Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 338: The Fallen Planet

Chapter 338: The Fallen Planet

The entirety of Snowfall was succumbing to the black hole’s relentless pull. Its immense gravity even unsettled Vern, whose composure rarely wavered. The overwhelming force made his scalp tingle with unease.

"Rear Admiral Shedd, we’re relying on you! There are still three ships at the spaceport that haven’t launched!" Vern, abandoning his usual air of superiority as a senior Peculiar, called out with urgency, his tone stripped of its usual formalities.

Lyra, locked in combat with Westros, delivered a forceful kick that sent him staggering.

Pressing a hand to her earpiece, she barked, "Converge at the spaceport! Prepare for evacuation!" Without hesitation, she disengaged from the fight.

Westros wasn’t about to let her go so easily. He moved to pursue, but suddenly faltered. His black armor began to disintegrate, and a pained voice echoed in his mind.

"I won’t let you harm her," came Phelixes’ tortured tone.

At that moment, the other Stellar Devourers also felt their link to the black hole weaken. Even Westros hesitated, his cold gaze following Lyra’s retreat.

"Hmph," he muttered disdainfully. "What’s the point of fighting now?"

...

At the spaceport, the remaining ships had stalled in mid-air, struggling against the black hole’s gravitational pull. Below them, Snowfall itself crumbled.

The planet’s crust shattered, the mantle disintegrated, and even the vibrant new growth of leaves and grass withered to dust in an instant.

Rivers evaporated, mountains collapsed, and countless beasts were silently swept into oblivion.

The planet resembled a fragile egg being peeled apart layer by layer by the monstrous black hole. Even light seemed to fade, leaving behind only a suffocating void.

Ships, fighter jets, and mechas strained against the pull, inching toward escape. Inside the vessels, survivors clutched one another, terror evident in their wide eyes.

Outside, stranded creatures howled in desperation, their cries swallowed by the encroaching darkness.

The sky offered only a faint sliver of light—a fleeting promise of survival.

Just as annihilation seemed inevitable, a brilliant green light pierced the void. It surged upward, carving a narrow path through the black hole’s oppressive darkness.

The radiance expanded outward, forming a protective halo around the ships and the creatures below.

In the command center, Dessel roared, "Follow her lead!"

Lyra stood at the edge of the rift, her figure illuminated by the glow of her lightweight mecha. She was a solitary beacon in the void, holding back the tide of destruction and illuminating a path to salvation.

From the ships, survivors like Serena pressed themselves against the windows, gazing at Lyra. From a distance, she was no more than a speck of light, yet she carried the hopes of everyone aboard.

Serena clenched her fists, longing for the strength Lyra wielded. ’If only I had her courage...’

The ships began to open their cargo holds, offering sanctuary to the beasts incapable of space travel. Inside the cramped vessels, humans and non-human creatures—species driven to near extinction by the Stellar Devourers—shared the same desperate refuge.

Uneasy glances were exchanged, but the need for survival outweighed all else.

Amid the cold void of space and the looming threat of the black hole, humanity’s deep-seated responsibility for order and coexistence shone through.

...

At the rear of the fleet, Lyra lingered. She watched as Snowfall transformed from a vibrant world into little more than dust, a heavy weight settling over her heart.

From the black hole, Phelixes’ face emerged, twisted by madness. Across the vast emptiness of space, he extended his left hand toward her.

Though his right hand was dominant, the left was closer to his hollow heart—a heart he, as a Stellar Devourer, did not truly possess. It was a gesture devoid of sincerity, as empty as his existence.

Without hesitation, Lyra turned away. The gap she had held open sealed shut behind her, cutting off the void entirely.

...

Meanwhile, on Elden Prime, news of the Stellar Devourers’ encroachment forced the population into underground shelters guarded by military forces.

Evacuation plans were in place, ready to launch at the first sign of defeat.

In the shelters, distinctions of rank and status dissolved. Superiors and subordinates, corporate executives and janitors—everyone faced the same shared terror.

The air was heavy with fear, etched into tear-streaked faces and whispered prayers for survival.

Above ground, the Central City, once bustling with life, was silent. Empty streets and an oppressive stillness mirrored the dread in the hearts of those below.

The city stood frozen, a monument to the fragility of hope against the shadow of annihilation.

