"Angel's invaded MELCHIOR-1!"
A technician in the command room urgently reported.
Right now, all members of NERV's Technology Development Department threw themselves into the battle against the Angel.
This was a nanoscale Angel. Its learning and evolution speed was extremely fast. Quickly invaded their main program.
The supercomputer MAGI had three main systems—MELCHIOR-1, BALTHASAR-2, CASPER-3. Each represented three personalities of the developer. Collectively called MAGI.
"Can't keep up! It's too fast!"
"MELCHIOR-1 has fallen! BALTHASAR-2 is being invaded!"
The technician shouted anxiously.
This Angel's growth and evolution speed completely exceeded human comparison.
Their system originally designed to defend against human hacker attacks couldn't accomplish much at this moment.
"MELCHIOR-1 has issued a command—it wants to make this base self-destruct!"
Another technician discovered this. Sweat instantly formed on his forehead.
MAGI's three main programs usually used a voting system to execute commands. Only after all three systems simultaneously passed a proposal would the command execute.
Now the fallen first system proposed self-destruction. The remaining two systems rejected it.
But as time passed, once the remaining two systems all fell, this base would truly self-destruct.
When constructing the base, to prevent Angels from truly reaching the lowest level, they prepared methods to perish together with the enemy in advance.
Now... this became their threat at such a time.
"It can even cut our connection..."
Ritsuko looked at her computer, invaded and blacked out. Deeply felt the enemy's difficulty.
"Time... probably won't be enough."
She looked at MAGI's invasion progress. Frowned.
Mind rapidly thought of solutions.
"Worst case... abandon this base?"
On the elevated platform, Gendo watched everyone busying themselves. Already prepared for the worst in his heart.
But just as he prepared to order evacuation—
"Not time to give up yet."
"Give us ten more minutes."
Albert turned back. Told Gendo.
"We don't have ten minutes."
Ritsuko looked at the already-fallen second system. Clenched her fist unwillingly.
This Angel took advantage of their attention focused on surface combat. Caught them completely off-guard. Left them too little reaction time.
"No. We do."
Albert pushed his glasses. Pulled out a large USB drive from his lab coat pocket.
"The Eleventh Angel, Ireul. To handle this kind of emergency, I made preparations in advance."
As a Traveler, he knew every Angel's intelligence. Naturally also knew such an Angel would invade NERV headquarters' system.
And in research, he considered himself quite skilled.
Each time completing a mission, the only thing he could take from each world was knowledge. And he utilized this point well.
"This... of course, this is the you I remember."
Ritsuko looked at Albert. Suddenly smiled.
Recently Albert stayed too close to Shinji. Personality changed too much. Made her feel somewhat unfamiliar for a time.
Now—this was the gifted scientist in her memory.
"This Angel will evolve endlessly. And evolution's endpoint is only death."
"I'll buy you as much time as possible."
"The rest depends on the understanding between you and your mother."
Albert rapidly operated on the main control computer. Told Ritsuko.
MAGI's developer was Ritsuko's mother, Naoko Akagi. This developer copied her own personality into three programs—personality as a mother, personality as a woman, and personality as a scientist.
Naoko Akagi died long ago. Right now, the person who understood MAGI best was her daughter, Ritsuko.
"I understand."
Ritsuko nodded. Immediately took action. Headed toward the area inside the base storing the MAGI system.
After she left, Albert's movements didn't stop at all.
Directed the Technology Department's people to cooperate with him in blocking the Angel.
"If you completely ignore my existence, I'll also have a headache."
Albert spoke to the computer before him. Gaze sharp. This sentence was for Ghost Angel to hear.
Adam's embryo disappeared. Ghost Angel also lost his reason to stay here. Carrying full confusion, abandoned Ireul and left.
Soon, through Ritsuko and the Technology Department's internal and external cooperation, they directly accelerated the Angel's evolution speed. Made it rapidly advance toward death's endpoint.
"Seems you're also one of them."
After successfully eliminating the Angel through wisdom, the command room fell into cheers. And at this time, Gendo looked toward Albert. Confirmed this guy was also someone who didn't belong to this world. In other words, a criminal in Natsuki's mouth.
"Worthy of Commander Ikari. Finally realized."
Hearing his voice, Albert walked toward the elevated platform. Used a slightly teasing tone.
"Hmph."
Gendo was still somewhat displeased about this guy previously exposing his secrets. But right now his wish was already fulfilled. No longer bothered with these matters.
"What you've done—what's it all for?"
He asked.
Everyone's actions were driven by goals.
Like how he could give everything to see his wife again.
He wanted to know this man's purpose.
"What I pursue... is actually very simple."
Albert looked up at Gendo. Expression relieved.
"Freedom."
"Everything I've done is for freedom."
He wanted to break free from fate's shackles. Live for himself. No longer continue as a puppet like a walking corpse.
Now he'd already seen hope.
He'd give everything to grasp this hope. Even if shattered to pieces.
"Freedom... huh..."
Gendo pondered the meaning these two words represented.
For him, this wasn't what he pursued. Also couldn't understand a person's pursuit of freedom.
However, he also knew—a person was only alive when chasing something.
"Base problem solved. Shinji, Rei, Asuka—come back."
Misato also breathed a sigh of relief now. Told the three pilots on standby outside through comms.
"Understood." ×3
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