"An enormous submerged object has been discovered near the peninsula. It has been confirmed as an Angel. This time, we'll take it out the moment it comes ashore! Did you hear me? Unit-01 and Unit-02 will alternate attacks on the target. Unit-00 will provide cover!"
"Understood!"
"Roger."
"Yes."
After the call ended, Asuka let out a long sigh.
"What's gotten into Misato? Did she eat gunpowder or something? She's in such a bad mood..."
"The pressure from above hasn't been small lately, after all."
Hearing Asuka's complaint, Fang Zheng chuckled. Misato Katsuragi had a reason to be so anxious. If the EVAs failed to produce sufficient results in actual combat this time, NERV's importance would diminish even further. To put it bluntly, if the EVAs failed to stop the Angel again and Red Ponytail took the credit instead, then NERV would have no reason to exist.
"But you don't need to worry about that. Just fight the way you usually do."
"Is that really okay, Mr. Fang Zheng?"
Shinji Ikari also voiced his concerns uneasily.
"After all..."
"Don't worry. Bearing pressure is an adult's job. Katsuragi gets paid to handle that, so you don't need to fret over such trivial matters. Just focus on the enemy in front of you."
"Target sighted!"
Not long after Fang Zheng finished speaking, the sea ahead suddenly bulged upward. Then, a crescent-shaped Angel emerged from the water.
"Shinji! And you, honor student! Let me show you what I can do!"
The moment she saw the Angel, Asuka could no longer hold herself back. She had long wanted to fight an Angel and prove her strength. Unfortunately, during the previous battle, EVA Unit-02 had fallen into the sea, and Asuka had been left helplessly glaring from the sidelines. Now that it was finally her turn,