They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 168 Robot Wars Apostles

Several days later, the outskirts of Tokyo Third became bustling like never before.

The steel behemoth named "Gipsy Danger," along with its massive technical and logistical team of hundreds, moved into the temporary base pre-designated by NERV, escorted by a large convoy.

Following them came media reporters from all over the world, who swarmed in like sharks smelling blood.

Long lenses and short lenses blocked the perimeter of the base, and countless broadcast vans with their antennas raised high were ready to broadcast this historic moment live to the world.

After simple preparation and final adjustments, this behemoth, carrying the last pride of traditional industry, stands quietly in the temporary hangar like a silent steel statue.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the arrival of the unknown enemy.

The apostles did not keep them waiting for long.

The piercing alarm shattered the tranquility of Tokyo-3, and on the giant holographic screen, a bright red sign read "Apostle Attack," announcing the arrival of the judgment moment.

This time, although the central command tower of NERV was still brightly lit, the atmosphere had a slightly more subtle sense of being an observer.

Misato Katsuragi issued the order to launch the attack, but the three EVAs were simply transported to their designated positions and left to stand by.

Because this time, they are not the main characters.

On the coastline, under the spotlight of countless cameras, a strange figure is slowly rising from the surging waves.

Its shape resembles a giant starfish, its body covered with a bony carapace, exuding an ominous aura.

It was the seventh apostle, the angel of funeral songs.

Meanwhile, inside their respective insertion plugs, the three eligible individuals also saw, through external monitors, the opponent they were about to battle with the "dangerous wanderer".

Wow...that's amazing...

Inside the cockpit of Unit-01, Shinji Ikari's gaze was completely drawn to the blue steel giant.

The rugged lines, full of industrial aesthetics, the heavy and powerful armor, and the roar that made the earth tremble with every step...

No guy could resist something like this...

"Idiot Shinji! Do you even understand your own position?!"

Asuka's sharp and dissatisfied voice immediately came through the earphones.

"That's our enemy! Have you thought about the consequences if it succeeds?"

Our value as NERV will be greatly reduced, and maybe...maybe all of us pilots will be disbanded!

Asuka's voice carried a hint of anxiety that she herself was unaware of.

Being the pilot of EVA is her greatest pride.

She couldn't imagine life without all of this.

"But...wouldn't it be a good thing if we could easily defeat the Apostles that way?"

"In that case, we won't have to fight in EVAs anymore, and the world won't be in danger of being destroyed... Wouldn't it be better if everyone could return to their normal lives?"

Shinji Ikari was somewhat puzzled.

"..."

Silence fell over the communication channel for a while before Asuka finally managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Idiot Shinji..."

She couldn't refute it, yet felt incredibly frustrated.

That feeling is like the treasure you risked your life to protect has become a burden that can be easily replaced in the eyes of others.

"Silence! Operation begins!"

Just then, Misato Katsuragi's calm voice cut in.

Before the words were even finished, the blue giant on the coastline moved.

boom! boom! boom!
The Dangerous Wanderer charged toward the Funeral Song Angel with heavy steps and a speed completely disproportionate to its enormous size.

The earth groaned beneath its feet, each step leaving a deep imprint on the sand.

Closer! Closer still!

When he was less than 100 meters away from the Apostle, "Dangerous Gipsy" suddenly pulled his right arm back and gathered energy, which was instantly concentrated on his fist through countless intricate transmission devices.

Then, a thunderous right straight punch, accompanied by a whistling sound that tore through the air, slammed into the face of the Funeral Song Angel!

However, just before the fist was about to strike, a pale orange, hexagonal light barrier, rippling like water, appeared out of thin air in front of the apostle.

Om-!
AT Field!

That powerful punch, capable of leveling a small mountain, struck the force field but only created a violent ripple, unable to advance any further.

"really!""

Inside the temporary command center of the "Dangerous Wanderers," the middle-aged chairman stared intently at the screen, a knowing glint in his eyes.

They had anticipated this situation based on the limited information released by NERV.

Just as "Gipsy Danger" exhausted its strength, the Funeral Angel retaliated. Its equally massive, bone-blade-like arm struck "Gipsy Danger" in the chest with lightning speed.

boom--!
The dull, deafening roar was deafening.

But to everyone's surprise, "Dangerous Wanderer" only took a half step back under the violent impact, and only a shallow white mark was left on the special alloy armor on its chest.

"Success!"

Inside the command center, a technician shouted excitedly.

The middle-aged chairman couldn't help but smile. Just as he had predicted, in terms of pure physical performance, this steel creation, a culmination of human industrial civilization, far surpassed that protein-based organism in both weight and material strength!
Flesh and blood have their limits! The Funeral Song Angel seemed to realize this as well. It abandoned the simple clash of strength and changed its strategy. Its huge body pounced and engaged in a fierce battle with the "Dangerous Wanderer".

