The three heroes followed Arthur across the bridge. The shadow beneath their feet was solid, more solid than stone, more stable than steel. Barry tested it with a careful tap of his heel, then shrugged and jogged to catch up.

"So," Barry said, falling into step beside Arthur, "what's the plan? We wait here until this guy shows up? Because I have to say, I could use the break, even in a place like this...Central City has been..."

"You're not waiting."

Barry blinked. "I'm not?"

"None of you are." Arthur didn't slow down. "I brought you here because I need you elsewhere, the trap is set, the bait is in place. But while I'm dealing with our unwanted friend, my Lanterns are stretched thin across the sectors, there are things they can't handle alone, and I will not be using my shadow soldiers because my Marshals and Generals are spread around Earth for the worst case scenario, I don't want the Monarchs to show up and find no sort of resistance, and I don't want Darkseid to know my full strength, so we'll be doing this with what we have here and myself."

"You want us to run interference," Batman said. It wasn't a question.

"I want you to help. There's a convoy of Shadow Lanterns three light-years from here, transporting something that a lot of very bad people want, sources of power that earth doesn't have, Apokolips collects all sorts of things. They're going to be hit within the next six hours." Arthur glanced back at them.

Hal's ring glowed brighter. "What are they transporting?"

Arthur was silent for a moment.

"Fear," he finally said.

Hal stared at him.

"It's not a metaphor," Arthur added. "It's literally a container of concentrated Fear. Extracted from a dying world by my shadow lanterns who somehow found remains of yellow lantern activity... I couldn't believe that they could find something like that, especially since Paralax is under my control."

Barry's expression softened. "And the bad guys want to... what? Weaponize that?"

"Corrupt it, twist it into something else, I mean I did it, Darkseid will do it as well, he weaponizes all sorts of things." Arthur's voice hardened. "That's not going to happen."

They reached the end of the bridge, where the city opened up before them, streets of shadow, buildings and everywhere, moving through the darkness, the Shadow Lanterns themselves. They paused as Arthur passed, bowing their heads, their rings glowing in acknowledgment.

Batman watched them. His expression, hidden beneath the cowl.

"You built a very disciplined army," he said.

Arthur stopped.

"No," he said quietly. "I simply built a better space police force."

"No offense Hal." He turned to face the Green Lantern.

"The convoy is waiting for your arrival. Hal, you know the coordinates. Barry, you will be the one infiltrate ship once it lands them there. and Batman.." Arthur paused. "Just be Batman."

Batman said nothing and Hal floated up from the bridge, his ring casting a green glow across the shadow-city. "What about you? If this guy shows up and you're alone..."

"You must be joking right?" Arthur's shadow stretched behind him, longer than it should have been, darker than the darkness around it. Something moved within it. Something large. "He is not going to survive me."

Arthur smiled.

Hal looked at Barry. Barry looked at Hal, Batman simply turned and walked back toward the portal, his cape billowing behind him.

"If that's all, then we're done here, I'll make a plan of my own, just in case your trap is not very... successful." Batman said. "Convoy coordinates, now."

Hal shook his head and followed. Barry lingered for a moment, looking at Arthur with an expression that was almost concerned.

"Be careful Arthur, this might not be Darkseid but it is still one of his men." Barry said.

"I'm always careful."

Barry laughed, then he was gone, a blur of crimson and gold that crossed the bridge in less than a heartbeat and disappeared through the portal.

Arthur stood alone at the edge of Nyx, watching them go.

.

.

.

The heart of Nyx was not the Central Battery, though the Battery was its soul, the heart was a chamber carved from a single dark monolith, the walls pulsed with violet light and shadow-energy, the ceiling was lost in darkness, and at the center of it, raised on a platform of black crystal that seemed to grow from the floor, stood the throne, made by none other than Marshal Beru.

The throne of the Shadow Monarch, sharp angles, high back, armrests carved into the shapes of coiled dragons. Arthur Blackwynd stood beside the throne rather than on it.

His arms were crossed. His eyes tracked the three figures descending through the darkness above, their silhouettes resolving as they approached.

They landed in unison, three figures dropping to one knee. Three heads bowing in perfect synchronization.

"Monarch."

Marshal Zeus spoke first, he was the largest of the three, broad-shouldered, lightning crackling around him.

Beside him, General Sinestro knelt, he was leaner, sharper, the Sinestro who had terrorized the universe with fear. "Monarch."

And on the other side, Atrocitus knelt with his fists pressed against the floor.

"Monarch."

"Rise," Arthur said, and they rose, Arthur began to pace slowly, his footsteps silent and the three soldiers stood at attention, their eyes following him, their bodies still as statues.

"Steppenwolf," Arthur said, "will attack my Lanterns for that power that you Sinestro left behind."

Sinestro's brow furrowed. "The fear container, my Monarch?"

