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Chapter 351: Change
"Intrusion alert!"
The Green Lantern Corps sounded the alarm, and all of Oa was in an uproar. Countless Lanterns took to the sky, rushing out beyond Oa's interstellar port, each on high alert.
They detected fear.
And it wasn't ordinary fear, but a fear energy far more powerful than that of a single Yellow Lantern. The Green Lanterns were already sensitive to the fear spectrum, not to mention during a special period like this, when tensions between the two sides were at a breaking point.
The first Green Lanterns to arrive were nearly petrified at the sight of the ferocious, blurry fear entity.
"Heavens, is that thing..."
"Parallax!?"
The vanguard Green Lanterns quickly reported back: "Emergency, we've found the fear entity! Repeat, we've found the fear entity! Suspected signal of an all-out enemy attack..."
However, the alarm within the Green Lantern communication channel suddenly vanished, and a majestic voice rang out: "False alarm. Stand down, Lanterns. That is an ally."
The Green Lantern Corps: "???"
The alarm had been deactivated, something only a Guardian possessed the authority to do. Without a doubt, the one who had just given the order was a Guardian, a leader with absolute say over the Green Lantern Corps.
At this point, most Green Lanterns still had absolute trust in the Guardians. They revered these Little Blue Men who had bestowed their power rings upon them as if they were gods. Mavericks like Hal, who were always questioning things, were a minority.
Even so, they still felt like they couldn't comprehend what they were hearing.
An ally? What did that mean?
That big, yellow, and ugly thing?
The Green Lanterns who heard this couldn't help but stare blankly at their colleagues, doubting their own ears.
Since when were these stern and humorless Little Blue Men in the mood to joke around?
But looking at Parallax again, it actually seemed somewhat friendly.
The Green Lantern squad led by Hal returned to Oa, accompanied by Orin Vale and the Guardian. Parallax, meanwhile, obediently remained outside, waving a claw at them in a temporary farewell.
It was as if to say, *Don't be nervous, I'll just hang around out here. I promise I won't go inside.*
*I absolutely won't cause any trouble within your Lantern Corps, and I certainly won't leave any weird things behind.*
Among the Green Lanterns emerging from Oa, Kilowog, leading at the very front, came forward to greet them. He gave Orin Vale, this outsider, a strange look, but considering he was accompanied by other Lanterns and a Guardian, he didn't ask further. He first bowed respectfully to the Guardian, then flew over to Hal.
"What's the situation? Don't tell me you went out and wrangled that bastard Sinestro's emotional entity. How did you do it?"
"It wasn't me. It was him, a friend of mine from Earth." Hal gestured toward Orin Vale and shrugged. "I'm still in shock myself. I never thought a Yellow Lantern's emotional entity could look so calm."
"Let's head back and talk more. We shouldn't keep our guest waiting out here."
Near Avadelle, one of the Yellow Lantern Corps strongholds.
"Everyone," a Yellow Lantern flew into the stronghold and clapped his hands to get the attention of the other Yellow Lanterns, "there's news about the ambush near Avadelle."
"The Green Lanterns took the bait. They charged head-on into the trap set by Brainiac. And among them was Hal Jordan, the one Lord Sinestro wants most!"
The Yellow Lanterns were greatly encouraged, and many cheered in unison, "Woo—"
"However," the Yellow Lantern's tone shifted, "that useless Brainiac talks a big game, but his plan was a total failure. All his mecha were destroyed, and the operation seems to have failed."
The Yellow Lanterns were instantly dejected, "Aww—"
The Yellow Lantern continued, "The attack on Oa yielded some results. Hal Jordan erupted with absurd combat power and fought his way out of our trap, but at least we still managed to catch a Guardian."
"Lord Sinestro was right. Those Guardians fear the power of our yellow spectrum most of all. That Guardian has been infected by fear beyond recovery and should now be a complete pawn for Lord Sinestro."
The combat power of a Guardian is top-tier within the corps, and as the founders of the Green Lantern Corps, they hold a revered status among many Lanterns. Capturing a Guardian is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Green Lantern Corps' morale. And for the Green Lantern Corps, which relies on willpower as its weapon, the chain reaction caused by a drop in morale will directly lead to a sharp decline in combat power.
The Yellow Lanterns couldn't help but cheer again, "Woo—"
However, before the cheers could even end, the Yellow Lantern threw cold water on them again. "But now there's a new problem. That Guardian seems to have gotten lost. We suddenly lost contact with him from headquarters, and his locator has failed."
"It's like he vanished into thin air. We have no idea where he's gone."
