Chapter 1 - Angel Attack.
2005 AD.
The river drifted quietly, reflecting a pale light under a thick, ash-colored sky as it wound through a desolate, barricaded city.
Overhead, gray helicopters patrolled in unison, casting sharp UV beams down the darkened streets where few people remained.
Inside the choppers, pilots conversed over crackling radios. One voice broke through the static: "Unidentified object closing in."
In the main surveillance room, a middle-aged man with brown hair sighed, his voice carrying a note of weary anticipation.
"Another angel, huh?" His attire was sharp and dark: a black jacket and matching pants, accented by a crimson tie.
The red-tinted glare on his glasses added an ominous glint as his hands clasped near his face in a thoughtful pose.
Around him, screens displayed every corner of the city. Above him, bold letters identified the location unmistakably: NERV HQ.
A voice from the speaker crackled through. "We have a visual on the target. Should we engage?"
Without hesitation, the man replied calmly, "It's too weak. The landmines we've set up will cripple it—and if not, we'll send in our forces to finish it off."
As the loudspeakers blared warnings across the empty subway—"Residents, remain indoors! This is a city-wide lockdown!"
A brown-haired boy sat alone on a station bench, dark blue eyes glancing at his watch. Clutching his green backpack, he fidgeted and scanned the empty surroundings.
Gray pants, a white button-up shirt, and a gray tee underscored his tense demeanor, his gaze uncertain as he murmured,
"Thought she said she'd be here…" He let out a sigh, dragging his feet through the eerie silence, each step punctuated by the low hum of distant helicopters.
Vyooom!
The sudden roar overhead startled him, sending him stumbling. Covering his ears, he muttered in frustration, "Enough with the noise already!"
Steeling himself, he ventured into the empty street.
"This city's… so creepy." His voice was barely a whisper as he reached a telephone booth, glancing around nervously before dialing a number with trembling hands.
The line went unanswered, and he dropped the receiver with a defeated sigh. "I knew I shouldn't have come."
Clutching a photo of the woman, he muttered, "Just forget it. She's not coming."
As he staggered out of the booth, his gaze caught a faint, eerie glow across the street... a girl with blue hair, bathed in an otherworldly light, smiling at him serenely.
"What… the hell?" His eyes widened in shock.
She wore a light blue school uniform with a red tie. "Hey, it's getting late, you should—"
But before he could finish, a dark, twisted figure materialized behind her
A skeletal creature with gnarled tusks and a throbbing red core in its chest. Its shadowy form stretched toward her, fingers like twisted branches reaching out to claim her.
"Run! Hurry!" the boy's voice wavered, but he gathered all his courage, clenching his fists as he charged toward the monstrous figure.
"Get away from her, you monster!" he yelled, swinging his green backpack with fierce determination, his breaths coming quick and shallow as he advanced.
"RAAAAH!" His scream filled the empty street as he pursued the creature... only to see the girl fading into mist.
The creature's elongated arm struck him hard in the ribs, launching him into a nearby building with a powerful impact.
His green backpack skidded across the pavement, spilling its contents through a large tear.
He slumped to the ground, struggling to hold onto consciousness as the monster's looming shadow crept closer.
"H-Help…" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
Suddenly, an engine roared, breaking the tense silence. A car screeched to a halt, drawing the creature's attention
The boy squinted, barely making out the figure stepping out—a woman with purple hair and glinting sunglasses. His eyes widened as recognition dawned.
"It's… her…" he whispered, watching as the woman stood tall and, with a calm yet commanding tone, called out, "Hey! Back off!"
The creature lunged toward her, but she stood her ground, a smirk spreading across her face as she aimed a sleek, silver gun. Its barrel glowed with a fierce blue light.
With a calm breath, she fired.
GYOOOOOM!
The laser sliced through the air, striking the monster's core with precision as it melted into oblivion.
It let out a screech, clutching its chest as it retreated, its final echo fading into the empty streets before vanishing.
