As Setsuna piloted the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber], wielding a GN Gunblade capable of firing beams in each hand and raising the GN Shield with its GN Beam Gun high over his left shoulder.
Tieria, piloting the [Seraphim Gundam GNHW/5G], and the five [Archangel Gundam] units behind him coordinated their GN Particle Cannons.
As they sped toward the ELS Mother-Child Body, they continuously attacked the ELS individuals of all sizes blocking their path.
But Regene, piloting the [Arios Gundam GNHW/CP], did not even have time to shed her armor and separate the support combat unit [Selera] in order to intercept the pursuing ELS swarm from behind.
She could only alternate between the GN Rocket Launcher in her hands and the GN Beam Cannons on her shoulders, firing huge, high-density compressed pink GN Particle beams to cut off the paths of the small ELS drone units.
However, the ELS swarm was simply too vast, and its attacks were far too dense. Even a light touch would result in the Mobile Suit being assimilated and corroded.
To ensure they could carry out a successful dialogue after entering the ELS Mother-Child Body, they could not allow even half a small ELS drone unit to get close.
With no other choice, Setsuna could only slow his advance.
He combined the GN Buster Sword 4 mounted on his right shoulder, equipped with a GN Beam emitter, with the two GN Gunblades in his hands to form the GN Sword IV Full Saber.
Then, after compressing the GN Particles to a high density, he deployed a plasma high-voltage defensive layer formed from GN Particles over the entire GN Sword IV Full Saber and the Mobile Suit itself, much like PS Armor.
When ELS came into contact with the Mobile Suit, it could phase-shift their impacts, briefly preventing and delaying assimilation corrosion.
Naturally, this was a defensive function Ian had refined and developed after Thor told him about the properties of PS Armor.
It allowed Setsuna, in close combat, to use his Pure Innovator's extraordinary reflexes to avoid being assimilated and corroded the instant he struck them at close range.
If Setsuna had wanted to.
He could have used the performance of the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber] and the GN Star Cutting Sword released by the GN Sword IV Full Saber to annihilate this entire ELS vanguard.
But if he did that, he would completely lose the best opportunity to communicate with the ELS.
After all, they would likely soon have to face the ELS main mother body and the siege of every ELS it led.
If that happened, they could only sit and wait to be assimilated and corroded in an instant.
Moreover, after coming under the control of the Mother-Child Body, the small ELS drone units on this battlefield were clearly acting far more intelligently than in the previous encounters.
If the more intelligent main mother body led the attack, even the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber], created for the possibility of failed dialogue, might prove useless.
No matter how powerful the Mobile Suit was, the pilot's stamina was always finite.
Back on the battlefield.
Just as Setsuna drew the GN Sword IV Full Saber and had been holding his ground for only a short while.
Regene looked at the ever-growing number of small ELS drone units around them and frowned. "Tieria, there are too many of them. With only the two of us providing support, it'll be hard for Setsuna to break through their encirclement!"
"Let's hold on a little longer. The high-mobility support force is already on the way. They should arrive soon."
"Seriously, we still have to wait? By then, I doubt Setsuna's stamina will hold out."
As Regene complained to Tieria, Setsuna split apart a huge cluster of small ELS drone units and said sternly, "00 Full Saber and I can still hold on. We'll be fine!"
"Fine, fine. Even if you're fine, I don't know how much longer I can last. I miss you so much, Thor. When are you coming back?"
"Tch. That guy is useless when it matters most. What good would he do even if he came?"
Hearing Setsuna's response after the two of them had spoken, Regene could only mutter weakly under her breath.
Even Tieria could not help taking a jab at the still-absent Thor.
But it was precisely because of that moment of distraction.
Under the ELS swarm's repeated fierce pursuit and obstruction.
Two of Tieria's [Archangel Gundam] units were struck by small ELS drone units, and metallic crystals grew over them as they were corroded.
"Damn it, what an utter disgrace!"
Furious, Tieria had no choice but to detonate the two [Archangel Gundam] units, preventing them from being completely assimilated by the ELS swarm, mimicking their forms, and gaining long-range attack capabilities.
Although Tieria had avoided having his own Mobile Suit assimilated and corroded, quite a few [Gundam Harute Custom] units on the battlefield had already been assimilated by the enemy.
Although their Core Fighter escape systems allowed them to detonate their Mobile Suits after separating from them.
There was still no saving those unlucky pilots whose Core Fighter cockpits were hit directly, as they were assimilated into new ELS individuals along with them.
As signals passed between the ELS, many small ELS drone units also gathered and mimicked Mobile Suit forms, acquiring long-range strike capabilities.
They then launched attacks on the New World Federal Government forces with GN Particle Cannon beams.
"This can't go on."
After seeing the battlefield beginning to descend into chaos and receiving Tieria's distress signal, Graham immediately issued an order to the Solar Squad under his command.
"Attention, all Solar Squad members! Follow me and support Celestial Being's Gundams! Help them complete the dialogue!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Thus, under Graham's lead, the expanded Solar Squad—fifteen [Courage Type] units equipped with dual GN-T Type Solar Furnaces—all sped toward Setsuna.
"Go, GN Fangs!"
On Setsuna's side, as he continued forcing his way toward the ELS Mother-Child Body.
The ordinary attacks of the GN Sword IV Full Saber were no longer enough to reduce the growing number of small ELS drone units.
The enemy had even mimicked the appearance of [Bad Luck Type 4] units and begun attacking him from range.
Tieria and Regene had also been scattered by the overwhelming ELS swarm.
To conserve energy and use the GN Star Cutting Sword after Quantum Burst only at the critical moment, when it was needed to break open the shell of the ELS Mother-Child Body.
He could only summon the GN Sword Units on the Mobile Suit and GN Shield ahead of time, using them to defend at range while automatically attacking the ELS swarms that approached.
He rapidly reduced the enemy's numbers, but the small ELS drone units were incredibly numerous and continuously separated from battleship-class individuals.
Setsuna was still locked in a bitter struggle.
"Young man, this time, let us fight together for Earth's future until the very last moment!"
"You, Graham Aker."
Just then.
After letting out a roar, Graham led the Solar Squad to the vicinity of the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber], firing GN Mega Cannons as they charged forward at high speed.
Seeing the GN Particle Cannon beams suddenly appear beside him and the blue [Courage Type] units rapidly approaching in the distance.
Setsuna smiled faintly, as though he acknowledged Graham's inheritance of his [Exia Gundam].
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