On Elden Prime, Zinnia, Robin, and other key defenders took strategic positions atop the skyscrapers in major cities. Around them, soldiers spread out in concentric defensive formations, braced for the impending assault.

"It won’t be long before the war arrives here," Zinnia murmured, her hand gliding along the sleek surface of the photon-powered intercontinental cannon beside her. "Raj, if you’re watching, keep me, Tammy, and Lyra safe."

Her quiet reflection vanished when the first black hole appeared on the horizon. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as she snapped down her electronic visor.

"Oasis City. Coordinates E29.9451, N31.7431. Black hole detected. Begin firing sequence. Fighter and sniper divisions, prepare for engagement."

The massive cannon adjusted its aim in response to her command.

With a decisive press of the firing button, it unleashed a concentrated green beam that shot across the sky, striking the black hole at its core.

Echoing screams followed the strike, but relief was short-lived as more black holes opened, releasing waves of Stellar Devourers and experimental subjects that descended like an unstoppable storm.

"Switch to isolation mode," Zinnia ordered, her voice sharp.

Across the planet, similar commands were issued. In seconds, a vast green defensive net unfolded over Elden Prime, its luminous strands cutting the Stellar Devourers’ connection to the black holes.

The cannon recalibrated, angling upward to release another volley.

The bursts of green energy ascended like fireworks, forming a protective canopy over Oasis City.

The Stellar Devourers halted, momentarily stunned as they realized their link to the black holes had been severed.

That moment of disarray was all the Master Peculiars and Supreme Peculiars needed. Stationed throughout the cities, they struck with deadly precision.

The Stellar Devourers, stripped of their access to black hole energy, were now vulnerable to the Legion of Everglow’s specialized weapons.

Weaker Stellar Devourers were quickly overwhelmed by coordinated sniper fire, aerial assaults, and Peculiar-led ground offensives. The tide of battle began to turn.

This scene unfolded across Elden Prime, as green energy lit the skies above embattled cities, creating beacons of resistance.

...

At the Alliance Military Council Headquarters, Frederick monitored live feeds from the frontlines.

One by one, the screens displayed scenes of Stellar Devourers falling, cities holding strong, and the Legion’s defensive tactics proving effective.

Officers around him sighed in relief. "It’s a good thing the Legion of Everglow had countermeasures ready."

But Frederick’s expression remained tense, his brow furrowed. "They’ve had this solution for some time, yet they didn’t share it with us earlier. What were they planning?"

Leaning against the wall, Valeria snuffed out her cigarette with a scoff. "Isn’t it obvious? She doesn’t trust us. After what we’ve put her through, of course she’s keeping some cards close to her chest."

Frederick glanced at her, his tone steady but firm. "You’re underestimating her."

Valeria’s smirk turned wry, a flicker of mockery in her gaze. "Maybe. Or maybe you’re overestimating her."

Frederick didn’t respond, his focus returning to the battle reports.

...

The battle raged on, a dazzling spectacle of superpowers clashing across the skies and earth. Blood stained the ground as once-thriving cities crumbled into ruins within moments.

Near Oasis City, a group of Stellar Devourers zeroed in on Zinnia, recognizing the cannon’s pivotal role in the defense.

They launched a coordinated assault, descending toward her position in a deadly formation.

Before they could reach her, the cannon roared, releasing a green beam that pierced through their bodies.

Agonized screams filled the air as the energy swelled within them, causing their forms to burst apart in grotesque explosions.

From the edge of a black hole, Westros emerged just in time to witness the carnage. His face twisted in rage. "We need a plan—before she fully awakens."

He barked an order into his earpiece, demanding a status update on Phelixes’ location. The reply was filled with frustration.

"Phelixes is refusing to pass through the dimensional corridor! He’s clinging to what little sanity he has left!"

Westros’ expression darkened further. "Fine. Then we deal with Iskandor first." A sneer curled his lips. "Helping the humans... such pitiful naivety."

...

In a hidden chamber on Elden Prime, Iskandor stood with Lyra, Dessel, and other commanders, deep in strategic discussion.

As they debated their next move, Iskandor suddenly froze mid-sentence.

"Admiral Iskandor?" Dessel stepped forward, concern evident in his voice.

Before he could act, Lyra grabbed his arm and yanked him back.

A split second later, Iskandor’s chest collapsed inward, forming a swirling black vortex.