Chapter 56: The Lance of Casuality

Chapter 56:
The Lance of Casuality

 

HE WAS ENGULFED by light. Shinji felt his consciousness drift away with the ever-expanding power of Final Impact.

<<What was I doing? I cut off Armaros’ arm…and the Longinus came out of it…>>

And pierced him right through his shining chest.

His heart, the window to higher dimensions was already lost, but he felt intense agony all the same. The only thing left of the giant of light that Final Model had become was Shinji’s ego.

But even that was passing away.

<<Armaros’ remaining arm is still pulling the island…but…to where? I can’t remember…>>

I told you. Nothing good can come of those wings. Kaworu whispered to Shinji, who was fading away with the giant of light.

Final Model’s four wings remained extended. The wings that had first spread when Yomotsu Hirasaka was about to collide with the Earth. The wings that half the globe had seen during the Second Impact.

With the wings unleashed, we would lose the path to knowledge, and with it, our reason to exist.

<<Kaworu-kun!>> Shinji shouted. <<Where is this island going?! I know it’s someplace important!>>

The light of the Longinus continued to pierce him with its immense length. Shinji tried to remember the island’s destination within the intense pain.

It’s headed to the town you call home.

The giant of light lurched, grabbing the spear that pierced him with a great rumble. Sparks flew from the gaps in his balled up hands, raining over half the island and causing the black monsters attacking the JSSDF and the North American Alliance to crumble into white salt.

Endo quickly issued an order to the ground troops. “Attention, all units! I don’t care who you belong to, do not leave the reactor fields! You will be saltified! Americans, step away from Wolfpack! Now!”

OOOOOOORGH!

The giant of light roared far overhead.

The Lance of Longinus was now a single strand of light, having exhausted its entire length in the roots of the World Tree. It maintained its speed of ninety kilometers per second while still in Shinji’s hands, creating a deadly fireworks display.

OOOORGH!

The giant of light howled again, perhaps from pain or perhaps to brace himself. He continued gripping the spear, shining brighter as he approached his final moments—so bright that his outlines faded.

Oddly, everyone present understood what was happening.

<<The Third Impact was stopped with a bookmark. Now, the final page has been turned.>>

The single black point on the giant of light’s back, the Time Brake, disappeared.

The four wings of light on his shoulders expanded like a mushroom cloud.

Soldiers and researchers alike were captivated by the sight.

“Amen,” one said, submitting to the will of Heaven.

“No!” said another, in frustration.

The light suddenly froze.

“What?”

At first, no one could believe their eyes.

Everything else on the island moved at its usual pace. The skies were still covered with the roots that had become Armaros’ arms. Her right arm was still cut off, and the left arm was still pulling the island and everything on it at breakneck speeds.

“That giant spear… It stopped!”

The island rumbled as it was towed. The strange field still cut through the winds. But now…

THRUM!

Final Model’s heartbeat had joined the symphony.

The Lance of Longinus had stopped, still piercing the giant of light and still within his hands.

At that moment, the giant’s wings also stopped expanding.

Had they continued, the whole world would have been engulfed by light, bringing an end to it all.