"Hah! That thing's not getting far! Just a level one threat!" the woman chuckled, as the dry, windless air of the barren city swirled dust around them.
Her eyes caught the boy on the ground, still motionless but slowly stirring.
"You alright there, kid?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as he struggled to his feet, clutching his arm.
"T-think… so," The child stammered, his voice quivering.
The woman's grin softened. "Sorry to keep you waiting. Hop in, okay?" She gestured toward the passenger seat, already sliding into the driver's side.
The boy hesitated, then climbed in, his stiff movements breaking the silence with a crackling sound.
"W-What was that thing?!" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and fear as his hands trembled, struggling to comprehend what he had seen.
The woman glanced over, her tone calm as she reassured him.
"An angel. I'll explain everything once we get there." She offered him a warm smile, placed her hands on the wheel, and started up the car.
"An angel? What the hell—" But his words were cut off by the loud hum of the engine as they sped off, leaving only a desolate landscape stretching out ahead of them.
The landscape stretched endlessly, the horizon a sharp line of dust and rocks as there was no sound except the hum of the car and the occasional chirp of insects in the distance.
"So, you're Shinji Ikari, right?" She asked, breaking the quiet, her fingers tapping the wheel in a steady rhythm.
"Y-Yeah, I am…" Shinji muttered, a slight blush creeping up his neck. "Y-You're Ms. Katsuragi, right?"
"Aww, why so formal?" She teased, flashing a grin his way. "Just call me Misato."
Shinji gave a shy nod, still unsure of how to interact with her. Misato smirked and gently nudged him with her elbow as they cruised through the dusty desolate roadway.
But then, breaking the silence, Shinji raised his voice, a question weighing on his mind. "This place is so barren compared to the city… why's that?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah…" Misato shrugged. "I guess it's an extra measure to keep us safe from the Angels. Maybe just to weed out the weaker ones that fall easily to our military weapons."
But before Shinji could respond with more questions, her phone buzzed, and with one hand on the wheel, she held it up.
"I've got him. Want him brought to headquarters?" she asked, her tone casual, but Shinji's panicked voice broke through.
"Miss Misato!"
Irritated, Misato snapped back, "I'm on a call here—"
"Wait! You just passed a sign warning of landmines up ahead!"
Misato's eyes went wide as she slammed on the brakes, tires screeching as they skidded to a halt.
She threw herself down instinctively, ducking under the steering wheel as a deafening explosion shattered the silence.
The car jerked violently backward, tossing them like ragdolls against the seats.
A wave of heat and dust swept over them as the wind from the blast whipped through the wreckage, carrying the scent of burning rubber and metal.
In the wreckage, the two lay face up, staring at the sky as the dust settled.
Misato's car had been damaged extensively, twisted metal, wreckage, and shattered glass scattered across the barren land.
Misato's first reaction was to sit up, brushing the dirt off her face as if nothing had happened.
Shinji followed suit, his face a mix of shock and frustration. Misato scrambled toward what remained of the vehicle, her voice cracking.
"Nooo!"
"My car! I just had it restored, now it's trashed!" she whined dramatically, kneeling over the wrecked hood. "The fees are gonna be crazy…"
Shinji sighed in disbelief, "We almost died, and that's what you're worrying about?"
Misato shot him a glance, clearly annoyed but mostly unphased. As she pulled out some duct tape from the wreckage, Shinji's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This'll fix it!" She grinned.
"Wait—don't tell me you're going to drive that thing? It's literally held together by duct tape!"
"A little tape will never hurt anyone!" Misato said with a grin, already working on the battered hood. "I may not look it, but I'm actually a civil servant!"
Shinji groaned, his hand on his forehead. "Sure you are."
Misato laughed, her voice light against the quiet desert as she pointed at him with a teasing grin. "Oh, come on! This is gonna be great!"
After securing the tape, she stepped back to admire her work, then looked over at Shinji's unimpressed frown.
"Aren't boys your age supposed to get excited about this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes and lifting an eyebrow.
