Ch. 341..345: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 341-345
Chapter 341: Domestic Chaos
As refugees from other planets continued to pour into Elden Prime, the population soared while resources became increasingly scarce.
The government was stretched to its limits, struggling to contain the growing chaos.
Leona had been working relentlessly since the crisis began, pushing herself to the brink of collapse.
After signing off on yet another stack of documents, she buried her head in her hands, trying to will her mind into clarity. Her brief respite was cut short by a knock at the door.
"What now?" Leona rasped, her voice raw, as if worn down by endless shouting.
Her secretary entered, exhaustion etched into her face. "The Director of Planet Nagano’s Treasury is demanding authorization to restore Nagano’s banking system."
Leona didn’t lift her head, but her mind churned. "Absolutely not," she replied firmly. "Nagano was the second-largest economy. If its banking system is fully restored, Elden Prime will plunge into anarchy."
The delicate balance of order was already slipping through her fingers.
Her secretary’s phone buzzed. After a brief exchange, the color drained from her face. "But, the Treasury of Planet Nagano has already restored its banking system without authorization. Its residents are raiding supermarkets for food and water!"
Leona shot to her feet, only to sway as the room spun around her. "Outrageous!"
Nagano’s actions had set a dangerous precedent. Other planets quickly followed, prioritizing their own survival and shredding the fragile order holding Elden Prime together.
Defeated, Leona sank back into her chair, her face a mask of resignation. She waved a hand dismissively. "Let them do as they please."
Her voice was hollow, devoid of fight. The situation was spiraling beyond her control.
Her secretary, close to panic, pressed her. "But what about the other residents? What are they supposed to do?"
She was painfully aware of the stakes—her own family’s pantry was nearly empty, and supermarkets had been stripped bare.
Wartime restrictions prevented travel to neighboring regions for supplies.
Bang!
Leona slammed her hand on the desk, frustration darkening her features. "And what do you expect me to do?!"
But as the gravity of the crisis settled over her, she forced herself to steady. Taking a deep breath, she gave her next command. "Contact Admiral Frederick."
...
When Frederick received the briefing, his brow furrowed deeply. His sharp gaze swept the meeting hall, pausing on the other military leaders.
Many avoided his eyes, their guilt evident—they had played roles in the growing disorder.
Frederick’s voice was cold and uncompromising as he issued his orders. "Rear Admiral Cohen Whyte, deploy troops to suppress the supply raids. Assist the judiciary in arresting government officials and military personnel who defied orders and acted without authorization."
Even as the Alliance faced an existential crisis, selfishness and greed persisted. Frederick couldn’t help but wonder grimly if the Alliance was truly beyond saving.
At that moment, he realized there was no one left he could fully trust except his son, Cohen.
...
Meanwhile, Lyra and her Legion of Everglow soldiers were making their way to the aerospace port when they encountered Cohen. His unit had apprehended a large group of instigators, including members of the extended Whyte family.
Cohen’s troops were loading the offenders into transport vehicles. Despite the turmoil in the streets—flames of discord fanned by those far from the front lines—Cohen approached Lyra.
He seemed to expect her to say something, but her expression remained impassive. Instead, Zinnia, standing beside her, let out a bitter laugh.
"Looking at these people," Zinnia said, her voice laced with disdain, "it’s clear that Thierry and the soldiers of Legion Glory died for nothing."
Her words were heavy with anger and grief. Zinnia had lost loved ones defending the nation, only to see the chaos perpetuated by those who thrived in its shadow.
Cohen glanced at the disordered streets before turning back to Zinnia and Lyra. His voice was calm but tinged with exhaustion. "Protecting people like this may feel meaningless, but there are still countless lives waiting for us to save them."
These people needed more than just protection. They needed hope, homes, and leaders who could navigate them through the storm to a safer future.
Zinnia offered a faint, weary smile. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t even save herself.
With the prisoners secured, Cohen prepared to leave. As they passed each other, Lyra’s calm voice reached him.
"I told you back then—the Alliance has rotted to its core."
Cohen stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn to face her. "It’s true. But I’ll carry Thierry’s wish forward. I’ll water this dying tree and help it bloom again."
"Then give it everything you’ve got," Lyra said simply.
Cohen turned, his gaze following her retreating figure. Sadness flickered briefly in his eyes before he resumed his own path. The street stretched endlessly ahead, their paths diverging—one heading to the aerospace port to face external threats, the other to the Alliance Military Council building to confront internal decay.
A nagging premonition stirred in Cohen’s mind. Something was coming.
...
When Cohen arrived at the Military Council building, he encountered Chuck, who was hurrying back, drenched in sweat.
"Got any water? I’m dying here," Chuck panted.
Cohen produced a water bottle from his Space Button. Chuck grabbed it eagerly, drinking deeply before exhaling in relief.
