How did the Dawn Gundam locate the Hailstorm Buster Gundam's position? It wasn't because Yang Hui had cracked the [Mirage Colloid System] and developed a counter-detection system. Rather, it was through Brain Quantum Waves—one of the Innovator's greatest advantages. While the Mobile Suit could disappear, as long as the pilot existed, Yang Hui could detect their Brain Quantum Waves. From the start, the [Mirage Colloid System] had been useless against him.
However, without GN Particles in the environment, continuously tracking the Hailstorm Buster Gundam's position placed a heavy strain on Yang Hui's mental energy. That was why he had been focusing on suppressing the Gale Strike Gundam—to make Leon and Fat believe he could always pinpoint the Hailstorm Buster Gundam's location, forcing it to reveal itself. And then...
If he was going to fight, he would take down the strongest threat first. Currently, the Gale Strike Gundam posed the greatest danger to the Dawn Gundam. Eliminating it would render the already retreating Torrent Duel Gundam, Nebula Lightning Gundam, and even the Hailstorm Buster Gundam non-threats.
So...
The Dawn Gundam suddenly spun around and charged, catching Leon off guard. The Gale Strike Gundam collided head-on with the Dawn Gundam, their blades locking together. Leon smirked.
"Heh, getting desperate? Even a high-frequency vibration blade can be severed by the [Wing Saw]—what!?"
Leon had assumed Yang Hui was rushing to eliminate him, choosing close-quarters combat to deny the Hailstorm Buster Gundam any chance to provide fire support. This would also give Leon more opportunities.
But while the Dawn Gundam was indeed engaging in close combat, it wasn't the same direct clash as before. The Dawn Gundam's blade angled slightly, causing the [Wing Saw] Ship-Slaying Sword to slide downward along its length, unable to concentrate force to break it.
Clang!
Just as the [Wing Saw] was about to reach the hilt and the Dawn Gundam's hand, its arm twisted, deflecting the Gale Strike Gundam's right arm and leaving its center wide open.
"Not a chance!"
Using the momentum from the deflection, Leon swung the Gale Strike Gundam's left arm upward, aiming for the Dawn Gundam's right wing. The greatest threat—and the most coveted technology—lay in those bizarre wings. Severing even one and retrieving it would ensure they wouldn't face punishment even if the mission failed.
But Yang Hui had anticipated this move. The Dawn Gundam's right arm swung down, blocking the [Wing Saw], while its left arm thrust forward, aiming straight for the Gale Strike Gundam's cockpit.
"Damn it!"
Leon slammed the control stick forward and stomped on the pedals. The high-frequency vibration blade, which should have pierced the cockpit, instead grazed its upper edge and embedded itself into the Gale Strike Gundam's torso. The Mobile Suit lurched forward, crashing into the Dawn Gundam with enough force to make Yang Hui grunt.
"Ugh—!"
Recovering quickly, Yang Hui deployed the bits, which swarmed around both Gundams, gradually attaching themselves to the Gale Strike Gundam from behind.
But this time, his plan failed. The Gale Strike Gundam's thrusters roared to life, and the bits detonated as soon as they got close to the flames.
"Fat, make it count!"
"Roger!"
The Gale Strike Gundam locked its arms around the Dawn Gundam, exposing its back to the Hailstorm Buster Gundam.
Years of teamwork told him this was a hard-won opportunity Leon had desperately fought for. Without hesitation, the Hailstorm Buster Gundam opened fire with all weapons, completely disregarding the Gale Strike Gundam's survival.
"Still haven't learned your lesson," Yang Hui murmured, directly controlling bits to erect a beam barrier between the Dawn Gundam and Hailstorm Buster. Physical shells exploded while beams deflected away.
"Now's the moment!"
Leon was exhilarated. Yang Hui was strong—likely too strong for him to handle alone. As a skilled pilot himself, Leon had grown bored with effortlessly slaughtering mission targets. But Yang Hui had successfully ignited his warrior spirit.
The Gale Strike raised its head, Vulcan Cannons locking onto the Dawn Gundam's cockpit. Whether the Dawn had Phase Shift Armor or not, point-blank fire at this range would drain its energy reserves by emptying the magazine. Then he could either kill or capture both Yang Hui and his mobile suit!
But...
"Good plan... but poor intel."
After praising Leon's attempted maneuver, Yang Hui slammed the Dawn Gundam's head directly into the Gale Strike's cockpit. Bits slipped through the narrow energy gap, landing on the Gale Strike's arms.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM..."
Twin explosions shredded both arms, freeing the Dawn from the Gale Strike's grasp.
"Tch, still not enough? This monster..."
