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Chapter 346: Frozen Solid
Planet Avadel.
"Green Lantern 2315, come in."
Hal and a few Green Lanterns in the vanguard flew into the atmosphere and were quickly caught in an extremely cold whirlwind. They tried to call out, but even the signals they sent seemed to be swallowed by the endless blizzard.
An entire white planet, covered in a thick layer of snow, resembled a giant snowball. Under the light of a distant star, the snow shimmered coldly, adding a touch of mystery and magnificence to the desolate planet.
It was a bizarrely cold place, where almost no signs of life could be detected. Everything was frozen solid, like an ice crystal pendant hanging in the universe.
"Would Sinestro really hide in a place like this?" a Green Lantern asked doubtfully.
"This place is practically a 'forbidden zone' for life, isn't it?"
"Don't underestimate Sinestro. A place like this might be perfect for hiding," another Green Lantern suggested. "Let's split up and search."
Hal initially thought that this kind of "let's split up" suggestion was usually the beginning of a total party kill in Earth's horror movies. But on second thought, they were all Green Lanterns, wielding what was reputed to be the "most powerful weapon in the universe." Even if something went wrong, they could instantly contact their teammates, and with the flight speed granted by their Power Rings, everyone could rush to provide support immediately.
With that in mind, it didn't seem like a big problem, so he kept quiet.
Temporarily split up, Hal forged ahead through the wind and snow, his Power Ring constantly scanning for any trace. The barrier of green light kept the fierce gale and heavy snow at bay.
However, after flying for only a short while, he bizarrely started to feel a bit cold.
At first, Hal thought it was just his imagination, but he soon discovered it wasn't. The freezing sensation felt like a thousand sharp needles piercing his skin, as if his very bones were being frozen solid.
But how was that possible?
He was wearing his Green Lantern Power Ring, which was supposed to allow its wielder to operate in any extreme environment. Regardless of the external temperature, the force field of the Power Ring should have maintained a constant temperature.
"Ring, report external temperature."
"Error. Temperature is below the minimum threshold. Measurement failed."
Hal was utterly astonished. It was true he wasn't a great student, but he didn't need to be a physics expert to know about the concept of "absolute zero." The theoretical minimum temperature was only -273.15 degrees Celsius, but that should have been well within the Power Ring's tolerance.
What the hell did "measurement failed" mean? That it was even lower than absolute zero?
But how was that possible?
The scan still yielded nothing, and the snowstorm obscured everything like a white curtain. Hal was beginning to feel that something was wrong.
"This is Hal, respond if you can hear me."
He tried to contact his teammates, but the Power Ring's signal was like a stone sinking into the vast ocean of snow, with no response.
"This is Hal! Stewart? Tomar-Re? Boodikka? Is anyone there?"
He quickly turned around and flew at full speed towards the rendezvous point, continuously trying to call out. But there was still no reply.
After flying for about ten miles, his Power Ring finally detected the signal of another ring. It was very faint, as if it could be extinguished at any moment, but he had found it.
As Hal flew in that direction, he was stunned to find it was the Green Lantern who had come with him, Tomar-Re.
His entire body had been frozen into a crystalline ice sculpture.
At this point, Hal fully realized something was terribly wrong.
They had been attacked.
Although he couldn't see where the enemy was, nor did he know what methods they had used, there was no doubt that someone had set a trap here.
"This is Hal Jordan, we're under attack!"
He tried to contact the Green Lantern Corps Headquarters.
"Kilowog? Anyone? Does anyone hear me?"
But there was no reply from his ring. Instead, a hoarse, mechanical voice came from within the blizzard.
"They can't hear you. No one can, Green Lantern Hal Jordan."
Hal spun around abruptly, raising his nearly frozen-stiff arm as his Power Ring locked onto the newcomer's direction.
It was a machine.
A figure gradually emerged from the white curtain. Its body was smooth as a mirror, as if carved from a giant, transparent gem. It stood about three meters tall, like a huge iron tower, with a form similar to a human's, but its body structure was exceedingly complex.
"Hal Jordan, your willpower is admirable. Even among the elite of all Green Lanterns, only your will can resist the freezing of 'Absolute Frost'—though not for much longer."
Hal shouted, and a green ray shot out from his Power Ring. However, the robot simply raised a single palm, and the green beam was seemingly captured by ice crystals midway, freezing into an icicle in mid-air before shattering with a clang.
