Fighting Each Their Own Battle

——June 18, 2043, 3:49 AM——

When Changbai went all out, it was truly unforgettable. Regardless of what the people in the Shatterdome thought of Seti Andrews, they had to admit that Changbai's offensive was incredibly sharp.

In terms of its operating system, Changbai was superior to its brethren. It could react and perform more actions in the same amount of time. Its armor thickness was enough to make others envious, and finally, there was its ferocity, a trait that even Shandong couldn't match.

The reputation of the second batch of Generation 7 heavy Jaegers was well-deserved.

"Viper Two" couldn't cause much trouble for Changbai. As one half of a severed Kaiju, its tonnage was drastically reduced, and the kinetic energy of each attack was halved. Changbai quickly recovered from its initial disadvantage and began to counterattack.

Like a cowboy, he executed a beautiful sidestep, dodging "Viper Two's" lunge. Then, he abruptly activated the thrusters on his back, catching up to the Kaiju and delivering a heavy blow. "Viper Two's" body was once again scored by deep gashes from the giant axe, spewing blood. It roared and spat a stream of acid backward, forcing Changbai to retreat, before attempting to dive into the depths of the Pacific.

However—Seti had already decided to end this battle.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Seti dodged the acid with a sidestep, his fighting spirit soaring as he maneuvered Changbai to extend its hands and decisively grab "Viper Two's" thick tail.

Then, Seti began to spin at high speed on the platform like a discus thrower—Changbai planted its left leg firmly on the seabed and, holding "Viper Two," performed a 360-degree rotation!

"Go to eternal slumber!"

When Changbai reached maximum velocity, Seti released his grip—"Viper Two" instantly became a discus. It shrieked in panic, its body involuntarily flying out for 500 meters before crashing violently into the Pacific.

Changbai's attack was devastating. "Viper Two" was thrown around, disoriented. When it staggered back to the surface, the sea was already lit up.

"Viper Two's" vision blurred—the lights came from the Chinook's searchlights and the Jaegers' navigation lights, but the brightest among them was the cold, silver glow emanating from the barrel of the "Improved I-23 Heavy Ion Cannon."

"Serpent's Feast," Seti chuckled triumphantly, looking at the stunned "Viper Two."

"Commencing now—"

Boom!

Amidst a deafening roar that shook the heavens and earth, an ion stream as thick as a truck burst forth, striking "Viper Two" squarely!

There was no other possibility.

In an instant, it was torn to shreds by the energy!

This scene brought hope to the people in the command center. Perhaps... Jiang Tianzheng thought, perhaps Changbai could turn the tide. At that point, Seti would also become a core member of the "Savior Program," though this was merely a possibility.

While Changbai and "Viper Two" were locked in a fierce battle, Tang Jia was also fighting for his survival.

FL's abdominal armor was gone, revealing its internal transmission systems and silicon-based life skeleton. Fortunately, they were still intact, preventing FL from being torn in half.

FL's most severely damaged parts were its hands. The 609MM Heavy Cannon on its right arm had been completely destroyed in several collisions. It now hung from the remaining stump like a severed limb. Tang Jia, believing it affected the Jaeger's balance, had actively torn it off. However, let's not forget that its nerves were still tightly connected to Tang Jia. Only a robust man like Tang Jia could truly comprehend the agony of such pain.

FL's left hand was also a sorry sight. The "Tesla Electromagnetic Barrier" had long since failed under "Viper's" fierce assault. Three of its five fingers were powerless, and the arm itself was covered in scars and breaches.

Despite Tang Jia's all-out effort, which inflicted several wounds on "Viper," the situation was dire.

"Viper" finally managed to strike FL's defenseless abdomen—with a sweep of its heavy tail, the torque system in FL's abdomen sparked violently, and the sound of its running engine gradually died down.

This brutal duel, initiated by "Viper," was nearing its end. FL's lower limbs were immobilized, its mobility lost. Now, FL was just a giant target over 100 meters tall.

"FL has lost combat capability!" a staff member reported. Simultaneously, on the sub-screen in the command center symbolizing FL's current status, red warning lights flashed one by one. Everyone understood that it was at its limit.

"Tang Jia!" Although "Gecko" was still guarding above the Shatterdome, Jiang Tianzheng calmly issued the order, "Activate the ejection system immediately and abandon the Jaeger!"

"I..." Tang Jia's hesitant reply came through the communicator. "I still need to avenge my brother..."

"Evacuate immediately!" Jiang Tianzheng repeated loudly.

Just then, "Viper's" final blow caused FL to collapse completely, and it slowly sank beneath the Pacific surface.

One second later, a burst of static immediately sounded from the communicator—when the others recognized the source of the noise, their faces instantly turned ashen—it was the sound of surging seawater rushing into the cockpit!

Along with it came Tang Jia's frantic cry!

"Open the drainage ports quickly!" Jiang Tianzheng immediately ordered, though he knew it was likely too late.

Drowning had always been a common cause of pilot fatalities. Eighteen years ago, the turbulent waters of Victoria Harbour had claimed the lives of five heroes—"Crimson Typhoon," "Cherno Alpha," and their pilots all met their end there.

And at this very moment, another life was struggling desperately in the cold waters of Victoria Harbour.

"I... I've already opened the drainage ports!" Tang Jia replied through the communicator, coughing. "Initiating ejection now!"

Fortunately, "Viper" had lost interest in FL. It did not pursue further, and Tang Jia finally gained the precious time needed to escape.

A moment later, the escape pod from FL's head successfully ejected. It left a trail on the sea's surface and gradually moved out of the battlefield. In the command center, the hearts of everyone present finally settled.

However, after FL lost its combat capability, "Viper" immediately turned and lunged towards Changbai, who had just destroyed "Viper Two"!

"Changbai! Watch out for Viper!" Jiang Tianzheng's voice was grave. "FL is destroyed, and Viper is heading your way!"

"Excellent!"

Changbai, having just annihilated "Viper Two," was feeling rather pleased with itself. Seti was looking for an outlet for his pent-up energy!

Changbai strode forward, squaring off against the genuine "Viper," their gazes meeting. As the saying goes, enemies meeting face-to-face see red.

Changbai brandished the giant axe in its right hand, while "Viper" bared its sharp fangs.

Without a word, both charged headlong at each other!