The Seraph started walking, his...no,
its, foot steps treading purposefully and heavily. Despite being miles away from him, the Eva Pilots could see the bottomless hatred and anger in those alien yet human scarlet eyes, feeling it burn their very essences. And the face which those eyes were set into, one that was thin, gaunt, and pointed, made it seem as if unfathomable rage and brutality was in his very nature.
And no one who made these observations were wrong.
He was every bit as tall as they, 160 metres, maybe even more. The armour the Seraph bore was an intricately crafted set of plates and chain mail, like some coated in blood red hybrid of 15th century European plate armour and dark age Norse Lamellar. There were some hints of a cream tunic or brown leather gloves and boots beneath it all, but near everything was covered in armour and mail. And with that pure white cape billowing out behind him, as if Rogziel's mere presence caused blusters of wind, the enemy of mankind was a most impressive sight. The eerie clanking his advance made echoed across the landscape and through the hearts of all who heard it.
As the fiery ruins of Mount Asama descended from the heavens, Rogziel's A-T field flared when it effortlessly brushed aside great chunks of city destroying debris. The Divine Heir's lip curled into a snarl as he quickened his pace.
Father would doubtlessly chide me for destroying such a fine piece of land...but I care not. My thirst for vengeance must be satiated. They must die.
"
All Units, open fire!" Misato barked across every frequency with uncharacteristic fear. Shinji, though vaguely aware of it, had no time to ponder. He was already levelling his rifle and waiting for his foe to come into range.
The rest of Eva squad did the same, aside from Asuka who lacked a pallet rifle to begin with, and could only frown in annoyance at her slightly melted prog knives.
Gott knows how many Marks it will take to get some new ones...Chancellor Mack is going to kill me.
With a roar, the guns of the JSA unleashed their choir of death and destruction, stabbing flame at the enemy. The Fuso backed off as quickly as it could, still unloading a payload of missiles and rail gun accelerated pallet shells. As it was so many times before, everything the soldiers of Japan could throw at this foe so far beyond them, was useless. Whilst it was not unlikely that a Seraph's A-T field could be breached by lasting and excessive firepower, the monstrosities would never give them the time to do so.
Rogziel didn't even seem bemused or playful like previous Seraphim. He was unlike any Shinji had faced before, and that wasn't in terms of appearance. He felt...
different. No cockiness, no sadism, just rage.
"This is going to be all or nothing, people. That thing isn't going mess around with us." Shinji relayed hoarsely to his comrades, desperately fighting back his fear.
"
What? How do you know that!?" Samuel challenged shrilly, still wrapping his head around what was stalking towards them.
"I don't know...it's just a feeling..."
"
Feelings aren't going to help us here, Shinji. We need facts, and I ficking doubt we're getting them!" Asuka interrupted tightly, exasperated and angered with how the day had turned out.
Rei meanwhile, had tilted her head in silent observation. Surprise, shock and...curiosity had filled her being. The living legacy of Yui Ikari felt every bit as fascinated as when she'd first discovered the name of her her hair colour.
Blue.
What are you? And why...why do we look alike?
Undoubtedly a question for the Commander, or for anyone with the knowledge.
Rogziel slowly thrust out his arm, a storm of orange lightning rushing forward. It was a show of power that exceeded even the force of a category five Hurricane, smashing into the A-T fields of the Evangelions, driving them back hundreds of feet. Their fields provided protection for the men and tanks directly behind them, but as for everyone else...
Shinji could only watch in wide eyed horror as thousands of people were flung across the landscape of Japan, steel and flesh being mangled in equal measure. With a simple flick of his wrist, the former successor to the Aesylian throne had slaughtered seven thousand human beings.
For the JSA, it was beyond even the wrath of Sachiel. This was a true
Yokai, having taken human form to rip out their souls and devour them.
The young Japanese boy made a split second decision. He flicked open a channel to all frequencies and yelled. "Attention all JSA units, get out of here,
now. You can't stop this thing!"
Ritsuko's face popped up on vid link, her green eyes narrowed.
"
Pilot Ikari, you do not have authorisation to give that order-"
"
No damn it, he's right. All JSA units, follow that command. There's nothing else you can do, get the hell out of here!" Misato cut in, having gotten over her initial shock.
Those eyes...those hellish red eyes...she'd have to think about it later. Granted, Rei had red eyes and they unnerved the purplehead. But these were something else entirely. Something infinitely more angry and powerful.
