The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Shinji had inadvertently achieved a feat that bordered on a school urban legend.

That Ayanami Rei—the girl as exquisite and fragile as a crystal doll—had actually taken the initiative to speak to a boy and had even accepted a gift from him.

In an instant, countless dreams were shattered.

How was it possible? Ayanami Rei was so eccentric she hardly seemed like a human from Earth; she existed naturally outside the crowd, far beyond the realm of mere social awkwardness.

She was like a goddess who would never have any intersection with mere mortals.

This rumor gained even more ground at the end of the school day. Regardless of grade or gender, everyone stared blankly at the two of them walking out of the school gates together.

A stunning girl with short ice-blue hair and a reasonably handsome boy—the phrase ”a perfect match” seemed tailor-made for them. Various looks of envy, jealousy, resentment, and pity radiated from the surroundings.

Shinji didn’t care. If these people dared to act against him, even without NERV’s protection, he could slaughter dozens with a single pencil, or let the attackers taste the sting of a psychic lightning whip.

As for the source of the resentment, he understood it well. An Astartes was not some senseless, emotionless killing machine; it was simply that any emotion was suppressed by honor.

’Childish.’

He dismissed it with disdain, and he also had a rough idea of where the pity came from.

To a normal person, interacting with Ayanami Rei would be a form of torture. The doll-like girl showed no emotion and walked in total silence. Fortunately, Shinji was not a normal person. Having long been accustomed to walking with silent warriors, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of awkwardness.

He glanced at the girl beside him. The blood-red sunset draped a crimson veil over Ayanami, making her look even more mysterious. The bandages wrapped around her head were a stark, jarring sight, and he occasionally caught a slight tremor in her fingertips.

’Is she enduring pain? For a precious warrior to be used like this... the Inquisition should drag those responsible out for execution.’

Shinji frowned privately. It had nothing to do with pity; pilots were extremely rare. This was a crime.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but speak: ”Are we entering headquarters through Entrance S17?”

”Yes. It’s the closest.”

”Going straight to the mock combat experiments?”

”Yes.”

Both spoke with equal brevity. Their eyes rarely met as they continued forward, entering the subterranean access point.

After swiping the card, a ”beep” sounded, and the blast door embossed with the NERV logo opened, revealing an escalator descending deep underground.

They stood one step apart, one in front of the other, in silence. With no one else around, only the hum of the electric motor could be heard. Just as Shinji was thinking the NERV Engineering Department was quite unprofessional for building such a long escalator, an ethereal voice spoke.

”Third Child, you are a bit different from ordinary people.”

”In what way?” Shinji lowered his gaze, looking at the small ear peeking through her hair.

”No one has ever been able to remain so composed beside me for this long.” Ayanami showed no intention of turning around, staring at the seemingly endless escalator. ”And you haven’t made a deliberate effort to get close to me.”

She didn’t know the reason, but she never lacked for males approaching her.

Those people always tried hard to say nonsensical things; she only had to remain her normal self, and they would eventually leave in visible discomfort.

But this person was different. His emotions showed no fluctuation.

”Do you feel you are out of place with ordinary people?” Shinji asked.

”I don’t know. But Misato-san says so. She tried hard to teach me certain things.”

”And then?”

”She gave up.”

Shinji allowed a faint, imperceptible smile to touch his lips.

Misato Katsuragi was indeed interesting.

After a moment’s thought, he gave his answer.

”The reason is simple. I, too, am out of place with ordinary people. Like always attracts like.”

Ayanami’s head turned slightly, revealing her delicate chin. Her throat moved as she swallowed, and finally, she gave a light nod.

”Oh. I see.”

The escalator seemed infinite, and the two fell back into silence. This deathly stillness would have been enough for a normal person to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground with their toes from awkwardness, but Shinji felt nothing of the sort.

After an unknown amount of time, the silence was broken again, once more by Ayanami.

”Third Child, you are Commander Ikari’s son, aren’t you?”

”Just call me Shinji. In a biological sense, that is correct. However, he has not yet passed my trials or demonstrated his value and loyalty. Biological relations are meaningless.” Shinji answered calmly, keenly sensing a surge of dissatisfaction emanating from Ayanami.

Taking the initiative like a counter-attack, he asked:

”Did you come to find me today because of his orders?”

”Why do you think that?”

”Your injuries require at least a week to heal. Now is not the time for experiments. As for delivering an access card, First Lieutenant Katsuragi could have done that.”

An Astartes was no fool. Shinji had identified the anomaly long ago. A doll-like girl naturally had a puppeteer pulling the strings.

Regarding this, his evaluation of Gendo Ikari dropped another grade.

There were only two pilots in all of NERV, and an Angel could attack at any time. For whatever reason, this usage was neither rational nor professional.

’Surely he isn’t stupid enough to try a ”honey trap” on an Astartes? Using my perceived goodwill toward Ayanami to influence me?’

”Do you not trust his work?” Ayanami suddenly turned around, her expression showing a hint of indignation—a very rare display for her.

”Trust is forged in blood. I do not care what he thinks. Piloting the EVA is a choice I made out of my oath; it has nothing to do with him.” Shinji met the cold girl’s gaze calmly, his tone indifferent.

”I understand his curiosity, but he should not presume to manipulate my will.”

This was Shinji’s bottom line. It had nothing to do with arrogance; it was born of the most rational calculation.

In the objective of slaying Xenos and protecting humanity, who was more professional than an Astartes Brother with a century of service?

Ayanami looked up at the boy, not knowing how to respond, because his words carried no personal like or dislike. Her blood-red eyes blinked softly; she certainly felt no shame at being found out.

At that moment, Shinji crouched slightly, his determined face inches from hers. Staring into those fiery eyes, she instinctively leaned back slightly.

”I will call you Ayanami. You are a strong warrior. Try to act according to your own thoughts. Trust your own strength and judgment. Understand?”

Ayanami thought for a long time, then shook her head blankly. ”I don’t understand. I don’t know how to do that.”

”Then don’t think about anything. Use your immediate instinct to make decisions.” Shinji had no intention of lecturing. He gave Ayanami’s slender shoulder a light pat, stepped past her, and quickened his pace.

