The Trash Returned from Warhammer

Tokyo-3, Kamikitazawa Street.

As an old district from before the Second Impact, this area sat on the city’s edge. It wasn’t far from Rei Ayanami’s apartment, surrounded entirely by dilapidated buildings.

Due to the arrival of the Angels, the urban renewal project had been halted halfway through, yet that did nothing to dampen the local clamor. The streets were lined with signs for bars, nightclubs, and izakayas. Flickering neon lights illuminated drunken passersby, making the clean-cut Shinji Ikari look somewhat out of place, though no one paid him any mind.

This world had already experienced one apocalypse; hedonism had never truly died out. Even in Tokyo-3, a city teeming with NERV personnel, people flocked here to unwind after their frantic shifts.

Tokyo-3 lacked a formal police system; everything was managed by the Municipal Committee, which simply couldn’t oversee these dark, cramped corners. NERV’s high pay attracted many shady characters looking to make a quick buck. Naturally, these people weren’t classified as citizens and didn’t even have access to the shelters.

Watching a scantily clad woman help a balding man into a building, Shinji curled his lip. He didn’t care for such decadent places, but having seen much of the world, he didn’t dwell on it.

’Hostile gazes are increasing. Hurry up already; you’re making me look like some brooding, shut-in kid wandering aimlessly through the city.

Let me evaluate your worth in a moment. If you’re useful, I don’t mind playing along. If not, I still have time to dig a hole and bury you.’

Scanning his surroundings with psychic power, Shinji grew annoyed by these sluggish tactics. Glancing back, he saw a ”drunk” who didn’t smell of a single drop of alcohol turn away. He nearly lost his composure.

’Amateurs. Definitely not NERV Intelligence.’

Those ”tax thieves” had at least undergone rigorous training; their tracking skills wouldn’t be this pathetic. Granted, it was probably enough to fool an ordinary fourteen-year-old.

”A bit clever. Even if an ’accident’ happens, it’ll have nothing to do with him, so he won’t incur my resentment.”

He nodded in approval. That old schemer Gendo Ikari wouldn’t leave such obvious openings. Shinji turned and walked straight into a side alley.

The alley was pitch black, walls covered in a chaotic mess of wires, the air thick with the stench of vomit. This sensation—reminiscent of returning to a Hive City—was almost nostalgic. After walking for about two minutes, Shinji stopped.

Several dark silhouettes suddenly emerged ahead, blocking the narrow path completely. They radiated a faint scent of blood and looked like desperate outlaws, eyeing him with malicious intent.

To him, the gaze of a mortal was no different from that of an ant. Shinji truly couldn’t muster an expression of fear. He asked calmly, ”Is there something you need?”

”A place like this isn’t for a kid like you,” came a low, menacing voice from across the way. ”And don’t be so cocky. Those two idiots protecting you have already been taken care of.”

Shinji raised an eyebrow. This was somewhat unexpected. Even for a performance, there was no need to make it this realistic.

”Killing NERV personnel? Are you crazy?”

”It is you who are crazy. Humanity is full of sin and deserves divine punishment. How dare you defy the gods!”

Shinji turned around. In the moonlight, he saw a gaunt man. His features were ordinary, but his eyes were filled with a lunatic fervor.

”The gods sent the Angels to wash away the sins of humanity. And you... you dare to slaughter the Angels, letting holy blood spill upon the earth!”

The man pulled out a handgun, pointing the black muzzle at him. Shinji ignored it entirely; he could pulp the man with psychic power before the trigger could even be pulled.

But seeing the fanaticism and rage in their eyes, he suddenly understood.

’Oh. So they’re heretics.

Should I kill them?’

Just as he was losing interest, he noticed the communicator on the gaunt man’s left ear. Focusing his psychic energy, he detected electromagnetic waves originating from elsewhere. He turned his head.

It was in the direction of NERV.

’Ah, I see. Actors pushed to the front of the stage.’

”Hey! I’m talking to you! Put your hands up!”

The man was roaring. Those eyes—devoid of even a hint of fear—made his skin crawl. It didn’t feel like a teenager was standing before him, and it felt as though the object in his hand wasn’t a lethal firearm.

Shinji snapped back to the present. In that split second, he had recalled an Inquisitor’s report from his memory, detailing how that loyal servant of the Emperor had unearthed the secret corruption of a Planetary Governor. The situation felt somewhat similar.

’Fine. I’ll play with you.’

.

..

.

”Shinji is so slow.”

In the dining room, Misato swung her legs boredly. Rei Ayanami sat opposite her, clutching a bag in her arms, lost in thought. Seeing her cautious demeanor, Misato couldn’t help but laugh.

”Oh, don’t hold it like it’s some precious treasure. Just wear it for him later.”

The girl glanced at the brightly colored clothes in the bag and asked hesitantly, ”Will doing this make Ikari-kun happy?”

”Hmph! No man is unhappy seeing white over-the-knee socks! Absolutely none!”

Seeing her pound her chest in guarantee, Rei felt a bit more at ease. she reached into the bag, feeling the silky texture, appearing to anticipate something. The sight made Misato’s face flush.

’My god, the girlishness is practically overflowing. Is this still the same Rei Ayanami?’

The girl was still taciturn and had strange thoughts, but that doll-like numbness had vanished. It was as if she had found a psychological anchor and understood what her future held.

This was a person—a beautiful, pure young girl.

”Rei, you like Shinji, don’t you?” Misato leaned in with a mischievous grin.

”Yes. I like Ikari-kun.”

”Tsk, tsk. That’s way too direct.” Even Misato felt embarrassed hearing it. She thought for a moment and asked, ”But can you tell what kind of ’like’ it is?”

”There are different kinds of ’like’?” Rei looked up, her face full of confusion.

”Of course! There are many types. For example, liking a certain activity or object. Even between humans, there’s the ’like’ between family, the ’like’ between friends, and the ’like’ between lovers.”

Katsuragi Misato’s little classroom was back in session. She couldn’t win an argument against Shinji, but she was more than capable of educating Rei. She saw the girl’s expression turn bewildered and felt even more triumphant.

”Ha! As I thought, you can’t tell the difference. This is still a bit too difficult for you.”

”Yes, I really don’t quite understand.” While thinking, Rei hugged the bag tighter. ”But I think you’re right. I like it when Misato-san buys me clothes, but that ’like’ is different from how I feel when facing Ikari-kun.”

As she spoke, she leaned closer. Her pure, blood-red eyes were inches away, making Misato feel a bit flustered.

”Wh-what is it?”

”So, can Misato-san teach me how to distinguish them? For example, what is the difference between liking someone as a friend and liking them as a lover?”

’Ah, that... how should I know? I only dated one idiot back in college. Am I really being treated as an expert now?’