Thousands of infantry pulled back in an ordered, regimental fashion, columns of armoured vehicles doing the same. Just as it had been at Capital defence line 1, the JSA moved with the discipline and calm of veterans, no matter what force of nature came their way.
"
All Eva Units, push forward! Take the bastard head on!" Misato ordered, her tone assertive again.
Eva squad thundered forward. Closing to range rapidly, those who held pallet rifles opened fire. A solid wall of explosive shells slammed into Rogziel's A-T field, obscuring him from view with yellow explosions and smoke. Shinji emptied his rifle, cast it aside, then drew his prog knife. Samuel had done the same with his blade, and Asuka hadn't a rifle to begin with. Rei however kept her weapon, darting around the side of the Seraph and reloading.
From the vast cloud of smoke Rogziel burst forth, roaring in fury as he launched himself at his enemy. His vicious looking blade swished through the air at Shinji's head, causing the Third child to barely block with his knife and field. Whilst it was enough to prevent his head being cut off, a gauntleted fist soon followed and stuck him directly in the face. The Heir's roundhouse punch smashed through his protective shield and connected with the Eva's cheek. It's boy could have sworn he felt and heard a crack.
Unit 01 staggered backwards as the former successor threw himself at Unit 03, not giving Eva squad a second to reform. Sword clanged with sword as the two combatants cancelled out their fields. There was a frantic series of parries and blocks on the part of Samuel, the Seraph using its unfathomable strength it its advantage, savagely hacking away with his blade.
Asuka had moved to flank the eldritch prince and was now charging into his left. The girl produced a horrific grin, snarling in bloodlust.
You are mine, Seraph!
Noticing her, Rogziel forced Samuel's sword down with his own, then thrust out his free hand to grab Unit 02 by the throat. Asuka didn't have time to gasp (let alone react) as she was lifted off he feet and thrown into Unit 03, knocking the British pilot off his feet.
Instead of trying to finish them off, a mistake many of his siblings had made before, Rogziel remained totally aware of his surroundings and swung around, expertly blocking Shinji's strike, who'd regained his senses. The boy grimaced at the feeling of warm blood dripping from his nostrils, but stayed focused.
The Seraph threw him off and came at him again, swinging powerfully, precisely, yet angrily. It wanted him dead, it wanted them all dead.
Shinji had never fought anything which could properly emote before, let alone had the face of person. And that expression of total disdain, of utter, bottomless disgust for him and the race he was a part of, chilled him to the bone.
That obsidian blade crackled with a wicked looking energy, the same sort which A-T fields manifested as. What appeared to be runes where etched into it. Their meaning, Shinji did not understand. But he could guess it wasn't friendly.
Rogziel forced his enemy's guard down, then made a precise slash at Unit 01's throat. Only a wealth of experience spared the boy from feeling his neck artery being opened up as he leaned backwards. Pressing his attack despite missing, the Seraph turned his cut into a thrust, keeping the Knight of NERV on the back foot.
Back peddling, Shinji made another stab in what he saw as a moment of opportunity, a slash that went too wide, but the wrath of Netzach corrected himself with ease. His left hand came from below to grab the purple armoured hand holding the prog knife and squeezed.
The Japanese boy shrieked in pain as he felt his fist be
crushed, forcing him to drop the knife. At that moment, as if sensing the trouble he was in, Rei attacked Rogziel in the flank. Not nearly as brashly as Asuka had, but still with anger in her heart. Her eyebrows had narrowed in an uncharacteristic display of rage, the pallet rifle being the conduit for her anger.
Although it wasn't enough to harm the Seraph, it did gain his attention. Rogziel turned his gaze upon the white Evangelion, lip quivering.
"
Lih anri set, Vooren. Ifre kraesem." He growled.
Using this momentary distraction, Shinji tore himself free of Seraph's grip and scrambled away for all he was worth. Not to flee, but to gain breathing space. Noticing his foe's escape, Rogziel flung a wall of orange lightening at the boy with a mere flick of his wrist. Unit 01 went tumbling, its pilot banging his head nastily for what was not the first time that day.
The red armoured Divine advanced on Unit 00, blade scraping against the ground.
"
Piss off!" Samuel's roar took the Seraph a little by surprise. Not nearly enough to actually be caught off guard, but enough to raise an eyebrow.
Your babbling of obscenities will not save you.
