The silent, towering presence of the EVA-Titan carried a pressure that far exceeded its direct actions. The single red cyclopean eye beneath that cold helmet swept across the battlefield; every unit caught in its "gaze" felt the icy chill of being locked onto by a high-level apex predator.
Mark.06 was the first to react. It seemed to judge that this newly arrived gray colossus, bearing a gargantuan cannon, posed a threat of the highest order—even temporarily setting aside its intent to attack the deified Unit-01. Mark.06 transformed into a streak of black lightning, charging straight toward the EVA-Titan. In its hand, it had somehow manifested a light spear composed of high energy—a miniaturized version of the Spear of Longinus—aiming directly for the Titan's core!
"Here it comes!" Inside the secure room, Osiris clearly sensed Mark.06's attack trajectory through the psionic link. He chose not to intercept it with his Power Claws. Instead, he maneuvered the EVA-Titan in a sidestep slide with an agility that belied its massive, heavy frame. Simultaneously, the barrel of the Nemesis-class Volcano Cannon on its back began a low, humming rotation, charging with heart-pounding energy fluctuations.
An indescribable, scorching jet—as thick as a mountain range—erupted from the mouth of the Volcano Cannon! It was no mere energy blast or solid shell, but a torrent of destruction imbued with extreme thermal and kinetic energy. In an instant, the world lost its color.
The jet was not aimed directly at Mark.06; instead, it struck the ground precisely in front of its charging path.
BOOM—!!!
In the area directly hit by the fire, the ground didn't just explode—it was instantaneously vaporized and molten, forming a colossal crater over a hundred meters in diameter, churning with dark-red lava. The terrifying shockwave spread outward in a rapid ring. Wherever it passed, whether it was structural wreckage or organic remains of the Angel, everything was crushed and blown away.
Mark.06's charge was forcibly halted by this earth-shattering strike. It was forced to twist its body mid-air with such violence it nearly tore the machine apart, narrowly avoiding the lethal molten pit and the core shockwave. Even with its A.T. Field active, the machine was still hurled away by the expanding energy aftermath. Its external armor let out an ear-piercing screech as it collided with debris and energy turbulence, crashing once more into the distant ruins, kicking up dust clouds dozens of meters high.
"What... what kind of bombardment is that?! It's like... like a volcanic eruption!" Asuka watched in stunned disbelief from a distance, her white Unit-03 swaying violently in the shockwave.
This single shot demonstrated more than just power; it showed an absolute ability to dominate and reshape the battlefield environment. Osiris used this deterrent shot to rapidly gather data on Mark.06 while evaluating the Volcano Cannon's impact on the space of this world.
"Target evasion limit confirmed... Preliminary spatial structure stability threshold explored..."
Osiris did not pursue Mark.06. The humming of the dorsal Volcano Cannon's charge gradually faded. The barrel made a micro-adjustment, refocusing its primary sensors on the deified Unit-01. He wanted to test exactly how much pressure this "Door" and this "Key" could withstand.
At this moment, the phantom of the Doors of Guf above Unit-01 had become increasingly clear. It was a massive, complex, and constantly rotating series of concentric circles; at its center was a darkness so deep it seemed to connect to the ultimate mysteries of the universe.
The Door was slowly opening. The space surrounding the gate shimmered with wave-like distortions. Divine energy intertwined and clashed with the crimson flow of energy—resembling an ocean of LCL—spilling from within the door. Even greater spiritual pressure surged from the gate, affecting all of Tokyo-3 and even wider regions. Rubble on the ground began to float in defiance of gravity, and particles in the air emitted an eerie glow. Some mentally sensitive individuals began to experience hallucinations, hearing mysterious whispers and seeing the phantoms of deceased loved ones.
"No! We have to stop it!" Misato Katsuragi looked sharply at Gendo Ikari. "Commander! Unit-01 is out of control, the intent of Mark.06 is unknown, and now an unknown giant unit has appeared! We must use every means available, even if... even if it's the Spear of Longinus!"
Deploying the Spear of Longinus meant descending to the deepest part of Central Dogma and pulling it from Lilith's chest. It was an undoubtedly dangerous act that could accelerate certain processes.
Gendo Ikari remained silent, seemingly weighing his options. His plan required Unit-01 as the key and the Doors of Guf to open, but if the opening became uncontrollable or was entirely dominated by SEELE, his personal goals would be impossible to achieve.
It was then that Sub-Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki, who had remained silent until now, spoke. His voice carried a trace of exhaustion and deep meaning: "Gendo, it is time to make a choice. Is it for 'our script,' or is it for... 'her'?"
These words were the final straw. Gendo's interlaced fingers finally lowered. He stood up, his voice cold as he gave the order:
"Authorization for the Spear of Longinus contingency is granted. Unit-00... no, the Rei Ayanami clones are to be prepared for activation. Begin 'Ceremony' preparations."
The issuance of this order signaled the start of the final internal schism and decisive battle within NERV. He had ultimately chosen to push forward his own script, even if it meant a direct conflict with SEELE. What he wanted was not the "Instrumentality" sought by SEELE—the fusion of all human consciousness—but rather to open the path to the "Anti-Universe" through the contact of Unit-01 and Lilith, to find Yui Ikari.
Almost as soon as the command was issued, Osiris captured an extremely subtle but high-energy fluctuation from the direction of Central Dogma through the EVA-Titan's sensors—the unique spatial ripples produced when the Spear of Longinus is disturbed.
"It's finally beginning..." Osiris thought to himself. He knew the most critical moment was approaching. Now, he needed to make the water even muddier. He needed to draw everyone's attention to himself.
He immediately contacted Kaji Ryoji again via encrypted comms: "Kaji, the Spear of Longinus has been touched. Gendo Ikari has begun executing his personal script. Your task is to ensure we can 'approach' that area during the chaos. I will create the opportunity for you."
"Understood. The passage is under control. Ready to move in at any time," Kaji's response was swift and firm.
Osiris nodded, his gaze returning to the massive Doors of Guf and the deified Unit-01 on the screen. The red light of the EVA-Titan's massive cyclopean sensor suddenly surged. This time, its target was unmistakable: the Doors of Guf, and the deified Unit-01 beneath them!