Ch. 121..125: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 121-125

Chapter 121: Schemes

The three of them tried every trick to lure the female beast away during the fight, but she wouldn’t budge. Her motherly instincts kept her close to the nest, never straying farther than 30 meters.

Even if she moved beyond that, it would always fly back, no matter what, taking hits as it did.

"Sh*t!"

Milo, the close-combat fighter, was already bleeding from several cuts.

Elsie’s voice crackled through his earpiece, and the news was worse: "The male beast’s figured something out and is heading back. We can’t stop him!"

Kolan’s face tightened. "What now?"

Right then, a calm voice joined in over their comms. "Keep at it, everyone. I’ll try to lure the cub out. Whether it works or not, retreat in five minutes."

Lyra had managed to get near the nest without them realizing. She waved at them, signaling her plan.

Milo scowled. "What took that girl so long?"

Kolan shot him a look. "We couldn’t even draw the female away. Be glad she got there at all."

With that, the three launched another attack. The female beast didn’t notice the cub was in danger, so she stayed focused on them.

Her eyes flared with a deep anger, almost human-like. If it weren’t for her cub, these three would’ve been dead already.

Inside the small cave, the silver-gray cub was curled up. Her parents were among the strongest left since the planet’s level-seven beasts had been wiped out, so she had never faced any real threats.

If not for her instincts to hide, she’d probably still be sleeping in peace.

Suddenly, two glowing green ribbons snaked into the cave, shimmering beautifully.

The cub couldn’t resist swiping at them with her paw, eyes wide with curiosity. The ribbons had a strange power that drew her in.

While she played, the ribbons coiled around the cub, binding her tightly, even covering her mouth to keep it quiet.

Got it!

Lyra grabbed the cub, who was about the same size as her, and bolted from the nest.

The others felt a surge of hope, waiting for her to get some distance.

"Roar!"

The female beast felt the disturbance near her nest and whipped around. The trio rushed to block its path, praying Lyra would move faster.

But the beast snapped.

Her red dorsal fin hissed, and her speed doubled. In the blink of an eye, she sent Kolan and Milo flying.

Nicholas stepped up, managing to halt the beast’s next strike and draw her attention.

At the same time, the male beast—battling Elsie and the others—let out a roar, his dorsal fin blazing. He ignored the attacks, barreling straight back toward the nest.

"The male’s coming back!" Milo’s voice was strained. "We can’t hold them! Run!"

"But Lyra just left!" Nicholas wavered.

Milo was already sprinting.

With no choice, Nicholas and Kolan quickly alerted Elsie and began their retreat.

Elsie, chasing the male beast, was fuming. "What do you mean run? Change course and get out!"

Soon after, Nicholas spotted Lyra, dragging the cub behind her.

Seeing them, Lyra frowned. "I didn’t give the signal yet!"

"Forget the signal! Both beasts are losing it, and we can’t hold them!" Milo shouted as he ran.

"So, two level-six beasts together, and you think we stand a chance?"

Everyone froze for a second—the worst-case scenario was playing out.

Up in the sky, Andre was monitoring the whole thing, and he wasn’t happy. "Are these guys kidding me? Even a first-year knows not to let the beasts come together like that!"

If Milo and the others had just pulled the female beast further away, she would’ve calmed down, gone back to look for her cub, and they’d be in the clear.

By then, Lyra would’ve already stashed the cub safely. Even if the two beasts eventually found each other, it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as the trap they were now caught in.

Webber wiped his forehead. "And let’s not forget, Lyra’s not in top shape either."

She couldn’t outrun the Galestone beast, and everyone knew it.

Andre sighed deeply. "Get ready to pull them out," he said, his frustration clear.

"Maybe not just yet," Anton chimed in, pointing at the surveillance screen. "Looks like someone still has a plan."

Lyra’s voice crackled through the comms. "Elsie, can you hold the male beast off for another ten minutes?"

Elsie stared at the beast speeding toward her, jaw tight. "I can give you seven minutes—tops!"

"That’ll do."

Lyra skidded to a stop, dropping the cub at her feet.

Nicholas and the others, who had been sprinting beside her, came to a halt as well.

"Are you out of your mind? Why aren’t we running?" Nicholas barked.