The Imperial Evangelion made a precise thrust, one which Rogziel easily parried. Blades of obsidian and steel continued to clash. The difference between the two's sword play was noticeable for all to see. The Seraph poured in heavy and precise blows, yet was quick to deflect. Samuel on the other hand was lighter on his feet, darting back and forth, more focused on slashing and cutting instead of outright bisection.
Rei had used up yet another clip of ammunition, as she split her attention between staying behind the enemy and reloading. Were she offthat disposition, the albino would have been frustrated. Although the vast, stratospheric bombardment deflecting fields of both the Evas and Seraph had been neutralised, smaller, weaker ones could still be manifested. Enough to block pallet fire at the very least.
Shinji shook his head to force the stars out of his eyes, instinctively flexing his hand to reassure himself nothing was broken. Weaponless, he looked around for his prog knife. Seeing it on the ground, he made to reclaim it but was taken aback by the whistling speed of a black armoured hand snatching the blade up and thundering towards the enemy.
Asuka was furious. This thing had tried to ensnare her, to trick her, deny her glory, and now it
dared to try and lay a finger on her only friend in the world? Samuel was taking care of himself, slightly on the back foot but holding his own against the Seraph. The enemy, in a way similar to the redhead, had let his rage get the better of him.
The freckled girl leapt into the air just before she made contact. Asuka didn't care if it noticed or acted against her, she was going to hurt this creature.
Badly.
Sensing the danger long before it came, Rogziel threw off Samuel's attack and pivoted to his left, swinging his blade with wrathful precision. In mid air, Unit 02's arm extended with Shinji's prog blade in hand. The Divine Heir was confident his enemy would try to evade the strike out of sheer self preservation, but he underestimated someone with a temper on par with his own.
His blade cut across Unit 02's black chest, liquid gushing forth from the wound, but Rogziel's red eyes widened. He tried to lean back, but the knife cut through his throat in a simple slash.
Asuka hit the ground hard, both her hand and that of Unit 02 clenching her side as she hissed and trembled in agony. It felt as if her intestines would fall out. And in the case of Unit 02...some stringy flesh like thins poked out between the slit in her armour.
She crawled around for a moment, furiously trying to fight off the nausea and the pain, far too stubborn to pass out. But Asuka needn't have worried, for the Seraph was staggering and choking on his own blood. Rei poured in the fire to keep the enemy disoriented, long enough for the squad's true heavy hitter to carry out his assault.
Shinji had watched everything unfold in slow motion, his brain on instinct calculating his next course of action. Unit 03 had backed off and gone to Unit 02's side, to assist his comrade and give the purple Eva no obstruction. The brown haired boy urged his steed forward, taking the strangely looking foe head on, his right arm coiling to throw a punch. Nothing fancy, nothing overly clever, just a brutally straight forward strike to the face.
Rogziel was too weak, too stunned to resist as Shinji closed the gap so quickly and delivered the heaviest blow he could, propelled forth by gargantuan muscles and the instinctive use of an A-T field to maximise damage. There was a sickening crack as the fist made contact with the Seraph's jaw, followed by this mighty individual being flung across the battlefield by the sheer force of it.
Spirits...it's like something out of Dragonball. Shinji involuntarily chuckled at his reference.
His smile soon disappeared though, upon watching Samuel help Asuka to her feet. Whatever was...hanging out of that cut in her stomach caused his own to twist in on itself. But in that moment, his mind clicked at this final conformation.
The Evangelions were not war machines. He wasn't entirely sure what they were...and part of him really didn't want to know. And then he realised how much pain the girl must be in, and chastised himself for not recognizing it sooner.
"Are you okay?" He walked over to them, Rei standing at a slight distance.
"
I'm fine." The redhead muttered in a tone that indicated she really wasn't.
"
No sympathetic injury thank god. But lower your Pilot Link for heaven's sake!" The Imperial pleaded, as if he were some worried elder brother.
"
I'm fine, verdammut-"
"
Do as he says, Asuka-san. You won't be of help to anyone in this state." Misato ordered sternly. This was not up for debate.
Asuka bowed her head, and did as she was told. Dropping her link to some fifty percent, the feeling in her stomach becoming a minor niggling sensation. She stood up fully and exhaled deeply.
"Let's finish this."
--------------------------------------
The Seraph had been flung into the remnants of the mountain he'd ruined, tumbling over and over himself, landing in a heap. He breathed heavily for a while, spitting out blue blood from his quivering lips.
