Chapter 451
Chapter 452 The Trap at the Crossroads
Young Jessa stood tall beside her little brother, chest puffed out with pride.
Lyra watched silently.
Even inside the game, everything felt painfully real.
Specter’s gaze fell on the digital versions of his parents, and a heavy emotion washed over him.
“Want to see my family’s home?” he asked.
Lyra nodded.
+5 Pearls
They followed the digital family of three to a warm wooden cabin filled with small, lived-in details.
They lingered by the doorway, silent onlookers, watching the trio share a happy, easy moment together.
Lyra typed, “Is this why you never wanted to make this place public p>
Specter took a deep breath.
I
“Partly, yeah. When I miss them, I can come back here. It feels like they never really left me p>
Lyra turned toward him his arm in comfort.
nd,
“But weren’t you residents of a fourth-tier planet before? Why build this home here instead p>
Specter said, “Even though the game doesn’t recreate the Federation’s old acts of aggression… I still don’t want strangers disturbing them.
“Reid and the others don’t mind. They drop by now and then too.
“They get to see their parents as they were alive, and imagine what life would’ve been like for all of us if none of those terrible things ever happened p>
Lyra wanted Specter to grant her access permissions.
She hoped to return and explore this place even when he was offline.
But his eyes darted away, his tone vague. He told her she would get the access next time they logged in together.
Lyra showed no shift in emotion, simply replied okay.
Specter feared he had upset her and hurried to soothe her, his tone careful and anxious.
Lyra watched him and sneered inwardly.
Did he really think she was someone who flew off the handle easily?
Well, for the moment, that was exactly what he believed.
09:04 Thu, Oct 15
Chapter 452 The Trap at the Crossroads
She hated pretending to be volatile and putting pressure on everyone around her.
She hated empty pleasantries and putting on a show.
If she had a choice, Lyra would wish she had never woken up in this world at all.
+5 Pearls
When she opened her eyes again, Specter and the others had left once more.
This time, Reid and the others hadn’t told her anything about the situation outside.
Lyra guessed things were probably going well.
They had planned this for a very long time, and they still had a well-placed ally with considerable power on Core Prime.
Jessa stayed by her side.
The pair acted like ordinary sisters, passing their days doing small things they enjoyed.
Lyra knew Jessa was only doing this to stabilize her mood.
They were working hard to create a peaceful, secure life so she would grow attached to this place and long to remain here.
Lyra played along, growing more cheerful and calm with every passing day.
But whenever she was alone, her eyes drifted toward the crossroads, waiting for the people she expected to come find her.
Sometimes she even dreamed of that moment.
She waited and waited.
At last, the day arrived.
She and Jessa had just finished walking a young pony, chatting and laughing as they headed back.
In the distance, several figures walked slowly toward them from the crossroads.
Jessa’s face lit up the second she spotted them. “There are those guys again p>
Lyra teased her. “You act like they’re such a nuisance, but I bet you’re glad to see them p>
Jessa smiled and glanced over at Lyra.
“If I’d awakened the Guide abilities, I would’ve gone straight to fight on the battlefield.
Lyra smiled back. “I wish I could pass this power over to you p>
jessa looked surprised. “You don’t even want Tier-35 abilities p>
Lyra tilted her head “Is it really that impressive p>
09:04 Thu, Oct 15
Chapter 452 The Trap at the Crossroads
45
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Jessa froze for a beat, caught off guard by her reply, and felt awkward.
“Jessa! Lyra!” Wren waved at them.
Jessa watched her brother.
“From how he looks, things must be going our way in the fight p>
Lyra nodded.
They started walking toward the group when Reid and the others suddenly sensed danger and spun around.
Small fighter craft burst into view, speeding straight toward them.
Lyra had not yet processed what was happening. She thought the ships belonged to their allies.
Then a blade pressed against her throat, and she let out a quiet, resigned smile.
“Jessa, I thought you saw me as family p>
Behind her, Jessa held the knife pressed to Lyra’s neck, her brows drawn tight with guilt, a flicker of pain in her eyes.
“…Don’t hate me. I had no other choice p>
She had no idea how the enemy had tracked them here.
But the enemy force was closing in fast. If she didn’t take Lyra hostage, they would be at a terrible disadvantage.
Reid and the rest were also caught completely off guard by the sudden ambush.
“What’s going on p>
“How did they find this place p>
“…No clue p>
This planet, along with the other worlds where Guides lived, was their closely guarded secret. Even many of their own allies did not know the exact coordinates.
They had taken every precaution to shake off any pursuers every time they traveled here.
They could not figure out how the enemy had followed them without making a sound.
Up in the air, the fighters precision targeting systems had already locked onto everyone on the ground.
Yet when they saw Lyra held at knifepoint, they were forced to hold their fire, trapped by the hostage
situation.
Moments later, the fighters touched down slowly.
One familiar face after another emerged before Lyra.
09:04 Thu, Oct 15 MT
Chapter 452 The Trap at the Crossroads
She remained calm, no hint of panic at the scene unfolding around her.
She typed a message, almost in a complaining tone. “You took long enough p>
Draven chuckled, raising his firearm and aiming it at Jessa behind Lyra.
+5 Pears
“Can’t help it. The clues you left covered too wide an area. We needed time to sort through everything.
“What clues p>
At those words, Reid’s gaze snapped sharply toward Lyra.
The rest of the group stared at her in shock and disbelief.
Draven answered, “The travel time, roughly half an hour out from Core Prime. That narrowed our search
zone p>
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