The Green Lantern's taunt had arrived at the entrance, drawing the attention of every faction present. Some came forward boldly, weapons in hand, ready to stake their claim, while others hesitated. They watched from the edges of the crowd, hoping to slip in unnoticed. But as soon as they saw the glowing lantern and felt the weight of his presence, many lost their confidence.
Just moments earlier, there had been plenty of people eager to "fish in troubled waters," hoping the chaos would give them an opportunity to sneak past. But now, the sealed door loomed large, and the Green Lantern stood before it like an unmovable sentinel. Anyone hoping to bypass him would first have to deal with his immense power. They didn't need to try—they had just seen a glimpse of it—and most knew deep down they had no chance of breaking through.
Still, not everyone was so easily discouraged. There were always a few who thought too highly of their own strength. These people refused to back down, charging forward with confidence. Among them were Cruz and Bolang, the leaders of the Krafal Second League and the Avar United.
Cruz and Bolang were not allies; in fact, they had been at each other's throats earlier, accusing one another of sabotage and treachery. But as the situation shifted, they quickly realized neither of them had the key nor the Stardust Child. It became clear that a third party had stolen both, leaving everyone scrambling to figure out who was behind this mysterious force now controlling the temple conference.
When the Green Lantern appeared, the members of the Krafal Second League recognized him immediately. Many gasped, pointing and whispering among themselves. This was the man who had pushed back their headquarters years ago, an act that had solidified his reputation as one of the strongest forces in the Star Realm. Cruz and Bolang couldn't afford to underestimate him. With unspoken agreement, they both launched their attacks at the same time, forming a brief alliance against this shared enemy.
Cruz moved first. His body blurred as he shot forward, moving so fast he seemed like an afterimage. His fists were clenched tight, all the strength in his body focused into this single move. His strike was called the "Superman Punch," named after a famous Earth hero. It was a boxing technique designed to take advantage of extreme speed and power, concentrating all the energy into the tip of the fist. On Earth, it was just a move for professional fighters, but for someone like Cruz, with his enhanced physical abilities, it was devastating.
Cruz's plan was simple: if the Green Lantern dodged his punch, it would create an opening. He could use his speed to change direction and slip past the green barrier protecting the door. If he timed it perfectly, he might even be able to break through the seal and rush into the vortex beyond.
But Cruz had made one big mistake—he didn't know the Green Lantern well enough. Retreating wasn't in his nature.
The Green Lantern didn't move aside. Instead, he stepped forward to meet the attack. His lantern ring began to glow, bright and green, as energy poured out in waves. With a flick of his hand, he created two glowing rails in midair. They stretched forward into the space between him and Cruz. A moment later, a massive green train materialized, its heavy wheels grinding along the rails as it roared toward Cruz.
The two collided head-on.
The sound of the impact was deafening, echoing through the hall like a thunderclap. The train's front crumpled under the force of Cruz's punch, shards of glowing green metal flying in every direction. But Cruz's momentum didn't last. The train's energy consumed his strength, and he was thrown backward, flipping through the air before slamming into the crowd behind him. Dozens of his own followers were knocked down like bowling pins.
The hall trembled from the force of the collision, and the green light from the explosion rippled outward in waves. Those watching were stunned. They had seen powerful warriors and devastating attacks before, but nothing like this. The Green Lantern seemed almost godlike, standing there unshaken while Cruz lay in a heap, defeated.
But Bolang wasn't deterred. While Cruz had charged head-on, Bolang had been waiting for the right moment to strike. Now, with Cruz out of the way, he moved in. His movements were sharp and precise as he closed the distance between himself and the Green Lantern. In his hand was a black blade, its edge glinting dangerously. The air around it shimmered with a strange, dark energy.
Bolang slashed downward, aiming for the Green Lantern's chest. At the last moment, the Green Lantern summoned a glowing green shield, raising it to block the attack. The blade struck the shield with a loud crack, and a burst of dark energy mixed with green light erupted from the point of impact. For a moment, it seemed like the shield might hold, but then cracks began to spread across its surface.
Inside the Green Lantern's ring, Friday's voice chimed in. "Warning: source of infection detected in the weapon."
"Infection?" the Green Lantern asked silently.
"Yes. The blade carries a corrupting influence. It can physically wound and mentally destabilize its target. Caution is advised."
This explained why so many warriors avoided fighting Bolang. His weapon didn't just cut—it attacked the mind, planting seeds of doubt and fear. Even the strongest fighters could lose their edge if their resolve wavered. But the Green Lantern wasn't worried. His willpower was his greatest strength, and Bolang's weapon would find no weakness to exploit.
The Green Lantern countered swiftly. With a flick of his wrist, he created a swarm of glowing green weapons—swords, spears, and chainsaws—all of them hovering in midair. They shot toward Bolang from every direction. Bolang moved quickly, deflecting the attacks with his blade. Each swing of his weapon left streaks of dark energy in the air, but no matter how many weapons he blocked, more appeared to take their place. The Green Lantern wasn't just attacking—he was trapping Bolang in a web of light.
Despite this, Bolang wasn't giving up. He dodged and weaved, looking for an opening to counterattack. But the Green Lantern's constructs were relentless, their movements precise and coordinated, as if they had minds of their own. Bolang was forced to retreat, each step taking him farther from his goal.
Meanwhile, others in the crowd saw an opportunity. They figured the Green Lantern was distracted with Bolang and decided to make their move. A group of warriors tried to sneak around to the door, hoping to break through the barrier while the Green Lantern's attention was elsewhere.
But the Green Lantern wasn't distracted.
Without even looking, he raised his ring and unleashed another burst of green light. The energy shot toward the intruders, knocking them back and scattering them like leaves in the wind. As the light faded, the shape of a giant began to take form. The crowd watched in stunned silence as a towering figure emerged from the green energy.
It was a massive armored giant, standing tall and imposing. Its glowing green eyes scanned the room, and in its hands, it held an enormous energy sword and a cannon. The ground seemed to tremble beneath its feet as it turned to face the crowd, daring anyone else to try their luck.
"Is that… a Gundam?" someone whispered in awe, the name spreading quickly through the room.
[TL Note - No its the Susanoo, lol, even aliens are cultured these days]