EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 84 Miracle Reappears [Please Subscribe! First Update 450010000]

"…real…"

“…Shin…ji…”

"Ikari Shinji-kun...!!"

A strange yet familiar voice...awakened Shinji Ikari's almost silent and dry consciousness.

…He tried to open his eyes, but a heavy, murky darkness… like a swirling vortex of mud, swallowed up Shinji Ikari's consciousness.

--This is?

Before my eyes... was a completely dead and dark place - all life and light were gone... only dark red thunder was rolling, still roaring silently... wreaking havoc invisibly.

...Is that so...

I was hit by the beam fired by Unit 04... and was on the verge of death.

It seems that Tiga's body couldn't even hold on. He either turned into light and scattered... or turned back into stone again...

That beam was definitely not a weapon from Earth! It was definitely not a weapon imbued with consciousness, created by humans to protect their civilization... to maintain the continuation of humanity.

From that ray—all Tiga could sense was malice.

Just like the ancient evil god Gatanjea, it is pure... hateful... and extremely evil, bringing about disaster and destruction.

I forced myself to hold onto the spirit that was about to fall asleep... This disgusting sleepiness... was exactly the same as when I was defeated by Gatanjea.

If... I choose to fall asleep right now, then this story... will end here—

How could it possibly end like this... How could it possibly be allowed to end like this!?

It penetrated into the fist... ignited the unyielding and unwillingness in my heart, ignited the infinite indignation in my heart... I clenched my fist to dispel the strong sleepiness!

Because he clenched too hard, his nails had dug deep into his skin...blood was dripping slowly...but no matter how hard Shinji Ikari tried, he still didn't have the strength to stand up again.

After all, the direct attack of the D4 ray, which was concentrated and focused with the pure malice of the Yabo people... possessed the power to destroy even dimensions... It was a terrifying destructive power that even Tiga in his full state did not dare to face head-on.

What's more... now the light is almost burned out... and Shinji Ikari is already dying.

Now he... naturally cannot escape unscathed from the claws of this disaster.

“—Is it alright already?”

A familiar yet strange voice...repeatedly echoed in the darkness.

"From the previous world... until this world, I have fought alongside you... and witnessed your growth and dedication. Ikari Shinji-kun... enough is enough... You... can rest now."

“…!!”

Hearing this unbelievable tone, Shinji Ikari's sleepiness even dissipated a little... He stood in a daze in the deep darkness... searching for the owner of the voice.

"Could it be——Mr. Tiga?!"

The distant voice did not answer... but began to recall every detail of their journey together for Shinji Ikari.

"Ikari Shinji-kun... it all began in the ruins of that pyramid. By some strange coincidence... you replaced Madoka-kun, who was supposed to be Ultraman Tiga - and became an Ultraman. Back then... you were a completely different person... you resisted becoming an Ultraman, refused to help and protect others."

"………yes."

With a slightly wry smile, Shinji Ikari shook his head...recalling the time when he curled up on the train, isolating himself from the outside world with headphones.

I just arrived in the world of Tiga... I am uneasy about everything because of the unknown, and I reject everything because of the uneasiness... I guess I am that kind of person, or even worse than that.

At that time - I simply had the power to transform into Ultraman... but lacked experience, will and awareness... I was just a useless child.

"But... even though you rejected others... rejected the entire world. When you saw people dying from monster attacks... you still chose to transform into Ultraman Tiga. Even though every battle... left you trembling with fear... and excruciating pain, you still didn't run away."

"--It's just that Brother Yuan and Captain Jujian taught me well... When I was completely ignorant, I didn't even know the most basic principles of life. They had extended their hands to me... and I had rejected them countless times, but they still opened their arms to me. That's when I began to understand... that the only people who are worthy of embracing others... are those who are not afraid of being hurt."

——Faced with the repeated choice of escape... Shinji Ikari refuses to transform into Ultraman.

The members of the Victory Team did not force, coerce, or even say things like... if you don't become Ultraman and fight, the world will be destroyed - that kind of moral kidnapping.

It was just to give Shinji Ikari a place to stay... to give him a place to settle down in this strange world.

When the monsters appeared, they just let Shinji Ikari hide safely in the rear...but they resolutely boarded the fighter plane and used human hands to resist and fight.

"Miss Jujian...Is it really okay if I don't go? Now, I'm not the only one who can..."

This was the first time that Shinji Ikari showed some intention of transforming into Ultraman.

