The Mozambique Drill is a shooting technique that increases the number of projectiles in a short time to achieve better stopping power.
Athrun was currently employing this technique against his opponent Wang Hu, who was performing a mid-air flip at close range.
Four or five beam shots raced from the Justice Gundam's barrel - the marksmanship honed to perfection during school days.
Combined with the combat-honed instincts from battlefield experience, Athrun now possessed absolute confidence.
After all, all favorable conditions - timing, terrain, and human factors - were aligned.
He refused to believe Wang Hu could retreat unscathed this time!
Three beams targeted the Lightning Z Gundam's waist and chest area to ensure hit probability.
Two beams aimed at the Lightning Z Gundam's thrusters and head to guarantee lethal damage.
According to Athrun's estimation, at least one of the five beams would hit its mark.
And just one successful hit would be enough to turn the tables completely.
Because that would prove the opponent Wang Hu was merely human, not an invincible deity.
Never underestimate this point - the invisible myth pressure created by Wang Hu's undefeated record since his debut.
Every opponent facing him felt like confronting a dragon from Western mythology, constrained by the oppressive aura he emitted.
At best, they could only deploy seventy to eighty percent of their actual capabilities.
Often, even before engaging Wang Hu in combat, the mere appearance of Kirin Wang Hu would cause morale to plummet rapidly.
This was the difference human psychology made.
"Athrun!"
Nicol watched his friend's countermeasure with mixed surprise and excitement, completely grasping the strategy.
So everything was part of Athrun's trap!
As if injected with a stimulant, Nicol's spirit instantly became exhilarated!
"It will hit, it must hit."
In his eyes, his friend's brilliant move was something Wang Hu couldn't possibly have anticipated.
Thus, Wang Hu's myth could be shattered today!
"So you're still too green."
Just as Athrun and Nicol's eyes brimmed with anticipation, Wang Hu's voice cut through like an icy wind from millennia-old glaciers.
Making both comrades feel half their hearts turn cold.
"Have you forgotten something?"
Wang Hu in the Lightning Z Gundam kindly reminded them.
To avoid the Justice Gundam's large combat backpack, Wang Hu had indeed chosen the aerial flip evasion they wanted to see.
But he never said the Lightning Z Gundam couldn't flip toward the Justice Gundam's large combat backpack.
"He wants to collide with my backpack?"
Watching Wang Hu's flipping trajectory, Athrun was stunned.
But no matter - if he chose to crash into the large combat backpack to evade the beam attacks, even better!
A glint flashed in Athrun's eyes as he quickly searched his memory.
The large combat backpack could self-destruct!
If beam attacks failed, he still had the self-destruct special tactic!
Having already stabilized the Justice Gundam's posture, Athrun deftly activated the self-destruct control button beside the pilot seat.
"Athrun, watch out!"
At that exact moment, Nicol in the pursuing Destiny Gundam screamed frantically.
"What?"
Looking up, Athrun's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
In his disbelieving gaze, the Lightning Z Gundam abruptly performed a mid-air flip while approaching his large combat backpack.
During the somersault, it completed its transformation from Mobile Armor to MS Mode!
"How did Wang Hu withstand such tremendous G-forces?"
The words escaped his lips before he could stop them. Having piloted the Aegis Gundam, which also possessed a transformation system, Athrun knew all too well what unbearable G-forces a Mobile Suit's transformation would impose on the pilot.
But regardless of Athrun's confusion, the Lightning Z Gundam completed its transformation maneuver.
Wang Hu's Gundam now positioned itself beside the Justice Gundam's large combat backpack, reaching out to grab it before giving it a powerful spin.
The backpack's thrusters were naturally no match for the Lightning Z Gundam's power. Wang Hu wielded the backpack like a massive boomerang.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The beam attacks fired by Athrun were blocked by his own backpack.
The now battered backpack was then spun around and hurled back toward Athrun himself.
"Damn it."
The phrase "suffering a double loss" flashed through his mind. Athrun hastily dodged sideways to avoid the combat backpack that Wang Hu had thrown back at him.
"Boom!"
