"All nerve links connected. No abnormalities detected."
"List Items 1-2590 have been cleared."
The tests with Unit-00 proceeded better for Rei this time compared to the last. As she bonded with it once more, the other presence seemed... confused at her.
It was as if it wasn't sure that it recognized her anymore.
"2.5 until absolute borderline... 1.7... 1.2... 1.0..."
Unbidden, Rei found her gaze drawn towards her new 'brother', fondly remembering the strange warmth she'd felt when he'd held her in his arms.
"0.6... 0.4... 0.3... 0.1..."
'I... would like to experience that again...'
-:-
For finally gaining your first healthy relationship and desiring more of it, even if from that wretch's spawn, your WIS and CHA has risen by 1.
-:-
"Borderline cleared!"
"Unit-00 has been activated!"
Rei sighed in a mix of surprise and relief as her bond with the Evangelion fully established itself for the first time. Raising one of the giant mechanical hands, Rei experimentally had her fingers clench and release with zero issues.
Up at their separate positions, she saw both Commander Ikari and Shinji smiling. But for some reason, Shinji's smile felt more... present? 'No, I do not believe that to be the correct terminology.'
The telephone at the control terminal rang, prompting Vice Commander Fuyutsuki to answer it. "Yes? ...what? Are you sure? ...very well. Await orders."
Hanging up, Vice Commander Fuyutsuki turned to Commander Ikari. "Ikari, an unknown flying object entered our airspace and is making it's way here. It's most likely the 5th Angel approaching Tokyo-3."
"Abort the test! All personnel, go into Level One Yellow Alert!" Commander Ikari immediately ordered, causing the others to heed him.
"Are we going to use Unit-00 now that's it's functional?" The Vice Commander asked as everyone present prepared for battle, Rei perking up slightly.
"No, that EVA won't be able to be fitted for combat in time." Commander Ikari replied before turning to Dr. Akagi. "Prepare Unit-01 and have it's Pilot ready immediately."
"Understood." Dr. Akagi acknowledged before she left while making a phone call.
Meanwhile, Commander Ikari turned to tap on his comm. "Rei, leave the unit and stay on standby."
"Yes, sir." Even as she acknowledged his order, Rei found herself frowning as Shinji's words from earlier rose up from her memory.
"I swear, it's like he's treating you... like... you're replaceable..."
Rei's frown stayed, even as she left her cockpit. Shinji existed as a contrary existence to Commander Ikari. Why was it wrong for her to be replaceable? Why had he gotten angry at the state of her accommodation when neither Commander Ikari, Dr. Akagi nor any of the Section Two agents hadn't?
'Why... did he hold me in such a manner...? Why do I... desire more of that...?'
"Ready EVA Unit-01 for launch!" Misato commanded.
"Equip EVA with anti-air ordinance."
Waiting for Unit-01 to be sent up, Shinji frowned nervously at the constant reports of the Angel destroying everything in it's approach.
"Target is above Lake Ashi."
"EVA Unit-01 is go for launch!"
"Launch!"
At Misato's command, Shinji braced as his Evangelion was shot upwards again once more. However, if not for him having been listening to his comms, he might've missed the next words amidst the cacophony of his ascent.
"I'm getting high energy readings from the target's interior!" Aoba reported.
"What?!" Misato yelled in surprise.
"Is it going to-" Ritsuko spoke in realization, just as Misato gave a hasty order.
"Shinji-kun, take cover!"
Shinji reached the top just in time to see the Angel making an absolute mockery of geometry as it twisted into a form that split itself apart into a vertically-stacked pair of incomprehensible prisms while exposing it's core with a flash-
*PSHOW!*
-:-
Alert: {Evasive Maneuver} Perk Activated!
-:-
Alert: {Evasive Maneuver} Perk Failed to Activate due to EVA restraints!
-:-
There was a brief instant of every building directly between Shinji and the Angel getting a hole melted through before he felt ungodly pain via laser beam to the chest. It didn't help that the LCL had immediately begun to boil him, cooking him up alive while alarms started screeching within the cockpit.
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
-600HP!
-:-
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Shinji screamed in unbearable pain as his HP dropped sharply.
"Lower synchronization rate to minimum!" Akagi ordered.
"Deploy blast shield!" Misato added.
Shinji sighed in some relief as the pain numbed sharply while a section of the road before him rose to act as a very durable shield with reflective panels between him and the Angel, scattering and diffusing the energy of the beam. Still, even he knew that his increased LUK wouldn't help much beyond this. '[AT-Field Manipulation]!'
