Ch. 141..145: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 141-145
Chapter 141: Identity Exposed
Lyra had nearly forgotten that the Shedd family wasn’t like her—alone and self-reliant.
They were a centuries-old, deeply rooted force within the Alliance, fiercely protective of their reputation.
That was, after all, why they’d imbedded a binding curse in her all those years ago, ensuring silence over any rumors that might stain their name.
But Ansel? He was likely panicking now that her name had resurfaced in the spotlight. He probably feared she would use this sudden attention to gain powerful allies, ones who could threaten his hold.
The thought brought a dark glint to Lyra’s eyes.
Perhaps there WAS an opportunity here, after all.
She lightly tapped her fingers on the table, weighing her options.
Returning to the Shedd family was a risky move, but it wasn’t the only path.
For now, she wouldn’t rush. The current situation hinted that Ansel couldn’t make a move against her just yet—too many eyes were on them, and if their rivals sniffed out any scandal, it would drag Ansel into dangerous waters.
Just as she reached that conclusion, her opticomputer flashed, signaling an incoming communication.
Glancing at the name, she lowered the volume before answering the call.
"Well, well, Sis Marv, you’ve really thrown us for a loop this time!" Snakehead’s voice cut through the line, dripping with barely-contained frustration. "Ansel Shedd’s GRANDDAUGHTER? You’ve got some guts, keeping us in the dark like this!"
Lyra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms, unbothered. "It’s just business. Who I work with doesn’t change that."
Snakehead nearly exploded. "It DOES matter, for crying out loud! We’re in this together, tied at the hip, and it turns out you’re the granddaughter of a MILITARY VICE ADMIRAL! What were you thinking?"
His panic was understandable. Learning that Lyra—someone they thought of as an ally—was related to a high-ranking officer like Ansel was a blow.
To them, it felt like they’d unknowingly partnered with a tiger hiding in plain sight, ready to devour them at any moment.
Lyra’s gaze remained steady. "I’m still counting on you to help us make money," she said, leaning forward slightly. "Or are you backing out now that my identity’s out?"
The chubby man on the screen looked as though he might burst into tears. "Do I LOOK like I can afford to back out?"
Snakehead had bet everything on this—his business dealings in the "Core" factory, his underground connections on Wyrmtrace. He was all in, and pulling out wasn’t an option.
"Then it’s settled." Lyra smirked, as if she had predicted this reaction from the start, only adding to Snakehead’s frustration.
"Don’t worry," Lyra continued, her tone almost reassuring. "Our partnership will keep going, same as before. In fact, now that I’m linked to the military, we might be able to make even more money. Think about it."
Snakehead paused, his large face moving closer to the screen, torn between disbelief and curiosity. "Wait... are you serious, ma’am?"
Lyra shrugged, a calm smile tugging at her lips. "I don’t joke much. You know that."
Snakehead mulled over her words, slowly coming to a realization. A smile crept onto his face. "I knew you had a sharp eye."
It was true. The military typically treated Voidstar people like trash—keeping their distance in public while secretly reaching out for deals in private.
They were too proud to openly collaborate but couldn’t resist the advantages Voidstar offered.
But Lyra was different. She wasn’t afraid to cut through the pretense.
As for the public drama swirling around her and the Shedd family online? Snakehead couldn’t have cared less. With her skills, it was only a matter of time before she made her mark on the military, and when that happened, having her as an ally would be like catching lightning in a bottle.
"Alright, alright, I’ll let Caesara know so she doesn’t worry," he chuckled, finally relaxing. "We’ll keep things moving."
With that, he ended the call, still shaking his head at the unexpected turn of events.
After Snakehead and Caesara discussed Lyra’s sudden identity reveal, they both had the same thought.
"I wonder how Blackheart is reacting to all this," Caesara said, her legs crossed as she sat on a crate, watching her workers load supplies. Her tone was mocking as she chatted with Snakehead.
"Him? If he hasn’t dropped dead from rage, it’s a miracle," Snakehead replied with a sarcastic smirk.
He paused, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, is it true that the Shedd family really wants her dead?"
"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie about that?" Caesara replied. The fact that Lyra wasn’t aligning herself with the Shedd family was good news for them.
Rubbing her temple thoughtfully, she added, "Since Sis Marv still wants to work with us, let’s make sure we don’t stir up any trouble for her. Keep an eye on Blackheart. He might try something stupid."
