The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Just like the Angel of Day, this wasn’t intelligence, but it was certainly a form of evolution.

A surge of excitement welled up within him. Previous Angels had possessed immense power but were a hundred times more foolish than Orks; their combat instincts were bottom-tier, and as for ”tactics”—hunting such xenos was practically an insult.

Now that they had learned, things were becoming interesting.

An Astartes does not know fear. As long as these xenos continued to throw themselves at Tokyo-3 like moths to a flame, and as long as they acted individually, Shinji had no reason to be afraid.

”Major Katsuragi, notify the UN forces to withdraw. These auxiliary units should not be wasted in vain.”

”You mean the Angel is actively baiting the UN forces out to fight?” Misato wasn’t a fool. She drew a sharp breath and looked at Ritsuko Akagi beside her.

”They’ve become this smart? They even know how to defeat enemies one by one?”

An EVA could not fight far from Tokyo-3. Without an umbilical cable, even its minimum operational capacity would only last five minutes.

”Not necessarily. If the Angel had truly mastered tactics, it should be heading for Tokyo-2 to force us to abandon our defenses and come out to meet it.” Ritsuko took a puff of her cigarette; she was the expert in this area. ”It’s likely an instinctive application of its abilities. The Angel of Thunder can wipe out an entire army from dozens of kilometers away.”

”We can’t just let this continue. What does the UN force say?”

”They are currently retreating and have already handed over command!” Shigeru Aoba tapped his keyboard, pulling up several feeds.

The fleet was dispersing, and the armored units deployed along the coast were scattering as if for their lives. Faced with the Angel of Thunder, they would be blasted to slag from dozens of kilometers away—there was no point in fighting.

’Fine, so now they know how to hand over command.’

Misato’s smile was cynical, but her head ached as she looked at the Angel of Thunder on the screen.

The monster had slowed down again, as if waiting for humanity to concentrate its forces. Given its capabilities, it feared nothing more than humanity staying hidden.

”Has MAGI finished collecting the data?” Shinji suddenly asked. This Fifth Angel was tricky; even if he jumped out now, he would just be a target.

”Collection complete. Analysis is in progress.”

”Good. Everyone, come to the hangar. Let’s hold a meeting and discuss the operation plan.”

’Uh, alright. We’re about used to this.’

Misato scratched her head. Theoretically, this had nothing to do with the pilots, who only needed to execute the plan. But Shinji Ikari was different—he was not merely a blade.

Shinji didn’t feel there was anything wrong with taking charge. Regardless of NERV’s many secrets, their goal—defeating the Angels—was consistent. As expected, it didn’t take long for Kozo Fuyutsuki to agree.

”Rei, will you be joining the discussion?” He glanced at the screen, where the girl was spacing out.

”Me? No need. You decide, and just give the order.” Ayanami Rei shook her head. Seeing Shinji didn’t insist, she jumped out of Unit-01 and returned to the umbilical bridge, while Misato and the others hurried over with their files.

Her gaze remained fixed on the boy, watching him discuss with the others—logical, concise, and direct. She watched his serious profile and his determined eyes.

Ayanami Rei instantly forgot the anxiety of the previous night and the powerful Angel closing in step by step. She curled up comfortably in her pilot seat.

’How reassuring.’

.

.

.

[MAGI’s analysis report is out.]

[The Angel of Thunder automatically locks onto energy sources within 20km and launches long-range fire. There are no blind spots within this range.]

[Furthermore, it locks onto targets in reverse based on the trajectory of incoming fire. This distance exceeds 100km.]

Data flickered across the computer screens. The supercomputer MAGI provided detailed stats, naturally derived from the battered UN forces.

Image segments replayed, precise down to every energy level.

’If this thing didn’t rebel, it would be really useful.’

Shinji rubbed his chin. A human brain could never compare to a computer. He frowned as he looked at the data on the screen.

This was a mobile fortress. Its high-energy particle cannon was immensely powerful, possessing both scattering and concentrated modes. Through the deflection of its AT Field, it could attack any location without blind spots, and its defense was terrifying.

”Based on the collected data, its AT Field intensity is already 3.14 times that of the Angel of Day. And that’s not even its limit,” Ritsuko said, taking a puff of her cigarette and looking toward Shinji. ”Can you break through it in a short amount of time?”

”At that level, yes. But the use of an AT Field is a science in itself. If it concentrates everything on the attack side, doubling its intensity would be effortless.” Shinji shook his head. An AT Field could be used for defense, attack, and movement, all depending on the user’s conscious control.

If it were a ”dull” one like the Angel of Water, he would be confident. But this current Angel was clearly different.

”What if we attack from behind while it’s focusing on defense?” Misato suddenly had an idea.

”No. This Angel’s volume is too large, and its core is hidden deep inside. How would we target it? Besides, we don’t know the limit of its AT Field data,” Shinji immediately shook his head.

The room fell silent. Everyone felt the difficulty. Shigeru Aoba continued reporting battlefield information: the Angel had reached the coastline.

”There is one way: launch a high-energy attack from outside its search range to force a penetration of the AT Field.” Misato clicked her ballpoint pen and turned. ”Doesn’t the Strategic Self-Defense Force have a ’big toy’? That positron cannon at the Tsukuba Research Institute.”

”That thing isn’t fully developed. And according to MAGI’s calculations, it would likely require the power supply of all Japan just to ensure penetration.”

