Ch. 311..315: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 311-315

Chapter 311: The Fall of a Supreme

Unlike most commanders who remained safely in control rooms, Lyra piloted her lightweight mecha directly onto the battlefield. She maneuvered through enemy forces with surgical precision, eliminating targets while issuing orders based on real-time enemy movements.

"Fighter squadron, regroup at coordinates X233.32, Y653672.2, Z489.26. Target the enemy supply ships," she commanded sharply.

In outer space battles, temporary three-dimensional coordinates were critical.

The flagship generated a 3D map of the battlefield, transmitting it to everyone’s electronic goggles.

These maps displayed the approximate positions of allies and enemies, ensuring no one got lost in the vastness of space.

For many, the chaos of war could easily cloud judgment. But for Lyra, her focus was absolute.

Despite being outnumbered ten to one, her Legion of Everglow, equipped with advanced technology and elite personnel, held the line. Less than 20,000 soldiers stood against the Empire’s 100,000-strong fleet.

...

On the Empire’s command ship, a scar-faced youth lounged on a chair, lazily chewing gum. A baseball bat rested across his shoulders, and the crooked insignia on his uniform shimmered with the rank of Admiral.

"Damn, no wonder they sent us here. This Lyra’s a tough one!" Admiral Gallan grumbled, a mix of annoyance and amusement in his tone.

"Her psychokinesis blankets the entire battlefield," remarked the elderly Admiral Poullier, whose snowy-white hair lent him a commanding presence. "She adapts her defenses in real-time. Her skill is exceptional. Gallan, why don’t you handle her?"

"Fine by me," Gallan replied with a smirk, hopping off his chair. Though short and boyish in stature—resembling a middle-schooler—he exuded a dangerous energy.

Carrying his bat, he strolled out of the room.

...

Gallan didn’t pilot a conventional mecha but instead used a machine resembling a massive baseball launcher.

Once he arrived on the battlefield, he grinned wickedly and slammed the launch button.

"Game on!"

Countless white baseballs shot out at incredible speeds, transforming into deadly projectiles.

Anything they struck—ships, mecha, or soldiers—was obliterated instantly.

Within moments, hundreds of Legion soldiers had fallen.

Using his superpower, Gallan manipulated the baseballs’ trajectories, cutting down more members of the Legion of Everglow with merciless precision. His machine became a vortex of destruction.

Just as he prepared another salvo, a chilling sense of danger overcame him.

Acting instinctively, he maneuvered his machine, narrowly evading a green energy beam that tore through his launcher’s cockpit.

Turning toward the source, Gallan saw Lyra’s lightweight mecha hurtling toward him.

With a snarl, he gathered his remaining baseballs into a massive sphere.

Supercharged by his superpower, the orb became a weapon of mass destruction, obliterating everything in its path—enemy and ally alike.

Lyra, unfazed, raised her mecha’s arms in a drawn-bow stance.

Green energy coalesced into a massive two-meter-long bow. Activating her power of freezing, she drained the blood of nearby enemy soldiers, condensing it into a crimson arrow entwined with green energy.

With a sharp twang, the arrow streaked through space, shattering Gallan’s giant sphere.

Before he could react, Lyra’s mecha closed the distance. A green energy blade extended from her unit, piercing through Gallan’s cockpit and striking him.

An emergency pod deployed from beneath Gallan’s seat, sealing him off and shielding him from the vacuum of space. But Lyra’s freezing power crept in, threatening to crystallize his blood.

Desperately, Gallan drew a curved blade, slashing wildly to force her back.

Poullier’s voice crackled through his communicator just then. "Admiral Gallan, we’re retreating!"

Poullier’s lightweight mecha swooped in, grabbing Gallan’s pod and retreating at full speed.

...

Lyra prepared to pursue but was intercepted by enemy commanders covering the retreat. She dispatched them with brutal efficiency, cutting down several.

Those who fled were hunted by her superpower, their lives snuffed out from a distance.

From the safety of his pod, Gallan watched in horror as Lyra systematically eliminated his allies.

Even as Poullier dragged him away, her looming presence felt inescapable.

When her mecha raised an arm toward them, Gallan’s panic exploded. "Poullier! Defense, now!"

A torrent of superpower particles surged toward them. The liquid in their bodies began to freeze as they neared death’s edge.

Suddenly, a new force intervened.

A massive surge of superpower rippled across the battlefield, disrupting Lyra’s attack.

A Supreme had arrived, shifting the tide of battle.

Despite Lyra’s strength, directly engaging a Supreme could lead to devastating losses. Her voice rang out over the comms: "Retreat!"

Maintaining an air of confidence, she used her psychokinesis to its fullest, weaving through enemy forces and covering her troops as they fell back.

The Empire’s forces, relentless and emboldened by their Supreme’s presence, pursued with unyielding ferocity.

...

Suddenly, a high-powered cannon blast roared through the void.

The Supreme immediately activated their superpower defense, shielding their forces from the attack.

Seizing this moment of distraction, Lyra unleashed her full strength.

Drawing her energy bow, she channeled an immense amount of power into a glowing green arrow. Its radiant light pierced the void of space, shining like a miniature nebula.