Shinji brought up the immensely valuable Skill just as the Angel showed that it's initial strike had just been a lovetap, changing forms once more into something that vaguely resembled a cross before firing a massive energy beam that melted down the blast shield and smashed against Shinji's AT-Field as he concentrated all of his effort into it.
"Unbelievable!" Ritsuko exclaimed at the sight before her. "Is he manipulating his own AT-Field to concentrate itself directly before him?!"
"I don't know how he pulling it off, but I'm not placing hopes on him being able to make it last!" More than a little relieved at Shinji's miracle, Misato spoke her next order. "Begin emergency recovery of Unit-01!"
"No go! The catapult's melting from the sheer heat of the attack!" Makoto reported. "It's jammed now!"
"How's Unit-01's AT-Field holding?" Ritsuko asked.
"Shinji-kun's fully pushing it to it's limit, but he's still being boiled by the heat getting past it." Maya answered.
"Scrap all protocols!" Misato directed towards Makoto. "Priority One on Pilot rescue! Eject plug!"
"Overruled." Commander Ikari spoke up, his voice sounding completely unmoved by his son's pained grunts.
"An EVA can't use it's AT-Field without it's Pilot." Ritsuko explained with a grimace. "The millisecond Shinji gets ejected from Unit-01..."
Even if she conceded her friend's accurate assessment, listening to Shinji's pained struggles barely felt like a better alternative to Misato. "If that's how it is... Emergency recovery! Blow the bolts holding him up! If we can't pull Shinji-kun back down, we'll drop him!"
Immediately, the support bolts W-12 through W-41 were detonated, causing the entire district around Unit-01 to drop into the GeoFront along with the Evangelion, the Angel thankfully halting it's attack after it's target left it's sight.
"Target has ceased fire." Shigeru sighed.
"Pilot Ikari has fallen unconscious!" Maya reported. "Expedite recovery! Unit-01 to Cage 99! EMTs, stand by!"
"Priority One on cooling the entry plug's LCL." Ritsuko ordered as the Evangelion was moved, Misato fretting at the visual feed of blood staining the boiling liquid as it wafted free of Shinji's nose.
"Pilot's heart rate, low!" Makoto reported.
"Boost plugsuit life support to max!" Ritsuko replied to that. "Begin heart massage!"
Makoto immediately did as she ordered, the initial charge thankfully enough to resuscitate Shinji's flatlining heart. "Heart rate recovering!"
"Force-eject entry plug!" Ritsuko directed as she turned about to already make her way towards the Evangelion. "And purge the LCL as well!"
"Hurry emergency treatment!" Misato shouted into the phone held up in her right shoulder, having two other phones active to try and direct the current chaos in NERV.
"Hey. Hey."
Shinji squirmed awake to the sound of a train rattling, the setting sun burning at his eyes while his only respite where the gentle fingers combing through his hair... 'Wait a minute.'
Shinji's eyes snapped open to see a woman looking down on him from above, having been laying down on her laps while she ran her fingers through his hair. He immediately felt his throat dry. "Ah... Um..."
To his small relief, the woman smiled down at him. "Hello, Shinji. It's been so long."
Shinji looked up at the woman and wondered why his heart ached at the sight of her. "...who are you?"
The woman's smile turned sad. "Ah. It's been so long... And I guess Rei's resemblance to me hits deeper when you just can't remember the face she resembles."
Her fingers tightened as a flash of rage entered her eyes. "Damn you, Gendo."
She took a shoddy breath before visibly calming herself. "Anyways, I managed to create this mindscape in order to ask a favor."
Shinji blinked. "A favor?"
"Yes. Please save Rei and Asuka." The woman pleaded. "Thanks to my husband's unfettered assholery, those poor girls had a rough time growing up just as you did. Of course, no matter what those two do, you'll always be my favorite... but those two girls... They have nobody. Rei has to deal with the two Akagi women being utterly stupid, and Asuka actually got off with the worst deal out of you three, especially when you consider her sperm donor."
"I'm sorry... wait..." Shinji weakly as he struggled to sit up, very reluctant to leave behind the soft fingers in his hair. "Who's... Asuka? What Akagi women? I don't understand."
"You don't have to." The woman shook her head. "As long as you feel the desire to save them, your emotions will serve as your guide. It appears in different forms, but everybody's got something binding them down."
Shinji blinked in confusion. "But... But how does that relate to Rei and this... 'Asuka'? What exactly am I supposed to do?"
