Ch. 321..325: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 321-325

Chapter 321: Stellar Devourers Again

Lyra appeared silently in front of Serena, causing her to startle and step back cautiously.

"What do you want?" Serena asked warily, casting a quick glance at Phelixes, whose face remained impassive. "Is this because I helped capture him? Are you here for revenge?"

She braced herself bitterly, thinking it was no less than she deserved. But Lyra’s response surprised her.

"I want to make a deal," Lyra said.

"A deal?" Serena’s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized them. She knew Lyra had fought Jerome and emerged unscathed, a clear testament to her power.

"What kind of deal could someone as powerful as you possibly make with me?" Serena asked skeptically.

Instead of answering, Lyra lightly tapped her finger, and a green glow instantly enveloped the cluttered storage room.

In the adjacent kitchen, Tracy and Lucian, who had been eavesdropping with their ears pressed to the wall, suddenly found themselves unable to hear a single word.

When Lyra explained her purpose, Serena’s expression shifted from confusion to outright disbelief.

"Who ARE you people?" she demanded, her voice tense.

"You don’t have to know," Lyra replied calmly. "What matters is that dealing with me will be worth your while."

Lyra knew the Alliance had star maps, but as a Rear Admiral, she didn’t have clearance to access them, especially given her current circumstances. Getting those maps through official channels was out of the question.

Serena hesitated, visibly torn. Even with her limited understanding, she knew crossing into Alliance territory during wartime was no trivial matter. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare attempt it unless they were smugglers, space pirates, or... Alliance spies.

But Serena also knew this was a rare opportunity—perhaps the only one she’d ever have. Lyra was a level nine, the most powerful person she had ever encountered.

Finally, Serena made up her mind.

"I can get you the star map," she said. "Jerome has them."

Lyra arched a brow but remained silent, waiting for Serena to continue.

"But I want you to kill two people for me," said Serena.

Lyra wasn’t surprised. "Who?"

"Jerome," Serena said, her voice brimming with hatred, "and the man who experiments on orphans from our orphanage."

"Who is the second person? What’s their status and power level?" asked Lyra.

Serena hesitated, frustration darkening her expression. "I don’t know much. But Jerome fears him."

That detail was telling. If Jerome, a level nine, was afraid of this person, their power must surpass his. Even for Lyra, also a level nine, it might be a daunting challenge.

Then Serena’s face brightened with a memory. "I overheard Jerome call him a ’Stellar Devourer.’"

At those words, Lyra and Phelixes’ expressions darkened instantly.

Serena’s heart sank. ’Does this mean even SHE can’t take on him?’

"What do you think?" Phelixes asked cautiously, glancing at Lyra.

Lyra’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Life has a twisted sense of humor."

After drifting through the vastness of space for so long, the first "familiar face" she encountered turned out to be THAT.

Serena, misinterpreting Lyra’s silence as hesitation, quickly added, "If you can kill the Stellar Devourer, I’ll give you the star map starting from this planet!"

She didn’t grasp the true nature of a Stellar Devourer, assuming it was just a nickname for someone with a peculiar superpower involving devouring.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed. "How do you have a chart for this place? There’s no spaceport here."

Interstellar routes were incredibly valuable due to the vast unknown dangers in space. Governments invested immense resources to map safe paths. An uncharted ore planet like this one shouldn’t have any mapped routes leading to it.

Serena bit her lip before responding. "My father left it behind. He combined existing star maps with nearby routes and charted a course himself. He even tested it personally and returned safely."

Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, "He was a well-respected doctor in town. But when Jerome arrived, he forced my father into doing illegal work. My father wanted to take my mother and me to the Alliance to start over, but we were discovered before we could leave."

Her face hardened with suppressed anger. "Jerome had my parents killed, and I ended up in the orphanage. But even there, I couldn’t escape his grasp."

Lyra glanced at Serena and said, "Show me."

Serena’s first instinct was to refuse. She feared Lyra might betray her after seeing the chart.

But as she reconsidered, she realized that if Lyra intended to double-cross her, she could have done so already. There was no need for this pretense of negotiation. Maybe Lyra was someone she could reason with after all.

With that thought, Serena handed over the chart decisively.

Lyra scanned the map, her sharp intuition confirming that the mapped energy fields between planets seemed accurate.

This wasn’t some forgery.

Satisfied, she tucked the interstellar star chart away and turned her attention to Serena, whose anxious expression betrayed her fear of being tricked.

"When is the Stellar Devourer coming?" Lyra asked.

Serena’s eyes lit up. "The day after tomorrow."

She hesitated, shuddering before adding, "Jerome keeps buying children from space pirates. Every month-end, they come here to choose kids and conduct experiments on the spot. I have to go to Jerome’s place and save as many as I can."

Phelixes’ expression grew complicated. "Even if you bring them back, they won’t survive long. Why go to such lengths?"

He still couldn’t understand this young woman, especially after witnessing the humiliation she endured at Jerome’s hands.

"How do you know they won’t survive?" Serena wanted to retort but felt a lump rise in her throat instead. She wiped her eyes, her voice trembling. "My father founded the orphanage. He couldn’t bear to see children suffer. It’s hard to keep it running now, but I can’t abandon his wish."

