"Let me see how skilled you are without your Energy Deflection Armor!"
A slight smile curled at the corner of his lips as Felix spoke.
Simultaneously, his hands moved with practiced precision. The Destiny Support Fighter pivoted sharply and charged toward the Calamity Gundam Unit 2, its Fortissimo Beam Cannon aimed and firing.
Under the barrage of fire, Leonard maneuvered the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 through evasive aerial movements, his finger tightening on the trigger.
The two cannons on the Shield Cannon targeted the Destiny Support Fighter, but the support craft executed a fluid roll in mid-air, effortlessly dodging the assault.
"Damn it! Why is this thing so hard to deal with!"
Watching his attacks miss yet again, Leonard's face twisted into a furious snarl as he roared in frustration.
While Leonard was preoccupied with the Destiny Support Fighter, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam to evade the fire from the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
The weapon selection dial highlighted the Sailfish Railgun, and with Felix pulling the trigger, it fired toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
Seeing this, Volo controlled the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to block with its shield while shifting left.
As the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 moved, Felix directed the Genesis Gundam to close in on it.
Inside the cockpit of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, alarm sirens blared incessantly. Through the screen, Volo saw the approaching Genesis Gundam and input commands to move left while squeezing the trigger.
The Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 responded, shifting left in the air as its Vulture Plasma Cannon fired.
A Distorted Beam arced in a curved trajectory toward the Genesis Gundam.
Inside the Genesis Gundam's cockpit, Felix's fingers danced across the control panel. The Genesis Gundam maneuvered accordingly, its advanced mobility aided by the wings on its back allowing it to swiftly evade the beam attack.
The Sailfish Railgun deployed and fired once more at the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
Volo reacted by steering the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to the right, using its shield for defense.
Bang!
A loud impact echoed through the sky.
Volo's expression was grim as he shouted angrily, "Shani, Cloth, Orga, where the hell have you three disappeared to?"
After his outburst, Volo continued to maneuver the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 backward, avoiding close engagement with the Genesis Gundam.
His finger repeatedly pressed the trigger all the while.
At that moment, Shani and the others' voices came through the comms.
"Damn it! Don't bother us now! We're busy—figure it out yourself!!"
Inside the Genesis Gundam's cockpit, Felix wore a faint smile as he spoke, his tone chillingly calm.
"You can't escape!"
With that, he pushed the throttle forward.
The Genesis Gundam's power output surged once more.
Propelled by its main thrusters, the Genesis Gundam accelerated toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 at even greater speed.
After a few evasive maneuvers in the air, the Genesis Gundam closed in on the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, its Solid Blade raised and ready to strike.
A downward slash aimed straight for the Forbidden Gundam's torso.
Seeing the descending Solid Blade, Volo swiftly maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, swinging its Giant Scythe upward.
The Giant Scythe collided with the Solid Blade.
At that moment, the Sailfish Railgun on the Genesis Gundam's waist rapidly deployed.
Two electromagnetic shells fired from the barrel.
"Damn it! Why is this guy's reaction speed so fast?"
Watching the situation unfold, Volo hastily adjusted his controls, growling with a grimace.
Bang! Bang!
The solid shells struck the shield that the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 barely managed to raise in time.
The close-range impact transferred the shells' full kinetic energy to the shield, the terrifying force from electromagnetic acceleration causing the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2's frame to briefly destabilize.
The Giant Scythe, which had blocked the Solid Blade, now revealed an opening.
Felix seized the opportunity instantly, his hands moving swiftly across the controls.
The Genesis Gundam shifted its stance, its frame leaning slightly to the left to evade the Giant Scythe, then swung the Solid Blade horizontally.
"Damn it!"
Volo cursed under his breath.
As he tried to adjust the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2's posture, he realized it was already too late.
The Giant Scythe was severed right before his eyes.
The severed scythe head plummeted toward the water below, pulled by gravity.
