Chapter 168 If You Don't Drive the EVA, Go Back

The sky is getting brighter, and the sunrise is ushering in Massachusetts. The clouds are dyed a light golden color, and the towering crystal tree is shrouded in golden light, reflecting hazy halos.

The tails of the fish angel and the music angel were connected to the roots of the tree. Everyone present saw with their own eyes the two apostles who had been eliminated, appearing in the second branch.

In addition to the troops and EVA Unit 4 on the scene, the battle scene of the Massachusetts branch was also broadcast in real time in front of the screens of NERV headquarters and SEELE.

"Energy reaction. The blue image is confirmed to be consistent with the sixth and seventh apostles."

Ritsuko Akagi looked at the data analyzed by MAGI in surprise.

"We spent so much time and money making EVA, but he restored the apostle's health in such a short period of time and was able to control the apostle's actions!"

"How is it possible? There is obviously only one unrepaired S2 mechanism there, which cannot even support the actions of one apostle, let alone two. How on earth did he do it!"

"Is this the power of 'heresy'?"

Ritsuko Akagi slumped on the chair as if she had lost all her strength.

"What on earth are we fighting?"

She could not use existing scientific theories to explain the current phenomenon. Both EVA and the man were in a category that humans did not understand.

At the same time, SEELE is also paying close attention to the outcome of this encirclement and suppression battle. Ikari Yuantang, who recovered the Lance of Langnokis in the Antarctic, was forced to enter the meeting through a virtual image. They and NERV The operations department is directly connected and can issue orders to the driver and troops.

"To resurrect a dead messenger, what a heresy!" Speaker Keel slammed the conference table.

His right hand is a mechanical arm, and the modified mechanical prosthetic eye can clearly see the broadcast footage.

"Fuyutsuki, what is the chance of winning given by MAGI?" Ikari Yuantang asked Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki.

"Dr. Akagi, please explain." Fuyutsuki connected the image of Ritsuko Akagi to the SEELE conference room.

"MAGI believes that the winning rate of Unit 4 is only 0.000001. The only chance of winning is an unexpected error in the S2 mechanism." Ritsuko Akagi said: "In other words, MAGI believes that it is impossible to win in a head-on battle."

"Originally, the synchronization rate between the pilot of Unit 1 and Unit 4 was not high. Facing the attacks of two apostles at the same time, they would definitely be defeated soon."

"The best solution given by MAGI is to have the army and No. 4 aircraft retreat, and then drop N2 mines directly on the ground to minimize losses."

"It doesn't matter." Speaker Keel made the decision: "Let Unit 4 and the army continue fighting, and if they lose, we will throw N2 mines."

"It doesn't matter if you can't win, at least you can get information about the heresy."

"If we continue, we may lose the pilot of Unit 1. The pilot of Unit 2 is now unable to go into battle, if the apostle attacks again," Ritsuko Akagi interjected.

She pursed her lips, but she still couldn't bear to see the possibility of Shinji Ikari's sacrifice.

After all, she was not that hard-hearted yet, and she couldn't bear to see Shinji Ikari die like this.

She still has a lot of old feelings for Kaji Ryoji and Katsuragi Misato.

The friendship between the three of them in college is still vivid in their minds, but they never expected that it would turn out like this in the end.

A member of SEELE said calmly: "Aren't there many substitutes? The Marduk Agency was established for this purpose, and there is also Unit Zero."

Ritsuko Akagi's heart trembled. To say that there are indeed substitutes for pilots, in fact, all the students in the middle school where Shinji and Asuka attended were children who were searched by the Marduk Agency and could become EVA pilots. , the pilots of Units 3 and 4 were ready to choose from those children.

Although Ritsuko Akagi is an insider, in SEELE's words, those children are like props, just mere numbers.

"This" Ritsuko Akagi shifted her gaze to Commander Ikari's face.

Ikari Yuantang's expression was frighteningly ugly. He didn't know much about the new guy.

But Ryouji Kaji actually concealed the existence of such a dangerous person, and his plan was completely ruined.

If SEELE doesn't do what he says here, even the hat on his head may not be saved.

The fool NERV made was so big that he couldn't handle it anymore.

"Connect to the cockpit of Unit 4, and I will issue the order." Ikari Yuantang said in a low voice.

"Commander." Ritsuko didn't expect Ikari Gendo to be so heartless. No matter what, Ikari Shinji was his biological son.

"Just do it, Ritsuko." Fuyutsuki sighed.

"I understand." Ritsuko gritted her teeth, tapped the keyboard, and placed Ikari Gendo's face into the cockpit of Unit 4.

Shinji was currently in a stalemate with the two apostles.

The apostle did not attack him while he was in a daze, but just waited quietly around the crystal tree, as if calmly staring at Shinji and Unit 4.

