Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 289: High Psychokinesis

Chapter 289: High Psychokinesis

The tension in the training ground reached a boiling point as rejected applicants voiced their frustrations.

"This is outrageous! Not even looking at résumés is one thing, but you don’t even ask us a single question before deciding who stays and who goes!"

"Exactly! We meet the requirements. At least give us an explanation!"

Meanwhile, those on the right side—the ones who had passed—stood smugly, their confidence evident in their expressions.

Lyra remained unfazed, her gaze sharp as she singled out a young man from the right side.

The man hesitated but quickly stepped forward. Awkwardly, he saluted her. "Ma’am."

Lyra’s voice was calm but commanding as she rattled off his data:

"He possesses a level-3 superpower to control flames. Superpower rating: 3,560. Psychokinesis: 3,209 units. Age: 49."

The young man’s jaw dropped.

She had read his exact stats with complete accuracy—numbers identical to those he had received during his test just the day before.

Lyra then added, "And he is the weakest among those who passed. Some of the others have level-5 abilities."

This revelation caused the successful applicants to straighten their backs, their pride shining through.

Lyra turned to face the protestors, her cold eyes scanning them. "Would you like me to recite your stats as well?"

The group fell silent. Her expression made one thing abundantly clear: she knew their numbers. Her decisions weren’t arbitrary.

Their protests died away, replaced by quiet resignation.

By the time the morning session ended, the Legion of Everglow’s unique recruitment method had become the hottest topic online.

"Unbelievable! How did Rear Admiral Shedd figure out everyone’s stats? It’s not like she could have investigated every single person, right?"

"Maybe there’s hidden testing equipment somewhere?"

"You’re naive. Do you even know how high her psychokinesis is?"

A verified insider from the Superpower Administration joined the discussion, leaking some shocking information:

"Three years ago, when Rear Admiral Shedd was promoted to level 9, her psychokinesis was tested. It holds the highest recorded value for any known Peculiar to date."

"So psychokinesis that high just lets you do whatever you want?" someone joked.

The Legion of Everglow’s official response only added fuel to the fire:

"In light of recent discussions regarding our recruitment process, the Legion of Everglow affirms that all recruitment methods are directly overseen and decided by Rear Admiral Shedd. There are no discrepancies."

There was no mention of potential testing errors or margin for bias. The statement’s unwavering confidence left no room for doubt.

Curious skeptics who had been rejected secretly ran their stats on different machines. The results? Deviations never exceeded ten units.

Over the next three days, the first round of recruitment concluded. The successful candidates began submitting their personal information online.

The process moved to the next stage: the background check. Anyone with inconsistencies in their records was disqualified.

Finally, the recruits underwent physical examinations. Those with severe health issues were also cut.

After three rigorous screening phases, the Legion of Everglow, which could theoretically command up to 100,000 soldiers, ended up with just over 20,000 new recruits.

These recruits represented a mix of civilian and military academy applicants.

Beyond that, a wave of personnel from other legions had chosen to transfer, seeking a fresh start under Lyra’s command.

Among those transferring were several familiar faces, including Elsie and Kolan, who had worked with Lyra back in school.

"I’ve thought about this for a long time," Elsie said, her tone decisive and sharp as always. "The Legion of Everglow feels like the right place for young people like us."

Her trust in Lyra stemmed from one simple belief: there would be no unspoken rules or unnecessary bureaucracy in the legion. It would be a place where merit mattered, not politics.

Elsie’s decision to join was also deeply personal. Rumors had circulated about her troubles in her previous legion—specifically, being harassed by a superior officer who made her life miserable after failing to coerce her into submission.

For a long time, she had no way out. It was Lyra who used her influence and pulled a few strings to secure Elsie’s transfer.

"I owe her one," Elsie admitted quietly. Her loyalty to Lyra ran deep, forged through mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose.

Lyra had expected the usual mix of recruits—some familiar, some not—but Robin’s arrival was a curveball she hadn’t seen coming.

