Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1569: Chapter 1567: What Is That? (No More Injections, Switching to Pills)

Although Shinji Ikari was determined, the objective conditions were unfortunately... unwinnable.

That’s right, facing the formidable Fifth Angel, both Unit-00 and Unit-01 were like a mouse trying to pull a turtle—no way to start. Close combat was impossible, and as soon as they approached, the enemy would fire a beam at them, and they couldn’t break through its defenses from a distance. Ultimately, after entangling for quite a while, realizing the situation was hopeless, Misato Katsuragi had no choice but to reluctantly order a temporary retreat. After all, continuing to waste time like this was meaningless.

After repelling the EVA, the Fifth Angel opened a drill and began merrily drilling into people’s basements. This infuriated everyone, but they were helpless and could only watch as it drilled a hole in their ceiling...

What followed was not much different from the animation plot. The determined Misato Katsuragi thought of using the Positron Cannon, a secret weapon, to give it a blast from afar and kill that bastard directly. Since Shinji Ikari had undergone Fang Zheng’s training before, he wasn’t driven into depression by the Fifth Angel’s surprise attack. Therefore, he naturally wasn’t entangled in whether he really had to continue fighting and was eagerly waiting to return the favor...

Hmm? Why does this feel a bit off?

Oh well, it’s better this way. Isn’t an Ironblooded Shinji Ikari more engaging compared to a withdrawn teenager? The era of the frail pretty boy is over; a real man should train eight-pack abs and face the Angel envoy head-on!

Next, Fang Zheng naturally took Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari to eat, drink, and train as needed, waiting for Misato Katsuragi to finish modifying the Positron Cannon.

”Alright, that concludes the entire plan for the Operation Oshima; you should all be clear about it now.”

Fang Zheng closed the operation report in hand and looked at Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari before him, both of whom nodded. After all, the Oshima operation was quite simple: Shinji Ikari would control Unit-01 to snipe the Fifth Angel from a distance using the Positron Cannon, while Unit-00 would stand by with a shield. If the Fifth Angel counterattacked, Unit-00 would protect Unit-01...

Of course, the biggest issue with the whole plan was penetrating the Fifth Angel’s AT Field, which required electricity from all of Japan, something the frontline personnel didn’t need to worry about.

But...

”Shinji, you seem quite calm.”

Seeing Shinji Ikari standing calmly, Fang Zheng chuckled and couldn’t help but tease a little.

”Eh? Mr. Fang Zheng, did I do something wrong?”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s words, the calm Shinji Ikari was momentarily puzzled, unsure of what he did wrong.

”Hmm? Aren’t you worried at all, like what if the first shot misses?”

Fang Zheng remembered that in the animation, Shinji Ikari almost got cooked by a surprise attack from the Thunder Angel, leading to severe psychological trauma. So during the Oshima operation plan, he was always worried about this and that, like what if the first shot missed...

And at that time, Rei Ayanami said to him, ”I will protect you.”

Was that the beginning of the Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari pairing?

By the way, after taking charge of Shinji Ikari, Fang Zheng was curious to observe if there would be any interactions between the two. Unfortunately, he didn’t see any good show, which makes sense upon thinking. In the animation, Shinji Ikari had no one to rely on, and Misato Katsuragi, being the operations director, couldn’t stick with him all the time. Naturally, Shinji Ikari would instinctively seek to get close to fellow pilot Rei Ayanami.

But now, with Fang Zheng watching over Shinji Ikari and making him go through hellish Sparta training every day, he barely has time to fantasize about which girl in his class is prettier, let alone develop any special feelings for Rei Ayanami. As for Rei Ayanami, not being someone who likes to mingle with others, the two got along reasonably well but didn’t spark any fireworks.

Strictly speaking, with Fang Zheng’s intervention, their relationship was more like comrades...

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s question, Shinji Ikari was startled.

”Eh? If the first shot misses, isn’t there a second shot?”

”Exactly, hahaha, that’s the spirit!”

Hearing Shinji Ikari’s response, Fang Zheng chuckled and patted his shoulder. A man should act like a man; why worry so much? If the first shot doesn’t go through, just fire another, what’s the problem?

Moreover, unlike the hastily modified shield in the animation, this time, thanks to Fang Zheng previously mentioning the sword and shield equipment issue to Ritsuko Akagi, NERV had already developed equipment with specs close to the requirements before the Fifth Angel arrived. Therefore, there was no need to temporarily use the shuttle’s base as a makeshift shield as in the original story.

According to calculations, the brand-new shield should definitely be able to withstand one full-power shot from the Fifth Angel.

Of course, just in case, Fang Zheng made some minor adjustments.

”Alright then, Rei, Shinji, it’s up to you!”

”Yes!”

The night had deepened.

Soon, as time passed second by second, the brightly lit Tokyo-3 fell into pitch black darkness— and not just Tokyo-3, this darkness began to quickly spread and soon covered all of Japan...

”It’s really dark.”

Standing on the tarmac, Shinji couldn’t help but clench his fists, feeling somewhat uneasy. Although he had gone through Fang Zheng’s Sparta training, essentially, he was still a withdrawn little brat... Of course, it wasn’t that easy to change.

Thinking of this, Shinji glanced over at Rei Ayanami on the other side.

”Rei...”

”What is it?”

”Why do you pilot the EVA?”

Shinji Ikari knew he was forcibly put in the EVA because of his father’s orders, but what about Rei Ayanami?

”...Because I have nothing else.”

”Nothing else?”

Hearing Rei Ayanami’s response, Shinji Ikari was momentarily stunned.

Just then, Fang Zheng’s voice came from the side.

”It’s not knowing what to do... Well, that’s normal. In fact, you two aren’t at the age to be worrying about this yet.”

