Ch. 136..140: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 136-140

Chapter 136: AMAT (6)

In the control room on the island, a few corpses were piled haphazardly in one corner, while a tense group of men and women in black uniforms worked the control panels with laser focus.

"Those Alliance idiots are still trying to wrestle control from us!" one of them grumbled under his breath.

Just then, a woman monitoring the screens spoke up quickly, "General, we’ve located the EPMA and NMA teams. They destroyed their terminals, but the last footage shows them moving southwest."

"Both academies together?" The gray-haired woman, clearly the General, stood from her chair. "How long until the passage reopens?"

"Three hours, ma’am!"

"You two, come with me. We’ll capture them ourselves." She paused and pointed toward two mechas stationed in the corner. "And take those with you."

Stepping outside, she pulled out a crimson mecha from her Space Button and climbed inside. In seconds, it shot into the sky like a comet, blazing bright red against the dark night.

The fiery mecha stood out, easily visible even to the military and onlookers outside the island. Tension rippled through the audience as concern for the students escalated.

"What’s the military doing? Why isn’t the Aegis Shield down yet?!"

"I’m panicking! Our students are still trapped in there!"

Meanwhile, as Lyra and the others moved quietly through the darkness, she was the first to sense something was off. "Get down! Someone’s coming!"

Without hesitation, she dove into the nearby grove, and the NMA team, trusting her psychic abilities, followed suit.

"Is it from the Alliance?" one of the EPMA students whispered.

"Doesn’t matter, hide first!" Elsie hissed, yanking him down beside her.

A loud whoosh suddenly filled the air as a mecha flew past overhead, its sleek silver-gray body clearly belonging to the Alliance military.

Excitement flared in one of the students. "It’s our mecha!"

"The military’s finally here to save us!"

But Lyra’s expression darkened. "Something’s wrong. We should’ve been notified."

Before she could react, two EPMA students broke cover, waving their arms and shouting, "We’re over he—"

They never finished. Two tranquilizer darts hit them square in the chest, and they crumpled to the ground as the mecha sped toward them.

Elsie and the others didn’t hesitate. They opened fire, aiming directly at the cockpit of the approaching mecha.

One mecha went down fast, its pilot barely having time to react. The second tried to ascend, but a green energy strand shot through the air, slicing cleanly through the cockpit and sending it spiraling to the ground in a heap.

Lyra sprinted forward, dragging the corpse from the wrecked mecha and, without a second thought, jumped inside to inspect the controls. Thankfully, her attack had been spot on—the internal systems were mostly undamaged.

Just as the second mecha fell silent, a brilliant red light tore across the sky toward them. The overwhelming wave of psychokinesis that followed felt like a blade at their throats, tightening the air around them.

"Run," Lyra said dryly, casting a glance at the now-humbled EPMA leader.

"But what about them?" one student asked, motioning toward the two unconscious comrades.

Lyra straightened the slightly damaged mecha and swung into the cockpit. "If you feel like dying with them, be my guest and drag them along."

Before closing the hatch, she looked back at the group and added, "I’d suggest splitting up. If we’re lucky, we’ll meet again at the finish line."

With that, and under the wide-eyed stares of the others, she launched the mecha into the night, leaving a trail of flames in her wake.

"Did she seriously just leave us like that?!" one of the EPMA students blurted, pointing at the shrinking silhouette of Lyra’s mecha.

Without missing a beat, Elsie replied, "Lyra always has a plan. We need to split up and run, now."

The NMA team didn’t hesitate, scattering in different directions. The EPMA students, though still rattled, reluctantly followed suit, sprinting into the dark.

Soon after, the crimson mecha touched down by the grove.

The General stepped out, quickly surveying the scene. After confirming her two subordinates were dead, she noticed the unconscious students and sent their coordinates back to the control room.

Without delay, she ordered backup—beasts and plants—to retrieve them.

Then, with a cold focus, she leapt back into her mecha and shot off into the sky once more, hunting her next target.

Human speed was laughably slow compared to an advanced mecha. The general, now soaring through the sky, easily spotted the scattered students below. She sneered, "You little brats, none of you are getting away."

The island, designed specifically for AMAT, wasn’t large by air standards—less than 500 kilometers across. Anyone could cover the entire island in under an hour by Lev.

However, for the students on foot, it was a completely different story. The rough terrain, thick forests, and countless obstacles made the journey to the center seem nearly impossible. They had no idea where the enemy was or how close danger actually was.

As one of the third-year EPMA students ran, he muttered, "She could’ve at least taken a couple of us along in that mecha." He glanced over at his silent companion, trying to mask his jealousy. "I mean, she’s your cousin, right? She should’ve taken you."

But it was obvious what he really meant—he wished he’d been the one to get a free ride.

