Shinji Ikari, returned from Warhammer

"Go ahead and attack, why are you yelling? Do you want me to know you're about to unleash your ultimate move?" Shinji Ikari frowned.

The slap cracked the Angel's body, and sparks flew from its neck, clearly indicating that some wiring had been damaged.

But the next second, he saw the joints of the machine in front of him light up, and then he kicked it into the mountain again. The silver alloy armor dented and cracked, and crimson liquid spurted out with a piercing sound.

"You're the one who won't listen to advice, huh?!" Shinji Ikari was furious. He had wanted to be Kaido's teacher again, but he never expected that the student in front of him would be so clueless.

This time, Unit-01 locked the Seraphim's throat and pulled it out of the mountain. Sparks flew from the Seraphim's body, and almost all of its joints had been loosened by Unit-01, causing it to hang limply. Light energy seeped out from the gaps in its body, and a reddish, viscous liquid also seeped out, flowing down the surface of the body and forming a reddish riverbank, looking like blood seeping from the mountain.

At this moment, the seraphim was completely defeated, like a robot that had lost its power. The nuclear reactor that was originally located near the spine was now flickering, which was in principle a sign that it was about to go out.

Shinji Ikari slowly pulled out the sonic spear from his back, deliberately making it gentle, yet firmly piercing the Angel's chest.

To be honest, he was very disappointed.

Although there could not be an evenly matched battle, he was not even qualified to have a good time. The so-called apostle who was about to destroy the world was just this kind of trash.

"Perhaps it shouldn't be broadcast globally," Shinji Ikari thought. "At least this level of recovery should allow him to have some fun."

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P.S.: Since the JA mecha is just a minor character, some of its moves are based on Shin Godzilla. Anyway, it's a film directed by Hideaki Anno, and it's related to the Angels.

PS2: After finishing the writing, I felt that it should have been designed as a Godzilla/EVA crossover with that humanoid dragon, at least the battle would have been more exciting.

PS3: Chapter 113 has been submitted for revisions and finally approved. As before, click the top right corner and select "Refresh Chapter". Those who have already subscribed don't need to refresh; it's better to read the original, unedited version.

119: A crown of righteousness is reserved for me.

03:20 PM

The once bustling streets of Neo-Tokyo were even quieter than at night. The series of attacks by the Angels seemed to have terrified Tokyo residents who loved shopping and partying. For the past few days, everyone had been obediently staying home, following the Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission's call to avoid going out as much as possible. Even the roads were deserted, with only airships flying by broadcasting the daily weather forecast.

This is still the second New Tokyo City. As for the third New Tokyo City, which was targeted by the Angels, it has been taken back to Hakone as a precaution.

Amidst this strange scene, every household was watching the broadcast of the Third Counterattack by TV Tokyo, including Hikaru Toki, who was glued to his television set.

The Angels raced recklessly through the streets, destroying the earth and buildings as if a tangible natural disaster had descended upon the world. Hikaru had seen similar scenes many times before, and had witnessed the successive defeats of the Self-Defense Forces and the United Nations. But until the moment Unit-01 appeared, you could almost feel your own heart pounding.

Only at this moment can we understand why Shinji Ikari is hailed as the pilot who has secured victory in advance.

If Hikaru Toki can see tomorrow's sun, she will probably never forget that profound and exhilarating feeling that kept her on edge. She once heard this description when she went to a Christian church with her mother to listen to a priest's sermon: "A television needs an antenna and a signal, and sometimes the signal is bad. Our prayers are the same. Sometimes God's signal to us is strong and clear, working well, and you can feel a connection with God. But sometimes... there is no response."

As with the previous two instances, people often only remember God in their despair. But there are moments in this world known as the baptism of the soul—the moment when the naked soul is liberated from all deception and hypocrisy, appreciating the vast and clear world before it, and the heart is shaken. This is the feeling that Hikaru Toki is experiencing now.

