Green Arrow hasn't felt this burden in a long time. When was the last time the Justice League placed such weight on his shoulders?
Six years ago?
Anyway, his role in the Justice League seems to be on the fringe, even lower than Sea King, who only talks to fish.
And recently, I heard Arthur's abilities aren't just about talking to fish but connecting with all Sea Races from the Multiverse. It's called the Power of Life, and it sounds pretty high and mighty.
So when Deathstroke said this time it all depended on him, Green Arrow's first reaction was refusal. He felt his power was insufficient, and having made too many mistakes in the past, he couldn't take on this burden.
But after hearing Deathstroke's explanation and reflecting calmly, he admitted it was indeed a reasonable strategy.
Mad Laugh seemed to always look down on Green Arrow. This kind of disregard can be lethal at times.
Mad Laugh used to ignore him, but today, Green Arrow would make him out of reach.
So, in Diana's puzzled gaze, one could see Green Arrow, seemingly enchanted by Mind Control Magic, with eyes behind the mask 'Duang! Duang!' shining brightly.
Green Arrow suddenly felt confident, just so inexplicably.
But since Deathstroke had a plan, Diana didn't have to worry. She's not concerned about what cards the enemy has, as long as she knows when it's her turn to attack and whom to attack.
"Have you figured it out?" Su Ming hooked Oliver's neck, and the two sat casually at the tree roots smoking, like brothers.
"So your target all along has been the Laughing Bat?" Oliver calmed down too, and started puffing smoke.
"You could say that." Su Ming looked towards the gaps in the leaves, there only to see a sky full of dark clouds: "Luthor never saw me as a hindrance, it's aliens he hates the most."
The current situation is this: Earthlings versus Aliens, lunatics versus mental patients, and Otherworldly People dealing with Otherworldly People.
Oliver followed Su Ming's line of sight and looked up at the dark night sky. Su Ming could feel his breathing gradually calming down.
Oliver said: "Laughing Bat wants to prove to everyone he has won, but we still don't know what the so-called 'winning' standard is, nor do we have any criteria to judge it."
"I can guess a bit." Su Ming stretched his legs and moved his waist and back: "He's likely aiming to defeat Batman as Bruce Wayne."
"It's like a tongue twister..." Diana's beautiful eyes turned dead-fish-like. Why did the topic suddenly jump to something she didn't understand?
Just without Little Fortune Ape to explain, even though they've just parted, she already misses that dark-haired animal a little.
Oliver seemed thoughtful, his fingers combing through his beard like small rakes: "Is it to win as a flesh-and-blood Bruce Wayne against a Bat that embodies only will and totem?"
"So before he defeats Batman, we spectators basically still have our lives. Even if he attacks someone, it should be kidnapping, not murder." Su Ming added timely: "Like last time, he first tied Batman into the Dark Universe and then dealt with everyone in the Justice League... except you, Green Arrow."
Oliver rolled his eyes, even without the last sentence he could understand, no need to specially emphasize that!
"But last time, the Dark Knight Order was defeated one by one by you. I think Mad Laugh won't make the same mistake this time." Diana finally understood, after all it's always the personality split matter, right?
Su Ming spread his hands, placed the psp on his legs, and slowly moved his wrists:
"No one can be without errors forever, even I am no exception. No matter how well-planned Laughing Bat's schemes are, he's bound to face unforeseen events, because his opponents include someone who's completely unpredictable..."
"You're talking about the Joker. That guy really sends shivers down my spine." Oliver took a deep puff of his cigarette, showing his teeth as if seeing that smile, feeling discomfort: "I remember Hal once laughed at the Joker's tricks, since then, I've always thought there's something off about Hal mentally."
Su Ming moved his shoulders, pretending there was a burden on them, hitting them twice: "Green Lantern Corps Leader, the pressure from all sides is great. Even if he got depression, I wouldn't be surprised."
"By the way, what is Hal doing now? Haven't seen him lately." Oliver suddenly recalled his good buddy.
"He's patching the Origin Wall with a few Lantern Groups. He should be back soon." Su Ming flipped his wrist, producing three more bottles of alcohol.
It's been a month since the Origin Wall broke, and several Lantern Groups have been there for a month too. Even though Star Hero now has a plan, Su Ming isn't optimistic they can accomplish it.
Back then, the feat of sealing Papetua into the wall is unknown who did it, but definitely not something the current Lantern Groups or Star Hero can accomplish.
Star Hero's brain contains the energy from Papetua, and this energy gives him abilities far beyond his past ones. He seems to have gotten a bit arrogant.
"Alright, I should understand the general plan, so what's the next step in action?" Green Arrow raised new questions, there's a plan, but he was still completely in the dark about the specific details.
Su Ming handed bottles to the three, opened a new Teleportation Gate, indicating they should drink as they walk: "Do you know Blood Field?"
