Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 88: Running Out Of Power

Chapter 88: Running Out Of Power

The group pressed on eastward, moving through the flat, open terrain created by the mountains looming over Mine No. 7.

"No obstacles ahead—speed up!" The driver’s voice crackled through the headsets, urging everyone to return to the vehicle.

The team scrambled to get back on board. Lyra stayed up top, ready to provide cover, while Kail positioned himself at the rear, helping the others climb back in.

Of the ten vehicles that initially set out, only six had made it back. The loss weighed heavily on the convoy, a somber reminder of what they’d already endured.

Midway through the journey, they came across the third team, led by Robin. They merged into a larger convoy, which sparked a flicker of hope.

As they drew nearer to the mountain range where Mine No. 7 lay, their spirits lifted.

The mountains, with peaks reaching up to 4,000 meters, towered above them, forcing everyone to crane their necks just to take in the sight.

Some of the larger vehicles couldn’t handle the steep incline, so they were parked under a cliff, carefully hidden among jagged rocks to protect the valuable equipment inside. Resources were scarce on this alien world, and every bit of gear was essential.

The mechas and technical staff took the lead, scaling the hundred-meter cliff first and dropping a soft ladder for the rest. The rest of the team climbed up quickly, weapons ready.

Above them, flying beasts circled, but they didn’t attack.

"What’s going on?" Kogar muttered, uneasy despite the lull.

"It’s the second team!" someone shouted. Through the sparse group of beasts, three armored trucks appeared, kicking up clouds of dust as they barreled forward.

Thierry, standing atop one truck, used his powers to crush the attacking beasts. Zinnia, in golden armor, smashed through them, leaving the truck splattered with blood. Vivian summoned a water barrier, shielding the driver’s cabin.

The soldiers fought fiercely, using mechas and small jeeps, but their condition was worse than the first team’s. Less than half of them had survived, and even their squad leader had fallen.

With a grim look, Kogar commanded, "Help them!" He then activated his communicator. "We’re on the cliff to the southeast, come this way!"

The team sprang into action, setting up their weapons and lowering the ladder. Zinnia spotted them quickly. "It’s Lyra!"

"Focus!" Thierry, looking pale, pulled her back down. "There’s a ton of beasts below—hold on!"

The armored truck plowed through the scattered beasts like a battering ram. Some of the creatures were so tough that the truck swerved wildly. The sharp turn almost sent Vivian flying off the roof, but Zinnia grabbed her just in time.

Finally, they reached the base of the cliff. The technical staff climbed up first, while the others held off the beasts. The creatures, large and grotesque, swarmed the truck, their numbers overwhelming.

Out of nowhere, a long tail lashed out, snatching a soldier from Legion Glory and tearing him to shreds in seconds.

Zinnia, nerves on edge, kicked a beast’s claw off the ladder as it tried to climb. "Climb faster!" Cuss shouted, his voice hoarse, urging the techs to hurry.

But the technicians, their skills more suited to labs than battlefields, were paralyzed with fear. Fireballs and hailstones pelted them as they clung to the ladder. Some of them were even too terrified to move; they sobbed as one was struck by a fireball and fell into the beastly horde below.

Kogar, realizing the grim reality, ordered the remaining techs hiding behind the cliff to pull up the ladder. But fear kept them rooted in place. They huddled together, unwilling to risk their lives to save anyone.

"I’ve had enough!" Vivian yelled. Her voice was laced with frustration as she kicked at the beasts below while climbing the soft ladder. "Why am I risking my life for these weaklings?"

Just then, Lyra appeared at the edge of the cliff. She sent down several green light bands that wrapped around those stranded below, lifting them to safety.

"Your superpower really comes in handy," Phillip commented, firing his rocket launcher with precision.

The beasts below were hit, but the distance was too great for Phillip to take out many at once, and Lyra could only carry a few people at a time.

Lyra worked quickly, rescuing all the technical staff. "Let’s go!" Cuss, the leader, shouted.

"Let the wounded go first! I can hold them off!" Zinnia called out without looking back.

"I’m with you!" Thierry added, ready to fight.

Cuss, teeth clenched, barked, "Wounded first! We can’t lose anyone. You two, stay behind me!"

The leader of the Legion Skywalkers glanced at the ladder, a shadow of something dark crossing his face.

Despite their injuries, the soldiers moved fast. Finally, it was the turn of those at the rear to climb.

"Go!" They started up the ladder, stepping on the heads of the beasts below. But midway up, the ladder was suddenly yanked from the cliff by the beasts!

Seeing this, Lyra quickly extended her light bands again. The leader of the Legion Skywalkers reached out, trying to grab one, but the green light band wrapped around Thierry, Zinnia, and Cuss instead.

Fury flashed in his eyes as he glared up at Lyra. He was about to shout something, but then he felt a grip around his waist.

For a brief moment, he thought he was being saved—until he looked down and saw it was a thick tail.

"Help—ah!" His scream was cut short as the tail crushed him, tearing him to pieces in an instant.

After pulling the last three people to safety, Lyra slumped down on a rock, panting heavily.

Zorion pushed through the crowd, his face twisted with anger. "Why didn’t you save him? You could’ve lifted five people at once. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!"

Lyra narrowed her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "I ran out of power."

"Let’s see if that’s true!" Zorion moved to attack her, but Kogar grabbed his wrist before he could strike. "Zorion, are you questioning Legion Glory’s honor?"

Thierry quickly stepped in to defend her, "Lyra didn’t save him because she couldn’t, and I’m sure she feels awful about it."

’Not really,’ Lyra thought to herself.

Zinnia, ever blunt, shot back, "Why didn’t you save your own men? Why are you blaming her?"

Zorion’s face twitched with barely controlled rage as he glared at her with open hostility.

"Enough!" Phillip snapped, pulling a trembling technician forward. "Get in touch with the base. Find out when the rescue team is coming."

If it weren’t for the general’s orders, Phillip would’ve taken off in his mecha long ago.

As the technician hurried to contact the base, Phillip stared up at the towering mountains. He silently hoped they wouldn’t be left to fend for themselves.

"The base replied. The rescue team is already on their way. The general and two Lieutenant Commanders are leading them. They plan to clear out some of the beasts first, so we need to find a safe place to wait."

The rescue team was still thirty hours away, even by aircraft. Their arrival wouldn’t be immediate, and for them, there were more crucial personnel at the base—experts and technicians—who couldn’t be put at risk by the beasts.

Saving this group was now a lower priority.

Despair settled over the group once more. Their particle guns and mecha were nearly drained of energy, and other weapons were running low. The armored trucks had been shredded by the beasts’ claws.

How were they supposed to survive?