A/N: It's about here I should note that the Angelsare gonna be a bit… different. Angels display adaptations between each new individual. The introduction of Old Ones are gonna have an effect on them. They'll be similar to how they were in the show… but not 100%. Expect evolution.

The Wendigo and the Worm

Shinji looked upwards as the serpentine shape of Shamshel squirmed above, barely visible through the storm clouds. This was probably the worst possible time for the Angel to appear, a possible Great Old One was roaming the frozen wastes, most infrastructure was down, and surveillance equipment was limited only to what the Eva itself could see. Shinji took a hesitant step back, never taking his eyes off the silhouette above as he waited for it to act first… then, two long whips shot from the clouds like lightning bolts of pink lashing energy that were heading right towards the Eva at blinding speeds. He barely avoided them by pivoting on one foot and leaning back, taking several steps back to regain his balance in the process as the tendrils of light flailed around seemingly at random. Each swipe getting closer and closer as he barely avoided each one, but they were getting closer and closer with each passing moment. It only took one slip as Shinji miscalculated the distance and one of them managed to wrap around his arm just below the wrist. His armor burned and his flesh sizzled from the intense heat. Coupled with the blistering cold, the pain was unbearable, but Shinji persisted. At least until the other tentacle light shot through him, impaling the Eva through the abdomen. An impressive feat considering how comparatively narrow the abdomen was to the rest of the Eva.

Shinji's soul screamed and the Eva groaned. The intense heat of the tentacle had cauterized the wound but the feeling of burning on the inside persisted. Like a white hot poker was shoved into his gut. In an act of desperation, Shinji grabbed the tentacle wrapped around his arm, and pulled. The Angel dipped below the clouds allowing Shinji to see exactly what it was.

…

In many ways, it had a segmented body that resembled a hybrid of Trilobite and Centipede, perhaps even a bristle worm, but one with a head that bears more than passing resemblance to a mushroom cap. All in all its appearance was a strange combination of arthropods, annelids, and fungus with two tentacles that radiated with burning heat. Shinji immediately yanked as hard as he could, causing the Angel to come hurtling to the earth, roaring as it was caught in the raging blizzard. However as the angel fell it reoriented itself and landed on ten newly developed radially symmetrical crab-like legs that emerged from under it. It was far taller than the Evangelion as it forced the tentacle it had impaled into the Eva out and attempted to wrap it around Shinji's neck. It was only quick thinking that let Shinji draw his progressive knife and slice at the tendril. As the knife and tentacle hit, there was a sound similar to a thunderbolt as sparks showered from the point of contact. Shinji took a step forward, knife ready as he sliced at the burning tentacle still in his hand. The strike did not sever it, but it did recoil as the Angel moved backwards. Shinji continued moving forward ready to stab into the Angels core only for the twin tentacles of light that flailed symmetrically with each other bisected in half. The beast reared up on the back eight crab like legs and shot the front two of them out towards the Evas wounded abdomen send it tumbling back, but still on its feet.

Shinji clutched at his stomach as Shamshel flailed its two new tentacle-like appendages of light. The Angel crept forward on its ten legs moving in sync as its long stalk-like body writhed like a worm on a hot sidewalk. Shinji could do precious little as the Angels tentacles slashed blindly at the Eva. Each strike burned flesh and metal as the mouthpiece that welded the jaw of Eva Unit 01 tore apart wide open in a monsterous scream of pain. The burning tendrils continued their assault as Shinji dropped his knife.

"Shinji!" Screamed Misato "...Were deploying a Pallet Rifle. Deploying on your 2 O'clock position 250 meters away."

Shinji turned slightly to the right and bolted as fast as he could, all the while the Angel lashed out seemingly at random, whipping the Evas armor and burning through the metal with surprising ease. Shinji dove forward into a shoulder roll with surprising grace despite his size. The icy conditions allowing him to slide much further than he would otherwise, and immediately he saw the rectangular case holding the rifle rise from the street. Shinji grabbed it and with a single fluid motion spun around and aimed at Shamshel… but he didn't pull the trigger.

…

The Angel was continuing its advance, but just behind it… two burning eyes that shone with a crimson radiance were staring at the Angel from just beyond the blinding snow. Then… it turned its attention to Shinji, before it seemed to soar into the sky.

"Shit! There IS another one." Said Shinji to himself.

"Fuck!" Said Misato.