She sighed deeply, her face far removed from the quack persona she had shown before. "Besides, everyone needs something to fight for in life, so do I. Without it, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself."

It wasn’t pure altruism driving her efforts to save the children. After Jerome’s abuse, she had been on the verge of ending her life. But just as she was about to pull the trigger, she had seen the caged children. In a way, they had saved her, giving her a purpose.

That day, Serena had lowered the gun and resolved to carry on.

Seeing the incomprehension on their faces, she smiled faintly. "If you’d ever looked into those children’s eyes, you’d understand why what I do is worth it."

Lyra made no comment. In her view, saving others was admirable, but sacrificing oneself in the process was a pointless waste.

Once Lyra and Phelixes left, Serena exhaled and steadied herself. But as she stepped outside, she came face to face with Tracy, who stood with one hand on her hip, her long legs planted firmly apart like a human compass.

Serena’s heart sank. She turned to flee, but Tracy grabbed her by the collar.

"Serena," Tracy growled, her tone brimming with menace, "I’ve been good enough to take you in. Don’t you dare repay me by dragging trouble into my inn."

Tracy flicked her cigarette butt into the corner. "If those shady folks you’re dealing with cause me any problems, I’ll raze your orphanage to the ground."

Serena clenched her teeth. She could endure anything—but not that.

"My father used to treat your injuries for free. Is this how you repay him? Repay US?" she shot back, her voice trembling with anger.

Tracy sneered. "That was your father’s kindness. What does it have to do with you?"

Lucian, lounging by the kitchen door, chuckled darkly. "Yeah, if not for your dad, you’d have been beaten to a pulp by now. All you do is brag and hang out with shady scum."

Their taunts chipped away at Serena’s composure until her carefully crafted facade crumbled. She broke free from Tracy’s grip, tears streaming down her face as she yelled, "I’ll deal with you later!"

She needed to save at least one child first.

Tracy brushed the ash from her clothes and looked up, spotting Lyra watching coldly from the second-floor balcony.

Forcing a smile, Tracy gave a polite nod and waved.

...

The next morning, a man in a pristine suit entered the inn.

His formal attire stood in stark contrast to the carefree, mismatched styles of the locals. The rowdy laughter and chatter in the tavern fell silent instantly, leaving the room so quiet that even a pin drop would echo.

"May I ask where Miss Freya is?" the man inquired, his voice calm and authoritative.

 

Chapter 322: The Buyer

Lyra, sipping her milk at the bar, turned her head at the call. A man approached immediately, a fawning grin plastered across his face. "The buyer has arrived. They wanted to see you."

The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on her—a significant figure had come, complete with a Lev.

Yet, despite his attempt at refinement, the man carried himself with the telltale bravado of a pirate. No amount of pretense could conceal his untamed nature.

Once the group departed, Tracy and the others were left with dark expressions. They’d been hoping for an ally capable of opposing Jerome. Instead, it appeared the two had aligned themselves.

...

In the vehicle, Lyra turned to the driver. "Why did the buyer arrive so early?"

The man pondered her question briefly before answering. "The buyer carries weight. They happened to be nearby, so Jerome seized the opportunity to make arrangements."

For someone like Jerome—a level-nine Peculiar firmly rooted on the ore planet—to give such respect, this buyer had to be extraordinary.

"Sis?" Phelixes asked, his single word heavy with unease.

He worried that if this buyer proved hard to handle, it could throw their plans into chaos. Eliminating Jerome was bound to disrupt the buyer’s interests.

Lyra’s voice remained calm. "Let’s wait and see."

From the rearview mirror, the driver stole two quick glances at her. His communicator blinked briefly before he returned his focus to the road.

...

In a high-rise office, Jerome listened to the conversation through his devices, idly fiddling with a facial recognition scanner. Tossing it to his assistant, he said, "Install this on the door."

The person seated across from him chuckled. "Facial recognition, sir? Since when do we care about our collaborators’ identities?"

Jerome’s gaze flicked to the assistant’s long, slender legs, and he swallowed hard. "Chaotic times call for caution," he replied smoothly.

...

When Lyra arrived at the building, she immediately noticed the facial recognition scanner mounted on the doorframe.

Stepping inside, she ignored its beep and walked through, her attention settling on a woman lounging casually on the sofa.

Even with her disguise, Phelixes sensed the subtle change in Lyra’s face. The scanner was promptly removed, and Jerome turned his attention to her.

"Freya," he drawled, "are you a fellow space pirate? Or a spy for the Alliance?"

Lyra’s voice was steady as she lowered herself into a single-seater chair. "Neither stops us from making money, does it?"

Phelixes instinctively moved to stand behind her.

Jerome’s expression became unreadable. If Lyra was just a space pirate, it posed no issue. Even as an Alliance spy, she wouldn’t necessarily interfere with his profits. What truly concerned him was the possibility of hidden motives.

Breaking into a grin, Jerome gestured toward the other woman. "Freya, this is Liliana, the buyer for the level-six energy stone mine."