"Bringing others would slow her down," Robin replied flatly. "In situations like this, the faster you move, the better your chances."

Before his companion could pick up on the cold calculation in his voice, Robin suddenly darted in another direction, speeding up.

Confused, the student tried to follow, but a tranquilizer dart hit him before he could even react. He crumpled to the ground, and as consciousness slipped away, the truth sank in: Robin had set him up. That traitor!

Meanwhile, Robin made a clean jump into a deep pit, where a Carniflora lay in wait. The creature swallowed him whole, and the pursuing red mecha, thinking Robin was done for, moved on to hunt down another group of students.

Moments later, a burst of lightning erupted from the pit.

Robin, now coated in slime, emerged from the Carniflora’s belly. He spared no glance at his unconscious teammate and immediately sprinted off, heading for the finish line.

Elsewhere, Lyra had already reached the finish point, only to discover she wasn’t the first to arrive.

"Who’s there?!" A young man with silver hair was crouched, examining something. As she approached, he snapped around, and light-blue tendrils of energy shot toward her.

Lyra swiftly raised a green barrier, blocking the attack. She jumped out of her mecha and tucked it away into her Space Button.

"Your Highness, I’m an NMA contestant," she said, calm despite the fact that he had just attacked her, even though she’d been in an Alliance mecha.

The young man, Aurelius, withdrew his tentacles, though his posture remained tense. His superpower particles lingered in the air, ready to strike again if needed.

Lyra, however, was unbothered by his caution.

"Are you the last one from the Royal Military Academy?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

After a moment of silence, he nodded. "Yes."

In the moonlight, his silver hair glimmered faintly, casting a pale glow on his otherwise striking features. However, his face was shadowed by a deep, brooding expression.

Lyra noticed the terminal still strapped to his wrist but chose not to say anything.

A low, eerie sound filled the cave. Chains clanked and scraped against rock, followed by a slow, raspy hissing that sent a chill down her spine.

"I take it you’re here for the same reason I am," she said, stepping beside him and switching on her flashlight.

The beam cut through the darkness, revealing a massive metal pillar embedded in the rock. Thick metal cables, designed to suppress superpower particles, stretched from the pillar and disappeared into a deep pit, where a level-seven ancient Python was bound.

Unlike a level-eight wyrm, which had gills and a more dragon-like appearance, this creature was distinctly snake-like. His blunt snout, smooth scales, and streamlined body marked him as a pure serpent. Despite his smaller size compared to a wyrm, the snake exuded raw, deadly power.

Heavy metal rings, engineered to suppress his abilities, were locked around his body. These rings connected to the thick iron chains that kept the python tightly bound to the pillar. His movements were sluggish, his breathing labored under the weight of its restraints.

This was the final challenge.

The live broadcast audience sat in stunned silence as the military’s latest move unfolded on screen. For many, it was their first time seeing a high-level beast outside of a movie.

"Oh my god, they actually put a high-level beast in the competition!" someone typed in disbelief.

"And this is Elden Prime! If that thing breaks loose, how many people could die?" another chimed in, panic creeping into the conversation.

"But look at it! It’s incredible," one viewer commented, unable to hide their awe. "It’s clearly restrained, though, and with the advanced Aegis Shield up, it can’t be that mdangerous, right?"

The chat buzzed with a mix of excitement and concern as viewers processed what they were seeing. Some were captivated by the power of the massive creature, while others couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that things might take a dangerous turn.

 

Chapter 137: AMAT (7)

Aurelius raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard. "How do you know there’s a high-level beast here?"

He had his own ways of knowing because of his royal background; he just wondered how this girl from NMA figured it out so fast.

"Simple," Lyra responded, "This is an advanced Aegis Shield."

That made sense. The Aegis Shield wasn’t just expensive, it was top-tier tech, often reserved for high-stakes operations. Its presence meant something powerful was being contained.

Meanwhile, Lyra popped back up on the surveillance feed.

At the same time, a message came through to their enemy leader from the control room: "The target has crossed the finish line and is with the prince of the Alliance."

The red mecha hovering in the sky hesitated. After scanning all the fleeing students, the leader set her sights on the primary objective.

"Promises are important, after all. She’s why they got us in here in the first place," the woman leading the enemy team remarked with a sly grin. "Show me the surveillance."

Without waiting, she made her way toward the finish line.

Back in the pit, Lyra was face-to-face with the Python. For the first time, Aurelius’ usual cool expression cracked.

A sudden laser beam fired at them, but Lyra blocked it with ease, using her Schedar. The energy scattered, bouncing harmlessly off the chains and pillars surrounding them.

"The beast definitely lost a lot of his power." Lyra noticed the prince staring at her shield, though he didn’t ask how she got it.

He had more pressing concerns, like the giant beast they were standing before. "Have you seen the enemy leader?" he asked.

