Multiverse: Deathstroke-Chapter 482: Multicolor Lanterns

Going beyond the Source Wall was his solo mission, but Ivy and Harley had their own roles. Su Ming quietly docked the ship on the Moon, home to the Justice League's Watchtower space station—a decent staging point.

And right now, no one would be visiting the "Bat" Moon.

"Hm, just a bit of prep work..."

Su Ming still had high-level guest access to the Justice League. The Watchtower was clearly still under mainframe control, and he smoothly led Harley and Ivy inside.

Though the place was a bit rundown, it had food, drinks, normal gravity, and oxygen—everything was functional.

Su Ming shed his armor, leaving only Stranglehold on his body, and flopped onto a sofa, relaxing.

"Dr. Quinzel? I'm feeling off—can you check me out?"

He pushed aside a nearby flowerpot, gesturing Harley over.

Harley tilted her head, sauntering up and giving him a once-over.

"But I ain't a surgeon. Appendicitis, maybe?"

Su Ming sighed. Joking with Harley was pointless—she couldn't tell a gag from reality.

"No, Harley, I mean hypnotize me. Psychological hypnosis."

Harley's grin vanished, replaced by a serious look. She whipped out a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from who-knows-where and perched them on her nose.

"This patient, please relax."

Su Ming's mouth twitched. She'd slipped into character way too fast and deep.

"Gimme a berry."

Harley turned and held out a hand to Ivy. Luckily, the Watchtower had potted plants. Ivy tweaked their genes, and soon they bore a few red berries.

Harley yanked out a strand of her hair, tied a berry to it, and dangled it—no pocket watch, so this was her substitute.

She was a legit shrink. If a patient wanted hypnosis, she'd bust out the classic moves.

"Alright, what do ya need?"

"First, I feel my will's not strong enough. I need you to amplify my inner willpower," Su Ming said, laying out step one.

Before snagging the Black Lantern ring, he needed prep. The Green Lantern ring was the easiest grab—he'd start there.

Mental powers didn't work on him with his X-Metal skull, but traditional psych tricks like hypnosis could boost his inner emotions effectively.

Harley didn't care about the details. She dangled the red berry in front of Su Ming, tugging the hair to make it sway.

"Look at it, relax..."

Minutes later, a green light pierced space and obstacles, appearing before him. A robotic voice echoed in his mind.

"Sentient lifeform locked. Su Ming of Earth, Sector 2814, you possess the great willpower to overcome fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps!"

Su Ming grabbed it without hesitation, but there was a process to bind it.

"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power—Green Lantern's light!"

That was the drill: put on the ring, recite the oath, and the ring activated.

"Recruit, report to the Source Wall breach!" the ring's voice chimed again in his head.

Su Ming ignored it. Just a ring, whatever.

He tilted his head and said to Harley, "Doc, I feel better. Now, amplify my inner compassion."

Harley stifled a giggle—"Hehe... ahem"—then got serious again, repeating the steps.

With Su Ming's cooperation, he soon felt his heart swell with sympathy and compassion.

A teal ring zipped in shortly after.

"Su Ming of Earth, Sector 2814, you possess an无比 compassionate heart. Welcome to the Indigo Tribe."

Su Ming nearly laughed. This ring had jokes?

But he held it in and completed the process again.

"Great, Dr. Quinzel. Now amplify my inner hope."

With Harley's help, they played doctor-patient, and soon Su Ming wore green, teal, and blue rings. But for his plan, that was far from enough.

"Now it's your turn, Ivy. Your toxins—hope they're as good as the legends say."

Ivy smiled, sitting on the sofa's armrest, a floral scent wafting from her. "You've got guts. Not just playing games with Harley—you'd even drink my toxins?"

"With my pet here, even if you could kill me, you wouldn't survive either."

As he spoke, Stranglehold emerged from his chest, flashing a toothy grin with eyes.

Harley was curious, but Ivy felt a chill. What kind of monster was latched onto this guy?

"Fine, I knew Deathstroke wouldn't take pointless risks. What do you want me to do?"

Ivy signaled full cooperation—no funny business.

"Fear toxin first."

Su Ming didn't elaborate, just stated his need.

