Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

Seeing the smile on Kaji Ryoji's face as he squatted in the melon patch, Shinji Ikari's impression of him changed slightly.

However, he's still a strange person.

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Kirishima's real name hasn't gone far.

Shinji Ikari had left their side, and they had returned to the metropolis, utterly alone in this vast city. The bustling cityscape of Tokyo dominated their view in the distance, but these people remained unaware of the undercurrents beneath the surface. Tokyo, situated alongside NERV headquarters, was like a bustling metropolis built on a volcanic crater—a live volcano that could erupt at any moment and send everyone to their doom.

A blue and white seagull flew anxiously across the sky and landed on the rooftop of a building, looking around nervously with its chest heaving.

That was a seagull, probably flown in from the port area. Tokyo is by the sea, and seabirds often wander into the city center.

Mana Kirishima imagined herself as a white gull, unable to find her way out of this dazzling maze, surrounded by the noise of people and engines. She would probably feel just as terrified and uneasy.

Musashi often complained to himself about his colleagues' lack of belonging. He always said he felt like a moth flying aimlessly in the dark, unsure whether he would crash into a neon light or a street stove and be burned to ashes.

The fear of belonging and death always surrounded them. But Mana Kirishima didn't understand this feeling, or rather, her fear vanished the moment she met Shinji Ikari.

"The day I first met you, the gears began to turn. I couldn't stop the premonition that I was about to lose something." These words played on Mana Kirishima's Walkman on the train.

To be honest, she was actually somewhat looking forward to being killed by Shinji Ikari in the mountains.

After several transfers at the tram stop at the foot of the mountain, finally returning to Third New Tokyo, it wasn't a place that could be called home, but rather a gathering place for these Strategic Self-Defense Force spies. And he was, in fact, the only spy among them.

"Are you alright, Kirishima!" Musashi rushed over. "You said in your report that you encountered the pilot of Unit-01 in the mountains. That's a very dangerous person!"

“Isn’t that perfect? ​​My mission is to get close to him.” Despite Musashi’s anxiety, Kirishima Mana remained remarkably calm.

Their true identities are actually test pilots of humanoid weapons developed by the Strategic Self-Defense Force. Their purpose in approaching Shinji is simply to "gather intelligence on EVA and provide it to the weapons development department to improve the robot's performance."

However, according to the Vatican Treaties, no nation stationed at NERV is allowed to covet EVA's technology. NERV can only use EVA in its counterattack against the Angels. Therefore, if discovered, they will be treated as expendable pawns.

Mana Kirishima knew this better than anyone, because she considered him the most dangerous and the easiest to abandon.

“But our identities are something we can’t reveal, so it’s better to be careful.” Keita, another companion sitting in front of the computer, turned his head to the side while drinking soda. “If we’re discovered, even if Shinji Ikari imprisons you, no one will come to rescue you, aru.”

He had intended to scare Kirishima Mana, but instead she revealed an incredibly bright smile, so much so that even Keita couldn't understand the meaning behind it.

"If that's the case, that would be fantastic!"

Chapter 97: The Human Completion Committee

Humanity has annihilated eleven Apostles.

However, there are also rumors that the Twelfth Angel has appeared and recently infiltrated deep into the NERV base.

"This won't do, the progress is too fast." A man's voice came from the dark room.

The Human Completion Committee convened a special meeting.

The Human Completion Committee does not represent SEELE, but it is the core of SEELE, and only the core members are present here.

SEELE is a secret organization that has existed in the world for thousands of years. However, after the Second Impact, it took the initiative to launch an offensive, mobilizing its members who had long been lurking in the political and business circles of various countries to quickly seize real power in those countries. The economic lifelines of various countries were controlled by SEELE members. With control of most social resources, SEELE had effectively controlled the operation of the world at that time. Even the United Nations was later controlled by SEELE through puppet countries. Thus, NERV, as the implementing agency of the plan, was naturally pushed to the forefront.

NERV, which has trained countless brave warriors and fought against nine Angels, is merely a violent organization pushed to the forefront by SEELE.

In an unknown location, in an unknown region, six seats rise in a dark room, each representing one of the six members of the Human Completion Committee.

