After taking down Brick, Oliver, alongside Roy, continued working to keep Star City safe, a task that became more complicated when both men became targets. During a patrol, Roy let his guard down and fell into a trap set by the mysterious Dark Archer, an encounter that nearly cost him his life. Concerned, Oliver went into overprotective mode with his protégé; his reaction backfired, driving a wedge between them as Roy sought more autonomy and wanted to be viewed as an equal rather than a child or a mere sidekick. This rift occurred at the worst possible time, as a new serial killer named Onomatopoeia, possessing inexplicable abilitie, emerged on the streets of Star City. Initially acting independently, Green Arrow and Speedy each tried to take down the killer in their own way, but both failed. Following the advice of Dinah, who was out of town but with whom he was growing closer, Oliver attempted to mend things with Roy, realizing Star City needed both of them to stop this mysterious assassin.