The Dawn Gundam's wings flared as it ascended, simultaneously dissolving the bit barrier. One second later—
"Captain!!!!"
The Hailstorm Buster had maintained continuous fire. Fat didn't know how long Leon could last—he had to seize this chance to break through the Dawn's defenses.
When the barrier vanished, excitement turned to shock, then despair.
Because behind the light wall stood not his target, but the armless Gale Strike.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM..."
Beams, missiles, electromagnetic cannons and Vulcan rounds all impacted the Gale Strike simultaneously, flames and smoke engulfing the crippled machine.
"..." After the initial shock, Fat's eyes burned with tearful rage, glaring at the Dawn Gundam looming above like a vengeful monarch.
"Fa...t..."
"Captain! Are you okay?!" The weak transmission snapped Fat back to reality.
"Retreat... order... full withdrawal..."
"Roger!"
By the time the flames dissipated, the Gale Strike was barely recognizable—just a scorched torso. Yet the Hailstorm Buster's sensors detected life signs. Without hesitation, it grabbed the wreckage and fled toward the Dominion, broadcasting retreat orders to allies. Their survival meant nothing to Fat now.
"Not getting away..." The Dawn prepared to pursue and finish off both machines when the Archangel's comms suddenly activated.
"Yang Hui! Status report!" Murrue's urgent voice cut through.
"Four unknown mobile suits heavily damaged and retreating. Initiating pursuit—"
"Reinforce the White Tiger and Eternal immediately! The ZAFT Forces fleet is here—they're pursuing Eternal!"
"Understood, moving to assist."
Reluctantly, Yang Hui abandoned the chase and turned back to support the White Tiger and Eternal.
...
The distress call from Archangel wasn't just received by Yang Hui—Setsuna, Tieria, Lyle, and Kira's group also picked it up.
"What now? Let them escape again?" Lyle asked Setsuna and Tieria. The Raider Gundam, Forbidden Gundam, and Calamity Gundam had already received orders to retreat and were trying to disengage from their battle with Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim, and Gundam Virtue. But the three Gundams refused to let them go, intercepting them the moment they attempted to withdraw.
"Our ships are in danger. We must fall back," Setsuna said, though his flat tone betrayed his frustration.
"Tch! Of all the times—how disgraceful!" Tieria cursed.
"Fine, but..." Lyle smirked before finishing his sentence.
"...At least take one down!"
"...At least take one down!"
Setsuna and Tieria simultaneously completed Lyle's thought with perfect synchronization.
No sooner had the words left their mouths than Gundam Virtue dodged a blast from Calamity Gundam and fired its Beam Bazooka—not at the enemy, but at a spot 100 meters beside it.
"Hah? Trying to swat flies now?" Orga mocked, baffled by the wild shot. But the next instant, his eyes caught Forbidden Gundam standing directly in the beam's path. His face paled. "Shani! They're targeting you!"
"Tch!" Shani reacted instantly, raising his energy deflection shield to disperse the beam torrent.
Yet the moment the beam faded, Gundam Cherudim's sniper shot struck true—piercing the joint connecting the two shields and sending them clattering away. Forbidden Gundam had lost its most formidable defense.
Gundam Exia lunged forward, slashing down with its sword. The blade clashed against the hastily raised shaft of the Wicked Dragon Heavy Beheading Scythe.
"Shani!"
Orga and Clotho tried to intervene, but Raider Gundam's wing was shot through by Gundam Cherudim's sniper fire, while Calamity Gundam found itself pinned down by Gundam Virtue's relentless barrage.
In that brief window, Exia's blade glowed faintly, vibrating at high frequency as it cleanly severed the scythe's shaft. A second strike flashed like lightning, stabbing into the cockpit before the Vulture Plasma Cannon in Forbidden Gundam's chest could fire. The blade skewered both pilot and cockpit in one brutal thrust.
Exia kicked the doomed Forbidden Gundam away, ready to join Lyle and Tieria in taking down another. But Raider Gundam and Calamity Gundam had already fled—with Raider Gundam in MA form carrying Calamity Gundam at speeds impossible to match.
"Tsk~ How heartless. Your comrade died, yet you won't even stay for revenge." Lyle whistled disdainfully, though somewhat disappointed. If they hadn't retreated, they could have at least taken down the Calamity Gundam. As for the Raider Gundam... if that Mobile Armor form decided to flee, catching it would be nearly impossible.
"Let's move. Support the mothership," Setsuna reminded.
"Roger that." X2
The three mobile suits turned simultaneously, accelerating toward the mothership's coordinates. The battle there was intense—explosions lit up the entire sector. It was clear ZAFT Forces had deployed a substantial pursuit fleet. Another fierce battle awaited.
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