"For a kid, you're a huuuge buzzkill!" she scoffed, hands on her hips as Shinji rolled his eyes. "And for an adult, you're suuuper childish."
Misato raised an eyebrow, her composure quickly fading away.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Her voice rang out, echoing through the emptiness of the surrounding mountains.
.
Meanwhile, in the city, the creature began to had begun to stitch itself back together, its grotesque form regenerating slowly, unnervingly.
Its body groaned and twitched, as if it was still coming to life, its movements staggered and unnatural.
The creature groaned, the eerie whisper trailing off, following the skid marks from Misato's car as It's body warped and contorted into unnatural positions.
.
Misato's battered car rattled down the empty highway, each crackle and shudder from the exhaust like the ominous warning of a storm.
The engine sputtered, as the air inside the car felt unnaturally still, thick with tension.
"I-It sounds like it's gonna explode, Miss Misato!" Shinji's voice trembled, his eyes wide with panic. But Misato remained unphased, her eyes locked on the dark tunnel ahead.
"There it is," she murmured, a grin tugging at her lips. "Nerv HQ."
The car lurched forward, the tires crunching against the gravel as they passed through a large, open door. The bright red lights flickered on, casting long, harsh shadows.
A loudspeaker blared to life, its mechanical voice slicing through the silence.
"Occupant detected. Identification required."
Shinji blinked in confusion. "Doesn't my father work here?"
Misato casually rolled down her window, her fingers pressing against a security pad, the lights shifting from red to white.
"Yeah, this is a secret organization connected to the UN," she said, voice teasing. "Do you know what he does here?"
Shinji sighed, dropping his gaze to his lap. "Well, my teacher did say he has a duty of protecting humanity."
He drifted deeper into thought, unaware of Misato watching him closely, a hint of worry in her gaze. A question rose to the surface of his mind:
"What is Father doing right now?"
.
.
In the surveillance room of Nerv HQ, a middle-aged man with brown hair adjusted his red tinted glasses, frowning slightly. Three imposing figures stood on elevated podiums before him.
"As of this moment, you have been given command over this operation," one of the men said, his voice full of authority.
"Let's see what you can do, Gendo Ikari," another added, his tone heavy with expectation.
"Understood," Ikari responded, his face impassive.
"Can you really go through with this?" the man on the left podium chimed.
"That power is the driving force of Nerv, one that will send us to victory," Ikari replied firmly.
"Don't let us down," the man on the right podium declared, and with a mechanical hum, the podiums descended from view, leaving only the faint echo of their departure.
A gray-haired man in his 50s, dressed in a well-tailored suit, approached Ikari. His arms were clasped behind his back as he spoke, his tone laced with skepticism.
"The higher forces have given up. What is it that you plan?" he asked, eyeing Ikari carefully.
Ikari turned, meeting his gaze with a quiet resolve.
"We'll activate Unit 1."
The older man raised an eyebrow. "We need a worthy candidate to activate it. How can we be sure?"
Ikari sighed, his voice tinged with frustration. "No problem... The spare will arrive shortly, he will assimilate with it."
.
.
Meanwhile, the car jolted downward as they descended into the depths of the facility.
The metallic hum of the elevator filled the air, and Shinji's restless fingers fidgeted nervously.
"Are we going to see my father... now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
His brow furrowed as old memories surfaced...
His childhood, the pain of abandonment, and the cold loneliness of being left behind.
"Father..." he muttered, clenching his fist tightly.
Misato glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, and by the way, did your father send you any... ID forms?"
Shinji jolted upright, startled. "Y-Yes..."
"Here." He handed her a crumpled sheet of paper, with a Nerv ID taped beside it.
Misato grinned and passed him a guidebook labeled 'Welcome to Nerv.' "Here you go."
Shinji glanced at the book, a perplexed expression crossing his face. "Am I supposed to... take up a job here?" he thought, as the elevator descended further, the space growing darker with each passing moment.