"What you've already decided to do regarding Rei: Get stronger!" The woman declared with a thumbs-up. "It may sound strange and too simple, but that's exactly what makes it viable. The world is currently in a tentative state due to Second Impact. As the deciding citizen who finished off two world ending calamities and will be doing even more of so, you possess the same political clout as a national leader, regardless of how many people will want to you ignore that."
The woman shifted her thumbs-up into a raised index finger. "There's also the fact that EVA Unit-01 will not act for anybody beyond you. And the higher you rise in levels regarding {Evangelion Piloting Expertise}, the lesser you'll need a crew of humans to maintain it for you."
The woman raised a third finger. "Finally, the EVA System can directly raise up your physical and spiritual abilities for the great threat that's coming. With enough power, you can easily deal with anyone who threatens your life."
"This all sounds crazy." It hurt Shinji's head to think about all she was saying. "Also, what exactly is the EVA System? What does it want from us Players?"
"I can't tell you yet, but I can let you know that the EVA System is something of an experiment I managed to cook up." The woman smiled wryly. "The reason it resembles something like a game was actually something I was reminded of by Mari-chan. Good thing, too, because N*k* was gonna be a total bitch by making it a mental MAGI interface. Not only would normal teenagers not know how to use it, she almost forgot that Rei, a.k.a. the one she specifically wants to antagonize, would actually understand it better since her INT isn't limited by human standards! ...sorry, I digressed. Even so, I managed to convince her to see things my way."
Shinji's jaw dropped worryingly. "...how?"
The woman smiled as she leaned forward to place her forehead against his, the shading of the sunset making her warm eyes almost glow an unearthly crimson. "Don't underestimate the sheer carnage I would wreak to ensure your safety... Anyways, it seems that this is our stop."
At her words, Shinji felt the train come to a stop, the doors ringing open. Before he could protest, the woman shoved him out with enough force to briefly lift him off his feet. "No, wait!"
"And one more thing... You totally have my blessing for Rei if you ever feel like tapping that...!" The woman's voice started to fade away as the train began moving away, Shinji fruitlessly trying to chase after her open window. "Or Asuka, if you can handle it! Or maybe both, if you feeling adventurous! Just make me grandkids and be sure to be a great dad to them...!"'
"Wait...! Wait...!"
Sitting at Shinji's side, Rei patiently waited for him to awaken. Dr. Akagi had stated that he simply needed a good amount of rest as his body had recovered at a surprisingly quick rate and she was to explain his function in Operation Yashima when he awoke. Even if Dr. Akagi had given her a task to perform, Rei wondered why she'd already been waiting at the door during his operation.
'Is it because he declared me his sister?' Rei frowned at the strange tingle she always felt at remembering his hug. 'This is difficult. After the Angel is defeated, I must inquire Shinji of more details regarding this... and ask for more hugs, if he is agreeable to it-'
"Wait!" Shinji shouted as he sat up abruptly, his hand reaching out towards what Rei assumed was an entity from his dream. At least that was what Rei believed it was, for she didn't think Shinji, or other boys, would have had such a distraught expression on his face when he'd just grabbed a girl's breast. Or at least, that was one of the things Rei had learnt from overhearing furtive conversations between other girls at school. Opinion among them seemed divided as to the merits of the act, even if she personally had no opinion of it in general. "...huh? Rei?"
Shinji seemed to be genuinely stunned at her presence, unconsciously starting to knead her breast with his fingers before he stopped in realization and smacked himself. A strange reaction towards something he clearly enjoyed if his subdued erection was any indication.
But this was no time for that. "The timeline for the operation set for 00:00 tomorrow morning is as follows: At 19:30, Pilots Ikari and Ayanami are to report to Terminal 2. At 20:00, the Pilots are to accompany Unit-01 and Unit-00 while they are relocated. At 20:05, depart HQ. At 20:30, arrive at Mt. Futago Fortress No. 2. Once there, Pilots are to await further instructions. When the clock strikes midnight, Operation Yashima begins."
Once she was finished, Rei reached into the drawer beside her and drew it out to display his meal. "Dinner."
"I'll go without." Shinji's expression distorted in distaste at the sight of it before rolling his shoulder. "I assume that there's a plan to deal with that Angel, right?"
"Correct." Rei confirmed.
"Then let's go. Even the vending machine snacks are better than these." Shinji moved to get up, only to freeze when the sheet fell of his body. "...ah."
Shinji's face reddened immensely as he grabbed the bedsheet to cover his lower half. "Why am I naked?!"
