The Sixth Angel, "Ramiel," displayed an overwhelming and despairing combat capability.
Its enormous, regular octahedron structure hovered mid-air, its surface radiating an ominous blue light. Whenever an EVA attempted to approach, its surrounding AT Field would instantly intensify, forming an invisible yet impenetrable barrier.
Unit-00 was the first to launch a strike, attempting to force a breakthrough using the Cherub Grenade. However, while still two kilometers from the Angel, a scorching, white Accelerated Particle Cannon shot forth from Ramiel's core. Rei Ayanami performed an emergency evasion, but the particle beam grazed Unit-00's shoulder armor, instantly melting a section of its outer plating.
"Negative. Unable to penetrate its network of fire," Rei reported calmly as Unit-00 was forced to retreat behind cover.
Shinji, piloting Unit-01, attempted to flank the target, using the rubble of demolished buildings for concealment. However, Ramiel's geometric form swiftly shifted its angle, and its core lit up again. Three continuous particle beams precisely blocked all of Unit-01's advance routes, and the resulting shockwaves brutally tossed Unit-01 aside.
"Its firing accuracy is too high!" Shinji gasped in the cockpit, clutching the control levers tightly.
As soon as Unit-01 began to rise, another particle beam scraped over its head, completely vaporizing a tall building behind it.
Misato Katsuragi, in the command center, stared intently at the battle feed: "The Angel's AT Field, combined with its long-range firepower, creates a perfect offense-defense system. Unless we can breach the field instantly, close combat is impossible."
Unit-00 tried to charge again, this time activating its own AT Field at full strength to neutralize the enemy's. The two fields collided violently, creating an agonizing hum. But in that instant of standoff, Ramiel's core flashed again, forcing Unit-00 to abandon neutralization and retreat urgently.
"It won't even give us time to neutralize the field—" Ritsuko Akagi murmured, watching the data.
Shinji, unwilling to give up, attempted another try. Unit-01 dashed forward in a zigzag pattern, but at one kilometer from the Angel, a precise particle beam struck Unit-01's right chest. Alarms instantly blared throughout the cockpit, and Shinji cried out in pain.
A horrifying gap was melted into Unit-01's armor, revealing its internal structure. It was just shy of hitting the core.
"Withdraw! Retreat immediately!" Misato decided instantly.
The two EVAs were forced to pull back behind cover, leaving only Ramiel's silently rotating blue form on the battlefield, seemingly mocking all of humanity's efforts.
The atmosphere in the Operations Briefing Room was unbearably heavy. Conventional tactics had failed, and the staggering casualties and urban damage forced NERV to activate the final plan.
"Activate Operation Yashima," Misato Katsuragi's voice rang out in the command center, carrying the resolve of utter desperation. "Mobilize all of Japan's electrical power. Unit-01 will use the Positron Rifle for ultra-long-range sniping. Unit-00 will be responsible for protecting Unit-01 and providing defensive support."
Japan's entire power grid began to be forcibly rerouted, with massive amounts of electrical energy converging on Tokyo-3 like rivers flowing to the sea. A giant, sci-fi-styled Positron Rifle was urgently transported to the designated sniping position: Yashima.
Osiris, using his highest-level access, observed the entire process from the Ninth Institute's Observation Center. He watched the complex structure and energy parameters of the Positron Rifle displayed on the screen, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
"An interesting energy weapon," he seemed to muse aloud, or perhaps was recording an observation note. "The principle is clear: converting enormous electrical power into a directed energy beam, aiming for the ultimate in single-point penetration. In a world where energy technology is relatively backward, conceiving and implementing this solution is rare."
His tone was calm, carrying the air of a detached technological evaluation, as if assessing a masterpiece of craftsmanship from a primitive civilization.
"However, its destructive power—" He shook his head slightly, his voice almost inaudible. "It probably doesn't even match the standard output of a 'God Arrow' Pattern Small General Cannon supplied to a typical hundred-man cohort under the Martian Forge Temple."
"Now that is truly a divine weapon capable of tearing apart warship armor and cleansing battlefields."
In his mind, a weapon that required the power of an entire nation, necessitated lengthy preparation, and offered an extremely limited firing window was lamentably inefficient.
But that did not stop him from appreciating the spark of human ingenuity that erupts in times of desperation.
Under his observation, "Operation Yashima," the operation that would decide Japan's fate, officially began.
Unit-01 set up the massive Positron Rifle at the remote sniping point. Power cables, like colossal pythons, connected the gun to the energy center that was pooling the nation's electricity.
Unit-00, meanwhile, stood ready in front of Unit-01, holding a massive composite armor shield like a silent wall of steel.
In the distance, Ramiel seemed to sense the threat. The light from its core became increasingly blinding as its Accelerated Particle Cannon began to charge, filling the entire battlefield with the stench of destruction.
Everyone held their breath.
Osiris also leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on the main screen. He wasn't focused on the success or failure of the operation, but on the practical performance of the Positron Rifle, and the "Cherub's Sword" grenade—rendered useless in this context—hanging on Unit-01's waist.
"Come now," he whispered. "Let me see what kind of light your choice can cast."
Unit-01 pulled the trigger.
A blinding white light converged at the Positron Rifle's muzzle. Then, a massive torrent of energy, containing the electrical output of all Japan, tore through the air with a deafening roar, striking the distant Ramiel directly.
The light hit the target precisely! The massive explosion engulfed Ramiel's blue body, and its surrounding AT Field twisted and fluctuated violently.
"Target hit!" A brief cheer erupted in the command center.
However, as the light dispersed, hope quickly died.
Although Ramiel's octahedron structure showed clear damage and cracks, its core continued to pulse steadily—the strike was not fatal.
Almost instantly after absorbing the attack, Ramiel's core transformed into an offensive configuration, and its light flared again. In response, an accelerated particle cannon, far thicker than before, was violently fired. But it did not shoot at Unit-01; it was slightly diverted, grazing the edge of the sniping position where Unit-01 was located.
"Boom—!"
In the distance, a landmark mountain was completely pierced and vaporized by the particle beam in silence, leaving behind only a shocking, vitrified crater in its place.
This was both a display of power and a warning.
Shinji gritted his teeth in the cockpit. He couldn't move; he had to stay in place, waiting for the Positron Rifle to recharge. The power from all of Japan was pooling again, and the charging progress bar climbed slowly but steadily.
"Shinji, don't lose focus! Prepare for the second shot!" Misato Katsuragi's voice came through the communications, carrying an absolute certainty that brooked no argument.
In front of him, Unit-00, like the most loyal sentinel, drove its massive composite armor shield deep into the ground, hunkering down, adjusting its defensive posture to the optimal level. Rei Ayanami's red eyes were locked onto the distant Angel through the screen, silently forming Unit-01's final line of defense.
Just then, Ramiel's core completed another energy focus. It seemed to have judged the threat of the long-range sniper fire far greater than the close-range harassment. This time, it adjusted its angle, locking its target firmly on the immobile Unit-01.
A lethal Accelerated Particle Cannon, like the gaze of death, instantly sliced through the sky with the unwavering resolve to destroy everything, heading straight for Shinji!
Without any hesitation, Unit-00 moved.
It did not choose to dodge. Instead, it channeled all its strength into the shield, fully deploying its AT Field, and charged head-on into the destructive beam of light!
"BANG!!!!!!"
The earth-shattering sound of the impact echoed across the land.