The arrow, brimming with superweapon-level force, streaked across the battlefield toward the Empire’s main ship and supply vessels.

"Activate quantum shields! Evasive maneuvers!" Admiral Poullier shouted into his communicator.

The Empire’s ships scrambled to deploy defenses, but the energy arrow shattered the shields as if they were made of glass.

The arrow tore into the flagship’s hull, striking its power core. A cataclysmic explosion followed, obliterating the ship and its neighboring supply vessel.

The destruction sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Supply ships carried vital resources—oxygen, energy, and materials essential for survival.

Losing even one was disastrous. Losing two crippled the Empire’s logistical plans.

The Supreme Peculiar, infuriated, prepared to counterattack. He used his power to manipulate surrounding metals, forcing nearby Legion of Everglow ships toward one another in a deadly collision course.

Lyra’s psychic assault disrupted his concentration, leaving him momentarily disoriented.

Seizing the opportunity, the Legion’s forces escaped the Supreme’s immediate control range.

...

"Chase them!" the Supreme bellowed, piloting his mecha forward with vengeful intent.

"Hold on! The supply fleet hasn’t caught up yet!" an officer cautioned.

Covering her retreating troops, Lyra opened a private channel to Conners. "Admiral Conners, where are you?" Her voice was calm, but her mind churned with suspicion.

If Conners was plotting to use this moment to undermine her politically, she vowed to make him regret it.

From his flagship, Conners replied smoothly, "We’re positioned 200 kilometers ahead of the base."

When the Legion of Everglow regrouped with Conners’ fleet, the pursuing Empire forces—including the Supreme Peculiar—charged directly into an Alliance ambush.

...

Lyra wasted no time. Piloting her mecha into the fray, she called out, "Admiral Conners, I’ll need cover fire."

Conners’ adjutant hesitated before glancing toward him. With an unreadable expression, Conners gave the order: "Do as she says."

Meanwhile, Helion and the others engaged the Supreme Peculiar using their advanced mecha, attempting to harass him.

While their attacks were precise and coordinated, they amounted to little more than an annoyance.

"Hmph, pests," the Supreme sneered, his power pulling massive, metal-rich asteroids into the fight. These giant chunks hurtled toward the Alliance forces, forcing them to maneuver desperately to avoid destruction.

Lyra abandoned long-range attacks, using the incoming asteroids to her advantage. She leapt from one to another, expertly slicing through metallic projectiles with Schedar’s precision, closing the gap with each move.

Realizing her skill in close combat, the Supreme maintained his distance, attempting to keep her at bay.

But as he focused his efforts, the battlefield suddenly warped. Space around him twisted unnaturally, locking him in place.

"Damn it!" he growled, realizing another Supreme Peculiar had arrived—an ally of the Alliance with space twisting abilities.

"Rear Admiral Shedd!" came Lynn’s calm voice over the comms.

"Understood," Lyra responded sharply.

Within moments, she closed the distance. Her blade descended in a lethal arc, splitting the Supreme Peculiar’s mecha apart. His life ended instantly.

...

The Alliance barely had time to celebrate. A looming shadow darkened the battlefield, and in a flash, Lynn’s mecha was struck by a surge of dark energy—a devastating blow from a Stellar Devourer.

The attack ripped through Lynn’s mecha. Acting with lightning reflexes, Lyra threw out her superpower, catching him before he was lost.

But the damage was catastrophic. Lynn’s body was torn apart, half of it obliterated.

Lyra’s focus sharpened as she poured all her energy into stabilizing him, encasing his broken form in a dense green glow.

With painstaking control, she transferred him to the flagship’s medical bay.

 

Chapter 312: Releasing the Pirates

When Lynn adjusted his stance and stepped out of the chamber, the Empire’s second Supreme had already arrived via the hyperspace portal.

Another grueling battle ensued.

After nearly thirty hours of relentless combat, Lyra had no choice but to retreat to the flagship for some much-needed rest.

She parked her mecha in the charging bay and strode toward the conference room, her expression grim.

The extensive use of her freezing superpower had left her armor coated in frost, leaving an icy trail as she walked.

Inside, several regiment leaders and adjutants stood at attention and saluted as she entered. Lyra nodded briskly and took her seat at the head of the table.

"Report the losses for each regiment," she ordered without preamble.

Aurelius stepped forward and provided a concise summary of casualties and equipment damage. They had lost 3,820 soldiers, most of whom had fallen to the Supreme and level-nine Peculiars.

As for the injured, nearly everyone bore some form of wound. Fortunately, Lyra’s healing pods allowed the injured to recover quickly and return to the battlefield.

Lyra’s frown deepened. She turned to Mandy. "Compile the statistics and submit them later."

Robin, his face set in a grim line, added, "The Empire seems intent on breaking through here. They’ve not only sent two Admiral Corps but are also deploying troops from Voidstar No. 2."

"Legion Apollo and Legion Glory are en route to support us," another officer reported.

"But this can’t go on," Caleb interjected, adjusting his glasses. "Our losses are unsustainable."