Bruised and bleeding, Rogziel gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet. Before eyes that simply couldn't make sense of him, the great gash in his neck
slowly sealed itself shut. Narrowing his eyes into hellish red slits, he slowly lifted his left hand, trembling with exertion. As if lifting something unfathomably heavy.
I will crush you...I will crush you...
The ground shook beneath their feet.
"Back up, back up!" Shinji barked on instinct, and not one of his colleagues ignoring him. Cracks and fissures tore their way through the ground, long dormant magma veins flowing upwards along with the Earth which had imprisoned them. Slowly, a huge clump of the landscape, five hundred metres in length, was ripped free from mother Earth's embrace. Then, with slow and ruthless concentration, Rogziel thrust his arm out.
"Mein gott." Asuka whispered. Her heart threatened to rip itself free from her chest, owing to how how hard it beat. Her mouth became as dry as a desert, and her eyes widened into saucers. The same could be said for the rest of Eva squad, aside from Rei of course. Even then...the albino felt a twinge of awe.
The remnants of mount Asama surged towards the four Evangelions at break neck speed, orange lightning crackling around this apocalyptic sight.
On instinct, four voices cried out, panickstricken,
"A-T field, max power!" to shield themselves from this onslaught. Their feet were forced into the ground from the sheer force, but none were bowled off their feet. Then, the last bolder to be hurled at them was sliced in half from behind by a furious Rogziel, having used the attack to mask his charge, throwing himself at the children of Eva one last time.
Specifically targeting the purple devil who'd killed so many of his siblings.
Regardless of my fate, death comes for you today, Vooren scum!
Shinji threw his head back and screamed when that blade of obsidian punched through his shoulder, then was silenced by a fist slamming into his face. Rogziel couldn't finish the job off however, he had to twist to beat back Samuel's futile assault. Asuka attempted to flank the Seraph again, but it would not be caught off guard twice. With the mere flick of his wrist, a hurricane of orange energy swept the black Evangelion aside, striking it with such force that its injury was ripped open.
The redhead howled, desperately clutching her side as she went down. Even at 50% link it still hurt beyond imagination. Indeed, it was a testament to her endurance and will that she didn't pass out but instead struggled on, forcing herself back to her feet and limping towards her enemy.
Rei continued to provide supporting fire for the rest of the squad, but there was no realistic chance of bringing the Seraph down. Not with its field up.
"
Shinji-kun, Meadow-san, I need you to restrain that thing. Ayanami-san, wait until I give the order to close range and blow it away. We get its field down and we can kill it." Misato declared, having concocted a plan.
"What about me!?" Asuka cried, sudden dread at the idea of being left out floating through her mind.
"
...do you mind being a distraction?"
The redhead paused for a moment, her lip twitching slightly, then sighed and nodded.
I'll take what I can get.
"
Good, I need you to attack the Seraph head on..."
The Ninth Seraph took stock of his surroundings. Samuel had backed off and was keeping his distance, like the rest of Eva squad. Rogziel's blood boiled at their cowardice, at their refusal to take him head on simply because he was stronger than them. They'd lost, they were always going to lose, so why did they not choose to die with honour?
Because they are Vooren. Honour is an anathema to their filthy usurping kind.
Suddenly, the black one darted towards him. He marvelled slightly at how durable this creature was. Had he landed a blow like that on one of his kind, they'd be on the verge of death. Asuka merely grit her teeth, throwing herself at the Seraph. Her comrades were already moving in on the sides and the clone was preparing to make the kill shot.
The redhead ducked under the swipe of his blade but presented her face for his fist. Stars promptly exploded in her sapphire eyes as that red gauntlet dented Unit 02's helmet. Asuka allowed herself to stumble backwards and topple over, giving the impression of incapacitation.
The Ninth Seraph stormed towards her, raising his blade for the killer strike, his eyes becoming not much more than red slits of hate. Then, so enraptured by his anger, so enthralled by the idea of spilling his enemy's blood, Rogziel uncharacteristically failed to notice the other two Evas.
His sword arm was grasped by Shinji, his other by Samuel. In that moment, the former felt more muscle strain than even what he experienced against the crushing jaws of the 7th Seraph. Both boys
knew they were weaker than the Seraph and there was only a matter of seconds before it broke free and slaughtered them.
Rogziel roared with anger, thrashing around to get the two Evas off him. So that he may strike a killing blow on the infernal foe which had eluded him in the volcano. Asuka was already moving back, but not quick enough. The eldritch Prince was far beyond those attempting to restrain him.
