Chapter 151 Lurking.

Words : 1201 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Lilla and her guards watched as the twins vanished, the silence of the battlefield filling the void they left behind. "What was that about?" Lilla's brother asked, his spear still crackling faintly with residual energy. Lilla stood slowly, brushing the dust off her uniform. Her psychic abilities had drained her significantly, and her breathing was still labored, but her composure remained intact. "I don't know," she admitted, frowning slightly. "But if it's urgent enough for them to leave like that, it must be serious." Her brother nodded, retracting his spear and folding it back into its compact form. "Then we should leave too. It's unwise to linger here. If the Void Assassins regroup or leave traps behind, we'll be sitting ducks." Lilla adjusted her gloves, her sharp eyes scanning the wreckage one last time. "Agreed. Let's fall back to base. There's no point staying here now." She turned to her guards, gesturing for them to move out. The group quickly fell into formation, the two guards flanking her as they began their retreat. Two days before Nyra received the urgent message, Rex and his crew were wrapping up the final day of their camping trip. For most of the rich, spoiled young people aboard the luxury cruiser, the camping experience had been a tedious ordeal. With no extravagant parties, holo-lounges, or lavish distractions, many of the participants found themselves miserable, bored, and counting down the hours to return to their indulgent routines. But for Rex and his crew, things had been different. Thanks to Cleo's resourcefulness and an almost suspiciously well-prepared backpack, her team didn't suffer from a single moment of boredom. Somehow, Cleo had brought along a collection of compact gadgets that fit perfectly into the camping theme without feeling out of place. Portable holographic video game consoles had kept Carlos occupied for hours, while Ys had been enthralled with the mini projector Cleo had set up to play various classic and modern movies. Even Rex, who wasn't usually one to indulge in tech distractions, found himself enjoying the quiet downtime, lazing around and munching on snacks while watching a particularly absurd comedy Ys had insisted on. They had spent the last few days eating, laughing, playing games, and enjoying each other's company, something that had been hard to come by in their normally chaotic lives. As the camp settled into the usual quiet of the late morning, an announcement suddenly rang out, the holographic campsite speakers crackling to life. <<Attention everyone! This is your cute host talking once more! How was the camping? Did you all have fun!?>> The cheerful voice boomed through the speakers, a little too bubbly for some of the tired participants. Rex groaned, pulling a pillow over his head. Carlos let out a laugh, clearly enjoying his suffering. <<I'm here to remind you all that it's time to start packing! In five imperial hours, the transport ships will take off to bring you all back to the cruiser hangar. So, start tidying up those campsites, packing your things, and making your way to the rendezvous point!>> <<And remember, no one wants to be left behind! That's it from me! See you all back on the cruiser!>> The announcement ended with a cheerful chime, and Rex rolled over, groaning as he stretched. "Five hours, huh? Guess it's time to start packing up." "Men are so weird," Ys muttered, though there was an amused smile tugging at her lips. Cleo smirked, crossing her arms. "Weird doesn't even begin to cover it." As Rex and his crew made their way out of the bustling hangar bay, Carlos stretched his arms behind his head, flashing his usual mischievous grin. "So, guys, what are your plans for tonight?" he asked, his tone light and curious. Rex rubbed the back of his neck, his eyelids drooping slightly. "Honestly? I just want to sleep. I miss a real bed. Those camping bags were too damn hot for me," he replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion. Carlos let out a loud laugh, clapping Rex on the shoulder. "Ha! So damn true. I think I'll do the same. Nightclubs are fun and all, but honestly? I'm done flying solo in those places. It's a dangerous game for a guy like me. I go in just wanting to be a normal man... and somehow, I end up doing amazing stuff." He paused dramatically, placing a hand over his chest like a tragic hero. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, baldy," Ys shot back with a smirk, clearly unimpressed. Carlos narrowed his eyes at her, bristling. "Ha? You want to go, pocket-size grandma? I swear it's been a miracle you've kept quiet the past few days. What happened, huh? Did someone finally install a mute button on you?" "That's it—" Ys growled, her green eyes gleaming dangerously as she took a step toward him. "Both of you," Cleo interrupted, her calm voice cutting through the brewing argument like a knife. "Don't cause a scene here. We're in a public area." She sighed before continuing. "And to answer Rex's question, I have an appointment with Sharon later. She wanted Ys and me to join her at the spa." Carlos blinked, taken aback. "Wait, Sharon invited you both to the spa? What kind of evil plot is that?" Rex, on the other hand, yawned, waving the topic off lazily. "That's cool. Just don't cheat on me, Cleo. You know how jealous I get," he joked with a half-asleep smile. "Anyway, I really need to crash. I'm dead tired, more tired than after some of my toughest fights. I wonder why..." Ys raised an eyebrow at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I can think of a few reasons why," she muttered under her breath, earning a light snicker from Cleo. Carlos, oblivious as ever, simply shrugged. "Alright, sleepyhead. Let's hurry back to the dorms before you pass out right here." Hours later, after the hangar bay had emptied and all the passengers had returned to their respective areas, the dimly lit space was quiet, the only sounds coming from the faint hum of machinery and the occasional shuffle of maintenance bots. But the hangar wasn't entirely empty. From one of the transport ships parked near the edge of the bay, a faint metallic click echoed. Hidden in the shadows, a small creature crawled down from one of the ship's vents. It resembled a spider, but its segmented body was sleek and metallic, coated in a glossy red shell. Its eight legs moved with unnatural precision, clicking softly against the floor as it skittered forward. The creature paused briefly, its glowing green eyes flickering as it scanned its surroundings. It emitted a faint, rhythmic chittering sound, almost like an electronic pulse, as it searched for prey. Its gaze finally landed on two maintenance workers idling near the wall. The workers, oblivious to the predator in their midst, were resting while taking an smoke.

Chapter 151 Lurking.

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