The mysterious Black Central Power Battery rose around the corpse of the Anti-Monitor on the dead world of Ryut, a world in Space Sector 666 decimated by the Manhunters, former peacekeepers of the Guardians of the Universe. Ryut was the homeworld of the Five Inversions until the group fled to the planet of Ysmault in Sector 2814. The battery's ultimate purpose and its creator is unknown. At the beginning of the War of Light, Green Lanterns: Ash and Saarek were sent by the scarred Guardian to locate the corpse of the Anti-Monitor. They track the remains deep into Sector 666, until finally reaching Ryut. On Ryut, they locate the Black Power Battery, but are attacked by two black hands, presumably those of Nekron, Lord of the Unliving and Guardian of the Black Lantern Corps.

Later, Lanterns Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, Atrocitus, Saint Walker, Indigo 1 and Larfleeze, accompanied by the Guardians Ganthet and Sayd, arrive on Ryut in order to destroy the Black Battery, but find that it has already been transported by Nekron to Earth. They pursue the Black Lanterns to Earth, leaving the dead world to rest in peace.