Chapter 69 - The Price of Pride - Part 1

Wayne Mansion

After returning to his room using space law, Orach released his God transformation and reverted to his base form. There was something weighing on his mind.

"You've been unusually quiet," said Orach.

A projection of Mother Empress materialized in front of him, her face filled with concern.

Seeing this, Orach asked, "What's troubling you?"

After a pause, Mother Empress replied, "It seems Master Gula embedded a few secret commands in my program. One of them was triggered."

Orach's mood shifted at this news, and he asked seriously, "What's the message?"

Mother Empress looked directly into Orach's eyes and said, "'Convince Orach against learning Magic! At least not before he masters Ultra Instinct.' This message was triggered when you asked that little girl, Rachel, to teach you magic."

Orach's expression shifted from serious to utterly confused. He struggled to understand why his mother would object to him learning magic, a form of primordial law.

"Why?" Orach asked Mother Empress. "Why would my mother, who usually dotes on me and supports my growth, object to me learning magic?"

Mother Empress closed her eyes, meticulously reviewing the command for any clues. After a minute, she met Orach's gaze and said, "You have a Master, young master. An Overlord."

"WHAT!" Orach felt a chill run down his spine. 'OVERLORD! The same rank as a True God! Above the Ultra Instinct stage! The same as my grandfather, the Saiyan God! When did I meet an Overlord class sorcerer, let alone accept one as my Master?' He struggled to remember any such interactions.

"This doesn't make sense! WAIT! No...it does. No wonder…no wonder no high-ranking mage would stick around after knowing my identity. No mage in their right mind would approach someone chosen by an Overlord! But, when?" As Orach started to understand the implications, certain unexplained aspects of his past began to make sense.

Reflecting on his past, he realized that something always stopped him from studying magic whenever he showed interest in it. Even when famous sorcerers or mages offered to teach him, they would disappear upon learning his identity. He had always blamed this on his mother's and grandfather's protective reputations. But now, he understood the real reason, confirmed by his mother's trigger-activated message.

"But, when...and who is my Master?" Orach pondered as he absorbed the revelation.

"Are you okay, young master?" Mother Empress's voice echoed with concern.

Orach turned to look at her, nodding reassuringly, "I'm fine, Mother. I apologize for losing my composure. That revelation was unexpected, but now, thinking about it, there aren't many Overlords left so..." Orach paused, realization dawning on him, "The only one who could possibly have contact with me would be...that one! There's no way Grandfather would allow any other Overlord class existence near Sadala. So, Mother's caution against me learning Magic makes sense." Orach's expression became serious. Although he didn't have proof, considering that entity who was his grandfather's friend, everything seemed to fall into place.

Mother Empress asked curiously, "Young master, who are you referring to?"

Orach just smiled back at her, "Wait until we get the support ship back. You can't fully grasp the situation since your data banks don't contain more than the bare minimum about our race."

Despite some dissatisfaction, the Mother Empress nodded in agreement. Orach then spoke, "This alters everything. I can't understand why that entity would be interested in me. Perhaps it's because I'm his friend's grandchild. However, it can't be that simple. It never is with him. Besides, I'm not the only grandchild of the Saiyan God, but I am the only hybrid. Considering his fondness for uniqueness, that might be why he's focused on me. Regardless, the entity itself isn't the main concern. The fact that he's a friend of my grandfather suggests he isn't malicious, despite his appearance. He is also one of the supreme sorcerers in the higher realms, so becoming his disciple might not be a bad idea. However, his subordinates are another story. Given their well-known difficult nature, it would be unwise to encounter that entity at my current power level. My mother is correct! For now, I can only defend against magic using the laws I control and my own strength. I can't study magic until I've mastered Ultra Instinct." Orach's eyes reflected a firm determination to continue to grow stronger and advance his cultivation.

Mother Empress nodded, then asked, "Young Master, have you decided to adopt that girl? You even swore to protect her with your name. Such a vow is akin to a heavenly oath."

Orach wryly smiled at the question and replied, "Indeed, it was a heavenly oath. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to be a father yet... Perhaps I just wanted a... little sister?" He looked out into the night's darkness, melancholy in his eyes, a sad smile on his face. "All I know is that I want to protect her. That's enough for me for now."

Mother Empress, always observant of Orach's every action and expression, noticed his mood shift. She didn't understand what caused the change, so she continued to silently observe while increasing her efforts to connect with the support ship. Not knowing about her young master's past was becoming a hindrance in understanding and assisting him.

