Chapter 32: Finally... Peace
The Justice League Watchtower's alarms blared as Diana studied the holographic display, watching another satellite crumple like paper in Samael's massive grip.
"Not even Ares commands such fury," she muttered, as Hal's latest construct shattered against crimson fire.
"The mystical resonance is unprecedented," Doctor Fate observed, his voice echoing with otherworldly knowledge. "Three forms of power, each feeding into the others, creating a cascade of-"
"English, Fate," Diana interrupted, strapping on her armor. "We don't have time for mystical dissertations."
J'onn floated nearby, wincing as another psychic wave rolled off the transformed teen. "His mind... it burns to touch, even at this distance."
"If you're quite finished stating the obvious," Batman's fingers flew across his console, "the spatial distortions are expanding. And we're detecting multiple Red Lantern signatures approaching the solar system."
Through the observation window, they watched Superman barely dodge another blast that melted through three layers of defensive satellites.
"That's it," Diana headed for the airlock. "Everyone who can fight in space, move out. Now."
"Diana-" Batman started.
"Don't," she cut him off. "I've fought gods, Bruce. I know the odds."
"Do you?" His voice carried dangerous understanding. "Look at those readings again. Really look."
Another explosion lit up Earth's orbit as Hal's most powerful barrier crumbled like tissue paper.
"Then we die trying," she stated simply. "Because if we don't stop this, there won't be much Earth left to protect."
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"Dude, these readings are CRAZY!" Tucker's fingers flew across three PDAs simultaneously. "It's like the laws of physics are having a mental breakdown!"
"Less analyzing, more helping!" Sam snapped, trying to restore power to their monitoring equipment. "Danny, you can't seriously be considering-"
"Watch me," Danny's eyes glowed with determination. "He's my brother, Sam. I have to try."
"The temperature differential alone could-" Tucker started.
"GUYS!" Danny's voice carried rare steel. "I'm going. Ghost powers or not, space or not - I have to reach him."
Jazz looked up from her notebook, her usual analytical expression replaced by simple concern. "Danny..."
"I know, Jazz," his tone softened. "But usually you'd be the one talking him down. Since you can't reach him up there..."
"Just..." she hesitated, then pulled him into a fierce hug. "Bring our brother back."
"Promise," Danny managed a small smile. "Besides, how hard can space be? I walk through walls all the time!"
"That's not even remotely the same thing-" Tucker began, but Danny had already shot upward, phasing through the warehouse roof.
"Well," Sam watched him disappear into the night sky, "at least things can't get any worse."
A distant explosion lit up the clouds as Tucker's PDAs screamed with new warnings.
"You just HAD to say it," he groaned as he face palmed. "You just HAD to tempt the universe."
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The first thing Danny noticed as he left Earth's atmosphere was how... natural it felt. His ghost form adapted to the darkness instinctively, though the sheer vastness of space made him pause momentarily.
"Whoa," he breathed, the sound carrying despite the vacuum. "This is... actually kind of awesome."
His moment of wonder shattered as a green construct went flying past him, followed by Superman himself tumbling through space.
"Okay, less awesome," Danny muttered, watching his brother's massive form tear through another of Hal's barriers. Red and green energy mixed with ghostly fire as Samael continued to grow.
"BRING MORE HEROES!" Samael's voice boomed impossibly through the void. "HULK SHOW ALL TRUE POWER!"
Wonder Woman arrived in a burst of speed, her magic-forged armor glowing as she engaged. "By Hera, his strength-"
Her words cut off as a casual backhand sent her spinning toward a satellite cluster.
"Yeah, about that," Hal created another futile shield, "he's kind of beyond normal parameters here."
Danny flew closer, trying to find an opening. "Samael! It's me! You need to-"
"DANNY?" Samael's transformed state paused briefly, recognition flickering through the rage. "BROTHER SHOULD NOT BE HERE. SPACE DANGEROUS!"
"Says the guy currently rewriting physics," Danny attempted humor while moving cautiously nearer. "Come on, bro. This isn't you."
"IS ME!" Samael roared, his size expanding further. "IS RAGE! IS PROTECTION! ALL BURNING AS ONE!"
Doctor Fate appeared in a flash of golden light, mystic symbols swirling. "The convergence of powers must be contained before-"
A blast of crimson plasma cut off his spell, forcing the sorcerer to teleport to safety.
"You know," Danny dodged debris from another destroyed satellite, "for someone trying to protect us, you're doing a pretty good job of threatening the whole planet!"
Danny weaved through another explosion of crimson energy, getting closer to his brother's massive form. "Think about it! Jazz is down there worrying herself sick! Mom and Dad have no idea why their equipment's going crazy! Is this really protecting them?"
