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Chapter 203 How Did You Turn Into a Battery?
Orin Vale himself hadn't expected the range and effect of this newly learned move to be even more potent than he had imagined.
However, calling it a new move wasn't entirely accurate. Although soothing emotions and transmitting hope were signature skills of the Blue Lantern Corps, Orin Vale had learned similar moves long ago. The function of a Blue Power Ring was actually somewhat similar to the purification techniques of Master Gao, Ultraman Cosmos. While their methods of application were different, they shared some common ground.
It was one thing that the construct of his own inner darkness was instantly obliterated, but he'd genuinely never anticipated accidentally snatching the answer to someone else's test question.
The two Guardians were also quite amazed, but they had no objections. This was far from the first routine assessment for prospective corps members. If this test was disrupted, they could simply conduct it again next time. In contrast, it was Orin Vale's series of abnormal performances that intrigued them more.
The third and final test was the soul of every Color Lantern Corps, an indispensable element—the oath.
Just like the Green Lantern Corps' widely known oath, all the Color Lantern Corps had a similar one. During legion meetings and team-building exercises, all members were often required to recite the oath together. The oath was also needed to trigger the charging of a power ring, and more importantly, reciting it could facilitate a power burst whenever a Lantern found themselves in a dire situation.
Orin Vale deduced that the oath likely functioned as a form of psychological suggestion—an artificially set switch for the spirit. The oath could deepen a member's sense of collective honor for their lantern corps and strengthen the corresponding emotional energy within them. Take the most common Green Lanterns, for example: the psychological suggestion from reciting the oath strengthened their willpower, which was why they could so frequently achieve willpower-fueled power bursts.
And the final assessment required each person to wear a power ring, face the Blue Lantern Corps' Central Battery, and achieve resonance with the Hope Spectrum by reciting the oath.
The group followed the two Guardians and arrived at the very center of Planet Odym.
A giant blue Power Battery, as tall as a skyscraper, stood in the center of the planet amidst the jungle. A blue flame burned fiercely within the Power Battery, and a pillar of light shot up from its top, piercing the atmosphere and heading deep into the universe.
It was like a lighthouse of hope, spreading its brilliance throughout the universe.
He finally saw the legendary Central Battery. Orin Vale landed beside it, reaching out to touch its icy-blue shell.
Unexpectedly, for a nearly infinite energy source, it wasn't hot at all. The shell, made of power ring alloy, even had a refreshingly cool feel to it.
Orin Vale tried to extend his consciousness, linking it to the inside of the Power Battery to feel the unquenchable fire of hope, trace its origin, and its connection to the Emotional Spectrum.
He had already used his super speed to read through a vast amount of literature on the technology of the Emotional Spectrum and had consulted Ganthet extensively. Although he couldn't compare to an authority on power rings like a Guardian, he was no longer completely in the dark in this domain. He now understood quite a bit.
His light-quantum brain operated at full speed, like a supercomputer at maximum capacity, rapidly analyzing the workings of the Central Battery.
Everyone put on a test Blue Power Ring. Ganthet stood on high ground, raising his hands. "Now, Blue Lanterns, light up your brilliance!"
With solemn and devout expressions, the new recruits all raised their fists, pointing the power rings on their hands toward the Central Battery.
They recited the oath in unison, as earnestly as a group of pilgrims.
"In fearful day, in agonizing night, let blazing flames repel the biting cold.
When all are lost in the calamity of war,
look to the stars—for the light of hope never dies!"
As the oath concluded, the power ring in each person's hand seemed to flicker, as if striking a tiny blue spark.
The elephant-faced new recruit, Brother Warth, beamed with joy. "Success! We've lit our power rings—"
Before he could finish, everyone felt a powerful impact surge beside them, spreading out like a gale as a blue light beam erupted from their midst, soaring into the sky!
Everyone turned to look in that direction, completely stunned.
Orin Vale's figure had somehow floated into mid-air, completely enveloped in an endless blue radiance. The surging light erupted like a storm, releasing a skyward pillar of light parallel to the one from the Central Battery.
"This energy..." Sayd looked at Ganthet again in astonishment.
"Is... is this the amount of energy a single power ring should possess?"
"No..." Ganthet was also surprised at first—the sudden energy reading had indeed surpassed the designed upper output limit of a single power ring. But a moment later, he realized that wasn't the most important point.
"Have you noticed... he's not using a power ring at all," Ganthet said. "He isn't connected to the Central Battery we built."
Sayd froze.
Only then did she notice he was right. Orin Vale hadn't connected to the Central Battery at all; the blue light was erupting from his own body.
"But... how is that possible?" Sayd asked, stunned.
