Chapter 8: Dawn's Arrival

The silver aircraft weaved through the night sky, city lights flowing like a galaxy below. Sweat soaked through Riko's clothes—the mental connection with the symbiotic beast was draining her energy.

"Sister, are you alright?" Keiko's voice carried concern.

"I can still hold on." Riko forced a smile, "This little one is more obedient than I imagined."

Loy sat beside Ling, feeling her gradually warming body temperature. After putting the necklace back on, Ling's complexion had regained considerable color.

"Where are we going?" Ling asked.

"First, we leave the city." Riko replied, "NSRU's pursuit aircraft will soon be..."

Before she could finish, the roar of engines came from behind. Three black armed aircraft were rapidly approaching, their searchlights cutting through the night sky like swords.

"Ugh, so annoying!" Loy cursed, frantically scratching his head, "These people are like dog shit stuck to your shoe—you just can't shake them off!"

"Don't worry." Riko's lips curved upward, "Let them witness the technology of the Symbiote Cosmos."

She closed her eyes, deepening her mental connection with the symbiotic beast. The silver aircraft suddenly accelerated, streaking across the sky like a meteor.

The pursuing armed aircraft immediately opened fire, laser beams weaving a deadly web in the night sky. But whenever the beams were about to hit, the aircraft's surface would locally deform, deflecting the attacks away.

"How is this possible?" Loy watched in stunned amazement.

"The symbiotic beast can adjust its form in real-time," Riko explained while maneuvering, "Though it can't completely resist attacks, it can reduce damage."

Keiko gripped the cabin wall tightly: "Sister, they're following so closely..."

"Don't be afraid." Riko gently comforted her sister, then said to Loy, "Hold tight, I'm making a sharp turn."

The silver aircraft suddenly rolled to the left, flying at almost a ninety-degree angle. The powerful centrifugal force pressed all four against the cabin wall, but successfully shook off one pursuing aircraft.

"Beautiful!" Loy couldn't help but exclaim.

"This is nothing," Riko said with a hint of pride, "In the Symbiote Cosmos, this level of maneuvering is just basic operation."

But at that moment, the aircraft suddenly shuddered, its speed noticeably dropping.

Riko's face instantly became tense: "Oh no..."

"What's wrong?" Ling asked with concern.

"It's getting tired." Riko gritted her teeth, "The symbiotic beast's vitality is rapidly declining. The sustained high-intensity transformation and flight has exceeded its tolerance limit."

Loy noticed fine cracks beginning to appear on the aircraft's surface: "How much longer can it hold on?"

Riko glanced at her watch: "Based on biological calculations... at most another hour."

"One hour? Didn't you say six hours?!" Loy covered his face and shook his head, "Then we..."

"Don't panic, young man." Riko said firmly, "I won't let anyone get hurt."

The two pursuing aircraft closed in again, laser beams pouring down like rain. This time, the aircraft's deformation responses were noticeably slower, with some beams grazing the hull and leaving charred marks.

"Is it about to give out?" Loy shouted.

Riko closed her eyes, pouring all her mental power into the connection with the symbiotic beast. She could feel this companion that had been with her for years was exhausting its last strength.

"Old friend," she whispered mentally, "hold on just a little longer, just a little..."

The aircraft suddenly dove downward, threading through the city's high-rise gaps at an extremely dangerous angle. The pursuing armed aircraft didn't dare follow, only circling at high altitude.

"Where will we land?" Loy asked.

"The abandoned industrial district outside the city." Riko replied, "I have a safe house prepared there."

Though Ling had recovered some strength, seeing Riko's exhaustion, she proactively said: "Is there anything I can help with?"

"No need," Riko shook her head, "You just recovered, don't strain yourself."

But Ling still reached out, gently caressing the cabin wall. Faint blue light emanated from her fingertips, creating a wonderful resonance with the silver metal.

Riko was surprised to discover that the symbiotic beast's vitality had actually improved slightly.

"This is..." she looked at Ling.

"Dragon clan life energy," Ling explained, "Perhaps it can help it hold on a bit longer."

"Thank you." Riko said sincerely.

With Ling's energy support, the aircraft stabilized again and flew toward the outskirts of the city.

Half an hour later, they reached an abandoned industrial area. Dilapidated factories and rusted equipment cast sinister shadows under the lights.

"There it is." Riko pointed to an unremarkable small warehouse, "My temporary residence."

The aircraft crashed onto the empty ground beside the warehouse, friction with the ground leaving long trails. The aircraft shook violently, and after a while, finally came to a stop.

"We're safe." Riko wiped away sweat.

The four walked out of the aircraft, breathing fresh air. But just as they had steadied themselves, the silver symbiotic beast began to change.

Its surface lost fluidity, becoming rigid. The originally smooth metal began showing spots, then rapidly spreading.

Riko reached out to touch the changing metal surface.

The symbiotic beast was dying. The silver luster quickly faded, replaced by dull gray. Then oxidation began—rust-red stains spreading across the surface like blood.

"Old friend..." Riko's voice trembled, forcing back tears as she smiled.

Keiko walked to her sister's side, gently touching her shoulder: "Sister..."

Loy and Ling also stood quietly nearby, not disturbing this moment of farewell.

In just a few minutes, the once-mighty silver aircraft had become a pile of rust-stained scrap metal.

Riko crouched before the scrap heap, gently caressing those corroded metal fragments.

"It was with me for twelve years," she reminisced, "from the Symbiote Cosmos all the way here. Now..."

"It completed its mission." Ling comfortingly patted her shoulder, "It protected all of us."

Riko stood up: "Yes, it was a hero."

She turned toward the small warehouse: "Come on, let's go inside. It's safe here, NSRU won't find us."

Loy was somewhat puzzled: "Why is this place safe? They knew about my residence..."

"Because you cooperated with NSRU," Riko pushed open the warehouse door, "they have your records. But I'm different—I'm undocumented, with no official records on this planet."

The warehouse interior had been carefully modified. Though the exterior was run-down, inside it was fully equipped with simple living supplies, medical equipment, and even a small analytical instrument.

"This is your laboratory?" Loy looked around.

"The temporary residence I built when I first came to this planet." Riko nodded, "I always prepare for the worst-case scenario."

Keiko skillfully opened a cabinet, taking out hot water and simple food: "Everyone's tired, let's rest first."

Ling leaned against the wall: "Thank you for saving me."

"We're a team." Riko sat in the simple chair, "No one gets left behind."

Loy looked at the three women before him.

"So," he spoke up, "what should we do next?"

Riko pondered for a moment: "First, we need to understand NSRU's true purpose. Why are they so obsessed with Ling and the necklace?"

"Also," Ling added, "I need to learn more about this world. I come from another era—there's much I don't understand."

Keiko asked: "Sister, can we still return to the Symbiote Cosmos?"

Riko shook her head: "Not in the short term. And perhaps we shouldn't go back."

She looked toward the starry sky outside the window: "Perhaps our destiny lies here. In this strange world, searching for answers that belong to us."

The first ray of dawn light streamed through the window into the warehouse, illuminating the four weary faces.

Loy and Ling leaned against the wall, asleep.

Riko yawned, pulled out a communicator from under the table, and dialed.

A cute girl's voice came from the other end: "Hello, hello, it's Miss Riko! What a rare guest."

Keiko replied: "Little Rabbit, we need some help."