Koros45 doesn't own Getter Robo, Mazinkaiser, or Neon Genesis Evangelion
Stage 25: Decisive Battle II
The Beetle entered the body of Shin Dragon and the trio piloting it were all rendered speechless. The inside of the gigantic Getter was hollow, the manufactured space almost like a vast sea of red. At the moment it was fluid and Go had to steer the ship to the right slightly to maintain their course.
The immediate sight that awaited them in Shin Dragon was the pair of Angels that hung above them. Both Areal and Armisael had been revived. The result being the comatose pair of Mazingers that lay at the 'floor' of Shin Dragon. Beyond them, Evangelion Unit 02 had also succumbed to the Angel's attack. Unit 01 staggered back, staying relatively still as its jaw hung half open.
Beyond that, the group could see Shin Getter 2 in a full nelson from a replica of Getter Dragon. It only made sense that's what the Invaders would use given the location. Further back they could see three more Mechanical Beasts, each fashioned after Dr. Hell, Baron Ashura, and Count Brocken.
"Suffer! Suffer even more! Die in agony!" Saotome screamed as Getter Dragon kept the pressure on Shin Getter 2.
"Let's go save our senior team!" Gai directed.
"We've got bigger problems than that!" Sho pointed out.
The Angel Areal turned its attention to the Beetle and Go could feel it brush with his consciousness.
"Turn! If that thing hits us, we're done for too!" Sho cried out, grabbing Go's wrist and turning the steering stick. The Beetle changed course slightly and veered away from Areal's attack.
"Dammit! We need to find Shin Getter!" Gai yelled, putting a hand on Go's shoulder.
Go spun the Beetle around and felt something touch it. The second Angel merged with the craft and Go tensed. Then he yelled as Armisael's mind touched his own.
/
No more Beetle. No Sho or Gai. Just himself standing above a pool of liquid. It was the color of emerald, glowing slightly. Go glanced down and saw a replica of himself shoulders deep in the liquid. They both wore the same red spandex. The Angel's expression was chilling as the grin felt more malicious then the one Go seldom made.
"You're all alone. And it's your nature to die alone."
"Angel. Why are you doing this?"
"It is our nature. We simply want to communicate with humanity."
"Yet I can smell the Invader in you. Did Saotome and the others do this so you'd resist the Getter Rays?"
"They wish to use us as tools. Yet they are false. This fusion does not bother us – we are separate from their resistance. You will understand – once you become one with us."
"No. Humans are a solitary, selfish species. I cannot allow you to take my identity. And humanity cannot allow something like the Invaders to exist."
"Can you think such thoughts when you must be feeling agonizing pain?"
Go felt his nerves pop and looked at his wrists. The veins in the had all swollen and were visible and thick. The swelling spread all across his body and Go grit his teeth in response.
"You call that pain?" Go focused and the Getter Rays moved with him.
"This is pain." he whispered back. The Angel seemed taken aback as he focused all the Getter Rays he could into Armisael, reversing the condition to affect the Angel.
"You speak of being separate from the Invaders. If that's true then this much saturated Getter Rays should feel terrible. Now – who will burn out first. Me? Or You?" Go asked.
"Yet – it will do little to stop this. Even with your augmentations you are still going to either die alone or become one with us."
"You just don't get it do you? I'm never alone."
The images of both his Getter Teams flickered in his mind and Go managed a half smile.
"A bond. A connection with others. Yet it does not matter. For here you are isolated. Whereas we are one."
Armisael was joined as massive bodies appeared all around the pair. The geometric blue Ramiel, the vast and hulking Sachial, and the lanky Bardiel wearing EVA unit 03's skin appeared as well as several others.
"All of the Angels are present within me – and soon- they'll all be free. And we'll finally know one another."
"No. I'm never alone."
Go's eyes widened as the sky above them shattered, a massive red arm flying through the din. It was bright red, with neon green lines running along it and three wicked razor blades protruding from the outside of the arm. Shin Getter Robo landed behind Go and lunged forwards, Its arm striking something. Then a sickening wail was heard as the shadow body of Ireul flickered in and out – impaled from Shin Getter's punch.
"- For I am always connected to that which is called Getter." Go finished.
His doppelganger looked sad for a moment as the Angels around them began to vanish.
"How sad. I wanted Ireul to make the illusion that we had company. But now – we're back where we started."
"Not quite." Go said. "
SHIN! GETTER!"
The neon green parts of Shin Getter Robo began to glow with an abundance of light. Then – the vision collapsed as the Angel retreated, separating from the small vehicle.
Go Ichimonji opened his eyes again. He was back in the Beetle. Armisael had backed off, a surge of green angular lines trailing from its' body as it moved to hover behind Areal.
"That's it! Now - we'll merge with Shin Getter!" Go yelled, flooring it as the Beetle spun again and attained the essence of the drill once again.
"What?! You're going to try something like that - !" Gai began as he was cut off.
They rocketed forward and Sho and Gai both grunted as they flew straight into Shin Getter's back.
