Even if spiritual exchanges feel prolonged in perception, only a brief moment passes in reality.
From a third-person perspective, Providence had merely been confronting Brave Gundam and the heavily damaged 105 Wired Guided Dagger for just over ten seconds.
But through the memories voluntarily released by Praya Reveley, Creuset and Mu had learned everything about him—why he could join their mental conversation, why he was so young yet nearing the end of his life, and why he was here now.
After the memory playback ended, Creuset fell silent for a few seconds before bursting into maniacal laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! HAHAHA! Mu La Flaga, this is your clone! Your clone! As expected, humanity never learns from the past—they only repeat the same mistakes!!"
Mu was equally devastated. Never could he have imagined that Praya Reveley was his clone.
Mu knew all too well that there could only be one reason for his cloning: someone in the Atlantic Federation wanted to replicate his Spatial Awareness.
Since his Spatial Awareness had only been identified in recent years (during the selection of pilots for Moebius Zero), Praya Reveley's current appearance—around ten years old—was likely the result of accelerated growth.
This explained the boy's fragile body. Given the Atlantic Federation's cloning technology, clones already had limited lifespans, and Praya Reveley had been artificially aged. Even with drugs obtained from PLANT temporarily suppressing his physical suffering, his life was still in its final countdown.
Now, after the battle with Creuset, Praya Reveley was on the verge of death. Both Creuset and Mu could sense that he was still alive, but his spirit was critically weakened.
At that moment, however, the Genesis Sunshade System near the Jachin Due Fortress was destroyed, and the light from the Hermes Zero Destroyer Beam Cannon could be seen even from a distance.
From Reid's perspective, the Destroyer Beam Cannon had done no damage to Genesis's Phase Shift Armor. But in reality, the Jachin Due Fortress's monitoring officer was drenched in sweat.
The officer immediately reported:
"Genesis outer shell Sector 9 hit by beam fire. Phase Shift Fluctuation Rate at 90%. Armor remains intact for now."
A Phase Shift Fluctuation Rate of 90% was an extremely dangerous value. While the fluctuation depended on factors like armor voltage defense and the beam's power output, once it reached 100%, it meant the armor had reached its limit. Theoretically, even a single shot from a small sidearm at that point could penetrate it.
Now, a single shot from an enemy Mobile Suit had pushed the fluctuation rate to 90%. If, during the attack, someone else fired a Positron Cannon or multiple High-Energy Beam Cannons, Genesis's Phase Shift Armor would be breached, and Genesis itself would be destroyed.
Patrick Zala knew all too well that the New Miserly Kingdom had more than one Mobile Suit capable of firing such super-powered beams—two such units had already appeared during the Star Palace Colony Satellite offensive.
Therefore, Patrick Zala immediately roared in anger:
"What is Rau Le Creuset doing! Call him back immediately to defend Genesis! The Earth Alliance and New Miserly Kingdom fleets still have reserves. If Genesis is destroyed, PLANT will lose the war outright!"
Patrick Zala's order was issued, and the command to return and defend Genesis was naturally transmitted to Creuset without delay.
Creuset also understood the importance of Genesis. Without it, how could Earth be destroyed?
Thus, Creuset had to retreat immediately. However, seeing the immobilized Brave Gundam before him and Mu, who had already opened the cockpit of the 105 Wired Guided Dagger and was preparing to switch to the Brave Gundam, Creuset paused for a moment.
At this moment, Mu would die if Creuset so much as twitched a finger. But it seemed Mu's legendary luck had activated—Creuset suddenly thought it would be far more interesting to let Mu watch his own clone die before his eyes. Surely then, he would gain a deeper understanding of humanity's darkness.
So Creuset began whispering to Mu:
"Mu, do you see? Competition, jealousy, hatred, and then tearing each other apart. Humans will use anything to attack one another—lives, technology, all just bargaining chips!
I am the result! I am Al Da Flaga's failed clone! (Since Mu never went to Mendel, he hadn't seen Creuset's true face, so Creuset had to reveal it himself.) And the child before you, Praya Reveley, is your clone.
Humanity will ultimately bury itself in the darkness it has nurtured! Watch closely!"
With that, Creuset turned the Providence around and left the space zone without another word.
