Chapter 522: Operation Yashima
The Sixth Angel "Ramiel" displayed a despair-inducing, overwhelming combat power.
Its massive regular octahedral structure floated in mid-air, an ominous blue glow flowing across its surface.
Whenever an EVA attempted to approach, the A.T. Field around it would instantly strengthen, forming an invisible yet indestructible barrier.
Unit-00 initiated the assault, holding the Cherubim grenade, attempting a forced breakthrough.
But while still two kilometers away from the Angel, a blazing white accelerated particle cannon fired from the Angel's core. Rei Ayanami took emergency evasive action; the particle beam grazed Unit-00's shoulder armor, instantly melting a portion of its outer plating.
"No good, I cannot break through its crossfire," Rei Ayanami reported calmly. Unit-00 was forced to retreat behind cover.
Shinji piloted Unit-01 to flank from the other side, attempting to use the building ruins as cover.
But Ramiel's geometric form rapidly shifted its angle, and its core lit up again.
Three consecutive particle blasts precisely sealed off all of Unit-01's advance routes. The shockwave from the explosions sent Unit-01 flying fiercely.
"Its shooting accuracy is too high!" Shinji panted inside the cockpit, his hands gripping the control sticks tightly.
The moment Unit-01 got up, another particle beam grazed right over its head, completely evaporating a high-rise building behind it.
Misato Katsuragi stared intently at the battlefield feed in the command center: "The Angel's A.T. Field combined with its long-range firepower forms a perfect integration of offense and defense. Unless we can breach the field instantly, getting close is utterly impossible."
Unit-00 attempted another charge, this time fully deploying its own A.T. Field to try and neutralize the Angel's.
The two fields clashed fiercely, emitting a piercing hum.
But in this momentary stalemate, Ramiel's core glowed again, and Unit-00 had to abandon the neutralization to hastily retreat and evade.
"It won't even give us the time to neutralize the field..." Ritsuko Akagi muttered to herself as she looked at the data.
Shinji unwillingly tried again.
Unit-01 dashed forward rapidly in a zigzag pattern, but at a distance of one kilometer from the Angel, a precise particle beam directly struck Unit-01's right chest.
Alarms instantly blared throughout the cockpit, and Shinji cried out in pain.
A terrifying gap was melted into Unit-01's armor, revealing the internal structure. Just a little more and it would have damaged the core.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!" Misato made a prompt decision.
The two EVAs were forced to withdraw behind cover, leaving only Ramiel's silently rotating blue silhouette on the battlefield, as if mocking all of humanity's efforts.
The atmosphere in the combat briefing room was heavy to the extreme.
Conventional tactics had already been declared a failure. The massive casualties and the cost of urban destruction forced NERV to activate their final plan.
"Initiate Operation Yashima," Misato Katsuragi's voice rang out in the command center, carrying the resolve of burning her bridges. "Mobilize all of Japan's electricity. Unit-01 will use the Positron Cannon for an ultra-long-range snipe. Unit-00 will be responsible for protecting Unit-01 and providing defensive support."
The entire power grid of Japan began to be forcibly redirected. The massive electrical energy gathered towards Tokyo-3 like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea.
A massive, sci-fi-looking Positron Cannon was urgently transported to the designated sniping position at Mount Yashima.
Through his highest-level clearance, Ryo observed all of this from the Ninth Research Institute's observation center.
He looked at the complex structure and energy parameters of the Positron Cannon displayed on the screen, stroking his chin with interest.
"An interesting energy weapon," he seemed to be talking to himself, yet also like he was recording observation notes. "The principle is clear: converting massive electrical power into a directed energy beam, pursuing extreme single-point penetrative power. In this world where energy technology is relatively backward, being able to conceive and realize this plan is already commendable."
His tone was calm, carrying a sense of transcendent technical scrutiny, as if evaluating an outstanding artifact from a primitive civilization.
"However, its power..." he shook his head slightly, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "I'm afraid it doesn't even match the standard output of a Sagittar-pattern macrocannon equipped by a standard maniple under the Martian Forge Temple. That is a true divine weapon capable of tearing through warship armor and purifying the battlefield."
In his understanding, this kind of weapon—which required the power of an entire nation, had lengthy preparation, and an extremely limited firing window—was pitifully inefficient.
But this didn't stop him from appreciating the spark of wisdom humanity burst forth with in a desperate situation.
Under his observation, Operation Yashima, which would determine Japan's fate, officially commenced.
Unit-01 mounted the massive Positron Cannon at the distant sniping point, cables connecting it to the energy center that pooled the entire nation's electricity like giant pythons.
Unit-00 stood before Unit-01 holding a massive composite armor shield, like a silent wall of steel.
In the distance, Ramiel seemed to sense the threat. The light of its core became increasingly blinding; the accelerated particle cannon began charging, and an aura of destruction permeated the entire battlefield.
Everyone held their breath.
Ryo also leaned forward slightly, his gaze focused on the main screen.
What he cared about wasn't the success or failure of this operation, but the Positron Cannon's specific performance in actual combat, as well as the "Sword of Cherubim" grenade hanging on Unit-01's waist, which currently had no place to be used.
"Come on," he said softly. "Let me see what kind of light your choice can bloom into."
Shinji pulled the trigger.
A dazzling white light gathered at the muzzle of the Positron Cannon. Subsequently, a massive torrent of energy containing all of Japan's electricity tore through the air, letting out a deafening roar as it blasted straight toward Ramiel in the distance.
A precise hit! The massive explosion swallowed Ramiel's blue shell, and the A.T. Field around it experienced violent twists and fluctuations.
"Target hit!" A brief cheer erupted in the command center.
However, when the light faded, hope rapidly cooled.
Although Ramiel's regular octahedral structure showed obvious damage and cracks, its core was still steadily pulsating—this strike was not fatal.
Almost the second after it endured the attack, Ramiel's core instantly transformed into an attack configuration, and the blinding light shone again.
In response, a far thicker accelerated particle cannon beam fired out aggressively. But it didn't shoot at Unit-01; it deflected slightly, grazing the edge of the sniping position where Unit-01 was located.
BOOM—!
In the distance, a landmark mountain peak was completely pierced and evaporated in silence by the particle beam, leaving only a shocking, giant crater melted into a glassy texture in its place.
This was both a demonstration of power and a warning.
Inside the cockpit, Shinji gritted his teeth. He couldn't move; he had to stand his ground and wait for the Positron Cannon to recharge.
All of Japan's electricity was gathering once again, and the charging progress bar climbed slowly but firmly.
"Shinji, don't get distracted! Prepare for the second shot!" Misato Katsuragi's voice came through the comms, carrying unquestionable firmness.
In front of him, Unit-00 acted as the most loyal guard. It thrust the massive composite armor shield deep into the ground, half-crouching to adjust its defensive posture to the optimal state.
Through the screen, Rei Ayanami's red eyes locked tightly onto the distant Angel, silently constructing Unit-01's final line of defense.
Right at this moment, Ramiel's core completed another energy focus.
It seemed to have judged that the threat of the long-range snipe was far greater than close-quarters harassment. This time, it adjusted its angle, firmly locking its target onto the immobile Unit-01.
A fatal accelerated particle beam, like the gaze of the grim reaper, carrying the absolute resolution to destroy everything, instantly tore through the sky, shooting straight at Shinji!
Without any hesitation, Unit-00 moved.
It didn't choose to evade. Instead, it poured all its strength into the shield, fully deploying its A.T. Field, and aggressively rammed forward against that destructive beam of light!
BANG!!!!!
A deafening sound of impact echoed through the heavens and the earth.