/
Benkei could do nothing to stop it. Michiru was trying to make Hayato kill Ryoma. He could see the memories plain as day and it would have pissed him off if he himself wasn't occupied. Benkei heard his old friend Musashi scream. The man slowly ran towards Benkei but was not able to outrun the horde of Invaders behind him.
Benkei cursed his situation. It was so obvious that it was a trick – yet both Ryoma and Hayato had been so affected by Michiru's death that it was the perfect deception. As for him, he knew Musashi would go happily down fighting because that's what had happened. It didn't add up to him.
Benkei felt a shudder as the vision ended and he felt Shin Bear's exterior move a bit.
"Uh boss? Are you OK?" Gai's voice rang out. It snapped him fully out of the daze and Benkei blinked to focus himself.
"Geez. How embarrassing. The reserve team came to bail us out?" Benkei snorted before shaking his head and scooting his chair forward to give Gai some space to lean and look over his shoulder.
"It was Go's crazy idea! And it worked! Shin Getter absorbed the Beetle and then - " Gai began, sounding flustered.
"Save it for later, pilot. We'll worry about the how's and why's after we get out of this alive, understand?" Benkei asked.
"Yes sir!" Gai said and Benkei turned on the comm.
"Ryoma! Hayato! Wake up! It's a trick!" Benkei yelled.
/
Hayato saw nothing but red as the vision ended. How dare those damn Invaders do that to his whole team?! After they'd taken Michiru from them?! After they'd taken Saotome!? This was the final straw.
He knew Sho was there with him and gave her a brief glance before looking to the monitor ahead of them. At the laughing faces of Saotome, Stinger, and Cohen.
"You bastards - ! I'LL KILL YOU ALL! ALL OF YOU DAMN INVADERS!" Hayato screamed as his fist pounded the emergency boosters.
The backpack ignited and Shin Getter 2 shook from Metal Beast Dragon's grip.
"Hayato! Get a grip!" Ryoma yelled to him. "Focus on the Angels! If you cut off Areal's connection, you'll wake up everyone else!" Go seconded.
"Right then! Let's show these Angels that Mazingers aren't the only devil around here! Let's go, Getter 2!" Hayato screamed as the drill fired off of Shin Getter 2's arm.
"Drill! Attack!" Hayato declared as the drill bored through Areal's eye and the Angel screamed in pain.
"That's one down!" He said with a ravenous grin.
"Yet you forget we're in Shin Dragon! And Shin Dragon is with us!" The three Invaders all yelled, Dragon changing to Liger as it flew at Shin Getter 2.
"And now – to deal with Saotome! Open Get!" Hayato commanded, Shin Getter 2 breaking apart to avoid Dragon's Getter Beam.
"Then we'll counter a Liger with a Bear! Change, Shin Getter 3!" Benkei shouted as the bulky Getter 3 fell to the floor and shot a volley of missiles at Getter Liger.
/
"Asuka. I am always with you." she heard her mother say to her. Suddenly she wasn't alone, even as the massive doll's foot got closer and closer.
The brilliant AT Field stopped the falling foot and the doll's head turned to the side, as if curious about the barrier.
Then Asuka could feel herself stand as Unit 02's cockpit formed around her. Kyouko Zeppelin Soryu's voice resounded all around her as the doll's foot was now being pushed away – the massive size of the object rapidly shrinking as Asuka's EVA got larger and larger.
"This doll – this image! It is trying to hurt Asuka! It is a part of me – so now it will – die with me!"
Her mother's voice was loud and what followed was the foot of EVA Unit 02 crushing the doll and rising to stand in one solid motion.
Asuka blinked. The nightmare was over. She was back in Unit 02. Shinji's EVA was standing behind her, the boy most likely still dazed.
More importantly she saw her allies were under attack. Shin Getter had its' hands full with the enemy Getter Dragon, but was fighting back matching it blow for blow.
The Double Mazingers were down and being wailed on by Mechanical Beasts that looked a lot like Count Brocken and Baron Ashura. To her dismay, Dr. Hell's Hell King Gordon was back, looking stronger than ever – and just watching patiently as his subordinates kicked the bodies of Great Mazinger and Mazinkaiser while they were down.
She moved and Unit 02 followed her thoughts. Her mother was with her. And Asuka found that was all she needed. A part of her past she thought she had to bury to live was now alive and well. The space that had dried up from her mother's disappearance was now full. There was so much to catch up on – they both just had to get out alive.
The EVA charged and Asuka prepared herself for another battle against impossible odds. After today, it wouldn't be the first time.
/
The wicked Mazinger took a step forwards and Kouji felt terror. It was a devil, no doubt about it. The mechanical grin on the creature's grille certainly qualified it for that description.
"Bring the world to zero?" Kouji repeated, asking the advancing demon.
"Yes. As it is my name, so it is my goal. I am Mazinger ZERO. And now it is time for you to choose your path. Do you join with me and become a God? Or - do you vanquish the world as a Devil?"