Shinji was left frozen as he blankly stared where the eyes once had been, but a quick lash from Shamshel brushing against his shoulder pylon shook him out of it, and he pulled the trigger. At this distance the Angels AT Field was eroded, but the writhing movements made hitting the damn thing difficult at best. Shinji held the gun level and continued firing while taking slow and even steps back. Several shots landed, but the segmented armor of the Angel seemed more than capable of taking it… a pity.

As the last bullet fired The Eva screamed as Shinji spun the gun in his hands and began using it as an improvised bludgeon. He charged forward, ducking underneath the lashing and burning tentacles of the Angel as he brought the butt of the gun hard on top of the Angels head, and sent blood flying, but almost immediately the Angel began to heal… and froze

"Shit!" Cried Shinji.

Then… it arrived.

It was at this time Shinji began to speak. His tone was dead and level. Misato and the bridge listened as Shinji Each delivered his foul sermon.

"He is Ithaqua, the Wind-Walker! "

"Shinji!" Asked Misato as Shinji spoke.

The titanic ice beast slowly came into view. A humanoid silhouette in the falling snow with exaggerated and inhuman proportions. The bridge could only watch as it slowly stalked forward. Swaying with each step.

"The God of the Cold! The White Silence! The Wendigo! The Yeti!"

"Shinji, Snap out of it!"

"Son to the Nameless One and the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young. Ruler of the ice world of Borea. "

"No use Pilot unresponsive."

"SHINJI! STOP!"

"What!? Misato. What's happening… oh… God..."

Shambling from the blinding white snow was a towering beast that came into view the immediate moment Shinji snapped back to reality. It was somewhat shorter than Shamshel, but taller than the Evangelion. It was impossibly thin and wiry with legs that were disproportionately long, almost like fur covered pine trees sans branches. Its feet were shaped somewhere between a human and a lizards with translucent pale webbing between each taloned stub of a toe. The creatures body was corpse-like with ribs and hip bones protruding gauntly from beneath its fur covered skin, skin that was sinewy and stretched so tautly over it's lanky frame that it looked like every movement should have torn the skin asunder. The arms were long… unnaturally so, to such a degree that even standing straight up the fingertips nearly dragged against the ground as it walked. Then… there was the head and face.

…

Oh god that face.

Just looking at it made Shinji feel the pain of being burned by the coldest ice. The feeling of ice crystals forming in veins to slice them from within. The Evangelion shivered as it watched that horrid things face. A face that was a mummified nightmare with a wide rictus grin full of jagged teeth and tusks. Several features, such as the nose, brow, and cranium was vaguely reminiscent of an ape, all framing two very wide and manic smoldering red eyes that glowed like the very pits of hell itself. Shinji could only stare at the horror that stalked through the snow, a beast whose face was frozen in that damnable smile as it looked from Shamshel to the Eva. It was at this point that the Angel noticed the intruder. The worm like creature slowly turned to the abomination… and took a hesitant step back.

Then, Shamshel struck. Swinging all four of his tendrils towards the giant beast. The tendrils struck. The blistering heat did not sizzle flesh or burn hair. Instead Shinji watched as the skin of Ithaqua bubbled and boiled, almost like it actually were made of ice. Yet even still the tendrils were halted, and slid down the beasts form, doing little more than superficial damage as the 'wound' began to freeze over and slowly return to normal.

Ithaqua opened its massive mouth, and exhaled.

A flurry of concentrated cold washed over Shamshel as it was entombed in an icy prison that took only mere moments to form. Shinji realized at that moment that he was next, and immediately began firing upon Ithaqua… before remembering the rifle was out of ammo.

"Shit!"

Ithaqua turned its freezing breath onto him. The Eva leapt out of the way, tossing the rifle and performing another roll to avoid the freezing cold breath of the foul Wendigo. As he righted himself mid roll he used the momentum to continue running as Ithaqua shut its mouth, ending the breath of frost. The Wendigos head followed the retreating Evangelion before immediately turning its attention back to the Angel. Who was struggling to free itself. Ithaqua's impossibly wide smile managed to become even wider as it lifted a massive arm, and a sudden updraft of titanic proportions shot the Angel into the air. Ithaqua watched the Angel flew up before he turned the direction the Evangelion went, and slowly walked forward. It continued even as the hard crash of the frozen Angel landed near the wind-borne beast. Then, Ithaqua began to ascend. Walking on the very air itself with the same ease a man could walk on the earth. Each step bringing it higher and higher until it vanished into the clouds above.