"An extensive skin surgery was prepared to be undertaken in order to determine the extent of the damage to your boiled flesh. However, it was rendered moot due to you already recovering at a rapid rate." Rei reported as honestly as she could, only knowing this much from the doctors who hadn't cared for her presence while gossiping about Shinji's increasingly abnormal body. "If you wish to be intimate with me, can we postpone the coitus to another time?"
"Eh?"
"Three hours ago, you said that people shouldn't be naked before those they aren't attracted to?" Rei reminded him, which caused Shinji to get even redder. "If you are attracted to me and wish to become intimate, let us agree to meet after we have defeated the Angel."
"If I was attracted to you, this isn't the way I'd go at it!" Frantically checking the drawer for his clothes, Shinji found and rapidly put them on. "Okay, let's go! ...also, let's not mention to anybody that we've seen each other naked, okay?"
"Very well." Rei acquiesced and led the way out. '12 inches, I believe. I wonder who I shall ask about Shinji's penis length being average amongst males or not.'
Considering that it hadn't been a school day when the attack had happened, there was a quite big assembly of boys, and even some girls, watching from the roof of the school over the city.
It was a bit surreal to watch the blue Angel (which resembled a fucking polygon of all things, thoroughly asserting Mathematics itself as evil incarnate beyond what Toji had thought possible) in the city center reflecting the orange light of the starting dusk. Unlike the previous two Angels, it seemed content with just sitting there and appeared to be far less dangerous. Of course, Toji knew that this clearly wasn't the case. The molten remains of several buildings that had had the misfortune of being in the path of its beams were proof enough of how dangerous this Angel really was.
(Had it really been aiming at Shinji with something that could that?)
Kensuke had nonetheless filmed it for minutes before even he realized that it wasn't doing anything for now. Still, everyone had to agree that the reflective Angel was strangely eye-catching with how it's surface refracted the sunset light in a way light was not meant to be refracted.
It reminded Toji of all those nature documentaries stating that creatures that attracted attention instead of deflecting it were amongst the most dangerous ones.
"Maybe we should be down in the shelter." Toji warned Kensuke, a rare instant of him having the better common sense between them. Their last encounter with an Angel made him nervous. While this one maybe looked beautiful, he knew very well that that thing was definitely worse.
"Just be glad that it isn't a school day." Kensuke replied calmly. "Imagine the class rep catching you eschewing her authority... again."
"And whose fault was that?!" Toji remembered it too well. The hot blonde scientist had only been the first to lambast him after his actions. Sakura, during the time Shinji had come over to apologize for her leg, had scolded him for trying to hit the Pilot. His old man had then taken over to lambasting him even worse for deliberately leaving the shelter and nearly getting himself killed.
Horaki herself had given him the cold shoulder for almost an entire week, only speaking to him or Kensuke when the teacher directly told her to pass a message or something like that. Thankfully, she finally stopped being mad at them when Shinji dragged them both to apologize to her publicly before the rest of the class.
For a guy who often shied away from the girls thirsting for him, he really must have known his stuff for that to have specifically been enough to earn the class rep's forgiveness.
"I hacked into my dad's data files." Kensuke prattled on with little care. "According to their plan, it should start at any moment. Once we see them coming out, we'll leave, I swear. I don't want my memory card being crushed again."
"Fine, then..." Toji relented, a little reassured that Kensuke would prioritize his camera over this.
At the sound of a groaning rumble, everyone looked to the mountainside beside the school, only to see it slide aside and reveal a huge gate, which in return opened as well.
"Wait, was that always there?!" Toji exclaimed when they saw the familiar sight of Unit-01 emerging from the gate. However, they all looked in surprise when a second EVA appeared, a yellow mecha cyclops armed with a huge shield.
"That must be the one Ayanami pilots herself! Wow!" Kensuke squealed at the sight.
While stunned at the idea that the unbelievably antisocial girl really was a Pilot, Toji joined the others in cheering in support as they watched the EVAs walk outside of the Angel's range of attack and take the long way around Tokyo-3 towards Mt. Futago at the far side of the lake.
"Well, I'm satisfied for now." Kensuke blissfully closed his camcorder. "Now we leave."
"Finally!" Toji exclaimed.
The two Pilots met with Misato and Ritsuko at Mt. Futago Fortress No. 2, with Shinji looking less shaky or despondent as Misato had feared.
Getting into full 'Commander' mode after reassuring herself with cupping his cheek to assure herself of his presence, Misato began relaying the plan. "I will now inform you of your roles in this operation. Shinji-kun?"
"Yes?"
"You'll be acting as the gunner with Unit-01."
"Yes... wait, what?" Shinji's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought I was going to be defense. On top of Unit-01 having better armor, I can do that AT-Field stuff for better shielding, right?"
