"Asemu, they showed me the results of your special training evaluation. Although your X-Rounder adaptability is rated D, don't lose heart. You're my son. As long as you carry the blood of the Asuno Family, there's nothing you can't achieve. I believe in you."
"Beep~"
Asemu's evaluation report was immediately sent to Flit as soon as it came out. Due to his busy military duties, Flit couldn't personally comfort Asemu, so he left a video message instead.
Asemu didn't know how many times he had watched it. He could hear the comfort and encouragement in Flit's voice, but for some reason, the more he listened to those words, the more ironic they felt.
"Clearly... clearly you're also an X-Rounder user..."
"Beep~"
The tightly shut door opened, and Yang Hui casually turned on the light, illuminating the dim room.
"Who!? Uncle Yang Hui..." Asemu turned around in surprise. He remembered locking the door, but upon seeing Yang Hui, he lowered his head.
"Come with me," Yang Hui said directly, offering neither comfort nor encouragement.
"Huh? Where to?"
"Just follow."
Seeing Yang Hui turn and leave, Asemu quickly grabbed his uniform and followed. In a state of confusion, they arrived at the Hangar.
"Uncle, why are we here?"
Yang Hui still didn't answer Asemu. Instead, he found Dique and the maintenance chief of the Celestial Being squadron.
"Are you ready?" Yang Hui asked the two.
"We're ready, but Brother Yang Hui, are you sure about this?" Dique asked with concern.
Unlike the original scenario where Woolf took Asemu to Madonna's workshop to let him vent using a specially designed simulator, this time it was a real combat scenario, with Graham as Asemu's opponent.
Dique's concern was justified. After all, with the impending war, no one knew when the VEGAN forces would attack. If they arrived during the venting process, the mobile suits wouldn't be in optimal condition for battle.
"No problem. Graham knows his limits. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."
Yang Hui dared to do this for two reasons: first, he had obtained firsthand intelligence that the VEGAN forces were at least three days away from reaching the Big Ring base; second, he had confidence in Graham. Even if VEGAN launched a surprise attack during the venting process, Graham had the ability to bring Asemu back safely.
"Alright, I understand," Dique shrugged, knowing he couldn't change Yang Hui's decision, and stepped aside.
As for the maintenance chief of the Celestial Being squadron, he had no objections from the start. Yang Hui's orders were more effective than Flit's to them.
Once everything was confirmed, Yang Hui directly told Asemu, "Change into your pilot suit and sortie in the Gundam AGE-2."
"Huh? Sortie? Why? Is there an enemy..."
"Just do as I say."
"Oh..."
Asemu, still confused, piloted the Gundam AGE-2 and headed to the designated area as instructed by Yang Hui. There, he saw the Flag Gundam already waiting for him.
"The Flag Gundam? It's Uncle Graham! What's going on? Are we on a secret mission?" Asemu thought, initially excited. Being able to carry out a secret mission with Graham was a form of recognition for him. But then he remembered his X-Rounder adaptability was rated D and wondered if he was truly qualified for such a mission.
However, this complex emotion was quickly interrupted by Yang Hui.
"Asemu."
"Uncle... I mean, Lieutenant General, please give the order."
"Good response. Your mission is to defeat Graham."
"Yes!... Wait, what's going on?" Asemu instinctively replied excitedly but soon realized something was off and was left dumbfounded.
"What? Didn't you hear me? I'll repeat: your mission is to defeat Graham."
"But..."
"Sergeant Asemu Asuno, execute the order!"
"...Yes!"
Asemu couldn't figure out what was happening, but Yang Hui had given him an order as his superior. As a soldier, he had to obey. But...
The Flag Gundam stood opposite the Gundam AGE-2, arms crossed, making no move, as if waiting for the Gundam AGE-2 to strike first. But Asemu didn't want to, and he didn't dare.
Graham was also someone Asemu respected deeply. Images of Graham's battles with VEGAN flashed through Asemu's mind—his unparalleled strength made victory seem impossible.
At that moment, the Flag Gundam established communication with the Gundam AGE-2: "What's the matter? How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?"
"But..."
"Are you scared?"
"No..."
"If you're scared, then run away. Go back and submit a discharge request. Woolf will sign it for you."
"I... I won't run away!"
"Then make your move!"
"I... I..." Asemu was caught in a dilemma, still not understanding what was happening. Why did Yang Hui order him to fight Graham? While he felt a little excited, he was mostly afraid.
Yes, afraid. Despite Asemu's confident words, his hands were trembling, unable to grip the control stick firmly. Even though the Flag Gundam wasn't doing anything, an invisible pressure weighed on his shoulders, threatening to crush him at any moment.
