The psycho-frame radiated a dazzling yellow light as it rushed toward Black Knight.
"PS armor that can change colors?"
The pilot of Black Knight narrowed his eyes slightly, but didn't take it to heart.
Black Knight's left hand pulled out the heavy cleaving blade. The reserved slot on the blade deployed a cutting-type beam. Maintaining an elegant posture, it slowly approached Narrative Gundam.
The pilot of Black Knight mentally measured the distance between Narrative Gundam and Black Knight, ready at any moment to bring the blade down in a decisive downward strike.
He did not believe that a pilot who had been blown away and was basically burned-out could still muster any effective resistance.
Yellow light burst from Narrative Gundam's body—like flames burning across its frame—and its charge speed nearly doubled.
Seemingly not expecting Narrative Gundam's performance to increase further, Black Knight swung down the heavy blade in haste.
But the blade did not hit the enemy—it struck only empty air.
The pilot instinctively tried to retreat, but two beam shots struck Black Knight's right shoulder again. The particles, accelerated through spiraling compression, caused the prototype FT armor on the shoulder to reach half its overload limit almost instantly.
"When?!"
Black Knight turned and saw Narrative Gundam already almost pressed up in front of him.
The moment the pilot saw this scene, he instinctively pressed a button on the control stick.
A red laser fired again from Black Knight's eyes—the prototype mental-interference device activated once more, attempting to disrupt Narrative Gundam's movements to create an opportunity for counterattack.
Black Knight's left-hand heavy cleaving blade swung again toward Narrative Gundam, intending to cut it cleanly in half.
However, the mental interference seemed to have no effect on Narrative Gundam's movements—on the contrary, it only provoked the anger of Narrative Gundam's pilot.
Suddenly, a strong force slammed him back—an intense push-back pressure and centrifugal force nearly threw Black Knight's pilot out of his seat, pinning him firmly in place.
Narrative Gundam stretched out its free left hand, grabbed Black Knight's weapon-holding right arm, and with a motion like an over-the-shoulder throw, hurled the suit upward to the right and slammed it violently into the ground.
The brutal impact made the pilot feel as though the safety harness had turned into steel rods striking across his body. The pitch-black monitors confirmed that Black Knight had been smashed face-first into the ground.
Just as Black Knight tried to push up with both arms, a strong impact came from the thruster pack on its back.
Then, warnings sounded: the right-shoulder FT armor overload gauge rising rapidly, and thruster-nozzle malfunction alerts. The pilot, who had just regained his senses, froze.
Watching the right-shoulder overload bar climb rapidly, the pilot tightened his grip on the controls, desperately trying to think of a countermeasure.
Narrative Gundam placed one foot firmly on Black Knight's back. It shoved its beam rifle into the thruster nozzle, fired a few shots to destroy the thruster pack, then pressed the muzzle against Black Knight's right shoulder and continued firing relentlessly.
The particle beams, like a drill, slammed into Black Knight's shoulder armor. Each impact dispersed upon hitting the FT armor, yet Narrative Gundam kept firing without pause.
Compared to Roz's usual firing habits, in this state—with Narrative Gundam operating itself—the beam rifle spewed particle fire like a submachine gun.
Finally, one particle beam pierced through the FT armor. Black Knight's right shoulder rapidly heated, turned red, melted, and then exploded.
That the opponent overloaded the FT armor in such a short time made the pilot break into a cold sweat. But taking advantage of the shift in balance caused by losing the right arm, he quickly grabbed the heavy cleaving sword with his left hand and rolled right-to-left across the ground, intending to slice open Narrative Gundam's cockpit.
But Narrative Gundam's left hand firmly grabbed Black Knight's left forearm. The foot that had stepped on his back lifted and stomped down again, neutralizing Black Knight's counterattack.
It was as though Black Knight's counterattack had already been anticipated… no, rather, it was as though Narrative Gundam wanted Black Knight to resist in exactly this way.
Because simply stabbing in with a beam saber, stirring the exposed gap and burning everything inside to mush—was not enough to extinguish the anger rising from Narrative Gundam's machine-soul.
Indeed, it had to be cut to pieces.
Narrative Gundam casually tossed away the beam rifle in its right hand, then grabbed Black Knight's right arm and exerted force.
