Cosmocentrism has always existed, not tied to any specific planet or galaxy, but to certain individuals.
The most recognized and widely accepted figure at the center of the DC universe has always been Superman.
However, there are now murmurs among the Guardians of Oa and the Asgardians that perhaps Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl, has become the new center of the universe. This speculation arises because she seems to be uniquely attuned to the emotional spectrum, especially when she is near Oa.
Oa, positioned at the central star of the universe, is a place of unparalleled power and significance. Kara, being considered the person at the center of the universe while standing in its very heart, has started to manifest phenomena no one fully understands. Her emotional fluctuations seem to resonate with the emotional spectrum itself, triggering corresponding lights and reactions.
For example, when Kara felt pride in learning that her Kryptonian ancestors were beacons of hope 100,000 years ago, the blue light of hope responded. When she sympathized with the struggles of others, the indigo light of compassion surged to her.
These reactions weren't something the other Lanterns could provoke, even though they had experienced similar emotions. Kara, however, found herself surrounded by vibrant, multicolored lights. Nine distinct hues responded to her emotions, a phenomenon unheard of in the annals of the Green Lantern Corps.
The Asgardians, being ancient and wise, observed these events with fascination but shared no clear explanation. They simply stated to the bewildered Green Lanterns, "This crisis brought about by the yellow fear will resolve itself soon enough."
Their certainty was met with skepticism. Some Green Lanterns questioned: "Are you sure she can be trusted? She has even attracted the yellow light of fear."
The Asgardians, however, nodded in unison, offering no further clarity.
Indeed, among the colorful lights surrounding Kara, there were negative emotions like fear (yellow) and greed (orange), alongside the more virtuous lights of hope (blue), compassion (indigo), and love (violet). The emotional spectrum wasn't inherently positive; red symbolized rage, orange was greed, and even love, represented by violet, could turn obsessive.
Now, Kara bore almost all the emotional spectrum's rings, including the rare white and black lights.
Why was this happening?
Kara herself might have had an inkling. Her resonance with the yellow light wasn't due to her own fear but stemmed from the fear she could instill in others. Similarly, the orange light of greed responded not because she was personally greedy but because she longed for the restorative power of the white light, which represented life itself.
She glanced at the white ring on her right little finger, her thoughts inscrutable.
As for the violet light, it was deeply tied to love—an emotion Kara understood through the memories of her original self and the genetic imprint of Kryptonian life. Krypton, a world driven by love and sacrifice, left an indelible mark on her.
Before her stood five rings, glowing brightly: blue for hope, indigo for compassion, violet for love, yellow for fear, and orange for greed. They beckoned her.
Kara looked at her hands, already adorned with rings: green for willpower, red for rage, black for death, and white for life.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, feeling overwhelmed. The chorus of voices welcoming her to each Corps only added to her irritation.
Finally, Kara sighed and decided to accept the five rings. She recited the oaths—each one taking considerable time and energy—until all nine rings found their place on her fingers.
Her right hand bore the darker emotions: black on her thumb, red on her index finger, orange on her middle finger, yellow on her ring finger, and white on her little finger.
Her left hand carried the more positive emotions: green on her index finger, blue on her middle finger, indigo on her ring finger, and violet on her little finger.
She noted the symmetry and chuckled, "Am I a rainbow now?"
Nine rings—a feat unparalleled in history—glimmered on her fingers. But one spot remained empty: the left thumb. Kara frowned. "Maybe there's another ring out there."
The thought was half-serious, and she considered simply placing a decorative band there to balance the set. But before she could act on it, a sudden vortex appeared before her, crackling with temporal and spatial energy.
A time-space tunnel, unpredictable and dangerous, spun wildly before her. Kara braced herself, expecting an adversary or some other peril to emerge.
Instead, a single ring shot out from the vortex and slid neatly onto her left thumb.
"What the hell?" Kara whispered, staring at the mysterious new addition.
Kara herself was completely bewildered.
She had only ever heard of the Seven Lantern Corps, so the existence of the White Lantern and Black Lantern was something she could comprehend and accept.
But this? Why was there a tenth ring? Was this some kind of Lord of the Rings situation? Ten fingers, ten rings? King Solomon's treasures, perhaps?
