Chapter 268: Sixth Return
After speaking, Tolle didn't hesitate—piloting the Bael Demon, rocket launcher on his left shoulder and thermal saber in his right hand, he charged straight toward the Kimaris Vidar.
Before even closing in, Tolle took aim at the Kimaris Vidar as it sped forward and fired several rockets in a row.
Gaelio was forced into sharp evasive maneuvers, suffering the sudden spike in centrifugal force.
As expected, the Kimaris Vidar had to abruptly decelerate and dodge. Tolle widened the distance and continued harassing him from afar.
Once he had fired off the last of the rockets, he discarded the launcher and let it seek an opportunity to assimilate one of Gjallarhorn's battleships or MS.
The next time he returned, he planned to dismantle them from within and seize the Dainsleif unit first.
Tolle then hoisted up the railgun, continuing to fire shell after shell at the Kimaris Vidar.
Unable to approach, Gaelio lifted the Gungnir and fired its built-in cannon at Tolle and the two shuttles.
Tolle couldn't help feeling annoyed—Gaelio was really playing dirty, using Kudelia's shuttles as cover. But Tolle had a soft spot there, and there was nothing he could do about it.
With no choice, Tolle discarded the massive railgun, raised his shield, and rushed ahead of the shuttles' trajectory, blocking the attacks for them.
He followed up by firing the chest-mounted diffusion beam cannon, sending a barrage of beams toward the Kimaris Vidar.
But that only served to harass it—after all, the beams caused no actual damage.
The Bael Demon then charged with its thermal saber, engaging the Kimaris Vidar in close combat.
The two machines intertwined again and again, weaving past each other.
Fortunately, Kudelia's two shuttles finally descended into the atmosphere, which allowed Tolle to breathe a little easier.
But at that moment, the system issued a warning: "Host, this crossing session will end soon. There are only 10 minutes left.
Please find a safe location immediately for the return. If the timing is disrupted, the time flow in the main world may be affected."
Tolle dodged an incoming attack and shouted back, "Are you kidding me? At a time like this? You're messing with me here!
Fine, system, I'll look for a safe place. But hey—can you take the whole mobile suit with me during the return?"
"Host, the system does not recommend bringing the MS back. You crossed over from a restroom, and that space cannot accommodate something this large."
"Right, right." Cold sweat dripped down Tolle's forehead. He'd been gone so long he forgot he'd travelled through a bathroom.
He contacted Nami. "Nami, assimilate the Kimaris Vidar, and include Gaelio as well.
We're out of time—finish within five minutes. If you can't get the pilot, then knock him out first."
"As you command, Master. Please make direct contact with the Kimaris Vidar. Leave the rest to Nami."
Bracing himself, Tolle charged the Kimaris Vidar again, locking its Gungnir with his thermal saber. Nami immediately began the assimilation process.
Watching the Kimaris Vidar slowly fall under his control, Tolle muttered, "To destroy the Kimaris Vidar like this… what a waste.
Leaving it behind will be hard to explain, but taking it back is also trouble.
No time to think about it—the clock is ticking."
Nami finished the assimilation in under a minute, and Gaelio was knocked unconscious.
"Master, assimilation complete. What should we do with Gaelio? Should I eject him from the cockpit? But without a helmet, he'll die out there."
"Seriously? He didn't wear a helmet? How confident is this guy—does he think accidents never happen in space?
He's at least somewhat important. Killing him casually wouldn't sit right."
After a few seconds of internal struggle, Tolle sighed. "But I can't bring him with me.
Never thought the first man I'd ever consider taking back would be Gaelio of all people. What a joke."
A few seconds later, he violently rejected the idea. "No way. Absolutely not. I'm not taking some guy back—especially not an enemy."
Tolle asked, "Nami, check if there's a helmet in the cockpit. If there is, put it on him."
Nami scanned for a moment. "Apologies, Master. No helmet detected."
"Unbelievable… whatever, I'm not leaving empty-handed.
We'll stage an explosion. Dismantle the Kimaris Vidar's limbs and weapons—I'm taking those.
Leave the torso and cockpit to him. I'll give up on the Kimaris Vidar."
"Understood, Master. Nami will proceed."
Tolle then had Nami pilot both machines into combat against each other, while he put on his nano armor and activated the Mirage system to hide himself as he slipped out of the cockpit.
He manipulated the two machines into a staged self-destruction.
Using the smoke and debris from the blast, Tolle gathered the Bael Demon's equipment and the Kimaris Vidar's limbs and weapons.
Gaelio remained inside the Kimaris Vidar's cockpit, left to drift slowly through space. Tolle activated a distress beacon for him—whatever happened next would be up to fate.
After bidding farewell to Kudelia and Fumitan, he notified the system and returned to the Gundam SEED main world.
"This crossing session has ended. You have earned one random lottery draw. Would the host like to use it now?"
As soon as he returned to his main world, Tolle heard the system's announcement. This was the moment he always looked forward to—the post-return lottery. What kind of reward would he get this time?
"All right, system. Use the random draw now."
"Understood. Beginning lottery.
Congratulations, Host. You have received a 'Computer Grand Gift Pack.'"