The red-haired woman wore a short black skirt, ankle boots, and a sleek black coat. Her fiery hair framed her face like flames, and she leaned provocatively on the armrest, her chin resting on her hand as she studied Lyra with sparkling eyes.

"You look familiar, Freya," Liliana remarked.

"Maybe," Lyra replied, her gaze cold as it swept over her.

Liliana chuckled softly. "Hmm, that reaction only makes you seem more familiar."

Lyra said nothing, and Liliana’s laughter grew louder.

Phelixes tensed, wiping his sweaty palms. He vaguely remembered Lyra having crossed paths with Liliana before, though he hadn’t expected their reunion here.

Jerome, ever focused on his profits, interjected quickly. "We’ll head out first thing tomorrow. Freya, could you map a route for the ship’s navigation system?"

Lyra studied him briefly before responding. "Sure."

Taking the tablet Jerome handed her, she opened a drawing app and began sketching the route from memory.

Jerome’s face lit up with excitement as he studied the map Lyra had drawn

His mind raced. Even with a handful of standard metal mines on the ore planet, he’d already amassed a fortune. If he could claim the level-six energy stone mine, his potential wealth would be beyond imagination.

When he glanced up, however, he caught Liliana watching him with a sly, enigmatic smile.

Startled, he quickly slipped the tablet into his Space Button and forced a smile. "Time is tight. I’ll send someone to make preparations immediately. Feel free to relax, both of you."

Outside the room, Jerome signaled one of his subordinates. "Keep a close eye on that woman," he ordered. Lyra’s identity nagged at him, something about her seemed off.

...

Lyra left as well, dismissing Jerome’s offer of a private car. She and Phelixes strolled leisurely back toward their inn.

When they returned to the inn, the air felt off. The usually rowdy lobby was eerily quiet.

At the bar, a striking woman swirled a glass of liquor with an air of seductive confidence.

Liliana sat perched on a high stool, her fiery red hair swept to one side, revealing a pale, elegant neck and a hint of a tantalizing curve. Her legs crossed gracefully, and her gaze sparkled with a dangerous allure, as if she could ensnare someone with just a glance.

Lucian, seated nearby, spilled his drink in shock, frozen in place.

"Back already, Freya?" Liliana’s voice was smooth, her tone dripping with intimacy.

Without acknowledging her, Lyra ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Liliana chuckled, set her glass down, and followed.

Inside the room, Lyra settled onto the couch, her gaze icy as she faced Liliana. "What do you want?" she asked coolly.

Liliana closed the door behind her and leaned against it briefly before approaching. She studied Lyra for a moment, her expression shifting to mock grievance.

Then, pouting, she stepped closer and leaned into Lyra’s arms.

"How hateful," she teased, her tone soft and coquettish. "All this time apart, and you’re still so distant."

Standing in the doorway, Phelixes froze. He had followed to ensure nothing suspicious occurred, but the sight before him left him shocked and bitter.

Lyra didn’t immediately push Liliana away—something she never allowed anyone, even him, to do.

Zinnia, Mandy, Liliana—all seemed to get closer to her, while he was kept at a distance.

Thankfully, Lyra didn’t let the moment linger. She gently but firmly pushed Liliana away. "How did you recognize me?" she asked flatly.

Liliana’s fingers traced a line from Lyra’s temple to her chest. "Even if you turned to dust, I’d recognize you," she murmured with a sly smile.

Her voice softened, almost reverent. "Your eyes... They’re unique. Like constellations in a cold night sky—distant, but breathtakingly deep."

As her hand moved lower, Phelixes clenched his fists, ready to intervene. But Lyra caught Liliana’s wandering hand, her gaze sharp. "Speak. What do you want?"

Liliana sighed dramatically, feigning hurt. "Since the energy stone mine is your discovery, why don’t we partner up? I’m sure HE would agree."

Lyra’s expression remained unchanged. "Your Long Night Gang has plenty of resources. You don’t need this mine."

Liliana’s smile widened, sly and playful. "Oh, I’m not after the stones. I just want to spend more time with you." Her tone grew colder momentarily. "Besides, Jerome clearly doesn’t intend to work with you in good faith."

She raised an eyebrow, her voice mocking. "You’re scheming, aren’t you? Trying to return to the Alliance? I can help. I have the routes."

Lyra’s lips twitched into a faint, inscrutable smile. "I don’t need your help. Want to know why?"

Phelixes, listening nearby, was stunned. Lyra’s words implied she already had a way back to the Alliance but had chosen not to use it.

Seeing Lyra’s calm demeanor, Liliana didn’t press further. Her playful facade slipped into quiet thoughtfulness.

Outside the window, a faint red light blinked from a micro-surveillance device, transmitting every word of their exchange.

In his office, Jerome lounged on a sofa, tugging at the hair of a young woman kneeling beside him. His smile twisted into a sneer. "I knew it. That witch can’t be trusted."

He shoved the woman aside and stood. "If that’s the case, she can’t blame me for what’s coming."

Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room, Serena lay motionless, her body battered and bruised. Her wide eyes filled with terror as a man stepped out of an interdimensional portal, his shadow looming over her trembling form.

