The fastest of them all, the Flag Gundam, charged ahead at top speed, heading straight for the farthest VEGAN fleet.
VEGAN quickly noticed the rapidly approaching Flag Gundam, and the moment it was spotted, all MS units surrounded it, firing relentlessly, creating a dense network of firepower that enveloped the Flag Gundam.
"Bring it on!"
Facing the impending lethal beams, Graham showed no fear, only excitement and fervor. It had been five years since he stepped down from the front lines to become an instructor in the training corps, and he hadn't encountered a decent fight since. He knew there wouldn't be one until the third phase of the mission began, so he had been waiting for this day.
The Flag Gundam didn't slow down, maneuvering like a nimble fish through the air, weaving through the web of beams. When several enemy MS units drew their Beam Sabers and charged at him, the Blade of Downpour on the Gundam's nose and wings glowed a crimson light. Without even altering its course, the Flag Gundam slipped past the enemy machines.
In an instant, several MS units were cleaved in two, and the [Danakin] that made contact with the Gundam's nose didn't even get a chance to explode, shattering into fragments that scattered across the sky.
As it charged forward, the Vargus Vulcan Cannon and the high-output Vangs Rifle fired continuously, forming a dense line of beams that obliterated every enemy machine in its path.
Perhaps it was the enemy's squad leader who seized a clever opportunity to close in on the Flag Gundam. The [Danakin]'s Beam Sabers locked onto the Flag Gundam, ready to strike.
At that very moment, a "click-click" sound echoed as the Flag Gundam transformed into its MS form mid-air at high speed. It executed a bizarre maneuver, narrowly dodging the [Danakin]'s Beam Saber, and with a swift backhand slash, the Blade of Downpour on its nose shield sliced the enemy in two.
A real man never looks back at the explosion. As if nothing had happened, the Flag Gundam didn't linger, continuing to tear through the enemy lines with high speed and firepower, creating a massive breach in the MS formation in front of the battleship.
"Heh, first one!"
The Flag Gundam ignored the MS units left in its wake. Before the battleship could enter the city, the Blade of Downpour on its shield emitted a bright red light, piercing the battleship's armor like a hot knife through butter, leaving deep scars across its surface as it sped past.
The battleship Fazos was engulfed in thick smoke, with arcs of electricity and sparks dancing and flickering at the scars. But VEGAN's technology was reliable; even such grievous wounds didn't sink it.
"Impressive, VEGAN. Let's see how you handle this!"
The Flag Gundam positioned itself beneath the battleship's belly, where multiple scars intersected. The high-output Vangs Rifle and the Vargas Cannon locked onto the convergence point.
Beams shot out, merging into one, thrusting upwards like a steel pillar, piercing through the battleship and pinning it in mid-air.
The Flag Gundam quickly retreated as Fazos began to expand from the middle, spreading across its entire body, until finally…
"Boom!"
A grand fireworks display erupted, scattering debris in all directions, filling the air with dust.
"Heh, this is the fight I've been waiting for," Graham smiled contentedly at his handiwork, then continued to hunt down the fleeing MS units.
…
Yurin landed directly at the city's edge, setting up her long-range Beam Rifle for methodical sniping.
Without GN Particles, the Funnels were unusable on Earth, reducing the Luna Gundam's efficiency in eliminating enemies. But Yurin's sniping remained a nightmare for the enemy. Before they could react, their cockpits were already pierced, and even their instinctive dodges couldn't save them, often dragging their allied machines down with them.
"Angus Squad, three [Dorados] on the left, surround and eliminate."
"Understood!" x5
"Floyd Squad, two [Dorados] and two [Danakins] on the right, intercept immediately."
"Understood!" x5
Upon receiving orders, Angus Squad and Floyd Squad immediately executed them. No one dared to question Yurin's commands. Once, there were young, brash pilots who doubted her abilities because she was a gentle, older woman. But after a simulated combat demonstration, Yurin showed those spirited youngsters what it meant to be "a blade that remains sharp."
While firing to prevent enemies from crossing the city boundary, Yurin calmly issued orders to the two squads. Though her efficiency wasn't as high as Graham or Yang Hui's, and the battle wasn't as intense, she stood firm like an unshakable Great Wall, repelling VEGAN's fierce assaults, refusing to let them advance even a step.
"Now's the time!" Yurin cleared the last two [Danakins] guarding Fazos and immediately issued the final command to Angus Squad and Floyd Squad. "All units, assault the enemy battleship!"
"Understood!" x10
…
On the eastern front, Yang Hui's zone of responsibility, even without Funnels, his dual Vangs Machine Guns alone were enough to repel VEGAN's invasion.