"Where were you?" Cohen asked, his tone cool.
Chuck shot him a sidelong glance. "Looking for that mechanic Lyra keeps under her wing. Checked everywhere—no luck." After a pause, he added, "Based on what you know of her, where would she hide him?"
Cohen’s expression didn’t waver as he replied, "If I know her, she wouldn’t let you find him. And forget the schematics—you won’t get those either."
Chuck tossed the empty bottle back to Cohen, irritation flickering across his face. "Fine. That’s what I’ll report to your father."
It wasn’t hard to see why Lyra refused to cooperate. If the Alliance got their hands on her weapons, they’d betray her the moment she was no longer useful. Lyra wasn’t about to hand them the blade they’d use to cut her down.
Frankly, Chuck thought, it was surprising enough that she hadn’t disappeared entirely.
...
When Chuck reported to Frederick, he kept it concise. "No trace."
Frederick didn’t seem surprised. "I’ve made alternative arrangements."
Chuck hesitated, tempted to ask what those arrangements were, but stopped when he noticed the exhaustion in Frederick’s face.
Instead, he shifted the conversation. "I heard the Legion of Everglow is heading into space to intercept. Should we send reinforcements?"
"It won’t make a difference," Frederick said flatly. "Coordinate with the ground forces for defense."
Chuck frowned, puzzled. Even if the other corps weren’t equipped for combat, they could still offer medical or strategic support. ’Why is Frederick keeping Lyra’s unit isolated?’
...
Above Elden Prime, Lyra and the Legion of Everglow had already breached the planet’s atmosphere.
Solar storms flared intermittently, remnants of the Stellar Devourer’s activity. The energy disruptions made communications erratic and unreliable.
Lyra sat in the cockpit’s commander chair, leaning slightly to one side with her head resting on her hand.
"Looks like we’ll be on our own," Mandy said quietly from her station beside Lyra.
Lyra’s gaze remained fixed on the dark expanse of space ahead. "Isn’t that how it’s always been?"
Mandy chuckled faintly. "It is."
"Let’s hope Admiral Sparks and the rest don’t let me down," Lyra muttered, her tone sharp with disdain.
Moments later, their satellites pinpointed the location of the Stellar Devourer.
The creatures moved as a swarm, devouring celestial bodies and stripping them of their energy, leaving destruction in their wake.
Further out, Phelixes—enshrouded in a massive black hole—was advancing steadily. His passage consumed everything, leaving behind only empty voids.
Lyra rose from her chair, grabbing the intercom as she strode toward the launch bay. Her voice rang with command and clarity. "Prepare for engagement. Mecha unit, follow me. Fighter squadrons, flank from both sides. Keep the ships at a safe distance to protect the snipers."
By the time she finished speaking, she was already in the launch bay, pulling on her light mecha suit. Her expression was set, her movements practiced. Battle was imminent.
Chapter 342: Everglow’s Failure
As Stellar Devourers absorbed more planetary energy, their power grew at an alarming rate.
When Westros had first crossed over from the Empire, he had barely managed to evade Lyra’s relentless blade.
But now, after consuming energy across much of the Alliance’s stars, he found himself capable of something he had never dared to imagine—standing against her.
Yet, when Lyra’s strike shattered his armor with a single blow, the disbelief on his face was undeniable.
"Impossible!" he gasped, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and dread.
Asteroid debris, flung through the void by the gravitational pull of a nearby black hole, struck his body.
Despite their immense size, the fragments disintegrated on contact, sucked into nothingness.
The surreal spectacle confirmed the truth: Westros had grown stronger. But even with his newfound power, he remained no match for Lyra.
The realization hit him hard—only the Phelixes might have a chance.
The thought stirred a storm of emotions within him, his frustration manifesting as his armor unraveled and expanded into the surrounding void.
In mere moments, it morphed into a massive black hole that loomed menacingly over the battlefield.
The radiant energy shields designed to suppress the Stellar Devourer’s influence shattered instantly.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of starfighters and mechas were dragged into the abyss, obliterated without a trace.
Lyra acted immediately, her voice cutting through the chaos with sharp authority. "Retreat!"
Her superpower surged, forming emerald barriers to halt the black hole’s relentless expansion.
Soldiers scrambled back to their ships, amplifying their weapons to full power to expedite their escape.
The fleet moved swiftly, keeping a safe distance from the singularity’s pull.
Despite her efforts, the screams of soldiers lagging behind filled the comms.
Those who hadn’t even touched the black hole began to emit strange lights from their bodies.
The lights solidified into Crystal Cores, their ominous origins all too familiar.
Lyra’s eyes narrowed.
Crystal Cores—the essence of a Peculiar’s superpower—were being forcibly extracted.
Westros laughed coldly, triumph gleaming in his expression. "Impressive, isn’t it? Just finished perfecting this beauty."
