"That's right." Fuyutsuki stopped without turning around, simply gazing at the giant's body.
The enormous being had only an upper body, pale all over. Though humanoid in shape, it had neither male nor female characteristics.
Their arms were nailed to a massive red cross, and the countless legs growing from their lower body resembled roots trying to burrow into the earth.
Kozo Fuyutsuki raised his head and looked at the giant with his world-weary eyes.
His wistful gaze settled on the spear in Lilith's chest. A faint, almost bewildered emotion flickered in his eyes, vanishing so quickly it might have been imagined.
"The reason SEELE established NERV... those slogans about saving the world were lies told to humanity from the very beginning."
His words were as soft as a sigh, drifting through the air.
"SEELE's true goal is to trigger an Impact on Lilith's side, not through the Angels, but through humanity itself."
"Trigger an Impact? They want to destroy humanity too?" Shinji abruptly turned toward him.
Kozo Fuyutsuki shook his head gently and gave a contemptuous smile.
"No. Fundamentally, they seek the same thing as the Angels: a 'return.' They intend to return to Lilith and bring about humanity's evolution!"
"But there is a difference between Impacts. An Impact triggered by the Angels would utterly destroy humanity, annihilating both body and soul."
"The Human Instrumentality Project, on the other hand, seeks to bring about humanity's own Impact, returning Lilith's descendants, the 'Lilin'-that is, us humans-to our Progenitor, Lilith."
"If their plan succeeds, the Impact will eliminate the barriers between human hearts. Our separate inner worlds will complement one another, taking us to the ultimate stage of evolution."
"Each individual's AT Field, memories, personality, and sense of self will dissolve completely. Like drops of water joining the ocean, there will