The regiment was newly assembled, and many soldiers were unaccustomed to such intense warfare. Fatigue and psychological strain were taking their toll, with some already requiring therapy.

"You’ll take turns deploying," Lyra decided, loosening the top buttons of her collar. The Space Button around her neck swayed slightly.

Phelixes quickly handed her a glass of water, which she drained in one gulp. Her sharp gaze flickered with lethal resolve.

"Phelixes, stay close to me. We’ll focus on eliminating the enemy’s Supreme Peculiars first, freeing Lynn to handle other threats."

"Understood," he replied.

Just then, more bad news arrived: the enemy was sending reinforcements—two Vice Admiral Corps were on their way.

"Are they targeting Rear Admiral Shedd?" Kolan speculated, his face darkening.

"Unlikely," Phelixes countered firmly. "They’d rather avoid her altogether."

Lyra pressed her lips into a thin line, her mind flashing back to the Wyrmtrace star map incident two years prior. Her gaze steeled.

"Make sure enough personnel remain to guard the space station," she instructed.

...

Lyra and Phelixes joined Lynn in facing the two Supreme Peculiars.

Lynn unleashed his full superpower, tearing spatial rifts through the battlefield. The enemy’s Supremes proved formidable, pressing him hard with their combined assault.

Suddenly, their superpowers flickered and vanished without warning.

"What the hell is going on now?" one of them shouted, equal parts shock and rage.

"Be careful! That guy’s power is strange," the other warned.

Before they could regroup, Lyra charged in, her blade slicing downward with precision. Her attack severed one Supreme’s right shoulder, cutting deep into his ribcage. Blood spurted out, only to be quickly siphoned away in the vacuum of space.

The injured Supreme reacted swiftly, using his superpower to stabilize the wound. Without hesitation, both retreated.

"Chase them!"

Lynn used spatial teleportation to pursue, but a field of black holes suddenly blocked their path. If not for Lyra’s quick reaction, Lynn might have teleported them straight into the gravitational trap.

Lyra nodded, satisfied. "Wounding one is enough for now. They don’t have a healer as strong as me; he won’t recover anytime soon."

As the trio prepared to withdraw, they found themselves locked onto by the enemy flagship’s high-energy cannon.

Even someone as powerful as Lynn would struggle to withstand a direct hit from such a devastating weapon.

Just as the enemy flagship’s high-energy cannon locked onto their position, a thunderous explosion ripped through its hull. A well-aimed shot from a high-energy cannon had struck true, sending debris spiraling into space.

The Apollo’s had arrived.

"Hmph, Lyra. Consider this payback for that favor," Admiral Dale sneered from his command center. At least now Valeria wouldn’t hold it over his head that he owed Lyra one.

Shortly after, the Legion Glory joined the fray.

With two Admiral Corps, a Vice Admiral Corps, and a Rear Admiral Corps uniting their forces, the stage was set for the largest battle between the Alliance and the Empire since the war began.

...

The warfront around Voidstar No. 1 grew longer and more chaotic with each passing hour.

Meanwhile, back on Wyrmtrace, in the wartime command office, two young men stood tall before Admiral Frederick, their postures rigid with determination.

"Sir, I request permission to support the battle at Voidstar No. 1," Cohen declared, his eyes fixed intently on his father.

"I want to go too!" Thierry added, his tone equally resolute.

Frederick studied them carefully, his gaze drifting momentarily to the sunlight streaming through the window.

The light framed their youthful fervor, their unshakable resolve evident despite their inexperience.

"It’s too dangerous there right now," Frederick said, his voice weighted by the grim reports he received daily from the frontlines. Even as a seasoned admiral, the situation left him uneasy.

"That’s exactly why we must go," Cohen replied without hesitation.

Thierry quickly added, "Right! The area was just reclaimed. I can help evacuate the residents."

The civilians there had only just escaped the clutches of pirates, only to find themselves trapped in a warzone again. If the Alliance lost this battle, their fate would be unthinkable.

Frederick sighed, recognizing both the naivety in their eagerness and the ironclad determination behind it.

"Very well. Go."

The two exchanged a glance and a smile before heading off to prepare for their mission.

...

The battlefield outside Voidstar No. 1 had devolved into a protracted and chaotic stalemate. Even Supremes struggled to turn the tide decisively.

That day, the conference room buzzed with more officers than ever before.

Admiral Dale addressed the assembly. "Rear Admiral Shedd and Lynn will handle the enemy’s Supremes. Admiral Conners and I will take on their Admiral Corps. The Legion Glory and Legion of Flaring Stars will engage the remaining enemy forces."

When Dale finished, Conners nodded in agreement. None of the commanders voiced objections.

After a moment’s pause, Lyra raised her head. "I’d like to recommend a few individuals. With their help, our burden would be much lighter."

"Who?" All eyes turned to her.

"Broken Blade, Markle, and Gino," Lyra replied.

The names sent a ripple of shock through the room.

"I object!" Conners’ voice rang out immediately, his opposition emphatic. "Those space pirates are ruthless! If they join the battle, they’ll slaughter our Alliance soldiers just as readily as the enemy!"

The pirates had claimed countless lives under Conners’ command, and he had no intention of granting them free rein on the battlefield.

