"Shinji Ikari!!??"
At that moment, Kitazawa Ryota blurted it out without thinking.
As for why this scene felt so familiar to him—it was because… this was exactly the ending of The End of Evangelion!
Given that he himself now lived within such a parallel world, seeing this outcome wasn't surprising in the least.
But when Misato Katsuragi heard the words "Ikari Shinji", her face froze in utter shock.
"Kitazawa-kun… what did you just say? What did you say just now, Kitazawa Ryota!?"
"Yes… the one piloting Unit-01… is Shinji Ikari!" Ryota shook his head, gritting his teeth as he forced the words out.
"What? Impossible! Shinji is already dead!" Misato's face turned pale, her whole being radiating disbelief.
"I know it's complicated, and I don't even know how to explain it properly. But what I do know is… from here on, something very bad is about to happen. Very, very bad…"
Ryota shook his head again. After a long silence, a bitter smile crept onto his face.
"Misato, Asuka… maybe… no, not maybe—if the world is about to end, what will you do?"
"What?"
The two women were stunned. Only Misato's heart quaked violently, for she knew: if the Tenth Angel were to rip out the Lance of Longinus impaled into Lilith, then humanity itself would be finished.
According to legend, once the Lance of Longinus was pulled free and fell into an Angel's hands, a cataclysmic Impact would be triggered, erasing the human world entirely.
This was something Gendō Ikari had once told her in passing, classified as top-secret information—something Misato had never dared to repeat to anyone.
But Kitazawa Ryota… knew?
"No, Misato—you misunderstand…"
Ryota gave a hollow smile, eyes fixed on the monitor screen.
"What I mean is… if it's Shinji Ikari who triggers Third Impact, then what will you do?"
"How could that be possible?"
The more he said, the less sense it made. Misato and Asuka were utterly lost. Ryota could only sigh deeply.
"Forget it. At this point… the only one who might stop this disaster is you, Asuka."
"Huh? Me?" Asuka instantly tensed up.
"You need to take Unit-02—defeat the Tenth Angel. No… not just that. You must also kill the pilot inside Unit-01. If you want to prevent catastrophe… that may be the only way left."
Ryota shook his head. He had no choice—Unit-01 wasn't his to control. He was powerless.
"Fine. I believe you!" Asuka nodded firmly. Somewhere along the way, she had come to trust Ryota's words without hesitation.
"I believe you too!"
From the shadows, another figure stepped forward—clad in a rose-colored plugsuit, glasses perched on her nose. It was none other than Mari Makinami Illustrious, who had been hiding in Japan all this time.
Because of her MI6 background, Mari had kept a low profile. Were she to openly appear at NERV, people would assume she was there to steal data or technology. So she had been kept in safe houses throughout Tokyo-3.
But now, here she was.
"Mari—you came too," Ryota nodded at her.
"Of course. Like hell I'd sit this one out. In that case, leave Unit-03 to me." Mari grinned, patting her chest.
"Alright. Then I'm counting on you both."
Ryota gave a solemn nod as the two women left. His gaze then returned to the main monitor.
On the horizon, Unit-01 and the Tenth Angel clashed once more. But with its power depleted, Unit-01 was completely immobilized—little more than a lamb awaiting slaughter.
The Angel loomed forward, intent on crushing Unit-01, and the pilot within it.
"Rei! I'll save you…!"
The voice from inside Unit-01 was wild, almost deranged. Hearing it made Ryota's brow furrow deeply. Time was running out.
And Asuka and Mari had yet to reach Units 02 and 03.
Were they too late?
Boom!
A sudden burst of blue light flared from Unit-01's body, linking with the Tenth Angel. The Angel convulsed in agony, as if struggling against some overwhelming force.
Everyone stared at the screen in disbelief. Only Ryota's face twisted into something truly grim.
And then—an impossible sight unfolded.
One pair, two pairs, three pairs…
Three pairs of luminous wings unfurled from Unit-01's back. No, not wings—blazing wings of light, dazzling and terrifying all at once.
Unit-01—Apotheosis!
Yes. This was Unit-01's godlike form.
At that moment, Ryota knew beyond doubt: the pilot had to be Shinji Ikari.
But the real Shinji was already dead. The one inside Unit-01 now was almost certainly a copy.
Just like Rei Ayanami—Shinji, too, could be replicated. Which meant the "Rei" absorbed by the Tenth Angel wasn't the Rei he had known at all.
To trigger the ceremony, true mutual resonance between souls was required—something born only of long companionship. Otherwise, it was impossible.
So where had the real Rei gone?
Ryota's teeth clenched tight, fists balling hard as his gaze snapped toward Gendō Ikari.
It had to be him.
Gendō had abducted Rei, just to replace her with yet another clone—Rei III—inside Unit-00.
Unforgivable. Absolutely unforgivable.
Kitazawa Ryota was no coward like Shinji Ikari. If Gendō dared lay hands on Rei, then Ryota would see him die without a grave to be buried in!
He had just started toward Gendō—
But shrill, piercing screams cut through the air, freezing Ryota mid-step, halting him in his tracks.
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