The boast had already been made, and her persona as a life mentor was established. Misato scratched her cheek and racked her brain for any scrap of knowledge.

”It’s hard to distinguish between the two. First, there’s the matter of degree. Um, for instance, worry. Right! In love, you worry about the other person more. And there’s jealousy—like if your boyfriend looks at other girls, you’d get angry.”

”Mhm, mhm.” Rei listened intently, as if she were about to take notes.

”Uh, let me think what else... Oh, right! Dependency. Lovers rely on each other more.”

”But the feelings you just described can happen between friends too, right?” Rei remained puzzled.

”I said it’s a matter of degree! If something happens to a friend, you worry. But if something happens to a lover, you feel like a piece of your heart has been carved out—unbearable pain.”

”How intense is the pain of having a piece carved out? Can you give an example?”

”How can I give an example? I haven’t experienced it myself!”

’Ugh, this is such a pain. Being a life mentor isn’t for everyone.’

Misato ruffled her hair, then seemed to think of something. She suddenly became excited and slammed the table.

”It’s desire! Yes, yes, that’s it! That’s something only couples do! Otherwise, it’s cheating or immoral! It’s what scumbags and gold-diggers do!”

’Desire? What is desire?’

Rei tilted her head. This was entering the deep waters of human nature, far exceeding her current understanding. Soon, under Misato’s confused gaze, she left the room and ducked into Shinji’s room, returning a moment later clutching a book.

”Is it this?”

Misato looked up and saw the title: Human Desire and Psychology.

The name alone made her skin crawl, and in the corner, there was a handwritten note:

’Slaanesh corruption. Reading forbidden.’

’Uh... did I accidentally do something bad?’

Misato scratched her head, wondering if she had just opened a door to a ”new world” for Rei. What if that kid scolded her later?

Just as she was wondering how to respond, the phone rang. She picked it up like she was being granted a divine reprieve.

”Ritsuko? What’s going on this late at night?”

Misato spoke lazily, still thinking of how to bluff her way through the conversation with Rei. But very quickly, her face turned ashen.

”The security team was taken out? The Third Child is missing?! What the hell is the Intelligence Department doing?!”

Her sharp roar cut off abruptly. Misato covered her mouth and looked across the table in horror. The young girl stood there blankly, the liveliness having vanished from her red eyes.

Thud.

The book in Rei’s hand hit the floor. It was as if, because of a single sentence, she had regressed from a human being back into a doll.

In that exact moment, she understood what it felt like to have a piece of her heart carved out.

”Yes, Major Katsuragi. I will have the Security Department mobilized immediately. We’ll dig three feet into the earth if we have to, but we’ll find the Third Child. Rest assured, I will handle this personally.”

In NERV Headquarters, Sector C, Mark rubbed the scar on his neck while nodding continuously. On the other end of the line, Misato Katsuragi was practically screaming, her voice so loud it made his ears numb.

Click.

It took a full minute before he finally put the phone down. He rubbed his temples and cast a cold glance to his side.

Several agents in black suits flinched, lowering their heads, none of them daring to meet Mark’s gaze.

”Don’t hang your heads. Can someone tell me how this happened? A top-secret mission leaked, and now the Tactical Operations Department knows everything.” The man spoke slowly with a faint smile, then casually pointed at one of them. ”Suzuki-kun, care to give me an explanation?”

Lieutenant Suzuki, who had previously invited Shinji for ”tea,” took a step forward and braced himself. ”Perhaps there was a slip-up somewhere. You know those people aren’t professionals; they’re bound to be messy.”

”Mhm. Using amateurs does indeed have its flaws. However...” Mark patted Suzuki’s shoulder affectionately, his smiling face suddenly twisting into a snarl. ”This is a matter where failure is absolutely forbidden! It concerns your life and mine! A simple task has turned into this mess—who is going to take responsibility?!”

He roared directly into Suzuki’s face. His violent aura made the men tremble. One couldn’t blame the Chief for being angry; the original plan was supposed to be simple.

They would use those lunatics to kidnap the Third Child. Under the manipulation of embedded infiltrators, they would use ”hard” methods they weren’t normally allowed to use to extract information. Then, before other NERV departments could react, they would raid the hideout and rescue the Third Child.

Yes, it was a self-staged drama. But it wasn’t a cheap one, because lives were being paid.

Two Security Department agents were dead, the infiltrators would withdraw early, the fanatics would be wiped out, NERV would commend the Security Department for their swift response, and the boy named Shinji Ikari would be filled with gratitude.

Everything was supposed to be that simple. But now, the plan had barely begun and the news had already leaked. Being watched while trying to stage a play was a major headache.

Mark rubbed the bridge of his nose and pushed his subordinates away. He was quite adept at acting in these dramas.

After the Second Impact, many strange religious organizations had emerged. Ostensibly hostile to NERV, they were actually quite useful.

If a politician tried to block a plan or a scholar knew too much, they’d let these lunatics ”open their minds.” No one would ever suspect NERV, the brave defenders against the Angels.

”Revise the plan. Rescue the Third Child before the other departments interfere. Be quick about it, and don’t leave a trail for anyone to follow.” Mark waved them off, his mind as clear as a mirror.

Gendo Ikari might know he was behind it, but without evidence, Gendo couldn’t make trouble for SEELE.

”Do we still dig for the Third Child’s secrets?”

”Of course! We’ve paid such a high price; we can’t report back without finding something.” Mark looked at them coldly. As they began to move, he called them back once more.

”Once you have results, take out the infiltrators too. This whole situation is strange—leave no survivors.”

”Understood!”

-

-

-

”The Security Department has mobilized. As you expected, they look very nervous.”

Hundreds of meters directly above the Security Department, Gendo Ikari sat with his hands steepled over his mouth. He was as calm as ever, but in Kozo Fuyutsuki’s eyes, this man seemed to hold everything in his grasp.

”I’m ignoring them only because these people are still useful.”

”Mhm. That cult that worships the Angels will be pulled out by its roots. It took quite a bit of effort for those people to infiltrate them.” Fuyutsuki nodded. The two sides weren’t even on the same level.

”Still, your ’borrowing a knife to kill’ play was well executed. You’re hiding perfectly behind the fog.”

”I don’t sit here as Commander every day just to be a statue. Everyone in NERV is under my protection. Did they really think dealing with SEELE was easy? How many can actually dance on a tightrope?” Gendo’s voice was flat, but his gaze was arrogant. Everything had been planned long ago.

”After this lesson, those people will restrain themselves. You could call it killing two birds with one stone.”

”Is the other ’bird’ Shinji-kun? Aren’t you afraid he’ll see through it?” Fuyutsuki frowned.

”It doesn’t matter. If he is foolish, he will be moved to tears with gratitude. If he is smart enough, he will adjust his attitude accordingly.”

”I see. You want to demonstrate your value.” Fuyutsuki sighed.

