Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 346: A Legion of Weapons for Her

Chapter 346: A Legion of Weapons for Her

The once-vast fleet that filled the skies gradually receded into the distance, becoming a thin line of dark silhouettes before disappearing beyond the horizon.

Now assuming the role of the highest-ranking officer, Robin led the regiment commanders to officially hand over command to Cohen.

Cohen, however, was utterly stunned. "She left all of you... under my command? What is that supposed to mean?" His voice faltered, his expression darkening before he suddenly shouted, "Are you telling me Lyra went into outer space alone?!"

As the realization sank in, his face grew increasingly grim.

"Sir," Robin said, offering a crisp salute, "all personnel are accounted for. I will now take my leave." He cast a fleeting glance at the soldiers of the Legion of Everglow.

"Hold it right there!" Cohen barked, halting him. "Where do you think you’re going? Don’t even think about following her recklessness!"

Lyra might have the privilege of being audacious, but her soldiers did not.

Robin and Caleb, however, showed no signs of hesitating. Much to Cohen’s frustration, his current duties left him unable to pursue them.

Back at the base, Zinnia greeted Robin and Caleb with a cheerful wave as they arrived. "Finally! We’ve been waiting for you two."

...

Meanwhile, in outer space, a massive black hole yawned ominously between the former position of Mercy and Elden Prime.

At its core lay the monstrous Phelixes, unmoving, his many eyes closed as if in slumber.

His primal instincts had taken over entirely. The gravitational void relentlessly dragged nearby celestial bodies toward Elden Prime, which itself was being inexorably drawn closer to the black hole.

Lyra didn’t act hastily. Instead, she made her way to the flagship’s command room, where she found familiar faces seated at the table—the Alliance Military Council.

In the face of such an unprecedented threat, even the council’s most seasoned members had abandoned their rear positions to be here.

This was a moment that demanded bold decisions—there would be no second chances.

Their expressions collectively darkened when they saw her enter.

"Rear Admiral Shedd," Frederick, seated at the head of the table, addressed her. "Why aren’t you commanding your legion? What are you doing here?"

Lyra gestured casually toward a nearby guard. "Bring me a chair."

The guard saluted and returned with a chair, which Lyra dragged over to the horseshoe-shaped table. Taking a seat, she fixed her gaze on the council members. "You already have a plan, don’t you? Another voice in the mix won’t change much."

Her tone and posture made it clear she was well aware of their intentions.

Frederick frowned and glanced at the opticomputer. "You left the Legion of Everglow planetside?"

Leaning back comfortably, Lyra responded nonchalantly, "That’s right. If they came here, they’d just be walking into a massacre. No point in adding to the death toll."

At her words, the council exchanged subtle, unreadable glances.

...

Before long, the black hole—stretching thousands of miles across—became visible even to the naked eye.

Frederick activated live satellite footage, revealing an array of cutting-edge weaponry deployed on the frontlines.

These weapons were strikingly similar to those used by the Legion of Everglow, though their designs lacked the ornate engravings and polished craftsmanship, likely due to rushed production.

When the first of these weapons were completed, Frederick had covertly reassigned soldiers from various legions to train with them. Now, these troops stood at the forefront, their confidence evident.

Leandro shot a glance at Lyra, searching for any hint of a reaction. But her expression remained unreadable. It was obvious she had foreseen this development.

What baffled them most was why Lyra, fully aware of the council’s strategy, had chosen to stay.

...

Emerging from the black hole was a relentless swarm of Stellar Devourers, their numbers resembling an unending stream of ants spilling from a hive. Their sheer presence sent a wave of unease through the allied forces.

Frederick had no time to address Lyra’s defiance. His focus was singular as he barked out orders. "Artillery, prepare to fire!"

"Fire!" At his command, 6,000 cannons adjusted their aim.

A wall of light, spanning nearly ten kilometers, surged forward, colliding with the advancing Stellar Devourers.

Westros furrowed his brows deeply, but just as the beams of light streaked toward the Stellar Devourers, his tense expression suddenly eased.

The green energy struck the swarm, prompting a wave of premature cheers from the Alliance forces. Relief rippled through the ranks.

