The void still shimmered from the Starius's near-miss—an afterimage burned across the stars. Fragments of the Moon's surface drifted through the battlefield, glowing faint red, their jagged edges spinning endlessly into the dark.
On the Starius's scarred hull, Lunaris Gundam and Valetta Gundam locked in a violent, relentless struggle.
Belthran's voice cracked through the comms—low at first, but shaking with rage.
> Belthran: "You… you think you've won something? You dare humiliate me in front of the Grand Marshal?!"
Nura braced himself as Valetta lunged, thrusters flaring like a wild animal's muscles coiled for the kill. The first strike slammed into Lunaris's shoulder, tearing armor open in a spray of molten shards.
> Nura: "Tch—!"
Belthran: "I was chosen to pilot Valetta! ME! The blade of Mercury! And you—" another savage blow to Lunaris's side "—you are NOTHING!"
Nura blocked the next slash, sparks cascading into the void, but Valetta's speed was overwhelming. The Gundam's movements were erratic, unpredictable—like a predator striking wherever it pleased.
Belthran's breathing filled the comms, unsteady and furious.
> Belthran: "Because of you… the Starius missed. Because of you… my victory was stolen!"
He punched through a floating chunk of lunar debris, shards splattering across both mobile suits. Lunaris staggered back, but Nura planted his feet on the hull and shoved forward, forcing Valetta into a grapple.
> Nura: "You're angry because I stopped you? Good. Means I'm doing my job."
Belthran (snarling): "Your job is to die here!"
On the Mercury flagship, Grand Marshal Theon leaned toward the tactical screen.
> Theon: "Belthran. Don't damage the Starius."
> Belthran: "I'll crush him first—then I'll give you your cannon!"
They slammed together again, thrusters roaring, metal screeching. Nura's HUD flared with damage warnings—left arm armor breached, thruster efficiency dropping fast.
From the Moon Kingdom's command chamber—
> Tactical Officer: "Reading—Starius charge sequence reinitializing. Estimated time until next firing—one hundred twenty minutes."
Queen Guinevere's gaze hardened.
> Guinevere: "Then we have two hours to hold… no matter the cost."
Back on the Starius hull, Belthran's voice dropped into a low, venomous tone.
> Belthran: "Two hours? You won't last two minutes."
He tore free from the grapple, darting sideways with beastlike agility before striking again—Valetta's claws carving sparks from Lunaris's chestplate.
> Nura (gritting teeth): "If you think I'm letting you fire that thing again… you'll have to kill me first."
Belthran: "Gladly."
---
The battlefield above the Moon was chaos—broken Gundam frames drifted silently, shattered Lunaris armor catching faint glints of sunlight. But the true storm was on the Starius's metallic spine, where Lunaris Gundam and Valetta Gundam clashed in a frenzy that shook the giant weapon's hull.
Valetta Gundam moved like a demon unchained—thrusters screaming, limbs snapping forward in unnatural, animalistic lunges. Every strike from its claws left deep gouges in the Starius plating.
Nura's hands ached from gripping the controls so tightly.
> Nura: "Dammit—!"
Belthran's laughter cut through the comms like a serrated blade.
> Belthran: "You can't keep up! No one can keep up with me!"
A savage kick sent Lunaris skidding along the hull, sparks streaking behind. Before Nura could stabilize, Valetta slammed in again—too fast to track—its claws tearing into Lunaris's right arm, metal shrieking in protest.
In the Moon Kingdom's capital command chamber, the entire wall was a massive tactical display—zoomed directly onto the duel. Engineers, officers, and aides stood frozen, watching in tense silence as the timer for the Starius ticked down.
70:00
69:59
> Tactical Officer: "Seventy minutes until the Starius fires again."
Guinevere (quietly, under her breath): "…Please… let a miracle happen."
Morderia stood beside her, eyes locked on the screen, hands curling into fists.
Back in space—
> Nura (panting): "If I can just—"
Valetta's knee smashed into Lunaris's chest before the thought was complete. The impact cracked his HUD display, alarms flaring in red.
