Chapter 23: Battle at New Island

Chapter 23:
Battle at New Island

 

Sparks flew as the tip of the Bizen Osafune broke through the field of a Carrier to lodge itself in its head. Shinji left the blade where it lay, letting go and grabbing Armisael’s double helix as its cocoon rose out of the Carrier’s abdomen.

Eva-01 Final Model flew past the Carrier while yanking the torn helix through the blade in its head with all his might. The remaining helix of the Angel larva spun furiously as the sword unraveled it by force. It let out a hideous screech before it died.

The Angel Carrier was still alive, but it stumbled when the cord in its belly was pulled free. The Q.R. Signums in its shoulders were dispatched with some well-placed shots from the lighter version of the Powered 8 railgun, the Powered 8 CL.

Asuka and Toji watched from the Platypus.

“That’s something else…”

“Why aren’t the other Carriers attacking?”

Because the Armisael Carrier was bait.

As the Eva-01 Final Model pulled away from the rapidly deteriorating remains of the Carrier, the other four surrounded him, sticking their staves into the ground.

“That’s the Tower of Babel! They’re enclosing him in a pyramid, like back on Novaya Zemlya!”

Asuka sank into her seat as Toji charged toward the nearest staff.

“Don’t miss, Soryu!”

“What?!”

On her HMD helmet, a crosshair formed on the tiny staff in the distance. Asuka pulled the trigger, but the positron cannon blasted the right arm of the Carrier holding it instead of the staff itself.

“You suck at this! This is what happens when you do too much mental targeting!”

“Sh-shut up!”

The Platypus realigned itself, but it flew by the staff before they could get another shot.

No!

Just then, a blast from an energy weapon kicked up a dust cloud. Someone else had destroyed the staff for them.

“That’s the JSSDF’s… What was it called again?”

“Akashima.”

The pyramid formed around Final Model even with a missing staff. The Eva tried to escape to no avail. By now, shots aimed at the remaining staves couldn’t penetrate the field. The Carriers stepped harmlessly through the enclosed space, charging up their vast energy.

The Akashima was accelerating backward as it distanced itself from the pyramid.

<<Akashima to Nerv. Keep your distance from that structure! The Tower of Babel causes disruptions in communications, even energy communications. Your signals will be affected.>>

“Thank you, Endo-san. Our experiments at Nerv showed that using a single staff lessened the disruptive effects of the pyramid. We did simulations with three staves, too.”

<<Acting Deputy Commander? Why aren’t you at HQ? Anyway, Akashima to Nerv. There’s one remaining Carrier that didn’t make it into the pyramid. It’s the one whose arm you blew off. Be on the lookout.>>

We knocked one out for you, Shinji. The rest is up to you.

The Tower of Babel’s rainbow membrane was too tough even for Eva-01 Final Model to break through at full power. The Angel Carriers inside the tower swelled to great proportions, their skins cracking to make room for the new growth.

Shinji yelped in surprise as one of the giant Carriers leaned toward him. Though it had yet to attack, he drew the Bizen Osafune, which was far too large for melee combat in this enclosed space, and pointed it at the enemy. The Carrier paid no heed to the weapon and fell upon Eva-01 Final Model, intent on crushing him.

“What the hell is up with this thing?!”

The Bizen pierced its belly, and liquid poured out of its cocoon.

“Gah!”

The pain upon touching it was immediate. The fluid continued to burn Eva-01 Final Model’s restraint armor, and it ate a hole in the ground when it dripped down.

“Acid!”

Is it Matarael in that cocoon?! It hurts…but I can take it!

Final Model tried to regain his footing, but he couldn’t outrun the four long legs that crawled out of the cocoon. They grabbed him in midair, presumably intending to slam him into the ground.

Shinji braced himself as he felt the distance between them and the ground reduce to nothing.

But the impact never came.

Matarael’s acid had burned the Earth away, exposing a cave network. Final Model and the Carrier tumbled into the darkness.