Misato leaned over, studying Shinji as he stared at the floor, arms crossed around the book. "So... your father makes you uneasy?" she asked, her voice soft.
Shinji remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead, the weight of the book grounding him as his mind wandered.
Misato sighed with a chuckle, leaning back in her seat, her hands behind her head. "You're just like me," she muttered, half to herself. Shinji's gaze flickered upward as they passed
a window.
A breathtaking view unfolded before him as they descended downwards.
Towering structures bathed in orange fluorescent light, a sprawling fortress surrounded by multiple buildings.
"Welcome to Nerv HQ," Misato announced, her voice filled with pride as Shinji's eyes widened in awe.
"The key to rebuilding the world and protecting humanity and protecting us from angels."
The elevator screeched to a halt, as they exited the car to step onto a moving platform, its metallic hum vibrating beneath them.
Misato, the one in charge of the controls, glanced at the route map in Shinji's hands.
"Let's see… the station's west exit, turn at gate 3... then route 8?" Shinji muttered, scratching his head in confusion. "What does that mean?" he asked, turning to Misato.
"Don't look at me! I'm just as lost as you!" she shot back, her voice rising as she shrugged defensively, sweat dripping down her forehead.
"You work here! How do you not know?" Shinji groaned, slumping against the platform's rail, frustration evident in his voice. "Where's a grown-up when you need one..."
Misato's face flushed, her hands fumbling with the controls. "W-Wait... I know where to go... just listen!" She quickly typed in a sequence of commands, her movements hurried.
"There! That should be the right way!" Misato grinned with her arms crossed, proud of her quick thinking.
"You just pressed random buttons…" Shinji sighed, rolling his eyes. "What a grown-up move..."
The platform suddenly lurched, vibrating violently. "WAH!" Shinji shouted, gripping the rails in panic.
"Relax, it does that sometimes," Misato said, flashing a sly grin.
Shinji looked down at the dizzying drop below, his heart pounding. "Relax? What if I fall? I'm afraid of heights!"
Misato smirked, waving a dismissive hand. "Quit being a wuss. We're almost there."
The platform jerked one last time before it settled, and they arrived at their destination, the heavy hum of machinery still ringing in their ears.
.
.
"Subject #38, come out!" a blonde woman barked, her voice sharp and demanding.
The open white lab coat she wore fluttered slightly with the movement, revealing a purple sleeveless tee underneath.
In front of her, a purplish-green orb floated, its surface pulsing rhythmically like a beating heart, casting an eerie white glow that flickered intermittently.
The hum of the orb reverberated in the sterile air, almost alien in its pitch.
"Stabilize Unit 1!" she shouted, eyes scanning the fluctuating readings. "Its pulse is becoming erratic again!"
The control room burst into action the moment the woman signaled.
"Yes, ma'am!" they shouted in unison, slamming their hands onto the console. Jolts of energy surged through the orb, making its glow flicker.
The pulses grew more consistent, each reverberating through the air as the boy, Subject 38, staggered forward.
His steps were slow, uncertain, his black hair matted with sweat. He appeared to be a teenager, his face tense with fear.
Behind him, a line of children stood, faces split between hope and dread, all between 13 and 17.
"Damn... Looks like no one's getting it," muttered a red-haired girl, frustration in her voice.
"Is it even possible to merge with that thing? To become an EVA?" a boy asked, disbelief heavy in his tone.
"I've always dreamed of working here!" a younger girl with pigtails said eagerly. "Defeating Angels is serious business!"
"I'll do anything for revenge against those Angels!" an older boy replied, fists clenched.
The blonde woman's expression darkened as she watched the boy slowly approach the orb. "We need Ikari's son," she muttered, her voice heavy with frustration.
"No one can assimilate with Unit 1."
The boy's hands shook as he reached out, his breath ragged. "Come on..." he murmured. But suddenly, the orb shot out a surge of white energy, sharp and unforgiving.
"Yaaaaah!"
The boy screamed as his body convulsed, the energy flooding him. He staggered back, the crowd gasping as his body slammed against the floor with a dull thud.
