Chapter 176 I Am the Pilot of EVA Unit-01

NERV headquarters, command room.

"The Apostle Reaction is approaching the sixth monitoring satellite, and there will be contact in two minutes."

The staff from the technical department mobilized the radar images.

"The first signal was sent from India, probably SEELE." Ritsuko Akagi typed on the keyboard.

"You want to use our hands to get rid of the apostles, you're really scheming." Misato snorted coldly.

"There is no way, the apostles must be eliminated no matter what." Ritsuko Akagi said: "If you keep that kind of creature alive, there is a possibility of triggering a third impact at any time."

"Target image captured!"

Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi stared at the huge screen, and the image of the apostle in space was evoked.

(empty angel picture)

"Why would you appear in a place like that? There is really no common sense at all." Misato looked at the creature with a frown.

It is completely impossible to infer it using biological common sense. It floats in the airless universe, its huge eyeballs staring at the surface of the earth, like a silent observer.

The tenth apostle, Sky Angel, noticed the arrival of the observation satellite. The next second, the camera lost signal and the screen turned into black and white electronic sparks.

"Is there a new use of the AT force field? The apostles are also evolving." Ritsuko Akagi sighed.

At the same time, in the universe that Ritsuko Akagi couldn't see, Sky Angel split a piece of body tissue from his body, wrapped it in an AT force field, and dropped it toward the ground.

It dropped cannonballs directly from space, crashing down like meteorites.

A few minutes later, MAGI once again captured satellite images over the Pacific Ocean. This attack triggered a Level III tsunami warning. Ships in nearby waters were involved, and the dead and injured appeared.

"Such a powerful destructive power." Misato took a breath: "If it hits here, I'm afraid everything nearby will be razed to the ground."

"According to MAGI's simulation calculations, if the apostle's attack hits here, 80% of the buildings on the ground will be destroyed." Ritsuko Akagi called up a 3D preview.

"Won't they invade the underground city?" Misato asked.

"An attack of this magnitude will not happen. However, if the apostle drops his own body as a bomb, it is expected that the entire Third Tokyo City and the area within a radius of 20 kilometers will be destroyed, and the impact depth is estimated to be 15,000 meters. , this place will become a large lake directly connected to the Pacific Ocean. I'm afraid the attack just now is just a test, and its ultimate goal is still here." Ritsuko turned around: "Misato, do you have any ideas on how to deal with this guy?"

Misato held her forehead and was silent for a while: "To be honest, I don't know how to defeat this enemy at all, and the command is not in my hands. I'd better wait for the commander to decide."

"Are you able to call him commander so skillfully?" Ritsuko took her hands off the keyboard.

"Stop making fun of me, Ritsuko." Misato pinched Ritsuko's cheek.

Miri's mood is a bit complicated. Not long ago, Ian was her subordinate, but now the polarity has reversed.

But she was not dissatisfied. From the first time they met, she recognized that person's ability.

What happened later proved that even that person's commanding talents were beyond her reach.

But even if he were to face the tenth apostle, could he really do anything good?

Misato has personally experienced the battles from the third apostle to the eighth apostle. Frankly speaking, she thinks the tenth apostle may be the strongest apostle currently.

When facing the Thunder Angel, you can still try to blast it with a positron cannon, but the Tenth Apostle is in outer space and its destructive power is so powerful that you can't detect its movements. All BUFFs are full.

It fell from space like a devastating meteorite. Is there really any way for humans to stop the apostle?

Is mankind destined to perish?

Just like what is recorded in the Dead Sea Script, when the apostles return to Adam, all life will be purified.

Two hours later.

Ian has sent Shinji Ikari to the Eighth Refuge Area and came to the command room to observe the apostle's actions.

Third Tokyo City has entered a state of war preparation, and residents have been transferred to shelters in the underground city.

Asuka and Rei Ayanami also came here after receiving the call, ready to drive EVA at any time.

