Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

For the remaining days, with little to do during the installation of the Light Shield, He Kui would amuse himself by "surviving" on the deserted island through the Aegis. It was like a hacked version of a survival game—no need to find water or food; a bit of sunbathing each day was enough to recharge its energy.

There were no other inhabitants on this island, though on a map, it seemed close to Malchio's island. However, in reality, that distance was substantial enough that He Kui couldn't just stroll over.

Just like the previous day, He Kui looked out toward the sunset, noting a sudden, distinct tremor on the once-still sea. From the Aegis's audio sensors, he deduced that a massive vessel was moving beneath the water's surface.

Undoubtedly, there was only one ship that could be here at this time: the Archangel.

As he controlled Aegis to look toward the source of the sound, his eyes flashed with anticipation. Although he was here with his own agenda, he couldn't deny the thrill of witnessing this iconic moment up close. It was a scene that had left a lasting impression on him, and though piloting Aegis cost nearly five million, the price was worth it to get a front-row seat to this drama.

Soon, the Archangel's majestic silhouette emerged on the horizon. Unlike its frequent, battered state, it looked pristine, almost as if freshly launched. As it ascended from the water, its gleaming white hull exuded an air of regal dignity, truly befitting the angelic image it was named for.

The tranquility didn't last. Just as the Archangel cleared Orb's territorial waters, four ZAFT mobile suits, mounted on Guuls, swiftly closed in, pushing the battle to the edge of eruption.

The scene was tense, yet somehow, it seemed different from what he remembered. Both sides were holding back, with Athrun in particular seeming to restrain himself. Through the long-range camera, He Kui could see the silhouettes of the dueling mobile suits. Kira's skills had evolved significantly, each move precise and powerful. Within moments, he had dispatched both Dearka and Yzak into the ocean.

"Who can withstand that?" He Kui muttered, concerned. At Kira's current level, few could pose a challenge, and even the best defenses might not be enough. He Kui realized that if Kira unleashed his full strength, even a highly advanced mobile suit would struggle.

The Duel's Guul had yet to enter the water when He Kui pushed Aegis into high-speed mode, zooming toward it. With the thrusters at full blast, he burned through more than half the energy reserves, finally reaching the Duel just as it began to sink.

Thanks to previous maintenance work on the Duel, he quickly found the hidden emergency switch on the cockpit's side. Yzak, still shouting in frustration, looked stunned when the cockpit abruptly opened, revealing a cloaked figure outside.

Without a word, He Kui raised his hand and fired an electric shock. The massive jolt knocked Yzak out cold.

It went surprisingly well, considering the unusual situation. He Kui couldn't help it—knocking out the commander's son and his friend wasn't ideal, but with high-tech stun guns, it was only a temporary paralysis. Yzak's Coordinator constitution would allow him to recover quickly.

With Yzak subdued, He Kui carefully shifted him aside, finding enough space for two within the cockpit. Thanks to his previous work, he knew exactly how to patch in, using a wired connection to take over the mobile suit's systems.

Yet controlling the Duel alone wouldn't be enough; without repairing the Guul, the mobile suit would sink. Fortunately, the Guul's damage was mainly to its missile pods, courtesy of the Strike's head-mounted gun.

He Kui's fingers flew across the keyboard, showcasing his mastery of top-tier A-level information engineering. He shut down the damaged thrusters on one side and diverted all remaining fuel to the other, recalibrating the internal balance parameters to keep the mobile suit airborne.

The plan worked. Just as the Duel was about to fall into the ocean, it steadied itself atop the Guul. Even so, with only half its engines functioning, the Guul's flight capabilities were drastically reduced. In this state, it was hardly suited for a battle against Kira.

Playing it safe was the only option. Although he himself wasn't physically present, his friend's son still was. And while Kira seemed to be avoiding the cockpits, accidents were always possible.

As Aegis hovered nearby, he observed Nicol and Athrun engaging the Archangel and Kira, who fought within a cloud of smoke. He Kui now faced a choice: assist Athrun in capturing the Archangel or help the Archangel by distracting Athrun.

The former was too difficult, but the latter... That option might just prevent the tragic fates awaiting Athrun and Kira, sparing Nicol and Tolle as well. It could be a win for everyone—a clean resolution to a complex problem.

Making up his mind, He Kui aimed at the Guul beneath Blitz, targeting its legs.

Without hesitation, he fired. Taken off guard by the sudden assault, Nicol's Blitz was hit, crashing down into the sea.

"Yzak!?" Athrun's anxious voice echoed through the comms.

This unexpected turn left the Archangel's crew in a daze as well. To Athrun, it shouldn't have come to this. His mother was still alive, and he wasn't supposed to have the cold resolve of a hardened soldier just yet.

He Kui opened a wide-band communication channel, his voice carrying across the battlefield.

"All units, cease combat in this area immediately," the calm voice of a young woman declared, echoing over the waves.

"Who are you!? What happened to Yzak?" Athrun's voice grew increasingly panicked.

"He's asleep. But if you continue fighting, I can't guarantee his safety," she replied coolly. "As for the Archangel, if you're unwilling to continue this skirmish, you're free to carry on with your journey."

Silence blanketed the battlefield as her words sank in. No one had anticipated such a bold interruption.

"Doesn't that voice sound familiar?" Murrue Ramius pondered from the Archangel's bridge.

"Almost like the girl from Junius Seven... except..." Miriallia Haw doubted her own words. The girl on Junius Seven had collided with their engine—a fatal incident under any normal circumstances.

Besides, that girl had been shouting "For ZAFT!" in the moments before impact.

"Perhaps we're mistaken," Murrue suggested, slightly skeptical. "Regardless, we should use this opportunity to retreat."

"Agreed," Miriallia responded, her expression tense.

"Steer clear of the mobile suits," Murrue instructed the helmsman. "Maintain alert status."

"Yes, ma'am."

As the Archangel resumed its course, the Duel and Aegis found themselves in a peculiar standoff. But Athrun quickly came to his senses. With only one mobile suit left, capturing the Archangel was unrealistic. His friend's life was worth more than any mission.

Athrun glanced at Kira's retreating Strike, a slight relief in his gaze.

Watching Kira depart, He Kui felt confident that Kira would be safe upon reaching the Atlantic Federation. Uzumi surely knew Kira's value and would intervene if any harm were to befall him.

"The Archangel has left. Now, return Yzak," Athrun's voice carried a resigned tone.

"Very well."

With that, He Kui manipulated Aegis to open the cockpit, letting Yzak tumble into the sea below.

"Wait—!" Athrun started, but Aegis vanished beneath the waves before he could finish, leaving Athrun stunned. Wouldn't that kill her? She had jumped from quite a height straight into the ocean...

Worried, Athrun quickly contacted the nearby submarine unit. Crew members were dispatched to search for the mysterious figure, creating a flurry of activity as the rescue effort began.

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