”Relax. The Japanese government is terrified out of their wits; they will cooperate.”

Combat planning was an extremely scientific endeavor. With MAGI’s assistance, they could continuously conduct data simulations to eliminate errors.

Shinji listened quietly. It couldn’t be denied that everyone at NERV was professional. Combat wasn’t as simple as going out with a gun; it involved incredibly complex coordination and calculations.

But it was wrong. Their plan was still based on the premise that the Angel was passive and sluggish. That positron cannon was massive—the power supply unit would likely be the size of a mountain, and it would be exceptionally fragile.

If the Angel had even a shred of combat instinct, what would they do if it attacked before they could even fire?

”No. At the very least, it cannot be this simple.”

The group, who had been discussing fervently, turned around. Misato pouted.

”Does Shinji-sama have any high-level insights?”

”The Fifth Angel is smarter than we imagine. Don’t forget it knows how to bait us by setting up a battlefield, and it can even strike.”

”But according to MAGI’s calculations, its detection range is only 20km.”

”Is it really only 20km? Your operation plan has no redundancy whatsoever. With such large-scale preparations, even the slightest accident will render it all useless.” Shinji didn’t intend to argue with them and looked at the xenos on the screen.

”It’s too early to talk about a kill. If it pierces through twenty layers of armor plating in a single shot later, will you still have the time to divert all of Japan’s electricity?”

Silence fell. Their plan’s premise was that the Angel couldn’t invade headquarters in a short amount of time, as its movement speed was slow.

”Unit-00 will stand by at headquarters. If it dares to infiltrate directly, we will intercept it halfway,” Shinji continued, but he was certain the Angel wouldn’t do that.

Judging by its shape, this thing wasn’t suited for combat in confined areas. If it really invaded underground, it would actually be simpler.

”And you?” Misato felt a sense of foreboding as she watched the boy turn, jump onto the entry plug in two or three steps, and look down at them all from above.

”I’m going to go test this xenos’s caliber.”

This lunatic.

Misato Katsuragi thought she knew Shinji well, but it seemed she didn’t know him well enough—she knew almost nothing. It was one thing to face an enemy without information, but knowing the Angel of Thunder possessed such terrifying attack power and still daring to strike proactively was another level entirely.

”Hey, don’t go doing anything reckless!”

She stared at Unit-01, hidden behind the mountain pass. The Self-Defense Forces had all withdrawn, leaving the path ahead of the Angel unobstructed. Watching the red blip steadily approach, her palms began to sweat.

’Reckless? Me?’

Shinji didn’t quite understand the woman’s words. How could an Astartes act on a hot-headed whim? He simply hid behind the ridge, eyes closed, resting in silence.

”Shinji-kun, do you truly not require my support?” A girl’s soft voice came from the other side of the comms.

”Testing work is sufficient for one person.” Shinji shook his head, then asked, ”Rei, are you worried about me?”

”Yes.”

The cold, direct response made Shinji grin as he gave a slight wave of his hand.

”There is no need for concern. As I said, leave all problems to me to solve.”

[Angel Landed]

The tense report caused the youth to open his eyes, his pupils filled only with determination and calm. He placed his hands on the control levers, scanning the dense data before him.

Unit-01 was equipped with mobile combat gear: a newly developed jetpack was installed on its back, a boltgun was secured to its lower back by a mechanical arm, magazine pouches were mounted on both thighs, and a menacing chainsword hung from its left hip.

This made its originally spindly frame look ”sturdy,” more akin to a killing machine.

’Still not enough. Are those shoulder armors built that high just for show? It would be better if they could mount electromagnetic railguns. Humans... even at a time like this, they still won’t stop their internal bickering.’

Shinji sighed. He had just learned that the Tsukuba Research Institute had a high-powered positron cannon under development. Why wasn’t the manufacturing of such a weapon accelerated? He later understood that these weapon components were developed for the JA system—a competitor to the EVAs.

”I hope this time, you all wake up.”

[Angel distance: 30KM from Unit-01]

”Shut down main power. Maintain only minimum operational energy. I want to test this xenos’s search mechanism.”

Hearing Shinji’s command, Shigeru Aoba turned to look at Misato Katsuragi. Her eye twitched slightly as she gave a solemn nod.

”Execute it.”

Beep—

The entire cockpit plunged into darkness, leaving only minimal lighting. Everyone held their breath. If the Angel made any move, the protective armor plates set in the outskirts would eject; even if they only held for a few seconds, it would be enough.

They watched the massive diamond-shaped object float across the sea, beneath it the ruins of a submerged city. Swallowing hard, they watched the ticking numbers.

[27 kilometers] [23 kilometers] [20 kilometers, critical point reached] [No reaction from the Angel]

”Phew, it seems the Angel relies on energy signatures for detection.” Ritsuko breathed a sigh of relief, watching the silent, drifting blue monster as various sensors recorded its every move.

”But it won’t just stupidly bump into Unit-01’s face.” Misato was still tense, leaning forward. ”Shinji, it’s still getting closer. What’s the plan?”

”Continue standing by. Have MAGI perform all-around monitoring to test its active search range. Prepare the Type-20 super-heavy self-propelled gun, maneuver it toward Lake Ashi, and lock on only.”

A series of orders were issued. Shinji sat calmly in the cockpit, watching the screens pop up before him.