In response to Shinji Ikari's probing, the Victory Team Captain Megumi Iruma gave the following answer:

"Perhaps... as the captain of the Victory Team, I'm a bit remiss in saying this. But I still have to tell you - if the safety of the entire world... truly depends on forcing a fourteen-year-old child to go to the battlefield and shed blood and tears, then this world has lost its worth in being protected."

The words that Yuan Daigu left for Shinji Ikari before boarding the Hiyan II were also——

"Shinji-kun, no matter what choice you make... it's your freedom. No one will force you to do anything you don't want to do... Whether you have great power or not, you are just a child. A child that our Victory Team needs to protect - so, you just need to make... a choice that you won't regret!"

Looking at the Hiyan-2 being shot down by the monster... looking at Iruma Megumi, who even drew his own weapon and prepared to join the battle, and did not make a single demand of Ikari Shinji—

Shinji Ikari...at that moment, he made his own choice for the first time...For the first time, with his own will - he took a step forward!
That was... the beginning of the miracle of transforming a good-for-nothing child named Ikari Shinji into a young man who returned from Tiga...
"So far... it's been a long journey..."

The dark voice carried a hint of relief and also a hint of loneliness.

As if to bring everything to an end——

"Now... Ikari Shinji-kun... you don't have to fight anymore, you can rest..."

“…But, that won’t work.”

However...the gentle suggestion was rejected equally gently but firmly by Shinji Ikari.

...I've realized it.

This voice in the darkness...did not come from Ultraman Tiga.

Rather, it comes from deep within one's heart...an anxiety that one is unwilling to reveal.

Along the way... the heavy pressure and burden... the continuous battles and depression... have indeed taken a serious toll on Shinji Ikari's spirit.

Especially after returning to this world, whether it is Asuka... or Ayanami Rei... they will be affected by any negative emotions of their own -

In front of those girls...I have to always appear as perfect as a mountain.

But - no one in the world is perfect... Not even Shinji Ikari is an exception.

The darkness of NERV is too deep. The deeper you go, the more you understand... the truth behind the clones of Asuka and Rei Ayanami... the whole world is twisted to an unprecedented degree.

These things caused Shinji Ikari to suppress his deepest anxiety... which grew little by little... Finally, when D4—a powerful enemy that even Ultraman might not be able to defeat—appeared...

This uneasiness completely broke out, giving rise to the temptation in the darkness - tempting Shinji Ikari to give up... and fall asleep... He had done well enough... and could rest...

But, no—

Absolutely, no!
...I've already promised Miss Misato that we'll all go back together...I've already promised Ayanami that I'll go with her to try some meatless garlic ramen...

...I've already promised Asuka that I'll let her listen to the song I created for her...

I've already promised too many things, made too many vows...so——it can't end here.

Want to make them happy.

I want everyone to be happy.

I want this story to have a perfect ending——

Mr. Tiga...is this the true meaning of Ultraman?
...This, this is the meaning of my return, carrying your power! Right?!

If that's really the case... then please, help me once again... Mr. Tiga...!
——No matter how dark it gets...the light in people's hearts will never fade away!!

Let the miracle happen again!
A faint spark in my heart... finally ignited the first ray of light in the darkness... the most dazzling light of the soul!
[Like sunlight, breaking through the darkness——!]

“…Stand up!!”

“He, He…He stood up again!!”

Under everyone's astonished gaze... Ultraman Tiga, who had been hit by the dark brown particle cannon fired by EVA Unit 4 and fell to the ground... both his eyes and the crystal on his chest were completely dimmed.

Stand up again!
Not only did he stand up again... but the rapid red light that was originally flashing endlessly on his chest... had now turned into a calm and deep blue.

The originally dim body was now surrounded by a faint holy aura... Ultraman Tiga clenched his fists... and faced the apostle in front of him.

[Dawn quietly crosses the horizon——!]

“…Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!! Damn it!!!”

Cerebro, who originally had a cynical and defiant smile on his face... looked at Tiga, who had already died under the attack of Unit 04, and actually stood up again... Hatred and resentment completely replaced his original smile.

"This is cheating! Cheating! How can this be allowed! In that case... In that case!!"

As Cerebro roared... the red light in his eyes grew brighter, and an unholy aura of disaster instantly rose from within Unit 03.

The monster genes that had been planted in Suzuhara Touji's body before... all blossomed under Cerebro's command, merging with the EVA... and the Ninth Angel - giving birth to a terrifying existence the likes of which this world has never seen...!
"Destroy the Mechamon——Destrodos!!"