> Belthran (snarling): "Stay down!"
He fired his thrusters in a burst, using the force to pin Lunaris against the Starius's curved armor. The pressure groaned through the cockpit—Nura's bones felt it.
> Belthran: "You're buying them time, but time won't save the Moon."
Nura (gritting teeth): "We'll see about that!"
Nura forced his left thruster into reverse, using Valetta's momentum against it. The two Gundams spun off the hull, kicking up debris before slamming back down in a shower of sparks.
From the monitor, officers could see every violent exchange—each clash of metal loud even through filtered audio.
> Guinevere (whispering again): "…Please…"
The timer flashed: 69:00
Belthran's voice was pure venom now.
> Belthran: "I'll crush your machine, then I'll crush you!"
Lunaris Gundam staggered again under a brutal slash—but still stood. Still faced him.
---
The timer on the Starius loomed large on the tactical display:
69:00
68:59
Every pair of eyes in the Moon Kingdom's command chamber stayed locked on the duel between Lunaris and Valetta Gundam, the brutal clash echoing through comms like the heartbeat of the Moon's fate.
Queen Guinevere's hands were clasped tightly before her chest, her voice little more than a whisper.
> Guinevere: "…Please… let a miracle happen…"
And then—
The monitors flickered. Lines of static tore across the display, replacing the image of Nura's desperate fight with a cold, commanding face framed by golden armor.
Arthur King.
> Arthur King (smirking): "Do you wish for a miracle so badly… O' Queen of the Moon?"
The room went silent, save for the faint hum of machinery. Queen Guinevere's eyes widened.
> Guinevere: "…Arthur… King?"
The golden-armored ruler leaned forward, his voice a low, dangerous purr.
> Arthur King: "I can grant you that miracle. I can save your precious Moon Kingdom from annihilation… but—"
He paused, letting the tension coil tighter than a bowstring.
> Arthur King: "You will marry me. Become my Queen, and Camelot will stand with the Moon. Our fleets will defend your people, our swords will strike down your enemies… and there will be peace for all under my reign."
Gasps rippled through the chamber. Officers exchanged stunned glances; even Morderia froze, her usual composure cracking.
Guinevere's voice wavered, her hesitation plain.
> Guinevere: "And… if I agree… you swear you can truly save the Moon Kingdom? You can bring peace—not just to my people, but to all?"
Arthur King's eyes locked on hers, unwavering.
> Arthur King: "Yes. My word is law. Accept, and the Moon will be spared. Refuse… and your 'miracle' dies with you."
Outside, the battle raged. Lunaris staggered under Valetta's relentless assault—each blow shaking the Starius's hull as the timer crept downward.
67:48
67:47
Inside the chamber, all eyes turned to Queen Guinevere, waiting for her answer.
---
Queen Guinevere's breath was steady but her hands trembled beneath the table. She could feel every pair of eyes on her, each officer holding their breath. Morderia stood at her side, her expression unreadable—until her hand gently touched her mother's arm.
> Morderia (softly): "Mother… this is your choice. But remember… peace bought with chains is not peace at all."
Guinevere's gaze didn't leave the monitor. Arthur King's calm, regal face filled the entire display, but his eyes burned with a quiet hunger.
Outside, the feed in the secondary screens showed the desperate duel—Lunaris Gundam locked in a vicious grapple with Valetta Gundam. Belthran's machine moved like a predator, swiping, lunging, and slamming Nura's unit into the Starius's surface.
67:10
67:09
Guinevere's lips parted.
> Guinevere: "Arthur King… if I say yes, if I bind myself to you… will you end this? Will you stand against Mercury, and ensure no kingdom ever bleeds like this again?"
Arthur leaned back, his golden cloak catching the light.
> Arthur King: "Yes. My fleets will arrive before the Starius can fire again. My knights will shield the Moon as if it were my own realm. Camelot will become your sword and shield. All you must do… is take my hand."
Morderia's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing more. The officers whispered in hushed, frantic tones.