Shamshel slowly managed to flex and squirm under the ice just enough to free a tentacle that immediately lit with burning energy to slash and swipe at the rest. Slowly the worm like Angel managed to free itself as it watched the Wind-Walker take to the skies. The Angel retracted its crab like legs and swiftly followed after it. Ascending into the air to follow the beast that should not be.

Shinji meanwhile continued running. Large chunks of rock, ice, and debris flew up behind him, the Eva's feet digging into the soil, cement, and snow on the ground as it pushed forward at an ever increasing speed.

"Weapons! Need weapons! Lots and lots of weapons!" He said as he chanced a glance behind him.

He could see that the ice giant ascended higher and higher with each step it took. Slowly however the creature was disappearing into the chaos of falling snow until all that remained was an obscured shadow and the burning red eyes that never looked away from the retreating Evangelion.

"We have a weapons cache deploying now Shinji. You're heading in the right direction." Said Misato.

Shinji turned back around to face the direction he was running… and immediately tried to stop, a move that sent him flying several more feet forward as he fought against the Evangelions own momentum. As he finally stopped he looked up at the absolutely massive tornado that was barreling right towards him. It was wider than the Eva was tall and roared like some ancient forgotten god.

"Please tell me the cache isn't behind the tornado." Said Shinji.

…

"Sorry Shinji." Said Misato.

…

"Great."

Shinii looked as the twister continued along his way. He began sidestepping to hopefully allow it to pass, but… every step was followed by the tornado shifting its path to always be heading right towards him.

"Oh that is BULLSHIT!" screamed Misato.

Shinji couldn't agree more.

The almost living tornado continued moving towards him as Shinji braced himself. He fell onto all fours, sinking his fingers past the ice and snow into the concrete of the streets as he felt his legs lift into the air. Debris and vehicles smacked into him, almost causing him to let go, but he just held tighter as he was manhandled by the winds of the twister. The Umbilical cable behind him flailed in the wind as the twister seemed to slow and halt just over Shinji, almost as it it were waiting for him to let go. A flying semi slammed into the Eva's shoulder pylon, and Shinji released one hand, only his right arm anchoring him to the ground.

'Release Child. Submit yourself to the winds.'

Shinji felt his blood freeze at the voices coming from the tornado itself. Perhaps, he wondered, it was indeed a living thing. A mere extension of that towering giant of ice. Shinji struggled to grasp something, anything to keep him from being swallowed. Then he felt something pull on him. From above, Shinji could see that Ithaqua stood mid air, not affected by the whirlwinds at all save for the flailing and billowing of it's fur. In its hands it held the Umbilical cable The beast smiled maliciously as it grabbed the cable with both hands, and pulled. Shinji could do little to resist as he was carried upwards into the sky, flailing as he smacked into everything the tornado had picked up along its path.

Back at the bridge, Misato watched the chaos on the screen as she cursed silently. This was not a situation anyone had expected. The Angel couldn't pick a worse time to show up if it tried. She turned around.

"Status of the Eva!"

"Damage minimal. The armor is holding, but integrity isn't. He won't be able to take much more. He might not be able to take the fall." Said Aoba.

"Unidentified Creature disappeared. The Angel is following it, but we can't find its exact location." Said Maya.

Misato nodded as she turned back to the screen as Shinji flew higher into the sky.

"Can we reel him in by the umbilical cable?" Asked Misato.

Misato waited as Maya and Aoba got to work. The grunt of frustration did not bode well.

"Gear system unresponsive. Debris is preventing retraction."

"Shit. Can we fix it?"

"I'm sending the order now!" Said Maya.

Misato took a breath.

"Send a request to the JSSDF for aid. They might be able to do something against the giant."

Shinji couldn't tell up from down as he spun around faster and faster, ascending high above the clouds. He momentarily could see the rising sun, right as a massive shape emerged from the cloud layer below to wrap ice cold fingers around the Eva's neck. The beasts other hand grabbed the Eva's face and forced it to look into those burning eyes that sang of only hate and rage. Chunks of icy drool fell from the beasts jaws as they opened wider and wider. Shinji looked down the gullet to see a swirling maelstrom of endless cold. A primal fear awakened in Shinji as he struggled in the creatures grasp, and he knew, just knew within his heart that he was going to die, and indeed he would have, if not for the burning tendril that had wrapped around Ithaqua's neck. The beast roared and released Shinji, who was hurled to the earth just long enough to see that the Angel Shamshel wrapping its crab-like around the beasts chest and started assaulting it with tentacles of white hot energy.