Hal was stunned. "Green Lantern energy... how is that possible?"
"I told you, even you cannot last much longer. Under the effect of 'Absolute Frost,' all things will freeze. Light is no exception," the robot said coldly. "This was originally designed for the being of light you call 'Ultraman.'
I have carefully studied all of his abilities. Most of them operate based on the conversion of light energy, but the nature of that light can be disrupted by a sufficiently low temperature.
Not only that, the 'Speed Force'-like energy he utilizes is also countered to some extent by low temperatures. 'Absolute Frost' can suppress his molecular frequency, and his speed will drop drastically."
"You were... designed to fight him?" Hal asked in surprise. "Who are you?"
"The collector of civilizations. I am Brainiac."
The robot slowly raised its arm, and a beam of absolute cold shot out from its palm.
"The Green Lantern Corps will also be added to my collection."
Hal hurriedly deployed a green light barrier, but the moment the beam struck, the barrier began to freeze. In an instant, ice crystals covered the entire shield and even began to spread toward his arm.
Hal quickly cut off the energy, his body lunging towards the robot in a streak of green light. Unexpectedly, the very space around his opponent seemed to be frozen, and with every inch he advanced, the pressure felt as if it were doubling.
By the time he reached the robot, Hal's entire body was covered in a layer of ice crystals. He felt several times heavier, his movements slowing as if in slow motion.
Brainiac threw a punch. The robot's fist, which seemed forged from ice crystals, struck Hal right on the bridge of his nose. Hal grunted and reeled back, his nose broken and gushing blood. Cracks spiderwebbed across his barrier.
"The freeze is slowing your speed. That last blow created a rift in your protective field, which will accelerate the freezing process. Your thought processes should also have slowed by now. Your ring's response time should now have a delay of more than three milliseconds," Brainiac stated.
"According to my calculations, your probability of victory is zero, Green Lantern Hal Jordan."
Hal fought against the freezing pressure on his body, taking a couple of deep breaths.
"I suggest you run those numbers again!"
He shot back up, the green light from his hand transforming into a cannon-like construct.
Only this time, what erupted from the barrel was not the green glow of willpower...
...but searing, churning magma!
(end of chapter)
Planet Avadel.
"Green Lantern 2315, come in."
Hal and a few Green Lanterns in the vanguard flew into the atmosphere and were quickly caught in an extremely cold whirlwind. They tried to call out, but even the signals they sent seemed to be swallowed by the endless blizzard.
An entire white planet, covered in a thick layer of snow, resembled a giant snowball. Under the light of a distant star, the snow shimmered coldly, adding a touch of mystery and magnificence to the desolate planet.
It was a bizarrely cold place, where almost no signs of life could be detected. Everything was frozen solid, like an ice crystal pendant hanging in the universe.
"Would Sinestro really hide in a place like this?" a Green Lantern asked doubtfully.
"This place is practically a 'forbidden zone' for life, isn't it?"
"Don't underestimate Sinestro. A place like this might be perfect for hiding," another Green Lantern suggested. "Let's split up and search."
Hal initially thought that this kind of "let's split up" suggestion was usually the beginning of a total party kill in Earth's horror movies. But on second thought, they were all Green Lanterns, wielding what was reputed to be the "most powerful weapon in the universe." Even if something went wrong, they could instantly contact their teammates, and with the flight speed granted by their Power Rings, everyone could rush to provide support immediately.
With that in mind, it didn't seem like a big problem, so he kept quiet.
Temporarily split up, Hal forged ahead through the wind and snow, his Power Ring constantly scanning for any trace. The barrier of green light kept the fierce gale and heavy snow at bay.
However, after flying for only a short while, he bizarrely started to feel a bit cold.
At first, Hal thought it was just his imagination, but he soon discovered it wasn't. The freezing sensation felt like a thousand sharp needles piercing his skin, as if his very bones were being frozen solid.
But how was that possible?
He was wearing his Green Lantern Power Ring, which was supposed to allow its wielder to operate in any extreme environment. Regardless of the external temperature, the force field of the Power Ring should have maintained a constant temperature.
"Ring, report external temperature."
"Error. Temperature is below the minimum threshold. Measurement failed."
Hal was utterly astonished. It was true he wasn't a great student, but he didn't need to be a physics expert to know about the concept of "absolute zero." The theoretical minimum temperature was only -273.15 degrees Celsius, but that should have been well within the Power Ring's tolerance.
