After successfully depleting the enemy's fortress cannon, the Federal Army launched a full-scale assault. Given the current distance between the two sides, neither Yang Hui, Flit, nor Argreus believed that the fortress cannon could pose a threat again in the short term. They decisively charged towards the Second Moon with full force.
However, just as the offensive began, the six leading Gundams came to a halt.
"What's going on? This feeling..."
"So cold, so terrifying..."
"Something... is coming!"
Flit, Yurin, and Kio, three of the world's top-ranked X-Rounders, simultaneously sensed several waves of intense malice rushing towards them.
Yang Hui wasn't an X-Rounder, but as an Innovator, even without the aid of GN Particles, his ability to perceive emotions far surpassed that of ordinary people. He too felt several icy waves of killing intent locking onto them.
"Scatter!"
At his command, the six Gundams dispersed, and several thick beams of light struck the spot where they had just been.
Simultaneously, five black meteors swiftly approached, colliding with the Dawn Gundam, the Flag Gundam, and the three Gundam AGE units.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Seeing this, Yurin didn't hesitate. She immediately locked onto the five [VEGAN Mobile Suits], but just as she was about to fire, their tails simultaneously rose, targeting the Luna Gundam.
Yurin was startled and quickly canceled her firing stance, dodging to evade. However, during her evasion, the enemy's attacks managed to destroy several Funnels and even grazed the Luna Gundam's right shoulder.
"Ugh~! This feeling... such a powerful X-Rounder!"
Despite the damage, Yurin wasn't intimidated. While dodging, she returned fire.
The [VEGAN Mobile Suits] naturally didn't stay still to be shot at. The five Gundams attempted to entangle them to create an opportunity for Yurin's sniping, but the slender bodies of the enemy suits erupted with immense power, repelling the Gundams and easily evading their attacks.
"What is this eerie feeling?" Flit wondered, cold sweat dripping as he watched the [VEGAN Mobile Suits] gather together, glaring at them.
The enemy's X-Rounder abilities were extraordinary, on par with Kio's. Such aces had never been heard of before, and moreover...
While Flit, Yurin, and Kio could only vaguely sense the enemy, in Yang Hui's perception, the Brain Quantum Waves of the five enemies were identical.
This defied all logic!
In the perception of Innovators, Brain Quantum Waves were like another form of identification. Each person's Brain Quantum Waves were distinct, and even identical twins had subtle differences. It was impossible for them to be exactly the same. Yet, these five individuals... were as if they were one.
"They really went all out," Yang Hui said with a grimace.
The enemy mobile suits and pilots had never been documented before, but Yang Hui recognized them—clones of Ezelcant. The [VEGAN Mobile Suits] were the pinnacle of VEGAN's technological achievements, even surpassing the Gundam Legilis by a slight margin.
The reason for this is that the piloting requirements for the [VEGAN Mobile Suits] are extremely high. Not only does one need a powerful X-Rounder ability, but also a strong physique. Even clones specifically created for combat cannot fully withstand the damage caused by the machine's overwhelming performance.
Thus, the clones are merely components of this machine, not treated as human beings.
But it is precisely this that allows for the creation of the perfect combat weapon.
"Five of them, huh? What a big problem..." Seeing the five [VEGAN Mobile Suits], even Yang Hui began to sweat coldly on his forehead.
How strong are the [VEGAN Mobile Suits]? One of them can single-handedly overpower three generations of a family. That's how strong they are.
Not to mention that later, they merged with Sidd and entered a berserk state.
If it weren't for Kio activating the so-called invincible full-power mode in this world, combined with the joint efforts of all the MS from the Federation and VEGAN to contain them, the anime Gundam AGE might have been a completely different story.
Wait, Sidd!
"All units! Be alert! Don't let..."
Before Yang Hui could finish his sentence, three Sidd units suddenly deactivated their [Parasol] systems near Yang Hui and his team, pouncing onto three [VEGAN Mobile Suits]. Their sharp lower limbs pierced into the slender torsos, and no matter how much the latter struggled, they couldn't break free.
"Ugh~ Ughhh... Ah~!!"
The three captured [VEGAN Mobile Suits] simultaneously let out screams of agony. Waves of intense pain erupted, affecting all the X-Rounders in the vicinity.
"Ugh~ What is this?"
"It hurts so much!"
"Malice... the malice has increased... Ugh!"
The overwhelming pain caused Flit, Yurin, and Kio to clutch their heads in agony, unable to bear it. Even the emotionless clones were now unable to control their machines.
"Gra...ham! Stop them!" Yang Hui was also in excruciating pain, but fortunately, he had entered Innovator Mode. His absolute rationality slightly suppressed the storm of pain, allowing him to maintain rational thought.
Graham, upon receiving the order, didn't ask questions and immediately acted.
The Flag Gundam charged toward one of the [VEGAN Mobile Suits] restrained by Sidd, drawing its sword and decisively cutting it in half.
Seeing this, Asemu didn't hesitate either, quickly finding his target. But just as his sword was about to strike, the struggling [VEGAN Mobile Suit·Sidd] raised its arm to block and struck his abdomen with its tail.
"Ugh~!"
"It's already... too late!"
Yang Hui noticed that the struggling of the [VEGAN Mobile Suits] was diminishing. He knew that Sidd was about to take control of the clones. He wanted to destroy them before they went completely berserk, but his body wouldn't obey.
Sure enough, the next second, two [VEGAN Mobile Suits] stopped struggling and immediately fired all their weapons. Not only did they hit their two incapacitated companions, but they also struck the Dygmengun Cannon nearby, wildly unleashing firepower in all directions like madmen.
Seeing this, Yang Hui and the others could only order their allies to stay away while they desperately dodged the berserk barrage.
"Kio! What are you doing!?"
Flit's questioning drew everyone's attention. Surprisingly, the Gundam AGE-FX did not evade the incoming barrage of destructive beams. Instead, it used its C-Funnels to shield itself, standing protectively in front of two heavily damaged VEGAN mobile suits.
"You idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed? Move out of the way!" Asemu roared, watching as the Gundam AGE-FX accumulated more and more damage.
"They... they're still alive..." Kio's strained voice came through the comms.
"They're the enemy! Are you really going to die for them!?"
"They... are people too... I can't..."
"You fool!"
At that moment, the C-Funnels' defense finally gave way, and a black-red beam of energy surged toward the Gundam AGE-FX.
Kio stared at the beam magnifying on his screen, his body feeling an icy chill, as if the hands of death, carrying an eerie aura, were closing around his neck.
Time seemed to slow down. Suddenly, the Luna Gundam appeared beside the Gundam AGE-FX, pushing it out of harm's way and exposing itself to the deadly barrage.
"Boom~!"
"Yurin!!!"
...
In the Second Moon's command room, Jehart watched the strength of the VEGAN mobile suits and finally allowed a smile to break through his tense and troubled expression.
"As expected of the perfect weapon prepared by Lord Ezelcant. It truly can suppress the Gundam. With this..."
"Lord Ezelcant! The brainwave fluctuations of Clone Units One, Two, and Three have suddenly spiked!"
"What?"
"An unidentified mobile suit has appeared in the combat zone and has seized Units One, Two, and Three! This... this is!"
"How is this possible!? Weren't they already destroyed? Why are they here!?"
Jehart's face turned grim, even pale, as he saw three Sidd units suddenly appear on the battlefield, capturing the three VEGAN mobile suits.
Since Yang Hui and his team had intercepted the EXA-DB earlier, Jehart had no prior experience battling the Sidd. However, the Federation's intelligence reports had never stopped. He vividly remembered the report of two Sidd units repelling an entire Celestial Being squadron. At that time, Yang Hui and his team were no longer young, but their combat prowess had not diminished much from their peak.
What kind of strength would it take to repel a team led by those three?
After seeing that report, Jehart had elevated the threat level of the Sidd to be on par with Yang Hui and his team. Fortunately, the Sidd's mission was only to guard the EXA-DB, and not long ago, he had received intelligence that the Sidd had been destroyed by Yang Hui and his team, eliminating that threat and refocusing it on the Federation.
But now...
"Lord Jehart! Units One and Two are out of control!"
"R... Rampage!"
"The Dygmazern Cannon has been hit, and the cooling system is malfunctioning! If this continues... it will explode along with the Second Moon!"
"What!?" Jehart was horrified and immediately issued an order, "Disconnect the Laglamis from the Second Moon immediately! Hurry!"
"It's impossible! Due to the recent attack, the connection system is malfunctioning, and we can't disconnect!"
"How... how could this happen..."
"Lord Jehart!"
Jehart looked at everyone in the command room, their eyes filled with despair. According to the calculations, there was simply not enough time for the Second Moon to complete the evacuation. Moreover, the Second Moon was their home. Even if they fled, where could they go?
"Order all forces to abandon combat! Immediately participate in the dismantling of Laglamis!"
"Lord Jehart, the Federation..."
This was indeed the only solution at the moment—to gather the full strength of the army and physically dismantle the Laglamis Fortress. But...
If they were willing to stop, would the Federation let them go?
"...Send a communication request to the flagship of the Federation fleet."
"Lord Jehart!" Everyone knew that Jehart intended to seek the Federation's help. But once they did this, the battle—this war that had lasted nearly a century—would be lost.
"Mr. Yang Hui once told me that soldiers exist to protect the people. If we can't even protect our own people now, what victory are we even talking about!?"
Jehart's shout made everyone lower their heads, filled with pain, resentment, anger... all of it. But reality was just that cruel.
"Help me send the communication request. I will take full responsibility for everything. Please trust me. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure that all of you reach Eden. I beg for your help, please."
After saying this, Jehart sincerely bowed to everyone at a ninety-degree angle.
(End of Chapter)