Chapter 389: Slow
Charlie had not expected this.
The ruler of the star realm—the mastermind behind the god-kings and their envoys—had finally taken an interest in Green Lantern. Charlie had always known this meeting would happen someday. He had imagined epic battles and deadly confrontations, the kind you'd find in the climax of a blockbuster movie. Yet, reality proved far different. Instead of a challenge or a demand, the god-king showed up with a polite invitation, as though Hal Jordan were an old friend being asked over for tea.
Despite the unexpected civility of the gesture, Charlie didn't hesitate to make his decision.
"If you don't enter the tiger's den, you'll never catch its cub," he thought.
The strength of controlling heroes remotely was the complete lack of personal risk. Even if this invitation turned out to be a trap, the chance to meet the ruler of the star realm and gather intelligence was too valuable to pass up. The encounter could provide critical insight for future plans, and Charlie couldn't resist the opportunity to learn what the god-lord was scheming.
More than anything, Charlie was curious. Ever since the Battle of the Temple, rumors had spread across the astral world that Green Lantern shared a special connection with the ancient god Jaeger. This connection was undoubtedly why the god-king had sought Hal out, but what did it really mean? What was the plan?
Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern, agreed to the meeting without hesitation. He prepared to leave with the god-king, but before he could take off, Jaeger grabbed his arm.
"I'm coming with you!" Jaeger insisted, his youthful voice sharp with determination.
"No, you stay here," Hal said firmly but kindly. "Don't wander off. I'll be back soon."
Charlie agreed with Hal's decision. Jaeger might be powerful, but he wasn't immortal or invincible like Hal. If things went south, Jaeger's safety could complicate matters.
The god-king, silent throughout the exchange, took to the air. In an instant, she shot into the sky, a streak of light trailing behind her. Hal wasted no time following, his body glowing with green energy as he rocketed after her like a blazing comet.
For the god-king, this wasn't just about delivering Hal to her master. She had her own reasons for pushing the limits of her speed. Their last battle had been a bitter defeat, her first since being blessed with divine power. She wasn't here to challenge Hal to a rematch, but she couldn't resist the urge to test her speed against his. Even if she couldn't defeat him in strength, she hoped to prove herself superior in raw speed.
The god-king pushed herself to full throttle, her divine energy surging as she broke free from the atmosphere and into the silent expanse of space. Her divine power allowed her to survive the harsh vacuum, a feat few beings in the astral world could achieve. Glancing back, she expected to see Hal struggling to keep up—but to her frustration, he was right behind her, flying effortlessly through the void.
She scowled and increased her speed, pushing her powers to their absolute limit. Yet no matter how hard she tried, Hal remained on her tail, his movements casual, almost lazy.
"So," Hal called out, his voice clear despite the vacuum, "did your master tell you why they want to see me?"
The god-king was stunned. Speaking at this speed was nearly impossible for her, as it required every ounce of her focus just to maintain her velocity. Yet Hal seemed completely unaffected, chatting as if he were on a leisurely flight.
In truth, Charlie was growing bored. Hal's Green Lantern Ring was capable of far greater speeds than the god-king, so he had to hold back constantly to avoid overtaking her. It felt like driving a sports car behind a slow truck on the highway. The only thing keeping him engaged was the promise of what lay ahead.
The god-king, unable to respond, pressed on in silence. After a long flight, they arrived at a stargate, a glowing portal hovering in the endless void. Without hesitation, she dove through it, and Hal followed. On the other side, another stargate awaited, its presence curiously absent from the star maps stored in the Green Lantern Ring.
Charlie immediately pieced the puzzle together.
The universe was vast, and locating a hidden stargate in the infinite expanse of space was almost impossible unless its location was shared. This particular gate led to the domain of the star realm's ruler. Its location was deliberately omitted from the maps to ensure that only the chosen ones could find it.
The fact that the god-king was openly leading Hal to this secret gateway was unusual, even suspicious.
Beyond the second stargate, the scenery changed dramatically. Unlike most stargates, which opened into familiar starry skies and distant galaxies, this one led to a strange, alien world. Giant structures filled the landscape, their shapes twisted and grotesque, frozen in unnatural poses. At first glance, they resembled living sculptures, but up close, it was clear they were buildings.
The atmosphere was heavy and silent, the kind of silence that felt alive. There were no signs of movement, no signs of life. The god-king led Hal through this eerie maze, eventually stopping in front of a massive structure that loomed like a shadow over the rest of the alien city.
"The great lord is waiting for you inside," she said. "I am not permitted to enter."
Hal nodded, encasing himself in a glowing green force field before stepping inside.
The interior was pitch black, so dark that even the Green Lantern's light struggled to illuminate it. As Hal ventured deeper, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the shadows, their gaze heavy and unblinking. A massive figure began to take shape—a being so large that its details were hard to comprehend. It reclined lazily on a throne-like chair, its posture slouched and almost careless.
"You're here," the figure said, its voice low and emotionless. "I've been waiting for you."
"I'm flattered," Hal replied, his tone cautious but polite. "What does the great lord want with me?"
"Nothing so great," the being said, its voice flat and unassuming. "I heard what happened with Jaeger. You're his closest ally. I thought it would be wise for us to talk."
The god-lord's demeanor surprised Charlie. It wasn't intimidating or commanding, as he had expected. Instead, the figure seemed... tired, even apathetic. Its voice lacked the grandeur or sharpness that one might expect from a god.
"Of course," Hal said, his expression unreadable. "I'd be happy to talk—preferably without fists."
For the first time, the god-lord smiled faintly.
"No fists," it said. "I promise. There seems to be some misunderstanding between us. But I believe we can clear it up with words."
Charlie couldn't help but feel intrigued. This encounter was nothing like what he'd imagined. The god-lord's strange, casual attitude left him with more questions than answers. What did this being really want? And what did it mean for Hal—and the astral world?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone