On the flagship Amadeus, Argreus was also in a state of great anxiety. He had anticipated this outcome when he first devised this strategy, but in order to quickly open a breakthrough, he had no choice but to take a risky move.
Now, the strategy had successfully opened a breakthrough, but the effect was too good, so good that it had spiraled out of control.
"Argreus."
"Lieutenant General, Old Commander, I am truly ashamed that the situation has gotten out of hand..."
"This is not the time for self-reproach. Immediately issue a command to all channels, instructing all returning personnel to regroup with the nearest friendly forces and reactivate the safety identifiers," Flit proposed.
"But if we do that, wouldn't those who are willing to fall into depravity have an opportunity to take advantage..."
"This is not the time to discuss that. As long as we reactivate the safety identifiers, we can prevent them from stabbing us in the back. As for whether they were forced or not, we can investigate after the battle!"
"...Understood, but this is only a temporary measure. The urgent task now is to end the battle as soon as possible, Lieutenant General..."
"I will have Graham take the Celestial Beings there. Flit, you go too!"
"What about you and Vice Admiral Yulin..."
"I have guests arriving here."
"...Understood."
...
During the communication, Yang Hui's movements never ceased. Dozens of tiny beam spheres surrounded the Dawn Gundam from all directions.
"This weapon is really disgusting!"
The bit weapon was simply too excellent. Its flexibility, quantity, and size surpassed that of funnels, and since bits were just energy entities, they could not be destroyed and rendered unusable. As long as the bit generator was not destroyed, they could be used endlessly.
Moreover, the cone cannon's power was not great, but its ability to directly apply energy to the target's interior through a special field was extremely terrifying.
Perhaps GN Fields or I-Fields could block it, but physical armor could never withstand it, no matter how thick or excellent the anti-beam coating was.
It had not been studied in detail yet, so the energy consumption was unknown, but currently, the few drawbacks of bits were their high difficulty of control and small attack range.
Locking the beam submachine gun in front, he continuously fired, cooperating with the funnels to blast open a gap in the frontal blockade. The Dawn Gundam seized the opportunity to break out of the encirclement and appeared before Giraga.
The sword was raised high and then came crashing down.
"Clang~"
The sword and spear collided, creating countless sparks, with arcs of electricity dancing between them. Neither was willing to give way.
"I really didn't misjudge you back then, Jehart," Yang Hui praised Jehart through the public channel.
"Because you gave me enough pressure, I was able to grow to this point, and... I have also obtained a weapon that can defeat you. This time, I will definitely defeat you!"
Giraga suddenly exerted force, pushing the Dawn Gundam away, and at the same time, the beam disruptor cannon on its chest fired.
The Dawn Gundam spiraled to the side, avoiding the beam disruptor cannon while firing the beam submachine gun, aiming directly at Giraga.
The spear spun in his hand, deflecting all the beams, while simultaneously controlling the scattered bits around him, intending to encircle the Dawn Gundam once again.
However, the Dawn Gundam did not choose to evade but instead charged forward, colliding with Giraga once more.
"Really... annoying!"
Jehart endured the impact of the collision, cursing Yang Hui for his underhanded tactics. Under the threat of the bits, Yang Hui had abandoned his most proficient high-mobility shooting combat and instead entangled himself with Jehart's machine, rendering the bits ineffective.
"Kid, don't think that just because you have a new toy, you're back in the game. While the excellence of the machine is important, the most crucial thing..."
Before he could finish, the electromagnetic cannon on the Dawn Gundam's waist deployed, firing a devastating blast at the Giraga.
"Boom~"
"Ah~!!"
The shot didn't penetrate the armor, but the close-range impact caused Jehart immense pain, even disorienting him to the point where he couldn't control his bits and dropped his spear.
The Giraga retreated amidst billowing smoke, with the Dawn Gundam in pursuit, its sword raised high.
"...the most important thing is the pilot!"
"Don't even think about it!"
At the brink of his limits, Jehart forced himself to regain focus. His tail blade swept out with a force capable of cutting through thorns.
"Clang~!"
The solid sword in his hand was knocked away, and the tail blade pressed its advantage, tightly coiling around the Dawn Gundam's right arm, squeezing relentlessly until it began to twist with a creaking sound.
"Too naive!"
With a swift motion, the solid sword in his left hand drew a green line, severing the entire tail blade. Simultaneously, he kicked out, sending the Giraga flying.
"Ah~!"
"Lord Jehart!"
Two Ghilsbains moved forward, one catching the Giraga as it plummeted toward the lunar surface, the other using suppressive fire to drive the Dawn Gundam back.
"I'm fine. How's the retreat progress?" Jehart asked.
"40% complete, but most of our forces are pinned down by the enemy and can't break free."
"Damn it..." Jehart quickly pondered his options. Now, he wasn't thinking about defeating Yang Hui; just successfully retreating with his fleet would be a victory.
"Lord Jehart, we'll hold off Yang Hui. You retreat first..."
"No, if I leave, you won't be able to stop Mr. Yang Hui. We'll fight together and buy time for the troops!"
"...Understood. Please stay behind us, Lord Jehart."
"Alright, bits!"
...
Compared to the intense battle between Yang Hui and Jehart, the fight between Yurin and Fram Nara seemed almost like a game.
When the Van Farsia first appeared, it stirred memories in both Yang Hui and Yurin, especially for Yurin. It was a painful memory she wished to forget but could only bury deep in her heart.
Years ago, she had been forcibly taken by VEGAN and used as a component by Desil to pilot the Farsia, fighting against Yang Hui and nearly dying at his hands.
Decades had passed. Under Yang Hui's companionship and guidance, Yurin had grown, and Desil was dead. But seeing this machine still brought back the pain and despair of those days.
"Such a familiar machine... but so detestable!"
For the first time, a look of disgust appeared on Yurin's face. She raised her gun, aiming directly at the cockpit.
"Danger!"
The Van Farsia, seeing the beam coming, initially raised its left arm to block with its electromagnetic armor. But her X-Rounder intuition screamed: "You can't block it. You'll die!"
Survival instinct made Fram Nara slightly push the control stick, causing the body of [Van Farsia] to tilt slightly.
In the next moment, a beam directly pierced through the entire left arm, grazing past [Van Farsia]'s head and continuing until it reached the lunar surface, leaving a scorched hole on Artemis Base before finally stopping.
"Ah~!"
Fram Nara, who was on the battlefield for the first time, let out a scream in the midst of it all. Fortunately, her instinctive control of the mobile suit kept it balanced, preventing her from falling into a helpless situation.
"Such terrifying power and precision, but I also... go! Funnels!"
Five pink flower-shaped Funnels flew out from behind, revealing the menacing gun barrels hidden within their pistils, all aimed at the Luna Gundam.
But these venomous needles concealed within cuteness had just begun to show their edge before they were scattered by the wind.
Several beams descended, and before they could unleash their intended power, they were all destroyed.
"How is this possible!?"
Fram Nara had thought that Yurin, being a seasoned veteran, might be too much for her on her first sortie, but she believed she could at least stall her to buy time for Jehart and the main force.
But now... a sense of powerlessness and despair enveloped her entire body, a cold sensation filling her, making it difficult to even move her fingers. As she looked up at the towering Luna Gundam, it was no longer the beautiful, pure [Moon Angel], but a grim reaper from the abyss, its scythe resting against her neck.
"Little girl? Were you forced into this too? Just like I was back then..."
At this moment, the Luna Gundam shifted its locked-on gun barrel away, and the cold blade that had been pressed against her neck moved away from Fram Nara. Yurin's voice was gentle, yet filled with sorrow.
"You are..."
"It's painful, isn't it? The feeling of being used. Come out, child, I'll take you away..."
As the Luna Gundam slowly approached on her screen, Fram Nara's expression turned fierce. [Van Farsia]'s staff danced, forming a beam whip that lashed out at the Luna Gundam.
"Don't come near me!"
The X-Rounder's early warning allowed the Luna Gundam to safely dodge [Van Farsia]'s sudden attack, leaving Yurin somewhat startled.
"I know you, Yurin Louser. The woman who was captured by us back then, forced into an MS, and eventually rescued by Yang Hui. You followed Yang Hui to learn MS piloting and became the [Moon Angel] you are today... But you exist only for Yang Hui alone. Don't compare yourself to a selfish woman like me! For Jehart-sama, for our suffering comrades, to reach Eden, even if I die, I can't let you disturb Jehart-sama!"
Accompanied by Fram Nara's roar, [Van Farsia]'s attacks became sharp and ruthless. A beam whip was wielded with such grace that it resembled a perfect ribbon dance, yet it always concealed deadly dangers.
"Is that so?" Yurin murmured after hearing this.
In Yurin's eyes, [Van Farsia] was now full of openings, ready to be taken down at any moment. But Yurin didn't do so. The Luna Gundam calmly dodged the lashes of the beam whip, closing in bit by bit without the opponent noticing.
In the end, the Luna Gundam maneuvered through the gaps of the long whip and arrived in front of the [Van Farsia], reaching out to grab its hand, rendering it immobile.
"So, you're the same—willing to give everything for someone."
"What... what are you talking about? I told you! I'm doing this for..."
"You really care for him, don't you? Jehart is a good kid, but do you truly have that resolve? To ignore everything, accept everything, bear everything, and give everything for him?"
"I... I..."
"As long as I can stay by Yang Hui's side, I can do anything. What about you? Can you?"
"I... I... I don't understand what you're saying~?"
"It seems you're not ready yet."
With those words, the Luna Gundam released the hands of the [Van Farsia]. In the next moment, a beam shot from behind the Luna Gundam, piercing through the limbs of the [Van Farsia].
"Next time we meet, I want to see your resolve, little girl."
The sensation of falling left Fram Nara speechless, as she could only watch herself plummet, the increasingly distant Luna Gundam adding to her distress.
"Jehart... my lord.
.."
"Thud~"
At that moment, the sensation of freefall ceased. The equally battered [Gigala] caught the falling [Van Farsia], now reduced to just its torso.
"Notify all units in the current area to cease combat immediately! Otherwise, I will detonate the Plasma Bomb inside Artemis Base!"