Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

He quickly understood what Gendo Ikari meant.

"Neither. Fate will drive him to become a vessel for a soul, so we have nothing to worry about. What we need now is Unit-01. Without Unit-01, he is nothing."

At this point, Gendo Ikari pushed up his glasses, which reflected a piercing white light.

“We don’t need to be afraid of him. We can disarm him whenever we want… Without Unit-01, he’s nothing. The deviated script of fate should be put back on track, and I will make him submit.”

Fuyutsuki Yukimasa nodded slightly in agreement. Indeed, they were people who held the fate of the world in their hands, so why should they worry so much about a fourteen-year-old child? They could use him if they wanted to, and discard him if they didn't; it was all a matter of a single thought.

But looking at the composed Gendo Ikari, Fuyutsuki Yukizo felt a little uneasy for some reason.

He had a feeling that things wouldn't go as he expected. Shinji Ikari... if he were just a ferocious beast hidden beneath a boy's appearance, he would be easy to handle. But he always felt that he couldn't see through him.

Just like the Evangelion Unit-01 he piloted, he only ever used abilities capable of suppressing the Angels, while what truly lay hidden beneath that slender body was an endless abyss. No one knew how many layers the abyss had, but if one tried to delve deeper, one could smell the blood-soaked gales emanating from within.

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Mount Koya in Japan is famous not only because it is the birthplace of the Shingon sect of Buddhism and a World Heritage Site, but also because it has a cemetery on the mountain called Okunoin, where approximately 20 people are buried.

Before the second erosion, Mount Koya was already renowned as a deep and desolate forest that was somewhat eerie to first-time visitors. But with the devastation of the erosion, the forest that had covered several kilometers was razed to the ground, leaving only a landscape of pale, dry earth dotted with tombstones.

As for why they are all buried here, this brings us to the famous Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), who traveled to China with the Japanese envoys to study Buddhism. After years of diligent study, Kūkai returned to Japan and founded the Shingon sect of Esoteric Buddhism. He was later buried here after his death.

Devout believers believe that those buried here may be resurrected, or that they have not truly died. This is because their faith is so unwavering, a belief that persists even in the modern era.

Others buried in Okunoin also believed that death was not the end, and that rebirth was more likely to be achieved the closer one was to Kobo Daishi. Perhaps everyone who buried their loved ones here harbored an unrealistic dream of rebirth, hoping to reunite with their deceased relatives.

An armed helicopter flew overhead and quickly disappeared from their sight.

【IKARI YOU】

[1977-2004]

Before the simple black stone tablet were only these two simple lines of text. Shinji Ikari squatted on the ground and placed the white chrysanthemums he had brought next to the white roses.

The vast yellow sands tousled the boy's hair, and Shinji Ikari raised his hand to tuck his bangs behind his ear.

“It’s been three years since we last came here, time really flies,” Gendo Ikari said.

"Perhaps, I can't remember." Shinji Ikari squatted on the ground, gently wiping the dust off the black tombstone with a handkerchief in his arms.

This is his mother's tombstone. Strangely enough, after more than a hundred years in the world of knights, most of his memories of the brief fourteen years he spent there had faded away. Yet, for his mother, whose image and voice existed only in his childhood memories, they remained vivid in his mind.

Shinji Ikari often thought with a dark and malicious intent why it wasn't this old man, Deng, who was right next to him who died; his life was a complete waste of food. But sometimes he tried to understand him, because he had also suffered a miserable childhood, lacking a father's love, so even as an adult, he didn't know how to love his own children.

Perhaps he also wanted to try to be a good father, but just couldn't? Shinji Ikari tried hard to think of him in a positive light.

"Humanity needs to forget the past to move forward, but there are some things that must never be forgotten. I came here to confirm those irreplaceable things."

Looking at the overly plain black tombstone in front of him, Shinji Ikari's right hand, which was wiping away the dust, suddenly stopped. "Why isn't there a photo? Even if everything is kept simple, there should still be a photo."

"I didn't leave any. This grave is just for decoration; there's no need for it," Gendo Ikari replied calmly.

"You old bastard, you're such a useless piece of trash..." Shinji Ikari instinctively wanted to say, but considering that he was in front of his mother, he decided not to let her hear anything bad.

At least for now, I'll give him some face. Shinji Ikari thought to himself.

"You really have given up everything. Can your emotions fill the huge void in your heart?" Shinji Ikari said slowly.

“Everything is in my heart, and that’s enough for now.” Gendo Ikari gazed down at the boy’s back as he squatted before the tombstone. “Regarding Unit-00’s second rampage, you have to do an additional test on Unit-00 tomorrow. Synchronization testing is necessary. As the commander, I hope to resolve the trouble you’ve caused as soon as possible before it affects our work.”

Shinji Ikari didn't immediately refute Gendo Ikari's attempt to pin the blame for Unit-00's rampage on him. Instead, he stood up and stared into the eyes behind those black-rimmed polarized sunglasses.