"Level-eight, unknown superpower. She’s closing in," Lyra replied while deliberately taunting the level-seven Python.

The beast whipped his tail in fury, launching attack after attack, but Lyra deflected each one easily.

Climbing out of the pit, she let out a long breath. "This thing won’t be enough to slow the enemy leader down."

Aurelius frowned. He had hoped it would.

Viewers watching the live feed finally caught on to what the two was planning.

Then, Aurelius dropped a bombshell. "Releasing him might buy us some time."

Beasts were naturally stronger than humans, and even a level-seven creature could wreak enough havoc to stall the enemy.

Lyra blinked. She hadn’t expected the prince to suggest something so wild, especially with so many military students still trapped on the island.

The beast wouldn’t be able to escape the Aegis Shield, but it could distract the enemy long enough for the remaining students to find cover—maybe even until reinforcements showed up.

It was risky, though. Releasing the beast might end up hurting their side more than the enemy. She could already picture the heated debates this move would spark later on.

But knowing Aurelius’ background, it made sense that he’d think this way.

"Even if we wanted to, we don’t have the power to free it," Lyra pointed out. "The control for the suppressor is in the control room."

"Good luck, then. We should run," Aurelius said, turning to leave.

"Wait," Lyra stopped him. "We can’t free it, but we can make it free itself."

He gave her a confused look as she leaped back into the pit.

The Python had been around humans long enough to understand some of their language. This time, he didn’t strike. Instead, he stared at Lyra, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

But the creature underestimated just how sneaky humans could be.

Lyra unleashed a wave of psychokinesis, one strong enough to crush the Python. Smiling, she said, "Let’s make a deal."

They communicated telepathically, leaving Aurelius—and the audience—completely in the dark.

The Python hesitated, its emotions flickering back and forth for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he lowered his once proud head, allowing Lyra to toss something into his mouth.

As soon as the task was done, Lyra swayed on her feet, drained from the intense use of her psychokinesis.

Shaking off the exhaustion, she made her way back to Aurelius’ side. He seemed to catch on to her plan, raising an eyebrow as he sneered, "You’ve got guts."

She shrugged. "Fortune favors the bold."

Her eyes flickered to the opticomputer on his wrist, but before either could say more, a blinding crimson laser tore across the sky.

It lit up the night, freezing both of them in place.

The beam sliced through the ground, leaving behind a glowing, molten trench.

At the center of the trench, a silver shield formed and curled around Lyra and Aurelius, offering protection.

They both turned their attention to the source—a scarlet mecha hovering ominously in the distance.

"As I thought... Schedar," came a raspy voice from the mecha. "Lyra, I see the Alliance isn’t treating you well. Why not join the Empire? Serve me."

Lyra’s eyes narrowed, her voice cold. "Thanks, but I’m loyal to my homeland."

Her words sparked something in the hearts of those watching the broadcast. Then, the sound of a single snap echoed across the battlefield.

In that instant, an enormous explosion detonated above them.

Lyra barely managed to dodge in time, but the blast knocked Aurelius off his feet. He crashed to the ground, bloodied and battered; his body was covered in cuts.

Before they could catch a breath, a volley of tranquilizer darts shot out from the mecha.

Lyra dodged again, but Aurelius wasn’t so lucky this time.

The darts landed just inches from his face. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he thought, ’Honestly, passing out would’ve been the better option...’

The woman’s voice, now tinged with irritation, growled from the mecha. "Surrender, or next time, I’ll use seventy percent of my power."

Lyra, standing tall by the edge of the pit, smirked. "You might want to give it everything."

At her words, a wave of superpower particles filled the air, so overwhelming that even the woman’s grip on her powers started to falter. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked toward the Python.

"Doesn’t he still have a suppressor?" she shouted, disbelief in her voice.

"Not anymore. He’s level eight now," Lyra replied calmly.

The Python’s body cracked and splintered as he absorbed the surge of energy. His dull, worn scales broke apart, revealing vibrant purple ones underneath.

His gills flared wide, his snout elongated into a sharp beak, and a massive dorsal fin began to ripple in the wind. The transformation unleashed shockwaves that sent rocks and debris flying.

With a bone-rattling screech, the newly evolved beast shattered the level-seven suppressor in one fluid motion.

The Python—or rather, the wyrm—launched himself into the air, his colossal form blocking out the stars.

Before the woman in the mecha could regain her composure, the wyrm struck, whipping its tail with devastating force.

The mecha went flying, crashing into the ground below.

"Level-eight wyrm..." her voice shook with fear. "How did he level up so fast?"

Lyra gently ran her hand over the wyrm’s glowing scales. "Because he’s smart. He made the right choice."