Looking at the purple machine, it easily withstood the ferocious attack of the apostle. Its figure running across the land resembled a true angel walking on earth.

This is God's response to humanity.

A resentful voice rang out from the television screen, as if from the hatred of the dead, perfectly befitting the apostle's painful end.

As a resident of Third New Tokyo, Hikaru Horiki, who has been paying close attention to the Angels of the Sand, naturally knew who the owner of that voice was—

That's why she seemed slightly panicked when she heard the explosion and roar together. In such a dire situation, could this apostle occupying Unit 3 still turn the tide?

The sound of blood gushing out like a spring was mixed with the clanging of metal. Though faint, the cold, chilling voice that pierced the ears was indeed from the Angel of Scattering—the entire armor of the mecha on the screen was vibrating.

That was the sound of the armor covering the limbs swaying slightly like ripples on water, colliding with each other.

In this moment of impending death, the rare dual-core Arcanist ignored the sonic spear piercing its chest, suddenly grabbed Unit-01's right arm, and used the power surging from the nuclear reactor and the Angel's core to swing Unit-01's right arm upwards, causing Unit-01 to fly high into the air.

The sudden reversal and the time Unit-01 remained airborne were enough to freeze the audience's blood. For the Angel, it wasn't exactly a desperate comeback, because his regenerative abilities were simply too exaggerated; injuries that would be fatal to other Angels weren't even considered serious to him. After what seemed like an endless moment, the Angel had already stepped back onto the ground, pulling the sonic spear from his chest.

Then--

An even more dazzling spear of light pierced him into the earth.

The Evangelion Unit-01, falling from a great height, landed with one foot on the still-wounded chest of the Angel, and its left foot on the Angel's head. The purple machine tilted its head in a human-like manner, looking at the wailing Angel beneath its feet, as if enjoying His current pain, a chilling smile in its purple pupils.

"A vibrant life is nothing more than a death struggle," Shinji Ikari commented.

At such close range, Shinji Ikari naturally noticed the sudden surge in energy within the Angel before him. However, he was eager to see what kind of surprise the Angel of Ascension, who claimed to be comparable to himself, could bring him when he was at his wit's end.

But there were no surprises; it was still just a death throes. This battle was a complete and utter annihilation without any setbacks. The so-called machine that surpassed Unit-01 was nothing more than a beast at its wit's end.

Shinji Ikari pulled out the sonic spear that was stuck beside him, and this time it pierced through His internal nuclear reactor cleanly and then through His Angel Core in the explosion.

This was the climax of certainty that victory was imminent. What should have been a fleeting moment was inexplicably stretched to an eternity, as if even the passage of time had stopped—

Even standing in the sunlight, Unit-01's majestic and solemn form, resembling a deity, was still bathed in the sun's golden glow, as if mocking the angels responsible for sounding the horn of destruction as such weak creatures. Even at a distance of tens of meters, those merciless and cold crimson eyes still made the Seraphim tremble and stiffen.

He could only watch as Unit-01's crimson core pierced through his chest, though he desperately tried to grasp the sinking sonic spear. But it was futile; the spear relentlessly and powerfully pierced the core's defenses until the immense energy transformed into a crimson cross and rose anew.

Four hours later, at the entrance to Hakone Station on the outskirts of Tokyo Third City, a blue Mazda was parked.

"Hey handsome, wanna hitch a ride?" Misato Katsuragi rolled down the car window, revealing her cool and sophisticated face with sunglasses on.

Shinji Ikari didn't say anything, but simply opened the passenger door and got in. Misato Katsuragi didn't seem to mind being treated coldly, or rather, she was being treated coldly. She casually rolled down the roof, instantly turning the car into a convertible.

"How about it? The development team helped me with this, isn't it faster than before? It used to take nine seconds to roll down, now it only takes five seconds. Can you feel the push in your back? The engine is also more powerful than before!"

