Chapter 182: No One Can Escape the Manhunters
October 23, 2023 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
"No one can escape."
The Manhunter's movements didn't stop. The robot raised its palm toward the two, and a blast of red-hot energy shot toward them.
But Orin Vale dodged it with a light sway, and Hal's Power Ring immediately released an energy barrier to block the impact.
"You're getting too arrogant, robot!"
Hal shouted, the green glow on his body flaring as he shot forward. He rammed head-first into the robot's abdomen, pushing its entire body outward.
The warehouse walls were pierced as easily as cardboard, and the Green Lantern and the Manhunter grappled their way into the sky. Orin Vale followed unhurriedly, seizing the rare opportunity to scan and collect data.
The source of the Green Lantern's Power Ring is willpower, part of an immensely vast energy system in the DC Universe known as the "Emotional Spectrum." The different colored lights within the Emotional Spectrum correspond to the different emotions of all sentient beings in the universe, and this entire system is one of the fundamental forces that constitute the Multiverse.
The Emotional Spectrum was a crucial, unavoidable key to truly understanding this world and the laws that governed it. This was Orin Vale's first chance to observe the practical application of the Emotional Spectrum up close, and he absolutely could not miss a single frame.
Hal, enveloped in a field of green light, grappled with the Manhunter as they soared into the sky. However, his strength seemed consistently suppressed; he took an iron fist to the cheek through his shield, splitting his lip and sending a spray of blood flying.
But as he was knocked back, he clenched his fist and swung it through the air. Countless green light particles materialized above his head, forming two missiles that launched at near point-blank range and exploded on the Manhunter's forehead.
The Manhunter's shell cracked, spewing electric sparks. But its movements didn't cease as it counterattacked with a high-heat beam. A gash was torn in the force field on Hal's left arm, scorching the skin beneath. He grunted softly, but the green light in his hand continued to transform, creating a Gatling gun that fired a string of hypervelocity bullets, which ricocheted off the robot's body.
By now, alarms were blaring throughout the base, and the personnel on duty were in an uproar. However, a battle of this level was practically a divine battle to them, leaving no room for intervention. A little green man and an alien machine fought in the night sky, creating what could only be described as light pollution. Dazzling weapons and laser effects filled the sky, and the continuous explosions sounded like two armies unleashing their full firepower on each other.
Their brawl, a flurry of grappling and energy blasts, carried them from the base out into the deserted wilderness. After a final series of thunderous bombardments, the green light dived down, crashing into the ground and creating a giant pit.
"Urgh..."
Hal clutched his head as he climbed out of the pit, seeing stars.
"Damn it, what a freaky machine. The amount of firepower I've poured into it should have been enough to blow up an entire city," Hal muttered. "Fine. In that case, let's add a little something extra. I refuse to believe it..."
The Power Ring reminded him mercilessly: "Energy level below 20%."
"What!?" Hal looked at his Power Ring in surprise. "I was fully charged when I left this morning! This is impossible. How long have we even been fighting?"
"Anomalous, significant energy loss detected during combat," the Power Ring stated. "It is hypothesized that the opponent possesses special means to absorb the Power Ring's energy. Recommended course of action: temporary retreat."
The Manhunter descended in hot pursuit.
"No one can escape the Manhunters."
Hal frowned, the glow on his clenched fist growing even more dazzling.
"Sorry, the word 'retreat' isn't in my dictionary." Hal raised his fist and shouted, "Isn't the Power Ring driven by willpower? Then all I need is for my willpower to be so strong that it can't drain it!"
With a loud cry, he unleashed another blast of energy. The immense Green Lantern energy scored a direct hit, creating a startling vortex on the Manhunter's body.
But after the green glow faded, the Manhunter was still standing, its eyes now glowing green.
"Energy level below 10%," the Power Ring warned.
"Then I'll just hit it again."
But he never got the chance to fire the next shot.
In an instant, the Manhunter's chest was pierced through.
An afterimage, moving so fast it seemed to teleport, appeared behind the Manhunter. A steel hand, executing a "Black Tiger Snatches the Heart," punched straight through its back and out its chest, unleashing a shower of electric current and sparks.
It was Orin Vale.
He had collected a good amount of data. He had originally wanted to see if Hal had any other tactics, but on second thought, if Hal was capable of tactics, he wouldn't be Hal.
