Cagalli glanced back at Felix, pursed her lips, and walked forward without a word. Watching her leave, Felix smiled faintly.
His gaze shifted toward Kira and Athrun, finally settling on Kira's girlfriend, Flay. Sensing Felix's eyes on her, Flay looked up to meet his gaze. A flash of hatred rose in her eyes but vanished instantly, replaced by a complicated expression.
'Choices are torment for her,' Felix thought inwardly, observing the shifting emotions in Flay's eyes.
He averted his gaze from her and turned to Athrun, asking, "How did your conversation with Kira go?"
"We haven't finished talking yet," Athrun replied, shaking his head.
Hearing this, Felix asked no further. He stepped forward to stand before the three of them, looking from Kira to Flay before addressing her: "Making choices is painful, but sometimes they must be made. As the saying goes, it's better to have short, sharp pain than prolonged suffering. A moment of intense agony is preferable to long-term inner torment. I hope you can make your choice soon and arrive at a result you won't regret."
Upon hearing this, Flay looked up at Felix with profound depth in her eyes, pressed her lips together, then turned and walked away from Kira's side. Seeing his girlfriend leave, Kira moved to follow her.
Noticing this, Felix reached out and held Kira back. "Brother, let me go," Kira said, turning his head with a note of impatience in his voice.
Observing Kira's agitated expression, Felix smiled gently and said in a calm tone, "She needs to make this choice on her own. Your presence won't help."
Kira's eyes lowered, and the resistance drained from his body. Seeing this, Felix released him and turned to Athrun with a smile. "I'll leave him to you."
"Captain Griffith, where are you going?" Athrun asked with some confusion.
Felix gave him a faint smile without replying, stepping past both of them and walking straight ahead.
Athrun withdrew his gaze and focused on his best friend. Sensing Kira's inner pain, he reached out and patted Kira's shoulder.
"Athrun, I need some time alone," Kira said, meeting Athrun's gaze as he tucked his emotions away, his voice steady.
Athrun fell silent, standing quietly beside Kira. Kira then turned and walked toward a piece of rubble not far away. Watching him, Athrun found a spot some distance away and sat down, keeping a quiet watch over his friend.
Meanwhile,
Felix returned to the Genesis Gundam and immediately ascended via the lift cable into the cockpit. Seated inside, he established communication with Benny.
"Captain Griffith, how is the situation on your end?"
"It's going well."
Listening to Benny's concern over the comms, Felix relayed the situation to him. Shortly after, Benny's voice came through again.
"Captain Griffith, another distinctive red MS has appeared in Orb's aerial battlefield. What MS is this?"
"That's the unit piloted by personnel assigned by the Chairman to pursue Freedom. The National Defense Headquarters has designated it as Justice."
In response to the query, Felix explained the matter of Justice Gundam to Benny. Upon hearing this, Benny understood and proceeded to ask about other matters.
Under his questioning, Felix briefly outlined the situation on his end before stating over the comms.
"You all should leave this area first. I'll pilot the Genesis Gundam back to Carpentaria Base on my own later."
"Captain Griffith, won't that be dangerous?"
"Don't worry. If it's just me, there's no danger, but you all might be at risk."
With a slight smile, Felix replied confidently. Hearing this, Benny asked no further questions, acknowledged the order over the comms, and accepted Felix's command.
After ending the communication, Felix sat in the cockpit with his eyes closed, resting.
The Next Day
Felix, in light sleep, was awakened by the beeping of an incoming communication.
Opening his eyes and quickly bringing himself to peak condition, he reached out to activate the comms.
"Captain Griffith, the Earth Alliance Forces have launched an attack on the ground."
"I'm aware."
Listening to Athrun's alert, Felix responded calmly. Extending his fingers, he activated the Genesis Gundam.
Gripping the thrust lever to increase the machine's thrust and pressing hard on the pedals, the Genesis Gundam leaped up from the ground. The Destiny Support Fighter parked beside it followed suit, ascending into the sky.
Above the Sky
Watching the missiles launched by the Earth Alliance Forces, Felix pulled the trigger. The Beam Rifle in the Genesis Gundam's hands and the Fortissimo Beam Cannons on the Destiny Support Fighter fired simultaneously, destroying the incoming missiles.
After finishing, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam to hover quietly in the air, waiting.
He showed no intention of assisting in any other matters.
Orb National Defense Headquarters
"What's the deal with this ZAFT Forces MS?"
