Marvel's FBI?

Dante stared, mouth slightly open, trying to process what just happened.

He knew Doctor Doom's vibe was way more Yellow Lantern than Green Lantern. Fear and dominance were kind of his whole aesthetic.

But still, he wasn't that shocked that the Green Lantern Ring had chosen him.

After all, this was Doom we were talking about—guy could tank psychic intrusions just by flexing his willpower. With resolve that dense, of course the Will Green Light would take interest.

What really shocked Dante was the glowing battery in his own hand.

Was he… actually rebuilding the Green Lantern Corps from scratch?

That wasn't supposed to be how this worked. Lantern Rings chose their bearers on their own.

It was fate. Cosmic lottery. Emotional resonance. Not a job you could fill off Craigslist.

And most importantly—

He really hoped this rebooted Green Lantern Corps didn't come with the classic "everybody dies horribly" curse.

"Is this the unknown power you command?" Doom asked, watching the battery pulse in Dante's hand.

"You've already researched the power battery, so you should know—this energy has zero ties to science or magic."

"I ran every form of forbidden magic I know against it. Couldn't break it. Couldn't wake it up," Doom said, staring at the ring still floating in front of him. "Then I tried every major energy signature on Earth. Still nothing. Even stooped to what you call 'low-class' methods."

"This energy isn't generated by science or magic," Dante said. "It's the product of all life across the universe—an emotional field created by every living being. Seven emotions, seven corresponding lights: Rage Red, Avarice Orange, Fear Yellow, Will Green, Hope Blue, Compassion Indigo, and Love Violet. Will is the center of the spectrum. It holds everything together—order and balance."

"Emotional Spectrum…" Doom murmured. "A power source built on subjectivity. Fascinating."

For a materialist scientist like Doom—one whose magic also worked via measurable energy—this was his first real encounter with something that didn't care about logic or math.

This was pure belief. An energy born of feelings.

And at the moment, Doctor Doom didn't resemble an imperial-level BOSS at all.

He looked more like an overachieving student in his first week of wizard school, nodding seriously as he absorbed every word.

Then he turned back to the floating ring… and made a motion to reject it.

"But 'order' isn't a word that suits me."

"If the Will Green Light chose you, then you are worthy of joining the Corps," Dante said calmly.

"Me?"

Doom looked up, caught off guard by Dante's certainty. And then, after a moment's hesitation, he grabbed the ring from midair and slid it onto his right index finger.

"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!"

Like every Lantern before him, Doom—without a teacher or guide—recited the Oath through pure instinct, guided by the ring's will.

A green lantern battery formed in his left hand.

But Doom didn't morph into some spandex-wrapped cosplay hero. Nope.

The Lantern emblem simply lit up on his already-iconic green cloak, transforming the entire thing into a shimmering, emerald shroud.

He closed his eyes.

Then raised his palm, and boom—a raging storm of green energy swirled to life above it, Will forged into raw force.

In a matter of seconds, Doom had begun integrating his personal sorcery with the Green Lantern's power.

Even he looked impressed.

"This is… astonishing. Not only is it powerful, it enhances my research in both science and sorcery."

He watched the storm dance across his palm, studying it like a new equation.

Honestly? He didn't need spell circles or labs anymore. With Will Green Light, he could manifest anything his mind could shape.

"That's the Emotional Spectrum for you," Dante said, just in time. "Its power rivals the greatest forces in the universe—but the difference is, it thinks. It's alive. If you deviate from your oath or lose your will, the ring will leave you."

"You can control that?" Doom asked.

"Nope. That's the Will Green Light's own judgment."

It wasn't a bluff, not really.

In truth, Dante did have a certain authority, thanks to the ancestor-level Lantern Furnace fused with the newborn Ion Shark swimming inside.

He couldn't choose who got recruited, sure—but if someone stepped out of line?

He could yank their ticket real fast.

Doom nodded slowly.

"Understood. I also have a stockpile of data and intel on HYDRA. I'll send it to you shortly."

"Oh? How're you gonna do that? Add me on LinkedIn?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Doom's tone shut that down real quick.

He turned his gaze toward the X-Men, still looking dazed in the background.

He'd originally been intrigued by them—the result of advanced Earth-based genetic engineering.

But now?

Now that he'd touched the Emotional Spectrum, mutant X-genes looked like glorified party tricks.

"As long as your Federal Bureau of Investigation doesn't interfere with Latveria's affairs," Doom said flatly, "I have no objection to forming an alliance."

Dante blinked.

Alliance?

He'd just wanted to build a good rapport and maybe walk out of here with less trauma than usual.

And suddenly, this megalomaniac magician monarch was offering him diplomatic ties.

Not that he was gonna complain.

Doom might be a dictator, but after he overthrew Latveria's corrupt monarchy via full-blown civil war, the country basically turned into a sci-fi paradise.

Wanda and Pietro? Yeah—they'd ended up guinea-pigging themselves for revenge. But if they'd waited even a few months, they'd have been chilling in Doom's socialist utopia instead.

Seriously, the guy was cracked.

In tech? Probably above Banner and Stark.

In magic? The Sorcerer Supreme wished he could match Doom's range.

In hand-to-hand combat? The man had beaten Captain America and Black Panther. No suit. No tech. No spells.

Just Doom, throwing hands.

His only flaw?

He was a narcissist with a PhD in doom.

Dante sighed internally.

Is there no fairness left in this world? No karma? No regulatory board?

Still, if he could build this alliance—and hook Doom into the Emotional Spectrum loop—he might actually have a shot at keeping the guy relatively stable.

Because let's be honest—he couldn't beat him. Not right now.

"Excellent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is honored to ally with you. And the World Federation welcomes Latveria's return to the global stage."

Doom nodded. With a wave of his hand, another portal shimmered open.

Just as he was about to step through, Dante called out.

"Before you go… how about doing me a little favor?"

(To be continued.)