American comics: Damn it, I’m surrounded by those who worry about their fathers!.

Chapter 1029 A Close Call: Star-Lord Faces a Deadly Crisis!
Beneath the ruins, the bandaged man, his dark red light emanating from the gaps in his bandages, flickered extremely faintly, as if his dormant consciousness had been forcibly awakened.

A low, hoarse, labored sound came out intermittently from beneath the thick bandages:
“Andrew… my name… is Andrew Bennett…”

The bandaged man's voice was extremely dry.

He turned his bandaged head with extreme slowness and difficulty, his gaze seemingly piercing through the bandages and dust, landing on little Mordred and Ceresa.

“I…must…see Mr. Peter Patrick, the fate of this world…is hanging by a thread…”

"To see my father?"

Mordred frowned, a hint of wariness and suspicion flashing in his eyes.

Just as she began to suspect that the man in front of her had ill intentions, a series of chaotic footsteps and voices approached from afar.

"Wow! What happened here? Did the demolition team come here?"

Star-Lord's voice rang out as he stood with his hands in the pockets of his red and black leather jacket, staring in astonishment at the ruins before him.

Bao Bao looked at the two little girls next to her with a suspicious gaze.

Wei followed closely behind, her dark blue short hair framed by eyes that quickly scanned the scene. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the giant monster "Little Shiba Inu," her pupils contracting slightly.

Then she looked at the ruins and the bandaged man beneath them.

Horus also watched the newcomer warily, took a deep breath, and said to the crowd, "Step back, this guy is not human."

Ceresia asked curiously, "If it's not human, then what is it?"

"vampire."

Horus said in a deep voice.

He had seen vampires in Gotham before, and this guy smelled just like the vampires he had seen.

"vampire?!"

Star-Lord raised an eyebrow and pointed at Andrew. "Are you sure? Aren't vampires terrified of fire?"

Andrew did not deny it. "He's right, I'm a vampire. What...do you know about vampires?"

Mordred, whose curiosity was piqued by the word "vampire," immediately perked up when she heard Andrew's question.

She mimicked what she'd seen in horror comics, baring her teeth and curling her arms into claws, deliberately making an exaggerated, sinister sound: "Understand? Of course I understand! You're the undead, blood-sucking monsters, afraid of sunlight! Afraid of garlic, afraid of silver!"

As she spoke, she made a fierce lunge feint towards Andrew.

Andrew stared at Mordred's antics for a moment, but quickly said in a hoarse voice with a hint of calm, "You're right, little girl."

He paused, a deep pain seeping into his hoarse voice, "Do you know... the Blood Queen Mary?"

"The Blood Queen? Mary?"

Star-Lord scratched his head, looking bewildered. "Sounds like the name of some third-rate underground rock band?"

"Who is she?" Wei asked directly.

"she……"

Andrew's voice grew lower and slower, "He was my ex, and also my... former lover."

Andrew continued, "She is one of the oldest and most powerful elders in the vampire clan, and the leader of the ancient organization 'Crimson Moon'."

He seemed to be recalling something, his dark red gaze piercing through the bandages and looking into the distance.

"The fragile peace between vampires and humans, the delicate balance that has been maintained for hundreds of years, is exactly what Mary wanted. She determined the way of life for the entire race—secrecy, restraint, ancient covenants... rather than pointless wars."

Azu was already annoyed that his secretly acquired "rare item" had been ruined by the two little girls when he heard their voices and they asked him, "So, she is Charles Manson, and not George Washington?"

Andrew gave a wry smile. "You're joking, vampires... have kept their distance from humans for hundreds of years, living in peace. This is also out of her own will. She restrains her fellow vampires who crave blood and chaos. She maintains that insurmountable boundary in the darkness."

"and then?"

Unmoved, Azu continued to ask, "Where is she now? Why did she turn your 'lover' into this grotesque state and come to my father for help?"

Andrew's body trembled violently, and he shook his head, saying:

"She...is dead."

"She was murdered!!"

"Because of her, a fragile balance was maintained between vampires and humans, preventing a full-scale war. Now that she's dead, that balance... has been broken."

Wei stared at the bandaged figure curled up in pain beneath the rubble, and remained silent for a moment.

She shook her head and said, "I feel sorry for you losing your old love, Mr. Andrew. However, she was, after all, a leader of the vampires, and her hands must have been stained with human blood. Therefore, I will not shed tears for you. Please forgive my bluntness."

"Then?"

Azu's voice rang out again, "Who killed her? Why?"