”Don’t go to the activation test. Heal your wounds properly. That is the most rational choice.”

Ayanami stood alone on the escalator, watching Shinji’s back disappear. She touched her left shoulder, then felt the pain of her wounds.

’My own thoughts? Me?’

-

-

-

”The Emperor? Never heard of it. Perhaps it’s a form of psychological suggestion.”

Ritsuko Akagi, clad in a lab coat, leaned over the control console, her eyes fixed on the dense data scrolling across the screen.

Beyond the thick reinforced glass was a massive chamber where EVA Unit-01, bristling with cables, was undergoing a mock activation test.

”Yeah, is this like a terminal case of ’eighth-grader syndrome’ (chunibyo)?” Misato Katsuragi yawned, spinning in a swivel chair. ”Shinji-kun doesn’t seem like a 14-year-old boy. He’s as reliable as an elder. Do you know? When I woke up this morning, the whole place was cleaned spotless. It’s basically a military barracks.”

”Is your father complex acting up again? Making a move on a 14-year-old is a crime, you know.”

”Hey! Don’t joke about that! Who’s making a move on a kid!” Misato’s face flushed as she raised a fist.

”Fine, I’ll stop teasing.” Ritsuko smiled and returned to the data. ”If it’s a psychological suggestion, let him be. You know that in times of despair, faith is very useful. It can even create a group of fearless fanatics.”

Such cases were common after the Second Impact. Natural disasters were just the beginning; the subsequent man-made horrors killed even more people. In the first few years of the 2000s, all sorts of cults took the stage, and the world had never known peace since.

”Despair? That’s the part I don’t get. He’s had food and shelter every day. Aside from his mother passing away and his father ignoring him, what ’despair’ could he have encountered?”

”Who knows? Maybe he had a nightmare.” Ritsuko couldn’t explain it either; Shinji’s prior history was perfectly normal. She looked down, murmuring, ”But this psychological suggestion is incredibly effective. Shinji-kun is reliable to a terrifying degree.”

In the simulation, three Sachiels created from mock data were swarming Unit-01. Even with the data difficulty set to an extreme level, the Angel was no match.

Unit-01 was like a killing machine, using the Angel’s body as cover and executing them one by one with precise shooting and decisive melee combat. The use of the AT Field was becoming increasingly proficient, and the timing of neutralizing fields was growing ever more ingenious.

Misato Katsuragi forgot about spinning in her chair, feeling a sudden crisis of impending unemployment.

”Angel No. 1: Silent.” ”No. 2: Silent.” ”No. 3: Inoperable.”

Maya Ibuki reported the program’s progress, unable to help but marvel: ”Incredible. Even if the mock data isn’t as good as a real Angel, this efficiency is... it’s...”

”It’s terrifying, isn’t it?” Ritsuko Akagi finished the sentence for her, staring at the data. ”The synchronization rate has risen slightly, averaging 87.6%. That is the most frightening part—it means he is relying on his own strength to defeat the Angel.”

The pilot was in total command; Unit-01 didn’t even have a chance to go berserk. No, this dominance even extended outside the cockpit; Rei had not come to the activation test.

Ritsuko pursed her lips, not daring to treat Ikari Shinji as a fourteen-year-old child she could manipulate at will. She opened the comms: ”Shinji, you did very well. You can come down now.”

”There is still time. Can we conduct a fifth mock battle?”

”Uh, the system needs debugging. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

Shinji released the controls with a hint of regret, his neck popping as he moved it. He asked casually, ”Did Ayanami participate in the simulation?”

”No. She went to the hospital to change her dressings,” Ritsuko replied with a strange expression.

’That’s more like it.’

He nodded in satisfaction. He knew a single conversation wouldn’t be enough to make Ayanami Rei change her mind, but clearly, those behind the scenes realized it was futile and didn’t push it.

It was strange; these people lacked the most basic respect for EVA pilots—they weren’t even treated as simple weapons. In terms of population ratio, pilots were even rarer than Astartes. Combined with the previous battle, it was evident that only the EVA could defeat the Angels.

Therefore, the question arose: the EVA pilots acting as the main force should occupy the core position in the struggle for survival. Everything should be constructed around supporting them.

In the 41st Millennium, Shinji had never heard of an Astartes taking orders from a mortal auxiliary.

Well, perhaps it was because the pilots were too young, immature, and lacked experience. But hadn’t he returned?

Shinji took a deep breath. He knew this world buried many secrets and many incomprehensible things, but one thing would absolutely never change—

No matter how many shadows lurked behind the scenes, the will of the Emperor’s Angel dominates all.

As the days passed, Shinji began to doubt reality.

Where were the Angels? Where were those damned Xenos?

Nineteen days had already passed—a full nineteen days. Were they not intending to annihilate humanity? Why so sluggish!

Shinji sat at his desk, gazing at the brilliant sunshine outside the window. The sound of cicadas seemed endless, making him somewhat irritable.

Lazy Xenos. This lack of action left Shinji, who had been ready for a grand campaign, feeling utterly miserable.

If not for the various daily experiments he had to attend at NERV, he would have suspected he had fallen into a Tzeentchian illusion.

Every day was the same: school, tidying up the room Misato Katsuragi messed up, physical training, and then experiments. Life was an infinite loop.

Astartes did have periods of rest, but staying with his Battle-Brothers was completely different from the feeling here.

’So boring. When are those damned Xenos coming?’

Shinji let out a soft yawn. This peaceful daily routine made it hard not to become complacent. Without enemies, without the need for slaughter, he had become so idle that he’d spent half the night acting as a vigilante, knocking out several thieves.

Well, his physical fitness had improved. With psychic support, his body was rapidly becoming stronger.

While listening to the teacher instruct in Japanese, he glanced at his arm. The contours of muscle had begun to appear. His detestable body was finally getting a little better.

As a ”tough guy” who once stood over two meters tall, he felt like vomiting whenever he looked at this slender, pale physique.

Unfortunately, without the augmentations of the gene-seed surgeries, returning to his former form was impossible.

Furthermore, his understanding of the world was deepening, gradually unearthing secrets.

