Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

Caught between management and pilots, only Misato Katsuragi truly wanted to confront the Angels in this world. She felt exhausted, utterly exhausted, and wished the world would just end like this.

105: Before the Rainstorm

Summer 2015, late at night, post-war, NERV Hakone Headquarters, First District Conference Room.

The dimly lit conference room was illuminated only by a light source in the center of the ceiling. The soft light cast a precise circle of light, and in the center of that circle stood a woman's figure. Misato Katsuragi, the head of the operations department, stood alone in the conference room, without a seat or armrests, standing as straight as a statue.

There was no one in front of her, only the illusory stone tablet of the Seven-Eyed Reverse Tree, symbolizing the twelve identities.

"As the operations commander for this incident, Major Katsuragi, I ask you, did the Angels attempt to contact us humans in response to this incident?"

The voice belonged to the fourth seat of SEELE. Misato Katsuragi didn't even know his name or identity, only that he was a Latino man.

"Based on the test subjects' reports, there are no indications of this, so this matter will be presumed to be a coincidence," Misato Katsuragi replied frankly, standing straight in the aperture.

"Are the apostles interested in the human spirit and mind?"

"I'm sorry I can't answer that. Whether the apostles have a heart or can understand human thought is unknown."

"Then let me ask you, regarding the new Angel that devoured EVA this time, does NERV know the true identity of the Angel in this incident?"

"According to the MAGI prediction analysis, it is a special life form similar to slime mold. It should have been transported through a cumulonimbus cloud and unfortunately parasitized by the still-emerging seraphim, using Unit-03 to complete its possession," Misato Katsuragi replied.

"NERV will bear the primary responsibility for the failure of this operation. How do you plan to handle this?"

The speaker was a high-pitched missionary, and his identity was that of a contemporary religious leader.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. We will do our utmost to respond proactively."

"Then let me ask you, Major Misato Katsuragi, who is in charge of this incident and the guardian of Shinji Ikari, the Third Child, are you aware of the matter regarding the removal of the Third Child Unit-01's pilot status?"

Misato Katsuragi was startled. At this moment, the truly crucial question had finally arrived.

“Yes, according to Commander-in-Chief Gendo Ikari’s notification, Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01, is emotionally unstable, frequently disobeys orders, and acts recklessly. He has been temporarily relieved of his duties as the pilot of Unit-01,” Misato Katsuragi replied.

Misato Katsuragi knew that SEELE would eventually inquire about Gendo Ikari's decision to relieve Shinji Ikari of his piloting duties. However, she didn't embellish the story; she simply answered the questioner truthfully.

At this moment, Misato Katsuragi knew that the real backlash from Gendo Ikari was about to begin.

Regarding the decision to remove Shinji Ikari from his position as pilot of Unit 01, there was already an overwhelming wave of opposition within NERV. However, Gendo Ikari, as the Commander-in-Chief, overruled the objections and forcibly suppressed all the conflicts. But this did not mean that everything was fine.

Everyone was waiting, waiting for the first apostle to appear after his departure.

Will NERV be able to achieve a decisive victory and deliver a satisfactory result for everyone, even without their strongest pilot, Shinji Ikari? Or will the outcome be one of heavy casualties and widespread despair?

In fact, even if NERV had easily defeated the new Angels, many people would still feel that Gendo Ikari had made a mistake, let alone in the current embarrassing situation.

In reality, the new apostle who occupied Unit 3 was not as oppressive as the Thunder Apostle and the Sky Apostle, but it caused more than 20,000 casualties, turning the entire Matsushiro area into a blazing inferno. The disaster is still ongoing.

“That’s enough, step down,” the Latino member who spoke first said.

"Yes, ma'am." Misato Katsuragi nodded and stepped out of the door.

A few seconds later, the lights in the conference room came on again. The thirteenth seat, which had been dimly lit, was not a phantom blood-red stone tablet that represented a member, but a real person sitting there.