The moment Athrun evaded, Wang Hu closed in and launched a flying kick.
A textbook side kick struck the Justice Gundam's already damaged left shoulder.
"Athrun!"
Shinn was frantic. Watching his friend's Gundam trailing smoke as it plummeted downward, Nicol completely forgot about his own Destiny Gundam.
Though the Destiny Gundam was actually optimized for long-range firepower, Nicol ignored this and focused on pursuing Wang Hu, who was chasing after Athrun.
With the Destiny Gundam's rear thrusters firing at full power, Nicol drew his Beam Saber and charged forward, attempting to intercept Wang Hu.
As for setting another trap for Athrun? He didn't even dare consider it.
Had they not learned their lesson from previous failures?
"Whoosh!"
Nicol rushed to catch up with Wang Hu and, without hesitation, swung his Beam Saber in a fierce slash.
As he hoped, Wang Hu became entangled, giving Athrun the opportunity to regroup.
"Can Nicol hold off Wang Hu?"
Taking advantage of the opening, Athrun retrieved his battered combat backpack and quickly assessed the damage.
Was it due to the ZAFT Forces' robust military production technology, or had Wang Hu been too rushed to inflict significant damage?
The fact that the combat backpack remained somewhat functional left Athrun momentarily dazed.
But now was clearly not the time to dwell on it. Staring up at Nicol, who was locked in combat with Wang Hu, Athrun's instincts screamed trap—once bitten, twice shy.
Yet what possible scheme could Wang Hu, currently holding the upper hand, be plotting?
The Destiny Gundam couldn't perform at its peak within the Gravity Well. Even with their combined efforts, he and his friend could at best achieve a stalemate against Wang Hu.
Scanning his surroundings, Athrun suddenly realized—
He seemed to have, perhaps, possibly—
Unexpectedly arrived quite close to Orb's Mass Driver!
This unexpected discovery instantly reminded him of their true mission objectives.
Aside from emerging at the right moment to boost the Orb military's morale and mislead them into believing ZAFT intended to intervene in the Orb conflict,
They needed to ensure the Orb forces would fight the East Asian Army to the bitter end.
"And the mission to directly attack the Mass Driver when the situation becomes untenable, preventing the East Asian Army from obtaining an intact Mass Driver!"
"Heaven helps me!"
Athrun glanced at Wang Hu still entangled with Nicol in the air, then looked at the Uprising Army still suppressing the Orb forces in the distance.
Those oddly-shaped MS Methuss units that could transform into fighter jets were indeed rushing toward them.
But after checking the computer's estimated arrival time for the enemy East Asian Alliance's Methuss units displayed on the cockpit console:
"There's a chance!"
Muttering to himself for encouragement, regardless of what scheme Wang Hu had prepared for them, Athrun sent a communication to his friend.
"Nicol, hold off Wang Hu for two minutes. Give me two minutes."
"I'm going to destroy Orb's Mass Driver!"
Without waiting for his friend's reply, Athrun immediately rushed toward the Mass Driver.
"Alright!"
Though Nicol had come to rescue Athrun and had indeed saved his friend, watching him immediately dash toward the Mass Driver while leaving him to face the formidable Wang Hu felt somewhat unfair. A more cynical person might even think Athrun was burning bridges after crossing the river.
Yet Nicol gritted his teeth and held his ground against Wang Hu, understanding that Athrun's choice was correct given the current situation.
There was just one problem!
Attempting to create distance and use his Dragoons to form a fire net to both trap Wang Hu and preserve his own life, Nicol wasn't very confident about holding off Wang Hu for two minutes.
"Go, Athrun."
Wang Hu, who had actually been monitoring the Justice Gundam's movements all along, saw exactly what he wanted to see.
Of course, Wang Hu absolutely couldn't allow Athrun to destroy the Orb Union's Mass Driver.
What he wanted Athrun or Nicol to destroy was the Kusanagi!
Thus, the Lightning Z Gundam, which had just been fiercely battling the Destiny Gundam, suddenly accelerated dramatically.
Before Nicol could even react, moving at speeds completely beyond his ability to follow, Wang Hu struck twice and sent Nicol's Beam Saber flying with two swift blows.
