Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

No matter how many times he witnessed it, Shinji Ikari would still be awestruck by its grandeur and exquisite beauty, where the traces of machinery and life coexisted yet were almost perfectly integrated.

Looking at the imposing Unit-01 on the control panel, steadfast and unwavering, Shinji felt, for some reason, that she was waiting for him.

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The central control center was constantly reporting various ominous news.

"Left arm connection failure! The target's radiation heat has caused a connection failure in the left arm of Unit 0!" the staff member shouted in the room.

"Spinal reflexes interrupted, nerve connections in the arm forcibly severed, and the body loses its ability to move!" Another person immediately followed with the report.

Even though the Thunder Apostle interrupted its attack for unknown reasons, the time that headquarters could buy was ultimately too short.

Just like the first wave of missiles, the second wave, responsible for covering the ground troops, was completely annihilated by the pink beam of light. The target was then refocused on the severely wounded but still alive Unit-00.

The hastily erected 100-meter blast shield only lasted two seconds before being pierced by a hole, and then bombarded the AT field that Unit-00 had barely managed to re-deploy. This time, it only lasted eight seconds before being forcibly penetrated.

The nerve connections in her arm were forcibly severed... She lost her left leg... She lost her right leg... Her hip was destroyed... Her spinal reflexes were interrupted... As the AT field deployed by Unit-00 collapsed, the machine was also burned and destroyed by the pink radiation heat. Even with the synchronization rate reduced to the lowest level, Rei Ayanami still instinctively let out a painful scream.

The excruciating pain, as if her entire body were being burned by flames, brought Rei Ayanami to the brink of death. Before her eyes flashed Shinji Ikari's handsome, yet expressionless face.

At that moment, she instinctively released the lever and gripped the rose rosary at her chest.

The warm white concentric diamond-shaped field shield unfolded again, blocking the thermal rays.

Four seconds later, just as the new AT field was about to collapse and Unit-00 was about to be destroyed, the Lightning Angel stopped attacking and transformed from its sharp attack form into its original octahedral defense form.

Because at this moment he felt the same way as the angel of day, the undisguised malice surging towards him from the depths of the earth.

Chapter Thirty-One: Angels and Angels

The spiritual pressure that should belong solely to angels was now in the hands of Unit-01, pressing down on the body of the Lightning Angel before even reaching the ground battlefield.

The long distance from Hakone to the ground was covered by the rapid speed of the elevator shaft, allowing them to quickly reach the battlefield.

In an instant, Shinji Ikari, inside the cockpit, felt a tingling sensation as if an electric current was running through his body. It was as if the whole world was filled with thunder and lightning. The moment he arrived at the battlefield, Shinji, with his extremely high synchronization rate, could sense that the entire battlefield had become a high-voltage zone simply by feeling it. One can imagine the astonishing amount of current surging in.

Misato Katsuragi even said there were "some sparks," but what was clearly before them was a thunderous inferno formed by lightning! The moment Unit-01 revealed itself, a high-energy beam of light, gathered by the Thunder Apostles, slanted towards them.

"Shinji!" Misato Katsuragi shouted. Surrounded by the thunder and storm, she couldn't see the condition of Unit-01, but the intense discharge made the background noise sound like thunder.

Perhaps Shinji Ikari's repeated victories gave her too much confidence, causing her to overlook that the Angels themselves were angels of destruction capable of annihilating the world.

The Thunder Apostle, however, was completely different from the previous two, unleashing its full power the moment Unit-01 appeared. Golden-pink arcs of electricity pierced the air, sweeping in all directions like a shockwave.

The moment Misato Katsuragi saw Unit-01 being swallowed by Raiju, the world in her eyes was instantly overturned.

But at that very moment, a magnificent purple light suddenly pierced through the vast Thunder Prison, like a shadow buried deep within the Thunder Prison Forest. At sunset, it tore open an even narrower strip of light and shadow.

It's Unit-01! Right beneath the feet of this purple machine, layers upon layers of warm white concentric diamond-shaped fields instantly unfolded! Just like the way the Angel of the Day escaped being beheaded by Unit-01, Unit-01 used the continuously unfolding AT fields as spring pedals, instantly launching its entire massive body forward.

If time were slowed down several times, the people in the central control center would see this purple machine rushing forward at near-sonic speed, like a purple arrow shooting into the sky.

The demonic purple mecha cleaved through the Thunder Prison with its beam of light, even shattering the Thunder Apostle's attacks head-on against the heat beams. Each time a section of the heat beam was blocked, one of the sharp, diamond-shaped beam emitters separated from the Thunder Apostle would be destroyed, until the purple mecha that had torn through the Thunder Prison stood before it, its beam of light spinning wildly.