"It’s risky," admitted even Lyra’s usual supporters, their faces shadowed with concern.

"I’m only making a suggestion," Lyra said calmly, her demeanor unshaken by the backlash. "If you don’t want their assistance, I’ll send them to the Legion of Everglow instead."

Before anyone could interject, she added, "If they harm any Alliance soldiers, I will take full responsibility."

Her firm declaration silenced further protests. The Legion of Everglow was under her direct command, leaving no room for others to challenge her decision there.

Conners scoffed. "Let’s hope Rear Admiral Shedd keeps her word."

...

After the meeting, a few familiar faces gathered around Lyra to congratulate her on the successful establishment of her space station.

"Here, my daughter prepared a gift for you," Zinnia said, producing a small metallic box from her Space Button.

Inside was a recorder. When activated, it displayed a hologram of a little girl.

"Godmommy Lyra, here’s the first dance I learned, just for you!" Tammy chirped with a bright smile. Her clumsy movements resembled a waddling penguin, her charm undeniable.

As Lyra held the recorder, her stern expression softened. Watching Tammy’s sweet and earnest performance, a rare warmth spread across her features, momentarily easing the burdens of war.

Chapter 313: The Base Felled

In a rare lull before the next wave of chaos, the small group of officers—including NMA classmates, Cohen, and Thierry—gathered around the holographic recording of the little girl dancing.

"That little rascal. She recorded this in secret and didn’t even let her dad or me see it." Zinnia’s mock-jealous tone almost drew laughter from the group.

Thierry, grinning so wide it nearly split his face, teased, "She’s adorable! Feels like just yesterday we were at your wedding, and now you’ve got such a big girl!"

"Wait, Zinnia, you had a wedding ceremony without inviting us?" Helion’s booming voice rang out.

"Exactly!" Grains chimed in. "We may not have gone to the same academy, but we’ve been friends long enough to deserve an invite!"

"What did Zinnia look like in a wedding dress? Mandy, you must have pictures, right?" Vikie nudged her conspiratorially.

"I do!" Mandy eagerly displayed a photo of Zinnia in her wedding dress, taken with a group of four friends at the time. "I even printed a copy and keep it on my desk!"

The group huddled together, laughing and reminiscing over the picture, their chatter filled with warmth and camaraderie, a fleeting echo of their academy days.

But reality intruded swiftly, as the distant rumble of enemy bombardments reminded them there was no time for nostalgia.

Lyra snapped into action, her voice sharp as she barked orders to rally her forces.

Thierry joined Cohen’s team, their resolve unshaken.

"Hard to believe it’s been nearly ten years since we joined the military," Thierry mused as he suited up in his space gear.

Cohen chuckled. "To me, you’re all still kids."

...

Upon returning to the base, Lyra assigned Grains to its defense, supported by Markle, who remained on standby.

The three pirate captains stood out awkwardly among the disciplined soldiers.

Gino ran a hand over a mecha, clicking his tongue in appreciation. "Been ages since I handled one of these."

Lyra gave him a brief glance but said nothing. It was through Anton she had learned Gino had once been a classmate of Dessel and Raphel at the military academy.

Frustrated by the high command’s politics, Gino had abandoned his career to become a space pirate.

"Move out," Lyra commanded curtly.

She and Phelixes headed off to join Lynn, falling into their usual battle formation.

This time, the enemy fielded a single Supreme. Lynn’s expression hardened with determination as he realized the opportunity.

"We have to take him down!" he declared, surging into the fight with renewed vigor.

Both sides instinctively maneuvered away from the main combat zone to minimize collateral damage.

The enemy Supreme was a speed specialist, darting through space with comet-like velocity. Slowly but surely, he lured Lyra, Lynn, and Phelixes farther from the main battlefield.

Lyra’s sharp instincts kicked in. "Lynn, stop chasing! Be cautious—it’s a trap!"

Acknowledging her warning, Lynn nodded. He was preparing to turn back when a spatial rift opened ahead.

Two more Supremes stepped through.

Lyra’s heart sank. They had walked right into an ambush.

Without hesitation, she launched an attack, but the newcomers conjured layers of barriers, creating a near-impenetrable cage around them.

"Lynn, we can’t stay here!" Lyra shouted.

Trusting her instincts, Lynn unleashed his full superpower, ripping through the barriers with a burst of spatial energy. "Rear Admiral Shedd, go! I’ll cover you!"

Wasting no time, Lyra sprinted through the breach, moving like a streak of light. The enemy Supremes gave chase, one of them staying hot on her trail.

Lyra unleashed her psychokinesis in bursts, momentarily incapacitating her pursuers long enough for the trio to escape the trap. But the speed specialist kept up, his relentless harassment disrupting their retreat.

...

Back on the main battlefield, Dale observed the disturbance with a grim expression.

"This isn’t good. Lynn and his team are in serious danger," he muttered.

Conners, recognizing the peril, immediately volunteered. "I’ll go support them."

"No," Dale replied, his tone resolute. "We can’t abandon the command post. One mistake here could cost us more than a Supreme Peculiar—it could cost us the entire battle."