Lyra, catching her breath, replied calmly, "Four fighters, two of them level six, don’t need to run from one level-six beast. Best plan is to take out the female before the male shows up!"

Her eyes locked on the female beast, which was rocketing toward them like a missile.

Lyra extended her hands, releasing a storm of bright green lights.

The wind screamed as the lights tore through the air, smashing into the beast’s hide, leaving deep, bloody wounds.

Turns out her power wasn’t just about those green ribbons.

"Let’s finish this!" Kolan slammed his foot into the ground, and thick vines surged forward.

But the female beast was quick. She shot into the air, dodging the vines.

In the sky, a fireball was already waiting for her.

It exploded against her, sending her plummeting to the ground.

Milo cursed and rushed in with his claws, but the beast retaliated, summoning stone pillars to block his attack. The stone wasn’t enough to stop Lyra’s ribbons, though. With two sharp whips, her ribbons pierced through the beast’s dorsal fin and right paw.

The scent of her blood stirred the cub. The ribbons around her mouth slipped, and the cub let out a piercing cry.

For just a moment, the female beast hesitated. The sound of her cub crying threw her off balance, and Kolan’s vines shot straight into the open wounds.

Despite being a level-six beast, with emotions driving her, the mother wailed in pain. She tore the vines from her body, staggering, her injuries severe.

Desperate, she tried to fly toward her cub, but instead crashed headfirst into the light ribbon trap Lyra had set.

"Got her!"

"Finish it!" Milo yelled, his face twisted in a wicked grin. He lunged forward, driving his claws deep into the beast’s flesh.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

"Roaaar..." The female beast let out a gut-wrenching scream, her eyes locked on her cub, just meters away.

"Roaaar!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the battlefield.

The male beast had arrived.

Elsie followed close behind, with Daire and Adela trailing in the distance.

Milo, rather than being afraid, yanked his claws from the female beast’s body with a smirk. "Perfect, now we can take them both down!"

The female beast collapsed, drained of life, while the cub nudged her, crying softly.

The male beast, seeing this, roared with uncontainable rage.

Hovering in mid-air, he let out a howl so powerful the ground seemed to tremble. All around him, rocks began to float, swirling ominously in the air.

The group, just about to charge forward, froze in their tracks. An icy wave of fear hit them as they felt the danger intensify, making their scalps tingle.

Without a second thought, they scrambled to retreat.

But it wasn’t fast enough. The male beast unleashed a storm of rocks, firing them like cannonballs.

Even the slightest graze from one could cost someone a limb.

Lyra was the closest to the beast, so she had no time to flee. She raised her light shield, bracing for impact.

The rocks slammed against it, sending shockwaves through the air.

She held firm, and when the barrage finally ended, she didn’t hesitate. Pulling back the ribbons from the fallen female, she grabbed the cub and made a run for it.

The male beast rushed to the female, nudging her desperately. "Roar!"

The female stirred weakly, glancing toward the cub with half-closed eyes. She opened her mouth slightly, but no sound came.

The male beast’s eyes darkened with fury, realizing what had happened. His rage exploded, and he immediately launched after Lyra, who was running with his cub.

High above, Andre watched the scene unfold. He clapped his hands together, a smirk spreading across his face. "Mission accomplished. They’ve got this."

With three level-six fighters working together, taking down the male beast should’ve been straightforward.

But then, a loud alarm blared in the helicopter.

The warning radar flashed, and before anyone could react, a massive shadow darkened the sky.

All heads snapped upward, and their faces went pale.

The clouds parted, revealing a gigantic spaceship descending slowly. Its monstrous, unicorn-like head gleamed ominously, casting a chilling presence over the battlefield.

"What the hell is that?" Webber muttered, eyes wide.

The ship’s menacing form loomed larger and larger as it descended, and the once simple mission had just turned into something far more dangerous than anyone had expected.

Chapter 122: Pursuers

The special training squad was just moments away from facing off with the massive beast.

Just then, Lyra suddenly paused, glancing upward.

Andre’s urgent voice cut through the tension over her headset, "Space pirates are attacking! Team, abandon the mission and escape now!"

Before his words had fully sunk in, a massive explosion echoed from above.

The helicopter that had been circling overhead erupted into flames. Out of the clouds came a colossal spaceship, menacing and armored.