The deal had been simple: Lyra provided the rare evolution plants and energy minerals, and in return, the wyrm accepted a psychokinesis contract, binding himself to her will.

But that had come at a cost. Controlling both a level-seven and level-eight beast pushed Lyra’s limits to the breaking point. If she hadn’t removed the third Soul Spike, there’s no way she would’ve been able to handle this.

"Go," she commanded softly.

With a deafening roar, the wyrm unleashed a powerful laser beam.

The Aegis Shield, once thought impenetrable, cracked and shattered like glass, raining down in glowing fragments.

Cheers erupted from the onlookers—against all odds, the Aegis Shield was destroyed.

Chapter 138: ATMT (8)

The live stream audience, along with the military teams stuck outside the island, were left in shock.

Everything had escalated too quickly.

In a control room far from the action, Vice Admiral Myer took swift command of the situation. With a wave of his hand, he barked, "Prepare for immediate landing! We’ll split into two teams!"

Then he turned toward Ansel, waiting for confirmation.

Ansel nodded, his expression steely. "I’ll handle the enemy leader."

"I’ll lead the team to rescue the students!" Myer replied without hesitation.

Meanwhile, back on the island, Lyra wasted no time. She hoisted Aurelius up and shoved him into the mecha, quickly activating the map and heading full speed toward the control room.

Without breaking stride, she threw a bit of healing energy his way.

Aurelius coughed as he slumped into the co-pilot seat. His blood-stained form resembled a delicate, bruised flower. "Where are we headed?" he managed, his voice strained.

Lyra glanced at him briefly. "I’m going to save my teammates."

There was a pause as Aurelius took in her calm demeanor. Her face didn’t quite match the intensity of her words.

Aurelius said, "And you’re taking me along...? I’m not too eager to dive into a death trap."

The idea of charging into enemy territory alone wasn’t his idea of heroics.

"Don’t you want to save your brother? Or your teammates?" Lyra asked, her eyes still locked ahead as she pushed the mecha to its limits.

Aurelius scoffed, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "If they’d followed orders, they wouldn’t be in this mess. They chose to back my brother over me, so whatever happens to them is their problem."

Lyra couldn’t argue with his logic. "Fair point," she replied, casually checking the sound settings on the mecha to make sure nothing was being broadcast. After a pause, she added, "If he dies, the inheritance is yours."

Aurelius’ eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion before his face darkened. "You’re right."

But the thought of what awaited him—potential retaliation from the queen’s supporters and his father’s wrath—lingered heavily in his mind.

Despite the tension, Lyra pushed forward, managing to reach the control room area faster than the military team, which had just started landing on the island’s coastline. But just as they entered a small grove, they found themselves surrounded by imperial agents, weapons drawn.

"Get down!" one of the spies barked, their guns locked onto the mecha.

Aurelius was curious to see how Lyra would handle this. To his surprise, she yelled, "Release our people! We’ll fight you!" Then, with reckless abandon, she charged the mecha forward, straight into enemy fire.

The mecha didn’t last long, getting shredded almost instantly by the barrage.

Lyra was forced to crawl out, clearly outmatched.

As Aurelius followed her, he felt something cold burrow into his open wounds, the sharp pain making him wince. He shot a venomous glare at Lyra, but held his tongue.

Meanwhile, Lyra quickly hid a Space Button beneath her skin, unnoticed by their captors.

The audience watching the live stream couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

"Come on, did she even have a plan? She just charged in blindly!"

"I thought she was some kind of super soldier, but she ended up as a hostage. And now our prince is caught too!"

"Say what you want, at least she’s out there risking her life to save people. What about you? Still hiding in your mom’s house?"

"Exactly! If it weren’t for Lyra, that Aegis Shield would still be up, and the military wouldn’t even have a chance of reaching the island."

"Seriously, if you’re not going to help, stop complaining."

Despite the mixed reactions, one thing was clear—the audience was glued to their screens, desperate to see how this would play out.

With so many students, some of the best and brightest of the Alliance, now in the hands of the Empire, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The question on everyone’s mind was simple: how would the military manage to pull off a rescue?

"As long as they can get the kids out, it doesn’t matter if the enemy gets away," one viewer commented, voicing the hope shared by many.

Online, frustrations boiled over, with people condemning the military’s slow response and accusing the Empire of heartless tactics. But no matter the complaints, everyone had one wish—that the students return home safely.

Inside the enemy camp, things were bleak. Lyra and Aurelius had all their gear confiscated, their hands and feet locked in metal restraints.

They were herded into an open clearing where the other hostages—students from the Alliance—were being held.

But Lyra was singled out and placed separately, away from the others. The reason for this remained unclear, but it didn’t look good.

Lyra raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "I want to know—who’s got it out for me?"

The man standing guard shrugged with indifference. "The one who let us in."