Hovering beside him was a massive machine, nearly ten meters tall, glowing with a sinister light.
It was crude in design, with a singular purpose: to rip Crystal Cores from Peculiars on a massive scale.
Unlike its smaller prototypes, this device worked with ruthless efficiency, completing the extraction in mere seconds.
To combat the Alliance’s defenses, spearheaded by someone as formidable as Lyra, Westros had pushed his subordinates to perfect this monstrous creation.
With a mere flick of his power, the machine tore even more superpowers from Lyra’s soldiers.
Their anguished cries echoed as their essence was stolen, feeding the insatiable black hole.
Lyra’s gaze locked onto the abomination. Without hesitation, she issued a firm command.
"Retreat!"
Westros smirked, retreating into the black hole with the device, its menacing glow swallowed by the swirling darkness.
His voice echoed from within, dripping with mockery. "I may not be able to defeat you, Lyra, but your soldiers? They’re mine."
Lyra’s expression darkened as she encased her soldiers in emerald light armor, shielding them as best she could.
Yet even with her protection, nearly three thousand lives were lost.
The extraction process was merciless—bodies convulsed until their heads exploded, scattering blood and fragments into the void, only for the remnants to vanish into the black hole’s depths.
As she watched her comrades fall one by one, Lyra clenched her fists, her lips a grim line.
The black hole loomed behind them, an unstoppable force capable of devouring entire star systems, spreading its devastation without end.
She was just one person.
Facing Westros, the black hole, and his monstrous machine, even Lyra couldn’t afford recklessness. Her priority was the survival of the tens of thousands of soldiers under her command—a task that would drain her strength to its limit.
...
Later, in the stillness that followed, Mandy approached Lyra, who sat silently in deep thought.
"The troops in the medical bay are asking to see you," Mandy said gently.
Even after forming the Legion of Everglow, Lyra bore the crushing weight of isolation. To her people, she was their protector, their guide.
Every decision she made carried the weight of countless lives, with the smallest misstep leading to catastrophic consequences.
Mandy hesitated before adding, "Helion is there too."
At the mention of his name, a flicker passed through Lyra’s eyes. After a long pause, she stood and adjusted her emerald cloak.
"Let’s go."
When Lyra entered the bustling medical hall, the room, previously filled with chaos and noise, fell silent for a moment.
All eyes turned toward her, brimming with hope and desperation.
"Can she help us regain our superpowers?"
"She’s here! Our powers will return now, won’t they?"
The voices rose in a cacophony, overlapping with anxious urgency.
Suddenly, Helion slammed a medical kit onto the floor, the crash cutting through the clamor.
"Quiet!" he barked, his tone harsher than usual.
Though his external wounds had healed, the lighthearted smirk he was known for was gone, replaced by a dark, brooding expression.
Fixing his intense gaze on Lyra, he demanded, "Ma’am, be honest with us—can we ever get our superpowers back?"
The absence of his Crystal Core left him feeling hollow, vulnerable in a way he had never known.
Lyra didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said, "Once, I too had my power of freezing taken from me."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The soldiers stared at her in disbelief until the realization set in: if her powers had returned, perhaps theirs could too.
But Helion wasn’t easily swayed. His voice was low, deliberate. "How long did it take?"
"Fifteen years."
The words fell like thunder, plunging the room into stunned silence.
Fifteen years.
Helion’s face turned pale. "You have a unique healing superpower. We don’t."
His observation struck a nerve. Even Lyra couldn’t confirm whether her recovery was due to natural regeneration or her unique abilities.
Nearby, a once-proud level-seven Peculiar sank into a chair, his voice trembling. "My superpower... it’s gone."
The quiet admission seemed to trigger an avalanche of despair, spreading rapidly through the hall.
Some soldiers shouted in anger, while others wept openly. Many cast accusatory glances at Lyra, their leader.
"Why did we have to face the Stellar Devourer? Even Admiral Frederick is hiding on Elden Prime, safe and sound!"
"If they wanted new weapons, they should’ve sent them instead of us! Why were we sacrificed?"
Tension boiled over as several soldiers began to surge toward her.
Zinnia stepped forward, blocking their path. "We are soldiers. We knew sacrifices were part of the job the moment we signed up! And you’re alive—that’s more than some can say!"
Her words carried weight, but they didn’t dissolve the bitterness in the room.
Helion turned back to Lyra, his gaze a mixture of anger, resignation, and lingering loyalty.
Deep down, he suspected she had a larger plan—a grand vision that excluded him.
He had once abandoned his promising career with the Rose, telling himself it was because he despised the Empire’s corruption. But in truth, he had done it for HER.
Time and again, Helion had placed himself on the front lines for Lyra’s sake.
Now, it all felt meaningless. Without their superpowers, he and the others would inevitably face discharge.