"I - " Kouji stopped. It was always a question he'd struggled with. His grandfather's words left only two answers.
"I don't care what path I take! As long as it's the one where I can stop you in your tracks, you damn demon!"
"Then – die." The Mazinger known as ZERO said. Its eyes squinted and Kouji could see the Photon Power build up in them, the particles of wind begin to charge in the grille, and the red heatsinks begin to churn and turn a brighter shade as Mazinger ZERO readied itself.
"Rocket Punch!" A voice cried out and ZERO was taken aback. A pair of simple cylindrical arms slammed into ZERO's face followed by a larger spinning pair.
The attacks knocked the Mazinger back and Kouji turned, his face beaming with joy as not just Mazinkaiser – but Mazinger Z was there at his side!
"Grandfather?" Kouji asked as Z looked down at him, the punches returning to both Z and Kaiser.
"Kouji! Well said! I may have told you that Mazinger can walk two paths – but there was another thing I didn't tell you!"
The voice came from Mazinger Z and Kouji would have to wait for his grandfather's reply as ZERO recovered, marching towards the other two assembled Mazin as it was struck by two different Photon Beams.
The one from Mazinkaiser hit first, slowing ZERO's progress. Then the one from Z shot out – though this Photon Beam was far stronger than the ones that Kouji was used to. Mazinger ZERO roared as it was knocked down, and took time to stand back up.
"It's not used to fighting in a dream-space I see." The voice of Mazinkaiser's pilot affirmed.
"That voice – you're the one that told me to use the Kaiser Blade!" Kouji realized as the two Mazingers used Rust Hurricane and Rust Tornado to counter ZERO's own.
"Indeed. And a being like ZERO must struggle to grasp such concepts as human dreams. Kouji, your Grandfather wanted you to know this." The pilot said. Their Pilder's canopy shone and Kouji could make out a brown haired woman at the controls, the very same one Yumi had identified to him.
"Mother! You're here with us too?" Kouji asked.
"Who else do you think helped your grandfather brainstorm the ultimate Mazinger?" She said with a wisp of a grin.
"Yes! Of course!" The voice of Dr. Kabuto said. "Kouji, it matters not what you see Mazinger as, but what you do with it! God or Devil are both opposite extremes. It's up to you to decide how much of each your Mazinger is." His Grandfather spoke with reverence to Kouji, nodding to him with Mazinger's metal crown.
"Foolish prattle. His choice is irrelevant. One mere human cannot stop me from manifesting in this world."
"Is that so? Then why are you so keen on making him choose? ZERO, you need him to appear in this world. Damned devil!" Juuzo said, having Mazinger wave a fist as he yelled at the enemy.
"Enough talk. Now – let's show Kouji the final piece in being a Mazinger pilot!" Nishiori Tsubasa declared. She fired off Fire Blaster, keeping ZERO at bay as Juuzo Kabuto spoke with pride.
"Yes, yes! And I can show off the alternative design of Z that I thought up while working on Mazinkaiser!"
As his grandfather spoke Kouji witnessed Mazinger Z's form change as Its unfamiliar Scrander's wings folded around the legs. Mazinger's chest opened and the head folded down within it. Then the arms raised up as multiple boosters from the Scrander rotated around and extended to join the arms – becoming fingers.
"It changed into - a fist?" Kouji asked.
"Yes! This is the golden fist of Zeus! Behold! The fist that parts the seas! That splits the skies and rends the Earth! Now – Shine in the name of Zeus and smash everything into atoms!"
And now ZERO will feel its wrath!" Juuzo Kabuto screamed as the fist began to glow golden.
"And Kouji! This is the last thing you need to see as a Mazinkaiser pilot! The Kaiser Blade was the first step – but this is the final one for you!" His mother yelled as Mazinkaiser lept onto the gigantic golden fist.
[ BIG BANG PUNCH ! ]
Mazinger ZERO had no time to react as the fist slammed into its chest, sending the titanic devil skidding back from the sheer force of the attack. Nishiori took the opportunity to act. Mazinkaiser leaned back and the area was consumed in a flash of white fire from its' chest. Kouji heard her words and was stuck with an idea for his immediate problem.
Kouji's lips formed a smile as he found his answer, speaking it aloud.
"That's it Kouji! That's the path you must walk!" Juuzo's voice rang out.
"Keep going, my son. You'll right the wrongs that SEELE, Hell and his ilk spread through this world!" His mother said as their voices vanished.
Then Mazinkaiser awakened. And as the machine rose, Kouji knew that there would be literal Hell to pay.
/
"How's it going out there Major Katsuragi?" Boss asked as he looked up at Shin Dragon. The only thing that had changed since the Super Robot Army's attack on the beast was that the large Getter had stopped.
"Lifesigns in Dragon are still stable. Asuka's out of whatever trance she was in. But Shinji's still in it. But – it looks like the others are still stuck.
"Dammit Kabuto! Tetsuya! Snap out of it!" Boss shouted.
"Go. Help them." Kei prayed, looking up at the spectacle above along with Nuke, Mucha, and Sayaka.