 

Chapter 323: Eclipsite

The crimson sunset cast an unsettling glow over the small mining town on the ore planet.

The air was heavy with metallic dust, carrying the sharp tang of rust and pressing down on everyone who breathed it in.

At the center of the settlement loomed the Royce Mining building, the only high-rise in sight.

Inside its expansive office, Jerome, the building’s owner, nervously mopped his brow, his strained smile barely concealing his anxiety.

The room was packed. Two old men and a group of black-haired individuals were locked in a heated discussion.

Around them, men and women with numbered tattoos on their necks crowded the spacious office, which stretched nearly a hundred square meters.

"Are you certain it’s her?" one of the old men asked.

"The resonance doesn’t lie," another responded with assurance.

Jerome’s face was slick with sweat. He had only reported the POSSIBILITY of an Alliance spy in town to the government. He was stunned to see the government had dispatched such a significant contingent of Master Peculiars to investigate.

...

At the town’s lone inn, Tracy paced restlessly near the entrance, throwing anxious glances outside.

"Damn that Serena," she muttered. "Still not back. Don’t tell me she packed up and ran off?" Her sharp gaze shifted to Lyra, who was calmly enjoying her meal.

"Miss Freya," Tracy called, "any idea where Serena went?"

Before Lyra could answer, Phelixes emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of fruit pies. He set one in front of Lyra and offered, "I heard she went to Jerome’s building to pick up a child."

Lyra took her fork, speared a piece of pie, and brought it to her mouth. "Not bad," she remarked after taking a bite. She ate a few more pieces, then pushed the plate aside.

As good as the dessert was, she always preferred to indulge sparingly.

Tracy frowned. "That young woman usually takes the kids to the orphanage and comes back quickly. This isn’t like her."

Hearing this, Lucian set down his wine glass and stroked his thick beard. "I’ll check it out," he said gruffly, standing and heading for the door.

As Lucian disappeared into the distance, Lyra sipped her tea with deliberate calm.

Phelixes had brewed it perfectly, and she savored its delicate aroma.

It wasn’t long before Lucian returned, his face grim. "The gatekeeper said Serena went into Jerome’s building... but she hasn’t come out."

Tracy bit down on her cigarette, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward a man and woman seated at the bar.

The man sipped his coffee silently, while the woman seemed engrossed in watching him, neither showing the slightest reaction to the rising tension.

Lucian, exasperated by their indifference, was about to confront them when Tracy raised a hand to stop him. "Anything else unusual?" she asked, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Lucian hesitated. "Yeah. There were a lot of unfamiliar faces around there today. And parked outside were a bunch of red mechas." His voice dropped as his gaze flickered toward Lyra. "They looked like Imperial Army units."

Even then, Lyra remained expressionless.

At that moment, Liliana descended the stairs, her heels clicking softly against the wooden steps.

She glanced at her opticomputer and announced, "Breaking news—the Empire’s army and the Stellar Devourers are here." Her tone was as casual as if she were commenting on the weather. "They must have used a hyperspace portal to slip in unnoticed."

Leaning against the bar with a sly smile, she addressed Phelixes. "Aren’t you the least bit worried, darling?"

Phelixes calmly gathered the empty tray. "Are you, Miss Liliana?" he countered.

She chuckled lightly. "Not at all. The admiral is a good friend of mine."

At last, Lyra finished the last sip of her tea, placed the cup down, and rose from her seat. "Time to go," she said simply.

"Understood," Phelixes replied, falling into step behind her without hesitation.

Tracy called after them, quickly catching up as they reached the door. "Miss Freya! Do you need to settle your bill? You left more than enough money!"

Lyra paused in the middle of the street and turned her head slightly. "No need," she said softly.

As her words faded, the sky suddenly erupted with a deafening thunderclap.

Purple lightning arced outward from the Royce building, creating a glowing web that enveloped the entire town in a shimmering prison. The air buzzed with a terrifying, oppressive energy.

In the dark alleys, petty criminals turned pale and bolted for the safety of the inn.

From the rooftop of the towering building, mechas and countless shadowy figures burst forth like a swarm of bats, descending upon the town with terrifying speed.

The air seemed to boil as the town’s superpower particles flared up, agitated by their movements.

Tracy stood frozen, staring wide-eyed at the overwhelming wave of energy surging toward them. Fear gripped her heart.

Not far away, Lyra’s lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.

Suddenly, radiant emerald light erupted beneath her feet, propelling her skyward. The glow, vivid as a polished emerald, bathed the town, eclipsing the fading hues of the sunset.

For a moment, it was as if the world held its breath, entranced by the brilliance. From where she lay slumped by the window, Serena’s eyelids fluttered, her gaze widening in awe as the light reflected in her dimming eyes.

Even the Stellar Devourers, observing from a distance, found themselves paralyzed under the glow. Their strength seemed to drain away, and terror crept into their hearts.

Lyra’s power suppresses us so completely.

The experimental superhumans who had nearly reached Lyra erupted with a surge of abilities, unleashing a maelstrom of force aimed to engulf her like an unrelenting tide.