The crowd erupted in disbelief. A traitor? It was worse than anyone had thought.

Lyra didn’t flinch. "Then why capture a bunch of students?" she asked again, her tone steady but sharp.

The man’s grin widened, malicious and cold. "Because capturing all of you will humiliate the Alliance. It’ll tear down their pride. And once we release the video..." He laughed, relishing the thought.

The plan was twisted but effective. These were the brightest minds of the Alliance, future leaders and soldiers. If they were captured and humiliated in front of everyone, the damage to the military’s reputation would be devastating. Public trust would crumble.

From a psychological warfare standpoint, it was genius. Brutal, but genius.

Suddenly, someone monitoring the situation yelled out, "Damn it! The Alliance military has landed! Myer’s on his way, and Ansel’s gunning for the general!"

The tension in the room spiked instantly.

"Alert the general!" a grim-looking man barked. "How much time until the passage opens?"

"Five minutes!"

Lyra’s ears perked up at the word "passage." Something clicked in her mind.

These guys had arrived undetected, likely through this so-called passage. And how had they known where to strike? It probably involved Ansel.

Lyra had a sinking feeling that the price of their deal was her.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. The irony wasn’t lost on her.

Ansel, her supposed ally, had sold her out to the enemy.

Years ago, her parents were executed on false charges of treason. Now, she was caught in a web of betrayal herself.

The universe had a cruel sense of humor.

The five minutes passed in a flash.

A strange, violent energy crackled through the air. Before their eyes, a tiny black dot formed, rapidly growing into a two-meter-tall, oval-shaped wormhole.

This was the "passage" they had spoken about.

Even Lyra couldn’t hide her surprise. If the Empire had mastered this technology, it could bypass any defense, no matter how strong. This was a game-changer, a weapon that could cripple entire nations.

The middle-aged man pointed at the captured students, his voice cold and unfeeling. "Throw them in first."

"Yes, sir."

Two guards immediately stepped forward, heading toward the group of students. They were helpless, paralyzed by fear.

On the livestream, millions watched in horror, their hearts sinking at the sight of the Alliance’s brightest being led to what seemed like certain death.

The first ones to be dragged to the edge were from EPMA, including their team leader.

They knew what was coming. Their faces reflected pure terror. Being thrown into that hole meant disappearing forever.

Just as the guards prepared to toss them in, a flash of light severed their arms clean off.

Chaos broke loose.

The middle-aged man reacted quickly, summoning ropes of sand to subdue the remaining students. But before they could strike, a glowing green shield appeared, wrapping around the group like a protective cocoon.

Lyra, now fully armored, didn’t waste a second. She charged forward, landing a brutal punch against the man’s sand wall. It absorbed the impact effortlessly—he was a level-seven, stronger than she expected.

Grinding her teeth, Lyra unleashed several glowing bands from her back, aiming to pierce through the sand and strike him directly.

Their battle raged, while chaos erupted around them.

The control room staff scrambled, frantically launching attacks at the green shield protecting the students.

Meanwhile, Aurelius, still recovering from his injuries, suddenly felt the metal embedded in his wound begin to shift. The metal transformed into a sharp blade, slicing through the restraints on his hands and feet. Quickly, he freed the others around him.

With no time to lose, they launched a counterattack, catching the enemy completely off guard.

With Elsie and Nicholas—both formidable level-six fighters—the tide quickly turned in favor of the students.

Their swift, coordinated attacks caught the Empire’s spies completely off guard, leaving the enemy scrambling to regain control.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man fighting Lyra was losing patience. His face twisted with fury as he summoned a powerful sandstorm, trapping Lyra in its suffocating grip.

The sand coiled around her tightly, pinning her in place.

He wasted no time, turning his attention to the bound EPMA students still perilously close to the black hole.

"I’m taking a few with me!" he snarled, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he ensnared the students in thick tendrils of sand.

With a furious roar, he hurled them toward the gaping void, aiming to toss them into the unknown.

 

Chapter 139: ATMT (9)

The Empire’s plan had been flawless, a terror attack executed with precision. They weren’t about to let it fail without causing significant damage.

The moment the swirling sandstorm approached the worm hole, it was sucked in instantly.

The four students, inches from being pulled into the void, hung in the balance.

Moments earlier, the Alliance members had dared to hope—but now their faces were stricken with horror.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed, a cold determination hardening in her gaze.

She reached deep within, fiercely manipulating the superpower particles in the air, bending the enemy’s own ability to her will. It felt like the energy was bursting from her very soul.

A radiant green light shot through the chaotic sandstorm, forming layers of shields just centimeters from the students, creating a barrier between them and the worm hole.

The light was brilliant, pure—more powerful than anything Lyra had summoned before. Its soft glow bathed the scene, and those who witnessed it felt their souls tremble.

