The Plumbers' base hangar was a cold, functional space, its steel walls stained by years of neglect, reflecting blue lights that flickered at irregular intervals. The tank was parked in a corner, nearly invisible under its camouflage, while noises echoed from the central corridor—metal scraping, Lyra's short, sharp orders coordinating the raid. I was a few steps from the tunnel leading to the portal gun, the air heavy with the smell of dust and old circuits, when a voice cut through the silence, sharp and mocking. "Wow, so the alien they were talking about is just a junk collector? At least you've got good taste in where to clean house."
I spun around reflexively, my boots scraping the concrete with a dry sound. In the gap at the entrance, where a damaged hologram flickered, a figure stood out against the dark sky. A green glow pulsed around them, emanating from a ring that shone like a beacon. My stomach tightened slightly, a cold jolt mixing recognition and caution. A **Green Lantern**. My past life—memories of distant worlds and wars—had taught me about them: cosmic guardians, their rings turning willpower into raw power. But this one was a humanoid alien I couldn't place—sleek build, angular features under the green light, something that didn't match any species I knew. *A Lantern here?* I thought, eyes fixed on the glow. *This wasn't in the plan.*
He stood still, the ring casting shadows that danced on the walls, his face partially visible with a confident half-smile. The air around him felt charged, the ring's power contained but palpable. *He didn't stumble here by chance,* I thought, my fingers flexing in my armor. My experience as a reincarnator told me Lanterns patrolled entire sectors—finding one in an abandoned Earth base was a problem I hadn't anticipated. I'd taken down Ben, neutralized Zatanna, silenced Canary, but a Lantern was another story. It wasn't fear, but a weight that made me recalculate every move.
I touched the communicator on my belt, my voice low and steady over the encrypted channel. "Lyra, Krag, everyone—listen up. A Green Lantern's at the entrance. Grab everything you can, fast—portal gun, weapons, tech, anything useful. Load the tank and be ready to move. I'll handle him or buy time." A beep confirmed, and the sound of footsteps and crates in the corridor grew more urgent. Lyra replied, her voice tense. "We're hustling, boss. Don't get tied up." I cut off, my focus snapping back to the Lantern, who was watching me with an appraising look.
"Looting old bases, huh?" he said, taking a step forward, the green glow lighting up the cracked floor. "I was passing near Earth when I picked up a signal—an old Plumbers' base being raided. Looks like I got here just in time." His voice carried a taunting edge, but his eyes were alert, ready to react. I straightened, my armor creaking, and stepped forward, the concrete vibrating under my weight. "Just in time to regret it," I shot back, keeping my voice firm but laced with caution. "This base is mine now." No gacha, no tech—just my raw strength, my speed. It was enough to start.
He let out a short laugh, the sound echoing in the hangar, and raised his hand. The ring flared, and a construct took shape—a green energy whip with hooked ends, lashing toward me. I ducked, the concrete exploding where it hit, shards pinging off my armor with small clinks. A shallow cut opened on my forearm, blood dripping hot, and I gritted my teeth. *Fast and sharp,* I thought, shifting my weight. But I wasn't staying on the defensive.
I charged, the ground shaking under my steps, dust rising in clouds. The Lantern moved his hand, the ring forming another construct—a massive block, like an anvil, dropping straight at me. I leaped aside, the impact rattling the hangar, a crack splitting the floor where I landed. My chest heaved, the dry air burning my throat, but I pressed forward, my right fist aiming for his chest. A green shield appeared, and my punch landed with a thud that reverberated in my shoulder, the force making my arm tingle. The shield cracked, thin lines spreading, but it held, and I felt the weight of its resistance, like hitting a stone wall.
"Not bad," he said, his voice still taunting but with a slight strain, stepping back. The ring's glow flickered for a moment, and I noticed sweat gleaming on his forehead. *He's feeling the effort,* I thought, throwing another punch at the shield. More cracks formed, but it held, and my arm throbbed, fatigue starting to creep in. A new construct came—a long spear, shot toward me. I spun, its tip grazing my armor with a screech, sparks hitting the floor. I charged again, keeping the pressure, my steps echoing like hammer blows.