“That’s right, the Apostle’s invasion of the NERV base was unplanned,” a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, who had Saxon features, said in a deep voice.

"Moreover, it was an invasion of the Central Dogmatic Zone. If contact were to occur, all the plans would be ruined."

"Ikari, you need to reflect on why this happened." The new voice was cold and stern. "We must proceed strictly according to the plan in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Outer Codex has been created; no other variables can be allowed!"

The speaker was an elderly man, but his voice was loud and carried a cold, authoritative air. His appearance reflected traditional Caucasian features; he wore a crisp black suit, and a deep red handkerchief was tucked into his jacket pocket.

However, Gendo Ikari, sitting in the lowest seat, had his hands clasped under his chin, his gaze hidden behind fluorescent black-rimmed glasses, showing neither joy nor anger.

"The report to the committee was a misreport," Gendo Ikari said without batting an eye, "The invasion of the Angels is not true. I apologize for causing you all concern."

“So, Ikari,” the member with blue eyes spoke, turning his head to look at Gendo Ikari, “that means the Twelfth Angel’s invasion is not true.”

"Yes." Gendo Ikari replied without changing his expression.

“Watch your mouth, Gendo Ikari. Perjury here is a capital offense,” another missionary, dressed in robes and wearing glasses, said sharply and sternly.

"It's alright, you can check MAGI's records if you want, there's no record of such a thing."

"Don't joke around." The first middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, who had Saxon features, spoke up. "Isn't hiding the truth your specialty, Gendo Ikari?"

He was a powerful figure in the Human Completion Committee, and the only member who called out Gendo Ikari's name by name. While he spoke, the other members remained silent. Only Gendo Ikari answered calmly.

"The timeline is proceeding exactly as described in the Dead Sea Scrolls, without any errors."

"Fine, I won't hold you responsible this time."

Finally, Chairman Kiro of the Supplementary Committee spoke. He held a red document in one hand and propped it on the table. Sitting at the head of the long table, he looked down at Gendo Ikari, who was sitting at the bottom.

"But you don't need to write a new script."

“I understand, everything will proceed according to SEELE’s script.”

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Fog, a hazy fog, shrouded the view before us. As a gentle breeze stirred, the mountains ahead were revealed.

The mountain, a very stable mountain, something that changes over time.

Rei Ayanami raised her head and looked up at the sky again.

The sky, the blue sky, things that the eye cannot see, things that the eye can see.

The sun is unique.

Water, something that brings comfort; Shinji, something that brings comfort; flowers, something that brings comfort; there are many similar things, and many useless things as well.

Countless fragmented images rapidly switched before his eyes: the familiar Major Katsuragi, the pilot of Unit 2, the mutilated head of Unit 00, his vision stretching infinitely far into the vast universe.

The sky, the red sky, the world of destruction, red, the color I hate, flowing liquid, ocean, blood, women who don't bleed, creating humans from red soil, humans created by men and women, a red world I don't want to return to.

Cities are man-made; EVA is also a man-made thing.

What is a human being? Was it created by God, or was it created by the interaction between men and women?

What I possess: my heart, the vessel of my heart.

The insertion plug is the high platform of the soul.

Who am I? Who is me? Who is ahead of me?

Rei Ayanami turned around, and it seemed someone had placed a hand on her shoulder. But when she turned around, she saw another version of herself, and when she turned back, her own hand was on another version of herself's shoulder.

She stared at the somewhat horrifying scene before her: countless versions of herself, as pristine as if she had just been born, linked shoulder to shoulder, forming an endless circle.

Different worlds, different futures, different pasts, but the same self.

There's a version of myself with short hair, a version of myself with long hair, a version of myself with blue hair, a version of myself with silver hair, and a version of myself with purple hair.

But Rei Ayanami wasn't afraid, because she could sense that all of these versions of herself shared the same soul.

But then Rei Ayanami looked down at her own body.

This body is me, the form that constitutes myself, the me that my eyes can see, but I don't feel like I am myself. It's a strange feeling, like my body is melting.