His main objectives hadn’t been forgotten. Based on his observations and the documents he’d pilfered from Misato Katsuragi, several questions had been answered, leading him to hold the current state of affairs in contempt.

The EVAs were manufactured and controlled by NERV, yet this core organization tasked with opposing the Angels barely had any conventional forces of its own. The military units that had surrounded the Third Angel held no subordinate relationship to them.

It was a nerve-wracking joke. Humanity was scattered like loose sand. The United Nations’ control was weak. Misato Katsuragi didn’t spend her time researching the next tactical plan; instead, she spent her days buried in budget documents, cursing bureaucracy even in her sleep.

Oh, and the Japanese government and the Self-Defense Force were always looking for trouble, currently bickering with Gendo Ikari over pension issues.

The flavor... was somewhat familiar.

Shinji’s eyes twitched slightly. Even in the Imperial of Man, a fully unified entity bathed in the Emperor’s light, such bureaucracy had never vanished. It reminded him of something he had witnessed personally:

While the front lines were locked in a fierce battle, the Administratum sent officials to collect the tithe, ruthlessly stripping the ammunition right out of the soldiers’ hands.

It was irrational, but it was perfectly normal. However, through deep research, he discovered a strange phenomenon.

The UN was weak and powerless; the nations fought intensely, refusing to bow to one another. They had signed the ”Vatican Treaty,” which stipulated that no country could possess more than three EVAs and that they could not be used for military purposes.

It was ridiculous. The Angels were the enemy—the more EVAs, the better. What was even stranger was that despite such sharp contradictions, the various governments hadn’t tried to seize the EVAs for themselves, instead providing a constant blood transfusion of resources to every NERV branch.

”I’ve researched that Security Council; they don’t have enough power to make every nation obey them so obediently. There must be some other organization above them.

Regrettably, my psychic power isn’t strong enough yet, and the people here have extremely high mental resistance, otherwise, my efficiency would be much higher.”

He sighed softly. Beyond investigating secrets, he needed to control them. He had to find a way to master NERV and this shadow organization, to make all of humanity’s power reach maximum efficiency.

The heavy burden of a world’s destruction was a duty an Astartes could not refuse.

Shinji’s goals were clear, his will firm. It was like seeing a farcical comedy and feeling compelled to take command.

Besides, without the interference of the loathsome Inquisition, his methods would be the Emperor’s will.

So, step one: unite the few ”Astartes” available.

He looked up. Lunch break had arrived, and the ice-blue-haired girl was standing before him. Her bandages had been removed, revealing her full face.

Ayanami Rei’s attitude had not changed. Because Gendo Ikari had gone to the North Pole to deal with the Third Angel’s remains, her orders remained stuck at the ”contact” stage.

The emotionally vacant girl executed the order stubbornly. She didn’t understand what ”contact” meant, but she figured following Ikari Shinji was good enough.

”Heading to headquarters together after school?” Shinji asked. He didn’t see Ayanami Rei as a spy; the latter wasn’t capable of it anyway.

”Yes. Unit-00’s activation test is complete; we can proceed to mock combat experiments.” The girl nodded slightly. Seeing the strange looks from those around them, she tilted her head slightly. ”Will my doing this cause you trouble?”

”Are you referring to yesterday? Don’t take it to heart. It was a trifle not worth mentioning.”

Shinji was expressionless, recalling the events of the day before.

Ayanami Rei’s popularity was extremely high. Being inseparable from him at school had naturally aroused jealousy. Yesterday, several third-year students had picked a fight, demanding he meet them on the rooftop for a ”discussion.”

Without bothering the NERV agents who were secretly protecting him, Shinji had spent ten seconds beating the punks until they were crying, and after lifting the ringleader—a blonde—by the collar like a chicken and choking him half to death, his image had become polarized.

Some girls were mesmerized by this iron-blooded temperament, but the majority were terrified to death.

The title ”Delinquent” Ikari Shinji had gradually begun to spread throughout the school.

Shinji had no interest in the petty bickering of these children. His gaze drifted to the side, seeing two boys approaching. He didn’t quite understand why they were gravitating toward him.

”Shinji, eating bread again? I bought this ’super-spicy fire-noodle bread,’ want to try?” Toji Suzuhara said in his unique Kansai accent. A few days ago, he had finally summoned the courage to thank Shinji, though Shinji’s reaction had been strange.

He hadn’t been excited at all; he’d acted as if it weren’t worth noting.

That made Toji even more embarrassed. He pulled up a stool, sat down, and looked at Ayanami Rei next to them, teasing, ”You two are a funny couple. You don’t even share lunches? You eat bread every day, and the same kind at that.”

In his eyes, Shinji and Ayanami were just slightly odd peers; there was no pressure in interacting with them.

”Couple? What does that mean?” Ayanami looked at him, her tone carrying a hint of confusion.

”Uh... ’couple’... it means... well, this, this...” Toji scratched his head. He didn’t have a girlfriend either, so how could he explain it clearly?

”It means spending time together for some reason. That’s all.” Kensuke filled in for him, looking at Shinji with burning eyes.

He didn’t care if Shinji’s personality was weird. Ever since he saw him beat the senpais to a pulp yesterday, he’d been trying to squeeze NERV training secrets out of him. What military otaku didn’t want to be a top-tier soldier?

”Oh, then I am indeed a ’couple’ with him.” Ayanami nodded as if she understood, then extended a pale hand.

A piece of whole-wheat bread instantly appeared in her palm. Over the past dozen days, asking Shinji for supplies during lunch had become a habit.

’I don’t think you two are talking about the same thing.’

Shinji looked left and right, but didn’t dwell on it. He was happy to see Ayanami’s change; she was finally able to act on her own will. As for the other two...

”Toji Suzuhara, why do you always approach me?”

”Uh, I’m a man! If I’ve received a great favor, I have to repay it!” Toji stiffened his neck, looking every bit the ”debt of gratitude” type.

”But I have already accepted your thanks.”

”This, uh...” The boy didn’t know what to say. Kensuke quickly stepped in.

”Shinji-kun, we just want to be friends with you. It’s fate that we’re in the same class, isn’t it?”

