Having traversed countless realms, can you possibly be as clever as me?

He must take control of the entire situation; only in this way can he complete his task of making amends! Only in this way can he meet with Yui!

The fact that Rei Ayanami, who is easy to control, was introduced is a kind of preference, albeit a preference for a tool.

Asuka, the pilot of Unit-02, is ultimately an outsider. Although her synchronization rate with Unit-02 is excellent and her simulation performance is better than Rei Ayanami's, the label of being an outsider is the reason why Gendo Ikari would never use her.

In any case, Lao Deng's current situation is like that of a company boss who wants to fight to get rid of the top salesperson who doesn't get along with him, and then turns around and neglects the outsourced technical backbone, while insisting on promoting his own mediocre employees.

The enemy is still looming in front of us, and they've already started a palace intrigue—it really is a perfect example of the worst aspects of human nature.

Moreover, it seemed that none of these people respected the apostles at all.

It's as if, in their eyes, these world-destroying monsters are nothing more than a bunch of wild beasts and easy-to-kill monsters.

While it may seem that way in reality, this arrogance will inevitably become the biggest problem one day.

"Why did I have to play support for that top student?!"

Inside Unit 2, Asuka, having received the order, was hissing angrily like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"My grades are clearly better, aren't they?"

"Calm down, Asuka, this is Commander Ikari's order." Misato Katsuragi sighed, trying to persuade him, or rather, seemingly trying to persuade him but actually fanning the flames.

"Huh? That top student also got in through connections, right?!"

As expected, Asuka's breath turned even more furious after hearing this, and she was so angry that she wanted to take out her phone right then and there and write a short essay titled "Family, I am clearly the pilot who saves the world, but I am being bullied and treated unfairly in the workplace."

Although she was very angry, Asuka surprisingly managed to control her emotions quickly.

—Because the angel said he doesn't like naughty children who breathe on others.

Moreover, with the protection of the angel, no, the Tsugumi-sama, I will definitely prove myself!

Thinking of this, Asuka smiled sweetly and clutched the doll in her arms tightly.

"Mom, let's work hard together!"

"Unit 0 and Unit 2, prepare for sortie! Second and third restraints released! Target has intruded into the airspace above Lake Reed. Commence operation as planned!"

The order to attack had been given, and the two EVAs immediately entered combat readiness. At that very moment, above Lake Reed, the Raikou floating overhead seemed to have sensed the approaching enemy.

It has to be said—Ray Angel is Tsugumi's favorite apostle.

After all, who wouldn't love a blue gem that can transform, fire lasers, and is both cool and powerful?

Therefore, Tsurugi would not allow his favorite Xiao Lei to hold back in any way, and even generously provided him with more powerful shooting options!

"A high-energy reaction has occurred inside the target!!!"

The alarm sounded too late. Unit-00 had just reached the ground. The Fifth Angel, Remiel, who had already transformed, had undergone a complex geometric transformation, and the exposed core of the unit was now condensing an extremely powerful beam of light.

Whoosh, Boom!!!

Rei Ayanami couldn't dodge in time—besides, there was nowhere to hide. This damn restraints were still locked on when Unit-00 was brought to the ground, so even if she wanted to hide, she couldn't move her body.

So, the next moment—

A powerful beam of light, a blend of red and purple, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound as the air was torn apart, struck Unit-00 squarely in the front!

The AT field that Unit-00 hastily deployed was torn apart in less than a second, and Rei Ayanami's short scream rang out in the public channel.

That was a painful reaction driven by the body's physiological instincts. Rei Ayanami's synchronization rate was already second only to Shinji Ikari's, ranging from a minimum of 52% to a maximum of 90%. Being attacked with such a high synchronization rate was almost equivalent to feeling the same pain as EVA!

Amidst the excruciating pain that spread throughout her body, as if she were being burned at the stake, Rei Ayanami let out a short scream before Unit-00 was completely blasted through! Along with the restraints on her back, she was sent flying by the Raikoushi, crashing heavily into the mountain behind her!

Unit-00 was instantly killed by the Raikou in just 1.25 seconds. Congratulations to Rei Ayanami for setting a new record for the fastest exit, defeating 99% of EVA pilots.

Looking at Unit-00, whose fate was unknown, Tsugumi sighed, "No wonder Unit-00 and Rei Ayanami never had a glorious moment in the entire TV series and movies."

Apostle prisoners, step forward! Rei Ayanami: Here!

The command room was deathly silent. No one dared to look at Gendo Ikari's face. Misato Katsuragi immediately ordered the defensive barrier to be lowered so that Rei Ayanami could be brought back quickly.

However, the next moment, a high-energy reaction occurred again within the body of the Thunder Angel!

This time, however, his transformation was a more complex hexagonal transformation, and then the beam of light shot out from its core and split into six beams during its flight!

"There are also clustered attacks?!" Misato Katsuragi exclaimed in shock.

But it was too late. The rising protective barrier had not yet fully protected Unit-00 before it was dissolved and pierced through like toilet paper soaked in water. The power of this beam was not as great as the first one, but it was originally intended to break through armor.

The moment the defensive barrier was destroyed, the core of the Thunder Angel gathered for a third barrage—

Whoosh—Boom!

As if determined to take Unit-00's life, this beam was even more powerful than the first! The sky-blue beam was now almost turning deep purple, and its power had caused any light that approached it to distort!