"The apostle launched another attack." Ritsuko called up the image: "The second attack is here. It seems that it is correcting the error and is getting closer to us."

"N2 aerial bombs have no effect on it, and due to the influence of the apostles, the radio waves in the upper atmosphere are very unstable. Now we can no longer detect it through satellites, and we can no longer predict its movements. According to its previous movement trajectory, conservative It is estimated that it will reach the top of Tokyo-3 within about twenty-three hours, and then drop itself as a bomb."

Misato stood up: "MAGI believes that the winning rate of Unit 2 and Unit 0 is zero. Unless Unit 1 is added, it is possible to win. I hope I can meet with Shinji Ikari and let me persuade him to come back. Pilot Unit 1."

"It's useless to force Shinji. He can't drive EVA now." Ian shook his head.

"Then what should we do? Should we abandon this place and let the residents escape from the explosion range?" Misato said: "Anyway, it is Lilith who is sealed underground. Even if the tenth apostle comes into contact with Lilith, it will not trigger a third impact. Bar."

"Perhaps we can let the apostle come to the ground and then fight it head-on."

"It's a good idea indeed." Ian said, "But Miss Misato, there's no need to do this."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Just stop it in advance."

"But. We don't know exactly when and where it will fall."

"It doesn't matter. When it falls, let Unit 2 throw me over, and I'll catch it with my hands."

"With your hands. Are you stupid?" Asuka frowned, "It's better to retreat."

"Commander Ian, even if you can mimic both the Sixth and Seventh Angels at the same time, the target is falling directly from space." Akagi Ritsuko said solemnly, "I think the best plan is to follow MGAI. 's instructions, it's better to evacuate directly. "

"Ms. Ritsuko, first of all, I want to correct your mistakes, not two, but three." Ian held up three fingers: "Besides, I know S2 institutions and apostles better than you do."

"But what you said makes sense. There is no need to let everyone take risks. Let all residents within a radius of 50 kilometers evacuate, otherwise it will be bad if they are affected by the battle."

"Are you kidding?" Asuka said worriedly: "Do you really want to do this?"

"I never do things that I am not sure of. Don't worry, the Tenth Apostle is not so strong that I can't deal with it. I have been prepared for it." Ian was not afraid of the arrival of the Sky Angel, he was still calm.

"Then issue a D-17 order to the Japanese government and various districts to evacuate all nearby residents." Misato nodded.

Soon, the mighty retreat began.

The government's actions were very efficient. Helicopters and cars took everyone away.

Ikari Shinji was also in the evacuation team.

No one came to say goodbye to him. He only knew that because of the attack of the apostles, the Third Tokyo City was no longer safe, so all the residents here had to evacuate.

However, he was treated differently from other residents. A special car took him away and sent him to the Second Tokyo City.

"Um... What kind of apostles are coming this time?" Ikari Shinji asked in the car.

The soldiers in charge of transporting him were from the Self-Defense Force. Before getting on the car, Ikari Shinji talked to Ian on the phone. Ian said that these two people were old friends of Kaji Ryoji, and if there were any difficulties, Ikari Shinji could rely on them as much as he wanted.

The two soldiers sitting in the driver's seat and the co-pilot seat exchanged glances.

"It's an apostle from outer space." One of them said, "I heard that it will fall like a meteorite, so the residents were evacuated, leaving only the main personnel to deal with the apostles."

Falling like a meteorite

Shinji's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. In other words, Mr. Ian and his men were going to stay in the Third New Tokyo City and fight against the apostles like meteorites?

"Don't worry, young man." The soldier started the engine and drove the car to the main road: "We will take you to your teacher, and you don't have to come back anymore."

The road was very crowded, and the traffic police were directing traffic. Even at night, it was still densely packed with shadows of cars.

But Shinji took the military passage, which was much smoother and was a road specially prepared for important people.

Is it really okay to just leave like this?

Shinji looked back at the gate of NERV, he was silent, looking out of the car window.

