As Yang Hui's all-channel broadcast concluded, the battlefield froze for a fleeting moment—just one second—before erupting once more into a life-and-death struggle. However, chaos erupted within the Carbon Human faction as they turned on each other, unleashing pent-up grievances in a frenzy of vengeance and retribution.
"Tch, are these all the lunatics created by Gina's copies?" Yang Hui muttered before immediately issuing orders. "All forces, advance! Annihilate the enemy!"
"Roger!" xN
The Sword of the Heavens and the Minerva, positioned at the rear, had long been itching for action. Now, they surged forward at full speed, splitting off to engage the battle zones on either flank.
The same went for the Bahr team. Though initially startled, their chests soon burned with fervor and impatience. No true warrior could sit idly by as spectators in such an intense battle. Only Yang Hui's authority and Talia's steady reassurances had kept them from charging recklessly into the fray.
Now, at last, they had their chance—not just to watch, but to fight.
"Finally, our turn! Let's go!"
"Brother, don't be reckless! Maintain formation!"
"Shinn! Honestly…"
"Shinn and Mayu, take a squad to the left! Lunamaria and I will handle the right. All units, hold formation—don't get yourselves killed!"
"Roger!" xN
Even Rey, usually the calmest among them, felt his blood boiling. After issuing commands, he led Lunamaria and several Zaku Phantoms straight into the battlefield where the Strike Freedom Gundam, Infinite Justice Gundam, and Providence Gundam were engaged.
"Hm? That Mobile Suit… Rey?" Creuset noticed the Chaos Gundam joining the fray. While clearing enemy units, he maneuvered closer.
"Rau!" Rey called out excitedly at the sight of the Providence Gundam—only to leave his back exposed.
Zing—Zing!
Two brilliant beams shot from the GN Dragoons, grazing past the Chaos Gundam's head and piercing the two enemy units behind it.
"You're too careless, Rey. This is a battlefield, not a café for catching up." The Providence Gundam moved back-to-back with the Chaos Gundam as Creuset scolded him. Though Creuset was a madman, he held a soft spot for Rey—perhaps out of shared suffering or their identical origins, treating him like a younger brother.
"Sorry, Rau." Rey apologized sheepishly, only to be met with another sharp reprimand.
"Don't give yourself a reason to apologize, Rey."
"U-understood…" Rey instinctively flinched, yet warmth spread through him. He had found that familiar feeling again—the security of having someone to rely on.
Despite their exchange, neither slowed their movements. The Chaos Gundam's Mobile Armaments blended seamlessly with the GN Dragoons, firing relentlessly as they swiftly eliminated surrounding enemies.
Lunamaria and the others quickly realized that the Providence and Chaos Gundams together were like a pair of spiked fortresses—even allies dared not approach. Instead, they steered their Gundams toward the Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice Gundams' positions.
However, they hadn't gone far when they realized moving forward wasn't as easy as it seemed. If it weren't for the occasional fire support from Strike Freedom Gundam and Infinite Justice Gundam, casualties might have already occurred.
"Damn it, did we run into elites? Why are they so strong?" Lunamaria complained irritably.
"It's not that they're too strong—it's that we're too weak," a veteran explained helplessly. While Creuset and the others cut through enemies effortlessly, that was because they were world-class ace pilots operating top-tier Mobile Suits.
As for them... they were considered elites too, but their opponents were all Gundam-type MS. According to intelligence, all enemy pilots were clones created through a technology called Carbon Humans, capable of replicating the original's abilities to some extent. Moreover, any pilot assigned to a Gundam-type MS would undoubtedly be a copy of some elite or ace—far from opponents they could easily eliminate.
"Alright, my confidence is completely gone," Lunamaria said dejectedly. She had been a top graduate from the military academy, ranking in the top five of her class, immediately assigned a Red Uniform upon graduation, and placed in an elite unit piloting the cutting-edge Abyss Gundam—something to be proud of. But now...
Gone. Her confidence, her pride—all shattered beyond recognition.
"Keep at it, Luna. Aim to reach their level."
"That's right. You're still young, unlike us old-timers."
"Ugh—fine, I get it!"
Though they couldn't keep up with Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice, they were still elites handpicked by Durandal. Combining veteran experience with the rookies' explosive potential, they managed to stabilize their formation, protecting themselves while picking off stragglers without issue.
The situation on the other side of the battlefield was different. Setsuna, Lyle, and Tieria were essentially lone wolves, at most cooperating among themselves—at least, that had been the case before.
Now, after training countless skilled Mobile Suit pilots in Orb and leading troops, they had gradually learned to assess the battlefield as a whole and coordinate with their subordinates.
Case in point: once the squad led by Impulse Gundam and Abyss Gundam joined the fray, Exia, Cherudim, and Virtue immediately shifted formations. The rotating triangular formation stabilized, incorporating Impulse and the others into their ranks.
"Damn it! Why are his subordinates just as bossy as he is!?" Shinn grumbled as Impulse Gundam's Beam Rifle fired rapidly, breaking through a Torrent Duel Gundam's defenses and destroying it.
"Isn't that obvious?" Abyss Gundam unleashed a full barrage, piercing several Daggers simultaneously before replying wearily, "They outrank us and are stronger than us."
"They're not even ZAFT soldiers! What does rank matter? So what if they're stronger?"
"Brother—watch out!"
"Huh—?"
Shinn's carelessness allowed a Nebula Lightning Gundam to slip behind Impulse, its Calamity Life Katana deployed and its vicious Fangs poised to clamp down. But an orange Beam shot through its abdomen just in time.
"Ugh~!" The shockwave from the explosion forced the Impulse Gundam backward, shaking Shinn uncomfortably in the cockpit.
"Heh, being strong sure is something," came Lyle's teasing voice over comms as the GN-bits returned to the nearby Gundam Cherudim.
"What did you say!?" Shinn glared furiously at the Cherudim.
"You've got a lot to learn, kid. Don't be so reckless."
"Damn it! You're just as annoying as that bastard!" Cursing, Shinn continued piloting the Impulse Gundam to eliminate enemies. Whether from overstimulation or something else, his eyes had lost their pupils, turning completely red.
(End of Chapter)