What the hell did "measurement failed" mean? That it was even lower than absolute zero?
But how was that possible?
The scan still yielded nothing, and the snowstorm obscured everything like a white curtain. Hal was beginning to feel that something was wrong.
"This is Hal, respond if you can hear me."
He tried to contact his teammates, but the Power Ring's signal was like a stone sinking into the vast ocean of snow, with no response.
"This is Hal! Stewart? Tomar-Re? Boodikka? Is anyone there?"
He quickly turned around and flew at full speed towards the rendezvous point, continuously trying to call out. But there was still no reply.
After flying for about ten miles, his Power Ring finally detected the signal of another ring. It was very faint, as if it could be extinguished at any moment, but he had found it.
As Hal flew in that direction, he was stunned to find it was the Green Lantern who had come with him, Tomar-Re.
His entire body had been frozen into a crystalline ice sculpture.
At this point, Hal fully realized something was terribly wrong.
They had been attacked.
Although he couldn't see where the enemy was, nor did he know what methods they had used, there was no doubt that someone had set a trap here.
"This is Hal Jordan, we're under attack!"
He tried to contact the Green Lantern Corps Headquarters.
"Kilowog? Anyone? Does anyone hear me?"
But there was no reply from his ring. Instead, a hoarse, mechanical voice came from within the blizzard.
"They can't hear you. No one can, Green Lantern Hal Jordan."
Hal spun around abruptly, raising his nearly frozen-stiff arm as his Power Ring locked onto the newcomer's direction.
It was a machine.
A figure gradually emerged from the white curtain. Its body was smooth as a mirror, as if carved from a giant, transparent gem. It stood about three meters tall, like a huge iron tower, with a form similar to a human's, but its body structure was exceedingly complex.
"Hal Jordan, your willpower is admirable. Even among the elite of all Green Lanterns, only your will can resist the freezing of 'Absolute Frost'—though not for much longer."
Hal shouted, and a green ray shot out from his Power Ring. However, the robot simply raised a single palm, and the green beam was seemingly captured by ice crystals midway, freezing into an icicle in mid-air before shattering with a clang.
Hal was stunned. "Green Lantern energy... how is that possible?"
"I told you, even you cannot last much longer. Under the effect of 'Absolute Frost,' all things will freeze. Light is no exception," the robot said coldly. "This was originally designed for the being of light you call 'Ultraman.'
I have carefully studied all of his abilities. Most of them operate based on the conversion of light energy, but the nature of that light can be disrupted by a sufficiently low temperature.
Not only that, the 'Speed Force'-like energy he utilizes is also countered to some extent by low temperatures. 'Absolute Frost' can suppress his molecular frequency, and his speed will drop drastically."
"You were... designed to fight him?" Hal asked in surprise. "Who are you?"
"The collector of civilizations. I am Brainiac."
The robot slowly raised its arm, and a beam of absolute cold shot out from its palm.
"The Green Lantern Corps will also be added to my collection."
Hal hurriedly deployed a green light barrier, but the moment the beam struck, the barrier began to freeze. In an instant, ice crystals covered the entire shield and even began to spread toward his arm.
Hal quickly cut off the energy, his body lunging towards the robot in a streak of green light. Unexpectedly, the very space around his opponent seemed to be frozen, and with every inch he advanced, the pressure felt as if it were doubling.
By the time he reached the robot, Hal's entire body was covered in a layer of ice crystals. He felt several times heavier, his movements slowing as if in slow motion.
Brainiac threw a punch. The robot's fist, which seemed forged from ice crystals, struck Hal right on the bridge of his nose. Hal grunted and reeled back, his nose broken and gushing blood. Cracks spiderwebbed across his barrier.
"The freeze is slowing your speed. That last blow created a rift in your protective field, which will accelerate the freezing process. Your thought processes should also have slowed by now. Your ring's response time should now have a delay of more than three milliseconds," Brainiac stated.
"According to my calculations, your probability of victory is zero, Green Lantern Hal Jordan."
Hal fought against the freezing pressure on his body, taking a couple of deep breaths.
"I suggest you run those numbers again!"
He shot back up, the green light from his hand transforming into a cannon-like construct.
Only this time, what erupted from the barrel was not the green glow of willpower...
...but searing, churning magma!
(end of chapter)
