The morning air was crisp, the kind that felt almost alien after a day confined to bed.
Nura's body still ached from the brutal fight, but the stiffness had dulled enough that he could finally stand. Every step outside his tent felt like rediscovering the world—smell of burning rations, the low hum of generators, and the constant chatter of soldiers preparing for the next move.
Beyond the scattered rows of Federation and Rebel tents, the Elysion Elevator towered in the distance, a silver spear piercing the clouds.
As he walked slowly toward the sight, a familiar voice called out.
> Kurein: "You're finally up. I was starting to think you'd sleep until we were halfway to the Moon."
Nura turned to see General Kurein approaching, hands tucked in his coat pockets, his stride casual but his eyes watchful.
> Nura: "Guess I'm harder to kill than some people hoped." He gave a faint smirk despite the heaviness in his voice. "What's the situation?"
Kurein stopped beside him, his gaze fixed on the towering Elevator.
> Kurein: "I've got good news and bad news. Which one first?"
> Nura: "Good news first. Let's start on a high note."
A small laugh escaped Kurein.
> Kurein: "Alright. The good news is—we're going. We've secured clearance from the Moon Kingdom. Queen Guinevere herself has granted permission for full use of the Elysion Elevator. Not just for Federation and Rebel forces… but for every civilian here. We move as soon as the path's secure."
For a moment, Nura felt a quiet weight lift. The thought of safety—of being out of Camelot's reach—was almost impossible to picture.
> Nura: "…That actually sounds like hope."
Kurein's expression shifted, the lightness gone from his voice.
> Kurein: "Now for the bad news." He turned to Nura fully. "Thanatos won't be coming with us."
Nura's steps slowed.
> Nura: "…What do you mean?"
> Kurein: "Bedivere's Agateram didn't just tear armor. It erased everything it touched. Both legs of Thanatos are gone—completely vanished. Not damaged. Not broken. Gone. There's nothing to repair, nothing to rebuild without a full factory refit."
The words hit Nura harder than any wound. Thanatos wasn't just a Gundam—it was his partner, his shield, his blade through every impossible fight.
He lowered his gaze, fingers curling into a fist. Their time together had been short, barely long enough to understand all its systems, but in those moments Thanatos had been more than a weapon—it had been a lifeline.
And then there was the Malaya System. That mysterious, hidden function that had stirred once in the heat of battle, like a heartbeat within the machine. He never got the chance to learn what it truly was… and now, he might never know.
> Nura: "…So I just… leave it here? For Camelot to find?"
> Kurein: "We'll hide it. Bury it if we have to. But right now, your priority isn't holding ground—it's survival. We need you alive for the war that's still coming."
Nura exhaled slowly, the decision bitter on his tongue.
> Nura: "…Alright. I'll go. Even if it means leaving Thanatos behind."
Kurein nodded.
Nura looked toward the Elysion Elevator, its metallic frame glowing in the pale light of morning.
The path to the Moon was open.
But part of him—along with Thanatos and the secret of the Malaya System—would remain here, silent and unmoving, in the shadow of the battlefield.
---
The camp buzzed with motion—soldiers packing gear, civilians gathering what little they had, the air filled with the mechanical hum of mobile suits preparing for departure.
But Nura's steps carried him away from the crowd, toward the edge of the forest where the silhouette of Gundam Thanatos rested.
It was still standing—what remained of it, at least.
The towering frame leaned slightly to one side, missing both legs entirely. The paint was scorched black in several places, armor plates twisted from the Agateram's heat. And yet, despite the damage, it stood like an unyielding sentinel, the mono-eye dim but present, almost watching him.
Nura stopped in front of it, looking up.
> Nura: "…Guess this is it for us."
The wind rustled through the trees, brushing across the silent metal. He stepped closer, placing a hand against its cold armor.
> Nura: "I thought we'd have more time. There's still so much I don't know about you… about the Malaya System."
He remembered the first time he piloted it—the strange hum that vibrated through his bones, the way the controls felt alive under his hands. It wasn't just machinery. There had been… something else. Something watching, guiding, protecting him.
