บท 336: Confidence
The God King fixed her gaze on the mercury-like alien, her expression cold and unreadable. After a moment of silence, she nodded slightly, speaking with a tone as dry as a desert breeze. "It's not in your hands."
The way she said it left no room for question, as if she had seen the truth written plainly in his thoughts.
Charlie studied the scene from his hidden spot, his curiosity growing with every second. Could this God King actually see through lies? he wondered, impressed by her apparent confidence.
"But you're not entirely clueless," she added, her voice sharp and unyielding. Her eyes, a striking shade of ice blue flecked with gemstone-like brilliance, held a power that seemed to go beyond her physical presence. They looked like they belonged to the depths of an ocean or the heart of a glacier. The alien, Brother Mercury, trembled under her gaze, lowering his head as if the weight of her stare could crush him. It was clear he didn't dare to meet her eyes.
"It's… it's just some uncertain information," he stammered, realizing that trying to lie would be worse than confessing. "A very remote planet in the star realm, known as Ak… it's a primitive place, filled with wild, dangerous beasts. Our alliance has used it as a training ground for young fighters, a place for them to grow stronger."
He hesitated, then hurriedly added, as if trying to flatter her, "But of course, for a God King like you, it would be as harmless as flat ground…"
She ignored his attempt to flatter her, her cold gaze never wavering. She seemed to be silently evaluating him, making sure there was nothing left he was hiding. Satisfied, she turned, rocketing into the sky with a speed that left the crowd below stunned. She flew higher and higher, her figure shrinking until she was only a tiny black speck, and then finally disappearing from sight.
Charlie felt a chill run down his spine. Was she really intending to reach this distant planet by simply flying there? Or was she heading for one of the nearby star gates?
She must be using the star gate network, he reasoned. Only Green Lantern could truly fly between stars, sustained by the power of the ring. The God King probably relied on star gates, ancient portals scattered across the galaxy that connected worlds. As far as Charlie knew, these portals allowed for short jumps between stars, and they'd be a necessary resource for any hero exploring the star realms without the power to cross light-years on their own.
With the God King's departure, the tense energy that had filled the plaza seemed to dissipate. The two opposing groups relaxed, as if some silent agreement had been reached. The tall alien leader from Aval United seemed to have accepted that the Krafal Second League genuinely didn't have the "statue of Doom." After a few tense words, both groups began to withdraw.
Charlie noticed the aftermath of their skirmish scattered around the plaza—shattered ground, traces of energy, and a few injured bodies being gathered by their comrades. The battle hadn't lasted long, but it had been fierce, and even though the God King had interrupted, it had left casualties behind. The aliens from both sides picked up the bodies of their fallen, treating them with respect as they left the plaza.
As he watched, Charlie found himself surprised by the openness of their fight. The plaza was clearly within the bounds of a city, and yet there had been no guards or enforcers to stop the violence. In fact, a few aliens began emerging from nearby alleyways, creeping out now that the fight was over. They glanced around, murmuring to each other and pointing at the damage left behind. Judging by their calm reactions, this level of destruction seemed normal, as if battles in the middle of the city were just part of daily life.
So much for law and order in this part of the star realm, Charlie thought, feeling both amused and uneasy.
But the God King's purpose here was clear: she was looking for the mysterious statue. Yet Charlie knew that he still needed to find the missing Cantel army leader as soon as possible. From what he'd overheard, it was obvious that the leader was affiliated with the Krafal Second League, and these aliens might be his best chance of tracking down any new leads.
Charlie watched from the shadows, and Green Lantern slipped into step behind the Krafal group, moving smoothly and quietly to avoid drawing attention.
As he moved through the alien city, he noticed that no one paid special attention to the God King's human-like features. It seemed that human-like forms weren't as rare here as he'd initially thought.
With a thought, he used the green ring's power to alter Green Lantern's appearance, creating an outfit that matched the clothing of the aliens around him. The ring allowed him to project any disguise he imagined, so he added a few subtle features to blend in better—a different skin tone, a few extra folds and patterns on his clothing. In seconds, Green Lantern looked like he could be a local.
Now disguised, Charlie followed the group as they walked through winding streets, making sure to keep a safe distance. The aliens chattered among themselves, though most of their conversation was mundane, filled with details that were irrelevant. Still, he managed to pick up bits and pieces about the star realm that helped him better understand the strange universe he was exploring.
It became clear to him that the God King, along with other God Envoys, belonged to some kind of divine hierarchy. They were more than just powerful individuals; they were figures of authority, as if their power and status were woven into the very fabric of the star realm. This wasn't a government or empire—it was something higher, something closer to a religion. The entire star realm wasn't ruled by laws but by the will of god-like beings who held absolute power.
The Krafal soldiers spoke of these beings with reverence, almost fear. They described the God Envoys as terrifying, but the God Kings, like the woman they'd just encountered, held an even higher status. Their divine power set them apart, and everyone seemed to know whom these God Envoys served, almost as if they were agents of a supreme being that ruled the entire star realm.
This, Charlie realized, explained why the death of a single God Envoy had sent shockwaves through the realm. Even though there were a few strong fighters spread across the stars, none dared to challenge a God Envoy. The consequences would be unimaginable. Now Charlie understood why the God Envoy who had fought on Earth looked so horrified in his final moments. Challenging a God Envoy wasn't just risky—it was a crime against the order of the universe itself.
Humanity had entered a world far bigger and more dangerous than it had ever imagined. By defeating the God Envoy, they had crossed an invisible line, becoming enemies of a cosmic hierarchy that wouldn't stop until justice was served—or until vengeance was exacted.
Charlie felt the weight of this realization, but he wasn't intimidated. If humanity had crossed a line, it was one they'd been fated to cross anyway. The advancement of technology had made them a target of the star realm's wrath, and with or without the God Envoy's death, they would still be under threat. Now it was just a matter of time.
What we need now is time, Charlie thought. If he could stall the inevitable, even by a little, it would give him more time to unlock additional heroes and expand his capabilities. When he had a fully stocked hero roster, he would be ready to face whatever the star realm threw at him.
The group he was following eventually arrived at a large, spiraling building that looked like it had been carved from an enormous shell. It was strange and alien, with twists and turns that seemed to defy gravity. The Krafal Second League soldiers entered the building, and the doors shut tightly behind them.
Charlie assessed the building carefully. This must be their headquarters, he thought.
If he were controlling Batman, this would be the moment to scan the structure, identify weak points, locate hidden entrances, and find a way to slip in undetected. Batman would use stealth, patience, and strategy to gather information, listening from the shadows or quietly taking down guards to extract intel.
But today, Batman was unavailable.
Boom!
With a single thought, Green Lantern summoned a massive green battering ram and fired it straight at the building's entrance. The ram hit the doors with a thunderous crash, blasting them open with enough force to shake the ground. Aliens who had been stationed just inside the entrance were thrown back, landing in a heap of tangled limbs. Two of them lay motionless, while the others stared in stunned silence, struggling to understand what had just happened.
Charlie grinned as Green Lantern, surrounded by a radiant aura of green energy, strode through the shattered doorway with calm confidence.
Sometimes, he thought, the direct approach was just as effective as stealth—especially when it came to making an entrance.
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