As expected, when Blackheart found out about Lyra’s true identity, his first reaction was sheer terror, convinced that she’d bring the Shedd family’s warships down on him and blast him into oblivion. But as the panic subsided, a more rational thought crept in.
"Liliana, look into it," he ordered.
The red-haired woman beside him, lounging lazily in bed, sat up at his command. Her pale shoulders were marked with bruises.
"No need for that, Daddy. Don’t you remember? Sis Marv was originally brought to Voidstar No.2 by Sorren," Liliana said with confidence. "And, don’t forget, Bengal killed that Shedd boy in front of her, and Lyra didn’t lift a finger to save him. That tells me she’s not on good terms with her family."
Blackheart chuckled, reassured by her insight. "You’re right. If she had real power with the Shedds, she wouldn’t be tangled up in our mess."
A sinister grin spread across his face. "But this is a golden opportunity. Just imagine the Alliance’s reaction when they realize their new ’hero’ has been working with people like us. Let’s see how long they call her a hero then."
"Daddy, don’t get ahead of yourself," Liliana warned. "If we go too far, we’ll lose our shot at the ’Core.’"
Normally, Blackheart didn’t like being contradicted, but he was in too good a mood to care. He waved off her concern. "Let me have a little fun first. I want to watch her crash and burn. Then we’ll deal with her."
But when Blackheart tried to release information about Lyra, he quickly found out that none of it would spread. His every attempt was blocked. There was only one person on Voidstar No.2 who had that kind of reach.
"Snakehead, you son of a—!" Blackheart cursed under his breath.
Later, in a dimly lit tavern, Blackheart was ranting loudly, his arm around the tavern hostess, when the sound of a cold laugh echoed from the door.
"Well, well, Blackheart, looks like you’ve grown a spine!" Snakehead stormed into the room with his crew in tow, sending the patrons scrambling to leave.
Coins clattered onto tables as they rushed to avoid the coming fight.
Snakehead didn’t waste a moment. Grabbing a metal rod, he beat Blackheart mercilessly, the sound of the impact echoing in the room.
Afterward, Snakehead yanked Blackheart up by his collar, sneering in his face. "This is from me and Caesara. Mess with my money again, and I’ll rip you apart."
The two gangs stood facing each other, tension thick in the air. The bartender cowered behind the counter, trembling as he watched the scene unfold.
Blackheart shoved Snakehead off. "How many times are you going to pull this? You think I’ll just keep letting you push me around?"
Despite his words, Blackheart didn’t dare strike back. He knew Snakehead’s power had grown stronger, and right now, he wasn’t in a position to fight him.
Snakehead sneered. "I’m telling you, stay in line."
With that, he and his crew left the tavern, leaving Blackheart nursing his bruised body. Spitting in frustration, Blackheart muttered to himself, "Damn it, that witch Lyra played me."
The more he thought about it, the clearer it became—this dead-end place wasn’t worth it. He wasn’t making money, and everything he’d built had crumbled.
"This dump isn’t worth staying in," he grumbled.
Meanwhile, Lyra received news of the events unfolding on Voidstar not long after. Her response was a simple, "Hmm."
"Proceed according to plan," she said calmly, turning off her opticomputer.
Without another thought, she headed into the stadium, ready to focus on the competition with her team.
Chapter 142: Erin’s Plan
The Alliance’s National Stadium sprawls over nearly a million square meters, feeling more like a small city than just a sports venue.
Inside, there were nearly a hundred different arenas, each serving a distinct purpose. Some were set up for high-stakes sports matches, while others were dedicated to superpower battles.
It had everything—lounges, shopping malls, you name it.
But what really grabbed people’s attention were the smart robots. They took care of everything, from guiding people around, to cleaning, and even handing out snacks.
Visiting there was like stepping into the future.
Given the extraordinary strength of military students, the main arena sat in the biggest hall.
On this day, the weather was perfect. The stadium’s roof was wide open, and flying drones with massive screens hovered above, streaming the action for the crowd.
To make things even more thrilling, the commentators were floating mid-air on levitation devices, adding an extra layer of spectacle as they narrate the event.
Erin, in her military uniform, hurried up to the control room and knocked sharply on the door.
"Come in," a calm, even cold voice answered.
She quickly opened the door and stepped inside. "Grandpa, why did you—"
"Erin, is your superpower stable now?" Ansel interrupted her, eyes focused on the arena below. "This is the league control room. Be careful with your words."
"It’s stable," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I just don’t get it."