> Nura: "You kept me alive, more times than I deserved. And I'm leaving you here… in this place." His jaw tightened. "It feels wrong."
He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the quiet.
> Nura: "…If I make it through this war… I'll come back for you. I promise."
A faint breeze passed through the clearing. For just a second, Nura imagined he felt a small tremor beneath his palm—like the faintest heartbeat. Maybe it was nothing. Or maybe Thanatos was saying goodbye too.
He stepped back, taking one last look at the black-and-white frame before turning toward the camp.
The Elysion Elevator loomed in the distance, its path to the Moon waiting.
But behind him, in the shadows of the trees, Thanatos stood alone—silent, battered, and unmoving, yet still carrying the weight of the battles they fought together.
---
Nura returned to the camp, the image of Thanatos still lingering in his mind. The sound of engines and hurried voices filled the air—everyone was preparing to move.
General Halsten stood near the command tent, going over final details with General Kurein, while Kaedin adjusted his sidearm, his expression tense.
Halsten noticed Nura approaching.
> Halsten: "You're up. Good—because we don't have the luxury of time."
Kurein stepped forward, his tone more measured but just as urgent.
> Kurein: "We have no choice, Nura. Camelot's forces have almost taken control over the Earth. Every hour we stay here, the circle tightens."
Kaedin added, eyes glancing toward the civilians being loaded into transports.
> Kaedin: "And more importantly, we've got to keep the civilians safe. That's our priority now."
Nura glanced at the people—families clutching bags, children hiding behind parents, the elderly leaning on others for support. It wasn't a soldier's march; it was an exodus.
> Nura: "…So the Moon it is."
Halsten's gaze was firm.
> Halsten: "Exactly. Once we're on the Moon, the Federation can regroup, and with Queen Guidevere's support, we might stand a chance. But if we stay here…" He shook his head. "…Camelot will crush us before the week is out."
Kurein folded his arms.
> Kurein: "The Elysion Elevator is our lifeline. We move now, or we lose it forever."
Nura gave a small nod. His eyes drifted one last time toward the treeline, toward where Thanatos rested unseen.
> Nura: "…Then let's get moving."
Halsten raised his voice to the surrounding soldiers.
> Halsten: "All units—secure the perimeter and prepare for immediate transfer to the Elysion Elevator! Keep formation, and don't stray from your assigned groups!"
Engines roared to life as mobile suits—Scorpio included—moved to guard the convoy. Above them, the Elysion Elevator stretched into the clouds, a silver thread that promised both safety and uncertainty.
They began their march. Step by step, leaving behind the forest, the battlefield, and the silent guardian that had carried Nura this far.
---
The towering silhouette of the Elysion Elevator loomed before them like a pillar holding up the sky. Its base was a fortress—armored plating, massive gates, and a web of defensive emplacements. The wind at the base whipped hard, carrying the smell of ozone and burnt metal from distant battles.
Civilians clustered together in ragged lines, clutching bags and children, their eyes darting upward at the colossal structure.
General Halsten's voice echoed through the open comms.
> Halsten: "We don't have time for hesitation. Families to the front. Move!"
Kurein: "Scorpio unit, you'll be riding exterior defense. Your job is simple—nothing gets close to the elevator. You fail, everyone dies. Understood?"
> Nura: "Understood."
Kaedin: "Copy that."
Nura climbed into his Scorpio, sealing the cockpit. His hands ran over the controls, but his mind lingered on the memory of Gundam Thanatos—the way it had fought, the strange power of the Malaya System. And now… it was gone.
Kaedin's voice broke the moment of thought.
> Kaedin: "Hey, you awake in there?"
Nura: "Just thinking."
Kaedin: "Save it for later. This ascent isn't gonna be a joyride."
The magnetic clamps under the massive platform engaged with a heavy CLANG, vibrating through the ground. The lift's engines gave a deep, thrumming hum as it began to move. The civilians and supply trucks slowly disappeared into the enormous freight compartment.
Halsten and Kurein stepped inside with a detachment of soldiers.
