Flit piloted the Gundam to stop Zalam and Auba from fighting, while Yang Hui and Grudick ignored everything else and headed straight for the elevator to the spaceport. The elevator was almost in sight, but Yang Hui and Grudick noticed flickering shapes in the sky.
"Just as I thought, there's a difference!" Yang Hui's expression darkened, as there were a total of nine flashes in the sky!
"Graham! How's the transformation of the Samurai Gundam going?" Yang Hui immediately connected to Graham's communication.
"The transformation is complete, but final adjustments are still underway. What's up?"
"Found UE's MS! Nine units!"
"What!? I'm heading out in the Samurai Gundam right now!"
"Okay, have the Genoece on standby engage as well, and give the High Output Beam Rifle of the Dawn Gundam to Ragan. They might not be a match, but it can buy us some time."
"Understood!"
Shortly after hanging up, Yang Hui saw a small squad of the nine machines rapidly approaching them from the sky. Before long, the shadow of a Bacta-type and two Galanffs came into visual range.
"Damn it! There's no time!" Yang Hui nearly ground his back teeth to dust. At the rate they were coming, they would catch up to him and the others before they could enter the elevator. The firepower of the three MS could easily tear apart a car.
"Graham! If you don't hurry, your big brother is done for!"
At that moment, a pink beam tore through the sky as Ragan piloted the Genoece, firing the High Output Beam Rifle upwards and advancing step by step.
Meanwhile, the Samurai Gundam also made its entrance from the elevator, its engine pack blazing as it charged towards the approaching trio.
Upon closer inspection, the Samurai Gundam had significantly reduced armor on its limbs, making it more agile, and Graham's sudden acceleration did not cause any structural damage.
In addition to two Super Beam Sabers hanging at its waist, the Samurai Gundam wielded two high-frequency vibration blades glowing red, with two firing ports on either side of the hilt, forming a sword-gun composite weapon. There were two flat grips on its shoulders, which Yang Hui recognized as beam boomerangs.
"Is this the answer from the AGE System? Now I'm really looking forward to how the Dawn Gundam evolves," Yang Hui grinned.
...
"I'll handle these three. Ragan, you go support Flit."
"Understood." Ragan followed the instructions and moved towards the area where the Gundam was, completely unconcerned about Graham facing danger, as there were more enemy machines on Flit's side, putting him under greater pressure.
Graham, however, was overjoyed; the newly upgraded Samurai Gundam could barely keep up with his movements. According to the Prometheus Fortress grading, it had just reached a B- level, but this made Graham feel even better!
"Let's really feel the power of the new Samurai Gundam!"
He abruptly stopped and turned, instantly accelerating. Graham executed his signature Graham maneuver, dodging the Bacta-type's cannon fire at the last moment, and charged right in front of it, his high-frequency vibration blade shining with a ruby-like glow, the high-frequency vibrations causing the surrounding air to tremble.
With a single slash, the Bacta-type's proud heavy armor was as fragile as paper before the high-frequency blade, cleanly severed in half.
The remaining two Galanffs, sensing danger, planned to cover their retreat while suppressing fire.
"Oh? Have you mastered my fighting style? But..."
The Samurai Gundam did not immediately pursue; instead, while dodging, it sheathed the high-frequency blade at its waist, gripped the shoulder handles with both hands, and threw them forcefully. The two beam boomerangs spun through the dense fire, cutting through the two Galanffs with a strange arc before returning to the Samurai Gundam's hands after tracing a circle in the air.
"Truly worthy of Yang Hui's attention, the AGE System understands me so well," Graham reveled in joy. The improved Samurai Gundam suited him perfectly, though it still struggled to keep up with his movements. However, having had one success, he looked forward to the AGE System's next evolution.
"Now, let's go save Flit. He looks like he's about to be overwhelmed..."
"Graham, please respond!"
"This is Graham."
"New enemies have appeared in the city, six new models. Hurry to provide support."
"Understood, regarding Flit..."
"I'll go to Flit. My weapons aren't suitable for urban combat."
"Okay."
...
"Bang~!"
"Ah~!!!"
The tail of the Bacta-type swept across the Gundam's abdomen, sending it flying. The tremendous impact made Flit scream in agony.
"Damn it, if this continues..." Flit gritted his teeth, trying to get the Gundam AGE-1 to stand up. The surface of the Gundam crackled with arcs of electricity, its outer armor severely damaged, exposing parts of its frame. Even the simple act of standing up produced creaking sounds.
But Flit still stood in front of the enemy, because behind him were Ragan, Don Boyaji, and Rakt Efame, along with the MS belonging to Zalam and Auba, all of whom had completely lost their combat capabilities.