”I don’t need friends. I only need Battle-Brothers.” Shinji shook his head gently. He had no interest in playing games with these children, but since he was too idle lately, he didn’t refuse them.

”Battle-Brothers? No problem! Why don’t you tell the NERV people? I’m very willing to pilot a giant robot and fight monsters!”

”You?” Shinji looked the scrawny, bespectacled boy up and down. Because of the special nature of piloting an EVA, it didn’t require the incredibly robust physique of an Astartes. Theoretically, this Kensuke Aida could do it.

”Do you have the resolve to be ground to dust for the sake of humanity’s sacrifice? Do you have loyalty as firm as steel?”

He was so serious that his aura forced Kensuke Aida to step back slowly.

War was never a joke; he had seen too many cowards who were fired up before the battle but wet their pants the moment they hit the front lines.

Kensuke swallowed hard.

’I’m only fourteen—who could do such a terrifying thing?

Wait, this person can.’

As if he had found a role model, he asked the question that had troubled him for a long time: ”Then how does Shinji-kun do it? Please, teach me! You couldn’t have been this strong from the start.”

The question made Shinji’s gaze tremble for an instant. The hellish scenes of his first arrival in the 41st Millennium had nearly caused him to collapse. Looking back now, he only remembered the warm, sun-like radiance.

”It is, of course, absolute loyalty to the Emperor. His benevolence helped me break through my confusion and fear.”

’The Emperor? What is that?’

Kensuke and Toji exchanged a look, then asked excitedly: ”If we believe in Him, can we become as strong as you? Can you tell us more about it?”

Shinji straightened his posture.

Now this was a topic that woke him up.

”Those boys are really interesting. I wish they were that attentive in class.” Hikari Horaki held her lunchbox and walked slowly toward the window. Seeing the idiot duo’s eyes shining, she noted that some of the narrative felt far too appealing to their age group.

”Ayanami-san, would you like to have lunch together?”

She looked down at Ayanami Rei. She had rarely spoken to her in the past—that ”don’t come near me” look was quite intimidating—but since she was ”a couple” with Shinji-kun now, she didn’t seem as strange as she’d imagined.

Since she was a normal person, as the class representative, she felt she should help her integrate.

Ayanami Rei looked up blankly, breadcrumbs still lingering on her lips. Hikari couldn’t help but laugh, pulling out a tissue to wipe them away.

”Really now, if you’re a couple, you should be making bento! Isn’t eating bread for a dozen days straight tiring? By the way, can I sit down?”

Ayanami still didn’t speak. She recognized this person, but didn’t understand her intent.

’Why sit down? Why eat lunch with me? Why talk to me?’

In the past, she would have just stared at the person silently until they felt uncomfortable and left. Ayanami didn’t have any malice; she just didn’t know how to respond.

But at that moment, she suddenly remembered Shinji’s words:

’When you don’t know what to do, use your immediate instinct to make a decision.’

”Okay.”

Hikari Horaki’s eyes widened. She had been prepared to excuse herself. After a brief moment of stunned silence, she flashed a gentle smile.

”Ayanami-san really is different from before. Maybe we can be friends.”

’Friends? What is that?’

Ayanami paused again, her peripheral vision catching Shinji, who was currently looking pious. She mimicked his tone: ”I don’t need friends. I need Battle-Brothers.”

’Whoa, that seemed to go a bit too far.’

”Oh, it’s all the same! Don’t learn the way those idiot boys talk.” Hikari sat down and opened her lunchbox, revealing a bountiful bento. She picked up a piece of fried tofu, hesitated, and held it out to Ayanami.

”Ayanami-san, want to try my cooking? I’m quite confident in it.”

The red eyes lowered, looking at the oblong object on the chopsticks. It emitted a faint, savory scent. She was puzzled, but Shinji’s words flashed through her mind again.

’When you don’t know what to do, use your instinct to make a decision.’

Her pale neck stretched out, and her small mouth met the chopsticks. A completely different taste bloomed in her mouth, making her crimson eyes shine for a moment.

”Is it good?” Hikari asked, full of anticipation.

”Yes. But why are you giving it to me?”

”Oh my, friends—no, Battle-Brothers—should take care of each other! Making bento for one another is the best way.” Hikari gave a random excuse, secretly glancing at Toji, but she didn’t notice Ayanami’s suddenly dazed expression.

Ayanami lowered her head, looking at the leftover bread in her hand, as if she had finally understood something.

”So... how do you make a bento?”

”Ayanami-san, are you interested? I have books at home; I’ll lend them to you later.” Hikari was very enthusiastic. The daily ”dating” life of this couple had made her doubt reality; she felt she’d finally found a chance to steer them back onto the right track.

’You don’t have to be romantic, but at least act like a couple of Earthlings!’

Her crimson eyes blinked several times. Ayanami was stunned for a long time before finally finding an appropriate response.

”Thank you.”

’Has Ayanami Rei changed a bit?’

Shinji watched everything. As for whether this change was a good thing, he didn’t know, as he was still adapting to this world himself.

The bright classroom, the innocent and simple peers—everything was so foreign yet so familiar.

He didn’t need to resist. As long as he remained loyal to the Emperor, other things didn’t matter. Or perhaps, he could turn the tables and influence them.

Watching Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida’s awe-inspired expressions, Shinji suddenly felt that this ”Chaplain” work wasn’t bad either. If they believed in the Emperor and could pilot EVAs, wouldn’t he be mass-producing Battle-Brothers?

’Hmm. That feeling of loneliness... it can be actively erased.’

”Shinji, I get the feeling you’re a completely different person than before.”

In the evening, Misato Katsuragi leaned over the back of her chair, idly swinging a beer can in her hand, her face wearing a teasing smile.

The boy was right in front of her doing push-ups. Sweat had already soaked the floor, and his skin rippled as if he were sprinting toward the absolute limits of the flesh.

Eight hundred ninety-seven. Eight hundred ninety-eight. Nine hundred.

He finally sat back on his knees, wiping the beads of sweat from his body with a towel. Shinji was still pale, but his muscle definition was now glaringly obvious. With an eight-pack and a V-tapered torso, he looked several times more mature than his actual age.