Then—
The chamber shook violently. Valetta's beam saber scraped across Lunaris's armor, sparks flying like meteor showers.
66:58
66:57
Queen Guinevere flinched at the sound, her gaze flickering between the battle feed and Arthur King's unwavering face. The weight of her kingdom pressed down on her like the cold of deep space.
She drew in a slow breath.
> Guinevere: "If… I accept…"
Arthur King leaned forward.
> Arthur King: "Then your miracle will come."
---
Queen Guinevere's hands tightened on the armrests of her throne, the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. Arthur King's voice lingered in her mind like a dagger's edge: "Then your miracle will come."
Her lips trembled. She was on the brink—her people's fate balanced on her word.
But before she could speak—
The main monitor flared, static tearing through Arthur's image. The feed snapped to the front-line cameras.
And there—
Lunaris Gundam and Valetta Gundam were locked in a vicious, desperate melee, each clash of metal and beam casting wild flashes across the void.
> Nura (screaming): "HAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHH!!"
Another blow. Another scream. His voice was raw, guttural—like each strike was carved out of his very soul.
Inside Valetta, Belthran's face was a mask of fury and disbelief.
> Belthran: "Why do you still struggle?! Even you know the Moon will be wiped out by Starius!"
Nura's breath was ragged, his voice strained through the comm.
> Nura: "…Starius…? That thing's called Starius, huh…?"
Belthran's eyes narrowed.
> Belthran: "You almost died for nothing! In the end, the Moon will end because of Mercury—and the Moon is nothing but witches!"
Nura's eyes lit with a fire that burned through exhaustion.
> Nura: "So what if they're witches?!"
"I just want to protect the people."
"I just want to protect the people who eat."
"I just want to protect people who live their best."
"I just want to protect people who live for tomorrow."
"Since I served the Moon Kingdom, I might as well protect all of them—even if I know they're on the brink of destruction!"
"That's why I believe—until the end—"
Nura's voice rose, a roar tearing from his chest.
> Nura: "THAT! I WILL! PROTECT THE PEOPLE I SERVED!"
"I WILL NEVER LET THEM DIE AGAIN—LIKE WHAT CAMELOT DID TO EARTH!!!"
His words echoed across every open comm channel—Moon Kingdom control rooms, Mercury command bridges, even the Starius fire control chamber. Officers paused, stunned.
Belthran's lip curled, rage surging.
> Belthran: "Then die with your beliefs!!!"
Valetta Gundam lunged, halberd igniting in a corona of energy, slicing through the dark like a predator's fang.
Nura's beam saber flared to life, and he met the strike head-on.
> Nura (screaming): "HAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH!!!"
The two Gundams locked in a violent struggle, their clash sending shockwaves across the Starius's hull. Sparks, debris, and light flared with each impact.
In different corners of the Moon Kingdom—Queen Guinevere, Morderia, Ralvern, General Halsten, General Kurein, and Kaedin—all watched through separate monitors, the sound of Nura's roar cutting through the sterile hum of their rooms. None spoke; their expressions ranged from awe to dread.
69:12
69:11
Queen Guinevere's chest rose and fell. Her eyes lingered on the battered Lunaris Gundam—fighting, surviving, refusing to fall.
She closed her eyes.
And finally… she decided.
Screen fades to black.
---
The void around Starius boiled with light and violence. Every clash of metal echoed like thunder across the comms, the two mobile suits locked in a dance of rage and survival.
Lunaris Gundam—battered, smoking, one leg actuator screaming—swung desperately to parry another halberd strike.
Valetta Gundam—its Malaya System pulsing like a heartbeat—moved with beast-like fluidity, each movement faster, heavier, more ruthless.
Belthran's voice was a snarl over the comm.
> Belthran: "DIE MOON RAT-!"
Valetta's halberd arced—
SLASH!
The Lunaris Gundam's right arm—beam saber still clutched in its fingers—was severed in a blinding flash, spinning off into space. The shock reverberated through Nura's cockpit, his vision blurring from the G-force of the hit.
