OO Pioneer-9

Setsuna, piloting the 00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber, held a beam-firing GN Gunblade in each hand, raising the GN Shield with its GN Beam Gun on his left shoulder high.

Meanwhile, Tieria, piloting the Seraph Gundam GNHW/5G, and the five Archangel Gundams behind him, advanced at high speed towards the ELS Mother-Child Body, using their GN Particle Cannons in a coordinated attack.

As they moved forward, they continuously attacked the various large and small ELS individuals blocking their path.

However, Regene, piloting the Arios Gundam GNHW/CP, had no time to detach her armor or separate her support combat unit, Selera, as she was busy intercepting the pursuing ELS swarm from behind.

She could only repeatedly fire high-concentration, compressed, massive pink GN particle beams from her GN Rocket Launcher and the GN Beam Cannon on her shoulder, blocking the path of the small ELS swarm individuals.

But the ELS swarm was too numerous, their attacks too dense. And just a light touch would lead to assimilation and erosion.

To ensure a smooth dialogue upon entering the ELS Mother-Child Body, not a single small ELS swarm individual could be allowed to get close.

Forced by the situation, Setsuna had no choice but to slow down his advance.

He combined the GN Buster Sword 4 on his right shoulder, equipped with a GN Beam Launcher, with the two GN Gunblades in his hands, forming the GN Sword IV Full Saber.

Then, after highly compressing GN particles, a plasma high-voltage defensive layer formed by GN particles was deployed across the entire GN Sword IV Full Saber and his mobile suit, much like PS Armor.

When the ELS came into contact with the mobile suit, their impact would be phase-shifted, temporarily avoiding and delaying assimilation and erosion.

Of course, this defensive function was perfected and developed by Ian after Thor told him about the characteristics of PS Armor.

This allowed Setsuna, during close combat, to use his pure Innovator's super-strong reaction speed to avoid the possibility of being assimilated and eroded in return the moment he attacked them in close combat.

If Setsuna wished.

He could have completely used the performance of the 00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber, along with the GN Star Cutting Sword released by the GN Sword IV Full Saber, to annihilate this ELS vanguard unit.

However, doing so would completely lose the best opportunity for dialogue with the ELS.

After all, they might have to face the ELS Mother-Child Body and all the ELS tribes it led, surrounded.

In that case, everyone would just be waiting to be assimilated and eroded instantly.

Moreover, the small ELS swarm individuals on the battlefield this time, under the control of the Mother-Child Body, had significantly smarter movement patterns than in previous encounters.

If a Mother-Child Body with higher intelligence were leading, even the 00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber, created for the failure of dialogue, might not be effective.

After all, no matter how strong the mobile suit, the pilot's physical strength is always limited.

Returning to the battlefield.

Not long after Setsuna drew his GN Sword IV Full Saber and began circling in place.

Regene, looking at the unabated swarm of small ELS individuals around her, frowned and said, "Tieria, there are too many of them. It's hard for just the two of us to support Setsuna and break through the encirclement!"

"Let's hold on a bit longer. The high-mobility support units are already on their way and should arrive soon."

"No way, we still have to wait? By then, Setsuna's stamina won't be able to hold out."

While Regene was complaining to Tieria, Setsuna, after slashing apart a large group of small ELS swarm individuals, said with a serious expression, "The 00 Full Saber and I can still hold on, we'll be fine!"

"Alright, alright, even if you're fine, I don't know how long I can last. I really miss you, Thor, when are you coming back?"

"Tch, what good would that unreliable guy be even if he showed up at this critical moment."

Hearing Setsuna's reply after their conversation, Regene could only mutter weakly.

Even Tieria couldn't help but complain about Thor, who had not yet appeared.

However, it was precisely because of her distraction.

Under the repeated fierce pursuit and obstruction of the ELS swarm.

Two of Tieria's Archangel Gundams were hit by small ELS swarm individuals and grew metallic crystals from erosion.

"Damn it, what a disgrace!"

Tieria, enraged, had no choice but to detonate the two Archangel Gundams to prevent them from being completely assimilated by the ELS swarm and mimicking them, gaining long-range attack capabilities.

Although Tieria avoided her mobile suit being assimilated and eroded, many Gundam Harute Custom units on the battlefield had already been assimilated and eroded by the enemy.

Even though the core fighter had an escape device that could be detonated after detaching from the mobile suit.

It couldn't prevent those unlucky ones who were directly hit in the core fighter's cockpit from being assimilated together into new ELS individuals.

As signals were transmitted between the ELS, many small ELS swarm individuals aggregated and mimicked mobile suit forms, gaining long-range strike capabilities.

And they launched GN Particle Beam attacks at the New World Federal Government's forces.

"This can't go on like this."

Graham, looking at the chaotic situation on the battlefield and Tieria's distress signal, immediately issued an assistance order to the Solar Squad he led.

"All members of the Solar Squad, follow me to support the Celestial Being's Gundams and assist them in completing the dialogue!"

"Yes, Captain!"

And so, led by Graham, the Solar Squad, expanded by Thor, consisting of fifteen Courage Type units with Twin GN-T Type Solar Furnaces, all flew at high speed towards Setsuna's direction.

"Go, GN Fangs!"

As Setsuna continued to break through towards the ELS Mother-Child Body.

The GN Sword IV Full Saber's normal attacks were no longer enough to reduce the ever-increasing number of small ELS swarm units.

Furthermore, the enemy had mimicked the appearance of the Gundam Harute Custom and began attacking him from a distance.

Tieria and Regene were also scattered by the massive ELS swarm.

To conserve energy, he only used the Quantum Burst-powered GN Star Cutting Sword at critical moments to break through the ELS Mother-Child Body's shell.

He could only summon the GN Sword Units on the mobile suit's body and GN Shield in advance, using them for ranged defense while automatically attacking the close-range ELS swarm.

The enemy numbers were rapidly decreasing, but the small ELS swarm units were extremely numerous and were continuously detaching from the battleship-class individuals.

Setsuna found himself in a tough battle.

"Young man, let's fight together until the very end for the future of Earth this time!"

"It's you, Graham Aker."

Just then.

Graham also let out a roar, and with the Solar Squad, he arrived near the 00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber, firing the GN Mega Cannon while charging forward at high speed.

Upon seeing the GN particle cannon beam suddenly appear beside him, and the blue Courage Type rapidly approaching in the distance.

Setsuna smiled faintly, as if acknowledging Graham's succession of his Exia Gundam.