But in the blink of an eye, Phelixes stepped in front of Lyra, his superpower unfurling in full force. It was as if an abyss opened before him, swallowing every attack and reducing them to nothingness.

Lyra leapt into the air, creating icy platforms mid-flight to propel herself higher. Her movements were a blur, her blade flashing with deadly precision.

Corpses and blood rained down as her enemies fell one by one, powerless to stop her.

She had vanished for three years, but her return carried a crushing, unmatched intensity.

On the rooftop, a man with spiked hair frowned deeply. "She must not leave here alive," he growled, his teeth clenched.

"Agreed," another Stellar Devourer said beside him. "If she ascends to Supreme, we’re all doomed."

The two launched their attacks simultaneously, their combined superpowers radiating an energy that marked them as Supreme Peculiars.

Behind them, other Stellar Devourers watched in silence. Though reluctant to admit it, they had no choice but to rely on humanity’s strength to confront their own extinction crisis.

As the oppressive energy surged toward her, Lyra touched the space button on her neck. A shimmering, emerald-hued piece of elastic metal materialized before her.

Though no larger than a soccer ball, its sudden weight distorted the very fabric of space around it.

The two Supremes froze, their faces pale.

"Is that... Schedar?" one claimed.

"No... Schedar was never this dense," the other one answered.

The space seemed unable to contain the object, trembling under its immense gravitational force.

Even their psychokinesis, formidable as it was, recoiled against it, melting away like thin ice against molten lava.

Phelixes smirked as he watched their hesitation. "This is ’Eclipsite,’" he declared with quiet pride. "Lyra spent three years traveling across countless star systems, gathering rare materials and forging it under supernova-level heat. There’s nothing in this universe harder than this."

The Supremes exchanged a glance, then attacked together.

Lyra furrowed her brows as she molded the Eclipsite into a long blade.

With a single powerful swing, the sword’s edge sliced through the space itself, splitting the surrounding air and disintegrating the incoming lightning and fire.

The spatial tear rippled outward, and for a moment, the battlefield seemed frozen in stunned silence.

The two Supremes’ expressions twisted in alarm.

"Where is she?!" one of them shouted, panic creeping into his voice as they lost sight of her.

Before they could react, a sudden disturbance in the superpower particles behind them forced them to whirl around, readying their defenses.

But Lyra was faster. Her blade tore through their lightning barrier, cleaving into one of them with deadly precision.

Blood spattered the air as the Peculiar let out a choked cry, his left side nearly severed.

Lyra didn’t hesitate. She planted her foot on the ground, pivoted sharply, and hurled her blade with all her might.

The second Supreme, attempting to flee, turned and roared in desperation.

He conjured a fireball the size of a house, its searing heat melting the town’s structures and reducing unlucky bystanders to ash.

The ground turned to molten lava, and the air shimmered under the infernal blaze.

But the green-glowing blade pierced through the fireball with ease, its trajectory unyielding. It struck him square in the chest, drilling through his heart.

The Supreme collapsed, his body limp as the fireball extinguished.

Lyra retrieved the remaining Eclipsite, draping it over herself like armor. The residual heat from the fireball surged toward her, but she stood unmoving, unscathed by the inferno’s wrath.

The battlefield fell silent, the once-roaring tide of enemies now reduced to mere echoes of their failed assault.

 

Chapter 324: The Imperial Admiral

After Lyra grievously wounded two Supremes in quick succession, panic rippled through the Stellar Devourers.

They scrambled to flee but found themselves unable to open any interdimensional channels.

With her blade pressed against one of their throats, Lyra’s voice was glacial. "Tell me—how did you know I was here?"

Even if Jerome knew she was someone else, he shouldn’t have been able to identify her. Certainly not as Lyra Shedd.

The Stellar Devourer clenched his jaw, refusing to answer.

Without hesitation, Lyra beheaded him in a single, fluid motion. The rest, paralyzed by fear, provided no useful information.

In the shadows, a man observed Lyra’s cold efficiency, his eyes glinting with interest as she dispatched her enemies.

Meanwhile, Jerome cowered in his office, drenched in sweat.

When Lyra perched on the window frame, he panicked and attacked first. She dodged effortlessly, leaping nimbly across the room before landing lightly on the coffee table.

Her expression hardened further as she swung her blade.

The slash was so sharp it sliced through the air with a wild, piercing sound.

First, the painting on the wall split cleanly in two, falling with a muted thud. Then, the entire building groaned ominously. The upper half of the tower—a local landmark—sheared off entirely and collapsed.

Amid the screams of those trapped inside, it crashed to the ground, raising a thick cloud of dust that engulfed the small town.

Under the moonlight, the cut gleamed like polished glass, smooth and reflective.

The sight left the town’s survivors in stunned silence.

Jerome froze, too terrified to move.

Serena, however, who had witnessed the destruction from close range, shakily pushed herself to her feet. Moonlight illuminated her trembling form.

"It’s you," she cried out. "It has to be you! My father told me about you—Lyra Shedd!"

She fell to her knees, desperation plain on her face. "Please! Save the children!"

