Chapter 491

Hal was troubled, though he had already decided to abandon the identity of Green Lantern; thinking of everything that had happened recently, a hollow sense of defeat kept circling in his mind.

What had he done lately?

It seemed he'd done a lot: helped Shi Ler complete his plan, fought with the citizens of Gotham, arrived at the Green Lantern Corps' headquarters to take over as deputy, then resigned within less than a day.

There had indeed been many events during this time, leaving him weary—but in truth, none of them had achieved anything; he had circled a vast loop and become an ordinary man again.

Must power and justice coexist? Which is truly right: pursuing power or pursuing justice? Must one abandon absolute justice on the path to power? Justice without power is mere empty words; power without justice is tyranny…

As Hal pondered this question, he walked slowly back; when he removed the Green Lantern ring, he hadn't even considered how he'd return—but soon, he had no time to think about it.

As he neared his former dormitory along the footbridge, a group blocked his path; their leader, an elderly Green Lantern, said: "Sorry, but the deputy commander requests your presence."

"Deputy commander?" Hal asked, puzzled.

"Yes. He was leading patrols in a nearby sector and only just returned. Hearing of your heroic deeds, he wishes to meet you."

"Sorry, but I'm no longer a Green Lantern. Let me go." Hal turned to walk past them, but the leader extended his arm and blocked him.

Hal met his eyes, but the leader remained unmoved; Hal looked away and said: "Lead the way."

Anyone familiar with Hal would have seen his lips pressed into a straight line—that was the precursor to his losing patience.

Crossing the footbridge, entering the elevator, as it ascended, Hal saw the entire city of Oa peaceful: everyone at their posts, Green Lanterns moving in small groups through strangely shaped buildings, laughter and chatter everywhere—as if nothing had happened yesterday.

Back on the corridor, before the office door, the lead Green Lantern knocked; Hal stepped inside.

The man facing him had an entirely different demeanor and appearance from Tyrone: he looked refined, his skin a pale gray, his limbs and features identical to a human's, with a pair of eyewear-like goggles over his eyes.

"Hello, I'm Owen," the deputy commander spoke first, but Hal's patience was wearing thin; he replied: "Hello, I'm Hal. You've seen me. May I leave now?"

"Why do you wish to leave, Hal?" Owen asked, but his tone held no curiosity—only a subtle reprimand.

"You've just achieved a remarkable victory, hailed as a hero by every Green Lantern. You led us out of the abyss of darkness and returned in glory. Why leave now, at the moment of celebration?"

"Victory?" Hal asked. "You call that a victory?"

"Why not? You saved everyone. You're the Green Lantern Corps' new hero—perhaps the greatest Green Lantern in history. Isn't that a victory?"

As he spoke, Owen clasped Hal's shoulder and smiled. "Yes, there were minor flaws—but unquestionably, this will be the most glorious triumph of your career."

As he walked Hal forward, he picked up a file from a nearby desk. "I've received orders: in two weeks, we will award you the Light Medal of the Green Lantern Corps, name you the Best Green Lantern of this stellar year, and have you lead the parade at next year's ceremony."

Owen raised his hand, painting the vision for Hal: "Do you know how great this honor is? Every Green Lantern on this planet dreams of it—it represents the pinnacle of their career."

"Applause, cheers, praise—you'll become the hero everyone speaks of, your deeds etched forever in history…"

Hal gave a cold smile. "So every greatest Green Lantern in history has to go through this routine, right?"

Owen's smile slowly faded. He lowered his arm, stepped back, and stared into Hal's eyes. "It seems you come from a civilization with a bit of cleverness—something reminds you of home, doesn't it?"

"Then I won't beat around the bush."

Owen adjusted his glasses and began pacing the room. "Sinestro, once the greatest Green Lantern, defected from the Corps—an unprecedented, vile event in ten million years."

"The Corps' commander betrayed us. We became a cosmic joke. Our prestige collapsed. Even the weak civilizations in the outer sectors no longer welcome us as they once did."

"We need a hero—a great, radiant hero—to lead the Green Lantern Corps out of this crisis!"

Romance

"Do you know, Hal? The current commander, Tyrone, was merely appointed in an emergency—he's unfit for the role. You, however—you're the ideal candidate."

Owen turned toward the window, where countless Green Lanterns flew through the sky. "You will take command of this powerful Corps. All civilizations across the universe will bow before you. You will bring peace and justice to the entire cosmos. How glorious…"

"I refuse."

When Hal spoke, his voice rang like thunder splitting a clear sky. Owen spun around, staring coldly at Hal. Hal repeated: "I refuse."