How could she? After everything she had endured—her suspension because of Lyra, the struggle with her own unstable power, and now her grandfather had welcomed Lyra back into the family, publicly confirming her identity online.
It felt like no one even remembered that Erin had once been the pride of the Shedd family.
She had tried to call Ansel for answers, but he hadn’t responded. The moment her powers were under control, she came straight to the control room.
Ansel finally glanced at her. "Erin, I’ve raised you carefully for years. You know I always put the family first. So why can’t you understand why I did this?"
His gaze shifted back to the students waiting in the arena. "Lyra is in the spotlight now. If she can bring honor to the Shedd name, that benefits us."
’No way. After what had been done to Lyra, there’s no way she’d want to help the Shedd family now.’ Erin knew that much.
She couldn’t figure out why Ansel said that.
Still, she knew he had some kind of plan. So she asked, "Grandpa, are you worried she’ll join the admiral’s fleet, making her harder to control?"
Ansel sighed quietly, his eyes never leaving the competition. "Erin, you still have much to learn. Go home. This isn’t where you should be right now."
There was no way Erin could fully understand what her grandfather was planning. "Alright, Grandpa. I’ll go."
The door closed softly behind her. For a brief moment, Ansel’s expression hardened before settling back into its usual calm, unreadable state.
As Erin walked away, her steps felt heavier with each passing second.
She couldn’t hold it in any longer and lashed out, kicking a vending machine.
Then she pulled out her opticomputer and made a call. "Is everything ready?"
"Relax, they won’t stand a chance," a voice on the other end assured her.
After hanging up, a smug grin crept onto Erin’s face. Whatever her grandfather was planning, she wasn’t about to let Lyra off the hook.
Meanwhile, the roar of a million spectators filled the stadium as the NMA team entered the arena. The cheers were so deafening, they seemed to echo through all of Central City.
The sight made Erin’s jealousy flare.
From her vantage point, the seats farthest away were packed with tiny figures, like ants buzzing with excitement. And everyone knew exactly who those cheers were for—Lyra.
But Lyra, standing at the center of all this attention, barely reacted.
She stayed composed, her cool gaze locked ahead, completely unaffected by the envy swirling around her from students and teammates alike.
The director swiftly took charge of the smart cameras, zooming in for a close-up.
Lyra’s stunning yet distant face filled the massive screen above the arena. She gave the crowd a small nod, which was all it took to set off another wave of cheers, even louder than before.
"Looks like our hero’s got quite the fan base," one of the hosts remarked as they glided down on their Lev board, landing gracefully in front of her. "Mind if we get a quick interview, Miss Lyra?"
"Of course, I’d be happy to," Lyra replied, her voice calm and collected. The host, caught off guard by her willingness, relaxed and smiled. "Were you scared when you saved everyone back then?" they asked.
"I think anyone would feel fear when facing a high-level beast and a powerful enemy," Lyra said, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "But I couldn’t just abandon my teammates. That’s a soldier’s duty. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had."
Her answer hit the mark perfectly, striking a chord with the crowd, who were visibly moved.
Meanwhile, far away on the planet Wyrmtrace, Cohen and the Snakehead crew watched the live broadcast in stunned disbelief. ’Is this poised, disciplined military student really the same Lyra we knew?’
It turned out, she wasn’t bad at playing to the crowd—she just usually didn’t bother. But with the stakes this high, she wasn’t shy about playing the role that was expected of her.
After the interview, Lyra’s name shot up the trending charts, along with AMAT. She was quickly becoming the most talked-about figure in this year’s event.
Later, as they settled in for the next round, Elsie couldn’t help remarking, "I always thought Lyra was cold and quiet, but who knew she had that much fire? Makes us upperclassmen feel like we’re falling behind."
Lyra glanced over at her and responded coolly, "I’m just doing what’s expected."
Opportunities and risks often go hand in hand, and it seemed like her gamble was paying off. She was now just a step away from sealing her victory.
Her attention shifted to the arena ahead as the floor split open, revealing a waterway shielded by a glowing energy field, complete with rising obstacles.
This was the first event: the psychokinesis competition. Contestants had to ride a hoverboard across the water, using only their psychokinesis to control it. The fastest rider would win.
The lineup had already been set, and for this round, Lyra was the clear favorite—both in skill and morale.
When she rose from her seat, the crowd erupted, their cheers reaching a deafening level.
The pressure on the other teams grew, especially for the EPMA team, who had expected to be the center of attention.
Captain Richard frowned slightly and turned to his teammate. "Robin, you’re up."
