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

Chapter 1573: Chapter 1571: You’re Still Young (Her Body Is Still Slowly Recovering)

”A massive underwater object has been detected near the peninsula. It’s been determined to be an Angel, so this time we need to take it down in one go when it lands! Do you hear me? Unit-01 and Unit-02 will take turns attacking the target, and Unit-00 will cover!”

”Understood!”

”Got it.”

”Yes.”

After ending the call, Asuka let out a long sigh.

”What’s up with Misato? Did she take gunpowder? She’s so fired up...”

”After all, the pressure from above hasn’t been small recently.”

Hearing Asuka’s complaint, Fang Zheng chuckled. Misato Katsuragi’s urgency is understandable. If EVA does not produce satisfactory combat results this time, then NERV’s importance will be further diminished. To put it bluntly, if EVA cannot stop the Angel this time and the Red Ponytail steals the show, then NERV will have no reason to exist.

”But you don’t need to worry about this; just do what you normally do in battle.”

”Is this really alright, Mr. Fang Zheng?”

At this moment, Shinji Ikari also nervously voiced his doubts.

”After all...”

”Don’t worry, handling pressure is the adults’ work. That’s why Katsuragi gets her salary for this, so you don’t need to worry about these trivial matters; just focus on the enemy ahead.”

”Target sighted!”

Fang Zheng had just finished speaking when the sea surface in front of them suddenly swelled, and then a crescent-shaped Angel emerged from the water.

”Shinji! Honor students! Watch my moves!”

Upon seeing the Angel, Asuka couldn’t contain herself either. She had long wanted to engage in a battle with an Angel to prove her strength. Unfortunately, last time Unit-02 fell into the sea, and Asuka found herself helpless. Now it was finally her turn to take action, and she wouldn’t be outdone, charging forward with Unit-02 and a Long Spear.

Asuka’s request was met with no objections by Shinji and Rei Ayanami. In fact, during their daily training, they had gradually learned and adapted to coordinate with each other. Fang Zheng’s hellish Sparta training also taught the three how to fight using melee weapons. As of now, Asuka’s performance was the best, so this pairing was natural, and they had gotten used to it.

So just as Asuka charged forward, Unit-00 and Unit-01 picked up their weapons and launched an attack on the Angel.

Unlike in the animation, the three EVAs seldom use ranged weapons — Fang Zheng wasn’t keen on seeing EVAs use ranged weapons, as their effectiveness was almost zero, and they decreased human reaction time, not to mention the smoke they produced acted as a smoke screen for the enemy.

The Positron Cannon had some utility, so Fang Zheng asked Misato Katsuragi why not make Positron Cannons conventional weapons. If you installed a permanent Positron Cannon in Tokyo-3, it wouldn’t matter if it’s effective; you could fire at an incoming Angel anyway, and if it could kill it, great; otherwise, at least it would give you an idea about the Angel’s strength, wouldn’t it?

In response, Misato Katsuragi talked a lot about things like permissions and energy. Of course, she talked at length, but Fang Zheng summed it up in two words.

No money.

According to Fang Zheng’s suggestion, why not just dismantle those useless automatic counterattack facilities in Tokyo-3... Anyway, all they do is create some fireworks and light effects when the Angels arrive, and are of no real use... Unfortunately, he had no say in it.

Fortunately, at least there was money for manufacturing melee weapons.

Right now, the three EVAs are equipped with different weapons: Unit-02’s main weapon is Guda’s Halberd, Unit-00 has a Shield and Straight Sword combo, and Unit-01 uses an ordinary Longsword.

This was Fang Zheng’s strategy; rather than going up to get killed by ranged weapons, better to pin down the opponent and go for a beatdown.

If the AT fields of three EVAs combined can’t finish you off, then that just means the Angel is truly formidable.

Currently, Unit-00 was leading the charge, directly slamming the shield onto the Angel’s face, blocking its path. Of course, the Angel wasn’t a mere data output dummy; it swung its claws, attacking Unit-00. However, Unit-01 had already arrived on the side, its Longsword swinging out to block the Angel’s attack.

”Take this!!!”

Asuka quickly seized the opportunity, leaped up with Unit-02, and her Halberd swung down, splitting the Angel in front of her in two!

”Well done, Asuka!”

Upon seeing this, Misato Katsuragi excitedly clenched her fist and cheered, while Asuka scoffed lightly.

”See that? This is my power...”

Nevertheless, Asuka’s words were abruptly interrupted by Shinji Ikari.

”Asuka, it’s still moving!”