From a distance, small figures zipped toward them, riding levitating devices. They were the space pirates.

The students below froze in shock.

"Space pirates?" someone gasped.

Elsie’s sharp command broke through the chaos, "Run! Now!"

Panic kicked in, and they sprinted toward the armored vehicle.

Just as they were about to reach it, Anton appeared out of nowhere, carrying two people, both covered in burns. He rushed them forward, shouting, "Get in! Hurry!"

The group’s hearts sank when they realized who he was carrying. It was Andre, their head instructor, barely recognizable under his severe burns.

Scrambling into the vehicle, Lyra immediately set to work healing Andre. As a level-seven healer, he was their only real shot at survival.

But the pirates were already closing in fast. Lyra spun around, calling out, "I’ll cover the rear!"

She activated a light shield, blocking the incoming bullets as the others piled into the vehicle. It roared to life, the tires kicking up dust as it sped away.

Lyra fired off a round of energy bullets at the approaching pirates. Then she shot out a green light band, aiming to latch onto the moving vehicle and pull herself back on board.

But at the last second, the vehicle jerked violently to the side, dodging her beam.

They had left her behind.

Elsie was livid. She lunged forward, trying to land a punch on Milo, who was at the wheel. "What the hell are you doing?!"

Kolan and the others shared her anger. "There was no obstacle! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!"

Milo didn’t deny it. "Of course I did! Did you not see the pirates catching up? We’re all dead if she doesn’t slow them down!"

"You absolute piece of trash!" Elsie swung at him again, but Nicholas grabbed her arm. "We don’t have time for this—"

Before he could finish, she punched him in the face instead. "Shut up! All you ever do is play mediator. What’s the point of you being president if you’re useless?!"

Nicholas’ face flushed with anger. He glanced at the others, but none of them came to his defense. They all looked equally disgusted.

In the rearview mirror, they watched helplessly as Lyra was surrounded and dragged onto the pirates’ ship.

Anton’s expression was icy. His body was battered with burns, blood seeping slowly from his wounds.

Webber lay unconscious beside him, and though Andre’s condition had stabilized thanks to Lyra, he still hadn’t woken up.

The space pirates had caught them completely off guard. Despite the military’s radar systems, no warning had been given. It was clear this ambush had been meticulously planned.

They quickly contacted the military, and Cohen promised to send a rescue team.

Word spread fast that Lyra had been captured.

Surprisingly, more people seemed to relish the news than express any real concern.

When the news broke about the pirates landing, people rushed to hide.

"Good thing we stayed back. If we’d been out there, we’d be screwed."

"Yeah, lucky they targeted the special training squad. If they’d come for us, we wouldn’t stand a chance."

"Those space pirates? They’re the Seething Fires. Their leader is a nightmare—a total psycho who wipes out entire colonies. He’s an S-class criminal."

Morrison hurried back from the warehouse, but before he could reach his group, a few nosy folks cornered him. One of them, trying to sound polite, asked, "Well, well, isn’t this Mr. Morrison? Got any news from your boss?"

Another chimed in, "Heard you guys haven’t been working for two days now. You’re not shutting down for good, are you?"

Morrison gave a quick nod, clearly uninterested. "Thanks for your concern. I’ve got things to handle, so let’s talk later."

As he turned away, his polite mask dropped, replaced with a look of frustration. He headed back to his caravan group, hoping to avoid any more questions.

As soon as he got there, Todd and Caesara rushed over. "What did Cohen say?" Todd asked.

Morrison’s jaw tightened with anger. "They’re not going to do anything. Apparently, the enemy’s got a level-eight Peculiar, and the military doesn’t want unnecessary casualties. So, no first move from them."

He then turned to Todd, a flicker of desperation in his eyes. "Any chance you can contact Snakehead? Maybe he can negotiate with the Seething Fires?"

What had seemed like a ridiculous idea just 30 hours ago now felt like their only shot.

Todd adjusted his glasses, his expression grim. "I’m afraid that’s impossible. Wyrmtrace has locked down all communications. Only the military can send messages right now."

With that final hope dashed, Morrison collapsed into a chair, feeling utterly defeated. ’Are we really going to sit by and watch her die?’