Robin nodded and made his way to the arena.
The rules were straightforward: one round, winner takes all.
It was a fresh challenge—none of the students had faced anything quite like it before. The tension was there, sure, but so was the excitement.
As the competitors lined up to collect their hoverboards, Lyra reached for hers. But just as her hand hovered over the board, the staff member noticed the insignia on her uniform and hesitated.
He set the board back down. "Sorry, this one’s got a minor issue." With a polite smile, he picked up another board and handed it to her. "Here, take this one instead."
Lyra raised an eyebrow slightly. In a blink, her psychokinesis swept over both boards, checking for anything unusual. She accepted the replacement board with a small smile. "Thank you."
The staff member flinched, clearly unnerved by the brief exchange.
Chapter 143: Misunderstandings?
One hundred and five competitors lined up along the waterway, yet the nearly 200,000-square-meter competition area still felt spacious.
To the audience, the waterway stretched like a long ribbon, making the competitors seem tiny.
They could barely see the action with the naked eye; special electronic glasses were necessary for a closer view.
The walls of the waterway towered nearly ten meters high, resembling a grand canyon.
As the countdown lit up, a green light flashed, and all the competitors shot forward like arrows.
Water sparkled in the sunlight, but amid the frenzy, Lyra stood still.
The host zoomed by, surprised, "Why isn’t NMA’s Lyra moving? Is her hoverboard broken?"
Indeed, her board had issues—requiring more psychokinesis than the others made it heavy. But for Lyra, this was an advantage; she struggled to control her psychokinesis.
With a sly grin, she propelled herself forward, sending a dazzling spray behind her.
The wind whipped her hair back, revealing her fierce determination.
Cohen sat at his desk, glued to the screen, watching as the initially lagging Lyra smoothly passed competitor after competitor, skillfully maneuvering through tight spaces.
The moment her board hit the water, she shot off like a lightning bolt, riding the waves and wind as sunlight seemed to shine just for her.
Soon, she spotted Robin in the lead. He caught a glimpse of her reflection in the water and prepared to speed up, but a sudden gust whipped past him—she had overtaken him.
’She’s a monster,’ he thought.
The staff member who provided her hoverboard was in shock. "How could this happen?" He recalled modifying her board.
Suddenly, a furious voice crackled in his earpiece. "What’s going on? That board doesn’t seem faulty!"
The staff member tried to explain, "But I followed your instructions!"
"Following my orders? That board needs 7,000 psychokinesis just to start! Show me how fast she can fly!"
"What if her psychokinesis is just that strong?" he thought, but the call ended abruptly. He turned to Erin, who shot him a fierce glare. "That was a mistake, but I promise you, she won’t pass the next round."
"Make sure of that," Erin replied coldly.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from the arena; the results were in.
Lyra crossed the finish line, standing tall and gliding gracefully through the water.
Lyra brushed back her damp hair, looking sharp and polished. Cameras zoomed in on her, sending the audience into a frenzy.
Live comments flooded the screens: "She’s so fierce! I’m going crazy!" and "How can she be so stunning and strong? Is there such a perfect person?"
Competitors flew in one after another on their hoverboards, with NMA’s score proudly displayed at the top.
While others lined up to return their boards, Lyra gestured for Andre, who quickly joined her.
Under the watchful eye of the staff, they whispered. Andre frowned, then took the hoverboard to the organizers.
A few moments later, the staff member was escorted away, but the small commotion went unnoticed.
Andre wasn’t fooled; he called Anton over and whispered some instructions.
Anton smirked and vanished, soon reappearing in the preparation room, where he spotted someone tampering with their mecha. He recorded the evidence and sent it straight to Andre.
With the video in hand, Andre confronted the organizers, demanding answers.
The main supervisor, startled, stammered, "This could be a misunderstanding."
Andre grabbed his collar, insisting, "If we don’t clear this up today, I’ll expose this video to everyone!"
Security rushed in, but Andre swiftly pushed them back.
The supervisor, now panicking, pleaded, "Rear Admiral Andre, let’s talk this through. I’ll investigate!"
He was just a businessman, providing service for events planning. Now he regretted getting involved with such dangerous people from the military.
He dashed to the preparation room, catching the culprit red-handed.
Andre interrogated the suspect, quickly uncovering the mastermind—the deputy minister of technology.
When the supervision committee barged in, the deputy was caught off guard. "What’s going on? Why am I being arrested?" he protested.
"You still have the nerve to complain? Just wait!" Andre threatened.