> Nura (gasping, teeth clenched): "Ghh—!"
His warning alarms screamed red, oxygen hissing from the breach in his shoulder armor. His hand trembled on the controls.
But then—he saw it. An opening.
He roared, slamming the Lunaris Gundam's thrusters to full burn, closing the distance in an instant.
With his remaining left arm, he ignited the secondary beam saber hidden in the hip mount—
FWASH!—and carved across Valetta Gundam's right arm in a blinding counter.
Metal screamed. Sparks and vapor burst into the void as the arm tore free.
Belthran's head snapped toward his monitors.
> Belthran: "You—!"
Both machines staggered back across the Starius hull, their shadows cast long over the colossal weapon's surface.
The Malaya System's beast-like hum deepened in Valetta's frame, and Belthran's fury radiated through the comms.
> Belthran (furious): "You DARE?!"
Inside Lunaris, Nura's breathing grew heavier, each exhale fogging the edge of his cracked HUD. His whole body ached from the strain, and his left hand shook on the control stick.
> Nura (panting): "…Still standing… still fighting…"
His eyes locked forward.
Even tired. Even broken. He wasn't going to stop.
---
The two crippled titans glared at each other across the scarred hull of Starius, their severed arms drifting silently into the void.
Inside Valetta Gundam, Belthran's teeth ground together. His pride, his fury, his humiliation—boiling into a single, focused wrath.
> Belthran: "MOON RATTTTT-!!!"
The cockpit bathed in blood-red light as his hand slammed down the throttle.
The Malaya System roared to life.
Valetta Gundam's thrusters exploded in bursts of white-blue flame, plating shifting like muscles tensing beneath skin. The machine's posture hunched lower, its head snapping toward Lunaris Gundam with the cold, predatory focus of a beast sizing up prey. Its movements—no longer mechanical—were alive.
From the Moon Kingdom Chamber, Queen Guinevere, Morderia and Ralvern from Moon Kingdom Control Room leaned toward the monitors, eyes wide.
The machine they were seeing… moved like nothing they'd ever fought before.
---
WHAM!
Valetta lunged, closing the gap in less than a heartbeat. Nura barely jerked the controls in time—CLANG!—a halberd slash glanced off Lunaris' chest, the force ripping deep grooves into the armor and sending him sliding across Starius' hull.
Nura's HUD flashed red:
[CRITICAL DAMAGE — LEFT SHOULDER ARMOR BREACHED]
> Nura (panting, voice shaking): "Tch… damn it—!"
Another blur—Valetta was already on him again.
The halberd's shaft cracked across Lunaris' knee joint—BAM!—then an elbow slammed into his torso—THUD!—knocking him into a hull ridge.
> Belthran (growling): "Your little speech… your stubborn loyalty… all for nothing."
Valetta spun the halberd, bringing the blade down like an executioner's axe—
CLANG!—Nura caught it just in time, sparks bursting as the two weapons ground against each other. His arms shook violently from the pressure.
> Nura (through gritted teeth): "…Not… for nothing."
Belthran's snarl twisted into something darker.
> Belthran: "Then I'll tear that belief out of you—PIECE BY PIECE!"
---
The fight was tearing the void apart.
Every swing of Valetta Gundam's halberd was like a storm—precise, overwhelming, relentless. Nura's Lunaris Gundam staggered with each impact, its systems screaming.
[STRUCTURAL DAMAGE: 37% → 51% → 68%]
[LEFT KNEE JOINT CRACKED]
[POWER OUTPUT FLUCTUATING]
Belthran's voice cut through the static like a knife.
> Belthran: "Still standing? How quaint. But you're running out of both time… and limbs."
WHOOSH—KRAAANG!
Valetta's halberd ripped in low before whipping up. The blade carved through Lunaris Gundam's left leg armor, severing internal actuators.
Nura's display lit in red—
[LEFT LEG FUNCTIONALITY: 28%]
The sheer force hurled Lunaris across Starius' hull, metal shrieking under the slide until it finally ground to a halt in a cascade of sparks.