"I……"

Andrew's voice was distorted with extreme hatred, like a viper's hiss, "I've been hunting down the killer, investigating every clue, every trace of blood, every whisper in the darkness..."

He gasped for breath, “In the end, all the clues, all the evidence, pointed me in the same direction—the Legion of Destruction.”

“The Legion of Destruction?” Star-Lord frowned. “That criminal organization made up of a bunch of supervillains, always looking to make a big splash?”

(The Legion of Destruction includes the gorilla Grud, the rejuvenated turtle man, the leopard woman who possesses the Tears of Destruction, and others.)
"Yes, I... infiltrated their main hall, the darkest core..."

Andrew's voice carried a chilling undertone, "I thought I could catch the killer and avenge Mary myself, but..."

He paused, his dark red eyes gleaming with disbelief and immense horror.

"When I got there, I found they had all been killed!"

"Almost all of the members of the Destruction Legion were wiped out."

"It's a vampire!"

Andrew's voice was resolute, filled with deep-seated hatred.

“I recognize those claw marks, those bite marks, that… the shriveled look that comes from being drained of blood. It was the work of vampires, the most elite, the oldest, the most bloodthirsty. Mary… didn’t die from ordinary violence! This was the beginning of a meticulously planned revolution, part of their grand scheme!”

"At first, I was worried that they might break the ancient pact and start a war with humanity."

Andrew's voice turned low and desperate, "Until, amidst the chaos they left behind, I found...this!"

With his bandaged hand, he groped with great difficulty through his tattered robe and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.

He unfolded the parchment; the paper was small, but several lines of names were clearly written on it in some ink that emitted a faint blackish hue.

“I saw it… their plan…”

Andrew read aloud the top line of text on the parchment in a hoarse voice:
"Crimson Moon: The Final Hunting List:"

His gaze swept over the names.

"Superman, Homelander, Batman, Wonder Woman, John Constantine, Shazam, Swamp Thing, Zatanna, Mr. Majesty, Vandal Savage, Rashye Augu, Joker"

After the list was read out, the area around the ruins fell into a deathly silence.

"what!"

A disgruntled chuckle broke the silence.

Little Mordred clutched her sword, her eyes fixed on the list, her little face filled with anger and resentment at being slighted.

"What a joke! Why isn't my name on the list? Mordred Padrick, I'm a traitor to the Knights of the Round Table, a descendant of King Arthur and Peter Padrick! I'm just as formidable!"

She stomped her foot in anger, issuing a stern protest.

Star-Lord stared blankly at her.

What time is it, why are you still concerned about this?
In the ruins, Andrew held up the ominous hunting list, his gaze sweeping over the diverse group of "Fathers of Sorrow" before him, his hoarse voice unusually heavy:
"These are the people they hope to cooperate with, and if they don't cooperate, they'll just eliminate them."

After Andrew finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Just as everyone fell silent, they suddenly heard a whooshing sound coming from outside.

A sharp, approaching sound ripped through the air, breaking the stillness of dusk.

"call out--!"

A green shooting star streaked across the leaden sky above the farm.

The green light receded the moment it touched the ground, revealing a tall figure—Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern.

With his feet firmly planted on the ground, Hal looked around at the ravaged barn ruins and the "Fathers of Sorrow" with their varied yet solemn expressions.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the center of the ruins, where a figure wrapped tightly in thick bandages stained with dark red dirt came into view.

This sight stunned even the experienced Green Lantern for a few seconds.

This wasn't the farm weekend party he envisioned.

Hey guys!

Hal's voice broke the silence. His gaze swept quickly across the crowd, confirming that there were no seriously injured people. "What... happened here? Are you all alright? It looks like you just finished a war."

Green Lantern?

"Hal Jordan?"

All eyes turned to him.

Feeling uneasy under the scrutiny of so many eyes, Hal cleared his throat, trying to dispel the sudden awkwardness.

He took a few steps forward, avoiding a twisted piece of metal under his feet, and his gaze finally settled on the bandaged man who exuded an ominous aura.

"Where is Mr. Patrick? And the others?"

Hal asked, his voice regaining its usual calm, but his brows furrowed even more.

The scene before him and the state of the people made him realize the seriousness of the situation. "Who...who is this person?"

He pointed at Andrew.

"Dad and the others went fishing by the lake and haven't come back yet."

Vi answered the first question concisely, taking a step forward and shifting her gaze between Hal and Andrew on the ground. "As for him... things are a bit complicated, Green Lantern. You'd better listen to this."

