The ZAFT Cadet Who Was Provoked

Time is like silver sand between one's fingers; the tighter you grasp, the faster it slips away.

Unaware of the outside world, Eno Kamal was rapidly improving his MS piloting skills with the help of Athrun and the others.

Sometimes we have to admit that certain unconventional methods can indeed provide extraordinary help and improvement during specific periods.

For instance, right now—

"To be able to go head-to-head with Dearka in melee combat after only half a month, this progress seems a bit absurd."

Michel looked at the screen ahead with a solemn expression.

Dearka might seem unreliable at times and always likes to stir up trouble, but his MS piloting skills are beyond doubt.

When it comes to individual MS piloting, excluding Yzak, Athrun, and Nicol, the other students find it extremely difficult to face Dearka. Even if they give it their hundred-percent effort, they can only manage a pyrrhic victory against him.

Yet now, Eno Kamal had already gained the capital to face Dearka head-on after being here for only half a month.

This was a visible rate of improvement that ordinary students found impossible to accept.

"Dearka's melee ability isn't actually that formidable. Given Eno's talent, this situation isn't as absurd as you make it sound."

Rusty, standing to the side, calmly explained the battle unfolding before them.

In terms of close-quarters MS combat, Rusty had always been stronger than Dearka, though his overall strength was slightly inferior.

"Not everyone is a genius like you, Rusty, and he only used half a month."

Michel was speechless at Rusty's remark.

"The stronger our companions are, the safer we become. Isn't that a good thing?"

Sometimes Rusty really couldn't understand the thought process of certain students.

They were companions, classmates, and comrades in the same camp.

In such a situation, why would anyone be jealous of a comrade's strength?

"Hmm... I suppose that's true."

Michel realized it was indeed the case after hearing this.

"So, the stronger Eno is, the higher our chances of victory, and our survival rate on the battlefield will increase accordingly. In this situation, we should do everything in our power to improve our comrades' strength. On this point, Nicol has done better than all of us."

Rusty still remembered who had brought Eno into their circle of friends.

Although Nicol had a bit of a pushover streak, it had to be said that his judgment this time was truly sharp.

"Are you sure that guy wasn't just trying to be a good Samaritan?"

Michel retorted.

Nicol's personality was truly hard to describe.

"As long as the result is good, that's all that matters," Rusty replied.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sparks from clashing steel erupted on the screen.

Having grown accustomed to this scene, Eno piloted his unit with ease, fighting as he pleased.

A turn, a sweep of the leg.

The MS became as flexible as an extension of his own limbs in Eno's hands.

Bang!

However, this kick was blocked by Dearka without surprise. Before Eno could react, the MS piloted by Dearka accelerated and threw a straight punch.

Watching this familiar scene, Eno suddenly frowned. He piloted his unit into a half-crouch, shifting his body to the side, letting the incoming punch and the unit's arm pass over his right shoulder.

As his unit turned its back to Dearka, its steel hands gripped upward, locking onto the right arm of Dearka's unit.

Seeing this, a flash of shock crossed Dearka's eyes, as this was the same way he had been flipped by Athrun a few days ago.

However, he acted quickly, using his free left hand to shove against the opponent's lower back.

Yet, almost at the same moment the left arm moved, the unit Eno was piloting dropped into a full crouch.

Bang!

Accompanied by the roaring vibration from the unit's legs, Dearka's screen tilted in a familiar way.

"...Reaction was slow?"

Boom!

The next second, under Dearka's bewildered expression, the unit he was piloting was flipped directly onto the ground.

"What the hell?"

"Dearka lost?"

"Are you kidding me? How did he lose?"

"Doesn't that shoulder throw look exactly like the time Athrun beat up Dearka?"

"He beat Dearka in less than a month. Where the hell did this monster come from?"

"······"

Rusty raised an eyebrow as he watched the scene unfold. He could accept his teammate being strong, but the speed of it... his logic could accept it, but his heart was having a hard time coping.

Instructor Kelvin sighed and set down his headset, his gaze drifting toward the artificial sky of PLANT with a dazed look in his eyes.

Once I finish training this batch of cadets, I'm applying to return to the front lines. Whoever wants to be an instructor can have this job.

"That kid Dearka actually lost?"

With such a commotion, even Yzak Joule, who was in the middle of a mock battle, couldn't ignore it.

But upon seeing who the downed Mobile Suit belonged to, Yzak couldn't help but show a look of astonishment.

Athrun also frowned slightly.

"Wow, Ino is amazing! To think he could beat Dearka in such a short time!"

Nicol, completely oblivious, offered a word of praise.

Hearing Nicol's 'sarcasm,' Dearka felt a surge of irritation.

He swatted away Ino, who was reaching out to help him up, and stood up on his own.

Watching Dearka's retreating back, Ino didn't know what to say and could only let him go.

"Um, I, I'll go check on him."

Nicol also realized something was wrong with Dearka, and after saying that, he quickly piloted his MS to follow him.

"Sorry to troub—"

"Hey!"

Just as Ino was about to say something, Yzak's voice crackled through his cockpit: "Ino, come fight me!"

"Yzak?"

Ino looked stunned.

"Are you coming or not!"

"I'm coming!"

Ino had actually wanted to test his skills against Yzak, known as the gatekeeper of the top-tier aces, for a long time.

How should one describe Yzak's strength?

Excluding the lack of a cheat code—that is, the SEED Factor—his strength was in a league of its own.

Neither Athrun nor Kira could gain a significant advantage over him without tapping into the SEED Factor.

Or rather, without the SEED Factor, Yzak could hold his own against any pilot.

So, in a sense, the basic standard for measuring whether a pilot was a super ace was whether they could beat Yzak Joule.

Watching the two of them engage in combat immediately after the challenge, Athrun finally had a moment to rest.

"Athrun, let's spar!"

However, before Athrun could catch his breath, Rusty had already piloted his MS over.

"Rusty?"

Athrun was taken aback.

"Count me in too. Once you two are done, I'm next. It's been a long time since I've felt this fired up."

Michel chimed in as well.

"You guys... this is..."

Athrun was speechless.

"That guy Ino is catching up fast. As his seniors, we can't afford to drop the ball, Athrun."

After saying that, Rusty piloted his MS and charged forward.

Ino's presence had been a massive shock to their class.

Or rather, it had been a massive shock to all the cadets at the MS training base.

A top student from the command track had gone from zero to gaining an advantage over Dearka, who had been firmly in the top ten, in less than a month.

This level of strength already surpassed ninety percent of his peers. Catching up on seven months of progress in just one month was an understatement of how much of a shock this was.