Seeing the broken weapon, Volo ignored everything else and maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 into a retreat.
Observing the retreat, Felix calmly input commands, a faint smile on his lips as he murmured.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
Under his control, the Genesis Gundam responded to the command.
Gripping its shield, the Genesis Gundam accelerated and delivered a powerful shield bash to the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
"Bastard!"
Feeling the violent impact, Volo gripped the control stick to stabilize the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 while cursing aloud.
Facing the Genesis Gundam head-on, Volo pulled the trigger.
The Fang Railgun fired at the Genesis Gundam.
Under Felix's control, the Genesis Gundam executed an extremely subtle maneuver, narrowly dodging the two solid shells.
Gripping the Solid Blade, it charged once more toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
As Volo attempted to evade and fire again, the Genesis Gundam's Solid Blade was already upon him.
With a single slash, one of the Fang Railguns was severed.
Immediately following the strike, the Genesis Gundam slammed its shield into the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 once more.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed through the air.
The Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 was thrown backward by the impact, and Volo's control faltered momentarily due to the force.
In that brief opening, the Genesis Gundam's Solid Blade struck the remaining Fang Railgun.
Bang!
A violent explosion erupted.
The second Fang Railgun was destroyed.
Just as Felix prepared to press the attack with another swing of the Solid Blade, he noticed the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2's Vulture Plasma Cannon charging. Without hesitation, he swiftly maneuvered the Genesis Gundam out of its firing trajectory.
A Beam from the Vulture Plasma Cannon shot across the battlefield.
"It seems your Beam no longer bends."
Watching the screen as the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2's Beam shot straight without distortion, Felix allowed a smile to curl his lips.
Inside the cockpit of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
"Leonard, what are you doing?"
Volo called out to Leonard through the communication channel.
After the call, the response he received was that Leonard couldn't provide support.
"No time!"
Hearing Leonard's reply, Volo also saw Leonard's situation through the communication feed. What he saw was Leonard piloting the Calamity Gundam Unit 2, still tightly entangled by the Destiny Support Fighter.
"Useless!"
Volo cursed at Leonard angrily.
Left with no choice, Volo continued to face the MS in front of him alone.
Volo's fingers continuously pulled the triggers, firing the Vulture Plasma Cannon and the Arm of Fire Gatling Gun relentlessly at the Genesis Gundam.
Under such fierce attacks, the Genesis Gundam, controlled by Felix, effortlessly dodged all the assaults and, using its high-speed thrust capability, closed in on the retreating Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
The Solid Blade swung in the hands of the Genesis Gundam, delivering a downward slashing strike.
The Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 faced this attack by using its shield to block.
Bang!
The Solid Blade struck the shield, cleaving it cleanly in two from top to bottom.
After this strike, the Genesis Gundam shifted the Solid Blade's stance and thrust it toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
The thrust shot straight at the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
Seeing this, Volo maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to evade.
Observing the evasion, Felix quickly input new commands.
The Solid Blade in the Genesis Gundam's hands swiftly changed from a thrust to an upward swing, the rotating blade striking the joint of the arm and shoulder armor.
The sharp blade cleanly severed the joint connection.
While executing this slashing maneuver, the Genesis Gundam held a shield in its other hand, using it to block the Vulture Plasma Cannon's attack from the Forbidden Gundam.
The Beam from the Vulture Plasma Cannon struck the shield, its energy impacting the surface.
Felix felt the immense force of the attack and pressed the pedals firmly, increasing the Genesis Gundam's power output.
Using powerful thrust, he counteracted the energy's impact.
Simultaneously, propelled by the thrust from the backpack verniers, the Genesis Gundam advanced with the shield raised, pushing toward the muzzle of the Vulture Plasma Cannon.
Finally, the shield sealed the cannon's muzzle.
The Beam energy released by the Vulture Plasma Cannon had no way to dissipate, resulting in the muzzle being destroyed by its own energy.
Bang!