"My life is over!"
Seeing his Destiny Gundam's defenses wide open, Nicol's mind went completely blank.
If only he hadn't engaged Wang Hu in close combat!
But just as Nicol prepared to await death, he realized Wang Hu paid him no attention at all.
Despite having such a perfect opportunity to take his life, Nicol watched as Wang Hu immediately chased after Athrun instead.
"Oh no!"
Nicol exclaimed as he understood - the reason Wang Hu hadn't taken his life was because Athrun was threatening the Mass Driver!
Immediately, Nicol began chasing after them, just as he had been doing all day.
Either on the way to chase someone, or still on the way to chase someone.
"Tch."
Through his cockpit display and the warning alarms from his mobile suit, Athrun detected Wang Hu pursuing him from behind.
Checking the distance between them and then looking at the Mass Driver in the distance, he raised his gun.
Meanwhile, having waited on the Mass Driver for quite some time, Cagalli had finished venting her emotions and making her protests.
Just as the Kusanagi completed all preparation work, watching the defending forces at Kaguya Port collapsing like a landslide, the battleship's crew urgently started the engines and activated the Mass Driver.
If they didn't escape now, they would be captured by the East Asian Army.
It wouldn't matter much if ordinary soldiers like us were captured, but Lady Cagalli - the next representative of Orb - must never fall into the hands of the East Asian Army!
Just as the Kusanagi entered acceleration phase, gliding along the mass driver's track, some crew members noticed the mobile suits that had been fiercely battling in the distant airspace earlier. Now they were all unexpectedly charging toward their direction.
Especially when everyone saw the barrel of Athrun's Justice Gundam raised and pointed directly at them.
"Isn't ZAFT supposed to be helping us?" someone cried out in terror.
"Is he going to attack us?"
"That can't be right? Lady Cagalli is aboard this ship!"
"Does the enemy want to kill Orb's future?"
Seeing the weapon aimed at them, the people on Kusanagi couldn't determine whether the Justice Gundam intended to attack the mass driver or the Kusanagi itself. But in reality, there was no difference between the two targets - if the mass driver was destroyed, the Kusanagi would be doomed; if the Kusanagi was destroyed, the ship's explosion would wreck the mass driver anyway.
Thus, those who had regarded ZAFT as allies moments ago now began calling them enemies.
Unaware of the shifting sentiments aboard the battleship on the mass driver, Athrun had only one thing in his sights - the mass driver. Before Wang Hu could interfere again, the Justice Gundam fired another beam from its rifle.
"This time Wang Hu won't make it in time," Athrun thought, his eyes wide open as he focused on ensuring the mass driver's destruction. Once the target was destroyed, both he and Nicol could retreat.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
To his surprise, Wang Hu had more tricks up his sleeve. As Athrun raised his weapon to fire, Wang Hu also aimed and shot - not at Athrun, but at the beam Athrun had fired.
"He can even do that?!" Athrun exclaimed, stunned by Wang Hu's display of skill during an era before beam clashes became commonplace.
While Athrun was momentarily frozen in shock, watching his beam get destroyed by Wang Hu's counter-shot, Wang Hu piloted the Lightning Z Gundam past him.
"Move aside, Athrun!" Nicol shouted, pulling up beside his friend in the Destiny Gundam at the critical moment. "Let's do this together!"
The Destiny Gundam deployed all its weapon ports, aiming them at the distant Kusanagi and mass driver.
"Understood!" The Justice Gundam also had its own artillery. Without another word, Athrun committed all his firepower.
"Bastards! They really are trying to kill us!" The people aboard Kusanagi, who had just been saved by Wang Hu and were beginning to feel differently toward the East Asian Army due to the suspension bridge effect, now found themselves facing death again. Seeing the two mobile suits preparing to unleash their full arsenal, having witnessed their combat capabilities against East Asian forces earlier, the shadow of death once again loomed over everyone.
But amid the universal fear, one person remained calm, her hand covering her pocket. The young girl's gaze remained firmly fixed on the Lightning Z Gundam.
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