“Do you hear me, Ikari?” First Seat, Kiro Lorenz, spoke softly.

Gendo Ikari placed his hands on his chin and nodded slightly. "The apostles are beginning to possess wisdom; this is an inevitable trend. The descendants of Adam who ate the Fruit of Life possess an evolutionary speed far exceeding human expectations."

"That's not what we're asking about. We're asking about Shinji Ikari." The sound of a man impatiently tapping the table came from the illusory stone tablet of the fourth seat.

“We originally had no intention of interfering with your decision, but you have been blinded by greed lately, which makes us question whether you are still qualified to sit in this position,” another member rebuked.

However, Gendo Ikari remained unmoved, his gaze coldly fixed on the darkness ahead.

"The apostles who ate the fruit of life gained wisdom, as prophesied in mythology, and the way these two angels were born proves this prophecy. We don't have much time left."

After a long silence, the remaining twelve members of the Soul Throne quieted down. They seemed to be talking amongst themselves, but Gendo Ikari had struck at their deepest unease. Whether they disliked him or had pushed him to the top, they all acknowledged that at this crucial moment, approaching the destiny recorded in the Dead Sea Scrolls, they could not allow a large-scale internal strife to occur among them.

No matter how greed-driven Gendo may be at present, in the more than ten years since NERV was established, no one has ever been able to replace Gendo's position. Neither the incredibly capable and powerful department heads behind Gendo, nor the heavy industry consortium and IPEA as challengers, could replace them.

Perhaps more importantly, we must not let him affect the course of our destiny.

Of course, this is on the premise that he doesn't make things worse—

Looking at the quiet meeting room where there were no more reprimands, Gendo Ikari adjusted his glasses, realizing that his biggest crisis was temporarily averted.

"Don't worry about the twelve apostles and the seraphim this time, I will take care of them," Gendo Ikari assured him.

"I hope you won't disappoint us again, Ikari." First Seat President Kiro rang the closing bell. "Meeting adjourned."

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The blue and white taxi was parked in the congested lane, so Shinji Ikari and Mana Kirishima had to get out and walk.

At this point, all the cars on the road were heading out of the city. To the west was the Second New Tokyo City, to the south was Tokyo Bay, and to the north was the Third New Tokyo City, where they had fled.

Shinji Ikari and Mana Kirishima missed out on eating at Kaikutei in Ginza and Misato Katsuragi's ramen, instead each eating instant noodles as they walked. Just as they returned to Tokyo Port, Misato Katsuragi received a phone call, her expression instantly hardening, and she hurriedly left Shinji behind to return to Hakone.

At that moment, an airship flying overhead broadcast a news report, proclaiming NERV's perfect success in repelling the new Angel that had seized Unit 3, forcing it to flee in disarray, utterly defeated and routed; while the Japanese Self-Defense Forces pressed their advantage, driving the enemy deep into the sea, where they dared not surface. This was a great victory for the Yamato people! Humanity's anthem is an anthem of courage!

The news reports were filled with jubilation, but underneath, public resentment was boiling over.

"The government has failed to perform its duties, and the people will hold it accountable!"

"NERV's management should all commit seppuku!"

"Sun Xiaochuan should immediately kneel down under the Rising Sun Flag and apologize!"

"I apologize to the Emperor! I apologize to the 20,000 compatriots who suffered! I apologize to the entire Yamato people!"

"Let the third Child pilot Unit-01 again! The other pilots are all trash!"

Back in modern society, he was naturally connected to the internet. After capturing several thugs who were looting and vandalizing the streets, Shinji Ikari used their money to buy a new cell phone. A quick online search reveals that the protesters came from various regions including Taito, Sumida, Koto, Arakawa, Adachi, Katsushika, and Edogawa, spanning diverse industries such as healthcare, aviation, banking, railways, postal services, and police/firefighters. The participating groups included approximately fifty organizations such as the Tokyo General Labor Union, the Tokyo Higher Education Industry Union, and the Labor Rights Association.

