Chapter 24: Visitors

Chapter 24:
Visitors

 

ON THE SUNLIT SURFACE of Yomotsu Hirasaka, another observer lay hiding in the shadows, the mutant Eva-0.0. Within it, Seele had assumed Kaji Ryoji as a vessel and controlled Ayanami Rei Quatre.

“What an awful sight…” he murmured.

Equipped with the spear of destiny, Torwächter B swung wildly at the pack of A.T. Field beasts. It proved less than fruitful, however. The beasts slipped easily through the lance’s prongs and tore into the Torwächter’s poorly shielded abdomen. His heart pulsed violently as bright golden light poured out of his wound like shining blood.

“Would you look at that? It can bleed, after all. I’m impressed, Shinji son of Gendo… You rode on the wrong energy wave, but you managed to make it here.”

“What’s so surprising about that? I thought you knew the black messenger had stolen Super Eva’s heart.”

“Indeed. Even so, Super Eva has called upon the heart for power in the past. Now, the tables have turned. The heart has called upon Super Eva.”

“So what’s taken Super Eva’s place?”

“An empty shell, I suppose.” He grinned. “I wonder if he realizes that it is my replica lance he wields in his hands. He’s done well, but none of that will matter soon. It shall all fade presently.”

Quatre’s face paled at the Kaji-vessel’s words.

“Why?! The separated pieces are one again!”

“Because the heart retains its sentience. They threaten to crush each other. In fact, the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the heart. You’ve seen for yourself how it has forgotten its primary duty.”

B’s heartbeat filled the vacuum of space. It was loud but not rhythmic, and golden light poured out of him with every beat. The heart was a window to higher dimensions, bequeathed upon Eva-01 by the vestige of Yui before she left the universe to replace its original S2 Engine.

The circumstances were eerily similar to when Super Eva had almost exploded on Novaya Zemlya.

“I doubt the son of Gendo can escape the avian abyss. Soon, even his existence will be forgotten.”