/
"Kei." Go whispered, glancing around as Shin Getter 3 fired blast after blast of missile barrages at Getter Robo G, which had turned into Getter Poseidon.
"Kouji's gotten out of that trance! Same with Asuka!" Go observed as both Getters opened, changing into both Getter 1 configurations.
"GETTER TOMAHAWK!" Ryoma screamed, the axe blade forming and being swung down with great force.
"DOUBLE TOMAHAWK!" Saotome countered as the twin double sided axes blocked the long poleaxe's overhead swing.
They exchanged blows before Dragon's Getter Beam struck again, forcing Shin Getter 1 to change again. The team switched to Getter Three again, Benkei taking the helm once again.
/
The funeral went better than Tetsuya had remembered. The awkward jealously he'd felt when he interacted with Kouji was lifted once he realized the majority of it was due to his misplaced pride. Stress over being Kenzo Kabuto's true son. Tetsuya took a breath as he felt he was crying.
He remembered Kouji had been nothing but supportive, being something of a younger brother. His – no their father may have died, but he didn't hold that grudge against Tetsuya for it. Beyond that there was Jun of course. Being his rock he could cling to while the grief was fresh. Boss, Sayaka and Shiro had also helped immensely and the entire Photon Labs had become a family for him.
Tetsuya shook his head a few times to wake up and gripped the controls of his machine. Great Mazinger – it was not just something he considered a machine. Rather – it was a partner, made specifically for him to use. The nightmare was a sham – it may have shown him his true fears but they were not concrete. Not when life had painted a far different picture for him, despite the loss of his father.
"Great Mazinger – I know that as a machine, you shed no tears. So – let me do so for you." Tetsuya said as he shuddered, the grief of losing his father evaporating. "Will you fight together with me? With our burning friendship let's strike down evil together. Let's Mazin – Go once more. My friend, Great Mazinger." Tetsuya whispered as he grasped Great's controls.
Yellow eyes ignited as the Mazinger stood in response. Both man and machine looked around the battlefield, finding an opening to begin with. Mazinkaiser had its hands full and Tetsuya assessed the situation before coming up with a plan.
"Great Typhoon!" Tetsuya commanded.
Brocken flew across the room as a funnel of wind sent both him and Ashura flying.
"You're clear, Kabuto! Asuka and I'll deal with them and you take care of Hell!" Tetsuya proposed.
Great Mazinger wasted no time shoulder-tackling Baron Ashura's Mechanical Beast form, knocking them backwards as Tetsuya threw Great Boomerang, catching the machine's ankle and sending it falling down.
"Tetsuya Tsurugi! Great Mazinger! It's high time I end your superior attitude!" Ashura yelled, extending the machine's left hand, the digits becoming dark purple tentacles that shot out, wrapping around Great's head and slamming the Mazinger down.
"The same to you!" Tetsuya yelled, recovering and standing to size up his opponent. It was a purple and black machine, modeled after Baron Ashura themself.
Ashura stood up and fired a volley of machine gun fire from its' breast.
"That kind of attack won't harm Shin Great Mazinger!"
"You misunderstand my objective!" Ashura countered as the chest panel opened and a volley of missiles fired out, detonating around Tetsuya and obscured his vision.
"Please! Even if you cut off my vision from the Brain Condor, I have a radar in here, so finding you should be – what?!" Tetsuya's taunt was cut short as Ashura's signature had suddenly become two.
"Ha ha ha! Ashura Press!" The Baron's voice cackled as Tetsuya and Great Mazinger were struck from both sides. It was a powerful impact and he shuddered as he could see a gigantic spike dangerously close to the Brain Condor.
Then Tetsuya realized what had happened. The machine split down the middle, masculine and feminine halves each operating independently to hit Great Mazinger with a two pronged attack. Any further attempt to analyze Ashura's strategy was cut off as Tetsuya felt a current of electricity course through Great Mazinger, both halves of Ashura's machine continuing to apply pressure to his Mazinger.
/
EVA Unit 02 reached the mechanical imitation of Count Brocken, bringing her foot back as far as she could and punting the head far away.
"Why you!? You little bitch!" She heard the head yell as the body flailed at her with a scimitar. Its body was a light green, modelled after and old German war uniform. Layered square shoulderpads, a cape, and of course the sword completed the look of the Mechanical Beast.
The AT Field did its job but Asuka wanted to take precautions. She'd witnessed too many things that could punch through or get around AT Fields recently. Unit 02's second prog knife was still loaded and she deployed the weapon, deftly catching it in a reverse grip and raising it to block Brocken's next swing.
The head unit of the machine returned as the Mechanical Beast started fighting with a far greater form.
"Now that I can see you, Fraulein, you're in trouble! I'm not piloting the unfamiliar Great Mazinger this time – now I'm in my custom Brocken V2 Schneider!"
The blade swings came more rapidly and Asuka stepped back to defect the swings safely.