Shinji passed through freezing clouds as he fell back into the frozen hell below, he landed hard, denting a hatch that held a retracted building below. Shinji wasted no time getting to his feet as he looked around.

"Weapons!" he said simply.

Immediately Shinji watched as the door he landed on opened up to reveal several very interesting choices.

"Well… at least I have some good news for once." Said Shinji.

Reaching in Shinji pulled out a long blade, somewhat like a machete in shape that vibrated just like the prog knife. The rhythmic pulses from it actually gave the illusion that the blade itself was glowing. He observed it for a moment before looking back in to retrieve a large pistol with an appearance akin to a desert eagle.

"That'll do."

"The Evangelion can't take much more damage. We're ordering an immediate tactical retreat." Said Misato.

"Then why give me weapons?"

"Because we highly doubt that the Angel and that thing are gonna let you just walk away."

"Fair enough. Where do I go?"

"Turn left and keep going until I say otherwise."

Shinji immediately did so and took off. High above the two titans continued their bout. Shamshel had managed to wrap two tentacles around each of Ithaqua's arms as the beast roared. Its icy flesh boiling away and healing just as quickly. The angels body writhed and squirmed as it avoided the white vapors of cold that the creature occasionally exhaled. The Angel's arms bisected again and again until dozens of burning whips slashed around Ithaqua. Each strike from Shamshel did little to the creature, and only served to both anger and seemingly amuse the Great Old One. Its frightful maw of fangs and tusks widened as it raised its arms. Each subtle movement changed the direction of the wind. Soon Ithaqua weaved a swarm of spiraling twisters around it that writhed and reached out towards Shamshel. The winds froze all they touched bathing the Angel in layer upon layer of ice until it was as solid as a statue. Then, once frozen and immovable the Angel fell as Ithaqua's body flaked away into snow and ice before reforming above the fallen Angel. Ithaqua laughed.

Shinji continued running through the frozen and empty streets.

"Turn Right! Now!" Screamed Misato.

Shinji immediately obeyed right as he saw something massive falling from above. He only just barely managed to stop as the frozen Angel landed on the ground… hard.

Shinji stared at the worm like creature in a state of confusion before Ithaqua landed right in front of him. The Great Old One bending slightly forward before quickly rising and backhanding the Eva. Shinji found himself flying through the air before painfully landing on his back. In the time it took to blink Ithaqua was upon the Eva, one foot pressed hard into his chest as it smiled down at its prey. Shinji raised the pistol ready to fire only for Ithaqua to exhale a blast of cold at the weapon, freezing it in a block of ice. Vainly he tried to swipe the machete only for Ithaqua to grab the blade, ignoring the boiling of its flesh as it jerked the blade from the Eva's hand. Slowly the Wendigo marveled at the blade before using its other hand to grasp the handle and drive it right into the Eva's shoulder. Shinji grunted as blood leaked from the wound. The Wendigo chuckled maliciously as it reached down with its disproportionately long arms to drive its claws into the wound. The beasts smile widened as Shinji and the Eva screamed. It drooled constantly as it lifted its arm and greedily licked the blood off its hands. Once done it sighed contently, before it roared and started tearing into the Eva. Shinji could only scream as the beast tore flesh from it and shoved it down its insatiable gullet.

Then… the airships came. Missiles and bullets struck Ithaqua as the JSSDF arrived. Firing everything they had at the Great Old One. Upon finding a new toy to play with the beast stepped off the Evangelion and began moving towards the swarm of Heavy Fighter VTOL gunships. Shinji watched as the beast walked away, before he shakily got to his feet, shambling away with his arms holding his abdomen. Intestine and entrails hung limply from his arms as he continued walking past the Frozen Angel and towards the evacuation point. He collapsed immediately falling in such a way he could see Ithaqua snatch gunships from the air to bite and chew at their metal exterior.

"C'mon Shinji, you're almost there."

