Ch. 131..135: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 131-135

Chapter 131: AMAT (1)

Ansel’s face was like a blank slate. He just stared at Lyra, not giving away a single thought.

The people around them, who knew a bit more about what was going on, had strange looks. This was getting really interesting.

"Please introduce herself, dear," the host said, completely missing the tension in the air.

"Lyra," she said, her voice cool, giving nothing else.

The host, trying to keep things smooth, pressed for more. "Which school? What year? And your superpower?"

"NMA, first year, healer."

"Oh... wait, what?" The host froze. ’A first-year? And a HEALER?’

It wasn’t just her. Everyone watching, both live and online, looked confused.

Onstage, other military school students started whispering, some confused, others straight-up laughing.

A first-year was odd enough, but a healer at AMAT? ’Is this a joke?’

"What’s going on? @NMAOfficial, you running out of students or something? Had to pull in a first-year healer?"

"Maybe she’s got some hidden talents? @NMAOfficial care to explain?"

"Or maybe they know they’re gonna lose and just threw in a pretty face for attention? @NMAOfficial"

The NMA students were getting flooded with tags. The ones who weren’t busy jumped into the comments right away. Even though the idea of a first-year competing was a hot topic at school, they couldn’t let others throw shade.

"Y’all don’t even know. She’s our idol! You’ve never seen someone like her!"

"She’s ranked first in both team and individual mecha competitions! Are you even paying attention?"

"First year, fourth year, doesn’t matter—she’s still better than your best!"

Before long, Lyra’s school records were dug up and posted online. While her achievements were impressive, she still seemed out of place.

"What’s Nagano all hyped for? We at EPMA have a first-year competing too!"

"Oh, I know them! It’s Robin, my fave!"

"Yeah, I remember him. He lost to Lyra in the mecha tournament!"

While the internet went wild, the host tried to get things back on track. Following the director’s prompt, she asked, "Miss Shedd, since you’re a healer, why are you in this tournament?"

Lyra’s gaze flicked over the audience. "I don’t know. You’d have to ask the instructor who picked me."

The host, thinking she was being cheeky, kept going. "Everyone knows Lieutenant Commander Shedd has a cousin named Lyra. Is it just a coincidence you share the same name?"

The question, which seemed innocent at first, quickly shifted the mood. Even the host realized she’d stepped into something serious.

Ansel’s face darkened.

And then, Lyra, who had been all cool and detached tilted her head, a strange smile creeping onto her face. "You’d have to ask Lieutenant Commander Shedd. I had an accident and lost my memory."

If someone wanted to stir up trouble for the Shedd family, Lyra was more than happy to play along.

The crowd was stunned. ’When did this turn into a soap opera?’

Erin, forced to respond, took the mic and smiled stiffly. "Lyra does look a little like my cousin."

Those in the know couldn’t help but chuckle. Even though no one really understood the drama between Lyra and the Shedd family, this whole situation was dripping with irony.

The host, desperate to get back on track, quickly moved forward. "Enough talk, let’s begin. Who do you want to face as your opponent?"

Lyra barely hesitated. "Since I have a connection with Lieutenant Commander Shedd, I’ll choose Lieutenant Commander Shedd."

One of the young officers laughed as he walked offstage. "Looks like Lyra isn’t a fan of my looks!"

On stage, the two stunning women faced off.

Ever since Lyra had privately defeated her, Erin couldn’t shake that overwhelming pressure Lyra carried. But why? It didn’t make sense—In rank and status, Erin had far surpassed this frustrating Lyra.

Determined, Erin went all in, summoning her superpower in full force. A barrage of razor-sharp ice spikes launched toward Lyra, cutting through the air as if Erin intended to impale her. The intensity made several people in the audience wince.

"Whoa, Lieutenant Commander Shedd’s really going for it! Way too intense for a friendly match."

But before anyone could blink, Lyra moved like a shadow, slipping through the ice spikes with effortless grace. Every attack missed her completely, stabbing into the stage instead.

In a blink, Lyra closed the gap between them, launching a direct strike.

Erin tried to block with her ice powers, but Lyra’s force shoved her back two steps.

The crowd gasped in shock.

And Lyra wasn’t done. She pressed on relentlessly, still not using her superpower.

Erin frantically attempted to freeze her, but Lyra simply waved her hand, scattering Erin’s power like it was nothing.

In a final move, Lyra grabbed Erin’s collar and slammed her to the ground with a loud thud.

"S-class superpower... means nothing if you don’t know how to use it," Lyra whispered softly into Erin’s ear, her voice steady.

Then, as if the match was just a formality, she lifted Erin back up and brushed off her uniform. "Thank you for the match, Lieutenant Commander Shedd."

