A Temporary Conclusion

Beneath the shattered sky of Heliopolis, smoke and dust intertwined into an apocalyptic tableau. The crimson Blaze Gundam and the dark-gray GINN, two mobile suits representing the technological achievements of old and new eras, engaged in a heart-stopping aerial firefight above the ruined industrial district.

The pink trail of the High-Energy Beam Rifle tore through the air, carrying destructive heat and energy as it hurtled straight toward the GINN.

Yet Miguel Aiman, piloting the GINN, proved worthy of the title "Twilight's Magic Bullet," displaying superb skill utterly mismatched with the appearance of a mass-produced machine.

He controlled the GINN like an experienced matador toying with an enraged bull. At times, he used the wreckage of buildings as cover to evade. At times, he made incomprehensibly slight sidesteps, barely grazing the edge of the beam. At other times, he even boldly charged into the beam in Z-shaped maneuvers, rendering the Blaze Gundam's precise lock-ons useless.

The GINN's 76mm Heavy Assault Machine Gun never fell silent either. Although Xia Ya judged that its ammunition might be running low, or that Miguel was holding back because it was ineffective against PS Armor, Miguel still fired brief, precise bursts from time to time.

The heavy solid rounds came screaming in, attempting to disrupt the Blaze Gundam's aim and movement.

Faced with these attacks, Xia Ya responded in an entirely different manner.

Sometimes, relying on the extraordinary reflexes granted by the Flada Bloodline and the Blaze Gundam's superior mobility, he performed fluid evasive maneuvers, the crimson machine tracing elegant yet deadly arcs through the air. Other times, when he could not evade in time or judged the threat insignificant, he chose without hesitation to take the hits head-on—allowing the solid rounds to strike the energy-sheened PS Armor uselessly, ringing out in a series of sharp clinks and scattering harmless sparks.

It was not only confidence in the machine's performance, but also a silent form of psychological pressure.

The two MS dueled at high speed through the air, the glow of their thrusters and the flashes of their weapons intertwining like two Meteors locked in battle.

They constantly traded positions, high and low, near and far, weaving and chasing through the ruins.

Xia Ya never forgot his primary objective—lure the GINN away from areas with civilians and vulnerable facilities.

While maintaining firing pressure and forcing Miguel to focus on defending himself, Xia Ya deliberately guided the GINN's direction of movement amid the fierce firefight. Every maneuver concealed an intent to lead him on.

"This is the place!"

His gaze sharpened in an instant as he confirmed the situation below through the sensors.

It was a wide-open area that had been completely abandoned due to an earlier industrial accident or this attack. Around it stood only the collapsed skeletons of factories and twisted metal debris. The ground was cracked, and there was no sign of life.

It was far from any residential areas or commercial streets where civilians might be present, and there were no colony structural walls to worry about.

This place was practically the perfect stage for wielding a Beam Saber!

He had lured the enemy here. He could wait no longer!

Xia Ya made his decision in an instant. The Blaze Gundam, which had been feigning continued pursuit, suddenly changed course. The machine came to an abrupt halt in midair, fired its side vector thrusters, then executed an astonishingly sharp turn and dove at high speed toward the open ground!

This sudden change in direction, completely contrary to the rhythm of the chase until now, clearly caught Miguel Aiman off guard.

The pursuing GINN's movements visibly hesitated and stiffened for an instant, as though an experienced old hunter had suddenly had his rhythm disrupted by cunning prey.

Yet the caliber of a top pilot showed itself in the next moment. Even in surprise, Miguel's reaction speed remained astonishingly fast.

He almost immediately understood that his opponent had changed tactics and was likely intending to exploit his advantage in close combat.

Without the slightest hesitation, he drew the Heavy Cleaver mounted on his skirt armor!

Such composure in danger and such flawlessly precise control truly proved that he deserved the resounding title of "Twilight's Magic Bullet."

But the gap in strength was not reflected in the pilots alone. The generation gap in technology was an even more difficult chasm to cross.

Just as the GINN drew its second Heavy Cleaver and had yet to fully steady itself into a defensive stance, the crimson Blaze Gundam burst into close-combat range like a bolt of burning lightning!

Too slow! Xia Ya coldly thought.

Remaining calm, he controlled the Blaze Gundam as its left arm suddenly swung back and upward. Its mechanical hand precisely gripped one of the sword hilts rising high from its back.

"Vmmm—!"

Accompanied by the distinctive hum of energy being fed in, an energy blade burst from the hilt in an instant!

The powerful energy distorted the surrounding air, radiating terrifying heat and oppressive force.

This was the Beam Saber, the iconic close-combat weapon of a new-generation MS, a lethal weapon capable of effortlessly cutting through any conventional armor!

The GINN's newly raised Heavy Cleaver, gleaming with cold metallic light, looked utterly fragile before the beam blade filled with such terrifying energy.

The Blaze Gundam's slash came as swift as thunder! With unstoppable momentum, the crimson machine sent its long beam blade carving a shrill trajectory through the air, chopping down precisely at the GINN's right arm as it raised its weapon to block!