---
Inside the Moon Kingdom's command chamber, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Queen Guinevere's grip tightened on the armrest, knuckles pale.
Morderia stood beside her mother, eyes locked on the battle, lips pressed into a thin line.
Ralvern leaned forward at his station, muttering under his breath.
> Morderia (low, tense): "Don't you dare fall now, Nura…"
---
Belthran advanced with slow, deliberate steps, Valetta Gundam glowing with the pulse of the Malaya System—its presence like a predator circling wounded prey.
> Belthran: "It ends here."
The halberd rose for the killing strike—
But Nura's eyes sharpened. His breath steadied.
NOW.
Lunaris surged forward—not back—slipping inside Valetta's guard.
The beam saber roared to life in a single motion—SHHHKTTT!—biting into Valetta's right shoulder joint.
[VALLETTA DAMAGE: RIGHT SHOULDER ACTUATOR — SEVERED]
---
Belthran's HUD flashed with warnings. For the briefest moment, his expression twisted in disbelief.
> Belthran: "…You—"
> Nura (panting): "I told you… I'll protect them. Even if it kills me."
---
Both Gundams pulled back, staggering, battered.
The silence was pierced only by cockpit alarms.
On the Moon's main monitor, the timer kept ticking forward—
[STARIUS RECHARGE: 58 MINUTES]
---
Steam vented from Lunaris Gundam's joints as Nura forced his battered machine forward.
The right beam saber was still wedged deep in Valetta Gundam's damaged shoulder, its servos whining. But Nura didn't stop there.
From Lunaris' left wrist, a hidden panel snapped open—SCHHHK!—unveiling the secondary beam saber emitter.
> Nura (panting, teeth clenched): "If I can't take you down piece by piece… I'll go for the heart!"
FWOOOM!
The second saber ignited in a burst of white-hot light. Nura drove it straight toward the Valetta Gundam's cockpit core.
---
Belthran's eyes widened—just a flicker—but his instincts kicked in instantly.
Valetta's left arm shot up, catching Lunaris' saber-wielding wrist mid-thrust.
CLAAANG—SSSSKRRRHHH!
Metal groaned against metal as the two Gundams locked in a death grapple, sparks exploding where the beam blade hovered just meters from piercing the armor over Belthran's seat.
---
> Belthran (snarling): "Tch—persistent insect!"
Nura (straining): "Persistent enough to end you!"
The two Gundams shook violently against each other, pushing against the hull of the Starius. Every shove threatened to tear loose chunks of the massive cannon's armor plating.
---
Black void. The shattered glow of debris. The white flare of thrusters tearing through silence.
Lunaris Gundam and Valetta Gundam locked in a brutal deadlock, the beam saber burning inches from Valetta's cockpit. Sparks rained down as both arm servos screamed under the strain.
Belthran (snarling, voice sharp with rage over comm):
> "You think you can stab me, Moon rat?!"
Nura (gritting teeth, sweat dripping into his eyes):
> "If it means ending you—then yes!"
Belthran let out a feral laugh, twisting Valetta Gundam's torso, trying to wrench Lunaris's saber aside.
The pressure was immense. Warning klaxons flared red in Nura's HUD:
[ARM STRAIN CRITICAL]
Belthran (roaring):
> "You're a fool! You're standing against the Gundam of Mercury!"
Nura (breathing hard, voice trembling but defiant):
> "I'm standing against a butcher!"
---
[CAMERA: CLOSE-UP — VALLETTA GUNDAM'S VISOR]
Its crimson eyes flared, thrusters igniting with savage bursts. Valetta shoved forward, pushing Lunaris dangerously close to Starius' exposed energy conduit, glowing like the heart of a dying star.
Belthran (growling, voice breaking with fury):
> "IF YOU WANT TO DIE—THEN LET'S DIE TOGETHER!"
---
[SLOW MOTION — LUNARIS GUNDAM'S MOVEMENT]
Nura twisted Lunaris Gundam's legs underneath, then—
THRUST BOOST!
A massive kick slammed into Valetta Gundam's chest.