> Halsten (over comms): "Scorpio team, form perimeter. The moment we lift off, you're on your own until we reach orbital station security."
The massive elevator began its ascent, pulling the freight compartment—and everyone inside—into the sky. The tether cable, thick as a city street, rose endlessly toward the heavens.
Nura's Scorpio moved into position along the exterior defense rail, its magnetic clamps locking in with a click-thunk. Kaedin's Scorpio took the opposite flank. Four more Scorpios fell into line.
They climbed.
The ground shrank below them, sprawling cities and scorched battlefields becoming nothing but patches of shadow. The clouds rushed past like waves.
> Kaedin: "Damn… you ever think about how easy it'd be for them to just cut the tether?"
Nura: "You're trying to make me feel better?"
Kaedin: "Just saying—let's not let it happen."
A faint hiss of static cut into the comms. Nura frowned, checking his console.
> Nura: "…Kaedin, you picking this up?"
Kaedin: "Yeah. Distortion on the lower bands. Could be weather interference…" pauses "…or it could be someone pinging our location."
The radar blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Red markers flared on the HUD. Fast. Rising from below.
Kaedin's voice hardened instantly.
> Kaedin: "Contacts. Multiple. Closing in fast from the atmosphere."
Nura: "How many?"
Kaedin: "More than enough to make this ugly."
Halsten's calm voice cut into the tension.
> Halsten: "Scorpio team, you have one mission—protect the elevator. If the tether or cabin is breached, we lose everyone onboard."
Kurein: "You're the only wall between them and us. Don't let it fall."
Nura felt the vibration through the Scorpio's frame—was it from the elevator's massive ascent engines… or something else closing in?
Kaedin's breathing came through the comms, steady but sharp.
> Kaedin: "…They're not slowing down."
Nura: "Then neither do we."
The elevator pushed higher, climbing toward the black edge of the stratosphere, but the incoming signatures didn't waver.
Somewhere far below, the war had reached for them again.
Nura gripped the controls.
> Nura: "…Guess we're not going to the Moon quietly."
The radar pinged again—closer this time.
They were almost in range.
---
The radar blips turned sharper, faster.
Nura's eyes locked on the HUD—small, fast-moving signatures darting in erratic patterns.
At first, they looked like debris.
But then—
Something small, metallic, glinting against the faint sunlight broke through the clouds below, streaking upward like a swarm of hornets.
Fin-shaped.
Too controlled to be junk.
Nura's blood went cold. His breath caught in his throat.
It wasn't debris.
It was a memory.
One that still burned.
> Nura (whispering at first): "…No…"
Kaedin: "What? What is it?"
Nura (suddenly shouting): "Kaedin—EVASIVE, NOW!"
The first streak of blue-white light sliced through the air, a beam barely missing Kaedin's Scorpio by meters. The metal around the cockpit sizzled as the shot grazed past, sending a shockwave that rattled his frame.
> Kaedin: "What the hell was that?!"
Nura: "Funnels! Those are funnels!"
More streaks of energy cut past them—too many, too fast. The swarm darted upward, circling the Scorpios like predators smelling blood.
> Kaedin: "Funnels? As in—remote weapons?"
Nura: "…The same ones I saw in Valkiron City…"
His voice hardened, low and burning.
> Nura: "The one who destroyed my home… killed my squad… my parents…"
The funnels whipped around, all aligning toward their targets like a pack of hunting dogs.
The elevator shuddered from the turbulence, civilians screaming inside as the Scorpio escorts twisted to stay between them and the attack.
Then—
The space ahead darkened.
A silhouette emerged from the clouds below—knight-like in its shape, sleek yet imposing. Smooth, ornate armor gleamed white and gold, reflecting the faint sunlight like a royal banner in the wind.
Its visor glowed a sharp, piercing blue, unblinking.
The funnels broke formation and snapped into orbit around their master.
It rose slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the climb.
Nura's hands clenched on the controls. His voice, loud now, cut through every comm channel.
> Nura: "…GUNDAM TRISTAN!!"