A staff officer at the Defense Headquarters muttered in confusion, watching the Genesis Gundam remain uninvolved. Hearing the officer's words, Cagalli turned to him with a serious expression.
"That guy isn't here to help us. Don't count on him for combat."
After replying to him, Cagalli held onto a sliver of hope and contacted Felix via comms.
Genesis Gundam Cockpit
"Is there something?"
Answering the comms, Felix inquired.
Cagalli's pleading voice came through the communication.
"Could you help us out?"
"Help you work for free?"
Teasing Cagalli with a laugh, Felix nonetheless performed some operations with his hands.
The Destiny Support Fighter dove downward, its two Fortissimo Beam Cannons aimed at the Strike Daggers on the ground, opening fire.
Two Strike Daggers were instantly destroyed.
"Working for free is out of the question, but I can give you a little welcome gift."
Watching the situation on the screen, Felix replied with a smile.
Without waiting for Cagalli's reply, he directly ended the communication.
...
At the Orb Union Defense Department
"Miss Cagalli, that ZAFT Forces' MS has started moving."
"I understand."
Nodding calmly, Cagalli responded.
...
In the sky above
Felix, who had been stretching his limbs, noticed the radar feedback and quickly manipulated the controls. The Genesis Gundam shifted left in the air while positioning its shield for defense.
The next moment, multiple beam attacks struck the position he had just occupied.
Following the beams, the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 charged forward in Mobile Armor form.
The plasma cannons mounted on its mechanical claws continuously fired beams.
Inside the Genesis Gundam cockpit
Relying on his vision and intuition, Felix continuously issued commands to the Genesis Gundam.
Under Felix's control, the Genesis Gundam evaded the Calamity Gundam Unit 2's attacks.
As he raised the beam rifle to aim and fire, a distorted beam attack shot toward him.
Seeing this, Felix maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to move left and forward, avoiding the attack.
The Calamity Gundam Unit 2 quickly transformed into MS form and hurled its mace at the Genesis Gundam.
Boom!
An explosion erupted.
The mace was shattered by the Fortissimo Beam Cannon of the Destiny Support Fighter.
"Bastard!!"
Leonard swore loudly upon seeing his mace destroyed.
While roaring in anger, Leonard controlled the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 to evade the Fortissimo Beam Cannon's attack.
The Destiny Support Fighter executed a sharp turn in mid-air, firing its Siren Beast Cannon at the Calamity Gundam Unit 2.
Leonard continued maneuvering, making the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 dodge repeatedly. After evading, the two cannons on its shield cannon targeted the Destiny Support Fighter.
Using its auxiliary thrusters, the Destiny Support Fighter dodged in mid-air. While avoiding the attack, its two Fortissimo Beam Cannons returned fire.
Leonard had no choice but to keep controlling the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 to evade.
"Volo, what are you doing!!!!"
"I should be asking you the same thing!!!Volo retorted with equal fury upon hearing Leonard's question.
The Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 used its shield for defense.
Bang! Bang!
Two impact sounds echoed.
The Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 was pushed backward some distance.
Stabilizing the mobile suit, Volo pulled the trigger.
A distorted beam shot forth.
Under Felix's control, the Genesis Gundam dodged the distorted beam fired by the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2.
His fingers manipulated the control stick as the weapon selection dial highlighted the solid blade.
Following commands, the Destiny Support Fighter turned and flew toward the Genesis Gundam.
Seeing this, Leonard controlled the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 to open fire.
The attacks rushed toward the Destiny Support Fighter, which executed a left barrel roll under Felix's control.
The attacks were effortlessly avoided.
"Bastard!!"
Cursing angrily, Leonard prepared to fire again. But before he could, two beam attacks struck toward him first.
Forced to abandon his attack, he maneuvered the Calamity Gundam Unit 2 to evade.
"Volo, you idiot, you can't do anything right!"
Dodging the attack, Leonard mercilessly cursed at Volo over the comms. Facing Leonard's insults, Volo immediately fired back.
"Leonard, you're the idiot, getting tangled up with a flight pack! Go eat shit!!"
After the exchange, Volo aimed the Forbidden Gundam Unit 2 and opened fire at the Genesis Gundam.
While skillfully evading the attacks under Felix's control, the Genesis Gundam completed its docking with the Destiny Support Fighter and raised its arm to draw the Solid Blade!
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "TLGod" on Patreon!"
Thanks!