On the railway at Lake Ashi, an armored train emerged from a tunnel. It carried a super-heavy electromagnetic mortar capable of firing multi-ton high-explosive shells over a hundred kilometers.

[High energy reaction detected from the Angel]

The drifting diamond monster stopped instantly. A brilliant flash dimmed the daylight as a pink beam shot out in a straight line.

Swoosh—BOOM!

The light pierced through the mountains, crossed the entirety of Lake Ashi, and landed precisely on the tracks, melting the heavy cannon—worth hundreds of millions of dollars—into molten iron.

”As expected, this xenos’s instincts are quite sharp. Have you calculated the distance?”

”76.3 kilometers. This has already exceeded its detection limit.” Misato took a deep breath, realizing she had oversimplified things. ”The Angel is like passive sonar—as soon as it detects it’s being locked onto, it fires back immediately?”

”It’s not that simple. The UN fighters have been locking onto it constantly. Specifically, it’s a perception of ’killing intent’.”

”Killing intent perception?” Misato blinked. How did they jump from science to metaphysics so suddenly?

”Yes. The Fifth Angel actively distinguishes whether the one locking on poses a threat. That’s why the heavy mortar was hit before it could even fire.” Shinji lightly tapped the control stick. Returning fire is worlds apart from active tracking.

Even if the Angel of Thunder stopped, he doubted the positron cannon would get a shot off before the Angel blasted it.

Misato fell silent, exchanging a glance with Ritsuko. She felt that starting from the Fourth Angel, these monsters were getting smarter.

They didn’t understand creation, but their instincts were sharpening, pushing their abilities to the limit. This Angel of Thunder was a literal ”mob-killer”; if the world’s air forces and navies attacked together, they wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps between its teeth.

’A bit troublesome, but I enjoy this process of thinking.’

He watched the Angel. After sending the super-heavy mortar to heaven in one shot, the Angel of Thunder continued forward, its speed still slow, as if waiting for humanity to bring out whatever else they had.

It held an absolute advantage in open terrain. It used defensive counterattacks against low-threat targets and proactive attacks against high-threat targets. Even if it was a ruse—

[High energy reaction from the Angel!]

”Shinji, dodge!”

Even as the thought crossed his mind, particles accelerated, and a brilliant beam gushed out. Five armor walls, dozens of meters high, surged up, only to have massive holes melted through their centers.

The small hill Unit-01 was leaning against was instantly vaporized. Several high-voltage towers turned into molten iron.

Shinji lunged out of cover like a cheetah. Seeing the hill pierced and the earth carbonized, he reached down and grabbed the six-barrel autocannon.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat...

155mm rounds poured out at over a thousand rounds per minute, only to explode into clusters of fireballs against an invisible wall.

’Very hard. The AT Field is extremely difficult to neutralize.’

Without neutralizing the AT Field, it was impossible to hit the Angel’s body. Without a second thought, he tossed the smoking cannon aside and leaped forward in a single stride.

Shing—

In the next moment, the beam pierced the dust, shattering the ground where he had just stood and severing the umbilical cable.

”This broken thing is truly a hindrance.”

The ticking of the internal battery startup sounded. Shinji frowned, his eyes flaring with pale, ghostly fire.

’Abandoning neutralization. AT Field... Full Output.’

[Pilot life-signs monitoring system experiencing unknown interference]

[Sync rate and mental contamination levels uncertain]

Misato glanced at Ritsuko; she was past the point of complaining. She watched as the Angel fired dozens of beams, only for them to be completely blocked by Unit-01’s field.

”Record: In scattering mode, the Angel’s attack power decreases.” She didn’t forget her job, holding her breath as she watched the battle on the screen.

Thud, thud, thud.

Dodging laterally, Shinji circled the ”pyramid.” The boltgun’s magazine was quickly spent. With a sudden pause—as if guided by a ”mind’s eye”—he saw a beam several times thicker than before sweep past his side, instantly piercing his AT Field and carving a canyon into the ground.

It trailed into the distance, slicing a terraced hill in half.

’Left shoulder damaged.’

Bubbles rose in the LCL fluid. Shinji felt as if someone had pressed a torch against his shoulder. The high sync rate brought extreme agony, but the pain had zero effect on him.

’AT Field. Neutralize. Psychic power. Full output. Assault!’

Unit-01 surged up against the beam. The shoulder armor had been completely melted away, revealing human-like flesh beneath. He fired the boltgun almost pressed against the Angel’s body, and a series of polygonal light-walls emerged.

This AT Field intensity was over five times that of the Angel of Day. With a high-pitched ”vroom,” the chainsword hacked down fiercely.

Crack.

The polygonal light-wall shattered like a glass window, but they were stacked layer upon layer. Meanwhile, in the center of the Angel, the high-speed rotation of charged particles formed a band of light.

[Angel, ultra-high energy reaction]

He didn’t even need Misato’s warning. Unit-01 retracted the chainsword and leaped aside, the jetpack shooting out a long tail of flame.

Swoosh—

The sky darkened instantly. A roaring light erupted past his feet, carbonizing the earth in an instant. The energy contained within was likely several times that of all Japan’s power supply.

’Offense and defense in one? The defense holds even during full-scale attack.’

An entire magazine was hammered into it, only to be stopped by those thick light-walls. By Shinji’s visual estimate, it had only been the last few layers.

’But it only needs to hit me once.’