’Was all this really necessary? Using such complex schemes on a child.’

The Angel Cult was the Security Department’s knife, and the Security Department was Gendo Ikari’s knife. Shinji-kun, at the center of the storm, knew nothing; he was merely an accessory.

If the Security Department performed flawlessly, they would settle down for a while. If they left any evidence, it would be used to pressure SEELE.

”Mhm. Since the gentle approach won’t work, he must be made to understand that without EVA, he is nothing. No matter what ideals he holds or how he has changed, he needs my protection in this world,” Gendo said indifferently, like an artist sketching the lines of fate.

”The first step is letting him know that the malice of this world is not something he can handle alone.”

Fuyutsuki took a deep breath. The man before him was terrifyingly deep, but he couldn’t help asking, ”Aren’t you afraid of an accident happening to Shinji-kun?”

Gendo paused slightly and tilted his chin.

”With me, there are no accidents.”

-

-

-

Zero creativity. This was exactly what that Inquisitor had gone through.

Shinji sat in a chair, a thick blindfold over his face. However, his psychic powers had already told him exactly what his environment was.

An abandoned factory in the old district. An exhaust fan made a piercing, whining sound. A dozen or so heretics were scattered about. The gaunt man from earlier was explaining something; though he kept his voice low, Shinji could still hear him clearly through the Warp.

”Why not just kill him? No, punishing the executioners who slaughter the Angels was never the goal. We must obtain similar power to help the gods punish humanity.”

He understood every word, but the combination of them was hilarious. Yet, Shinji found it normal.

The reason the lower levels of a Hive City were the easiest breeding grounds for strange heresies was that a frog in a well can never comprehend the greatness of the outside world. They find a few scraps of information and believe they’ve discovered the ultimate truth of the universe.

Of course, there was another phenomenon. In the galaxy, certain primitive planets would worship the arriving Astra Militarum as gods.

Then again, NERV was also to blame. They always used impressive-sounding, obscure terms. The more they hid, the more curious people became. Then, once people found some incomplete classified data, they started filling in the blanks themselves.

’They’re just black-ops tools. Someone else is pulling the strings.’

His psychic power spread out like invisible hands. He found an interesting device on an abandoned lathe, emitting electromagnetic waves.

’A signal node. The source is no longer at NERV HQ.’

Because of this little gadget, Shinji had given these people an hour to perform. Yes, exactly one hour—not a second more.

The Blood Ravens generally preferred using their brains and were willing to spend time gathering intelligence. If this were a different Chapter, blood would have likely been flowing in the streets by now.

The gaunt man seemed to have received a new order. He stopped his incessant explaining and instead used his usual authority to pressure the room.

”Alright, those lapdogs could find us at any moment. Let’s hurry and pry his mouth open.”

”The same way as last time?” a large man asked, cracking his knuckles. ”How about I teach this lapdog a lesson first?”

”He’s just a fourteen-year-old kid. Didn’t you see he’s already scared into a stupor?” The man waved him off and led the group over. A subordinate removed the black cloth covering Shinji’s eyes, but Shinji’s expressionless face still made them feel uneasy.

A teenager in a pitch-black abandoned factory, surrounded by a dozen burly men—why wasn’t there a single trace of fear? Especially since this Shinji Ikari looked so young, no different from an ordinary middle schooler.

The man crouched down, forcing a smile. ”Shinji-kun, don’t be afraid. We just invited you here to ask a few questions. You’re only fourteen; it’s natural to be misled by ignorant people.”

”Ignorant? Are you talking about NERV?” Shinji watched him quietly, his black eyes full of pity.

”Of course. They know nothing. They try to measure the gods with science. But the truth cannot be hidden; humanity will inevitably find new life through destruction!”

The atmosphere turned fanatical, but Shinji felt like yawning. This level of manipulation wouldn’t even fool the most brain-dead person in a Hive. After all, one could actually communicate with the Chaos Gods.

”You’re sure that what you hold is the truth? Isn’t your ’truth’ just something you learned from NERV? Do you really think that wrapping those xenos in some cool-sounding religious terms is enough to deceive people?”

The man’s mouth hung open. He wasn’t a professional kidnapper, but he was a professional preacher. He countered, ”The truth has always been held by the few. I have explored many secrets and found the way to save the world within them.”

”Many secrets? Then tell me, who are the First and Second Angels?” Shinji asked directly. He already knew who the First Angel was—it was locked in NERV’s basement.

The man puffed out his chest without hesitation and answered confidently, ”The First Angel is my mother. I am the Second Angel.”

Pfft.

Shinji shook his head. He felt that the heretics of this world were far too amateurish. They were still sticking to primitive lines like ”Heavenly Father” and ”Heavenly Brother.”

The group was in the middle of a religious fervor, and this mocking sound was incredibly piercing.

”Leader, stop wasting breath on him. Just use the drug. That professor from Tokyo University was stubborn too, but he talked soon enough once we used it,” a burly man barked.

The gaunt man felt he was losing face. He didn’t expect this brat to not only be unafraid but to also drag him into a debate. His gaze turned cruel as he pulled out a sophisticated-looking injector.

”Shinji-kun, since you refuse to talk, don’t blame me for using force. Don’t worry, this won’t cause permanent damage to your body.”

”Two questions.” Shinji still looked at him with pity as he spoke slowly. ”First, where did you get that ’truth serum’?”

”It is a divine medicine I formulated myself!”

”Don’t people like you usually roll mud into ’miracle pills’? Just the syringe in your hand requires very precise equipment. And yet, a moment ago, you were despising NERV for using science to measure the gods.”

’I swear...’

The man was furious. If he let this kid keep talking, his authority would be undermined. But he didn’t dare actually harm him; his superiors had stated the Third Child was a very precious asset. Scaring the kid was supposed to be enough.

But the kid wasn’t scared at all.

He jerked his chin toward the side. A burly man walked forward with a leer. The divine medicine was precious; for a kid like this, a beating would surely make him talk.

”Wait.”

Hearing this, the group breathed a sigh of relief. They figured the kid couldn’t handle the threat. They should have skipped the talking from the start.

”Second question. What exactly is it that you want to know?”

’Damn it, I forgot to state the questions.’

The man rubbed his forehead. It was all this kid’s fault for talking so much; he’d made a rookie mistake.

”I want to know where your power comes from, and how many other children like you NERV has. Don’t lie; I know more than you do.”

’Now we’re talking.’

They’d gone in a huge circle just to get back to the starting point.

Shinji had guessed why he’d been ”invited” long ago; he just wasn’t sure who was curious. After talking for a bit, he more or less understood.

These stupid heretics were just being manipulated. Someone was listening to everything, and that truth serum wasn’t something a normal organization could produce.