With a polite nod to the host, Lyra left the stage, leaving behind a crowd that could only stare in disbelief.

What was supposed to be a friendly exhibition had turned into a scene where a mere student overpowered a decorated military officer. The hit to the military’s reputation was obvious, but Ansel’s pride took the real blow.

"Haha... ha..." The host let out an awkward laugh. "Well, our participants this year sure don’t hold back! Lieutenant Commander Shedd, you really gave that student a memorable opportunity!"

But no one could shake the tension. The entire opening event had been flipped on its head, and clips of Erin getting handled by a student quickly went viral.

The whole competition was streaming live across official channels, each military school having their own feed so supporters could tune in.

The real challenge would kick off the next day, when the contestants were to be dropped onto a small, isolated island in the middle of the ocean.

The opening challenge would begin on a boat. Each school would be dropped near a random landing zone.

With over a hundred schools qualified to compete from across the Alliance, there weren’t enough landing spots for all teams. The race would start even before they set foot on the island.

Near the landing area, rows of racks held superpower guns and 3D-projectors. Contestants had to shoot the Lev targets projected by the machine using the guns.

Only by hitting 60 out of 100 Lev targets would they earn the password to unlock the lift, allowing them access to the island.

Rowboats swayed unsteadily on the ocean, looking fragile and vulnerable. Just the first challenge alone would knock out a big portion of the competitors.

As they approached the racks, the teams gathered, discussing strategies with serious expressions.

Nicholas secured their boat to the rack, his brow furrowed in thought. "Who’s going?"

Without hesitation, Elsie answered, "Lyra. Her shooting accuracy is the highest."

Since the special training, Lyra hadn’t just surpassed Nicholas—she’d been appointed team captain. Though it irked him, Nicholas couldn’t argue with the chief instructor’s choice.

Lyra silently grabbed the superpower gun, a sleek foot-long device, and slipped on her goggles. After confirming her target was the blue Lev, she readied herself.

The Lev cars burst out one by one, darting through the air in chaotic, colorful patterns.

On the gently rippling sea, Lyra’s green superpower bullets zipped through the air with precision, striking every blue Lev target dead on. Not a single miss.

Meanwhile, chaos reigned among the other teams. Some were missing their shots entirely, while others hit the wrong targets, triggering a flurry of complaints and frustration.

As soon as the counter on Lyra’s gun hit sixty, the system-linked communicator pinged, delivering the landing password instantly.

Wasting no time, Lyra lowered her gun and, in her usual calm tone, said, "Let’s go."

With that, NMA became the first team to board the lift, leaving the rest scrambling behind them. They were officially leading the race into the next phase of the competition.

 

Chapter 132: AMAT (2)

The camera zoomed in on the island as the commentator’s voice filled the air. "And there we have it, folks! NMA and EPMA have officially made landfall, and they’re leading the pack. The next challenge is going to be critical—completing their map hinges on how well they tackle this one."

To ensure student safety, the island had undergone some serious modifications. The terrain had been Completely altered. The environment had been Rigged for unpredictability.

And to top it off, the Aegis Shield was put in place to keep things from getting too out of hand.

The whole competition was a game of points—teams scored by completing tasks, and the more they completed, the more map pieces they earned. A complete map meant they could see more of the island, giving them a better shot at choosing the best routes.

Their backpacks were basic—packed with just enough compressed food, antidotes, and some special plants to temporarily enhance their powers. Healing devices? Other teams might carry them, but not these guys. They were aiming for efficiency.

Milo, always the motivator, punched the air. "We’ve gotta get that full map. No way are we giving the other teams a chance to catch up!"

Elsie, uncharacteristically quiet, just nodded. "Yeah, but let’s pace ourselves. We can’t waste energy too soon."

Kolan, with his Botanokinesis, the power to control plants, was practically in his element. The forest surrounding the landing zone gave him a natural edge. They moved quickly, weaving through trees until they finally broke through to a wetland meadow.

Suddenly, the tall grass rustled, putting everyone on high alert. But it was just Kolan’s vines pulling back. He scowled. "There’s something in the swamp."

As if on cue, a screen blinked to life from a tree nearby.

"Your first challenge starts here."

Immediately, the group tensed up.

Without warning, thick jets of muddy water shot out from the swamp.

Adela, fast on her feet, raised an earthen wall with her Geokinesis powers. The muddy blasts hit, leaving deep marks behind.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

The grass was too dense for them to see much, but they knew something dangerous was lurking. They could only guess based on the environment and the attack method.

The commentator jumped in to clarify, "What we’re seeing here are Spritzfin, a kind of water-spraying fish at level two or three. They’re omnivorous, pack hunters, and their water jets are strong enough to pierce a person if they aren’t protected."