’Is this guy a monster? How has Ritsuko not dragged him off to be sliced into samples yet?’

Misato stole a glance at those muscular lines. She remembered that initially, this kid was a soft ”pretty boy,” yet in less than a month, he had bulked up. Specifically, it was the kind of expansion that happened right before her eyes, like a balloon inflating. Even if he were eating nutritional supplements for every meal, it shouldn’t be this fast.

’Still, he’s actually quite manly.’

Her eyes glazed over for a split second before she quickly shoved that ”criminal” thought out of her brain, replacing it with a gossipy expression.

”I heard the news, you know—you and Rei are ’dating.’ Tell me, how’d you pull that off?”

”Simple. Because she and I are of the same kind.” Shinji stood up and grabbed a 20kg dumbbell to start bicep curls. Pen-Pen waddled by, getting so startled that he scurried to the side.

”The same kind? You mean colleagues.” Misato puckered her lips, finding it hard to believe. ”It’s a miracle you can even stay in a room with her. I’ve tried so many ways, but I’ve never been able to open Rei’s heart.”

”Why do you dwell on such meaningless things? Weapons are more effective when they don’t have their own thoughts.” Shinji switched hands.

”Uh, I guess it’s a small way for an incompetent adult like me to make amends. Making kids like you fight... it makes me feel pretty guilty.” Misato scratched her nose, then corrected herself: ”Of course, that doesn’t include you. I feel like you could choke me to death with one hand.”

She was conflicted, but her guilt had lessened significantly since she started living with Shinji. This guy was reliable to a terrifying degree.

She shook the empty beer can, preparing to toss it onto the floor as usual, but under a certain stern gaze, she gave a sheepish laugh and threw it into the trash instead, picking up another can nearby.

”Misato-san, that is your fourth can. Please remember: pleasure requires temperance.”

’Dammit, are you my dad!?’

Misato gritted her teeth. Lately, she too had been questioning reality. Exactly who was the guardian here? She pulled at her loose T-shirt, making her cleavage more prominent, then looked at the boy who was doing bicep curls without even glancing her way. She suddenly felt bored.

’What a man of iron.’

This will was so firm it could resist even basic instinct. Where did the shut-in, innocent boy from the reports go?

For the ten-thousandth time, she cursed the Intelligence Department’s incompetence. Forget ”avoidance”—Ikari Shinji was a natural-born savior, so steadfast he didn’t have a single weakness.

”Hey, are you really that afraid of this ’Slaanesh’ thing?”

Misato had learned quite a bit about Shinji’s ”fantasies” lately. She had to admit, the lore had some serious style.

”Your level of pursuit isn’t even worthy of a Chaos God’s attention. You’d have to amplify your pleasure a thousand times before it was possible.” Shinji snorted and set down the dumbbell. ”But a heart of vigilance is itself a manifestation of loyalty. Give Chaos no opening whatsoever.”

”Then I can rest easy.” Misato giggled as she popped open the beer, smiling at the visibly dissatisfied Shinji. ”Besides, you’ve changed too. You don’t treat school as meaningless anymore, and you’ve even made friends. Wouldn’t you call that a form of growth?”

Shinji paused. It was a fact. In the past, how could he have ever befriended mortals? How could he have wasted time on knowledge as simple as a nursery school’s?

The emotional side of him was growing. From scorning interpersonal relationships, he had moved to no longer rejecting them.

He remained silent for a long time, unsure if this was progress or regression. He blamed the fact that the Angel simply wouldn’t show up, and there were no other enemies besides them.

Thinking back to the 41st Millennium, after fighting Chaos, the Orks would show up. After the Orks were purged, the Tyranids would increase the intensity. And if all else failed, there were always Space Pirates to kill time.

”How is the progress on my last proposal?”

”Wait, wait, wait! We agreed not to talk shop after coming home! Fine, fine... consider this payment for ’Shinji-sama’ allowing me one more beer.” Misato raised her hands in surrender under his sharp gaze. She went to her room and pulled several documents from the safe.

Shinji toyed with Pen-Pen, having no intention of peeking. No safe could stop a Blood Raven; he had already read the documents inside long ago.

”Well, I submitted the ’EVA Weapon Development Plan’ in my name. The higher-ups passed it. Currently, the Third Section of the Technology Development Department is researching it.”

”Are there any results?”

”It’s not that fast! Do you know how long I had to spend explaining it? Well, the ’jump pack’ thing has a prototype; mounting it on an EVA isn’t that complicated. The ’chainsword’ has been made too, but it’s very easy to break. Oh, and this ’bolter’... the Tech Department couldn’t figure it out, so they’re planning to use a micro-rocket launcher as a substitute...”

Shinji listened with visible delight. He had actually managed to replicate the ”Astartes Trinity.” Of course, the power couldn’t compare to the originals, but the sheer scale of the objects was massive.

”Excellent. Quicken the construction speed. Aim to have them ready by the time the Fourth Angel attacks.”

Misato looked up, having grown used to this commanding tone. ”Yes, yes, I understand, Lord Shinji. However, the second proposal didn’t pass.”

”Why?” Shinji frowned immediately.

”Because... you’re a middle schooler who wants to join the research task force for the Angels! Do you know how long Ritsuko laughed at me for that!?” Misato grew annoyed just thinking about it. She admitted the kid was a genius at combat, but researching Angels was on another level.

”Even PhDs in biology don’t meet the threshold. Finish your health and hygiene classes first.”

’Troublesome. I thought it best to acquire data directly from the Angels. This world uses Artificial Intelligence—those disloyal things are completely outside my field of knowledge.’

Shinji curled his lip. A Blood Raven Librarian’s field of study didn’t exactly cover Angels. This body was too young; he didn’t have the clearance to access classified secrets.

’There is only one way left: increase my psychic power. Once I reach a certain strength, I can achieve psychic invisibility or exert mental suggestion on others.’

Currently, he had a blunt and brutal path ahead. Everyone’s psychic resistance varied; even if he couldn’t influence Gendo Ikari, cracking Ritsuko Akagi or the others should be no problem.

”You... don’t have any ’bad’ ideas, do you?” Misato looked at him suspiciously.