An explosion rang out.
Felix maneuvered the Genesis Gundam Unit 2 to retreat a certain distance, observing the current state of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
At that moment—
Intuition sensed danger.
Responding to the feedback from his Intuition, Felix controlled the Genesis Gundam to quickly evade while throwing the shield in its hand.
Bang!
The shield directly struck the backpack verniers of the Calamity Gundam Unit 2.
The thrust nozzles were instantly destroyed, causing the Calamity Gundam Unit 2's speed to drop rapidly.
"Has this guy activated God's Eye?"
Looking at the constant alarms on the instrument panel, Leonard's face showed not anger but a look of astonishment as he muttered to himself.
"Leonard, we're retreating!"
Inside the cockpit of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2,
Volo saw the damage to the Calamity Gundam Unit 2's backpack verniers and, without hesitation, voiced the idea of retreat.
With this decision, he piloted the heavily damaged Forbidden Gundam to turn and flee.
"Trying to run?"
Observing the situation with the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, Felix wore a cold sneer on his face.
The next moment, under Felix's control, the Destiny Support Fighter charged toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, firing the Siren Beast Cannon directly at it.
Seeing this, Volo grimly maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to evade.
While it was dodging, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam straight toward the Calamity Gundam Unit 2.
Spotting the approaching Genesis Gundam, Leonard swiftly transformed the Calamity Gundam into MS mode and fired the facial Wrath Energy Cannon directly.
As the beam shot forth, the Genesis Gundam executed a leftward roll in midair, effortlessly dodging the attack.
After evading, it shifted right to avoid a second strike from the Calamity Gundam Unit 2.
Through these two evasive maneuvers, the Genesis Gundam closed in on the Calamity Gundam Unit 2. Wielding both the Solid Blade and the Beam Saber, it launched a simultaneous dual-weapon assault.
Leonard watched the two blades with a tense expression, controlling the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 to dodge while counterattacking with its Mechanical Claw.
Under Felix's command, the Genesis Gundam altered its offensive stance.
A single Beam Saber cleanly disposed of both Mechanical Claws.
Bang!
A sharp sound echoed through the air.
Then, the head of the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 was seen sheared off, tumbling twice in the sky before plummeting toward the ocean.
"It's over!"
Staring at the blank screen, Leonard knew all too well what would happen next.
And just as he imagined, a Beam Saber melted through the cockpit hatch, piercing straight through the entire cockpit.
"You can take a nice, long nap."
Gazing calmly at the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 with its cockpit impaled, Felix spoke impassively.
With that, he controlled the Genesis Gundam to withdraw the Beam Saber from the cockpit. As the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 fell toward the sea, the Genesis Gundam was already charging toward the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
BOOM!!
The descending Calamity Gundam Unit 2 erupted in a violent explosion.
After a brief, indifferent glance at the blast behind him, Felix fixed his eyes on the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 ahead.
Inside the cockpit of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2,
Volo showed no trace of sorrow upon seeing Leonard's demise, instead muttering a scornful remark.
"Waste!"
After the curse, his expression turned grave.
He knew exactly what awaited him next!
"Shani, Cloth, Orga, you bastards, come help me!"
Fearing his impending fate, Volo once again called out to the three over the comms.
His plea was met with refusal once more.
"Too busy!"
"Bastards!"
Hearing their rejections, Volo cursed under his breath.
He maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to evade an attack from the Destiny Support Fighter.
No sooner had he completed that move than he continued to dodge, narrowly avoiding two electromagnetic cannon rounds fired by the Genesis Gundam.
Meanwhile,
At the Earth Alliance Forces' Fourth Naval Fleet,
On the bridge of the flagship,
"Councilman Azrael, the squad facing that ZAFT Forces' MS isn't doing well!"
The fleet commander looked at the situation on the screen and glanced at Director Azrael beside him as he spoke. Upon hearing this, Director Azrael's expression turned extremely grim. Through the communicator, he addressed Shani and the other two:
"The three of you, shoot down the other two MS!"
