"Who allowed you in here?" Sinestro roared, his anger finding a convenient outlet. "This is the Forbidden Zone!"
"The Guardians invited us," Abin Sur said calmly as he flew in and hovered midair. "You will compete for the new Yellow Ring."
"This belongs to the Green Lantern Corps!" Sinestro snapped, glaring at the Guardians. "Why should I compete with an outsider?"
"I've worked myself to the bone for this Corps for years," he continued coldly. "Blood. Sweat. Everything."
"And now you tell me I have to compete for the first Yellow Ring?"
"You already renounced the glory of the Green Lantern Corps," a Guardian said, opening his hand.
The Green Ring Sinestro had discarded without hesitation hovered there.
"You are no longer my colleague."
"You voluntarily abandoned your identity as a Green Lantern," Abin Sur said, looking directly at Sinestro. "I will not fight for your interests."
"I will treat both parties fairly."
"You will compete with this gentleman."
"The ring will decide who is most suitable."
Abin Sur was one of the Corps' most loyal members.
Seeing Sinestro throw away his ring so casually felt like a slap to the face.
Under these circumstances, and with their relationship already strained, Abin Sur had no intention of supporting him.
"Heh... fine," Sinestro sneered.
He dropped the argument.
Strength would decide everything now.
He turned to the Guardians. "Ensure the fairness of the selection."
"The ring will choose only the most suitable," a Guardian replied. "We will monitor it to ensure no external interference."
"Relax," Morin said, gesturing toward Bruce. "I don't need tricks for this."
"It's up to you."
"I'll do my best," Bruce replied.
Sinestro smiled disdainfully. "Listen, man in black. Fear isn't something you talk about."
"Only those who have faced absolute horror-who have given everything and still failed-can truly understand it."
"Only those who walk out of that darkness and turn terror into strength can earn the ring's respect."
"I don't know why you sound proud of losing to people," Bruce said flatly.
He turned his gaze back to the hovering Yellow Ring.
Fear...
As a child, falling into the bat-filled cave.
The swarm.
The darkness.
The fear of death.
Then later-
Watching his parents die.
The helplessness.
The fear of failure as he took over Wayne Enterprises.
The fear of ruining everything.
The fear of not being enough to save Gotham.
But all of it-
Every fear-
Had been forged into something else.
A weapon.
Fear should be mine to command.
"Begin," the Guardian said, activating the protocol.
Waves of emotional energy rippled outward from the universe's first Yellow Power Ring.
It scanned all living beings nearby.
Then-
The yellow light flared.
Under everyone's gaze, the ring drifted slowly.
Toward Morin.
Everyone: "???"
Morin: "..."
Morin did possess fear.
Strictly speaking, only one.
The fear of never returning home.
That fear had become his engine.
Why else would he cross worlds endlessly?
Why not settle somewhere safe?
Why not abandon his principles?
To go home.
It was a simple goal.
But the fear of failing it drove everything he did.
That overwhelming drive made him the ring's ideal candidate.
Realizing this, Morin immediately raised his telepathic defenses to their peak.
He always kept a shield up.
Just not at full output.
The fear pulse from this ring-linked directly to the source-was far stronger than expected.
It slipped past his normal defenses for a moment.
But Morin's answer was clear.
No.
He had no interest in becoming a yellow-themed hero.
Ugly.
Not particularly impressive in the grand scheme.
Dependent on charging.
And useless in universes without fear energy.
The Yellow Ring reached him.
Attempted to bond.
And hit a closed door.
Its emotional trace vanished.
The ring screeched to a halt.
Yellow Ring: "?"
Are you serious?
It tried again.
Nothing.
It circled Morin several times, detected absolutely no signal, and finally gave up.
Plan B.
When the ring first moved toward Morin, Sinestro's heart nearly stopped.
Shock.
Desperation.
Why him?
How could he possess more fear than me?
When the ring turned away, Sinestro finally exhaled.
Maybe... it's unstable. Newly forged. Glitchy.