"With that kind of energy, you could easily get a new car." Shinji Ikari had lost count of how many times this Mazda had been repaired.

“That won’t do! I can pay for the car repairs myself through the department’s account, however I want. But I’ll have to pay for the new car myself.” Misato Katsuragi was very clear about this.

"By the way, congratulations on completing the battle against the Seraphim. As expected of the master of the battlefield, this is the eighth Angel you have personally defeated, and the fifth Angel you have defeated alone. From now on, the whole world will spread the name of the Third Child, Shinji Ikari." Misato Katsuragi finally got to the point.

"With great power comes great responsibility; they are all interdependent," Shinji Ikari said softly, gazing at the brightly lit Second New Tokyo in the distance, his expression neither sad nor happy. He had executed the Seraphim who had brought calamity to humanity, yet he showed no joy whatsoever; it seemed that this was of no importance to him.

This was the first time Misato Katsuragi had ever seen her with this expression.

While Shinji Ikari used to have a calm expression after defeating the Angels, it was more like an arrogant attitude of "just executing an alien, nothing to brag about." However, he was still happy to protect humanity.

This left her somewhat at a loss as to how to talk to this young man. If he were the third eligible candidate, she would offer a smile and compliments; if he were her own son, should she tease him a little, or even just rub his cheeks?

Or should we have a bestial encounter... Stop! Misato Katsuragi shook her head vigorously, trying to shake the lewd thoughts out of her mind. She was there to be a guardian, not to molest young girls! In America, she'd be in jail!

Misato Katsuragi couldn't help but turn her head to look at her son's state. Shinji Ikari was gazing at the brightly lit Second New Tokyo in the distance. At this moment, Second New Tokyo had regained its prosperity, but as the car drove onto the overpass, the brightly lit city would only get further and further away from him.

Looking at Shinji Ikari sitting calmly in the passenger seat, Misato Katsuragi, who was driving the Mazda toward the overpass, said, "It seems that the third stage of the Seraphim is even stronger than I expected. It's a very strong opponent, and it's even made you feel tired."

“Not really. Do you think any scrawny nobody can be considered my opponent these days?” Shinji Ikari chuckled, then paused, as if pondering something. “It’s just that in the end, He really resembled a human being. The way He struggled when he was dying was like a real human soul residing within him.”

The pain, the wails, and the final, almost pleading expression did not evoke any pity in Shinji Ikari. Any life form that threatens Terra and humanity deserves to die, whether it's an alien or a malignant organism born from humanity itself.

However, he had been thinking about a question during this time.

“I want to go see Suzuhara Toji again,” Shinji Ikari said.

Misato Katsuragi paused for a moment, then replied calmly, "Then I'm afraid there's no chance. His heart stopped beating not long ago, and he was pronounced dead."

"When?" Shinji Ikari asked.

"About... oh, it seems to be about half an hour after you killed the Seraphim, at 04:01."

Shinji Ikari was a little surprised that Misato Katsuragi remembered it so clearly; she probably also felt sorry for Toji Suzuhara's death.

"If you want to see him again, then wait until a week later, when you can attend his funeral. Suzuhara Toji would be very happy to have you, his benefactor who avenged him in the end, attend his funeral... Go home today."

"Where do I sleep?" Shinji Ikari asked with a stroke of genius.

"Of course it's your room. Asuka moved back this morning, but she took your snacks and PSP with her. Otherwise, where would you like to stay?" Misato Katsuragi held the steering wheel with her left hand and poked Shinji Ikari's cheek with her right.

But she felt Shinji Ikari raise his arm and grasp her hand from the back of his hand.

The warmth of that palm sent Misato Katsuragi swiftly back as if electrocuted. But Shinji Ikari's smile remained radiant as he gazed at the brightly lit Second New Tokyo City in the distance, watching it gradually fade into the distance.

------

------

One week ago, it was a foggy morning.

“I know that my Savior is still alive and that he will eventually stand on the earth. From now on, the crown of righteousness will be reserved for me.”