The massive white-and-gold knight Gundam gave no verbal reply, but its head tilted ever so slightly, as if recognizing him. The funnels re-armed, locking into attack formation.
The same Gundam that had reduced Valkiron City to ash… was here.
---
The sight of Gundam Tristan towering beneath the elevator's path sent a surge of rage through Nura's veins. His breathing grew sharp, his fingers twitching over the Scorpio's controls.
But even in that storm of anger, his eyes flicked to the elevator—civilians, soldiers, generals—everyone riding upward, vulnerable.
> Nura: "Kaedin!"
Kaedin: "Yeah?!"
Nura: "Guard the elevator! Keep the others between Tristan and the civilians!"
Kaedin: "What about you?!"
Nura: "I'll take him."
Kaedin: "Nura, you're in a Scorpio—"
Nura (cutting in): "I don't care! I'm not letting him get near them!"
Before Kaedin could argue, Nura's Scorpio broke formation, thrusters flaring hard as he dove toward Tristan's rising position. The funnels swarmed like hawks descending on prey.
Beams flashed—one, two, five at once.
Nura's hands flew over the controls, jerking the Scorpio into violent evasive rolls.
The cockpit shook with every near-miss, alarm tones blaring in his ears. A single hit from those funnels could end him.
Tristan didn't rush.
It advanced with an unnerving grace, white-and-gold armor gleaming like some holy executioner, letting the funnels dance and harry their prey.
> Nura (gritting his teeth): "Come on, you bastard…"
He banked hard, weaving between elevator support struts as beams carved through the air around him. The Scorpio's frame wasn't made for this kind of agility, but Nura pushed it past its limits—every movement sharp, every second survival by instinct.
One funnel zipped too close.
Nura twisted, snapped his beam rifle up—one precise shot—and it burst into flaming debris.
Tristan tilted its head slightly.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Just… interest.
The rest of the funnels shifted patterns, suddenly striking from three angles at once.
Nura slammed the Scorpio sideways, sparks showering inside the cockpit as one beam scraped the armor plating near his shoulder joint.
> Nura (snarling): "Is that all you've got?!"
The elevator loomed above, still climbing, Kaedin's voice breaking through the comm.
> Kaedin: "Nura! You've got every funnel on you! Keep him focused, we're almost past the cloud layer!"
Nura: "You just keep going—leave him to me!"
Tristan's blue eyes narrowed.
For the first time, it raised its knightly beam saber—white light flaring from the blade—and surged forward in a straight charge.
Nura's grip tightened.
No Thanatos.
No heavy armor.
Just him in a Scorpio, against the monster that had destroyed everything.
And he was going to make every second count.
---
The funnels broke formation, scattering outward as Tristan surged forward, beam saber igniting in a sharp burst of white light. Nura didn't back down—he shoved the Scorpio's throttle forward, gripping his own beam saber in both mechanical hands.
Their trajectories locked.
Two streaks of light, rushing toward each other on the shadowed side of the elevator's massive frame.
The collision came with a thunderclap of energy discharge—beam against beam, light sparking off armor as the Scorpio's servos screamed under the strain.
Inside Tristan's cockpit, the pilot's eyes narrowed.
The pressure in the clash, the way the Scorpio fought back with almost reckless intensity—it stirred something in his memory.
A ruined skyline.
The burning skeleton of Valkiron City.
A lone Scorpio unit that refused to retreat, even as his funnels cut down squadmate after squadmate.
And a voice shouting in defiance over open comms.
> Tristan's Pilot (calm, low): "I remember you."
The words cut through the cockpit's noise like a knife.
Nura's heart slammed against his ribs. Rage boiled up, overriding every warning alarm screaming in his ears.
> Nura (roaring): "TRISTANNNN!!!"
He shoved the Scorpio's saber forward, forcing the lock to grind harder, sparks erupting where the weapons met.
Tristan didn't flinch.
Didn't push back in anger.
His voice was cold, precise—like steel.
> Tristan's Pilot: "You should've died with the others in Valkiron."