Her father had once spoken of someone in the Alliance—a healer with extraordinary abilities—who might be able to treat the afflicted children.

After Lyra’s name became renowned in the war, Serena had investigated and discovered her healing techniques were unparalleled.

"I’ll do anything you want! Just please, help them!" Serena pleaded.

Lyra stood silent, her gaze fixed on Serena’s pleading face.

Before she could respond, the sounds of battle erupted below. The townspeople were rising up in rebellion.

Tracy burst in, lugging a small cannon, and kicked down what was left of the door. "Serena!"

Lucian and the others rushed in behind her. When they saw Serena bloodied and battered, fury consumed them.

Lucian charged at Jerome. "You monster! I’ll kill you!"

Jerome, already rattled by Lyra’s presence, was blindsided by the sudden defiance of those he had long oppressed. Snarling, he prepared to unleash his full strength. But before he could act, Lyra’s blade flashed.

In an instant, his hands—blackened and unnatural—were severed. A wave of icy frost spread from the wound, freezing him in place.

Lucian roared and brought his axe down on Jerome’s skull, cleaving it in two with the force of years of pent-up rage. To Lucian, it felt like toppling a hated monument.

Moments later, Phelixes arrived. "Sis, it’s time to go."

Lyra nodded and secured a space flyer.

"Rear Admiral Shedd! Wait!" A man equipped with a jetpack flew toward them. "Please, take me with you!"

Phelixes raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"

The man saluted sharply. "I’m Scarvoci of the Legion of Flaring Stars, D19 Division, Ma’am. I’ve just completed a covert operation!"

Lyra faintly remembered him—he’d served under Cohen’s command. It wasn’t hard to deduce that Imperial forces had been pursuing him.

She returned the salute briskly. "Come."

The three of them boarded the flyer.

"Rear Admiral Shedd!" Serena screamed desperately as the flyer began to ascend. She clung to the remnants of a wall, still warm from the blast. "Please, save the children! Our nations are against each other, but the children are innocent!"

The flyer vanished into the night sky.

Serena crumpled to the ground, her strength drained. "If I’d known she was Lyra, I would’ve offered something else..."

Even in her despair, she felt no hatred toward Lyra. After all, Lyra owed them nothing.

Under the moonlight, a faint green glow lingered in the air, stubbornly refusing to dissipate.

Tracy’s opticomputer buzzed with an incoming message. She opened it and let out a relieved sigh as she scanned the update about the children’s rescue. "Serena, let’s head down. The kids have been saved."

Serena, still dazed, looked up at Tracy, who stood smiling warmly alongside Lucian and the others.

Confused, Serena asked, "Why are you helping me?"

As far as she remembered, they couldn’t stand her.

Tracy stepped closer, grinning, and slapped Serena on the shoulder. "You idiot. Do you really think your orphanage would’ve lasted this long if we didn’t have your back?"

The discounted food, the cheap rent—it had all been their way of showing support. They had warned her countless times not to get too entangled with Jerome, but because she was marked by him, there had been limits to what they could do.

Lucian chuckled. "If we really hated you, do you think we’d have paid extra to use that busted treatment device of yours?"

"Thank you..." Serena’s lips trembled as she tried to smile, but the wave of emotions overwhelmed her.

The sight of her struggling to hold back tears visibly moved the group, their eyes glistening in the green-tinged light.

Tracy smacked her shoulder again, this time with more impatience. "Go back and thank us properly."

The slap startled Serena out of her melancholy. "Tracy! I’m still injured!"

Tracy paused, her expression shifting to shock as she carefully looked Serena over. "Wait... your injuries... they’re gone!"

The group glanced at each other, slowly realizing that their own wounds from the earlier fight had mysteriously healed as well.

Serena’s eyes sparkled with sudden hope. "I need to check on the kids!"

With the elevator destroyed, she hopped onto a hoverboard and sped down to the square outside the ruined building.

The rescued children, ranging in age from ten to just three, were gathered there, their small forms illuminated by the eerie green glow.

As Serena approached, they ran to her with open arms.

"Serena!"

"Are we really safe now?"

"My body doesn’t hurt anymore!"

Serena, a skilled healer and doctor, quickly examined each child. To her amazement, they were all completely healthy.

Tears of joy streamed down her face as she knelt among them.

Turning toward the sky, where Lyra had disappeared, Serena shouted with all the gratitude her heart could muster, "Thank you!"

Afterward, the group escorted the children back to the orphanage, determined to begin rebuilding their shattered town.

It wasn’t until the group returned that the green glow in the sky finally began to fade.

Suddenly, an enormous interdimensional portal tore open in the heavens, gaping like the maw of a colossal beast.

From its depths emerged a man in a dark military uniform, his long silver hair shimmering under the faint moonlight.

"Where are they?" His icy blue eyes scanned the gathered townsfolk.

Everyone shuddered in unison. This was Iskandor, the Empire’s Fleet Admiral.

Summoning her courage, Tracy stepped forward. "They... ran."

Thankfully, Iskandor said no more. With a single wave of his hand, he led his forces in pursuit.

...