”What?”

Upon hearing Shinji’s words, Asuka was caught off guard. She turned to see that the Angel she had sliced in half was not only not dead but the wound began to writhe — and then it transformed into two Angels!

”What’s going on?”

Upon seeing this, everyone was stunned. One Angel was hard enough to handle, and now there was another?

”What do we do now?”

”Attack its core!”

Fortunately, the three were trained by Fang Zheng. While the situation was unexpected, they immediately reacted and launched another attack on the Angels.

However, they soon realized something was wrong.

”Attacking the core doesn’t work!”

”It can self-heal!!”

This Angel wasn’t particularly powerful, but it was incredibly resilient. Asuka, Shinji, and Rei Ayanami used all their strength, hitting the Angel’s core multiple times. Yet they were shocked to find that the Angel’s self-healing ability was terrifying. Even when its core was pierced, it wouldn’t die; it would recover in a blink of an eye!

The same happened elsewhere; Shinji and Asuka repeatedly severed the Angel’s limbs, but they would restore themselves in no time... This was impossible to fight!

”...Retreat!”

Facing the chaotic scene, Misato Katsuragi hesitated for a moment and then issued the order. Truth be told, she didn’t want to retreat here, as three EVAs couldn’t even stop one Angel, which would utterly ruin NERV’s reputation and standing.

However...

”No need to retreat, try once more.”

At this point, Fang Zheng suddenly stepped forward and opened communications.

”Third Lieutenant Fang Zheng?”

”Listen to me; trying won’t hurt.”

Fang Zheng gestured to Misato Katsuragi and then opened communications.

”Listen up, there might be some kind of connection between these two Angels. You need to simultaneously attack their cores! Shinji, you’re on main attack, Rei will support, and Asuka, it’s up to you to land the final blow! The best approach is to line them up and pierce through them as if skewering meat!”

”Understood.”

”Got it.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s command, Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami responded promptly, but Asuka didn’t speak.

”Don’t worry, I trust you.”

But Fang Zheng didn’t say any more, just added another sentence before shutting down communications.

”...Continue the operation.”

Although Fang Zheng’s actions were technically an overstep, Misato Katsuragi didn’t object. In fact, she didn’t have any better ideas herself at the moment, and Fang Zheng’s suggestion was at least... a suggestion.

Better than having three EVAs deployed without achieving anything and having to return home in disgrace.

After receiving Fang Zheng’s orders, the battle resumed.

Fang Zheng was well-acquainted with this Angel because EVA’s classic moment, the 62-second war, stemmed from this. That segment was indeed iconic, but Fang Zheng didn’t want to recreate it.

After all, it’s too troublesome.

With Fang Zheng’s guidance, the three of them also had a target in their cooperation. It wasn’t long before Shinji Ikari stabbed one of the Angel Envoy’s clones with a sword, while Rei Ayanami pinned down another, making the two clones back to back. Then Asuka thrust her spear through the cores of both Angels, accompanied by the roar of explosions and beams of light... the battle finally came to an end.

Night fell.

In the pitch-black night, the entire Tokyo-3 was silent. Fang Zheng sat on the chair on the balcony, drinking tea while looking at the night view outside.

SEELE wasn’t doing anything, and neither did Fang Zheng. All he needed to do now was wait for the complete eradication of the Angels. But for Fang Zheng, compared to the Angels, the war with humanity was the real headache.

”Click.”

At this moment, Fang Zheng felt the balcony door behind him open, and then a figure walked in.

”Yo, Asuka, why aren’t you asleep so late?”

Fang Zheng turned his head, glanced at the girl behind him, and asked. Asuka silently shook her head and then sat down in the chair next to him.

”I wanted to come out for some air.”

”I see, but be careful not to catch a cold.”

”It’s fine.”

As she spoke, Asuka sat in the chair while Fang Zheng put down his teacup and poured a cup of tea for Asuka as well.

”You did great today.”

”Really?”

”Of course, after all, no one expected the Angel Envoy to have that kind of power. The previous Angels never showed that kind of ability, right? Not to mention, you still managed to eliminate the Angel Envoy in the end, and that’s enough.”

Looking at the girl beside him, Fang Zheng spoke with a smile, but Asuka remained silent.

Fang Zheng had some understanding of Asuka’s thoughts.

Among the EVA pilots, Asuka appeared the strongest on the surface, but in fact, she was the most fragile.

