Chapter 556: Arrival of the Titan
In an instant, with the safehouse as the center, the space for several kilometers around distorted violently.
It was not an explosion, but a more fundamental stretching, tearing, and restructuring of the spatial fabric. The ground did not shake, but everyone within this zone—whether survivors inside NERV Headquarters or pilots on the surface battlefield—experienced a momentary weightlessness and disorientation.
In the outskirts of Tokyo-3, within a relatively open area that had already been scorched by the prior combat, the sky seemed to be ripped open by an invisible giant hand, revealing a pitch-black rift. Inside the rift surged a chaotic flow of energy whose colors defied description.
Then, a massive metallic creation bearing the distinct technological style of an alternate universe slowly "squeezed" out from that rift.
First to emerge were the sharply angled feet, covered in thick adamantium armor. Their design style was entirely different from NERV's EVAs, leaning closer to the architecture of Imperial Knights or even larger Titans from the Warhammer universe, yet integrating the bio-engineering traits of an EVA into the proportions and joint details.
Next came the thicker lower limbs and torso, likewise clad in heavy plating. In the center of the torso, a core-like device radiating a deep green light pulsed slowly, like the heart of a slumbering behemoth.
Finally, the head appeared. It was an archaic and majestic knight-helm structure with rigid lines, covered in the same matte, steel-gray adamantium armor as the torso. The visor of the helm was completely sealed, save for a narrow slit where the optical sensors should be, through which gleamed a cold, burning crimson light like molten magma. It exuded a chilling, formidable gaze.
The height of this EVA-Titan was slightly greater than a conventional EVA. Its entire body presented a battle-worn, matte steel-gray, and the armor plates were heavily engraved with binary holy code belonging to the Adeptus Mechanicus alongside incomprehensible otherworldly heraldry—fully imbued with Gothic mechanical aesthetics and religious solemnity.
Its arms did not terminate in traditional EVA palms or Titan weapon hardpoints, but in two massive, menacing power claws shaped like avian talons, covered in the same heavy armor. The talons were incomparably sharp, shimmering with the cold light of a disruption field, while a low hiss from the hydraulic systems emanated from the joints. It seemed capable of effortlessly tearing through any existing matter, whether Angel armor or an A.T. Field.
Most notable was its hunched back. A catastrophically sized, crudely shaped Nemesis-class Volcano Cannon, bursting with the violent aesthetics of the Warhammer universe, was securely mounted onto a spine-chilling back gantry. The massive barrel pointed at an angle toward the sky, as if ready to pour destructive fire upon its foes at any moment. This massive cannon, which rightfully belonged to a Nemesis-class Titan, declared unrivaled firepower by its mere existence.
To support this massive armament and provide ultimate protection, four void shield generators humming with a continuous low drone were mounted onto the EVA-Titan's back. This gave its overall posture a hunched, heavy silhouette—resembling a giant from ancient myths bearing the crushing weight of a mountain, where every single step carried the power to shatter the earth.
The moment it fully descended, its crushing mass caused both feet to sink deeply into the terrain, kicking up a ring of dust. An oppressive aura mixing cold machinery, rampant biological energy, and the unique fluctuating sensation of void shields swept outward like a substantial shockwave, temporarily suppressing a portion of the energy radiation from Unit-01's deified state.
Every existence on the battlefield was drawn toward this suddenly appearing, starkly different, and pressure-laden third-party force.
"What... what on earth is that thing?!" Asuka cried out in shock inside Unit-03, the white Unit-03 subconsciously assuming a defensive posture. The aura radiating from that gray colossus felt both alien and dangerous.
Unit-06, having just broken free from the ruins, immediately locked its dark-red optical sensors onto this new uninvited guest, its frame crouching slightly into a wary stance.
Even under its deified state, the golden field unconsciously radiated by Unit-01 experienced a near-imperceptible fluctuation, as if sensing a threat of the same tier.
NERV Headquarters, Command Center.
The staff members, who had just slightly snapped out of Ryo's cognitive obfuscation, stared in total stupefaction once more at the massive unit that had suddenly surfaced on the main screen, its signal signature completely unrecognized.
"Unknown large-scale target manifested! Energy readings... extremely high! Unable to identify its origin or affiliation!"
"Spatial distortion phenomenon confirmed! The target seems to have... crossed through space to arrive?"
Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi exchanged a glance, both seeing unbelievable shock in each other's eyes. This completely exceeded all their intelligence and expectations. Was it a new Angel? Or... something else?
Gendo Ikari's interlaced fingers twitched slightly. This variable appeared even larger than he had anticipated.
Meanwhile, inside the safehouse, the instant the EVA-Titan successfully descended, Ryo poured his psionic energy into the link with it like a bursting flood.
"Psionic interfacing, initiate!"
A vast, chaotic stream of consciousness—thick with the unique blend of violence and order characteristic of the Warhammer universe—surged furiously along the dimensional link, battering Ryo's mind. This was not due to the EVA-Titan possessing a self-awareness, but rather the massive data torrent and instinctive feedback generated by its internal refined "Dummy System" upon receiving the external control signals.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Ryo's brow, but relying on his thoroughly tempered resolve and powerful psionic capacity, he forcefully stabilized the link. His consciousness acted like a master rider, swiftly taming this rampaging metallic beast.
He "felt" the heavy frame of the EVA-Titan; felt the faint yet definitely existing pulse of "life" generated by the simulated EVA biological structures inside it; and felt the destructive energy contained within its weapon systems, capable of tearing stars apart. An unprecedented sense of absolute control flooded his heart.
He slowly raised his own right hand, and concurrently, tens of kilometers away, the EVA-Titan synchronously raised its power-claw-equipped left arm.
A cold glint of light flashed across Ryo's red eyes. Now, a powerful "King" that belonged to none of the original factions had been added to the chessboard. It was time for him to rewrite the rules of the game.
He did not rush to attack any single target, instead controlling the EVA-Titan to focus its sensors primarily toward two directions:
First was the deified Unit-01 and the shimmering silhouette of the Doors of Guf above its head, which was gradually becoming clear like a massive eye. Second was the direction of NERV Headquarters—more accurately, the depths of Central Dogma.
His objectives were absolute and clear: gather data, observe reactions, and snatch what he desired at the most critical juncture.
The arrival of the EVA-Titan added a violent fire beneath a kettle that was already boiling to its absolute peak. The situation grew increasingly inscrutable, and increasingly perilous.