EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 16 Driver's Duties
“…This is, the Sixth Angel…?”

Looking at the azure cube floating silently above the Third New East Street on the screen, both Ikari Shinji and Asuka were stunned for a moment because of shock.

"Yes, although it doesn't look like a living thing, the wavelength has been identified and it's blue! It's an apostle!"

Misato Katsuragi affirmed it with absolute certainty.

"Wait, Miss Misato...if we just attack like this, won't that provoke that apostle to attack again?"

Although the Sixth Apostle suddenly appeared right above the city, he did not launch an attack in the past few minutes... No, let alone attack, he did not even move.

The most crucial thing is that because the incident happened suddenly, NERV had no time to evacuate residents or switch the city to combat status.

Now... there are more than two million ordinary people... those who live in this stubborn city, working diligently and striving to survive.

——They are all shrouded in the shadow of the apostles.

Although it is unknown what abilities this apostle possesses, he doesn't need to be particularly powerful... Just randomly sweeping the block with a laser beam like the fourth apostle before is enough to create thousands of corpses in an instant.

"Commander Ikari has issued a high alert to the Japanese government using NERV's special authority. Residents outside of Tokyo-3 have begun evacuating, and all areas of the city, except for those where the Apostles are stationed, have entered combat mode."

The so-called combat state is to slowly sink the buildings used for daily life into the ground for protection.

The fortress city was originally built to fight against the apostles, so it naturally has such a function.

"Outskirts? Then... around here..."

Through the screen, Shinji Ikari could confirm that at least within a few kilometers around the apostles, all the buildings were still in their daily life.

You can even see high school girls who just got out of school on the street taking out their phones and taking pictures of the angels in the sky with a look of surprise on their faces.

"Because... we don't know what level of noise will trigger the apostle to attack, so... within the five kilometers centered on the apostle, we haven't entered combat mode. We haven't evacuated the people either."

There was a hint of bitterness in Misato Katsuragi's words. She also knew that this sentence was equivalent to hanging the lives of at least 10,000 residents around her on the brink of death.

"Just knock Him down!"

Seeing Misato Katsuragi's hesitation, Asuka took the initiative to ask for a fight.

"Miri! Let me attack! This time! I will definitely defeat Him alone!"

"Calm down, Asuka, we haven't mastered this Angel's attack pattern yet..."

Misato Katsuragi was just about to calm Asuka's fighting spirit when a cold voice suddenly came.

"How long will it take to prepare Unit-01 and Unit-02?"

"commander!"

Misato Katsuragi saluted respectfully towards Gendo Ikari who was walking slowly.

Even Asuka, who used to be arrogant and aggressive in front of her boss Misato Katsuragi, felt timid under Ikari Gendo's expressionless gaze.

"The aircraft has been prepared. The deployment of the ejection system and weapons will take another 680 seconds."

Ritsuko Akagi answered while anxiously operating the terminal in her hand.

"Is that so? Then have the pilot board the EVA and wait. Once preparations are complete, we'll launch the attack immediately."

As if he had noticed the hesitant look in Katsuragi Misato's eyes, the coldness between Ikari Gendo's brows became even more intense.

"Captain Katsuragi, you must understand. Whether it's the EVA, the pilots, or this Third New Tokyo, they were all built to defeat the apostles. If we hesitate to attack because of concerns about the lives of the pilots and the people, and thus fail to defeat the apostles, it would be putting the cart before the horse. We bear the fate of the remaining human race on our shoulders! A few tens of thousands of casualties are nothing compared to four billion!"

"…I see. It was my fault. I'm truly sorry."

Katsuragi Misato's momentum was perfectly suppressed by Ikari Gendō, and she lowered her head obediently. "Now that you understand, let's attack! Everyone! First combat configuration!!"

Following Ikari Gendo's order, all members of NERV rushed to their work stations.

And Shinji Ikari...just stared at Gendo Ikari with a complicated look in his eyes...and walked towards Unit-01 without saying anything.

"Hey, second-generation official... that big shot just now, is he really your father? I feel like his temperament is completely different."

On the way to the hangar, Asuka spoke to Shinji Ikari with lingering fear.

This was the first time she saw Ikari Gendo conducting on the spot, and she didn't expect him to be so powerful.

“…Ahh, I guess so.”

However, Shinji Ikari didn't seem to be in the mood to chat with Asuka at this time, and responded indifferently.

"Really? This is a rare time for me to talk to you. Why are you so angry?"

Seeing that her efforts were met with a cold reception, Asuka immediately became angry and embarrassed, but Shinji Ikari didn't even look at her, which made Asuka feel her self-esteem was hurt.

"Asuka, you have to be understanding. I should say that I'm impressed by Shinji-kun's decision not to contradict the commander's order."

The voice of a frivolous third party suddenly floated from the depths of the hangar.

"Mr. Kaji~!"

Asuka was overjoyed the moment she saw Ryoji Kaji and wanted to get close to him immediately.

However, the criticism that Kaji Ryoji had made to her before now choked her heart like a sob, wiping away the smile that had just appeared on Asuka's face.

Moreover—the only person Kaji Ryoji was looking at was Shinji Ikari, and he didn't even look at himself.

"Mr. Jiaji... didn't father say the first combat configuration? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at your post?"

Shinji Ikari looked at the uninvited guest coldly, and was instinctively wary of this unpredictable man.

"Don't be so cruel. I'm just a little curious. From what I understand about you, I thought you would refute your father on the spot, but I didn't expect you to obediently come and drive the EVA."

Kaji Ryoji was referring to the outrageous statement by Gendo Ikari that the sacrifice of thousands or even tens of thousands of people to achieve the goals of the apostles was not worth mentioning.

"There's nothing to refute. If it's true, as they say, that humanity will perish if the Angels aren't defeated, then from the perspective of NERV's Commander-in-Chief, Father is not wrong."

Without any intention of chatting with Kaji Ryoji for long, after saying a few words, Shinji Ikari boarded the elevator to the insertion point.

"It's NERV's commander-in-chief's job to defeat the Angels at all costs. Then, in the process of defeating the Angels, minimizing losses as much as possible and protecting as many people as possible—that's my responsibility as an EVA pilot... and Asuka's. We're just doing our jobs, so there's nothing to refute. Isn't that right, Asuka?"

Asuka, who was originally a little frustrated because Kaji Ryoji's attention was all on Ikari Shinji, suddenly heard that Ikari Shinji's powerful speech even involved her.

An inexplicable joy surged in my heart, and even the blockage in my chest that had been blocked by the recollection of Kaji Ryoji's criticism unconsciously became much smoother.

"Yes, yes! That's exactly what happened! He's worthy of being the son of an official! He's got a knack for talking!"

Looking at Ryoji Kaji who looked thoughtful, Shinji Ikari took a deep breath and softened his attitude.

"Mr. Jiaji, if Miss Misato was reluctant to evacuate the surrounding residential areas because she was afraid of irritating the apostles, then please immediately organize manpower to evacuate the surrounding residents after we attack. The moment the EVA attacks, the apostles' attention will definitely be focused on us. They shouldn't care about the people around them.

I'm sorry to bother you with this matter. Please help me fulfill my duties, and then... when I come back, we can talk about it in detail."

Shinji Ikari regained his confident smile on his face, and with firm steps, he inserted the plug of Unit-01.

Thanks for the monthly ticket recommendation ticket of Tianlong Zhushen

It gave me some motivation to update the single-player game again
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(End of this chapter)