The battle against Gaghiel had begun, and NERV was scrambling to respond. The Angel had appeared in the ocean, attacking one of the UN's naval fleets. Unit 02, deployed alongside the fleet for transport, was immediately thrust into battle. Asuka, ever confident, took the reins, launching Unit 02 into action despite the chaotic situation.

Shinji and Misato, who had been aboard the fleet, could only watch in horror as the massive aquatic Angel engaged Unit 02 in a violent struggle beneath the waves. Gaghiel was a formidable opponent, its immense size and speed in the water making it nearly impossible for Asuka to land a decisive blow.

"Damn it!" Misato cursed, slamming her hand against the control panel in the command room. "We're losing too much ground. We need more firepower out there!"

"I'm doing everything I can!" Asuka's voice crackled through the comms, the strain in her voice clear. "This thing won't go down!"

Meanwhile, back at NERV headquarters, the command staff was frantically analyzing the battle. They knew Gaghiel was powerful, but they were used to having an ace up their sleeve—Quest Strother and the Godslayer. Yet, this time, there was no sign of him.

"Any word on Quest?" Misato asked Ritsuko, her voice betraying the hope that he might still appear.

Ritsuko shook her head. "Nothing. No radar contact, no visual confirmation. He's either not coming or—"

"Or he's watching," Gendo interjected from his usual position in the command center, his eyes narrow behind his glasses.

Misato frowned, confused. "Watching? What do you mean?"

Gendo leaned forward, his expression cold and calculating. "Quest is observing us. He wants to see if we're capable of defeating this Angel without his interference."

Misato's frustration boiled over. "That's ridiculous! This isn't a game. If we lose Asuka or the fleet, it's on him!"

Ritsuko looked at the monitors, scanning the surrounding areas, but the Godslayer was nowhere to be found. No radar signatures, no heat readings—nothing. "If he's out there, he's cloaked. But there's no sign of his presence."

"Of course he's cloaked," Gendo said, the edges of his mouth curling slightly. "He's waiting for us to prove ourselves."

--

High above the battlefield, Quest Strother sat in the cockpit of the Godslayer, its cloaking device rendering it invisible to the naked eye and to any sensors. His view of the ongoing battle was clear, however. Through his advanced display, he could see Unit 02 locked in combat with Gaghiel, struggling against the powerful Angel in the turbulent ocean.

His expression remained impassive, his dark eyes focused on the fight below. Let's see if you can handle this without me, he thought.

The Godslayer floated silently above the clouds, hidden from sight. Quest wasn't interested in stepping in this time. He had his reasons—he needed to see how NERV's forces, particularly the Evangelions, would fare without his intervention. This was their fight. He had no intention of bailing them out every time.

But as the battle raged on, it became clear that Asuka and Unit 02 were struggling. Gaghiel's sheer size and mobility in the water were overwhelming, and Asuka's frustration was growing by the second.

Inside the cockpit of Unit 02, Asuka gritted her teeth, wrestling with the controls. "Why won't this thing just die already?!" She shouted into the comms, her voice filled with desperation.

Shinji, who had been forced to take a back seat in this battle, could only watch as Asuka fought desperately. "Asuka, pull back! We need a new strategy!"

"I'm not giving up!" Asuka retorted, her pride refusing to let her back down.

Quest watched, unimpressed by Asuka's performance. She's too focused on her ego to see the bigger picture. Typical.

He glanced at the Godslayer's systems, knowing full well that he could end the battle in a matter of moments if he chose to. But he didn't. Not this time.

As Gaghiel continued to wreak havoc, Misato's voice came through the comms, urgently directing the fleet to provide backup. "We can't afford to lose Unit 02! All units, focus your firepower on the Angel! Keep it away from Asuka!"

Gendo's cold voice rang out from headquarters. "Let them continue. We'll learn from this battle."

Misato wanted to argue, but she knew that Gendo wouldn't be swayed. They would have to defeat Gaghiel without Quest's help. There was no other choice.

--

Back in the Godslayer, Quest leaned back, still observing. They're not ready. Not yet. He would continue to watch, waiting to see if NERV could handle the coming battles on their own. Whether he stepped in during the next Angel attack, or the one after that, was yet to be decided.

For now, Quest Strother remained hidden—unseen, but always watching.