At first, Zalam and Auba had been confident, launching fierce attacks against the UE's MS. However, despite Flit's extraordinary performance holding off two Bacta-types, the four Galanffs easily destroyed them all, leaving only five MS from the original dozen.
Then Ragan piloted the Genoece to provide support, taking advantage of the UE's unawareness to shoot down two Galanffs. However, the Genoece's performance was far inferior to that of the Galanffs, and it was ultimately overwhelmed and destroyed, leaving it with only one hand and one foot on the ground. If Flit hadn't risked his life to save him, Ragan would have already perished.
"Flit... don't worry about us..."
"What a pity, kid. We finally managed to persuade you to form a temporary alliance, and now look at this miserable state."
"That's right, so hurry and go! I swear by the noble Auba that we will hold them off and protect Fardin! You go and complete what you have left unfinished!"
"No! I'm not leaving! Fardin has finally united, move, Gundam, move!"
Flit kept pushing the control stick, but the Gundam remained kneeling on one knee, like a person about to be executed, desperately looking up at the executioner's blade drawing closer.
"It's already... impossible... as I thought, I still..."
"It's too early to give up!"
The Bacta-type's Beam Saber was about to swing down when electromagnetic cannon shells rained down from above, exploding against the Bacta-type's chest. Although it didn't penetrate, the impact forced it away from the Gundam AGE-1.
"That is!"
Everyone looked up, and the purple-gray Dawn Gundam descended from the sky, its two electromagnetic cannons at the waist still smoking, with two beam cannons mounted on its shoulders capable of rapid fire or charged shots, and two super Beam Sabers hanging at its waist, wielding two extended Beam Rifles.
"Yang Hui!"
"Yeah, well done. You look a bit like a savior now." Yang Hui rarely praised Flit.
"Yes!"
"Next, it's my turn. You protect the allies behind you."
"Understood!"
Looking at the poised Bartok and Galanff, Yang Hui's expression was calm as water, but the light in his eyes burned like flames of anger.
"My brother has been well taken care of by you..."
Unheard by Yang Hui's muttering, the two Bacta-types charged forward, while the Galanffs provided fire support from the flanks.
But as soon as the two Galanffs stopped moving, the Dawn Gundam crossed its arms, firing one shot from each gun, piercing through their heads.
At this point, the Bacta-type was closing in, one with a beam spike glowing on its chest, and the other raising its Beam Saber high.
The Dawn Gundam immediately discarded its Beam Rifle, sidestepped to avoid the beam spike from the front Bacta-type, drew its Super Beam Saber, and pierced it from behind. With the other hand, it reversed the grip on the hilt, activating the energy of the Super Beam Saber, stabbing it into the head of the second Bacta-type, melting both it and its pilot inside.
"Wow... so powerful!"
"This is... Yang Hui from Yang Corporation..."
"This elegance, this strength... it's terrifying..."
The spectators behind were completely stunned. Their helpless UE was effortlessly annihilated, and since the Dawn Gundam's appearance, it had been as if it were on a leisurely outing, or attending a noble's ball, exuding elegance amidst its power, gracefully slaying its enemies.
After dispatching the foes, Yang Hui inquired about the situation in the city from Graham.
"Graham, how's it going?"
"Three down, currently pursuing the remaining enemies, but they're too scattered."
"I'm on my way." After hanging up, Yang Hui instructed Flit, "You head back to Diva to change to new equipment. You're not needed for support in the city; come back to rescue your allies."
"New equipment?"
"Yes, the new equipment for Gundam AGE-1. The AGE System has provided the answer."
"Understood!"
Watching the Dawn Gundam soar into the sky, its retreating figure made Flit's eyes sparkle with determination. This was his goal, this was what he wanted to surpass!
But now was not the time for idle thoughts.
"Ragan, Mr. Boyaji, Mr. Rakt, please wait for me to return!"
"No problem, we're not dying yet."
"If we die now, it would tarnish the noble Auba's reputation."
"Don't worry, Flit, there are no enemies nearby."
"Okay!"
...
With the mobility of the Dawn Gundam, Yang Hui cut into the urban battlefield. Looking at the thick smoke billowing, the light in Yang Hui's eyes intensified.
"Have their minds been twisted? Then let's wipe them all out."
Receiving the coordinates sent by Graham, he charged towards the nearest Bacta-type. Before the enemy could turn around, he plunged the Beam Saber into its abdomen and kicked it into a protective wall, ensuring the self-detonation wouldn't harm the city.
"Has the other one been dealt with by Graham? Then just one last... huh?"
Yang Hui paused, as the radar displayed an unknown signal encountering the last Bacta-type, but the IFF confirmed the pilot was indeed Woolf.
"Here I am! Am I late?"
"Seriously." Yang Hui grinned, the light in his eyes fading as he shook his head with a wry smile, "If you're late, don't try to act cool, you idiot."