’It’s not Gendo Ikari. This drama is too low-quality for him. Besides, the cult leader has no killing intent; he even stopped his subordinates from hurting me several times.

I see. So it’s those people.’

Now that he knew who the mastermind was, his patience had run out. After all, an Astartes didn’t need to engage in the double-dealing or the search for reinforcements like an Inquisitor.

”Hey! Speak! Don’t try to stall for time,” the leader growled, tossing a baseball bat to his subordinate.

”If I stall any longer, I’ll delay your evacuation time, wouldn’t I? For a play to be convincing, both sides must pay with their lives. But you are still useful; you aren’t among the sacrifices.”

”How... do you know?”

The man’s mouth hung open, his mind a mess. Yes, that was the original plan.

Soon, a Security Department Special Response Team would burst through the doors. All these cultists would die, but he would leave first with the data, then use his eloquence to recruit a new batch.

After the Third Angel, the impact of that giant creature on humanity had been massive. Countless cults had sprung up all over the world. Just taking a bit of data could be spun into a spectacular story.

”Sengo! Beat this brat! Make him tell the truth!”

The burly man with the bat stood right in front of Shinji, but he didn’t move, as if he were deaf. The leader found it strange. He had just taken a step forward when he froze in place.

Squelch—

A line of blood appeared on the burly man’s neck. His head rolled to the floor, and the blood that surged forth was like a fountain.

Everyone was stunned, staring blankly at the center of the factory. A flower of blood was blooming, and the boy who should have been tightly bound was standing up.

His hair was stained red. His gaze remained icy.

”Be glad, heretics, that you were able to keep my patience long enough to let me listen to so much blasphemy.” Shinji spoke coldly. It truly was something to be glad about; in the past, by the time these heretics had uttered their first word, their entire lineage would have been turned into pulp by bolter fire.

”As the price...” He stepped forward and drew a short sword from the waist of the standing, headless corpse, leaving a bright trail of steel in the air.

”I sentence you to death.”

What the hell is this?

Inside the dim factory, the original grayish-black palette had gained a splash of blood red. At this moment, time seemed to halt in everyone’s minds. These cultists, who constantly preached about Angels being gods, felt as if they had actually encountered a ghost or a deity.

Sengo’s head had fallen off for no reason. Wasn’t that kid supposed to be tied up tight? When did he stand up?

When humans are in a state of extreme shock, their bodies become uncontrollable. An Astartes’ body does not.

Step.

While the brilliant arc of the blade-work still lingered as an afterimage in the air, Shinji had already lunged out like a leopard. In a high-speed sprint, he went straight for the nearest cultist, who finally snapped out of it and frantically reached for his gun.

Squish.

A cold sensation came from his chest. His eyes widened, and his contracting pupils reflected a calm face.

The boy showed no anger, no malice, not even the pleasure of killing. There was only a vast stillness. To him, slaughter was as natural as breathing or drinking water—an instinct that required no thought at all.

”There’s something wrong with this kid!”

”Kill him! Kill him now!”

The surrounding area erupted into chaos. Never had they seen a fourteen-year-old boy erupt into such lethal violence, let alone with such casual ease. The cult leader panicked as well; he understood his mission.

Gather intelligence; do not truly harm the Third Child. But at this point, how could he possibly maintain control?

The men drew their guns. With a sweep of his peripheral vision, Shinji’s brain had already mapped out the optimal route for the massacre.

He kicked a corpse away, sending it crashing into several men in front of him. Reaching out, he snatched a handgun falling through the air and, following instinct, pulled the trigger while aiming upward.

Bang, bang, bang!

Dull gunshots echoed through the workshop, followed by the sound of heavy objects hitting the floor. Two cultists who had just flicked off their safeties tumbled from high vantage points. Simultaneously, Shinji sprinted forward, hearing the clink-clank of metal behind him.

Bullets struck machinery, creating showers of sparks. These men actually had some combat experience, as they ducked behind cover to return fire. However, Shinji moved as if he were predicting their shots, using the cluttered machinery to evade.

Pressing his palm down, he vaulted over a lathe. Seeing the man in front lowering his muzzle, Shinji dived forward and rolled across the floor. He felt a hot projectile whiz over his head, then fired several shots while prone, causing several bursts of blood mist to erupt from the man’s body.

Click.

The magazine was empty, and the slide locked back. Shinji bounded up from the floor, continuing his forward charge. He saw another muzzle peek out from the right side of a pillar.

Within seven paces, the gun is fast and accurate!

The man pulled the trigger without hesitation, only to immediately wear an expression as if he’d seen a ghost.

The 9mm hollow-point bullet seemed to hit an invisible wall, halting right in front of the boy. This surreal scene left him utterly dazed. Before he could figure out what was happening, a spinning machete grew larger in his vision.

Thwack.

The blade sank into the center of his forehead. He slumped back, his eyes still retaining that dazed look. Shinji dove into cover, catching the man’s firearm as it fell, just as bright sparks flashed against the pillar.

”He’s over there!”

”Suppressive fire! Don’t let the kid leave cover!”

The fully armed cultists closed in from all sides, their faces drenched in sweat.

A cocky teenager was nothing; who hasn’t had a ”chunibyo” phase? A good beating usually fixes that. But a boy who killed without blinking was terrifying. No one was blind; the fluid, seamless movements he just displayed were beyond even what a Special Response Team could achieve.

’Luckily, we brought everyone this time.’

The leader wiped sweat from his brow. In the blink of an eye, they had lost six men. He no longer cared about the mission; he just wanted to finish this kid off, find a place to hide, and live out the rest of his life.

”Fan out and surround him. Retreat immediately after he’s dead.”

”Understood.”

A dozen guns were aimed. The moment Shinji dared to step out, he would be turned into a pincushion. Leaning his back against the pillar, Shinji caught the sparks from bullet impacts and looked at the blood staining his hands, slowly shaking his head.

It was a pity he hadn’t brought his original body back. In the past, he could have tanked a hundred times this much firepower and playfully blown these heretics to smithereens.

Whatever. End this quickly; the main guests are arriving soon.

Clack.

He chambered a round. He was completely pinned down with no possible firing window. But for an Astartes Librarian, what need was there for a firing window?

With a sudden movement, he stepped out of cover. Every muzzle immediately swiveled toward him, but at that moment, not a single person fired. They all stared blankly at what was in front of them.

The boy held a gun in one hand and a blade in the other, walking forward slowly. His calm expression held no fear, nor did he look like he was about to surrender.

’Is he seeking death?’

The cultists looked at each other. Seeing Shinji raise his muzzle, they instinctively pulled their triggers.

Rat-tat-tat-tat...

As the 5.56mm armor-piercing rounds sprayed, the sound of shell casings clattering to the ground finally killed the hope in the cult leader’s heart. What could be done against a madman? He started thinking about where he could hide to escape the subsequent pursuit.

