Mingzhao remained calm. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze following the black dot in the sky that was almost invisible to the naked eye.

She held a notebook in her hand, on which she quickly jotted down several key parameters and time points.

Only when Lao Zhao reported that the engine was unusually quiet did the corners of her mouth twitch slightly upwards, a unique sense of satisfaction she felt at the perfect verification of her calculations.

Su Xuan rushed out of the control tower, waving his fists at the sky, almost knocking over the chair next to him in his excitement.

Scattered applause rang out in the base, quickly turning into a sea of ​​enthusiastic applause.

The workers and technicians, regardless of their previous doubts, were captivated by the sight of the "ghost" they had built taking to the skies, and were moved to tears.

Jiang Feng put down his binoculars, a relieved smile appearing on his resolute face. He subconsciously touched the cold mechanical leg joints, his eyes thoughtful.

The "Shadow" completed several standard flight maneuvers in the designated airspace: level flight, turns, shallow climbs, and descents. Each maneuver, on the ground radar screen, was like a pebble thrown into water, leaving only a momentary, faint ripple before returning to a chilling calm.

Like a true ghost, it silently proclaims the arrival of a new era in the blue sky of the Republic.

The maiden flight is nearing its end as planned.

The shadow began to descend, aiming at the runway.

"Tower, Shadow requests landing."

Old Zhao's voice remained steady, but upon closer listening, there seemed to be a subtle tension.

Zhang Meng immediately responded: "Landing approved! Wind direction and speed are good, runway clear. Welcome home, Shadow!"

The black fighter jet gracefully entered the glide path.

The landing gear lowered silently. The wheels made a dull, solid sound as they touched down, and the drag chute suddenly deployed, bringing the aircraft to a steady stop in the middle of the runway.

Success! A perfect maiden flight!

The entire base was in an uproar!

The crowd surged toward the track like a tidal wave.

Zhang Meng was the first to rush off the control tower, almost staggering as she ran towards the slowly coming to a stop, "Shadow".

The hatch opened, and Lao Zhao took off his helmet, revealing a weathered face filled with excitement and pride.

Zhang Meng rushed forward and hugged the hero who had entrusted his life to the sky tightly. Both of them were too excited to speak.

Mingzhao did not rush over with the crowd.

She stood there, watching from afar as the war eagles and heroes were surrounded by cheering crowds.

The rising sun finally shone down on her without reservation, and in the depths of her calm eyes, it seemed to ignite a tiny, flickering flame. She looked down and drew a small checkmark next to the data she had just recorded in her notebook, a sign of completion.

However, right in the heart of this jubilant sea of ​​people, Old Zhao, who had just stepped off the gangway, responded to Zhang Meng's hug and then, his gaze pierced through the crowd, precisely finding that quiet figure in the distance.

He shook his head very slightly, almost imperceptibly, in Mingzhao's direction, his brows furrowed, and silently mouthed two words:

"Tremors".

The cheers of the crowd were still deafening, drowning out all the slightest noises.

But Mingzhao's calm gaze instantly sharpened like a knife.

She closed the notebook, and the newly ignited flame seemed to be plunged into a block of ice.

Beneath the glory of its maiden flight, a shadow quietly began to rise.