The jetpack’s vector nozzles allowed the dozens-of-tons machine to shift laterally. He watched as the beam that had just pierced the earth swept toward the sky like a giant sword of light, narrowly missing his body.

Thud.

Unit-01 landed on the ground, its AT Field concentrating and exploding into rings of pale white vapor.

”3rd, 4th, and 7th artillery groups, cover fire!”

”Deploy N2 bombs!”

Misato hurriedly gave the orders. Various shells whistled in, but this time the Angel didn’t blast them out of the sky. After a brief pause, a second and third beam swept through.

The earth instantly turned to scorched soil; mountain peaks collapsed. The sprinting Unit-01 was incredibly fast, using both hands and feet like a dancer moving through a curtain of fire.

”This xenos sure knows how to hold a grudge.”

Shinji looked back. The concentrated shelling couldn’t pierce the AT Field, but he could tell with the naked eye that these munitions were detonating very close to the Angel. Meaning—

This monster was still concentrating its AT Field in his direction.

In that short time, Unit-01 had run back to the edge of the city. He suddenly turned around and spread his left hand.

Voom!

Three beams reflected off the AT Field. Shinji saw signs of melting on his chest armor. He understood now.

The Angel was also learning—learning how to balance power, accuracy, and rate of fire to deny him any space to dodge. It wouldn’t take long before there would be no chance to evade.

”Detonate Exit S-32.”

The beam and the AT Field vanished simultaneously. Without hesitation, Shinji controlled the machine to leap high, the jetpack spitting a narrow tail of fire. A second later, the high-energy reaction flared again.

Swoosh—BOOM—

Unit-01 fell into the launch silo, watching the beam graze overhead as if slicing the sky in two. A scorching fireball and a mushroom cloud rose from the surface. While the Angel of Thunder was focused entirely on attacking Unit-01, an N2 bomb detonated right above its head.

Phew.

Misato finally dared to breathe. Her eyes twitched as she scanned back and forth across the big screen.

On the left, Unit-01, having fallen into the silo, pressed its hands and feet against the walls, creating bright sparks of friction.

On the right, the Angel of Thunder hung suspended in the mushroom cloud. Its mirror-like surface had turned black, and the spire at the top had been blown with a notch.

This... this truly was...

A professional maneuver.

On the surface, it seemed a draw, but in truth, Unit-01 had held the upper hand.

Shinji had no intention of becoming complacent over his maneuvers; instead, he was busy complaining about the power issue for the Nth time. EVAs simply could not sustain long-term combat, and now the Angel had wised up, specifically targeting the umbilical cable.

He had once asked Ritsuko Akagi what would happen if the power ran out. She replied that, theoretically, the unit would cease all movement, before adding, ”In reality, we don’t know.”

Shinji had anticipated this. Unit-01 possessed a machine spirit, and machine spirits did not care for the laws of physics. If it could fire fifteen rounds from a fourteen-round magazine, it wasn’t hard to imagine the machine continuing to function when it was supposedly ”dead.”

However, an Astartes naturally loathes ”loss of control,” because loss of control is almost always followed by ”corruption” and ”depravity.”

Besides, if I can use superior skill to crush you, why on earth would I rely on losing control?

-

-

-

Tactical Department, Special Briefing Room.

The entire room was brightly lit. Projectors occupying the walls displayed various live feeds and data.

[16:10:15, Fifth Angel resumes offensive.]

[17:35:40, Fifth Angel reaches the center of Tokyo-3.]

[17:36:58, Fifth Angel deploys a drill, penetrating defenses directly above us.]

[18:12:33, First layer of armor plating breached.]

Makoto Hyuga adjusted his glasses, reporting the events in sequence while playing simulated animations. A long drill bit was steadily boring deep into the earth. Within a dozen hours, it would pierce the ceiling armor and continue downward toward the deepest reaches of NERV Headquarters.

”I have a question. The volume of that drill is barely a tenth of the Angel’s main body. The hole it creates won’t allow the Angel itself to descend,” Shinji, still in his plugsuit, raised his hand. He noted that in the simulation, the drill bit would eventually outgrow the ”pyramid.”

”Because the drill is also a part of the Fifth Angel. We cannot allow it to make contact with Terminal Dogma,” Ritsuko Akagi explained immediately, waving her hand to project dense streams of data.

”Based on Unit-01’s combat data, MAGI has reached a calculation. Time is limited; let us decide on a course of action.”

’Deliberately avoiding the subject?’

Shinji snorted but didn’t press further. As Ritsuko said, now was not the time for lore research. He looked at the data he had obtained by risking his life, lost in thought.

The Angel of Thunder’s firing frequency, the specific strength and range of its AT Field, its ability to handle multi-target attacks, and its maximum stealth range...

This data was far more detailed than anything the UN forces had. In its battle against Unit-01, the Angel hadn’t dared to hold back, exposing many of its hidden cards.

”Even with all energy sources shut down, we are detected at a range of 10km. The AT Field peak is 6.3 times that of the Fourth Angel. The closer we get, the stronger its defensive capability.”

Shinji tapped the table. He had originally thought of an assault from directly beneath, but that seemed difficult to achieve. Such a powerful AT Field would suppress Unit-01 to the point of immobility, making it a perfect target.

”There are other details. The Angel of Thunder seems to distinguish the level of threat; suppressive fire isn’t very effective,” Misato Katsuragi added. Earlier, the Angel had exerted all its effort to attack Unit-01, even at the cost of taking a direct hit from an N2 bomb.

