บท 397: Spoiler Alert
Declare war.
The words seemed simple enough, but Charlie, controlling Flash from afar, understood the heavy weight behind them. War was never a straightforward matter. It came with destruction, loss, and suffering, no matter who claimed victory. Even the winners often bore scars too deep to forget.
For this world—Earth in this fragile universe—a war of this scale would be catastrophic. Unlike the Earths of Marvel or DC, this Earth hadn't grown accustomed to battles with cosmic forces or planetary crises. It wasn't hardened by centuries of warfare or near-apocalyptic events. Its people lacked the experience and strategies forged in the fires of intergalactic conflict.
The Earth Charlie came from had endured World Wars I and II, where humanity learned brutal lessons about the cost of battle. Those wars shaped the course of history, forcing humans to innovate and adapt. They gave rise to technological advances, military tactics, and resilience.
By contrast, Marvel's and DC's Earths were practically veterans of cosmic chaos. They dealt with alien invasions, world-ending threats, and godlike beings on a regular basis. Entire universes had been destroyed and rebooted around them. Their people were so accustomed to existential threats that survival seemed second nature.
But this Earth—"Polar Star," as the aliens called it—was untouched by such chaos. Its nations lacked the strategies and experience needed for large-scale wars. It had no historical foundation for interstellar combat. Starting a war here would be like throwing a group of elementary school students into a college-level physics exam.
What worried Charlie most wasn't just the immediate risk. The captain's words revealed a larger plan: they intended to use Earth as their base of operations. For years, maybe decades or even centuries, this planet would become the core battlefield. It would draw attention from every corner of the universe, eventually bringing the wrath of the gods themselves to this fragile world.
Flash's voice was calm, but his words carried a sharp edge. "So, I assume you've got this all planned out. What happens after the war? You think you can negotiate with the gods? Get them to recognize your independence and leave you alone?"
The captain shook his head, his face dull but his eyes alight with an unsettling determination. "No," he said firmly. "The astral gods aren't the kind to negotiate. It's not in their nature. Do it or don't—it's a one-way path. Once we make our move, there's no going back."
Flash's tone remained steady. "Then what's your plan?"
The captain's expression hardened. "The only way forward is to overturn everything as it exists now. The gods are stubborn and unyielding. They cling to their rules, their so-called order, and they'll do whatever it takes to protect their power. No matter what we say or do, they'll never compromise."
His voice grew colder. "So we'll destroy them. We'll kill their Chosen, tear apart their influence, and dismantle the structure they've imposed on the universe."
Flash's brow furrowed. "You realize what you're talking about, right? If everything runs on their systems, you're not just challenging them—you're ripping apart the entire universe. Kill one Chosen, and they'll replace them. Destroy one planet, and they'll have ten more waiting. You're fighting a battle with infinite pieces on the board."
The captain didn't blink. "That's why we destroy the board. Everything. Our people have already accepted this reality. We knew from the beginning there would be no compromise, no middle ground. This is the only way forward."
Charlie, listening through Flash, stayed silent for a moment, weighing the captain's words. There was a grim logic to what the Church of Technology was saying. They had been pushed to the brink, hunted by gods who refused to let them grow. Their only option was to fight, even if it meant tearing down the universe to rebuild it.
But Charlie knew where he stood. He had no problem with their fight—he had no love for the gods, either. He didn't want to be controlled or limited by them. But he couldn't let this war happen on Earth. If the gods came to reclaim this world, they wouldn't hold back. Earth would burn, and its people would suffer.
Helping from a distance was one thing. Charlie could send machines or even heroes to assist in battles far from Earth. But allowing Earth to become the battlefield? That was out of the question. If gods started falling out of the sky, one of them might land right on his base. That was a risk he wasn't willing to take.
The Church didn't realize the full truth. They thought Charlie's alliance of heroes and advanced technology made him an outsider, someone like them—a wanderer seeking refuge on Earth. They believed they were recruiting a kindred spirit.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
Charlie made his decision. He would refuse their offer. Not immediately—he wanted to gather more information first. But when the time came, he'd make his position clear.
Before he could respond, the captain smiled faintly, a cold edge to his expression. "It's a shame we couldn't come to an agreement," he said. "But, of course, we prepared for this possibility."
The atmosphere shifted in an instant. The polite, diplomatic tone vanished, replaced by something darker and far more hostile.
Charlie's screen flickered. The figures surrounding Flash shimmered and blurred, their appearances shifting. When the distortion cleared, thirteen identical versions of the captain stood in the room, encircling Flash. Each one was poised for combat, their presence suffocating.
Charlie frowned. Projections? No, avatars. Clever, but not clever enough.
"It's unfortunate," all thirteen captains said in unison, their voices echoing ominously. "But even without your ation, our plans will move forward. In twenty-four hours, we'll begin transforming this planet into a fortress. And you…"
Their voices grew colder, more sinister. "…you won't leave here alive."
Flash smirked. "That's where you're wrong."
In the blink of an eye, Flash moved. His body blurred into streaks of red and gold lightning, splitting into twelve afterimages. Each one targeted an avatar. By the time the echoes of the captains' voices faded, the avatars were collapsing to the ground.
Flash came to a stop in front of the original captain, his expression calm but confident. "Looks like there's only one person who won't be leaving this room alive today," he said with a grin. "Spoiler alert—it's not me."
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