Meanwhile, Lyra, Phelixes, and Scarvoci had reached the edge of space. Their space flyer strained under the load after they replaced its energy core with high-purity energy stones, propelling it to maximum speed.

Lyra sat in the co-pilot seat, her eyes shut, until they suddenly snapped open. She turned to Scarvoci. "No matter what happens, keep your hands on the controls."

"Yes, ma’am!" Scarvoci replied, stealing a glance at Lyra as she stood up, now dressed in a sleek light mecha and armed with a superpowered-enhanced rifle.

Her composed demeanor settled his nerves. Lyra was a legend. If she couldn’t lead them to safety, there was no hope left.

In that case, Scarvoci thought grimly, he’d rather die fighting.

Lyra stepped onto the flyer’s upper platform, leaving the craft below. She stood tall against the infinite darkness of space, a solitary figure defying the void.

All around them, countless interdimensional portals opened like a constellation of ominous, unblinking eyes fixed on their vessel.

Lyra swiftly deployed light shields, intercepting one portal after another.

Each time she neutralized a threat, more portals appeared. Suddenly, one of her shields shattered.

From the ruptured portal stepped a silver-haired man. Lyra’s sharp brows furrowed at the sight of him. His entire being radiated a density of superpower particles unlike anything she had ever encountered among the Supremes.

This was Iskandor, the Empire’s Fleet Admiral. His unparalleled ability, "the Absolute," made him a terrifying force.

Though the vacuum of space swallowed all sound, two words echoed unmistakably in the minds of everyone present: "Stop now."

Instantly, both Scarvoci and Phelixes froze, their bodies locked in place, unable to move a single muscle.

 

Chapter 325: Seeing Cohen Again

Iskandor, clad in sleek light mecha, wasted no time after immobilizing Scarvoci and Phelixes. To Lyra’s surprise, the Empire’s admiral launched a personal assault, charging at her with staggering speed.

Through his transparent visor, she locked eyes with his piercing blue gaze, cold and calculating.

Lyra’s brows furrowed as she steadied herself.

The superpower "the Absolute" was an unparalleled mind-control ability. While Lyra could resist it to some degree, it remained a formidable obstacle.

Gripping her weapon, Eclipsite, Lyra left the flyer to meet Iskandor head-on, knowing she needed to end this quickly.

A storm of light particles coalesced around her, streaking toward Iskandor like a swarm of glimmering needles.

But with a simple flick of his finger, he uttered a single word:

"Disperse."

Instantly, the particles vanished.

Lyra grit her teeth. Superpowers alone wouldn’t be enough against him.

Without hesitation, she conjured thousands of light shields that spread across the void, forming a dazzling path.

In the weightless expanse of space, she dashed across the shields with incredible speed, weaving through the void like a streak of light.

She closed in on Iskandor’s flank, Eclipsite poised to strike. But just as her blade was about to land, his voice reverberated in her mind:

"Stop."

Her body froze for a split second—just long enough for Iskandor to deliver a devastating kick to her abdomen.

The impact sent her careening backward, crashing into a nearby asteroid with bone-rattling force.

Lyra coughed as pain radiated through her torso. She quickly formed a light shield behind her to stop her momentum, her insides aching as if her organs had been shaken loose.

But even as the pain gnawed at her, her eyes remained steady and resolved.

She remembered now: Iskandor was the second survivor of the same experiments she had endured.

Ian had once told her that, among their batch of test subjects, Iskandor’s superpower readings had been closest to hers. His abilities were refined, precise, and terrifyingly efficient. No wonder he was so powerful.

In the distance, an Imperial fleet approached.

"Why is Admiral Iskandor engaging directly?" a pilot asked, glancing nervously at the vice commander on the operations deck. "We can’t fire the high-energy cannons with him out there—we might hit him."

...

Back in the fray, Lyra steadied her breathing, forcing herself to remain calm. The closer she got to Iskandor, the stronger his influence became, and he was undeniably a Supreme-level combatant.

Realizing her options were limited, she hurled Eclipsite with all her strength. As expected, Iskandor’s psychokinesis immediately latched onto the weapon, attempting to seize control of the elastic metal.

The battle of wills that followed was fierce, like an unyielding mountain standing against a relentless storm. Iskandor strained to claim the weapon, but Lyra refused to give ground.

Through sheer focus, her psychokinetic power surged into Eclipsite. The weapon trembled in midair before shattering into thousands of radiant fragments that flew toward Iskandor like a cascade of falling stars.

"Redirect," he commanded, his voice calm.

Yet the fragments didn’t veer off course.

For the first time, Iskandor’s expression shifted—subtle, but unmistakably surprised. The shards were beyond his control.

Dark energy surrounded him, the manifestation of his superpower—a black hole capable of consuming all matter. But before it could envelop him completely, the first shards struck, piercing his body.

The sound of cracking bones echoed faintly in the vacuum.

Pain briefly broke Iskandor’s concentration, creating the opportunity Lyra needed. With a powerful kick, she launched the flyer out of his immediate range.

Scarvoci, regaining control, gripped the controls tightly and adjusted their trajectory.