'That is true, but...' Misato wondered on how best to explain it.
"Normally, I'd agree with that, but there's a reason for your designations." Contrary to Misato, Ritsuko went for the blunt route. "This operation requires extreme precision. Unit-00 still needs more calibration to match Unit-01 in efficiency, which makes it nigh-impossible to link our ace-in-the-hole to it compared to Unit-01. With that in mind, it's up to Rei to act as your shield, Shinji."
"Yes, ma'am." Rei acknowledged with Shinji reluctantly nodding in acceptance.
"Listen carefully, Shinji. Positrons are affected by the Earth's rotation, magnetic fields and gravity." Ritsuko continued in her explanation. "Your aiming has to factor in all that. Hit the core with one precise shot."
"But I don't know where that Angel's core is." Shinji pointed out as he turned to stare at the Angel in the distance. Misato halfheartedly wondered if he could see it clearly from their position.
"Don't worry." Ritsuko assured him. "With every one of the Angel's attacks, it always had to expose it's core for it. We'll identify the targeting specifics and supply the guidance data. Follow the on-screen prompts and fire when the center indicators meet. The programs will do the rest."
Shinji sighed in some relief.
"However, only one spot has been set up to receive all this electrical power." Ritsuko gestured up at where they'd set up the positron cannon. "For that reason, Unit-01 can't change it's firing position."
"Yeah, I already guessed that much." Shinji sighed in frustration. "Even without those limitations, I don't think there's anything capable of dodging lasers that shoot at lightspeed. It's like a high noon cowboy showdown... but at the opposite time, making it reverse noon... or just plain midnight."
"Exactly." Misato nodded in agreement. "So be sure to shoot first, okay, Shinji-kun?"
"No problem." Shinji replied before hesitantly offering a fist bump, which Misato eagerly reciprocated. "Huh... So that's what that feels like... You really are the best adult I've ever gotten along with."
"I am simultaneously pleased and disturbed by that statement." Misato stated. "We'll talk more on that with congratulatory ice cream when you win."
"I can get ice cream for winning?" Shinji's eyes widened in disbelief which quickly turned to wonder. "I can get ice cream for winning...!"
"What is ice cream?" Rei questioned, causing both Misato and Shinji to gawk at her.
"...I want her to come along." Shinji placed a hand on Rei's shoulder.
"She will." Misato agreed, ignoring Ritsuko as she rolled her eyes for some reason. "But now, you two should go get ready. It's time."
Getting into his plugsuit and pressurizing it, Shinji idly regarded the thin curtain that separated him and Rei while sitting on a bench in the changing room. "Hey, Rei. Do you want to come live with me?"
Pausing a bit, Rei continued in her motions of undressing, taking off her white underwear before her shadow displayed her petite body slipping into her own plugsuit. "I would require Commander Ikari's permission."
"That's... That's not an answer." Shinji replied. "It's not about what he'd permit, but you want. Rei, do you want to live with me?"
"...I do not know." Rei pressurized her plugsuit and flexed her fingers, before stepping past the curtain to regard him. "But... I would like to try the ice cream with you."
Shinji blinked in total surprise before a giggle forced itself past his lips. Of all things for Rei to insist on... "Sure, alright. After this battle, your Nii-san's going to give you all the ice cream you want."
Shinji found it somewhat hilarious that this of all things seemed to have killed off the last of his nervousness, getting up and walking past Rei towards their Evangelions. "Now, let's go save the world. Again."
"Yes, Nii-san." Rei obediently followed, making Shinji blush and stumble.
"That's kinda..." Shinji paused as he suddenly realized something. "EVA System, I have something I'd like to inquire."
-:-
What is it, Player 3?
-:-
Shinji crossed his fingers and hoped his LUK was high enough for this idea of his. "Is it possible to transfer Skills between Party members?"
"At the tone, the time will be 00:00 exactly." A random female voice sounded out in the command room and over the comms. "All units are in position. Final seconds before Operation Yashima is underway."
A timer in the command room counted down the last five seconds before midnight, and then it let out a small chime.
"We're at Reverse Noon." Makoto reported to Misato, the name having been coined by Misato from Shinji's earlier comment purely because she believed that it sounded cool.
Misato sighed as she loosened her crossed arms, picking up a microphone to give Shinji one final bout of encouragement. "Shinji-kun, whatever happens out there, I'm grateful to you for everything you've done."
"Complement Rei, too." Shinji replied.
Misato's lips twitched. "You, too, Rei. Thanks for everything."
"Understood, Captain Katsuragi."