If the stronghold fell, the Alliance would crumble.

Conners hesitated, torn between his instinct to act and the weight of Dale’s reasoning.

Finally, clenching his jaw, he said, "I have someone in mind for the job."

Conners’ mood soured as he thought about the person he was about to send as backup, but he nodded anyway. There was no other choice at the moment, even if it had to be that bastard.

Dale wasted no time contacting the outer space base, though Markle’s response was as infuriating as it was audacious.

"Sure, come invite me yourself, Admiral," Markle drawled, slouching lazily in his chair with a mocking grin. "If you show up in person, maybe I’ll think about it."

Dale’s temper ignited at the insolence. "Fine! I’ll come myself!" he snapped, turning sharply to Conners. "You’re in charge of the command while I’m gone."

Without waiting for a reply, Dale stormed out, launching his mecha without delay.

...

At the outer space base’s command room, Grains felt his legs turn to jelly as he watched Dale’s stormy arrival.

He turned to Markle, who looked just as nervous despite trying to maintain a nonchalant facade. "Why—why did you have to provoke him?" Grains muttered through gritted teeth.

"How was I supposed to know he’d actually come?" Markle hissed back, his bravado slipping.

Dale entered the room, arms crossed, his glare as sharp as a blade. "Are you going to move, or should I drag you there myself?"

Markle reluctantly stood, but just as he rose, a chilling sound froze everyone in place.

A wet, sickening squelch.

Dale’s expression twisted in disbelief as he looked down at his chest. A hand—ghastly, inhuman—had pierced through him, clutching his heart.

Before anyone could react, the hand tightened, crushing the organ into a bloody pulp.

Dale collapsed.

Markle and Grains stared in abject horror, unable to process the scene unfolding before them.

...

Far away, Lyra felt a faint but familiar presence in her mind suddenly extinguish. Her expression hardened as the grim realization set in.

She immediately contacted Robin. "Get to the command room at the base. Now."

Robin, sensing the urgency, didn’t hesitate. Rushing into the base, he was met with carnage—a sea of blood and fallen soldiers.

His heart pounded as he pushed through the grisly scene until he reached the command room. What he saw left him frozen in place.

One of the fallen officers clutched a communicator, clearly trying and failing to send a distress signal in time.

Through the nearby windows, Robin could see Dale’s flagship and supply ships engulfed in flames, shattering into pieces. The fleet was gone.

Lyra, still locked in combat with three Supremes, heard Robin’s strained voice over the communicator:

"The base is lost. Admiral Dale is dead. Fleet Admiral Frederick orders the front line to withdraw to Voidstar No. 1. Legion Glory is to defend Snowfall, while the Rose moves to support Voidstar No. 1."

...

At Voidstar No. 1, the morgue was eerily silent except for the sound of soft footsteps.

Lyra stood before a covered body. With deliberate care, she lifted the white sheet, revealing Grains’ lifeless face.

His chest bore a jagged hole where his heart should have been.

Caleb, his glasses fogged with tears, removed them and tucked them into his pocket. He stepped forward silently, standing over his friend’s body.

The unbearable silence lingered until Helion, forcing a trembling smile, tried to speak. "Well... it’s not like it’s unusual on the battlefield to say goodbye..." His voice cracked, and he hastily wiped his tears. "Damn it, you bastard, why’d you have to leave so soon?"

Lyra clenched her fists tightly before finally letting go. Gently, she pulled the sheet back over Grains’ face.

Mandy entered, her eyes red and swollen. "Admiral Conners is requesting your presence at the meeting," she informed Lyra.

With a nod, Lyra left, her expression unreadable as she made her way to the meeting room.

The moment she stepped inside, the air grew heavy with tension. Holographic projections of the admirals filled the room, their gazes sharp and accusing.

"Lyra, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Admiral Conners demanded, his tone cutting through the silence.

He continued, voice rising with emotion, "You insisted on bringing space pirates into this fight, and now Admiral Dale is dead because of it!"

Lyra’s calm demeanor remained unshaken as she replied, her voice steady, "Markle is dead. His body, along with traces of superpower particles at the scene, confirms he wasn’t responsible. Furthermore, the Stellar Devourer was involved. The dimensional portal defense system was shut down, which means there’s a traitor inside the base."

Her words cut through the room like a blade, leaving the admirals momentarily speechless.

Chapter 314: Lyra Prisoned

"The traitor is you!" Rear Admiral Coros, a distant relative of Admiral Dale, slammed the table and stood up, filled with rage and ready to tear Lyra apart.

Cohen didn’t defend her directly but instead brought up the Wyrmtrace battle. "It was the same back then. The Empire’s forces arrived far too quickly—it was clear they had been waiting nearby. There must have been a traitor involved."

"But all of this is just Rear Admiral Shedd’s one-sided account," Supreme Ronin interjected. "At the end of the day, if you hadn’t brought space pirates into the battlefield, none of this would have happened."

Lyra locked eyes with her accuser and stated firmly, "I’ve already said it has nothing to do with the space pirates."

"But Admiral Dale did die at your base," Conners said, his voice heavy with grief over the loss of his old friend. "You can’t escape responsibility for that."