”Of course not. I was just wondering why the Angel hasn’t come yet.” Shinji wiped away his sweat. Ever since his last psychic contact with the Angel’s core—which had fed back a sensation similar to a Sea of Souls—he had been very focused on these Xenos.

Angels? Whose angels? Messengers? Whose messengers?

”Isn’t it a good thing? It’s not like the Angels call me before they attack.” Misato made a joke, but suddenly, the shrill ringing of her phone echoed through the room, making her shudder.

’No way.’

The moment she picked up, Kozo Fuyutsuki’s voice came through, causing her to instinctively sit bolt upright.

”Major Katsuragi, an unidentified energy mass has been observed in the outer seas. It has been confirmed as an Angel. Bring the Third Child to headquarters immediately.”

”Huh? An Angel attack? Right now?”

Misato was stunned. It was the middle of the night. Do Angels actually do sneak attacks?

’Am I really a jinx? It showed up the second I talked about it.’

”Shinji, hurry, get ready to deplo—” She stopped halfway. The boy had already dressed and was staring at her expressionlessly.

”Time is of the essence. Give me the keys. Notify headquarters to equip Unit-01 with the special armaments.” Shinji spoke as he headed for the door, not even waiting for Misato to change. His expression was one of intense excitement.

’Damned Xenos. You made me wait for nearly a month. You’ve finally dared to show your face.’

”Have Unit-00 prepared for deployment as well. Leave the stalling to the Self-Defense Force. I will attempt to keep this Angel as intact as possible. This time, NERV should have no reason to hand it over to other branches. Major Katsuragi, your answer?”

Misato, who was frantically pulling on her skirt, looked up. She swallowed as she gazed at the boy by the door. That look in his eyes was sharper than Commander Ikari’s.

”Yes, sir!”

She answered instinctively.

[Target discovered 125 kilometers out at sea. Wavelength analysis confirms blue. It is an Angel.]

[Third Escort Flotilla of the Self-Defense Force, begin interception.]

The Fourth Angel’s arrival was abrupt, but the entire process unfolded methodically. Within the command center, the massive screens displayed the situation.

In the dark of night, clusters of fireballs erupted. Several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers unleashed their full firepower, launching a barrage of missiles from their VLS cells. They left brilliant trails across the night sky before detonating, one by one, before ever striking the gargantuan target.

This night was destined to be scorching. 127mm naval guns and F-15 fighter jets joined the chorus, but every attack was in vain, failing to breach the Angel’s defense.

”How is the civilian evacuation going?” Misato Katsuragi hurried in, her hair a complete mess, not even bothering to look at the chaotic scenes on the monitors.

”The Angel arrived at night; we’re only at 87.53% completion.” Ritsuko Akagi had arrived long before her, taking a glance at Misato. ”What happened to you?”

”An idiot was driving, and I nearly died of fright halfway here,” Misato said, full of resentment, her heart rate still not having settled down.

It had been a white-knuckle ride with the pedal pinned to the floor the entire time. Several times, she thought she was going to die in a car accident. It had only taken them about ten minutes to reach headquarters.

’His technique is good enough to be a race car driver. Where on earth did he practice that?’

”How did the Angel attack in the middle of the night? Don’t tell me it got smarter.” Misato blinked. She already knew the situation; if a Self-Defense Force escort flotilla hadn’t just happened to be passing by, it likely wouldn’t have been discovered until it reached Tokyo-3.

”There has never been any intelligence suggesting Angels only attack during the day. What kind of question is that?” Ritsuko, finding her comment strange, stepped back a half-step and transferred command authority.

[Angel has breached the escort flotilla’s defenses.]

Misato stopped worrying about the logistics and hurriedly asked: ”Where is Unit-01? What’s its position?”

”It already sortied while you were on your way to the command center.”

”Dammit, that kid is acting on his own initiative again!” Misato gritted her teeth in frustration.

’I’m the Operations Director here!’

”I approved it.” Kozo Fuyutsuki’s voice came from behind.

He looked much gentler than Gendo Ikari as he smiled and said, ”Shinji suggested intercepting it outside the city. It’s a good proposal; the less destruction, the better. Dealing with the UN’s bureaucratic bickering is a pain. Do you have a problem with that?”

”No, Vice Commander.” Misato saluted and smoothed her hair before looking at the main screen. Sure enough, she found the signals for two EVAs.

Unit-01 was in the lead, Unit-00 behind, waiting silently for the Angel’s arrival.

”Shinji, can you hear me?” She established the link. The screen flashed to show the boy sitting in the cockpit. He was as calm as ever, and a delicate incense burner hung, swaying through the cockpit.

”What exactly are you doing??”

”Calming the Machine Spirit,” Shinji replied without hesitation, looking up. ”Is there an operational plan?”

”Yes. Unit-00 is equipped with sniper gear for long-range support. Unit-01 is paired with the newly developed assault gear for close-quarters containment. We will annihilate the Angel in sector L3. I’m sending the tactical route to you now.”

Shinji wasn’t the only one doing mock combat experiments; Misato’s competence had improved significantly under pressure. She still had dozens of installments on her loans left; she didn’t want to lose her job.

The tactical map simulated the Angel’s trajectory and adjusted the various configurations across Tokyo-3. Shinji took one look and nodded in approval.

’A decent plan. Misato Katsuragi has great potential; she just needs pressure to draw it out.’

”Let’s go with that. Transmit the battlefield feed; I want to observe the Fourth Angel.”

”Understood.” Misato let out a breath, then realized something was off.

’What’s with this sense of anticipation? I’m the commander here!’

Shinji didn’t care about Misato’s thoughts. Every action of an Astartes was purposeful, and just like he was fostering Misato Katsuragi’s potential, he had his own ideas about the friends he’d made at school.

F-15J fighters, Type 90 main battle tanks, M109 self-propelled howitzers, 300mm rocket launchers...

Kensuke Aida was a veteran military otaku; Shinji had learned much about these primitive weapons from him. Unlike Misato and the others who complained about wasted tax dollars, an Astartes never underestimated the capabilities of the Imperial Guard.

The ammunition was poured out as if it cost nothing. After being blocked by the AT Field, it burst into bright flames, illuminating the night.

