Bardiel

Bardiel
バルディエル
Number	13th
Symbol	Hail
Appearance(s)	Episode 18
Defeated by	Evangelion Unit-01

Bardiel (Hebrew: ברדאל) is the Thirteenth Angel, which infects and takes over Evangelion Unit-03.

Biology

Bardiel originally appeared hiding in a cloud which the cargo plane transporting Evangelion Unit-03 passed through while flying from the United States to Japan. Somewhat similar to the 11th Angel, Ireul, the fungus-like Bardiel-infection spread into the Evangelion's systems. When Eva-03 was activated at the secondary Nerv testing facility at Matsushiro, it was mutated into a horribly corrupted monster. The infected Eva set off an explosion, partially destroying the base, and then proceeded towards Tokyo-3. The corrupted Bardiel/Eva-03 possesses the form of an Eva and the power of an Angel.

Bardiel tried to spread its infection to Eva-00 by seeping infected ooze out of Eva-03's arm. It was also impossible to eject the Entry Plug from Bardiel, because the fungus-like growth of the infection jammed it inside. Generally, Bardiel appears to share the same abilities as an Evangelion, including the same strength and agility. Its most striking feature is that it has mutated Eva-03's arms so that they can extend to amazing lengths, instantaneously increasing them to twice as long as an Evangelion is tall.

Battle

Evangelion Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02 were all deployed against Eva-03, which was now re-classified as the 13th Angel. Eva-02 was the first to encounter it and was almost instantly incapacitated. Eva-03 continued on its way, and Rei prepared to use Eva-00 to snipe it from behind. However, Eva-03's pilot, Toji Suzuhara was still trapped inside of it, and attempts to eject him failed due to a web-like growth around the Entry Plug. Because Toji was still inside, Rei hesitated to fire for a crucial moment, long enough for the Angel to become aware of Eva-00's position. Eva-03 quickly did a back flip, landing on Eva-00, and quickly had it pinned to the ground. The Bardiel-infection then began oozing out of Eva-03's arm and onto Eva-00's left arm, spreading the infection. Desperate to keep Eva-00 from also being infected, Nerv remotely severed its left arm with internal explosive charges. This stopped Eva-00 from being infected but incapacitated it. The Angel3 was somewhat startled, but did not press its attack, and continued on its way.

Eva-01 then came face to face with the slowly advancing Eva-03. Shinji was totally unwilling to fight Eva-03 because he knew that a human pilot was still trapped inside and he felt they should try to save him (even though he did not yet know the pilot's identity). With Shinji refusing to fight, Eva-03 attacked Eva-01 with a somersaulting drop-kick, which knocked Eva-01 onto its back. Eva 01 stood up, but was then strangled by Eva-03: the Angel's infection had mutated Eva-03 so that its arms could extend to amazing lengths, roughly equal to its own height. Eva-03 quickly pinned Eva-01 to the mountainside while strangling it, and despite his own life being in serious danger Shinji still refused to fight back against it.

Exasperated with Shinji, Gendo Ikari ordered that Shinji's control over Eva-01 be cut and the Dummy Plug auto-pilot system be activated. Under the unstable control of the Dummy Plug, Eva-01's power surged and it began strangling Eva-03 as well. Both Evangelions remained locked in a death grip with their hands around each others' necks, until Eva-01 snapped Eva-03's neck and it went limp. However, Eva-01 did not stop, and threw the crippled Eva-03 to the ground, then smashed its skull in with a powerful punch. Like a wild animal, Eva-01 proceeded to tear the infected Evangelion apart, ripping off its armor plating and even limbs, and savagely pummeling its body to a pulp as a literal river of Eva-03's blood began flowing through a nearby canal. Finally, Eva-01 picked up Eva-03's Entry Plug, with Toji still inside, and crushed it in its clenched hand.

Notes

• The lightning display in the thundercloud as well as the similarity of Toji's usual attire to Bardiel's host body, Eva-03, foreshadows (along with just about every other hint) that he is to be the pilot and that he will be in grave danger.

Angels

Angels (general)

First and Second Angels (Seeds of Life): Adam | Lilith

Third to Seventeenth Angels (Adam's Children):

Sachiel | Shamshel | Ramiel | Gaghiel | Israfel | Sandalphon | Matarael | Sahaquiel

Ireul | Leliel | Bardiel | Zeruel | Arael | Armisael | Tabris

Eighteenth Angel: Lilin

Rebuild of Evangelion: ?Adams? | Lilith | 3rd Angel | 4th Angel | 5th Angel | 6th Angel | 7th Angel | 8th Angel | 9th Angel | 10th Angel | 11th Angel | 12th Angel | 1st/13th Angel

Other: Extracanonical Angels