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

The beam of light engulfed Rei Ayanami. The extreme heat combined with the impact of particles created excruciating pain, akin to being torn apart by a thousand knives, causing the cloned girl to completely lose control of her physiological instincts and let out a pitiful scream.

Everyone in the command room gasped. Right now, they probably just thought that Gendo Ikari might be planning to scrap Unit-00 along with the First Child to make room for the new EVA. Otherwise, he wouldn't do something so depraved.

"Unit Zero's armor has melted, its chest armor is destroyed, its structure is exposed, its synchronization rate is rapidly decreasing, and the first eligible pilot's vital signs are in danger!!!"

378

Ibuki Maya, who was reporting the situation, was already deathly pale. If this continued, Rei Ayanami would die before Unit-00 was scrapped!

At that very moment, a crimson figure plunged into the battlefield, wielding a molten armor plate to shield Unit-00.

"You're not dead, are you, honor student?!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: There will be a big vote tomorrow, please vote tomorrow!

On the road to godhood, you must kill, kill, kill! Chapter 264: Shooting down the second unit of the Thunder Angel.

Am I... going to die?

Feeling excruciating pain throughout her body, as if she were being torn apart by a thousand knives, Rei Ayanami's pure yet bewildered mind became aware of this for the first time.

So-called 'death' was already so close to her.

She thought she wasn't afraid of death, after all, she knew very well that the location of 'Rei Ayanami's' soul was different from that of humans, and the death of the physical body did not mean the end of life.

But if she dies, the next Rei Ayanami to wake up will not be the same Rei Ayanami.

Even though they share the same soul and have almost identical bodies, their memories and perceptions are completely different.

"...I don't want this to happen."

Rei Ayanami murmured, tears welling up in her eyes involuntarily. It was the first time in her life that she had shed something called tears.

When a clone first becomes aware of and fears death, it means she has truly begun to have life.

"Don't you want to die?" Rei Ayanami's eyes were filled with light, and then, a consciousness descended upon her.

"Who...are you?" Feeling as if she'd been blown away by the pain all over her body, Rei Ayanami looked at the figure of light before her with a blank and curious expression, and whispered...

"Holy Spirit, God, angel—you can use almost any word to describe me." Tsugumi looked down at Rei Ayanami, a playful expression on her face.

This was indeed Tsugumi's first contact with Rei Ayanami. After all, she was not human in essence; Rei Ayanami was merely a vessel that carried Lilith's soul.

For Tsugumi, who was busy spreading her faith among the people and punishing sinners along the way, this was someone she had never come into contact with.

However, from another perspective, Lilith was originally just a blank life. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Lilith was actually just the soul of Rei Ayanami.

“Angel…” Rei Ayanami pondered the meaning of the word, then her expression suddenly turned somewhat strange.

Then Tsugumi's expression also became somewhat strange.

"What are you thinking about..." Tsugumi frowned slightly. Linked to Rei Ayanami's soul, he saw a somewhat strange scene in her thoughts.

He didn't know why Rei Ayanami would have such strange thoughts, but then he thought of the strange notebook he had received from Kaji and other things.

Hiss... It seems there's some hidden storyline in this world that I'm unaware of!

Are angels being imprisoned?

Is it someone I know?

Something doesn't feel right.

"You don't want to die? In that case, let's sign a contract." Tsugumi took out a contract and handed it to Rei Ayanami.

"Sign it, and everything in your soul will be preserved by me. The Rei Ayanami of this moment will be the Rei Ayanami of eternity. No matter how many times you die, your personality and memories at this moment will be preserved!"

Looking at the contract before her, Rei Ayanami remained silent for a moment before gently nodding.

The approval of the soul needs no written words. At this moment, Rei Ayanami unhesitatingly betrayed Lilith's soul. Tsugumi, meanwhile, moved her fingers and incidentally restored Rei Ayanami's memories as "Rei the First".

At this point, Tsugumi couldn't even imagine how she would lose!

"You will not die. My messenger will protect you, and after that, you will understand who your true allies are."

"

In short, Tsugumi left after saying a few words, intending to find the imprisoned 'angel' to see what was going on. When Rei Ayanami 'woke up,' what she saw was Unit-02 standing in front of Unit-00.

"You're not dead, are you, honor student?!"

Asuka's haughty voice rang out from inside the insertion plug. Rei Ayanami blinked, looking at Asuka who had saved her life in a desperate situation, and gently placed her hand in front of her beating heart.

Her soul and self became more vibrant than ever before at that moment!

All of Rei Ayanami's feelings, self, memories, and feelings that don't belong to 'Rei Ayanami' have gradually awakened!

"Yes, I can still..."

"If you can't move, just launch already! Leave the rest to me!" Asuka interrupted Rei Ayanami, looking confidently at the Thunder Angel that was beginning to change form again.

"Unit 2 and I are the strongest!"

At this moment, Asuka has completed her self-completion. With Tsugumi's help, and after reconciling and communicating with the soul of her mother inside Unit-02, her personality has become whole, and her AT Field has become extremely powerful.

It might seem that the AT stance is a force that grows stronger the more withdrawn one is, but in reality, only those who have completed their self-realization and allowed their inner light to shine can possess greater power and performance.

"Angel, please guide me!"

Speaking in a manner remarkably similar to that of a certain commander-in-chief, Asuka seemed to truly feel guided, and a battle plan immediately emerged in her mind!

"Miri, bring me a positron rifle! And also, I need to unplug the cables!"

"Asuka, the safest course of action right now is for you to step down..."