Mental trama

The Second Alliance was a powerful group in Krafal, and its members were known to be strong. But the stronger they were, the less they liked being told what to do. Most of them were used to going where they wanted, doing what they wanted. Usually, only one or two high-ranking members stayed back at their headquarters to keep things running.

Today, the leader of the Alliance was away, leaving just one person in charge—a man who could control liquid metal. He was usually more than enough to keep things under control since few in Krafal were powerful enough to challenge him. But no one could have expected what was about to happen. Out of nowhere, a strange green-skinned figure appeared, someone who easily overpowered the liquid-metal man, leaving him stunned and almost helpless.

The man had pulled back too fast, accidentally getting caught by his own liquid metal powers. Meanwhile, Green Lantern stood in the middle of the room, his intense gaze moving from one person to the next. His eyes, sharp and cold behind his green goggles, were like blades cutting through the crowd. Anyone who met his eyes couldn't help but look away, their bodies shaking with fear.

"Anger, mild fear, calm, mild fear, severe fear…"

"Severe fear… there he is."

Green Lantern's voice trailed off as he locked his gaze on one particular alien. It was a pink, jelly-like creature with a sucker-shaped mouth, like a cross between a slug and a starfish. The creature was trembling violently, its soft, wobbly body quivering with terror under Green Lantern's stare.

This was one of Green Lantern's abilities—the green light ring allowed him to sense emotions. The Lantern Corps rings were connected to the emotional spectrum, and Green Lantern's ring was especially tuned to pick up on courage and willpower. Right now, it was helping him find the most frightened creature in the room, someone who might be too scared to keep secrets.

Raising one finger, Green Lantern activated his ring, and a glowing green sphere surrounded the pink creature. The alien was lifted into the air, unable to move, helpless as it floated in front of him, shaking like a leaf.

"Don't worry. I just want to ask you a few questions," Green Lantern said calmly, though his voice had a hard edge that made his words feel like a threat.

The alien looked around wildly at his teammates, lying motionless on the floor. His face twisted in fear, but then, for a brief second, he seemed to find his courage.

"If you're going to kill me, just do it!" the alien yelled. "I'm not telling you anything!"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened with regret. He remembered what this green stranger had done just moments before—the way he'd beaten down the others without even breaking a sweat. Now the alien's bravado was slipping, and he was starting to wish he'd kept quiet. He thought about begging for mercy, but it was too late.

"Oh, is that so?" Green Lantern said, his voice smooth. The ring on his finger glowed, and suddenly, three chainsaws appeared, buzzing and spinning in the air. They hovered around the alien, close enough for him to feel the vibration in the air.

With a slight motion of Green Lantern's hand, the chainsaws began to move, swinging near the alien's head, shoulders, and sides. Each saw passed by without touching him, but they came dangerously close, close enough to make the alien's heart race with pure terror.

The crowd around them could hardly watch, holding their breath with every close call. The alien's mind was racing, each swing of the chainsaws filling him with visions of his own body being sliced apart. But every time, the saws moved with perfect control, just barely missing him. For anyone else, it might have looked like an impressive skill, but for the alien, it was a living nightmare.

"Extreme fear detected. May cause irreversible mental trauma," the ring's voice whispered, analyzing the alien's emotions.

After several close passes, the alien couldn't take it anymore. His entire body went limp, and he let out a shaky cry. "Alright, alright! I'll talk! Just ask me what you want!"

Green Lantern's expression softened slightly, and he waved his hand to make the chainsaws stop, though they continued to hover nearby, buzzing softly like a warning.

"The Kantel fugitive who escaped your Alliance," Green Lantern said calmly. "Where is he?"

The alien gulped, his eyes darting around nervously. "I swear… we really don't know…" he stammered.

The chainsaws buzzed louder, moving just a bit closer, and the alien's face went pale.

"Wait! I think… I think I have a clue!" he blurted out, his voice shaking.

"Go on," Green Lantern said, his eyes narrowing.

"He… he might be headed to the temple. In the Astral Void!" The alien practically screamed, as if the words were spilling out against his will.

Green Lantern's gaze sharpened, and he tilted his head slightly. "The temple?"

Just then, another voice broke in. It was the man with silver hair, the one Green Lantern had punched into the wall earlier. Now he limped forward, holding his side as he spoke.

"There's an old legend," he began cautiously, "about the gods who used to rule this realm, long before our master took over. Many believe that the gods are still out there somewhere, waiting to be awakened. For centuries, people have tried to find and reawaken them, but none have succeeded."

Green Lantern raised his hand to his microphone, his voice echoing slightly as he asked, "Does this involve your missing friend?"

The crowd exchanged nervous glances, knowing they had little choice but to answer. At this point, their pride and loyalty took a back seat to survival.

"There's a story," the silver-haired man continued, "that anyone who can awaken a god will receive a great reward. It might be a powerful treasure, a loyal servant, or even a wish. And since gods avoid getting involved in mortal conflicts, someone protected by a god could escape any punishment, even for the worst crimes."

Green Lantern nodded thoughtfully. "So this Kantel fugitive could avoid justice if he gets a god's protection?"

The silver-haired man sighed, defeated. "It's a long shot. Many have tried to reawaken the gods for centuries, but it's nearly impossible. No one has even managed to reach the ancient statues that are supposed to hold the key…"

"Wait," Green Lantern interrupted, sensing something important. "What statues?"