He tried to trap me with a cage construct, green bars closing around me. I planted my feet, the floor buckling under the pressure, and smashed the nearest bar, the impact jolting my fist like I'd hit solid metal. The cage shook, a crack forming, but it didn't give, and I felt the air catch in my lungs, the effort burning my muscles. *Tougher than I'd like,* I thought, the cut on my forearm stinging. I forced another punch, the cage creaking, and stepped back, landing near a wrecked panel, loose wires sparking.
"Giving up, big guy?" he taunted, the ring's glow wavering as he held the cage. His breathing was heavier, his face tight with effort. "Give up?" I rasped, wiping sweat from my brow. "You're sweating more than I am." He laughed, but it sounded forced, and the ring flared again, forming a new construct—a clawed grip with sharp tips, hovering like a predator. The hangar was chaos—cracked floors, floating dust, scattered metal. In the background, the raid continued—crates stacked, the tank's rumble, Lyra's orders cutting through. I had to hold the Lantern, buy time for my team. My fists clenched, body tense. *Just a bit longer,* I thought, bracing for the next strike.
*Give up?* I thought, teeth gritted, chest tight. His presence here, triggered by that base signal, was a miscalculation I hadn't foreseen, a nagging unease I couldn't ignore. But he didn't have me cornered. *Time to show who's in charge.* With a mental command, I activated the **Muscle Enhancement Module**, a low hum vibrating in my chest as the armor's circuits sprang to life. My **right arm implants**, embedded under the metal, lit up with a faint red glow, pulsing like mechanical veins. The implants' energy, designed to amplify kinetic force, surged through my fist, heating the muscle to an uncomfortable edge, the risk of overheating looming. My breathing quickened, the heat rising, but I only needed one strike.
I planted my feet, the concrete cracking under my weight, and drew my arm back, muscles screaming under the strain. "You're done," I growled, voice hoarse, and let the punch fly. The Module and implants erupted with power, my fist slamming into the cage's bar with a boom that shook the hangar. The green structure shattered, glowing fragments flying like crystal shards, dissolving before hitting the ground. The shockwave kicked up a dust cloud that clung to my face, the Module's heat searing my arm, the effort stealing my breath for a moment.
The Lantern staggered, his ring's glow flickering, eyes wide with surprise. *Perfect.* I charged, the ground shaking under my boots, the Module still active, implants pulsing. My fist, charged with the same force, aimed for his chest, the air whistling with speed. He tried to raise his hand, but he was too slow—my punch landed square, a dull impact reverberating through my knuckles, sending him flying backward. He grunted, air escaping his lungs, and crashed through the entrance's gap, shattering the static hologram. His body tumbled down the slope, branches snapping, rocks rolling, until he stopped in the dense forest at the ravine's base, the green glow vanishing among the dark trees.
My chest heaved, my arm throbbing, the Module's heat fading but leaving a dull ache. The unease about the Lantern—an opponent I hadn't expected—still lingered, but now was the time to finish him. I touched my communicator, voice steady despite the fatigue. "Drones, bots—ravine, now. Full assault, cannons, grenades, everything." Three drones hummed from the hangar, their red sensors blinking, pulse cannons charging with a high-pitched whine. From the corridor, two Plumber combat bots—heavy machines Lyra must've reactivated—lumbered forward, their grenade launchers armed, retractable blades gleaming on their arms. I leaped through the gap, landing on the slope with a thud that shook the earth, and descended the ravine, branches scraping my armor, the cold night air drying the sweat on my face.
In the forest clearing, the Lantern was on his feet, his ring's glow returning, one hand clutching his chest where my punch had landed. His torn uniform revealed bruises, dirt smeared on his angular face, but his eyes burned with defiance. "Dirty hit," he said, voice hoarse, less mocking now. "But you'll need more to take me down." I didn't respond, signaling the drones. They hovered above, firing blue pulse bursts that sliced through trees, the shots' heat igniting dry leaves. The Lantern raised a green shield, the pulses exploding against it in sparks, the ground trembling with each hit.
I activated the **Muscle Enhancement Module** again, my arm implants glowing red, and charged, an amplified punch aiming for his head. He formed a barrier, my fist cracking it with a snap, green fragments falling like embers. The bots advanced, one launching a grenade that detonated in a flash, shrapnel pinging off my armor, the other swinging its blade at the Lantern's flank. He spun, his ring forming a green sword that sliced through the grenade bot's arm, metal and sparks flying as the machine collapsed with a mechanical groan.
