Su Zhan sat in the command chair of the Dark Elf ship, gazing out at the world below. The vessel hovered in stealth mode, hidden from the eyes of ordinary people and even most surveillance systems. After days of learning from the last surviving Dark Elf, the ship's advanced technology was no longer a mystery to him. Now, it served as his temporary base—a fortress in the sky, ready for whatever challenge came next.
A shimmer of light rippled across the bridge, and Blink appeared, her teleportation powers bypassing even the ship's sophisticated defenses. With her were Marrow and Chen Haoran, both looking around in awe at the alien architecture.
"Is this really a spaceship?" Marrow asked, her eyes wide as she took in the strange, angular corridors and glowing runes etched into the walls.
Su Zhan nodded, gesturing toward the subdued Dark Elf who stood silently at the edge of the control room. "That's the last of the Dark Elves. Think of him as a living specimen. He won't cause any trouble."
The three newcomers stared at the alien, a mix of curiosity and nervousness in their expressions. For most of them, it was their first encounter with a being from another world, and the realization left them momentarily speechless.
"In the future, this ship will serve as our temporary base," Su Zhan announced. "Go ahead and find your own rooms, get settled, and clean up. We'll be using this place for a while."
As the team fanned out to explore the ship, Su Zhan turned to Blink. "How did your search go? Did you find any promising sites for a permanent base?"
Blink nodded and handed him a folder brimming with detailed notes and photographs. "I found a few options, but most are either too small or too ordinary for what we need. If we're thinking long-term, we should look for something with room to expand. Actually, I was considering an island. It would give us more security and the freedom to design the base however we want."
Su Zhan flipped through the folder, pausing at a familiar location—an abandoned Stark Industries factory. He recognized it immediately; in the future, it would become the Avengers' new headquarters. It was tempting, but Blink's suggestion of an island intrigued him more.
"An island, huh?" Su Zhan mused, his eyes lighting up. "That's bold. It would be the perfect landmark—a place that stands out and one we can defend easily."
Blink grinned. "There's one near the West Coast. It's a bit small for now, but it should meet our needs. If we expand, we could always move to a bigger one."
Su Zhan laughed. "If it's not big enough, we'll just move a few more islands over. With this ship, distance is not a problem."
The others stared at him, momentarily stunned by his nonchalance. Moving islands was not something most people would even consider, but Su Zhan spoke as if it were as simple as rearranging furniture.
"Alright, let's start with the West Coast island," Su Zhan decided. "We'll use it as our base for now. No need to deal with S.H.I.E.L.D. or anyone else. I'll handle any negotiations with Nick Fury if it comes to that. In the meantime, I'll continue learning how to operate this ship with the Dark Elf's help. I'll be away for a few days, so hold down the fort."
His team nodded, excitement flickering in their eyes. The prospect of having their own island base—and a spaceship—was beyond anything they had imagined.
Once they had left to explore, Su Zhan sat back and summoned his system. He was ready for the next step.
"System, if I open a second parallel world, are there any restrictions on how long I can stay in each one?" he asked.
The system responded in its usual neutral tone. "After the refresh period, the host can enter any open parallel world. Each visit lasts three days."
"So, every thirty days, I can enter any available parallel world for three days?" Su Zhan clarified.
"Yes," the system confirmed.
"Good. Then open the second parallel world—the world of Green Lantern."
The system chimed in acknowledgment. "Confirmed. Opening the Green Lantern parallel world."
Su Zhan's consciousness shifted, and the familiar surroundings of the Dark Elf ship faded away. He found himself standing in a new universe—one governed by the cosmic power of the Green Lantern Corps. He knew the lore well: the Green Lanterns were an intergalactic police force, each member wielding a power ring capable of creating anything the wearer could imagine, limited only by their willpower.
The reason Su Zhan had chosen this world was simple. The Green Lantern ring was the ultimate tool for channeling and controlling energy. With it, he could create constructs, weapons, and shields, all powered by his will. But more importantly, he needed a suitable container for the Aether—the Reality Stone. The Aether's power was immense but dangerous to wield directly. Su Zhan had discovered that if he stored it in the system's space, he could not absorb its power. If he kept it outside, it would drain his energy and weaken him in battle.
He needed a vessel that could contain the Aether's energy, allowing him to absorb it gradually without compromising his combat effectiveness. The Green Lantern ring, with its unparalleled ability to channel and contain energy, was the perfect solution.
Of course, acquiring a Green Lantern ring would not be easy. The rings chose their bearers, seeking out those with strong will and unbreakable resolve. But Su Zhan was confident. He had faced gods and monsters, conquered worlds, and built a team from nothing. If anyone could claim the ring's power, it was him.
As he prepared to explore this new world, Su Zhan felt a surge of anticipation. The possibilities were endless. With the Green Lantern ring, he would have a tool unlike any other—a weapon, a shield, and a container for the Aether's reality-warping might.
"Let's see what the universe has in store for me," Su Zhan murmured, stepping forward into the unknown.