"This is going to be tough," the commentator continued as the view shifted to EPMA. "Look at that! First-year Robin from EPMA is making his move, using his lightning power to stun the fish. Clever strategy!"

"NMA, on the other hand, doesn’t have any obvious superpower advantages here in the swamp. How will they handle this?"

Over on NMA’s side, they were deep in discussion.

"We can’t see these fish through the grass," Daire said, thinking out loud. "Maybe we should burn it?"

Milo gave a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, great idea. Let’s torch the place and hand an easy win to the teams behind us."

Daire shot him a glare. "So what’s your genius plan?"

Elsie cut in before Milo could answer, staying cool and collected. "Even if we burned the grass, I doubt it’d be that simple. The organizers love to make things complicated. The real issue is, where’s the map?"

The challenge wasn’t just about surviving the fish—they needed to figure out how to complete the map. Kill the fish or avoid them? Either way, they had to get that map.

Then, in a surprise move, Lyra reached down and grabbed one of the fish. With a quick pull, she yanked off a large scale from its head. "I found it. The map’s on the fish."

She held up the scale for everyone to see. It was more than just armor—it was part of the map, hidden in plain sight.

The catch? Not every fish had a map piece, and worse, they had no idea how many pieces they’d need to finish it.

To make things even trickier, they had to avoid grabbing duplicates!

After hearing the commentator’s analysis, the NMA team fell into a brief silence. The challenge felt overwhelming—maybe even a bit unfair.

The live audience couldn’t believe what they were seeing either.

"No way!" someone gasped. "This year’s competition is brutal! Just watching makes my skin crawl!"

Despite the shock, the commentator stayed upbeat. "While EPMA took the initial lead, they seem to be struggling now. NMA might just pull ahead—thanks to this first-year student’s sharp instincts."

The camera shifted to show the NMA team making a bold move: they set the grassy plain ablaze, the flames crackling as they fearlessly stepped into the murky water.

Instantly, the Spritzfins—the toothy, ten-centimeter-mouthed creatures lurking below—picked up on their movements.

With loud splashes, they began swimming toward the group, their sharp teeth grinding in a menacing sound that could make anyone’s stomach drop.

"Are they crazy?!" one viewer yelled. "They’re about to get shredded by those Spritzfins!"

Another chimed in, "I mean, how else are they gonna catch these things? Use a fishing rod?"

Amid the tension, Elsie leaned over to Lyra. "It’s all on you now."

Lyra, calm and collected, nodded before conjuring a glowing green barrier that expanded and enveloped the whole team.

With the shield in place, the others wasted no time. Using their various skills, they worked fast, catching fish one after another.

Before long, they had gathered almost every piece of the map. The speed and precision stunned not only their competitors but the entire Alliance.

"Wait, since when does a healer double as a tank?"

"Who even said she was JUST a healer? She’s something else entirely!"

"And to think people doubted Lyra could handle this competition. Look at her now!"

Meanwhile, up in the stands, Erin’s expression darkened. Why was it always Lyra? Even after all this time, after everything, Lyra was still the one stealing the spotlight. Erin clenched her fists, gritting her teeth in frustration. She had once thought cutting ties with Lyra’s family, the Calvins, would be enough to bury her. Now, she regretted not doing more to take away Lyra’s superpower while she had the chance.

Her anger only deepened when she overheard a conversation behind her, coming from the military’s command post.

"Vice Admiral Shedd," an officer asked, "Is that first-year student from NMA really your granddaughter?"

An old man seated next to Ansel let out a chuckle. "I might be getting on in years, but she still looks the same as when she was just a little girl. Did you tell all us that she was sick and had to stay at home for the rest of her life? Why is she here now? And why they all say she’s from Voidstar?"

Anyone who stood out in the military league quickly drew attention.

Recruiters from all corners were always hunting for fresh talent, and Lyra’s healing powers had officially put her on everyone’s radar.

Word had already spread, and the moment she used her special healing power, her past wasn’t a secret anymore.

The question now was: Would the Shedd family really let her slip away?—If they didn’t claim her, someone else would happily step in.

Erin sneaked a glance at Ansel, who sat there with an unreadable expression. But inside, she was reeling with dread. ’Why is he publicly acknowledging Lyra’s identity now? What’s he planning?’

Then, Ansel sighed softly and responded, "That girl has always been headstrong. I couldn’t control her, even if I tried."

Erin’s heart sank. Her panic flared, but she forced herself to calm down. She realized that if Ansel refused to acknowledge Lyra, Lyra would just turn to someone else in the military for support, which would make her a bigger threat.

The officer beside Ansel clicked his tongue. Everyone knew the Shedd family had its share of drama. Still, it didn’t take much imagination to see where this could go. The old man had it in mind that, even if Lyra didn’t join the military, getting her tied with one of his grandsons through marriage was just as good a move.