"Why are you still in a daze? Attack immediately!" Ikari Yuantang's deep voice made Shinji feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"But dad!" Shinji shouted: "The apostle. The apostle did not attack me!"

Ikari Yuantang cursed: "That heretic has already killed people, fight quickly!"

"No. Why do I have to drive the EVA!" Shinji retorted to Ikari Gendo: "I don't want to drive the EVA at all!"

"You guys forced me to do this!"

"Then let the army and the apostles fight!"

While they were talking, several helicopters launched a suicide attack on the crystal tree.

But it was not the pilots' willingness. SEELE controlled their system and made the planes hit the crystal tree.

Boom boom boom!

The plane and the missiles hit the AT force field and exploded, and charred fragments and black smoke fell to the ground.

Ryoji Kaji and Ian, who were under the crystal tree, shook their heads. They heard the screams of the pilots when the plane lost control.

"Let's break out quickly. Those guys are really disgusting."

"Yes, now I am more convinced that leaving NERV is the right thing to do."

In the cockpit of Unit 4, Ikari Gendō was still questioning Shinji.

"Are you going to do it or not?"

"That kind of thing. I can't do it. Why did you choose me?"

"If you don't want to drive the EVA, go back and let these people clean up the mess for you!" Ikari Gendō cursed.

The fragments of the explosion were broadcast to the cockpit. It was a charred humanoid figure, not even completely dead yet. The arm moved slightly.

Shinji's heart stopped suddenly, and he felt a churning in his stomach, and covered his mouth.

Continuous explosions came from the outside world. The army launched a fierce attack on the crystal tree. Missiles and guns were fired at the AT force field, but it was useless and could not break through the absolute domain at all.

Many people died, charred corpses, corpses with their throats cut by crystal puppets in the video, and many dead people appeared in front of Shinji.

"Can't escape"

"Can't escape"

"Can't escape"

"Can't escape, can't escape, can't escape"

"————————————————Ah!"

Shinji let out a heartbreaking roar and pushed the joystick in the cockpit.

Unit 4 ran forward and actually threw the music angel to the ground, punching the music angel in the head one after another.

"Ah!"

"Ah!!"

"Ah!!!"

Shinji screamed like crazy. Unit 4 attacked recklessly and without any rules, but the sudden burst of power also suppressed the Angel of Music and smashed the Angel of Music's head with his fist.

Ritsuko Akagi witnessed all this at the NERV headquarters in Japan. She covered her chest and was a little breathless.

What would Misato do if she was here? She didn't know that Misato had been arrested and imprisoned.

Is this really the right way to do it?

Is it really right for that person to follow him?

Ritsuko Akagi looked at Ikari Gendō's unchanged face and her mood sank to the bottom.

Unit 4 continued to punch, but suddenly, the Angel of Music, whose head was shattered like glass, reached out and held the fist that Unit 4 was about to hit.

The Angel of Music began to split according to its original fighting instinct. It cut itself in the middle and divided into two separate individuals.

The fish angel also came over. The land is not the home of the fish angel. Its shape is completely generated for marine life. It has no feet and cannot move freely on the ground without water.

However, the fish angel is much larger than the music angel.

When Unit 2 fought with the fish angel, it could only crawl on the back of the fish angel. It was a huge monster with a total length of nearly 200 meters. In terms of size, EVA was like a kindergarten child in front of it.

"Ready to go, Mr. Kaji."

"Go? Where? Is there a way?"

"Follow me and you will know."

Ian held Kaji Ryoji's hand and stood with him on the S2 mechanism. The crystal grew into a transparent sphere. The two seemed to be little people in the crystal ball and were wrapped in a round barrier.

The fish angel finally moved and pounced in the direction of Unit 4.

It had no legs to move, so when it fluttered on the ground, it caused a violent earthquake, as if an 8-magnitude earthquake had struck, with waves on the ground, birds and beasts fleeing in panic, and tanks and military vehicles overturned.

The fish angel opened its mouth with great momentum and bit fiercely.

"Move! Move! Move!!!"

Shinji pushed the joystick hard, but Unit 4 did not move at all, completely imprisoned by the music angel.

EVA faced the attack of two apostles and had no power to fight back.

However, to Shinji's surprise, the fish angel did not swallow Unit 4 into its giant mouth to chew it, but destroyed the huge crystal tree by itself.

The fish angel's target was the S2 mechanism at the bottom of the giant tree. Ian manipulated the fish angel to swallow the S2 mechanism into its stomach, of course, including him and Kaji Ryoji.

"Wow wow wow!" Ryoji Kaji shouted while rolling. His limbs were fixed in the crystal ball. This feeling reminded him of the time when he was dating Misato many years ago. They played the big pendulum in the amusement park. In an instant, the world was spinning and the world was desolate.

It was pitch black all around. There was no light in the belly of the fish angel. He could not see anything.

But Ian could still see outside. The souls of the music angel and the fish angel were directly connected to him.

