High in the air, a deep-blue metal flying boat sped through the boundless skies of the Netherworld.
The scenery below was monotonous yet magnificent-gray-black wilderness stretched endlessly, occasionally broken by winding Nether Rivers whose dark-red waters gleamed eerily beneath the dim daylight.
Several bare stone mountains stood in the distance, their slopes riddled with holes from wind and sand, like crooked gravestones.
"Boss, we've been flying all over the place for half a month now. How long are we going to keep looking?" Wangcai leaned against the cabin window, gazing listlessly at the unchanging scenery outside.
"Don't rush. The sheep will come right to our door. We just need to keep looking as usual." Loa sat in the pilot's seat, tapping a light rhythm on the armrest, looking perfectly at ease.
Before he had finished speaking, a tiny black dot appeared on the distant horizon.
The dot rapidly grew larger, revealing a wolf-shaped Metal Lifeform-pitch-black all over, with its limbs tucked beneath its belly as it flew and crimson flames jetting from its tail.
The metal wolf hurtled toward Loa's flying boat, then slowed alongside it, matching its pace steadily.
"Is that Loa and Qilin?" Karuoso's voice came from the metal wolf, as warm as if he had stumbled upon brothers he had lost touch with years ago.
The corners of Loa's mouth lifted slightly, and he shot Wangcai a meaningful glance. Wangcai grinned silently too.
"See? Here they come," Loa said quietly to Wangcai before calling back, "Karuoso?"
"Hahahaha, it's me!" Karuoso's laughter came through the metal, brimming with warmth. "I heard you took that mission too. Never thought I'd run into you here. What a coincidence! Want to find somewhere to have a drink?"
"It certainly is a coincidence," Loa replied with a smile. "There's a mountain range