The yellow light on its psycho-frame grew even brighter. The FT armor on Black Knight's arm was penetrated effortlessly, and the heavy cleaving blade was torn from Black Knight's grasp.
But it seemed the interfaces were incompatible, so the original beam blade vanished.
Narrative Gundam looked at the heavy cleaving blade in its hand, then suddenly raised it high. Yellow light flowed from the psycho-frame into the blade. The device on the blade activated, and a yellow beam blade extended from the reserved notch.
Then Narrative Gundam swung it down toward Black Knight's restrained, struggling left arm.
-----------------------------------
Have you ever bought meat at a market? Even better if you bought pork or beef bones.
It's like buying livestock bones at a southern market and asking the butcher to chop them up for you. The physical blade of the heavy cleaving sword struck Black Knight's left shoulder. Such tremendous force caused the shoulder armor to deform slightly.
One strike, another strike, then another—like the sound of a cleaving knife chopping bones, the metal at the scene twisted and groaned repeatedly. Even the Daggers equipped with "SB" units instinctively paused in their advance, some even stepping back two paces.
The Black Knight, who should have been as elegant as a knight, was now on the muddy ground, like a bone on a chopping block being cut repeatedly with a cleaving knife. There was no trace of its original elegance.
What was even harder to accept was that the weapon attacking it—even the one Narrative Gundam had taken from Black Knight's grasp—was being used against it.
With the left arm severed and torn, the backpack and legs were next. Under Narrative Gundam's assault, the once-noble "knight" was reduced to a "stick-man."
If it were Kira, he would probably have stopped by now, but Machine-Soul Miss obviously had no intention of stopping. Strike after strike, she carved a wound into the body where Black Knight's right shoulder connected.
Dropping the heavy cleaving blade casually, Narrative Gundam reached in and tore open the gap, pulling out Black Knight's slightly damaged mobile suit battery and tossing it aside.
It was as if a warrior struggling to take their last breath had their spine broken. Black Knight, powerless to resist, lost the light in his eyes. Without the battery pack, the mobile suit ceased functioning, swaying like a corpse in Narrative Gundam's grasp.
In the despairing gaze of Black Knight's pilot, Narrative Gundam pulled out the cockpit. Without even looking at it, she squeezed it tightly.
Blood flowed from the twisted cockpit wreckage, running along the cockpit into Narrative Gundam's hand, dripping down from high above.
When an ace pilot dies, it's not much different from any other pilot—but for Black Knight's pilot, it was even more painful than normal. After all, not everyone could endure having their mobile suit ripped apart like chopping bones, with the battery pack and cockpit forcibly removed.
Narrative Gundam casually tore the remaining head from the now-empty torso, holding it in her right hand to examine briefly.
Having vented her fury, Machine-Soul Miss looked at the Black Knight's head adorned with its ceremonial crown.
She casually threw the torn torso aside with her left hand, reached out, and grabbed the other side of the head.
With the machine exerting force, Narrative Gundam's fingers embedded into Black Knight's head, deforming the ornate crown that once represented the "first unit."
Then the head was torn in half and fell to the ground.
"Gurgle…"
Witnessing the brutal scene, even though Narrative Gundam had only destroyed machinery, the Earth Alliance pilots in the nearby Daggers couldn't help but see the scattered parts as dismembered limbs and instinctively stepped back.
-----------------------------------
Not enough… not enough… the emotion called "rage" had not been quelled.
In the dazzling space, a female figure placed her hand on her chest.
It seemed that humans would feel their emotions when making this gesture? Machine-Soul Miss didn't understand this.
But… Roz's voice had still not been heard… Roz's desire… Roz's expectation…
I see… not enough were killed.
With that thought, Machine-Soul Miss turned her attention to the nearby Daggers, seemingly already intimidated by how she had destroyed Black Knight moments ago.
Then… before Roz wakes… she would just continue killing.
At some unknown moment, Narrative Gundam had picked up her beam rifle and fired at the Daggers that dared not advance.
-----------------------------------
At this moment, a sense of panic was spreading aboard Archangel.
"Hit by an unknown mobile suit, right-side thruster severely damaged… it's no longer functioning!"