"Blood Field... Are you talking about the Bible?" Oliver looked confused, the topic's scope is a bit large.
"Even if the Laughing Bat ignores you, the gap in strength still objectively exists. Our current goal is to strengthen you to +15 and catch the Laughing Bat off guard with intelligence."
Su Ming made a polite gesture in front of the teleportation gate, as serious as ever. The gate, which squirmed like the chamber of an animal, offered no glimpse of what lay beyond.
"But what does this have to do with the Bible?" Green Arrow held a bottle of wine but didn't open it, having learned from experience with Deathstroke's teleportation gate, which would turn him inside out, and even twist his guts to the point of ejection.
"Because the Bible records the most powerful betrayer." Su Ming smiled slightly, exuding the noble air of Zorro.
Green Arrow understood.
The so-called Blood Field was the burial place of Judas, the greatest betrayer, who conspired against Jesus.
Just as recorded in the Bible, after betraying Jesus, Judas deeply regretted taking the thirty silver coins he received as blood money.
The Gospel of Matthew notes that Judas saw it as money exchanged for Jesus, filled with blood and sin.
Having tried to return the coins to those who bribed him, the Jewish priests claimed the money was his, and the sin within had nothing to do with them.
Seeing the priests reject him, Judas was filled with remorse. He threw the money into the Jewish Temple and then committed suicide upon leaving.
The coins were indeed tainted with sin, and the priests dared not take them back. Thus, they used the thirty large coins to purchase a potter's field to bury Judas, pretending like nothing had happened.
But the sin of that land was too great, turning it into barren soil, with the surface blackened as if soaked in blood.
The people of Jerusalem named it Aegedama, the Blood Field.
Such is the mythology, and the truth hardly matters anymore. Su Ming believed that the Jesus of old was merely a avatar of God, and Judas, who died back then, has also been resurrected.
Yes, the Phantom Stranger, now recognized as a hero, is Judas. Of those thirty large coins, only twelve remain, fashioned into a necklace of chains by a part of God—the 'Voice of Heaven'—worn around the Stranger's neck.
He has been resurrected for thousands of years, always seeking redemption for his betrayal.
The necklace of silver coins is steeped in sin, described by Zha Kang as 'a sin burdensome even for all the Hell Demon Kings combined.'
Previously, Su Ming realized that the Sleep Demon had vanished, Lucifer disappeared, and the Body of God had mutated.
These changes among multiverse-level beings caused world fractures and turmoil, putting the entire DC World on the brink, like an egg balanced on a wall.
If Su Ming's ability to traverse worlds had been mastered by someone unfamiliar with DC, they would have fled to a safe world, hiding until the storm passed.
But Su Ming does not retreat. He is no hero, but he does not shy away amidst chaos.
Not for reasons of morality, but because opportunities abound in chaos.
Such as Su Ming's X Metal and Lantern Ring, the contract with the Inverted Man, and now the chance to acquire the Sin Money Necklace without drawing the attention of powerful figures.
If DC were not in such disrepair, anyone from outside coveting the Sin Money would surely be crushed under the finger of God, the true supreme Creator God, akin to Marvel's TOAA.
This is one reason why Su Ming is not intimidated by Papetua; he knows that the green figure is not a Creator God, but at most a multiverse-level ancient figure.
That is, she is on the same level as the Watcher and the Anti-Monitor—stronger, perhaps, but without a fundamental transformation, humanity still has ways to resist.
And now, with God not at home...
The necklace of the Stranger, it remains to be seen if it is cursed or sinful, but Su Ming doesn't believe in God; he merely sees it as a very powerful magic prop.
The necklace grants the wearer the ability to invoke the power of Heaven, with auxiliary capabilities of single-target teleportation technique, divination art, magic dispel technique, illusion technique, and mind control technique.
The first step of the plan is to strengthen Oliver, enabling Green Arrow to combat Su Ming's enemies using the power of God.
In exchange, Su Ming had promised Green Arrow that he would return him to the Seven Giants of the Justice League, and he would see him into it, even if he had to carry Green Arrow in!
Of course, by then Green Arrow's strength would suffice, and he could enter on his own accord...
The power within the Sin Money also embodies curses and sin, effects that Su Ming can replicate through the Inverted Man. Therefore, he doesn't plan to use the Sin Money for himself and generously gives it to Green Arrow.
The necklace is only the first step; the next targets include the Inquirer's 'Key of Eden' and Pandora's 'Magic Box.'
Deal with the Three Original Sins, either by defeating them or negotiating, and collect their heavily sinful props to assemble a 'Sinful Trilogy' for Oliver, making him an instant God's Messenger with adequate combat prowess.
Once Green Arrow is powerful, there will be no worry of betrayal. Oliver's loyalty is one factor; the abilities these props offer are magical or mind-based, to which Su Ming is completely immune—thus, entirely secure...