Chapter 90: Intercepting the Big Zam

Chapter 90: Intercepting the Big Zam

"Tch, it actually moved at just the right moment."

Eli frowned.

Judging by the disappearance of the shield on EZ-SR's left side, it was clear that Eli had just used the same trick again—throwing his shield away to lure the opponent into locking onto it.

At this stage of MS warfare development, shields were one of the few things pilots could rely on to survive on the battlefield.

In fact, the very first combat course in the Federation's pilot training program was all about shield defense.

Even though the Federation's upper echelons treated frontline soldiers as expendable, the MS instructors spared no effort in their teaching, hoping to increase each pilot's survival rate.

All in all, using a discarded shield as a decoy to bait enemy targeting was an extremely advanced tactic for this era. Even this so-called nightmare had fallen for it, immediately putting himself at a disadvantage!

"Your right hand… can't move anymore?"

A close-range explosion didn't just mean the loss of a weapon—it also rendered Rick Dom's entire right arm immobile.

Half of its combat power was effectively crippled.

"Should I be glad I held the sword in my left hand…?"

Gato barely had time to process his momentary relief before Eli stomped hard on the foot pedal again.

As the G-forces pressed him firmly into his seat, he locked his gaze onto Rick Dom's cockpit!

The beam saber was already gripped in his left hand, ready to ignite at the perfect moment when he got close.

However, Gato was no amateur—he stubbornly positioned his heat saber just in time to block the beam saber's strike.

But unfortunately for him, the sheer thrust of the EZ-SR sent Rick Dom flying, knocking it out of the debris zone.

From inside his cockpit, Gato could now see the fiery bombardment of Solomon Fortress behind the Gundam.

The explosions reflected in his eyes, as if they were tearing apart the very beliefs he had sworn to uphold.

"You despicable bastard!"

As soon as their swords clashed, Gato bellowed furiously.

In his mind, a duel with a Gundam should be a thrilling series of head-on clashes, each one pushing the fight closer to a decisive outcome!

"Virtues and morals aren't meant for people like you."

If the one saying this had been Norris or Ramba Ral, Eli might have considered a fair duel.

But against this guy?

Eli had only one response—cut him down.

"Damn you!"

Gato roared, as if shouting could somehow transfer his strength and determination into his machine, boosting its power to overwhelm the Gundam before him!

He even pressed his nonfunctional right arm against his left wrist for additional leverage.

Sparks flew wildly where the heat saber and beam saber met.

It wasn't enough—not for his ideals, not for his justice!

Boom!

Just as Gato was putting everything on the line in this battle, Solomon Fortress trembled violently.

The force pressing against him suddenly loosened.

Then, a massive beam of energy cut across the battlefield, separating the two combatants.

"What the hell is that!?"

"Is that Zeon's secret weapon!?"

"MA!"

Amidst the sudden commotion in the comms channel, Eli confirmed the enemy's identity.

As expected—it was the Big Zam.

The moment he laid eyes on that grotesque machine, a wave of disgust washed over him.

Watching it rampage across Solomon's surface, carving out a veritable no-man's-land for the Federation forces, Eli could also see the crumbling Zeon defense line.

Several warships were already preparing to retreat.

Say what you will, Dozle was someone who cared for his subordinates.

But in every other regard, he was unquestionably a war criminal.

In the Zabi family, every single one of them—except Mineva—deserved to be executed. Even a bullet would be a waste.

Eli withdrew his gaze, preparing to finish off Gato as quickly as possible before moving on to destroy the Big Zam.

However, when the beam barrage ceased, Rick Dom had already vanished.

Looks like Gato had received the retreat order as well.

Eli didn't bother wasting any more time on him. He locked all his weapons onto the Big Zam.

At this moment, the still-intact Tianem fleet began bombarding the 59-meter-tall Mobile Armor with their main cannons!

Yet, each beam impact fizzled out against an invisible barrier, scattering harmlessly into space without even scratching the armor.

I-Field.

Eli had encountered a similar effect before during the battle against the Apsaras.

Just like that instance, the Big Zam was using short bursts of Minovsky particles to create a lattice phenomenon, neutralizing Mega Particle Cannon attacks.

As the Tianem fleet's bombardment ended, the Big Zam retaliated!

Weighing close to 2,000 tons, the monstrous Mobile Armor unleashed a terrifying barrage of firepower.

The circular plate of its body alone housed 28 anti-air Mega Particle Cannons.

And on its front—a massive, high-output Mega Particle Cannon.

Under such overwhelming fire, two Salamis-class warships were instantly obliterated.

As for the countless GMs and Ball mobile pods caught in the attack? Their numbers simply dwindled into insignificance.

With the battlefield now in chaos, Tianem's flagship, the Titan, was fully exposed to the Big Zam.

It was as if the Big Zam was unstoppable, its underbelly thrusters igniting as it lifted off from Solomon's surface—charging straight toward General Tianem!

The entire fleet recoiled in alarm.

MS units, Ball pods, Republic-class assault boats, and every remaining weapon in the fleet turned their firepower onto the Big Zam.

Some solid-projectile weapons managed to penetrate the I-Field.

However, their small-caliber armaments lacked the penetration power to pierce the thick armor.

Eli could hear the panicked screams over the comms.

And then—one voice cut through the chaos, drowning out the rest.

"All units, avoid engaging the enemy MA! Prioritize securing Solomon!"

It was Tianem.

After witnessing their attacks failing to break through, he made his decision.

The Federation's valuable mobile forces could not be wasted here.

With unwavering resolve, the Titan fired another beam barrage!

And as the shot landed—the Big Zam erupted in a massive explosion!

"Did we succeed!?"

Tianem dared to hope.

But when he saw the actual battlefield, he realized it wasn't the flagship's main cannons that dealt the damage.

Because the destroyed section wasn't the main body—it was the underbelly thruster!

"Report! It was a white-base MS—EZ-SR, Gundam!"

The CIC officer relayed the battlefield update to Tianem, who sat at the highest point of the bridge.

At the same time, the screen zoomed in, revealing a distant figure—a sniper, discarding an empty shell casing after a perfectly placed shot.

"…Gundam."