Misato briefly grinned in humor before her expression sobered into one of grim determination. "Initiate Operation Yashima. Begin cannon pre-fire sequence. Initiate Stage One power connect."
All around her in the command room, chatter burst to life at her commands.
"Roger. Switching circuits in primary and secondary substations."
"Deploying all switchers. Begin power connect."
"All stations, maintain full capacity. We're 0.7 shy of maximum output."
"Power transmission systems, status green."
"Increasing frequency modulation capacity to 65 gigawatts."
"All inverter systems reporting status green."
"Stage 1 circuit breaker system is operating optimally."
"Districts 1 through 803, begin power transfer." Makoto relayed to one of all those other voices.
"Voltage stable. Maintain grid frequency at 50Hz."
"Initiate Stage Two power connect." Misato ordered over all the reports and relays.
"Deploying Shingotenba Substation."
"Deploying Shinsusono Substation."
"Deploying Shinyugawara Auxiliary Substation."
"Voltage modulations within safety range."
"Initiate Stage Three power connect!" Misato ordered.
"Roger!" Makoto reported. "Routing all power to Mt. Futago Transmission Substation Annex."
"Maintain maximum allowable power-transmission strength."
"Superconductor battery banks charged at 78.6%."
"Maintaining maximum frequency modulation on power from Western Japan."
"Stage Three power connect, status green." Makoto reported directly to Misato.
"Very good." Misato took a breath. Now to throw their decoys at the Angel. "Inform No. 4 and No. 5 Fortress Command Centers. Begin operations as planned and pull back all observation aircraft... FIRE!"
Missile pods all around the mountains of Tokyo-3 opened up and began firing dozens of missiles at a time, all of them arcing into the sky before racing towards the Angel. In response, the Angel morphed once again.
Flattening into a facsimile of a horizontal Ferris wheel, the Angel fired off a singular beam it used to swing around and obliterate every missile in one single stroke.
Then it fired in retaliation at the last spot the missiles had fired from.
*PSHOW!*
*KA-BOOOOOM!*
"No.3 Anti-Air Defense System got vaporized!" Makoto reported.
"If it thinks that was just a single entity that fired all that, let's not correct it." Misato replied. "Next volley!"
Autocannons lining the mountains began firing at the Angel, shot after shot slamming ineffectually against it's AT Field before the Angel once again shifted its form and shot another massive beam of concentrated energy at the guns, blowing them all to pieces.
"No. 2 Turret Battery has been hit!" Makoto shouted to Misato.
"No. 8 VLS Battery Group, vaporized!" Somebody else reported.
"No. 4 Anti-Air Defense System, initiating attack!"
No. 6 Missile Battery decimated!"
"Laser group beginning 3rd salvo!"
"No. 7 Turret Battery, opening fire!"
All across the mountains around Tokyo-3, hundreds of missiles and bullets started sailing through the air towards the Angel's location. But even though every single shot was ricocheted away or destroyed, they all served their true purpose of hiding their trump card.
"Positron cannon charging. Currently at one terawatt."
"Focusing coil rotation holding at 38,000RPM."
"Compression rate nearing critical."
"Power transmission falling off! Shut down overloaded circuit!"
"Expedite reroute!"
"Power drop-off within acceptable range."
"Circuit breakers are operational. Recovery in progress."
"Stage Four power connect, status green." Aoba shouted over the rest of the bridge crew.
"Disable final safety device!" Misato commanded.
"Cock the hammer, Shinji!" Makoto instructed.
Shinji did as he was told, prompting the G-Type Marksman equipment on Shinji's EVA to activate and lower a giant head-mounted scope before Unit-01's right eye.
(Within his cockpit, a visor with similar function lowered itself over Shinji's eyes.)
"Initiating final input of sniping parameters." Maya calculated. "Adjusting for Earth's rotation and gravity. Plus 0.0009. Auto-tracking target. Target scope calibration complete!"
"Positron acceleration underway. Firing threshold in 0.2... 0.1... "
"Initiate Final Stage Five power connect." Misato ordered as all the energy in Japan met its penultimate convergence point.
"Routing all energy to power discharge subsystem." Makoto reported. "Plugs 1 through 9, ready for power influx!"
"Proceeding with final calibration of positron acceleration chamber!" Maya added. "It's ready!"
"13... 12... 11..." Makoto counted down. "10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
"Fire!" Misato ordered directly into Shinji's comms, the Pilot immediately pulling the trigger.
Behind Unit-01, the discharge plug arrays shot all the energy they had to the electrical receiver on top of the cannon, the energy flowing though the circuitry before the top of Mt. Futago lit up as the positron cannon fired with immense power.