Nura's breath turned into a snarl. He kicked the Scorpio's verniers, twisting the lock into a shove that sent Tristan sliding backward in the void for a moment.
But the knight-shaped Gundam barely staggered before recovering.
It re-centered its stance in a single, fluid motion—every movement efficient, disciplined, controlled.
No wasted gestures.
No emotion.
Just the inevitability of a hunter closing in.
The funnels began circling again, ready to strike, as Tristan leveled his beam saber in a duelist's guard.
> Tristan's Pilot: "This time, you won't escape."
And with that, he lunged again.
---
The Elysion Elevator rose steadily into the black sky, its massive structure glowing faintly in the reflected light of the planet below. Kaedin's voice crackled over comms from the formation guarding the elevator.
> Kaedin: "Nura! The elevator's at sixty percent ascent—just hold them off!"
But Nura wasn't listening.
Not now.
Not when he was here.
The knight-shaped Gundam Tristan came at him like a phantom of gold and white, blue eyes glowing with a predatory calm. Funnels spiraled in a halo formation, each one humming with power. They darted in without warning, beams slashing at the Scorpio's flanks.
Nura twisted hard, verniers flaring, scraping one beam shot against his shield while the other burned a deep groove across his left shoulder armor.
> Nura: "I'm not letting you get near that elevator!"
The Scorpio charged. Saber against saber again—clang—the impact rang like steel. Nura threw in a knee strike with the Scorpio's heavy frame, forcing Tristan back. The move was desperate, raw, all about power.
Tristan didn't stagger—he flowed with the momentum, stepping aside in zero-G, his saber tracing a deadly arc toward the Scorpio's waist.
ZZZZHHHT! The beam cut into the armor, alarms screaming in Nura's cockpit.
> Tristan (coldly): "You're slower than before."
Nura's teeth clenched. "And you're just as heartless!" He shoved forward, twisting his saber in a wild, two-handed slash. Tristan caught it on his own blade, their weapons locking again, but this time the Scorpio's thrusters roared at full burn.
Nura pushed.
And pushed.
The sheer weight and brute force of the Scorpio sent Tristan skidding back along the elevator's outer support rail, sparks erupting from the Gundam's feet as metal screeched.
Kaedin's voice cut through the chaos.
> Kaedin: "Nura! Ninety percent! Just thirty more seconds!"
But the funnels reappeared like vultures, darting in from above. They fired in perfect coordination, forcing Nura to break the lock and spin the Scorpio's shield up. The beams smashed into it, molten metal peeling away in strips.
Tristan's calm voice returned, as if the battle was nothing but a chess game.
> Tristan: "When this is over, the elevator will fall… and so will you."
Nura's glare hardened.
> Nura: "Not this time."
He slammed the throttle, darting straight at Tristan—no defense, no hesitation—turning the fight into a close-range maelstrom of slashes, kicks, and shield bashes as the elevator's final ascent loomed.
---
The Scorpio's thrusters roared at maximum burn, the frame lunging forward like a raging beast. No guard. No defensive posture. Only pure forward momentum.
Nura slammed the saber down, sparks and plasma trails exploding in the void as the Scorpio and Gundam Tristan collided in a whirlwind of slashes, kicks, and shield strikes.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every blow was answered by another—Nura's raw strength against Tristan's cold precision.
The elevator climbed behind them, a massive shadow stretching toward the stars. Its final ascent was seconds away.
Inside Tristan's cockpit, the knight-shaped Gundam's pilot narrowed his eyes.
> Tristan: "Tsk…"
Funnels detached from his backpack, darting out like a pack of wolves. They split formation, circling behind the Scorpio.
Alarms erupted inside Nura's cockpit.
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
Target locks… rear section.
> Nura: "Damn it—!"
He yanked the controls hard, forcing the Scorpio into a risky maneuver—ventral thrusters blasting as he kicked into a full backflip in zero-G. The sudden move let two beam shots skim past the core, but—
That was exactly what Tristan wanted.
The knight Gundam slid in with surgical speed, saber flashing upward.
ZZZZKRRRRT!
