Chapter 558: Terminating the Deification
The charging of the Nemesis-class Volcano Cannon on the EVA-Titan's back reached its absolute zenith. The space surrounding the muzzle distorted into ripples visible to the naked eye, its incandescent glare blinding to look upon, while the low hum sounded like the countdown of the grim reaper.
Its single red optical sensor coldly locked onto the deified Unit-01 beneath the Doors of Guf, without a single shred of hesitation.
"It... it's really going to attack!" Asuka's voice trembled with terror. Attacking the deified Unit-01 and the Doors of Guf carried consequences too catastrophic to imagine!
Inside the NERV command center, Misato Katsuragi's face turned completely white. She wanted to issue an order to stop it, but found that the directives she voiced appeared so pale before absolute, raw violence. Gendo Ikari's gaze, hidden behind his reflective lenses, stared fixedly at the screen, the knuckles of his interlaced fingers turning white from the force—this sudden, unexpected attack could completely derail his entire plan!
However, inside the safehouse, Ryo's eyes were calm, without a single ripple of emotion.
His calculations were precise and cold: the deified Unit-01 was the most unstable factor at this moment, the core key to opening and potentially dominating "Instrumentality." It had to be "nullified" first—or at least have its process temporarily interrupted—to create operational space for subsequent actions. As for the risks... in his deductions, allowing Unit-01 to continue its deification carried a far greater risk.
"Target: The energy connection node between Unit-01's deification core and the Doors of Guf. Nemesis-class Volcano Cannon, full power, fire!" The command was instantly transmitted through the psionic link.
In the next instant, the world seemed to lose all sound.
An indescribable, white-hot torrent—with a diameter massive enough to swallow a skyscraper—roared out from the muzzle on the EVA-Titan's back! It was not light, nor was it fire, but pure, ultimate destructive energy. Wherever it passed, space itself appeared to be molten and torn apart, leaving a briefly existing, twisted vacuum trajectory behind.
This destructive torrent did not collide directly with Unit-01's chassis. Instead, with a horribly precise angle, it violently slammed into the energy connection hub between the massive white halo above Unit-01's head and the silhouette of the Doors of Guf!
BOOM—!!!!!
An un-describable explosion violently tore open only now, sounding as if tens of thousands of thunders exploded simultaneously. Immediately following was a burst of blinding glare that could sear retinas, illuminating the entirety of Tokyo-3 and even broader regions in a tragic pale sheet.
Unit-01's golden field, which had been incomparably stable just a moment ago, emitted an unbearable, ear-piercing fracturing sound under this strike that transcended the conventional physical laws of this world—shattering like glass struck by a heavy sledgehammer! Countless golden fragments of the field flew outward like substantial crystals, only to be completely evaporated the instant they touched that incandescent torrent.
Unit-01 itself emitted a roar mixing pain and fury, its massive purple chassis violently pushed away from beneath the Doors of Guf by this irresistible force and slammed onto the ground. The divine brilliance swirling around its frame instantly dimmed, and the white halo above its head flickered violently, turning unstable as if it could extinguish at any second. The rotating geometric patterns of the Doors of Guf also experienced a momentary stagnation and distortion, and the colorful energy streams surging from within the gate turned into complete chaos.
This single shot had practically forced the termination of the deification process!
"Synchronization rate dropping sharply! Unit-01's deified state is unstable! Energy tiers are receding!" inside the command center, the operator reported in a near-scream.
Everyone was shocked into absolute silence by this god-slaying strike. Including Gendo Ikari. The most critical link in his plan had been almost completely broken by this unknown enemy in such a violent, direct manner!
However, Ryo gave no one a moment to breathe.
Almost before the energy remnants from the Volcano Cannon's firing could scatter—while the muzzle still radiated a dark-red glow and underwent overload cooling—the massive frame of the EVA-Titan violently spun around, its red single eye acting like a searchlight as it instantly locked onto the next target: Unit-06, which had just stood up from the ruins and was preparing to launch an attack.
