Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 61: Sorren’s Death

Chapter 61: Sorren’s Death

"Sis Marv! If you don’t want your guy here to bite the dust, you’d better come quietly," Bengal snarled, his right hand shifting into a massive tiger’s claw as he gripped Sorren by the throat.

Sorren’s legs wobbled, his gaze full of hope as he looked at Lyra. "B-boss, you should run!"

But she stayed still, as if she was unsure.

The masked woman next to them let out a mocking laugh. "Sis Marv, really? You’re just gonna ditch a loyal subordinate like that?"

"Pffft," A soft chuckle slipped from Lyra’s lips, her eyes gleaming with a mix of sarcasm and pity as she eyed Sorren. "Sorren, nobody knows how Dispersal Agents smells better than I do. Nice try to make a new water bottle just for the plan."

The second she exposed his betrayal, Sorren knew he was done for.

Green light ribbons appeared behind Lyra, just like they had when she first stepped out of that metal egg years ago—dazzling, bold, and icy cold.

She’d spared him once, but this time—

With a sickening squelch, he blinked in shock at the hole in his chest, where that green light had just vanished, now replaced by a spray of blood.

"B-boss... I messed up."

"F*ck you, Sis Marv! You really are heartless." Bengal tossed the now worthless pawn aside and jerked his head towards his men. "Get her!"

If playing nice didn’t work, they’d have to force her hand.

But with her flexible metal armor, Lyra could hold her own against an eighth-level beast. No way were they bringing her down.

In a flash, the silver-armored figure disappeared into the dense jungle behind them.

"After her!"

...

Meanwhile, Jorath sped toward them on a hoverboard, leading a crew. "The second you spot Lyra, grab her and bring her straight to me!"

This time, he wasn’t messing around. He’d brought the butler, some guards, and even his father’s right-hand man, a sixth-level Peculiar. He was determined to make sure she didn’t get out alive!

In the forest, where life should have been buzzing, not a single insect could be heard.

Suddenly, a flash of bright silver cut through the green.

The butler barely had time to shout, "Watch out!" before Jorath was yanked off his hoverboard and slammed into a tree branch.

"Mr. Kering!"

The group quickly surrounded the tree, sealing off every possible exit. The butler took a quick, cautious look at the armored figure, then shouted, "Who are you? Why did you grab him?"

Those eyes peeking through the helmet looked all too familiar. Her voice was calm as she replied, "Weren’t you after me?"

Jorath recognized that voice. "So it’s you, Lyra! Still up to your old tricks, huh?" He barked orders at the others, "What are you waiting for? Get her—ahh!"

He stared in horror at the spike that had pierced his right elbow.

"Stop!" The butler and adjutant panicked, throwing up their hands. "What do you want? Just name it, but don’t hurt him."

But those words felt hollow now. They’d tried to kill her, and now they wanted mercy?

They couldn’t imagine what would happen if Jorath died right there.

"You’re a military academy student. You know that if you kill someone, you can kiss your military career goodbye. You’ll probably spend the rest of your life in prison."

The adjutant stepped forward, trying to reason with her. "Do you even realize who he is?"

"The famous Shedd family member. I’m well aware."

Her voice was cool, showing no fear at all.

But the adjutant couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that a military academy student wouldn’t fear the Shedd family. Yet, what Lyra did next made his blood run cold.

She drove her blade through Jorath’s left elbow, making his face drain of color. The pain finally sunk in, fear creeping in with it.

Still, Jorath clung to the belief that with two sixth-level protectors by his side, he was safe. "Lyra, if you kill me, you’re finished. I suggest you just—ahh!"

His words were cut off as she pierced his right knee.

The adjutant’s pupils shook with terror. "Stop, please stop!"

Just as he frantically searched for a way out, he heard the rustle of leaves, signaling someone’s approach. ’Does she have backup?’

"Sis Marv, why aren’t you running?" Bengal and his men had caught up, freezing in shock at the sight before them.

"You... you’re space pirates!" The adjutant’s eyes widened in disbelief. What was happening?

He reached for his communicator, only to find the signal was jammed.

"It seems everyone’s here." Lyra hoisted the bloodied Jorath with one hand. "Want to save him? Kill these pirates for me, and I’ll make sure the military rewards you handsomely."

They had been played.

But how?

As they lunged at the pirates, the butler and adjutant still couldn’t grasp how they had been duped.

Lyra propped Jorath up against a tree, watching the fierce battle unfold just yards away.

Blood splattered, screams echoed, and the sound of clashing weapons filled the air.

Massive trees toppled and burned, flames roaring under the blazing sun.

She removed her mecha, sitting down beside Jorath. Then she grabbed a handful of his hair, and whispered, "Why do you keep making the mistake of crossing paths with me?"

Her tone, though soft and regretful, carried a bone-chilling edge.

Jorath remained in a daze as the battle finally ended.

Despite having advanced weapons and two sixth-level fighters, only the adjutant was left alive; the butler had fallen in the fight.

The adjutant clutched the lifeless Bengal, blood blinding him as he gasped for breath. He then threw the body aside. "Let him go."

"Thank you for your assistance." Lyra, now appearing fragile without her armor, lifted Jorath and floated down to the adjutant on her flexible metal board. "I’m not strong enough to handle everyone myself. Luckily, you were here to help."

In Jorath’s blood-soaked vision, Lyra’s face, pale as death, came sharply into focus.

The adjutant, hailing from the main Shedd family, felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He released Bengal’s corpse and began to back away slowly, as if he were staring at a devil. "You... you’re Lyra Shedd!"

"Yes, I’m glad you still remember me."

The adjutant watched in horror as Lyra tossed Jorath aside. Then she slipped on a pair of gloves, and threw a signal jammer to the ground. After doing all that she picked up a dagger from Bengal’s waist.

Jorath, still clueless, kept yelling at the adjutant to kill her. "What are you waiting for? Get her!"

The battered adjutant hesitated for a moment. If he captured her, surely General Shedd would reward him handsomely... His eyes flashed with newfound resolve.

But before he could act, his vision blurred, and an icy dagger was buried deep in his chest.

Lyra twisted the blade twice, then shoved the adjutant’s body away, dropping the weapon beside Bengal.

As life slipped away from him, the adjutant crumpled to his knees, whispering three final words, "Miss Lyra Shedd..."

With a dull thud, his body hit the ground, the sound striking Jorath like a hammer, snapping him out of his stupor.

’What did he say? Miss Lyra Shedd?’

’LYRA SHEDD?’

As Lyra slowly floated down in front of Jorath, her face finally clicked with a distant, foggy memory. Jorath began to shake, his voice trembling as he stammered, "Cou... Cousin Lyra?"

At that moment, all the questions that had haunted him no longer mattered.

"Good boy." Lyra crouched on the hoverboard, gently patting his head as if he were a misbehaving child. "It’s only been a few years since I last had to teach you a lesson, and you still haven’t learned."

Jorath felt himself being hoisted by the collar, and the terrifying memory of being turned into an snowman rushed back, making him cry out in panic, "Cousin Lyra, I was wrong! I promise I’ll never do it again!"

As the coastline drew nearer, his cries grew more desperate.

"Too late," Lyra muttered.

With those icy words, she hurled him into the churning sea below.

Struggling to keep his head above water, he barely had time to gasp before the massive jaws of a beast rose from the depths and swallowed him whole.