After all, with her dual superpowers, the gene potential alone was worth it, even if improper training had caused issues in the past. Plus, she wasn’t exactly lacking in looks either. A child with her abilities could be incredibly powerful.

Back on the island, while the high-ranking officials were busy scheming, Lyra and her team had just gathered the last map piece.

Elsie examined the fragments carefully, then nodded. "Based on the island’s size and the scale of the pieces, we’ve got it. This is the complete map."

As soon as the official opticomputer scanned the map and confirmed 100% completion, a wave of relief washed over the team.

They’d done it—every piece was accounted for.

Now, with the entire map in view, the island’s layout lit up before them, showing all the challenges and points scattered across their path.

Elsie studied the map closely. "We’ve only got three days," she said, her finger tracing three different routes on the screen.

Each route led through varying levels of difficulty, but Elsie didn’t hesitate. "I suggest we go for the toughest challenges. It’s the only way to rack up the highest points."

There wasn’t a second of doubt from the rest of the team. "Absolutely. We need to push for the big wins."

After a quick but focused discussion, they agreed on a route that would stretch their abilities but also play to their strengths. It was risky, but with their superpowers combined, they had a real shot at pulling it off.

Once the plan was in place, they wasted no time and started moving forward, determination in every step.

Then, without warning, Lyra shot her hand up, signaling the group to halt.

The team froze. All eyes turned toward her as the unburned patches of grass nearby began to shake violently.

It wasn’t the wind. Something—or someone—was rushing toward them, hidden in the tall, swaying blades.

The sound grew louder, closer, setting their nerves on edge.

Lyra’s instincts had rarely been wrong. Whatever was coming, it was coming fast.

 

Chapter 133: AMAT (3)

A massive Carniflora, as huge as a minivan, suddenly burst from the undergrowth.

Everyone was ready for it. The group launched their attacks immediately, but soon found themselves surrounded.

The Carniflora, a plant known for devouring humans, showed its terrifying, jagged white teeth and blood-red mouth as it came into view.

The sight, even on the camera feed, was enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.

Tension gripped the team.

"My scalp’s crawling just looking at that thing."

"Are those students even still alive?"

Every year, amidst the intensity of the tournament, there was always a 5% rate of death in every AMAT competition.

Suddenly, flames shot up into the air, blindingly bright. The Carniflora let out a high-pitched scream and began to retreat.

Milo wasted no time, slicing through the flower with his claws. He was just about to charge after more when Elsie’s voice cut through the action. "Don’t burn your energy! Get back here!"

"How much energy does it take to handle these things?" Milo grumbled as he dodged Spritzfin’s water arrows, making it a point to show off his agility.

In this tournament, standing out could be the golden ticket to a spot in the legion.

Elsie wasn’t impressed. With an irritated glance, she said, "We don’t have time to waste. Let’s move."

They pushed forward, wading through the water. They knew once they crossed this section, the Spritzfin would back off. Although there’d still be other threats—plants or beasts, they maight came one at a time, at least.

Trailing behind the others, Lyra stooped to pick up a Carniflora stem. She noticed something odd about the dirt clinging to its roots. It wasn’t just the swamp’s mud—there were bits of soil from a completely different place.

This didn’t sit right. The first stage’s main obstacle was supposed to be the Spritzfin. So how did a whole pack of Level 4 Carniflora make it here? It didn’t match the tournament’s design at all.

But with their terminal only capable of sending out one-way messages, they had no way to ask the organizers for an explanation.

Meanwhile, back at the competition’s headquarters, things were heating up. Staff members monitoring the event were rushing into the command room.

The lead organizer was deep in conversation with Ansel and some high-ranking military officers, making the staff hesitate to interrupt.

Ansel’s group stopped talking when they noticed the intrusion. "Is there a problem?"

A young staffer, headset in place, wiped the sweat off his brow and nervously glanced at his superior.

His superior sighed and nodded. "Go ahead, just let Vice Admiral Myer know."

"Uh... for some reason, the Carniflora from Stage 2 has broken out and moved into Stage 1."

The lead organizer, who’d been laughing with the brass moments earlier, suddenly found himself caught off guard.

"What about the other stages?" he asked.

"No issues so far."

Vice Admiral Myer, who had been discussing things with Ansel, furrowed his brow. "You’ve run these checks so many times. How does something like this happen now? Sure, NMA and EPMA teams can handle it, but other military schools might not. Without a system warning, do you know how many students could get seriously hurt?"

Both the lead organizer and the young staffer felt a wave of fear. The cold stares from the higher-ups were brutal.

Ansel spoke up, interrupting Myer’s reprimand. "Myer, let’s not overreact. Sure, this is a competition, but these kids are going to face far worse in the real world. A little challenge isn’t the worst thing."