The pain was unbearable. Maddening even. So strong that it took considerable willpower just to focus on anything that wasn't just that all encompassing agony. Misery and anguish of the highest order. Skin hung flayed from bone, guts swung in the chilling breeze that did anything but numb it away. Indeed it was almost as if this foul winter refused to grant even that small blessing. If anything it only made it hurt worse than words can describe. It was as if countless sharp needles of ice were driven into the exposed organs and bloody flesh, even parts untouched by injury throbbed painfully from the cold that should have numbed it away, but didn't.

Then... A flash of insight went through Shinji's mind. Piercing through the pain as he turned to the frozen form of Shamshel. Memories yet to pass of his Eva losing an arm… and how he got it back. Perhaps it was the pain or perhaps it was the cold… whatever the case may be, Shinji rose. He clumsily got to his feet as he stumbled towards the Angel. It took far more effort to fight against the overwhelming urge to sit and die, to end the excruciating pain… but Shinji fought for every step and advance before he fell to his knees before the angel. He reached out with shaking hands and twitching fingers, and pulled at the beasts flesh as he started to devour it.

Ithaqua froze as it turned around with the smile stretching far wider than should be natural as the Evangelion ate up every bit of the Angel it could. Each bite caused the wounds covering the Eva to fade away as new flesh grew. Ithaqua exhaled white vapor as the Eva stated its hunger.

Soon the biomechanical titan rose. Armor still missing but with flesh healed anew. In the titans hand it held the moat important organ of the Angel… the S2 Engine. Shinji lifted the orb to the Eva's mouth, ready to devour the fruit of life… only for Ithaqua to suddenly appear before him, his long gnarled fingers wrapping around Unit 01's wrist. The S2 organ froze as Ithaqua reached out and snatched it away. The God of the Cold observed it for a moment before squeezing it tight and letting it shatter into small icy crystals.

Shinji could only watch as the small bits of blood and ice that once was the S2 Engine rained down from Ithaqua's hand. The look on the beast's face was one of absolute sadistic joy as Shinji watched what he thought to be his salvation disintegrate away. He may have been healed, but he doubted that would be of much use. Shinji jerked back hard, escaping Ithaqua's grasp and threw a punch that hit the beast right in its face. Even this failed to stop the creatures smile. Using the opportunity available, Shinji turned to run to the Evac point as Ithaqua laughed.

On the bridge all was quiet all they watched the grotesque display of the Evangelion eating the Angel. Fuyutsuki almost felt his heart stop when it nearly ate the Angels S2 engine. Thankfully it was avoided. That would not be good so soon into the scenario. It probably could have helped, but there was no way in hell the old men would let that slide when only the second of ADAM's offspring attacked. In all likelihood, it would spell the end for Unit 01, and by extension Yui. Thankfully that fate was avoided, but there was still another beast to deal with. The Angel was dead, its core removed and destroyed, still this Ithaqua was a malicious and sadistic entity that seemed to revel in the pain it could cause. At least with the Angel gone, they could focus on it, and it alone.

Misato meanwhile felt more than a little sick seeing what the Eva had done as it devoured the Angel. At least the Eva was back to fighting condition, but that milk white and all too human flesh just under the armor was… disturbing, to say the least. Still it had nothing on the grotesque sadistic ice giant that seemed to take perverse glee in causing pain and agony. It was a twisted and frightful thing, a monster in every sense of the word. Misato was not sure what to do. Nothing thus far seemed to actually hurt Ithaqua. Just piss it off.

She could only pray that Shinji made it to the Evac Point.

Shinji didn't stop running. Even when he saw Ithaqua running alongside him above in the clouds. Almost like it was mocking him. All but telling Shinji he couldn't escape. Indeed Shinji would lose sight of the Wind-Walker, only to catch sight of him on the other side, as if during those scant few moments he couldn't see the creature, it would vanish and appear anywhere it so desired. Still Shinji did not stop. He knew it was a pitiful attempt likely to fail… but his only other options had been exhausted. Perhaps if he knew how it was he ended Bokrug he could have a shot, but he knew nothing. Then Ithaqua was suddenly in front of the Eva, and far to close for Shinji to stop in time, but that didn't stop him from trying… and it was at this point that finally, something good happened. As Shinji neared Ithaqua, a strange flash of light flashed in between the two, and the Great Old One stumbled back as the AT Field sprung to life. Shinji stared dumbly at his fortuitous luck, before realizing why it was that he had at least some measure of defense. With the 4th Angel dead, his AT-Field was no longer eroded away, and was at full power. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. Shinji stood as Ithaqua poked at the barrier with a single gnarled claw.