Mother Empress then heard Orach murmur, "It's strange...I only cared about my division's brothers and sisters and my family after...learning painful lessons... but after coming here...I actually allowed myself to connect and care about lower realm beings like Diana and now Rachel." His expression turned serious.

"Mother Empress, I want you to design two sub-terminals," Orach requested, "Make them into bangles and engrave the mark of the Strategic Division on them. The law power in the symbol can provide an extra layer of protection in difficult situations. Also, start monitoring high-profile troublemakers to the Justice Leaguers, prioritizing individuals who oppose Diana."

Mother Empress nodded and took note of Orach's commands, beginning to plan her next actions. Orach then remembered something, his mood lightening, "Also, find out what a 'date' is. From my conversation with Diana, it seems like a courting ritual. If so, study this world's courting practices and compile a list of successful strategies for winning a partner's heart. I need a full report and a few options by tomorrow. Plan the options around her schedule, so she won't be distracted with other commitments and can simply enjoy spending time with me. I owe the princess of Themyscira a 'date'."

Mother Empress confirmed, "You're correct, Young Master. A 'date' is a courting practice in this world. It's how partners assess their compatibility before planning a family. I'll research the best practices and approaches, including what not to do, and compile a report."

Orach nodded in satisfaction. Then, thinking of Alfred's cooking, he quietly headed to the kitchen for a late-night snack. Despite having eaten with Rachel, he was still hungry. He decided to send some casseroles and a note explaining breathing techniques for cultivation to Rachel's home. After doing so, he wished the Mother Empress, good night and went to sleep, enjoying a peaceful night.

Meanwhile, Mother Empress began carrying out Orach's commands, delving into the internet and drafting plans to assist her young master.

Oa-HQ of the Green Lantern Corp

In the aftermath of the catastrophic defeat of the Green Lanterns and the sudden emergence of a new god-like entity of unknown origin, the Guardians of Oa found themselves in a state of constant deliberation. Even now, they were engaged in a heated discussion. Just then, a recently healed Sinestro stormed into the room, his booming voice echoing off the ancient walls, "Guardians!" He commanded everyone's undivided attention.

Once he had their attention, he began, "I watched our best Lanterns fall to that monstrous warship. One of us was even taken captive! This enemy wields an unprecedented power, instilling dread and despair even in us, the elite of Oa. Such audacity is unparalleled! Even the mad god's forces have never disdained the Lantern Corps in this manner. That ship had the audacity to label us criminals, us, the protectors of countless worlds and the true guardians of this universe!"

"We share your concerns, Sinestro, and are assessing the situation," replied Dennap, one of the Guardians, in a calm and measured tone.

"With all due respect, Guardians, this is a time for action, not contemplation! It's been weeks since our last encounter with the ship. Our Lanterns' intel suggests the warship is likely headed towards Sector 2814," Sinestro paused to look at all the Guardians before adding, "This is unprecedented, an enemy daring to encroach deeper into our territories! Also, if memory serves, the same sector was under scrutiny when an unknown new god was detected. It begs the question, what if there is a connection between this ship and that new god? What if they unite to form a greater threat? Will we just sit and await destruction?" he exclaimed passionately.

"Sinestro, you forget your place!" another Guardian began to reprimand Sinestro for his outburst when Ganthet intervened, "Sinestro, while your scenario is based on assumptions, the possibility of a connection cannot be ignored. Your scenario implies a potential destabilization of our universe's power balance. Since you have said so much, I assume you have a proposition. What do you suggest we do based on your experience?"

Sinestro replied with conviction, "We have already confirmed that the ship is tracing down those buoys, we have recently located one. I suggest we create an ambush. The ship has to drop its shield to bring over the buoy so, we if we time it right we can destroy it with a strategic strike. We should also, call in Mogo We must prepare for a greater power. We need a weapon to match this Saiyan menace. To safeguard our sectors, we must be able to defend ourselves. I suggest we forge a stronger ring, capable of channeling a more powerful energy source. With the advent of this great threat, I urge you guardians to consider harnessing a stronger power from the spectrum."

There was a tense atmosphere as they considered their options, each trying to anticipate the unpredictable outcomes of their decision. After a lengthy contemplation, they reached a consensus. The risks of allowing this newfound power to connect with the mysterious deity were too high. They decided to create a new ring, one infused with the power of fear. While fear is often viewed negatively, its raw power was noted to be stronger than the light of will.