Ivy pursed her lips. Fear toxin? Even Scarecrow could whip that up. She didn't use it much—didn't like it, that's all.

She leaned over the sofa, letting her vines pump some toxin into Su Ming.

Soon, fear hit like a tidal wave.

"Hiss, this stuff's got kick—way stronger than Scarecrow's."

"Heh, yet you're still talking normally," Ivy sighed, helpless. Who stayed lucid after that much toxin?

Su Ming grinned, slipping the yellow ring floating before him next to the green one. Instantly, the Green Lantern ring stopped nagging about the Source Wall.

"That's 'cause I'm different. Physique, my little pet, willpower—they all help me control emotions. Now, hit me with a ton of adrenaline and neurotransmitters. I need to cut myself."

Not just once—to trigger the rage from his healing factor, Su Ming, with Stranglehold's help, stabbed himself dozens of times. Teetering on the edge of sanity, he snagged the red ring.

Ivy was speechless, staring at Deathstroke like he was a beast.

She didn't know what goal justified this ruthlessness—he'd nearly lost it.

The Red Lantern ring wasn't easy to wear. It replaced your heart with a red energy pump.

But Deathstroke didn't flinch, slapping it on his other hand. The Indigo ring shut up too.

"Huff... that was rough." Su Ming panted. To spark enough healing factor, he needed serious damage—he was a blood-soaked mess now.

"Does this patient need a break?" Harley asked, playing serious while spectating.

"Nah, next up's Ivy's specialty. After a shot, you gotta give me some candy, right?" Su Ming slumped weakly on the sofa. His suit now sported five colors—a chaotic stew.

Ivy pressed her lips together. Her best was seduction toxin. If she guessed right, Deathstroke wanted it for the purple ring.

"I'm not sure your plan's workable. Even I know the purple ring's for undying true love."

Ivy sagged a bit. Her toxins mimicked hormones—sure, they could inspire devotion, but was that true love? She wasn't sure.

Su Ming knew more. The purple ring wasn't about true love—it was blind, obsessive love.

Ivy's plant toxins would do the trick.

Side effects from these emotions lingering in him? That's what the Black Lantern was for—to erase all humanity with its black light.

"No chit-chat. Even if it flops, I won't kill you," Su Ming pressed.

Ivy had no choice. She leaned down, kissed him, and mouth-to-mouth delivered the seduction toxin.

"Smooch, me too!" Harley pounced, mashing their three mouths together.

"Hey, quit messing around!" Ivy shoved Harley off. Weren't you Dr. Quinzel a second ago? Back to normal already?

"Doesn't feel like much..." Harley tilted her head, sensing. "Puddin's the same—no change."

"It ain't juice—no expiration date!" Ivy tugged Harley's cheek. "You already love me tons—it won't work on you."

Harley thought it over. Fair—Puddin' was her bestie. "But Deathstroke ain't reacting either."

She pointed at Su Ming, sprawled on the sofa, his face unchanged.

"No, it's working. I'm head over heels for you both now," Su Ming deadpanned, sitting up.

He stayed eerily calm. With so many emotions—physical and mental—swirling, they balanced each other out, letting him think clearly.

Emotions were emotions; reason was reason—like a split personality.

A purple light streaked from the horizon, proving it. Only Kyle Rayner had worn a purple ring as a man.

The Star Sapphires were a female corps, but Su Ming had just scored a purple ring straight from their central battery—proof the toxin worked.

He slipped on the purple ring, signaling Stranglehold to let go.

Standing, he stretched. His healing had mostly patched him up, though his strength was a bit off.

Still, materialization was fun. He meshed well with every emotion, even conjuring yellow and green constructs at once.

Plus the Red Lantern's blood-spit, the Blue Lantern's buffs—he had it all.

"You two stay here and wait for me. Be good."

Back in his Icon armor, Su Ming felt the surging, terrifying power within, donning his helmet with satisfaction. Bringing a shrink and a botanist was clutch.

Harley waved goodbye, but Ivy just felt drained. They were on the Moon—she and Harley couldn't fly the ship. Even if they wanted out, they were stuck.

The orange ring was next. Su Ming planned to steal it—greed's truest expression.

He had a target in mind. That dog-headed creep wouldn't stand a chance.