"They’re still kids," Myer shot back.

Ansel glanced at him, knowing it wasn’t an argument he could win. "Are you suggesting we stop the competition?" he asked, his tone pointed.

Myer stayed silent.

Ansel turned to the staff. "The mistake’s been made. Just add a system alert for the teams who come next."

"Understood... right away." The person in charge, relieved to have avoided further heat, nudged the younger staffer forward. "Get it done. Now."

"Yes, sir!"

The students and audience hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. They just thought the difficulty was cranked up a notch.

Even the extra system warning did little to calm the storm, only slightly lowering the death toll.

Many military schools, already struggling, ended up calling it quits at this stage.

But some refused to back down. They pushed forward, retrying again and again, until their students were swallowed whole by the Carniflora.

The officials assured everyone that they’d destroy the plant and rescue the students immediately, but whether they could reach them in time was always uncertain.

Back in the command room, a cold sweat trickled down the person in charge when he received alarming news—the Carniflora that had eaten students had disappeared!

Clamping a hand over his mouth, he whispered angrily, "What about the tracking chips? Weren’t these plants all fitted with chips?"

"We traced them by satellite, but all the chips have been destroyed."

"This is no accident!"

Though he thought he was keeping his voice low, the two Vice Admirals overheard him loud and clear.

Before the person in charge could say another word, Vice Admiral Myer barked out orders, "Deploy a team to the island right now."

Ansel raised an eyebrow. "Seems deliberate. Better move with caution."

At that moment, the students had no clue they were walking into a much bigger problem. They were too focused on surviving the competition.

The number of teams still standing after the Carniflora stage had dropped dramatically—only nine remained.

The NMA group, leading the pack, had already reached the second stage of their chosen route: a vast, unforgiving desert.

An endless stretch of yellow sand sprawled out before them, and small creatures like scorpions, spiders, and lizards skittered across the dunes.

The hot wind whipped through the air, drying out their mouths and making every step feel heavier.

"Check your water," Elsie said, her voice low but commanding.

The sound of water bottles being shaken echoed through the group, but Milo’s voice cut through, annoyed. "Damn it, my bottle’s leaking."

Apparently, back during the Carniflora chase, Spritzfin’s water arrow had punctured his water bottle.

Elsie shot him an icy look. "And you’re just now realizing?"

"I was scouting ahead. Who’s got time to babysit a water bottle?" Milo’s defensive tone made everyone grit their teeth.

Elsie sighed, resisting the urge to argue. "Fine, everyone save him a bit later. Let’s keep moving. Adela, stay alert."

Adela had Geokinesis power. He nodded. "On it."

The line between the grassland and the desert was eerily sharp, like it had been carved there by design—a clear sign that this was all part of the tournament setup.

As soon as they stepped into the desert, a wave of heat slammed into them, and the sun beat down with even greater intensity.

The air above the sand shimmered in the heat, and sweat began pouring off them, draining their water supply fast.

It was too quiet.

No wind, no movement, just the oppressive heat pressing down on them. It was unsettling, gnawing at their nerves.

"Give me a drink," Milo muttered, grabbing Kolan’s water bottle and gulping down a huge portion of it.

Kolan’s eyes widened in panic. "Leave some for me!"

He lunged to snatch it back, but Milo twisted his body. In the process, the bottle slipped from his hands and hit the sand, spilling its contents almost immediately.

Kolan scrambled to save it, but only a mouthful remained. His face flushed with anger, he wiped the sand off the bottle and glared at Milo, his voice trembling with rage. "You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

Milo shrugged, clearly not bothered. "You were the one grabbing for it. It’s just a sip of water. Chill out."

Tensions between them had been simmering for a while, ever since their last mission. And with the whole tournament still being broadcast, it didn’t take much for things to escalate.

Kolan, fed up, grabbed Milo by the collar, ready to throw down.

Nicholas tried to calm them down. "Guys, we’re still in the middle of—"

But before he could finish, Adela’s voice rang out. "Watch out!"

The ground beneath them suddenly gave way, and all three of them tumbled down.

At the bottom of the pit, to their horror, was a gaping, blood-red mouth!

Chapter 134: AMAT (4)

The soft, fine sand under their feet suddenly morphed into a thick, muddy mess, with pits forming one after another.

At the bottom of each pit, huge gaping mouths waited, ready to devour anything that fell into them.

The moment Adela shouted her warning, Lyra was already in action. She quickly distanced herself from the danger.

After making sure there were no pits forming under her own feet, Lyra turned back and tossed out a light band, managing to pull the rest of the team to safety.

Everyone made it out — except one.

"Help..." Milo’s voice was cut off as a beast lunged from the pit below and swallowed him whole.

