Under the shattered skies of Heliopolis, smoke and dust intertwined to form a doomsday scroll. The crimson Blazing Gundam and the dark gray GINN, two mobile suits representing the technological culmination of old and new eras, engaged in a heart-stopping aerial gunfight above this industrial zone turned to ruins.
The pink trajectory of the high-energy Beam Rifle tore through the air, carrying destructive high temperatures and energy, heading straight for the GINN.
However, Miguel Aiman, piloting the GINN, lived up to his title of "Magic Bullet of Twilight," displaying exquisite skill that was highly inconsistent with the mass-produced appearance of his machine.
He maneuvered the GINN like an experienced bullfighter toying with an angry bull, sometimes using the remnants of buildings as cover to evade, sometimes narrowly grazing the edge of a beam with an incredibly small-angle sidestep, and sometimes even boldly performing a zigzag maneuver directly into the beam, turning the Blazing Gundam's precise lock-on into nothingness.
The GINN's 76mm heavy assault machine gun also did not stop. Although Xia Ya judged that its ammunition might be low or he was reserving it due to its poor effect on PS Armor, Michel still occasionally fired short, precise bursts.
Heavy solid rounds whizzed by, attempting to interfere with the Blazing Gundam's aiming and maneuvering.
Facing these attacks, Xia Ya Aznable displayed a completely different approach.
Sometimes, he would rely on the extraordinary reactions brought by his Flada bloodline and the Blazing Gundam's superior mobility to perform fluid evasion maneuvers, the crimson mobile suit carving elegant yet deadly arcs in the air; at other times, when evasion was not possible or the threat was deemed minor, he would unhesitatingly choose to take the hit—allowing those solid rounds to futilely impact the energy-glowing PS Armor, producing a series of "clinking" sounds and harmless sparks.
This was not only confidence in the machine's performance but also a silent psychological pressure.
The two MS fought at high speed in the air, the glow of their thrusters and the muzzle flashes of their weapons intertwining and shining like two battling meteors.
They constantly exchanged positions, high or low, near or far, weaving and chasing through the ruins.
Xia Ya firmly remembered his primary objective—to lure the GINN away from areas with civilians and vulnerable facilities.
He maintained firing pressure, forcing Michel to focus on responding, while subtly guiding the GINN's direction of movement during the intense gunfight, each maneuver secretly containing the intent to mislead.
"— — — — — — This is it!"
His gaze sharpened instantly as he confirmed the status of the area below through his sensors.
It was a vast, empty expanse completely abandoned due to a previous industrial accident or the current attack, surrounded only by the skeletons of collapsed factories and twisted metal scrap. The ground was cracked, with no signs of life.
This place was far from residential areas and commercial streets where civilians might be present, and there were no colonial satellite structural walls to worry about.
This place was the perfect stage for wielding a Beam Saber!
Having lured the enemy here, he could wait no longer!
Xia Ya instantly made his decision. The Blazing Gundam's posture, which had been feigning continued pursuit, suddenly changed. The machine performed an emergency stop in mid-air followed by a lateral vector thrust, executing an astonishing sharp turn and diving rapidly towards that open field!
This sudden change in direction, completely contrary to the previous pursuit rhythm, clearly caught Miguel Aiman off guard.
The GINN, which had been in hot pursuit, showed a momentary delay and stiffness in its movements, as if an experienced old hunter had his rhythm suddenly disrupted by cunning prey.
However, the qualities of a top Pilot were evident in the next moment. Despite his internal surprise, Michel's reaction speed was still astonishingly fast.
He almost immediately judged that the opponent had changed their tactical intent and was likely to leverage close-combat advantages.
He did not hesitate, immediately drawing the heavy slash sword mounted on his skirt armor!
This calm reaction in the face of danger and incredibly precise operation truly lived up to his ability to earn the resounding title of "Magic Bullet of Twilight."
However, the disparity in strength was not only reflected in the Pilot. The generational gap in technology was an even more insurmountable chasm.
Just as the GINN had drawn its second heavy slash sword and had not yet fully stabilized its Fight back posture, the crimson Blazing Gundam had already burst into close combat range like a burning bolt of lightning!
"Too slow!" Xia Ya coldly shouted in his heart.
He calmly maneuvered the Blazing Gundam's left arm, swinging it sharply backward and upward. The mechanical hand precisely gripped one of the sword hilts towering from its back.
"Buzz—!"
Accompanied by the unique hum of energy injection, an energy blade instantly burst forth from the hilt!
The powerful energy distorted the surrounding air, emitting a terrifying heat and oppressive sensation.
This was the Beam Saber, the iconic close-combat weapon of the new generation of MS, a deadly weapon capable of easily slicing through any conventional armor!
The GINN's newly raised heavy slash sword, gleaming with cold metallic luster, appeared so fragile and vulnerable before this beam blade containing terrifying energy.