A primal and violent battle of colossal beasts unfolds before the eyes of the world.

The Funeral Angel's attacks were swift and unpredictable, but the "Dangerous Wanderer," controlled by the dual-person neural coordination system, displayed astonishing reaction speed and fighting skills.

Every dodge and every block demonstrated amazing skill.

This is naturally all thanks to the two drivers, who were professional soldiers...

Gradually, the "dangerous vagrants" gained the upper hand.

It seized an opening, locking the Funeral Song Angel's body tightly with its arms, and suddenly thrusting the auxiliary thrusters on its knees, using a fierce knee strike to send the apostle staggering backward.

"Hahahaha!"

Seeing the blue figure on the screen completely suppressing the apostle, the middle-aged chairman could no longer contain his joy and burst into laughter.

Victory seems to be a sure thing!
The next moment, he pressed the communicator and issued the final command: "End it!"

The armor on the right arm of "Dangerous Gipsy Danger" suddenly popped open, and a huge chainsaw sword, gleaming with a cold light, extended from inside the arm.

Accompanied by the ear-piercing roar of the engine, the high-speed rotating saw teeth seemed capable of tearing everything apart!
"Roar--!"

"Dangerous Wanderer" let out a roar that seemed to come from the steel hell, raised his chainsaw sword high, and slashed down fiercely at the restrained Funeral Song Angel!

Tsk-!
Amidst the teeth-grinding slicing sounds, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

That seemingly indestructible apostle was cleanly and decisively cleaved in two by this sword!
"NICE!"

"We win! We win!"

Upon seeing this, the command center of the "World Federation of Heavy Chemical Industries" erupted in thunderous cheers.

Everyone jumped up, hugged, shouted, and the champagne corks were popped open, spraying golden liquid everywhere.

"No way……"

Inside the cockpit of Unit 2, Asuka stared at the Angel's remains, now split in two, on the screen, her pretty face filled with disbelief.

Could it be... that they're really going to lose their jobs?
However, in the next moment, something unexpected happened!

The corpse of the Funeral Song Angel, which had been split in two, began to writhe and multiply eerily at the wound, rebuilding itself at a speed visible to the naked eye!

In just a few seconds, the original apostle turned into two identical individuals, only slightly smaller!

The cheers stopped abruptly.

Inside the command center, everyone's smiles froze on their faces.

Before they could react, the two reborn Funeral Song Angels launched an attack simultaneously.

They pounced on the "dangerous wanderer" from the left and right, like two black lightning bolts.

One against two!

The "dangerous wanderer" was instantly at a complete disadvantage.

He had just blocked the claws of the apostle on the left with his chainsaw sword when the apostle on the right locked his joints.

Stab it--!
With a chilling metallic tearing sound, "Dangerous Gadgetzan's" entire right arm, along with the chainsaw sword that had just been used to achieve his goal, was ripped off!

The situation reversed in an instant!

"How could this be... how could this happen!"

The middle-aged chairman was deathly pale, staring intently at the screen, his body trembling uncontrollably.

As he watched his "Iron God of War" being forced to retreat under the siege of the two apostles, its armor being torn apart, a crazy determination flashed in his eyes.

"Activate self-destruct sequence! Detonate the nuclear fusion reactor in your chest!"

He screamed into the microphone, his voice completely distorted.
"Eject from the cockpit!"

As long as they can kill the Apostles! As long as they can achieve victory at the cost of this prototype, they still have a chance! They will still be heroes!
On the battlefield, the cockpit of the "Gipsy Danger" was ejected upwards by a powerful force the instant the command was given.

Immediately afterwards, its core reactor, the "sun" that had been steadily outputting surging energy, began to flash with destructive light.

The light grew brighter and brighter, more and more dazzling, as if a supernova was about to be born on the Earth's surface.

boom----! ! !
A huge mushroom cloud, crackling with electric arcs and flames, shot into the sky over the coastline.

The violent explosion engulfed everything around it, the seawater was instantly evaporated, the earth was completely plowed up, and the terrifying shockwave swept in all directions!

"Everyone, AT Fields at maximum deployment! Block the aftershocks!"

Misato Katsuragi's orders were calm and timely.

The three EVA units simultaneously deployed their respective force fields, forming three indestructible giant shields that steadily blocked the impact of the explosion.

As the flames gradually subsided, only a huge, still melting, charred crater remained at the center of the explosion.

However, amidst the hellish flames and thick smoke, two figures slowly emerged.

The wounds torn open by the explosion, the body scalded by the high temperature, are healing at a rapid pace.

Upon seeing this scene, the middle-aged chairman felt as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant. His legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the cold ground.

His eyes were lifeless, his lips moved as he muttered to himself.

"So... what an Apostle is...?"

(End of this chapter)