The students and soldiers of the Alliance finally remembered to breathe. Aurelius wasted no time, pulling the EPMA students back from the brink, freeing them from their restraints.

Across the battlefield, the Empire’s forces—especially the middle-aged man—stood paralyzed with shock.

"How... how can anyone block the worm hole?" he muttered, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Lyra felt the energy drain from her body like a flood, leaving her weak and disoriented. Her head pounded with pain. Whatever that surge of power had been, it had nearly consumed her.

Before she could recover, a gloved hand shot out from within the worm hole, and an immense force yanked her off her feet. She was being dragged toward the void, unable to resist.

’I can’t go in!’

Desperately, she bit her lip and shot out a glowing tendril of light.

Elsie, acting fast, grabbed hold of it, and soon others rushed to help, pulling with all their might.

But the Empire’s level-seven fighter regained his focus. With a brutal strike, he severed the tendril.

Elsie and the others were thrown to the ground, and Lyra was pulled closer to the worm hole. The hand from within gripped her arm tightly.

"Lyra!" someone shouted.

Just as she was about to vanish into the worm hole, a strong hand grabbed her by the ankle, pulling her back with incredible force.

In a split second, the newcomer managed not only to yank Lyra out but also catch the person from the other side of the worm hole, attempting to drag them through as well.

Sensing the danger, the figure within the worm hole swiftly severed their own arm, and the void closed, disappearing into nothingness.

The Alliance soldiers erupted in relief and joy—their savior had arrived.

Far across the battlefield, Ansel was locked in a fierce fight with the evolved wyrm and the Empire’s general.

A sudden surge of familiar superpower struck the general, throwing them off balance.

Ansel frowned, sensing the presence. "Myer, weren’t you supposed to be rescuing the students?"

"Haha, the admiral is handling that personally, to make sure the children are safe," Myer replied casually, his eyes flicking to the scarlet mecha. The woman who had been piloting it had climbed out, her expression cold and calculating.

"Shedd, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s take her down," Myer said.

With that, the two launched a coordinated attack on the woman.

In the distance, the wyrm’s intelligent eyes flashed with understanding. His body shook as his scales vibrated, and without hesitation, he took to the sky.

Like many high-level beasts, he had the ability to traverse space, and now that he had evolved and narrowly escaped death, he wasn’t about to risk capture.

This too had been part of the deal Lyra made with him—he would fight, but not at the cost of his freedom.

Back on the ground, with Ansel and Myer working together, they quickly gained the upper hand over the Empire’s general.

"Surrender," Myer ordered, though he secretly hoped the woman would resist, giving them the excuse to eliminate her.

"Dream on!" she spat. She knew the passage had closed. The Empire had abandoned them, but her pride was too fierce to surrender.

She sneered at Ansel, venom in her voice. "Don’t you want to know who gave me the coordinates? Who betrayed you?"

Ansel’s eyes narrowed, but Myer was calm, his face betraying nothing. "Once we capture you, we’ll get all the answers we need."

At this point, there was no room for more words.

The woman stopped resisting, but then, with a fierce burst of will, she unleashed her superpower in full force.

It exploded like a dam breaking, flooding the entire area with uncontrollable energy.

Superpower particles went wild, swirling in a chaotic storm that even Myer and Ansel couldn’t immediately control.

They were forced to step back as the energy spiraled out of control, the battlefield thrown into disarray.

"I can tell you who the traitor is!" the woman panted, her face contorting with madness as she glared at both men with a sarcastic smirk.

Ansel’s eyes narrowed as a sudden realization hit him. "No! She’s going to self-destruct!"

Before Myer could even react, Ansel moved with blinding speed, appearing behind her in an instant.

"The traitor is—"

THUD!

The woman’s eyes widened in disbelief as her body slumped to the ground. Her head had been severed, her final words left unspoken.

Ansel, unfazed, snorted and casually tossed the head aside.

Myer watched him closely, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

Ansel was moving too quickly just now.

During the earlier disturbance in superpower particles, Myer hadn’t been able to detect Ansel’s abilities clearly, which only deepened his concerns.

"We should join the admiral," Myer said, his expression unreadable as he gathered the woman’s body.

Ansel nodded, his gaze already sharp and focused toward the control room.

By the time they arrived, the enemies had all been captured.

The Admiral’s commanding presence had once again restored the Alliance’s confidence.

The broadcast was alive with cheers, and people believed wholeheartedly that with the Admiral by their side, the Alliance would remain unshakable.

"This wormhole was a result of the enemy’s special superpower, not some advanced technology," Frederick explained in a live broadcast, easing the public’s concerns. "We’ll have White monitor it closely."

The confirmation that this wasn’t invincible technology, but a power-based phenomenon, helped calm fears among the viewers.