Clenching his fists, Helion’s voice quivered with frustration. "You..."
Before he could continue, a cascade of radiant green light descended. It shimmered like falling crystals, dense and vibrant.
Lyra had pushed her superpower to its very limits. Her pale face betrayed the toll it had taken. "This is all I can do for you," she said softly.
Straightening her posture, she added with quiet determination, "After today, you will each proceed with medical discharges. Alongside the government’s compensation, you may draw from Everglow’s relief fund. It will provide sufficient annual support and cover all medical expenses."
The fund had been established to assist the families of fallen soldiers and was the best she could offer under the circumstances.
The restrained anguish in Lyra’s dark eyes made even Helion avert his gaze in reluctant defeat.
No one could have imagined that Lyra—the symbol of resistance against the Stellar Devourers—would face such a devastating loss.
Elsewhere, in the Alliance’s Military Council, the reactions were far less empathetic.
Some sneered openly. "Ha! She always acted untouchable, like she could wipe out the Stellar Devourer with a flick of her wrist. And now? Look at her, crawling back with her tail between her legs."
Even Ronin, ever the smug observer, leaned back in his chair with a satisfied grin. "Ah, young people... they always need a harsh lesson or two before they learn."
Chapter 343: Legion of the Long Night
Valeria scanned the room sharply, her grim expression silencing the murmurs of dissent. "This isn’t the time to kick someone while they’re down. If even Lyra can’t handle the Stellar Devourer, what do you think we’re going to do?"
Her pointed words cut through the tension, leaving an uneasy quiet in their wake.
Leandro nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Rear Admiral Shedd’s fleet was only caught off guard this time. In the end, we’ll still need her."
Ronin sneered, his disdain unmistakable. "Rely on her? Don’t make me laugh. The fact remains—she lost."
Bitterness edged her tone, the sting of his own disappointments fueling her derision. Secretly, she had hoped Lyra wouldn’t survive her mission.
Despite the divided opinions, an undercurrent of anxiety united them. The looming threat of the Stellar Devourer hung over the room like a storm cloud, leaving even the skeptics unsure of their next move.
Frederick stepped forward, his calm, authoritative voice breaking the uneasy silence. "I’ve already devised a countermeasure. If you’ll allow me to explain..."
As Frederick laid out his plan, the council members leaned in, their expressions shifting from skepticism to wide-eyed astonishment.
Valeria and Leandro exchanged glances, the magnitude of his strategy leaving them speechless.
"For now, this plan must remain confidential," Frederick concluded. "When the Empire’s admiral arrives, we will formally launch an offensive against the Stellar Devourer."
While the Alliance Military Council pressed ahead with their preparations, Lyra remained at the base, leading the battered remnants of the Legion of Everglow.
Though the soldiers followed her orders without hesitation, their lingering fear of the Stellar Devourer’s superpower-extracting machine fed quiet grumblings of discontent.
In the dim light of the command room, Lyra and Mandy were reviewing the battle’s aftermath.
"How much did we lose?" Lyra asked in a subdued tone.
Mandy consulted her datapad. "In space, 635 starfighters destroyed, 1,248 damaged. On the ground, two intercontinental high-energy cannons were lost."
"Two cannons?" Zinnia interjected, frowning. "How did that happen?"
Intercontinental high-energy cannons were cutting-edge technology, difficult to manufacture and usually impervious to Stellar Devourer assaults.
"It was Aurelius’ regiment," Mandy replied. "The Stellar Devourer attacked Elden Prime, creating black holes underground. The cannons weren’t the only losses—we also lost several starfighters and sniper rifles."
Lyra’s gaze darkened. "What about the wreckage?"
"All recovered," Mandy assured her. She understood the critical importance of keeping their advanced technology out of enemy hands.
"Good," Lyra said quietly. "Should we send it for repairs?"
"Yes," Mandy confirmed as Lyra turned toward the nearby warehouse.
"I’ll handle the recharging," Lyra said over her shoulder.
Moments later, a vibrant green glow filled the storage area.
From a distance, Zinnia watched with a furrowed brow. "Lyra’s health hasn’t been good for a while. Won’t overusing her superpower make things worse?"
Mandy hesitated before replying steadily, "She knows her limits."
After securing the damaged equipment into her Space Button, Mandy left instructions for Lyra to rest before departing to deliver the items.
The locations of the repair factories remained a mystery, even to trusted allies like Zinnia.
True to Lyra’s cautious methods, the facilities were kept secret, even from thorough searches conducted by Chuck, who had combed every corner of Elden Prime.
As the days passed, urgency continued to mount.
Phelixes drew ever closer to Elden Prime.
Factories worked day and night, striving to produce new weapons before the main Stellar Devourer fleet arrived.
Then, Iskandor returned.