“It’s not just about this today, Commander-in-Chief. If it’s just about additional testing, Ritsuko Akagi could have informed me; you didn’t need to bring me all the way here. Be straightforward; I don’t like people who are vague.”

“Let’s talk as we walk, Wei is still here,” Gendo Ikari said.

This statement slightly changed Shinji Ikari's impression of him. Although he couldn't be called a father, he was at least a qualified husband.

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PS1: Here's a little-known fact: EVAs don't have a soul inside, except for Unit-01.

Everyone knows that EVA is a clone of Adam and Lilith, but the biggest difference between her and the Angels is that she does not have the S2 Engine or her own soul.

EVA is a vessel for the soul that has abandoned its physical form; it is a manifestation of self-expansion, that is, the gigantification of humanity. (Therefore, EVA is human, just larger in size; don't call it an alien.)

The true soul is the driver; only when the two are combined can a complete individual be formed.

However, relying solely on the driver is insufficient to fully unleash the EVA's performance, so a core is also required as a medium.

As for the souls of the pilots' mothers being essential material for the formation of the nuclear system (which sounds like a hellish joke).

However, Unit-01 was an exception, because Shinji Ikari's mother, Yui Ikari, achieved a synchronization rate of over 400 during a contact experiment in 2004, completely merging into Unit-01's body.

Therefore, Unit-01 possesses a certain degree of agency, such as rejecting the puppet system and responding to Shinji Ikari's calls. (After watching the new theatrical version, I always felt that Yui Ikari at that time had the ability to return to reality like Shinji, but she chose to stay inside Unit-01.)

Unit-00 lacks a nuclear system because it was developed too early (of course, the biggest reason is that Rei Ayanami doesn't have a mother. (Hellish Joke 2)).

PS2: All of the above are from "EVA2: The Created World". This Martian artifact was personally created by Hideaki Anno, and he was in charge of setting the classified information. It can be used as a reference, but it is best to use it as a reference only.

Since the new theatrical version has several different settings, it's fair to say that some settings differ across different worlds. The TV series, the old series, the new series, the soul, and the manga are all different worlds.

Chapter 100: The Darkness of the Torrential Rain

In the cemetery filled with tombstones, only the father and son remained. They strode forward, as if not taking a walk but trying to shake off those around them. Gendo Ikari didn't waste any words, or rather, no one could have imagined him exchanging pleasantries with others. Only after Yui's tombstone was out of sight did he inform Shinji of NERV's current strategic plans.

This also includes installing a puppet system on each machine.

"Puppet System?" Shinji Ikari frowned slightly; he disliked the very name.

"The Puppet System, also known as the Simulated Insertion Plug or the DUMMY System, is an artificial pilot technology that NERV began developing a long time ago. It was developed by Dr. Akagi, and its main purpose was to replace the pilot in controlling the EVA and prevent the EVA from going out of control due to the pilot's emotional fluctuations or other personal reasons," Gendo Ikari explained crisply.

All EVAs are compatible with the analog plug, so they can be manipulated by the driver or the analog plug.

Shinji Ikari understood. "You guys are out of your minds."

"You can put away your little emotions; this is just to inform you." Gendo Ikari lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it, letting it burn slowly, the smoke curling upwards into the sky in thin wisps. "This is headquarters' strategy, given your contributions in confronting the Angels, to give you advance notice and help you cooperate better."

Shinji Ikari stared at the man before him: a gaunt face, a burly physique, dark glasses, and slightly disheveled black hair. When calm, he was like a stone; when in motion, he exuded the aura of a wild beast. But at this moment, he was incessantly chattering.

“Great sacrifices, hardships, and risking your life—these are the responsibilities of every NERV employee, not just you. If sacrificing these small things could make you a pilot, there are plenty of people in the world who would accept it,” Gendo Ikari said coldly. “Everything you have is not what you deserve, but only because you are the pilot of Unit-01.”

However, these statements denying Shinji Ikari's past honors did not anger him; instead, he smiled wryly. "If that's really the case, then why are you telling me all this? As you said, I'm just a pilot."

Before Gendo Ikari could even speak, Shinji Ikari gave a definitive answer.

"You're just panicking, using words to cover up your inner turmoil. What are you afraid of? What are you worried about? What are you terrified of?"

Gendo Ikari turned his head to look directly at Shinji Ikari. At this point, the last trace of warmth he had shown was gone. "If you think I came here to persuade you, you're wrong. I'm here to give you a choice."

"The opportunity to choose?" Shinji Ikari repeated the word softly.

“Obey orders, follow instructions, and continue being the pilot of Unit-01. Or give up this identity,” Gendo Ikari said softly. “Everything you have is given to you by this identity. Your name is known throughout the world. Some people love you, some hate you, but you enjoy this honor. But if you give up this identity, what are you?”

Shinji Ikari thought for a moment, "The vanguard of the Empire, the noble prince of the Julius family, the guardian of the Gate of Worns, the bringer of hope, the holy slayer, the triumphant one, the light of the stars, the eradicate, and the light of humanity in the present world?"

Silence, a long, long silence, neither of the two men spoke.