I seized the opening, mentally triggering the **Repair Adhesive** to seal scratches on my armor, the nanites' hum drowned by the chaos. I grabbed a piece of the wrecked bot—a jagged metal plate—and hurled it, the piece spinning like a propeller. The Lantern blocked with a green net, but I was already on him, an amplified punch targeting his ribs. He formed a smaller shield, the impact shoving him against a boulder, which cracked under the force. "Tiring out?" I taunted, voice rough, my arm burning from the Module, the cut on my forearm throbbing with each move.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, breathing uneven, his ring's glow trembling. "Tired? You're panting harder than I am," he shot back, but the strain on his face betrayed his effort. The drones fired another salvo, forcing him to raise a larger shield, the explosions' heat scorching the air. I charged, uprooting a fallen tree—roots and all—and threw it, the wood crushing shrubs. He dodged, his ring forming a spear that pierced the tree, but the remaining bot advanced, its blade slashing the air. The Lantern blocked with a barrier, the blade ricocheting with a clang.
My communicator beeped, Lyra's voice cutting through the noise. "Boss, portal gun secured—we're loading, but there's more here. How long?" "Fast," I growled, dodging a green chain construct the Lantern launched, its tips grazing my armor. "Finish and prep the tank." I cut off, focus snapping back. I activated the Module again, ignoring the burning in my arm, and leaped, a punch descending like a hammer. He rolled, my fist smashing the ground, dirt and rocks flying, the impact jarring my bones.
The Lantern countered, a claw construct trying to grab me. I dodged, the claw tearing a chunk of rock, and signaled the bot. It fired a grenade, the explosion lighting the clearing, smoke stinging my eyes. I coughed, chest tight, but threw another amplified punch, hitting a shield that cracked under the force. The Lantern stumbled, his ring flickering, his face pale with exhaustion. "Last chance," I said, voice low, the drones hovering, the bot ready. "Get out of my way."
He laughed, a forced sound, blood dripping from his chin. "You first, big guy." His ring flared, a larger construct forming—a massive hammer, looming like a threat. The forest was a hellscape of smoke, burning trees, and debris-strewn ground. The raid echoed above—crates, Lyra's orders, the tank's rumble. I clenched my fists, the Module hot, implants pulsing, drones and bot at my side. *He won't stop me,* I thought, bracing myself, the green glow and the fire of the fight consuming the ravine.
The green hammer construct loomed over the clearing, its emerald light cutting through the dense smoke engulfing the ravine. Charred trees collapsed, the churned soil littered with debris—twisted metal from the destroyed bot, burned branches, shattered rocks. My arm burned, the **Muscle Enhancement Module** pushed to its limit, the cut on my forearm throbbing, sweat dripping under my armor, irritating my skin. The Green Lantern, a few steps away, gasped for breath, his torn uniform revealing bruises, blood dripping from his chin, the angular features of his alien face taut with exhaustion. His ring still glowed, though, and his eyes sparked with defiance. "You first, big guy," he snarled, the hammer crashing down with a boom, the air vibrating like a storm.
*Not today,* I thought, chest tight, the unexpected presence of him—alerted by a base signal, he'd said—still a shadow of unease. My experience, forged in memories of cosmic wars, reminded me that Lanterns relied on focus, and this one, impulsive, was on the edge. *I'll break him.* I dodged, the hammer smashing the ground, a crater erupting with dirt and gravel that scraped my armor. Smoke stung my eyes, but I signaled the drones and the remaining bot through my communicator, voice hoarse. "Full fire, now."
The two drones hummed, firing blue pulse bursts that ignited shrubs, the shots' heat warming the air. The bot advanced, its blade spinning, a grenade detonating in shrapnel that ricocheted off my shoulder, leaving a dull throb. The Lantern raised a green shield, the pulses and explosion hitting like thunder, but I was already charging, activating the **Muscle Enhancement Module**, my **arm implants** glowing red under the armor. My amplified fist struck a new shield, cracking it with a snap, green sparks falling like embers. He staggered back, his ring trembling, a grunt escaping his lips.
