[1] The Hunters Arrive
Three Skyflame Pursuit craft tore through the cloud cover like starving aerial predators.
Their wings were long and scythe-shaped, their tail nozzles trailing blinding crimson flames.
Beneath each craft hung several spherical kill-pods, their hulls glowing red like the eyes of a beast—once a target was locked, they would unleash swarms of homing micro-missiles.
Hermes: [Identification: Skyflame Pursuit type — Imperial Air Force pack-hunting craft. Extremely high maneuverability, equipped with group fire net and mid-range kill capability. Recommendation — break their formation, do not get caught in crossfire.]
Bai Ta: "Three units, forming a triangular encirclement… Yaoheng, that formation is aimed at you."
Lin Yaoheng licked the corner of his lips, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's see whose hunt is faster."
---
[2] First Clash
The lead Skyflame craft dove first, its wings folding into a sharp-angled posture as it spun rapidly and hurled twelve silver micro-missiles toward R-01.
In midair, the missiles split into a dense storm of curved projectiles—like a wind woven from steel needles—sealing off all retreat ahead.
Hermes: [Evasion suggestion — spiral dive, use high-temperature exhaust to disrupt lock-on signals.]
Lin Yaoheng instantly cranked up the nozzle temperature—
The edge of R-01's wings blazed with blinding white exhaust, warping the trajectory of the pursuing missiles in an instant.
Three still clung to the tail, but he violently flung them into the high sky, where they burst into white shockwaves within the clouds.
"Next."
---
[3] Aerial Mauling
The second Skyflame craft sliced in from the flank, its scythe-like wings snapping wide as it released four claw-shaped capture devices.
The hooks, trailing chains crackling with electricity, lunged straight for R-01's left wing—if they latched on, they would rip away its maneuverability.
Yaoheng instantly reverse-thrusted, dropping into a dive so the hooks skimmed past the antenna.
At the same time, his right fist flared with high heat—he swung upward at full speed—Bang!
Fist met hooked chain, and with a metallic burst, the claws softened under the heat and crumbled into molten slag.
Bai Ta, rapidly adjusting the vent valves on the sub-console: "Left shoulder temperature limit is about to breach—don't keep clashing head-on!"
Yaoheng gave a low chuckle: "Too late."
---
[4] The Hunting Net
The third Skyflame craft didn't rush its attack. Instead, it rapidly climbed into the upper air, pulling a massive crossing arc with the other two.
Three red contrails interwove into a vast glowing net, locking R-01 at its center.
Hermes: [Danger — this is the Skyflame 'Lock-Kill Net.' Once closed, target survival probability below 12%.]
Yaoheng's breath paused—
The next instant, R-01 snapped its wings shut, becoming a plummeting, superheated meteor, diving straight through an unsealed gap in the net!
Arcs and exhaust trails flashed in the HUD as he squeezed between two crossing scythe-wings, scraping away a glowing shard of armor in the process.
Bai Ta swore: "You're gambling with your life!"
Yaoheng grinned: "And I won."
---
[5] Counter-Hunt
Dropping into low altitude, R-01 instantly reverse-thrusted, its exhaust blasting a shockwave that swirled the sand below into a giant fire-colored vortex.
The weak point marked by Hermes blinked on the HUD—the kill-pod beneath the Skyflame's belly.
Yaoheng steered along the vortex's edge, using the swirling dust to mask his approach to the first craft.
—High-heat punch, direct hit to the kill-pod!
Metal swelled, burst, and the micro-missiles inside detonated in a chain reaction, blooming into a blinding white explosion.
Shards rained down, glinting in the firelight.
---
[6] Deadly Chase
The two remaining Skyflame craft immediately broke formation, one ahead, one behind, clinging to R-01's flight path.
Yaoheng shoved the control stick forward, skimming the machine along the ground at full speed, scorching black cracks into the dunes with the exhaust trail.
Hermes: [Rear pursuer distance: 25 meters — suggest reverse climb, lead it into high-heat exhaust zone.]
Yaoheng pulled straight up, the craft nearly vertical, speed spiking into the HUD's red warning zone.
The rear craft entered the exhaust interference range and instantly spiraled out of control—slamming into the ground in a fireball.
Only one left.
---
[7] Final Scene
The last Skyflame abruptly pulled up, facing R-01 head-on in the high air.
They passed each other in the clouds—
In a split-millisecond, Yaoheng raised his short blade, slicing a burning wound along the underside of the enemy craft.
Its propulsion ring spewed uncontrollable flame, and it fell toward the wasteland like a meteor, the explosion lighting half the sky.
Bai Ta exhaled: "Three, all down."
Yaoheng released the control stick, his fingertips still trembling slightly: "Let's go—the Crystalline Scar core is just ahead."
Hermes: [Combat complete — thermal load at 92%, recommend immediate core cooling.]
Yaoheng glanced ahead, at the ruins shrouded in luminous mist—
That was where the next battle would begin.