The beam from the positron cannon vaporized an electrical tower in the way as it ripped through the black night in an instant and pierced through the Angel's AT-Field with zero trouble, tearing through the Angel's disformed center as well.
The Angel shrilled heavily as it morphed into an urchin-like shape and tilted slightly, it's tips blackened as tons of LCL spurted free from it's 'wound'.
"We got it?!" Misato clenched her fist, daring to hope. Unfortunately, her hopes got dashed when the Angel quickly fixed itself. "Was that just a damned flesh wound for it?!"
"Impossible!" Makoto protested as well. "The timing and Shinji's aim were perfect!"
"High energy reading detected from the target!" Maya screamed.
"All personnel, brace for impact!" Misato ordered, everybody in the command room grabbing ahold of whatever they could.
The Angel unfolded into a five-star origami, unfurling twice more as it screamed it's next attack.
*PSHOW!*
*KA-BOOOOOM!*
Rings of light gathered and spun around the exposed core before converging and being shot back out as an extremely condensed laser. The radiant streak of light liquefied the mountain in the way from the sheer energy thrown at it, leaving 80% of it vaporized while the remainder 20% became rapidly cooling magma at the edges of where the laser hadn't directly hit.
As for Unit-01, the attack had barely missed Shinji, the shockwave alone more than enough to fling the Evangelion and a few other assets away.
Shinji had trouble keeping his heartrate under control. It hadn't hit him. The laser hadn't hit him. But he'd barely had a chance to use his {AT-Field Manipulation} before the boiling of his LCL sent very uncomfortable sensations that reminded him of the earlier encounter during the day.
"Energy system status?" He barely heard Misato ask.
"Good to go." Hyuga reported. "Recharging already underway."
"And the positron cannon?"
"Still operational. Barrel cooling now in progress." Ibuki replied. "But I can't verify if another shot is possible..."
"No need to verify. We'll just do it regardless." Misato decided. "Shinji-kun? Are you alright? Hurry and get Unit-01 back into firing position."
"S-Sorry... Just give me a second..." Shinji panted. "My hands won't stop shaking... and it's getting a bit hard... to breathe right now..."
"Get back into position, Third Child." The most unwelcome of voices chimed in. "The Angel won't be waiting for you to recover."
'...he just had to say the one thing he's unquestionably right about!' Shinji groaned as he moved Unit-01 to pick up the positron cannon, ignoring the burning pain as he repositioned it. "Misato-san, I think I'm a bit delirious right now, but... I really think I wanna break my father's nose and stupid glasses."
Back in the GeoFront, Kozo Fuyutsuki was the only one brave enough to loudly chuckle.
Anybody else kept their agreeing smiles strongly hidden.
"Cannon locked into position." Hyuga confirmed as the Shinji set up the positron cannon again.
"Readjusting power discharge system."
"Unit-01 removing Type G components." Ibuki reported as Shinji took off the unresponsive visor. He could see the Angel just fine from his location, after all. "Final FCS, switching to manual mode."
"Ready second shot!" At Misato's command, Shinji cocked the hammer and ejected the spent shell out.
"Replacing fuse!" Hyuga reported. "Barrel cooling complete!"
"Power transmission systems holding at maximum current." Shigeru added. "All discharging plugs, status green."
"Final sniping specifications data-entry complete." Ibuki stated as Shinji carefully adjusted his sight. "Any further adjustments are entrusted to Pilot manual contro- High energy readings from target again!"
"Not this time!" Shinji grinned audaciously. "Rei, shield!"
"Yes, Nii-san." Rei immediately put herself before Shinji with her shield raised upwards, using the Skill he'd successfully transferred to her earlier.
("Wait, what'd she just say?!" Misato's jaw dropped, Ritsuko looking even more shocked at Rei's addressing of Shinji than she was.
Up at his seat, Gendo Ikari's eyes narrowed behind his glasses.)
Unit-00 met the Angel's laser attack head on, Rei's AT-Field holding up significantly as her Evangelion braced itself protectively before Unit-01 while her AT-Field visibly evolved from an octagonal form into a decagon, the beam going from being about to break through to scratching at the energy field in futile fury.
"Rei, in four seconds, drop your AT-Field and dodge out of the way!" Shinji commanded. "4...! 3...! 2...! 1...!"
Rei tilted her shield so that the laser got deflected upwards while letting her Evangelion fall back to give Shinji a brief window of opportunity.