He retaliated, the ring shaping a serrated chain whip lashing toward me. I rolled, the chain uprooting a tree, the trunk snapping like breaking bones. I mentally triggered the **Repair Adhesive**, nanites sealing scratches on my armor with a faint hum. "Drones, flank sweep!" I ordered, and they split, pulses crossing the clearing, forcing the Lantern to reinforce his shield, his ring's glow wavering. The bot swung its blade, but the Lantern formed a green spear, piercing its leg, the machine collapsing in sparks and a metallic groan.
*One piece sacrificed,* I thought, breath short, but the plan held. He was burning energy, and I knew how to exploit it. My eyes locked on him, and I activated **laser vision**, optical implants channeling precise red beams. Thin shots cut through the smoke, aiming for his eyes. He raised a reflective shield, but the intense light made him flinch, his construct faltering for a second. *My window.* I charged, ripping a motor-sized rock from the ground, muscles screaming, and hurled it, the stone flying like a missile.
The Lantern dodged, the rock smashing a row of shrubs, but the move left him exposed. I leaped, the Module amplifying my punch, implants pulsing, and hit an improvised shield. The impact threw him against a rocky slope, the shield dissolving into green fragments, his body slamming with a thud that cracked the stone. He slid to the ground, coughing, his ring flickering, his arm shaking. "Getting weak," I taunted, voice rough, chest burning, the cut on my forearm bleeding again.
"Keep dreaming," he spat, blood staining the ground, his ring flaring with renewed effort, shaping an articulated claw with knife-sharp tips. *Impulsive,* I thought, shifting tactics. He reacted on instinct—I could manipulate that. "Drones, cross pattern!" I shouted, and they flew in opposing arcs, firing pulses that scorched the air. The Lantern formed a double shield, blocking the shots, but I grabbed a twisted metal shard—a piece of the destroyed bot—and threw it, aiming for his legs. He raised a low barrier, the metal ricocheting, but the distraction opened the gap.
I activated laser vision, firing a beam straight at his ring. He yelled, covering his fist, the claw dissolving, the ring's glow dimming. I charged, the Module at its limit, implants blazing, and landed an amplified punch on his shoulder. The blow threw him into a tree, the trunk splitting with a crack, and he fell to his knees, the ring nearly dark, his breathing a rasping wheeze. *No focus, no fight,* I thought, fatigue weighing heavy, my arm burning like it was on fire.
But he tried to rise, the ring sparking, a new construct—a trembling shield—starting to form. *Stubborn to the end.* I switched tactics, using the environment. I ran to a loose boulder on the slope, the Module still active, and kicked it, the rock rolling like an avalanche toward him. He formed a larger shield, the boulder slamming with a thunderous crash, but the drones capitalized, firing pulses that exploded against the shield, green sparks flying. The destroyed bot still had an armed grenade in its broken launcher—I grabbed the machine's arm, yanked the grenade, and threw it, the explosion lighting the clearing, smoke burning my lungs.
The Lantern stumbled, his shield collapsing, and I activated laser vision one last time, firing a thin beam that scorched the ground near his fist, kicking up hot dirt. "End of the line," I said, voice low, stopping a few meters away. He froze, face pale, the ring dark, his body slumping against the tree, bruises and cuts marking his skin. He was down, the clearing silent except for the drones' hum. *My victory,* I thought, the weight of exhaustion on my shoulders, but the unease about the Lantern finally gone.
The ravine was a scene of devastation—trees reduced to smoldering stumps, craters filled with debris, the air heavy with smoke and the smell of burnt metal. The drones hovered, their cannons overheated, and the last bot, its blade dirt-stained, awaited orders. Above, the raid continued—the sound of stacked crates, Lyra's sharp orders echoing. My communicator beeped, her voice cutting through the silence. "Boss, portal gun's in the tank, but there's more tech here. How long to wrap up?" "It's done," I replied, breath short, arm throbbing. "Tank to the base, now. Everyone inside—load everything, leave nothing. We're out."
I straightened, my armor creaking, the cut on my forearm clotting, the Module deactivated, the heat receding like a tide. The Lantern lay there, defeated, his ring dark, the ravine a testament to my strength.