Mecha: Return of the Pioneers

Chapter 1996 Entanglement Above Axis!
Above Axis, three mobile suits—one red, one red-blue-white, and one gold-horned black-armored—were speeding along, relentlessly unleashing their full power to attack the enemy.

Among them, Amuro's ZETA Gundam Unit 1 was frequently targeted by Char's (Neo Zeon) Sazabi.

Several funnels launched from Sazabi, combined with Sazabi's firing, repeatedly forced Amuro's ZETA Gundam 1 against the outer wall of Axis, creating numerous dangerous situations.

Fortunately, the Banshee Gundam's two floating shields arrived in time, averting the danger for the ZETA Gundam Unit 1.

"Captain Amuro, can the machine still hold on?"

Having carried out consecutive orbital airdrop missions and then immediately returned to space from the ground, ZETA 1 now appears to be experiencing some engine power issues.

Although it won't affect the battle, the condition of the ZETA Gundam Unit 1 will inevitably decline if it is in combat for a long time without a full check.

"No! It can still hold on. I'm sorry, Colonel Ming. If I had known this would happen, I would have sortied the F91 Gundam."

"It's alright. This isn't a fight to the death! Focus on defense, I'll cover you."

He Ming didn't mind this, but he felt that the Sazabi's performance was a bit beyond the norm.

When Sazabi deployed its floating cannons, He Ming attempted to influence them using a psychoframe.

Unfortunately, the results were not very good.

"Surprised? Colonel Ming of Punishment. After learning of your existence, we conducted a detailed study. As a result, after comparing it with the history we know, we found that this chaotic timeline deviates from our historical understanding, and the reason is probably you."

As Char (Neo Zeon) retrieved the funnels from his Sazabi, he fired repeatedly at the Zeta Gundam Unit 1, attempting to force it away from the Banshee Gundam.

However, no matter how Char (Neo Zeon) fired, the two floating shields surrounding the ZETA Gundam Unit 1 always caused his attacks to miss.

"The mind-sensing frame technology is truly remarkable. However, even though we have just completed its development and haven't fully grasped its effects, someone has already managed to mass-produce it and apply it on a large scale."

Char (Neo Zeon) smiled slightly as his gaze fell on the Banshee Gundam with its golden horns and black armor.

"Colonel Ming, the technology used in your machine is not what this era should be using. Isn't that right?"

"Char! You think you can pull people back from the future with just these nonsense words?"

ZETA Gundam Unit 1 quickly turned around, taking the lead in occupying the space behind Sazabi, and fired three shots at Sazabi.

Char (Neo Zeon)'s eyes flickered slightly, and Sazabi quickly turned around. As he raised his left hand, a beam shield instantly unfolded, effortlessly blocking all of the ZETA Gundam Unit 1's shots.

"Death Vanguard's beam shield?!"

Amro's gaze sharpened, and he immediately realized that the Shazabi in front of him had probably undergone a lot of technological modifications.

That beam shield, which shouldn't exist in this era, is a prime example.

"Surprised? Your Colonel Ming's Gundam is the same. Amuro."

Char (Neo Zeon) smiled slightly and spoke again.

"As I just mentioned, the psychoframe technology is an advanced technology existing in my time. Although biological computers already exist in this past era, this era is far from meeting the basic requirements for completing the development of psychoframe technology."

"Xia, I never imagined that you from the future would be such a nagging person!!"

Although Amuro was verbally refuting them, he had already realized something. Something that they had always overlooked, or deliberately ignored.

"Is it nagging? Perhaps! But compared to me, you are much braver in this era. In my memory, during the war between the Titans and the Valley, you, Amuro Ray, never set foot in the universe, only daring to cower on Earth, trembling as you looked at the starry sky."

Char (Neo Zeon) spoke as he controlled the Sazabi to dodge attacks from the Banshee Gundam.

Especially after seeing the Banshee Gundam's beam magnum rifle pierce through the turret on the outer wall of Axis with a single shot, and even without losing momentum, blasting a deep crater in the outer wall, Char (Neo Zeon) knew that the power of the beam magnum of this Golden Horned Black Armor Gundam was definitely comparable to that of a battleship's main gun.

"Char, and what about you? Back then, when you were in space, you joined the Valley to fight the Titans, and what was the result? In the end, what did you do?"

Since Char (Neo Zeon) used the technology of the psychoframe to hint at He Ming's identity to Amuro, He Ming no longer held back and simply exposed Char Aznable's wavering during the later stages of the Gryps War.

Upon hearing He Ming's words, Char (Neo Zeon) twitched a few times, and his eyes gradually turned gloomy.

He sneered.

"As expected. You really are the source of conflict they spoke of. People of this era could not possibly know the outcome of the Grips War."

"Conflict factors?!"

Taking advantage of the fact that Sazabi was being distracted by the Banshee Gundam's attack, the ZETA Gundam Unit 1, having adjusted its attack route, quickly seized the opportunity and launched another attack.

"Char, don't think you can sway our will just because you're spouting incomprehensible words!"

After firing three shots, the ZETA Gundam Unit 1 accurately caught the Sazabi and blocked the attack with its beam shield. However, it was once again restrained by the Banshee Gundam's beam magnum and had to dodge. Taking advantage of this opportunity, it drew its beam saber and stabbed the Sazabi in the chest with lightning speed.

"Buzz!"

The moment the beam blade touched Sazabi's chest, a warning bell rang in Amuro's mind.

While performing two consecutive rolls, the ZETA Gundam Unit 1 decisively transformed into its MA mode, accelerating to escape from the left side of the Sazabi and narrowly avoiding a direct hit from the MEGA particle cannon at the Sazabi's waist.

"Impressive! Amuro, you are indeed stronger than the Amuro I remember who was trapped on Earth!"

Char (Neo Zeon) cheered and then laughed heartily.

"It seems this chaotic world isn't entirely without merit! Compared to Amuro Ray in UC 93, I'd much rather defeat this Amuro Ray now, one who hasn't been swayed by the shadow of the One Year War and cowers on Earth!!"

Sazabi slowly retreated a distance amidst Char's (Neo Zeon) laughter, launching the particle beam signal flare mounted on his back, which condensed into the emblem of Neo Zeon in the void.

The next second, in the midst of the fierce battle, streaks of light suddenly appeared, heading back towards the Neo Zeon fleet.

"Just as Colonel Ming said, this battle is not a fight to the death! So, Amuro, I will fight you to the death, the strongest of you!! Not the Amuro piloting the ZETA Gundam you are now!"

"Char! You're treating billions of people on Earth like a joke!!!"

Amuro roared!
"Haha! So what? Amuro Ray, if you want to stop this farce, then defeat me with all your might!"

"And another source of conflict is Colonel Ming, the one who punishes crimes. Are you prepared to face those people? They've already got their eyes on you!"

(End of this chapter)