My flaws—

The long, sharp sound, like the chirping of a cicada, still lingered in Rei Ayanami's ears, its echo deep and resonant. This cicada-like echo gradually faded until it disappeared completely. The world tumbled from the dream into the calm, uneventful reality.

Shinji Ikari lowered his head slightly. "Had a nightmare?" He hugged the trembling girl in his arms tighter, sensing her unease.

It was unusual that, at such close range, he couldn't sense the source of Rei Ayanami's unease. He could only feel her heart beating.

Oh, Shinji Ikari quietly moved his hand away from Rei Ayanami's chest, so he couldn't feel it anymore.

“…I don’t know.” Rei Ayanami hummed softly, but quickly drifted back into a peaceful dream, only instinctively snuggling closer to Shinji Ikari, as if searching for a more comfortable position.

Chapter 98: The Soul, the Throne of the Soul

Although the girl lay in his arms in a state of pristine innocence, as if she had just been born, Rei Ayanami harbored no lust. Even her current appearance and her state in the dressing room were simply because she liked them; she was catering to her own tastes.

During the previous simulation experiment, Shinji Ikari seemed to understand that Rei Ayanami's affection for him might be similar to his affection for Unit-01.

Shinji Ikari thought that if he really wanted to do something to her, she would probably agree. But in that case, only he would be happy, and it would be quite meaningless.

Shinji Ikari lowered his head and kissed her hair.

"That's good," Shinji Ikari thought, pulling the warm, soft body closer to him. He lifted the body from below with his right hand to make the embrace more comfortable. But just as he was adjusting his posture, Rei Ayanami stretched out her two fair arms, wrapped them around Shinji's neck, and buried her head in the boy's neck.

It was at this moment that Shinji Ikari seemed to catch a faint, long-lost scent of blood. It was extremely faint and subtle, but if one were to examine it closely, it seemed remarkably similar to the smell of the sea of ​​blood he was currently experiencing.

This time, Shinji Ikari was finally able to confirm that the odor emanated from Rei Ayanami's body.

For some reason, Shinji Ikari suddenly realized that Rei Ayanami hadn't had her first period yet. She had many physical problems, as well as emotional, mental, and normal human desires. He should ask Dr. Akagi about it sometime.

With these thoughts in mind, Shinji Ikari embraced Rei Ayanami and drifted back to sleep.

It was still 10:30 in the morning. In NERV Hakone, the first machine exchange experiment was being conducted, with the subject being the Third Child, Shinji Ikari.

Shinji Ikari spent the entire morning thinking about Rei Ayanami, but he hadn't had time to talk to Ritsuko Akagi yet. Following MAGI's instructions, he entered the cockpit one by one according to regulations.

It wasn't Unit-01, but Unit-00.

Shinji Ikari experienced a completely different feeling upon entering the cockpit of Unit-00, unlike the cockpit of Unit-01, or even Unit-02. Being in Unit-00, after measuring the neuronal synaptic levels, evoked a very subtle sensation.

Meanwhile, in the monitoring room outside, Ritsuko Akagi leaned over the computer, looking at the data comparing the current measurement of the neuronal synaptic level of Unit-00 with that of Unit-01.

"The synchronization rate dropped significantly compared to Unit-01. As expected, Unit-01 is still the best match for Shinji Ikari."

Although the currently observed third eligible candidate successfully broke through the neuron hierarchy during the measurement, the synchronization rate only remained at 99%.

“That shouldn’t be the case. The Third Child piloted Unit-01 so well, so his stats should be similar when piloting Unit-00.” Ibuki Maya, who was in charge of monitoring and recording, was a little confused. “Unit-00 and Unit-01 have very similar individual modes, so they shouldn’t be this different?”

“That’s precisely why synchronization is possible,” Ritsuko Akagi said softly from the side. “However, the dramatic drop in synchronization rate is still a bit strange. Everyone, please report on other data for comparison.”

“The error is within 0.003 harmonic values, which is perfectly normal; the driver’s mental state is normal,” Maya Ibuki replied.

"Data reception has been confirmed again. The mode is green, and there are no abnormal responses," Hinata Makoto replied.