Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 298: Tiger And Lion

Chapter 298: Tiger And Lion

Voidstar No. 1 was in a weak balance. Three level-nine Peculiars led an alliance of space pirate factions, banded together in opposition to military forces. Each leader posed a serious threat; eliminating even one could trigger chaos.

Among them, the Wolf Fangs—the first group to stake their claim on Voidstar No. 1—was led by Gino, a man whose mysterious superpower remained an mystery.

For Lyra, letting Gino escape was not an option. With Gino refusing to show his real self today, Lyra resorted to her backup plan.

Seated comfortably, Lyra lounged in her chair, her elbow resting casually on the armrest, her demeanor relaxed yet authoritative.

"Since we’re all here, let’s get straight to the point," she said, her voice calm but commanding. "I’m setting up a base on Voidstar No. 1. Make room for me."

Broken Blade narrowed her eyes. The audacity of Lyra was staggering. Taking a slow drag from a cigarette offered by her servant, Broken Blade smirked. "Rules are rules. I’m the loser, so I don’t get to argue with her."

Among space pirates, one unwritten rule reigned supreme: strength decided everything.

Markle, sitting nearby, let his lecherous gaze sweep over Lyra. His fingers toyed with a small metallic device, its sharp clicks punctuating the tense silence. "Alright. We’ll go by the rules," he sneered.

Lyra glanced at Markle with a faint smile, her amusement growing.

The room’s mood grew heavy as both combatants rose at the same moment.

In that instant, a strange tremor coursed through the town. Every metallic object in sight vibrated violently before levitating, controlled by Markle’s superpower. He morphed into a massive lion, its mane shimmering like molten steel as it roared, shaking the sky.

Below, townsfolk cowered, their frightened whispers spreading like wildfire. This was no ordinary fight.

Unfazed, Lyra raised a single finger. A shard of ice shot forward, rapidly shaping into a tiger.

Frost spilled out, freezing moisture in the air and coating the surroundings in a layer of ice. The sudden drop in temperature made Broken Blade’s servant scramble to light a fire for warmth.

"Peculiars battling, civilians suffering!" someone muttered, gazing at the frost-covered windows.

The icy tiger squared off against the metallic lion. They circled each other briefly before clashing with a deafening roar.

The lion’s massive claws swiped downward, but the tiger dodged nimbly, countering with a fierce bite to its neck. Steel shards from the lion’s mane scattered everywhere.

Markle’s face twisted with frustration. Gritting his teeth, he poured more energy into his power.

The lion shoved the tiger off and swiped again, but its claws merely glanced off the frost-armored beast. The tiger retaliated with a powerful whip of its tail, sending the lion sprawling.

Markle’s fury boiled over. His veins bulged as he unleashed a surge of metallic particles. The very helicopter he’d arrived in disassembled mid-air, reforming into a giant python. The snake joined the lion, their towering forms like skyscrapers as they advanced on the tiger.

Confident, Markle shot a smug glance at Freya. "What now?" his expression seemed to say.

Lyra remained silent, her lips curling into a faint smirk. She pointed again, and the icy chill deepened. Shards of frost coalesced into ten tigers this time.

Without hesitation, she slashed her hand forward. The pack of tigers charged at the lion and snake, ripping through their metallic forms with relentless precision.

Within moments, the once-mighty constructs lay in shattered fragments.

Markle’s arrogance dissolved. Panic flickered in his eyes as he scrambled for a counterattack. In desperation, he hurled two iron spheres at Lyra. She tilted her head slightly, dodging them with ease as he vanished in a blur.

But Lyra was ready. The instant Markle reappeared behind her, dagger in hand, she spun with graceful precision. Her leg snapped upward in a powerful kick, sending him crashing through the wall into the adjacent room.

The sound of Markle’s body smashing through brick and mortar echoed across the battlefield. Lyra turned without a trace of concern, catching a knife aimed at her back without even looking.

With a flick of her wrist, she embedded the blade in the wall beside another pirate’s head.

The knife’s hilt quivered as it sank deep into the wall. The pirate froze, his face draining of color as he swallowed hard.

Lyra’s icy smile remained. "Who’s next?"

Markle stared at the trembling knife embedded in the wall, his defiance draining completely. He raised his hands in defeat, his tone bitter but resigned. "I lost."