Afterward, Frederick approached Lyra, who still looked pale from the energy she had expended.

"Lyra, today’s victory is largely thanks to you. These young lives were saved because of your courage and quick thinking," he said, acknowledging her role in saving the military’s reputation as well.

Gratitude filled the air as many, including Elsie, clapped for Lyra.

The audience watching the livestream followed suit, breaking into thunderous applause.

"I’m saying it now—Lyra is officially my idol!"

"Lyra, my hero!"

"Whoever doubted her earlier? She just infiltrated enemy lines and saved the day!"

"Lyra’s a legend, no doubt, but why did the military have to rely on a student to pull this off?"

Amidst the applause, Aurelius suddenly realized his terminal had been broadcasting the entire time.

He had originally thought Lyra brought him along for strategic purposes, but now it seemed her motives had been more deliberate, perhaps even calculated.

As the group began to evacuate, Aurelius intentionally slowed his pace to walk beside Lyra. "Lyra, you planned this all quite thoroughly," he remarked.

Now, the entire Alliance saw her as a hero. The military would undoubtedly shower her with accolades, and the public had witnessed her single-handedly turn the tide of the operation. She’d be welcomed with open arms by the very establishment that once overlooked her.

"But didn’t I save everyone?" Lyra’s cool, cat-like eyes met his. "And I almost sacrificed myself in the process."

It was clear that if she hadn’t sensed the potential for recognition, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. But once she realized this conspiracy involved her directly, she wasn’t going to let the enemy win. Instead, she used the situation to her advantage.

Aurelius had no response. The truth of her statement left him speechless. He was struck by how deeply calculating she was, far more than most could ever fathom. And, oddly enough, he felt a pang of envy at her unrelenting ambition.

As everyone boarded the helicopters to leave the island, the tension finally seemed to ease. But just as things settled, a blond young man barreled through the crowd, fury in his eyes.

Without warning, he grabbed Aurelius by the collar and landed a punch squarely on his jaw.

"You worthless bastard!" the youth shouted. "How dared you abandon me and run away?!"

Chapter 140: AMAT (10)

Lyra had become the newest sensation across the Alliance.

It wasn’t long before the rumors started flying, as no secret stays hidden forever.

Reporters and internet detectives dug deep into her past, eventually unearthing the startling truth—Lyra had been "frozen for seven years."

The revelation ignited a wave of curiosity, thrusting both her and the Shedd family into the limelight.

"Wait, wasn’t there a Shedd family prodigy who suddenly ’died’ years ago? That was her, right? How is she still alive?"

"Maybe she went into a cryogenic chamber to heal, and people just assumed she’d passed away."

"A genius is a genius. Even with only healing powers left, she’s still incredible! No wonder she’s my new favorite!"

"Okay, but why was she in a place like Voidstar No.2? For cryogenic treatment? That seems off."

"Yeah, something’s weird about this."

The name "Lyra" shot to the top of the trending searches. Everyone was talking about her—some out of curiosity, others trying to capitalize on her rising fame. Her story exploded across the internet.

Meanwhile, Erin, who was temporarily suspended and forced to stay home, seethed with fury as she watched Lyra take center stage yet again.

Her bloodshot eyes stayed glued to her screen, where video clips of Lyra in action replayed endlessly. Every post and glowing comment felt like a dagger twisting deeper.

"Why?! Why her?!" Erin spat, trembling beneath her blankets as a coldness seeped into her bones.

She shivered, not just from the physical chill but from the bitter envy consuming her. "You’re probably laughing at me right now, gloating somewhere."

Erin had tried digging up more dirt on Lyra, but Ansel had kept tight-lipped.

Lyra, since returning to Central City, had vanished from public view. The media couldn’t pin her down for interviews—she was as elusive as ever.

Lyra’s focus wasn’t on fame. She had bigger concerns. As soon as she returned to her office, she called in Debbie, her assistant, for an update. "Have you tracked down that doctor yet?" she asked, not wasting a second.

Debbie, knowing how crucial speed was to Lyra, answered immediately. "We found the last hospital he worked at, but he’s using a different name now. We’re tracking his current identity."

Lyra nodded, her expression unreadable. "Good. But don’t rely just on the detectives. If necessary, use... alternative methods."

By "alternative methods," Lyra meant the underground networks she’d once had connections to.

Though her knowledge of the black market was dated, she trusted Debbie to handle things discreetly and effectively.

Meanwhile, the Alliance wasn’t about to let the media frenzy linger.

The day after Lyra’s return, they announced the rescheduled AMAT competition.

In just two days, they prepared a new venue—the Alliance’s grand stadium.

There would be no pomp or ceremonies this time, just pure military school showdowns. The competition would focus on core areas: psychokinesis, combat, technical expertise, mecha piloting, and team-based challenges.

