After NERV discovered the Angel in the lava, Gendo Ikari held an emergency meeting with SEELE's senior members.
Naturally, SEELE had no idea that Gendo Ikari was now working completely against them.
Chairman Ghir: "Are you asking us to take the initiative?"
Green: "The risk is too great. Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened fifteen years ago."
Gendo Ikari: "This is an opportunity. We've always been on the defensive, and now we finally have a chance to strike first."
Chairman Ghir: "If Ultraman appears on time, the risk would be negligible."
Red: "Are we supposed to rely on this giant of unknown origin to deal with any unforeseen incidents?"
Gendo Ikari: "I believe everyone here understands the importance of a live Angel specimen."
"In any case, failure is absolutely unacceptable!" The five lights went dark.
Yui Ikari's spectral figure appeared.
"You're a very good actor."
"Everything is progressing steadily according to 'their' plan. That's enough."
"I'll naturally have everything ready before the final Angel appears."
Several hours after the Angel was discovered, the three pilots were summoned to the base at daybreak.
Ritsuko turned on the screen and showed them the images taken earlier.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's an Angel." Looking at the embryo in the image, Zero immediately figured it out.
"You're right. And this time, our mission is to capture it."
"Then if it comes to life, do we destroy it on the spot?" Shinji asked.
"You've said everything I was about to say..." Ritsuko rolled her eyes at Shinji.
"Unit-02 and Unit-00 have already been fitted with the Special Airborne Armors' weapon systems: Anti-Angel Missiles and Laser Beams, respectively. I'll explain the details on the way."
"Wow! That's great!" Asuka's eyes lit up.
"Don't we need training?" Rei raised her hand and asked.
"Both are quite simple to use. The missiles lock on automatically, and the lasers have assisted targeting. Just use them like your usual firearms."
"What about my Unit-01?" Shinji asked, puzzled.
"The schedule was a little tight... After all, Unit-01 already has the enhancement system installed by my teacher, and there's Zero too..."
"We had to prioritize upgrading Unit-00 and Unit-02." Ritsuko apologized to Shinji.
"So I really have become Eva: Unit-Zero..." Zero sounded disgruntled.
While Ritsuko was still explaining, Misato received a phone call that gave her a fright.
She hurriedly interrupted Ritsuko. "Forget capturing it! The Angel has hatched! It's already escaped from the volcano!"
No sooner had she finished than Shinji said urgently, "Then send us out right away!"
Ritsuko sighed. "We finally found a specimen... Looks like that's out of the question now..."
Unit-01, Unit-02, and Unit-00 were already prepared. As soon as the three entered their Entry Plugs, the thrusters launched them into the air.
On the way, Ritsuko explained how to use the Anti-Angel Missiles and Laser Beams to Asuka and Rei Ayanami.
Unit-02's Laser Beam was mounted on its right hand, while Unit-00's was mounted in its large eye.
Numerous missile launch ports had also been added to their bodies.
Since Ramiel's attack had damaged much of Unit-00's outer armor, it had been repainted and was now blue.
Beside the volcano, a dark figure watched the Evas fly overhead, his mouth twisting into an enormous grin.
"Have a taste of the gift I prepared for you!"
From high in the sky, the three could already see the Angel circling the crater in the distance.
Zero no longer even wanted to comment on its appearance...
Its overall shape resembled a flounder, while its head looked much like Anomalocaris, an ancient creature from Earth. Two eyes bulged out, and beneath its head was a round mouth packed with serrated teeth.
A pair of thick tentacles extended from either side of its body, with sharp claws growing from them.
Eighth Angel-Embryo Angel
"I'd really like to know what Adam used as references when creating these creatures..." Zero delivered a scathing remark.
"It's so ugly..." Asuka felt a little physically sick at the sight of the Angel before her.
"I'll go down first and restrain it. You two neutralize its AT Field, then attack." Shinji took the initiative in proposing a battle plan.
After all, damage to his Eva no longer affected his body.
"All right. Be careful, Shinji." Rei Ayanami's reply was short and clear.
Asuka acted a little haughty. "Hmph. Trying to show off again, are you?"
Then she added, "If you get hurt, you'll have me to answer to."
"I don't care about showing off. What matters is keeping you two from getting hurt." Focused on the Angel's movements, Shinji replied offhandedly.