"So you're still scared? One failure and you don't dare to fight anymore? Facing the enemy, you don't even have the courage to strike? Asemu!"
"I'm not! I don't!"
"Then show me your courage!"
"I..."
"I'm disappointed in you, Asemu. We're all disappointed in you. If you can't do it, you might as well go home..."
"I'm not scared! Ah~!"
Under Graham's verbal pressure, Asemu's pent-up frustration and resentment finally erupted. He could endure not having X-Rounder abilities, he could endure losing to Jehart, but he couldn't endure disappointing Yang Hui and the others.
The Gundam AGE-2's thrusters flared, and it charged at the Flag Gundam at full speed. The dual guns in its hands fired continuously without locking onto the Flag Gundam, as if the shots weren't energy beams but Asemu's own frustration and resentment.
The Flag Gundam, still with its arms crossed, dodged left and right, evading the Gundam AGE-2's attacks. Even when the Gundam AGE-2 closed in, raising its swords, the Flag Gundam made no move to draw its own weapons.
"Ah~!!"
Facing the charging Asemu, Graham grinned. His actions mirrored the Flag Gundam's—he wasn't even controlling it, his hands were away from the control sticks, crossed over his chest. All the controls were handed over to Haro.
"Haro, deploy the Funnels. Let's play with Asemu."
"Roger~ Roger~"
Haro, reprogrammed by Yang Hui, wasn't as advanced as the Haros from the Gundam 00 world, but it could handle basic operations, such as...
The Funnels detached from the Flag Gundam's shoulder and skirt armor, transforming into fluid, fish-like entities that swam joyfully through the cosmic ocean.
"What is this!? Damn it..."
The fish-like Funnels, with their crimson edges, closed in on the Gundam AGE-2 from all directions, forcing Asemu to pull back on the control stick, halting his charge and using the side shields to protect himself.
"Clang clang clang clang..."
Sparks flew. Under the protection of the shields, the Gundam AGE-2 didn't sustain much damage, but the immense impact and violent shaking left Asemu in pain.
"Ugh~! Uncle Graham... is serious!" Once the mobile suit stabilized, Asemu's back was drenched in cold sweat. If not for the shields, the Funnels would have destroyed the Gundam AGE-2.
"What's the matter? Can't handle it anymore?" Graham's taunt came through the comms.
"I... Uncle, you..."
"Keep going!"
"But..."
"If you won't make a move, then I'll force you to!"
The Funnels attacked again, and Graham also gripped the control sticks, charging at the Gundam AGE-2 with the Flag Gundam.
"Damn it! I don't understand, but I won't just sit here and take it! Hah~!"
With the Funnels surrounding it, the Flag Gundam launched its attack. Asemu, no longer pondering Graham's intentions, immediately piloted the Gundam AGE-2 to meet it. Right now, the most important thing was to survive Graham's assault.
Under Graham's pressure, Asemu's will to survive erupted. As the Funnels closed in, the Gundam AGE-2 swung its dual swords with force, cutting down two Funnels. The head-mounted Beam Vulcans fired continuously, taking out another Funnel, and then the Gundam AGE-2 collided with the Flag Gundam.
If compared to the data from the special training, Asemu's performance had improved significantly. For a moment, he was able to hold his own against the Flag Gundam.
In the second command room of the Big Ring base, Yang Hui, Yurin, and Woolf watched intently as the two Gundams clashed on the screen.
"How's the data?" Yang Hui asked.
"All parameters show significant improvement."
"What about X-Rounder adaptability?"
"No change."
"Continue recording the data."
"Yes!"
"Indeed, the son of a monster is still a monster. This is no rookie's performance," Woolf glanced at the data growth rate and shrugged self-deprecatingly. Asemu's current performance couldn't just be described as "outstanding"—it was downright stunning. To hold his own against the Flag Gundam in a one-on-one duel and even take down Funnels was something even he couldn't do. Although this state wasn't sustainable, and... Graham was holding back.
"If he performed like a regular rookie after all the training we gave him, he'd deserve a beating," Yang Hui retorted irritably.
"But is it really good to push him like this? Sometimes, if you push too hard, the string in his mind might snap," Woolf expressed his concern.
"Asemu's potential goes beyond this. Except for the first half of the Torodia defense battle, the subsequent battles didn't put much pressure on him. They couldn't bring out his full potential."
"But... fine, I know you won't let anything happen to Asemu."
Woolf, of course, knew that Asemu needed encouragement and also needed to vent. Originally, he planned to take Asemu to Madonna's workshop to let off some steam, but Yang Hui directly pitted Asemu against Graham in a real fight. This approach was more effective, allowing Asemu to truly experience the gap between himself and a real master, and to feel the pressure of life and death more acutely.
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