This is the penultimate chapter. Just a little cooldown before we finish this off. Next chapter is the final battle and the ending. And things will end rather interestingly. Disclaimer: I don't own Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Evangelion, or Anarchy Reigns.

Cruel Angel's Thesis Chapter 29: Rising Storm

"Exam time...," Asuka noted, "I'm a little worried. I already graduated from college, so I know the answers, but the kanji is so difficult to pick up." "Same here," Kaworu agreed, "In reality I'm billions of years old, but that doesn't mean I'm completely up to date on modern knowledge." "I'm actually pretty confident," Shinji said, "Both my parents are scientists, and Mom takes my education seriously, so I'm probably one of the smartest in the class." "Same here," Rei chimed in, "Thanks in part to my Gigan genetics, my intelligence is greater than the average human. Taking in all that knowledge is pretty much second nature to me."

"It must be nice for Keebo," Asuka said, "Don't Hope's Peak Academy students only have to worry about showcasing their developing talents?" "Not anymore," Aigis clarified, "After the school was absorbed by the Speedwagon Foundation, the students also had to focus on regular education, to insure they could function in society beyond their special talents. Anyway, after that is the dance, yes? By that point we'll have to worry about saving the world." Kaworu chuckled. "One last calm before the storm... I think we need this last bit of happiness to remind us what is at stake."


Deep inside Adam's chamber, his remnants were starting to stir and grow. Shining was there, watching the whole thing. After a bit, Adam felt his consciousness return to him. "I... I am awake again..." He couldn't see, likely because his eyes had not yet regrown, but he could feel everything around him. And there was a very familiar presence right next to him. "You... You are that boy... The one who kept me from causing untold damage..." He paused. "Thank you. It was never my intention to cause destruction. I only wished to help mankind break free from Lilith."

"I'm the one who should be thanking you," Shining replied, "You simultaneously awakened the power within me, and helped me understand its limitations." He created a barrier in mid-air, which Adam felt and recognized. "Powers similar to the Makers. So, they launched a seed at this planet. Or perhaps it came from another planet that had likewise been seeded. This is proof that not all humans are Lilim. So Lilith failed once again..." He gave a chuckle. "She never could understand her own flaws." He felt more of his body regrow. "Looks like it won't take long," Shining said, "We've been waiting for this moment. You see... Lilith is awake, and is aiming to help SEELE."

Adam grumbled. "I can guess the nature of this deal. But there's a flaw in their plan." "There always is," Shining noted, "Speedwagon has encountered many villains since the death of our founder, and each of them thought they had everything figured everything out in terms of their plans. But something always happened to stop them at the last minute." Adam's hand started to flex its fingers as more of his arm grew. "Not much longer. Once I'm complete... I will hunt down Lilith." Shining smirked. "It won't be hard. Thanks to our efforts against SEELE, there's only one place she could run too."


Lilith narrowed her eyes as she felt the increase in energy. "Adam... He grows strong once more. The last time I was unable to hold a candle to him. Now I have more power. Billions of years have made me strong while he was sealed away. To think he would return for this pathetic species. They were useful for a while, but they have grown too independent." She opened a channel to Lorenz. "We must act immediately. Adam is soon to return. Are your preparations complete?" 'Everything is as scheduled,' Lorenz assured her, 'The armies amassing outside our HQ are nothing to be concerned with.' Lilith nodded. "Then I will play my part."


"Yes, the removal of the lance had nothing to do with Adam being destroyed," Shining explained to Gendo, "In fact, it would only have concluded everything faster. Instead Lilith sensed him, and tried to destroy him while he was weak. She could have taken out most of the world as well..." Gendo grinned. "If it hadn't been for you awakening your Stand at that time. Seems Adam did manage to get a head-start in protecting us from extinction. From everything Adam and the Angels have said, mankind is everything these Makers wanted out a species."

"Finding a way to separate Adam's soul from Tabris," Shining noted, "Have to thank D'Arby for that one. And finding out Osiris can work just from the victim surrendering.' After taking custody of Kaworu from Lorenz, Speedwagon had introduced him to the gambling Stand user. D'Arby had since stopped using Osiris while gambling normally, perhaps fearing Jotaro would catch wind of it, but had agreed to use his power whenever a dangerous criminal that could not be apprehended any other way was brought to his attention. Kaworu originally had two different souls, his own and Adam's. D'Arby used his Stand to remove Adam's soul and handed it to the Speedwagon Foundation, who delivered it to NERV and fused it with Adam's remains.

It had still taken time for Adam to be reawakened and begin to regenerate. But at long last, it was happening. Adam was almost fully complete. And not a moment too soon. By now the city was evacuating, and the military was rolling in. Everything was falling into place for the last staging area. At the edge of the island, Shinji was sitting atop one of the buildings. Never before had such a bizarre adventure impacted so much of the world, yet even with this much at stake, so little of the world knew what was really going on. There was a lot of media cover-up behind the scenes, after all.

A bright red pillar of light emerged from the center of the island. Shinji narrowed his eyes as he saw Lilith rise up from it. However, a similar pillar of white light emerged from the depths of NERV HQ. Adam rose up from one of the EVA launch tubes, lance in hand. Shinji sighed as he heard footsteps behind him. "Really want to start this now?" It was Leo behind him. "This war is about to reach its end," Leo explained, "I'd rather not leave any loose plot threads." Shinji shook his head. "I'm afraid you're way too outclassed. Especially since my friends and I aren't in the mood for games."

Leo then felt himself shocked from four different angles. Rei's lightning, Asuka's Hamon, Aigis' overclocking, and Kaworu's AT Field were all flooding into him, before Shinji called forth his Stand to finish it then and there. "Let's not waste time with anything flashy. Cruel Angel's Thesis!" He sent his electrical power into Leo's cybernetics, sending them into overdrive, triggering an automatic shutdown. "D-Damn you...," Leo said as he slipped into unconsciousness, "I can't even get the satisfaction... Of a real fight..." "Maybe next time," Shinji said, "When this is all over." As he spoke, Unit-01 flew overhead, prompting him to take wing himself to board it.

Yeah, there are too many important things to deal with for a drawn-out brawl to commence. But next chapter we finally end Cruel Angel's Thesis. And I'm so sorry I took so long in the middle of it all. Read and review.