Anyway, Hal's strategy could be summed up in one word: brute force. For a Green Lantern like him, it was either go all-in or get cooked. As they say, might makes miracles. If an attack doesn't work, it just means you didn't hit hard enough. Just pour in more willpower, and that's that.
To put it in xianxia terms, this was close to the concept of a Dao Heart. For a Green Lantern driven by willpower and courage, brute force *was* their Dao Heart. If he were actually made to use his brain for clever, roundabout tactics, his Dao Heart might waver, affecting the Power Ring's drive and causing his "cultivation level" to plummet.
He could indeed brute-force his way through many situations, but there were also plenty of times when things went wrong.
Like right now, when the Power Ring was clearly being countered by its opponent's attributes.
In fact, from Orin Vale's perspective as an observer, it was clear that this Manhunter was far less powerful than a Green Lantern Ring. The only reason it could suppress Hal was entirely due to being a hard counter.
Someone had made specific modifications to this Manhunter. The principle was likely similar to the "energy-absorbing wand" used by the classic Green Lantern villain, Black Hand, in his early criminal career, which could absorb the energy of a Power Ring and any of its constructs.
A weapon designed specifically to counter Green Lanterns.
So Orin Vale saw his chance, blinked forward, and tore out the Manhunter's core.
"Energy core damaged. Activating backup power..."
But the Manhunter was still struggling. Its head mechanically twisted one hundred and eighty degrees to lock onto Orin Vale.
"No one can escape the Manhunters."
Orin Vale pulled his arm out, grabbed the Manhunter's swinging arm, and launched a flying side kick.
The powerful kick sent the robot flying backward. The arm that Orin Vale held in a firm grip was ripped from the robot's body with a crackle, trailing circuits and an unknown fluid.
"No one... *bzzzt*..."
The one-armed Manhunter, its core ripped out, turned its head and diligently repeated its line.
Orin Vale picked up the severed arm and swung it at the Manhunter's head like a home run.
*BANG.*
Under the impact of his immense strength, the hunter's head flew off, rolling on the ground while spewing electric sparks. It twitched once before finally going dark.
Hal watched in silence.
It had taken Orin Vale only about three seconds to finish off the robot. He had been counting in his head.
*Yeah, the ring I'm wearing today must be a fake.*
Orin Vale bent down and began to examine the Manhunter's wreckage. Hal walked over and asked, "I heard some superheroes have started appearing on Earth recently... Are you one of them?"
Orin Vale glanced at him.
"You definitely haven't watched the news lately, have you?"
Orin Vale figured his own fame should be quite high by now, yet Hal acted as if he'd never heard of him.
"Nope." Hal scratched his head. "Actually, I just got back the day before yesterday. I've been in space... well, sorry, I was just on official business. If my questions are a bit blunt..."
"It's fine, I understand." Orin Vale waved his hand magnanimously.
*Aren't we all from families of cosmic peacekeepers?*
A robot that could absorb the Power Ring's energy and about which there was no information made Hal quite nervous. Moreover, it was obvious this thing was designed to target the Green Lantern Corps. Thus, Hal hurriedly flew away, saying he needed to return to Oa to question the Guardians.
Orin Vale didn't hesitate to collect the Manhunter's wreckage. The technology it contained, especially the Emotional Spectrum tech that could absorb Green Lantern energy, greatly interested Orin Vale. Starting his research on the Emotional Spectrum from this thing might be a good entry point.
Of course, there was one more thing to do before heading back.
Re-entering stealth mode and hitting high gear, Orin Vale phased through the wall and returned to the air force base. The alarm had already been sounded and the area was under lockdown, but that couldn't stop him from coming and going as he pleased.
Heading straight to the main computer room, Orin Vale connected to the internal server.
"Download all the data on how they found this 'Manhunter,' all the research results on the Manhunter, and everything including 'Project X-2020.' Then, delete all related data from the server."
Pal said cheerfully, "A trivial matter, sir."
"And then, Agent Mike Williams of A.R.G.U.S. has another mission to report," Orin Vale said. "He's discovered that the Coast City air force base and the Kirkete Aerospace Company have an unauthorized research project on alien technology."
"According to the regulations on supervising supernatural events, A.R.G.U.S. has the right to halt and investigate the project and confiscate all research results. Remember to help Agent Williams write a detailed investigation report."
"No problem, sir."
(end of chapter)