He suddenly realized that once he stopped driving EVA, the existence of Shinji Ikari would become meaningless to others, and even irrelevant.

Think carefully, why did my father call me to the Third New Tokyo City?

Isn't it because I am the third qualified person?

Just because of this, just because I can be used, I was called here, otherwise I would continue to ignore me as in the past.

The value of Shinji Ikari is only reflected in being a qualified person. He has nothing except driving EVA.

But driving EVA is a painful thing for him. He doesn't want to fight monsters like apostles at all. The pain suffered by EVA will also be reflected on him. Every battle makes him feel deep fear.

Especially the last time, when he fought with Ian in the second branch, it caused him the greatest psychological trauma.

So he decided not to drive EVA anymore and never do things that make him painful again.

But why do he still feel sad and painful now that he doesn't have to drive EVA?

He was very uneasy, curled up in the back seat, hugging his thin legs.

Just then, the soldier's phone rang.

"I know." The soldier nodded and handed the phone to the back seat: "Boy, it's your phone."

"Mine?" Shinji took the phone.

Who could it be?

Is it Miss Misato?

Or Mr. Ian?

Could it be that they came to persuade him to go back to drive EVA?

If Mr. Ian persuaded him, what should he do?

Go back?

But I'm so scared.

Driving EVA is so scary.

Fighting with the apostles is so scary.

Getting hurt is so scary. Pain is so scary. The dark plug is so scary. The feeling of suffocation is so scary.

Everything related to EVA is so scary.

Shinji answered the phone with a nervous heart.

"It's me, Rei Ayanami." A cold female voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Ayanami?" Hearing that it was Rei Ayanami's voice, Shinji was relieved.

He knew that Rei Ayanami would not persuade him to go back to driving EVA, and he realized that he was relaxing because he did not have to drive EVA.

But the next second, what Ayanami Rei said made him realize how naive he was.

What Ayanami Rei said was very brief, so brief that she hung up the phone after she finished speaking.

Ayanami Rei said: "Ikari-kun, I will work hard so that you can live well without driving an EVA."

Shinji Ikari held the hung up phone and was quiet for a long time.

He was making a decision that would affect his future life. Finally, he mustered up the courage to call the number.

That was the private phone number Ian left for him, saying that if he had any difficulties, he could call him at any time.

With a click, the call was connected.

"Shinji-kun, what happened?" Ian asked.

"That Mr. Ian" Shinji took a deep breath and his eyes became sharp: "I want to come back!"

"Come back at this time?" Ian said: "Shinji-kun, no matter who said something to you, I don't want you to force yourself. It's okay for you to leave Third Tokyo like this. That apostle is actually It’s not as scary as others say, just leave it to me.”

"It's not other people's will, it's my own!" Shinji's words were very firm: "Didn't Mr. Ian also say that? Whether I drive EVA or not drive EVA, it is a decision I made myself, and I follow my own heart. Great idea!”

"So I want to come back and drive EVA!"

"I ask you again, is this really what you think in your heart? If this is your decision, you won't be able to regret it even if you die."

"I am the pilot of EVA Unit 1, Shinji Ikari, please let me come back!" Shinji did not hesitate this time.

"Yes. You have grown into an adult." Ian smiled happily: "Then there is only one thing I can say, welcome you back."

Twenty hours later, Third Tokyo City.

Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 0 were distributed in three different places, covering the nearby area to the maximum extent.

Unit No. 2 was set up in the center, on a raised hill, and Unit No. 1 and Unit 0 were responsible for supporting it.

"The Sky Angel will probably fall right above me and the No. 2 aircraft." Ian said to the three pilots on the communication channel.

"Directly above? Why do you think so?" Asuka asked.

"It's a conclusion drawn from my personal calculations," Ian said.

"Even if I die, I will do a good job of supporting you." Shinji was very determined.

"Don't be so nervous." Ian smiled: "Shinji, you just have to watch from there, everything will be resolved smoothly."