"L-look—look!!"
Everyone screamed in unison. From Unit-01's body erupted searing crimson sparks, as though the entire Eva had been set ablaze. The flames then tore free from its form, spreading outward, surging in a raging torrent that devoured everything in its path.
The inferno widened until it seemed broader than the heavens themselves. In an instant, the entire world within sight was consumed by fire. Even solid bedrock began to glow and crack under the heat.
"It's… it's the Giant of Light! The same as ten years ago—exactly the same as ten years ago!"
Misato Katsuragi's eyes went wide with disbelief, as if dredging up a memory far too terrifying to face. Step by step, she stumbled backward, clutching at the white cross pendant in her hand with trembling fingers, her face pale with fear.
"No… it's over!"
Kitazawa Ryota instantly understood: this was it. Third Impact had been ignited.
Ignited by none other than Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami.
He had once believed Third Impact would never come to pass—that the Human Instrumentality Project was buried forever. But he had failed to foresee this: that Shinji himself could be replicated.
And now, the entire world stood on the brink of annihilation.
Within the raging sea of flames, Gendō Ikari threw back his head and laughed.
"At last… at last it is complete! The Human Instrumentality Project… is finally complete! Hahahaha!!"
His mad laughter echoed as the conflagration surged across the globe, racing outward, leaping toward the oceans.
Endless oceans, inexhaustible in volume—but even they boiled under the blaze. Seas churned, then steamed, evaporating into nothingness.
Countless cities drowned. Countless people burned alive in fire. Others perished in calamities born of the collapsing natural order.
The world was painted red. Plants died. Animals perished. Mountains crumbled into deserts. Oceans became barren wastelands. If this was not the end of the world—then what else could it be?
And just then—deep below in NERV's subterranean city—the ground convulsed. With thunderous footsteps, Units 02 and 03 finally appeared before everyone's eyes.
"What the hell happened!? Why is everything burning like this!?"
It was Asuka who shouted, utterly dumbstruck at the sight of a world swallowed in fire.
But she wasn't alone. Every last NERV staff member stared in stunned despair.
To witness the world's end with their own eyes—what else could possibly shatter the human heart more completely?
Each of them had families, friends. And as this apocalyptic firestorm consumed the Earth, could any of those loved ones have possibly survived?
The answer was clear, and unbearably tragic.
Gendō's deranged laughter filled Ryota's ears. But Ryota no longer had time for him. His eyes were locked on Unit-01.
Even now, the Eva remained in its apotheosized form. If this continued, not only would humanity be wiped out—Earth itself would be reduced to ashes.
Once that happened, not a single place would remain fit for human life.
Only beings who had evolved into higher forms might survive this world turned into a living purgatory.
Gritting his teeth, Ryota bellowed at Asuka and Mari:
"What are you standing around for!? Kill the pilot inside Unit-01—now!"
If they hesitated any longer, all was lost.
Fortunately, they were still in NERV's subterranean city, far below the surface. The world-ending flames had yet to reach them. Had they been above ground, they would already be dead.
"Got it!"
The two women shouted in unison. Units 02 and 03 charged forward, weapons raised, lunging toward the godlike Unit-01.
But they couldn't reach it.
In its apotheosis, Unit-01 was encased in what seemed like an impenetrable barrier. The pilots struck again and again, but the Eva's A.T. Field was far too strong—beyond comprehension, beyond anything recorded before.
Even with the combined might of two Evangelions, they could not break through.
And then—
From the heavens, a blinding light descended.
Like a falling star, it streaked across the sky and plunged straight toward Unit-01.
This time, the blazing meteor was as a divine weapon, cleaving through the invincible A.T. Field as though it were nothing, piercing Unit-01's body clean through.
"AAAHHHH!!"
A tortured scream rang out from inside the Eva. The brilliant radiance engulfing the world began to fade.
The falling star then continued its descent, crashing through the Earth itself, ripping through strata upon strata with unstoppable force, until it plunged deep into Terminal Dogma.
Kitazawa Ryota recognized it instantly.
The Cassius Spear.
Twin to the Lance of Longinus—one representing life, the other, death.
And the Spear of Cassius represented nothing less than absolute death.
"ROOOOAAARRR!!"
From deep within Terminal Dogma came a cry—agonized, mournful, yet terrifying.
The sound shook the entire subterranean city. Something below was stirring, something that sought to tear free from Terminal Dogma itself.
"What's happening!? What is going on!?"
The control room filled with panicked shouts.
Only Misato's face turned ashen, her body trembling.
Within NERV, only the highest-ranking officers even knew of Terminal Dogma's existence. Ordinary staff were never permitted to learn of it. Lilith's presence was NERV's most closely guarded secret.
But Misato knew.
And that was why she now looked stricken with terror.
Could it be—Lilith herself, sealed beneath by the Lance of Longinus, was beginning to stir at this very moment?
If so… then truly, the heavens had abandoned them.
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