He appeared frail, barely able to stand. His once-pale skin had become nearly translucent, making his ice-blue eyes gleam with an unnatural intensity.
But it wasn’t just his appearance that seized everyone’s attention—it was the news he carried.
"Humanity’s survival is at stake," Iskandor rasped, his voice hoarse but resolute. "I’ve made contact with the leader of the Legion of the Long Night. He has agreed to join us in battle."
The council chamber fell into stunned silence.
From her seat in the shadowed corner, Lyra narrowed her eyes, their dark depths glinting with a dangerous light.
As the news settled, a storm of voices erupted across the room.
"The Legion of the Long Night? Aren’t they just space pirates?"
"A rabble of misfits. How can we trust them to fight alongside us?"
"What if they’re just taking advantage of the chaos to grab the spoils for themselves?"
The skepticism was palpable.
Seated beside Frederick, Iskandor, though frail, exuded an air of authority as he raised his voice to address the concerns. "The Legion of the Long Night has grown significantly in recent years. They’ve moved beyond piracy, refraining from acts of cruelty or senseless destruction.
"In fact, they’ve established control over an entire star domain, effectively making them a nascent human regime rather than mere pirates."
He paused, his piercing ice-blue eyes sweeping the room. "They possess advanced weaponry and a considerable number of Master Peculiars. Even if the Alliance and Empire fall to the Stellar Devourers, the Legion would still stand firm."
After a heavy silence, Iskandor added grimly, "To be blunt, if we fail, they might even celebrate. We’d be the ones begging for their sanctuary."
The uncharted space beyond the Alliance and Empire’s star domains was rife with dangers, including hostile pirate factions.
If the Alliance fell, the Legion might very well be humanity’s last refuge.
This stark reality quieted most objections. How Iskandor had contacted the Legion in the first place seemed irrelevant compared to the weight of the situation.
Breaking the silence, Valeria stepped forward. Her voice carried a note of resolute defiance. "I agree."
At this point, there seemed little to lose.
Raphel, leaning back with a smirk, folded his arms. "The Alliance and Empire combined far outnumber the Legion of the Long Night. If they aren’t afraid of the Stellar Devourer, then why should we be?"
He chuckled lightly. "Besides, we have an Overarching to lead us. I agree too."
Another officer chimed in, nodding. "Admiral Raphel makes a good point. We should accept their goodwill.
Frederick listened intently, weighing the sentiment in the room.
After a moment, he gave his decision. "Invite their leader to Central City for negotiations."
Iskandor’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "They’re already in the atmosphere. They can arrive immediately."
The room fell silent, his foresight eliminating further debate.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Alliance resolved to treat the Legion’s leader with the respect of a governing authority.
A delegation was hastily assembled to receive them.
Valeria and Leandro were chosen as high-ranking representatives, joined by Cohen to represent the Vice Admiral level.
Lyra, as a Rear Admiral, was also included.
At the aerospace port, the delegation stood ready.
Lyra, silent and reserved, kept her gaze lowered. When Iskandor passed her, he cast a fleeting glance in her direction, his expression enigmatic.
Leandro noticed the subtle exchange, a faint frown creasing his forehead. Iskandor’s insistence on this alliance—and his apparent focus on Lyra—stirred unease in him.
However, his musings were cut short.
As the leader of the Legion of the Long Night emerged from their ship, clad in resplendent silver armor, the air itself seemed to shift.
A wave of oppressive pressure swept over the gathered delegation, stealing their breath.
Every gaze turned toward the figure, whose commanding presence seemed to dominate the very atmosphere.
Even the most seasoned officers found themselves momentarily overwhelmed, the weight of the leader’s presence unlike anything they had encountered before.
Chapter 344: Have You No Feelings?
The leader of the Legion of the Long Night remained an enigma, even to his own followers—a shadowy figure whose true identity was cloaked in secrecy.
Many space pirates who joined the ranks noted that Liliana, the group’s public face, was merely a level-eight superpower user. This led some to overestimate their own chances of seizing control.
A few even dared to conspire against the organization, but none lasted a single round against the leader.
Despite this, he never openly displayed his abilities, leaving the extent of his power a mystery.
Yet the massive forces he had amassed in such a short time spoke volumes about his might, convincing everyone of his dominance.
Leandro, standing behind this enigmatic figure, noticed someone familiar—Broken Blade.
After the collapse of Voidstar No. 1, he had often wondered where that old hag had vanished.
Now, it seemed she had taken refuge with the Legion of the Long Night.
Broken Blade appeared drastically changed from three years ago. The reckless arrogance that once defined her was gone, replaced by a more subdued demeanor.
She couldn’t help but steal glances at Lyra, but each time their eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze.
Leandro scoffed quietly. Back during the chaos at Voidstar No. 1, Broken Blade had been the first to flee. Naturally, she’d feel guilty facing Lyra now.