That burst of fire should have turned Shinji into a sieve. But soon, aside from the crisp sound of casings hitting the floor, the factory fell silent.

W-what???

The boy was still standing there. In front of him was a field of bullets frozen in mid-air, packed densely like a shower of brass raindrops. This scene, which bypassed the limits of imagination, made everyone’s eyes bulge.

Bang.

There was no explanation, and certainly no foolish laughter. Shinji raised his hand and headshotted a cultist, then resumed his walk forward. This unstoppable killing machine was active once again.

”A ghost! It’s a ghost!”

When another man’s head was blown apart, the remaining cultists broke down on the spot. This defied common sense; how could anyone in the world stop bullets!

”Are we... are we fighting a ghost?”

They completely forgot who it was that, just moments ago, had been full of fanaticism, screaming about gods. They threw down their guns and looked behind them in terror, only to see the boy chasing them down.

It was still a silent sprint. Every gunshot meant one person killed from behind. He tossed away the empty gun and picked up a machete to decapitate them from the rear. The spraying blood splashed onto his face, but he didn’t even reach up to wipe it away.

Silent. Efficient. Direct.

Shinji didn’t say a single word from beginning to end. He swung the blade mechanically, slaughtering every enemy. Then, using psychic detection, no matter where they hid, he appeared precisely before them. And then...

And then there was nothing.

”Damn it, those bastards told me to kidnap a monster and asked me to interrogate him?”

The man was hiding in a cramped ventilation duct, his hands shaking as he clutched his rifle. At this moment, he finally understood why that boy wasn’t afraid at all.

An ant kidnapping a behemoth. He could have slaughtered them all from the start; why would he be afraid?

But it was too late for regrets. Communication had been jammed from the beginning. In just a few minutes, the gunshots, the screams, and the sound of blades cutting through flesh in the factory had all vanished. Only silence remained—a deathly, heavy silence.

He held his breath, not even daring to breathe loudly. Only one thought remained in his mind:

’Survive. Once the shots were fired, those people would surely rush over. This monster can’t possibly kill his own people.’

But after just a few seconds, this sole lifeline snapped. The man smelled a thick scent of blood, along with the drip-drop sound of falling liquid.

The demon was right behind him. Even though he held a rifle, he didn’t have the courage to turn around—until a blood-stained, notched blade appeared on his shoulder, causing goosebumps to erupt on his skin.

”Heretic, there is one thing you didn’t get wrong. There truly is a god in this world, but it is not those filthy xenos.” Shinji stood quietly behind him, finally uttering his first words since the killing began.

This man’s AT Field (Aura) had completely collapsed due to extreme fear. Psychic power seeped in like invisible hands, causing those terrified eyes to go vacant.

”That God is named the Emperor, and I am His blade.”

So he spoke.

-

-

-

”Damn it, are those people idiots or madmen!”

A fleet of black SUVs tore down the street. Mark rubbed the scar on his neck, his cheeks twitching violently with rage.

Such a simple plan. How did it go so wrong?

Setting aside the fact that the news leaked early, what kind of insanity possessed those people to actually start shooting? Wasn’t it agreed that scaring him would be enough?

A pack of armed militants couldn’t scare a fourteen-year-old boy? Did Shinji Ikari have a death wish?

Fine, whatever. He’d just wipe out all the witnesses, have the Security Department ”rescue” Shinji Ikari, and even if they didn’t get the intel, he’d earn the boy’s friendship. There was plenty of time to slowly manipulate a kid later.

”But what the hell is this? I specifically said that protecting the Third Child is the number one priority. If all else fails, leave a loophole and let him out.”

Mark’s face was contorted. He had been confused when communication was jammed, and then when he heard the gunshots, his heart nearly stopped.

The agents in the car shared his grim expression and confusion.

As professionals, the combat plan was supposed to be foolproof. The cult leader was the organization’s ace agent, having infiltrated for years with absolute authority. He was perfectly capable of putting on a performance while ensuring the Third Child’s safety.

But why did they open fire? Do you really need guns to scare a fourteen-year-old? Shouldn’t two slaps be enough to turn a ”chunibyo” kid’s eyes clear again?

”Chief, Major Katsuragi is on the phone.” An agent handed him a mobile. Mark’s expression immediately soured.

This Misato Katsuragi was chasing him like a rabid dog; it had gone beyond a professional rivalry. But he didn’t care. If something really happened to the Third Child, he wouldn’t have to worry about Misato—the higher-ups would dispose of him directly.

”Tell her the Security Department has found a lead and the rescue operation is underway.” Mark shook his head and looked at his subordinates. ”Gentlemen, I trust you understand our current situation?”

They nodded. They understood perfectly. The prerequisite of the plan was ensuring the Third Child’s safety. That prerequisite had failed.

What they didn’t understand was why they were causing trouble in the first place if the Third Child was so important. Who cares what secrets he has, as long as he can kill Angels quickly and efficiently?

Mark remained silent. He couldn’t explain; it was an order from above.

”Lock down the scene. No one is allowed near, not even the Tactical Operations Department. Team A, come with me. We’re getting the Third Child out.”

The agents looked at each other. By the time they got there, they’d likely only be collecting a corpse. But with communications cut, they had no choice but to pray.

Screech—

With the shrill sound of braking tires, a group of agents in black suits with headsets and HK416 rifles bristling with attachments quickly cordoned off the abandoned factory.

Mark jumped out of the car. Hearing no gunshots, his expression grew even colder. He quickly led his men through the front entrance in single file.

Their combat formation was significantly more professional. To deal with the pitch-black interior, they wore night vision goggles and moved with agility to search every corner.

”Clear.”

The perimeter was swept. The agents moved in a double file, hands on shoulders, probing deeper into the factory. That was when Mark felt something was wrong.

A very heavy scent of blood.

As a veteran who had crawled through battlefields, he could instantly tell this scent came from many people. He was momentarily confused.

’Did those lunatics have an internal feud?’

That was the worst-case scenario. If the infiltrated agents couldn’t control the situation, what if the Third Child died in the crossfire?

”Quick! Into the workshop!”

He abandoned tactical formation and charged into the blood-soaked workshop. Then, the entire team came to an abrupt halt.

Clang.

The heavy iron door slammed shut, trapping them inside. The overhead floodlights suddenly flared to life, blinding the agents with white light.

But no one cared about such minor details, because the scene before them was far more shocking.

Shell casings were everywhere. The walls were riddled with bullet holes. Dozens of corpses were scattered about, and the flowing blood had formed small streams.

A black-haired boy sat on a chair in the center of the workshop. His white shirt was stained blood-red. His face was covered in blood and flecks of flesh. He was gently tapping a notched machete against his knee, while his left hand gripped a severed head.

Looking closely at that head... wasn’t it the agent they had sent in?

Hiss.

Mark froze. He was a battle-hardened man who had crawled out of the piles of dead after the Second Impact, yet seeing this, his brain buzzed and his thoughts fell into chaos.

’The Third Child killed everyone? Impossible... he doesn’t have an EVA!’

’Who am I? Why am I here? What is happening?’

No one could snap out of it. Even the agent with the most vivid imagination couldn’t have predicted this outcome. Some were even rubbing their eyes, thinking they were hallucinating.

Fortunately, the boy didn’t keep them waiting long. As the headsets emitted a ’hissing’ interference, the head was tossed over. Watching the head roll, everyone felt their throats go dry.

They felt a terrifying sense of pressure and found the reality before them impossible to comprehend. Mark was the first to recover. He opened his mouth, ready to deliver his rehearsed lines, but the boy raised a palm to stop him.

”This ’borrowing a knife’ scheme was well-played. But now—” Shinji rose slowly, picking up the still-dripping machete. Stepping through the pools of blood, his gaze was piercing, like that of a devout Inquisitor.

”I find you guilty of the crime of conspiring with heretics.”

SEELE, was it?

The factory fell silent again, save for the addition of a dozen mangled corpses. The gap in combat effectiveness between the cultists and the Special Forces was negligible to Shinji.

To him, there were no ”his people.” Or rather, as someone who had returned from 40K, he had long stopped using identity labels to distinguish friend from foe.

Heretics must die.

Those who cooperate with them must die.

Those who commit the crime of negligence must also die.

He had lost count of the Hive World nobles who had died at his hands—though, of course, a few had been left alive.

Mark stood beside him like a puppet. Under the dual shock of extreme astonishment and extreme terror, his AT Field had completely crumbled, and Shinji’s psychic power had soon taken full control.

Shinji was the true fisherman. After learning about the mastermind from the heretics’ mouths, he had waited right there for the main catch to arrive. And just as he had imagined, he obtained the truth from the mouth of this NERV Security Chief.

It was a reasonably refined plan, more than enough to deal with a fourteen-year-old boy. By their projections, he would have been firmly in their grip.

Just imagine: suddenly kidnapped by a bunch of lunatics, under intense interrogation, he would surely spill everything, even the color of his underwear. Then, the Security Department would make a spectacular entrance—not only gaining secrets but becoming his saviors.

’And then, do I have to thank you?’

Shinji wore a mocking smile. That didn’t matter. What mattered was that he finally knew who was interested in him.

An organization named SEELE, with over a dozen members. Gendo Ikari was one of them. They were the ones pulling the strings behind the world. No wonder every nation, despite their reluctance, chose to cooperate with NERV.

’Mhm, it has a certain flavor of the High Lords of Terra, controlling the world through their will. But one thing doesn’t add up.’

”If that’s the case, they didn’t need to risk using me. Even if the risk is low, they can’t accept the consequences of losing me, unless NERV’s existence means more than just defeating the Angels.”

He stroked his smooth chin. There were many things about himself that were hard to explain, but the will to fight the Angels was undeniable.

”Yes, NERV is very important. SEELE must ensure absolute loyalty,” Mark answered blankly.

”It seems we have different definitions of loyalty.” Shinji grew serious and asked coldly, ”Then do you know what SEELE’s ultimate goal is?”

”I don’t know. That is top-secret, but defeating the Angels is only the first stage.”

’Oh, there’s a second stage?’

Shinji showed some interest, and his perfectly rational mind began to think.

The Angels were strong, and he needed NERV’s strength. He didn’t have the time to reshuffle the deck, and psychic power wasn’t an all-powerful cheat that could control every world leader.

Astartes, furthermore, were not good at administration—except for those blue-skinned blueberries.

’I need to obtain the secrets, ensure NERV’s strength, and also prevent humanity from fracturing?’

The goal was clear; the method was a bit troublesome.

He glanced at Mark. This path had already been explored by him. No matter how high the psychic resistance of humans in this world was, as long as their spirit collapsed and their AT Field crumbled, they could not escape the fate of being controlled by a telepath.

This method was simple and brutal. The downside was that it destroyed the personality, turning the subject into a marionette—in simple terms, they lost the ability for independent thought and could not perform complex work.

In 40K, many psykers did this to create cannon fodder, but it was impossible to have them handle complex matters, let alone coordinate the resources of various nations.

Beyond killing Angels, psychic power couldn’t replenish everything. He couldn’t turn all of NERV into his puppets; after all, warfare here was different from the past. He was the one charging into the fray, but he required a massive number of mortals for logistics.

”Can you find the members of SEELE?”

”Impossible. Except for Gendo Ikari, the other members’ whereabouts are mysterious. They don’t even know each other’s locations. Every meeting is online, and member information is absolutely classified.”

”Does that include Gendo Ikari?”

”I don’t know, but inferring from SEELE’s orders, the organization does not trust him. Theoretically, it is impossible for him to find them.”

’Hmm, that is a bit troublesome.’

Shinji had originally thought about following the vine to the melon, using psychic power to directly control the SEELE members. Now it seemed this group was surprisingly cowardly. No wonder Gendo Ikari was so obedient.

They could make your brains ”open up” at any time, but you didn’t even have the possibility of a counterattack. Even if you luckily found one of them, what about the rest?

’It doesn’t matter. I’m hidden entirely in the fog; I have plenty of time to find these old men who aren’t absolutely loyal.’

Shinji didn’t take it to heart and spoke again: ”Fine. I’ll ask you one more thing: why was the plan leaked?”

”I don’t know, but I suspect Gendo Ikari is pulling strings. His people have been monitoring the Security Department.”

’Oh, double-borrowing of knives, is it?’

Shinji understood instantly. That was consistent with the methods of that old schemer Gendo. He had known Gendo wouldn’t risk tearing the mask off with him to participate in this, but it turned out he had been playing a two-layered nesting doll game.

If he hadn’t noticed early and used psychic power to control Mark, no one would have been able to explain this. Gendo could have just hidden behind the scenes and reaped the benefits.

’A warning for me? Telling me that without an EVA, I’m just an ordinary person who needs the protection of power? While simultaneously demonstrating his own value, telling me that he is the only one who can provide that protection?’

Not bad. The Angels were visible enemies, while invisible enemies like SEELE were the most troublesome—after all, he couldn’t go to war with his own side.

The mocking expression on his face became more pronounced.

A clever plan, executed flawlessly. Aside from the father-son relationship, once caught in the vortex of a power struggle, human instinct would first seek the protection of the strong.

And in Tokyo-3, the only ”strong” one was Gendo Ikari. Misato Katsuragi and her ilk weren’t enough.

”Tell your subordinates that the rescue operation was a success and that both sides died in the crossfire. Make sure the report is detailed,” Shinji waved his hand and stood up. ”Then follow me to find Gendo Ikari. After listening to his nonsense at the graveyard, this time it’s my turn to have a chat with him.”