Hidetoshi Dekisugi, chairman of the Tokyo Labor Party, stated that today's militaristic society offers no choice to the lower classes, nor any hope for survival. We are striving to live; this is not a protest, but a fight for Japan's future and for the rights of Japanese society as a whole.

Chika Fujiwara, chairwoman of the Tokyo Democratic Party, a member of the Musashino Prefectural Assembly, and president of the Labor Rights Association, pointed out that Tokyo is currently rife with chaos, its situation is deteriorating, and it is on the verge of a wretched existence. She stated that Japanese democracy is a democracy of dictators and a democracy of a minority.

Shinji Ikari even witnessed a photo of himself with his image framed in a flower-filled frame and carried aloft by marching fans. He always felt as if he were a heroic martyr who had sacrificed his life.

Even within these demonstrations, numerous riots have broken out, with many extremists taking advantage of the opportunity to vent their dark desires. The thugs who contributed money to Shinji Ikari were...

To prevent further riots, all police officers have assembled at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. Emperor Egawa and his family are en route to a sanctuary. Wartime Self-Defense Force fighter jets have taken off from Kisarazu Air Base, and Tokyo's airspace will be under complete control.

At that moment, Kirishima Mana suddenly understood the true meaning behind Shinji Ikari's mention of the Sword of Damocles.

A person's power is directly proportional to their responsibility. Behind the apparent peace and tranquility lurks danger and unease. Many covet Shinji Ikari's honor and status, but are they prepared to pay a greater price in exchange for their gains when they remove him from his seat?

We must be extremely cautious, extremely cautious, and extremely cautious about the potentially serious consequences that may arise at any time.

At that moment, a ding-dong sounded, and a video several tens of seconds long was transmitted to Shinji Ikari's phone. Mana Kirishima curiously peeked over to watch. She expected some exciting short video, but it turned out to be a short video of the Angel of Scattering after being reborn following the N2 bomb attack.

The figure emerging from the thick smoke, though incomplete, was rapidly regenerating. The red, fleshy tendrils were chilling, but what truly instilled fear was the white portion spreading across his body, symbolizing that the part belonging to the Apostle was also being assimilated by the Seraphim at this moment.

“Badil, the lesser god in the Book of Enoch who possesses the essence of a son of God, has also completed his ascension,” Shinji Ikari said softly.

Watching the Seraphim in the video seize the power of the fetal angels is like witnessing a metamorphosis in mythology. They ascend from the rank of archangel to the chief of seraphim, evolving from a slime-like February angel into a divine lightning that summons destruction.

Even Shinji Ikari had to admit that the other party had grown from trash that he could kill at will to a piece of trash that was worthy of being trampled on by him.

However, Kirishima Mana soon discovered something crucial.

"You were able to obtain such confidential videos in such a timely manner, weren't you dismissed?" Kirishima Mana asked, somewhat puzzled.

"You think I'm really all alone?" Shinji Ikari closed his phone. "I still have some influence within NERV."

It's more than just energy. Compared to the general public who only know Shinji Ikari from videos and news reports, NERV employees who truly understand Shinji's nature are more likely to become his supporters, especially those in the operations and development departments, many of whom are die-hard fans. These are the members of the Knights Guard.

Risking a court-martial, the person who shared this classified video with Shinji Ikari wasn't his fan, but Ritsuko Akagi. However, Shinji Ikari only showed a cold, mocking smile, a scene witnessed by Mana Kirishima.

"You're going back, aren't you?" Kirishima Mana asked cautiously.

"This is not the end, but the beginning." Shinji Ikari winked at the girl. "If I'm not mistaken, you'll soon receive new orders. When we meet again tomorrow, perhaps you'll be able to shed the word 'spy'."