"Ow..." he groaned, rubbing his head weakly, his voice strained. The blonde woman stood over him, her eyes narrowed, her disappointment palpable.
"Looks like another one bites the dust," a voice muttered from the crowd, laced with resignation.
"I'm losing hope..." another voice whispered, heavy with defeat. "Nobody's gonna do it..." a boy sighed, shaking his head.
"38... You are dismissed." The woman sighed, turning sharply toward the elevator, her steps deliberate and slow.
The silence that followed was thick, the weight of disappointment hanging in the air.
"Can't believe she's late again..." she thought, irritation tightening her features.
She stood by the elevator, impatience growing. A faint metallic hum echoed as the doors slid open, revealing Misato and Shinji.
"Ah, Ritsuko!" Misato exclaimed, raising her arms in startled greeting.
"You're 12 minutes late!" Ritsuko said, her voice stern but laced with a hint of surprise.
"This is absurd, Colonel Katsuragi. We're running out of time and resources!"
Ritsuko turned, her gaze flicking briefly to Shinji, who had been absorbed in his book. "This is the boy?" she asked, voice flat but curious.
"Yep," Misato replied, offering a grin.
Ritsuko glanced down at Shinji, her eyes assessing. "I'm Ritsuko Akagi, Chief of Nerv's Project E."
Shinji quickly raised his head, meeting her eyes for a moment before looking down again, avoiding her gaze. "Hi," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
.
.
.
In the control room, Ikari studied the surveillance board, his expression grim.
Beside him, the grey-haired man stood silently, his gaze following Ikari's as they both processed the unfolding situation.
The low hum of the machines filled the air, their quiet whirring juxtaposed with the growing tension in the room.
"Now... I understand why they gave up, Fuyutsuki." he murmured, turning to the man as his voice laced with an edge.
His eyes remained fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding on the monitor, where the creature rampaged, obliterating everything in its path as a surge of fear crept into his features.
Fuyutsuki glanced over, his own gaze flickering nervously. "That creature... it can regenerate,"
he stated, voice trembling as he watched the creature move with unnatural speed.
Ikari remained silent, his face a mask of calm despite the rising chaos. "It seems Its turned into a level two threat."
Fuyutsuki's urgency flared. "Your son has arrived. We must assimilate him into the Eva before it reaches headquarters!"
Ikari gave a slight nod. "Agreed. I'm going down. Take care of the situation in my absence." He turned sharply, gesturing toward the descending platform, his movements deliberate.
Fuyutsuki's thoughts lingered as he watched Gendo's back retreat. "Father and son... meeting again after three years..."
Before he could finish his thought, a voice cut through the air. "Deputy Commander! The target's movements are becoming erratic—it's still headed for our base!"
With a resigned sigh, Commander Fuyutsuki gave his orders. "Prepare the battle stations for an Eva malfunction. We must plan for the worst outcome."
His voice carried the weight of experience before he disappeared down the corridor.
.
.
As Shinji walked down the aisle with Ritsuko and Misato, the sight before him stopped him cold.
His mouth fell open in disbelief. The glowing purple orb in front of him pulsated, a rhythmic beat that synced eerily with his own heartbeat.
Its glow flickered, casting strange shadows in the dimly lit room.
"Everybody!" Ritsuko called, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Testing phase is over! Authorized personnel only beyond this point!"
The room erupted in groans of disappointment as the children, their faces filled with a mixture of fear and hope, shuffled away.
"None of them lived up to my expectations…" Ritsuko thought as she watched the crowd disperse.
Her gaze shifted to Shinji, who stood frozen, staring at the orb.
"This is the ultimate weapon of mankind," she continued, her voice calm but firm. "Alien, human, and artificial remnants combined into the Artificial Evangelion.
The final trump card this facility has to offer."
Shinji's head dropped, his thoughts heavy with the weight of what he was witnessing. "T-this is what my father does..." he muttered.