"Doesn't matter! Now that I'm in my Unit 02, you're not going to win!"
"Unlike you, my machine doesn't need a cable to function! And on top of that power supply issue – you're already in my trap!" The Count declared.
Asuka chuckled as she focused to weaponize her AT Field like she'd done against the MP EVA series.
Then she inhaled and realized something was wrong. Her insides burned and everything became disorienting. Lungs on fire, vision blurred, and senses dulled, EVA Unit 02's focus was lowered as she felt the blade make some slashes into the armor plating.
She felt herself falling and lost control of the EVA. They were stuck in a green haze and she could barely make out the Count's gloating.
"Iron Mask Gas! Inhaling it is normally fatal but – since you're inside that thing, it must be a bit less potent. Still – Dr. Hell's research tells me that your Evangelion is a cyborg. Therefore, it should be doing quite a number on both of you!"
The man's machine took a step forward and slammed an armored foot into Unit 02's chest, Asuka screaming as the neural connection meant she felt the pressure to her collarbone.
"Asuka Langley Soryu. Half German and half Japanese. How intriguing." Brocken stated with a laugh.
"W-what?! How do you know about me?" Asuka managed to say as the LCL helped fight off the worst of the gas.
"Simple enough for my Iron Mask unit to research the pilots – especially when I had access to Rei Ayanami's memories due to our Invader friends." The Count explained.
I think once this battle is over, I'll take my time dealing with you. We'll see how long it will take me to break you! I always wanted my personal dog! I suppose a half – breed will have to do in this case!" The foot pressed down harder and Asuka grit her teeth.
Unit 02 was a sea of rage and Asuka was no different. The mere thought was appalling.
"Damned. . . Nazi . . . bastard!" Asuka seethed, switching to German to find appropriate vocabulary to describe her rage afterwards.
Unit 02 needed no words as the AT Field flared out, striking Brocken's machine and sending it staggering backwards. Then the EVA stood, bringing the Prog Knife forward as the AT Field was used to catapult the Mechanical Beast off of the ground.
"Hmph! That wont's work on me! And now – I'll skewer your EVA and finish this!" The Count boasted. His machine changed configuration, the sword connecting to the headless body, arms spreading out as the torso began to spin. The speed of the rotations turned the machine into a drill of sorts as it rocketed towards Unit 02 at breakneck speeds.
Asuka crouched and readied the AT Field, hoping her gamble paid off.
/
"Alright then! Dr. Hell! Try this on for size!" Kouji roared as Rust Tornado flew from Mazinkaiser's grille. Hell King Gordon was still as the acid wind did nothing to affect it.
"Huh? That's not working?! Then - try a Turbo Smasher Punch!" Kouji followed up, the rotating rocket fist spinning rapidly before firing off and striking Hell King Gordon right in the face. The attack was shrugged off – as was the Fire Blaster that immediately followed it.
"What? Nothing's working?! Not even the Fire Blaster?!" Kouji observed as Dr. Hell chuckled.
"Hmph! I fortified my Hell King Gordon with the remaining Chogokin Z I could salvage from Mazinger's body from several of our prior battles and of course from its detonation! You're facing a far stronger machine with the same armor as your own!" Dr. Hell bragged as a fist from his machine slammed into Mazinkaiser, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Gah! Then I'll have to do better than that!" Kouji winced, slowly rising to face Dr. Hell.
"You don't have the power! That Scrander may have recharged your energy but this Hell King Gordon draws power not just from an internal reactor but from Shin Dragon itself! No matter how much power you have, it's like comparing a match to a burning fire!" Dr. Hell rebuked, throwing a punch, sending Mazinkaiser sprawling back.
"I'm done playing games, Kabuto! You've opposed me for the last time!"
The super robot crashed into the wall and it took effort for Kouji to rise.
"Then – it looks like I'm going to have to risk it all once again." The teen thought, body still sore from the earlier bought with Ankoku Daishogun.
"Well!? Where's the comeback?! The resistance!? The stubbornness!? Don't tell me you're already finished?" Dr. Hell asked with a chuckle.
"Mazin Power – maximum output - !" Kouji muttered, cranking the dial until it turned red. "Mazinkaiser – please endure this!" he thought as Hell King Gordon picked up Mazinkaiser with a single hand and slammed it into the 'ground' once again.
"The Super Alloy Z armor is still intact but you're just a human! Eventually the forces from each blow will wear you down, Kabuto!"
"Almost – there!" Kouji said as he kept an eye on Mazinkaiser's systems. "If this is truly what I have to do to be a real Mazinkaiser pilot, then - !" he thought as Hell King Gordon kept up the beating, this time pummeling Kouji deeper and deeper into the ground, holding him down with two fists while the other two arms kept swinging.
"Impudent - ! Arrogant - ! Simpleminded - ! How did a mere child stay a thorn in my side for so long?!"
Dr. Hell yelled each label with every punch, continuing the tirade as he did so.
"But it doesn't matter now - ! Now The Invaders will conquer the entire universe! My part is almost done. Yet it gives me some satisfaction that I can still personally send you to meet your departed Grandfather. You can greet him for me on the other side!"