All the technology and equipment of every lantern corps was built upon the foundation of a Central Battery. Whether it was power rings, power batteries, or even other equipment like spaceships and energy firearms, all their energy came from a Central Battery.
Doesn't that mean...
"He's become a walking Central Battery himself?"
The moment the words left her mouth, even Sayd herself thought they sounded absurd.
She couldn't help but give Ganthet another strange look. "We only know of one person who could do such a thing."
Ganthet seem to understand her meaning. His expression changed slightly, and his body gave an imperceptible shudder.
They only knew of one person who could draw upon and wield the energy of the Emotional Spectrum with their own body, without the aid of any tool.
A name that was taboo among the Guardians, one tied to the darkest secret of the Lanterns' birth in ancient times.
Volthoom, the First Lantern, the origin of all Emotional Spectrum technology in the universe. Even the Guardians' own spectrum technology had originally come from him.
He was the only being capable of mastering the entire Emotional Spectrum at will. His power was beyond description; he could reshape Reality, rewrite timelines, possessed infinite life and infinite power, and had transcended the shackles of time-space and reality, making him more powerful than many legendary gods.
"You mean to say..." Ganthet's gaze flickered as he looked at Sayd.
The two Guardians looked at each other, speechless for a moment.
Nothing more needed to be said; they both understood the other's meaning.
This creature of light... if, one day, he could also master the entire Emotional Spectrum, would he perhaps become like the First Lantern?
Exchanging a glance, Sayd shook her head.
No, that was too dangerous.
The Emotional Spectrum represented more than just power; the emotions it embodied would in turn influence the light wielder, and it contained negative emotions such as Rage, Greed, and Fear.
Wielding the seven lantern energies simultaneously was a nearly impossible feat. The First Lantern of old had managed it, but he eventually went mad, transforming into something truly terrifying.
Ganthet exchanged a look with her and nodded slightly in agreement.
It was too early to discuss such things. The Emotional Spectrum was far too dangerous for any creature; this required long-term consideration.
For now, however, Orin Vale felt that he had at least gained a glimpse of the path when it came to the hope-fueled powers of the Blue Lantern Corps.
But the Blue Lantern recruits next to him were once again dumbfounded.
Wait a minute, we all agreed to charge our rings, so how did you end up becoming the battery?
The Blue Lanterns looked at one another, their faces a mask of complete bewilderment.
Their expressions seemed to pose a question.
Does this mean from now on, we have to recite the oath to *him*?
(end of chapter)
Orin Vale himself hadn't expected the range and effect of this newly learned move to be even more potent than he had imagined.
However, calling it a new move wasn't entirely accurate. Although soothing emotions and transmitting hope were signature skills of the Blue Lantern Corps, Orin Vale had learned similar moves long ago. The function of a Blue Power Ring was actually somewhat similar to the purification techniques of Master Gao, Ultraman Cosmos. While their methods of application were different, they shared some common ground.
It was one thing that the construct of his own inner darkness was instantly obliterated, but he'd genuinely never anticipated accidentally snatching the answer to someone else's test question.
The two Guardians were also quite amazed, but they had no objections. This was far from the first routine assessment for prospective corps members. If this test was disrupted, they could simply conduct it again next time. In contrast, it was Orin Vale's series of abnormal performances that intrigued them more.
The third and final test was the soul of every Color Lantern Corps, an indispensable element—the oath.
Just like the Green Lantern Corps' widely known oath, all the Color Lantern Corps had a similar one. During legion meetings and team-building exercises, all members were often required to recite the oath together. The oath was also needed to trigger the charging of a power ring, and more importantly, reciting it could facilitate a power burst whenever a Lantern found themselves in a dire situation.
Orin Vale deduced that the oath likely functioned as a form of psychological suggestion—an artificially set switch for the spirit. The oath could deepen a member's sense of collective honor for their lantern corps and strengthen the corresponding emotional energy within them. Take the most common Green Lanterns, for example: the psychological suggestion from reciting the oath strengthened their willpower, which was why they could so frequently achieve willpower-fueled power bursts.
And the final assessment required each person to wear a power ring, face the Blue Lantern Corps' Central Battery, and achieve resonance with the Hope Spectrum by reciting the oath.
The group followed the two Guardians and arrived at the very center of Planet Odym.
A giant blue Power Battery, as tall as a skyscraper, stood in the center of the planet amidst the jungle. A blue flame burned fiercely within the Power Battery, and a pillar of light shot up from its top, piercing the atmosphere and heading deep into the universe.
It was like a lighthouse of hope, spreading its brilliance throughout the universe.
He finally saw the legendary Central Battery. Orin Vale landed beside it, reaching out to touch its icy-blue shell.
Unexpectedly, for a nearly infinite energy source, it wasn't hot at all. The shell, made of power ring alloy, even had a refreshingly cool feel to it.
