Ch. 11..15: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 11-15

Interstellar: Return of the Villain Chapter 11-15

Chapter 11: Taking A Ride

The guards had a hunch, but they couldn't quite believe it.

"It has to be her! I knew she was trouble!" Ned said, his teeth clenched tight.

"The Lev got hit when Pyrodrake showed up, the surveillance went haywire, and we saw nothing," Cuss said, still rubbing his sore neck. He felt a bit silly, thinking he'd been outsmarted by a girl. But seeing Ned's swollen face made him feel a tad better.

At 4 AM on Bionysus, Cohen stepped out of the healing pod, completely naked. His black hair and blue eyes paired perfectly with his chiseled muscular body.

Afterward, the military doctor checked him over to ensure there were no lingering effects. The guards, sulking for nearly two days, finally managed to smile.

No matter what had happened, Cohen was safe now, which was a huge relief. Otherwise, they wouldn't know how to face the admiral.

With a sense of duty, Lyra picked up the remaining Hemoplant and reminded him, "Your right arm's function is mostly back, but since a lot of your energy has been used for its growth, make sure to replenish your nutrients over the next month, Lieutenant Commander."

The doctor agreed with her assessment.

Even Cohen, usually so calm, let out a sigh of relief after his brush with death. "Thank you. Your efficiency exceeded my expectations."

Lyra closed the Hemoplant box, ready to ask about her recommendation letter when Cohen suddenly threw a punch at her.

She dropped the box and dodged, but Cohen turned the punch into a powerful chop.

She raised her elbow to block, feeling the force shake her arm and lower her by two inches.

"What do you think you're doing, Lieutenant Commander?" she asked, her breath heavy.

Her previously dull, cat-like eyes now gleamed with a sharp, icy intent. This wasn't the look of an innocent nineteen-year-old.

Cohen's tone was casual, "Just testing my recovery."

He aimed another punch at her abdomen.

Lyra gritted her teeth, deflecting the blow with her elbow, and pushed his fist down.

Her slender wrists, not even half the thickness of his, bulged with veins.

She backflipped to avoid his kick, landing on the table. And then she turned her defense into an attack, her sweeping kick whistling through the air.

Cohen raised his hand to block and kicked at the table leg, breaking the metal table with a single blow.

Lyra side-flipped to the ground, dodging his attack by bending backward at the sound of the wind. She then ran a few steps up the wall and kicked back at him.

The difference in their strength was clear; all she could do was push him back a step.

Even so, the impact was impressive.

Someone whispered to Cuss and Ned, "You two didn't get beaten for nothing."

Cuss coughed lightly, grinning awkwardly, "No kidding, she can even spar with the young master."

Ned, still struggling with his words, repeated, "So we were all tricked by her delicate appearance!"

Before he could finish, a gut-wrenching cough echoed through the room. The agile and tough young woman was now half-kneeling on the ground. Her pale face flushed unnaturally as she trembled, like she was on the verge of collapse.

Cohen frowned and barked at the nearby doctor, "What are you waiting for? Treat her now!"

The doctors sprang into action, their exclamations filling the room with shock.

"My God, there's a hole in her lung!"

"And we can't heal it with either the treatment device or medication."

The medical scanner images showed her lungs were otherwise perfect, except for a glaring five-millimeter black hole where the two lobes met at the trachea.

"If she wasn't a healer, she'd have been dead long ago."

Cohen and the guards fell silent. Ned, especially, felt a nudge from his teammates.

Her frailty wasn't an act at all.

The doctor's description of Lyra as a critically ill patient struggling to breathe clashed starkly with their previous perception of her.

When Lyra woke up, Cohen was discussing her dietary plan with the doctor.

"Sorry, I didn't know about your condition..." he began, only to be interrupted by Lyra's wary gaze. "Examining someone without permission and then announcing the results—how kind of you to repay kindness with ingratitude."

Her weakness was a deadly secret. Even Sorren hadn't figured it out over the years, but now the military had it in their hands.

"Miss, our young master only meant well," the doctor who examined her tried to explain.

"Apologies," Cohen said, fully understanding her concerns. "I've ordered everyone to keep it confidential. You have my word."

To him, this young woman was like a wild animal, preferring to lick her wounds in private rather than expose them.

"Hmph." Lyra didn't buy his explanation and held out her hand. "The recommendation letter."

Cohen hesitated, "With all due respect, your body isn't suited for the military academy. You wouldn't pass the physical exams."

