"Citizen evacuation complete. Angel continuing descent!"
"Units 00, 01, 02, 03—all entered designated combat positions!"
In the command room, technicians reported continuously.
Gendo sat on the elevated platform. Professor Fuyutsuki stood behind him. Looked at the large screen displaying various data and imagery.
"I have a bad feeling."
Professor Fuyutsuki frowned slightly. Looked at the continuously descending black sphere. Said worriedly.
"Me too."
Gendo crossed his hands. Heart held the same premonition.
This Angel wasn't difficult to handle. What was truly difficult—Ghost Angel hidden in the shadows.
Its ability to possess and control Angels created too many variables.
Currently only Sahaquiel pushed to the surface. Couldn't predict its next move.
"Target, fourteen thousand meters from ground. Suddenly accelerating!"
"Predicted impact point shifting. Angel changed its form!"
The technician monitoring Sahaquiel urgently reported.
On screen, Sahaquiel abandoned using its AT Field to refract light. Revealed its colorful true body. Concentrated AT Field on one side. Body fully unfolded.
Fully unfolded body like two maple leaves connected by a circular eye. Body displayed layered patterns. From ground looked like a bizarrely shaped eye staring down. Length estimated over three hundred meters. Accelerated falling toward the shifted predicted point!
"Target changed position. Quickly proceed to new predicted impact point!"
Misato rapidly reminded the four pilots through comms.
"Release power cables. Activate internal power!"
"Roger!" ×4
After receiving orders, units originally waiting at four positions all moved toward the new location.
Citizens evacuated. Four EVA units could run through the city without restraint.
"Faster, Shinji!"
Natsuki looked up at Sahaquiel's figure. Told Shinji.
At current speed, wouldn't make it.
"Got it!"
Shinji nodded. Controlled Unit-01 to accelerate further.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!"
Heavy footsteps trampled city streets. Sudden acceleration broke the sound barrier. Violent shockwave blew away surrounding buildings. Unit-01 shot toward Sahaquiel's impact point like an arrow.
"Too fast... I need to accelerate too..."
Asuka encouraged herself internally. Prepared to catch up.
Then saw—the black Unit-03 also burst with astonishing speed.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!"
Under Kaworu's control, Unit-03 easily passed Unit-02. Each step left a footprint. With shockwaves, successfully caught up to Unit-01.
"Wh... what!?"
Asuka watched Unit-03 display such ability. Somewhat dazed.
This guy—wasn't he a rookie?
Why could even a newcomer surpass her!?
"It's here!"
Shinji arrived at the impact point first. Lifted his head. Watched the massive figure less than a kilometer from ground. Felt intense impact.
"Kaworu, please!"
Unit-01 couldn't deploy AT Field. So this wave's defense could only come from Kaworu first.
"Mm!"
Kaworu controlled Unit-03 to raise both arms.
"AT Field, full deployment!"
"BOOM!"
Instantly, invisible energy erupted from Unit-03's surface. Blew away grass and trees in this suburban area. Raised AT Field to collide with Sahaquiel. Offset. Blocked it from releasing full impact onto the ground.
"Astonishing!"
"Unit-03 pilot's Sync Ratio with EVA reached 99%!"
"This is—a value beyond normal logic!"
The technician monitoring unit data saw this number. Shouted in shock.
Tech Department members all knew what this value meant.
Raising Sync Ratio to this level meant the pilot was no longer human!
"Either way, as long as it blocks the Angel."
Misato watched Sahaquiel's descent speed drastically slow on screen. Smiled.
Units 02 and 00 arrived after. Also raised AT Fields. Directly intercepted Sahaquiel mid-air.
Mission—already half successful!
"Now, Shinji!"
Natsuki reminded Shinji.
"Got it!"
Shinji decisively drew the Prog Knife from shoulder armor.
"THUD!"
Controlled Unit-01 to leap. Rapidly reached mid-air. Grabbed Sahaquiel's AT Field. Tore it apart.
Then thrust the Prog Knife in hand toward its core with full force.
"Disappear!"
Shinji roared. Poured all strength into this strike. Before Sahaquiel could resist, already pierced its core.
"CRACK!"
Sahaquiel's core completely shattered.
And just as everyone thought the operation succeeded—
"Wait!"
"Angel reaction detected again in satellite orbit!"
A technician in the command room suddenly shouted.
"What!?"
Misato looked at the screen. Saw a glowing object radiating light. Like thunder yet like a bird.
The moment it appeared, aimed at the ground. Target—Sahaquiel. And Unit-01 about to tear through Sahaquiel's body.
"WOOM!"
A blinding beam shot straight down from satellite orbit. Not a physical attack. An ultimate mental assault. No delay. Instantly struck Unit-01 passing through Sahaquiel's body!
"Gah!"
Violent mental shock hit. Shinji cried out in pain.
Seeing this, Natsuki immediately took over body control. Shielded him from the violent mental assault.
Reached for the bracelet. Prepared to transform.
But in this instant—
"Lias... are you really doing this?"
"You can't protect us!"
"It was you—you killed us with your own hands!"
"You're a sinner! And now you'll kill even more people!"
Everything before Natsuki disappeared. Surrounding broken trees... ground plowed by impact beneath his feet... Unit-01's cockpit... Sahaquiel's corpse... Everything vanished in an instant. Like shattered bubbles. Woke him from the "dream."
Land filled with death... A chasm across the earth like an abyss. Tore this gray land apart.
His past self stood on this dead land. Eyes vacant. Like a sculpture. Half his body stained with scorching ash. Burning his clothes' hem.
Where his gaze fell—only gravestones covering the entire dark earth. And... hands stained with blood.
"Sinner!"
A black shadow crawled from the gravestones. Cursed at him.
"Liar!"
Then more and more shadows crawled from gravestones. Their faces had no features. Only vague human forms. But could see gaping mouths. Cursing voices exceptionally clear in this moment's deathly silence.
"You're just weak!"
"Your strength is false!"
"You! Killed us!"
"Killed this planet!"
"We curse you... you'll forever bear this sin. Become an eternal sinner!!!"
Cursing voices became this world's melody. Surged like a tsunami. Countless gravestones. Countless shadows. Swallowed the figure stained with blood and ash.
You are... a sinner.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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