Caesara suddenly spoke up, her tone slightly strange. "Actually, when it comes to the Seething Fires, Lyra has more pull than Snakehead."

Todd’s lips twitched, as if remembering something. "She’s got a point."

Their cryptic remarks made Morrison groan, rubbing his temples. "Can you two stop being so vague? My head’s about to explode."

Caesara smirked. "In simple terms, the leader of the Seething Fires is... kind of your boss’s admirer. More or less."

...

When Lyra was dragged aboard the spaceship, she barely glanced at the eerie decorations made of beast limbs, her focus set on the command room ahead.

In the center of the room stood a throne, lavishly crafted from platinum and jewels. On it sat a man dressed in a spotless white suit, with matching shoes.

A vibrant feather brooch adorned his chest, and his long, shiny red hair cascaded down his back like silk.

His sharp features were accentuated with light makeup, giving him the appearance of a snake—both beautiful and dangerous.

As soon as he saw her, his eyes lit up with glee. Clapping his hands, he exclaimed, "I thought I was imagining things, but it really IS you!" He practically bounced out of his chair, overflowing with excitement. "My shining hope!"

The man was tall, nearly two meters. He forced him to bend down as he cupped Lyra’s face gently in his hands.

His cold fingers traced her features, his voice a dramatic melody, like an actor playing a role.

"Those cold, beautiful eyes—just as exquisite as ever." He sighed with joy. "I heard you’d gone to Planet Nagano for training. I thought we’d meet on the battlefield. But here you are, destiny brought you to me early!"

"Haven’t you grown taller?" he mused, his fingers continuing to trail her face. A colorful snake slithered out from his collar, hissing softly.

Lyra stood still, her face calm, though a flicker of impatience flashed in her eyes. "Are you done?"

"Hmm! No, not quite." He snapped his fingers, summoning a fashion designer. "Dress her in one of my finest outfits."

Turning back to Lyra, he smiled. "Now that you’re here, my dear little princess, you’ll follow my orders. Understand?"

Lyra’s lips barely moved. "Of course."

As she was escorted out, the baby Galestone beast, which had been captured along with her, let out a few defiant cries.

Lyra glanced back at the leader. "That little one is mine."

The leader blew her a kiss. "I’ll leave your toy alone. I promise."

Chapter 123: Eating A Snake?

Lyra slipped into a black Lolita dress with deep red accents, adding a matching lace headband to complete the look.

Doll shoes on her feet and dark makeup gave her an eerie, lifeless appearance. As she stood quietly by the window, she seemed more like a doll than a person.

Across the room, the leader of the pirates, Raphael, was holding a scalpel. He was fixated on the Galestone cub like a curious child with a puzzle.

When he finally noticed Lyra in her new dress, the scalpel clattered from his grip.

Awe filled his eyes as he approached her, almost like a performer stepping into the spotlight.

"It’s perfect. It suits you... so PERFECTLY!" he breathed.

With a soft kiss on Lyra’s forehead, his gaze darkened, hunger simmering just beneath the surface. "I can’t wait anymore. I want you, now."

His strong scent surrounded Lyra as she tilted her head up, eyes calm. "Do you know how many mines are on Wyrmtrace?"

His smile faltered, a hint of annoyance flickering across his face. "Sweetheart, don’t ruin this moment. I’ve already ordered the men to decorate our new home."

"I know where all the major mines are," she continued smoothly. "Including a level-eight energy mine."

The affectionate warmth in his face vanished. A sinister grin spread across his lips, sharp like a predator about to strike. "Tell me where."

At that moment, the snake coiled around his arm bit into his neck, sensing the shift in mood.

Without a flicker of pain, he calmly peeled it off and tossed it aside. "Turn it into snake soup with truffle cream," he ordered his men.

Then he scooped Lyra into his arms, cradling her as if she were nothing but a fragile doll. "Come now, guide me while you sit with me."

Lyra didn’t resist. She settled sideways in his hold, her expression cold and distant.

Lyra quietly gave him a set of coordinates.

Raphael licked his lips, his voice dripping with anticipation. "You all heard her. Move, now!"

Unlike other space pirates who dabbled in trafficking or weapons, he had a taste for stealing planetary resources, especially those ripe for the taking from underdeveloped worlds.

...

