SEELE starts its plan this chapter. But the thing about plans is, they can fail. And we'll see how this one flops. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Evangelion, or Anarchy Reigns.
Cruel Angel's Thesis Chapter 24: Angel of Strength, Zeruel
With the alert that the Fourteenth Angel was about to arrive, the pilots took off in their EVAs, ready for battle as usual. Lorenz looked at the screen and grinned. "Now is when we reveal our first card. Max, are you ready?" 'Yes sir,' Max replied, 'Our special device is ready. I should mention that it can only hold so much electricity.' "We've analyzed their maximum output," Lorenz assured him, "It could easily handle anything they could discharge. Unleash the weapon once they land. Remember, we only need to concentrate on the main five."
It had happened so fast that the pilots barely had time to register. Only Keebo had detected it with his advanced systems, and managed to get Mari out of the way as an electrical field shot up around the other five pilots and shocked them, keeping them in place. Nearby, Mari spotted Max and shot out of Unit-00 to confront him. "You're responsible for this?," she asked. Max grinned. "A little negative current to keep the pilots contained. SEELE wants their own toys displayed to deal with that…" He pointed to where Zeruel had landed.
Sure enough, twelve different EVAs, looking more like the old, mass produced units, came up from the ground. Zeruel scoffed when he saw these. "I was expecting the mighty warriors who had defeated my brothers and sisters. Not some factory rejects that came fresh off an assembly line." He then noticed the SEELE logo on the breast plates and chuckled. "So that's what this is all about. Such a foolish idea. SEELE's members must be more mired in Lilith's corruption than the average Lilim." The first EVA approached, prog knife in hand, only to get the whole arm sliced off by Zeruel's extending arms.
Two more fired positron rifles at him, only to have them bounce off his armored flesh. "Not even worth erecting my AT Field. The true pilots would have easily pierced my hide, but these weak weapons are no better than military hardware." He serenely moved through the group of EVAs, his arms moving at imperceptible speeds. Despite being the physically strongest of the siblings, he was a pacifist by nature. That didn't mean he wouldn't fight when it became necessary, he just preferred not too. He was grateful NERV chose to preserve the cores of his siblings. Otherwise he could have lost himself in anger.
Most of the EVAs were smart enough to jump away, but a few wound up losing limbs. "I'd almost feel cheated out of a good duel. These imperfect clones are nothing compared to the advanced units developed to focus on full synchronization. So… Will you yield and allow the true protectors of this world to face me? Or shall I simply level this island right now and seek our Father? I'm waiting for your answer." Max was completely shocked at this development, while Mari grinned. "Keebo. Go ahead and give Zeruel the fight he wants, I'll see what I can do about Max here." 'Got it,' Keebo replied, directing Mega World to confront Zeruel.
Meanwhile, the five pilots were busy trying to find out how to get out of this situation. "This is a negative charge," Aigis noted, "Perhaps a strong enough positive charge could disrupt it." "We'd still need to smash the device projecting the current," Kaworu noted. "Well," Shinji said, "Unit-01 does have a few more tricks. It just needs enough of a charge to activate it." The five pilots nodded and had their EVAs hold hands. Kaworu fully charged his AT Field, Aigis went to maximum overclock, Asuka focused all her Hamon, and Rei charged her Lightning Mode to full. As the energy flooded into Unit-01, Shinji called out, "Cruel Angel's Thesis!"
Pure electric energy flooded into Unit-01, causing an automatic alteration of its armor, shifting from eagle to gorilla, as the organic being beneath the armor started having its muscles expand, roaring in excitement as it spun around, smashing the nearest electric towers, which had shut down when exposed to the stronger positive current. It then turned its sights on Zeruel, which was dueling against Mega World. "Keebo, we're loose," Shinji said, "Break off and trash the rest of those fake EVAs. I'll deal with Zeruel." "Copy that," Keebo said, leaping away as Zeruel smashed the ground with his arms.
He soon saw the enlarged Unit-01 charging at him like a real gorilla, using all fours. "At last… Now, show me the strength that has defeated so many of my siblings!" "All right," Shinji said, a grin on his face, "But you'd better be careful what you wish for!" Zeruel braced for the first punch, but it was far stronger than he anticipated. It sounded like bones were breaking, though Zeruel knew it was simply the outer armor layer of his body. Still hurt just as much however. A second incoming punch prompted him to raise his AT Field. Clearly extra defense was needed against this warrior.
However, he got another shock as electrical energy channeled through the punch to shatter the field, causing him to get nailed right in the face. Parts of the face fell away, revealing part of the core. "Jeez, and I thought Leliel had a huge core," Shinji noted, "Let me guess, it's all muscle." Zeruel actually chuckled. "I'm assuming that's a human joke. Not that it isn't appropriate for the situation." He extended his arms to try and attack, only to have Unit-01 grab them. "I'm guessing these aren't as breakable. Kinda look like toilet paper, too."
Zeruel barely had to time to question to himself what toilet paper was as Unit-01 used Zeruel's own arms to pull him close enough for an all out assault. "DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME DAME!" Zeruel felt his body crack open, revealing his immense core, which Shinji promptly grabbed. Up above, Mari had been busy dealing with Max, finally getting him on the ropes. Max saw the defeat of Zeruel at the hands of Unit-01 and slammed his fist on the brick awning he was against. "This isn't over!," he called out to Mari before leaping off the side of the building, his cybernetics letting him survive the drop.
Lorenz gritted his teeth. Not only did SEELE's EVAs prove useless against Zeruel, but Unit-01 showed unexpected strength never before seen, and practically demolished the Angel. He slammed his hand onto the desk. "How!? Why!? We accounted for everything!" He rubbed his face as he growled deeply. "This is going beyond a joke…" He turned to the other members. "Are our EVAs salvageable?" "Yes, thankfully," SEELE-03 said, "Most only lost limbs. It will take some time to repair, however, and right now NERV has gained control of the metro region. They have almost eighty-six percent control now."
Lorenz calmed himself. "Fortunately we still have a chance to complete our plans. The last two Angels will arrive soon. Once they are dealt with…" He smiled. "We begin the final phase. Everything has been building up to this. And there's no better place to make someone fall, then at the very top." He smiled. Soon he would have the means to escape his failing body. They would all become gods, and rule over the new humanity. Meanwhile, beneath NERV, Lilith began to stir in anticipation, knowing her time to awaken was near.
I can't believe it took me this long to consider making an analogue to Zyuoh Eagle's gorilla mode. I'll also be having one for his whale mode, but that comes toward the end. Hopefully I'll get to a point where these chapters won't be so short. Read and review.