While battling the Angels, Shinji Ikari is also growing. His extremely high synchronization rate brings faster brain reaction speed, allowing him to perform precise operations that were previously unimaginable.

"As expected of Shinji Ikari, he can easily do things that other Chosen Ones cannot!" At this moment, the staff staring at the big screen collectively revealed abstract expressions like Dio's little brother.

Misato Katsuragi, draped in a military uniform, rested her hands on the control panel, gazing at the screen. A deep purple figure was reflected in her eyes as she watched the swirling light cleave through everything in its path.

"Ground troops, hurry and rescue Unit-00!" Misato Katsuragi cheered, but she didn't forget Rei Ayanami, who was unable to respond at the moment.

As it spun, the golden light of the halo flashed, and with a graceful yet violent slash, it struck the AT field in front of the Thunder Apostle.

"Unit-01's operating power has reached three times its rated power, and it is expected to enter overload mode in 28 seconds." At this moment, in the control center, the staff were still dutifully reporting the status of the machine to Misato Katsuragi.

But 28 seconds is enough.

Every crevice of Unit-01 exudes unparalleled violence. Amidst the clash of golden light, blinding sparks fly, orange flames splatter, the unmoving blue cube stands tall, and the menacing Unit-01 stands... This is the highest level of warfare, yet the scene possesses a sacred beauty, like a civil war between fallen angels and demons.

Even the apostles of God would be terrified in the face of Unit-01, which was like a demon god.

The blue, octagonal rhombus-shaped life form, protected by the colorful AT field, was rapidly changing shape. Even though it could have stalled until Unit-01 reached its overload state, was it still afraid, wanting to fight to the death?

His entire body was stretched out, and then a ray of light shone from his tail—

Its entire body soared up like an arrow released from a bow, reaching a height that Unit-01 could not reach, before disappearing into the sea of ​​clouds.

Unit-01, still clutching the light wheel, stood there blankly, as did everyone at headquarters who were concerned about the battle.

"Has the Sixth Apostle withdrawn?" someone finally asked.

"It should be called running away," someone nearby chimed in.

"Do apostles still have this kind of thinking?"

"Don't underestimate these super life forms. The Water Apostle has demonstrated an extraordinary learning ability, while the Thunder Apostle's learning ability is slightly weaker, but its transformation ability is incredibly exaggerated."

Ignoring the murmurs in the command room, the staff in the control room continued to diligently perform their duties at their posts.

"The target has left the battlefield, entered the troposphere, and continues to rise. There are currently no signs of a renewed offensive."

"Complete the recovery of Unit 0. Unit 0 has been moved to Warehouse 99."

"Unit Zero successfully reconnected. Pilot has low heart rate and excessively high body temperature."

“The primary task is to cool the LCL of the insertion plug,” Ritsuko Akagi stepped forward and ordered. “Set the combat suit maintenance system to maximum and activate the heart massage function.”

Then she pressed the button on her headphones and connected to a new channel.

"Prepare for forced ejection and insertion of the thrombus. Paramedics, awaiting orders!"

Meanwhile, the rescue team and control center staff were working in an orderly manner, while Misato Katsuragi, feeling slightly tired, covered her forehead as she connected the Three Sages System to the cockpit of Unit-01.

"Shinji, the battle is over. Head to the 36C elevator shaft and return to Hakone."

…………

…………

Hakone, Ward 7, Mizuho Hospital.

Shinji Ikari was still wearing his black combat suit, sitting quietly on a bench outside the emergency room, clutching a broken rose rosary in his hand.

With the sound of high heels hitting the ground, Shinji Ikari turned his head and saw Misato Katsuragi, still in her military uniform, standing in front of him.

"Thank you for your hard work, Shinji. If it weren't for your heroic efforts, Rei might not have been saved." Misato Katsuragi stood in front of Shinji Ikari, instead of sitting beside him.

"The Commander-in-Chief just informed us that a pre-station meeting will begin in two hours at the Central Dogmatic District office area. Would you like to come along?" Misato Katsuragi asked.

"That old man didn't invite me, did he? I'm not interested." Shinji Ikari reached out and grasped Misato Katsuragi's slightly cold right hand, smiling. "Just relay the battle plan to me when the time comes."

Misato Katsuragi looked at the bright-eyed, kind-hearted boy before her, a helpless expression on her face saying, "I knew you'd do this. In that case, please visit Rei for me."

Chapter Thirty-Two: I Have a Plan to Revive the Headquarters

Shinji Ikari didn't respond, but sat quietly on the bench, finally looking up at the sky as if trying to pierce through Hakone and glimpse the sky obscured by the sea of ​​clouds.

Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, staff took turns observing the movements of the Thunder Apostle as it ascended into the stratosphere. Satellites from the Japan Aerospace Exploration and Defense Ground Environment Network closely monitored the situation. Finally, an hour and a half later, the fully recovered Thunder Apostle began to exhibit new movement patterns.

"The target has descended from the troposphere, and observations have fully returned to normal," reported the staff in the monitoring room.

"The target is currently located directly above the underground city and is attempting to drill downwards. Should we notify the Third Child to pilot Unit-01 and launch a counterattack?"

"Are they playing kite with us? They'll recover, unleash a burst of damage, and then run away! Boss Katsuragi, we can't underestimate them!" someone in the command room suggested.

"Actually, bro, I think it's more like guerrilla tactics."

"Who brought these two mythical beasts in? How are they supposed to build Hakone properly with this swarm of insects?!"

In the conference room, Misato Katsuragi sighed and rubbed her forehead, ending her voice call with her subordinates in the command center. Her gaze fell upon Commander-in-Chief Gendo Ikari, who sat at the head of the bench.

“That’s the situation. As things stand, the Sixth Angel, Raikou, is still targeting NERV headquarters.” Misato Katsuragi stood up.

The commander-in-chief was wearing his usual black coat over a brown knitted sweater. His hands were crossed, forming a pyramid shape on the table.

It's strange, really. Although Commander-in-Chief Gendo Ikari and pilot Shinji Ikari are father and son, the father is tall and rugged, with a thick beard that extends from his sideburns to his beard. But the son is as delicate as a budding jasmine flower, and just sitting quietly, he seems infinitely beautiful.

Seeing Gendo Ikari nod slightly to her, Misato Katsuragi understood. Even though the battle had just ended in defeat, she was still in command of the operation, so she didn't stand on ceremony.

"Now, let me present the intelligence we have gathered so far," Misato Katsuragi instructed.

"The target is capable of automatically engaging the enemy to a certain extent. Based on its reaction speed and accuracy when destroying land-attack missile groups and long-range anti-ship missile groups, it possesses extremely high intelligence." The lieutenant sitting to the right of Katsuragi Misato stood up.

“The target’s inherent phase pattern gives it a significant advantage in close combat. Only the third Child can temporarily engage it,” said another officer wearing glasses.

“Absolute stance?” Misato Katsuragi asked.

"The target can maintain its absolute position for a long time. Due to its special phase pattern, the strength of its absolute position changes with its form. Even the weakest position in attack mode is 0.97 times stronger than the Water Apostle. The strongest defensive AT position has a soul density that is about 5.8 times that of the Water Apostle. At the same time, due to its phase pattern, neutralizing the domain is extremely difficult."

"The target's recovery speed is extremely poor, only one-forty-third of that of the Water Apostle."

"But the apostles will retreat voluntarily when the situation becomes unfavorable."

Misato Katsuragi sighed and rubbed her forehead. "It can even run away. It's so annoying."

At this moment, the many cadres in the conference room tacitly agreed to use the Water Apostle as a comparison. As for why not the Day Apostle, it was because the latter was simply too shameful, not even qualified to be a unit of measurement.

As the relevant data was compiled, everyone's expressions grew increasingly somber.

Its AT field strength surpasses that of a normal apostle, and its unique phase pattern makes it difficult to be neutralized by the field. It has high variability and high attack power, and also possesses a top-level autonomous defense program.

Its biggest weakness is its extremely poor recovery ability, but it will actively retreat when the situation is unfavorable to it.

"They're even more difficult to deal with than the Water Apostle and the Day Apostle combined," Ritsuko Akagi exclaimed.

"Not even a third suitable candidate?" Finally, someone asked the question.

Ritsuko Akagi shook her head. "Its unique phase pattern makes it impossible for any single EVA to defeat the Lightning Angel. Although Lieutenant Shinji Ikari is excellent, he can only suppress it for a minute."

The reason it's one minute is because the Lightning Angel will actively sever the EVA's umbilical cable. The battle duration of Unit-01 in its full-power attack mode is typically one minute, not the commonly known five minutes.

“If it can be suppressed, that’s more than enough!” Misato Katsuragi smiled.

Ritsuko Akagi looked at her friend sitting in the seat of honor, "Commander-in-Chief, have you already come up with a countermeasure?"

Misato Katsuragi smiled slightly. At this moment, the ballpoint pen she was twirling between her fingers rested on the scrap paper. She looked around, revealing an expression of complete confidence.