"That's my concern, not yours, Lieutenant Commander."

Cohen sighed and pulled an envelope from his pocket. The seal bore the Whyte family crest, and inside was his personal stamp.

"Give it to the president. He'll know what to do."

Lyra pocketed the thin envelope, nodded, and walked away.

Meanwhile, Sorren was dozing off against a table in his room, with a bottle of nutrient solution beside him. He jumped up as soon as he heard Lyra return.

"You're back?"

"Pack up. We're heading to Todd's ship and going home."

Lyra gulped down the nutrient solution and began packing her things.

"Those military guys really have some nerve, bringing us here and not even caring about our return trip," Sorren muttered under his breath, wary of being overheard.

"Enough with the complaints," Lyra snapped. She had no desire to get entangled with the military any more than necessary.

Knowing that Lyra was hitching a ride, Todd blocked the spaceship door, stopping the two clad in basic mecha suits.

"Sis Marv, there's something I need to clarify. That Lavaberry..."

"I ate it. Any objections?" Lyra replied bluntly, crossing her arms.

Todd's hand trembled slightly. The distant sounds of explosions and beast roars seemed to mock him. He asked again, unwilling to give up, "You... ate it?"

"Good fruits should be eaten while it's fresh off the tree. Why wait for others to snatch it?"

Todd almost wanted to roar in frustration. That was a Level 9 plant, a Level 9! Priceless and rare! If he could have, he would have grabbed it himself, but... he studied Lyra's cold face behind the visor and exhaled heavily.

"You can hitch a ride, but the price..." Sticking to the principle that the guild never loses money, he had to get some benefit from this young woman; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his boss.

Just as he was hesitating, however, Lyra just turned and walked away. Not far off, Liliana warmly welcomed her.

"Dear Sis Marv, we're honored to have you as our guest on our ship."

Once they were aboard, Liliana turned around and blew a kiss through her spacesuit at Todd, who was so furious he nearly dropped his glasses.

The hunters from Voidstar came with high hopes and left disappointed, gradually departing one by one.

Cohen watched this scene unfold from the command room and connected a call to his father.

"Are your wounds healed?" The admiral's tone was cold, but he scrutinized his son up and down several times.

Cohen stood at attention and saluted. "Thanks to the efforts of Captain Harris and his team." Then he asked directly, "Father, I remember the elastic metal, Schedar, is still classified, right?"

Schedar was the name of the elastic metal Lyra possessed, a high-level metal currently under secret development by the research institute. Once completed, it was expected to be applicable to all current smart machinery, including mecha core chips, significantly improving the efficiency of smart machines.

His father pondered for a moment, recognizing the seriousness of the issue, and said, "Some people couldn't resist the temptation and leaked it. I've already initiated an investigation into this matter. You don't need to worry about it."

"Understood," Cohen replied.

Chapter 12: Going To High School

As Lyra stepped off the spaceship and onto the cracked tiles of Voidstar No.2, a flood of medical appointment requests flooded Sorren's inbox.

"Seems like the fight in Bionysus was rough this time," said Sorren.

Lyra said feebly, "I... I've only got three days. Make it work."

Following her lead, Sorren started setting up treatment times, guessing she had some urgent personal plans.

"One more thing," Lyra added.

"Yes?"

"Get me a high school high school senior student spot in the city."

"No prob..." Sorren confirmed the number of appointments on his holographic screen. He looked up, eyes wide, asking, "Did you just say, a high school senior student spot?"

The spaceship port was bustling, and the heavy dust made Lyra's breathing difficult. Her brows furrowed. "Is there a problem?"

Sorren was stunned.

"Sweetie, that's a huge problem!" Liliana, overhearing, quickly walked over and wrapped her long arms around Lyra. "It's heartbreaking! You're going to school?!"

Her voice was so loud that the entire port fell silent for a moment.

In Voidstar, people relied on their skills, operating in the grey areas of society. Though they received compulsory basic education, learning felt as pointless and uncomfortable to them as forcing a tiger to eat grass.

Anyone who claimed to love studying in Voidstar was a total outlier. Especially someone as renowned as Sis Marv—Even Snakehead had to respect her. Why would she suddenly want to go to school?

Lyra brushed off some dust. "Stop kidding around. I'm at the age where I should be making progress, okay?" She removed Liliana's hands. "If you want treatment, you'd better hurry."

Just then, Todd parked his spaceship and walked over. Unaware of the strange looks of ther people, he heard Lyra greet him, "Tell Snakehead that the payment for treating Cohen will be a high school degree."