This shouldn't be a scene of father and son meeting. The warmth that appeared during the worship was just a facade; all that remained was a hostile gaze. Between them, an impenetrable wall of steel stretched out.

Gendo Ikari then began to smoke the cigarette that was already half-burned. The smoke obscured his hard face, with only his tinted glasses reflecting a faint light.

At this moment, the armed helicopter that had returned as agreed roared and circled behind the two of them. The helicopter pilot would decide whether to pick up one person or both of them, depending on Shinji Ikari's choice.

The tense atmosphere clearly indicates that Shinji Ikari has made his choice.

Gendo Ikari showed no regret or disdain in response to Shinji Ikari's sarcasm. He got up and walked toward the armed helicopter hanging by the roadside, saying, "Then you're useless."

Just as he was about to step into the helicopter cabin, he heard a very faint and distant voice behind him, "Wait a minute."

Gendo Ikari adjusted his glasses, a slight smile playing on his lips. Ultimately, he was still a child who needed love and recognition from others. Before Gendo could react, a merciless kick from behind sent him tumbling down the slope.

"Sorry, your back view is too cool, I just couldn't resist kicking you." Shinji Ikari looked at Gendo Ikari, who had rolled off the ground, and gave a cold twitch of his lips.

He'd been wanting to beat him up ever since they started paying respects to his mother, but he'd held back, thinking he couldn't let her see such a bad side of him. Now he could finally do it.

That kick was so vicious that Gendo Ikari, a burly middle-aged man, tumbled and rolled like a ball in the wind until he crashed into a tombstone and came to a stop. Meanwhile, Shinji Ikari grabbed the rope and flipped himself onto the hatch.

The driver, wearing a black helmet, hadn't reacted yet when he saw the boy in the passenger seat say coldly.

"Leave now, or should I kick you off the road too?"

The pilot, looking at the altitude before him and the commander-in-chief, bloodied and battered after crashing into a tombstone, chose life over his future. With a pull of the control stick, the helicopter rapidly ascended, then disappeared from view of the blood-red Gendo Tower.

Several tens of minutes later, another massive MiG transport helicopter landed, and medical personnel disembarked and quickly carried Gendo Ikari onto the cabin. The cabin, with its more than 30 square meters of space, was comparable to a living room, while NERV's vice commander sat opposite him, leisurely sipping this year's new tea.

Judging from the timely arrival of the medical personnel in the cabin, he had long anticipated that his commander-in-chief would be brutally beaten by Shinji Ikari. However, he wisely avoided mentioning the topic and instead turned his head to look at the huge crater formed by the self-destruction of the Music Angel, which had now become a lake.

"A second and a third Lake Ashi, I really hope there won't be any more," Yukizou Fuyutsuki sighed softly.

At this moment, Gendo Ikari, whose head was tightly wrapped in white bandages by medical staff, was still clasping his hands together under his chin, despite his aching body. If Shinji Ikari saw this, he would definitely regret not breaking off his glasses and smashing them in his face.

Seeing Gendo Ikari's expression, Yukizo Fuyutsuki chuckled softly, "Yesterday, Chairman Gil called to complain about the project's delay. He seemed very anxious, even calling me and hinting at relieving you of your pilot status. If we really want to revoke Shinji Ikari's pilot status, I'm afraid they won't agree."

"No need to worry, the Adam Project is going smoothly. Even without Shinji Ikari's interference, EVA will be able to proceed smoothly with the simulation insertion plug. What do those old fogies at SEELE have to complain about?"

Fuyutsuki Yukizo said calmly, "The most important thing is that the Human Instrumentality Project has been delayed."

“All the plans are interconnected, there won’t be any problems.” Gendo Ikari pushed up his glasses.

"Is Shinji the same?" Yukizou Fuyutsuki suddenly asked, but Gendo Ikari's silence already gave the answer. He smiled, "Never mind that. As for restarting Project Marduk, what exactly do you plan to do?"

The Marduk Project is an Angel modification technology that transforms captured Angels into mobile suits that can be piloted by qualified individuals. The Marduk Project is a technology that IPEA is very proud of, but like the JA mobile suits from the Japan Heavy Chemical Industry Community not long ago, both technologies ended up in the hands of NERV.

Therefore, regardless of whether Misato Katsuragi suspects it, the rampage of the JA mecha and the modified mecha of the Third Angel was all orchestrated by Gendo Ikari.

“I will make Shinji Ikari submit; fate will push him to become a pilot. But during his absence, we urgently need to replenish our forces,” Gendo Ikari said.

Fuyutsuki Kosuke nodded slightly. "I understand. I will initiate a selection program for new pilots, regarding new mecha and new pilots. But is it really okay to fuse the remains of the Fetus Angel with the mecha?"

"Of course, although it remains active, the Embryo Angel itself has no soul. There will be no riots like the Third Angel. The new mobile suit that combines the advantages of both the Angel and EVA is the ultimate goal of the Marduk Project, and it will also fill the void left by Shinji Ikari."

Gendo Ikari adjusted his glasses.