He stretched his joints, which cracked with a sharp sound, and the teenager set off without hesitation to ”have a heart-to-heart” with Gendo.

The plan was good, and the execution was seamless, but there was one point where he was dead wrong.

’No matter the time, I am the strongest.’

-

-

-

NERV, Commander’s Office.

In this massive office filled with oppressive tension, Rei Ayanami stood quietly to the side, looking at the man behind the desk with some confusion.

The same silence, the same posture. Gendo Ikari seemed unaffected, as if the person kidnapped wasn’t the Third Child, wasn’t his son.

’Is he really not worried?’

Rei opened her mouth silently but didn’t speak. Just now, she had sensed a flicker of emotional fluctuation from this man, but it seemed more like astonishment than worry.

On the other side, Gendo didn’t pay attention to the girl. Since the graveyard incident, he had grown colder toward Rei. Today, the girl had come of her own accord, which had given him some relief, but now he found it even more disgusting.

Rei had come to him to rescue Shinji; it was the only way the girl could think of.

’But those insects are just acting. Everything is arranged perfectly; what is there to worry about?’

As the fisherman, he hadn’t taken it to heart and was just waiting for the kid to come crying to him for help. Now it seemed Shinji was quite smart and should be able to see that there was a mastermind behind this, someone he couldn’t resist.

But what could a child do? Only by realizing his own helplessness without an EVA would he understand the importance of adults.

’Still, I didn’t expect those insects to be so incompetent...’

Gendo’s fingers tightened. Obviously, he knew the Security Department’s plan had gone awry. Perhaps it was out of a sense of paternal responsibility, but it was mostly a sense of tension.

Shinji Ikari was insignificant in SEELE’s plans, even the Unit-01 was just a spare, but in his plan, he was indispensable.

”Commander Ikari, the Security Department has found Shinji-kun’s location and has begun the assault.”

Fuyutsuki’s voice came over the phone. Apparently, the old man was also scared out of his wits; he had never approved of the dirty methods used by these adults from the start.

”Good. I understand.” Gendo quietly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the girl standing by the wall. ”Rei, you can rest easy now. I told you to leave such troublesome matters to the adults; don’t over-concern yourself.”

The girl’s attitude was clear. She had come here today to move reinforcements, and there was even a clear sense of dissatisfaction with his coldness.

”Thank you, Commander Ikari.” Rei also breathed a sigh of relief, speaking in a muffled voice: ”I’m sorry, my attitude just now was very bad.”

She wouldn’t make a scene, but that sense of dissatisfaction made Gendo very surprised. He had only been ”under house arrest” for less than two months; the changes in this doll were so significant.

’Tools should not possess humanity.’

That was SEELE’s instruction. But his feelings for the girl were complex—he couldn’t make up his mind, and he was even more surprised that Shinji had left such a deep imprint in such a short time.

”Rei, through this incident, you should understand that I am your support. He might have some ability, but without an EVA, he can do nothing. That is the limitation of a warrior.”

That made sense. One couldn’t stay in an EVA forever. Just as no matter how much Gendo disliked SEELE, he had to endure them; otherwise, even if he were the smartest man alive, his brains would be ”opened up.”

Rei suddenly felt a flash of disgust. She appeared dull, but in reality, her IQ was quite high, and she could sense the traces of Gendo’s performance.

Before, she hadn’t cared, because Gendo was the only person she had a bond with. But now that she had a point of comparison, she felt some revulsion toward this way of using power to suppress others.

’Shinji-kun wouldn’t be like this. Even knowing I have secrets, he never probed. Even the initial intentional approach felt more like genuine concern.’

”Rei?” Gendo frowned as he saw the girl’s reaction. ”You don’t agree with me?”

After the rejection came the interrogation. The eyes behind his glasses turned sharp.

”Do you really think Shinji Ikari can protect you? Can bring you everything? Can change the world? Don’t be so naive. Don’t forget, you are merely...”

”A warrior. A warrior more precious than any of you.”

A calm voice came from the doorway. Gendo turned his head, a clear look of astonishment appearing on his face.

The black-haired boy stood in the doorway. His shirt was stained blood-red, but his eyes remained incomparably calm, as if he had just returned from a casual walk.

Mark, the blonde man with a scar on his neck, stood beside him, as humble as a servant.

”How did you...”

Shinji ignored him and looked at the girl who had turned around. Rei was still wearing her usual ice-cold expression, but her trembling eyelashes and twitching fingers showed she was no longer a doll without emotion.

A calm gaze. The cold girl’s eyes were searingly intense. Shinji didn’t say a single word; he simply walked over, blocked her behind his strong frame, and looked at Gendo Ikari.

”Yes. I am the one who protects. I am the one who provides.

I am the one who will change everything!”

The massive office was so silent that one could hear a pin drop. The already oppressive room became suffocating with the boy’s arrival.

As a perfect conspirator, Gendo Ikari was arrogant, but the events occurring today had continuously shattered his self-confidence. Furthermore, he found himself increasingly unable to understand his own son.

’How did he get here?’

The man’s brow furrowed. This was unscientific; shouldn’t the Security Department have rescued him, leaving him filled with gratitude toward his saviors?

After some time, Gendo would have leaked the evidence he held to Misato Katsuragi. Upon discovering that his ”saviors” were actually the masterminds, the sheer malice of the world would have been enough to make the boy question his life.

At that point, with a little guidance, no matter how stubborn the boy was, he would have stood on Gendo’s side.

He couldn’t figure it out. He truly couldn’t. Looking at that calm face and smelling the thick scent of blood, he realized things had once again spun out of control.

”Shouldering everything? While it’s normal for someone your age to not know the heights of heaven or the depths of the earth, being easily kidnapped and needing the Security Department for rescue is a bit too laughable.”

Gendo’s tone remained calm, adding a touch of disdain.

’Take care of yourself first.’

”Commander Ikari, actually, the Security Department was of no use. When we broke in, the enemies had already been dealt with by Shinji-kun.”

Mark spoke up quietly from the side. He saw Gendo’s hand, resting against his face, tremble as an expression of disbelief flickered in his eyes.

’How is that possible? There were dozens of armed militants. Could this kid Shinji pilot a miniature Unit-01 or something?

Did he negotiate with SEELE’s dogs beforehand and join forces to play me?’

An idea surfaced; this possibility seemed much more likely. Just then, the phone on the desk rang. He picked it up, his brow tightening into a knot.

The field report was in: the militants and the Security Department assault team had wiped each other out. This didn’t match what Mark was saying at all. Why would Mark tell such an easily debunked lie?

He turned his head toward the boy, who was holding Rei Ayanami’s hand, absorbing all of Gendo’s gaze.