”The good news is that its regenerative capability is inferior to the previous two Angels.” Shinji pointed to the missing notch at the tip of the spire on the screen; it was reconstructing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

”Are you suggesting Unit-01 draws the aggro while we detonate multiple N2 mines to blow it up?” Misato hesitated, then shook her head. ”MAGI has already calculated this. Even with the AT Field dispersed, and even if the Angel doesn’t actively intercept, it would require at least twenty-seven N2 mines detonating simultaneously.”

The room gasped. Whether it would kill the Angel was unknown, but Tokyo-3 would certainly be erased. The cost was too high; no one could make that call.

”That is the final resort.” Shinji shook his head as well. The Fifth Angel wasn’t the last one; there was no need to gamble everything yet. He looked at Misato.

”We can try your previous proposal. The Fifth Angel has stopped moving now.”

”Impossible. You’ve already proven it has threat-perception. By the time we set up the firing position, we might already be destroyed.” Misato massaged her temples, her voice dropping lower.

”Unless we compress the lock-on time and fire before it can react. But that won’t guarantee accuracy. Given its firing frequency, there won’t be a chance for a second shot...”

”Does MAGI have a suggestion?”

”She suggests a total evacuation and detonating the headquarters,” Hyuga’s voice trembled.

’Fine, the supercomputer says we’re dead.’

The briefing room fell into a heavy silence. Some smoked in silence, some frantically calculated data, and then arguments broke out.

Some suggested human-wave tactics, having the UN forces attack relentlessly to see if quantity could lead to a qualitative change.

Some suggested a ”wait-and-see” approach. Since the Angel wanted to reach Terminal Dogma, they could wait in the underground cavern and attack the drill directly.

Others had wild ideas about firing from ultra-long range while using N2 bombs to break the AT Field.

Shinji remained silent, calculating based on MAGI’s data while synthesizing the surrounding discussion. Gradually, a plan formed.

”You have an idea?” Misato had been watching his expression.

”Yes. A preliminary concept, but I need MAGI to run the numbers.”

”Let’s hear it.”

The people around the table instinctively sat straighter. Ikari Shinji was far more than just a blade; for the previous two Angels, he had been both warrior and commander.

Shinji didn’t waste words. He took the keyboard and, to the sound of typing, spoke in a toneless voice.

”Proceed with the positron cannon operation. According to the data, the Fifth Angel’s threat-perception is approximately 2.3 seconds. It possesses a strong consciousness for eliminating primary threats with full force. Regardless of whether this shot hits the core, the Angel will respond like a mad dog against the attacker and concentrate the majority of its AT Field there.”

”You mean... use the positron cannon as a feint?” Misato twirled her pen, catching his meaning instantly.

”Exactly. Unit-00 will operate the positron cannon as a feint to draw the hate. Is that acceptable, Rei?” Shinji turned his head toward the girl quietly reading in the corner.

Ayanami Rei had not participated in the discussion, quietly reading her novel. She looked up and gave a small nod.

”No problem. Just send the plan to me.”

’What loyalty.’

Shinji cast an appreciative look. He liked comrades who executed orders without questioning the risk. He continued typing, forming circle after circle centered on the Angel of Thunder.

”This is its maximum search range, and this is its maximum stealth range. Since we know the Angel excels at long-range combat, why duel it in its own specialty? Why not use our strengths against its weaknesses? Therefore, I have decided...”

The prototype of the operation appeared. As he spoke, everyone’s mouths slowly fell open, looking at Shinji as if he were a madman.

”Wait, wait a minute! Doing this is way too risky!”

”This is a war against an enemy that seeks to end the world. How can it not be risky? Do you think this is a game of house?” Shinji’s serious gaze silenced everyone.

”But you... aren’t you afraid? Such a crazy plan, if even one thing goes wrong...” Misato trailed off as she saw the boy’s eyes.

They were as calm as still water, devoid of any bravado or forced courage, as if he were long accustomed to walking on the edge of hell.

She was right. When Shinji was with the Blood Ravens, he had seen the description ”certain death” on mission terminals more times than he could count.

There was no fear, no hesitation, and certainly no room for bargaining. An Astartes would simply kneel, receive the order, and execute it.

”Ritsuko, have MAGI run the simulations. Precise every step to the second. I’ll handle the power allocation.” Misato thought for a long time before finally agreeing. Ritsuko and the eavesdropping Fuyutsuki did not object either.

It was indeed risky, but it was the plan with the highest success rate and a double insurance.

”Shinji, since you proposed the concept, give it a name.”

The youth, who had just stood up, paused. He looked at the hopeful eyes in the room, thought for a moment, and spoke slowly.

”Call it... Operation Holy Blood Judgment.”

As a secret organization carrying the weight of human survival, NERV was remarkably professional.

Shinji only needed to propose a concept; once approved, hundreds if not thousands of people immediately set to work.

Each division played its part, assembling this great war machine. This was why he never dismissed NERV’s value. An Astartes was indeed powerful, but even the mighty Custodes required the support of Tech-Priests and the Imperial Navy. In the endless wars of the vast galaxy, individual strength is infinitely diminished. That moment was exactly like this one: because countless soldiers had swung into action, Shinji only needed to preserve his focus to deliver the final, lethal blow.

