While Lockon had nearly been overturned at the hands of Graham's Overflag Team, Setsuna's operation in the capital of the Kingdom of Azadistan was going exceptionally smoothly.
The rebel forces that appeared in the capital of Azadistan were all piloting export-model Long-nosed types, and their pilots were third-rate locals from the kingdom itself.
Although Setsuna had a rather dark history, he was, at the very least, a Gundam pilot properly trained by Celestial Beings. Fighting five Long-nosed types operated by what amounted to militia pilots in an urban environment was as easy as slicing melons and chopping vegetables.
With Tekkadan watching over the solar power receiving antenna facility, Reid was naturally stationed aboard the Gran Chaos, observing from high in the sky while cloaked.
Regarding Setsuna's performance in this battle, Reid's assessment was identical to Alejandro's in the original story: it was purely a matter of the Mobile Suit's superior performance crushing the opposition, revealing nothing of the pilot's skill.
Just as in the original story, after eliminating the rebel army's Long-nosed types in the capital, Setsuna received a communication from Wang Liu Mei.
"A rebellion has broken out at Azadistan's Zair Base. The rebel army is currently crossing the Korsi region."
At this time, the damaged Dynames was on its way back to the transport ship, and Hong Long, piloting Gundam Virtue, was protecting it to prevent the Union forces from launching a surprise counterattack.
Therefore, the only one available to conduct an armed intervention in the Korsi region of the Kingdom of Azadistan was Exia.
However, this wasn't an overly difficult mission for Setsuna. The forces at Azadistan's Zair Base consisted of only a dozen or so export-model Long-nosed types. Given enough time, Exia could cut down a hundred of them with ease.
After so many assessment missions, Reid knew that an otherworldly invasion was bound to occur wherever Celestial Beings appeared.
Tekkadan had already reported that Dynames and Virtue were returning to the ship. If an Otherworld Entanglement were to happen now, it would surely occur near Exia.
Moreover, Reid remembered that after leaving the capital for the Korsi region, Setsuna ran into Sachez again and was nearly defeated once more.
So, Reid instructed Tekkadan to split their forces. All the Ghost Jegans were to keep an eye on the transport ship carrying Dynames and Virtue, lest this Otherworld Entanglement break the pattern and descend directly on them. He couldn't afford to have the key figures of Celestial Beings' first season killed off before he could even provide support.
He had to consider that after Tekkadan returned Virtue, the World Change Fluctuation Value had already dropped back to 13.273%. Reid had no desire to inexplicably drag the value below the passing line again.
As for Exia's side, sending Gundam Barbatos Lupus and Garibaldi Rebake to deal with Sachez's AEU Custom was already giving him plenty of face.
In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the Otherworld Entanglement hadn't happened yet, making it difficult for Reid's previously revealed forces to appear, and if Sachez didn't have such a significant role later in the story, making his death likely to cause major unforeseen changes, Reid would have been prepared to give Sachez even more "face." After all, the whole world would be better off if that guy died early. (Because Sachez and Kowloon had retreated so decisively, Tekkadan hadn't specifically reported the anomaly of Kowloon's AEU Enact Custom, simply noting that a wingman had retreated with the main unit.)
However, what happened next still slightly exceeded Reid's expectations.
Exia's actions mirrored the original story. When Setsuna saw the war-torn Korsi region, he was instantly hit with a vision of his former hometown.
One could only say that the Setsuna of this time had yet to understand the phrase, "human history is the constant repetition of mistakes."
The various familiar scenes in the Korsi region deeply stimulated Setsuna's psyche.
This was Setsuna's ultimate goal for becoming a Gundam: for war to end with Gundams.
Therefore, just as Ribbons had once piloted the 0 Gundam to destroy every MS on Setsuna's battlefield, Setsuna also began to destroy both the defending Azadistan forces and the rebel forces indiscriminately.
The commotion caused by Exia naturally attracted the retreating Sachez, just as in the original story, only this time he had Kowloon with him.
Sachez had been cursing and fuming, railing at the SDP for not playing by the rules of engagement. They had promised not to intervene in surface wars, yet they ended up helping Celestial Beings fight him.
In principle, Sachez wasn't wrong. From his perspective, for a bunch of incomprehensibly powerful Mobile Suits to suddenly appear in a place like the Kingdom of Azadistan, it had to be the work of the SDP.
Now, upon seeing Exia, Sachez naturally vented all his pent-up fury on Setsuna. After all, he might cower before anyone else, but when facing Setsuna, he'd dare to unload a full clip even if he were piloting a Long-nosed type today.
Sachez spoke directly to Kowloon.
