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Chapter 321: The Zamarons
"Meow~"
Streaky was lying on the ground, pouting unhappily.
So much tasty food, so much happiness... and then *pop*, it was all gone just like that.
The cat was furious.
"Alright, stop whining."
Kara said, comforting Streaky while dragging the tightly bound Maxima with one hand.
"At worst, we can just have the Old Wizard make some for you when we get back."
Streaky quickly stuck out a claw and gestured, "Meow meow meow!"
"Okay, abalone is fine too," Kara nodded. "If that doesn't work, I'll buy it for you. I've got plenty of allowance money lately."
Streaky's eyes lit up, and he held out another claw. "Meow meow meow!"
Kara's eyebrow twitched. "Pushing your luck, are we? Then forget it, I'm not buying you anything."
"Meow!"
Streaky was terrified. He quickly hugged her snow-white long legs, rubbing and nuzzling against them. In the end, he had to sell his body, promising to let her have free rein to pet him for a full half-hour while he read, just to secure his extra meal.
Just then, an afterimage flew in from the horizon. Kara turned at the sound, only to see Orin Vale's figure emerge from an otherworldly flash of electric light.
"Ah, y-you're here?"
"I just got back from Central City. I heard the commotion over here and decided to drop by."
Orin Vale glanced at the scene. An unconscious Maxima, a rather shoddy binding job, dangling in the air as Kara held her...
"Ah, wait, it's not what it looks like."
"No need to explain," Orin Vale said, waving his hand.
Kara grew anxious. "It's really not what you think..."
"No, what I mean is, let's talk when we get back." Orin Vale turned to look at the sky. "Someone's here."
"Eh?"
Kara was stunned. She looked up and saw a mass of violet light descending from the sky. An energy blast from a Star Sapphire swept close to the ground, and several blue-skinned, noseless women in strange armor slowly descended on a violet glow.
"The Zamarons." Orin Vale immediately recognized their identities.
The Zamarons. Many years ago, they were female members of the Green Lantern Corps' Guardians of the Universe. However, they later split due to disagreements with the current Guardians over the Emotional Spectrum. They then traveled the universe and discovered the power of the Star Sapphire, eventually establishing the Star Sapphire Corps—the Lantern Corps of the violet spectrum.
A violet light flashed over the unconscious Maxima. The Star Sapphire that had been drawn into her heart suddenly flew out and hovered behind the lead Zamaron who had just landed.
"We tracked the Star Sapphire's trail here..." The Zamaron's gaze swept over Orin Vale and Kara. "Why do you reject the power of love, Earthling? Love is the ultimate answer to everything..."
"If this 'love' you speak of means being eternally frozen inside a small crystal, with life brought to a permanent standstill, then I'll pass," Orin Vale said coldly.
Looks of astonishment flashed in the Zamarons' eyes.
None of the Guardian races were ever easy to deal with. Just as the Green Lantern Corps had their troublemaking Little Blue Men, their violet counterparts were no better. For some reason, this group of Zamarons had a very strange understanding of love. They believed its ultimate form was to be sealed within a violet crystal of love, eternally stagnant, never to age.
Their ultimate goal was for the entire universe to be sealed within those static crystals of love. That way, the whole universe could be immersed in an ocean of love, existing for eternity.
But they had remained reclusive on their home planet for so many years. How could anyone possibly know all this?
"I know you believe you're doing a good thing, but the Emotional Spectrum is a very dangerous power—I trust I don't need to remind you of that," Orin Vale said. "The farther a power is from the center of the spectrum, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Powers like the Green and Blue Light, located at the spectrum's center, have the least backlash against their wielders. But what you are trying to master is the Violet Light, which lies at the farthest edge of the spectrum and has the most severe backlash."
"So, use the knowledge from your countless ages of research into the spectrum and think hard. Is this so-called ultimate goal of yours truly your own idea... or is it the Star Sapphire's?"
The Zamarons exchanged glances, quickly seeing the same decision reflected in each other's eyes.
"Everyone will receive the blessing of love, whether they are willing or not..."
All the Zamarons brandished their weapons in unison. It seemed the Star Sapphire Corps had not yet fully formed at this point, as they weren't wielding the power rings they would adopt later, but rather some kind of staff that could draw energy from the Star Sapphire.
Their staffs locked onto Orin Vale in unison.
"And you? You know too much. You must be the first to receive this blessing."
Kara stepped forward to help, but Orin Vale stopped her with a hand gesture. He stood his ground, calmly watching the group of Zamarons.
"If you think you can do it, feel free to try."
"...With pleasure."
At that same instant, almost all the Zamarons opened fire together. Beams of violet love-light shot from the tips of their staffs, converging on Orin Vale.
Almost all the Zamarons, except for one.
The lead Zamaron noticed something was wrong in the instant before she fired.
Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the scene behind Orin Vale: the streets shattered by the aftershocks of the earlier fight, the primitive brick-and-stone Earth structures further back, and on one of the buildings, an object that Earthlings called a "clock."
The Star Sapphire, much like a Green Lantern Ring, granted its user the abilities of "translation" and "local cognition," allowing them to translate the languages and scripts of any planet in the universe into a familiar form.
So when this Zamaron saw the object on the building known as a "clock," her pupils contracted. She immediately realized something was wrong.
The numbers on the clock were backward.
Like a reflection in a mirror.
"Cease fire! Cease fire immediately!"
The Zamaron leader yelled the instant she realized something was amiss.
"The enemy has set a trap..."
But it was too late. All the other Zamarons had already fired. The violet light of the Star Sapphire shot toward Orin Vale, only to slam into an invisible barrier less than a meter in front of him.
"Oh? You actually noticed. Your senses are sharper than I imagined," Orin Vale said with a slight smile. "But unfortunately, you're a little too late..."
It was a mirror.
But this was no ordinary mirror. It was a special one that Orin Vale had created by modifying his Ultra Barrier technique. If one had to describe it, it was a bit like those bizarre items like saws and the Ultra Bucket that Ultraman Taro used to conjure from his bracelet in the old TV show.
This was one of the new results of Orin Vale's research into the Emotional Spectrum, inspired by the design of the Manhunters' "Anti-Green Lantern Equipment." He called it the "Ultra Reflection Mirror."
Its effect was just as the name suggested. Being a mirror, it was, of course, meant for reflection.
It was particularly adept at reflecting light rays from the Emotional Spectrum.
Every ray of violet light shot at Orin Vale was spectacularly reflected by the mirror, striking the unprepared Zamarons head-on. In a flash, the Zamarons who had fired were all struck by their own violet light!
"Detecting intense love..."
"Detecting intense love..."
"..."
The Star Sapphire spoke in a cold, female voice.
The Star Sapphire was a weapon, a tool, operating in strict accordance with its inherent programming. The capture beams it fired showed no mercy, even when their target was their own user.
"Do not worry," the Star Sapphire continued, "Now... you possess eternal love. And love... will conquer all."
As its voice faded, the Zamarons were encased in violet crystal, perfectly frozen in the pose of extending their staffs. They stood fixed in place, like glittering, translucent statues.
Only the lone leader remained, her eyes wide in horror.
"No!!!"
(end of chapter)
"Meow~"
Streaky was lying on the ground, pouting unhappily.
So much tasty food, so much happiness... and then *pop*, it was all gone just like that.
The cat was furious.
"Alright, stop whining."
Kara said, comforting Streaky while dragging the tightly bound Maxima with one hand.
"At worst, we can just have the Old Wizard make some for you when we get back."
Streaky quickly stuck out a claw and gestured, "Meow meow meow!"
"Okay, abalone is fine too," Kara nodded. "If that doesn't work, I'll buy it for you. I've got plenty of allowance money lately."
Streaky's eyes lit up, and he held out another claw. "Meow meow meow!"
Kara's eyebrow twitched. "Pushing your luck, are we? Then forget it, I'm not buying you anything."
"Meow!"
Streaky was terrified. He quickly hugged her snow-white long legs, rubbing and nuzzling against them. In the end, he had to sell his body, promising to let her have free rein to pet him for a full half-hour while he read, just to secure his extra meal.
Just then, an afterimage flew in from the horizon. Kara turned at the sound, only to see Orin Vale's figure emerge from an otherworldly flash of electric light.
"Ah, y-you're here?"
"I just got back from Central City. I heard the commotion over here and decided to drop by."
Orin Vale glanced at the scene. An unconscious Maxima, a rather shoddy binding job, dangling in the air as Kara held her...
"Ah, wait, it's not what it looks like."
"No need to explain," Orin Vale said, waving his hand.
Kara grew anxious. "It's really not what you think..."
"No, what I mean is, let's talk when we get back." Orin Vale turned to look at the sky. "Someone's here."
"Eh?"
Kara was stunned. She looked up and saw a mass of violet light descending from the sky. An energy blast from a Star Sapphire swept close to the ground, and several blue-skinned, noseless women in strange armor slowly descended on a violet glow.
"The Zamarons." Orin Vale immediately recognized their identities.
The Zamarons. Many years ago, they were female members of the Green Lantern Corps' Guardians of the Universe. However, they later split due to disagreements with the current Guardians over the Emotional Spectrum. They then traveled the universe and discovered the power of the Star Sapphire, eventually establishing the Star Sapphire Corps—the Lantern Corps of the violet spectrum.
A violet light flashed over the unconscious Maxima. The Star Sapphire that had been drawn into her heart suddenly flew out and hovered behind the lead Zamaron who had just landed.