Watching the young woman slowly walk away in the dust, Todd, about to adjust his glasses, scratched his ear instead and asked the person next to him, "I think there's something wrong with my ears."

"Mr. Todd, we all heard it."

"Yes, Sis Marv is planning to go to high school."

Following the big news about Lavaberry, this was another sensational piece of gossip, even more amusing than Snakehead growing his hair out.

Lyra's fees were always high, but she was far more efficient and effective than any medical equipment or hospital, so people usually sought her out for serious injuries.

Due to the star's light, Voidstar's dusk had a pale orange hue with a hint of blue, casting a grayish tint over the already decaying city.

At this time, the gathering places didn't quiet down. Instead, like a wild forest, more 'beasts' began to stir.

Only the small clinic in the city center remained unusually calm.

Lyra unwrapped the bandage from the patient in front of her, revealing a leg so crushed it was unrecognizable.

The sight of the mangled flesh made Sorren click his tongue in disapproval. "Dude, you're the worst injury we've seen today. We're gonna have to amputate first."

He quickly tapped out the costs on the computer. "Based on the volume of the limb that needs to be regenerated, it'll cost 650,000 astrocredits. Will you be paying by transfer or equivalent trade?"

"Transfer later. Damn Iron Rhino stepped on me, otherwise I wouldn't be in this mess... ugh." The patient cursed, but Sorren swiftly stuffed a cloth into his mouth.

Without hesitation, Lyra picked up an electric saw, severed the mangled limb, and tossed it into the trash before preparing to use her superpower.

"How long will it take for him to fully heal?"

"Three hours."

A bright green light illuminated the clinic, and Sorren belatedly realized—his boss's superpower had upgraded!

The earlier patients hadn't been severely injured, so the treatment times hadn't varied much, but this severe injury highlighted the difference. Previously, it would have taken at least five treatments to fully heal.

Watching Lyra focused on her healing, Sorren didn't dare to interrupt.

By the time three gray, yellow, and blue moons hung in the sky, the clinic's green light faded, and the incandescent light became dominant once again.

"God, why don't you use anesthesia? Everyone says you're a sadist, and they're absolutely right!" The patient flipped himself off the bed, swinging his fully healed leg. He was complaining but clearly satisfied.

Lyra peeled off her gloves and tossed them into the trash. "I just enjoy observing people's expressions of pain."

She then turned to get a drink of water.

Sorren quickly approached with the payment screen. "Please transfer the payment."

The bearded man glanced at Lyra with a flash in his eyes and pushed Sorren aside, attempting to flee.

Skipping out on the bill—classic Voidstar behavior.

Sorren reacted swiftly, tossing two fireballs, but the man was a water superpower user, and a level five at that, perfectly countering him.

The clash created a lot of steam.

"650,000? Kill me if you want, I don't have that kind of money!" The man laughed shamelessly as he tried to make his escape.

A glass cup flew through the air, smashing into his hand. With a crack, his wrist dislocated!

"Over the years, plenty of people have tried to skip out on paying me, but they all ended up paying in the end." Lyra, expressionless, walked around the operating table towards him.

The man realigned his joint and loomed over her like a mountain. "I've heard your superpower isn't that strong, but you're not to be messed with. I wonder which cowards spread that rumor? Maybe it's a lie you guys spread to disguise your weakness?"

Sorren covered his eyes and quietly stepped back. A level five superpower was indeed high-tier in their clinic, but anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't dare offend a highly skilled doctor. Especially since Lyra had some unbeatable tricks up her sleeve.

A transparent water curtain, like a giant hand, enveloped Lyra. The man manipulated it with his hands. "Haha, I'm going to suffocate you, you frail ghost!"

The sudden lack of air made Lyra's face darken. She clutched her mouth and coughed, which only excited the man further. He glanced around the small clinic, wondering how many valuable things were inside.

"Cough, cough..." As she coughed, Lyra casually waved her left hand. Green light bands shot out, piercing through the water curtain. In the man's terrified eyes, they bound him in a spread-eagle position, suspending him in the air.

"Level five?!"

He tried to resist, but the superpower-infused bands held him tight, preventing him from utilizing his superpower particles.

With equal superpower levels, the one with stronger psychokinesis always won.

"I was wrong! Spare me!" His quick change in attitude showed he was well-versed in such situations.

BUZZ—

Lyra started the electric saw again, gesturing at his limbs. "Pay up? Or lose a couple of legs?"

After the man gave up his account password, Sorren didn't hesitate to transfer all his remaining balance, a move that aligned perfectly with Voidstar's style.

The debtor, thoroughly drained, then fled.

Lyra set down the saw and leaned against the operating table. The bright lights on her face made her feel as though she had traveled back eleven years, stirring the deepest hatred in her heart.

"My angel, why couldn't you stay with me?" A coquettish voice accompanied by a woman's seductive figure appeared.

Lyra wasn't surprised by her arrival. She looked up at the overhead light and said softly, "Liliana, I've told you before, angels only exist in ancient myths."

 

Chapter 13: Blackheart

"No, you are my angel." Liliana moved closer, her nails lightly grazing Lyra's face. Her voice was soft, full of affection. "Your eyes are so indifferent, devoid of desire. It's mesmerizing."

As she spoke, she kissed her on the cheek.

The touch was so intense that even Sorren, just a bystander, swallowed hard, feeling a spark ignite in his chest.

But Lyra stayed cold as ice. Her head leaned back, eyes slightly tilted, showing no emotion, like still water.

In those eyes, Liliana felt like she was just a piece of living flesh.

After a moment, Lyra exhaled, pushed her away. She made herself a cup of medicinal drink, and sat on the lounge couch.

"What does Blackheart want you to do?" asked Lyra.

Liliana flicked her long red hair. and sat on the couch's armrest. She hugged Lyra, nuzzling the top of her head. "Daddy said if you leave, no one will provide the 'core' for the treatment device."

"Don't worry about that. It will be delivered to the factory regularly."

"Daddy wants you to provide five years' worth of 'core' in one go."

Liliana waited for an answer, but Lyra leaned away. She pinched Liliana's chin and sneered, "The way Dragon Legion operates won't work with me. Tell Blackheart that Snakehead is watching this business of treatment devices closely. It's too lucrative, after all."

If Blackheart didn't want to do it, plenty of others would cooperate with her.

Liliana's expression changed. She had expected refusal but not a threat in return.

"Lyra, you're leaving Voidstar for a long time. Daddy won't let you go out of his control."

No one knew Blackheart better than Liliana did. In all of Voidstar, if he claimed to be the second most ruthless, no one would dare claim first. Having tasted the benefits, he would definitely hold on tight and never let go.

When Lyra first approached for cooperation, even Liliana wondered what she was after. Clearly, Snakehead was a better choice.

"Tell Blackheart there's no room for negotiation. If he doesn't agree, the cooperation is over."

Her decisions were final.

Liliana bit her red lips and suddenly said, "Then I'm sorry, darling."

With lightning speed, she drew a syringe and jabbed it into Lyra's neck.

A sedative!

Sorren wanted to rush over but was punched to the ground.

At that moment, chaotic footsteps came from outside. A bearded man wearing an eyepatch kicked through the glass door, followed by a group of armed men.

Seeing him, Sorren slowly buried his face into the ground and began to play dead.

Blackheart stormed in, clad in leather armor and camouflage pants. His heavy brown boots echoed through the room. His single eye glinted with a cold menace.

When he reached Lyra, he slapped her hard, yanking her hair with his thick fingers. "Little b*tch, you think you can cut off my money?!"

The shattered glass reflected Lyra's face. It was now swollen and bruised, with blood trickling from her nose and mouth.

"Cough... cough, cough..." She gasped heavily but stayed calm. "Without the 'cores' I provide, you'd still be a pathetic robber now. You can't keep this money flowing without me."

Creating elastic metal for high-tech devices like treatment units required more than just technology; it needed powerful psychokinesis to fuse different metals. Lyra provided all the elastic metal for the Dragon Legion's treatment units, making her indispensable to this lucrative business.

But Blackheart didn't care. "Once you're on my ship, you don't get to call the shots."

He forced her head back with a strong grip. "Either you stay in Voidstar and work, or I drag you back, make you serve me during the day, and work at night! Which one do you choose?"

His men cheered wildly.

"This young woman is really something, boss, you've got good taste!"

"Hahaha, yeah, just take her now!"

Liliana clenched her fists, anxiety showing in her eyes.

"Cough, cough..."

Lyra coughed a few times, then started laughing. "Blackheart, you're underestimating me, you know that?"

The sound of treads rolling over the loose floor interrupted them, followed by a series of bangs. Blinding headlights lit up the small clinic.

They were surrounded.

"Ah, sorry about that, Sis Marv, I'm late."

Snakehead's shiny bald head gleamed under the lights as he jumped down from a heavily armored tank. "Haha, the elastic metal you sent over was a bit tricky. My guys just figured it out, so here I am."

He carried a metal rod as thick as a leg, making a crunching sound as he walked on the broken glass.

Acting as if he just noticed Blackheart, Snakehead widened his eyes.

"Blackheart, you're here to talk about the elastic metal deal too? This isn't very business-like of you, is it? Too rough."

Blackheart couldn't play Snakehead's polite games. He grabbed the now-weak Lyra, gritting his teeth as he glared at her. "What's this supposed to mean?"

Lyra glanced at him sideways. "Take a guess."

"Go to hell!"

Just as Blackheart raised his fist, a metal rod suddenly thrust towards him. The force made him release Lyra and step back.

"Snakehead, what do you think you're doing?!"

Snakehead's metal weapon shifted in shape as he glared at Blackheart, his smile gone. "Trying to cut off my income, Blackheart? Are you looking for a war with me?"

He threw Blackheart's words right back at him.

Even Blackheart, slow to react, understood what was happening. He glared at Lyra like a wolf, "You sold the elastic metal to the guild as well? You've got some nerve, trying to play me!"

In his bully mindset, once he had control of the elastic metal business, it was his alone. Why should he let Baldy Snakehead get a piece of the pie?

Snakehead, who had been envious of this business, now found himself in on the action and was delighted. "Who doesn't like more money? Sis Marv had the sense to realize you're unreliable, so she found a stable partner."

The two Voidstar powerhouses faced off.

Lyra pulled out the needle, using her superpower to expel the sedative. She then brushed aside her hair, healing her wounds in the process.

"Snakehead, this young woman is full of tricks. Why don't we team up?" Blackheart wasn't giving up on monopolizing the technology.

Without hesitation, Snakehead waved his hand. "No way. If she dies, there's no profit."

"Doesn't matter if she dies. She has good stuff in her Space Button," Blackheart said nonchalantly. "That thing can withstand even Pyrodrake, don't you want it?"

Snakehead felt a twinge of greed. He did want that treasure a lot.

He glanced at Lyra, who occasionally coughed. She seemed indifferent to having her life in the hands of these two big shots.

Snakehead hesitated but then hoisted the metal rod. "Better not. Our guild prefers peaceful profit."

As a businessman, he knew the difference between a golden egg and the hen that lays it.

Blackheart was surprised that the greedy Snakehead refused. He cracked his knuckles. "So, you're determined to go against me?"

His men raised their weapons in response.

 

Chapter 14: Lyra's Helper

When word spread that Snakehead and Blackheart were about to throw down, curious onlookers flocked to see the drama unfold.

The streets bristled with heavy weaponry, confirming that the rumors were spot on.

"Blackheart, think twice. If we start this fight, a third party is ready to jump in," Snakehead warned, eyeing the furious one-eyed man.

Though he seemed calm, Snakehead was fuming inside. 'What a brainless thug,' he thought. Dealing with someone this greedy and dim-witted was a nightmare.

"Hmph, I'm not scared of that woman. Let's do this!" Blackheart's arms began to swell and morph into massive dragon claws, capable of tearing through even tough mechas.

That was what Blackheart was famous for. He swung his claws, the mere force of it collapsing the small clinic's walls.

Snakehead formed a thick metal shield, but the impact forced him to take two steps back. "You idiot! If we both get wrecked, Sis Marv will team up with that woman. What's the point of this fight?" he yelled.

As he spoke, the air around them rippled.

"He's right." A woman with short hair and work clothes appeared out of thin air in the clinic.

Her buzz cut revealed a scar running across her head like a fierce centipede. She had muscles like a bodybuilder and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Lyra.

"Sis Marv, would you consider an alliance?"she asked Lyra.

Lyra replied, raising an eyebrow, "Whoever offers more benefits, I'll side with them."

Lyra was sitting alone on a ragged sofa. She was the cause of the conflict, yet now standing by watching them.

Blackheart's rage boiled over. 'Damn it, now Caesara's here too!'

Snakehead and Caesara both sneered at Blackheart. Caesara scratched her head irritably. "Snakehead, let's take down this stupid dinosaur together. I've had enough of him!"

Snakehead's eyes lit up at the idea. Though Caesara was tough to deal with, at least she had brains.

Blackheart finally panicked. Snakehead's superpower was metallic, and Caesara's was spatial. Both of their superpowers were at level seven, so Blackheart wouldn't stand a chance.