An opportunity he immediately took. The positron cannon fired once more, miraculously piercing through the laser attack and crossing the distance to properly hit the Angel's core with decisive finality.
Even as it snapped back into it's octahedral shape, the burst of flames that exited it's wound from behind was damning. It screamed and spiked into an urchin shape once more, it's core straining to stay intact before helplessly compressing and then bursting apart in defeat. Following that was the Angel collapsing as it seemed to dissolve it's entire body into blood.
-:-
Event Completed!
Achievement: Wave Motion Blast Showdown at Reverse Noon!
Objective: Defeat the Thunder of Adam: Ramiel.(FULFILLED)
Bonus Objective: Defeat the Thunder of Adam: Ramiel without taking a single injury.(FAILED)
Bonus Objective: Find a way to 'accidentally' injure Gendo Ikari during the battle.(FAILED)
Rewards: 60/90SP, 6,000/9,000EXP, ¥1,000,000, New Skill(s), New Perk(s)
-:-
Alert: You have acquired new Skill(s)!
Sniper Rifle Proficiency(Rank: B): Your active capability to use a high-precision, long-range rifle to snipe enemies from any determined range.
-:-
You have Leveled Up!
Level Up: 25 → 28
-:-
Name: Shinji Ikari
Level: 28
Title: Player 3
EXP: 903/2,899
HP: 28,000/28,000
MP: 2,800/2,800
STR: 250(C) → 280(C)
VIT: 300(B) → 330(B)
AGI: 245(C) → 275(C)
INT: 174(D) → 204(C)
WIS: 177(D) → 207(C)
CHA: 237(C) → 277(C)
LUK: 189(D)
SP: 60
Money: ¥3,008,000
Your Skill(s) have Leveled Up!
Self Regeneration(Rank: D) → (Rank: C): Your passive capability to heal and get restored to your optimal state at an extremely fast rate.
-:-
By raising your INT from D-rank to C-rank, you have gained a new Perk!
Machinery Repairment: This Perks grants you the ability to assemble and disassemble nearly any if not all machinery and even large technological structures in mere seconds, intuitively understanding it's workings and being able to upgrade or degrade its capabilities as you wish.
-:-
By raising your WIS from D-rank to C-rank, you have gained a new Perk!
Optimal Response: Invoking a time-stop during pivotal moments, you are granted optimal choices that allow you to pick the right response for any possible outcome. Get to a high enough level and the time-stops will be unneeded as you will unconsciously and efficiently analyze and respond with the most suitable and seamless solution.
-:-
"Heh... We won..." Shinji chose that moment to allow himself to faint.
The entire command crew stood silent, surrealness washing over them, not believing that Shinji and Rei had just defeated the Angel.
"We won...?" Shigeru's grin slowly grew manic. "We won!"
It was like a snap, with everybody bursting into joyous cries and tears. Katsuragi let out the loudest cheer of them all with her fists punching the sky while jumping, which did things to her bust that caused most of the men (and two other women) to gleefully stare. Ibuki leapt off her chair into Dr. Akagi's bosom, who actually welcomed her. Hyuga and Shigeru high-fived each other vigorously, while doing so with the other bridge crewmembers. Even Professor Fuyutsuki gave an audible sigh of relief beside him.
The only one who hadn't celebrated at all was Gendo, his sharpening gaze fixed on the cameras still focused on the Evangelions. Especially when Unit-00 gave the limp Unit-01 what was clearly a hug, which was as cautious and tender as could be accomplished between the metal giants.
Name: Shinji Ikari
Level: 28
Title: Player 3
EXP: 903/2,899
HP: 28,000/28,000
MP: 2,800/2,800
STR: 280(C)
VIT: 330(B)
AGI: 275(C)
INT: 204(C)
WIS: 207(C)
CHA: 277(C)
LUK: 189(D)
SP: 60
Money: ¥3,008,000
-:|:-
Titles[Player 3, Third Child Pilot of NERV's Evangelion Unit-01(EVA-01 TEST TYPE)]
Skills[AT-Field Manipulation, Balance, Blitz, Brawling Proficiency, Evangelion Piloting Expertise, Housekeeping Mastery (Sub-Skills: Cleaning Proficiency, Cooking Proficiency, Massaging Proficiency, Sewing Proficiency), Kenjutsu Proficiency, Lie Proficiency, Poison Resistance, Scan, Self Regeneration]
Perks[STR(Heartbeat Impact), VIT(Tolerant), AGI(Evasive Maneuver), INT(Machinery Repairment), WIS(Optimal Response), CHA(Clout)]
KingVessel: Ramiel, conquered!