The group froze, stunned by the sight. Kolan, who had been arguing with Milo moments earlier, felt a wave of guilt hit him hard.

The sting of the wind and sand snapped Kolan out of his daze. Wiping his face, he asked quietly, "Is he... dead?"

Elsie stayed silent, her eyes scanning the pit, but none of them had any idea what kind of creature had taken Milo.

"No, he’s not dead," Lyra’s calm tone brought a shred of hope to the group. "We need to move quickly."

Nicholas hesitated, "But we’re only at the second stage. If Milo isn’t dead, the organizers should step in and rescue him soon, right?"

His words weren’t careless—he was just conflicted. As a third-year student, this was their last shot at AMAT before they’d have to face a much more dangerous field internship on the battlefield next year. Falling behind now could cost them that coveted legion invitation.

"But the organizers need to be able to reach us first," Lyra said, pointing to the sky. A faint, blue hexagonal shield shimmered above them. "Didn’t anyone notice? The Aegis Shield is up."

The realization hit everyone like a punch.

"Maybe... the organizers activated it?" Nicholas asked, though his voice was already filled with doubt.

Elsie’s frown deepened. "Why would they activate the Aegis Shield? The Carniflora showing up in the first stage was already suspicious. Now this?"

It was becoming clear—something was very wrong with this competition.

Outside the island, chaos had already taken over. The reconnaissance team was scrambling, unable to break through the Aegis Shield, and quickly reported back to the command room.

"The Aegis Shield has activated, and all our chips and equipment are unresponsive!"

The chips were crucial for controlling the plants and beasts on the island. With them out of commission, the fate of the students was uncertain, but it was bound to be grim—especially with a much bigger threat lurking inside the shield.

Vice Admiral Myer’s sense of unease deepened. "Shut down the broadcast. Now!"

But before they could move, panicked tech staff rushed in. "We can’t! The broadcast has been hijacked by an external satellite!"

Ansel, standing nearby, gripped his cane tightly. Vice Admiral Myer turned to him and asked, "What do you make of this, Vice Admiral Shedd?"

Ansel’s expression darkened. "An external network? Could it be... an imperial spy?"

The words hung in the air, heavy and unsettling.

Vice Admiral Myer shot up from his seat, his commanding presence silencing the room. "Alert the Admiral immediately!"

He then turned to Ansel with a determined look. "Vice Admiral Shedd, I think we need to head there ourselves. Those kids might not have much time."

The idea of an imperial spy infiltrating the Alliance’s AMAT competition was an unthinkable scandal. It couldn’t be allowed to stand.

Just then, a shout came from the team monitoring the broadcast. "Some of the students have realized something’s wrong!"

Both Vice Admirals turned back to the screens, where they saw the NMA team chasing after the beast that had swallowed Milo, veering off the official competition route.

"Good," Myer said, his voice sharp with purpose. "Contact them. We need their help."

With communication down, the students on the island were the only ones who might be able to provide insight into what was happening. Right now, they were the best shot at figuring this out before things spiraled even further.

"Understood! We’ll stay locked on their broadcast feed," one of the techs replied.

Time was running out, and every second mattered.

Ansel’s gaze stayed locked on the screen, his attention focused on Lyra, now the leader of the NMA team. His expression was hard to read, a mix of deep thought and quiet intensity.

Myer, noticing Ansel’s distraction, gave him a glance before turning back to the unfolding chaos on-screen. "Vice Admiral Shedd, we should move out now."

Outside the command center, a storm had begun to brew. Even the audience, watching from the stands and across the nation, was starting to pick up on the unsettling mood surrounding the tournament.

"What’s going on with this year’s competition? First, students are getting swallowed, now they’re being eaten alive!"

"It’s insane! The Rocky Military Academy and the North Point both got wiped out in seconds. It’s like the organizers don’t even want anyone to finish this thing!"

"At this rate, it’ll just be the top three schools left fighting it out by the end."

"Fighting? The third-ranked Royal Military Academy already lost two members! What’s left for them to fight with?"

"Wait, look! NMA’s gone off the official route. What are they even doing?"

Meanwhile, Lyra led her team in hot pursuit of the creature that had swallowed Milo.

They were moving quickly, following the shifting bulge in the sand as the beast tunneled beneath it.

When they finally exited the desert zone, the creature’s full form came into view—a massive Twistmaw, native to desert regions.

The spider was named for the gaping mouth on its back, which could manipulate space using its Spatiokinesis abilities, meaning space-twisting.

Without pausing, the spider scurried straight into a dense forest.

The island’s beasts and plants had all been modified with control chips in their brains, turning them into half-mechanical creatures without any trace of psychokinetic abilities or real awareness.