"Kowloon, I see the Gundam I entrusted to my disciple. I'm preparing to take it back. How about I give you this Mobile Suit afterward, and we go seek revenge on the SDP together?"
The moment Kowloon heard keywords like "disciple" and "Gundam," he was instantly reminded of Kasim (Sagara Sousuke) and shot back a question.
"A rebellious apprentice? Sachez, what are this disciple's eyes like?"
Sachez indicated that he never cared about the eyes of a tool and replied directly.
"Just a little brat who dares to bare his teeth at me because he has a Gundam. But his skills are still the same; I can easily suppress him.
"I must admit, though, the performance gap between my Mobile Suit and the Gundam is huge, so I'll still need your support."
Hearing this, Kowloon felt that Sachez truly had no ambition. However, helping him snatch a Gundam wasn't out of the question. After all, he just wanted to see this world descend into utter chaos, and starting with the Kingdom of Azadistan wasn't a bad idea.
So, Kowloon replied with a savage grin.
"Fine. But after we capture the Gundam, you have to help me completely destroy this country. Otherwise, I'll destroy you."
Sachez knew Kowloon was a madman, so he didn't argue with his threat. Besides, the more chaotic the world, the more money he could make as a mercenary, which aligned with his own interests.
Thus, Sachez replied with an equally savage grin.
"Heh, why not? I was never suited for so-called peace anyway."
With that, Sachez directly piloted his AEU Custom into a dive toward Exia.
Seeing this, Kowloon also maneuvered his Mobile Suit to follow, preparing to provide support.
Sachez and Kowloon's actions were completely undisguised. Exia's sensors naturally detected the two Mobile Suits diving toward it from the sky at the first opportunity.
Then Setsuna looked and saw that the one charging at him was the AEU Custom he had seen in the Mollaria Republic, piloted by Sachez.
As the man who had once manipulated Setsuna into killing his own parents and had used and caused the deaths of all of Setsuna's childhood companions, Sachez's presence in the eyes of the still-immature Setsuna ignited a hatred that was truly purple with rage.
Seeing the Mobile Suit, which he suspected was Sachez's, rushing toward him, Setsuna didn't hesitate. He piloted Exia to meet it head-on, completely ignoring Kowloon's Mobile Suit.
Exia's Beam Rifle was primarily aimed at Sachez's Mobile Suit. Kowloon's unit was only incidentally targeted along the firing path in an attempt to drive it off.
Kowloon had also exchanged a few blows with Exia in his Hell King back in the Mollaria Republic, so he knew this pilot's actual combat experience was average.
But Kowloon never expected the Gundam pilot would dare to ignore his Mobile Suit, only firing at him with the Beam Rifle in an exceptionally casual manner.
So, Kowloon naturally taught Setsuna a lesson.
After Sachez's AEU Custom dodged Exia's shots with exceptional ease, Kowloon accelerated. While the opposing Gundam pilot's attention was completely focused on Sachez's Mobile Suit, he transformed into MS Mode in mid-air, kicked Exia squarely in the shoulder, and then, while Exia's front was wide open, fired a grenade at its chest armor.
Setsuna had completely failed to anticipate that the inconspicuous AEU Enact Custom next to Sachez's Mobile Suit could execute such a fluid series of movements.
Although the grenade's direct hit on Exia's chest armor didn't break through its defense, the violent tremor made it impossible for Setsuna to control the Mobile Suit properly. He cried out in pain as he and Exia plummeted to the ground.
Sachez, of course, wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by. "Kid, give me back my Gundam!" he yelled, also transforming his Mobile Suit into MS Mode in the air. As he hit the ground, he stomped with all his might on the area of Exia's cockpit hatch (Sachez had, after all, seen where Exia's cockpit opened).
This stomp made Setsuna, who had just regained a bit of his composure, cry out in pain again. This time, however, he forced Exia to move.
The GN Sword Rifle instantly switched to its sword mode and slashed at the AEU Custom standing on it.
But Sachez was all too familiar with Setsuna's attack patterns; after all, he was the one who had taught Setsuna his close-combat fundamentals.
Therefore, as if it knew in advance how Exia would attack, the AEU Custom drew its Large Super Vibration Blade with its left hand to block the GN Sword. Its right hand grabbed directly at Exia's cockpit hatch, intending to rip the cockpit's outer armor off and seize the Mobile Suit.
One could only say that Sachez had greatly underestimated the fortitude of a Celestial Beings Gundam. If Exia's outer armor could be torn off by the slender arms of an AEU Custom, the Human Reform League wouldn't have needed to use cutting machines when they captured Kyrios in the original story.
