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Chapter 205: Rebirth
“Of course, Walker.” Ganthet floated up and patted his shoulder.
“You can go back anytime. Has the situation on your homeworld worsened?”
“Yes. Our water is dwindling, and our resources are being consumed at a rapid rate. The sun's condition worsens every day… but at least the good news is, they're finally starting to listen to me now.”
“I am sorry to hear that, Walker. We are doing our utmost to develop new rings,” Ganthet said. “Perhaps we can find a way—”
“It's alright, Master.” Saint Walker smiled. “As you often tell us, all will be well. Even in the face of destruction, we will not give up hope. I will share their fate, and give them as much hope as I can until the very last moment.”
Orin Vale, who had just been listening on the side, couldn't help but speak up. "Your planet, it sounds like it's on the verge of destruction?"
“Not our planet, but our sun,” Saint Walker said. “But as a chain reaction, yes.”
The destruction of a star made Orin Vale think of Krypton. It seemed Krypton's demise was also related to problems with its star.
Orin Vale quickly recalled that his research into the Blue Lantern's light this past month seemed to have uncovered a related ability—to reignite stars.
In the original story's description of the abilities of the seven lights, it was said this was unique to the Blue Lanterns, capable of reviving dying stars. In the Blue Lanterns' origin story, Astonia was saved by Saint Walker. He was the first Blue Lantern in history. After obtaining his power ring, he used the Light of Hope to reignite the sun, becoming the "Messiah," the savior prophesied in the sacred texts passed down through generations.
The Blue Lantern's light itself possessed this attribute; Orin Vale just hadn't had the chance to find a star to test it on yet.
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
“I'll go with you,” Orin Vale said, standing up. “Let's see what I can do.”
Saint Walker obviously interpreted his words as an offer to help maintain order on the planet and didn't pay it much mind. He expressed his gratitude, and the two immediately set off on their journey to Astonia.
With Orin Vale leading the way, there was naturally no need for a spaceship. Astonia was located in Sector One, the same sector as Odym. With a single interstellar jump, Orin Vale brought Saint Walker back to his home planet.
The moment he landed, the inhabitants quickly gathered around.
Orin Vale soon saw that to this planet, Saint Walker was not just a leader, but the very embodiment of faith for these weathered refugees.
When the apocalypse first arrived, this place was as chaotic as a scene from an Earth doomsday movie, with rioting, looting, and arson. But Saint Walker spoke everywhere, day and night, speaking ceaselessly until people began to listen. He continued until more and more people listened, and fewer and fewer caused chaos.
“Chapter Three, Verse 113.”
Saint Walker stood before a dilapidated church, his compatriots surrounding him, listening.
“Treat every day as if it were the first and the last, for they are all worthy of celebration. And when you face the end, we will face it together...”
It had to be said, there was a reason Saint Walker could become the leader of the Blue Lantern Corps. He had lost his entire family yet could still maintain hope in his heart, even creating such a harmonious and mutually supportive apocalyptic environment. This state of mind and talent could almost be called a superpower.
He had reignited the light in every despairing soul.
“Every day is a gift,” Saint Walker said. “All will be well.”
Everyone said in unison, “All will be well.”
It was in the instant those words were spoken.
A pillar of light shot up into the sky.
Everyone involuntarily turned their heads, and upon seeing the figure brought by the light, their mouths fell open.
A giant.
Appearing from a radiant glow, a miraculous Giant of Light.
The light gradually dissipated, and a red-and-silver giant stood tall upon the ground. It turned its head, its profile looking down at the crowd below. Wisps of smoke swirled around it, and a divine radiance shone from its golden eyes.
He gave a slight nod.
Only then did the people realize he was acknowledging Saint Walker.
The next moment, the giant shot into the sky. It flew off the ground, creating a transparent sonic boom in mid-air. Lightning radiated from its body as it charged toward the red-hot sun.
Countless bewildered gazes turned to Saint Walker, as if seeking an explanation. But Saint Walker himself looked utterly baffled.
He was a little uncertain. “M-Mr. Orin Vale?”
“Look!”
Someone pointed to the sky, their voice distorted with joyful surprise.
Everyone followed the voice and looked up, witnessing a joyous sight.
The sun, a symbol of despair, its red-hot glow seeming to annihilate everything, suddenly began... to turn blue.
The searing heat vanished. It was as if blue ripples bloomed from the scorching center, spreading bit by bit until they had suffused the entire star.
