Providence Gundam released all six remaining DRAGOONs, their muzzles snapping toward Unicorn from every direction. Rau Le Creuset no longer cared about expenditure or what came after; he poured all remaining ammunition and energy into this single wave of attack.
Unicorn Gundam deployed all its weapons as well. The six Wing Funnels on its back spread out in a fan, each locking onto a DRAGOON unit; its left hand raised its shield, while the Beam Gatling Rifle in its right hand lifted slightly. The Beam Sabers at its waist were ready to deploy at any moment.
Xia Ya's breathing remained steady and deep. The red glow of the Psycho-Frame seemed to synchronize with his heartbeat, each pulse sending faint ripples of perception through the surrounding space.
Just then—
"Xia Ya!"
Two voices came at once from different directions.
Over the encrypted communications channel, one was Lacus Clyne's calm call; the other was Jiliang Yamato's shout, filled with urgency, worry, and a resolve that disregarded everything else.
"What!?"
Rau Le Creuset turned toward the optical screen at his rear flank and saw Freedom Gundam charging into the combat zone at maximum speed.
Though the machine had lost its left wing and its posture was slightly unsteady, it had opened every remaining weapon port—the Swordfish Railgun, the Lupus Beam Rifle clenched in its right hand, and the lone Plasma Beam Cannon left on its back—all of them aimed at Providence Gundam.
"Jiliang... Lacus!?" Xia Ya's pupils widened slightly.
The emotions suppressed to the utmost amid battle surged up the instant he heard those two names. It was not anger, but something scorching, something that made the fingers gripping the controls tremble faintly.
"I said I wouldn't let you escape!"
Rau Le Creuset shoved the controls forward. Providence Gundam swung its weapons around,