Chapter 551: Suicide Attack
From the technical observation station, Ryo calmly watched the almost completely one-sided combat situation.
He saw the failure of the "Cherubim-Type II," which was entirely within his calculations—Zeruel's field strength indeed exceeded the instantaneous breakthrough threshold of the current weapon. He also saw the defeat of the three EVAs, which was similarly an expected development.
However, he did not immediately activate his emergency backup plans. Instead, he maintained an extraordinary composure, acting like a completely detached observer. He knew deeply that SEELE and Gendo Ikari, having plotted up to this point, would absolutely not sit idly by and watch the Angel make contact with Lilith, allowing all their plans to go down the drain.
Right now was the absolute best opportunity to force out their true hidden cards.
Just as Zeruel's ribbon-like arms were about to deliver a fatal blow to the immobilized Unit-01, an unexpected shift suddenly occurred on the battlefield.
"Inversion code, authentication passed." Mari's voice came through the communication channel, carrying an unusual, manic fanaticism. "Come on, let me see your true posture!"
The restraints on Unit-02 suddenly ruptured, and the originally red armor surface began undergoing violent morphological changes. An ominous crimson light seeped out from the gaps in the armor plates, and the originally humanoid silhouette shifted toward a more primitive, beastly form. Its mouth ripped open into a snarl, exposing savage teeth as it emitted a deafening roar.
"That's... Unit-02's true form?" Asuka muttered to herself inside her cockpit. She had never seen Unit-02 like this.
The beast-form Unit-02 lunged at Zeruel with astonishing speed and strength, managing to exchange blows back and forth with the Angel within a short span of time. Its combat style became exceptionally savage, relying completely on claw slashes and biting, with every single strike carrying destructive force.
However, Ryo keenly noted that the synchronization rate readings were breaking through safety thresholds, climbing continuously into the dangerous red zone. Mari's voice in the communications was also growing increasingly ecstatic, even bordering on delirious.
"As expected, NERV still hid such a card," Ryo calmly recorded the data. "But this state is clearly unsustainable."
He turned his head to look at the other data streams on the main screen, waiting for the reaction of another key individual—Gendo Ikari.
The beast-form Unit-02 displayed astonishing, berserk power. Its alienated A.T. Field strength surged dramatically, successfully forming a brief neutralization against Zeruel's near-impenetrable barrier and ripping open a fleeting fissure in the absolute defense!
"Now, Asuka!" Mari's manic voice shrieked through the communication channel.
Asuka, who had maintained a high state of vigilance, did not miss this precious firing window. The weapon platform at the shoulder of the white-painted Unit-03 rapidly locked onto the target, and a "Cherubim-Type II" special warhead whistled out alongside the low howl of the Positron Cannon, precisely striking the Angel's main body area exposed by the field neutralization!
The pure azure purification light bloomed once more, successfully making contact with Zeruel's white torso this time. The catalytic particles reacted violently, and the Angel's biological tissue rapidly decomposed and dissolved within the light, inflicting an obvious trauma across its massive frame—nearly one-third of its body was eroded and dismantled by this single strike.
"Target hit!" a report echoed from the observation center.
However, the joy lasted only for a fraction of a second. Zeruel displayed a terrifying recovery speed and decisiveness that far exceeded all prior estimates. Without a shred of hesitation, its sharp ribbon arms flashed like scalpel blades, proactively slicing away the section being eroded and continuously decomposed by the "Cherubim" warhead from its main body in an instant!
Immediately following, tissue buds wriggled frantically at the severed area, and brand-new biological matter regenerated at a speed visible to the naked eye, returning to its original state within a mere few seconds.
Not only that, but the moment Zeruel completed its regeneration, it launched a fierce counterattack against the source of the strike—Unit-03. Several high-energy particle beams erupted from its core like the gaze of the grim reaper, instantly covering the airspace where Unit-03 was positioned.
"Tch!" Asuka clicked her tongue inside her cockpit, reacting rapidly. The legs of the white Unit-03 exploded with immense force, and the machine executed a series of high-difficulty emergency evasive maneuvers by a hair's breadth, narrowly dodging this round of lethal counterattacks. The searing energy beams scraped past the armor, leaving charred streaks behind.
The situation fell back into a deadlock, turning even more unfavorable. Zeruel's regenerative capability had reduced the battle results achieved by the "Cherubim-Type II" to nothing, and the state of the beast-form Unit-02 was clearly unsustainable for much longer. On Ryo's observation logs, Zeruel's displayed traits of "ultra-high recovery" and "tactical-level regenerative decision-making capability" were clearly annotated. The effect of this hidden card had failed to reach the expectation of turning the tide of battle.
Just as the beast-form Unit-02's fierce assault met a setback, Unit-03's sniping failed to achieve full success, and the battlefield situation tilted precariously toward the Angel once more during this critical threshold, the silhouette of a fourth EVA forcefully intruded onto the battlefield in a near-tragic posture.
It was Unit-00.
This yellow machine, which had sustained heavy damage during the prior confrontation against Ramiel, was clearly far from completing its repairs. Thick emergency bandages and temporary reinforcement structures were still wrapped tightly all over its frame, multiple armor plates were completely missing, and its internal, un-repaired structural frameworks and wiring lay entirely exposed. Its walking posture carried distinct lag and instability, as if it would fall apart at any given moment.
Yet, it still manifested, piloted by Rei Ayanami, rushing once more toward this desperate battlefield. What was even more heart-palpitating was that both of Unit-00's arms were tightly cradling a massive, structurally menacing bomb—an N2 bomb. It was the most destructive weapon humanity could manufacture within the boundaries of conventional armaments, its power sufficient to reshape terrain, but its effect against an Angel's core was usually highly limited.
"Unit-00... that's... an N2 bomb!" Inside the command center, the operator's voice shook with disbelieving consternation.
Misato Katsuragi instantly understood Rei's intention, her face changing dramatically: "Rei! Stop! Your machine's state cannot support that kind of close-contact combat!"
However, only the silent static hum of electrical currents answered over the communication channel. Unit-00, or rather Rei Ayanami, showed no intention of slowing down or responding. Her red eyes locked tightly onto the demon-like Zeruel far ahead through the panoramic screen, her expression as serene as always—but beneath that serenity lay a complete disregard for her own existence.
Piloting the broken Unit-00, she shielded the N2 bomb before her frame like a buckler, the engine emitting an overloaded wail of sorrow as she launched a suicidal charge toward Zeruel's core with an attitude of no return.
"Is she trying to... take the Angel down with her?" Asuka watched that resolute yellow silhouette, subconsciously holding her breath.
Inside Unit-01's Entry Plug, Shinji watched this scene play out, his pupils constricting violently as an indescribable panic and agonizing dread gripped his entire core.
"Rei... don't!"
Zeruel clearly detected this threat charging toward it carrying a massive energy source. It temporarily abandoned its suppression of the other EVAs, and its multiple ribbon arms—resembling giant pythons choosing their prey—slammed violently toward the rushing Unit-00 with a whistle that tore through the air!