Meanwhile, Sholok had been feeling relaxed until the alarming news arrived: his caravan was under attack.

"Their weapons are unreal! They destroyed everything—our equipment, the men... it’s a massacre!" The messenger’s voice trembled, hiding between rocks while the massive ship loomed above, casting a shadow over the mining site.

The ship hovered ominously, extending a huge mechanical claw that ripped into the earth, tearing through layers of rock to pull out the richest ores. It worked swiftly and with precision, following the path Lyra had mapped out for them.

Raphael gently squeezed Lyra’s thigh. "My love, are you using me?"

Lyra cupped his face, her voice soft but charged. "And if I am?"

Her tone was flat, robotic, but there was something seductive in the way she spoke. Raphael felt lost in her gaze, falling into the dark, mysterious depths of her eyes.

"Gladly," he murmured, utterly captivated.

Just then, his men returned with a fresh pet for him—another snake, this one green—and the snake soup he’d requested earlier.

Raphael wrapped the new snake around his arm while holding the bowl of steaming soup in his other hand. "Let me feed you."

Lyra wasn’t keen on it; the smell was off-putting. But he pressed the spoon to her lips, leaving her little choice.

With a slight frown, she swallowed the strange-tasting soup, her eyes never leaving his.

The Seething Fires tore through the caravans with unsettling precision, as if a detailed map guided their every move.

No caravan was safe; those that didn’t flee fast enough were swiftly plundered, and even those who managed to escape were soon blasted out of the sky by laser cannons.

These caravans had set out to develop new stars before, but never had they faced a threat this intense. The advance teams had cleared all potential dangers, confirming no pirate activity in the region before the bidding even opened. And yet, here they were—facing a nightmare scenario no one could’ve predicted.

Cohen’s brow furrowed so deeply it looked like it might break. Furious, he vowed to eliminate the Seething Fires and summoned several caravan leaders into his office.

"Didn’t I tell you to pull everyone back right away? Now look at this! I’ve got death reports piling up like junk mail!"

A nervous, pudgy man wiped sweat from his forehead, stammering, "W-We thought we could at least save the critical equipment, but... those pirates moved faster than we expected..."

Before he could finish, Cohen’s fist slammed down, turning his desk into a cloud of dust. A wave of psychokinetic energy rippled through the room, silencing everyone.

Fear gripped their throats.

Sholok, standing stiffly under the pressure, shot a glare at Cohen. "We’re businessmen, Lieutenant Commander. We have more to consider than you do. Instead of pointing fingers, why don’t you focus on driving the space pirates away? We’ve got level-seven experts among us. If we join forces, we stand a chance."

"Yeah," another leader chimed in, nodding. "At least long enough to hold out until reinforcements get here."

Despite their fear, their true concern wasn’t the dead workers. They were worried about losing the valuable minerals buried under Wyrmtrace. All they wanted was for the military to swoop in and save their investments.

Cohen’s eyes turned cold as ice. "You sacrificed your workers, and now you expect us to sacrifice ourselves for your treasure? Get real!"

He had been ready to pull everyone off the planet immediately, but they had hesitated. And now, they expected him to clean up their mess.

"Lieutenant Commander Whyte!" Bernard’s voice rang out, angry and accusing. "It’s your duty to protect us! Our people are dead, our equipment destroyed, and you want us to just hand over all these resources? Are you insane?"

Erin, who had been standing quietly by the wall, had heard enough. She stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "Stop it! Do you even realize how much blood is on our hands because of this? If you want to die over a few rocks, go ahead and do it yourself!"

Tensions boiled over, and the caravan leaders’ patience snapped.

"Blaming us? Why didn’t we hear a warning until the pirates were practically on top of us?" Sholok shot back, his voice laced with bitterness. His glare pierced through the officers. "And tell me—how did the pirates even know about this planet in the first place? Care to explain that?"

Erin faltered, unsure how to answer. But Cohen’s gaze remained steely as he replied, "We’ll investigate that later. Right now, survival’s all that matters."

Their job was to protect these people, and it was already spiraling into a disaster. The only thing left was to try to salvage what they could. But The Seething Fires wasn’t about to give them that chance.

A voice crackled through the comms: "Sir! Enemy ship spotted 200 kilometers out! At their current speed, they’ll be here in ten minutes!"

Panic swept through the room. The enemy ship was moving too fast, and escape wasn’t an option anymore.

Faced with certain doom, even those who had been driven by greed now began to realize the severity of the situation. Their lives were at stake, and it was becoming painfully clear there might not be a way out.

Cohen made a sharp motion with his hand. "Activate the Aegis Shield and prepare for battle!"

He cast a stern look at the once-confident caravan leaders, now visibly shaken. "For everyone’s safety, gather all the level-seven Peculiars. We need to face this head-on."

The leaders, who had been full of bluster moments ago, exchanged anxious glances. They knew there was no other option and scrambled to follow his command.

"We’re finished... We’re absolutely finished," one of them muttered under his breath. "Wyrmtrace is huge, and these pirates are hitting every spot like they’ve got a damn map!"

Meanwhile, aboard the pirate ship, Lyra sat perched on Raphael’s lap. His booming laughter echoed through the cabin as he admired their recent haul.

"My dear, you are TRULY my treasure!" he declared as he pressed a rough kiss against her lips, his satisfaction practically radiating off him.

But Lyra remained detached, her gaze fixed on her open palms.

With a quiet, steady voice, she asked, "I have a question. How did you find Wyrmtrace?"

Her words cut through his triumphant mood, causing him to pause for a moment.

Chapter 124: Raphael’s Story

Raphael was a regular of Snakehead; he often swung by Voidstar No.2 to grab supplies.

The first time he saw Lyra, he said something odd: "You’re the dream and light I’ve been chasing."

Even though they’d only met three times, Raphael had this strange, almost magnetic pull towards her.

When Lyra asked how he found them on the planet, Raphael didn’t hold back. "We were all set to leave, but fate had other plans. The radar caught an unshielded signal," he explained.

That signal led them to search the nearby star system, and soon enough, they discovered the planet Wyrmtrace.

"As we got closer, another set of coordinates popped up. Following them brought us to you."

Just as he was talking about how funny fate could be, a sly grin crept across his thin lips. "Tell me, darling, did you tick someone off? I can help you get back at them if you want. Just say the word."

But before he could get too close, Lyra raised a finger, stopping him in his tracks. She smiled a little. "Maybe make sure you survive first, before offering help."

Raphael, ever the charmer, brushed a strand of her hair, inhaling its scent. "Don’t worry," he whispered, "I’ll be around long enough to marry you. Our child will be adorable, no doubt."

Minutes later, the pilot turned around to give a status update. "Boss, we’ve located the military base, but they’ve got the Aegis Shield up."

Raphael’s twisted smile widened. He snapped his fingers. "Well, as polite visitors, we should at least say hello."

Without warning, the ship charged its laser and fired. Instantly, a massive purple energy shield formed—blocking the attack.

"That’s an advanced Aegis Shield!"

Instead of getting mad, Raphael laughed. "Wow, this planet must have a lot to offer to earn this level of protection." He held Lyra tighter, then sighed after a brief pause. "But we should leave soon. Reinforcements will show up any minute."

Lyra’s eyes flashed. Typical Raphael—always so cautious. "Already?"

He smirked. "Relax. I’m taking you with me. We’ll never be apart again! Isn’t that amazing?"

Lyra didn’t say a word, her mind already spinning with plans to turn the Seething Fires and the military against each other.

And she hadn’t waited long. Two mechas suddenly charged in, followed by level-seven fighters in Levs. In a blink, the pirates outside were wiped out.

Raphael’s mood soured. "How rude. We were just about to leave."

The screen showed two high-end military mechas approaching.

Raphael gave Lyra a gentle pat on the head. "Stay put, darling. I need to step out for a bit."

Two fighters, both level-sevens, stepped forward from the corner.

"Boss, there are too many of them. We should go with you."

"You’ve earned your break. After this, you’ll have the best seats at my wedding."

Before leaving, Raphael scooped Lyra up and carried her to another room, setting her on a bed draped with lace.

"I made sure your room is right next to mine. No cameras here—I won’t let anyone else admire you. Do you like it?"

The room was packed with elegant dresses and gleaming gemstones scattered around, all set up like a display meant just for her.

Above the bed, two large oil paintings caught Lyra’s eyes.

In the first, a breathtaking opera singer was performing on stage, her grace and beauty captivating.