The Yellow Lanterns were vexed once more, "Aww—"
The Yellow Lantern added, "There's also intelligence that our fear spectrum's entity has finally appeared. Someone reported a suspected sighting of Parallax!"
Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up again.
An emotional entity is the embodiment of the emotion represented by each spectrum and is undoubtedly one of a Lantern Corps' greatest combat assets. For the fear entity to appear at this critical juncture is undoubtedly good news for the ongoing war. If they can control the entity for their own use, they will be invincible on the main battlefield against the Green Lantern Corps.
So, the Yellow Lanterns naturally cheered again, "Woo—"
Then, they heard the Yellow Lantern continue with a deadpan expression, "But the witness also said that Parallax seems to be hanging out with the Green Lanterns, and they're getting along quite harmoniously."
The Yellow Lanterns instinctively groaned, "Aww—"
However, after letting out this sigh, their minds turned, realizing something wasn't right.
"Wait a minute," one Yellow Lantern spotted the crucial point. "You said Parallax is... what?"
"Hanging out with a bunch of Green Lanterns. The kind where they're like sworn brothers."
The Yellow Lanterns: "???"
Oa, Council of the Guardians of the Universe.
The Guardians—the Little Blue Men—floated in the inner sanctum, arranged in a circle.
"Our brother has returned," a Guardian said. "And so has the unknown entity who defeated the Lord of Apocalypse, who now represents the Blue Lanterns."
"The fear entity is outside Oa. It seems Sinestro failed to gain its aid in this war," a Guardian stated.
"The various Lantern Corps are rising. The Blue Lantern Corps already possesses such immense power, and the light of the Violet Lantern Corps is also igniting," a Guardian said gravely. "At the same time, there are signs in this war that Sinestro has recruited powerful allies."
"The power of the Green Lantern Corps is no longer as mighty as it once was. We need to make a change."
"Indeed. Our former colleague, Ganthet, pointed out that we are cursed by fear. What could make the lackeys of fear happier than our inaction?" a Guardian said coldly, closing his eyes.
"We must thwart them. We must act, as bravely as our Green Lantern Corps."
The Guardians looked at each other, and after exchanging glances, they reached a consensus.
"The laws of the Green Lantern Corps need to adapt to the times. We need to rewrite the laws we have followed for eons..."
"...We are going to rewrite the Book of Oa."
(end of chapter)
"Intrusion alert!"
The Green Lantern Corps sounded the alarm, and all of Oa was in an uproar. Countless Lanterns took to the sky, rushing out beyond Oa's interstellar port, each on high alert.
They detected fear.
And it wasn't ordinary fear, but a fear energy far more powerful than that of a single Yellow Lantern. The Green Lanterns were already sensitive to the fear spectrum, not to mention during a special period like this, when tensions between the two sides were at a breaking point.
The first Green Lanterns to arrive were nearly petrified at the sight of the ferocious, blurry fear entity.
"Heavens, is that thing..."
"Parallax!?"
The vanguard Green Lanterns quickly reported back: "Emergency, we've found the fear entity! Repeat, we've found the fear entity! Suspected signal of an all-out enemy attack..."
However, the alarm within the Green Lantern communication channel suddenly vanished, and a majestic voice rang out: "False alarm. Stand down, Lanterns. That is an ally."
The Green Lantern Corps: "???"
The alarm had been deactivated, something only a Guardian possessed the authority to do. Without a doubt, the one who had just given the order was a Guardian, a leader with absolute say over the Green Lantern Corps.
At this point, most Green Lanterns still had absolute trust in the Guardians. They revered these Little Blue Men who had bestowed their power rings upon them as if they were gods. Mavericks like Hal, who were always questioning things, were a minority.
Even so, they still felt like they couldn't comprehend what they were hearing.
An ally? What did that mean?
That big, yellow, and ugly thing?
The Green Lanterns who heard this couldn't help but stare blankly at their colleagues, doubting their own ears.
Since when were these stern and humorless Little Blue Men in the mood to joke around?
But looking at Parallax again, it actually seemed somewhat friendly.
The Green Lantern squad led by Hal returned to Oa, accompanied by Orin Vale and the Guardian. Parallax, meanwhile, obediently remained outside, waving a claw at them in a temporary farewell.
It was as if to say, *Don't be nervous, I'll just hang around out here. I promise I won't go inside.*
*I absolutely won't cause any trouble within your Lantern Corps, and I certainly won't leave any weird things behind.*
Among the Green Lanterns emerging from Oa, Kilowog, leading at the very front, came forward to greet them. He gave Orin Vale, this outsider, a strange look, but considering he was accompanied by other Lanterns and a Guardian, he didn't ask further. He first bowed respectfully to the Guardian, then flew over to Hal.
