As Gendo Ikari grew frightened by Hayato Noda's cunning, Misato interrupted him. "Commander, now isn't the time to talk about that. Let's focus on the situation at hand."
"I suggest evacuating the citizens of Tokyo-3 first, and I recommend moving them into the shelter systems in other cities."
"Your reason?"
"Because I think that thing might try to absorb our three EVAs."
"And even Lilith..."
The Final Angel's absorption of the Mass Production Models and the EVAs built by other countries had already shown that replicas of Adam and Lilith still held some appeal for it.
If that theory was correct, Lilith was also part of its plans.
"And considering what it might do next, I suggest we begin secretly informing the other countries of the situation now and recommend that they start evacuating as well."
"Approved. You and Fuyutsuki will oversee it..."
Everyone wondered why Gendo Ikari's voice had lost its usual calm, mechanical tone and instead sounded so exhausted.
What he said next shocked everyone present.
"Effective immediately, I am handing full responsibility for all operations over to Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki..."
"I resign..."
!!!
While everyone else was still reeling, Yui Ikari was the first to roar, "You're running away at a time like this? Even Shinji and Zero fought for humanity's future until the very last moment despite their terrible injuries! What are you running from?!"
Although she knew that her husband's Wall of the Heart was actually stronger than Shinji's, and that he might retreat in the face of such a situation, she had never expected him to run away so completely now.
"Lift the restrictions on the Lance of Longinus. All forms of use are authorized. That is my final order..." With those words, Gendo Ikari rose and slowly walked into the darkness.
Aside from