The Fish Angel launched skyward.
The giant stood in the submerged city. Arms crossed. Energy surged at his chest. Locked onto the Angel about to re-enter the water.
HUM.
Arms spread—vertical, horizontal. The energy formed a massive silver crescent. Shot upward.
Vertical Guillotine!
CRACK.
SLASH!
The Fish Angel sensed fatal danger. AT Field deployed full strength. Tried blocking the attack.
But its AT Field wasn't strong enough. Paper-thin defense. The Vertical Guillotine punched through. Bisected the massive body. Blood mixed with seawater.
"Ultra Guillotine... Damn. What a troublesome opponent." The Ghost Angel watched the giant eliminate the Fish Angel. Recognized the technique.
I know enough about Ultraman. This guy's dangerous.
Then.
The massive body twisted. Explosive speed through the water. The Womb Angel retreated.
"No—it's running!" Asuka shouted over comms from Unit-02. "Hurry! The Angel's escaping!"
Need the carrier to speed up. I have to catch it.
If I can't catch it... I'll have been useless in this battle.
Pride wouldn't let her accept that.
Misato heard the call. Felt absurd.
Angels can run away?
Those creatures... shouldn't have intelligence. Only instinct.
The giant didn't immediately pursue the fleeing Angel.
Instead, arms formed a cross. Aimed at the retreating Womb Angel.
HUM!
The Specium Ray erupted from his hand's edge. Ultra-high temperature vaporized surrounding water. Intense shockwave displaced water farther out. Created a massive cavitation tunnel. The entire sea region trembled.
ROAR!
BOOM!
The Specium Ray caught the Womb Angel instantly. Destroyed its body. The beam broke the surface. Shot toward the sky.
The fleet watched. The strike emerged from the depths. Slowly dissipated.
"Your NERV... deals with these things every day?" The old captain's pipe-holding hand trembled slightly. He looked at Misato.
I underestimated NERV.
Fighting these things daily. Still in one piece. Impressive.
"Yes. It's our duty." Misato watched pieces of the Womb Angel's corpse float to the surface. Eye twitched. Forced the words out.
Nothing went as planned. But the result? Success.
The giant appeared again when we were in crisis. Saved us.
These two battles confirm it—the giant's on our side.
But there's something else I need to know.
"Kaji... Why were you here? What were you carrying?" Misato watched Kaji's helicopter disappear. Frowned.
Both Angels came for Kaji.
More precisely—for what he was carrying.
When we get back to headquarters, I'm getting answers.
She wasn't the only one wanting answers.
Back in Unit-02's cockpit, Shinji and Natsuki also watched Kaji's departure.
Once we're back at headquarters, some things need discussing.
Natsuki planned to have a chat with Gendo. As Ultraman.
"Usable Angels remaining... nine."
The Ghost Angel returned to the void. It had separated from the Womb Angel before the Specium Ray hit.
"Ultraman isn't an omniscient god... Three-minute activity limit on Earth. To win, I must exploit those three minutes."
"The plan to seize Adam needs revision."
Unit-02's cockpit.
"Asuka, you okay?" Shinji looked at Asuka curled up in the pilot seat. Concern in his voice.
Unit-02 was being recovered. The carrier using the power cable like a rope. Dragging Unit-02 back.
Underwater currents made Unit-02 sway.
Like a doll dangling on a string. Swinging.
"Asuka?" Shinji thought she hadn't heard. Reached to tap her shoulder. Saw transparent droplets floating upward from in front of her face.
LCL fills the cockpit. Tears can only escape like this.
The girl's fierce pride. Cracked during this operation.
"I'm fine." Asuka quickly controlled her emotions. Lifted her head. Acted like nothing happened.
Shinji came back too fast. Caught me off guard.
She shook off the dejection. Uncurled. Muttered, "It's freezing down here... Nearly froze to death..."
Turned around. Looked at Shinji with disdain. "I don't need anyone's concern. I'm the best EVA pilot there is!"
Tone: tsundere.
"But you... hiding something this important." She stood from the pilot seat. Pointed a finger at Shinji's chest. "If I don't keep your secret, you'll be on a dissection table tomorrow!"
"So? How are you going to thank me?"
Shinji scratched his head. "Dissection's not really that seri—"
Asuka's glare intensified. Like she's about to eat me alive.
He course-corrected fast. "I'll cook for you!"
"Uh... I'm pretty good at cooking..."
Cooking's actually one of my strengths.
Asuka stared at him. Nodded. "Deal!"
Sat back down. Operated Unit-02 to coordinate with the carrier's recovery.
It's not about the meal. It's about... reclaiming some pride.
Shinji watched her back—acting like nothing mattered.
"This girl has intense pride. This operation—she did nothing. Even became a burden. Her heart's probably shattered right now." Natsuki's voice echoed in Shinji's mind.
"Huh?"
"How... I..." Shinji froze. I never meant for this to happen.
I just wanted to protect people. Good intentions.
Didn't realize my actions would trouble someone else.
Panic set in.
"I... I just wanted to protect Asuka." The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Asuka's back trembled.
Emotions surged. Embarrassment. Frustration. Anger. Secret joy.
Condensed into one sentence: "Who asked you to protect me... idiot."
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