Orin Vale tried to extend his consciousness, linking it to the inside of the Power Battery to feel the unquenchable fire of hope, trace its origin, and its connection to the Emotional Spectrum.
He had already used his super speed to read through a vast amount of literature on the technology of the Emotional Spectrum and had consulted Ganthet extensively. Although he couldn't compare to an authority on power rings like a Guardian, he was no longer completely in the dark in this domain. He now understood quite a bit.
His light-quantum brain operated at full speed, like a supercomputer at maximum capacity, rapidly analyzing the workings of the Central Battery.
Everyone put on a test Blue Power Ring. Ganthet stood on high ground, raising his hands. "Now, Blue Lanterns, light up your brilliance!"
With solemn and devout expressions, the new recruits all raised their fists, pointing the power rings on their hands toward the Central Battery.
They recited the oath in unison, as earnestly as a group of pilgrims.
"In fearful day, in agonizing night, let blazing flames repel the biting cold.
When all are lost in the calamity of war,
look to the stars—for the light of hope never dies!"
As the oath concluded, the power ring in each person's hand seemed to flicker, as if striking a tiny blue spark.
The elephant-faced new recruit, Brother Warth, beamed with joy. "Success! We've lit our power rings—"
Before he could finish, everyone felt a powerful impact surge beside them, spreading out like a gale as a blue light beam erupted from their midst, soaring into the sky!
Everyone turned to look in that direction, completely stunned.
Orin Vale's figure had somehow floated into mid-air, completely enveloped in an endless blue radiance. The surging light erupted like a storm, releasing a skyward pillar of light parallel to the one from the Central Battery.
"This energy..." Sayd looked at Ganthet again in astonishment.
"Is... is this the amount of energy a single power ring should possess?"
"No..." Ganthet was also surprised at first—the sudden energy reading had indeed surpassed the designed upper output limit of a single power ring. But a moment later, he realized that wasn't the most important point.
"Have you noticed... he's not using a power ring at all," Ganthet said. "He isn't connected to the Central Battery we built."
Sayd froze.
Only then did she notice he was right. Orin Vale hadn't connected to the Central Battery at all; the blue light was erupting from his own body.
"But... how is that possible?" Sayd asked, stunned.
All the technology and equipment of every lantern corps was built upon the foundation of a Central Battery. Whether it was power rings, power batteries, or even other equipment like spaceships and energy firearms, all their energy came from a Central Battery.
Doesn't that mean...
"He's become a walking Central Battery himself?"
The moment the words left her mouth, even Sayd herself thought they sounded absurd.
She couldn't help but give Ganthet another strange look. "We only know of one person who could do such a thing."
Ganthet seem to understand her meaning. His expression changed slightly, and his body gave an imperceptible shudder.
They only knew of one person who could draw upon and wield the energy of the Emotional Spectrum with their own body, without the aid of any tool.
A name that was taboo among the Guardians, one tied to the darkest secret of the Lanterns' birth in ancient times.
Volthoom, the First Lantern, the origin of all Emotional Spectrum technology in the universe. Even the Guardians' own spectrum technology had originally come from him.
He was the only being capable of mastering the entire Emotional Spectrum at will. His power was beyond description; he could reshape Reality, rewrite timelines, possessed infinite life and infinite power, and had transcended the shackles of time-space and reality, making him more powerful than many legendary gods.
"You mean to say..." Ganthet's gaze flickered as he looked at Sayd.
The two Guardians looked at each other, speechless for a moment.
Nothing more needed to be said; they both understood the other's meaning.
This creature of light... if, one day, he could also master the entire Emotional Spectrum, would he perhaps become like the First Lantern?
Exchanging a glance, Sayd shook her head.
No, that was too dangerous.
The Emotional Spectrum represented more than just power; the emotions it embodied would in turn influence the light wielder, and it contained negative emotions such as Rage, Greed, and Fear.
Wielding the seven lantern energies simultaneously was a nearly impossible feat. The First Lantern of old had managed it, but he eventually went mad, transforming into something truly terrifying.
Ganthet exchanged a look with her and nodded slightly in agreement.
It was too early to discuss such things. The Emotional Spectrum was far too dangerous for any creature; this required long-term consideration.
For now, however, Orin Vale felt that he had at least gained a glimpse of the path when it came to the hope-fueled powers of the Blue Lantern Corps.
But the Blue Lantern recruits next to him were once again dumbfounded.
Wait a minute, we all agreed to charge our rings, so how did you end up becoming the battery?
The Blue Lanterns looked at one another, their faces a mask of complete bewilderment.
Their expressions seemed to pose a question.
Does this mean from now on, we have to recite the oath to *him*?
(end of chapter)
