Kapitel 335: Doom
Charlie was stunned, his mind racing as he observed from his hiding spot. On his first day exploring the star realms, he'd expected to encounter alien races and bizarre creatures—but certainly not someone who looked like a human.
Or at least, mostly human.
The woman who had stepped into the battle looked strikingly like a human, but upon closer inspection, Charlie noticed a few differences. Her skin was a bright, almost glowing white, a color that was too pure and vibrant to be natural. Her features were delicate and flawlessly symmetrical, like a sculpted statue. Her beauty was unearthly, almost magical, reminding him of the elves from fantasy stories—ethereal and otherworldly, with a dreamy, almost mystical aura.
While she resembled a human, Charlie doubted she actually was one. Instead, she was probably from a highly advanced race that happened to look similar to humans. Her armor and appearance made her seem like she belonged to some elite order, like a knight or a guardian. The armor she wore was an intricate, gleaming white, and seemed to emit a faint, almost invisible shimmer, an energy that hinted at the power it held. The design was familiar, like he'd seen it before, but he couldn't quite place where.
The energy surrounding her was subtle but powerful, radiating authority. It seemed as if the very air shifted to make way for her presence. Everyone in the plaza felt it, too. She'd barely moved, yet her powerful entrance alone had silenced the entire chaotic scene. Charlie felt an instinctive pull to stay hidden and simply observe—this woman radiated danger.
He recalled that just moments earlier, dozens of aliens had charged at her in a rush. Both groups knew how powerful their respective alliances—Aval United and Krafal's Second United—were in the star realm, yet this woman had taken them all down without breaking a sweat. With a single, fluid motion, she'd swatted them away like they were nothing. Anyone with common sense could see that this was no ordinary warrior.
Suddenly, one of the alien leaders—the silver-skinned figure with a liquid-metal appearance—spoke up, his usual arrogance gone, replaced by wide-eyed awe. His voice, which had previously dripped with confidence, now trembled slightly.
"Master God King?" he stammered, his silvery face showing something between fear and respect. "Forgive me—I didn't know it was you. If I had known, I would never have dared…"
The rest of the aliens exchanged looks of horror and dread. Their faces reflected the same shock and fear, as if they would never have considered defying this woman had they known who she was.
God King?
The term stirred a memory in Charlie's mind. He recalled that back on Earth, just before the God Envoy had been defeated, he had mentioned something about a "God King." But what exactly was the connection between a God King and a God Envoy?
As he examined her armor and its distinctive patterns, he suddenly recognized the design. It was almost identical to the armor the God Envoy had worn—the same sleek white plating, the same elegant lines, the same strange symbols etched into the metal. The style and markings were unmistakably similar. It was clear now: this woman must serve the same master as the God Envoy who had attacked Earth.
Charlie immediately felt a sense of caution wash over him. He tagged her as "hostile" in his mind, though he left a slight room for doubt. If she was indeed connected to the God Envoy, then her mission might be similar to his—to seek the mysterious Descending Core and bring her master into the physical realm. From what Charlie had learned, this "master" was almost certainly hostile to humanity. If this "God King" served the same being, then she was, without a doubt, a dangerous enemy.
Reflecting on her earlier moves, Charlie recalled how fast and precisely she had struck down the fighters. The green energy from Green Lantern's ring had detected her power, showing that her energy levels were off the charts. She was definitely stronger than the God Envoy from before, though it was difficult to gauge just how much stronger. Charlie kept a safe distance, deciding to observe her movements carefully.
The giant alien leader of Aval United also seemed to realize the gravity of the situation. He bowed his head in respect, speaking with as much reverence as his gruff voice could muster.
"Forgive us, great and noble God King," he said, his tone now filled with humility. "We had no idea such a respected guest would arrive on Krafal. Please, if there is anything we can do to be of assistance…"
He paused suddenly, as if something important had just occurred to him. His expression shifted from respect to shock, his eyes widening.
"That Cantel leader…" he said, lifting his head in realization. "You've come for him, haven't you? The traitor who dared to kill a chosen God Envoy?"
It was clear that Krafal rarely hosted such powerful beings, and with the death of the God Envoy shaking the star realm, it made sense that a God King would be here to investigate such a grave matter.
"Nonsense!" Brother Mercury, the silver-skinned leader, snapped angrily. Though he had been silent in fear of the God King, he could no longer hold his tongue. "How dare you accuse the honorable Cantel leader without proof! Did you see him kill the envoy with your own eyes?"
The big alien leader of Aval United sneered. "With my own eyes? No, I didn't see it happen myself. But everyone knows what happened. The Cantel leader is a traitor—rumors are flying across the entire star realm. Do you really think they'd spread if there wasn't truth to them?"
Charlie's mind whirred with curiosity. So, the leader of the Cantel army was once a member of Krafal's Second United? That was a significant detail, and he mentally filed it away, knowing it could prove useful later.
"Rumors are simply that—rumors," Brother Mercury shot back. "There's no proof, and the respected God Envoy's departure has left the star realm in mourning. No one will rest until justice is served. But the God King would never act on mere hearsay."
Turning to the woman, he lowered his head respectfully, almost groveling.
"Honored God King, I urge you not to be swayed by the baseless words of deceitful men," he said, his voice filled with earnestness. "Both our alliance and the Cantel army leader have enemies. There are dishonest people spreading lies to stain the tragedy of the envoy's fall, hoping to use it as a weapon to ruin their rivals."
He threw a fierce glare at the Aval leader, his expression brimming with accusation. It was clear he believed the big alien was one of those "dishonest" men.
The big man smirked, not appearing the least bit offended. "If you're so sure, then bring the Cantel leader forward and let him defend himself. Surely, the God King would be fair."
Brother Mercury's glare didn't falter, but his voice softened slightly. "The Cantel leader… he left on an errand and hasn't returned. It's a private matter, and the alliance doesn't know his current location."
The big alien chuckled. "Do you really expect the God King to believe that flimsy excuse?"
Brother Mercury's eyes flashed with anger, but before he could respond, the God King interrupted, her tone icy and authoritative.
"The death of the God Envoy is a serious matter," she said. "It's one reason I've come to this star field. But it's not my primary mission. I'll investigate further once my other business is done."
Both groups of aliens went silent, exchanging uncertain looks.
Something more important than the death of an envoy?
A sense of dread seemed to ripple through the crowd as the aliens glanced at each other, each of them realizing what this might mean.
The God King turned to the silver-skinned leader and his group, her gaze sharp and unyielding.
"I'm here for the artifact known as 'Doom,'" she said. "It's been said that it's in your possession."
Her words hit the crowd like a shockwave. Every alien froze, including Charlie, who was watching intently from his hiding place.
She's after the statue, too?
The name "Doom" seemed fitting, given how the entire crew of the ship that had found it had met a gruesome end, driven to insanity by its power.
Brother Mercury's face went pale, and his voice trembled. "No! That's just a rumor! We don't have it, I swear! Please believe me!"
Charlie couldn't help but smirk. Oh yes, I believe you, he thought.
After all, the statue was safely tucked away… right in Green Lantern's subspace pocket.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein