Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

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Second area, development department, laboratory.

Rei Ayanami sat on the edge of the bed and got dressed, while Ritsuko Akagi, sitting in front of the computer, wasn't looking at the data on the screen. Instead, she smiled at the girl in front of her.

"Is that so? Congratulations, this is your first step towards humanity."

Just now, she told Ritsuko Akagi what happened in the elevator yesterday, and after listening quietly, Ritsuko gave this answer.

“Because that’s jealousy,” Ritsuko Akagi said.

“…Jealous?” Rei Ayanami clenched her right hand and placed it on her chest.

Ritsuko Akagi's gentle gaze fell upon the girl before her. Half of her body belonged to an Apostle, but what truly made her non-human was her soul. Because her soul was that of an Apostle, she could essentially be seen as Lilith maintaining a human form.

However, compared to the boy on the moon, her body is extremely unstable. The genes of the Angel and the human are merging yet also repelling each other, and perhaps one day her body will collapse. Therefore, Ritsuko Akagi was very happy to see Rei Ayanami with such an expression.

At least when they die, they are able to die as human beings.

“But I don’t want to put Shinji in a difficult position,” Rei Ayanami said softly, her head bowed.

"But what are your thoughts, Rei?" Ritsuko Akagi stared intently at the girl before her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

“Yes, Dr. Akagi.” Rei Ayanami looked up at Ritsuko Akagi in front of her. “May I leave a message for Asuka?”

The Third New Tokyo South Ward, Shin-Matsushiro Test Site.

"Disable safety devices 01 to 15".

"Cancellation confirmed. MK6 transport preparation complete."

"MK6 simulated insertion thrombus ready! Unlock spinal cord catheter system, valve open!"

"The propulsion system is undergoing trial operation at 10% output!"

"Stop signal plug has been unplugged!"

Inside the dock, researchers from the development department were conducting their first tests on the newly arrived Unit-6. These researchers were highly experienced in testing new mechs. Dozens of cables were connected to Unit-6, and dozens of instruments flashed around it. Due to the unique, sunken design of the testing ground, it resembled an oven; even standing at the edge, Asuka could feel the hot air hitting her face.

This scene reminded Asuka of Unit-03 not long ago. It was in this place, in this environment, that everyone placed so many expectations on it, yet a shocking change occurred that stunned the world.

As for the simulated insertion plugs, they were halted by the newly appointed committee member Shinji Ikari, who returned victorious. The project cannot be said to have been completely terminated, but the simulated insertion plug project for Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02 could not be restarted while Shinji Ikari was still in office.

Asuka only wanted to pilot the EVA and never thought about what she would do if she could no longer pilot it.

It wasn't that she wasn't aware of the problem, but her subconscious refused to think about it even for a moment. Asuka, wearing the new dress she'd bought yesterday, sat on the edge of the Matsushiro test field, hugging her knees. Suddenly, her phone rang.

"Encrypted call, Misato Katsuragi?" Asuka raised an eyebrow, but still answered the call. "What's up? Misato, you're still directing operations on-site, right? Why did you suddenly think of me, an ordinary person?"

"I'm just filling in for Akagi temporarily; it'll be up to her from now on. Besides, Asuka isn't just anyone; you're a very important member of my family. I just want to talk to you about some things that girls like to say."

"Haha, sorry to have worried you, I'm fine." Asuka put one hand on her hip and stretched her neck.

"Really? I'm so grateful to you for taking on so much responsibility."

"Don't be so formal, Misato." Asuka kicked the reinforced concrete under her feet. "Like that idiot always says, cleaning up the mess left by the scum is the responsibility of the elites. Besides, I'm not good at dealing with people, and pretending to fit in is exhausting, so this is fine. I can't stand seeing other people happy."

"Is this what you really think?" Misato Katsuragi's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I guess so. When I was training in Germany, I thought about many possibilities. As long as I could pilot the EVA, it didn't matter if I didn't have any friends. As long as I could pilot the EVA, I could do well within NERV. But after coming to Japan, although I still hold this idea, I feel good being with other people. Haha, doesn't it sound awkward coming from my mouth?"

"No, because Asuka is a kind child," Misato Katsuragi said softly.

Asuka blushed slightly, but she was deeply moved.

While training in Germany, Ms. Tiffany was very worried about herself. She had been living this way of doing things since she was a child. Would she be beaten down by society when she grew up?

