"What's your purpose?"
"Does death please you this much?"
Kaworu held his AT Field. Blocked Zeruel's path. Questioned the existence possessing Zeruel.
He couldn't understand the opponent's actions.
What NERV headquarters' Terminal Dogma sealed wasn't Adam—just soulless Lilith.
As an Angel, instinct was returning to Adam. Could achieve evolution. Change this world.
Simply fusing with Lilith as an Angel would only cause destructive impact. No evolution. Contradicted their Angel instinct.
"That's right."
"I just want everyone dead."
"Very simple and pure purpose."
Ghost Angel didn't hide anything. Didn't find any excuse. Said bluntly.
Only this way could he obtain the most Space-Time Source Energy.
"The Seventeenth Angel. Tabris."
"When it comes down to it, just a weakling swayed by human emotions."
Ghost Angel deeply scorned Kaworu who possessed power yet still chose to mix with humans.
When executing his first mission, he'd already abandoned humanity.
That's why he survived until now.
"I'll stop you here."
Kaworu released his AT Field with full force. Collided with Zeruel's AT Field. Blew away all surrounding buildings. Blocked the opponent's steps.
He didn't hate humans. Quite liked things called emotions.
Moreover, he had someone he must protect.
"You still think you're Adam?"
"You're just a product of humans fusing with part of Adam's soul. You're not a god."
Ghost Angel laughed.
Then became serious:
"You think you can stop me? Then... let's try!"
This moment—
"Second Angel reaction detected on the Fourteenth Angel!"
"AT Field rapidly intensifying!"
Everyone in the command room tensed up.
Normal Zeruel could already fight three EVAs simultaneously. Now it could still strengthen its AT Field!?
"BOOM!!!"
Zeruel's AT Field range instantly doubled. The semi-transparent field erupted. Directly blew Unit-03 away. Heavily crashed into ruins!
It rejected everything around it!
Streets. Buildings turned to rubble. Even the twenty-two layers of special armor plates below—all lifted in this moment. Pushed to distant mountain areas or fell into seawater. Armor plates below directly fell into the underground cavity!
Tokyo-3—destroyed!
The entire city's range—only NERV headquarters originally in the underground cavity remained. Everything above vanished.
"With just one strike... destroyed the city..."
Outside sunlight completely shone on NERV headquarters. In the command room, Misato watched Zeruel slowly moving downward. Eyes full of disbelief.
The bands on Zeruel's body released. Massive head looked downward. The bands serving as body like tentacles. Absurd yet eerie.
"Is there... any means left to stop it?"
Misato unconsciously bit her nails. Both hands trembling slightly. At this time she must think of countermeasures.
At this moment—
"Everyone evacuate!"
Gendo stood up. Issued evacuation order.
Enemy already attacked headquarters. Right now arranging all base personnel to evacuate was the wisest decision.
"Could it be..."
Misato guessed what he'd do.
"Yes."
"Activate final measure. Destroy this place."
Gendo looked at her. Said calmly.
When this base was built, self-destruct measures were reserved. Prevented exactly this—Angels truly reaching here.
One self-destruct—even if couldn't eliminate Zeruel, at least could destroy Lilith's physical body below.
"Not yet... not time yet."
Hearing the command room's voice, Rei inside Unit-00 woke. She said with effort.
Due to earlier impact, all three units blown away. Now fallen in wilderness. But even from this position, could see Tokyo-3's massive cavity.
She didn't want to see that base disappear too.
The orange unit climbed from the dirt. Strode forward.
"I'm also... not yet..."
Asuka with blood on her forehead gritted her teeth. Unwilling to admit defeat, controlled Unit-02 to get up.
Except for Kaworu at the impact's center, the two of them protected behind still had one last bit of fighting strength.
Asuka believed she hadn't lost yet.
Can't lose.
How can I lose!?
"Asuka, can you hear my voice?"
Suddenly, Unit-02's cockpit received another transmission. The voice very gentle. Very similar to Rei.
"Who are you?"
Asuka asked puzzled.
"Let me say it, let me say it!"
After that voice, another voice full of energy.
"I'll skip useless words. In short, Unit-02 is a unit specially designed for combat. Also has a mode to convert reason into combat power in critical moments."
"The activation command is..."
Asuka listened blankly as the other explained Unit-02's information. Somewhat couldn't understand. She was clearly Unit-02's exclusive pilot. Why did the other understand Unit-02 better than her?
"That's it then. Good luck~"
After speaking, the other hung up.
Asuka nodded. Reached up to wipe blood from her forehead. Both hands gripped the controls tightly.
Controlled Unit-02 to catch up to Unit-00.
Arrived at the cavity above headquarters. Without any hesitation, leaped downward resolutely.
Said:
"Mode conversion! Code—Beast Mode!"
Instantly, the crimson Unit-02's surface writhed. The cockpit became blood-red. Pain of flesh being stretched and torn came.
"Gah!"
Asuka endured the pain. Gaze locked on Zeruel below.
EVA was biological, not mechanical. This point completely manifested on Unit-02 now. Outer restraint armor showed partial cracks. Bolts limiting the unit ejected. Facial corners tore. Body arched. Like a crimson beast!
"Bastard! Stop!"
After landing, Beast Unit-02 charged straight at Zeruel. Roaring mouth sprayed saliva. Directly pounced to kill!
"I'll leave the AT Field to you. After that I'll deliver the fatal blow!"
Rei also controlled Unit-00 following closely. Said to Asuka through comms.
"Fatal blow?"
"You don't even have weapons now!"
Asuka endured Beast Mode's pain. Questioned back.
"Unit-00 itself is the weapon!"
Rei answered decisively.
She made the decision to protect this place. Protect Shinji. For this, she who had nothing could abandon everything.
By NERV headquarters' lake, massive building debris fallen from above scattered around. Zeruel slowly turned back. Looked at these two units charging toward it.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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