That much was true.

While Lyra insisted Markle was dead, there was no solid evidence to back up her claim, leaving his involvement as a suspect unresolved.

All eyes turned to Frederick. After a long pause, he spoke. "For now, confine Lyra to the highest-level detention facility. Until the truth is uncovered, she is not to be released."

Cohen turned to his father’s hologram, disbelief etched across his face. "This is a critical moment. We need Rear Admiral Shedd!"

Frederick’s expression remained cold. "Rear Admiral Whyte, can you take responsibility if more people die because of her?"

Cohen clenched his teeth. "If more people die, it won’t be her fault! Without her, even more will perish!"

Cohen trusted her. At this moment, there was no one who wanted to destroy the enemy and achieve victory more than Lyra.

Frederick silenced all objections with one final statement. "Under Alliance law, as the base commander, she must undergo investigation."

...

The highest-level detention facility was essentially a large machine.

It consisted of a cramped six-square-meter cell with a narrow bed barely a meter wide extending from the wall, and a small toilet on the left.

The superpower suppressors in this facility were strong enough to restrain even a Supreme. The Alliance only had three of these detention cells.

Rather than outright suppressing abilities, the cell emitted electromagnetic waves 24/7, disrupting brain function and preventing the use of psychokinesis. Prolonged exposure could cause severe damage to the mind.

Due to the rarity and expense of the materials used, the cell door was designed with bars, leaving no privacy for its occupants.

Coros wasted no time throwing her inside.

"Lyra, even you have your day," he sneered coldly, staring at the woman who once seemed invincible. "First, you sent your brother to prison, then you caused your grandfather’s death. Do you really think Frederick will still stand by your side?"

Lyra entered the cell, sat on the bed, and leaned back, lost in thought.

However, the relentless electromagnetic interference gnawed at her brain, causing a throbbing pain that made it hard to maintain focus.

Coros glared at her, his eyes red with anger. "Admiral Dale was even thinking of asking that damn pirate to save you!"

Still, Lyra didn’t react. Furious, he scoffed. "Are you even human? Heartless!"

With that, he stormed out.

...

Meanwhile, Legion Glory was stationed at Voidstar No. 1’s rear, preparing supplies and coordinating with Raphel and Dessel to intercept the enemy.

Conners and Cohen continued buying time, holding back the advancing forces, while Thierry managed the evacuation of Voidstar No. 1’s residents.

Inside the detention cell, Lyra reflected on recent events, focusing on the Alliance’s strange behavior.

If there was something unusual, it had to be related to the deployment of troops at Voidstar No. 1.

Suddenly, she sat bolt upright.

"Someone, come here!" she called urgently.

The guards outside didn’t move.

"I need to see your commanding officer!" Lyra’s tone was insistent, but the guards acted as if they hadn’t heard her.

After a moment, she changed her approach. "I have information regarding Admiral Dale’s death."

At that, the two guards perked up, exchanging glances before contacting Coros.

Coros arrived quickly, his steps urgent. Stopping a meter from the cell, he pointed at Lyra, his voice thick with anger. "Lyra! It’s you, isn’t it? You conspired with the space pirates to kill Admiral Dale, didn’t you?!"

He stared her down, expecting fear or guilt, but instead, Lyra frowned deeply behind the bars.

"I need to see Frederick," she said firmly. "I’ll report to him personally."

Coros let out a derisive laugh. "The investigation into Admiral Dale’s death is under my authority. Whatever you have to say, you’ll say it to me. You think you can meet the Fleet Admiral right now? Keep dreaming!"

"Are you sure you’re in charge here?" Lyra asked sharply.

Coros nodded curtly. "I am."

Lyra stepped closer to the bars, her voice cutting through the tension. "Then arrest Conners immediately—he’s a spy for the Empire!"

...

Elsewhere, young Gultong sat inside his first official transport vehicle, his wide eyes gleaming with amazement as he touched the sleek seats and walls.

"I’m going to be an Alliance soldier one day!" he declared, his voice brimming with excitement.

Thierry chuckled and ruffled the boy’s hair. "Heh, when the time comes, join Legion Glory."

"Deal!"

Their convoy was filled with lighthearted chatter as they made their way to the spaceport.

When they arrived, the group spotted the waiting ship and stopped in awe.

They had seen pirate vessels before—terrifying and imposing—but this one was different. This one felt like a lifeline, like hope itself.

"Let’s go," Thierry said, organizing the group into an orderly line. But as they began moving, his opticomputer beeped urgently.

"Thierry here," he answered.

Cohen’s voice came through, strained and panicked. "Don’t go to the spaceport!"

Thierry had never heard Cohen sound so alarmed. He looked up and immediately saw why: countless mechas, fighters, and starships descended from the sky like a storm of darkness, blotting out the sun.

His heart sank. He recognized at once that these weren’t Alliance forces.

"Everyone, to the bunkers! Now!"

...

Lyra’s words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Coros and the guards froze before bursting into laughter, mocking her as though she’d said something absurd.

