Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 142: Erin’s Plan

Chapter 142: Erin’s Plan

The Alliance’s National Stadium sprawls over nearly a million square meters, feeling more like a small city than just a sports venue.

Inside, there were nearly a hundred different arenas, each serving a distinct purpose. Some were set up for high-stakes sports matches, while others were dedicated to superpower battles.

It had everything—lounges, shopping malls, you name it.

But what really grabbed people’s attention were the smart robots. They took care of everything, from guiding people around, to cleaning, and even handing out snacks.

Visiting there was like stepping into the future.

Given the extraordinary strength of military students, the main arena sat in the biggest hall.

On this day, the weather was perfect. The stadium’s roof was wide open, and flying drones with massive screens hovered above, streaming the action for the crowd.

To make things even more thrilling, the commentators were floating mid-air on levitation devices, adding an extra layer of spectacle as they narrate the event.

Erin, in her military uniform, hurried up to the control room and knocked sharply on the door.

"Come in," a calm, even cold voice answered.

She quickly opened the door and stepped inside. "Grandpa, why did you—"

"Erin, is your superpower stable now?" Ansel interrupted her, eyes focused on the arena below. "This is the league control room. Be careful with your words."

"It’s stable," she replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I just don’t get it."

How could she? After everything she had endured—her suspension because of Lyra, the struggle with her own unstable power, and now her grandfather had welcomed Lyra back into the family, publicly confirming her identity online.

It felt like no one even remembered that Erin had once been the pride of the Shedd family.

She had tried to call Ansel for answers, but he hadn’t responded. The moment her powers were under control, she came straight to the control room.

Ansel finally glanced at her. "Erin, I’ve raised you carefully for years. You know I always put the family first. So why can’t you understand why I did this?"

His gaze shifted back to the students waiting in the arena. "Lyra is in the spotlight now. If she can bring honor to the Shedd name, that benefits us."

’No way. After what had been done to Lyra, there’s no way she’d want to help the Shedd family now.’ Erin knew that much.

She couldn’t figure out why Ansel said that.

Still, she knew he had some kind of plan. So she asked, "Grandpa, are you worried she’ll join the admiral’s fleet, making her harder to control?"

Ansel sighed quietly, his eyes never leaving the competition. "Erin, you still have much to learn. Go home. This isn’t where you should be right now."

There was no way Erin could fully understand what her grandfather was planning. "Alright, Grandpa. I’ll go."

The door closed softly behind her. For a brief moment, Ansel’s expression hardened before settling back into its usual calm, unreadable state.

As Erin walked away, her steps felt heavier with each passing second.

She couldn’t hold it in any longer and lashed out, kicking a vending machine.

Then she pulled out her opticomputer and made a call. "Is everything ready?"

"Relax, they won’t stand a chance," a voice on the other end assured her.

After hanging up, a smug grin crept onto Erin’s face. Whatever her grandfather was planning, she wasn’t about to let Lyra off the hook.

Meanwhile, the roar of a million spectators filled the stadium as the NMA team entered the arena. The cheers were so deafening, they seemed to echo through all of Central City.

The sight made Erin’s jealousy flare.

From her vantage point, the seats farthest away were packed with tiny figures, like ants buzzing with excitement. And everyone knew exactly who those cheers were for—Lyra.

But Lyra, standing at the center of all this attention, barely reacted.

She stayed composed, her cool gaze locked ahead, completely unaffected by the envy swirling around her from students and teammates alike.

The director swiftly took charge of the smart cameras, zooming in for a close-up.

Lyra’s stunning yet distant face filled the massive screen above the arena. She gave the crowd a small nod, which was all it took to set off another wave of cheers, even louder than before.

"Looks like our hero’s got quite the fan base," one of the hosts remarked as they glided down on their Lev board, landing gracefully in front of her. "Mind if we get a quick interview, Miss Lyra?"

"Of course, I’d be happy to," Lyra replied, her voice calm and collected. The host, caught off guard by her willingness, relaxed and smiled. "Were you scared when you saved everyone back then?" they asked.

"I think anyone would feel fear when facing a high-level beast and a powerful enemy," Lyra said, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "But I couldn’t just abandon my teammates. That’s a soldier’s duty. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had."

Her answer hit the mark perfectly, striking a chord with the crowd, who were visibly moved.

Meanwhile, far away on the planet Wyrmtrace, Cohen and the Snakehead crew watched the live broadcast in stunned disbelief. ’Is this poised, disciplined military student really the same Lyra we knew?’

It turned out, she wasn’t bad at playing to the crowd—she just usually didn’t bother. But with the stakes this high, she wasn’t shy about playing the role that was expected of her.

After the interview, Lyra’s name shot up the trending charts, along with AMAT. She was quickly becoming the most talked-about figure in this year’s event.

Later, as they settled in for the next round, Elsie couldn’t help remarking, "I always thought Lyra was cold and quiet, but who knew she had that much fire? Makes us upperclassmen feel like we’re falling behind."

Lyra glanced over at her and responded coolly, "I’m just doing what’s expected."

Opportunities and risks often go hand in hand, and it seemed like her gamble was paying off. She was now just a step away from sealing her victory.

Her attention shifted to the arena ahead as the floor split open, revealing a waterway shielded by a glowing energy field, complete with rising obstacles.

This was the first event: the psychokinesis competition. Contestants had to ride a hoverboard across the water, using only their psychokinesis to control it. The fastest rider would win.

The lineup had already been set, and for this round, Lyra was the clear favorite—both in skill and morale.

When she rose from her seat, the crowd erupted, their cheers reaching a deafening level.

The pressure on the other teams grew, especially for the EPMA team, who had expected to be the center of attention.

Captain Richard frowned slightly and turned to his teammate. "Robin, you’re up."

Robin nodded and made his way to the arena.

The rules were straightforward: one round, winner takes all.

It was a fresh challenge—none of the students had faced anything quite like it before. The tension was there, sure, but so was the excitement.

As the competitors lined up to collect their hoverboards, Lyra reached for hers. But just as her hand hovered over the board, the staff member noticed the insignia on her uniform and hesitated.

He set the board back down. "Sorry, this one’s got a minor issue." With a polite smile, he picked up another board and handed it to her. "Here, take this one instead."

Lyra raised an eyebrow slightly. In a blink, her psychokinesis swept over both boards, checking for anything unusual. She accepted the replacement board with a small smile. "Thank you."

The staff member flinched, clearly unnerved by the brief exchange.