When word spread that Snakehead and Blackheart were about to throw down, curious onlookers flocked to see the drama unfold.
The streets bristled with heavy weaponry, confirming that the rumors were spot on.
"Blackheart, think twice. If we start this fight, a third party is ready to jump in," Snakehead warned, eyeing the furious one-eyed man.
Though he seemed calm, Snakehead was fuming inside. 'What a brainless thug,' he thought. Dealing with someone this greedy and dim-witted was a nightmare.
"Hmph, I'm not scared of that woman. Let's do this!" Blackheart's arms began to swell and morph into massive dragon claws, capable of tearing through even tough mechas.
That was what Blackheart was famous for. He swung his claws, the mere force of it collapsing the small clinic's walls.
Snakehead formed a thick metal shield, but the impact forced him to take two steps back. "You idiot! If we both get wrecked, Sis Marv will team up with that woman. What's the point of this fight?" he yelled.
As he spoke, the air around them rippled.
"He's right." A woman with short hair and work clothes appeared out of thin air in the clinic.
Her buzz cut revealed a scar running across her head like a fierce centipede. She had muscles like a bodybuilder and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring down at Lyra.
"Sis Marv, would you consider an alliance?"she asked Lyra.
Lyra replied, raising an eyebrow, "Whoever offers more benefits, I'll side with them."
Lyra was sitting alone on a ragged sofa. She was the cause of the conflict, yet now standing by watching them.
Blackheart's rage boiled over. 'Damn it, now Caesara's here too!'
Snakehead and Caesara both sneered at Blackheart. Caesara scratched her head irritably. "Snakehead, let's take down this stupid dinosaur together. I've had enough of him!"
Snakehead's eyes lit up at the idea. Though Caesara was tough to deal with, at least she had brains.
Blackheart finally panicked. Snakehead's superpower was metallic, and Caesara's was spatial. Both of their superpowers were at level seven, so Blackheart wouldn't stand a chance.
"Screw this, I'm out!" he yelled, making a run for it. Before leaving, he shouted at Lyra, "You better have the 'cores' ready on time!"
"Of course," Lyra replied, watching him go with a cold glint in her eyes. The rundown clinic fell silent again. With one of the three pillars gone, the balance teetered on the edge.
Caesara gave a wary glance at Snakehead, then patted Lyra's head with a hearty laugh. "Young lady, I've repaid my debt. Next time, it'll cost you."
"This time, I wouldn't dare let you leave empty-handed," Lyra said with a smile, reaching into the couch's armrest. She pulled out a tiny, bright silver bead, no larger than a fingertip. "A little gift for you."
Even Caesara, who had seen her fair share of treasures, couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes.
Elastic metal, no matter the grade, was a rare find. Though small, the piece Lyra handed over could be broken down into 500 level-four chips, perfect for weapon crafting.
"Hahaha, young lady, you sure know how to show appreciation," Caesara chuckled, giving Lyra a few hearty pats on the shoulder before heading out. She was clearly pleased.
Snakehead, on the other hand, watched the exchange with a heavy heart. He practically mourned the loss of such a valuable item.
"Lyra, why are you being so generous? Even with the tech, you can't just throw money around like it's nothing," Snakehead pointed out.
"Because my life matters more."
Snakehead had to admit, he couldn't quite figure out this young woman. "By the way, you can go to high school for registration tomorrow. Just do whenever it's convenient for you."
"Thanks."
"Let's keep this partnership strong. Not to brag, but I'm way better at business than Blackheart," Snakehead hinted, trying to sway her into exclusive cooperation.
"But there are some things only he can do."
Snakehead frowned, unable to think of anything Blackheart excelled at beyond robbery. Muttering under his breath, he said, "That guy's only good for stealing."
Seeing Lyra's amused smile, he rubbed his bald head. "As long as you can guarantee my supply, we're good. Haha, I'll be off then."
"Take care."
Lyra firmly believed that mutual benefit was the strongest glue in partnerships. But she knew something was still missing.
She picked up a piece of broken glass from the ground, using it to examine her wounds in the hazy reflection—an injury on her lip, three on her scalp, and the mark from an anesthetic injection…
"Boss...are you okay?"
With everyone gone, Sorren emerged from his hiding spot, rubbing his jaw where Liliana had struck him.
The once bright and clean clinic was now a wreck, the night wind blowing dust through the collapsed walls.
"Are we just going to let this go?" Sorren asked.
Lyra tossed the glass aside and looked at him. "You want to avenge me?"
Sorren quickly waved his hands, clearly terrified. "No, no, I wouldn't dare."
"But...aren't you fearless, even against Pyrodrake? With that elastic metal, beating Blackheart should be easy," Sorren ventured.
Lyra just scoffed, saying nothing more. Sorren awkwardly rubbed his nose and hurried to contact others to clean up the mess.
Lyra went to the second-floor rest area, took a shower, and examined the scar on her chest where the Soul Spike had been removed.
She poked it lightly with her finger, reminding herself not to rush. The average human lifespan was about one hundred fifty years, and Peculiars lived even longer. She had plenty of time.
To get a Lavaberry, everything has to line up perfectly—timing, location, and the right people to assist. Last time she succeeded, because she had the Voidstar gang causing chaos, high-level beasts clashing, and the military's assistance.
Sure, Lyra could take on Blackheart, but even if she won, she'd just become the next 'Lavaberry,' the target of everything. In Voidstar, showing any weakness is like signing your own death warrant.