"Sshhrrk—!"

There was no thunderous crash of metal on metal, only the teeth-grating sound of cutting, like a hot knife slicing through butter!

The GINN's Heavy Cleaver, forged from ultra-hard alloy, was melted cleanly in half the instant it touched the Beam Saber's energy blade!

The broken blade spun into the air, more than half of it already melted by the intense heat before it hit the ground.

But this was only the beginning!

With a flick of Xia Ya's wrist, the Blaze Gundam did not pause for even a moment.

As the first strike severed the weapon, the machine smoothly spun aside, avoiding the GINN's instinctive attempt to counterattack with its left arm. At the same time, the Beam Saber in its hand swept horizontally in an even fiercer second strike!

This time, the target was the GINN's weapon-bearing right arm itself!

The pink beam flashed once more, like the scythe of death, cutting precisely through the GINN's right shoulder joint!

"Splat—!!"

An even more piercing cutting sound rang out, accompanied by coolant and energy sparks spraying from ruptured internal lines!

The GINN's entire right arm, along with the half-broken blade it held, was severed at the shoulder!

The massive metal arm tumbled through the air before crashing heavily onto the distant ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The break was smooth as a mirror, its edges still bearing traces of high-temperature melting.

First its claws, then its arm! The situation reversed in an instant!

"This ends now!!!"

Xia Ya roared, his voice echoing through the cockpit with the exhilaration of released pressure and battle fever.

Riding the powerful momentum of the second slash, he controlled the Blaze Gundam and spun the machine sharply once more!

The crimson figure became a rapidly spinning top, whipping up fierce currents of air.

This time, he did not use the Beam Saber. Instead, he concentrated all the power of the rotation into the machine's right leg!

The instant the spin stopped, the Blaze Gundam's right foot targeted the GINN's torso near the cockpit, where it had lost its right arm, become unbalanced, and exposed a huge opening!

"Get down!!!"

A full-force kick, packed with the Blaze Gundam's tremendous power and rotational momentum, slammed into the joint between the GINN's chest and abdomen like a battering ram!

"Thoom—!!!!"

A heavy, suffocating dull impact resounded!

The GINN's massive body bent violently backward as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. The armor around the cockpit visibly caved in, erupting with dense electrical sparks! Its internal structure groaned under the unbearable strain!

After suffering such a fierce and direct blow, the GINN's balance was completely destroyed. Its sensors and internal systems had likely suffered severe damage as well.

This time, it could not struggle back to its feet as it had after being knocked away earlier.

Perhaps Miguel Aiman's remaining battle instincts and desire to survive were at work, or perhaps it was the damaged machine's emergency protocols.

Before it completely lost control, the GINN's remaining back thrusters erupted at full power, carrying the machine stumbling and reeling backward in a miserable retreat.

Having lost an arm and suffered damage to its balance systems, its posture was extremely awkward. It could only retreat with all its strength in a nearly straight line, almost with its back turned toward the Blaze Gundam, fleeing.

Xia Ya did not immediately pursue. He controlled the Blaze Gundam and slowly retracted the Beam Saber, hanging it back on its rear mount. He merely kept his Beam Rifle pointed at the fleeing gray figure from afar, maintaining his deterrence.

The GINN was not slow. It soon vanished into the shadows of distant buildings and the billowing smoke, while its signal on the radar rapidly receded and weakened.

...Is it over... for now?

He watched the direction in which the GINN had disappeared, and his taut nerves finally began to relax. The muzzle of his Beam Rifle lowered as well.

An indescribable exhaustion surged over him like a tide.

He slumped heavily against the back of the pilot's seat, feeling every muscle in his body tremble faintly from excessive tension.

He let out a long, deep breath, as though trying to expel every trace of stale air from his lungs, along with all the tension brought by battle.

The prolonged mental strain and surge of adrenaline left him feeling somewhat drained.

After all, this was the first time he had truly piloted an MS and fought an enemy to the death on a real battlefield.

Every decision and every operation just now had concerned life and death.

Sweat had long since soaked through his undershirt, pressing tightly against his skin and leaving an unpleasant sticky sensation.

But he could not care about that right now. A more complicated emotion was slowly fermenting within him.

He lowered his head and looked at his still trembling hands, then raised his eyes toward the display, where the Blaze Gundam's crimson arm was marked with dust and traces of battle.

It was unbelievable.

An almost absurd feeling of disbelief quietly welled up in his heart.

...I won? ...Did I really win? he murmured inwardly, asking himself again and again.

This was his first time operating an MS. Before this, he had possessed only theoretical knowledge and some experience with simulations, yet now he had defeated Miguel, a renowned pilot in the world of SEED, in actual combat.

He understood that the difference in machine performance had indeed played a role to some extent, but no matter what, he had ultimately won this battle through his own wisdom, courage, and unyielding will.

The result filled him with immense excitement and pride, while also giving him greater anticipation and confidence for his future adventures in this world.