Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 17: A Man

The experimental flying Tiger had undergone weight reduction to accommodate the additional thermonuclear engines.

The most significant change was the lightweight modification of its external armor.

In other words, even a 60mm bullet, if it hit directly, could potentially penetrate the armor.

If the engines or rotors were struck, they would inevitably cease functioning.

Not long ago, another flying experimental Tiger exploded during a test flight in North America.

That Norris could now pilot it into battle already spoke volumes of his determination.

Eli intended to exploit this vulnerability by using the 60mm Vulcan cannon, guided by his Newtype instincts, to weaken its flight capability.

Unfortunately, Eli underestimated the Tiger's climb rate, causing his initial preemptive strike to miss.

Realizing the futility of further Vulcan cannon attacks, Eli promptly abandoned that plan.

The cannon, integrated into his chest, had a limited firing angle.

Attempting anti-aircraft fire under such constraints could expose him to the Tiger's blind spot and lead to a fatal counterattack.

Sure enough, the flying Tiger crossed its heat blade in front of its chest, redirected all its thermonuclear engines, and unleashed a powerful backward thrust.

With this propulsion, the Tiger charged at a speed that even Eli struggled to react to!

Eli immediately raised his right hand, activating the beam saber he had prepared. His entire frame leaned forward as he swung the saber horizontally with full force.

The experimental flying Tiger, however, was not to be outdone. Its blazing orange-red heat blade met the beam saber head-on.

The moment the two weapons collided, a dazzling ball of light exploded at the point of impact.

"Impressive!"

Norris's voice rang out the instant the blades met.

"I didn't expect the Federation to have such warriors. Remarkable... The '06' marking? So, you're the so-called 'Demon'?"

At this close range, Norris could finally see the number on Eli's unit—"06." Even Norris was familiar with this identifier.

"'Devil'? Compared to me, it's the Zeon forces, who massacred an entire colony satellite, that are the real demons!"

Eli now fully confirmed that the pilot of the flying Tiger was indeed Norris.

Even though he had admired Norris's character in another life, Eli would not show any leniency now.

As he had told Amada Shiro earlier, if there were truly good people in Zeon, they should leave Zeon.

Norris possessed admirable qualities like loyalty, but this did not erase the fact that he stood with invaders and murderers.

"Demon, huh… Even so, I cannot allow you to harm Lady Aina!"

The Tiger's single eye glowed ominously.

To Eli's surprise, Norris did not attempt to justify Zeon's actions. Instead, his sole focus was protecting Aina.

This meant Norris was well aware that Zeon's actions were far from righteous.

The Tiger redirected its energy, allowing the beam saber to slide past the edge of the heat blade and miss its mark.

The Tiger then crouched slightly, preparing to slash horizontally with its heat blade, aiming to cut Eli's Ground Gundam in two!

"Rat-tat-tat..."

At the critical moment, with his saber deflected and his defenses wide open, Eli activated the Vulcan cannon again.

At this range, the Tiger had no room to evade and was struck in the head by the 60mm rounds.

Even so, Norris resolutely slashed forward with his heat blade!

Eli reacted swiftly. Seeing the Tiger's desperate charge, he ceased the Vulcan fire and thrust his left-hand shield forward to block the incoming blade.

"Gotcha!"

The heat blade embedded deeply into the shield as Norris's triumphant roar echoed in the cockpit.

Eli, puzzled by the lack of direct damage, suddenly heard a loud "whirr!"

The headless Tiger's thrusters intensified, forcefully dislodging the Ground Gundam from its footing and sending it tumbling off the Apsalus platform.

The momentum of the strike sent Eli's Gundam flying, rendering him incapable of threatening the Apsalus any further.

"... Truly the Tiger King."

As Eli watched the smoking, motionless Tiger slumped atop the Apsalus, he understood that Norris had sacrificed everything to drive him away.

"Norris is a man of honor."

Despite his disdain for Zeon, Eli couldn't help but admire Norris's resolve.

"Next time we meet, I will defeat you."

This did not diminish Eli's determination to fight.

He began managing the Ground Gundam's descent, its backpack's intermittent thrusters slowing his fall.

In the distance, Sanders's and Karen's units approached, with Shiro's Gundam crouched nearby.

"This is going to earn me a lecture from logistics..."

With a heavy "thud," Eli's Ground Gundam landed safely.

---

"Norris! Norris! Are you okay?"

High above, Aina anxiously called out to Norris.

Not long ago, another flying experimental Tiger had exploded during a North American test flight due to engine failure, killing its pilot.

This was why Ginias had easily requisitioned the project from another base.

Now, the sight of Norris's damaged Tiger filled Aina with deep worry.

"I'm landing immediately! Norris, get out quickly!"

As Aina spoke, the Apsalus began descending.

"Don't! Lady Aina, please leave me behind and focus on returning the Apsalus safely."

Unlike his damaged machine, Norris himself remained remarkably calm.

To him, the potential explosion of his Tiger was insignificant compared to the sacrifices made by Ginias and Aina for the Apsalus.

"No way!"

Before Norris could further argue, Aina's tearful cry silenced him.

At that moment, the wireless connection between the Apsalus and the Tiger reestablished, and Norris saw Aina's face.

Her tear-streaked eyes glimmered with sorrow.

"I've lost so much today. I don't want to lose you too, Norris."

Norris stared silently at Aina's grief-stricken face, unable to utter another word.