"Precisely," came the familiar voice of Gendo Ikari, echoing from above. He appeared at the window, looming over them like a shadow.
"Engage assimilation immediately, full blast!" His command was cold and unwavering.
Misato's voice trembled with urgency. "Wait! Unit 1 is too unstable—this will hurt Shinji! We can't do this!"
Ritsuko stepped in, her expression hardening. "We have no choice. The more erratic the Eva, the stronger the chance for a connection."
Shinji stood frozen, sweat dripping down his face, his body trembling. Ritsuko met his gaze, her tone firm but gentle. "Shinji, listen carefully."
He lifted his head, eyes wide with confusion. "Y-yes?"
"You're going to fuse with it."
The words hung in the air, heavy with the impossible task ahead. Shinji's mouth went dry, but before he could respond, Ikari's voice rang out again.
"You know why you're here, Shinji. Don't falter now."
Shinji's anger flared, his fists tightening at his sides. "What, and you expect me to fuse with this thing to fight that monster?!"
His voice cracked, the weight of his fear mixing with his resentment.
"Correct," his father replied coldly.
Shinji's eyes burned with a mix of confusion and fury. "But why now? After you abandoned me all this time?!"
"There was a need for you," Ikari answered with chilling simplicity.
Shinji's voice trembled as he lashed out, his words echoing in the cavernous chamber. "Why not someone else? Why me?!"
"Because... it's simply impossible for anyone else," Ikari's voice remained stern, without a hint of hesitation.
"I can't!" Shinji's voice broke, fear overtaking him. "I don't even understand what's happening!"
Before he could say more, Ikari's voice boomed across the room, filled with an authority that silenced all else. "Either you comply… or you get out!"
The force of his words caused the workers to look up in alarm. Ritsuko and Misato exchanged worried glances.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the facility. The creature was closing in, its pace relentless.
"Shinji, we don't have time!" Ritsuko urged, her eyes wide with urgency. "You have to become Eva now!"
Misato stepped forward, her arms crossed, her face a mask of resolve. "You can't run away from this. Not from your father... and not from yourself."
Tears welled in Shinji's eyes as his voice cracked. "I just can't! I just got here!"
Ikari, watching from the window, turned and walked away, his figure retreating into the control room.
He raised his voice once more, issuing another order through the speakers. "Fuyutsuki. Wake Rei."
On the screen, Fuyutsuki's face appeared, concern evident in his eyes. "Is she still viable?"
"She's not dead," Ikari replied with finality.
"Rei."
The screen flickered, and Rei's voice, distant and robotic, echoed through the speakers. "Yes?"
"I need you again, The backup isn't working.".
"Yes."
.
Shinji stood frozen, his gaze locked onto the pulsating, alien-like orb.
Veins branched across its surface, throbbing with a rhythm like a beating heart.
His hand reached out instinctively, his fingers hovering near the strange object... only to be jolted by the sudden appearance of a stretcher rolling into the room.
On it lay a pale, limp girl with cold red eyes staring emptily at the ceiling.
Bandages covered her delicate form, with one tightly wrapped around her head, concealing much of her light blue hair and an eye beneath layers of white.
"Is that... the girl? The girl... I imagined..." Shinji's thoughts spun as he watched her struggle, gasping as she tried to sit up.
Pain twisted her face as the building shook with a deafening crash, and her body slipped from the stretcher, landing unceremoniously on the floor.
Without thinking, Shinji rushed to her side, his heart pounding. "Hey! Are you okay?" His arms grasped her, as she whimpered in pain, each sound twisting in his chest.
Then, he felt something wet on his fingers. He looked down—and froze.
Blood.
Shinji's hand clenched at his side, his body trembling as the weight of the situation sank in.
His gaze flickered toward the suffering girl, and his thoughts raced. "I can't run… she's in pain. I can't leave her like this!"
The urge to recoil was strong, but something deeper surged within him.
"Don't run away... Don't run away... DON'T RUN AWAY!"