The organizers were determined to shift attention away from the recent Empire spy scandal and reignite excitement for AMAT.

...

On the day before the competition, Lyra went to the hotel to meet her teammates and discuss strategy.

As soon as she walked in, Milo stormed over, his face dark with fury. Without warning, he swung a fist at her.

Lyra casually deflected the punch, her expression calm. "What’s your problem?"

Milo’s anger boiled over. "What’s my problem?! Did you PURPOSELY leave me behind that day?" he shouted.

The memory of almost being devoured by the massive spider haunted him. He’d spent the entire night having nightmares about being digested by the creature, and the idea still made his skin crawl.

Lyra had saved everyone else, yet she had left him to fend for himself.

"That’s because if the beast hadn’t captured anyone, he wouldn’t have gone back to the control room," Lyra said, her tone flat, making Milo’s blood boil.

"So, you DID do it on purpose, you—!" Milo shouted, stepping toward her, but before he could finish, Lyra’s spinning kick sent him crashing into a nearby flowerbed.

"Yeah, I did it on purpose. So what?" Lyra stood motionless, casually tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Her cold gaze settled on Milo, as if he were no more important than a bug. "You should be grateful I didn’t throw you into the wormhole yesterday."

Her indifference left no doubt about how little value she placed on his life.

By the doorway, Andre’s brow furrowed, while Anton crossed his arms and clicked his tongue. "This girl’s ruthless. Heard she’s from the Shedd family—can’t say if it’s true or not."

Just then, a Lev pulled up, its koi logo instantly recognizable.

A man stepped out, approaching Lyra with a respectful bow. "Miss Lyra, Mr. Shedd requests your return."

The bustling hotel entrance grew silent.

The Shedd family was famous on Elden Prime, and with Lyra’s recent surge in popularity online, all eyes were on her.

People began pulling out their terminals, eager to capture the scene.

Andre’s frown deepened, and Webber, who was trying to usher the students inside, was stopped by Anton. "This is a family business. Stay out of it."

The rumors about Lyra being part of the Shedd family were no longer just rumors. It was true.

The crowd watched closely for Lyra’s response. A faint, surprised smile played across her lips as she stared at the man before her.

Though he was merely the son of a butler, the pride in his demeanor was unmistakable, similar to the arrogance that flowed through the Shedd family, especially Ansel. It was the kind of pride that said: ’Whatever comes from the powerful—whether a storm or sunshine—is equally divine.’

It was as if the past never existed—the implantation of the Soul Spike, the theft of her powers, the assassination attempts, and the constant chase since she arrived on Elden Prime.

And now, with a simple summons, they expected her to return obediently, like a well-trained dog.

The man’s eyes held authority, but Lyra merely glanced at him and continued walking toward the hotel entrance without a word.

His frown deepened, and he quickly moved to block her path. "Miss Lyra, I must insist you come with me."

Lyra’s hand twitched at her side. Sensing the tension, Andre nudged Anton, who was watching the scene unfold.

Anton sighed, clearly hesitant to get involved, but Andre shoved him forward.

’Damn it, do they really want blood spilled here?’

Left with no choice, Anton used his spatial manipulation to appear in front of the man, pulling his hand away from Lyra’s path. "She has an important competition to prepare for. Any disturbance might affect her performance, so I suggest you leave now."

Anton’s formal tone momentarily stunned the man, giving Lyra the chance to slip past him and into the hotel.

As she entered, a heavy, tense atmosphere seemed to follow her. The rest of her teammates, seated around a table discussing strategies, struggled to focus as she approached.

Anton tapped the table. "Let’s keep personal issues out of the competition, yeah?"

Lyra ran a hand over her face, releasing a long sigh. "Yeah, sorry. Let’s continue."

But even as they went over battle plans, her mind was racing, trying to unravel Ansel’s true intentions behind the sudden summons.

After the meeting, her suspicions were confirmed. The internet was flooded with conversations about her.

The narrative had shifted. Some claimed she had run away from home after an injury, while others insisted the Shedd family had been searching for her for years.

Then there were those speculating about an internal conflict between her and her family.

Lyra scrolled through the countless posts, her lips curling into a bitter laugh.

"Boss, should we handle the online rumors?" Debbie asked cautiously, her voice laced with concern.

’Good heavens,’ she thought, ’She is actually the granddaughter of THAT Vice Admiral Shedd!’

The revelation still left her reeling, especially since it was clear that Lyra and her grandfather weren’t exactly on speaking terms—or any terms, for that matter.

Lyra didn’t even look up from her terminal, her expression cool and detached. "No need," she replied calmly.

Debbie blinked, surprised. "You sure?"

Lyra nodded. "Let them talk. It doesn’t change anything."

For her, the rumors were just noise—irrelevant distractions. She had bigger things to focus on.