Inevitably, the former successor ripped himself free of the purple Eva, swiping it off its feet with the back of his hand. His sword arm free, he made a deep, terrible slicing motion at the young Imperial major.
There was no way to dodge the attack. The blade would connect with Unit 03, split its skull open, and might outright kill the pilot from that neural feedback, incapacitating him at the very best. The Seraph would then be free to finish off Asuka, then overwhelm the remaining Evas. But it was not to be, as Rogziel's enraged expression faded.
The barrel of a pallet rifle filled his vision.
Rei, having darted to close range the moment Asuka went down, putting herself between the redhead and the Seraph, squeezed the trigger, unleashing a long, lasting burst of fire. Every single round, fired point blank, hit their mark. Rogziel, robbed of his A-T field for a few precious moments could only watch and feel as his chest, ribcage, internal organs, and life sphere, were ripped to shreds. Mashed together into a horrendous blue pulp or simply blown away.
From that and his own strength, he ripped himself free of the other Eva. He staggered, confusion and bewilderment overcoming his senses. The Heir felt weak...beyond all measure.
He collapsed to his knees and looked up at his killers, blue blood gushing forth from his chest and his lips. The obsidian blade clattered out of his hands.
The young albino girl walked over to him, raising her weapon to execute him via a round to the head. Even in his dying state however, the wrath of the former successor, and his unquenchable spirit, would not be suppressed.
Rogziel snarled and let off a final blast of concentrated energy with the thrust of his arm. Rei instinctively dodged, but was too close to completely avoid it. The unnatural human hissed in agony as she felt her left arm evaporate. Immediately in her defence, a purple fist slammed into the face of the Seraph, knocking him onto his back.
Shinji stood over his enemy, ready and more than happy to deliver the killing blow.
But something stopped him. That expression...one of struggle, confusion and...fear, touched his soul. The Ninth Seraph, a creature supposedly beyond human comprehension was dying.
And it was afraid.
"Misato-san, what's the stauts of the blue signature?" He murmured. Slowly and cautiously, ready to spring away at a moment's notice, the other Evas approached their fallen foe, still not quite believing what they were seeing.
"
Fading fast. It's dying. Well done, Pilots." Misato nodded with tired satisfaction. Unlike those under her command, she didn't see a fellow sentient being in pain and fear, but a dangerous creature that deserved destruction. Perhaps the purplehead just couldn't see the situation or her enemy in any other way.
For that would have called so many things she blindly believed into question...
The four teenagers slowly caught their breath for a while. Shinji turned towards Rei and felt his heart rip itself open at the sight of the ruined, scorched stump that was once Unit 00's right arm.
"Rei, are you alright?" He asked gently, too concerned for honorifics.
"The injury is merely superficial. I am fine, Ikari-kun." Rei was nonchalant, but still grateful for the concern in her own way. The albino did feel something...warm...when he spoke to her like that. As if she was not merely a tool but something important and irreplaceable.
An incorrect assertion...but not unappreciated.
"
Jah, jah, don't mind me. It's not like I've got intestines hanging out..." Asuka grumbled, comically yet disgustingly trying to stuff Unit 02's guts back into its stomach.
"
Internal organs...christ, that's thrown the whole war machine bollocks out the window-" The Imperial Eva immediately brandished its sword as Rogziel's left arm lashed out. For a moment, it grabbed hold of Unit 01's ankle, eliciting a surprised and characteristically wimpy shriek from Shinji, who jumped back from the touch.
For a moment he felt a surge of energy within himself, raging in his mind as the Heir touched it for what he needed.
Blades and rifles were pointed at Rogziel, but he didn't pay them any mind. The Seraph looked his enemy, the purple devil, dead in the eye. He opened his mouth to speak, blue blood issuing forth from it. But what came out was not a garbled language no one understood.
"You lack what it takes to win this war...
Vooren scum." Rogziel spat in fluent Japanese. He was met with silence.
The Divine Heir struggled on for a few more moments, still raging at his fate, at the dying of the light.
I cannot die, I have work to do. I...must...destroy...them...I am afraid. I am afraid. I don't want to go yet...Father, help me.
Rogziel felt no more.
The Evas stood there for a minute straight, no one able to say anything through sheer shock. In the end, it was Misato who'd been blinking in disbelief, that broke this nothingness. Blunt as ever, anything else would have been awkward and she didn't have time for that.
"
You know that pool we were at earlier? They've got jacuzzis...we're going to need them."