When the apostles were alive, they existed as a separate life. Their souls were wrapped in their own flesh. They used the AT force field to isolate themselves from the outside world. Ian could not establish a connection with the living apostles.

But after the death of the apostles, their souls became fragile things that Ian could touch. Ian and the souls of the two apostles were connected together, as if they had become a whole, and could no longer be simply divided into "you and me".

He could see the outside world through the vision of the fish angel and the music angel.

"Shinji-kun, you just stay there in pain."

The split music angels held Unit 4, one on the left and one on the right, each with a whip kick, making Unit 4 kneel on the ground. The silent mask of the music angels seemed like an executioner sending Unit 4 to the execution platform.

The fish angels were facing the front of Unit 4, and Shinji felt great fear: "No. No, No!!!"

Speaker Keel shook his head and gave orders without emotion: "It's all right, let the army retreat, and prepare to drop N2 mines."

SEELE cut off the connection with NERV. The next command did not require NERV to participate, and they would directly give orders to the army.

But Ritsuko Akagi could still see the images of the scene. The Angel of Music asked Unit 4 to lower its head and force it to expose its neck.

"That's the insertion point. Do you want to kill the pilot directly?"

"Don't come over. Don't come over. Don't come over!!!"

"Save me, save me."

"Mom. Misato Asuka."

"Mr. Ian."

"Someone, save me."

Shinji's eyes were bloodshot. His hand left the joystick and closed his eyes, hugged his head, and sobbed slightly.

Ritsuko could see the video in the cockpit, but she couldn't do anything. She couldn't even say comforting words. She was not the one driving the EVA. At this time, whatever she said seemed to be mocking.

The person sitting in the EVA was just a fourteen-year-old child. He didn't know anything but was asked to sit on it and fight a desperate battle with the apostle.

Shinji curled up into a ball. His heart was completely broken, but the Angel of Fish didn't stop for him. The mountain-like giant jumped up, revealing its sharp fangs.

The AT position of Unit 4 has been neutralized by two apostles.

This moment seemed to last forever.

Ritsuko Akagi covered her mouth and dared not look at it again after just one look, but the scene was deeply imprinted in her mind.

The fish angel bit off Unit 4's head.

To be precise, the parts above Unit 4's chest were bitten off and swallowed by the fish angel.

Blood spurted out. EVA itself is a biological weapon. The restraint device is just a prop used to disguise itself as a robot. It is a taboo item made to imitate "God".

Unit 4 fell to the ground powerlessly, blood gushed out like a fountain, dyeing the earth red, and the strong smell of blood that made people sick could almost be smelled at the scene.

"Unit 4 lost signal connection"

"Unable to detect the life response of the driver."

"MAGI judges that the driver's survival rate is zero."

"The ninth apostle, destroy Unit 4"

The members of the command room analyzed the data and gave such a reply.

"Shinji-kun" Ritsuko Akagi held her breath.

"This is... The energy image of the Seventh Angel is disappearing!" The man with glasses printed the data of MAGI in the mirror.

It can also be seen on the screen that after destroying Unit 4, the Music Angel stopped moving, like a toy that lost power and stopped moving.

Ritsuko returned to her post, and the energy reaction of the Seventh Angel disappeared without a trace in a few seconds. The huge body fell down and turned into steam and evaporated quickly.

But the Fish Angel was still there, and the Fish Angel began to flee the scene!

It jumped up and down on the ground, and its speed was not slow. It could jump hundreds of meters at a time, and each jump would leave a huge pit.

"The Sixth Angel's target is the sea! It wants to escape to the sea!"

"The Second Branch is only 120 kilometers away from the Pacific Ocean. At this speed, the Sixth Angel will dive into the sea in ten minutes and can no longer be tracked!"

"The rest of the matter has nothing to do with us." Ritsuko sighed.

NERV is just a subsidiary organization of SEELE. Now that they have lost Unit 4, they can no longer provide any help for this operation.

Ritsuko could only watch the fighter jets drop N2.

Boom!!!

A mushroom cloud exploded, but the fish angel was not affected by the N2, and soon it jumped out of the black smoke.

It can be seen that there are some melted parts on its body, but it was quickly repaired and did not affect its movement.

"It is detected that the AT position of the sixth apostle has changed in the last explosion! Evolved into a form that is more adapted to thermal explosions!"

"This form. Does it allow the seventh apostle's position to cover the sixth apostle? Or is it an evolution?" Ritsuko took a breath.

The ability displayed by the heretic is unprecedented, which makes her feel scared from the bottom of her heart.

"Ian Jun, what I know is just your disguise?"

"Kaji. Misato"

Ritsuko still remembers the young man's sunny smile. She stared at the screen without saying a word until ten minutes later, the fish angel dived into the sea and completely disappeared from the detection range.

The heretic annihilation war was a complete defeat for SEELE and NERV.