[Unit-01 damaged armor plate replacement complete]

[Japanese government coordination finished; Positron Cannon transported from Tsukuba]

[Level 3 power nodes set; massive electrical energy converging from villages and cities]

[Probing fire continues to observe if the Angel has hidden skills] ...

Shinji set down the tablet with satisfaction. The entire plan was unfolding methodically. It proved that even if the Angels’ combat instincts had improved, they were still too ”honest”—completely unable to compare with the guile of humanity.

”Rei, don’t be nervous. The feint will certainly draw his attention, but Miss Misato has already made the arrangements.” He leaned against the railing, gazing at Unit-00 across from him, currently in its startup state.

Since the meeting ended, Ayanami Rei hadn’t looked at her book. Instead, she sat in Unit-00, performing auxiliary aiming drills over and over again. Drawing the ”aggro” carried high risk, but no one was going to let Rei be sacrificed in vain. The Angel of Thunder’s greatest weakness was that it could only fire in a straight line. Rei only needed to hold the threat steady and then duck into cover; the Angel wouldn’t be able to touch her.

”I am not afraid of the risk. I want to be of help.” Rei’s expression inside the cockpit was solemn.

”Ha, I’d also love it if you could blast the Angel to bits in one shot; it would save a lot of trouble.” Shinji smiled. Looking at the time, he wasn’t about to waste words like a typical brat before a battle.

”Execute as ordered. Leave the rest to me.”

He raised a fist in a gesture of encouragement and boarded Unit-01. Amidst the flashing sirens, he was transported elsewhere. Rei watched Unit-01 until it vanished from sight, then lowered her head, stubbornly repeating her movements.

’Charge, auxiliary lock, fire. Charge, auxiliary lock, fire...’

Time passed minute by minute. Everyone focused on their duties as a massive amount of machinery converged on the mountain peaks across from Lake Ashi. Plans were continuously optimized, and bunkers were rapidly erected.

”Rei, we’ve reached the final stage of preparation on this end. You can head over now.” Misato Katsuragi’s weary voice came through the comms. Piloting an EVA against an Angel was hard; coordinating these resources was equally difficult.

”Understood. Restraining devices released. Unit-00 moving to pre-set position.”

She started Unit-00 without hesitation, traveling through the designated tunnels to the battlefield. Stepping out of the tunnel, she saw the frantic activity behind the mountain range. The roads were packed with machinery and crisscrossing cables. Workers in helmets hurried about, and a giant firearm had already been placed on the mountain’s observation deck. It was night now, and the dense headlights of the vehicles looked like scattered stars.

Rei parked Unit-00 below the observation deck and received a communication from the command center.

”There are 3 hours until the operation begins. You may rest.”

”He is not here. I do not know what to do.” The girl shook her head. Unit-01 wasn’t here, and she had no heart for rest.

”Sounds like you’re worried about him?”

”Yes.”

Inside the command vehicle, Misato smiled. Phones were ringing off the hook around her. She leaned her back against the door, understanding Rei’s thoughts perfectly.

”Rest easy. Shinji-sama is omnipotent. In a little while, he’ll be within communication range. Want to chat with him for a bit?”

”Yes.”

Misato scratched her head. This girl had become quite the ”straight-shooter” since opening up. But thinking about it, she was similar to herself—feeling that as long as Shinji Ikari was there, everything would be fine.

”I’ll send you the detailed operation plan first. This is MAGI’s 175th revision, precise almost to the second. Remember, your mission is a feint. Hide in the bunker immediately after firing. Do not try to be a hero.”

The detailed plan was naturally not as simple as Misato described. The exact second Unit-00 would activate and how long it would take to enter the position were all integrated with the power distribution plan for the entirety of Japan.

”Understood.” Rei scanned the plan, then asked, ”How is Shinji-kun right now?”

”Him?” Misato looked at the full moon in the sky and replied with a smile, ”He’s likely in the sky, admiring the moon.”

.

.

.

[Level 2 power distribution complete; electricity from all over Japan concentrating on the firing position]

[Energy reaction rising; Angel shows no abnormalities.]

Everything was going smoothly. Shinji sat with his eyes half-closed. The view before him was breathtaking. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he looked down at the earth from the sky; during his previous airdrop operations, he had never noticed this grandeur.

The bright moon hung in the sky. Below, the earth was like a sea of stars. EVA Unit-01 was fixed to a giant all-wing transport plane. The moon before him felt as if he could reach out and touch it.

His operation plan was simple: Unit-00 would use the Positron Cannon as a feint to lock the Angel’s attention, forcing it to concentrate the majority of its AT Field for defense. Simultaneously, Unit-01 would perform a high-altitude gliding airdrop, emitting zero energy until it reached the Angel’s absolute detection range, launching an assault from above.

But the plan was also complex. It required air-to-ground synchronization. Rei’s attack couldn’t be early, nor could it be late. It required precise landing; the airdrop margin for error was tiny.

”MAGI is a fine tool. It can simulate the optimal drop point, calculating even wind speed and gravity.”

There was only one chance for the attack, but Shinji felt no nervousness. Just as Misato had total faith in him, he trusted the professional quality of everyone at NERV.

”Rei, are you nervous?”

”A little.” The voice in the comms was soft, carrying a hint of unease. ”There is only one chance for the attack. You are in great danger.”

If she failed to hold the attention, or if the Angel detected him early, Unit-01 would be a sitting duck in the high altitude.

”Knowing how to be nervous proves you have grown again.” Shinji didn’t mock her. He gazed at the moon.