For Rei Ayanami, piloting EVA was part of her job, and she hadn’t found any meaning beyond ”work”—it’s normal, just like how corporate workers feel their world would collapse without a job. Once they’re out of work, Rei Ayanami would just live on. Maybe lacking in life interests, no sense of romance, but life goes on, right?

Meanwhile, although Shinji Ikari is introverted and withdrawn, at least he doesn’t really care much about piloting the EVA. In the anime, several times Shinji was genuinely determined to walk away, live his reclusive life, and avoid the world— what does it matter to him? Staying home and watching 2D waifus is not a bad life for him, right?

But Asuka is different. For her, only piloting the EVA gives her value.

Because of this, Asuka has set an extraordinarily high standard for herself.

Take the battle against the Angel today, for example. When Fang Zheng gave the order, both Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari responded, but Asuka didn’t. Fang Zheng immediately knew what the problem was.

On the surface, Asuka seemed indifferent to this, but Fang Zheng knew, deep down, Asuka was worried she’d mess things up. After all, it was she who split the Angel in half, creating two entities. If something went wrong, if the operation failed, if everyone thought it was her fault...

Asuka didn’t say it, but Fang Zheng could see it. People can lie, but their reactions can’t. When the Angel split into two and revived, Asuka’s Unit-02 fought awkwardly, and while Misato Katsuragi and Ritsuko Akagi might think Asuka was being cautious, Fang Zheng, who was skilled at spotting the King of Salary, could see Asuka’s emotions and thoughts clearly.

For Asuka, piloting the EVA is her reason for survival; if something goes wrong, it’s not just the world collapsing—she loses all meaning of existence.

Because of this, Asuka is often nitpicky toward other pilots, and in the anime, she always clashed with Rei Ayanami. That’s understandable. Asuka was formally selected, while Rei Ayanami had no achievements. Shinji Ikari at least took down a few Angels in the anime, but Rei Ayanami was just a background character.

That’s why Asuka would mockingly call Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami a backdoor entry and a model student. The term ”model student” was purely a jab at Rei Ayanami for being incompetent and reliant on obedience to get her pilot role.

This is blasphemy to Asuka, who views piloting the EVA as her life value—a hard-earned position that inexplicably comes easy for others just by being obedient. Who wouldn’t be angry?

Of course, the current Asuka isn’t as brash as in the anime. It’s not because she’s become more gentle, but because under Fang Zheng’s training and guidance, both Rei Ayanami and Shinji Ikari have tangible achievements—Rei Ayanami took down Little Shui, Shinji Ikari defeated Mosaic, and the two cooperated to eliminate the Thunder Angel.

With such achievements, Asuka naturally wouldn’t mock the two as only being useless eaters, so their relationship is relatively harmonious.

However, when it comes to some core issues...

”...Fang Zheng.”

”Hmm?”

Asuka was never polite when calling people, seldom adding titles, but Fang Zheng didn’t mind.

”What’s up?”

”...Do you know about my past?”

”Not really, and I don’t care much.”

As he spoke, Fang Zheng reached out and patted Asuka’s head.

”No matter what the past was like, at least you’re here now, right?”

”......”

Asuka silently swatted Fang Zheng’s hand away.

”I can more or less guess what you’re thinking. In fact, I’ve said similar things to Li and Shinji before, and it’s never too late to tell you now—even though you can only pilot the EVA now, you’ll have your own future later.”

”...Will there really be such a future?”

”Of course, one day the Angels will be completely eradicated, right? What do you plan to do then?”

”I...”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s question, Asuka was silent for a long time.

”I haven’t thought about it...”

”Get married? What do you think of Shinji?”

”Not interested, I have no interest in that idiot.”

”Then do research? I heard you’re already a university graduate.”

”If I wanted to do that, I wouldn’t be piloting the EVA.”

”Hmm...”

Hearing this, Fang Zheng pondered for a moment.

”Then how about piloting robots to fight aliens?”

”Huh? Are you an idiot too?”

Faced with Fang Zheng’s suggestion, Asuka was dumbfounded.

”Where are the aliens from?”

”This world doesn’t have them, but that doesn’t mean other worlds don’t. Maybe other worlds have aliens... so, are you interested?”

”...No, I just want to pilot the EVA.”

Considering Fang Zheng’s suggestion, Asuka pondered for a moment but ultimately shook her head.

”I see, that might be a bit troublesome, but... take your time.”

”Yeah...”

Hearing this, Asuka said nothing more. She simply closed her eyes and then leaned on Fang Zheng’s shoulder.

Soon, accompanied by soft breaths, the girl fell into a deep sleep.