The massive energy projectile launched from Freedom's palms instantly tore through the swarm of Mobile Suits and battleships.
As the projectile detonated, the center of the battlefield was engulfed in a blinding flash, as if the sun had abruptly plunged from the sky into the ocean. The dazzling radiance made it impossible for anyone nearby to discern what was happening within.
But—what couldn't be seen visually was clearly reflected on radar.
At this moment, Azrael saw with startling clarity—a vacuum of combat units had appeared on the radar display.
He remembered... mere seconds ago, that very space had been packed with allied and ZAFT fleets and Mobile Suit Forces scrambling toward ORB. Now, they had all vanished?!
"Sir... 70% of our combat strength has disappeared into thin air!"
The Adjutant's shocked exclamation from beside him made Azrael's heart tighten further.
Seventy percent... seventy percent!
With just one attack... they had wiped out a full seventy percent of our forces?!
"Not only that, but ORB's Mobile Suits have suddenly launched a counterattack after that move! The frontline we previously established is being rapidly pushed back!"
Watching the Mobile Suit Forces suddenly sprouting from ORB's territory like bamboo shoots after rain, Azrael suddenly understood... the tactical advantage they had previously built was actually part of the enemy's plan all along!
A wave of humiliation surged from his chest. Overwhelmed by rage, he felt momentarily lightheaded, needing several deep breaths to regain his composure.
His gaze shifted to the Freedom in the sky, wanting to get a clear look at the culprit's current condition, when he abruptly noticed... it appeared frozen in place, hovering motionless in the air?!
A flicker of hope crossed Azrael's mind—could it be that after releasing that devastating attack, the Mobile Suit had overloaded and shut down?
He immediately called to his Adjutant again, urgency sharpening his tone:
"Quick! Send Calamity and Forbidden to attack Freedom!"
"He can't counterattack now—seize this chance to capture him!"
"Yes! I'll order them to launch immediately!"
Meanwhile, aboard the Freedom Mobile Suit, Xia Chuan watched Calamity and Forbidden urgently deploying from the battleship, unable to suppress a sinister smile.
"Haha, the fish are taking the bait!"
Indeed—while Freedom appeared dark and motionless, seemingly out of power, this was entirely an act put on by Lu Tianming and Xia Chuan.
It was true that Freedom experienced brief energy depletion after full-battery firing, and this problem became more pronounced after a 100% resonance-powered strike... but it never lasted this long.
This so-called energy depletion period was actually just a fleeting moment... so brief that even someone aiming a sniper rifle at Freedom would need to precisely time their shot to catch this vulnerability.
The current situation was obvious—hanging in the sky for so long without falling meant it was a trap waiting for someone like Azrael with ill intentions. In reality, the energy generated by the nuclear reactor during this time could have fully recharged the batteries several times over.
But... couldn't Azrael see through this?
He could, or at least he should have been able to.
However, the shock of his army's annihilation combined with the potential gains from ambushing the Freedom forced him to make the decision to attack it.
He needed this achievement to salvage the disastrous defeat of his forces, and he couldn't resist the temptation of taking down the Freedom with just a slight effort.
After all, if there was any risk, it would only cost the lives of two enhanced humans.
"Hahaha—damn Freedom, prepare to die!"
Compared to Lu Tianming and Xia Chuan, who were quietly waiting for their prey to take the bait, the hot-headed Azrael—the sharp-minded pilot of the Raider Gundam, altered by drugs—had much simpler thoughts.
His eyes were fixed solely on the Freedom... he only wanted to crush this seemingly invincible powerhouse beneath his feet.
"Hey, wait for me! Clotho!"
Orga, piloting the Calamity Gundam, lacked flight capabilities and could only chase after the recklessly advancing Raider Gundam across the sea using its hover system.
"Who's going to wait for you? The kill on the Freedom—it's mine!"
Completely ignoring Orga's protests, Clotho's eyes were filled with nothing but the desire for a higher kill count.
The black Raider instantly transformed into its MS form, its heavy mace poised to strike the Freedom—when suddenly, a purple-red Mobile Suit flashed in front of it, its beam saber ruthlessly slashing down upon the mace.
"What?!"
Clotho was horrified as he saw a flash of light before his eyes, and his mace was sent flying in an instant.
Terrified, he turned to retreat, retrieving his mace—only to see the Freedom's Mobile Suit burst out from behind the purple-red figure, its shoulder cannons simultaneously blasting through his wings while raising its rifle to pierce his cockpit in one swift motion.
Below, the Calamity Gundam, which had been halfway through its escape, froze for a moment upon seeing its teammate eliminated, then turned and fled back the way it came without a second thought... even faster than before.
Watching the Calamity's hasty retreat and the ORB forces gradually pushing back the enemy, Lu Tianming relaxed and smiled. Seeing that the battle no longer required his concern, he shifted his attention to the suddenly appearing purple-red Mobile Suit.
Without a word, recognizing the classic color scheme and the Destiny 00 resembling the Manta Ray on its back, Lu Tianming immediately identified its model—ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam.
And the one capable of piloting this machine could only be Athrun Zala.
"It seems... you've made your decision?"
Looking at the non-hostile Justice Gundam before him, Lu Tianming smiled and maneuvered the Freedom to dock with its frame, communicating through the contact circuit.
On the video comms screen, Athrun nodded, a resigned smile curling at the corner of his mouth:
"After my recent conversation with my father... I've completely lost faith in him, and in ZAFT."
"If he wants me to pilot this Mobile Suit to bring justice to the Coordinators... then I'll show him exactly that."
"Except, in my eyes—justice doesn't belong to ZAFT, and certainly not to the Earth Alliance either."
"The only place where I can see justice right now is in that ideal you described to me earlier."
At this point, Athrun seemed somewhat resigned about his sudden defection, adding with a wry smile:
"I hope you're not just someone who talks a good game..."
"Of course not. I'm a man of action."
Lu Tianming chuckled in response while suddenly realizing—when Athrun reaches ORB and discovers that over half the key crew members aboard the Archangel are familiar faces, it would be interesting to see his reaction.
"Anyway, for now, come back to ORB with me. You might... encounter some familiar faces that will surprise you."