Despite looking that it may catch up, the F-22 Raptor was just too fast for the monster to close the distance completely.
The creature had raw speed.
That much was clear.
Every wingbeat pushed it forward with terrifying force, tearing through the clouds and sending turbulence across the airspace behind it. But the F-22 was not flying like a normal aircraft anymore. It wasn't cruising. It wasn't holding a straight path.
It was fighting for space.
Raptor One cut west at high speed, pulling the monster away from the direct approach path to Basa Air Base. The pilot kept the aircraft low enough to stay visible to the creature, but not low enough to surrender altitude advantage. His hands moved with small, precise inputs, keeping the jet unpredictable while still maintaining enough speed to escape if the monster lunged.
"Command, Raptor One," the pilot said, breathing harder now. "It's following, but it's losing closure."