"You witch, still spouting nonsense!" Coros sneered, pointing at her disdainfully. "The Conners family has served the Alliance for centuries! He’s been in the military for seventy, eighty years! How could he possibly be a spy?"

The guards, who had tried to remain indifferent, chimed in. "Exactly! Admiral Conners is holding the front with Rear Admiral Whyte right now."

For the first time in so many years, Lyra’s composure cracked, her expression twisting in panic.

Her sudden change in demeanor wiped the smugness from Coros’ face. Something about her reaction struck a chord of deep unease within him.

Before anyone could respond, the ground rumbled violently, followed by a deafening explosion.

Coros grabbed his opticomputer, trying to connect with the ground forces.

The device crackled with a cacophony of chaos: screams, gunfire, and the thunderous roar of explosions.

"Rear Admiral! The Empire has invaded—ahhh!"

The transmission cut off abruptly, leaving only silence.

Coros stood frozen, his mind reeling. Lyra’s warning echoed in his ears.

Suddenly, a hand shot through the bars and grabbed his uniform.

"Let me out!" Lyra demanded.

Coros recoiled, glaring at her. "What are you planning? Don’t even think about using this as an opportunity!"

The guards raised their weapons. "Ma’am, step back immediately!" one barked.

Coros gritted his teeth. "Lyra, I’m warning you—"

His words faltered as he met her gaze.

"Coros," Lyra said, her voice low but unyielding. "You’d better think very carefully about what’s happening right now."

Her quiet yet commanding tone cut through his rage. The weight of her words, combined with the disaster unfolding outside, shattered his resolve.

After several tense seconds, he pulled out the crystal key and unlocked the cell.

As the bars slid open, Lyra stepped out.

She raised her hand, and with a surge of psychokinetic force, tore a hole through the space above. Sunlight streamed through the clouds, glinting off her armor as it assembled around her.

In moments, she stood fully armed, an imposing figure of war, and launched herself skyward.

Above Voidstar No. 1, chaos reigned. Fires raged, superpowers clashed, and the enemy fleet unleashed unrelenting bombardments.

Activating her communicator, Lyra called out to her team.

"SIS?!" Phelixes’ voice came through, crackling with static and exhaustion. "We’re at the spaceport protecting civilians! Rear Admiral Whyte is here too!"

 

Chapter 315: The One She Couldn’t Heal

"I’m coming now," Lyra said, cutting off the communication. Around her, enemy mechas swarmed like a tide, trying to close her in.

With a powerful leap, she summoned icy spikes that erupted across a hundred meters, impaling the mechas and suspending them mid-air.

Her silver-clad figure became a streak of determination as she pushed forward through the chaos.

But the distance to the spaceport felt endless. The closer she drew, the more enemies appeared to block her path.

It was obvious—someone wanted to stop her from reaching her destination.

Midway, she found herself locked in combat with a high-ranking enemy officer.

Her opticomputer rang urgently.

"Lyra, hurry!" Cohen’s voice broke through, raw with desperation. "Come now!"

A flicker of darkness passed through her eyes before she unleashed an overwhelming wave of psychokinesis.

Within a ten-mile radius, Empire invaders dropped like shattered dolls, their mechas crashing to the ground.

Her silver figure surged forward, leaving trails of green light as she tore through the skies.

The pain from her brain injury grew unbearable, but Lyra bit down on her tongue to stay conscious.

...

At the spaceport, Cohen clutched Thierry’s mangled body, his hands trembling as he shouted, "Hold on! You have to hold on!"

"I did it..." Thierry whispered, his voice barely audible. His eyes scanned the civilians huddled around him.

The lower half of his body was gone, severed at the waist. Blood and exposed organs formed a crimson pool beneath him.

"I protected them," he murmured, his lips curling into a faint smile. His gaze drifted to the sky, growing unfocused. "What a beautiful day. It’s just a shame..."

A shame he wouldn’t see HER one last time.

Suddenly, a streak of green light appeared on the horizon.

Cohen’s eyes, filled with desperation moments ago, now sparked with hope. "Thierry, she’s here! SHE’S HERE!"

But Thierry’s lifeless eyes remained vacant. His wounds showed no sign of healing.

Cohen’s hopeful smile froze, and tears streamed down his bloodshot face. His voice broke. "Thierry... no... no!"

"Open your eyes..."

The boy who had followed Cohen since he could speak was gone.

A silver figure landed softly beside them.

Lyra’s armor receded, revealing a face pale as death.

She knelt down, placing a trembling hand on Thierry’s head.

Activating her healing superpower, she tried once. Then again.

There was no response.

Her lips quivered, but she didn’t cry or speak. Instead, she gently reached out and closed Thierry’s eyes.

...

The situation at the frontlines spiraled into chaos far faster than anyone had anticipated.

The Empire’s massive invasion of the rear lines plunged everything into turmoil.

Thierry had piloted his mecha to shield retreating civilians from a high-energy blast. Because of his sacrifice, not a single civilian was harmed.

Everyone present removed their hats and bowed their heads in mourning—everyone except Lyra.

A rare fury flashed in her usually composed eyes. She glanced around sharply and spoke, her voice cold and commanding. "Where is Conners?"