"We tracked the Star Sapphire's trail here..." The Zamaron's gaze swept over Orin Vale and Kara. "Why do you reject the power of love, Earthling? Love is the ultimate answer to everything..."
"If this 'love' you speak of means being eternally frozen inside a small crystal, with life brought to a permanent standstill, then I'll pass," Orin Vale said coldly.
Looks of astonishment flashed in the Zamarons' eyes.
None of the Guardian races were ever easy to deal with. Just as the Green Lantern Corps had their troublemaking Little Blue Men, their violet counterparts were no better. For some reason, this group of Zamarons had a very strange understanding of love. They believed its ultimate form was to be sealed within a violet crystal of love, eternally stagnant, never to age.
Their ultimate goal was for the entire universe to be sealed within those static crystals of love. That way, the whole universe could be immersed in an ocean of love, existing for eternity.
But they had remained reclusive on their home planet for so many years. How could anyone possibly know all this?
"I know you believe you're doing a good thing, but the Emotional Spectrum is a very dangerous power—I trust I don't need to remind you of that," Orin Vale said. "The farther a power is from the center of the spectrum, the more dangerous it becomes."
"Powers like the Green and Blue Light, located at the spectrum's center, have the least backlash against their wielders. But what you are trying to master is the Violet Light, which lies at the farthest edge of the spectrum and has the most severe backlash."
"So, use the knowledge from your countless ages of research into the spectrum and think hard. Is this so-called ultimate goal of yours truly your own idea... or is it the Star Sapphire's?"
The Zamarons exchanged glances, quickly seeing the same decision reflected in each other's eyes.
"Everyone will receive the blessing of love, whether they are willing or not..."
All the Zamarons brandished their weapons in unison. It seemed the Star Sapphire Corps had not yet fully formed at this point, as they weren't wielding the power rings they would adopt later, but rather some kind of staff that could draw energy from the Star Sapphire.
Their staffs locked onto Orin Vale in unison.
"And you? You know too much. You must be the first to receive this blessing."
Kara stepped forward to help, but Orin Vale stopped her with a hand gesture. He stood his ground, calmly watching the group of Zamarons.
"If you think you can do it, feel free to try."
"...With pleasure."
At that same instant, almost all the Zamarons opened fire together. Beams of violet love-light shot from the tips of their staffs, converging on Orin Vale.
Almost all the Zamarons, except for one.
The lead Zamaron noticed something was wrong in the instant before she fired.
Her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the scene behind Orin Vale: the streets shattered by the aftershocks of the earlier fight, the primitive brick-and-stone Earth structures further back, and on one of the buildings, an object that Earthlings called a "clock."
The Star Sapphire, much like a Green Lantern Ring, granted its user the abilities of "translation" and "local cognition," allowing them to translate the languages and scripts of any planet in the universe into a familiar form.
So when this Zamaron saw the object on the building known as a "clock," her pupils contracted. She immediately realized something was wrong.
The numbers on the clock were backward.
Like a reflection in a mirror.
"Cease fire! Cease fire immediately!"
The Zamaron leader yelled the instant she realized something was amiss.
"The enemy has set a trap..."
But it was too late. All the other Zamarons had already fired. The violet light of the Star Sapphire shot toward Orin Vale, only to slam into an invisible barrier less than a meter in front of him.
"Oh? You actually noticed. Your senses are sharper than I imagined," Orin Vale said with a slight smile. "But unfortunately, you're a little too late..."
It was a mirror.
But this was no ordinary mirror. It was a special one that Orin Vale had created by modifying his Ultra Barrier technique. If one had to describe it, it was a bit like those bizarre items like saws and the Ultra Bucket that Ultraman Taro used to conjure from his bracelet in the old TV show.
This was one of the new results of Orin Vale's research into the Emotional Spectrum, inspired by the design of the Manhunters' "Anti-Green Lantern Equipment." He called it the "Ultra Reflection Mirror."
Its effect was just as the name suggested. Being a mirror, it was, of course, meant for reflection.
It was particularly adept at reflecting light rays from the Emotional Spectrum.
Every ray of violet light shot at Orin Vale was spectacularly reflected by the mirror, striking the unprepared Zamarons head-on. In a flash, the Zamarons who had fired were all struck by their own violet light!
"Detecting intense love..."
"Detecting intense love..."
"..."
The Star Sapphire spoke in a cold, female voice.
The Star Sapphire was a weapon, a tool, operating in strict accordance with its inherent programming. The capture beams it fired showed no mercy, even when their target was their own user.
"Do not worry," the Star Sapphire continued, "Now... you possess eternal love. And love... will conquer all."
As its voice faded, the Zamarons were encased in violet crystal, perfectly frozen in the pose of extending their staffs. They stood fixed in place, like glittering, translucent statues.
Only the lone leader remained, her eyes wide in horror.
"No!!!"
(end of chapter)