A priest dressed in black recited prayers as the funeral procession moved lonely through the cold cemetery, supported by a young girl.

Her face showed no sadness or unease; she simply followed the funeral procedures mechanically. This expression impressed those who came to pay their respects, but few felt pity for her.

The recent catastrophe was related to her brother. Although it cannot be said that her brother was directly involved, and one could even say that her brother was also a victim, it is common in this country to blame others for one's own suffering.

For example, Naruto Uzumaki and the original Shinji Ikari have something to say to each other.

"This is what the Lord, who judges justly, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance."

The coffin was then buried in the ground, and after each person had uttered their prayers, the mourners left one by one. The rain returned to its quiet stillness, leaving only the girl who had supported the funeral and Shinji Ikari, who had accompanied her through the ceremony.

"Very good, what a strong child. I'm sure your brother will be proud of you." Shinji Ikari placed his hand on her shoulder, softening his tone slightly.

Sakura Suzuhara, Suzuhara Toji's younger sister.

More than two months ago, it was because he was piloting Unit-01 to fight the Water Angel that he affected her, which caused Suzuhara Toji to take his anger out on him. He intended to beat him up, but instead, he was beaten up by Ikari Shinji.

By this time, her injuries had healed, but her brother, Suzuhara Toji, had died in battle.

Shinji Ikari volunteered to be her companion, because as someone who had experienced the events firsthand, he was more concerned that she, as a family member, would be targeted with resentment. Although saying this might sound like self-aggrandizement, his presence would at least ensure that no one would bully her for a while.

"What kind of person is my brother?" Suzuhara Sakura murmured, holding a bouquet of white flowers.

“Suzuhara Toji, he…” Shinji Ikari took a deep breath, looking up at the cloud-covered sky, “was the best student in our class, my best friend. He studied diligently, completing all the assignments given by the teachers; he had a gentle personality and often helped his classmates; he had a good reputation at school and was very popular with the girls. And his reputation for being helpful…”

Sakura Suzuhara listened quietly to Shinji Ikari's description of his brother. Soon, thousands of drops of fine rain pounded heavily on the cemetery, on the tombstones, in the soil, and on the leaves. The air temperature in the cemetery seemed to drop suddenly, becoming incredibly stuffy.

One or two: The inner desire to shout out loud (Part 1)

Sakura Suzuhara nodded silently, responding to Shinji Ikari's understated praise of her brother. She had only recently been discharged from the hospital and hadn't fully recovered. However, the girl had attended the entire funeral without revealing her pain. Considering her age, such strong willpower was quite rare.

“You’re lying. My brother and you don’t get along very well,” Suzuhara Sakura suddenly said.

Shinji Ikari looked at the little girl with her head down. To be honest, he didn't know Suzuhara Toji at all. He had already racked his brains to come up with something, and since he had been exposed, he was too lazy to think of a new excuse.

"I often hear my brother talk about you, mostly bad things. He says you're domineering, arrogant, a playboy, the kingpin of the red zone on campus... and a very skilled driver. Maybe he admires you too."

This was the second time Shinji Ikari had heard someone mention Toji Suzuhara's attitude towards him; the first time was with Hikaru Toki.

Perhaps, perhaps he truly did have feelings of longing for himself. But he's dead, and the dead have no future.

"Suzuhara Toji will become a hero, but don't worry about it affecting your life. Next, a Mr. Takao Koji will contact you. He is the head of the human resources department at NERV. He will arrange for you to study in Tokyo-2, which is much more prosperous and safer than here. Tokyo-2 is a beautiful city. The former Shibuya, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo, and Shinagawa districts are all located there. It is the urban core of Tokyo, with complete commercial and entertainment facilities, a concentration of higher education institutions, and many large corporate headquarters. I think you will like it."

“Actually, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. It’s fine in the Third New Tokyo City.” Suzuhara Sakura said with her head down.