The Scorpio's right arm tore free, molten armor and sparking wires drifting into the void.
Nura gritted his teeth at the violent jolt, feeling the vibration through his seat.
> Nura: "Ugh—!"
Tristan didn't hesitate. He lunged, aiming the glowing beam tip directly at the Scorpio's cockpit.
The warning alarm screamed. Nura slammed the left pedal, thrusters kicking sideways in a desperate burst—
SCHHRRRRRKK!
The blade missed the center mass by centimeters, but still carved deep into the Scorpio's frontal armor—ripping away a jagged gash that exposed the cockpit glass.
Through the sudden breach, cold void light poured in.
And for the first time, Tristan saw the pilot's face.
The knight Gundam froze—not in shock, but in chilling recognition.
Nura, panting heavily, met his gaze through the fractured glass, fury burning in his eyes.
> Nura: "Tristan…"
Tristan's voice was cold, detached.
> Tristan: "…In the end all you do is useless. Even at Valkiron."
---
The exposed cockpit glass glinted under the void's cold light.
Tristan's beam saber rose slowly, deliberately—its tip aimed directly for the Scorpio's core.
> Tristan: "…Now die."
The knight-shaped Gundam swung down in a decisive arc—
BZZZHHHHMMM!
A sudden, searing beam lanced through the darkness, striking between the two mobile suits. The shockwave of energy forced Tristan back, his sensors flashing with proximity warnings.
The knight Gundam steadied itself, visor glowing a deep blue.
> Tristan: "Tsk… flies getting in my way."
His head turned toward the source—
There, descending with silent, effortless grace, was a gray-silver Gundam. Its metallic frame caught the dim sunlight like polished steel, gleaming in stark contrast to the battlefield's chaos.
Tristan's voice was low, almost to himself.
> Tristan: "…Gundam?"
The newcomer's voice came through public comms, confident and almost casual.
> Unknown Pilot: "I'm sorry, but that's as far as you go."
Unknown Pilot: "I need this pilot, you know—so I can't let him die just yet, mighty knight."
The silver Gundam drifted forward, sliding directly in front of Nura's battered Scorpio, interposing its armored frame like an unshakable wall.
For a moment, the void was silent except for the faint hum of thrusters.
Then Tristan's comm light blinked—priority channel.
COMMAND UPDATE: ALL ROUND TABLE KNIGHTS—MISSION OBJECTIVE COMPLETE. DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY.
The knight Gundam stood still for a heartbeat longer. No words. No farewell.
Only a curt turn of his machine, as if the fight was merely delayed.
With one last cold glance toward the Scorpio, Tristan engaged his thrusters and retreated into the shadows of space, vanishing into the void.
---
The gray-silver Gundam's thrusters flared, sliding in front of Nura's crippled Scorpio, shielding it from any further attack.
> Unknown Pilot (public comm): "Hang on, I've got you."
The massive machine reached out, locking its manipulator into the Scorpio's damaged torso. Hydraulics hissed as it gently steadied the staggering mobile suit.
Inside the battered cockpit, Nura's breathing was ragged, one hand clutching at his side where shrapnel had grazed him.
> Nura: "Who… the hell… are you…?"
A light chuckle came from the other end of the line.
> Unknown Pilot: "We can do introductions later. Right now, you just need to hear this—Elysion Elevator's reached the top. You made it."
Nura blinked, the words cutting through the haze. His HUD displayed the confirmation:
DESTINATION: ARRIVED – LUNAR ORBITAL PLATFORM
> Nura: "…We… made it…"
The relief hit harder than he expected. The pounding in his head dulled, his grip on the controls weakening.
> Unknown Pilot: "Stay with me. Just a little longer—"
Nura's head tilted forward, eyes closing despite himself.
> Nura: "…thanks…"
Silence from Nura's comm channel.
> Unknown Pilot: "…Ah, shit—he passed out."
Without another word, the silver Gundam tightened its grip on the Scorpio and ignited its thrusters. The two machines began their slow, steady drift toward the Moon's docking port, the massive Elysion platform looming ahead like a silent guardian.