Chương 354: The Void
While Green Lantern continued his investigation, the second team completed their interstellar jump aboard the Green Lantern spacecraft. Their path led them through a shimmering star gate, its glowing edges sparking as they passed through. On the other side, darkness greeted them.
Not the kind of darkness that comes from a lack of light, but an overwhelming void that felt oppressive. Charlie stared through the ship's viewport and was struck by the vast emptiness. This was "The Void"—a name that suddenly made perfect sense.
[TL Note - Yes!!!! Is charlie finally taking action personally!!!!]
It wasn't like the other star fields Charlie had seen, filled with galaxies, stars, and nebulae. Here, there was nothing but an infinite expanse of blackness. No life, no movement, just an unsettling silence that seemed to stretch forever.
For a moment, the ship floated in this void, the crew stunned by the absence of anything familiar. Then, faintly, a light appeared.
The glow was small and distant, almost insignificant compared to the darkness around it. Yet, in this void, it was impossible to miss. The light had an odd pull to it, as though it were calling out to anyone who saw it. It wasn't just a direction—it was a destination.
That light was where the temple was.
The Green Lantern spacecraft adjusted its course, heading straight for the light. As the ship approached, a planet emerged from the darkness, illuminated faintly by the glow. It was small, barely the size of a moon, with a rough, uneven surface.
In the cabin, Stark leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen displaying the planet. "Aya," he said, addressing the ship's AI, "initiate cloaking and hold position in low orbit."
[TL Note - False Alarm... FCK!!!
"Yes, sir," Aya replied. The ship shimmered as the cloaking system activated, and the planet below became their sole focus.
Stark stood up, his movements smooth as the liquid metal of his suit began spreading across his body. Within seconds, the red-and-gold armor of Iron Man had taken shape. Stark flexed his fingers, the suit responding perfectly as always.
The hatch of the spacecraft opened with a low hiss. Without hesitation, Stark stepped out, the thrusters on his boots activating with a roar as he descended toward the planet's surface. The hatch closed behind him, and the spacecraft disappeared into the void, cloaked and waiting.
As Stark approached the planet, his sensors scanned the area. The planet was barren and small enough that, in theory, he could search its entire surface in a matter of hours. But even with his suit's advanced speed and scanning capabilities, he knew there were smarter ways to locate the temple.
His thoughts were interrupted by an alert from his HUD. A cluster of heat signatures appeared on his radar, marked by faint blips on the planet's surface. Stark zoomed in, and his suit's scanners quickly identified a group of life forms. The team was large, numbering at least fifty individuals, and appeared to be moving in a loose formation.
Intrigued, Stark adjusted his flight path, descending toward the group. If they were here, it was likely for the same reason he was. Whether they were locals or outsiders, they could have information he needed.
Landing quietly at the rear of the group, Stark observed them from a distance. The team was a mix of various alien species, their appearances as diverse as their movements. The way they walked and interacted reminded Stark of the loosely organized gangs he'd encountered back on Earth. Each species seemed to stick with its own kind, forming smaller clusters within the larger group.
For now, Stark decided to keep his distance. Activating his suit's stealth mode, he watched as the red and gold of his armor shifted into a sleek black design. The nanomaterial flowed over his body, blending seamlessly with the environment. His suit was now almost invisible, and with his thrusters silenced, he moved like a ghost behind the group.
As Stark followed them, he switched on the universal translation function built into his suit. Borrowed from Ant-Man's tech, it allowed him to understand any language. He listened closely to their conversations, hoping to catch something useful.
At first, the group mentioned the "temple" and a "meeting," which confirmed they were here for the same reason. Stark's interest grew, and he moved closer, keeping to the shadows.
But soon, the conversation veered into less useful topics. The group began joking about irrelevant things, including a story about a girl with tentacles who had called one of them the previous night. Stark sighed, rolling his eyes inside his helmet.
Patience wasn't one of his strengths. Realizing the chatter wasn't going to yield much, he decided to take a more direct approach.
He targeted one of the stragglers at the back of the group, an alien with a long horse-like face. The alien seemed isolated, walking alone and paying little attention to the others. Stark moved swiftly, grabbing the alien from behind and covering his mouth. The thrusters on his boots roared to life, and they shot into the air.
The alien struggled wildly, his legs flailing as they rose higher and higher. Stark held him firmly, stopping mid-air as they floated far above the planet's surface.
"Relax," Stark said, his voice amplified through his helmet's speakers. "I just want to ask you a few questions."
The alien's eyes bulged in terror, his mouth moving, but no words came out. Stark adjusted his grip, letting the alien's face free.
"W-Who are you?" the alien stammered, his voice shaking.
"I'm the guy asking the questions," Stark replied coolly. "First question: Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The alien gulped, his fear evident. "W-We're from Sky Blue Star," he said quickly. "We came here for the opening ceremony of the Void Temple!"
"Sky Blue Star?" Stark repeated. "Never heard of it. What's this 'ceremony' about?"
The alien hesitated, his gaze darting around as though looking for an escape. "S-Someone's been spreading word across the star fields," he explained. "They're calling for all the major factions to gather here. They said we need to cooperate to figure out how to open the temple."
"Cooperate?" Stark said, his tone skeptical. "And here I thought everyone was fighting over this place. Why the sudden teamwork?"
The alien nodded quickly. "The temple's been locked for generations. No one's been able to figure out how to get in. But now there's a rumor… they say someone's found the key."
That got Stark's attention. "A key?"
"Yes," the alien confirmed. "They say the key is in the hands of the Second Alliance of Krafal. Their leader is supposed to be coming to the meeting."
Stark's mind raced. The idea of a universal alliance working together to unlock the temple was surprising. Even more intriguing was the mention of the key and the leader of the Second Alliance.
"Interesting," Stark said, his voice calm but thoughtful.
The alien trembled, his fear still evident. "P-Please, I told you everything I know!"
With a quick motion, Stark released the alien. The horse-faced creature fell briefly before Stark caught him again, lowering him back to the ground.
"Thanks for the info," Stark said. "Now, do yourself a favor—don't tell anyone about this little chat."
The alien nodded furiously, his legs shaking as he stumbled back toward the group.
Stark hovered in place for a moment, watching the team continue on their way. His mind was already working through the possibilities. A key, a gathering of factions, and the mysterious leader of the Second Alliance—all of it pointed to something big.
He turned his gaze toward the faint glow on the horizon. Whatever was happening, it was clear the temple held secrets that could change everything.
And Stark was determined to uncover them.
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực