Chapter 126 (edited)

Kara herself was completely bewildered.

She had only ever heard of the Seven Lantern Corps, so the existence of the White Lantern and Black Lantern was something she could comprehend and accept.

But this? Why was there a tenth ring? Was this some kind of Lord of the Rings situation? Ten fingers, ten rings? King Solomon's treasures, perhaps?

The most bewildering part was that this tenth ring was unlike the others. It lacked an obvious color, and Kara had no idea what emotional spectrum or belief it might represent.

What was this ring?

Kara raised her left hand and examined the ring on her thumb with curiosity.

What kind of ring is this?

"Looks like I'll have to consult the Guardians," Kara muttered.

The issue wasn't just with this specific ring but also with the others.

Kara couldn't figure out why she had been simultaneously recognized by all of them. What was the reasoning behind it? What was the source of their power?

Now that she had accepted them, she noticed that the green ring's power seemed capable of resisting the effects of the red sun. Perhaps it would prove invaluable in the future.

Kara's thoughts also lingered on her past discoveries. She had confirmed that the Guardians indeed had conflicts with the Kryptonians in ancient times. It was due to their actions that Kryptonians had created the bioweapon known as Doomsday.

The Guardians were troublemakers, as it turned out.

However, the relationship between Krypton and the Asgardians had eventually improved. After Krypton ceased its colonization efforts, they no longer stood as enemies.

Tomar-Re's testimony had also been truthful. He truly had attempted to assist Krypton but tragically suffered an accident en route.

That left Kara with little recourse but to continue investigating her newfound powers and responsibilities.

"Kara, are you alright?" Hal Jordan asked cautiously, seeing that Kara had regained her composure.

Earlier, Kara had exuded an overwhelming presence that had even left Hal feeling deeply uneasy. It wasn't until this moment that he allowed himself to approach her again.

"We've wasted a lot of time," Hal reminded her. "That giant octopus might already be heading toward Earth."

"It doesn't matter," Kara replied nonchalantly. "The Green Lantern ring allows for space-time tunneling. We can return to Earth in seconds. Now tell me more about its abilities."

Hal hesitated but complied. Green Lantern rings had many functions, including the ability to open space-time tunnels and, with sufficient power, achieve time travel. However, such time travel was strictly observational; it couldn't alter history.

Kara listened intently but found herself drawn back to the ring on her left thumb. Something about it felt fundamentally different. It seemed as though her hand had been waiting for this specific ring, the spot on her thumb reserved for it from the beginning.

Even stranger was how it had appeared—seemingly traveling across time and space of its own volition to find her. No one could say whether it came from the distant past or an unknown future.

Kara frowned, determined to get answers.

"I'm going back to talk to the Guardians," she declared.

Tomar-Re and the others exchanged uncertain glances. Kara's habit of calling the Guardians "the little blue men" was accurate yet slightly irreverent. Still, none of them dared to comment.

As Kara flew back to Oa, she noticed that the Green Lanterns had dispersed. Even Sinestro had been taken away for treatment.

Kara's strike had been deliberate; she'd made sure not to kill Sinestro, though her attack had left him severely injured. Killing him would have escalated the situation beyond repair.

The Guardians, who had been observing her earlier feats, were clearly uneasy when she returned.

Their anxiety spiked when they saw the ring on her left thumb.

"How did you get that ring?" one of the Guardians asked, alarmed.

Kara raised her left hand, showcasing the ring. "So you do know what this is. Well? Care to explain?"

The Guardians exchanged panicked looks before one of them finally spoke.

"We call it the First Lantern."

Kara's interest piqued. "Go on."

The Guardians reluctantly explained. In the distant past, long before they had become the Guardians of the Universe, they were merely an ordinary alien race. They had no knowledge of the emotional spectrum until a human from the future appeared and introduced it to them.

This human not only helped them harness the emotional spectrum's power but also created the first ring, the First Lantern.

"The First Lantern is unlike any other. It doesn't draw power from a specific emotional spectrum but rather encompasses all of them. Every subsequent ring was modeled after it," one Guardian explained.

"Not only does the First Lantern wield the power of all spectrums, but it also grants the ability to rewrite reality, travel through time, and even reshape the universe itself."

The Guardians had sealed the First Lantern long ago, fearing its immense power. But now it had reappeared.

Kara processed the information carefully. If the First Lantern had come from the future, it likely meant she would eventually encounter the mysterious First Lantern bearer.

With a determined expression, she resolved to uncover the truth about her situation and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.