Chapter 165: Assault & Assassination 2
Tolle, still some distance away, watched the scene unfold and felt it would be better to keep Treize and Chang Wufei from coming into contact.
He didn't want those two exchanging glances and getting along—one careless moment and Treize might get himself killed. So, this duel? He'd step in and handle it instead.
Tolle immediately had Nami pilot the shuttle underwater while he transferred into the freshly completed custom Leo and launched it from the shuttle.
Just then, Treize's cruiser pulled alongside. Chang Wufei saw it and said to Lady Une,
"See? Your commander wants to fight me. If you don't listen, don't blame me for being rough with you."
"Lord Treize, it's dangerous! Please get out of here quickly!"
By that time, Tolle had already flown over in the custom Leo, landing on the warship. He altered his appearance and voice, then said,
"Lady Une, leave the rest to me. Go take a break with Treize."
Piloting the B-class Leo, Tolle drew his beam saber, focused his mind, and said to Chang Wufei in Huaxia,
"Gundam pilot, let's have a duel. If you win, you may pass.
If you lose, leave here at once—I'll let you go unharmed."
Chang Wufei, inside the Shenlong Gundam, took a step back and replied, "My name is Wufei."
"I am Monty Hill," Tolle said.
Acting every bit the showman, Tolle made the Leo flourish its beam saber and said, "Please."
Chang Wufei swung the Shenlong's beam glaive, slashing toward him.
Tolle lightly parried with the Leo's shoulder shield, braced his right arm against the cockpit, and made a short thrust with the beam saber.
The blade stopped just a few inches from Shenlong's cockpit. "You lose," Tolle said, withdrawing his saber. "Want another round?"
Chang Wufei, unwilling to accept defeat, lunged with Shenlong's right-arm Dragon Fang. Tolle sidestepped, brought his left arm down hard, and smashed the Dragon Fang against the deck.
He then placed the beam saber at Shenlong's neck. "You lose again." He pulled back the weapon and asked once more, "Want another round?"
"I won't accept this!" Wufei shouted. "Again!"
He raised his beam glaive and charged. This time Tolle didn't even bother drawing his saber. He vaulted over the Shenlong, spun behind it, and drove a powerful kick into its back. Shenlong lurched forward and crashed hard onto the deck.
As Wufei steadied his mobile suit and tried to rise, Tolle planted the Leo's feet firmly on Shenlong's back, leveling the beam saber at its rear cockpit.
"Admit defeat," Tolle taunted. "Your piloting skills aren't great. How about we ditch the machines and fight in person?"
Gritting his teeth, Chang Wufei shouted, "Fine! A duel—man to man!"
Tolle looked at the furious Wufei with satisfaction. The guy wasn't bad—just too proud for his own good.
Tolle jumped off the Shenlong's back, stood to one side, opened his cockpit, and stepped out holding a Longquan Sword.
Chang Wufei had the Shenlong kneel, then exited his cockpit as well, gripping a long blade.
They walked to the center of the deck. Tolle made a provocative gesture with his left hand, beckoning.
Though visibly irritated, Wufei still showed martial respect—he touched blades with Tolle once, then leapt back a few steps.
He charged forward, blade flashing. Tolle raised his Longquan Sword and blocked every strike.
Tolle only defended, waiting for an opening. When one appeared, he struck with a palm, sending Wufei flying.
Wufei came again, his strikes flowing smoothly, the blade growing ever faster.
Tolle broke each flashy move with raw power. Imitating a worldly master, he lectured,
"Showy moves—pretty but useless. When trading blows, weapons aren't your only tools.
All you do is hack away. What about your hands? Your feet? Did you forget you have them?
Oh, trying the 'speed conquers all' philosophy? You've got a long way to go."
Tolle unleashed his full agility, his Longquan Sword moving at blinding speed. He broke Wufei's rhythm, slashing faster and faster, leaving countless marks on the deck and carving a circle around him.
Pointing the blade at Wufei's neck, he said, "One-on-one, man to man—you still lose."
Looking resolute, Wufei said, "Do it. Kill me."
Tolle lowered his sword, turned away, still playing the calm master.
"That was a fine duel. Go—I won't kill you."
"If you don't kill me now, I'll keep coming after Treize until he dies by my hand."
"With me around, you'll never kill him. Still… I look forward to seeing you again. Hopefully stronger next time."
Frustrated and humiliated, Wufei threw his blade to the ground, endured the shame, climbed back into the Shenlong Gundam, and dove into the sea to retreat.
Tolle piloted the Leo onto Treize's cruiser. Lady Une stepped forward and asked,
"Master, why did you let him go on purpose? He's a Gundam pilot!"
"He spared your life once—so giving him another chance doesn't hurt.
Besides, the fact that he dared to leave his Gundam to fight me… that's real backbone, isn't it?
Right, Treize? You'd have spared him too, wouldn't you?
By the way, you all calling me 'Master' feels a bit strange. Maybe switch to 'Captain' or 'Leader' instead."
(If a beautiful woman called me 'Master,' that'd be fine—but having a big guy do it? Way too weird.)
Treize nodded. "All right then—Leader it is.
That Chang Wufei really does have spirit. No wonder he's a Gundam pilot. I'd like to duel him myself someday."
Tolle rolled his eyes inwardly. That's exactly why I stepped in—to keep you from dying. And you still want to throw yourself at him?
Underwater, the Heavyarms Gundam saw the Shenlong Gundam submerge. Duo Maxwell's voice came over the comm,
"Hey, tell me—did it work? What happened?"
Seeing Shenlong silent and sinking deeper, Duo muttered to himself, "Got it… no need to say more."
…
Because of OZ's sudden rebellion, the Earth Sphere Unified Alliance completely lost control of the situation and fell into chaos.
Across various bases, Alliance officers—unable to grasp the full scope of events—could only hold their positions, isolated and desperate.
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