The supervisor wiped sweat from his brow, glaring at the deputy. In this military territory, incompetence wouldn’t be tolerated.
After assuring Andre it wouldn’t happen again, the supervisor turned to his guards, ordering, "Go, interrogate that fool and find out who offered him bribes to sabotage me!"
No matter how hard they pressed, the deputy minister remained silent, his defiance raising alarms for the supervisor.
Glancing toward the control room, he waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it, just get him out of here."
Afterward, he tightened security measures, hoping to shield himself from scrutiny as a businessman just trying to profit.
The following competitions proceeded smoothly, without further disruptions.
The top three schools battled fiercely for victory. Then the team event started, and since it had the highest stakes, Lyra returned to the field for the second time.
...
The team competition featured intense one-on-one matches, three rounds of arena battles, and culminated in a five-person team event, which was the highlight with the highest stakes.
By the afternoon of the second day, fifty-two small platforms rose in the arena. Each military school found its designated spot, except for those on standby, preparing as per the competition rules.
Meanwhile, the audience picked their favorite matches and donned glasses to watch.
"Which military school is that? Never heard of it," Milo said arrogantly, leaning back in his seat.
Andre shot him a sharp look. "Did I ever say to underestimate anyone?"
Milo sheepishly lowered his legs, muttering, "They do seem pretty weak."
Webber chimed in, "Weak is relative. Students at military schools are still more skilled than regular Peculiars; they might just lack in psychokinesis or theory."
"Isn’t that still weak?" Milo shot back, just as he was called to compete in the singles match by Andre.
"Very right choice, sir!" he exclaimed, excited for his chance at glory.
The opposing team sent out their team leader first—one with water superpower.
Hydrokinesis usually had weaker attack strength. Though they were of the same level, Milo dismissed him and transformed into his beast form, charging ahead in a special outfit designed to withstand the change.
However, he quickly found himself trapped in the opponent’s water prison.
The opponent clearly had honed their skills; no matter how hard Milo struck, he couldn’t break through the flowing water.
Eventually, he ran out of oxygen and collapsed.
The host announced, "What a surprise! NMA’s Milo loses in the singles match!"
Hearing his name, Milo, already gasping for air, rolled his eyes and fainted.
Embarrassed, his coach hesitated to retrieve him, but team captain Elsie coldly went to drag him back.
The opposing team shook their heads; it was rare for one person to be so disliked by their teammates.
Their victory boosted the other team’s confidence.
During the arena battles, the first opponent made a throat-slashing gesture at Kolan.
However, soon enough, Kolan summoned a vine, wrapping around his opponent and tossed him off the platform easily.
In that moment, the opponent finally remembered that every NMA competitor was at least level five, yet they only had their team leader at level five.
The organizers intentionally placed the top-ranking teams in later rounds, making the first two rounds devoid of suspense.
It wasn’t until the third round that NMA finally faced a worthy opponent—the tenth-ranked Rocky Military Academy.
Yet even then, the outcome felt certain, given the significant level difference.
Lyra yawned, watching Milo walk off, still brimming with misplaced confidence.
Seeing this, Anton plopped down beside Lyra, teasing, "Aren’t you mad about not being in the game?" The host had mentioned her absence several times, while Andre focused on arranging other competitors.
Most students would complain, but Lyra simply yawned. "If I just jump in, it loses its appeal," she replied, watching the matches unfold with little interest. "Besides, with my popularity, competing so easily feels like a waste."
"Oh, confident, are we?" Anton found their banter entertaining. "I can’t believe you’re not bothered at all."
Lyra smiled knowingly. "If I wanted to compete, your team wouldn’t let me; you’d want the upperclassmen to shine instead."
Andre believed it was better for all his students to benefit. If a first-year stole the spotlight, it would reflect poorly on the older students.
Under her sharp gaze, Anton cleared his throat. "Wow, you really are tough to deal with." He turned to Webber, who rolled his eyes. "Why provoke her?"
Anton clapped him on the shoulder. "You’ve got it tough."
Webber shrugged. "It’s fine." He accepted that sometimes students outshone their instructors.
As Lyra had said, a trump card was essential for crucial moments, and when they faced RMA in the semifinals, she’d need to step in.
Daire had just lost to Lucien from the opposing team, and their captain, Aurelius, was already showing signs of fatigue after taking on two opponents.
Andre furrowed his brow, scanning the competitors, and finally called out, "Lyra."