Warm, peaceful, a miraculous azure radiance that seemed to possess a magic that soothed the soul.
A blue star, from destruction to rebirth.
“G-God...”
Someone uttered mechanically.
Yes, only a divine miracle could explain it. Reviving a dying star, single-handedly dragging a dying galaxy—one that already had one foot in the grave—back from the brink. It was beyond the limits of the Astonians' imagination.
It wasn't just a revival. The radiance released by the newborn sun at that moment enveloped the entire planet, sprinkling the light called hope into everyone's hearts.
Saint Walker's eyes widened, his clear pupils clearly reflecting the figures he had longed to see day and night.
Constructs formed from the blue light—his father, his wife, and his children.
“You make me proud, son. You always have, and you always will,” his father said with a kind smile.
His wife reached out and gently caressed his face. The hand, a construct of blue light, felt exactly like the touch of his beloved wife from his memory. Her expression was so vivid, her eyes seemed to speak.
“I love you, Walker,” she said softly. “Always.”
“We'll see each other again in the next life, Dad,” his son said with a brilliant smile.
His daughter hugged him tightly, just as she used to when she cuddled up to him.
“All will be well.”
Tears streamed down Saint Walker's face as he embraced them all.
“Yes... all will be well.”
It wasn't just him. In the instant the light shone down, everyone who had survived the apocalypse saw their own hope. Some wept with joy, others wailed loudly. An entire world had passed from an age of doomsday into an era of hope. Everything was well again.
From this day forward, the scene of this moment was forever recorded in the sacred text of Astonia, to be passed down for all time.
Looking up at the stars, what people saw was a boundless, star-filled space that filled everyone with longing, and the blue star that had been granted new life along with their planet.
And most importantly, the miraculous Giant of Light, descending slowly amidst the radiance, shining among the stars.
“The Messiah...” Someone looked at Saint Walker. “That's the Savior... the Messiah you've always told us about, isn't it? Because we didn't give up Hope, he finally came to save us, right?”
Saint Walker wiped away his tears.
“No, he is my friend. He told me his name.”
Saint Walker smiled faintly. And the name he spoke would also be entered into the new sacred text, to be passed down through the generations on Astonia.
“Ultraman.”
(end of chapter )
“Of course, Walker.” Ganthet floated up and patted his shoulder.
“You can go back anytime. Has the situation on your homeworld worsened?”
“Yes. Our water is dwindling, and our resources are being consumed at a rapid rate. The sun's condition worsens every day… but at least the good news is, they're finally starting to listen to me now.”
“I am sorry to hear that, Walker. We are doing our utmost to develop new rings,” Ganthet said. “Perhaps we can find a way—”
“It's alright, Master.” Saint Walker smiled. “As you often tell us, all will be well. Even in the face of destruction, we will not give up hope. I will share their fate, and give them as much hope as I can until the very last moment.”
Orin Vale, who had just been listening on the side, couldn't help but speak up. "Your planet, it sounds like it's on the verge of destruction?"
“Not our planet, but our sun,” Saint Walker said. “But as a chain reaction, yes.”
The destruction of a star made Orin Vale think of Krypton. It seemed Krypton's demise was also related to problems with its star.
Orin Vale quickly recalled that his research into the Blue Lantern's light this past month seemed to have uncovered a related ability—to reignite stars.
In the original story's description of the abilities of the seven lights, it was said this was unique to the Blue Lanterns, capable of reviving dying stars. In the Blue Lanterns' origin story, Astonia was saved by Saint Walker. He was the first Blue Lantern in history. After obtaining his power ring, he used the Light of Hope to reignite the sun, becoming the "Messiah," the savior prophesied in the sacred texts passed down through generations.
The Blue Lantern's light itself possessed this attribute; Orin Vale just hadn't had the chance to find a star to test it on yet.
Perhaps this was an opportunity.
“I'll go with you,” Orin Vale said, standing up. “Let's see what I can do.”
Saint Walker obviously interpreted his words as an offer to help maintain order on the planet and didn't pay it much mind. He expressed his gratitude, and the two immediately set off on their journey to Astonia.
With Orin Vale leading the way, there was naturally no need for a spaceship. Astonia was located in Sector One, the same sector as Odym. With a single interstellar jump, Orin Vale brought Saint Walker back to his home planet.
The moment he landed, the inhabitants quickly gathered around.
Orin Vale soon saw that to this planet, Saint Walker was not just a leader, but the very embodiment of faith for these weathered refugees.