"Are you mad?" Owen's voice grew colder. "You'll become commander of the Green Lantern Corps, lead the entire Corps, become the greatest Green Lantern!"

"I'll say it one last time: I refuse."

Hal raised the Green Lantern ring he'd been clutching. "When it first chose me, it showed me visions of peace and justice that moved me deeply, giving me purpose. I thought: if I could dedicate my life to this great cause of justice, I would die without regret."

"But now, you and your words make me feel sick."

He threw the ring. When the metal struck Owen's metallic armor, the clang was louder than thunder, nearly deafening.

Hal turned to leave—but suddenly, a powerful green energy wave slammed into him, hurling him backward. *Crack! * He hit the wall, then collapsed to the floor.

"Cough… cough…" Hal coughed hard, feeling his ribs broken. He saw Owen approaching, his face twisted in fury. Owen's voice had become distorted.

"I don't understand why they picked you! A backwater bumpkin, lucky enough to save a bunch of useless fools, and now they want to turn you into a hero!"

"They? Cough… who are they?" Hal gasped, struggling to breathe.

"You can't comprehend them—you're a lowly creature who can't even fly. They are an advanced civilization born at the dawn of the universe, with technology beyond your imagination. The Green Lantern Corps was forged by them. I call them… the Cosmic Protectors."

Hal kept coughing, struggling to breathe. The ring he'd thrown earlier suddenly rose into the air, trying to fly back to him—but Owen waved his hand and sent it flying away.

"I'd like to kill you—but I can't disobey their orders. So you'd better behave…"

*Bang! * The door burst open. Tyrone, commander of the Green Lantern Corps, entered. He said to Owen: "Stop! You've gone too far, Owen!"

"Tyrone, are you defying their orders?"

"They didn't order you to injure him." Tyrone glanced at Hal lying on the floor. "Beating him or forcing him to act won't work. If he can't summon the ring of his own will, what good is he as a Green Lantern hero?"

"Don't lecture me, Tyrone. You know damn well—if you hadn't pulled some clever tricks, this position would've been mine!"

Tyrone sighed. "Everything you have comes from them. That's why you worship them like gods. But have you ever wondered why they won't let you become commander? Because you're not a Green Lantern at all. Your ring is custom-made. You…"

*Boom! * A thick beam of green light struck Tyrone, flinging him backward. His shield flared instantly—but Owen raised a blade of green light and charged.

"Stop!" Hal shouted.

Owen paid no heed—he seemed nearly insane. Hal lay where he was, took a deep breath.

Then, slowly, he rose into the air. A richer green light emanated from within him. The ion shark, which had vanished since he removed the ring, reappeared on his chest.

Wounds healed, strength returned, power surged. Hal stretched his body midair. The green light within him solidified like a flawless emerald, bloomed like a lush forest—different from all others, yet more beautiful than any.

Instantly, a giant green hand seized Owen, lifting him into the air. Owen struggled, turned his head—and saw the ring still hovering far away, and Hal's bare finger. He screamed:

"This is impossible!"

"You have no ring!"

"How…?"

"Yes," Hal said, as if sighing. "I have no ring—and yet I still wield Green Lantern energy. So what is the ring for? Who forged it? Who controls it?"

"A greater justice…" Hal inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly. Countless words died in his throat. He said nothing.

"Let him go, Hal! You can't kill in the Corps' headquarters—you'll trigger the alarm! Let him go!"

Tyrone pleaded, but held little hope. Hal was clearly beyond rage; anyone attacked like this would not spare the attacker.

Yet to his surprise, the green hand released Owen. As the light faded, Hal descended slowly, walked to Tyrone, and helped him up.

Tyrone sighed. "Go now. If they arrive, you won't get away."

He looked into Hal's eyes. "I'm from a remote sector too. My civilization hasn't even formed a nation yet—but it doesn't matter. It's still my home. One day, I'll return."

"After you get back to Earth, don't come back." Then Tyrone turned and walked toward Owen.

But then he saw Hal turn, walk to the ring, pick it up, and slip it back onto his finger. He asked:

"When is the award ceremony?"

Tyrone saw Hal standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to the light outside, his expression swallowed by shadow.

Hal's eyes were half-lidded. His face held no anger, no sorrow—only an unreadable calm.

In the estate, night had passed. As dawn's light rose over the horizon, a Green Lantern ring, glowing green, pierced the brilliant rays and hovered before Shi Ler.

Shi Ler reached out. The moment his fingertip touched the ring, torrents of information flooded his mind. At the end of it, he heard a voice, tinged with sigh:

"Hal Jordan is online. Codename… Emerald."