Two loving parents indulging him. A mistake that cost them their lives.
"Please stay calm, sir. We won't resist."
From the alley came a deep, steady voice.
Dawnbreaker's fury gave way to shock. Without hesitation, he stepped in to investigate.
The scene before him struck a nerve—etched in his soul.
A couple and their young son, facing down a mugger.
He stood still, silently watching the reenactment. The figures were vague, but he didn't need their faces—his mind filled in the details.
"Here's all the money. Just don't hurt my family. We won't report this—please, trust us."
"Martha, take off your necklace."
"…"
He recalled the truth.
His parents had planned to see an opera. But he threw a fit, wanting a movie instead. Afterward, they took a shortcut through the alley—and met the mugger.
If he hadn't wanted the movie…
If they hadn't gone through the alley…
If they hadn't encountered the thief…
He might've had a whole, happy life.
BANG!
A gunshot shattered his spiraling thoughts.
The projection transformed into a boy, kneeling in despair beside two lifeless bodies.
In that lonely silhouette, the whole world seemed to fracture—like a mirror falling into darkness.
"No…"
Dawnbreaker screamed in rage, conjuring a storm of monstrous beasts to destroy the alley.
But it wasn't fury—it was fear he couldn't conquer. He wasn't over it. He had merely forgotten.
"I'll kill you for mocking me—AHHH—!"
SPLURT—
As he roared, a flash of light sliced through the air.
In shock, he looked down. Four fingers—gone from the hand wearing his ring.
A man in a hospital gown, whom he hadn't even noticed, now held the severed fingers… and calmly slipped the ring onto his own hand.
"In darkest gloom, where light's withdrawn—
In pale daylight, hope is gone.
Dawn gleams faint, but midnight reigns.
Phantom Lantern shines—Dawnfall remains!"
Allen finished reciting the ring's oath.
Phantom energy enveloped him, forming a green bat-themed suit.
With a flick of his wrist, he ended the Blackout Protocol.
The curtain of darkness over the city retracted into the ring.
Seaside City's crisis was over.
Stripped of his ring, Bruce reverted to an ordinary man. He stared blankly at his bleeding hand—as if that small boy kneeling in the hologram had fused with him in this moment.
He was just a runaway orphan… desperately fleeing reality.