Upon confirming the creation of a new power ring, Sinestro's eyes sparkled with hope. His shaken confidence began to recover. Determined to regain their honor and prepare for the impending threat, he set out to train and gather another group of Elites for a counterattack against the Saiyan warship. As the ship's likely trajectory appeared to be heading towards Sector 2814, and John Stewart, freshly recovered from his injuries, decided to join Sinestro in training and devise a plan of attack. Their motivation stemmed from the bitter taste of defeat they experienced and their burning desire to strengthen their defenses against the ship.

To prepare for the worst, John sent a message to Hal on Earth, alerting him of the approaching warship of unknown origin. His message served two purposes, to warn Hal of the potential danger, and to instill the resolve to protect Earth should their recent effort fail.

As the Guardians rushed to forge a new weapon for Sinestro to wield against the approaching ship, a sense of urgency pervaded Oa. Their belief in the power of will had been rattled by the crisis. They hoped that the new ring would help them regain some control and reassert their authority.

Earth - Weeks Following the Invasion

In the weeks following the Kryptonian invasion, despite still grappling with the aftermath and the devastation in Metropolis and Australia, humanity slowly began to move on. This wasn't their first encounter with alien threats, and so, most people had developed a resilience, their own ways of coping with the terror, anxiety, and despair that such invasions brought. Government protocols, established from previous experiences, were promptly activated, and the recovery and rebuilding of the lost cities had already commenced.

Every day began with prayers for the departed for most people, then swiftly transitioned into either getting to work or some heading to the impacted zones to help out. The heroes lent their helping hands when they could but mostly returned to their day jobs and secret identities.

Clark and Lois, along with the survivors from the Daily Planet, started reporting from the temporary housing camps established outside of Metropolis until the city could be rebuilt. Nowadays they mainly concentrated on the UN proceedings and rebuilding efforts. Barry Allen, also known as Flash, resumed his role as a CSI in Central City, working through the case files that had accumulated on his desk. Diana, or Wonder Woman, returned to the museum, assisting in the recovery and assessment of artifacts or antiques.

During these days, Bruce and Orach soon found themselves engaged in a flurry of activity as they made their way to Wayne Tech. Upon their arrival on Orach's first day, Lucius introduced Orach to the newly assembled team. Although the researchers had been previously informed about their new supervisor, their first actual encounter with Orach - their boss and a being of near-godlike power - induced a mix of awe and apprehension. Eager to make a strong impression, each team member was on their best behavior.

The introductions were swift, but both Orach and the team members found them satisfactory. Prior to the meeting, Orach had reviewed their profiles with the assistance of Mother Empress. This pre-meeting prep enabled him to ask insightful questions that assessed each individual's knowledge base. He also noted those who posed thoughtful and intriguing questions, particularly when he suggested amendments to their research fields or ongoing projects. The researchers found Orach's explanations and suggestions enlightening and were eager to learn and work under his guidance.

After the introductions, Bruce and Lucius updated Orach on each initiative's progress and the materials procured for his study. Orach quickly set to work, outlining a timeline for each project. Initially, his proposed schedule seemed overly ambitious, prompting concerns from everyone, including Bruce and Lucius. After a fruitful discussion about the milestones for each project, they agreed on revised timelines. Orach then provided instructions and suggestions for the med pod construction before secluding himself in his section of the lab to examine the procured herb samples. Assisted by Mother Empress, Orach divided his time between studying the samples' cellular structures, running simulations to synthesize a potential healing solution, and commuting between Azarath and Earth in the weeks to come.

In Azarath, Orach dedicated his time to a rigorous routine. The initial hours were devoted to teaching Rachel breathing techniques and the basics of Ki cultivation. This was followed by three hours of intense physical training. He then spent two hours meditating in his God form to deepen his understanding of laws. Finally, he reviewed data from his experiments and simulations, as well as reports, ideas, and plans proposed by Mother Empress.

Among his daily tasks, he began monitoring high-profile criminals who posed a challenge to the Justice League. These individuals were difficult to prosecute due to their influence, financial power, and cunning. He resolved to intervene if their actions impacted any aspect of his or Diana's daily life. Instead of ending their lives, his plan was to covertly dismantle their world, the source of their arrogance and power.

