Because when Hal or Barry look at the Black ring wearing being before them they see their old friend the Martian Manhunter. But when Black Lantern J'onn J'onzz looks out at Hal Jordan and Barry Allen all he sees is a world of shadow illuminated only by the glowing presence of the emotions currently on display before him - hope and willpower. He then turns that emotion around on them and attacks them using the exact emotional opposite, preying on their emotions and making them question their every judgment. The fear, the doubt, it seeps into their minds like the coagulated black fluid coursing through J'onn's veins. Leaving a streak of decay in its wake.

The ensuing battle is a truly epic one - spanning from the cemetery grounds to a nearby firehouse with neither superhero truly sure how to go about fighting what for all intents and purposes should be their friend. In death as in life, Martian Manhunter retains all of his super-powered abilities such as telepathy, invisibility and a super-strength equal to that of Superman's. And ultimately Hal and Barry alone are no match for the Martian. Ultimately both men are left laying out, Barry Allen tossed into a glowing pool of unknown fluid.

Hal's calls to Oa have gone completely unanswered. And his are surely not the only ones. As Black Lantern rings continue to fly throughout the universe from from Ysmault to Okaara to Zamaron, more and more Code 1313's (an unknown power ring) will be called into Oa. But those calls will all continue to go unanswered. Because Scar has taken all of the Guardians hostage. Strewn up like victims in a black spider web around the Citadel, they can only watch as Scar's plans come to fruition. Ever since her scarring at the hands of the Anti-Monitor, Death itself, blackness incarnate has been speaking with her. Louder and louder its been relaying it's plans to save the Universe. Emotions cause nothing but chaos. And the only way to truly eliminate chaos and halt the growth of the emotional spectrum is to annihilate all sentient life. The Black power rings are now at 1.20% charge and growing.

But as death races across the galaxy, one man has traveled the galaxy to surround himself with the reminders of death. The planet Xanshi, in sector 1313, is no more. Just as he had failed to save his wife, John Stewart failed the people of Xanshi. And having taken part in the celebration at the re-built Coast City, he retreats here - in the floating debris of Xanshi to lick his wounds and bask in his failure. But suddenly he's pulled from his deep train of thought by a loud explosion. He looks up in horror as thousands and thousands of Black Lantern rings begin to filter through the remains of Xanshi.

A powerful booming voice commands, "Xanshi. RISE."