However, watching everything from high above, Reid felt a drop of sweat form on his forehead. This early-stage Setsuna was truly green.
But at that moment, the Xia sisters beside Reid frowned deeply. They glanced at each other, seemingly confirming something.
Reid keenly sensed the emotional shift in the two people beside him and asked strangely, "Yufang, Yulan, did you notice something odd? You can speak freely."
Since Reid had asked, Xia Yufang, the elder sister, immediately answered, "Master, that AEU Enact Custom's attack movements, and its minor hand gestures while on standby in the air right now... I feel they're very similar to Kowloon's."
When Reid heard this, his first reaction was that it was impossible for Kowloon to be here; Yufang and Yulan must be mistaken.
But on second thought, Reid realized that Yufang and Yulan never made baseless claims. Their emotions were usually as steady as a rock. For him to feel such a clear fluctuation this time, they must be very certain.
So, Reid immediately said, "Ruri, hack into that AEU Enact Custom. Access the cockpit camera and see who's inside."
However, just as Reid's order was given, a sinister wind suddenly whipped up between heaven and earth.
A sandstorm materialized without warning, blanketing the entire Korsi region of the Kingdom of Azadistan.
It was impossible for the Gran Chaos's sensors not to detect an approaching sandstorm. This kind of celestial anomaly was clearly an Otherworld Entanglement.
And unlike previous times, to ensure he could rescue the overturned Exia at a moment's notice if Tekkadan couldn't arrive in time, the Gran Chaos was flying at a low altitude.
Now, the sandstorm had directly enveloped the Gran Chaos as well, causing the entire ship to shake violently.
Hoshino Ruri immediately reported, "High-intensity energy turbulence detected outside. All sensor equipment is offline."
Seeing this, Reid no longer cared whether Kowloon was in that AEU Enact Custom or not and directly ordered, "Ruri, activate the Shipborne Lightwave Defense System! Gran Chaos, ascend! See if we can fly out of this anomalous energy zone."
Hoshino Ruri didn't hesitate, executing the command and reporting, "Shipborne Lightwave Defense System deployed. System duration countdown: 40 seconds. Ship is ascending."
The Shipborne Lightwave Defense System on the Gran Chaos was a simplified version of the one on Artemis. However, the Gran Chaos was too large, and the super-large Nuclear Fusion Furnace used for fortresses couldn't be installed on a ship.
Therefore, the lightwave defense system on the Gran Chaos had a time limit. Exceeding it would cause insufficient power supply to other areas of the ship.
Fortunately, Reid didn't need to push the system to its time limit this time.
After the Lightwave Defense System was deployed, the Gran Chaos instantly stopped shaking. In about 20 seconds, it broke through the anomalous energy zone.
From high above, the city below was now completely invisible, entirely shrouded by the sandstorm.
Fortunately, Exia should still be fine, as the World Change Flctuation Value hadn't suddenly surged.
However, all factions in the Kingdom of Azadistan should now be aware of the anomaly here. Dynames, Virtue, the Union, and Azadistan's local defense forces would likely rush over quickly.
As for Reid, he was now just waiting for the anomaly below to disappear. Such a huge commotion gave him a gut feeling that the opponents this time might not be easy to deal with.
Sure enough, when the sandstorm dissipated, the sky above the entire Korsi region was filled with "dragons."
Well, these were not dragons in the traditional sense, but a force of over a hundred Genoace (including basic, R, and M types) and Danazines.
There were also a few scattered Xvm-dac Ghirargas and Xvm-zbc Zeydras.
It was practically a reenactment of the Vagan invasion of Earth from the Gundam AGE universe.
The good news was that Tekkadan's two Mobile Suits were still on their way.
Exia was currently buried spread-eagled in a pile of architectural rubble. The "sandstorm" just now had been strong enough to make the Gran Chaos shake violently; small Mobile Suits like Exia and the AEU Custom had no chance of maintaining stability and would have been blown away randomly.
Exia could be considered lucky. It had crashed into a building, and although it was buried in debris, bricks and stones were certainly safer than an unknown energy storm.
As for Sachez's AEU Custom and Kowloon's AEU Enact Custom, they had been blown who-knows-where, but they were definitely buried under some rubble somewhere in the Korsi region of Azadistan.
However, for the three of them, the danger had not passed. On the contrary, it had grown even greater.
The Vagan Mobile Suits, like all the Mobile Suits from previous Otherworld Entanglements, froze for a few seconds before beginning to wantonly destroy the city below, which was already on the verge of becoming ruins.
One must remember, this city still had a large number of civilians. Although those still alive had likely hidden in basements, Vagan attacks were known for digging three feet deep.
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