Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 132: AMAT (2)

Chapter 132: AMAT (2)

The camera zoomed in on the island as the commentator’s voice filled the air. "And there we have it, folks! NMA and EPMA have officially made landfall, and they’re leading the pack. The next challenge is going to be critical—completing their map hinges on how well they tackle this one."

To ensure student safety, the island had undergone some serious modifications. The terrain had been Completely altered. The environment had been Rigged for unpredictability.

And to top it off, the Aegis Shield was put in place to keep things from getting too out of hand.

The whole competition was a game of points—teams scored by completing tasks, and the more they completed, the more map pieces they earned. A complete map meant they could see more of the island, giving them a better shot at choosing the best routes.

Their backpacks were basic—packed with just enough compressed food, antidotes, and some special plants to temporarily enhance their powers. Healing devices? Other teams might carry them, but not these guys. They were aiming for efficiency.

Milo, always the motivator, punched the air. "We’ve gotta get that full map. No way are we giving the other teams a chance to catch up!"

Elsie, uncharacteristically quiet, just nodded. "Yeah, but let’s pace ourselves. We can’t waste energy too soon."

Kolan, with his Botanokinesis, the power to control plants, was practically in his element. The forest surrounding the landing zone gave him a natural edge. They moved quickly, weaving through trees until they finally broke through to a wetland meadow.

Suddenly, the tall grass rustled, putting everyone on high alert. But it was just Kolan’s vines pulling back. He scowled. "There’s something in the swamp."

As if on cue, a screen blinked to life from a tree nearby.

"Your first challenge starts here."

Immediately, the group tensed up.

Without warning, thick jets of muddy water shot out from the swamp.

Adela, fast on her feet, raised an earthen wall with her Geokinesis powers. The muddy blasts hit, leaving deep marks behind.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

The grass was too dense for them to see much, but they knew something dangerous was lurking. They could only guess based on the environment and the attack method.

The commentator jumped in to clarify, "What we’re seeing here are Spritzfin, a kind of water-spraying fish at level two or three. They’re omnivorous, pack hunters, and their water jets are strong enough to pierce a person if they aren’t protected."

"This is going to be tough," the commentator continued as the view shifted to EPMA. "Look at that! First-year Robin from EPMA is making his move, using his lightning power to stun the fish. Clever strategy!"

"NMA, on the other hand, doesn’t have any obvious superpower advantages here in the swamp. How will they handle this?"

Over on NMA’s side, they were deep in discussion.

"We can’t see these fish through the grass," Daire said, thinking out loud. "Maybe we should burn it?"

Milo gave a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, great idea. Let’s torch the place and hand an easy win to the teams behind us."

Daire shot him a glare. "So what’s your genius plan?"

Elsie cut in before Milo could answer, staying cool and collected. "Even if we burned the grass, I doubt it’d be that simple. The organizers love to make things complicated. The real issue is, where’s the map?"

The challenge wasn’t just about surviving the fish—they needed to figure out how to complete the map. Kill the fish or avoid them? Either way, they had to get that map.

Then, in a surprise move, Lyra reached down and grabbed one of the fish. With a quick pull, she yanked off a large scale from its head. "I found it. The map’s on the fish."

She held up the scale for everyone to see. It was more than just armor—it was part of the map, hidden in plain sight.

The catch? Not every fish had a map piece, and worse, they had no idea how many pieces they’d need to finish it.

To make things even trickier, they had to avoid grabbing duplicates!

After hearing the commentator’s analysis, the NMA team fell into a brief silence. The challenge felt overwhelming—maybe even a bit unfair.

The live audience couldn’t believe what they were seeing either.

"No way!" someone gasped. "This year’s competition is brutal! Just watching makes my skin crawl!"

Despite the shock, the commentator stayed upbeat. "While EPMA took the initial lead, they seem to be struggling now. NMA might just pull ahead—thanks to this first-year student’s sharp instincts."

The camera shifted to show the NMA team making a bold move: they set the grassy plain ablaze, the flames crackling as they fearlessly stepped into the murky water.

Instantly, the Spritzfins—the toothy, ten-centimeter-mouthed creatures lurking below—picked up on their movements.

With loud splashes, they began swimming toward the group, their sharp teeth grinding in a menacing sound that could make anyone’s stomach drop.