"Yes." Arthur stopped pacing, turning to face them. "He's been attacking my Lanterns across the universe, raids, ambushes, harassment, for no reason, no pattern. It is clear enough that he is doing this to draw my attention." His jaw tightened. "He succeeded."

General Sinestro's eyes narrowed. His voice, when he spoke, was a low murmur "So the attacks were not an attempt to destroy our Corps. They were provocation, I knew it..."

"Exactly." Arthur resumed pacing. "He wanted me to focus on him, he clearly wants a fight."

"Send us my Monarch, he is only attacking the living lanterns, he will not be able to defeat us!" Atrocitus's voice was a growl, barely restrained.

Arthur looked at him.

"No that won't be necessary," he said simply. "The plan remains the same, I'll give him what he wants."

Marshal Zeus stepped forward, one pace, no more. "Considering the reports, my Monarch, Steppenwolf will not be there himself. His forces are the ones that attack your Lanterns across the universe. Very few times has he appeared personally."

Arthur nodded. "He's cautious and he's smart. He knows I'm looking for him, and he knows what I'm capable of." He paused. "But he doesn't know everything."

Sinestro's lips curved. "The Justice League."

"The Justice League," Arthur confirmed. "Batman, Hal Jordan, and the Flash are already en route to the convoy. They'll be hidden among my Lanterns. When the attack comes.."

"We do not destroy the ships," Sinestro finished, his tactical mind already racing ahead. "We compromise them."

"Batman will do his thing, data retrieval, navigation logs, communication records, everything that will be useful and that we can use against Apokolips." Arthur's eyes glowed violet. "And I'll figure out where Steppenwolf might be hiding, and then I'll be there."

Marshal Zeus nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "A sound plan, my Monarch. To deal with this fool once and for all." He paused, his brow furrowing. "But if he appears himself, if Steppenwolf personally leads the attack on the convoy.."

"He won't."

Arthur's voice was absolute and certain.

"The three Justice League members with the convoy, they are not weak. Lantern, Flash, the Bat. Steppenwolf respects power, but he also respects cunning. He knows that if he shows himself unprepared like that he risks a stupid death, he wants to fight me alone, which is not exactly smart, but it is what he wants."

Sinestro inclined his head. "So he will send his forces, his parademons, his ships. But he will remain in the shadows."

"They have an appetite for strong energy sources," Arthur continued. "Cosmic powers are one of them, they'll want what the convoy is carrying. I expect a large force, more than one ship, all under Steppenwolf's command. But he will not be aboard any of them."

Atrocitus's fists clenched. "And if the other New Gods aid him? If Darkseid himself intervenes?"

Arthur stopped pacing and turned to face the former Red Lantern directly.

"No," he said. "So far, it has been only Steppenwolf attacking my Lanterns. Darkseid has not moved. His Elite have not stirred and his Furies have not been seen." Arthur's eyes narrowed. "I have a feeling that Darkseid is using Steppenwolf."

"Using him?" Zeus asked. "How?"

"To die to me."

Sinestro's eyes widened just slightly, just for a moment. Atrocitus's growl deepened.

Arthur continued, his voice calm. "Darkseid wants to understand where I stand in terms of power, he's seen my shadows. He's heard the reports, but he hasn't felt me. He doesn't know what I'm capable of when I stop holding back."

"And Steppenwolf is the instrument of that discovery," Sinestro said softly.

"Steppenwolf is the sacrifice. Darkseid sends him against me, watches how easily I destroy him, and learns everything he needs to know." Arthur's smile was thin, cold, without warmth. "The problem for Darkseid is that I know he's watching. And I intend to give him a show he won't forget."

Marshal Zeus straightened his shoulders, his discipline reasserting itself. "Very well, my Monarch. You have our trust and you have our blades." He paused. "What would you have us do?"

Arthur turned away from them, looking out at the city, at the Battery pulsing in the distance, at the Lanterns moving through the shadows.

"Nothing," he said.

Silence.

"My Monarch, we can..." Sinestro began.

"Nothing." Arthur's voice was final. "You will remain here in Nyx. You will continue your duties and you will organize the Corps as usual." He glanced back at them over his shoulder. "This is not something I should use you to handle, I'll do it myself."

Zeus's jaw tightened. "But my Monarch..."

"Order is important," Arthur said quietly. "The Corps needs its leaders, the Lanterns need leadership, if I pull you away from your duties every time someone threatens me than what am I?"

Sinestro was silent for a long moment, then he bowed his head.

"As you command, Monarch."

Atrocitus's fists unclenched slowly, reluctantly.

"As you command," the Red Lantern echoed.

Marshal Zeus was the last. His eyes met Arthur's, warrior to warrior. Then he, too, bowed his head.

"As you command."

Arthur nodded once.

The three generals turned as one and walked away.

Sinestro paused at the threshold.

"My Monarch, I only have one request." he said without turning. "When you find Steppenwolf..."

Arthur waited.

"Make him suffer, I never liked any of Darkseid's men."

Arthur's smile returned. "Count on it."

/-\\

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