When Robin walked into the office to finalize his onboarding, it didn’t take long for tension to surface.

Aurelius wasted no time, his disdain evident. "Oh, I thought you’d have a shining career in Legion Glory," he said with a biting edge. "Guess it’s just a cold bench after all."

Robin, once a spy for Frederick and a key player in the betrayal of the Calvin family, had seen his ambitions collapse before they even began. The fallout had left him adrift, his career in Legion Glory stagnant.

Yet, Robin appeared unbothered. "Eagles choose the best trees to nest in. Legion Glory wasn’t the right place. I simply moved on."

Grains, standing behind Robin, looked mildly irritated but chose to stay silent. He had become more tactful over the years, no longer the sharp-tongued troublemaker of their school days.

Caleb chimed in, his tone calm but resolute. "When we saw the recruitment standards for the Legion of Everglow, we knew this was the right fit."

The legion’s strict age limit and emphasis on high psychokinesis attracted only the best—a chance for young, driven individuals to rise unimpeded by outdated hierarchies.

For Robin, who carried the stigma of being an experimental subject, the rigid environment of a traditional legion had always been suffocating. Here, he hoped for something different.

Aurelius’ smile turned sharper. "Move on? Or are you here to run the same games as before? Another spy for Frederick, perhaps?"

Before Robin could reply, Lyra’s voice cut through the tension. "Aurelius."

Her tone was calm but carried an unmistakable warning. "They’ve signed their contracts. They’re part of the Legion of Everglow now."

The message was clear: no internal strife would be tolerated.

Aurelius nodded stiffly, realizing his misstep. "Understood."

The office now held a mix of familiar and trusted faces:

- Mandy, Lyra’s ever-reliable secretary.

- Helion, Aurelius, and Phelixes as her adjustants.

- Robin’s group, including Grains and Caleb.

- Old friends like Elsie, Vikie, and Kolan.

Lyra’s gaze swept over them, and for a moment, her typically stoic expression softened into a faint smile.

"Let’s meet the recruits," she said simply.

The Legion of Everglow’s base hummed with activity as over 20,000 recruits assembled. They came from diverse backgrounds—former civilians, beast hunters, doctors—but now, they were all equals, united under one banner.

Robin and his group blended into the crowd, not seeking any special recognition.

When Lyra entered the training grounds, the lively chatter evaporated.

Thousands of eyes turned toward her, their gazes filled with anticipation and curiosity.

"Welcome to the Legion of Everglow," Lyra began, her voice steady and direct. "You have six months before deployment to our station. During this time, you will train under designated instructors. At the end of this period, there will be an evaluation. Based on your performance, you will be assigned to regiments and barracks."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"All other positions will be determined by merit. Those who rank lowest will be reassigned to non-combat roles."

The recruits exchanged glances, whispers rippling through the crowd.

From the front, Robin raised his voice. "Can the position of adjustant be contested as well?"

Lyra’s gaze flicked to her current adjustants.

Helion smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Bring it on."

Aurelius and Phelixes exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. "Of course."

The recruits’ excitement surged, their competitive spirits ignited.

Standing just behind Lyra, Mandy allowed herself a small, knowing smile. This was pure Lyra—clear, fair, and unafraid to challenge people to be their best.

Then, from somewhere in the middle of the crowd, a bold voice called out. "Uh, can we compete for the secretary position?"

Another joined in, "Yeah! I’d love to work directly with the Rear Admiral!"

Mandy’s posture stiffened, her grip on her clipboard tightening.

Lyra didn’t miss a beat. "The secretary position is not open for competition."

Mandy exhaled, her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

The Legion of Everglow had officially begun its journey, but questions still lingered.

"I have a question," Helion said, raising his hand with a mock-serious expression. "Who’s leading the training sessions?"

Before Lyra could respond, a gruff voice cut through the crowd like a whip.

"You brat, I’m standing right here."

Helion turned, and for the first time, his trademark smirk faltered.

"...You’ve got to be kidding me."