"The Fifth Child... Kaworu Nagisa?"
Hearing the name, Albert thought of a white-haired boy.
"You know him?"
Professor Fuyutsuki looked at Albert with some surprise.
An assistant to Ritsuko Akagi knew about the Fifth Child?
"Sort of. You should know more than me."
Albert looked at Fuyutsuki and Gendo. Expression somewhere between smile and smirk.
Rather than Ritsuko's assistant, he was more Natsuki's assistant.
"The Seventeenth Angel. Possessing part of Adam's soul and a human body... Tabris."
Years ago, after SEELE separated Adam's body and soul, they used Adam's soul to create this artificial Angel. Also SEELE's trump card.
"Sending him at this point means SEELE's getting restless. Or rather... whoever's hiding among them is getting restless."
Albert analyzed.
According to normal development, Kaworu wouldn't appear until after the Sixteenth Angel's elimination. Yet now, not even half the Angels were eliminated.
Though thinking about it—an EVA vs Angels battle royale, an Ultraman barges in, plus it's an elimination format. Anyone would panic.
"What will you do? Openly break with SEELE now?"
Gendo looked at Natsuki. Voice hoarse.
After successfully reuniting with his wife, Natsuki's position in his eyes had risen infinitely. And the fact that he possessed the strongest combat power was undeniable.
If Natsuki wanted to start a war now, he'd find ways to cooperate.
After all, SEELE and the Angels were obstacles they'd have to overcome eventually.
"No."
"I won't start a war to achieve my goals."
Natsuki shook his head.
"Though I'll take extreme measures when necessary, I won't let innocent lives be sacrificed because of me."
Choosing to directly war with SEELE now would create internal human conflict. Would definitely lead to rivers of blood.
He clearly knew he wasn't a god. Couldn't protect everyone simultaneously.
"Though SEELE will deliberately target us, they still need us to eliminate Angels now. At least for now, on eliminating Angels, both sides' goals align."
Professor Fuyutsuki said. SEELE secretly controlled all nations. Breaking with them now meant opposing the entire world.
SEELE wanted to realize the Human Instrumentality Project. The ritual's primary condition—eliminate all Angels except humanity according to the Dead Sea Scrolls' prophecy.
They had many backup methods. But any method required eliminating Angels first.
"The Fifth Child matter can be temporarily shelved. But news of Yui's resurrection absolutely cannot reach SEELE."
Professor Fuyutsuki glanced at Yui. Reminded them.
"Yui's soul leaving Unit-01 already equals destroying one of their key paths to completing the plan."
"I know."
Gendo nodded.
"Yui will live with me. I'll handle all secrecy work."
Fuyutsuki nodded after hearing this.
"Additionally, Unit-03 will also be transported from the American branch to headquarters. Together with the Fifth Child."
He added.
"Directly abandoned the Fourth Child?"
Hearing this, Albert realized this point.
Unit-03 was originally for the Fourth Child to pilot. The candidate was already predetermined.
Changing plans now—seemed the Traveler over there was truly desperate.
However, this Fifth Child, Tabris, wasn't an obedient master either. Sending him here might not accomplish their mission.
"Very strange..."
Albert's puzzled voice reached Natsuki's ears.
"What do you mean?"
Natsuki asked.
"Sending Tabris now won't really accomplish anything. After all, even at full power, he probably couldn't last a few moves against you..."
Albert shared his speculation and understanding of Tabris with Natsuki.
"This move... I can't quite figure out what he wants to do."
Albert frowned.
But his intuition told him perhaps nothing good would follow.
"Doesn't matter. Once his location is exposed, he can't cause more trouble."
Natsuki wasn't particularly concerned about this. This was relatively easy to resolve.
And then—
"WEEOO—WEEOO—"
A piercing alarm sounded.
"This alarm... an Angel?"
Professor Fuyutsuki heard the familiar sound. Narrowed his eyes.
"Seems not only SEELE's people are anxious. The one among the Angels is getting desperate too."
Albert pushed his glasses.
Among this world's Travelers, probably only he wasn't anxious.
"Prepare for battle."
"Eliminate the Angel first."
Gendo stood from his chair. Walked toward the elevator inside the office level. Told Professor Fuyutsuki:
"Have Unit-02 and Unit-00 enter standby."
"What about me?"
Shinji, regaining body control, asked.
He also wanted to participate in battle.
"Unless it's critical, you don't need to act."
Gendo finished speaking. Entered the elevator.
Though Shinji hesitated, he understood Gendo's choice.
His transformed battle time was only three minutes. Though Angels weren't his match, Angels might appear again after his battle ended.
"Really... has the bearing of a leader now."
Yui watched all this. Smiled faintly.
"Let's go, Yui."
Professor Fuyutsuki looked at Yui.
"I'll find you a place to settle first."
Someone already dead couldn't appear casually.
This base ultimately had many eyes.
"Alright."
Yui nodded.
"Shinji, you come too."
Professor Fuyutsuki told Shinji.
Mother and son staying together was obviously better.
But Shinji shook his head. Refused.
"No. At a time like this, I have things I must do."
Shinji said resolutely.
Transforming immediately when an enemy appeared wasn't a wise choice.
But even without transforming, he could still fight.
"Could it be..."
Professor Fuyutsuki immediately reacted.
"You want to pilot Unit-01?"
"Impossible. Right now your sync ratio with Unit-01 might not even reach 0.1%."
Yui's soul had already left Unit-01. Shinji couldn't possibly operate it.
"Doesn't matter."
"Natsuki-san said—only unqualified pilots worry about sync ratios."
Shinji pounded his fists together. Confident smile surfaced at his lips. Completely passionate appearance.
Finished speaking. Ran toward the office level's door.
"This child... really."
About this, Professor Fuyutsuki could only helplessly shake his head with a smile.
"Shinji like this... is quite lovely."
As a mother, Yui watched Shinji like this. Felt a trace of comfort in her heart.
This was how a young boy should be.
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