Over the next few minutes, Vi and Azu took turns supplementing the account, quickly and clearly recounting the bizarre events that had just occurred—from the loss of control of the monster "Little Shiba Inu," the destruction of Azu's "precious item," to the revelation of the bandaged man Andrew's identity (a vampire), the news he brought about the murder of the Blood Queen Mary, the horrific massacre of the Destruction Legion by vampires, and that chilling "Final Hunting List."

Ceresia occasionally added details, while young Mordred, sword in hand, would interject with indignant declarations such as, "How could I not be on the list!" Hal Jordan listened quietly, his expression shifting from initial confusion to shock, and finally to solemnity.

"I understand, the situation is much more serious than I thought."

His speech quickened, revealing his sense of urgency: "This list, the destruction of the Legion of Destruction, the power shifts within the vampires, and their war intentions—this is not a situation we can handle alone. We must inform Mr. Patrick immediately, without delay!"

He paused, glancing towards Gotham, and added, "And Batman. Bruce Wayne is in Gotham, that's his territory, and his name is on the list. He needs to be informed immediately, and Gotham's defenses need to be mobilized."

"Gotham's dark creature ecosystem is complex, and Batman's intelligence network is crucial."

Hal quickly made arrangements.

"Celessa, Mordred, Boobo, Vie, the four of you, go to the nearby forest lake and find Mr. Patrick immediately. Tell him everything that happened here, including this list!"

“Azu, Horus, you two go find Batman and tell Bruce the same thing. Emphasize the threat of vampires and the targeted nature of this list. Gotham’s situation is complicated, so make sure he is on high alert and investigate any unusual activity in Gotham’s underworld as much as possible.”

As for this place…

Hal's gaze shifted to Andrew on the ground, then to Star-Lord. "Star-Lord and I will stay. This... Andrew Bennett, his condition is extremely unstable, and he is currently the only key source of information. The farm needs someone to guard it to ensure his safety and prevent any accidents from happening."

Hal's arrangements seemed to be working, and everyone began to act according to plan.

The wooden door on the farm, which had been warped by the explosion, creaked shut behind Star-Lord.

The last glimmer of twilight was squeezed through the crack in the door, and the room instantly sank into darkness.

The lamp in the corner cast a dim, yellowish light, barely outlining the silhouette of Andrew, the bandaged man, curled up on the tattered sofa, and Hal Jordan's iconic green and white uniform.

Star-Lord let out a long sigh, stretched his neck which had ached from the heavy atmosphere, and made an exaggerated stretching motion.

"Phew! They're all finally gone. Seriously, Hal."

He grinned at Green Lantern, "Vampires are such a distant concept, I don't even know if they're real or not."

He casually picked up a dusty empty jam jar from the table, looked at it in the dim light, and then put it down with disdain.

"Hey Hal, what would you like a drink?"

Star-Lord's voice sounded exceptionally loud in the empty, quiet room, even echoing slightly.

He turned around, with his back to Hal, and went to get a drink from the refrigerator.

Can you please be quiet?

Andrew's hoarse voice came from the corner of the sofa, "I need... to rest."

He moved his head, which was wrapped in heavy bandages, with difficulty. The light flickered weakly through the gaps in the bandages and then went out, as if he had exhausted his last bit of strength.

"Alright, alright, the wounded are the most important."

Star-Lord raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, still with his back to Hal, and glanced at Andrew.

He shrugged and looked out the window again.

Patrick Farmhouse seemed like a forgotten island, with only silence spreading silently.

Just as Star-Lord was about to grab his drink!

"call……!"

A very faint sigh, yet carrying an eerie sense of satisfaction, came from behind Star-Lord.

That was definitely not Hal Jordan's usual hearty laughter or casual banter.

The voice was icy, like the hiss of some cold-blooded animal in the dark.

Star-Lord's muscles tensed up suddenly, and a chill ran up his spine and up his neck without warning, making the hairs on his body stand on end!

Almost instinctively, he used his honed reaction speed to turn around with lightning speed.

But it's too late!

"Buzz!"

A deep, chilling energy suddenly exploded with a buzzing sound.

The sound did not come from the outside, but seemed to vibrate directly inside his skull.

Immediately afterwards, a viscous torrent of energy, as thick as tar and carrying a destructive aura, surged forth from the lamp ring on Hal Jordan's finger, which was supposed to symbolize courage and will.

It was no longer the powerful green light that Star-Lord was familiar with.