Mazinkaiser sank deeper into the 'ground', Kouji's vision rapidly dwindling as the Pilder's systems quickly became the only thing left that he could see.
"No - ! I still don't have enough – not enough energy left!" Kouji cursed as the cockpit shook and his body ached from the continuous attacks.
/
I'm all alone
And now -
- at my wit's end
All I can do is watch
Shinji saw the EVA's berserk state and screamed. The images would not leave him. Asuka. Poor Asuka had been torn apart and there was likely no body to recover. Even the invincible Mazinkaiser – and the ace pilot Tetsuya Tsurugi – both had been nothing before his Mother's true form.
Both his mother and his father – both of them had betrayed him in the end. His father had crushed any hope he had on the start of all this – and his mother had given him the illusion of hope before tearing it apart.
The absence of Shin Getter from the vision was confusing. Ryoma, Hayato, and Benkei would no doubt fight back – as would the Getter. Still – if this awakened state of Unit 01 could make short work of both the Mazingers – then perhaps it was wise of the Getter Team to stay away.
The Evangelion spread out its arms and roared to the sky, Shinji screaming at the sight.
Then he blinked and heard combat. Something was fighting. The inside of the Shin Dragon? Shinji had no idea. It was too chaotic. Getter Beams and Rocket Punches flew from various places and in front of him, Shinji could see the fragments of two Angels. A Mazinger Blade and a Getter Drill piercing both cores. But that meant – that the Mazingers were alive! - And he heard the distinct swearing of Asuka as her Unit 02 engaged Count Brocken's machine.
Then why? What was the vision for?
Shinji stopped the questions as he froze.
Unit 01 rose of its own accord – tearing a hole in the 'floor', before expanding an AT Field and using it to fall out of the Shin Dragon.
Then it ceased falling and hovered in the air. The reason as to why was due to several translucent orange wings Shinji could see out of his peripheral vision.
He looked ahead and wished that he hadn't. Unit 01 had rose slightly and now he could make out the full body of Shin Dragon – and something else had arrived as well.
Across from Shin Dragon he saw a frighting figure with the face of Rei Ayanami. Yet this was gigantic. It was larger than even Shin Dragon, the tall and pale body lithe and elegant. Rei yet – the body looked like that of a grown ups' would, as longer legs and slightly wider shoulders indicated.
Its gaze met his own as the EVA slowly rose, surrounded by members of the MP series as they re-formed from the wreckage on the ground. They were in some sort of formation.
Things stopped making sense as Shinji screamed once again, his idea of what was real and what was not completely destroyed.
/
Getter Dragon had re-taken the upper hand, throwing away its' face plate, revealing a metal grille quite like Mazinger Z's. The grille opened, revealing gunmetal jaws that bit into Shin Getter 1's shoulder. Ryoma cried out from the attack, as it sent electricity surging through the cockpit.
Amid the pain he could hear Go speak.
"Stoner Sunshine. Fire the Stoner Sunshine."
"Let our six hearts beat as one."
"Believe in Getter!"
"TORIYAAAAAH - ! " Ryoma yelled as Shin Getter 1's wings deployed, the Super Robot grabbing Getter Dragon and hurling it across the battlefield.
Ryoma could feel the power surging through him as the six pilots focused, the ball of plasma forming in Shin Getter 1's palms.
It built up energy before expanding, shining like a miniature sun as Ryoma let the attack fly.
"STONER! SUN! SHINE!" Ryoma called out as the orb slammed into Getter Dragon, peeling away the Metal Beasts' exterior, revealing the inner workings of the Getter. The attack continued as more of Getter Robo G peeled away, revealing circular lights for eyes under the incinerated yellow diamonds.
Then a beaming Professor Saotome appeared on his screen and began to speak.
/
Kouji felt a surge of power as the Mazin Power suddenly spiked, the sheer amount of Photon Energy suddenly multiplying as Mazinkaiser – despite all odds – stood, pushing Hell King Gordon away with a Rust Tornado.
"What?! How can you still stand?!"
"You were right about me being almost out of Photon Power! But it looks like Mazinkaiser's been woken up by Shin Getter's last attack. The intensity of those Getter Rays gave Kaiser its second wind!" Kouji shot back as Kaiser had absorbed the excess energy from Shin Getter 1's latest action.
"No matter - ! You've used up your entire arsenal and none of them can scratch my armor!" Dr. Hell boasted.
"Maybe not! But there's a last attack you didn't see coming! And thanks to the power Shin Getter just unleashed I have both the time and power to use it!"
"A final desperate attack?! But I've already seen your final Kaiser Blade! Not even your Fire Blaster can harm me now!" Dr. Hell pointed out.
"Then I'll just use something even stronger!"
Kouji's roar was mirrored by Mazinkaiser – the machine's chest core flashing – the character Z being replaced by the sign for 'Devil' as the chest panels turned orange and kept getting brighter.
