"This…"
Misato Katsuragi stared in stunned silence. Before she could even identify the Angel's critical weak point, Ryota Kitazawa had already struck. Did he already know its vulnerability? It was incredible.
---
"We're winning!"
Inside NERV's command center, engineers wept in relief, while others danced in celebration. The positron cannon's beam soared precisely into the Angel's weak spot.
Even General Matsushita exhaled in relief—if the Angel fell, his troops would survive, and he'd maintain his military standing.
---
BOOM!
The blast hit true, and within a ten-mile radius, the roar of Sixth Angel Ramiel filled the sky like sonic waves. Yet amid the chaos, one truth emerged: the Angel was in agony.
Its sapphire-like form fractured—spiderweb cracks spread across its body like shattered glass.
Seconds later, as though nothing had happened, Ramiel reassembled. But now... it seethed with rage.
---
"Oh no… how is this possible?"
Misato cried, heart pounding. The cannon had hit—firmly hit!
---
"Impossible!"
Misato sprang to her feet. "Rewind that feed! Slow-motion playback—now!"
Her panic was palpable. If even the positron cannon couldn't kill an Angel, humanity had no weapon left. Misato's voice shook.
---
On the screen, the slow-mo replay revealed the unsettling truth: Kitazawa had deliberately missed—by less than a millimeter. The beam skimmed the S² engine, barely avoiding the core.
A deliberate near-miss?
Misato, Matsushita, Gendo Ikari, Kouzou Fuyutsuki—they all reeled in shock.
---
"Kitazawa… you're evil."
A calm, steady voice came through the comm station—Rei Ayanami.
Her understated remark knit brows across the room.
Kitazawa had missed on purpose? Every plan pointed to full commitment, yet here he was pulling back at the last moment. Could anyone be that insane?
Yet Rei's tone hinted at certainty. Kitazawa had indeed intended this.
---
General Matsushita's face drained of color. He had deliberately sent his men to their deaths—cannon fodder—under Kitazawa's plan. Rage boiled in him; he wished he could kill Kitazawa there and then.
But he could not.
---
Misato himself rallied the team: "All units, charge the cannon again—prepare for another shot!"
---
From the data stream:
"The positron cannon will finish charging in 3 minutes."
"Cooldown period: 5 minutes."
Misato's eyes hardened. Five minutes until their next—and perhaps only—chance.
---
"Kitazawa," she ordered over comms, "you must survive these five minutes. We'll hold the line."
---
Kitazawa's reply was flat and relaxed:
"Easy. General Matsushita's forces are still covering me. I'll be fine."
Matsushita's jaw clenched. He hated Kitazawa more than anything—but he had to carry out his orders.
"Understood, sir," he responded, forcing a smile through the betrayal.
---
Kitazawa then powered down the comms.
Once again, Matsushima's tanks and artillery rose into position, ready to shield Unit‑01 and its positron cannon. Despite his internal turmoil, the General pressed forward.
---
Kitazawa remained calm and silent. His vengeance was calculated—this wasn't merely war. The military had seized the EVAs; their soldiers were being sacrificed. Kitazawa was here to teach a lesson. And he had the world watching.
---
The score was clear: Five minutes until the decisive moment.
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