Earth 3426
It came without warning.
The citizens all across the world huddled together within their homes. The sky had long since changed into a permanent green color, reflecting the battle that'd been raging on for days. While the people weren't new to the constant crisis and dangers, it truly seemed like the end was near.
The Justice Legion seemed to be falling short. Starman - a psychic - was unconscious. Owlwoman was missing a leg. The Atom remained in shape, ready to continue battling for the sake of the universe. Even Red Star had participated - a Russian man who could become the embodiment of a red star. Thunderer…dead. Ultragirl…dead. Lonar…dead. This was an infinite crisis.
The sudden danger had come in an unexpected form. It wasn't some alien invasion. It wasn't some type of magical villain. It wasn't a war. It wasn't greed.
The beginning of the end was only due to one person. A single man's wrath. The people looked up to see a green shooting star beaming toward the planet. It caught the atmospheric turbulence, the green color surrounded by orange and red plasmic reactions.
It slammed into a populated city. A ferocious impact, completely wiping the infrastructure from the map. A city and its people had been deleted. Erased. Deep within the ruins…a figure rose.
Green eyes glowing with power. A green vest covering a black bodysuit. Green boots to match the vest. Orange hair that was covered in blood and soot. Guy Gardner.
His body was covered in wounds. Blood spurted from his injuries without pause. The prodigy of the Green Lantern Corp was on his way out. He would die soon…but not before he saved the universe. A bloody grin revealed his broken teeth.
"Of course you'd focus on me. It's to be…expected. I am the greatest, after all." He spoke to the air.
As if in response…another figure materialized. It wasn't any ability that allowed him to appear. It was pure physical strength. From a dot in space to appearing in front of Guy Gardner…only a few nanoseconds had passed.
WHOOOM
The sheer force of stopping from cosmic velocity to complete zero…it was catastrophic. Like an invisible blow from the atmosphere, a powerful pressure razed the planet in a single direction.
South America, Mexico, North America, even Greenland. All were caught in the gravitational waves and plasmic reactions of pure force. Every building was ripped away like grass. For the people in hiding…they didn't even feel their deaths. All that remained was blood mist.
Part of the planet had cracked, forming an abyssal sized ridge. Earth was dying. It would be blown away soon. It was only a matter of time.
Guy Gardner looked at the newly arrived figure with a bloody grin. Floating above him was a monster who ended worlds and timelines on a whim. A kryptonian.
He called himself Prime. Believed that every universe except his own was a fake imitation. A playground. A mistake. Wearing dark armor filled with sun batteries and unidentified metal, it resembled a certain higher being. The Anti-Monitor. A bloody cape flapped behind him.
"You know…I've always hated you. No matter what universe, killing you always takes the longest." Prime stated.
"That is natural. I am the peak of all Green Lanterns. There are no greater heights beyond me." Gardner answered as if it was fact.
"You speak like this every time. Even when I rip you apart in each reality. It's getting boring."
"Destroying realities due to boredom? I am amazed. Never knew one could fall below the term known as scum. What's a good name for it? A termite? Bacteria? A disease? I don't know what to call you."
"There is one name that you'll refer to me as. Superman. I am the only Superman. Any others are fakes and imitations, just like this reality. I am Prime. The original."
"Superman? No…you are just a boy. Your mental facilities are lacking. There is no conscience in that skull of yours…Superboy."
Prime's eyes grew red with fury. There was only one thing that pissed him off the most. Calling him a child. He hated it. How dare they degrade him?! He was a god.
"I AM NOT A CHILD!" He roared.
His voice shattered Gardner's eardrums, causing more blood to leak out. Prime finally let loose the power within. Two crimson pillars of death shot down onto Guy. If it connected, it wouldn't just kill the Green Lantern. It would also drill through the planet and reach the core. Earth would die.
A powerful shield of hard light stopped the beams from going any further. Guy's willpower was infinite. It was the ring itself that couldn't keep up with the Lantern…not the other way around. He had overloaded the ring plenty of times now.
Still, it seemed as if the ring couldn't sustain the shield. It was faltering. Right before death could come, several green lights wrapped around Prime's body. Even his eyes.
More than forty Green Lanterns descended onto Earth. Their united power grabbed the kryptonian, forcefully dragging him back into space. Gardner heaved a sigh of relief and took this moment to recover.
Floating above the planet was a massive Green Power Battery. Even more members of the Green Lantern Corps resided there. Thousands of them. More and more pulses of hard light encased the kryptonian like a mummy.
Closest to the Battery were blue skinned aliens with white hair. Elders of the peace force. Oans. They were the Guardians of the Universe. The founders of the Green Lantern Corps. Guarding them was the one and only Sojourner.
