A Man

To accommodate the additional thermonuclear engines, the Gouf Flight Test Type naturally had to reduce its base weight.

The most critical aspect of this was the weight-reduction treatment applied to its outer armor.

In other words, even 60mm rounds could potentially penetrate the armor if they landed a direct hit.

As for the engines and fan blades, it stood to reason that they would cease functioning immediately if struck.

Furthermore, considering that a Gouf Flight Test Type had exploded during a test flight in North America not long ago, the fact that Norris was able to pilot it into the battlefield now was a testament to his immense willpower.

Eli's plan was precisely this: to use his 60mm Vulcan cannons, guided by his Newtype intuition, to cripple the machine's flight capabilities.

Unfortunately, Eli had not anticipated that the climb rate of the Gouf Flight Test Type would far exceed his expectations, causing his preemptive strike to miss its mark.

Having failed his initial attack, Eli immediately abandoned the idea of continuing to fire with the Vulcan cannons.

The firing angle of the chest-integrated Vulcan cannons was limited; if he were to force an anti-air shot in this situation, the consequence would likely be the flying Gouf catching him in a blind spot and killing him in one strike.

As expected, the flying Gouf held its blade horizontally across its chest, and all of its thermonuclear engines shifted direction, spewing a turbulent torrent of air toward its rear.

Bolstered by such thrust, the Gouf charged forward at a speed that even Eli struggled to react to!

Eli immediately raised his right hand, ignited the Beam Saber he had prepared, tilted his mobile suit forward, and swung it out with a fierce horizontal slash!

The Gouf Flight Test Type was naturally no slouch; it met the path of the Beam Saber head-on with its glowing, orange-hot Heat Saber.

The moment the two weapons collided, a dazzling, spherical flash erupted at the point of intersection.

"You've got skill!"

Norris's voice came through the moment the two blades made contact.

"I didn't expect the Federation to have such a warrior; truly impressive... The '06' marking, is that it? Are you the one they call the 'Devil'?"

Only at this distance could Norris clearly see the serial number on Eli's mobile suit.

The "06" marking was something even Norris was intimately familiar with.

"The Devil? Compared to me, the Zeon Forces that massacred an entire space colony are the true devils!"

Eli was now completely certain that the one piloting the flying Gouf was indeed Norris.

Even though he had admired Norris's character in another world, Eli would not let that hold him back now.

Just as he had said to Shiro Amada earlier, if there were truly good men in the Zeon Forces, they should leave Zeon.

Norris certainly possessed shining qualities like loyalty, and he was undeniably correct from the standpoint he held.

But that did not wash away the fact that he stood alongside invaders and mass murderers.

"A devil, perhaps... Even so, I cannot let you harm Miss Aina now!"

The mono-eye on the Gouf's head radiated a chilling, captivating light.

To Eli's surprise, Norris did not attempt to excuse Zeon's actions, but simply continued to act solely for Aina's sake.

In other words, Norris was also aware that what Zeon had done could hardly be called right.

The Gouf slightly eased its pressure, letting the Beam Saber graze past the edge of the Heat Saber and strike empty air.

Then, the Gouf's frame crouched low, and the Heat Saber prepared to swing horizontally, intending to cut the Gundam Ground Type in half at the waist!

"Rat-tat-tat..."

At the critical moment when his beam saber was deflected and his defenses were wide open, the Gundam Ground Type opened fire with its Vulcan cannons once more.

At this distance, the Gouf had no possibility of dodging and was immediately struck in the head by the 60mm rounds.

Even so, Norris did not hesitate to swing the Heat Saber forward!

Eli's reaction was not slow; seeing the Gouf launch such a desperate, suicidal attack, he immediately ceased fire with the Vulcan cannons and thrust his left-hand shield forward, blocking the path of the Heat Saber.

"Got you!"

As the Heat Saber bit deep into the shield, Norris's roar echoed into the cockpit.

It shouldn't have been able to hurt him...

"Hum!"

While Eli was still confused, the headless Gouf's thrusters began to operate at even higher output.

The suddenly increased power actually forced the Gundam Ground Type's feet, which had been planted firmly on the ground, to slide back, causing the entire unit to lose its footing and detach from the Apsalus!

Following that, the force of the Gouf's strike sent the Gundam Ground Type flying, leaving it with no further chance to threaten the Apsalus.

"...Truly worthy of being called the Tiger King."

Watching the Gouf, which had come to a stop atop the Apsalus with black smoke billowing from its engines and lying motionless, Eli realized that his opponent had been willing to sacrifice his life just to drive him back.

"Norris, you are a man."

Even with the resentment Eli held toward Zeon, he could not help but admire Norris's resolve.

"Next time we meet, I will defeat you."

However, this did not affect Eli's determination to fight.

He lowered his head and began to work on the hard landing maneuver for the Gundam Ground Type.

The backpack thrusters fired intermittently, gradually reducing his speed step by step.

Not far away, the units piloted by Sanders and Karen were approaching, while further off, Shiro's unit was crouched in place.

"Logistics is going to give me an earful for this..."

"BOOM!"

Amidst a violent tremor, Eli's Gundam Ground Type landed safely.

"Norris, Norris! Are you alright?"

High above the clouds, Aina hurriedly called out to Norris.

The Gouf Flight Test Type had exploded during a test flight in North America not long ago due to an engine malfunction, killing the pilot instantly.

This was the very reason Ginias had been able to secure the results from another base so easily.

And now, the state of Norris's Gouf Flight Test Type left Aina deeply worried.

"I'm landing right now, Norris, please get out quickly."

As Aina spoke, the altitude of the Apsalus began to descend in sync.

"You must not do that, Miss Aina. Please, do not concern yourself with me; do your utmost to bring the Apsalus back."

Compared to the state of his machine, Norris's own state was remarkably calm.

To him, it was merely a potential explosion; his own life was not worth mentioning compared to the Apsalus, into which Ginias and Aina had poured so much effort.

"I won't!"

Just as Norris was about to reason with her, Aina's cry caused all his words to lodge in his throat.

"...static"

At that moment, the wireless connection between the Apsalus and the Gouf Flight Test Type was re-established, allowing Norris to see Aina's face.

He noticed the shimmering tears in the corners of her eyes the very first instant.

"I have lost so much today; I do not want to lose you too, Norris."

Norris stared blankly at Aina, who revealed an endless sorrow, and found himself unable to speak another word.