"Welcome to the Alliance," Valeria said, her tone laced with irony. Internally, she cursed her luck. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined exchanging pleasantries with space pirates.
The Legion of the Long Night’s leader remained cool and detached, offering a brief handshake before moving on.
However, as he passed Lyra, he stopped.
"Rear Admiral Shedd," he addressed her.
Lyra, who had kept her eyes lowered, finally lifted her gaze, her expression questioning his intentions.
"Why have you repeatedly refused Liliana’s invitations?" His voice was cold and mechanical, devoid of any emotion. "You must know my Legion has always welcomed you."
He paused, as if debating whether to reach out to her, but ultimately refrained.
Everyone around them turned to Lyra, stunned. They couldn’t believe that Rear Admiral Shedd had ties to the Legion of the Long Night.
Cohen, standing nearby, clenched his fists tightly.
Lyra held the man’s gaze, undaunted. Even though his face was hidden behind a mask, she could feel the weight of his unusual focus on her.
After a brief pause, she calmly uttered just two words: "Not interested."
Valeria’s eye twitched as she stepped in, admonishing her, "Rear Admiral Shedd, show some respect!"
In truth, she was trying to protect Lyra. This man’s temperament was a complete unknown, and if he turned out to be unpredictable, Lyra could be in real danger.
Rumors claimed that the leader of the Legion of the Long Night had never been defeated, with even powerhouses like Broken Blade and Gino unable to withstand him.
If the rumors were true, he was likely a Supreme Peculiar or beyond.
The leader let out a derisive snort. "Ungrateful."
With that, he turned and strode away, leading his followers toward the council chamber. Leandro and the others let out a collective breath of relief as they trailed after him.
Lyra lingered at the back, her eyes narrowing slightly.
...
When the meeting ended, the Legion of the Long Night’s leader agreed to an alliance but made it clear they wouldn’t remain on Elden Prime.
"Though we are all humans," he said, "we are space pirates. Staying here with you doesn’t suit us."
Once they departed, the council disbanded. Lyra, sidelined in the discussions, remained calm and composed.
Instead of heading back to the base, she made her way to the nearby government finance building.
Inside, Leona was buried in paperwork. When her secretary announced Lyra’s arrival, Leona looked up, surprised.
"Well, well, what a rare guest," Leona remarked.
Lyra wasn’t one for idle visits. Without preamble, she pulled out an approval document.
"We’ve recently lost a significant number of weapons," she said. "I need new supplies. Please sign off on this."
Since the last wave of chaos and looting, the Alliance had enforced emergency wartime management measures.
Large-scale resource transactions now required government approval. Using official military channels was out of the question, so Lyra decided to rely on her personal connections.
Leona groaned at the request, already feeling the weight of her workload. "Do you know how many demands the military has dumped on me recently?"
Lyra’s lips curved into a faint, sarcastic smile. "What good are they, anyway?"
Anyone with a clear mind knew that a single setback wouldn’t tarnish Lyra’s reputation as a stabilizing force.
Leona, perceptive as ever, sighed while reviewing the documents. Her expression darkened as she scanned the request. "Vice Admiral Whyte requested a large amount of these materials recently. Now you’re asking for the same thing. I’m not even sure how much of this we have left in stock."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "The same materials, huh?"
Realizing the implications of her words, Leona silently cursed her overworked mind. She had just let something slip she shouldn’t have.
Fortunately, Lyra didn’t seem to care. She calmly withdrew the form and replaced it with a new one. "In that case, let’s change it to these."
The updated list included less scarce but still valuable materials. Without further delay, Leona approved it.
Lyra handed the signed documents to Mandy, waiting just outside.Mandy carefully tucked them away.
"I’ll take care of this right away," she assured her. After a pause, she added, "By the way, I heard from a neighbor that someone came looking for my family yesterday. When no one answered the door, they started questioning the neighbors about their whereabouts."
"My parents told the neighbors they were visiting friends before they left," Mandy continued with a hint of relief. "The neighbors said the same thing to whoever was asking. Morrison’s family seems to have had a similar situation."
Mandy felt fortunate. Acting on Lyra’s advice, her family had evacuated well before any trouble arose. Events were unfolding exactly as Lyra had foreseen.
Lyra’s expression remained unreadable as her gaze swept across the eerily empty, tension-filled streets of Central City. "Let’s go," she said.
Mandy hesitated. "Helion wants to see you."
Lyra had been so busy lately she hadn’t even had time to bid farewell to the discharged soldiers and injured troops.
Helion, however, still harbored feelings for Lyra—though Mandy wasn’t sure if Lyra even noticed.
"Where is he now?" Lyra asked.
"At his home in Central City," Mandy replied.
