EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 122 Ultra Miracle!

"Those fragments... coalesced... coalesced... blue reaction... it's the Apostle... the true form of the Tenth Apostle!"

The Tenth Angel, shattered by Unit-00's Yang Cannon, reassembled into a ferocious beast under the illumination of the corrupted light, appearing beside Unit-01 and Unit-02.

The relationship between Unit-01 and Unit-02, which had been embracing, has changed...

Unit-01, its eyes dim, crashed to the ground.

Unit 2, seemingly acting as a successor…

"Unit Two! Restart!!"

Clenching his crimson fist, he swung the fist of courage at the corrupting demon before him!
Yes--

I'm... no longer afraid!!
Without realizing it... Asuka has changed back.

Asuka, who was originally a young, thin, and bewildered child, has returned to her current form.

A vibrant red combat suit that exudes a fiery and beautiful way of life... golden hair brimming with youth and vitality...

The fear and despair in the girl's eyes have been redeemed; she roars and waves her fists, dispelling these illusory fantasies!
"I'm going to save—that idiot Shinji... So, get out of my way!!"

The souls of all the Asuka clones were banished... but these filthy evil beings clearly did not want to simply disappear.

"You really believe—you can achieve happiness!?"

"You really think—you can control the future!?"

"Don't make such disgusting jokes! You filthy doll!!!"

It spewed out hideous hatred... Countless Asuka clones gathered together and became... EVA mass production units!
The number is eight... plus the one that's holding Shinji Ikari in his grasp, the one that's the Tenth Angel in disguise... that makes a total of nine!

That was a scene from a nightmare… that once devoured Unit-02… that killed the former Asuka… that etched a scene of terror deep within Asuka's heart.

"...!"

In an instant, the sensation of flesh being torn from bones piece by piece, as if being devoured... coursed through Asuka's body like an electric shock.

"...Why you..." "Come join us!" "Let's die together..." "So cunning..." "I want happiness too..." "Die!" "Die!" "Die!"

Then… a whisper of a dark curse, like the echoes of hell, reverberated in Asuka’s ears once more.

"Is that so... The Tenth Apostle... How despicable!"

He forcefully suppressed the vomit that had risen to his throat and swallowed it back down…

The Tenth Apostle's power is to reproduce the images and sounds of deep-seated fears countless times, forcing the mind to confront that profound trauma.

If it were—my past self…no, even my present self…it would be absolutely impossible for me to defeat Him with my own strength.

Because Asuka... is just a little girl who needs someone to be with her—but...!
Mom... is staring at me!
That idiot Shinji... is waiting for me—!
Knowing all this... knowing all this... you guys are absolutely nothing to be afraid of!
The fiery red steel fist of Unit-02 represents Asuka's unwavering fighting spirit... A deafening explosion resounds in the head of the mass-produced EVA unit.

"What makes you think you deserve happiness...?!"

"Why should only you be able to have happiness...?!"

"You really think you can find happiness...?!"

The whispers in my ear gradually turned into a buzzing sound... making me feel uneasy.

"It's so noisy... I don't even know if I can be happy! If you want to ask... go ask that idiot Shinji! I want to know too!! Someone... tell me!"

He roared hysterically... trying to dispel the voices evoked by the Tenth Apostle.

Yes…even now…Asuka is still an anxious little girl…so—

"what…"

I saw it... the Walkman that idiot Shinji gave me... suddenly, it floated up.

No…it’s not floating, it’s…Mom! Is that you?!
A pair of hands gentler than anyone else's... with a warm smile... smoothed out the cracks on the almost shattered Walkman.

Then… I pressed the play button—

The promise of the second song…

A song written for Asuka...

Shinji Ikari...the feelings he wants to tell Asuka—

"Ha ha…"

That's amazing... Mom!
Seeing your smile, and these twisted monsters [EVA] before me... it's as if none of them are harmful anymore!

Hearing the voice of that idiot Shinji and those hideous curses [of himself] in his ears... it seemed there was nothing left to escape!

because----

To the slightly slow... yet hope-inducing melody... Asuka continues to clench her fists and sprint toward the next EVA!

"!"

AT Field…The Wall of the Heart—no! It’s a barrier built from one’s own escapism and fear…!
The fist was blocked by an invisible barrier the instant it slammed into the front of the EVA unit… At the same time, the mass-produced unit’s gaping maw viciously bit into Unit-02’s arm—

But... no injuries?!

Oh, I see...! Haha...