Sojourner, Arisia, Tomar-Tu, even Starkad. The strongest members protected the Guardians and the Power Battery. The rest of the Justice Legion were there as well. Red Star, The Atom, Hourman, and John Fox - the speedster. The speedster was encased in a large prism where Prime was to be imprisoned.
Cracks started to appear on the mummified casing. Every Green Lantern flexed with effort, their muscles trembling in earnest. They hurried to the prism. It was the only thing that could withhold the dangerous kryptonian. Powered directly by the battery.
CRACK
Prime finally broke free of the hard light. His expression was dark with rage. Not wasting even a moment, he started slaughtering in every direction. A thin red beam swiped across the battlefield. Hundreds of bodies were sliced in two.
Red Star and Atom rushed the man. They engaged in close combat for only a few seconds, using the red radiation as a deterrent. It worked for a while…then Prime grinned darkly. His fist went through Red Star's chest.
Superboy grabbed onto the wound with his other hand and pulled. Intestines and organs spilled out as the Russian hero was ripped in half. Atom was next. Prime grabbed his head and smashed it with his knee, shattering the man's skull. The hero's body lit up with energy before exploding.
Two more heroes down. It seemed like a hopeless cause. The Oans turned to Sojourner and his team before nodding. The message was clear. Get the kryptonian in that damn prism. It was the only way. Killing him was almost impossible.
At this point, Hourman was completely shaken. Scared. Fearing for his life. Forsaking those fighting for the universe, the man disappeared within a time ripple.
'Hell no. I'd rather just live in a different timeline. I won't die like this.' He thought.
The man thought that he'd gotten away. It was unfortunate that a hand reached through time and space, grabbing his leg and shattering it. Prime had reached through the ripple with pure strength.
"Aaaaagh!" Hourman howled as he was pulled back into the timeline.
Prime didn't falter. His other hand speared through the hero's chest like a blade. Another dead hero. They were dying like flies.
Starkad finally made a move. An orange alien the size of a titan. Green energy rippled across his body. A powerful punch was thrown, godlike willpower erupting from his fist. Superboy Prime silently reared back his arm and launched his own punch.
Two fists met in the middle. One fist larger than a star…the other seemingly as tiny and thin as a blade of grass. Cataclysmic.
ZZZZZT
There was no atmospheric impact, but something similar occurred. Green and red energy blasted out in an explosion. It was devastating. Anyone too close was vaporized.
The energy shockwave was too large. It punched down onto the earth, sheaving the planet into halves. Earth had been split in two. Top and bottom. It was too late. The heroes had failed.
Prime smiled at his own creation. Starkad floated backward like a puppet without strings. He was limp. His entire right arm had disappeared, replaced with blue blood that froze in space.
'You monster…' A voice reached his mind. Prime only scoffed.
Guy Gardner had finally arrived in space. He'd seen the world die in front of his eyes. His green pupils were clouded in anger.
Superboy Prime was from a timeline where there were no superpowers. It was reality. A universe where heroes didn't exist. The DC Universe only existed as comics there. This is why he knew.
'Earth is the center of the DC Universe. With it destroyed, I'll naturally be sent to the next one.' He thought with a smug expression.
This was how he spent his time. Destroying different Earths until he found his own. He missed his lover. Laurie Lemmon. He missed his father and mother. He just wanted to go home.
The remaining members of the Green Lantern Corps were horrified. Reality around them started to twist and turn. Prime ignored the phenomena, instead focusing on the Oans. He wanted to give it a try. To kill the immortals. Was it possible?
WHOOOM
Prime arrived beside the Power Battery. His hand reached out to one of the elders, but Sojourner and Guy Gardner arrived just in time. Another protective shield. Was that all the Green Lanterns were good for? Pitiful.
Channeling the overwhelming power within, Prime allowed the solar energy to manifest. This would completely drain him of energy…but it was fine. The yellow sun batteries in his suit would quickly restore him.
Superboy raised his arms while showing a demented grin. With glowing crimson eyes, he resembled a demon. This was his farewell to the timeline. Mission complete.
A powerful explosion erupted from his body. Reality shattered even further. Everyone nearby died immediately…the only survivors being the Oans. Damn. He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tch."
As a crack in reality swallowed the kryptonian, he only watched as the Oans regenerated at the same speed as they decayed. The solar explosion was nothing to them. Whatever. He'd try a different method next time.
…
…
…
He opened his eyes once more and witnessed something new. This universe felt different. It was as if the fabric of reality was hugging him…telling him his every action was supported. As if he was free. As if he was loved.
Not even realizing it, his muscles started to relax. The stress in his tendons washed away. His thoughts turned calm. Something was different here. Even the sun felt better. Every star was illuminated. Beautiful.
'What a lovely place.' He thought with a dark smile.
He'd take his time before destroying it.