"It doesn’t seem out of the ordinary," Nicholas muttered, still trying to convince the group to turn back. "Past competitors have said that when someone gets taken by a beast, they’re usually rescued at a recovery point."

A wave of uncertainty took over the group, especially Elsie.

But Lyra came to a halt suddenly, her senses on high alert. "Someone’s coming."

"Other teams?" someone asked.

"Get covered," Elsie ordered, swiftly leading the team into the thick underbrush.

Lyra, always quick on her feet, scaled a nearby tree and concealed herself within the branches.

The rustling of leaves grew louder, and soon, shadowy figures emerged. What they saw made everyone’s blood run cold—these weren’t fellow competitors, and they didn’t look like any event organizers either.

The strangers wore rugged camouflage uniforms, loaded with ammunition and weapons. Their eyes, filled with hostility, swept the area like predators on the hunt.

"Didn’t the broadcast say some military academy students were heading this way? Where are they?" one of the men growled.

"Doesn’t matter. They can’t run far. Let’s find them and capture them before anyone else does."

The intruders spread out, combing the area for the NMA team.

As Lyra’s team processed the situation, she acted. Without a moment’s hesitation, she fired two beams of light, swift and deadly.

The thud of bodies hitting the ground echoed through the forest, stunning her own teammates, let alone the audience watching the live broadcast.

"What the hell just happened? Did she just KILL them?"

"That first-year... She didn’t even hesitate. What is going on?"

Elsie and the others broke cover, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Nicholas, paling, looked like he was about to faint. "Lyra, you just killed someone! This is still a competition!"

Lyra didn’t flinch. Picking up one of the fallen soldiers’ weapons, she replied coolly, "Competition? Those were imperial spies."

Her words struck like a bombshell.

"You said IMPERIAL?!" Elsie’s voice shook with shock and anger, her eyes flashing with fury.

Lyra tossed her a handgun she’d grabbed off one of the bodies. "This isn’t Alliance-made."

Lyra had spent enough time at Voidstar No.2 to recognize the designs of both Alliance and Imperial tech.

The weapons these men carried were unmistakably of imperial origin, their distinct materials and structure standing out in ways the others couldn’t miss.

"Take what you can. Forget the competition—this is about survival now."

The team’s mood shifted in an instant. What had once been an intense, prestigious tournament had suddenly become something far more dangerous—a covert battlefield where imperial spies had infiltrated Alliance territory.

 

Chapter 135: AMAT (5)

When Vice Admiral Myer and Ansel arrived just outside the island, the recon team was already locked in a standoff with the spies holed up inside.

"If you want these students to live, stay where you are and don’t do anything stupid!"

The live broadcast showed the students, captured by Carniflora and Twistmaw, still alive but in rough shape.

Tied up and tossed together like luggage, they were covered in slime, looking both miserable and terrified.

Most of them hadn’t even realized what was happening until someone who resisted got killed. That was when the gravity of the situation really hit them.

With the broadcast still rolling, Myer and Ansel were in a bind. They couldn’t risk the students’ lives, not with the whole Alliance watching their every move. The stakes were high, and to top it off, the Third Prince of the Alliance had been taken hostage too.

Now, while the royal family held no real power after the revolution, they were still symbolic. Even if the prince was more of a "national mascot" these days, having him snatched up was a huge embarrassment.

Just when it felt like things couldn’t get worse, Myer’s adjutant rushed up with some news. "A level-eight Peculiar named Frei is asking to meet with you. Says he’s here on behalf of someone on the island and wants to discuss strategy."

Myer perked up at this. "Bring him over, quick!"

Frei turned out to be a middle-aged guy in a black suit, looking a bit like a government official at first glance. But his rough hands and sharp eyes gave away that he was no pencil-pusher.

"Hello, my employer, Miss Lyra from NMA, would like to speak with you directly." Frei handed over a tiny communication device, no bigger than a fingernail.

Myer felt a flicker of annoyance but couldn’t afford to worry about protocol right now. After exchanging a quick glance with Ansel, who wore a grim expression, he accepted the device.

Lyra’s voice came through, calm but clearly out of breath. "Vice Admiral Myer, we’ve located the enemy. They know we’re here, and their target is the contestants. Can you tell me what’s happening on your end? Or is the situation outside so bad the military can’t get in?"

Her last question made Myer’s face flush a little. "Uh, are you still broadcasting?"

Lyra caught on quickly. The military’s reputation was on the line, and not everything needed to be aired out for the public.

"How do we stop the broadcast?"

A nearby technician chimed in, "It’s satellite-based. Destroying your team’s terminal should cut the feed."

Lyra gave a quick nod to Elsie, who wasted no time shooting the terminal, destroying it in one shot. With the broadcast down, the spies could no longer track them.

