Sudden Change 19

Xia Ya briefly faltered as he covered the Eternal's retreat.

He had to draw most of his attention away from the Eternal and the scattered fighting around it, focusing fully once more on the opponent behind him.

He knew his opponent had gotten serious.

The fight, with its hint of a hunter toying with his prey, was over. What came next would be a true battle to the death, with no way out.

He slowly turned his machine, bringing the Unicorn Gundam's pure-white front to face the source of that overwhelming killing intent.

The crimson Covenant Gundam closed in again at an astonishing speed that seemed to tear through space.

In the dazzling glare of its main rear thrusters, the machine exuded an ominous aura, like a bloodthirsty beast.

Rather than taking a straight path, it performed several consecutive zigzag maneuvers with unimaginable agility. Each change of direction was sharp and forceful, easily evading the intercepting fire from the Funnels Xia Ya had deployed.

Xia Ya did not retreat.

He piloted his own machine forward to meet the rapidly approaching Covenant Gundam.

Rather than passively waiting for his opponent to attack, he would strike first and seize control of the battle.

The two machines, each representing the pinnacle of a different technological system, clashed once more in the debris-strewn void.

"Finally—you noticed me, Char La Flaga!"

Orphee's voice rang out over the comm channel, his tone bordering on ecstasy.

He welcomed the sight as though greeting a long-awaited feast.

He poured all his energy into the Assault Shield System on his right arm. The blade of its Beam Saber began flickering unsteadily from the excessive concentration of energy.

The Unicorn Gundam raised the shield on its left arm.

The Covenant Gundam's Beam Saber slammed into the Unicorn Gundam's shield, carrying