The AT Field—a device similar to a Void Shield—was enough to nullify most conventional weaponry; it was a crushing victory of energy over gunpowder.

”Unless the energy exceeds the field’s upper limit, I don’t believe this thing could withstand a Macro-cannon or a Lance strike.”

He shook his head gently. To put it mildly, if even a single Lunar-class Cruiser of the Imperial Navy were here, there would be no need for EVAs at all.

”And this is the Fourth Angel, Shamshel.”

Shinji was still unaccustomed to humans naming Xenos. He glanced at the purple, eggplant-like biological entity. It was stuck to the sea level, making it difficult to detect. Fortunately, a self-defense force escort fleet happened to be passing through the outer seas tonight.

Its appearance was different from the Third Angel, and its attack method was also distinct. Hmm, to be precise, it lacked long-range attack capabilities.

He saw the tanks on the hillside firing vigorously, yet it didn’t send them flying into the sky with light cannons from several kilometers away like the Third Angel had. Instead, it cut the battleships blocking its path in half with a light-whip-like weapon. Zooming in on the image, he could even see the melted quality at the cut edges.

”Close-combat specialized Angel. Attack range of 300 meters. Unblockable. Extremely agile.”

Shinji put away his incense burner. An Astartes never acted recklessly. As soon as Shamshel stepped onto land, the operation plan was already revised.

”Misato, order all units to cease fire. The explosions are obstructing my vision and are disadvantageous for close-quarters combat.”

”Yes. All units, cease fire. Shift positions,” Misato replied, already accustomed to this reversal of roles, and immediately issued the order.

”Rei, move to point B. After I neutralize the AT Field, fire accurately from the flank.”

”Understood.” Ayanami Rei nodded gently, and the yellow-painted Unit-00 picked up the long sniper rifle and moved to the side.

”The umbilical cable will be detached automatically once it reaches the limit, but have reserve power ready in sector L5. If the engagement turns unfavorable, I will retreat. When that happens, listen for my command and provide full fire support cover.”

”You want to fight using only internal power? That gives you at most five minutes,” Ritsuko Akagi frowned in warning.

”That is why I told you to prepare reserve power and fire support. Since it is close-quarters combat, mobility is the first priority. That cable tail is far too much of a hindrance.”

”But this is too risky! Without power supply, Unit-01 will lose all mobility. When that happens...”

”Let him do as he pleases,” Fuyutsuki Kozo interrupted. He was the commander on-site, and naturally, no one else had a say.

[Angel, landing.]

As the CIC issued the alert, he looked at the main screen. The purple steel giant gave him a sense of extreme reassurance, like an expert in a field that one believed in implicitly.

’Ikari, this time I might have to disappoint you again.’

[Final locking devices, disengaged.]

[Assault armament, Chainsword and Burst-fire Bolter equipped. Please retrieve them.]

The operation unfolded methodically. Unit-01 raised its arms and took the two pieces of equipment from the weapon rack—equipment he had instructed Misato Katsuragi to propose for development.

”Form is similar, but spirit is not. Especially this bolter—it’s more like a 300mm rapid-fire rocket launcher. Forget it; this is already the peak of human technology.”

As he gripped the two weapons, for some reason, Shinji’s heart felt even more stable. Unit-01 turned its head slightly to capture the image in the distance.

Two boys had not gone to the shelters and were quietly observing the battlefield, their faces full of excitement. Shinji had no intention of criticizing this suicidal behavior.

Why oppose those who hope to become warriors and be loyal to the Emperor?

”Then watch closely, and see how the Emperor’s Blade fights.

EVA Unit-01, sortie!”

Boom, boom, boom, boom...

Heavy footsteps echoed through the night sky as the several-dozen-meter-tall steel giant sprinted down the streets, crushing the pavement beneath its feet. It quickly burst out of the skyscraper-laden cityscape of Tokyo-3.

An anti-landing operation: eliminate this Xenos before the enemy draws close.

Shinji’s objective was clear. Shamshel was magnifying on his screen; the mantis-shrimp-like body had made landfall, featuring a pair of eye-like patterns on its head that looked quite eerie. Upon discovering the EVA, its body gradually reared up, and two massive light whips drooped down, signaling it had entered attack mode.

Everyone held their breath, but just then—

[Unit-01, internal monitoring system is experiencing unknown interference. Unable to monitor pilot status. Video and acoustic signals disconnected.]

”What? Again?”

Ritsuko Akagi, who was prepared to record the combat data, was stunned. She quickly ordered: ”Activate the backup system! We must collect the data.”

”Backup system is also under interference. Unable to initiate.”

Ritsuko was dumbfounded this time. Everything worked fine normally; why did the system adaptively fail the moment combat began? Was it intentional sabotage? Impossible—the pilot had no way to disconnect the monitoring.

”Well, your Tech Department’s stuff always fails at the critical moment, just like how the entry plug never ejects when it’s urgent.” Misato finally found a chance to snark at her best friend; she had been holding that jab in for a long time.

Ritsuko continued debugging the equipment, unable to figure it out. But the Angel wouldn’t wait for her to fix the monitoring system before starting the fight.

[EVA has reached the edge of the city. Umbilical cable at maximum distance.]

[Angel is attacking.]

Swish—

The light whips lashed out head-on. Unit-01 performed a nimble leap to the side, simultaneously ejecting the ”tail” behind it.

Beep.

The internal battery immediately began a rapid countdown from 4:59:59. Shinji didn’t even glance at it; his eyes glowed with a pale, ghastly light.

Psychic power: On.

He felt as though he were back inside his power armor; the gargantuan machine was merely an extension of his own limbs.

”No, my sync rate is even higher than last time.”

The thrill of battle appeared on his face. His expanding psychic presence surpassed the machine’s own sensory systems. Without turning his head, he knew the light whip that had missed was swinging back from behind him.

Thump!

Unit-01 leaped high, watching the light whip sweep beneath its feet, smashing a small building like a toy block. From his vantage point in the air, he extended the dark muzzles of his weapon.

Rat-tat-tat-tat...