Groaning, he pushed himself upright, clutching his aching back as he stepped out of the hole in the wall. Lyra, unbothered, smoothed her slightly disheveled hair and adjusted the hem of her skirt with deliberate poise.

One of her attendants quickly set up a chair for her. Lyra sat down with elegant composure, crossing her legs as she addressed the room. "No hard feelings. I’ll coordinate with the Wolf Fangs and let you know where the boundaries will be."

Broken Blade’s servant cautiously placed the table back in its spot, clearly trying to avoid triggering further chaos. Markle scowled but couldn’t resist adding a warning. "Just so you know—Gino is tougher than either of us."

He cast a sidelong glance at Gino’s relaxed projection avatar, but to everyone’s surprise, the avatar let out a lazy yawn. "No need to hunt me down, young miss. Take your claim."

Markle, still smarting from his own humiliation, glared at Gino’s indifference. "You haven’t even fought yet, and you’re already giving up?"

"Troublesome," Gino muttered with a shrug, rubbing his eyes as though bored. "Voidstar No. 1 could use another level nine. Keeps the military wary. Besides, I’m more interested in what Freya said about tracking down Lyra."

At this, the other two’ attention sharpened, curiosity flickering in their eyes.

Lyra didn’t waste the opening. "Then let’s head to the outer void immediately. The Legion of Everglow only has twenty thousand troops—we can handle them together."

"But their soldiers are all level three or higher," Markle countered, exchanging a wary glance with Broken Blade. Years of rivalry made their silent communication swift and clear.

The problem was unspoken yet understood: even if they could win, the cost in lives and resources would be steep. In alliances like theirs, self-preservation often undermined unity.

Gino, sensing the tension, smirked. "Better to let her come to Voidstar No. 1."

Lyra raised a skeptical brow. "She’s not a fool. Why would she walk into a trap?"

Gino leaned back, a cunning glint in his half-closed eyes. "According to my sources, the military has ordered Lyra to deploy here by the end of the month. She’ll come—she has no choice."

Lyra’s grip on her cup tightened imperceptibly, though her expression remained serene. This information was supposed to be top secret, precisely to prevent ambushes.

The implication was clear: spies were embedded within both the Alliance and the pirate factions. Worse still, it suggested someone was targeting her specifically.

Lyra lowered her lashes as she placed the cup down with deliberate grace. "Then we’ll wait for her. Military deployments usually bring plenty of resources. How should we divide the spoils?"

Her question cut through the room like a blade.

Broken Blade was the first to respond, her smile sharp. "We haven’t even caught her yet, and you’re already dividing the loot?"

Lyra’s lips curled into a smug grin. "Just making sure no one forgets."

Her playful tone sent a chill through her subordinates, who exchanged uneasy glances behind her.

This version of Lyra—lighthearted, almost flirtatious—was so unlike her usual cold, ruthless self that it left them thoroughly unsettled. Another day of this charade, and they might cringe themselves into oblivion.

The negotiations settled, Freya rose gracefully and gestured for her men to follow. The pirate leaders watched her departure, tension lingering in the room like a storm cloud.

When Lyra was gone, the remaining three leaders sat in silence for a long moment. Finally, Broken Blade turned to Gino, her eyes narrowed. "What do you think?"

"She’s strong," Gino said, his tone as casual as ever.

"You know that’s not I mean," Broken Blade snapped. "Is she Lyra or not?"

The timing was far too suspicious—a level-nine appearing just as the military prepared to deploy Lyra? It didn’t add up.

Unfazed, Gino waved off the suggestion. "I’ve never heard of Venus’ Seashells, and from the outer surveillance feeds, Lyra is clearly outside Voidstar No. 1, scouting for openings. Besides..." He trailed off, his gaze turning contemplative. "Her hands and skin—smooth, uncalloused. Not the hands of someone who’s trained for years in combat. It’s probably just coincidence."

Broken Blade didn’t look convinced. She pulled up a holographic feed on her opticomputer, playing a short clip. "Take a look at this. Her subordinates, left behind in that village."

Gino glanced indifferently at the footage but froze mid-movement. His expression darkened, his earlier nonchalance disappearing completely.