The light emitted from the other person's ring was murky and sticky, churning with a nauseating dark green.

This filthy torrent of energy was moving faster than the limits of vision, giving Star-Lord no chance to dodge or draw his gun.

With a loud thud, the green light slammed into the center of Star-Lord's chest.

"Ugh!"

A short, painful groan escaped Star-Lord's throat.

An unimaginable, excruciating pain instantly seized all his nerves, and his vision was covered by a twisted, churning dark green.

Star-Lord's body was violently struck by this terrifying force, causing his feet to leave the ground and him to fly backward like a cannonball.

"Bang! Clang—!"

His back slammed hard against the glass window on the other side of the room.

The entire window shattered instantly!

Countless sharp shards of glass shot out like hailstones.

Most of the debris was blocked by Star-Lord's body and embedded deep inside his jacket.

A few fragments flew out and clattered against the walls and floor.

Star-Lord's body slid down the window frame, which was covered in shards of glass, and crashed heavily to the ground.

He curled up, his body writhing in waves of pain. Each breath was accompanied by a searing pain in his chest and abdomen, as if energy were piercing through him, and his throat was filled with the strong taste of blood.

Star-Lord tried to lift his head, but his vision was blurry and shaky. He could only see Hal Jordan's figure walking step by step out of the darkness.

Those eyes, once filled with unwavering determination, now burned with a cold, dark red light, fixed intently on him.

"H...Hal?"

Star-Lord forced out a voice through the excruciating pain, "Are you fucking... insane?!"

He tried to reach for the elemental gun at his waist, but as soon as he moved his arm, a tearing pain shot through his muscles, and his arm fell limply to his side.

"Mad? No, Star-Lord."

Hal's voice rang out in a low, deep tone, completely devoid of its former cheerfulness, leaving only a cold, metallic quality that echoed in the deathly silent room.

"On the contrary, I have never been so...clear about the nature of the world."

He stopped a few steps in front of Star-Lord, looking down at him. The green light ring was now emitting an ominous dark red glow, making his face look like a demon from hell.

"The spectrum of will is vast and boundless, and you, Peter Patrick Jr., are fortunate to have been chosen by the 'Crimson Moon' and will be bathed in its eternal power."

"A blood-red moon?!"

Star-Lord spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and with all his might tried to prop himself up. "Then I'd rather join the Guardians of the Galaxy!"

While making light of the situation, Star-Lord glared at him fiercely, like a wild beast driven to the brink of despair.

"very good."

Hal's lips curled into a cold, emotionless smile.

He slowly raised his right hand, which was adorned with a ring, his five fingers spread, and aimed it at Star-Lord, who had stood up from the ground.

"Om-!"

The lamp ring once again emitted that sticky, filthy light.

But this time, the light did not create an impact; instead, it instantly twisted and stretched.

Countless energy tendrils composed of dark green and crimson energy shot out from the ring.

The energy tentacles hissed like snakes flicking their tongues, moving with lightning speed and striking precisely at Star-Lord's limbs and torso.

"Ugh!"

It instantly wrapped around with intensely corrosive energy.

Star-Lord's roar was instantly replaced by a painful groan.

Ignoring his struggles, the energy tentacles tightened around Star-Lord's wrists, ankles, knees, and waist with a sickeningly tight sound.

The immense force pinned him to the ground, rendering him unable to move.

"Uh... ho ho..."

Star-Lord's teeth were grinding together, and his eyes were bloodshot from the pain and rage.

He was like a fish nailed to a chopping board, twisting and struggling in vain. Each effort only tightened the energy restraints and widened the wounds.

"Good willpower."

Hal's voice was icy as he slowly stepped forward and stopped beside Star-Lord's head, which was being held down tightly.

The ring, gleaming with a blood-stained light, moved slowly, hovering a few centimeters above Star-Lord's carotid artery, which was throbbing violently in pain.

The viscous, dark red light at the center of the ring swirled like a living thing.

"But soon, your will... will be reshaped by us."

Hal said in a low voice.

The last trace of human emotion in his eyes vanished completely, leaving only pure evil and an arrogant sense of control.

"In the name of the Crimson Will!"

Hal's voice suddenly rose, "The shackles of bloodline are broken here! The decaying body is rebuilt here! The shadow of eternal night descends here! Peter Patrick, your mortal body shall bear the mark of my blood and return to the Crimson Abyss!"

As the last syllable fell, Hal's ring transformed into sharp teeth, lunging at Star-Lord's neck.

(End of this chapter)