"We’ve cut the broadcast," Lyra confirmed, finding a moment to hide with her group. "So, with hostages in their hands and the Aegis Shield malfunctioning, the military can’t get in, right?"

"You’ve summed it up," Myer replied with a heavy sigh. "We’re stuck waiting until they leave or until the admiral shows up. Best to keep hidden for now. I suspect they’ve got a Master Peculiar on their side."

All the military could do from outside was sit tight and wait.

Everyone who had been holding onto the hope of rescue fell into a heavy silence.

Lyra shut off the communicator and stepped back into the cave. "We’ll wait for the rescue."

"How long will that take?" Daire slumped against the stone wall, sounding defeated.

"Myer said we have to wait until the enemy retreats, but we don’t even know when they landed here. They’ve clearly got a way to slip in and out without being spotted," Elsie muttered, her brow furrowed. "And they’re picking off contestants one by one."

From what Carniflora and the massive sand spiders had done so far, it was clear the Empire was after the students.

Lyra sat at the mouth of the cave, eyes scanning the forest. "The higher-ups won’t ignore what we’ve figured out. If the enemy could quietly take over the island’s control system, it means there’s a mole. Let them handle that part."

Her laid-back attitude got under Nicholas’s skin. "Let them figure it out slowly? They’re hunting us down all over the island! We’re just supposed to sit here and do nothing?"

"Or would you rather run out there and get yourself killed?" Lyra shot him a sharp look. "We’re lucky we dodged their surveillance. They’ve got a Master Peculiar with them. What else can we do but hide?"

Nicholas clenched his jaw, momentarily at a loss for words. After a beat, he said, "At least we should try to find a way out."

"If getting out was an option, don’t you think the Vice Admirals would’ve already broken through?" Elsie gave him a pointed glare. "How did you end up president with ideas like that?"

The Aegis Shield was still in place. They couldn’t even dig their way out if they tried.

Her frustration with Nicholas, of all people, being in charge, made her irritation worse.

Embarrassed, Nicholas turned red and sank to the ground, covering his face. His voice cracked a little as he spoke. "I’m just scared we’ll be taken to the Empire. I don’t even know if we’ll survive."

That one statement shattered the thin layer of courage the students had been clinging to.

But Lyra wasn’t fazed. "It’s not as bad as you think," she said, her voice steady and cool.

Her calmness seemed to inject some confidence back into the group. They all looked at her, waiting for more.

"First off, there aren’t that many of them. They couldn’t bring a large force onto the island without being noticed."

"Second, we’ve cut off their surveillance, and this island’s big enough for us to play a decent game of hide and seek."

"And third, they won’t stay long. They’ll leave before the admiral arrives."

There was an unspoken rule in the ongoing war between the Empire and the Alliance: no Peculiar on the battlefield was ever supposed to exceed level nine. Breaking that balance could trigger a disaster big enough to wipe out humanity.

That was why the Alliance admiral, a level-nine gravity Peculiar, was more than enough to keep the enemy in check.

Hearing her lay out the situation, other students realized that things didn’t seem quite as hopeless as they had before.

Still, there was something Lyra kept to herself: all her confidence relied on the assumption that the enemy would focus on targeting other contestants first.

But plans have a way of getting interrupted when you least expect it.

As evening rolled in, a rustling noise came from the forest outside.

Kolan’s alarm vines had been cut.

The group, already on edge, immediately snapped into alert mode.

"Don’t shoot! It’s us!" A few figures emerged from behind the low palm trees.

It was a group of contestants from Elden Prime.

"Looks like something’s gone wrong with the competition. Do you guys know what’s happening?" The young man leading them glanced at the NMA group. Seeing that they weren’t surprised, he gave a grim smile. "Guess you’re already in the loop."

Elsie and the others didn’t know what to say. Not only were they fully aware of the danger, but they also noticed something chilling—the leader from Elden Prime still had his official terminal strapped to his wrist.

Which meant the enemy had already found them.

Without a word, Elsie raised her gun and fired, shattering the Elden Prime leader’s terminal in an instant. The sound of the shot made his team flinch, almost triggering them to retaliate out of pure instinct.

"The enemy has control over satellite surveillance," Elsie explained calmly, lowering her weapon. "As long as you have that terminal on, they can see your every move."

The EPMA leader’s face tightened in frustration as the truth sank in. "So that’s why we kept getting found no matter where we went!"

"Less talking, more moving!" Lyra snapped, already on her feet and ready to relocate.

The group wasted no time, quickly moving deeper into the forest while exchanging bits of information as they went.

The Elden Prime team was especially shaken, piecing together just how much danger they’d been in all along.

Every detail made their situation seem more dire, and their shock was evident with every new thing they learned.