”What exactly is going on?!”

Hearing this, Shinji turned his head slightly. ”He is telling the truth.”

”Then what about the Security Department?”

”Simple. I killed both sides.”

Shinji spread his hands slightly. He saw Gendo’s posture change instantly—even the hand that seemed glued to his face dropped.

”What on earth are you talking about?!”

What a clumsy script. Setting aside how this kid could possibly kill dozens of people, if that were true, shouldn’t Mark have shot him dead? Why was he standing there like a servant?

”Find it inconceivable?”

Shinji wore a ”don’t make a fuss” expression as he walked forward slowly.

”Do you think you understand everything? Do you feel everyone should be under your control? If you find even a small matter like this hard to believe, Gendo Ikari, you are more ignorant than I imagined.”

’Killing dozens of heretics and collaborators? Sorry. In the past, that would have been multiplied by a hundred or a thousand.’

’Small matter? This is a small matter? And I’m ignorant?’

Gendo felt that either he or this brat must have gone mad. Taking down dozens of armed personnel was already the stuff of sci-fi movies; to then eliminate the Security Department as well—this script was so clumsy it defied logic.

”Fine. Even if you could do it, why would you?”

”While exterminating heretics, one must also eliminate any traitors daring enough to be associated with them. This is common sense.”

’Whose world’s common sense is that?’

The Security Department was indeed the mastermind, but how could you kill your own side? Shouldn’t you endure it, quietly gather evidence, and use it for a trade of interests?

Gendo felt his IQ was insufficient. Looking at the vacant Security Chief, he felt something was wrong. Suddenly, his pupils contracted.

”You know what happened?”

”The drama of ’borrowing a knife to kill’ isn’t complex. As long as one survivor is left, the truth can be easily pried out.”

Shinji stopped on the opposite side of the massive office, leaning his hands on the desk.

”Of course, ’double-borrowing’ is a bit more troublesome. The conspirator hiding deeper in the shadows thinks he controls everything, gaining profit regardless of the outcome.”

The boy looked down upon the other from a height. This tone wasn’t exactly an interrogation, yet it brought an intense pressure.

Gendo finally realized.

He didn’t believe a single word of those earlier unbelievable claims, but he was now clear on Shinji’s intent for coming here.

”So, you’ve come to hold me accountable?”

”Not quite. Your methods are clever, leaving not a shred of evidence. But there is one thing I want to ask.”

Shinji’s gaze grew more serious, filled with contempt and regret:

”Resisting the Angels requires my strength. In the face of a powerful enemy, with you people messing around like this, aren’t you afraid of things spiraling out of control?”

This...

The result was as Gendo had arrogantly muttered to himself: there were no accidents. But the deviation in the process was enough to make him question his life. Even now, this perfect conspirator hadn’t figured it out.

Fortunately, he wasn’t thick-skinned enough to say ”But aren’t you fine now?” His mouth moved, but not a word came out.

”Can’t answer? You fools aren’t even as good as Hive World nobles.”

Shinji felt no hatred, only disappointment. He had seen too much of this.

Humanity always failed to recognize the primary enemy, desperately courting death. It was so in 40K, and it was so in this world; they were always arrogantly assuming everything was under control.

Thinking of this, he had no desire to waste words with Gendo. He straightened his back. ”I didn’t come to hold you accountable; there’s no point in that. I never cared about my personal relationship with you, much less about exposing your hypocrisy.”

Gendo stared coldly at the boy. The masks were off between the two sides. He began to think about how to clean up the aftermath.

Shinji Ikari was the ”Only One” in his plan. With the relationship frozen, how could he be utilized in the future? He thought back and forth, deciding that at the very least, he couldn’t lose on morale.

”Do you know who you are talking to? Do you really think you’re that important? I can revoke your status at any time and send you packing.”

”Threats. So pale and weak they make me laugh. Do you truly believe that just because you want me to pilot an EVA, I must pilot one, and if you change your mind, I must get lost?”

Shinji laughed. From the moment he arrived in Tokyo-3, the script was no longer in this man’s hands.

”I want to pilot the EVA to fulfill an oath, and no one can stop me from fulfilling my oath. Forget it, I should speak more plainly.”

He pointed at the vacant Mark and shook his head. ”Just like him, the reason you are alive right now is because being alive is more useful than being dead. If it weren’t so, the moment I walked in, you would already be dead.”

This didn’t sound like a joke at all. Rei Ayanami, who had been in a daze, suddenly looked up. Gendo’s eye twitched.

”You would commit parricide?”

”Ethically speaking, putting an untrained boy into Unit-01 to fight the Third Angel immediately is no different from filicide.”

Shinji’s words carried no emotion, and they were impossible to refute.

”You treat me as a tool, and I will treat you as a tool. It is only fair. I came to see you for only two things.”

He took a step forward, crossing the barrier of the massive desk. A shadow loomed over the NERV Commander.

”The first is a reminder. After this incident, SEELE will be even more suspicious of your stance. I don’t know your entire plan, but I can guess the weight I hold in it. Therefore, regarding SEELE, we are one entity. You must protect me.”

’He even knows about SEELE?’

Gendo was first surprised, then furious, because these words struck directly at his vitals, seizing his weak spot.

Yes, he and Shinji Ikari were one entity. Even if the masks were off and Shinji caused even greater disasters, Gendo would have to hold his nose and clean up the mess.

He had permitted the Security Department’s gamble only to better control Shinji; that was why he had been nervous when the accident occurred.

Now, not only had he failed to control him, but his weakness had been exposed.

”Not reconciled? Right. People like you always feel everything should be under your control, born with a strange ’chess player’ mindset.”

Shinji walked right up to Gendo. Seeing the latter’s dark face, even this man of deep schemes was starting to lose his grip.

A brilliant conspiracy exposed, losing the bait and the catch—an ordinary person would have been screaming abuse by now. That he could maintain composure was already beyond the average man.

”The second thing is a warning. Gendo Ikari, you must fulfill your duties as NERV Commander. Do not try every means to drag me down. Do not attempt to use that laughable power to reclaim your dignity. Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty. When you became entangled in this matter, I could have already sentenced you to death.”

’Who do you think you’re talking to?!’

Gendo finally opened his mouth, but before a roar could escape, a thick scent of blood hit him. His head buzzed, and when he came to, he realized he was being lifted by one hand by the boy, like a small chick.

His vertebrae cracked, his eyes bulged, and his brain could barely function. He struggled to breathe, looking at the familiar yet extremely strange face before him.

”Remember, both your ideals and the fate of humanity require me to shoulder them. Do you know what your biggest mistake was?”

Shinji remained calm, as if he were truly just holding a small chick.

”That without an EVA, I am fragile? That I need to endure stupidity and submit to power?

Don’t underestimate me, mortal.”