Armor Of An Angel

The young man sat on the cold, uneven ground of the cave, his expression blank and confused. His wide eyes stayed fixed on the green-robed stranger in front of him, a man who felt both familiar and alien. Despite the stranger's grotesque, scarred face and wild, animal-like presence, there was something hauntingly recognizable about him. The young man's heart raced, but his mind swirled with disbelief and questions. 

He had never left the safety of his home before, which had made him somewhat naive, even a little dull at times. But he wasn't completely clueless. His grandfather's knife had been destroyed moments ago, shattered into pieces so small they scattered like dust across the cave floor. That kind of power was beyond comprehension. Even with no real-world experience, he could tell this wasn't a simple reunion with a long-lost loved one. 

It didn't take a genius to realize what had happened. 

Grandpa had tried to kill him. 

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn't just an attempt to scare him or make a point—this had been an attempt to end his life. 

But why? 

Before he could even begin to untangle the storm of emotions inside him, the green-robed stranger let out a monstrous roar that echoed through the cave. The sound was almost inhuman, like the howl of a beast. With heavy, thunderous footsteps, the man began advancing again. His sheer presence was overwhelming, and even though the young man had been dragged to safety for a brief moment, it seemed that safety wouldn't last long. 

The stranger moved with impossible speed, a blur of green and fury. Despite taking heavy hits from Green Lantern earlier, the man's endurance and strength seemed limitless. His body was bruised, battered, and covered in wounds, yet he charged forward as if nothing had happened. His eyes burned with a singular purpose, locked on the young man as though no one else in the cave mattered. 

It didn't make sense. The stranger ignored Green Lantern, even though the hero was clearly the greater threat. His focus was entirely on the boy, as if this frail, terrified young man was his mortal enemy. The intensity of his hatred was suffocating. 

This time, Green Lantern was ready. The ring on his hand glowed brightly, and with a simple gesture, a green shield formed around the young man. The energy shimmered like glass but felt as solid as steel. 

The green-robed stranger screamed again, his voice raw with fury, and slammed his fist against the shield. The force of the impact shook the cave, sending chunks of stone tumbling from the ceiling. The ground cracked under the boy's feet, and the sheer power of the blow sent the shield—and the boy inside it—sliding backward. Deep gouges appeared in the cave floor where the shield had dragged. 

The boy tumbled inside the glowing bubble, his body completely at the mercy of the stranger's strength. 

The green-robed man stepped forward, raising his fist for another strike. This time, however, Green Lantern acted before the blow could land. With a flick of his wrist, the glowing green energy of his ring took on a new form. A massive train materialized out of thin air, its emerald body gleaming with steam hissing from its engine. 

The train barreled forward with a deafening roar, its weight crashing into the green-robed man like a cannonball. The impact sent the man flying backward, slamming him into the cave wall with a force that shook the entire mountain. 

The train disintegrated into glowing green particles, which immediately reformed into chains. Before the stranger could recover, the chains wrapped around him, pinning him against the wall. He thrashed violently, his raw power threatening to snap the glowing restraints. 

Twice, he almost succeeded in breaking free. The energy radiating from his body was unlike anything Green Lantern had encountered. But with another flash of his ring, Green Lantern reinforced the restraints, adding larger and thicker chains. A glowing force field formed around the man, locking him completely in place. 

The stranger stopped struggling. His wild thrashing stilled, and his breathing slowed. His head tilted upward, his cold eyes meeting Green Lantern's. There was no fear in his gaze, only quiet, burning hatred. 

Finally, he spoke, his voice deep and rough like grinding stone. 

"To fall into the hands of someone like you…" He paused, his words filled with bitterness. "It was a mistake from the start." 

The young man watched, his body trembling, as the stranger turned his attention back to him. 

"I should have killed you back then." 

The words hit the boy harder than any physical blow could. His breath caught in his throat, and his chest felt like it was being crushed under an invisible weight. Memories of his grandfather flooded his mind—the warmth of their home, the stories they shared, the quiet moments of survival together. 

Why? What had he done to deserve this hatred? 

Tears spilled from his eyes as he struggled to speak. His voice shook as he choked out, "I'm sorry, Grandpa. I don't know what I did… but I promise I'll change. I'll be better. Please, don't be angry anymore…" 

But there was no reply. 

The green-robed man's face remained frozen, his eyes open but lifeless. His scarred, pitted features stiffened like stone. 

"The target is dead," the lantern ring announced, its tone calm and emotionless. 

Green Lantern frowned, confused. He hadn't delivered a killing blow, and with the layers of restraints in place, the man shouldn't have been able to harm himself. Yet, here he was—dead. 

A quick scan with the ring revealed the truth. The man's body had been dead for some time, kept alive only by a strange energy he had been channeling. Whether the stress of the battle had forced him to let go of that energy or he had done so intentionally, the result was the same. His body, finally free of the unnatural force sustaining it, had shut down completely. 

Green Lantern lowered the lifeless body gently to the ground. He released the glowing bubble surrounding the boy, but the energy lingered as a protective field. The young man stumbled forward, collapsing beside the body. He knelt there, staring at his grandfather's lifeless form. 

"Grandpa…" he whispered, his voice breaking. 

Green Lantern watched for a moment before turning and walking deeper into the cave. His ring emitted a steady green glow, lighting up the dark, narrow space. The cave was crude and primitive, carved out by hand. Stone tables and benches sat scattered around, their surfaces rough and jagged. 

A small niche had been dug into the wall, likely a bed. Nearby, the remains of alien creatures lay in various states of dissection. Some of the bodies had been stripped of fur or scales, while others appeared untouched. It was clear this place had served as a hideout for years. 

Green Lantern's eyes scanned the room, taking in the strange, grim surroundings. For someone with such immense strength, the green-robed man had lived like a hermit, hiding in the shadows of this cave. Why? 

In one corner of the cave, he found a recessed cabinet built into the wall. Opening it, he discovered a set of armor neatly stored inside. The pieces gleamed faintly in the green light, their design precise and intricate. 

Hal began piecing the armor together, laying it out piece by piece on the ground. With each addition, a sense of familiarity grew. By the time the full set was assembled, he recognized the design. 

Etched into the chest plate was a distinct emblem—one that confirmed his suspicion. 

This was the armor of an angel. 

Hal's heart sank. The green-robed stranger had been no ordinary man. He was an envoy of God.

[TL Note - I feel like tension is added for no reason, hal can clap that so called envoy, and if the previous arcs is anything to go by... then probably that god too. lol]