He knew it was a lie.
A more terrifying possibility lingered.
Morin had simply rejected it.
The power Sinestro sacrificed everything for...
Was something another man didn't even want.
For an instant, doubt crept in.
Was fear truly superior to will?
Sinestro crushed the thought.
He'd already crossed the line.
There was no going back.
The ring had to be his.
Then-
It stopped.
Sinestro's eyes widened.
The Yellow Ring hovered, scanning repeatedly, as if searching for something it couldn't find.
Then it settled.
In front of Bruce.
"Intelligent lifeform confirmed."
"Bruce Wayne of Earth."
"You possess the ability to instill great fear."
"Welcome to... the Bruce Corps."
"No-!" Sinestro choked.
Rage.
Disbelief.
Despair.
Morin was one thing.
But now another Earthling?
Why?!
Worse-
His plan had completely backfired.
The first Yellow Ring was forged from the core of fear itself.
In status and power, it was supreme.
The ring meant for the leader.
Sinestro had believed that once chosen, he would name the Corps after himself.
The Sinestro Corps.
Now-
Everything vanished.
The ring's welcome message said it clearly.
The Bruce Corps.
That meant Bruce Wayne was the leader.
Even if Sinestro received a ring later, he would be subordinate.
Working under someone he despised.
Fury boiled in his chest.
Bruce ignored Sinestro entirely.
He stared at the hovering ring.
...Now what?
Honestly, he didn't even want it anymore.
Being the backup choice was irritating.
Bruce Wayne wasn't used to second place.
Still, he didn't hesitate long.
He reached out.
Grabbed the ring.
Slid it onto his right middle finger.
That was intentional.
Then, following instinct, he began the oath.
"In blackest day, in brightest night-"
He paused.
Adjusted.
"In blackest day, in brightest night,
Let all who do evil fear my light.
Let those who stand against the right,
Fear the power... of the Bat's might!"
Yellow light exploded outward.
Abin Sur and the Guardians watched solemnly.
This was the first ring.
Untested.
Even if it chose him, corruption was still a risk.
Sinestro, however, felt anticipation.
He hoped Bruce would lose control.
Be consumed.
Give him another chance.
The light faded.
Bruce stood calmly.
His black suit was now yellow.
He raised his hand slightly.
"I can feel it," Bruce said. "Better than I expected."
He glanced at Morin.
Morin raised an eyebrow.
Don't look at me like that.
You're not stupid enough to try something.
Bruce: "..."
Bruce turned to Clark.
Clark's eyes sparkled.
Bruce: "..."
"Hal," Bruce said. "Let's test this."
Hal: "???"
Excuse me?
The Guardians didn't interfere.
If fear corrupted, battle would reveal it.
"The Yellow Ring functions similarly to the Green Ring," a Guardian explained. "Imagine fear. Manifest it."
"The strength depends on how deeply you understand and project it."
"I understand," Bruce said.
Hal grinned. "Relax. First time's always rough. I'll take it easy."
"I'll give you three hits-actually, one. I'll stand still."
I've seen real combat, Hal thought smugly.
Batman's just a guy with money.
"Hmph..." Bruce's expression darkened.
So the class clown thinks he's superior.
Unacceptable.
If he didn't establish dominance now, he'd be ranked last forever.
Bruce reached inward.
Tapped into fear.
Then-
Manifested it.
The ring erupted.
One bat.
Two.
Then dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
An endless flood poured forth.
In seconds, a literal sea of bats filled the area.
They swarmed together, forming a massive throne.
Bruce sat upon it.
Hal: "..."
The cloud blotted out everything.
Bruce looked like a final boss.
Hal swallowed.
It's fine.
Probably just visual effects.
Paper tiger.
As long as my will-
"I can feel... your fear..." Bruce's voice echoed.
The bats surged.
"Aaaah!" Hal threw up a full shield.
It cracked almost instantly.
Those few dozen bats were nothing compared to the swarm.
"I give up!" Hal screamed.
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