Poking and prodding to observe the flash of light as concentric octagonal yellow lines flashed with each and every tap. Then Ithaqua ceased, and pressed its hand against the barrier… then it pushed. Shinji immediately took a step back against his will as Ithaqua pushed harder. The Wind-Walker's smile widened again before pushing one more. Shinji stumbled and fell. Ithaqua kept pushing, causing the Evangelion to be dragged along the ground by some unseen force until he hit debris that prevented him from being pushed back any more. He could still feel the fae sensation of Ithaqua pressing its palm against the borders of his soul and could only watch as Ithaqua's hand slowly began to pass through the barrier. Shinji stared in absolute horror as Ithaqua pressed through with ease… at least until its hand started to flake away into powdery snow, leaving only bones of ice wrapped in powdery white snow blowing in the wind. Ithaqua did not recoil, merely watching as its hand disintegrated into the elements with a curious glare. It pulled its hand back out and watched as bones of ice and skin of snow knit back together. He looked to his palm and rotated his hand to observe the rest of it as hairs began to sprout back into place, all the while the smile grew wider and wider. So wide that Shinji couldn't believe it actually fit in the monsters face. Then it turned back as it's tongue rolled from its mouth to lick at its hand and gnaw at its fingers. Never breaking eye contact with the Eva.

Shinji looked into those twin burning orbs, and could only feel fear the likes of which he had never known. Fear so potent that it bypassed the fight or flight reflex and simply left Shinji frozen, unable to do anything but watch the abomination continue it's grotesque auto-cannibalistic display. As the fear grew however, a change began to occur. Shinji felt his hand burn with energy that actually managed to chase away the foul cold. He managed to break eye contact as something slithered from the center of his left palm. Slowly the long tendril grew, and Shinji watched as it burned a familiar pink color. Soon a single whip lay on the ground, boiling the snow around it. It appeared that even though he couldn't eat Shamshel's S2 Organ, he did get something from eating the Angel. Shinji got his second wind as he stood up, watch in Ithaqua stare at him curiously, before Shinji flung out his arm, and listened to the whip crack.

"What!?" All but screamed Ritsuko as Shinji lashed out with the energy-tentacle.

It was unprecedented, to be able to consume the Angel and seemingly manifest abilities from it. Bot that Ritsuko was complaining… bit she really wanted to know just how it was the Eva managed to do that. Evidently, Ritsuko was not alone in that thought.

"How the hell did that fucking happen!?" Screamed Misato.

Though Ritsuko wouldn't put it into quite so strong words.

"We'll figure it out later." Ritsuko said as she observed the Eva slash at the ice giant.

Really if anything at least this fight opened up possible projects for the future. The potential applications were… staggering to say the least.

Each swipe of the whip did melt the icy flesh of Ithaqua. It still had that grotesque smile plastered on its face as it recoiled from each blow. Shinji advanced, listening to the cracking of the whip as he did not relent. He had the advantage now. His AT-Field would keep the Wind-Walker away, and even though each strike did little to the ice giant, it couldn't retaliate. Still, there was something about that damnable smile that let Shinji know he wasn't doing much more than delaying it. Here he was, cast in the biomechanical armor of a synthetic god, and was completely helpless against this abominable thing.

The JSSDF's Gunships continued their assault. Flying in formation behind the Evangelion as they continued its assault. The reinforcements were appreciated, but Shinji still couldn't shake the feeling that they were doing the equivalent of bug bites against the Titan… if even that.

However, for these moments of peace of false power he had over the Great Old One…Staring at the ice giant… Shinji began to remember… in excruciating detail… everything it took to put down Bokrug. His eyes widened as he focused only on the memory of that day… when the Evangelion went berserk and his now lobotomized mother severed the beasts connection. That was the key. The horrific visage of death and decay that looked like Ithaqua was not truly that blasphemous giant. It was just a guise, a suit of armor it shaped for itself from it's chosen element. The real Ithaqua was the stuff of ice and wind. A terrible hurricane and chaotic maelstrom. Underneath the visor, a secondary pair of nictitating membranes slid over the Eva's eyes, and Shinji saw Ithaqua for what it truly was.