”There is one thing I haven’t asked: Rei, why do you pilot the EVA?”

”Because of bonds.”

”Oh?” Shinji raised an eyebrow. The answer was somewhat unexpected. He asked with interest, ”Bonds with him?”

The comms were silent for a long time. Finally, an answer came.

”And you.”

Shinji smiled, realizing he had inadvertently left a deep mark in Rei’s heart.

Perhaps it was the same thought that prevented him from doing things the other way around—airdropping Unit-00 as bait while he fired the lethal shot from the ground. This was an Astartes’ responsibility as a protector, and it was also his own wish.

”Take a deep breath. Act according to the plan like a clock. Leave everything else to me.”

”Do you want me to rely on you?”

Shinji took a deep breath. Looking at the real-time mission list, he replied as a matter of course:

”Who else can you rely on but me? Remember, no matter what happens, I will protect you.”

’Protect me?’

Her crimson eyes widened suddenly. Ayanami Rei placed her hands over her chest and nodded softly.

”Okay. I believe you.”

Shinji said no more. He had stated his decision, and this decision wasn’t just for Rei. Unit-01 was like a god, looking down from ten thousand meters. He could see the starlit earth below rapidly falling into darkness. Cities, villages—everything was swallowed by the dark. Shinji flew through the air, yet through the darkness, he could feel pairs of hopeful eyes looking up.

Humanity was once again facing a struggle for survival, desperately needing a hero to save them. And as for this savior—

Who else but me?

Misato Katsuragi stood quietly in the command vehicle. All preparations were complete. She held her breath, waiting for the order. From the power grid workers to the supporting UN soldiers, everyone was waiting. At this moment, age and class no longer mattered.

If Shinji Ikari succeeded, humanity would continue. If he failed, they would await the Third Impact.

In this oppressive and tense atmosphere, the clock struck midnight. A voice rang out over the channel:

”All units, attention. The operation begins.”

[Operation begins, Operation begins.]

[All departments performing first and second power conversion cycles.]

[EVA Unit-00 entering firing position; Positron Cannon system linked.]

[All defense systems ready; super-heat-resistant protective shield in launch position.]

It was like the firing of a starting pistol. Everyone rushed to their stations, unfolding the preparations that had taken over a dozen hours to set up.

The war machine began to roar. Every person and every step turned like clockwork gears. As various reports flooded into Misato’s ears, her heartbeat accelerated in sync.

”Second conversion complete; all power directed to the Futago-yama substation. Cooling system running at maximum capacity.”

”Third ground-attack system, Fifth Artillery Group at Mishima starting cover fire. Notify the UN Air Force; they are cleared to begin bombing.”

Orders were relayed in every direction. The silent night was torn apart by booming explosions. Countless missiles streaked from the air, land, and sea, leaving behind a sky full of brilliant, smoky trails.

This was a feint within a feint. Misato Katsuragi had no expectations for these missiles; she turned her focus to the firing platform.

”Fourth power conversion starting. Final safety mechanisms disengaged.”

A massive surge of electrical energy began to concentrate into the twelve enormous energy storage banks. Unit-00 lay prone on the ground, gripping the gigantic Positron Cannon. Directly ahead of the muzzle was the Fifth Angel.

Light streaked through the air as hundreds of missiles detonated, followed by a sudden flash of blinding light that sent the artillery platform and the entire hilltop flying into the sky.

”Rei, after loading the ammunition, you have only three seconds to aim. Once you are sure you can hit the Angel, do not hesitate—fire immediately.”

”Yes, I understand.” Rei nodded. She knew exactly what made this Angel so difficult to handle.

As long as it sensed a threat—specifically when she aimed—the Angel would counterattack instantly. If the threat was fatal enough, it would blast you to dust. Her mission was simple:

”I need to make it feel a fatal threat, thereby creating an attack window for Shinji-kun.”

”What is Unit-01’s status?” Misato turned to another screen.

In the pitch-black night sky, the giant transport plane released its locking mechanisms, dropping the dozens-of-meters-tall giant. They were outside the 20km detection range. The wings on its back snapped open, and the thrusters ignited.

Shinji felt the slight kick of thrust. The cockpit was running on only the most basic emergency power. Unit-01 had become a massive, guided gliding bomb, plummeting toward the Fifth Angel.

”Thruster burn complete. Internal power engaged. Unit-01 is now gliding by inertia. It will glide to the operational point in 37 seconds, and reach the Angel’s absolute detection range in 25 seconds.”

The countdowns for the internal power and the various mission stages mixed together; an ordinary person would have struggled to make sense of them, but Shinji took them all into his mind.

Ahead lay a burning sky. Hundreds of munitions were being detonated prematurely. The Angel of Thunder’s counterattacks razed mountain after mountain, and the secondary explosions of the ordnance lit up the night.

The earth seemed to be burning. The cerulean alien stood in the center of the firestorm, radiating an invincible aura.

With its sharp perception, high offense, and high defense, no one could win by standing still and trading shots.

The scorching battlefield grew closer. Shinji could already see the collapsed peaks and downed fighter jets. When the second stage of thrusters ignited, he issued his command.

”Rei, begin.”

”Understood.”

Click.

The ammunition chambered, the safety disengaged, and the auxiliary aiming device popped up. Everyone held their breath. If this were a reflexive, ”dull” creature like the Third Angel, they would have had a chance to shoot it directly.

