DC: Rise of the Kryptonian Tyrant

Golden Superman's face, outlined like a sculpted golden statue, was filled with fury. His eyes burned with monstrous rage, his fists were tightly clenched, and the muscles of his powerful golden body—arms and thighs alike—bulged with golden-blue veins like coiled dragons.

"Barmulodi!!"

He stood in space, his voice hoarse. His gaze swept across the universe, watching as the entire Golden Universe was engulfed by Barmulodi's hands.

Krypton was consumed by the flames of war. The sun was destroyed in a single blast. Reality missile plagues spread unchecked. The Nine Lantern Corps ravaged the universe. Black holes were born. Stars exploded. Star systems perished. Civilizations crumbled. The universe mourned and screamed, torn wide open by a massive scar.

In the dark universe, Golden Superman's cape fluttered behind him. His face was twisted in rage. He turned sharply, threw his cape, and left that universe.

In an instant, he arrived at the Phantom Stranger's location.

It was still the entrance to the Monitor Passage, which ran through the Speed Force. More dangerous than the Speed Force Wall, it was a passage only the Spectre could traverse.

The passage expanded invisibly, like a submerged tunnel, extending into unfathomable depths. The blood of the Bleed twisted like seawater, isolated from the channel and drifting in distorted patterns.

The Phantom Stranger stood there, maintaining a multiversal link with the Spectre.

The Spectre had possessed the Thought Robot Superman created by Mandrakk and had taken the self-sealed Raven into the Monitor Passage. He was en route, preparing to deliver Raven to Trigon.

Golden Superman arrived, found the Phantom Stranger, and reported what Barmulodi had done. His universe was being ravaged. Lives were being destroyed. Civilizations were falling. The universe was crying out in despair.

Of the four—himself, the Phantom Stranger, Mandrakk, and the Spectre—only his universe was easily locatable. The Phantom Stranger and the Spectre were both alone. Mandrakk's stronghold was hidden deep within the Bleed, making it impossible to find.

Only his universe existed openly.

He had been prepared, even hiding to avoid being used as leverage. Even if threatened, he had been ready to abandon his universe if necessary.

But just as Barmulodi wanted to recover his wife, Golden Superman could not bring himself to abandon his own wife—the one who had shared his struggles and victories, who had accompanied him for ages, and for whom he held deep affection.

Unexpectedly, Mandrakk had secretly revealed his universe's coordinates to Barmulodi, who had captured his wife and was using her as leverage.

Golden Superman asked the Phantom Stranger to contact the Spectre, bring back Barmulodi's wife from the passage, and begin negotiations with Barmulodi to protect life across the multiverse.

But the Phantom Stranger did not immediately agree. His expression was contemplative.

A chill crept into Golden Superman's heart. Was he expected to sacrifice his wife for the sake of justice and universal peace?

"Barmulodi is certain he won't enter this passage. Even if Raven is delivered to Trigon, it will only enrage Barmulodi further and accelerate the destruction of the multiverse."

Golden Superman's face turned grim. He stared at the silent Phantom Stranger.

He understood the logic of sacrificing part of the multiverse to repel Barmulodi. But when it came to sacrificing his own loved one, he couldn't remain calm. Rage and resentment toward the Phantom Stranger cracked the trust in their alliance for justice.

"But he will eventually step into this passage while chasing the Spectre."

The Phantom Stranger thought for a moment and spoke.

He hadn't agreed because he believed Superman's wife, like any other being in the multiverse, was worth sacrificing for peace—if necessary.

Golden Superman was furious. He reached out, grabbed the collar of the Phantom Stranger's robe, and brought his angry face close.

"That would still mean the multiverse's destruction! If he comes through this passage and my wife dies, everything we've done will be meaningless!"

At that moment, the cracks in their alliance widened.

The Phantom Stranger frowned, his gaze calm and cold.

"Calm down. This is exactly what Barmulodi wants."

"I can't calm down."

Golden Superman's face was still filled with fury. He withdrew his hands and released the Phantom Stranger's robes.

His golden body stood tall like a mountain, radiating anger.

"Contact the Spectre."

His golden eyes stared deeply into the Phantom Stranger.

If, at this moment, the Phantom Stranger refused, Golden Superman would withdraw from the alliance and find a way to save his wife himself.

The Phantom Stranger looked at Golden Superman, seemingly sensing his determination. He calculated inwardly, pondered, and said:

"We will contact the Spectre. But we must re-strategize. You must also prepare to contact Superboy-Prime."

Golden Superman's furious expression eased slightly. But the worry on his face did not fade.

The Phantom Stranger exhaled, then frowned, closed his eyes, and reached out to contact the Spectre.

He regularly kept in touch with the Spectre to keep the plan progressing, so contacting him should have been easy.

But within seconds, his frown deepened, and his expression darkened.

Finally, his eyes snapped open like blades. They narrowed to a pinpoint of shock, filled with disbelief.

Golden Superman's heart sank. A sense of foreboding crept up on him. He suppressed the ominous feeling and asked:

"What is it?"

The Phantom Stranger opened his eyes and stared at Golden Superman, face grim.

"I can't reach him…"

The Spectre had lost contact.

This had never happened before.

The Phantom Stranger's brows knit together. He couldn't make sense of it. There was no logical reason for losing contact.

What had happened to the Spectre?

The Phantom Stranger's mind raced with countless thoughts. A wave of unease swept over him.

Suddenly, it felt as if a great net had descended above them. Layers of darkness had enshrouded them all, with no light in sight.

Since the Spectre had possessed the Thought Robot Superman provided by Mandrakk and brought Raven into the Monitor Passage, the Phantom Stranger had maintained near-constant contact—once a day, without fail—to calculate distance and lure Barmulodi to the passage.

It had only been ten hours since the last contact. There was no reason he should be unreachable.

"Mandrakk…"

Golden Superman's eyes flared with golden-yellow suspicion and anger.

The Phantom Stranger was taken aback. After a quick calculation, he understood—the Spectre's disappearance was likely linked to the Thought Robot Superman created by Mandrakk.

Mandrakk had always harbored great ambition. But they had been forced to cooperate with him, to borrow the Thought Robot in order to survive under the threat of the One God. They needed it to remove Raven and had entered into uneasy cooperation with Mandrakk, all while remaining on guard.

They believed Mandrakk wouldn't dare harm the Spectre. The Spectre was the multiverse's arbiter, with the authority to judge all things that threatened it. Anyone who obstructed his judgment would be condemned as an accomplice and punished accordingly.

But they had underestimated Mandrakk.

Now, with the multiverse's surveillance disabled, Mandrakk had rendered the Spectre unable to judge—and had acted against him.

"We can't find Mandrakk..."

"I'll contact Superboy-Prime!"

Golden Superman gritted his teeth. His eyes darkened with fury. With a sweeping motion, he flung his golden cape and turned to leave.

(To be continued.)