The Legion of Everglow was known for offering enviable benefits. In just a few years, Helion had managed to buy a townhouse on First Street, the most prestigious area in Central City.
Yet, as a single man, the large house felt empty.
Since losing his superpower, Helion had grown reclusive. Even at the time of his discharge, he hadn’t been able to see Lyra, a regret that gnawed at him.
When Lyra rang the doorbell, footsteps quickly approached.
Mandy glanced through the doorway and was surprised to see Helion looking far better than expected.
He was clean-shaven, wearing a tank top, and still sweating from a workout.
"You’re here?" Helion said, his eyes locked on Lyra. He stepped aside to let her in. "Come in."
Lyra entered without hesitation. When Mandy moved to follow, Helion blocked her with an outstretched hand. "Private time."
The door shut firmly in her face.
Mandy sighed. ’Figures. Compared to Lyra, I’m just a comrade—not even worth offering a cup of coffee.’
Inside, Helion returned to the living room, where Lyra was already seated on the sofa, her demeanor distant, even her hair radiating an air of detachment.
"What do you want to say?" Lyra asked, her voice plain.
Helion, who had been brimming with emotion, suddenly felt his resolve waver. He forced a smile, but it crumbled under the weight of his feelings. "I thought... I thought you might at least show a little sympathy."
What greeted him instead were cold, unfeeling eyes.
Helion’s face twisted in frustration. He leaned over the back of the sofa, glaring down at her. "Lyra, do you have any feelings at all? How can you be so cold?"
His eyes reddened, his lips trembling as if on the verge of breaking.
Lyra pondered his question seriously but found she didn’t have an answer.
Her reply, however, was calm and precise. "That question is meaningless. Whether I have feelings or not changes nothing about my actions or my plans."
Chapter 345: Her Final Order
Helion’s strength seemed to drain away all at once.
The hand he had propped on the back of the sofa fell limply, and he slumped forward onto the coffee table, his gaze fixed on Lyra.
Her face, so precise and breathtaking, was like staring into the sun—painful, yet impossible to look away from.
Finally, his voice broke through the silence, raw and pleading. "Let me hold you. Just once. I’ve lost my superpower, and this might be the last time we see each other."
Lyra didn’t react to his desperation. Instead, she responded with chilling composure. "I’ve arranged a 30-million compensation package for you through the LE Veteran Fund. Do you want the money, or do you want a hug?"
Helion froze, her words cutting deeper than any rejection. His sorrow twisted into a bitter laugh. "You really know how to kill a moment."
"This is reality," Lyra replied, her tone devoid of emotion.
Helion stood abruptly, crossing the room in two strides to fling the door open. "Get out. Now!"
For Helion, his superpower had defined his entire existence. Without it, he felt stripped of his identity, his purpose.
Yet he couldn’t afford to lose the compensation she had secured for him—his survival depended on it.
Without a backward glance, Lyra walked out.
...
Outside, Mandy and Vikie were waiting. They exchanged puzzled glances as Lyra stepped out, her face betraying nothing of what had just transpired.
Vikie immediately stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"Are you really done with him?" Vikie asked, her gaze sharp.
"I am," Lyra replied coolly.
Vikie’s lips curved into a smirk, her expression full of knowing amusement. "As expected. In your eyes, everyone’s just a tool to be discarded when they’re no longer useful."
Her words didn’t faze Lyra. Instead, her lips curled faintly. "If you want him, he’s yours."
Vikie chuckled. "Don’t mind if I do."
Before anyone could stop her, Vikie marched up to Helion’s door and kicked it open with a loud crash.
Inside, Helion’s angry voice rang out. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you planning to pay for my door?!"
Unfazed, Vikie shouted back, "Hah! You’re powerless now. Just sit tight and accept your fate."
Helion’s frustration was palpable. "How many times do I have to tell you? Forced feelings don’t last!"
Vikie’s smirk widened. "Doesn’t matter. Add a little sweetness, and even a bitter fruit quenches thirst."
The sound of a scuffle followed, along with Helion’s irritated protests. "Vikie, you might get my body, but you’ll never get my heart!"
"I only want your body," Vikie retorted without shame.
Mandy quickly decided that she didn’t want to hear any more. Without a word, she started the lev-car and drove Lyra back to the base.
...
Inside Helion’s house, Vikie had managed to restrain him on the couch.
She rummaged through one of his storage cabinets, pulling out a chaotic mess of empty liquor bottles and shredded sandbags. "Tsk. No wonder you cleaned yourself up just to meet HER."
Helion, now slumped and visibly drained, muttered, "If you want me to cooperate, fine. But at least bring me a drink."
Vikie raised an eyebrow, her ridicule evident. "Sure thing."
Without missing a beat, she grabbed his arm and dragged him upstairs, her mocking grin never wavering.
...