After arriving in Japan, the gentle Hikaru Toki would tolerate his willfulness, the top student would ignore his provocations, and even that idiot Shinji would just smile and say that as an elite, he naturally had the right to be presumptuous... But only Misato Katsuragi would gently say to him, "No, because Asuka is a kind child."

"You're the first person to talk to me like this." Asuka stood up and stretched. "Thank you, Misato. I know you've been worried about me lately. Don't worry, I feel much better now."

At this moment, Misato Katsuragi, standing at the Shinmatsushiro test site, smiled and said, "There are many interesting things in this world that you don't know about. You can definitely look forward to it."

"Thank you, Misato. I'll be looking forward to it," Asuka said.

After the call ended, Asuka's phone also received a notification: "You have received a new message, the first message." It was probably sent during her call with Misato Katsuragi.

As Asuka tapped the phone with her finger, a familiar female voice came from the receiver.

"Alright, Rei, you can speak now." Ritsuko Akagi's voice came from the other end of the phone first, followed by the honor student's voice, "Asuka, can you hear me? This is Rei Ayanami."

“I said some really hurtful things to you yesterday. Sometimes I don’t know how to express my feelings like a normal person. All I know is how to pilot an EVA. Other than that, I don’t know how to communicate with people.”

"I said that day that I wanted to get close to Shinji Ikari so that I could feel warmth and peace of mind. I like Shinji, but I also like Misato and Asuka. I hope that everyone can get along well so that I can feel warmth and peace of mind."

"I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Asuka, who was initially a little impatient, gradually softened her expression until she finally heard a voice say, "Thank you."

With a beeping sound, the message stopped, and Asuka brushed the dust off her skirt. She was somewhat relieved that no one was around; otherwise, she wouldn't know what expression to wear at that moment.

Perhaps Misato Katsuragi is right. This world is still beautiful, and there are many interesting things I don't know about. It's definitely something to look forward to.

Asuka stretched and looked at the Hakone buildings that were now visible above ground in the distance.

Then--

In the bright sunshine, a blinding black lightning bolt suddenly struck down, like a black crack stretching across the city.

A fierce wind howled, and branches danced wildly in the wind. A scene all too familiar reappeared before Asuka's eyes.

However, this time, the black spherical life form... should now be called the Thirteenth Apostle, its true form is not the black sphere before us.

The moment it appeared in Hakone—

NERV didn't even have time to summon qualified pilots to pilot the EVA. The true Angel, the Archangel of Night, Raelil, with his tranquil darkness, completely engulfed the target. Through the authority held by this Angel, the imaginary space briefly covered the real space.

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PS1: Peni Parker isn't just a figment of imagination; she is indeed Spider-Man from the EVA universe. Her abilities are also based on the rules of the EVA universe.

From a purely physical standpoint, she's arguably the weakest member of the Spider-Man family, lacking the classic web-shooters and any extraordinary abilities. Although bitten by a spider, she didn't become a superhero due to a mutated virus infection; her powers are all based on the Spider-Man suit. She can use magnetism to manipulate her rotating limbs, and the top-mounted cockpit has a circular, one-way protective shield, providing Penny with an internal view of the world, while displaying various electronic faces on the outside.

The movie removes her Agent Suit, but retains the telepathic spider. However, this can be explained within the EVA universe. When in doubt, use the AT Field.

132: From the New World

If it is an undefined existence, besides Cthulhu and the Sweet Potato Fairy, there is also this imaginary space.

In stark contrast to the Norse mythology worldview, which has been a dualistic world since the beginning of time, paganism often presents the concept of primordial chaos. Heaven and earth, cold and warmth, good and evil—all are in a state of oneness, thus encompassing the primordial chaos, the Great Mother of the World, which contains all possibilities. The so-called imaginary space is a space that possesses a similar, albeit improbable, omnipotence.

It can be considered to be distinct from the primordial chaos that is omnipotent due to its mixture of elements, which is the inner side of the human world, the unobservable domain.

A place where even a glimpse of the whole thing is impossible according to existing physical laws.

Therefore, all possibilities can be assumed there. In reality, humans cannot actually see the rainbow vortex of the imaginary space. If we consider the imaginary space as imaginary numbers and humans as real numbers, real and imaginary numbers will never intersect under normal circumstances.

Although some might be fortunate enough to use the authority of the apostles to be exceptionally able to confront the imaginary number, the decisive severance continues. In other words, the rainbow-like appearance of the imaginary number space is merely an illusion created by human senses mistaking them for observing imaginary numbers.

But now, Shinji Ikari has actually traversed this imaginary space, which is symmetrical to the real world, and arrived at a landscape that has appeared in his dreams countless times.

The location is the usual Tokyo Third City.

I was standing at the crossroads of a three-lane one-way main road, near the center of the Third New Tokyo. The crossroads intersected with roads running north-south and east-west. If viewed from above, it looked like a giant cross rising from the city, truly a location in the heart of the city.

However—for Shinji Ikari, this was a crossroads leading to a different world.

From countless fragments of dreams, he pieced together the general outline of the world. Directly in front of the crossroads was a crimson world with the Hope Ship, known as the God-Slaying Serpent, floating in the air. To the right of the crossroads seemed to be the dream where he was choking Asuka. To the left and behind the crossroads was a world where a bunch of mechs were flying around.

The three directions at the crossroads represent three different worlds, yet he appears in this dreamlike landscape through the authority of the Night Apostle.

But in the current situation, he has no interest in venturing into other worlds. The sudden turn of events has made him worried about the other members remaining at headquarters.

"Scumbag, you actually used such despicable means to drag me into this place, you're quite capable."

Although Shinji Ikari still appeared completely at ease, his face showed neither negligence nor arrogance. His chilling aura made it clear to anyone who saw him that he was about to unleash a massacre.

Shinji Ikari instinctively gripped the rose rosary around his neck, but quickly composed himself.

“Oh, eternal Your Majesty, please watch over me forever. You are my guiding light, the tower of hope for humanity in this dark galaxy. You are the emperor who forever rules the tides and storms in the darkness before the shadows fall. Please have mercy on your servants, guide me through the dangers of the dimensions, and lead me safely to the land of humanity. I hope that you are with me, in my soul, and above all else.”

Even though they belong to different worlds and even cross different universes, Shinji Ikari still firmly believes in the guiding light of this Tower of Hope.

Although nothing changed after the devout prayer, Shinji Ikari, filled with inner peace, carefully put away the rose rosary in his arms and strode forward. But the moment he took his first step, he felt his body suddenly rise and float.

It's like diving to the bottom of the water and then being lifted to the surface by buoyancy.

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A parallel world, a new world after the pseudo-Third Impact.

The colossal ship, Miracle, hovered above the sea. Like a flying landmass, cherry blossom-like debris flew from its pink power plant and drifted towards the crimson sea.

The Hope Ship Miracle is battling NERV's massive airship. Its real name is AAAwunder, which means miracle or divine intervention in German. The past few days have been peaceful.

Although Ritsuko Akagi didn't dislike this feeling, even though the new organization now bore the responsibility of annihilating NERV.

But suddenly the alarm on the control panel went off, the highest level red alert. "What could it be?" At that moment, the pink-haired girl sitting in front opened the message.

"High-energy reaction detected in Itoman City, the southernmost point of the Ryukyu Islands." The girl's expression was calm, but the next second her mouth dropped open in surprise, "Wow, wow, a BM03 signal has been detected at the target location?!"

"How is this possible?!" Shigeru Aoba, who had a beard, suddenly rushed to the control panel.

No one cared about his loss of composure, because the meaning of this signal, no matter how exaggerated, could not be overstated. To most unsuspecting civilians, it meant the culprit who nearly destroyed the world, and a former EVA pilot.

"What happened?" A cold female voice came from the doorway, and everyone shuddered. Only Ritsuko Akagi walked up to the captain in military uniform.

“A minute ago, a high-energy reaction was observed in Itoman City, the southernmost point of the Ryukyu Islands, followed by a message from Shinji Ikari,” Ritsuko Akagi said succinctly.

Misato Katsuragi's face, which had remained as frozen as a block of ice for years, had not changed much, but her pupils had shrunk to a single point.

"What about Unit 2? What about Unit 8?" Misato Katsuragi asked another question first.

"Both units are fully charged and ready for activation. Should we notify Asuka and Mari, Captain?" Ritsuko Akagi asked.

Misato Katsuragi pulled her hat down low, not wanting anyone to see her expression. "Let's go. Since we can observe them, NERV's people can too. Notify Asuka and Mari, but if necessary, if the target is at risk of falling into NERV's hands, then... kill him."

"Yes, ma'am." Ritsuko Akagi, with her buzz cut, nodded gently.

A giant beam of light descended upon the island as if pouring down from the sky. White doves circled in the sky, daring not to land on the branches, because every branch within a radius of several kilometers was vibrating at the same frequency.