Mu paid no attention to Creuset. He had only one thought: quickly switch Mobile Suits and take Praya Reveley to the rear for treatment, no matter how much time the boy had left. Even one more day of life was precious—there was so much Mu wanted to say to him.
Shifting the scene to Reid's side.
After destroying the Sunshade system and confirming that the Hermes Zero's Destroyer Beam Cannon couldn't penetrate Genesis' Phase Shift Armor, Reid retreated with Ange and the Xia sisters, regrouping with Noin's squad before withdrawing to the New Miserly Kingdom fleet.
With the Sunshade systems on both sides of Genesis now destroyed, the New Miserly Kingdom fleet, under Brian Eno's command, was reorganizing its formation.
At this point, the New Miserly Kingdom fleet's position allowed them to see the artillery fire from the East Asian Republic fleet's offensive on the other side.
Reid keenly noticed that only the East Asian Republic's fleet was attacking the Jachin Due Fortress—not a single ship from the Atlantic Federation or Eurasian Federation was in sight. Only a few Mobile Suit units belonged to the Atlantic and Eurasian Federations.
Reid's first thought was that the Atlantic Federation and Eurasian Federation had gone mad again, just like in the original timeline—ignoring Jachin Due Fortress and Genesis to focus on bombing PLANT's homeland.
It was crucial to remember that the current situation was entirely different from the original. In the original, the Atlantic Federation's battered remnants could barely break through Jachin Due Fortress's defenses to attack Genesis, so Muruta Azrael's order to strike PLANT's homeland could still be whitewashed by extreme fans as a "relieve the besieged by besieging the base of the besiegers" strategy. (This was evident in the barrage comments during a rewatch of the original plot.)
But now, the East Asian Republic's fleet still had some fight left in them, and his own forces were also attacking the Jachin Due Fortress. Reid didn't believe the Atlantic Federation and Eurasian Federation couldn't see this.
Continuing to attack PLANT's homeland under these circumstances would be excessive. Moreover, Reid only spotted the Eternal and Kusanagi on the flank of the East Asian Republic's fleet, which suggested the Archangel and Dominion might be fighting each other again, just like in the original timeline.
Thus, Reid announced he was going to deal with Muruta Azrael. He had originally planned to keep him around a little longer—waiting until PLANT requested peace talks and Azrael made his move before taking action.
Upon returning to his fleet, Reid immediately issued orders:
"Yulan, Yufang, Flay—come with me. We need to concentrate all our forces to attack the Jachin Due Fortress and Genesis. The Atlantic Federation and Eurasian Federation's current strategy isn't clear yet, so we'll have to... correct that."
"Ange, Noin, you'll lead the fleet's assault on Jachin Due. If breaching the defenses proves difficult, focus on weakening ZAFT's defensive forces. Don't take unnecessary risks before I return."
With that, Reid piloted the Hermes Zero straight toward the Earth Alliance fleet. The Xia sisters and Flay quickly followed suit.
Kira had visited the New Miserly Kingdom several times, but whether out of embarrassment or genuine forgetfulness, he never mentioned Flay—so he remained unaware of the changes in her.
As for the others, they hadn't spent much time in the New Miserly Kingdom at all. And during their stay at the Star Palace Colony Satellite, they naturally never saw Flay, who had been working daily as a test pilot in the labs.
However, the Psycommu Gundam MKⅢ was still somewhat cumbersome and struggled to keep up with the other Mobile Suits.
Before long, Reid could already see the Archangel and Dominion locked in combat, along with the Freedom Meteor and Justice Meteor intercepting nuclear missiles. He immediately said:
"Flay, Yufang, Yulan—we're going ahead. Catch up as soon as you can."
With that, Reid accelerated forward, and the Xia sisters swiftly followed.
As they neared the space zone where the combined Atlantic Federation-Eurasian Federation forces were clashing with PLANT's homeland defenses, Reid also spotted the Brave Gundam heading in the same direction.
Assuming its pilot was Praya Reveley, Reid prepared to greet it before bypassing it to intervene in the Archangel-Dominion battle.
However, Mu recognized the Hermes Zero as Reid's unit and quickly moved closer, using laser communication to say:
"Reid, it's me—Mu. Do you have any surgical facilities capable of emergency procedures? Or any genetic specialists?"