Back at the base, Mandy couldn’t resist sharing the bizarre scene with Zinnia and the others. To her surprise, the team wasn’t particularly shocked.
"Helion’s always had a temper like that," Zinnia said with a laugh, slinging an arm around Mandy’s shoulders. "And Vikie’s stuck around all these years? Clearly, she’s just in it for the physical perks."
Mandy blinked, taken aback. She wanted to ask how Zinnia had pieced that together, but the thought of Zinnia’s own loss—of Rajan—stopped her. Swallowing her question, she stayed quiet.
For a brief moment, the team indulged in some rare humor, joking about when they might receive an invitation to Vikie’s wedding. Even Mandy couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of it all.
Aboard the flagship of the Legion of the Long Night, the leader returned just as the crew gathered for their midday meal.
The lively chatter and clinking of utensils halted the moment he entered, replaced by a chorus of greetings.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Sir, you were incredible today—stole the show entirely."
"Are we really allying with the Alliance and the Empire now, sir?"
"Sir, anything to share with us?"
The leader’s icy gaze swept over the room, silencing further comments. Without a word, he strode to the command room.
The pilot, noticing his entrance, turned and grinned. "Back already?"
He gave a small nod, his focus elsewhere.
Before he could respond, the console lit up, indicating an incoming communication request. A private line from Frederick.
The pilot arched an eyebrow. "Want to take it?"
"Take it," the leader said.
The screen activated, displaying Frederick in his office, his face as grim as always.
Without wasting time on formalities, Frederick began, "There’s something we need to discuss..."
...
That evening, Elden Prime’s third moon, Mercy, cast a soft blue glow over the world below.
The soothing hum of insects mingled with the gentle whispers of mothers lulling their children to sleep.
The night was as serene as a flowing stream, the moon a pure and radiant silver plate in the sky.
But tranquility gave way to terror when the darkness of the black hole descended.
People froze in disbelief as Mercy, a steadfast companion to Elden Prime for billions of years, began to dissolve into an abyss of inky blackness.
The celestial body, once a symbol of constancy, was being consumed by something unfathomable.
Dread seeped into every heart as the moon’s light faded.
Alarms erupted, their shrill cries cutting through the night. People out for evening strolls dashed toward air raid shelters.
Supply crates were hastily loaded onto ships, preparing for an inevitable exodus should the defense line fail.
Elden Prime’s main forces deployed en masse to the front lines. Only Valeria’s legion and the Flaring Stars remained behind to guard the rear.
Cohen, restless and unwilling to stay back, marched to his father’s quarters, intent on requesting a transfer to the front.
Before he could reach him, Valeria intercepted him.
"Don’t disappoint your father," she said firmly. "He entrusted you with guarding his back for a reason."
Her words hit their mark. Cohen understood immediately: if the front line fell, the rear guard would be the last line of defense—the final hope.
Suppressing his frustration, he gave a reluctant nod and turned to Kogar. "Deploy additional personnel. Coordinate with Valeria to protect civilians and prepare evacuation routes."
The base buzzed with activity. Soldiers gathered in formation, weapons and supplies were distributed, and orders were shouted over the commotion.
Amidst the chaos, Lyra received her summons—the last commanding officer to be called.
Standing before her troops, her long braid catching the wind, Lyra surveyed the force.
It was a mere shadow of what it had been three years ago. As the dimming light of Mercy painted the scene in haunting hues, some soldiers thought they saw faint green sparks flickering through her hair, like fireflies in the dark
"This is the final order." Her voice was calm and steady, cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Assist the Flaring Stars."
The soldiers exchanged glances, some letting out quiet sighs of relief.
Supporting the rear guard meant avoiding direct confrontation with the Stellar Devourers. Survival seemed possible.
"Ma’am," Elsie spoke hesitantly, panic in her tone, "what about you? Why aren’t we following you?"
Lyra’s gaze lifted to the night sky, where the ghostly remnant of Mercy still hung. Then she turned back, her expression unyielding. "This is the final battle. I intend to end it, once and for all."
The weight of her words settled over the group. They all understood—Lyra, a natural counter to the Stellar Devourers, would fight to the end.
This was a death match, one she had no intention of running from.
Breaking the silence, Robin stepped forward. "May the stars guide your path to victory."
The soldiers joined in, their voices uniting in a solemn, thunderous chant. "May the stars guide your path to victory!"
Their rallying cry echoed into the night, carrying a mixture of hope and sorrow.
Lyra gave a small nod, her face betraying no emotion.
Without further delay, she donned her light mecha, its frame gleaming faintly in the fading moonlight.
In a single motion, she launched herself into the air and headed toward the aerospace port to join the main fleet.
Mandy watched in silence, then activated her own mecha and followed.
Determination etched into her face, she gave Lyra a firm nod as they ascended together, disappearing into the vast expanse of the night.