"Damn it~!"
"No way, we still can't break through?"
"Could this really be as far as we can go?"
After the attack failed, the Solar Squad members were filled with dread.
Because they had overused their GN Particles, they could only discard one of their overloaded GN-T Solar Furnaces, which was about to explode.
And because of the sudden loss of power, several more units began to be assimilated and corroded by ELS.
Just as Setsuna wanted to go forward and rescue them, Graham piloted the [Courage Type] and blocked his path.
"Don't go! Continue carrying out the mission!"
"But..."
"No buts! This is their destiny. Everything is for the sake of opening humanity's future."
After Graham stopped Setsuna from rescuing them, the several Solar Squad members being assimilated and corroded immediately activated the TRANS-AM System again.
They rammed directly into the shell of the ELS Mother-Child Body. Even by self-destructing, they only managed to crack a tiny bit of its outer surface.
Seeing Setsuna hesitate, Graham immediately roared at him.
"Do you want all their sacrifices to be for nothing, boy?!"
"...Sorry. I understand."
After Setsuna nodded helplessly in silent mourning,
he looked at the nearly impenetrable surface of the ELS Mother-Child Body and shouted solemnly at the Veda support system, "00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber, Setsuna F. Seiei, Quantum Burst Mode, activate!"
Then a flash of red light swept through the cockpit.
The [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber] once again released the GN Fang armor around its body and exposed the five GN Condensers on its chest and limbs.
Wrapped in the released GN Particles, it raised the GN Sword IV Full Saber, turned, and charged toward the underside of the Mother-Child Body.
As it charged, it compressed all the GN Particles onto the blade of the GN Sword IV Full Saber.
Then an enormous, ten-thousand-meter GN Star Cutting Sword energy beam slashed into the outer shell of the ELS Mother-Child Body.
Living up to expectations, the GN Star Cutting Sword energy beam crackled as it continuously tore through the protective shell on its surface.
After cutting open a large section of the shell, it finally revealed a faint glimpse of the inner core.
But at that moment, the ELS collective's attacks became even more frenzied.
They swarmed endlessly toward the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber], which was in the middle of attacking.
"Unless you step over my corpse, don't even think about stopping us from opening humanity's future~!"
Seeing the critical situation,
Graham immediately activated the [Courage Type]'s TRANS-AM form. As he circled the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber], he continuously swept the incoming ELS collective with GN Mega Cannon Beams.
He blocked every attack for Setsuna.
The remaining Solar Squad members also rushed over one after another, using their own machines to protect the [00 Gundam Quantum Type Full Saber] as it broke through the Mother-Child Body's shell.
It was because of this
that Graham and the remaining Solar Squad members' [Pioneer Type] units were all assimilated and corroded to varying degrees by the small ELS floating individuals.
Graham's unit in particular had been assimilated and corroded almost all the way to the cockpit.
He could only grit his teeth and endure the intense, metal-thorn-like pain caused by the cockpit's assimilation corrosion throughout his body and forehead as he continued covering Setsuna's attack.
"Now!"
After seeing that a gap large enough for a machine to pass through had been opened, Setsuna immediately withdrew the GN Star Cutting Sword and rushed forward at maximum speed before the Mother-Child Body's shell could heal.
However, the small ELS floating individuals also rushed toward the opening, filling more than half of it in an instant.
"Oh no, the opening is about to disappear!"
"Are we still too late?"
"Are we going to fail in the end?"
"Humanity's future, could it really just..."
"We can't let this chance disappear like this!
All Solar Squad members, charge toward that opening!
Even if we have to ram it with our own bodies, we must widen the opening~!"
Seeing the despair on his subordinates' faces, Graham took the lead and charged toward the shrinking opening.
The green [Courage Type] closest to the Mother-Child Body's shell, already assimilated and corroded, fired its GN Mega Cannon in three-red mode while directly ramming into the healing gap in the shell and launching a self-destruct attack.
However, neither the GN Mega Cannon nor the self-destruct explosion after the impact did more than slightly delay the shell's healing speed.
They could not compare to the destructive power of the GN Star Cutting Sword at all.
Just as the helpless Graham was about to follow the others and ram the gap in the shell for a self-destruct attack,
a massive diamond-shaped energy beam shield with a pointed tip slammed into the closing opening.
"Everyone, looks like I wasn't too late!"
"It's you, Thor?! You're finally back?"
Upon hearing Thor's voice, Setsuna felt a choking emotion rise into his throat because of the tragic and heroic actions of the Solar Squad members earlier.
Thor shook his head helplessly. Sure enough, without the process of having his brain damaged by the immense information shock from the ELS, there was no process for his consciousness to be elevated.
So his growth in terms of personality was still lacking by a little.
However, when Tieria saw Setsuna's unusually dispirited expression,
he used the five [Archangel Gundam] units on his backpack to rescue the assimilated [Courage Type] pilots,
while viciously scolding him, "Setsuna, now is not the time to lose focus. Don't forget your mission!"
"That's right. On this battlefield, people are constantly sacrificing themselves for humanity's future every moment. There's no time for you to wallow in grief!"
Thor simply roared at him as well, wanting to clear his head.
And living up to expectations, after sensing the situation on the battlefield and the warriors still fighting on with hope and courage,
Setsuna quickly recovered his usual solemn expression.
"I understand! I'll open the future for everyone!"
"That's our Setsuna! Leave the task of widening the opening to me!"
Seeing Setsuna regain his fighting spirit,
Thor wanted to show him the immense power born from human conviction and inspire his faith once more.
So he put away the pilot's seat and control system inside the [Gundam Haliel]'s cockpit.
Using the High-Speed Nanomachine Assembly ability, he instantly reassembled it and activated Mobile Fighter Mode.
He immediately recalled the ten GN Scissor Units.
As they unfolded their fan-shaped energy beams, the [Gundam Haliel]'s right hand transformed into an enormous drill.
"If you want to become the wall blocking my advance~!
No matter when, no matter where, I'll open a hole through you and drill you apart~!
That is... my drill!
My drill... is the drill that opens heaven and earth!!!"
After roaring,
Thor used the energy blades on the enormous drill and exerted every ounce of strength he had to continuously widen the gap in the outer wall.
Before you continue