Lyra, however, scanned Admiral Sparks and the other senior officers gripping their comm devices, a mocking smirk playing at her lips.

When the energy dissipated, the Stellar Devourers stood untouched. Their defensive barriers faded as confusion rippled through their ranks. "What just happened?"

It was as though nothing at all had occurred.

"Hah! Are humans celebrating their doom with fireworks?" a voice mocked.

The fleeting joy of the Alliance forces melted into confusion, quickly giving way to dread.

Frederick responded swiftly, ordering attacks using fighter jets, mechas, and sniper rifles—all to no avail.

"But the weapons worked perfectly during testing!" someone cried in frustration.

"Yeah! Their attack power was off the charts! Why are they useless now?" another chimed in.

"Sir, what’s going on?" All eyes turned to Frederick, their expressions pleading for answers.

Frederick’s gaze shifted sharply to Lyra. "Were the schematics and weapons fake?"

"They’re real," Lyra replied coldly, her tone like a cutting blade. "And your production process was flawless."

Then, without letting the tension linger, she scoffed. "The only problem is that these weapons can only be activated by me."

Her words sent a wave of shock through the room. Ignoring their darkening expressions, Lyra stepped into a lightweight mecha suit and onto the lift platform, rising to a position just outside the cockpit.

...

With arms outstretched, her fingers moved with the precision of a concert pianist performing an electrifying symphony.

Blinding energy surged from her body, pouring into the weapons’ energy cores.

The sheer scale of the energy transfer quickly depleted her reserves. Just as the strain reached its zenith, a stunning wave of energy rippled through the cosmos.

From the void of space, a faintly glowing arc of violet light emerged.

A colossal dragon roared into existence. Though sound could not travel in space, its aura alone was deafening, sending tremors through all who witnessed it.

"Defensive positions, now!" panicked soldiers cried out.

"Wait!" Leandro shouted, halting them. "That’s Lyra’s pet!"

Frederick cast him a skeptical glance but reluctantly signaled the troops to stand down.

...

The dragon, once a wyrm that Leandro had encountered long ago, now exuded a commanding, overwhelming presence.

Lyra landed gracefully atop its head, spreading her hands wide before thrusting them forward.

Instantly, countless advanced weapons of elastic metal responded to her command, swarming to her side like loyal knights.

She patted the dragon’s head, and he surged forward, carrying her toward the Stellar Devourers.

The weapons followed in perfect formation, a lethal, synchronized battalion.

At her command, her fingers danced, unleashing an awe-inspiring barrage of energy.

The Stellar Devourers, who had moments earlier been mocking humanity, suddenly wore expressions of alarm, scrambling to raise their defenses.

Yet, in a single exchange, their barriers crumbled, and their forms disintegrated under the blinding light.

Charred husks and black smoke were all that remained, quickly consumed by the black hole’s pull.

Freed from immediate danger, Westros waved decisively. "Advance!"

Around Lyra, tens of thousands of weapons moved as if alive, adjusting, charging, and firing with flawless precision.

Standing atop the massive level-nine dragon, Lyra exuded a serene yet fearsome authority. Her small figure radiated a power so intense it made even the Stellar Devourers hesitate.

Inwardly, she felt a twinge of gratitude toward the Alliance. Without their preparation of these weapons, she couldn’t imagine how much longer she’d have been forced to fight alone.

...

It was only then that Frederick understood. All his meticulous scheming to acquire weapon schematics and blueprints had ultimately served to amplify her strength.

This had been Lyra’s plan all along.

She had even ventured into the far reaches of space to stage a diversion, giving him just enough room to seize what he thought was an advantage.

Yet as he watched the Stellar Devourers fall, one after another, unable to penetrate her impenetrable defenses, Frederick found he wasn’t angry.

The Stellar Devourers’ numbers dwindled rapidly. However, among the experimental creatures were a handful of level-nine Peculiars with extraordinary powers.

They began breaking through the defenses, destroying several weapons in the process.

Frederick’s voice rang out decisively. "Prepare to coordinate with Lyra! Launch a full-scale attack!"