Watching the red lights flashing continuously across the instrument panel, Arnold, the helmsman of Archangel, gritted his teeth and pulled the controls hard, trying to keep Archangel climbing.
"Hold on… keep flying… Archangel!"
"The Positron Interference Channel is about to end! Archangel's altitude is dropping!"
Sai continuously reported on Archangel's altitude, sweat running down her forehead too fast to wipe away.
"Fire in compartments three to five; the isolation doors have been lowered."
Fear had brought tears to Miriallia's eyes.
One piece of bad news after another arrived, and Murrue sighed.
Judging from Archangel's current trajectory and the landing situation… it was highly likely they would land within the Earth Alliance's encirclement. The firepower waiting for Archangel would be even heavier than before, and it might even be sunk.
Was this the end—for herself, everyone, and Archangel?
"Narrative has been knocked down by an unknown mobile suit… wait, it's standing up again?!"
Sai blinked, stunned by the report in front of her.
Amid all the bad news, this might be the only good news.
"Get Narrative, Freedom, and Justice to follow Kusanagi into space. We must ensure these combat-capable units leave Earth."
Murrue sighed and made her decision.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I couldn't bring you back safely."
Even if they were almost certainly going to land inside the Earth Alliance's encirclement and face a near-certain death, Murrue had no intention of surrendering.
"Next, we may fall into the Earth Alliance's trap. We'll have to fight alone."
"…Understood."
Arnold pushed the throttle once more, watching the Positron Interference Channel fade slowly.
"But… let me try one more time…"
"Fly, Archangel!"
Murrue sighed, recalling her life, and in her heart quietly prepared herself for death.
"The promise… I cannot fulfill it, Roz. I'm sorry… and… I love you."
-----------------------------------
Kira, piloting Freedom, kept firing near the mass accelerator track.
Any Dagger approaching the mass accelerator track would be destroyed before it could jump onto the track.
"Kira! Archangel's auxiliary thruster has been destroyed! It's slowly descending!"
Athrun, controlling Justice, kicked Raider away and frowned as he watched Archangel descending slowly.
"…Athrun, when Kusanagi launches, I'll let it go in midair!"
Kira glanced at Archangel's falling speed and at Kusanagi, which was starting its launch program in orbit, and made this decision.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Athrun clearly didn't understand Kira's plan.
"I'm going to push Archangel. With Freedom's power… I think it's worth trying this possibility."
"Are you insane? Archangel's tonnage can't be moved by just the two of our mobile suits!"
Hearing Kira's plan, Athrun became anxious.
"Damn it, what's Narrative doing? Why isn't it responding to communications! Kusanagi is about to launch!"
Although Narrative Gundam's communication was active, Roz, already unconscious, showed no sign of waking.
However, upon seeing the message from Archangel, the Gundam spirit continued rushing toward the mass accelerator track, leaving behind a trail of Dagger wreckage.
"Tch… these guys, one after another, so stubborn!"
Athrun fired twice to push Raider back and sighed.
By now, Kusanagi had launched and was speeding to orbit.
Compared to the slightly impatient Freedom and Justice, which were flying with Kusanagi, Narrative Gundam seemed unconcerned with Kusanagi's launch and continued destroying the Daggers on its own.
"Tch… no one's trying to escape? Are they underestimating us?!"
Clotho's killing intent toward Narrative had reached its peak, and the ion cannon on Raider's head fired at Narrative. Suddenly, a yellow, flame-like substance erupted on Narrative Gundam, enveloping it.
Then, with yellow trailing flames, Narrative executed several sharp turns, dodging the incoming missiles and beams. Its left-hand beam saber sliced a nearby Dagger cleanly in two at the chest.
"You bastard!"
Clotho abandoned attacking Kusanagi, which passed beside him in an instant, and charged at Narrative.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't Roz he was facing. Narrative easily executed two sharp turns, increasing the output of its beam saber, which became noticeably thicker.
Just by approaching Raider for a moment, it cut off Raider's limbs and head before it could react. Then, Narrative's beam saber slashed at Raider again.
"Ughhh…"
Raider's remaining armor melted; the screen in front of Clotho exploded, and the visor of his helmet was shattered.
