·Chapter 21: The Unbelievable MoveJul 3·For saleShare"Damn it—abort the attack! Ryōta-kun, mission canceled. Priority rescue, then full retreat. We'll fire missiles for cover!" Misato Katsuragi bit her lip, frustration clear in her voice as she issued the new orders.
Ritsuko's wound wasn't healed yet—she couldn't pilot Unit‑00 to protect Ryōta—so Misato insisted on retreat.
A spiral ladder from Unit‑01's cockpit descended directly to Aida Kensuke and Suzuhara Tōji. They boarded swiftly, stepping inside to face Ryōta's icy glare.
No sooner had they entered than Ryōta's cold words cut through the tension: "Don't get in my way—or I'll kill you."
His murderous intent was unmistakable. The two froze in shock—especially Tōji, who stared without uttering a sound. He knew Ryōta wasn't bluffing.
"Ryōta‑kun, be careful!" Misato called through the system. "Missiles launch in ten seconds—evacuate now! …Ah!!"
Her warning was drowned out by sudden movement.
Unit‑01 moved—no, Ryōta moved—charging recklessly toward the Day Angel Shamshiel.
"Ryōta‑kun…" Misato gasped in alarm. Was he planning to strike the Fifth Angel now? The S² Engine's location was still undetermined by NERV scientists!
Still, Unit‑01 raced forward with astonishing speed—motionless then erupting like a greyhound!
Ryōta thrust the particle knife straight at Shamshiel's head—no hesitation.
"Has Ryōta‑kun already located its S² Engine?" Misato's eyes widened in disbelief.
Shamshiel roared and swung both scorching tendrils, sealing off all retreat paths—its temperature visibly higher, its strike lethal.
The tentacles poised to strike. Everyone in NERV held their breath. Had Ryōta miscalculated?
But then—it happened.
Unit‑01 bent at an impossible angle, planted a hand on the ground, spun with blinding agility, and dodged the lethal blast. In one fluid motion, it reared behind Shamshiel and unleashed a massive sweeping kick!
Their jaws hit the floor.
This was no human move—it defied all normal limits. It was like a Thomas spin—but even more advanced.
Before anyone recovered, Shamshiel collapsed. Unit‑01 sprang up and plunged the particle knife deep into its body.
Shamshiel screamed as Ryōta seized the crystal embedded in its forehead—with brutal force...
Crack! The crystal shattered. The Angel's body went limp and collapsed.
Absolute silence gripped everyone. Ryōta had struck the Fifth Angel down in one flawless, brutal strike—making it seem like a mere plaything.
Even Misato was speechless at the display of sheer skill and intuition. No one had found the S² Engine's core—and yet Ryōta had targeted it precisely.
And he'd ignored the retreat order in favour of a single decisive kill.
They screamed in cheers at last: The Fifth Angel has been defeated!
And it was clean, complete—and undeniably Ryōta's victory.
Misato exhaled in relief, smiling as she watched Unit‑01 standing amid the storm on screen. "He really does know how to surprise us."
Inside Unit‑01, Aida and Tōji were left awestruck—dumbstruck by the raw power they'd witnessed.
Tōji could only think: Facing enemies like these... Ryōta's performance seemed... divine.
They remained curiously quiet, knowing their lives rested entirely on Ryōta's next thought.
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