The second painting was far more disturbing—the same singer lay lifeless on the stage, her body wrapped in venomous snakes.

Raphael’s voice softened as he gently touched the canvas. "That’s my mother," he said, a strange tenderness in his tone.

But Lyra barely registered his words. Her focus was elsewhere, studying the metal walls, which were built to block even superpower particles. This wasn’t just any room; it was a cage.

Raphael, noticing her distraction, lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Well? Do you like it here?"

Lyra let a slight smile curl at the edge of her lips. "I like this cage very much," she said smoothly, her voice carrying just a hint of irony, "because it’s right next to your room."

Her words seemed to please him. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction, and he placed a hand on his chest as if deeply touched. "Once I deal with these pests, I’ll give you the perfect evening."

Draping a red cloak over his shoulders like some kind of knight off to war, Raphael headed for the door. He paused only to tap the chest of the guard stationed outside. "Watch my bride."

With a heavy thud, the door shut behind him.

For a moment, Lyra stayed still, her smile fading into her usual cold expression. Rising from the bed, she moved toward the dressing table and gently tapped the wall next to it.

She tried to activate her psychokinesis, but her powers were completely blocked, as if they had disappeared.

That didn’t stop her.

With a flick of her wrist, her Schedar transformed into four massive, razor-sharp gears. At her command, they crashed into the wall, sending sparks flying and filling the room with a piercing screech.

Lyra’s face paled slightly. Whatever material Raphael had used to build this prison was stronger than she’d anticipated.

Outside, one of the guards perked up. "Did you hear that?"

The other waved him off. "Even if something’s going on in there, we can’t get in. And Sis Marv isn’t getting out. That cage is made from high-grade metal from the Empire. Mr. R had it built just for her."

Inside, Lyra’s gears finally tore through the wall. She reached out and touched the small hole, about a foot wide, and with a bit of force, she pushed the metal aside.

Slipping through, she dropped into the next room.

The moment she landed, a pungent mix of blood and roses hit her senses, making her cough.

Suddenly, something stirred in the corner of the room, covered by a black cloth.

Lyra’s body tensed as she shifted Schedar into a blade, ready for anything. Given Raphael’s twisted nature, it wouldn’t be surprising if there was some kind of creature locked under there.

But when she ripped the cloth away, what she found shocked her.

Curled up in there was a small child. His hair was jet-black, and his wide, frightened eyes matched. He let out a small cry, shrinking into himself even more, trembling in fear.

Lyra’s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and confusion. The Seething Fires weren’t known for human trafficking, so why was there a child locked up like a precious artifact?

Still, she couldn’t dwell on it.

She searched the room, and soon, her efforts paid off. She found a superpower-enhancing gun. It wasn’t as advanced as the one she had borrowed from Snakehead, but it could still boost power by two levels.

Without a second thought, she tucked the gun into her Space Button.

But no matter where she looked, the key to the ship remained elusive. Clearly, Raphael kept something that important on him.

She’d have to get it from him directly. There was no other way out.

Lyra was just about to make her escape when a small voice called out behind her, trembling with desperation. "Mi... miss, please help me!"

The boy was gripping the metal bars of his cage tightly, his wide black eyes a mix of fear and fragile hope. He looked at her as if she were his only shot at freedom.

By all logic, Lyra should’ve ignored him. He was a liability. But something about his hair and those deep, dark eyes caught her attention, sparking a brief moment of hesitation.

In a flash of silver, she sliced the top of the cage clean off.

The boy’s face lit up, eyes filled with joy, and he started to climb out, but Lyra cut him off with a sharp warning. "Don’t follow me."

His excitement quickly crumbled. His lip trembled, and he pulled his leg back inside the cage, curling up into a small ball. "Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible, full of defeat.

Lyra didn’t waste another glance. She turned her focus back to the task at hand.

Carefully, she cracked open the door, just enough to peek into the hallway.

It was quiet, and the guards were unaware of what was coming.

In a blink, she moved. Her shots were swift and precise, and the guards dropped to the floor, lifeless before they could react.

With the grace of a leopard, Lyra darted into the control room. Without hesitation, she yanked down a lever, sealing the doors throughout the ship.

The next phase of her escape had just begun.