Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 115: Special Trainings

Chapter 115: Special Trainings

In the training room, the relentless thud of punches echoed through the air.

The onlookers stepped back, their faces tense, and when Larion was finally thrown aside, all eyes turned to the girl at the center of the chaos.

"What... what is she?" someone whispered in disbelief.

Lyra, unfazed, pulled her power back and glanced around with cool detachment. She grabbed a towel from a nearby rack, wiped off the sweat, and quietly walked out of the room.

Zinnia and Mandy exchanged glances, shrugging. And they headed off to another part of the gym to continue their own training.

Silence swallowed the room.

Some people rushed over to pick up Larion, who was crumpled on the ground, and hurriedly carried him off to the clinic.

Meanwhile, in the corner, a group of young men slipped out, murmuring among themselves.

"No wonder the school was so set on bringing her in. She’s terrifying. Is she really just a freshman?"

"I thought they were just adding another healer at level 6," one replied, shaking his head. "But with combat skills like that, she might be on the same level as the student council president."

They all glanced at the blond guy leading them. He just smirked but said nothing.

...

With the end of the semester’s final exams, the long-awaited special training had officially been scheduled.

Most of the team had met in passing already, except for Lyra, who had been busy on Planet Nagano. She finally greeted her teammates when it was time to head out.

Among the seven of them, five were third-years: four guys and one girl. There was also one second-year guy, and then there was Lyra, a first-year.

Their head instructor would lead the group, with Anton and Webber as his assistants.

Andre, the head instructor, glanced around. He was obviously pleased with the turnout. "Looks like everyone’s here. Let’s do some quick intros."

"I’m Nicholas, the new student council president," said the blond guy with a square jaw, his arms crossed.

The third-year girl with a bouncy brown ponytail grinned. "I’m Elsie, the vice president."

The rest of the team introduced themselves one by one.

When it was Lyra’s turn, the air seemed to shift slightly as everyone focused on her. She gave a small nod. "Lyra. Looking forward to learning from all of you."

A touch of humility never hurt in these situations.

Milo, a lanky third-year, snickered. "Oh, we’re not here to teach you much. You were terrifying when you dropped Larion."

He stepped forward, trying to playfully pat her head. "You’re so small—how are you that strong? Is your healing power, like, extra special?"

Lyra’s hand came up to block him. "I don’t think we’re that close."

Milo’s grin faded, his eyes narrowing. "First-years sure are cocky, huh?"

"Knock it off," Andre barked, shooting Milo a stern look. "Everyone, behave. Let’s get moving."

Milo shrugged and made a face, causing some of the others to snicker. A few stayed quiet.

As they boarded the ship, Elsie slowed down to walk beside Lyra. "Don’t mind them," she whispered. "They’ve got too much energy for their own good."

There was a hint of frustration in her voice. Lyra glanced at her and nodded slightly.

The ship was filled with familiar faces, one of which was Kogar, Cohen’s adjutant. He had returned to Planet Nagano for military business and ended up joining their group on the trip back.

Kogar greeted Andre, Anton, and Webber with a formal salute before turning to the group. "Accommodations have been sorted for both officers and students," he said, voice crisp and cool. "Conditions are basic, so everyone will have to manage."

Then, to the group’s surprise, his expression softened as he turned to Lyra. "Lyra, good to see you again."

Lyra returned the salute. "Lieutenant Kogar, thank you for taking care of me last time."

"No problem," he replied with a slight smile. "Just doing my job."

Only Kogar truly knew the unease gnawing at him. Wherever Lyra went, trouble wasn’t far behind, and Wyrmtrace had become a pressure cooker lately.

Seizing a private moment, he pulled her aside and spoke quietly. "Once we reach Wyrmtrace, be extra cautious."

Kogar had seen Lyra single-handedly taking down a squad of level-seven fighters, just to secure rare plants. That memory still made him break into a cold sweat.

Lyra had a way of stirring up chaos, even without trying.

Just then, Lyra’s expression shifted, the polite mask she wore in front of others fading. She raised an eyebrow. "Kogar, what’s going on at Wyrmtrace? Don’t hold back."

She and Cohen had been in the same game for a while, and Kogar knew that. For him to drop a warning now suggested something deeper was brewing. Yet, Morrison hadn’t mentioned anything out of the ordinary.

Kogar hesitated before finally speaking. "It’s... nothing huge, but the tension’s been rising."

In reality, it all boiled down to resources. Everyone was fighting for a bigger slice, and the competition was fierce.

"Morrison’s moves have been rubbing some people the wrong way. Lieutenant Commander Shedd’s been under pressure to pull your team’s mining rights. BUT, Mr. Cohen hasn’t budged."

Lyra scoffed. "He’d be a fool to agree."

Kogar stayed quiet. Lyra had never been one to mince words, especially about Cohen. He considered explaining more, but Lyra cut him off.

"Don’t sweat it. I’ve got everything under control."

Kogar resisted the urge to say ’your eyes say otherwise.’

There was nothing Kogar could do.

Within three days, they arrived at Wyrmtrace, thanks to the high-tech space portal.

Since the territory was unfamiliar, Andre took the lead. Along with the two instructors, they hashed out the training plans.

"You’ve got three days to adjust and settle in," Andre told the group. "We’ll update you once we secure the best spot for training. Daily meetings will be at..."

This suited Lyra perfectly. She had her own matters to attend to.

No one knew she was coming—except Debbie. Not even Morrison had been clued in.

At that very moment, Morrison was pulling his hair out over the radio silence from Lyra.

In the ship’s control room, he tried reaching Debbie again. Same answer. Lyra wasn’t back yet. Rubbing his temples, he sighed. "Let me know the second she returns."

Debbie, her round face glowing with mischief, grinned and gave a goofy salute. "Aye-aye, captain! She should’ve landed by now."

Cutting the comms, Morrison left the control room, only to immediately bump into Caesara and Todd. His stomach twisted with dread, but he forced a smile. "Have you two had lunch yet?"

Caesara rolled her eyes and pushed him aside, strolling into the room like she owned the place. "Cut the chit-chat. Thought of that password yet?" She flopped down in a chair, making herself at home. "If you don’t give it up, my crew isn’t working."

Morrison’s smile vanished, his face turning dark. He glanced at Todd. "You too, Mr. Todd? Are you refusing to work?"

Caesara had originally been hired as a bodyguard for Lyra’s team, but now, with the tides turning, she saw her chance to push for more.

The situation on Wyrmtrace had spiraled out of control.

Other developers, bolstered by their larger numbers, had forcefully seized mining veins that Lyra’s team had already surveyed and invested in. What was once their territory had been snatched away.

The Legion Skywalkers, who were supposed to provide protection for all developers, had turned against Morrison’s team, applying constant pressure.

If it weren’t for the unwavering support of Legion Glory, everything would have collapsed already. They were the only reason Lyra’s operation hadn’t been completely wiped out.

Sensing weakness, Caesara decided to strike while she had the upper hand. She wasn’t just satisfied with keeping the team safe anymore. Now, she wanted control.

She cornered Morrison, demanding that he hand over the launch key and storage passwords.

Todd, a supposed ally looking to cash in on the mining profits, had now aligned himself with her.

Morrison adjusted his glasses, speaking coolly. "It doesn’t make sense for a bodyguard to have the codes when even the business partner doesn’t, right?"

The three were locked in a tense standoff when Caesara suddenly lunged, grabbing Morrison by the collar.

Her voice was low and threatening. "Kid, don’t test me."

Just as things were about to explode, the door swung open.