"The other side has also deployed Star General Seeds."
Leisurely aboard the flagship Ying Zheng, General Zheng cracked melon seeds while watching Yzak and Dearka's advance on the screen.
When he saw something impressive, he would even cheer a couple of times.
General Zheng saw through the enemy's intentions as clearly as if observing a fire—how could he not know what changes would occur if these two mobile suits truly broke through into their own battleship formation?
In war, aside from weaponry, equipment, tactics, and techniques, morale is also crucial.
Morale can be commonly understood as courage, will, and fighting resolve.
An ancient Eastern military text describes it this way:
"First the drum rolls, then again, and a third time—but by the third, their energy is exhausted. When their energy is spent and ours is abundant, we overcome them!"
In response to the enemy's tactical command, General Zheng's counterattack was based precisely on this military principle.
By using the Umbrella of the Moon installed on the battleships, he struck first to let the Coordinators know:
Their Boaz Fortress's firepower was simply insufficient to serve as their reliance.
Before the mighty formation of the East Asian Army, such petty tricks were like brandishing a broadsword before Guan Gong or showing off one's skill before a master carpenter—utterly pointless and only inviting ridicule.
The impenetrable firepower displayed was the second method to crush the enemy's morale.
Its effect was excellent: the complete annihilation of the enemy ZAFT Forces' suicide squad successfully shook the enemy's fighting resolve.
Didn't you see?
The moment the suicide squad was wiped out, the entire enemy ZAFT Forces' assault units paused, and to this day, they still dare not cross the line!
After these two consecutive moves, it could be said that General Zheng had already secured half the victory in this battle!
"Aren't you worried?"
Observing his own commander-in-chief, Chief of Staff Jiang felt both exasperated and amused. With a formidable enemy at hand and a battle raging outside, he still had the leisure to crack melon seeds here.
Chief of Staff Jiang glanced at the two powerful enemy mobile suits that were about to break through their fleet's firepower net.
"If these two really break through, your strategy of wearing down the enemy's morale will fall apart, you know."
"'First the drum rolls, then again, and a third time—but by the third, their energy is exhausted' is all well and good."
"But in this process, the enemy's morale is like a spring being rapidly compressed."
"Of course, if we crush them in one go, in the subsequent battle, they will surely flee in disarray like monkeys scattering when the tree falls."
"But if they manage to push back, the stronger you suppress them, the greater the trouble they'll bring us when they erupt."
Yes, in Chief of Staff Jiang's eyes, even if his old partner General Zheng's plan failed, the ZAFT Forces' rebound would merely be a bit more troublesome.
"Heh heh heh."
Without even pausing his melon seed cracking, General Zheng poured the finished shells into a small bag.
He clapped his hands and, to Chief of Staff Jiang's disdainful look, even had the audacity to wipe his hands clean on the other's uniform.
"The enemy has Star General Seeds—doesn't our side have them too?"
Pointing at the impressive performances of Yzak and Dearka on the screen, General Zheng smiled nonchalantly.
"They are, at best, seeds. Here, we don't just have seeds—we have already grown Star Generals."
"Actually, I should thank them. Otherwise, I was just wondering how to find that 'third time' to completely exhaust the enemy's morale!"
"Oh."
His eyes conveyed to his old comrade the meaning of "you're a bad guy," while his finger pointed at General Zheng, and Chief of Staff Jiang, who was also smiling, understood the implication as soon as he heard it.
"Charge in!"
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the Coordinator soldiers witnessed the fierce fighting of Yzak and Dearka.
Their morale surged, and under the efforts of the two allies, many Mobile Suits and battleships grew eager to join the fray.
The enemy East Asia Fleet's firepower network was dense, but we had plenty of people here too!
Even if we didn't have skills like Yzak and Dearka's.
As long as we all charged together, what did it matter how dense the enemy's firepower was?
If one of us fell, thousands more would rise to take their place.
The enemy had their wolf-tooth clubs, but we had our skulls.
We refused to believe the East Asian Army Fleet was truly impenetrable!
We all had two shoulders and one head—no one was inferior to anyone else.
"Everyone, charge together!"
Just as Freedom Justice Guetz and Buster Gundam were about to cross that insurmountable line, a Coordinator soldier finally couldn't hold back and began to shout.
However, before the trailing sound of "ah" had faded, all the Coordinators collectively fell silent, their voices extinguished.
Their previously restless hearts instantly grew half-cold again.
Because a blue-and-white figure, godlike and demonic, stood like an impassable Great Wall as the final barrier.
Once again, it stood before the nearly victorious Yzak, Dearka, and all the Coordinators.
"Wang Hu!"
"Wang Hu!"
The firepower network ahead suddenly cleared, and Yzak had been about to shout triumphantly, "I did it!"
Hoping to further boost the fighting spirit of the allies behind him.
But a figure suddenly appeared before them, blocking their path and stifling their intended shouts in their throats.
When they saw who it was, both Yzak and Dearka gritted their teeth, letting out cries filled with helplessness and resentment.
"I knew we'd meet you in the end."
Not daring to be careless, having fought him many times before and lost each time.
Yzak began with his ultimate move as a sign of respect, his eyes growing vacant as he sought to become the protagonist.
And at this moment, he displayed the power worthy of a protagonist.
The power known as seed.
"Dearka!"
