Weeks had passed since the battle with Sachiel, but the tension in Tokyo-3 had only grown. NERV had been on high alert, anticipating the arrival of the next Angel. They didn't have to wait long.
Shamshel, the Fourth Angel, descended upon the city, its whip-like energy tendrils slicing through buildings and defenses with terrifying precision. Unit 02 had been deployed to engage it, but even with its ferocity, the Evangelion was struggling to gain the upper hand.
"Unit 02 is taking too much damage!" Misato shouted, her voice filled with frustration as she watched the monitors. "We can't afford to lose another Eva!"
In the cockpit of Unit 02, Asuka Langley Soryu gritted her teeth, struggling to keep control as Shamshel's energy tendrils wrapped around her Evangelion's legs, pulling her down. "Dammit! I've got this!" she yelled, though the strain in her voice suggested otherwise.
The Angel loomed over Unit 02, preparing to deliver a crushing blow, its tendrils crackling with energy. Just as it seemed like all hope was lost, something massive streaked across the sky. The ground quaked as the Godslayer descended from the heavens, its titanic frame casting a shadow over the battlefield.
Quest Strother was back.
From his vantage point inside the Godslayer's cockpit, Quest observed the battle with his usual cold detachment. Same situation, different Angel, he thought. Time to clean up.
The Godslayer moved with a speed that belied its massive size, its servos and thrusters propelling it with surprising agility. Shamshel, focused on Unit 02, didn't notice the towering robot getting into position behind it.
With mechanical precision, the Godslayer wrapped its enormous arms around the Angel's slender torso, lifting it effortlessly off the ground. Shamshel thrashed, its tendrils snapping wildly as it struggled to free itself, but the Godslayer's grip was unbreakable. Quest tightened the hold, forcing the Angel to submit to his control.
"Get ready for a ride," Quest muttered, his voice calm and composed as always.
With a single, powerful motion, the Godslayer hurled Shamshel through the air, the Angel's body crashing into the ground a few yards away with a massive explosion of dust and debris. Buildings crumbled under the force of the impact, and for a brief moment, the battlefield was silent.
Inside Unit 02, Asuka blinked, momentarily stunned by what had just happened. "What the—?" she started, looking up to see the Godslayer towering over the scene. She was livid and shocked all at once. "Who does this guy think he is?! That was my kill!"
In NERV headquarters, Misato let out a sigh of relief. "The Godslayer… Just in time again."
Gendo watched the monitors in silence, eyes narrowing as he considered the implications of Quest's intervention. He knew that every time the Godslayer appeared, it further complicated his plans.
Quest, meanwhile, watched as Shamshel slowly started to recover, its form twitching as it tried to rise from the ground. He wasn't done yet.
"Stay down," he muttered, his fingers moving across the controls.
The Godslayer's chest panel opened, revealing an array of missile launchers. In an instant, a barrage of explosives shot out, arcing through the air toward the Angel. The missiles slammed into Shamshel, one after another, creating a series of deafening explosions that lit up the sky.
Shamshel let out a final, distorted cry before collapsing into a pile of smoldering debris, its core shattered beyond repair.
Inside the cockpit of Unit 02, Asuka scowled, furious at having been upstaged. "Unbelievable. That thing just stole the show."
Back in the cockpit of the Godslayer, Quest leaned back, satisfied with the outcome. "Same old story," he muttered under his breath. "Another Angel down. No thanks necessary."
As he prepared to leave, his comm system flickered to life. Misato's voice came through, slightly more composed now that the danger had passed. "Quest, this is Misato Katsuragi. We appreciate the assist, but we need to talk."
Quest hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice still carrying that distant chill. "There's nothing to talk about. The mission's done."
And with that, the Godslayer turned, its thrusters igniting as it launched into the sky once more, disappearing into the clouds as quickly as it had arrived, leaving behind a mixture of awe, frustration, and uncertainty in its wake.
As the battlefield quieted, one thing was clear: every time the Godslayer appeared, the game was changing. And no one, not even Gendo Ikari, knew how it would end.