As Imperial forces scrambled to tend to Iskandor’s injuries, Lyra retracted Eclipsite, the fragments reforming seamlessly, and dashed back to the flyer.

...

The escape was far from over. Swarms of Stellar Devourers poured out of black holes that appeared around them, relentless in their pursuit.

"Sis, are you okay?" Phelixes called out anxiously.

"I’m fine," Lyra replied, a faint green glow enveloping her body. Within moments, her injuries healed completely.

Scarvoci glanced nervously at her calm expression. "Rear Admiral Shedd, I’ve used a specialized communicator to call for reinforcements. Please, just hold out a little longer!"

Lyra’s tone was steady, almost indifferent. "Understood."

Scarvoci stole a glance at Lyra as she strapped on her light mecha and adjusted her oxygen apparatus.

Without hesitation, she climbed to the top of the flyer, ready to face yet another grueling battle.

Their pursuers were relentless—other experiment survivors like Scarvoci himself, their identification numbers burned into the skin of their necks.

Stripped of humanity and brainwashed into mindless servitude, these test subjects charged forward without fear or hesitation.

Lyra met them head-on.

With her left hand, she froze their blood, crystallizing it into deadly shards that tore through their ranks.

With her right, she unleashed vibrant green healing energy, a river of life that simultaneously fueled her allies.

All the while, her psychokinesis manipulated Eclipsite, constantly reshaping the elastic metal into barriers, blades, and projectiles to shield the flyer and strike down attackers.

She was a one-woman fortress, an unyielding wall against the torrent of foes. Even when her superpower reserves waned, she transitioned seamlessly to melee combat, wielding her blade with lethal precision.

Inside the flyer, Phelixes fought to keep their vessel intact, deflecting blasts with his diminished powers.

He cursed his own weakness, knowing he lacked the strength to offer more substantial aid. Still, he refused to stop, gritting his teeth as he defended their only sanctuary.

Outside, Lyra was unstoppable. She carved through wave after wave of enemies, leaving a grisly spectacle in her wake.

Blood and debris drifted weightlessly in the void, forming what seemed like a river of the underworld, a silent battlefield adorned with the blossoms of death.

Her movements were ceaseless, commanding the superpower particles around her as though she controlled the cosmos itself. But even the strongest warrior has limits.

The number of enemies continued to swell, and exhaustion began to creep in.

Lyra’s body trembled, her breathing grew ragged, and her glowing crimson eyes burned with fury and desperation. Her strikes slowed, and the weight of fatigue became inescapable.

Then, the communicator crackled to life.

"Lieutenant Scarvoci, please report your position. Repeat, report your position..."

Scarvoci’s hands shook with relief. He nearly crushed the communicator as he replied. "Sir, we’ll transmit our coordinates immediately! We have three aboard requiring extraction!"

In the command center of the incoming fleet, a pilot sprang to attention. "Sir, we’ve received Lieutenant Scarvoci’s transmission!"

At the center of the room, Vice Admiral Cohen Whyte turned sharply from the operations console. His stern expression softened into a grin. "All units, full speed ahead! Prepare for extraction!"

As the crew scrambled into action, the pilot hesitated. "Vice Admiral, Scarvoci mentioned... three individuals."

Cohen frowned. "Three?" He paused, then nodded firmly. "Prepare three docking tracks."

...

The situation for Lyra’s group had grown increasingly dire. Her relentless fighting was pushing her to her limits. Her limbs ached, her breaths were shallow, and yet she cut down another Peculiar as it charged recklessly at her.

"How much longer for the support fleet?" Phelixes shouted, deflecting an incoming energy blast with what little strength he had left.

Scarvoci’s face dripped with sweat as he scanned the display, his voice strained. "Almost there!" Then, a signal lit up on the navigation map. His voice rose with excitement. "They’re here!"

Ahead, the fleet surged into view.

A voice came over the communicator. "Lieutenant Scarvoci, proceed with your mecha to the recovery bay."

"Yes, sir!" Scarvoci replied immediately. Turning to Lyra and Phelixes, he called, "Are your mechas operational? The flagship’s recovery bay is open!"

"Go," Lyra commanded through gritted teeth, summoning the last dregs of her strength.

A blinding green light erupted from her body, flooding the surrounding space with brilliance. The sheer intensity of the light stunned their enemies, halting their advance.

...

Aboard the flagship, Vice Admiral Cohen’s breath caught as the radiant green light illuminated the monitors. His eyes widened in recognition, his heart pounding.

"Could it be...?" he whispered. Without waiting for confirmation, he bolted from the command deck, his urgency overriding protocol. Soldiers saluted as he passed, but he ignored them, sprinting toward the recovery bay.

The elevator ride was agonizingly slow. When the doors finally opened, Cohen froze, his gaze locking on the figure emerging from the light mecha.

Lyra stepped out, her movements slow and deliberate. Her long hair, tangled and damp with sweat, clung to her face and legs.

Though she swayed slightly, every step radiated an unbroken will. She was a vision of survival, scarred by battle but unyielding.

Cohen’s legs refused to move. His chest tightened as he stared at her, his lips trembling as he whispered, almost inaudibly, "It’s really... you."