”Mr. Fang Zheng!”

Seeing Fang Zheng appear, both Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami stood up quickly, and Fang Zheng greeted them with a smile.

”Yo.”

”Um... Mr. Fang Zheng, what exactly did you mean by what you just said?”

Looking at Fang Zheng, Shinji Ikari expressed his inner confusion.

”It’s simple; you understand Rei Ayanami’s meaning, right? Because aside from piloting the EVA, she doesn’t know what else she can do.”

”Ah... I see...”

”But that’s normal too.”

”Is it?”

”Yes.”

Looking at Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari before him, Fang Zheng shrugged.

”You are no more than children; if I were to use animals as a metaphor, you’re like fledglings or cubs. You’ve watched nature documentaries, haven’t you? The mother animal teaches her young how to hunt, gather food, and survive in this world. Once they mature, she kicks them out. Humans are the same; not everyone is born knowing what they’ll do in life. That’s why you need to learn, gain knowledge, experience, and skills, so you can determine your future.”

At this, Fang Zheng reached out and tapped Rei Ayanami’s head lightly, grinning at Shinji Ikari.

”So don’t take Rei’s words too seriously; it’s just the usual troubles kids your age have. Let me ask you, apart from studying, what else can you do?”

”Ah.......”

Hearing this, Shinji Ikari was dumbfounded and at a loss for words.

”See, right? You can’t handle adult jobs because you haven’t accumulated enough experience or learned to use the tools at hand. That’s why you need to study in school... not to make you fall in love with studying, but because through it, you’ll know, understand, and master other aspects of this world. Only then can you make choices.”

With that, Fang Zheng looked at the two again.

”Piloting an EVA is just like studying; it’s just a part of your life, not the end. So don’t rush to find answers; your future... is still long ahead.”

”.........”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s response, Rei Ayanami’s eyes slightly changed, and Shinji Ikari seemed to understand something, nodding his head.

”Alright, time’s up, let’s go.”

”Yes!”

At the same time, the clock struck midnight.

The Oshima Operation Plan officially commenced.

”Initiate Level One Connection! All cooling systems, maximum output!”

Under orderly commands, all of Japan’s electricity was concentrated. Meanwhile, Unit-01 pulled the trigger, aiming at the Apostle hovering over Tokyo-3.

”Eight, seven, six, five......”

Just as the countdown was about to end, suddenly the Apostle before them began transforming! The original Pyramid instantly unfolded into multicolored geometric patterns, and simultaneously, brilliant radiance erupted from its core.

”Target is exhibiting a high-energy reaction!”

”What?!”

Hearing this, Ritsuko was astonished. But at this moment, Misato Katsuragi also gave the order.

”Fire!”

Upon the command, Unit-01 pulled the trigger, and a scorching Positron Beam shot out from the barrel, rushing towards the Apostle ahead. Simultaneously, the Light Beam from the Apostle also raced towards Unit-01’s location.

The two crossed paths almost instantly, twisting as they grazed each other, and then......

”Boom!!!”

With a tremendous explosion and collision noise, the mountain being used as cover began to collapse, and the command vehicle in the rear was in complete disarray.

”What a scene.”

Standing on a nearby hillside watching this spectacle, Fang Zheng couldn’t help whistling. Just like in the animation, neither side hit their target; perhaps due to the distortion in quality, both the Fifth Apostle and the Positron Cannon’s attacks deviated from their expected trajectories.

However.......

”Target is exhibiting another high-energy reaction!”

”Not good!”

Hearing this, Misato Katsuragi was immediately alarmed.

”Shinji, prepare for the second shot!”

”Yes!”

Shinji promptly pulled the trigger, beginning the second round of power accumulation. Unfortunately, the Apostle’s attack was far quicker. Shinji had just cocked the gun when he saw a flash of radiance before him.

”Boom!!!”

Narrowly avoiding a disaster, Unit-00 stepped in front of Unit-01, raising its shield.

The golden Light Beam instantly vaporized the shield’s surface layer, but even so, Unit-00 held the shield firmly.

”It’s no use! The Apostle’s output is higher than expected; the shield can’t hold out!”

”How long?”

”Ten more seconds!!”

Seeing this, everyone in the command vehicle clenched their fists, staring intently at the screen. Meanwhile, under the Apostle’s fiery assault, the shield began to melt. However......

”———————!!”

Just as the shield was about to completely shatter, a mysterious radiance quietly emerged, and in a flash, an Azure Light Shield formed, positioned as a pentagon, blocking the imminent strike!

”What is that?!”

Witnessing this scene, Ritsuko Akagi’s eyes were wide with disbelief, and the other staff members were equally shocked.

”Detecting a phase space distortion! Unknown cause!”

”Isn’t that an AT Field?”

”Can the EVA generate such a power?”

Turning her head to Ritsuko Akagi, Misato Katsuragi was also puzzled. She had researched EVA for years, but had never seen such a phenomenon! Although EVA indeed has an AT Field, the one before her was not it. In fact, based on data, this mysterious screen’s form differed vastly from the AT Field!

”I don’t know, I’ve never known EVA to have this ability!”

Chaos filled the rear command vehicle, but Shinji Ikari remained calm. After finishing his aim, he swiftly pulled the trigger, and this time the Positron Cannon broke through the Fifth Apostle’s Light Beam, just like in the animation, piercing its core, causing the Fifth Apostle to fall unwillingly.

Defeating the invading Fifth Apostle, everyone felt a deep sense of relief.

But that was just for ordinary people; for NERV, it was a different story.

After the battle, Rei Ayanami and Unit-00 were immediately returned to base. Everyone was eager to find out exactly what the mysterious barrier that appeared at the end was!