Chapter 154: Self-Destruct
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Aug 23, 2025
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The movements of the two EVAs were identical—calculated to perfection.
The delay between them was no more than one or two seconds at most.
The combat ability of the simulation system was terrifying. Artificial intelligence had already reached such an alarming level—if that was the case, what need was there for pilots anymore?
Yes, that was the very thought in everyone's mind at this moment.
At first, everyone assumed that this exchange would once again end in a draw between Kitazawa Ryōta and Mark.12. But they were wrong. Because at that very instant, Ryōta suddenly switched tactics. Mid-strike, he forcefully pulled back his leg with incredible speed, twisting his body backward, and then brought down a vicious axe kick aimed straight at Mark.12!
A mid-fight change of form—one that none of them had ever seen before…
They had witnessed many of Ryōta's battles. Normally, any fighter—human or otherwise—develops habits, favored techniques, and patterns after enough engagements. Ryōta was no exception; no matter how skilled he was, he too had his signature moves.
But this? This technique was something entirely new.
No—perhaps not entirely. For the briefest moment, everyone felt a strange familiarity… as though they had seen it somewhere before. But certainly not from Ryōta. Never from him!
The two attacks collided with crushing force. Both EVAs wielded earth-shattering power. But this time, because of Ryōta's unexpected shift in form, Mark.12 failed to react in time. The clash sent up a storm of dust and debris, obscuring everything from sight.
When the dust finally cleared, the truth came into view: Mark.12 lay sprawled on the ground, heavily damaged.
Ryōta's sudden reversal kick had struck with devastating effect, crippling Mark.12 in an instant.
The audience was stunned. After all, Mark.12 was equipped with the combat simulation system—an autonomous battle AI. Everyone had already witnessed its fearsome capabilities. Back at the Matsushiro test facility, Unit-03 with the simulation system had fought Unit-10 to a standstill.
And yet, today, Mark.12 had been designed to be even stronger—its system mimicking Kitazawa Ryōta's very own combat style.
It is said that a person's greatest enemy is always themselves. That much was undeniable. With Mark.12 wielding Ryōta's techniques through advanced AI, many thought he had finally met an opponent equal to him in every way.
But the reality defied all expectations. Ryōta had proven a truth beyond doubt: a machine could never surpass a human.
The dust cleared further, and Mark.12 staggered back to its feet. It was no human being—it was merely a machine of war. And as such, it could do nothing but follow its programming: fight without hesitation, annihilate all enemies.
Suddenly, a rifle materialized in its hands.
Bang!
The weapon roared, unleashing a hail of bullets toward Unit-01.
Clearly, this was no ordinary rifle. It had been modified—a new design, more powerful, with greater range and far higher rate of fire.
But no matter how fast the bullets flew, Ryōta was faster. His figure blurred like a phantom as he closed the distance. Mark.12 responded instantly, drawing its progressive knife and slashing mercilessly at him.
Yet again, Ryōta shifted tactics mid-motion. With a fluid, almost impossible twist, he slipped past the blade at an unthinkable angle, then lashed out with a powerful kick, slamming into Mark.12's frame with crushing force.
Another never-before-seen maneuver. Another strike that pushed the machine to its breaking point.
Watching this exchange, everyone finally understood.
A machine is still just a machine. A program is only a program. If the attack Ryōta launched wasn't already encoded into Mark.12's database—if it wasn't recognized—then the system would falter, unable to react in time, and fall into an inescapable disadvantage.
No matter how advanced, a computer could never surpass the human brain.
That was the thought on everyone's mind.
But then—Mark.12 moved again.
Its twin eyes blazed crimson, its entire body trembling violently.
Rumble… rumble…
It felt as though something immense was building up within its core, waiting to be unleashed.
"This is bad—get away! Mark.12 is preparing to activate its self-destruct program!" Misato, who until now had only been able to watch helplessly from the sidelines, cried out in alarm.
But even as her words echoed through the comms, Mark.12 lunged forward with blinding speed.
Its arms swung wide, locking Unit-01 into a crushing embrace. There was no mistaking it—it intended to drag Ryōta down with it.
A suicide attack. If it could take Kitazawa Ryōta with it, then Mark.12 would consider that victory.
"It's over!"
The hearts of everyone watching sank. Unit-01 had been caught. Escape was impossible. Who knew what kind of catastrophic explosive power Mark.12 carried within?
Sure enough, in the very next instant, Mark.12's body erupted with a surge of overwhelming energy, engulfing Unit-01 completely.
A blinding flash tore across the battlefield.
The shockwave shook heaven and earth, sand and debris surging in every direction. The gale blinded everyone, leaving them unable to even open their eyes to see what had happened.
The sheer force of it was terrifying—the detonation rivaled that of a tactical nuclear device.
Misato's heart froze. Could Unit-01 possibly withstand such devastation? Her chest tightened with dread—the odds were slim. Almost hopeless.
The blast raged on. Only after what felt like an eternity did the winds finally settle, the dust beginning to fade. Slowly, cautiously, eyes turned toward the battlefield once more.
And there—amidst the smoking wreckage—lay a twisted heap of scrap metal, the shattered remains of Mark.12.
And beside it, still standing, its frame smeared with blue oil and battle scars, was another EVA.
Unit-01.
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