Regarding "how to make a guy who won't listen follow your reasoning through persuasive means," Roz Links had once taught Shinn quite meticulously, even showing him relevant case studies.
That particular case had been a brawl with a distinct Tokusatsu flavor. It started with a war of words, moved to Roz's Orkish-style shouting, and ended with him and Yzak trading flesh-and-bone blows. Only after flooring Yzak did the latter finally agree with Roz's logic.
That scene had left a massive impression on Shinn, impacting his young mind in an immeasurable way. From that point on, Shinn was convinced: whenever you meet someone who won't listen to reason, knocking them flat is absolutely the correct move.
And right now, that is exactly what Shinn was doing.
Although the Armed Armor DE was no longer serving as a primary thruster, the Banshee Norn's original propulsion output was not to be underestimated.
Under Sergei's watchful gaze, the Banshee Norn's thrusters erupted with thick pillars of flame. Leading with the upward-pointed Armed Armor DE, the machine charged toward the Kyrios like a high-speed locomotive.
Hallelujah was, after all, a personality born from the "Super Human Research Institute." Though arrogant and bellicose, he wasn't a brainless brute.
Seeing Shinn charging at him behind the Armed Armor DE, he slammed his feet down on the pedals.
The thrusters on the Kyrios's legs sprayed bright green GN particles, propelling the machine upward.
By the time Shinn maneuvered the Banshee Norn to the Kyrios's original position, the latter was already positioned a full body-length above him.
"Hahaha! Take this!"
Hallelujah maneuvered the Kyrios, raising his dual GN Submachine Guns and pulling the triggers at the Banshee Norn below.
Once Shinn saw his position had reached the intended angle, he also squeezed the trigger on his control stick. Three blue Mega Particle shells flew upward, defying the rain-like GN beams to streak toward the Kyrios.
Facing the incoming beam spread, the Banshee Norn tilted back sharply, raising the Armed Armor DE as a shield to block its front.
"Not bad..."
Barely evading the three incoming Mega Particle shells, Hallelujah subconsciously licked his lips.
Observing the Banshee Norn's posture, he holstered one of his GN Submachine Guns and drew a beam saber.
Just as the Kyrios reversed its stance, lunging as the aggressor to deliver a slash at the Banshee Norn, the black machine suddenly spun around. The Armed Armor DE re-docked with the backpack, its thrusters firing instantly to propel the Banshee Norn forward to meet the Kyrios head-on.
A beam saber extended from the Banshee Norn's left arm, moving to intercept the path of the Kyrios's downward slash.
After arriving at the Courtyard, Roz had finally found the opportunity to replace the SEED-style "spray-gun" beam sabers with ones constrained by Minovsky particle fields—allowing them to parry and clash like physical blades.
The two beam sabers collided. High-energy current and beam particles splattered in all directions; fine particle spray struck the bodies of both machines only to be bounced away, failing to even scratch the paint on their armor.
Staring at the Kyrios in point-blank range, Shinn instinctively tightened his grip on the control sticks. He seemed to have attained a flash of enlightenment as to why Roz said, "First, beat the guy who won't listen into the ground."
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"Out of control?"
Inside the cockpit of Virtue, Tieria Erde knit his brows as he looked at Sumeragi on the communication monitor.
Virtue had launched urgently from the Minerva, carrying GN particle tanks filled to only 70% capacity, and was now streaking toward the sector where the Kyrios and Banshee Norn were clashing.
"Yes. A short while ago, Allelujah lost contact. Although there was a brief communication when the Kyrios suddenly sorted..."
Sumeragi nodded. "However, while the Kyrios is still active, the communication channel has been cut. We suspect Hallelujah is the one operating the machine now."
"Tch, a split personality..."
Hearing this, Tieria's irritation grew. "And the sudden sortie? Why expose himself?"
