Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 343: Legion of the Long Night

Chapter 343: Legion of the Long Night

Valeria scanned the room sharply, her grim expression silencing the murmurs of dissent. "This isn’t the time to kick someone while they’re down. If even Lyra can’t handle the Stellar Devourer, what do you think we’re going to do?"

Her pointed words cut through the tension, leaving an uneasy quiet in their wake.

Leandro nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Rear Admiral Shedd’s fleet was only caught off guard this time. In the end, we’ll still need her."

Ronin sneered, his disdain unmistakable. "Rely on her? Don’t make me laugh. The fact remains—she lost."

Bitterness edged her tone, the sting of his own disappointments fueling her derision. Secretly, she had hoped Lyra wouldn’t survive her mission.

Despite the divided opinions, an undercurrent of anxiety united them. The looming threat of the Stellar Devourer hung over the room like a storm cloud, leaving even the skeptics unsure of their next move.

Frederick stepped forward, his calm, authoritative voice breaking the uneasy silence. "I’ve already devised a countermeasure. If you’ll allow me to explain..."

As Frederick laid out his plan, the council members leaned in, their expressions shifting from skepticism to wide-eyed astonishment.

Valeria and Leandro exchanged glances, the magnitude of his strategy leaving them speechless.

"For now, this plan must remain confidential," Frederick concluded. "When the Empire’s admiral arrives, we will formally launch an offensive against the Stellar Devourer."

While the Alliance Military Council pressed ahead with their preparations, Lyra remained at the base, leading the battered remnants of the Legion of Everglow.

Though the soldiers followed her orders without hesitation, their lingering fear of the Stellar Devourer’s superpower-extracting machine fed quiet grumblings of discontent.

In the dim light of the command room, Lyra and Mandy were reviewing the battle’s aftermath.

"How much did we lose?" Lyra asked in a subdued tone.

Mandy consulted her datapad. "In space, 635 starfighters destroyed, 1,248 damaged. On the ground, two intercontinental high-energy cannons were lost."

"Two cannons?" Zinnia interjected, frowning. "How did that happen?"

Intercontinental high-energy cannons were cutting-edge technology, difficult to manufacture and usually impervious to Stellar Devourer assaults.

"It was Aurelius’ regiment," Mandy replied. "The Stellar Devourer attacked Elden Prime, creating black holes underground. The cannons weren’t the only losses—we also lost several starfighters and sniper rifles."

Lyra’s gaze darkened. "What about the wreckage?"

"All recovered," Mandy assured her. She understood the critical importance of keeping their advanced technology out of enemy hands.

"Good," Lyra said quietly. "Should we send it for repairs?"

"Yes," Mandy confirmed as Lyra turned toward the nearby warehouse.

"I’ll handle the recharging," Lyra said over her shoulder.

Moments later, a vibrant green glow filled the storage area.

From a distance, Zinnia watched with a furrowed brow. "Lyra’s health hasn’t been good for a while. Won’t overusing her superpower make things worse?"

Mandy hesitated before replying steadily, "She knows her limits."

After securing the damaged equipment into her Space Button, Mandy left instructions for Lyra to rest before departing to deliver the items.

The locations of the repair factories remained a mystery, even to trusted allies like Zinnia.

True to Lyra’s cautious methods, the facilities were kept secret, even from thorough searches conducted by Chuck, who had combed every corner of Elden Prime.

As the days passed, urgency continued to mount.

Phelixes drew ever closer to Elden Prime.

Factories worked day and night, striving to produce new weapons before the main Stellar Devourer fleet arrived.

Then, Iskandor returned.

He appeared frail, barely able to stand. His once-pale skin had become nearly translucent, making his ice-blue eyes gleam with an unnatural intensity.

But it wasn’t just his appearance that seized everyone’s attention—it was the news he carried.

"Humanity’s survival is at stake," Iskandor rasped, his voice hoarse but resolute. "I’ve made contact with the leader of the Legion of the Long Night. He has agreed to join us in battle."

The council chamber fell into stunned silence.

From her seat in the shadowed corner, Lyra narrowed her eyes, their dark depths glinting with a dangerous light.

As the news settled, a storm of voices erupted across the room.

"The Legion of the Long Night? Aren’t they just space pirates?"

"A rabble of misfits. How can we trust them to fight alongside us?"

"What if they’re just taking advantage of the chaos to grab the spoils for themselves?"

The skepticism was palpable.

Seated beside Frederick, Iskandor, though frail, exuded an air of authority as he raised his voice to address the concerns. "The Legion of the Long Night has grown significantly in recent years. They’ve moved beyond piracy, refraining from acts of cruelty or senseless destruction.

"In fact, they’ve established control over an entire star domain, effectively making them a nascent human regime rather than mere pirates."

He paused, his piercing ice-blue eyes sweeping the room. "They possess advanced weaponry and a considerable number of Master Peculiars. Even if the Alliance and Empire fall to the Stellar Devourers, the Legion would still stand firm."

After a heavy silence, Iskandor added grimly, "To be blunt, if we fail, they might even celebrate. We’d be the ones begging for their sanctuary."

The uncharted space beyond the Alliance and Empire’s star domains was rife with dangers, including hostile pirate factions.

If the Alliance fell, the Legion might very well be humanity’s last refuge.

This stark reality quieted most objections. How Iskandor had contacted the Legion in the first place seemed irrelevant compared to the weight of the situation.

Breaking the silence, Valeria stepped forward. Her voice carried a note of resolute defiance. "I agree."

At this point, there seemed little to lose.

Raphel, leaning back with a smirk, folded his arms. "The Alliance and Empire combined far outnumber the Legion of the Long Night. If they aren’t afraid of the Stellar Devourer, then why should we be?"

He chuckled lightly. "Besides, we have an Overarching to lead us. I agree too."

Another officer chimed in, nodding. "Admiral Raphel makes a good point. We should accept their goodwill.

Frederick listened intently, weighing the sentiment in the room.

After a moment, he gave his decision. "Invite their leader to Central City for negotiations."

Iskandor’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "They’re already in the atmosphere. They can arrive immediately."

The room fell silent, his foresight eliminating further debate.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Alliance resolved to treat the Legion’s leader with the respect of a governing authority.

A delegation was hastily assembled to receive them.

Valeria and Leandro were chosen as high-ranking representatives, joined by Cohen to represent the Vice Admiral level.

Lyra, as a Rear Admiral, was also included.

At the aerospace port, the delegation stood ready.

Lyra, silent and reserved, kept her gaze lowered. When Iskandor passed her, he cast a fleeting glance in her direction, his expression enigmatic.

Leandro noticed the subtle exchange, a faint frown creasing his forehead. Iskandor’s insistence on this alliance—and his apparent focus on Lyra—stirred unease in him.

However, his musings were cut short.

As the leader of the Legion of the Long Night emerged from their ship, clad in resplendent silver armor, the air itself seemed to shift.

A wave of oppressive pressure swept over the gathered delegation, stealing their breath.

Every gaze turned toward the figure, whose commanding presence seemed to dominate the very atmosphere.

Even the most seasoned officers found themselves momentarily overwhelmed, the weight of the leader’s presence unlike anything they had encountered before.