[Angel, high energy reaction. Target: Futago-yama!]

Misato didn’t even have time to sigh ”as expected” before she roared, ”Defensive equipment deployed! Rei, fire now!”

Clack-clack, clack-clack.

Several layers of armor plates snapped up, shielding them from the Angel’s attack. Even with the special coating, they were quickly melted through, leaving a massive hole.

The turbulence turned the sky outside into a blinding white glare. Data flowed within the auxiliary aiming device as the targeting reticle constantly corrected. It was exactly as they had feared—precise aiming was impossible.

”Fire! Why aren’t you firing!” Misato urged, but Rei remained unmoved.

’Be more precise. If possible, annihilate the Angel. Calibrate, calibrate...’

Several layers of armor melted away. The two targeting boxes finally converged on the center. She pulled the trigger.

Swoosh—

A beam of light flew back, piercing through the layers of the AT Field and blasting a massive, bloody hole in the center of the Angel.

BOOM!

On the other side, the top of Futago-yama erupted in a pillar of light. The shockwave sent the convoys hiding behind the mountain tumbling. Misato scrambled to grab the handrail.

”What’s the status?”

”Angel is silent. Hit almost center-mass. Wait—high energy reaction occurring inside the Angel!”

Misato had only had one second to be happy before her heart jumped into her throat. She screamed, ”Rei, pull back!”

This shot had enraged the Angel of Thunder. It judged the threat from Futago-yama to be the highest. A more violent beam of radiation was gathering, and Unit-00 showed no signs of retreating.

”Facility integrity at 73%. Loading second round.” Expressionless, she pushed the second charge into the chamber. The auxiliary aiming device recalibrated, even though the defensive facility in front of her was already rotting away, and even though an attack capable of obliterating her was gathering.

She didn’t retreat as planned. She stared straight ahead, only one belief in her mind:

’He wants to protect me, and I, too, want to protect him.’

Swoosh—

Pink light illuminated the night sky. A torrent of energy swept toward Futago-yama in a straight line. Just then, the Angel of Thunder paused briefly, as if it were a human ”turning its head.”

Whoosh—THUD—

Like a comet crashing down, having crossed the absolute detection range, the jetpack left a long trail of exhaust as it fell directly from ten thousand meters in the air.

A bright AT Field unfolded in layers through the air. Unit-01 slammed into it as if hitting an invisible wall.

”Very fast reaction!”

Shinji roared as he fell. The chainsword radiated a pale, ghostly light. His AT Field was concentrated as never before. As the great sword swung down, a series of sharp, crisp crack sounds echoed.

First layer, second layer, third layer...

One layer of the AT Field after another was slashed apart. Unit-01 approached the Angel’s main body like a wild beast. The Angel of Thunder reacted quickly.

Pink light filled the cockpit, as if the cannon were pressed against his own forehead. In that split second, the Angel of Thunder identified Unit-01 as the ultimate threat.

”Want to take me with you?” Shinji had no intention of dodging. He pushed his psychic powers to the limit and shattered another layer of the field. When the pink torrent gushed toward him—

”Rei, fire.”

Swoosh—

A second cerulean beam came from the distance, slicing across the surface of the lake and piercing through the Angel’s body from the other side.

A massive amount of blood gushed from the hole. Simultaneously, the jetpack spat a long trail of exhaust.

The Angel of Thunder was blasted several degrees off-axis. The terrifying ray swept past the soles of Unit-01’s feet, melting the ground and leaving a bottomless pit. Its lower corner hit the earth, smashing a nearby building into rubble.

In an instant, two lethal threat sources appeared simultaneously, leaving it trapped in a dilemma.

The Angel felt no pain and had no blind spots. As its body twisted, a third beam gathered, as if it realized that unless it finished off the sniper in the distance, it could never handle the threat right in front of it.

This beam wasn’t as intense as the previous one, but it was more than enough to blast the Unit-00 at the center of the inferno into nothingness.

”Don’t even think about it!”

Unit-01 carved a brilliant arc through the sky. Just as the beam fired, it threw itself directly into the line of fire.

’Psychic Power. Full Output.’

Sizzle—

The collision of energy particles scattered fireworks across the sky. The beam was cleaved in two by the chainsword, grazing into the night sky and the lake. Purple armor began to melt as Unit-01 charged against the current.

Crack.

The blade edge carved into the mirror-like glass exterior. The whirling chainsword spat out a torrent of flesh and blood. Yes—Unit-01 had split the beam in two, hacked the great sword directly into the Angel’s ”mouth,” and simultaneously wiped its hand across its waist, drawing its boltgun and jamming it into the wound.

Rat-tat-tat-tat.

A continuous series of explosions erupted from within the Angel. Its beautiful cerulean body became riddled with holes. Framed by the full moon above and the burning peaks below, Unit-01 swung its chainsword, cleaved apart the freshly gathered AT Field, swapped in magazine after magazine, and shattered the giant diamond.

The Angel of Thunder’s massive body rolled uselessly on the ground. Unit-01 clung to it like a parasite, swinging blade and gun.

”Xenos, do not move. Do not struggle. Accept the judgment of the Emperor’s blade.”

Shinji’s eyes flashed with a pale, ghostly light. He had no manic, bloodthirsty intent like the followers of Khorne; he looked more like a calm surgeon.

Bit by bit, meticulously, he tore the Angel of Thunder into eight pieces!