An officer hesitated before replying, "An adjutant reported his status is currently unknown."

As they spoke, new information arrived: Conners had returned, gravely injured.

Relief spread through the gathered soldiers—everyone except Lyra.

Without a word, she gripped her sword tightly and left the chaos of the spaceport behind, striding purposefully toward the medical department.

Her rage radiated like a storm, causing the superpower particles around her to tremble. The air grew heavy with unease as she passed.

"What’s she going to do?" Phelixes muttered, already following after her.

"Let’s go too!" Members of the Legion of Everglow moved quickly to catch up.

Mandy lingered behind, her eyes fixed on Thierry’s lifeless body. She wiped her tears and turned to leave, but her opticomputer buzzed insistently.

A cold dread washed over her as she checked the message.

Nearby, Cohen continued to clutch Thierry’s body, his empty eyes staring into nothingness.

Kogar saluted Cohen with a somber expression and reminded him coldly, "Rear Admiral Whyte, the Legion of Flaring Stars... needs your command."

There was no time for mourning.

Cohen watched as Thierry’s body was taken away. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to suppress the suffocating grief and climbed back into his mecha, his mind steeling itself for the battles to come.

...

When Lyra arrived at the medical department, her bloodied figure drew startled glances from everyone.

Lynn, injured and leaning against a bed, looked up in relief upon seeing her.

"Perfect timing! Quickly, help treat Admiral Conners!" he said, gesturing toward the man lying on a bed. "He was ambushed by an enemy Supreme."

Before he could finish, Lynn noticed the terrifying energy radiating from Lyra.

In the blink of an eye, her blade was drawn and swung toward Conners.

No one had time to react.

Conners’ eyes flashed with cunning as he rolled off the bed just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"Lyra! You’re attacking an Alliance admiral?" he bellowed, his voice a mix of fury and desperation.

Lyra remained silent, her blade gleaming as it moved through the air with relentless precision.

Her eyes brimmed with murderous intent, sharp and unyielding.

Conners scrambled backward, leaving a bloody trail across the floor as he tried to escape.

"Stop her! Someone stop her!" Conners’ panicked cries jolted the bystanders into action, and they rushed forward to intervene.

But before anyone could move, Lyra planted her foot firmly and unleashed her superpower.

A freezing wave burst outward, halting everyone in their tracks. It was as if the room had been plunged into the heart of winter.

They were frozen solid, unable to move or activate their abilities.

Lynn gathered his strength and shattered the freezing aura with a mighty effort. His hands wove together to seal the space around Lyra.

Lyra froze mid-strike, her blade hovering inches from Conners.

Ignoring his injuries, Conners’ expression twisted into one of malice. He raised a clawed hand to strike at Lyra, but Lynn intercepted him, gripping his wrist tightly.

"What the hell is going on here?" Lynn shouted, his voice filled with both fury and disbelief.

Conners seized the moment. "What else could it be? This traitor is trying to assassinate me. Everyone saw it!"

"Let me go," Lyra growled, her voice low and trembling with rage.

"Arrest her immediately!" Conners demanded, his tone harsh.

Lynn hesitated, looking at Lyra. He couldn’t reconcile the woman he admired with this act. "Explain yourself. Why are you doing this?"

Before Lyra could respond, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Lyra!" Mandy burst into the room, out of breath. Her eyes darted nervously between Lyra, Conners, and the frozen onlookers.

Struggling to steady her voice, Mandy delivered the news.

"Snowfall has fallen," Mandy said, her words trembling. "The Legion Glory... is gone. Completely wiped out."

BOOOOOOM!

A pulse of psychokinetic energy erupted from Lyra, shaking the entire room with its force.

Her body twisted unnaturally as her psychokinesis surged to dangerous levels, cracking her bones audibly.

Lynn’s spatial lock fractured under the sheer force. His eyes widened in shock as Lyra broke free.

With a snap, Lyra lunged forward, her blade poised for Conners like a hawk diving for its prey.

"Stop!" Lynn moved to block her path, but another guy appeared beside Lyra.

A single wave of this person’s hand scattered Lynn’s superpower particles like dust.

"Phelixes! Are you insane?!" Lynn shouted, incredulous. "You’re going to follow her into this madness too?"

Phelixes only smiled calmly. "Do what you need to, sis," he said softly.

Lyra became an unstoppable sword, and Phelixes chose to be her shield.

The very space around them fractured, the ceiling warping under the strain.

Phelixes extended a hand to stabilize the cracks, then crushed them with sheer force. His effort shattered the bones in his hand, sending blood dripping from his mangled fingers.

A faint green glow enveloped his wounds, mending them as quickly as they appeared. Together, Lyra and Phelixes moved with precision, their combined power too overwhelming for Lynn to restrain.

Conners, his face pale with fear, activated his superpower in an attempt to escape. His hands clawed at the air, as if swimming, pulling himself away from Lyra’s relentless strikes.

Just as he reached out, his hands were engulfed in a green light, binding his abilities.

Two swift strikes from Lyra’s blade severed both his hands.

THUD.

Conners’ hands hit the ground with a sickening splatter. Blood sprayed across the floor as he screamed in agony.