No words were needed between close friends; just a shout, and Yzak believed the other would understand his meaning.
"Got it!"
Since his friend wanted to compose a final hymn with his life, Dearka set aside life and death, ready to accompany his friend on this last journey.
With heightened spirits, Dearka raised his Beam Cannon and, alongside Yzak, launched another challenge against the great demon king.
"Burn!"
A torrent of scorching beam ions illuminated the cosmic dust, and Dearka spared no thought for his cannon barrel.
He unleashed his attack at maximum power, convinced that the beam torrent he unleashed.
Would be impossible for the enemy Wang Hu to counter with a beam saber or beam.
The energy supplied by the nuclear system would surely overwhelm the opponent.
Thus, if the enemy didn't want to die, they'd have to dodge!
And if they dodged, his friend Yzak would surely seize the opportunity!
"What is this? What era are we in?"
"It feels like we're in the age of cold weapons, dueling before the battle lines."
At the final moment, Wang Hu, who stood blocking the path of Yzak and the other, muttered a self-deprecating laugh inside the cockpit of his Lightning Zeta Gundam.
In truth, he was well aware of the intentions of his two commanders, which was why he had declined the goodwill of Kira and the others.
He stood here alone.
His purpose was to let the enemy's hopes rise, only to crush them back into the abyss with absolute power!
Facing Dearka's confident attack, Wang Hu was considering whether to dodge.
He had built up the aura of a final boss to perfection, exuding the presence of an overwhelming villain.
If he dodged an attack from such a minor threat, wouldn't that ruin his own imposing image?
But if he didn't dodge...
Staring at the beam torrent from the Buster Gundam about to strike him, he silently calculated. Just as Dearka had anticipated, if Wang Hu truly intended to clash with it using his beam saber or beam rifle, he would likely fall victim to the age-old rule: "In a beam clash, the one on the left loses."
Then, he would become nothing more than a spectacular fireworks display in space.
"Why aren't you dodging yet?!"
Dearka aimed his beam cannon, unable to understand why Wang Hu still hadn't moved.
"Too arrogant. Then die by that arrogance."
Yzak didn't care what Wang Hu was planning. Whether he dodged or not, Yzak would stick to his own approach.
While his friend unleashed his beam torrent, Yzak, piloting the Freedom Justice Guetz, drew the specially prepared Ship-Slicing Sword, poised to cleave Wang Hu in two.
The tip of the Freedom Justice Guetz's sword was firmly locked onto the Lightning Zeta Gundam.
"What?!"
At the last moment, Wang Hu moved in their eyes.
Who said dodging an enemy's attack had to mean retreating or sidestepping?
He could just as well move forward. Retreating might bring temporary relief, but it only fueled frustration.
So he chose to advance, leaving no room for others!
With his sword in hand, the Lightning Zeta Gundam shifted from stillness to motion, surging diagonally forward, almost grazing the beam torrent from the nearby Buster Gundam.
Wang Hu charged toward the approaching Yzak—perhaps for style, perhaps to further emphasize his villainous aura.
The beam saber in the Lightning Zeta Gundam's hand even pierced into the beam torrent of the nearby Buster Gundam, artificially creating a dazzling spectacle of sparks and lightning.
"This guy!"
Furious that his attack had been turned into a tool for the enemy's showmanship, Dearka nearly twisted his nose in anger. If not for the fact that the enemy was about to engage his friend Yzak, he would have swiveled the beam cannon's barrel on the spot!
"I'll let it slide this time. Next time, just wait."
Worried that adjusting his aim might endanger Yzak, Dearka could only focus intently on the scene ahead.
At least Yzak still held the advantage of striking first. Surely nothing would go wrong!
"Bastard, don't look down on me!"
Birds of a feather flock together. While Dearka behind him was nearly fuming, Yzak, witnessing Wang Hu's extreme arrogance, was genuinely infuriated. Assessing the length of his Ship-Slicing Sword, Yzak recalled how Nicol had been outmaneuvered.
"If you're planning to pull the same trick you used on Nicol, Wang Hu, let me tell you—you're mistaken!"
Staring at Wang Hu, who seemed intent on a head-on collision, Yzak shouted loudly.
It was precisely to guard against this move from the opponent that Yzak had specifically brought the Ship-Slicing Sword.
"So, no matter how many times, you never learn."
Wang Hu remarked indifferently to Yzak over the public channel.
Did everyone really think Wang Hu used his Beam Saber to deflect Dearka's Beam Torrent just to look cool?
Has everyone forgotten one of Zeta Gundam's signature killing moves?
Although Wang Hu switched to the Lightning Z Gundam, it doesn't mean he forgot the techniques he used before.
Remember, during the first pursuit by the Creuset team, when Wang Hu had just switched to the Zeta Gundam?
How did he deal with the several MS GINNs preparing to gang up on him?
He threw his Beam Saber and then used it to deflect his own Beam Rifle shot, right?
Now it was the same. Using Phantom Particles to shape the blade of the Beam Saber.
Wang Hu tested that his Beam Saber could still deflect Dearka's Beam Torrent.
After confirming this, he moved to a position very close to Yzak.
Just before the enemy's blade could strike him, Wang Hu slightly adjusted his own sword.
Using the enemy's attack to harm their ally.
A trick Wang Hu hadn't used in a long time since switching to the Gundam, he picked it up once again at this moment.
(End of Chapter)