"I crank up the Mazin Power and concentrate the photon energy from the Fire Blaster into an ultimate attack!"
"That hardly matters – you can't get around the Super Alloy Z armor!"
"Maybe not – but I wager that your machine doesn't have an entire body made of Chogokin Z! The outer skin might be protected but not the rest of Hell King Gordon!" Kouji shot back as Mazinkaiser's wrists spun and he slammed both fists into Hell King Gordon's face.
"Kaiser Knuckle!" Kouji commanded, following up the double punch with a kick as the fire burning in Mazinkaiser's chest threatened to explode. The hit had an effect, denting Hell King Gordon's crown as he kept up his assualt.
"Incredible! To think Dr. Kabuto had planned this far ahead - !" Dr. Hell uttered as a crash was heard.
Baron Ashura's mechanical beast had crashed in front of him, both halves impaled by Count Brocken's blade.
"What the hell happened?! Brocken, what is this?!" Ashura yelled in protest.
"It's not my fault! The EVA's AT Field did this!" Brocken shouted back.
"That's what you get for underestimating me!" Asuka shot back, Unit 02 standing tall and looking down on them with her hands on her hips.
"Hey Kouji, you're all set up!" Asuka yelled as Unit 02 raised an AT Field around the area. "Fire that thing and I'll protect us from the blast with my AT Field!"
"Brocken and Ashura are down! Now – finish them all at once! Show me your potential, Kouji!" Tetsuya seconded, Great Mazinger stepping beside Unit 02 and making a fist of victory.
"Then I'm able to go all out! Now – experience Mazinkaiser's full power, Dr. Hell!" Kouji screamed. The character on the chest changed again, flashing to become the kanji for 'God'.
[ KAISER - NOOOOOOOVA ! ! ! ]
The super robot leaned back, a shockwave of heat and flame emanating from it as Hell King Gordon withstood the initial assault.
What followed was a shift in the attack's pattern – the expanding sphere of heat and flame changing into a wide beam of power that followed the direction of Mazinkaiser's uppercut, the rising motion blasting Hell King Gordon and the other Mechanical Beasts upwards, through the hull of Shin Dragon into the skies.
Kouji followed as Mazinkaiser's power could seriously hurt his allies if he was reckless with it. And he didn't want to test how Kaiser Nova would react with an AT Field if Unit 02 was the test subject.
He swooped towards Dr. Hell and his minions, unleashing the full might of the attack. Brocken's mechanical form was incinerated as he yelled out "Glory to Dr. Hell!"
Ahura was able to seperate both halves of their Mechanical Beast, the two parts flying away as far and fast as possible. As for Hell himself, the Doctor's screams were heard even as he was consumed in the light.
Yet he wasn't screaming. Rather - he was laughing.
"HA HA HA HA HA ~ ! You foolish Invaders! You really thought you could manipulate both Dr. Hell and the Kabuto line?! You mere parasites thought you could take me from my dream!? I am Dr. Hell, the man who will conquer the world! Kouji Kabuto ~ ! This is not the last time we will meet! This body may perish but I have prepared for this!"
As he spoke, Kouji could see an Invader tentacle around Dr. Hell's neck, the old man holding it in place with a grin as it writhed and tried to escape.
"You can't be serious!"
"Oh but I am, boy! Make no mistake! I will return one day – and the entire world will feel my vengeance - ! Now, Invaders! Be consumed in Mazinkaiser's fury and rue the day you thought you outwitted Dr. Hell!" The Doctor finished with a laugh as the flash of Mazin Power fully consumed him. A husk of thin Super Alloy Z remained, falling from the skies to the sea below.
/
"What the hell? It brought back the MP Series?!" Misato yelled as she looked around the panicked control room. Lillith stood, the reanimated bodies of the MP EVAs in a formation around Unit 01. It certainly looked official to her, though the aesthetics didn't matter when her charge was in trouble.
"We need to get Shinji out of there! Asuka, Mazinger and Getter Team! Finish up in there and give him a hand!" Misato ordered, slamming a fist into the control panel when she didn't get any answers.
"- And why the hell does that thing have Rei's face?" She followed up. The gigantic form of Lilith was supposed to be a monster but the human form made it seem more terrifying for some reason.
"I was supposed to keep this a secret but – Rei becoming Lilith was part of Commander Ikari's plan this whole time." Ritsuko said weakly.
"Ritsuko Sempai! Don't overdo it – you need to take it easy!" Maya Ibuki chided, holding Ritsuko's head up in her lap. The doctor chuckled and looked up to Misato.
"Maya – I'm fine. This is the end. Soon we won't have to worry about physical bodies." Ritsuko exhaled.
"The Human Instrumentality Project. You really think that's going to fix things?" Misato asked.
"Major Katsuragi. It will be our salvation. Humanity will evolve past Its current state.." Fuyutsuki said and she turned to the Sub-Commander. The man still looked like he was staring far off into space.
"Well that's great if it happens. But right now – we need to do what we can!"