"A titan of Slyphs and Snow! Spawn of the Winds and giant of the lonely cold. You are… alone."

Ithaqua froze bending backwards… no longer moving from each swipe of the whip. Slowly it straightened its spine and stood tall. That was all the confirmation Shinji needed to know that Ithaqua was just playing with them… but it seems as if Shinji struck a nerve.

"The Great Old Ones are gone, trapped in the seas and the stars. You stuck in a gilded cage, Imprisoned on Borea by the Elder Gods. All alone in the world."

Ithaqua quirked its head before taking a step forward. Looking at the now jerky and almost zombie-like movements the creature made, Shinji realized that if his memories were wrong… or if the method he used to dispatch Bokrug was unique to the Water Lizard… then there was no doubt that Ithaqua would end him here and there.

"It's true… isn't it. You are alone. That's your prison Ithaqua. Not the ice world of Borea. The Elder Gods chose a prison you could easily leave because they knew your own plans and desires for the return of the Great Old Ones would be an even greater prison as you failed each and every time. A king of a dead world. Only yourself to keep you company."

The titan rose as its eyes grew brighter. White vapor poured from its jagged maw as it exhaled. Then it walked forward, ignoring the missiles that continued to pelt it's fur. It's smile gone and replaced with a scowl.

"Well great. You made it mad." Said Misato.

Shinji rose a bit higher, before he took a step. Ithaqua continued stalking forward… until he was blocked by Unit 01 AT-Field. The giant observed the hexagonal barrier in disgust. Observing it as it prevented him from passing. What happened next however no one could have expected.

Shinji felt the whip suck back into his hand as he thrust his arm forward, and the AT-Field folde itself around his arm. The Center pressing outwards as the edges folded back. A shape almost like a lance appeared around Shinji's arm as it impaled Ithaqua through the ribs. The beast roared as it punctured into him, spilling only icy wind instead of blood. It's skin flaked away into snow as Ithaqua disintegrated away until only bones of ice remained, bones that shattered into small crystals and were carried away by the breeze. The blizzard froze at that moment and seemed to fade, but this only lasted a second as Ithaqua was respawned from the elements. His body reconstituted and the beast glared at the Eva.

It didn't matter, Shinji saw what he needed. He could sever the beasts connection to this world. It was unfortunate that he missed his mark, but at least now, he knew a possible method to dispatch the Wind-Walker.

He just had to sever its connection to its constructed body.

Shinji stepped forward, redeploying the whip from his free arm to lash out and wrap around the Wind-Walkers neck. Ithaqua grabbed the tentacle as Shinji stabbed the AT-Lance in the center of its chest.

The beast roared as Shinji was plunged into a dark plane of wind and snow. A dimension where anything that stops would freeze. Where hesitation for even a second would mean certain death. Sheets of craggy ice extending in all directions as far as the eye could see. A frigid void of stinging blizzards and white mists of bitter cold vapor. All of it spinning around a vortex within an eternal sky filled with flakes of snow, crystals of ice, and lumps of hail.

It was at the eye of this storm where the essence of Ithaqua lived. Icy threads connection to a burning radiance at the base of this realm of wind, ice, and snow. It was these threads that manifested a terrible awareness that animated the emaciated body back in reality. Shinji extended his influence, and severed the thread. He watched as the winds around him blew faster and faster and faster. It became colder as an icy hand within this terrible place reached out to keep the connection… only for it to slip from the winter's grasp.

When Shinji opened his eyes… he stared as the horrific visage of Ithaqua became no more. Not dead, just cut off from this place. It's influence would forever be felt by an unmelting vaguely human sculpture of ice where Ithaqua once stood. A monument or perhaps a legacy much like the Coral waterfall that Bokrug had become. One that would forever remain. Never to melt under even the hottest flames. Shinji breathed hard as his AT-Field fell… followed by his body.

As his vision faded. Shinji looked to the misshapen ice statue… wondering if he had forever severed Ithaqua from this world… or if this was but a momentary reprieve. A hindrance at best. Whatever the case may be, the Blizzard had ended, and Shinji fell into unconsciousness.

Nyarlathotep smiled as he watched the three weeks of winter finally come to an end. He chucked as Ithaqua had its invitation forcibly revoked and Shinji fell to the ground unmoving. He laced his fingers and crossed his legs.

"And all proceeds in accordance with the Scenario."