"Screw this, I'm out!" he yelled, making a run for it. Before leaving, he shouted at Lyra, "You better have the 'cores' ready on time!"

"Of course," Lyra replied, watching him go with a cold glint in her eyes. The rundown clinic fell silent again. With one of the three pillars gone, the balance teetered on the edge.

Caesara gave a wary glance at Snakehead, then patted Lyra's head with a hearty laugh. "Young lady, I've repaid my debt. Next time, it'll cost you."

"This time, I wouldn't dare let you leave empty-handed," Lyra said with a smile, reaching into the couch's armrest. She pulled out a tiny, bright silver bead, no larger than a fingertip. "A little gift for you."

Even Caesara, who had seen her fair share of treasures, couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes.

Elastic metal, no matter the grade, was a rare find. Though small, the piece Lyra handed over could be broken down into 500 level-four chips, perfect for weapon crafting.

"Hahaha, young lady, you sure know how to show appreciation," Caesara chuckled, giving Lyra a few hearty pats on the shoulder before heading out. She was clearly pleased.

Snakehead, on the other hand, watched the exchange with a heavy heart. He practically mourned the loss of such a valuable item.

"Lyra, why are you being so generous? Even with the tech, you can't just throw money around like it's nothing," Snakehead pointed out.

"Because my life matters more."

Snakehead had to admit, he couldn't quite figure out this young woman. "By the way, you can go to high school for registration tomorrow. Just do whenever it's convenient for you."

"Thanks."

"Let's keep this partnership strong. Not to brag, but I'm way better at business than Blackheart," Snakehead hinted, trying to sway her into exclusive cooperation.

"But there are some things only he can do."

Snakehead frowned, unable to think of anything Blackheart excelled at beyond robbery. Muttering under his breath, he said, "That guy's only good for stealing."

Seeing Lyra's amused smile, he rubbed his bald head. "As long as you can guarantee my supply, we're good. Haha, I'll be off then."

"Take care."

Lyra firmly believed that mutual benefit was the strongest glue in partnerships. But she knew something was still missing.

She picked up a piece of broken glass from the ground, using it to examine her wounds in the hazy reflection—an injury on her lip, three on her scalp, and the mark from an anesthetic injection...

"Boss...are you okay?"

With everyone gone, Sorren emerged from his hiding spot, rubbing his jaw where Liliana had struck him.

The once bright and clean clinic was now a wreck, the night wind blowing dust through the collapsed walls.

"Are we just going to let this go?" Sorren asked.

Lyra tossed the glass aside and looked at him. "You want to avenge me?"

Sorren quickly waved his hands, clearly terrified. "No, no, I wouldn't dare."

"But...aren't you fearless, even against Pyrodrake? With that elastic metal, beating Blackheart should be easy," Sorren ventured.

Lyra just scoffed, saying nothing more. Sorren awkwardly rubbed his nose and hurried to contact others to clean up the mess.

Lyra went to the second-floor rest area, took a shower, and examined the scar on her chest where the Soul Spike had been removed.

She poked it lightly with her finger, reminding herself not to rush. The average human lifespan was about one hundred fifty years, and Peculiars lived even longer. She had plenty of time.

To get a Lavaberry, everything has to line up perfectly—timing, location, and the right people to assist. Last time she succeeded, because she had the Voidstar gang causing chaos, high-level beasts clashing, and the military's assistance.

Sure, Lyra could take on Blackheart, but even if she won, she'd just become the next 'Lavaberry,' the target of everything. In Voidstar, showing any weakness is like signing your own death warrant.

 

Chapter 15: High School

When Lyra headed to school that day, she made sure to fit in perfectly. She traded her usual jacket and work pants for a loose blue t-shirt and white capris.

As she checked herself out in the mirror, she felt confident that she looked the part.

Sorren walked in carrying her breakfast and almost dropped the tray. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"High school students wear outfits like this. I think I nailed it." She adjusted her ponytail, fully aware she wasn't a real student but not embarrassed about trying to blend in.

Sorren set the tray down, unsure of what to say.

The young woman before him stood just 170 centimeters tall, which was quite short for women in the Alliance, where the average height was over 180 centimeters.

Her delicate features and large eyes made her look even younger; with a more lively look, she could easily pass for a middle schooler.

"You look pretty convincing," he said thoughtfully, then hesitantly added, "Maybe you could tone down the intimidating vibe a bit? Try smiling more brightly, be more lively."