The most bewildering part was that this tenth ring was unlike the others. It lacked an obvious color, and Kara had no idea what emotional spectrum or belief it might represent.
What was this ring?
Kara raised her left hand and examined the ring on her thumb with curiosity.
What kind of ring is this?
"Looks like I'll have to consult the Guardians," Kara muttered.
The issue wasn't just with this specific ring but also with the others.
Kara couldn't figure out why she had been simultaneously recognized by all of them. What was the reasoning behind it? What was the source of their power?
Now that she had accepted them, she noticed that the green ring's power seemed capable of resisting the effects of the red sun. Perhaps it would prove invaluable in the future.
Kara's thoughts also lingered on her past discoveries. She had confirmed that the Guardians indeed had conflicts with the Kryptonians in ancient times. It was due to their actions that Kryptonians had created the bioweapon known as Doomsday.
The Guardians were troublemakers, as it turned out.
However, the relationship between Krypton and the Asgardians had eventually improved. After Krypton ceased its colonization efforts, they no longer stood as enemies.
Tomar-Re's testimony had also been truthful. He truly had attempted to assist Krypton but tragically suffered an accident en route.
That left Kara with little recourse but to continue investigating her newfound powers and responsibilities.
"Kara, are you alright?" Hal Jordan asked cautiously, seeing that Kara had regained her composure.
Earlier, Kara had exuded an overwhelming presence that had even left Hal feeling deeply uneasy. It wasn't until this moment that he allowed himself to approach her again.
"We've wasted a lot of time," Hal reminded her. "That giant octopus might already be heading toward Earth."
"It doesn't matter," Kara replied nonchalantly. "The Green Lantern ring allows for space-time tunneling. We can return to Earth in seconds. Now tell me more about its abilities."
Hal hesitated but complied. Green Lantern rings had many functions, including the ability to open space-time tunnels and, with sufficient power, achieve time travel. However, such time travel was strictly observational; it couldn't alter history.
Kara listened intently but found herself drawn back to the ring on her left thumb. Something about it felt fundamentally different. It seemed as though her hand had been waiting for this specific ring, the spot on her thumb reserved for it from the beginning.
Even stranger was how it had appeared—seemingly traveling across time and space of its own volition to find her. No one could say whether it came from the distant past or an unknown future.
Kara frowned, determined to get answers.
"I'm going back to talk to the Guardians," she declared.
Tomar-Re and the others exchanged uncertain glances. Kara's habit of calling the Guardians "the little blue men" was accurate yet slightly irreverent. Still, none of them dared to comment.
As Kara flew back to Oa, she noticed that the Green Lanterns had dispersed. Even Sinestro had been taken away for treatment.
Kara's strike had been deliberate; she'd made sure not to kill Sinestro, though her attack had left him severely injured. Killing him would have escalated the situation beyond repair.
The Guardians, who had been observing her earlier feats, were clearly uneasy when she returned.
Their anxiety spiked when they saw the ring on her left thumb.
"How did you get that ring?" one of the Guardians asked, alarmed.
Kara raised her left hand, showcasing the ring. "So you do know what this is. Well? Care to explain?"
The Guardians exchanged panicked looks before one of them finally spoke.
"We call it the First Lantern."
Kara's interest piqued. "Go on."
The Guardians reluctantly explained. In the distant past, long before they had become the Guardians of the Universe, they were merely an ordinary alien race. They had no knowledge of the emotional spectrum until a human from the future appeared and introduced it to them.
This human not only helped them harness the emotional spectrum's power but also created the first ring, the First Lantern.
"The First Lantern is unlike any other. It doesn't draw power from a specific emotional spectrum but rather encompasses all of them. Every subsequent ring was modeled after it," one Guardian explained.
"Not only does the First Lantern wield the power of all spectrums, but it also grants the ability to rewrite reality, travel through time, and even reshape the universe itself."
The Guardians had sealed the First Lantern long ago, fearing its immense power. But now it had reappeared.
Kara processed the information carefully. If the First Lantern had come from the future, it likely meant she would eventually encounter the mysterious First Lantern bearer.
With a determined expression, she resolved to uncover the truth about her situation and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.
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