"What's the situation? Don't tell me you went out and wrangled that bastard Sinestro's emotional entity. How did you do it?"
"It wasn't me. It was him, a friend of mine from Earth." Hal gestured toward Orin Vale and shrugged. "I'm still in shock myself. I never thought a Yellow Lantern's emotional entity could look so calm."
"Let's head back and talk more. We shouldn't keep our guest waiting out here."
Near Avadelle, one of the Yellow Lantern Corps strongholds.
"Everyone," a Yellow Lantern flew into the stronghold and clapped his hands to get the attention of the other Yellow Lanterns, "there's news about the ambush near Avadelle."
"The Green Lanterns took the bait. They charged head-on into the trap set by Brainiac. And among them was Hal Jordan, the one Lord Sinestro wants most!"
The Yellow Lanterns were greatly encouraged, and many cheered in unison, "Woo—"
"However," the Yellow Lantern's tone shifted, "that useless Brainiac talks a big game, but his plan was a total failure. All his mecha were destroyed, and the operation seems to have failed."
The Yellow Lanterns were instantly dejected, "Aww—"
The Yellow Lantern continued, "The attack on Oa yielded some results. Hal Jordan erupted with absurd combat power and fought his way out of our trap, but at least we still managed to catch a Guardian."
"Lord Sinestro was right. Those Guardians fear the power of our yellow spectrum most of all. That Guardian has been infected by fear beyond recovery and should now be a complete pawn for Lord Sinestro."
The combat power of a Guardian is top-tier within the corps, and as the founders of the Green Lantern Corps, they hold a revered status among many Lanterns. Capturing a Guardian is undoubtedly a huge blow to the Green Lantern Corps' morale. And for the Green Lantern Corps, which relies on willpower as its weapon, the chain reaction caused by a drop in morale will directly lead to a sharp decline in combat power.
The Yellow Lanterns couldn't help but cheer again, "Woo—"
However, before the cheers could even end, the Yellow Lantern threw cold water on them again. "But now there's a new problem. That Guardian seems to have gotten lost. We suddenly lost contact with him from headquarters, and his locator has failed."
"It's like he vanished into thin air. We have no idea where he's gone."
The Yellow Lanterns were vexed once more, "Aww—"
The Yellow Lantern added, "There's also intelligence that our fear spectrum's entity has finally appeared. Someone reported a suspected sighting of Parallax!"
Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up again.
An emotional entity is the embodiment of the emotion represented by each spectrum and is undoubtedly one of a Lantern Corps' greatest combat assets. For the fear entity to appear at this critical juncture is undoubtedly good news for the ongoing war. If they can control the entity for their own use, they will be invincible on the main battlefield against the Green Lantern Corps.
So, the Yellow Lanterns naturally cheered again, "Woo—"
Then, they heard the Yellow Lantern continue with a deadpan expression, "But the witness also said that Parallax seems to be hanging out with the Green Lanterns, and they're getting along quite harmoniously."
The Yellow Lanterns instinctively groaned, "Aww—"
However, after letting out this sigh, their minds turned, realizing something wasn't right.
"Wait a minute," one Yellow Lantern spotted the crucial point. "You said Parallax is... what?"
"Hanging out with a bunch of Green Lanterns. The kind where they're like sworn brothers."
The Yellow Lanterns: "???"
Oa, Council of the Guardians of the Universe.
The Guardians—the Little Blue Men—floated in the inner sanctum, arranged in a circle.
"Our brother has returned," a Guardian said. "And so has the unknown entity who defeated the Lord of Apocalypse, who now represents the Blue Lanterns."
"The fear entity is outside Oa. It seems Sinestro failed to gain its aid in this war," a Guardian stated.
"The various Lantern Corps are rising. The Blue Lantern Corps already possesses such immense power, and the light of the Violet Lantern Corps is also igniting," a Guardian said gravely. "At the same time, there are signs in this war that Sinestro has recruited powerful allies."
"The power of the Green Lantern Corps is no longer as mighty as it once was. We need to make a change."
"Indeed. Our former colleague, Ganthet, pointed out that we are cursed by fear. What could make the lackeys of fear happier than our inaction?" a Guardian said coldly, closing his eyes.
"We must thwart them. We must act, as bravely as our Green Lantern Corps."
The Guardians looked at each other, and after exchanging glances, they reached a consensus.
"The laws of the Green Lantern Corps need to adapt to the times. We need to rewrite the laws we have followed for eons..."
"...We are going to rewrite the Book of Oa."
(end of chapter)