Lyra was good at taking advice. She looked in the mirror, curved her cat-like eyes to show off her lower eyelids and apple cheeks, then she flashed a wide grin. It was natural and deceptively innocent.

Even Sorren, who knew her true nature, was momentarily dazzled. But she quickly reverted to her usual serious expression. "How about now?"

Sorren slowly set down the tray, asking, "How old are you, exactly?"

The question slipped out in his shock, and he immediately worried he might have offended her. After all, most women didn't like being asked their age.

"If I remember correctly, I'm the same age as Cohen," she replied.

'Twenty-six!' Sorren stared at her, speechless. That meant when he first met her, she was only fifteen, and yet she hadn't seemed to age much at all.

He didn't dare ask why, but she continued, looking at him through the mirror. "But my official records now list me as nineteen," she said casually. "According to the record, I have a genetic condition and spent seven years in a cryo chamber for treatment. It's not a secret."

Sorren blinked and quickly nodded, indicating he knew how to respond if anyone asked about her age.

When Lyra arrived at Voidstar's only official high school, she was personally greeted by the principal. This was on Snakehead's orders.

Although the authorities didn't directly govern Voidstar, it still fell under the Alliance's jurisdiction, and regular folks lived there.

The area had basic education, healthcare, transportation, and other essential services. Snakehead appointed all the administrative staff of the school.

The school had a fresh vibe, a stark contrast to the rest of Voidstar. The buildings were clean, free from graffiti and damage, with shiny, intact glass.

The ground tiles were uniformly flat, and green trees lined the premises, creating a peaceful and tidy atmosphere.

The fresh air even soothed Lyra's usually scratchy throat.

Inside the principal's office, the elderly man with graying hair nervously wiped his sweat and smiled obsequiously. "Miss Shedd, which class would you like to join? I'll arrange the registration right away."

After sitting down, Lyra took a sip of coffee. "Regarding my enrollment reason, I hope the principal will register it exactly as I say..."

The entrance exam for Nagano Military Academy took place in the local spring, which was September in the Alliance calendar. Besides the compulsory Alliance high school subjects, the exam included superpower, mecha, psychokinesis, and military theory and applications.

This was only the written part; candidates then had to go to Nagano for a second round of tests, including superpower, psychokinesis, and physical fitness exams.

Between the written and practical exams, a background check was conducted, eliminating more candidates.

Given that Nagano was the Whyte family's base, its acceptance rate was only slightly higher than EPMA, at a mere 0.01%.

Just copying the exam content took two hours, so Lyra wandered the school grounds with Sorren out of boredom.

"Can you handle all that knowledge?" Sorren asked. Back in his school days, memorizing a poem took him ten days, and that was only if the teacher could beat him up; otherwise, he'd just beat up the teacher and skip class.

"It should be enough, assuming they haven't changed much since I studied it eleven years ago."

Their idle chatter was interrupted by the ringing of the bell signaling the end of class.

"Are you the infamous Sis Marv?"

The young man standing before them had a look of extreme hatred and disdain, causing Lyra to raise an eyebrow slightly.

...

The young man had a rare vitality for a Voidstar resident.

Wearing a clean green t-shirt and black pants, he was lean but held his chin high, like a green shoot striving to grow amidst ruins, brimming with spirit and completely out of place in this city.

"How does someone like you deserve to be in school?" he sneered, looking at Lyra as if she were a heinous villain.

Sorren, essentially a bully who preyed on the weak, clenched his fist and moved closer to the young man, smirking coldly. "Hey, kid, you've got a foul mouth. Let me teach you some manners!"

The young man showed a flicker of panic but stubbornly glared at them. "This is a school. What do you think you're doing?"

BANG!

Sorren's fist answered him.

Lyra watched indifferently. 'Provoking someone you know is dangerous and then getting beaten up? Seemed justifiable.'

The young man fell to the ground, humiliated, his eyes wide with disbelief that someone dared to act so brazenly in school.

"People rarely fight in this school, but do you know why?" Lyra said, not even turning fully towards him, just glancing sideways. "It's not because they respect school rules; it's because they fear Snakehead. But I don't fear him."

The school's serenity wasn't due to some latent goodness in its troublemakers but to their fear of the school's protector. In Voidstar, order was dictated by strength and interests.

Suddenly, a wave of psychokinesis, filled with malice, attacked her.

The young man's face lit up with triumph. His psychokinesis was the strongest in school; even a Level 4 Peculiar couldn't withstand it. And Lyra, she was just a sickly person.