When the apocalypse first arrived, this place was as chaotic as a scene from an Earth doomsday movie, with rioting, looting, and arson. But Saint Walker spoke everywhere, day and night, speaking ceaselessly until people began to listen. He continued until more and more people listened, and fewer and fewer caused chaos.
“Chapter Three, Verse 113.”
Saint Walker stood before a dilapidated church, his compatriots surrounding him, listening.
“Treat every day as if it were the first and the last, for they are all worthy of celebration. And when you face the end, we will face it together...”
It had to be said, there was a reason Saint Walker could become the leader of the Blue Lantern Corps. He had lost his entire family yet could still maintain hope in his heart, even creating such a harmonious and mutually supportive apocalyptic environment. This state of mind and talent could almost be called a superpower.
He had reignited the light in every despairing soul.
“Every day is a gift,” Saint Walker said. “All will be well.”
Everyone said in unison, “All will be well.”
It was in the instant those words were spoken.
A pillar of light shot up into the sky.
Everyone involuntarily turned their heads, and upon seeing the figure brought by the light, their mouths fell open.
A giant.
Appearing from a radiant glow, a miraculous Giant of Light.
The light gradually dissipated, and a red-and-silver giant stood tall upon the ground. It turned its head, its profile looking down at the crowd below. Wisps of smoke swirled around it, and a divine radiance shone from its golden eyes.
He gave a slight nod.
Only then did the people realize he was acknowledging Saint Walker.
The next moment, the giant shot into the sky. It flew off the ground, creating a transparent sonic boom in mid-air. Lightning radiated from its body as it charged toward the red-hot sun.
Countless bewildered gazes turned to Saint Walker, as if seeking an explanation. But Saint Walker himself looked utterly baffled.
He was a little uncertain. “M-Mr. Orin Vale?”
“Look!”
Someone pointed to the sky, their voice distorted with joyful surprise.
Everyone followed the voice and looked up, witnessing a joyous sight.
The sun, a symbol of despair, its red-hot glow seeming to annihilate everything, suddenly began... to turn blue.
The searing heat vanished. It was as if blue ripples bloomed from the scorching center, spreading bit by bit until they had suffused the entire star.
Warm, peaceful, a miraculous azure radiance that seemed to possess a magic that soothed the soul.
A blue star, from destruction to rebirth.
“G-God...”
Someone uttered mechanically.
Yes, only a divine miracle could explain it. Reviving a dying star, single-handedly dragging a dying galaxy—one that already had one foot in the grave—back from the brink. It was beyond the limits of the Astonians' imagination.
It wasn't just a revival. The radiance released by the newborn sun at that moment enveloped the entire planet, sprinkling the light called hope into everyone's hearts.
Saint Walker's eyes widened, his clear pupils clearly reflecting the figures he had longed to see day and night.
Constructs formed from the blue light—his father, his wife, and his children.
“You make me proud, son. You always have, and you always will,” his father said with a kind smile.
His wife reached out and gently caressed his face. The hand, a construct of blue light, felt exactly like the touch of his beloved wife from his memory. Her expression was so vivid, her eyes seemed to speak.
“I love you, Walker,” she said softly. “Always.”
“We'll see each other again in the next life, Dad,” his son said with a brilliant smile.
His daughter hugged him tightly, just as she used to when she cuddled up to him.
“All will be well.”
Tears streamed down Saint Walker's face as he embraced them all.
“Yes... all will be well.”
It wasn't just him. In the instant the light shone down, everyone who had survived the apocalypse saw their own hope. Some wept with joy, others wailed loudly. An entire world had passed from an age of doomsday into an era of hope. Everything was well again.
From this day forward, the scene of this moment was forever recorded in the sacred text of Astonia, to be passed down for all time.
Looking up at the stars, what people saw was a boundless, star-filled space that filled everyone with longing, and the blue star that had been granted new life along with their planet.
And most importantly, the miraculous Giant of Light, descending slowly amidst the radiance, shining among the stars.
“The Messiah...” Someone looked at Saint Walker. “That's the Savior... the Messiah you've always told us about, isn't it? Because we didn't give up Hope, he finally came to save us, right?”
Saint Walker wiped away his tears.
“No, he is my friend. He told me his name.”
Saint Walker smiled faintly. And the name he spoke would also be entered into the new sacred text, to be passed down through the generations on Astonia.
“Ultraman.”
(end of chapter )