"Are they crazy?!" one viewer yelled. "They’re about to get shredded by those Spritzfins!"

Another chimed in, "I mean, how else are they gonna catch these things? Use a fishing rod?"

Amid the tension, Elsie leaned over to Lyra. "It’s all on you now."

Lyra, calm and collected, nodded before conjuring a glowing green barrier that expanded and enveloped the whole team.

With the shield in place, the others wasted no time. Using their various skills, they worked fast, catching fish one after another.

Before long, they had gathered almost every piece of the map. The speed and precision stunned not only their competitors but the entire Alliance.

"Wait, since when does a healer double as a tank?"

"Who even said she was JUST a healer? She’s something else entirely!"

"And to think people doubted Lyra could handle this competition. Look at her now!"

Meanwhile, up in the stands, Erin’s expression darkened. Why was it always Lyra? Even after all this time, after everything, Lyra was still the one stealing the spotlight. Erin clenched her fists, gritting her teeth in frustration. She had once thought cutting ties with Lyra’s family, the Calvins, would be enough to bury her. Now, she regretted not doing more to take away Lyra’s superpower while she had the chance.

Her anger only deepened when she overheard a conversation behind her, coming from the military’s command post.

"Vice Admiral Shedd," an officer asked, "Is that first-year student from NMA really your granddaughter?"

An old man seated next to Ansel let out a chuckle. "I might be getting on in years, but she still looks the same as when she was just a little girl. Did you tell all us that she was sick and had to stay at home for the rest of her life? Why is she here now? And why they all say she’s from Voidstar?"

Anyone who stood out in the military league quickly drew attention.

Recruiters from all corners were always hunting for fresh talent, and Lyra’s healing powers had officially put her on everyone’s radar.

Word had already spread, and the moment she used her special healing power, her past wasn’t a secret anymore.

The question now was: Would the Shedd family really let her slip away?—If they didn’t claim her, someone else would happily step in.

Erin sneaked a glance at Ansel, who sat there with an unreadable expression. But inside, she was reeling with dread. ’Why is he publicly acknowledging Lyra’s identity now? What’s he planning?’

Then, Ansel sighed softly and responded, "That girl has always been headstrong. I couldn’t control her, even if I tried."

Erin’s heart sank. Her panic flared, but she forced herself to calm down. She realized that if Ansel refused to acknowledge Lyra, Lyra would just turn to someone else in the military for support, which would make her a bigger threat.

The officer beside Ansel clicked his tongue. Everyone knew the Shedd family had its share of drama. Still, it didn’t take much imagination to see where this could go. The old man had it in mind that, even if Lyra didn’t join the military, getting her tied with one of his grandsons through marriage was just as good a move.

After all, with her dual superpowers, the gene potential alone was worth it, even if improper training had caused issues in the past. Plus, she wasn’t exactly lacking in looks either. A child with her abilities could be incredibly powerful.

Back on the island, while the high-ranking officials were busy scheming, Lyra and her team had just gathered the last map piece.

Elsie examined the fragments carefully, then nodded. "Based on the island’s size and the scale of the pieces, we’ve got it. This is the complete map."

As soon as the official opticomputer scanned the map and confirmed 100% completion, a wave of relief washed over the team.

They’d done it—every piece was accounted for.

Now, with the entire map in view, the island’s layout lit up before them, showing all the challenges and points scattered across their path.

Elsie studied the map closely. "We’ve only got three days," she said, her finger tracing three different routes on the screen.

Each route led through varying levels of difficulty, but Elsie didn’t hesitate. "I suggest we go for the toughest challenges. It’s the only way to rack up the highest points."

There wasn’t a second of doubt from the rest of the team. "Absolutely. We need to push for the big wins."

After a quick but focused discussion, they agreed on a route that would stretch their abilities but also play to their strengths. It was risky, but with their superpowers combined, they had a real shot at pulling it off.

Once the plan was in place, they wasted no time and started moving forward, determination in every step.

Then, without warning, Lyra shot her hand up, signaling the group to halt.

The team froze. All eyes turned toward her as the unburned patches of grass nearby began to shake violently.

It wasn’t the wind. Something—or someone—was rushing toward them, hidden in the tall, swaying blades.

The sound grew louder, closer, setting their nerves on edge.

Lyra’s instincts had rarely been wrong. Whatever was coming, it was coming fast.