Mana Kirishima is a smart girl, but she becomes incredibly love-struck when it comes to anything related to Shinji Ikari, and it's normal for someone with a love-struck IQ to be less intelligent than a dog. That night, she did receive a new mission, but for her, it was the good news she had been longing for.

The defeat in the battle against the Seraphim who occupied Unit 3 did not trigger Gendo Ikari's backlash.

The real turning point came when Shinji Ikari refused to return to NERV, which meant that no one would clean up after Gendo Ikari, and he had to rely on his own strength to confront the rapidly growing God of Lightning.

But what Gendo Ikari himself did not anticipate was that, along with Shinji Ikari's dismissal, a much more turbulent undercurrent was brewing underground.

However, in a short period of time, the one most affected was not Mana Kirishima, nor Gendo Ikari, but Ryoji Kaji, who had never fulfilled his duty as a psychologist.

Asuka.jpg

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The famous writer Trump once remarked after watching Evangelion, "My first encounter with Shinji in Tokyo was a lifelong mistake."

Many girls fall in love with Shinji Ikari at first sight. Don't let his seemingly confused nature fool you; he's quite popular with girls. While the main storyline's female characters' affection levels gradually increase, the side story's heroines and supporting characters are truly like, "First meeting in Tokyo III."

There are even those who have a high level of affection for each other without ever meeting—such as Suzuhara Toji's sister, Suzuhara Sakura. She probably developed a deep affection for her brother from listening to his constant nagging.

106: Marduk Agency

The old town of Kyoto is adjacent to the abandoned factories in Gion-cho.

Amidst the fluttering fallen leaves, a silver Honda sedan slowly ascends the street. Summer is Kyoto's peak tourist season, and most of the tourists are Seres people dressed in kimonos taking photos everywhere.

It's often said that during peak tourist season, there are more Seres than Japanese people in Kyoto. This is because Kyoto, a Japanese city, holds special significance for Seres.

In 794 AD, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara to Kyoto, beginning Kyoto's more than 1,000-year history as a capital city. From the Nara period onward, Japanese capitals can be said to have perfectly replicated the market and ward system of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, the only difference being size. Due to geographical limitations, Heian-kyo's area was only one-fifth the size of Chang'an. The Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an has a detailed introduction to the urban planning of Chang'an, comparing it with the planning maps of Kyoto, illustrating Chang'an's influence on Japanese urban planning and design.

Wearing a hood and mask, Kaji Ryoji looked like any ordinary tourist. After driving into the streets of the old town, he stopped in a parking lot right next to the street. Then he walked through the bustling Gion-cho, but instead entered the interior of an abandoned factory next door.

Inside, weeds grew rampant, with only sparse sunlight filtering through the cracks. Kaji Ryoji sat cross-legged by the door. After waiting for half an hour, he heard rustling footsteps and instinctively reached for the pistol in his pocket. However, the person who came to the door did not push it open but instead whispered, "It's me."

Sitting on the sunlit steps was an ordinary middle-aged woman feeding a white cat. She wore a purple knitted sweater, and her waist was a size larger than her hips. She was the kind of ordinary woman who wouldn't stand out in a crowd. Like the most common middle-aged women in Kyoto, her eyes lit up when she saw the white cat scratching its chin with one leg on the steps. She put down the wicker basket she was carrying in her right hand, squatted down, and stroked the cat's neck and back.

But this seemingly ordinary woman completely put Kaji Ryoji at ease.

“...It’s you.” Kaji Ryoji said softly.

Don't get me wrong, they don't know each other, but the conversation itself is part of a street code.

After confirming each other's identities, the ordinary middle-aged woman feeding the cats did not go inside. Instead, she remained sitting on the steps feeding the cats, her kind face seemingly whispering to them, "Xia Nong Biochemical, a foreign-owned chemical plant, has been here for nine years, but it has remained the same ever since."

The woman in the sewing shirt who was feeding the cat paused at this point, giving Kaji Ryoji time to think.