The Blazing Gundam's slash was as swift as lightning! The crimson machine, with an unstoppable momentum, carved a sharp trajectory in the air with its beam longsword, striking downwards, precisely aimed at the GINN's right arm, which was raised to block!
"Sizzle—!"
There was no loud clash of metal, only a sickening cutting sound, like a hot knife through butter!
The GINN's heavy slash sword, forged from super-hard alloy, was unhesitatingly melted and severed the instant it made contact with the Beam Saber's energy blade!
The broken blade spun into the air, largely melted by the high temperature before it even hit the ground.
But this was only the beginning!
Xia Ya flicked his wrist, and the Blazing Gundam's movements did not stop.
While the first slash severed the weapon, the machine had already smoothly performed a graceful spinning maneuver, avoiding the GINN's instinctive left arm counterattack attempt, and at the same time, the Beam Saber in his hand swung horizontally, delivering an even fiercer second slash!
This time, the target was the GINN's right arm itself, which was holding the sword!
The pink beam flashed again, like the scythe of the grim reaper, precisely cutting across the GINN's right shoulder joint!
"Squelch—!!"
A more piercing cutting sound rang out, accompanied by cooling fluid and energy sparks spraying from severed internal pipelines!
The GINN's entire right arm, along with the half-broken sword in its hand, was severed at the shoulder!
The huge metal arm tumbled through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust. The severed end was smooth as a mirror, with even traces of high-temperature melting remaining on the edges.
Its claws were broken, then its arm! The situation instantly reversed!
"This is the end!!!"
Xia Ya roared, his voice echoing in the cockpit, carrying a sense of released pressure and battle excitement.
He followed the powerful inertia of the second slash, controlling the Blazing Gundam to violently spin its body again!
The crimson figure rotated like a high-speed top, creating a strong airflow.
This time, he did not use the Beam Saber. Instead, he concentrated all the rotational force into the machine's right leg!
The moment the rotation stopped, the Blazing Gundam's right foot was aimed at the GINN's torso near the cockpit, which had lost its right arm, was unstable, and exposed a large opening!
"Fall down!!!"
A powerful kick, imbued with the Blazing Gundam's immense power and rotational inertia, slammed into the GINN's chest-abdomen connection like a battering ram!
"Thud—!!!!"
A heavy, suffocating thud!
The GINN's massive body violently arched backward as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. The armor around the cockpit visibly caved in, emitting dense electrical sparks! The internal structure groaned under the strain!
Having suffered such a violent and direct heavy blow, the GINN's machine balance was completely destroyed. Its sensors and internal systems were likely severely damaged.
This time, it did not struggle to get up as it had when it was previously knocked away.
Perhaps it was the surviving combat instinct and will to live of Pilot Miguel Aiman at work, or perhaps an emergency procedure after the machine was damaged.
Before completely losing control, the GINN's remaining back thrusters suddenly erupted with full power, sending the machine stumbling and awkwardly flying backward.
Because it had lost an arm and its balance system was damaged, its posture was extremely unsightly. It could only retreat and escape at full speed, almost with its back to the Blazing Gundam.
Xia Ya did not immediately pursue. He controlled the Blazing Gundam, slowly retracted the Beam Saber, and re-mounted it on its back, merely pointing the Beam Rifle from afar at the gray figure fleeing in disarray, maintaining deterrence.
The GINN's speed was not slow, and it quickly disappeared into the shadows of distant buildings and the pervasive smoke. The signal on the radar also rapidly moved away and weakened.
"...For now, it's over... right?"
He looked in the direction where the GINN had disappeared, his taut nerves finally slowly relaxing. The muzzle of the Beam Rifle also drooped.
An indescribable sense of fatigue surged over him like a tide.
He leaned heavily against the backrest of the Pilot's seat, feeling all his muscles trembling slightly from excessive tension.
He exhaled a long, deep breath, as if to expel all the stale air from his lungs and the tension brought by the battle.
The prolonged high mental concentration and adrenaline rush left him feeling somewhat depleted.
After all, this was his first time, in the true sense, piloting an MS, in a real battlefield, engaging in a desperate struggle with an enemy.
Every decision, every operation just now, was a matter of life and death.
Sweat had long soaked his undershirt, clinging tightly to his skin, bringing a sticky discomfort.
But he paid no attention to these things at the moment. A more complex emotion was slowly brewing in his heart.
He looked down at his still trembling hands, then looked up at the screen displaying the Blazing Gundam's crimson arm, stained with some dust and battle marks.
Unbelievable.
A feeling of almost absurd disbelief quietly welled up in his heart.
"...I won?... Did I actually win?" He muttered to himself, asking himself over and over again.
This was his first time controlling an MS. Before this, he only had theoretical knowledge and some simulation training experience, yet now he was able to defeat Michel, a renowned Pilot in the SEED world, in actual combat.
Although he understood that the difference in machine performance did play a role to some extent, he ultimately won this battle through his wisdom, courage, and tenacious will.
This result filled him with immense excitement and pride, and also gave him more anticipation and confidence for his future adventures in this world.