Nicholas, who expected to compete, looked shocked.
The host shouted with excitement, "Finally, NMA is sending Lyra into the arena! Seems like His Highness is feeling the pressure!"
Lyra stood and walked to the platform, a defensive shield rising around her.
Aurelius, brooding and handsome as ever, captured the gaze of many young women.
Yet Lyra’s focus was on his lips. "Is your injury healed?"
Aurelius’s expression darkened.
On the island that day, he had been bested by Prince Lucien in front of her. Despite his strength, he couldn’t openly retaliate, feeling humiliated each time Lucien drew attention.
That why, when Lyra merely glanced and walked away that day, it oddly comforted him, as if she had respected his privacy.
"I thought you were different. Why humiliate me?" he said, summoning shimmering blue tendrils of energy behind him, capable of paralyzing anyone they struck.
Chapter 144: Fighting Aurelius
Lucien stood with his arms crossed, sneering from below the stage. "No matter how many times I see it, that power is just plain revolting."
"Gives me chills just watching."
"If it weren’t for the implants, would he even be this strong? What a joke."
Despite the trash talk, no one could deny how dangerous Aurelius’ superpower was.
In the air above, his tentacles cracked like whips. Lyra, steady as ever, calmly raised a shimmering shield of light, deflecting each strike with perfect precision.
She smiled slightly. ’Even bringing it up feels like an insult. That prince is way too insecure.’
Suddenly, she spun, narrowly dodging another tentacle creeping up behind her.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she snapped up a light barrier, blocking every incoming tendril. She looked a little surprised. "I heard you only have Class-B talent and owes his rank to the implants. But now I’m starting to think..."
"Shut up!" Aurelius snarled. His tentacles coiled tightly around his arms, and in a blink, he became a blur, rushing at her with raw force.
Lyra hesitated for a second before leaping into the air, flipping mid-flight to dodge his charge. As she twisted back around, she kicked out hard.
Her foot connected with something rubbery, but before she could react, Aurelius countered with a punch, sending her flying.
While tumbling through the sky, Lyra quickly threw up another light shield to stop her fall, preventing him from capitalizing on her stumble.
"Cough, cough!" She let out a laugh, healing herself with a burst of energy.
Turns out, Aurelius had been hiding his real strength the whole time. He was no pushover, and he knew exactly how to play dumb and wait for the perfect moment.
"Looks like our idol Lyra is really a healer!" the commentator called out. "What’s she going to do now?"
Aurelius wasted no time. He lashed out with more tentacles, ready to take her down mid-air.
But in the next moment, a green flash appeared, slicing through his tentacles like butter!
Lyra hovered in the sky, her expression icy.
Behind her, light strips fanned out, mimicking Aurelius’ own attacks.
With a simple wave, those light strips transformed into sharp blades, tearing through his power in a matter of seconds.
As blue light shattered around him, Aurelius’ eyes widened.
He felt like facing a giant mountain. No matter how hard he tried to climb, he would never reach the top. All he could do was watch her, standing victorious at the peak.
Suddenly, a surge of green light wrapped around him, flinging him to the ground. He bounced off the light barrier twice before crashing down hard.
The referee had been hiding in the corner. At that moment, he rushed forward, sweating bullets, to check on Aurelius.
After a moment, he declared, "NMA wins!"
Even Andre, watching from the sidelines, exhaled in relief.
No one had expected Aurelius to hide his strength like that. If anyone else had faced him, they’d probably have lost, and the team would’ve been knocked out.
Before the team match, there was some bickering in RMA. The third prince, Lucien, refused to include Aurelius in the match; he used Aurelius’ loss as a reason and gave the chance to his own supporters.
In the end, Aurelius coldly said, "I’m not fully healed. I’m back out for now."
He knew, even if he did go back up, no one would follow his orders anyway, and he didn’t have the energy to argue about it.
Without Aurelius, their most dangerous player, NMA took a little longer but secured the win.
When Lucien was finally freed from the earth wall, his face was twisted in anger.
After the match, he shot a death glare at Aurelius. "You agreed to back out on purpose, just to watch me fail, didn’t you?"
Aurelius glanced at him, unfazed. "We were losing it anyway."
This year, with Lyra in the competition, it was clear NMA was going to take first place.
"Hmph."
Lucien didn’t even bother with the obligatory handshake for sportsmanship. He ignored the commentator, storming off with his supporters trailing behind.
They giggled as they glanced at Aurelius. They thought they were humiliating him, but in truth, the royal family was the one left red-faced.