"Aren't we going to attempt a rescue?"
Hearing such an order from Director Azrael, the fleet commander asked in surprise. Azrael shot a glance at the fleet commander, his face dark and somber.
"There's no need for a rescue."
After replying, he ignored the fleet commander and fixed his gaze ahead, the gloom on his face still evident.
...
Meanwhile, on the battlefield
Under Felix's control, the Genesis Gundam closed in on the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
Seeing the Genesis Gundam at such close range, Volo's face showed a flicker of fear as he maneuvered the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to evade. However, the Destiny Support Fighter launched an attack from another direction, completely pinning down his escape route.
"Damn it!"
Seeing the situation, Volo let out a cry of despair.
In his desperation, a hint of madness flashed in his eyes. Defying expectations, he controlled the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to charge straight at the Genesis Gundam and launch an attack.
"A final struggle?"Noticing the unusual behavior of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, Felix chuckled and remarked casually while controlling the Genesis Gundam."
The next moment
An arm fell through the air toward the ocean.
After severing that arm of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2, the Genesis Gundam swiftly changed its stance, its Solid Blade slashing toward the cockpit section of the Forbidden Gundam.
Volo reacted by controlling the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 to evade.
Seeing this, Felix tracked the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2's movements and maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to pursue it closely.
At the same time, Felix's hands were busy with other operations. With a press of his fingers, a new command was issued.
The Genesis Gundam responded to the command, drawing a Beam Saber from its waist with one hand while altering the trajectory of the Solid Blade's attack. An upward slash severed the last remaining shield of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 from its mounting point.
Watching as the final shield capable of activating the Energy Deflection Armor was cut off, Felix sneered coldly.
"Without the Energy Deflection Armor, let's see how you block the Beam Saber."
"It's over!"
Staring at the relentlessly pursuing Genesis Gundam and the feedback on his instruments, Volo's expression turned to despair as he muttered under his breath.
The next moment, the cockpit of the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 shattered. Volo coughed up blood, his body torn apart by the Beam Saber.
Bang!
An explosion erupted inside the cockpit, completely engulfing Volo's body in the blast.
Outside
Felix had already maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to grip the Solid Blade and retreat from the vicinity of the Forbidden Gundam.
Bang!
Not long after the retreat, the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 erupted in an even more violent explosion.
Watching the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 being consumed by the explosion, Felix controlled the Destiny Support Fighter to fly over.
Once it arrived, the Genesis Gundam placed the Solid Blade back on its weapon rack.
Inside the cockpit
"Hah!"
Exhaling a turbid breath, Felix slightly relaxed his tense nerves. His gaze fell upon the screen before him, revealing the sight of Orb being riddled with holes and engulfed in the flames of war.
"The civilians of Orb are suffering terribly!"
After saying this, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam toward the direction of the Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam.
During the movement, Felix spotted a battleship launching from the Kaguya Mass Driver.
Watching this battleship speeding along the track, Felix smiled inwardly and steered the Genesis Gundam unhurriedly toward the Freedom and Justice Gundams.
Inside the cockpit:
Seeing the Justice Gundam and Freedom Gundam clinging to the battleship, Felix feigned a flash of anger and questioned Athrun over the comms.
"Athrun, what are you doing?"
"Captain Griffith, I will explain this matter personally to my father."In response to the questioning, Athrun's reply came through the comms."
Hearing Athrun's response, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam to retreat from the Orb battlefield without looking back.
As he withdrew, Felix spoke sternly to Athrun over the comms.
"Athrun, I will report this truthfully to the Chairman."
After he spoke, Athrun's calm and somewhat indifferent response came through the comms.
"Captain Griffith, you may report it as it is."
Hearing this reply, Felix chuckled inwardly, cut off the communication, and continued to pilot the Genesis Gundam away from the battlefield.