[Whose figure is traveling through the reincarnation world——]

It wasn't an apostle-level being, but a genuine super monster... Mechamon roared at Tiga.

If it was... the dying Ikari Shinji before... maybe he really couldn't be defeated, but - now... it's completely different!

"Touji! Can you hear me——!!"

[The road to the future is right under your feet——]

Facing the sharp claws of the mecha beast, he easily blocked it with his left arm...in an instant!
The aftermath of a single claw and an arm clashing blew EVA-4, which was immobilized by the side effects of the D4 ray, far away...

The earth instantly cracked, and even the wind was almost killed... This was the blow that annihilated the Mechamon Destrodos!
But! Such a sharp and domineering blow! Facing the current Tiga, all of this is meaningless.

With just one arm, he firmly blocked the attack... neutralized the entire attack... and at the same time, his right fist ignited with a gleam of light.

A heavy blow! The fist of light, unstoppable and overwhelming, pierced the mecha beast's chest directly!
[Don’t be sad, don’t be afraid——]

And it was far more than just insight... The fist extending from the mechamon's body... was tightly gripping an insertion plug... coated in a bluish-purple and dark red gelatinous substance.

[Looking forward to tomorrow with confidence——]

Protecting the insertion plug, Tiga kicked the body of the mecha beast hard, and with a strong kick, kicked the terrifying and huge Destrodos... out like a ball.

The crystal on the forehead and the colored timer release a purifying light... shining gently and lightly on the plug.

With the light of Tiga, the blue-purple and dark red marks on the insertion plug... faded visibly to the naked eye, just like snow melting under the scorching sun... and quickly disappeared.

[A new storm has emerged——]

“WUAAAA————!!!”

Even if it was penetrated... and the plug was removed, it would naturally not be so easy to defeat the Annihilator Mechamon that was a fusion of EVA, Apostle, and Monster genes...

Furthermore, the dark red booby trap reappeared... a death wind that pierced the entire dimension... the D4 mechanism! As expected, Unit 03 also carried it... and this wasn't the D4 used by humans, but the D4 of the family... the D4 Destruction Breath that annihilates the mecha beasts!

A genuine death ray that inherited all the evil thoughts of the Yabo people... and would wipe out everything within a radius of several kilometers from the entire dimension.

How can we stand still——

Of course... the premise is that it can be launched.

With both hands raised, a brilliant stream of light appeared before Tiga, and white ripples rippled through the air, creating a beautiful pattern.

[I will travel through time and space, do my best, and come to you——]

This is the long-lost pulse... an unprecedented flash - unreserved, unrestrained, wholeheartedly... the Zaipelago light flow!
It seemed to have sensed the crisis between life and death... The strange crimson in the mouth of the annihilation mecha beast became more intense, visible to the naked eye... The space was cracked like broken glass.

[Facing danger with a smile, dreams will come true soon——]

No problem, no problem——

No matter what this monster...wants to do—I have only one response.

Ultraman Tiga uses the all-out Zeperiod Ray, the first in the EVA world! The monsters will be completely destroyed!

【Take up your courage——】

“WUAAAA—!!!!!”

A rolling thunderstorm erupted! This was the terrifying wave that just now, with just a passing by... could completely devour the consciousness of Tiga... and Shinji Ikari.

[Move forward firmly——]

"Zapelio——Light!!!"

Black and white, red and blue...the silence of death and the rebirth of hope!

Containing a will and awareness that absolutely could not reconcile with each other, two rays of light intersected and clashed in mid-air... and this time——

[A miracle will definitely happen——]

Undoubtedly, it is Tiga's victory!
[——He will appear!!!]

That was a gamble on the meaning of Ultraman's existence, on all of Shinji Ikari's accumulated will and awareness... How could he possibly lose to such a calamity based on mere instinct? !!!
“AAAAAA!!!!”

On the right, the azure blue shimmers with the light of life, heralding a bright future...

On the left side is the blood-red color that represents the ferocity of defeat and the chaos that foreshadows the end.

Finally... the azure light completely wiped out every trace of filth in the world... as if to purify everything... and penetrated into the interior of the Annihilator Mecha Beast Destrodos.

With a silent wail... the alien beast, a fusion of monsters, apostles, and EVAs... vanished without a trace under the light of Tiga. Not a trace of its existence could be found.

(End of this chapter)