Aurelius led his two teammates onto the stage, each of them hailing from commoner backgrounds.
Despite that, he maintained his royal composure, shaking hands with every opponent.
But when it came to Lyra, something in him hesitated. Still, she had already switched back to her usual detached expression. She offered a quick handshake and a nod before looking down.
’She’s too hard to read,’ he thought.
Yet, someday in the future, he’d realize that Lyra was far more straightforward than anyone else.
The finals were set for the next morning, and now, it was a bit late.
The light from the satellite above shimmered down, mixing with the bright glow of the city beneath it.
Lyra and her team headed back to the hotel.
At the entrance, a young man sat by the flower bed, waiting. The moment he spotted her, he jumped up and rushed over.
"Lyra, big sis!"
His face lit up, but after just a few steps, he froze, hesitating.
After everything that happened on Wyrmtrace, he had been buried in military duties, while also trying to uncover the truth about their past. He hadn’t found much.
After finishing his latest mission, he heard about Lyra’s sudden rise in the AMAT competition.
Elsie and the others traded glances, puzzled. To them, Lyra was their junior, but this guy, mature-looking in his military uniform, was calling her big sis.
Lyra, however, stayed calm. "Why are you here? Decided to come with me after all?"
Kail stood there, stiff as a board. The uniform of the Legion Skywalkers he wore suddenly felt like a burden.
"I..."
No words came.
Lyra gave him a cool glance and walked past him into the hotel. "I told you to stop bothering me," she muttered coldly as she passed.
Elsie, following a step behind, noticed how completely crushed Kail looked, like a puppy left out in the rain. The rest of the group exchanged looks and quietly followed Lyra inside.
The next day, despite Lyra’s coldness, Kail still showed up at the competition alone. He leaned over the railing, peering down toward the players’ tunnel.
Every roar of the crowd seemed to make him strain his neck just a little more.
When Lyra finally appeared, the cheers were deafening.
On the big screen, Lyra looked composed and graceful, nothing like the ice queen she’d been toward him the night before.
"Tsk tsk, ran back to see your sister just to get ignored? And now here you are, watching her from the sidelines like a lost puppy. Pathetic." Erin’s mocking voice cut through his thoughts as she stood beside him, arms crossed.
Kail took off his glasses, clearly annoyed. "Are you spying on me again?" His tone was sharp. "This is between me and my sister. Stay out of it."
"Don’t forget," Erin sneered, "you’re a Shedd now. Don’t ruin everything for a traitor who doesn’t even care about your precious family."
She tossed her hair back. "Better watch your back—your sister might sell you out before you even see it coming."
Kail wasn’t rattled by her attempt to drive a wedge between him and Lyra, but the confidence in Erin’s voice stirred something. She seemed too sure of herself, too certain about the rift between Lyra and the Shedd family.
"What did you do to her?" Kail asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
To Erin, Kail was little more than just an annoyance. She chuckled. "Why don’t you ask her? See if she trusts you enough to tell you the truth."
With that, she sauntered off, leaving Kail standing there with disappointment flickering across his face.
But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. Kail knew Lyra had her reasons for keeping secrets, and he wasn’t about to fall for Erin’s games. He was sure Lyra wasn’t the villain Erin tried to make her out to be.
Suddenly, the announcer’s voice boomed through the arena. "In the singles match, Lyra takes the stage! Her opponent, Robin from EPMA, also a first-year!"
Chapter 145: Lyra’s Show
Robin never underestimated his opponent.
As the countdown hit zero, he unleashed his superpower. Water surged from his feet, soaking his ankles, while rain poured down amid booming thunder, transforming the arena into his domain.
It was a powerful water-electrical combo.
Lightning danced with the water, creating an inescapable trap.
Lyra quickly understood his strategy and wrapped herself in a shield of light.
When the electric flash faded, her green form stood unharmed.
Robin frowned; he knew defeating her wouldn’t be easy. He braced himself for her punch.
Just as they closed the distance, Lyra suddenly asked, "Did your grandpa make you choose me? Or was it your team leader?" Sending a level five against her in the finals felt reckless.
Robin’s expression gave away his surprise.
With a swift kick, Lyra sent him flying, smirking, "If you want to ride my coattails, you better have the skill."
The host was shocked to see the usually reserved Lyra take the lead. "Lyra’s attack is fierce, and by the way, Robin is her cousin!"
Lyra kept her cool as she dodged lightning and water traps, moving so fast she seemed to leave no trace. Just as Robin reacted, another blow struck.
