"Strange… strange. This is truly strange…"
Misato Katsuragi, who had been staring fixedly at the Ninth Angel, murmured softly under her breath.
Her voice was so low that most didn't notice—but it did catch Kitazawa Ryota's ear.
"Hm? Misato, what did you just say?"
"Ah… I just meant… something feels off." Misato shook her head as her eyes remained locked on the clash before her. "I've never seen an Angel like this…"
"Hm? What do you mean exactly? Tell us," Ryota pressed.
Her words drew both Ryota's and Kaji's attention instantly.
"No… I can't explain it clearly. But every Angel has an S² engine—what we call the 'core'—its source of eternal, inexhaustible energy, the very symbol of higher life." Misato paused before continuing: "Up until now, every Angel we've defeated had an identifiable core location. But this one… I can't find it at all."
Her words sank into Ryota and Kaji alike. If the S² engine could not be located, the Angel could never truly be destroyed. And if faced with an enemy whose core could not even be found—what then?
That was the very question plaguing Misato.
Ryota's expression grew darker, heavier. A terrifying possibility had risen in his mind. The probability was low, but not impossible.
And the very thought of it made his face tighten, his lips press into silence. He said nothing—only watched the raging battle with grim resolve.
The fight between Unit-10 and the Ninth Angel was ferocious beyond belief. Yet what shocked everyone most was the pilot of Unit-10, Mari. On her very first sortie with this Eva, her combat ability was already this overwhelming.
But the Angel was equally formidable—switching from particle knives to high-energy laser rifles, launching attack after attack in relentless succession.
"This… may not be the Ninth Angel at all." Ryota shook his head. "Or rather—perhaps it shouldn't even be called an Angel…"
"What?" Misato and Kaji both froze at his words. "Ryota, what are you saying?"
"I mean… this might not be an Angel at all. It could be… a Simulation System." Ryota exhaled deeply and finally voiced the thought aloud.
"What?!" Misato and Kaji stood stunned.
The moment the idea had formed in Ryota's mind, even he had felt his blood run cold. It was too shocking, too horrifying. Perhaps it was even the brutal truth.
A Simulation System.
Of course, both Misato and Kaji knew of it.
Within NERV, it was classified.
Since battles against Angels had always been fought by human pilots—and human will was the most unstable variable—NERV had secretly developed this new technology. Its purpose was to supplement pilots during combat, to increase efficiency and control.
Only recently had the system been shipped under heavy secrecy from the various labs to NERV HQ in Japan. It was brand-new, and not yet even installed in any Evangelion.
That Misato and Kaji knew of it wasn't surprising—they were, after all, Operations Director and Senior Inspector.
But when the Simulation System had been transported, Ryota had still been in Russia. How could he possibly know?
There was no time to dwell on that. Because even as Ryota spoke, the "Ninth Angel" roared, slamming Unit-10 to the ground with crushing force.
"If Unit-03 fused with the Simulation System, and that's what triggered its aggression… then that would mean…" Misato's mind spun furiously, horrified at the implication. If Ryota's deduction was correct, then the truth was unmistakable: who else but the Americans could have deployed such a system?
Misato had never been one for politics. Her duty was simply to defeat Angels.
But now—even she could not ignore it.
The truth was too ugly. Humanity already stood at the brink of extinction, and still, nations schemed against each other.
"If it's running the Simulation System… then maybe we can shut Unit-03 down!"
Her words snapped her into action. Misato sprinted toward the abandoned instruments nearby. In their frantic retreat, the technicians had left all their consoles and terminals behind. And now, they might be the key.
She threw herself at the controls, fingers flying.
Even as Operations Director, she had been trained in all basic systems—every NERV officer had. And right now, she was inputting an emergency shutdown command for Unit-03.
Even with the Simulation System installed, if she could cut the power, they might still stop the "Ninth Angel."
Line after line of commands filled the screen. Misato's hand hovered only a moment—then slammed down on the confirmation switch.
Once she pressed it, the truth would be revealed.
Click!
The instant the shutdown order went through, Unit-03 convulsed violently.
Its particle knife was raised high, about to drive straight into Unit-10's power systems. Unit-10 itself was battered and scarred, seemingly no match.
But at that very last second—Unit-03 froze.
The blade stopped in midair.
The entire machine went still, its body frozen like a statue.
Unit-03 had stopped.
It really had stopped.
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