Impact.
Both machines smashed into the conduit's armored wall.
WHITE-OUT FLASH.
The explosion lit up the void. Starius' glow rippled violently, energy arcs licking into space like a living thing. Debris spun past at incredible speed.
---
[MOON KINGDOM COMMAND CHAMBER]
Screens flared white. Officers shielded their eyes.
Morderia (desperately leaning forward):
> "Nura!!"
Ralvern (clutching the console):
> "Impact registered! Right on Starius' surface!"
---
[BACK TO SPACE]
When the glare faded, both Gundams drifted apart, wrecked and smoking.
Lunaris Gundam's right leg was gone, drifting off in pieces.
Valetta Gundam's right arm and half its chest plating were torn away, exposing its mechanical ribs.
Belthran (low, venomous):
> "You… miserable pest…"
Nura (panting, forcing a weak grin):
> "…Guess we both got burned."
Belthran:
> "You think this changes anything? Starius will still erase the Moon from existence!"
Nura (steady, voice low but sharp):
> "Maybe. But if I can slow you down… even a second… it's worth it."
---
[CAMERA PULL-BACK]
Behind them, Starius pulsed with murderous light—its charging sequence still ticking upward, slowly but relentlessly.
[MOON KINGDOM COMMAND CHAMBER]
Queen Guinevere stood frozen, eyes locked on the monitors. Her lips barely moved:
> "We're running out of time…"
---
[EXT. SPACE — ABOVE STARIUS]
The void trembled.
Starius's central core blazed brighter, energy veins glowing like molten rivers.
COUNTDOWN: 04:59
The light reflected in the cracked visors of both Gundams.
Belthran (low, cold):
> "…Five minutes. That's all I need to end you, Moon rat."
Nura (breathing ragged, gripping his controls):
> "You're gonna have to try harder than that."
---
[CAMERA: CLOSE-UP — VALETTA GUNDAM'S BACK]
The Malaya System surged. Valetta's thrusters flared crimson, its frame warping with beast-like aggression. Movements became erratic, unpredictable—
A predator unchained.
Belthran (over comm, voice like a growl):
> "I'll tear you apart piece by piece."
Valetta vanished in a burst of speed.
Nura barely reacted in time—
CLANG!
Lunaris's left shoulder armor was torn clean off.
Nura (grunting):
> "Tch—! Dammit—"
---
[MOON KINGDOM COMMAND CHAMBER]
The room shook from distant vibrations. Officers stared in grim silence as the battle feed flickered.
Morderia (whispering, hands clutched):
> "Please… hold on…"
---
[EXT. SPACE — BATTLE]
Valetta Gundam pounced again, this time feinting high—then slashing low, tearing Lunaris Gundam's left knee joint.
The machine buckled.
Belthran (mocking, sneering):
> "Still clinging to that pathetic belief of yours?!"
Nura (panting, blood in his mouth):
> "I told you… I'll protect them… even if I have to drag you… into hell with me!"
---
[SLOW MOTION]
Valetta Gundam lunged with its halberd for the cockpit.
Nura twisted Lunaris's torso, caught the weapon mid-thrust, and slammed his remaining beam saber toward Valetta's exposed chest.
Belthran (eyes widening):
> "What—?!"
CLANG!!!
The two Gundams locked again, sparks and molten fragments spraying across Starius's hull.
---
[CAMERA PULL-BACK]
The massive weapon loomed behind them, its charging rings rotating faster, glowing like a newborn star.
COUNTDOWN: 03:29
---
[MOON KINGDOM COMMAND CHAMBER]
Alarms screamed.
An officer shouted:
> "Energy output spike—Starius is entering final phase!"
---
[EXT. SPACE — FINAL EXCHANGE]
Nura pushed the throttles to the limit, screaming through comms:
> "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHH!!!"
Belthran screamed back:
> "DIEEEEEE!!!"
Both machines surged forward—thrusters blazing—
Clash.
Impact.
Shockwave.
The feed to the Moon Kingdom chamber cut to static.