Hearing it was Mu, Reid naturally replied:
"We have surgical facilities, but why would we bring genetic experts to a battlefield? Only regular physicians and surgeons are here. Also, Mu—why are you piloting the Brave Gundam?"
Mu had no idea how to explain the current situation, but he knew Praya Reveley would die without immediate treatment. He hurriedly responded:
"Alright, surgical facilities will do. This situation is too complicated to explain now—it'll have to wait. Can I get permission to board? I was originally heading for the Archangel, but they probably can't spare the attention right now."
As for the Atlantic Federation, I don't trust them, even if the Atlantic Federation fleet is currently under Bargiruel's command."
Mu intended to take the Brave Gundam aboard his own ship, and Reid naturally had no reason to refuse. As for the complicated situation... Reid made it clear he didn't have time to listen right now.
So Reid gave Mu a one-time access key. Simply presenting this key would grant him permission to board the Granshaow. Moreover, with Ange still with the fleet to vouch for him, Mu wouldn't be stopped.
After receiving the key, Mu expressed his profuse thanks and immediately piloted the Brave Gundam at full speed toward the New Miserly Kingdom's fleet.
Seeing Mu depart, Reid quickly accelerated again, charging straight into the battlefield between the Archangel and the Archangel. Both sides were now fighting in earnest, with both ships moderately damaged and their armaments more than half destroyed.
Reid addressed both sides simultaneously:
"Archangel! Archangel! What are you doing here instead of destroying Genesis?!"
"Bargiruel, Mu told me you currently hold command over the Atlantic Federation forces. What's going on? Why aren't you directing the fleet to support the East Asian Republic's assault on the Yakin Due Fortress?"
Reid's roar instantly silenced the gunfire between the two Archangels. Bargiruel stared at the screen, speechless under Reid's piercing gaze.
However, Muruta Azrael wasn't about to give Reid any face at this moment. He bellowed furiously:
"Lieutenant Colonel Bargiruel! Why have you ceased fire? Remember your position! You're an officer of the Atlantic Federation, not the New Miserly Kingdom! Just because Reid Isaac says stop, you stop?"
Hearing Muruta Azrael's words, Reid couldn't allow him to continue bullying Bargiruel. He interjected directly:
"So Director Azrael is here too. That explains the current situation. Archangel, I'm coming aboard for talks. Open the flight deck."
Upon hearing this, Bargiruel immediately commanded:
"Open the flight deck. Let our friends from the New Miserly Kingdom come aboard."
Muruta Azrael flew into a rage upon hearing this, shouting:
"Bargiruel! Are you attempting to defect?"
Bargiruel stood her ground firmly, retorting:
"Director Azrael, the New Miserly Kingdom is a friendly nation to the Atlantic Federation, and we're currently cooperating in this battle. It's only proper to allow an ally to come aboard for discussions."
"Moreover, Director Azrael, if we refuse Reid Isaac here, are you certain he won't simply destroy all our ship's weapons and engines to force his way aboard?"
This left Muruta Azrael speechless. Given Reid Isaac's temperament, he truly wouldn't hesitate to defy the Atlantic Federation. After all, he'd already destroyed half of the Pacific Fleet—would he really hesitate to disable a single ship?
Soon, Reid and the Xia sisters boarded the Archangel.
Following standard procedure, Xia Yulan remained in the Mobile Suit to guard the other two units while Reid, fully armed and accompanied by Xia Yufang, headed straight for the bridge.
Their entry to the Archangel's bridge went smoothly, and Reid wasted no time:
"Bargiruel, order the combined fleets of the Atlantic Federation and Eurasian Federation to attack Yakin Due Fortress immediately. Otherwise, I'll have to enforce compliance."
Muruta Azrael could only laugh in anger at this point. He roared at Reid:
"Reid Isaac! What gives you the right to enforce coercive measures! What gives you the authority to issue orders here! I say we should use nuclear weapons to completely destroy PLANT right now! What's the point of keeping those cursed hourglasses around!"
Seeing Muruta Azrael in this state, clearly consumed by madness, Reid walked over to Bargiruel in full view of everyone. What he did next was something no one present could have anticipated.
Locking Bargiruel's a
rms tightly against her body with his left arm in an unbreakable embrace, Reid declared:
"In that case, I hereby announce that the Archangel has been officially commandeered by me. Your captain has been taken prisoner. From now on, you will follow my orders!"
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