EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 115 Ultraman only responds when humanity is fighting to the death.

"…call……"

My hands are still trembling slightly.

Even though I've confronted the apostles so many times before... this is the first time I've felt this tense.

Why... what am I afraid of?
"Asuka! The long-range sniping equipment is installed and ready, and the positron cannon is charging—however, MAGI's calculations show that the Angel needs to descend for at least another seven minutes before reaching the critical firing zone."

Misato's voice came through the headphones, piercingly loud—

It's annoying.

Why am I here? Even though I really didn't want to be here...

Because—if I weren't here… the person here would be Rei Ayanami…

Yes... I see.

I'm not that strong... My desire to protect Ali was just a lie...

I was just afraid.

More than being afraid of being attacked by Angels, more than being afraid of death... what I fear most is that idiot Shinji.

I'm scared... What if something really happened to Rei... What if that idiot Shinji comes back and sees Rei dead... and himself perfectly fine in the base...?

I'm afraid to face Shinji Ikari from that time.

I was terrified of that moment, of Shinji's idiotic expression—

What could it be... blame? Disappointment? Anger? Or... I don't know, and I don't even want to think about it... That's why I rushed ahead of Ali...

so…………

"Sniper mode adjustment complete! Positive Particle Cannon...charging complete!"

The finger on the trigger could only bring back a cold, heavy touch…

Why am I here?

What can a sniper rifle with positive particles in hand do?

Even though... she couldn't imagine a single scene in her mind where she could defeat the Angels on her own... she was standing here simply because she was afraid of seeing that idiot Shinji's reproachful expression...

That's absolutely awful!!

"Apostle! Continuing to descend... Close to the critical point of firing the serotonin cannon! Countdown: 200 seconds...!"

Makoto Hyuga's voice... made everyone in the NERV command room hold their breath... Everyone was praying, praying that the Angels wouldn't enter the firing range... and launch an attack first.

until…………

"Countdown! One hundred and fifty seconds!!"

"Miss Misato... what's the current situation?!"

Panting heavily, Shinji Ikari and Kyoya Kenki finally burst through the gate.

"Shinji-kun...!"

Misato Katsuragi's voice carried a hint of surprise... because Shinji Ikari returned much faster than she had expected.

"...The Tenth Apostle is still in satellite orbit, slowly and steadily descending... We have decided to use the long-range sniping tactic with the Yang Particle Cannon! Unit 2 is now in the sniping position, while Unit 0 is on standby in the backup position...!"

At this point, Misato Katsuragi began, a hint of guilt in her voice…

"I'm sorry, Shinji, you haven't returned yet, so I took it upon myself to send those two children to the battlefield..."

"Idiot! What are you saying! You are the acting commander and combat commander of NERV! You are fully responsible for the counterattack against the Angels! Asuka and Rei Ayanami are the pilots of EVA... Defeating the Angels and protecting humanity! It is their duty... and it is also your duty! Your judgment is absolutely correct, there is nothing to apologize for."

Shinji Ikari stared intently at the Tenth Angel on the screen, his brow furrowed, as the strange light surrounding it... a bizarre existence that was completely devoid of flesh and blood, transcending the realm of living beings... He had a bad feeling about it.

"I'm going too... Do you have a second set of sniper equipment?"

"Sorry, not yet..." "It's alright! Then I'll move to the support position! In case of any special circumstances, have Unit Zero take Unit Two back to base, and I'll take over the sniper equipment for a second operation!"

Seeing Shinji Ikari entrust the dangerous task to her without the slightest hesitation, Misato Katsuragi smiled with relief...

Have I really become too dependent on Shinji?
Shinji Ikari had only been gone for a dozen minutes—and the entire NERV base was filled with unease about the Angels' attack… But the moment Shinji returned, that eerie chill vanished… Could it be that Shinji truly possesses some kind of special power?

"...Shinji-kun. You don't..."

Just as they were about to head to Unit-01... Kaji Ryoji looked over with a questioning gaze—

The meaning is quite clear... You're going to use Unit-01 in combat? Instead of directly transforming into Ultraman Tiga?
"Don't talk nonsense—Ultraman only responds when humans are fighting to the death..."

Shinji Ikari rolled his eyes at Ryoji Kaji. The courage shown in humanity's struggles and resistance... is the power that triggers the miracle known as Ultraman.

Even if we cannot defeat the apostles, as long as humanity continues to fight... humanity has not lost.

On the contrary, if I transform before I fight as a human every time, causing humanity to give up their resistance because they rely on Ultraman, then that would be the time to declare humanity's defeat.

"…I understand. I wish you continued success in your military endeavors!"

Realizing the true meaning conveyed by Shinji Ikari, Ryoji Kaji also suppressed the frivolity on his face and bowed respectfully, watching Shinji Ikari jump into the insertion plug of Unit-01.

"EVA Unit-01 - Deploy!"

"...Ikari-kun!"

The support personnel kept a close watch on Unit-00 at its location, not even noticing the deployment of Unit-01...

It wasn't until Unit-01 arrived beside Unit-00 that Rei Ayanami was pleasantly surprised to find that Shinji Ikari had returned.

"...Shh, be quiet...don't disturb Asuka."

He watched as Asuka drew her bow, ready to fire, carefully aiming at the enemy far away in the sky.

In order not to disturb her aiming, Shinji Ikari did not open the public communication channel, but simply watched quietly from behind with Unit-00.

"Countdown! Ten seconds...! Apostle! Cease all movement...!!"

Suddenly, Ibuki Maya's somewhat grief-stricken cry drew everyone's attention... Just as the Tenth Angel was about to descend into the range of the Yoko Cannon... the Tenth Angel stopped descending...

Moreover, the shapes displayed on the screen began to twist and writhe like liquid.

"Can we fire now...!?"

"No...no! This distance...was originally calculated to be the critical point of range! If we can't even reach the critical point...it's simply impossible to break through the Tenth Apostle's absolute domain!"

"Then! Operation terminated...! Have the Trisolaran EVA withdraw...wait until we observe the Angel's next move! Or wait until the Angel continues its descent before resuming the operation..."

The moment Misato Katsuragi gave the order to retreat—

"Target AT field deformation...! High concentration of Absolute Territory detected...! Detector malfunction...at the atomic level!!"

"What did you say…………!!"

A beam of light—

Like a ladder from heaven, guiding the souls of sinners up to the heavens... a beautiful light—

The light shone silently on Unit 2…

And, upon hearing the order to retreat, he immediately leaped out and pulled Unit-02 back onto Unit-01.

"what…………"

"What...?!"

In an instant—the consciousness of the two—

"Severe disruption of mental imagery...! Mental contamination has breached the XY layer!!"

—It sank to the bottomless seabed…

(End of this chapter)