The giant disappeared. Battle already ended.
Though the process was winding, fortunately this mission achieved its ultimate objective.
Misato Katsuragi was directing NERV personnel to clean the battlefield.
And on Futago Mountain, near the emergency-ejected Entry Plugs—
"Ikari-kun still hasn't come out?" Rei Ayanami looked at Unit-01's Entry Plug fallen on the other side. Saw the hatch still hadn't opened. Puzzled internally.
After hesitating one second, she endured the pain on her body. Stood up. Walked toward Unit-01's Entry Plug.
She guessed Shinji might be trapped inside.
However, after leaving Unit-00's Entry Plug, the injuries on her body could no longer be ignored. Originally had unhealed wounds. In the recent operation also synchronized with Unit-00's felt pain. Now she was about to collapse.
After walking a few steps, felt consciousness somewhat dizzy. Didn't stand steady. Fell to the ground. Gasped heavily.
She reached toward her abdomen. Touched fresh blood seeping from the plugsuit.
Her body originally wasn't suitable to participate in combat plans again. Under her repeated forcing, bodily functions were also gradually reaching their end.
Vision became blurred. She guessed what she'd become afterward.
Return again to that glass container filled with LCL water to receive treatment? Or... be abandoned...
At this time, Unit-01's Entry Plug opened.
She vaguely heard a conversation.
"Amazing, Natsuki-san!"
"We successfully eliminated that thing. Fighting to protect others... really amazing!" Shinji hadn't recovered from the previous battle. This was his first time transforming into Ultraman to participate in combat. Completely different experience from piloting Unit-01.
Producing the desire to protect others internally. Then putting it into action. Using powerful strength to eliminate enemies. This matter was really too worth being happy about.
"Wait, Shinji." This time Natsuki didn't respond. Instead looked toward the distant muddy grassland. "Someone's there."
"Eh?"
After hearing this, Shinji looked toward the direction Natsuki pointed. Saw a familiar figure.
"Ayanami!" He recognized at a glance that was Rei Ayanami. Currently lying on the ground. Chest rising and falling from heavy breathing. Blood seeping from the plugsuit dyed the nearby grass red.
He immediately stepped forward running that way. Internally anxious.
"Ayanami, are you okay!" He came to Rei Ayanami's side. Crouched down. Checked Rei Ayanami's injuries.
"...Mm." Rei Ayanami heard Shinji's voice. Slowly opened her eyes. Replied indifferently as usual.
"Need to get to the hospital quickly... hospital..." Shinji touched the blood on Rei Ayanami's body. Internally instantly panicked.
He absolutely didn't want to personally watch the person he just saved die before his eyes.
Though Rei Ayanami's usual emotions were cold, Shinji knew her internal kindness. When he fell into danger, she'd stand out to block before him. So Shinji didn't want anything to happen to her.
"Her injuries are very serious. Though not to a lethal degree, still very troublesome." Natsuki's phantom stood behind Shinji. Examined Rei Ayanami's injuries. "And the most troublesome point—even if she successfully receives treatment, afterward she might still continue fighting while injured."
"How could this be!"
"Then... what should we do..." Shinji looked at Rei Ayanami still in a bleeding state. Clenched fist. Mind rapidly contemplated solutions.
He was no longer the previous avoidant personality. When encountering problems, would contemplate how to solve them.
Persuade Father not to let Ayanami-san continue participating in combat?
With Father's personality... probably would agree verbally. Afterward still have Ayanami-san participate in combat.
"Let me try." Natsuki scratched his head. Spoke.
He now somewhat understood this organization's inside story. And with years of experience, could also determine—Rei Ayanami, someone with congenital emotional defects like this, was most likely a product of cloning technology.
This girl was probably manufactured as a tool.
And the current situation... seemed to already possess basic emotions. The key igniting her emotions—was Shinji.
Even if a cloned product, as long as it possessed emotions, then it was human.
"Natsuki-san, do you have a way?" Shinji raised his head. Looked at Natsuki beside him. Tone carried pleading. "Please, help Ayanami-san!"
"Foolish boy. I'm not someone who'd refuse to save lives." Natsuki heard Shinji's pleading words. Reached out and ruffled his head. Said with a smile.
Even without Shinji's request, he'd save her.
A girl like this—once her body developed serious injuries becoming a burden, probably would be directly discarded. Activate other clones.
"Though my current healing level equals nothing, if just treating one human, not impossible to try." Natsuki said. Took over Shinji's body control.
Shinji's eyes closed. Opened again. Already tinged with some golden light.
"I'm... fine..." Rei Ayanami seemed to not want Shinji to fall into excessive worry. Said in a faint voice.
"What fine."
"Regrets from youth will trap a person for life." Natsuki, with rich child-rearing experience, said. Placed his hand on Rei Ayanami's torn wound.
If current Shinji experienced the feeling of someone he liked dying before him, probably couldn't move on this lifetime.
And the situation Shinji would very likely encounter next wasn't that simple. Afterward most likely—injured Rei Ayanami would be discarded. Then an identical clone would appear before Shinji. Completely without memories related to Shinji.
That situation would be too cruel for both this youth and this girl.
"What are you... doing?" Rei Ayanami watched "Shinji" press his hand on her injured abdomen. Through the plugsuit felt a trace of warmth. She asked puzzled.
"Providing energy for your cells' metabolism. Accelerating organs' blood-producing function. Accelerating cell division and repair... The principle is roughly this."
"You can also directly understand it as treating you." Natsuki focused on controlling his energy. Said.
If in younger days, treating injuries for people—how could it be this troublesome? With the few skills learned from Land of Light's Silver Cross members, could heal her in one second.
Under Natsuki's operation, Rei Ayanami's abdomen rapidly stopped bleeding. Wound also gradually healing.
This miracle-like scene made Rei Ayanami somewhat dazed.
Ikari-kun... actually possessed such power?
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