After what seemed like an eternity in the darkness, the night finally cleared. In the northwest corner, Unit‑00 and Unit‑01 still towered over the skyline. And there—Ramiel's gemstone-like form remained intact.
Was it... a failure?
Everyone closed their eyes in despair.
The positron cannon had melted into wreckage—it could never fire again. They wondered: What now, for humanity's future?
Then, out of the silence, came a sudden, shattered scream.
A female tech raised her voice in disbelief and pointed at the screen:
"We… we won!"
Shock rippled across the command center. Everyone looked up at the main display.
Ramiel—a mass of sapphire crystal—was fracturing. Shards peeled away like broken glass.
Could it be...?
They watched in astonishment. Ramiel was truly being defeated.
After what felt like hours, thunderous applause broke out among the staff—cheers, whistles, tears of relief.
Humanity had escaped extinction.
Misato leaned back, eyes moist, relief flooding her face.
Ryota Kitazawa… was a marvel of nerve and daring.
---
Half an hour later, power was restored across Tokyo‑3. Lights blinked back on throughout the city. Headlines hailed Kitazawa's triumph over the Sixth Angel. He was, once again, the hero of humankind.
Amidst the celebrations, only one face remained dark—General Matsushita.
As Kitazawa's victory spread, it only underscored military failure. People remembered: the live broadcast showed the military at best playing the role of cannon fodder. Their losses—two hundred tanks, nearly a thousand soldiers, and nearly three hundred artillery pieces—were conveniently ignored.
This deepened Matsushita's rage.
"Damn it," he muttered, slamming a fist on his desk.
He seethed: They used us as sacrificial pawns. They cover it up and make it Kitazawa's win? Unforgivable.
"That damned NERV… that damned Kitazawa! One day, I will make you pay!"
Despite the bitter price, he still commanded the lion's share of Japan's combat strength.
That night he made a call to the United Nations headquarters in New York—a powerful three-hour diplomatic showdown. What he said, and what responses he elicited, remains unknown.
EVAs had changed global power dynamics overnight. Governments and intelligence agencies were recalculating alliances, and the political landscape shifted in real time.
---
Below NERV headquarters, in a secret SEELE meetingroom, power players had concluded one meeting. Meanwhile, a high-profile call reached a man halfway across the globe: Ryoji Kaji.
He was lounging at an upscale gala in Germany, surrounded by glamorous company, when his phone arrived.
The waiter offered the device. Kaji, a cheeky grin playing across his lips, took the call.
"Hello? This is Ryoji Kaji—who's calling?"
"Ah—Kaji‑san, it's me," said the voice on the line. "Chairman Keel."
Kaji's grin faded and was replaced by a grin of genuine interest.
"Ah, Chairman… What can I do for you? Another mission?"
"Yes," came the measured response. "I'm ordering you to come to Japan immediately. Monitor all activities related to Gendo Ikari. Understood?"
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