The attack was strong enough that even Sorren felt dizzy for a moment.

"Hey, kid, you've got a death wish?" He quickly steadied himself and kicked the young man hard.

Sorren, almost at the threshold of Level 5, didn't hold back.

The young man flew a considerable distance, collapsing the greenery beside the road.

Faint green light shimmered as he struggled to rise. He spat blood, but he laughed defiantly at Lyra. "Sis Marv, you never expected to be attacked by me, did you?"

Lyra was momentarily at a loss for words.

"So, you're just a healer and still dare to act tough in front of me? Today, I won't give a damn about the school!" Sorren, infuriated, summoned a fireball, ready to charge, but Lyra held him back. "Don't kill him."

"Got it!"

What followed was a one-sided beating. The school bell rang, but none of the onlookers, teachers, or students, moved. The former had nuanced expressions, while the latter were mostly indignant.

Even though the young man was a healer, he couldn't stop the steady flow of blood.

Sorren lifted the young man by his shirt and delivered one final punch. Then he spat disdainfully and walking towards Lyra. "Not a single broken bone, boss. I held back."

Lyra saw through his concerns immediately. "Don't worry, Snakehead won't hold this against you."

She then approached the trembling young man. "I remember now. Two years ago, you brought your father to my clinic. He had ruptured internal organs and a broken leg."

The young man's expression shifted from fear to hatred.

Lyra continued, seemingly reminiscing, "You only had 200 astrocredits, not enough for my services. You begged, said you'd work at my clinic to pay off the debt. You cried so pathetically that I did repair his internal organs to save his life. All he needed afterward was an amputation..."

"Shut up! Don't you dare mention him!" Tears mixed with blood streamed from his eyes, and he looked as if he wanted to bite Lyra, "You could have saved him completely, but you let him lose his leg. If it wasn't for your false hope, he wouldn't have died!"

His accusation was bewildering to Lyra. From her perspective, saving his life when he couldn't pay was already an uncommon act of mercy.

Sorren, recalling the incident, couldn't help but laugh. "So, it's you! You must be the second most unique creature in Voidstar. Most people without money don't even approach Sis Marv, knowing full well we're not running a charity. But you were stubborn enough to insist on treatment!"

Sometimes, Lyra thought Sorren was her mouthpiece.

Sorren's words struck the young man hard, but he still argued, "But she's a doctor! How could she just watch a patient die over money?"

The sheer absurdity of the statement left Sorren at a loss for words.

While this was a simple truth to adults, the young man and most of the students around seemed genuinely outraged by the notion of a doctor refusing to save someone due to lack of funds. They felt a deep sense of sorrow over being born in such a harsh place.

Lyra sighed. No matter how much she tried to fit in, she wasn't a typical student. Their values were worlds apart.

Just as Sorren was seething with anger, the principal finally arrived, wiping sweat from his forehead and clearly anxious. He feared Sis Marv might kill someone and then hold him responsible.

"Class has started. Why aren't you all in your classrooms?" He shot a frustrated look at the young man, "Kline, you're preparing for the military academy exams. Why are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The young man, Kline, looked defiant yet defeated, caught between his principles and the harsh reality.

After all, Kline was his student, so the principal, despite his anxiety, decided to plead with Lyra. "Miss, you see..."

"Take him away. After all, I have to respect Snakehead's authority," Lyra replied nonchalantly.

Being berated was merely an annoyance to her, something she didn't particularly care about.

'My goodness, she's much easier to deal with than the rumors suggested!' Relieved, the principal smiled gratefully and signaled for the other teachers to quickly take Kline away.

The young man, now unconscious, never realized that his vaunted psychokinesis had failed to faze his adversary in the slightest.

"By the way, how did his father die?" Lyra asked, curious if there had been any other contributing factors to the man's death that she might have influenced.

The principal sighed, rubbing his balding head. "Well, his father refused the amputation and tried to gather money for you to operate. Unfortunately, his wounds got infected, and he died within a few days."

"Kline himself is a healer. His father shouldn't have died so quickly. But at that time, Kline was busy with exams. He probably feels guilty about it."

Lyra had guessed as much but had underestimated the young man's naivety.

After this little episode, Lyra lost interest in exploring the school. Wherever she went, students watched her with a mix of fear and curiosity, like she was some sort of dangerous beast.

Eventually, she ended up taking a nap in the principal's office. Once the data download was complete, she and Sorren left the school.