"He's acting like a little leader now." Yui Ikari couldn't help marveling at Shinji's words.
"I'm going in!" Shinji shut off his thrusters, aimed his feet at the Angel in midair, and drove a vicious kick downward.
Bam!
With a thunderous crash, Unit-01 shattered the AT Field with its kick and struck the Angel's head.
The Angel was sent flying into the volcano, throwing dust up everywhere.
However, the kick had done it no real harm. It let out an enraged howl and charged at Unit-01.
"The shell around this Angel's head is very hard. Attack from below!" Zero warned.
Unit-01 rolled out of the way of the Angel's charge and drew its knife from its shoulder armor.
Shinji was surprised to find that the knife had been remodeled into the shape of a Zero Head Blade.
"Considering the training you've received, I believe this will suit you better," Ritsuko explained.
Unit-02 and Unit-00 landed and lined up beside Unit-01, each connecting its power cable.
"Spread out and attack. Focus on its abdomen!"
Unit-02 and Unit-00 began neutralizing the Angel's AT Field. Unit-01 charged again, and the Embryo Angel lashed its tentacles at it.
Just before the sharp claws struck its body, Shinji sent Unit-01 into a sliding tackle, raised the Vibrating Particle Knife, and plunged it into the Angel's mouth.
The Angel let out a terrifying roar, blood gushing from its mouth. It was in terrible agony now, but Zero had told Shinji something.
Ordinarily, living creatures felt pain and fear when attacked.
But Angels had no such sensations!
In other words, Angels felt no pain.
Without hesitation, Shinji left the knife in the Angel's mouth, then swiftly seized its two tentacles from behind, pinning it firmly in place with immense strength. This left its abdomen completely exposed to Unit-00 and Unit-02, utterly defenseless.
Unit-00 and Unit-02 needed no words to understand what they had to do. Asuka immediately opened Unit-02's missile launch ports, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
"Fire all missiles!" At Asuka's command, dozens of Anti-Angel Missiles roared out like a shower of rain, heading straight for the Angel. At the same time, Unit-00 began charging energy, its red eye growing increasingly dazzling.
In an instant, a yellow laser shot from Unit-00's eye, slicing through the sky like lightning and striking the Angel with unerring accuracy.
Unit-01 kept the Angel firmly restrained without letting up in the slightest. Only after every missile and the laser had struck did Shinji decisively send Unit-01 darting aside to avoid being caught in the explosion.
In the end, both the missiles and the laser hit the Angel precisely, successfully striking its core.
"The Angel's vital signs have disappeared!" the technician cheered.
"Idiot Shinji, you were way too reckless," Asuka complained.
"You all did very well," Misato praised them.
At that moment, a dark figure sensed a surge of energy.
"Hahaha! The real show is about to begin!" He was thrilled.
The attentive Ritsuko was startled to discover fluctuations in the Angel's vital-sign readings again.
"The Angel has revived! Watch out!"
The three stared at the Angel's corpse in shock. It began writhing again, releasing energy at the same time.
An unsettling sensation sent a wave of fear through all three.
The technician reported, "Unknown energy reaction detected at the scene! Identification is non-blue!"
Zero sensed the energy, and his expression changed drastically.
"A devil splinter..."
"It's Belial! There's a Belial Splinter inside it!"
Suddenly, the Embryo Angel's body underwent an astonishing transformation. Another pair of even thicker tentacles grew from its sides, like demonic arms brimming with strength and menace.
At the same time, the Angel's mouth underwent a horrific deformation. What had once been a simple hole now seemed to rip open, extending all the way to either side of its head and forming a huge, hideous gash. That gash looked like a passage to hell, sending chills down the spine.
Even more frighteningly, the claws at the ends of its four tentacles became extraordinarily sharp, gleaming coldly as though they could easily tear through anything. They also turned black, exuding an aura of death.
Not only that, but broad black-and-red markings spread rapidly across the Angel's body like a plague, staining its once-pale skin with eerie colors. Those markings resembled demonic brands, making it look even more sinister and terrifying.
Finally, the Angel's eyes underwent a horrifying change as well. Their original black and white gave way to blood red, a color filled with murderous intent and madness.
Embryo Angel-Belial Splinter-enhanced form.
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