Lyra kicked him into the air, binding him in green light before slamming him into the water.
Dazed, Robin lost his superpower.
One minute and forty-seven seconds. The audience held their breath; this was an overwhelming victory.
Lyra knew the Calvin family aimed to develop Robin, but she wouldn’t be a steppingstone.
After the match, she helped him up, shook his hand, and smiled as she left the arena.
Robin bit his lip; the applause felt distant.
Once outside, his leader’s criticism hit hard. "Robin, didn’t you say you had a secret weapon? How could you lose so quickly? You’ve embarrassed EPMA!"
"Sorry, I underestimated her," he replied, straightening up.
Before the leader could respond, a teammate interjected, "Let it go. Anyone facing Lyra would lose. At least Robin faced her; we have a better chance in the team match."
With rules allowing each player to participate in only two of three matches, they expected Lyra to compete in the team round.
However, they underestimated NMA’s desire for a quick win. Lyra entered as the final contestant for the individual competition.
In the production room, the director’s frustration echoed, "This is the finals! Can’t NMA show a little teamwork?" The anticipated team match seemed to be unraveling!
The surprised host asked, "Lyra has just fought in the first round; how does she still have so much energy left?"
It was truly an unexpected turn of events.
Anton scoffed, glancing at Webber. "All the senior students have received legion invites, none of them wanted to play this game anymore."
Webber rubbed her forehead, exasperated. "The chief instructor treats Lyra like a pawn—just moves her wherever needed. Isn’t it a bit much for her? She’s physically weak, after all."
"They’re just students; it’s no challenge for her," Anton replied.
And it was evident. The military academies were evenly matched, and Andre aimed to finish the match quickly, sending Elsie and Nicholas into the fray.
Their opponents had to unleash their top players, resulting in a fierce clash before Lyra faced the second challenger.
He prepared to attack, but in an instant, she kicked him out of bounds.
The EPMA leader was the next one. He charged in aggressively, but Lyra dominated effortlessly, tossing him aside without breaking a sweat.
The highly anticipated finals ended abruptly.
Just as it reached its peak, making people felt a bit disappointed.
The audience froze, and the host, recovering quickly, shouted, "Crushing victory! Lyra led NMA to a record win!"
He scrambled to hype the crowd, which finally erupted into applause.
"It was basically a solo show for my idol!" one fan exclaimed.
"Has she really been frozen for seven years?" Kail gripped the railing, emotions swirling—she was still the genius she used to be.
As the results came in, the trophy proudly displayed the winning school’s name, and medals awaited the team.
In that moment, they basked in the limelight.
Back on Planet Nagano, the principal, flushed with excitement, declared, "Notify everyone! Our school finally won first place—extra dishes in the cafeteria today!"
Cameras scanned the jubilant team, lingering on Lyra’s composed, elegant face.
The principal’s joy dimmed slightly, replaced by a sense of complexity; the greater ones are destined for greater struggles.
Sitting for interviews was inevitable—an enviable privilege. Lyra sat next to Elsie, a clear sign of special treatment.
Most questions aimed at her, given her high-profile background and skills.
"Miss Lyra, why choose NMA over EPMA?" a reporter asked. She smiled, replying, "NMA’s focus on freedom and combat suits me better than EPMA’s rigid, theoretical approach."
"Is it because of family conflicts that you left Elden Prime?" another pressed.
"My family relationships aren’t relevant here," she replied, signaling her unwillingness to discuss the Shedd family.
Another reporter jumped in, "Rumor has it you’re actually twenty-seven but appear twenty due to seven years of freezing, right?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
"Miss Shedd, what caused your freezing? Was it really due to the rampage? Does that mean you only have the power of healing left?" The reporters buzzed with anticipation, eager to uncover every detail about her, hoping for a big scoop.
Lyra didn’t respond, simply clearing her throat and sipping her water.
Andre shot her a glance and, keeping a straight face, said, "I think you all have questions for the other team members as well, right?"
The reporters seemed a bit off their game. Even though the rest of the team was impressive, none had the fiery spirit of Lyra.
"Miss Lyra..."
With a swift snap, Andrei broke the microphone stand, eyeing the puzzled reporter. "Did you mix up the names?"
The reporters snapped back to reality, feeling the weight of his unspoken warning.
Anton then smiled, adjusted the microphone, and added, "Any more questions? If not, you’re free to go."
’Is this the NMA style? It felt so harsh!’