AT Field neutralized. Fireballs erupted all over Shamshel’s body. The spray of blood and flesh forced it back a few steps as its two light whips began to flail frantically.

Boom, boom—

The high-explosive rounds were detonated by the light whips, blooming into a curtain of fire. Unit-01 landed and suddenly jumped back just as the massive entity crashed out of the smoke. Its mushroom-shaped head slammed into the ground, using the momentum to spin its body like a top.

”A windmill???”

Whish, whish, whish.

One lash after another hammered the earth into a dense collection of deep craters. Several high-voltage power towers were instantly melted into pools of molten iron.

”Ayanami, fire.”

Shinji frowned. As soon as he spoke, a massive projectile flew in from the flank, forcing the ”top” to stop its rotation. One shell struck the head, blowing a gaping, bloody hole in it.

Unit-01 took the opportunity to retreat, slamming a fresh magazine into the bolter, eyeing the massive creature with some suspicion.

Shamshel swatted the incoming shells out of the air. A light whip coiled around the ground, snatching up a high-voltage tower and hurling it like a javelin toward Unit-00 in the distance.

’Strange. This Xenos’s AT Field is weaker than the Third Angel’s, but its combat instincts far exceed it.’

The brief exchange allowed Shinji to sense an anomaly. Judging by the Third Angel, these Xenos entities were strong but somewhat dull—they had no idea how to fight, let alone use technique.

But Shamshel was entirely different. It knew how to dodge and defend, and it utilized its light whips to their absolute limit.

If the Third Angel had possessed this level of combat instinct, it would have been a grueling battle.

”This is more interesting.” Shinji broke into a bloodthirsty smile. It was worth the wait.

Everything was a trial from the Emperor. An Astartes favored powerful prey; only by hunting them down could one prove their loyalty.

”Ayanami, move to coordinate C. Change magazines.

Misato, AT Field neutralized. D3 battery, provide covering fire.”

He issued two orders in succession. Along with the whistle of projectiles tearing through the air, the 406mm giant cannons positioned on the hillside roared. However, those shells were detonated by the light whips swinging back before they could hit the Angel.

Boom—

Fireballs blossomed. The steel giant emerged from the residual flames, the hideously designed chainsword letting out a high-pitched whirring sound. It swept aside the embers and clashed with a light whip.

Energy turbulence surged along the serrated teeth. The AT Field, layered with psychic power, actually began to slowly saw through the light whip. Shamshel didn’t dare wait; the second light whip shot straight for Unit-01’s head like a spear.

Tilting the head and pulling back, Shinji actively ended the clinch. Feeling a searing heat against his cheek, Unit-01 took a half-step forward like a leopard, the chainsword sweeping across the Angel’s waist.

Flesh flew and blood sprayed in massive quantities, but the Angel felt no pain. It spun like a windmill, the two light whips passing just above and below Unit-01’s back.

Shinji accelerated early, lunging forward a hundred meters. He tucked the bolter under his arm and fired behind him based on pure instinct.

Rat-tat-tat-tat.

Over a dozen high-explosive rockets were delivered directly onto the Angel. A dense cluster of bloody holes appeared, causing its body to lean back. Shamshel followed the momentum, preparing to slam its head into the ground again.

”Trying the same trick twice?”

The head that had been blown apart had already repaired itself significantly. Upon touching the ground, it would spin like a top again, sweeping the searing light whips in a 360-degree arc.

”Ayanami, shoot the wound on the Angel’s waist.”

Shinji didn’t bother looking for the impact point. His eyes were like burning coals as he split his psychic power into two paths.

’AT Field: Neutralize.’

The screech of projectiles piercing the air reached his ears. The Angel failed to spin after all; its waist had already been sliced open by the chainsword, and taking a few more rounds threatened to blow it in half. It instinctively began to defend.

In the end, it was just a brainless Xenos. It couldn’t figure out who the true slaughterer was.

”Shinji, come back! You only have 83 seconds of power left! Don’t get bogged down!” Misato’s anxious voice sounded at the same time. Shinji chose to ignore it.

’AT Field: Concentrate.’

In the half-month of mock battles, he had long since mastered the use of the AT Field. As pure soul energy, this thing could create phase-space defense, concentrate into a line for attack, or—

Be used for explosive movement.

Thump!

Unit-01’s right foot slammed into the ground. The air became distorted, and the pebbles kicked up turned to powder in mid-air. This anomaly caused the Angel to stop swinging its whips and re-identify Unit-01 as the primary threat.

”You’re too slow.”

Along with a thunderous rumbling, a massive ring of vapor appeared. Unit-01 didn’t just step forward; it was catapulted by soul energy.

The light whips flashed by on both sides, left in the dust. The leveled chainsword swept across, slicing the Angel clean through the waist. Unit-01’s feet planted into the ground like javelins, forcibly stopping its frame. It spun around, leaving a cold gleam in the night sky amidst the roar.

Whirrr—

The teeth carved through flesh, severing the head painted with two massive eyes.

”My god... is he butchering a pig?”

The air was thick with the stench of blood. Toji Suzuhara threw up immediately.

Kensuke’s camcorder fell to the ground. His mouth hung open as he stared into the distance; the clash of the two titans had transformed into something else entirely.

The giant robot, holding a gruesome greatsword covered in shredded meat, was currently carving off the Angel’s two arms. It was a bloody massacre; he could even sense a bloodthirsty euphoria emanating from the ”robot.”

The people at NERV were equally stunned. No one mentioned retreat anymore. Especially Ritsuko Akagi and Fuyutsuki Kozo—Unit-01 hadn’t suffered a terrifying berserk event. Or rather, the terrifying thing was the pilot inside.

”Is... is that really Shinji in there?” Toji watched as Unit-01 hacked the Angel into pieces, tossed the two light whips into the lake, and straddled the Angel to plunge the chainsword toward its core.

”Who else could it be?” Kensuke adjusted his glasses. He had finally seen the EVA fight, and the entire process replayed in his mind.

Silent, decisive, efficient, precise...

He didn’t know how NERV had trained this ace. He couldn’t understand this combat that felt like high art, but he looked toward the distance with a fanatical glint, remembering the source of power Shinji had mentioned.

”Praise the Emperor!”