Bang… bang… bang!
Bullets struck the car's body one after another, leaving countless bullet holes. Yet the light-blue Thunderbird ignored the onslaught. With a sharp swerve, it rammed into several soldiers, knocking them to the ground, before roaring toward the gates of NERV!
"Rei! Get in, now!"
Misato Katsuragi's head popped out of the window. Hearing the gunfire, she didn't hesitate—her hands gripped the wheel as she steered the Thunderbird to rescue Rei.
After all, Rei Ayanami was the sole compatible pilot for EVA Unit 00—a NERV asset who must not be harmed.
Rei didn't waste any time. She leapt into the Thunderbird and, with Misato, raced into the heart of NERV Headquarters.
---
Outside, the military officer watched in horror as the Thunderbird disappeared inside. "No!" Alarm registered sharply across his face. Letting Rei slip away was inexcusable. He barked orders:
"Surround NERV—now!" He radioed nearby units to converge immediately.
Soon, armored vehicles and troops formed a tight ring around the facility. The officer grabbed a megaphone, his voice cold and furious:
"NERV personnel, you have ten minutes to hand over the defector Rei Ayanami. If she is not surrendered when time runs out, our forces will show no mercy!"
---
Inside the subterranean complex, Misato rushed to assess Rei's wounds.
"Just a graze," she said in relief. "Nothing deep. A few days' rest and she'll recover."
As Rei caught her breath, Misato's face grew serious. "Rei, tell me—what happened today? Why did the cabinet brand you, Asuka, and Ryota as traitors?"
Rei recounted the day's events in hushed tones.
---
Misato's eyes widened. This operation made ruthless sense. Ryota's confrontation with Hattori Narumi had hurt the military's pride. It had cost them resources in the Battle of Yashima. Using this incident to target him—and weaken NERV—was the kind of political sabotage few would hesitate to enact.
And the fact that only someone with Kishimoto's influence could mobilize the army… it all fit.
Misato clenched her jaw. NERV's dominance has drawn its enemies out of the woodwork—ironic that evangelions were meant to protect humanity, but now endangered by the very powers who ordered them created.
---
"We have to act—now," Rei said softly. "Asuka is holding off Takei Musan, Ryota is still at school—if we delay, they'll be in real danger."
"Of course!" Misato replied, steeling her voice. "We're hitting them hard—hard enough to scald their faces. Enough meekness. They think we're weak? Time to show them who NERV really is."
---
Outside NERV:
Fifteen minutes earlier, the officer updated his countdown:
"Ten minutes remain—two minutes left. Hand over Ayanami Rei—or we storm the base!"
Armored vehicles rumbled within 500 meters. Rifle-toting soldiers poured in, their mission: kill the defector.
The officer glared at his watch, his finger hovering over the megaphone.
"All units—prepare to assault NERV!"
---
Then—the ground trembled.
The massive subterranean doors of NERV HQ swung open, revealing a towering golden mech—EVA Unit 00.
"What—what's that?!" Soldiers froze.
With calm authority, EVA 00 took a single step.… then stomped into the advancing troops.
"Aahh—!" "Help!" Panic erupted. Soldiers fled. Yet some fired wildly at the Eva.
A rocket launcher was deployed. A missile soared toward EVA 00 with fiery intensity—but the Eva turned, swatted the missile aside like a toy, sending it careening into the ground with a massive explosion.
Flames erupted. Soldiers on fire dropped their weapons and fled.
This was no fair fight. EVA Unit 00's power was lethal—and the military's meager firepower was laughable in comparison.
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