These are all spirits from the past—as long as you conquer yourself…as long as you find the answer…these things cannot shake your heart at all!
This is… the answer you wanted to tell me… right?! You idiot Shinji!!!
I heard... Shinji's singing—

To help young people develop broad minds, let's lift our heads and look out to the ends of the universe—

…Idiot, what weird lyrics are these… haha…

Her fist swung down again, but this time... the wall of fear that had built up in her heart could no longer stop Asuka from moving towards tomorrow.

The EVA unit's body was instantly shattered by a single punch... beyond repair. [Even in pain, never give up on yourself; show me your true courage—]

…Real courage… You really do enjoy making things difficult for people… But, maybe that's exactly what I like about you…

Faced with the long blade thrown from behind, Unit-02 easily deployed its AT field to block it... but the long blade twisted into the shape of the Spear of Longinus!

The previous Unit 2 was defeated precisely because it was pierced through by this earlier replica of Longinus...

Let's reclaim our forgotten dreams once more.

But this time, my mind, armed to the extreme... will not be pierced by your clumsy attempts!

"—!!"

The fake Spear of Longinus crashed into Asuka's strong heart and turned into a pile of scrap metal, which Unit-02 caught and threw back directly.

During flight... the gun, now stained with Asuka's fiery red, transformed back into an indestructible weapon, piercing through the entire mass-produced machine.

[Reclaim the light within your heart!]

Yes… there’s nothing… that I should be afraid of!
Mom…Shinji…please look upon me…look upon the light in my heart that you have helped me reclaim!
Unit 2 simply waved its hand...

This is enough.

With just a wave of his arm, all the mass-produced EVA units around him vanished like clay statues under the blazing sun...

No, it wasn't just EVA…! Even this dimly lit basement vanished without a trace…

The surrounding scenery transformed into a sun-drenched beach! A bright, azure sky, a breathtaking sun… and—

The same azure blue... brimming with the radiance of life... the blue ocean!
[Believing in the future of Earth!]

The landscape of her heart... has been mastered by Asuka! The Tenth Angel can no longer trample on Asuka's heart!
"...You're the only one left! You bastard...!"

In an instant, only the very beginning... the most original... the EVA mass-produced machine that tightly gripped Shinji Ikari... the projection of the Tenth Angel's true form remained.

[In the world we live in, we should always cherish our ideals.]

"Give Shinji back to me...!!!"

With a speed that the Tenth Apostle could not possibly resist... a lightning-fast sprint!

We will never succumb to unwarranted malice.

"I will absolutely not lose to someone like you!!"

A swift and precise punch... struck the arm that was tightly gripping Shinji Ikari, turning his already mangled white shirt into a pure red stained with blood... The dying Shinji Ikari was sent flying into the air.

Then… as if cradling her own heart… she caught him with utmost tenderness and affection.

No matter when, offer comfort to a vulnerable heart and show her boundless tenderness.

"...Shinji-kun..."

Shinji Ikari no longer had the strength to respond to Asuka's call...

But, it seems we can see—Shinji Ikari…that faint upward curve of his lips.

“————!!”

Even now... the Tenth Apostle is still trying to make a last-ditch effort...

Asuka has taken away control of her inner world, and Rei has destroyed her physical body in the real world…

Their sore loser behavior is truly laughable.

In the vast universe, find that one light that belongs only to you!

Realizing that the mass-produced EVA units... no longer instilled fear in Asuka...

His form once again transformed into the previous one… a bird apostle outlined by light.

A purplish-brown death ray slowly accumulated at its core—

"Too slow...!!"

But now that things have come to this... how could the ending of this story be hindered by this ugly monster that has no will?
Ultraman, Ultraman—

With her left hand gently protecting Shinji Ikari's body, her right hand condensed a brilliant spiritual light.

[The miraculous heroes who gave us the courage to fight—]

Without a doubt, as expected... Asuka's fist pierced through the purplish-brown light of death... piercing through the core of the Tenth Angel.

【Our eternal HERO——!】

"...You idiot...you are our eternal hero."

With Asuka's... happy smile.

The spiritual world created by the Tenth Apostle, which fed on fear, was transformed by the light of ideals... and now it has settled.

"------!"

With a silent wail, the monster surrounding Unit 2 exploded.

This time, it was truly devastating... and vanished without a trace.

"Blue reaction...disappeared!"

"The Tenth Apostle...completely silent!!"

(End of this chapter)