The intense killing intent emanating from Narrative made him instinctively grab the handle of the ejection device.
But for some reason, the beam saber, which had already melted the tip of Clotho's helmet just before contact, suddenly disappeared.
Narrative raised its head, showing no concern for Raider's torso falling into the sea, and instead looked at the gradually descending Archangel.
The originally yellow psycho-frame gradually turned back to red, and the yellow flames covering it were dyed red as well.
-----------------------------------
"Roz… I'm sorry… I love you…"
In the midst of chaos, Roz seemed to hear Murrue's voice.
A violent roar rang in his ears… as if something had been launched.
Roz slightly opened his eyes, a certain feeling of joy surrounding him.
In the UI interface, now a dark yellow, Roz, in his chaotic mental state, saw Archangel slowly losing altitude due to engine damage.
At this moment, the UI interface gradually shifted back to red.
"…A… Archangel…"
Roz instinctively tried to lift his hand with all his strength, but ultimately sank back into unconsciousness.
-----------------------------------
She heard it… she heard Roz's voice…
In the dazzling space, the female-shaped figure seemed to exhale in relief.
So happy… so blissful… Roz's expectation, Roz's longing… she heard it.
She wouldn't let go again… all the enemies preventing our connection… must be killed…
The figure lifted her head, as if scanning across the space, and saw Archangel, heavily damaged, descending.
Roz's expectation… I will fulfill it… no matter what it takes…
Like a shooting star, or a phoenix reborn from fire, the red "flames" enveloped Narrative Gundam, flying toward Archangel.
-----------------------------------
"No… not enough thrust!"
Athrun pushed the throttle to the limit, and Justice's booster backpack expelled intense flames.
"Give it more power!"
Kira also stomped the pedal hard; Freedom's thrusters were operating at full power, yet Archangel's descent could not be stopped.
At this moment, Freedom and Justice each pushed from the tail wings lifted by Archangel, attempting to propel it off Earth.
"Looks like we won't make it to space… Prepare for breakout, everyone."
Murrue sighed. "Sorry, Kira, Athrun, for holding you back."
"Don't give up yet… try again!"
Kira clearly wasn't willing to relent and continued pushing Archangel.
"I'm ready too. Open the hatch—I'll help push!"
Mu, now in his pilot suit, stood at the launch deck hatch controlling Strike.
"Wait… this altitude?! Narrative reached it on its own?!"
Sai stared at the radar mark, stunned.
"What? Roz? Didn't he breakout from another direction?"
Kira also hadn't expected Narrative Gundam to reach this height, thinking Roz had relocated elsewhere.
A hand wrapped in "flames" appeared at the bridge-to-hull connection.
Narrative Gundam, entirely enveloped in red "flames," pushed Archangel.
Archangel stopped descending and even began slowly ascending.
But it still wasn't enough…
"The positron interference channel has disappeared!"
Helmsman Arnold shouted, eyes wide, watching the vanished photon interference channel.
"Positron cannon! Can we fire it again?"
"No! It hasn't recharged or cooled yet!"
-----------------------------------
Not enough… to get this ship to leave… it's still not enough…
In the dazzling space, the female figure felt a bit of "urgency" at Archangel's speed.
If I imagine this warship as a large mobile suit…
I can do it… I must do it…
This is Roz's expectation.
This is my expectation.
On Narrative Gundam, the originally red psycho-frame seemed to resonate continuously.
Emerald green gradually spread across the psycho-frame, until the entire psycho-frame had turned emerald green.
The original crimson "flames" also disappeared, replaced by emerald green "aurora," which began to emerge at the contact point between Narrative Gundam and Archangel, quickly spreading across the entire warship.
"This is…"
Kira was momentarily stunned by the brilliant "aurora" before him.
"…Light?"
Seeing the "aurora" fill Archangel's bridge, Murrue also looked somewhat bewildered.
"Wait… wait a moment! Archangel's altitude is rising?"
Arnold, noticing the anomaly, shouted loudly, "How can the display show zero gravity environment of space?!"
In everyone's view, it was as if the aurora had opened a path to heaven for Archangel. Archangel steadily ascended along the "aurora" until it disappeared from sight.
In the end, only a slowly fading trail of "aurora" remained.
.....................