"MUST BE STRONG!" Samael's voice carried conflicting emotions now. "MUST BURN ALL THREATS!"
"You're already strong!" Danny shot back, dodging a half-hearted swipe that could have pulverized him. "But this isn't strength - this is just pain!"
Superman and Wonder Woman regrouped nearby as Hal maintained a defensive perimeter. They recognized something shifting in the exchange, holding back to let Danny continue.
"PAIN..." Samael's transformed state seemed to pause, considering. "YES. ALWAYS PAIN. ANGER BURNS. HURTS TO HOLD BACK."
"I know," Danny moved closer, his voice gentle despite the chaos around them. "Jazz told me. How much it hurts you, every minute since the accident, fighting to stay in control."
The crimson energy surrounding Samael flickered slightly. "TIRED OF PAIN. TIRED OF BURNING."
"Then stop burning," Danny pleaded. "Come back to us. We'll figure this out together, like we always-"
He cut off as Samael's eyes suddenly widened with realization. "RING WANTS RAGE..."
The universe seemed to hold its breath as Samael did something unprecedented - instead of letting the ring amplify his rage, he began pouring his anger INTO it. Every ounce of burning fury that had plagued him since the portal accident flowed like a river into the crimson band.
"By the Lords of Order," Doctor Fate breathed, watching reality twist around them. "He's altering the ring's fundamental nature!"
The Red Ring blazed brighter than a sun as it absorbed months of contained rage. Samael's massive form began shrinking, but the ring's power grew exponentially.
And for the first time since becoming the Hulk, Samael felt the constant burning in his chest... fade.
"Take it," his voice grew calmer as more anger poured out. "Take the fire that burns me!"
Danny watched in awe as his brother's form continued returning to normal, while the Red Ring absorbed more rage than it was ever meant to contain.
Finally, Samael floated in space, normal-sized but wearing Red Lantern armor. The ring on his finger glowed with impossible power, but his eyes... his eyes were clear.
"I can breathe," he said wonderingly, his voice normal again. "The anger... it's not burning anymore. It's all... in this now." He stated with wonder as he looked at the ring.
"So..." Danny grinned, floating closer. "No more Hulking out when Dash drops his books?"
"The rage is still there inside it, still mine to use. But it's not consuming me anymore. It's just... a tool I can choose when to pick up. I.. I can choose how angry I want to be as the Hulk now..."
Multiple points of crimson light suddenly became brighter in the distance, drawing rapidly closer.
"Oh right," Danny sighed. "We still have company coming?"
Samael's newly calm expression shifted to one of determination as he raised his ring. "Let them come. I finally know how to use rage instead of letting it use me."
A sudden azure light pierced the darkness of space, drawing everyone's attention. Unlike the harsh crimson glow of approaching Red Lanterns, this light carried a sense of... serenity.
"Daniel Fenton of Earth," the voice resonated with pure clarity. "Through understanding and brotherhood, you have brought peace to the Rage of God.
Where fury burned unchecked, you created certainty. Where destruction loomed, you kindled hope."
The blue ring hung suspended between them, its light reflecting off debris from their earlier battle.
"In darkest hour, you showed the path to peace. Through this act, hope blooms. You have earned the light of the Blue Lantern Corps."
"I... what?" Danny started, but the ring had already made its choice, streaking toward his right hand with gentle inevitability.
As it slipped onto his finger, his ghost core pulsed with recognition. Blue light merged with his spectral energy, his black and white hazmat suit shifting to incorporate aspects of a Blue Lantern's uniform while maintaining its ghostly nature.
"Well," Hal watched as azure energy mixed with ectoplasmic green, "that's something you don't see every day."
"Danny?" Samael's voice carried concern despite his newfound calm. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Danny looked at his transformed state with wonder. "It's like... like when I first got my ghost powers, but peaceful? If that makes sense?"
"A ghost powered by hope rather than fear or darkness," Doctor Fate observed. "The mystical implications alone-"
Multiple streaks of red light cut through his analysis as the first wave of Red Lanterns entered visual range.
"Think you can handle those new powers?" Samael raised his ring, its crimson glow now controlled rather than consuming.
Danny's hands blazed with combined ghost energy and blue light as he floated beside his brother. "Only one way to find out."
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(Author note: So! Finally, the Hulk can be transformed into, and used a bit more... Wisely.
Also, Rage of God, eh. Kekeke. Hulk, can't be simple, cause even though this one isn't in Marvel so isn't connected to the One Below All, he still is quite, the thing.
Btw, do tell me how you found Danny, getting a blue lantern ring? Cause personally, I interpret Blue Lanterns, bringing clarity, and certainity, which why people gain hope and Green Lanterns become stronger in their presence.
I found it fitting for one, calming down, one of the greatest rages creation has ever seen.
So yeah, I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)