On another note, Mother Empress was researching dating practices for him, as he had promised Diana a date. The reports and suggestions on human courting rituals left him both amazed and puzzled. He found the subtle nuances, unspoken rules, and etiquette involved to be quite different from what he was accustomed to. He also viewed some explicit examples of human mating practices and positions, which left him questioning his understanding of biology and life. Nevertheless, he identified a suitable date suggestion for his date with Diana. However, according to Mother Empress's findings, Diana's schedule was quite packed for a while. Thus, he decided to focus on his tasks and patiently await an opportunity to take Diana out.

The following days were filled with stimulating discussions and significant advancements. However, there were moments when Earth's technology did not meet Orach's expectations, causing him frustration. One such occurrence resulted in an outburst where he flipped a table across the lab, startling the staff and fellow researchers.

Bruce and Lucius took notice of the commotion. Upon understanding the cause, they felt a sense of helplessness. Bruce intervened, persuading Orach to take a much-needed break, and gave the rest of the staff the day off to recover from the incident.

After regaining his composure, Orach decided to adjust his pace to align with the capabilities of the current technology. However, he also planned to develop superior equipment to eventually upgrade the existing ones. He realized he could utilize the quicker passage of time in Azarath. This would allow him to perform time-consuming tests or processes in Azarath, thereby achieving his milestones more efficiently.

Orach's work piqued Rachel's interest. Consequently, he began explaining his experiments to her, occasionally voicing his frustrations with Earth's primitive technology. Rachel became captivated by Orach's theories and asked him to teach her. Soon enough, he started conducting experiments in Azarath, using the dimension's accelerated time flow to hasten the results. His main objective was to develop a solution for the med pod that could trigger rapid regeneration and revitalization in humans, regardless of the severity of their injuries.

After weeks of laborious work and simulations, he achieved a healing factor of about 27%. Although this was modest compared to the healing liquid from the higher realms, it seemed to be the best he could do with the available herbs. Orach then asked Bruce to provide lab rats for animal testing to assess the effectiveness of the newly synthesized healing liquid on live subjects.

The plan was to test the solution on a group of rats with various injuries, place them in the prototype med pod with the new healing liquid, and observe the outcome over the subsequent weeks. If the results were positive, the next step would be to seek approval for human testing.

While nearly all members of the league were leading normal lives, Hal Jordan was seen departing Earth for space. He had left a message for Batman, but it didn't specify why he had to leave in a hurry. Given his responsibilities as a Green Lantern, the league members assumed he had a task to perform. They believed that if Hal needed assistance, he would reach out to them.

Somewhere in space en route to Sector 2814

The Dauntless-class Saiyan warship was journeying through the vast expanse of uncharted space at warp speed. Its mission was to locate the next potential buoy. Along its journey, the ship faced both annoyances and interesting encounters. On several occasions, the ship had to drop from warp speed to avoid cosmic events or detect homing signals for course corrections. During these pauses, local sector pirates would often attack, hoping to seize the advanced technology onboard. However, they always underestimated the ship's capabilities, leading to their destruction.

During one such attack, a humanoid alien tried to infiltrate the ship's defenses. He was tall and muscular with distinctive red eyes, pale skin, long hair, and intricate tattoos. Clad in a black leather jacket and riding a solo craft, he confidently approached the Saiyan warship. His attempt was unsuccessful as the ship's energy shield repelled his initial assault, and a hidden cannon fired at him at close range.

Despite sustaining heavy damage, the alien, surprisingly resilient, managed to escape. The ship's AI, which had been focused on warding off such annoyances rather than pursuing them, found the alien's survival intriguing since the alien was met with a close range attack. It reminded itself to trace this species in the future, intrigued by the unexpected tenacity they appeared to possess.

Suddenly, the ship's long-range sensors detected familiar energy signatures near the buoy it was heading toward. The system mapped these signals, revealing an ambush planned by the Green Lanterns. While the ship's AI had concluded that its superior power could easily overcome the 'Power of Will' used by the attackers, two energy signatures stood out. One was a massive Lantern energy signature, and the other was a variant.

Despite the onboard AI's confidence in the vessel's power, it prioritized caution and strategy. Rather than allowing a clearly hostile force to initiate contact and gain the upper hand, the AI devised an alternate plan. It pinpointed the energy signatures' locations, ready to execute a strategic precision strike on the majority of the forces as soon as it emerged from warp speed. This tactic would enable it to focus on addressing the two anomalies.