"During a test flight of a new Human Reform League machine, the gravity modules on the orbital elevator were accidentally damaged. There are about two hundred people on board." Sumeragi let out a helpless sigh. "At the time, he was working with the Banshee Norn to push those three modules back... now, he's fighting with the Banshee Norn."
As Celestial Being's tactical forecaster, Sumeragi didn't personally object to Allelujah's actions—humanly speaking, she even admired them. However, as a member of Celestial Being, she would still have to impose a disciplinary period of confinement once he returned.
Expelling him was out of the question. There were only four Gundam Meisters; losing one would more than double the workload for the rest. Moreover, the selection and training of a new pilot was a logistical nightmare they didn't have time for.
"In any case, just bring him back... otherwise, I suspect the Banshee Norn is going to give him a severe beating..."
For some reason, after hearing Sumeragi's words, Tieria's speed in maneuvering Virtue toward the objective slowed by a fraction—a change so subtle even he didn't notice it.
A strange sensation welled up from the depths of his heart, an emotion he couldn't quite identify.
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The dazzling light scattered by the clash of the two beam sabers illuminated both Mobile Suits.
"Hey... what are you doing? You're not just trying to stall for time, are you!?"
Hallelujah licked the corner of his mouth, staring fixedly at the Banshee Norn. At this distance, he finally had the chance to observe the machine closely.
Compared to the curved lines and sharp angles of Celestial Being's units, the only word he could think of to describe the machine before him was "rugged."
Large, rectangular blocks formed the silhouette of this MS—a sensation entirely different from any other machine in this world.
Hearing Hallelujah's taunt over the comms, Shinn said nothing, merely continuing to ramp up the thruster output. Having survived the Gryps War and Roz Links' special training, he had already mastered the tactic of blocking out an enemy's "talk-no-jutsu."
"If you can win with words, then use words. If you can't, beat the hell out of them first, then talk." Those were Roz's exact words.
As he recalled this, Shinn suddenly saw the Kyrios's left hand pull out a GN Submachine Gun, circling it around the beam sabers to aim directly at him.
The Banshee Norn abruptly swung its left arm. Using the beam saber on its forearm, it forced the Kyrios's beam saber into a deflection, simultaneously shoving the muzzle of the GN Submachine Gun aside.
"What?"
Seeing that the Banshee Norn's output could actually overpower the Kyrios and even disrupt its balance, Hallelujah's eyes widened. He immediately tried to initiate a transformation to break away from the Banshee Norn's side.
But Shinn wasn't about to let such a perfect opportunity slip away.
The Banshee Norn expertly raised its right leg, delivering a sweeping kick that slammed into the Kyrios's flank.
"Ugh, aaaaah..."
The violent impact and shaking forced a cry of pain from Hallelujah as he lost control of the machine's balance. But then, the vibration stopped abruptly.
If not for his seatbelt, the inertia likely would have thrown Hallelujah from his seat straight into the cockpit monitors.
After taking a moment to recover, Hallelujah realized his current predicament.
The Banshee Norn had retracted its beam saber. Its left hand was gripping the Kyrios by the collar, while its right hand was raised high in a clenched fist.
Then, the Banshee Norn's fist, carrying immense power, hammered directly into the Kyrios's face.
Although the E-Carbon steel, reinforced by GN particles, did not deform, the massive impact sent sparks flying from the friction, scattering into the void of space.
The overwhelming force knocked Hallelujah unconscious instantly. The Kyrios, now pilotless, began to drift backward.
A second later, a massive MS hand clamped onto the Kyrios's shoulder. A silhouette that could only be described as "bulky" appeared behind the Kyrios, surrounded by a shroud of green light particles.
It was the Virtue, having just arrived.
"Is it over?"
Looking at the machine that had once defeated him, and holding the Kyrios which had been defeated in turn and left in a coma, Tieria Erde asked the question.
For some reason, an unidentifiable feeling deep within his heart—something that might be described as "joy"—became increasingly prominent.
....................