A beam of light appeared above Alamanda's teleportation station. After the radiance faded, Hao Ren and the others appeared on the teleportation platform. The planet had just reached sunset, and the sun was almost completely below the horizon. The last rays of sunset spread across the ruins of the Golden Capital, cloaking the entire city in a dim golden glow.
Vivian looked up at the sky. In the fading light, she saw an irregular silver-white glow growing clearer as the sunlight weakened. It was slightly smaller than the moon as seen from Earth, with jagged edges like a range of mountains. Focusing her gaze, she could make out clearly layered structures within the silver radiance. "Oh—is that the research station?"
The moment Lily looked up and saw the moon, she instinctively crouched down and happily howled at the top of her lungs. "Awoo... awoo... awo—why don't I feel anything?"
Hao Ren grabbed the fool by the ear and hauled her back up. "Of course you don't! That's not the moon!"
"I've always been curious about the principle behind werewolves getting excited after seeing moonlight," Izax said, stroking his chin with an expression of intense interest. "I can't sense any special energy in the moonlight. It's just ordinary reflected sunlight."
Vivian shrugged. "Who knows? I've dealt with werewolves for over ten thousand years and still haven't figured it out."
At that moment, a sudden hum came from the high sky to the east. The Giant Turtle Rock Platform had received the order and was descending from orbit to pick them up. Hao Ren led everyone aboard the ship, and they soon arrived near that crystal-like space facility. Everyone gazed at the magnificent behemoth from close range and was immediately filled with awe. Lily tugged at her ear with a regretful look.