It was almost unbelievable how Yang Hui's shooting skills had reached a level where his machine gun barrage was no less precise than Yurin's high-accuracy sniping. The chain of beams was almost unbroken, with each shot hitting a VEGAN MS.
"Beep, beep, beep…"
The cockpit alarm sounded as Yang Hui sensed an enemy machine approaching from behind. But he wasn't worried because…
In the next second, the four wings unfolded, and the Funnels opened their menacing maws, firing over a dozen pink beams that skewered the enemy like kebabs.
"Don't think Funnels are useless on Earth," Yang Hui grinned, piloting the Dawn Gundam straight into the heart of the enemy formation. The four wings, Beam Machine Guns, and high-output Electromagnetic Cannon all deployed, and he began spinning in place.
Pink beams and Electromagnetic Cannon shells, arcing with electricity, painted a deadly yet beautiful picture across the sky, adding bright flowers to the canvas with every explosion.
Within a minute, VEGAN's MS units were wiped out, leaving only the lone Fazos drifting in the sky.
Fazos probably realized the situation was hopeless and attempted to activate the Parasol System to retreat, but would Yang Hui let them leave peacefully?
Of course not!
"Heh, did you think I've just been an instructor these past few years? The Parasol System is useless now!"
The new radar lock-on system activated, instantly locking onto Fazos the moment it disappeared.
The Dawn Gundam surged forward with fiery intensity, closing in on Fazos's position. The Electromagnetic Cannon fired, exploding in the empty air, distorting the atmosphere. The vanished Fazos reappeared in view, its rear engines completely destroyed, trailing smoke and explosions as it plummeted toward the outskirts.
"Sorry, you're no longer useful, so… rest in peace."
The Dawn Gundam didn't spare Fazos just because it had lost power and was falling. The moment they decided to attack the city directly, Yang Hui had no intention of letting them live.
Prisoners? They would only waste resources, and there were already too many VEGAN on Earth; they didn't need more.
The Dawn Gundam, brimming with killing intent, positioned itself along Fazos's descent path. All weapons deployed, unleashing a relentless barrage of firepower onto Fazos. Even if they sent surrender signals, Yang Hui ignored them, ensuring any escape pods were immediately struck by beams or shells.
Only when complete silence fell did the Dawn Gundam step aside, allowing Fazos to crash to the ground, shatter, and explode, leaving behind a field of debris.
After confirming that the eastern VEGAN forces had been completely wiped out, the Dawn Gundam turned and left. Graham and Yurin's fronts were of no concern; Yang Hui was confident they would annihilate the enemy. The only area that might need his support was the northern base's defense line.
Sure enough, when the Dawn Gundam arrived at the northern defense line, the battle between the two forces had reached a stalemate. Though the Federal Army held a slight advantage, a quick victory was impossible.
To minimize losses and ensure no enemies escaped, the Dawn Gundam, along with the arriving Flag Gundam and Luna Gundam, joined the fray, swiftly obliterating the invading forces.
"General, thank goodness you were here, or Leviwell City would have…" the base commander said with a lingering fear.
This VEGAN assault was sudden and massive, attacking from all four directions simultaneously. If not for Yang Hui and the others quickly clearing the east, south, and west fronts, Leviwell City might have been wiped off the map.
"Save the celebrations for later. What's the current situation?"
"The situation is dire," the base commander reported grimly. While Leviwell City was safe thanks to Yang Hui and the others, other cities weren't so lucky. "According to intelligence from Lost Lou Lan, this large-scale VEGAN invasion not only mobilized hidden Earth-based VEGAN but also airdropped a massive force. The Middle East and North Africa have already fallen, and while 15% of the remaining regions have ended their battles, they've suffered heavy losses and urgently need reinforcements to withstand the next wave. The rest are still fighting."
"Lost Lou Lan?"
"Yes, with the Big Ring base destroyed, Lost Lou Lan is the temporary headquarters. Fortunately, Admiral Argreus was inspecting Lost Lou Lan at the time, otherwise…"
"Fortunately? Is there anything fortunate about the current situation?" Yang Hui asked displeased.
"Uh… yes," the base commander wiped his sweat. The situation was indeed as bad as it could get, and Admiral Argreus's survival was the only silver lining in this disaster, providing some psychological comfort.
"So, what are the orders? Where are we supposed to provide support?" Yang Hui asked.
"I've reported your situation to th
e Admiral. He orders the three of you to contact him immediately after concluding your battles."
"Got it."
(End of Chapter)