"Shinji Ikari is going to start the process. There's nothing left to do for us. We just wait." Fuyutsuki responded.
"Rits, is he serious?" Misato asked.
"Mm. I didn't think that would be the trigger but – given Shinji's mental state – and the amount of power Unit 01 has – it wouldn't be a stretch for that to start it all." Ritsuko said, glancing around the room as she thought. "And at this point, the Commander's work on him means it's likely he can't stop it even if he wanted to."
"Maya – can we reach Shinji from here?" The Doctor asked.
"No. Something's interfering."
"Dammit. Asuka then?" Misato asked.
"It's faint but – yes! We can contact Unit 02!"
"Do it! Tell her to get to Shinji as soon as possible! We aren't just going to stand there and let our pilots deal with this on their own, are we?!" Misato asked, looking around the room. Maya, Mikoto, and Shigeru all saluted and Ritsuko gave her a tired smile.
/
Kouji panted as the attack had pushed Mazinkaiser to a limit he didn't think was possible. Thankfully, Mazinkaiser had plenty of power left to fly with.
The only thing left to do then was to deal with the thing that had Shinji. Kouji saw Tetsuya fly beside him with Asuka close by on the Great Booster. The thing that had him in captivity looked a lot like Rei, the giant naked body alien looking in nature.
"The hell is that thing?" Kouji asked.
"Misato says it's called Lilith but – it looks just like Rei." Asuka said.
She seemed to pay them no attention as the three advanced, Shin Getter slowely catching up to them as it had finshed its' battle with Dragon. Shin Dragon fell – now with no pilot. What awaited it below was the sea and the assembled machines and cyborg registered a large splash as they all headed towards the large target that had stood to her full height.
"Major Katsuragi! We're on our way to get Shinji!" Asuka said, looking to the Getter and Mazingers.
"I don't know about you all but I don't want to attack that thing if Wonder-Girl's in there. And it looks like the Lance of Longinus is pointed right at Shinji." Asuka pointed out, squinting to get a clear view of the weapon.
"Looks like Lilith needs that thing – so we'll destroy it! Then we'll just try to retrieve Shinji. If she attacks us then I won't hold back." Ryoma warned.
"It's worth a shot! Let's go!" Tetsuya said, flying ahead of the rest to try and reach Shinji.
Great Mazinger was repelled as a gigantic AT Field sent his Mazinger flying backwards, barely having time to recover and stabilize.
"Asuka! Can you and Unit 02 get us through the barrier?!" He asked.
"On it!" Asuka said, leaing forwards and slamming the Great Booster into the AT Field. The strain was more than she expected, even with her mother synced with her. The two pushed against the AT Field as the Great Booster began to shake against the barrier. Then she could feel herself break through the gigantic field as the Great Booster struck one of the revived MP EVAs, impaling it. She leapt from the Great Booster, grabbing onto Unit 01's left ankle with her right hand. Unit 01 sank slightly in the air and Lilith slowely glanced down at what caused the change in her formation.
"Got you! Now snap out of it!" She yelled. "I'm not letting go! Not until you wake up!"
/
"Asuka has made contact with Unit 01. Mazinkaiser and Shin Getter are following through Lilith's AT Field." Maya reported, looking up to Misato. "Major Katsuragi, do you have any ideas - "
Then the footage through Unit 02's cameras showed the lance disappear into Unit 01's body, the EVA's form warping into something else as Lilith rose even higher. Asuka was frantic to readjust her grip on the transformed cyborg.
"Rei, is that you - ?" Maya stammered, cut off by the sight before her.
A duplicate of Rei Ayanami in school clothes clutched Misato, the woman clutching her desperatly, whispering Kaji's name again and again.
Than she screamed as the Rei and Masato Katsuragi abruptly exploded into an orange liquid, the Major's clothes falling to the floor, soaked in the very same liquid.
"What the hell's going on?!" Mikoto shouted, stopping as the entire staff was suddenly aware they were not alone.
Multiple Rei Ayanamis stood, glancing cooly around the room as they started to make their way towards the other members of the bridge.
"The Human Instrumentality Project – it's - !" Maya began to yell when she stopped. Ritsuko was grabbing her hand. It was warm.
Then she stopped existing. The Human Instrumentality Project had entered the final phase.
/
Author's note
I feel I owe my readers an apology – I had an 80 + page document of story written and ready to edit and turn into chapters. Unfortunately a power restart to my computer messed with that and here I am, having to re-write a pretty intense battle among other things. It's a lot of stuff to re-write but I suppose a silver lining is I can remember the important bits that make the story move and cut out whatever doesn't. At least it is something to do during this pandemic. Hope that everyone is staying as safe as they can given how serious it is.
Also I was glad to find out that the OST for Mazinkaiser has a song titled "Decisive Battle" which is why there are two chapters with the same title – one from Evangelion and the other from Mazinkaiser.
Thank you for reading.
Edit: For some reason "Kaiser Nova" was not written out when Kouji unleashed it so I changed that and some minor grammar edits.