The true threat had yet to be cleared.
The terrifying Volcano Cannon on the EVA-Titan's back fell temporarily silent, but its massive feet violently slammed against the ground. The heavy chassis exploded with a swift velocity completely at odds with its physical bulk, charging toward Unit-06 like a mountain of iron plating.
Those two menacing power claws were already raised, their talons tearing through the air with an aura that could crush all matter as they lunged down toward Unit-06. Before Unit-06's newly condensed dark-red light spear could even be thrown, it had to pivot into a parry, raising the light spear to block the giant claw capable of crushing mountains.
CLANG—!!!
An ear-piercing metallic collision blended together with the explosion of energy annihilation. The light spear in Unit-06's hands was instantly covered in fractures upon contact, and its entire chassis was pushed backward by the EVA-Titan's raw strength, both feet carving two deep trenches into the ground.
Ryo's tactics were absolute and clear: use absolute firepower to interrupt the most threatening deification process, then utilize formidable close-quarters combat strength to swiftly eliminate the interference unit directly controlled by SEELE—Unit-06.
While the two colossi engaged in a brutal melee on the surface, deep within NERV Headquarters in Central Dogma, Gendo Ikari watched the struggling Unit-01 whose deification had been interrupted, then looked at Unit-06 locked in combat with the unknown, powerful foe, and finally at Unit-03 swaying under the energy shockwaves in the distance. The muscles on his face twitched slightly.
The Lance of Longinus had already been pulled from Lilith's chest by technicians risking their lives, and it now levitated silently inside a dedicated restraint field, radiating an ominous dark-red glow. However, where was the "hand" capable of wielding it? Unit-01 was temporarily out of control, Unit-00 was fused, and Unit-02 was heavily damaged and paralyzed.
The only unit still capable of maneuvering—and whose pilot's state was relatively stable—was that white Unit-03. He had to deploy every single available force to stabilize the situation and eliminate the threats.
His icy voice cut through the communication channel, transmitting directly into Asuka's cockpit: "Unit-03 pilot Asuka."
Asuka, who was fighting to stabilize Unit-03 after being buffeted by the energy shockwaves, froze upon hearing it: "...Commander?"
"The Lance of Longinus is prepared. Now, immediately proceed to the designated coordinates to receive it." Gendo Ikari's voice was unquestionable, carrying the finality of a supreme commander issuing an ultimate directive. "Your mission is to utilize the Lance of Longinus to defeat the current primary threat target—that gray, unknown machine—as well as the unpredictably behaving Unit-06, ensuring the success of NERV's operation."
The Lance of Longinus? That mythical artifact that pierced Lilith? Handing it over to her to wield?
Asuka's brain went completely blank for an instant under this sudden, far too crushing mission. Utilizing that kind of thing... to fight?
A massive pressure blanketed her. But amidst her chaotic thoughts, a core realization was clear: whether it was that gray colossus that had almost destroyed everything, or the highly dangerous and unpredictably behaving Unit-06, they were both enemies that had to be stopped. Protecting this place and ending this battle was a pilot's responsibility.
Confusion and a heavy sense of responsibility intertwined within her heart, but ultimately, the latter took the upper hand. She had no time to ponder whether there were other implications behind this command; defeating the enemies before her eyes was the top priority.
"...Understood," she heard her own voice respond, carrying a tight constriction born of the immense pressure.
The engine of the white Unit-03 emitted a low howl as it turned its direction without a single shred of hesitation, sprinting at full speed toward the coordinates indicated by Gendo Ikari, preparing to receive that long spear capable of slaying gods.
Meanwhile, on the surface battlefield, the death match between the EVA-Titan and Unit-06 was entering a white-hot phase. Every single collision between the power claw and the particle light spear exploded with a deafening rumble and blinding sparks of energy.