With a deep breath, his resolve began to harden. His face set, and his voice, though shaky, rang out with newfound determination.
"I'll do it…"
.
I'll fuse with it.
Suddenly, Ritsuko's voice rang out firmly in the control room. "Increase the Assimilation strength to maximum!"
"Right!" The operators quickly complied, and the orb began pulsating faster, its form warping and crackling with streaks of lightning.
"Shinji! Grab it, and don't let go!" Misato called, her tone tense.
Shinji eyed the electrified orb, feeling a faint sting as it reached him. His heart raced to match its frantic pulse. He swallowed, steeling himself. "This… won't kill me, right?"
Misato's voice wavered. "We should warn him... if he can't assimilate, he'll..."
Ritsuko cut in sharply. "It's a risk we have to take," she replied, turning back to the monitors. "Shinji, listen! Just hold on tight, it's safe!"
Shinji hesitated, his gaze drifting to the unconscious girl. "I can't back down now, I Cant!" he muttered. With a shout, he clutched the orb, his body jolted by searing pain.
GYAAAAH!
"Turn it down! It'll kill him!" Misato shouted, her voice cracking. Shinji clutched the orb tightly, tears streaming down his face in agony.
Shinji screamed, gasping for air as violent electricity surged through him.
But Ritsuko's expression remained unflinching. "No. He'll make it," she replied.
The monitors flickered as energy readings shifted. An operator gasped, "Their energy waves are... stabilizing? They're syncing!"
Misato's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's... syncing with Unit 1?"
"This is it!" Ritsuko declared.
"RAAAAH!" Shinji roared, gripping harder as the orb's energy fused into him, his sync rate spiking.
"He's at 25%!" an operator exclaimed as the orb's glowing aura faded.
Its form dissolved into Shinji's chest, as he gasped for breath, eyes wide in astonishment.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
"Did I..."
Absorb it?
Shinji murmured, his voice trembling as he looked down at his hands, trying to process what had just happened.
"Preparation for launch is complete," the operator reported. Misato turned to Ikari, tense but resolved. "Sir, approval to launch Shinji?"
Ikari's gaze was cold and unwavering. "Yes. That Angel must be defeated."
"Are you sure?" Fuyutsuki murmured, but Ikari only smirked. "Completely."
Reluctantly, Shinji climbed into the pod, following the surveillance crew's instructions. Misato's voice rang out with authority as she gave the command.
"Launch!"
The pod shot upward toward the surface, locked in place and ready for what was to come.
Shinji's pod tore through the night sky before crashing down in a burst of green lightning that struck the street below.
BOOM!
The pod exploded, scattering debris across the area. Amidst the rubble, a figure slowly emerged... Shinji stood tall, his dark, warped form rising from the destruction.
Now transformed into a towering, 12-foot beast cloaked in an intense green aura, Shinji's eyes glowed a stark, predatory white.
Encased in a purple endoskeleton with dark plates across his chest and green stripes down his muscular arms, a twisted horn jutted from his forehead, adding a demonic fierceness.
"I'll kill you… bastard!" he growled, his distorted voice layered with a monstrous tone as he bared sharp teeth. Charging forward, he stumbled, unsteady in his new, heavy form.
"Gah! What's happening?" he muttered, stumbling just as the towering creature's elongated arm wrapped around his neck, lifting him high.
Misato darted to Ritsuko's side, her face tense with concern. "What's going on with him?!"
"He won't make it at this rate…" Ritsuko murmured, watching as the creature twisted Shinji's arm, threatening to tear it from its socket.
"GYAAAAAAH!"
Shinji's warped scream reverberated through the streets. "His sync rate is dropping!" Ritsuko's voice shook. "He's… losing connection!"
"Shinji! Tap into your power!" Misato shouted as the monster charged a purple energy blast with its free hand.
Still gripping Shinji, it shot repeated blasts at his head, each impact making his body flinch.
"Left forearm damaged! Skull integrity... failing!" an operator shouted as another blast hurled Shinji into a concrete wall, blood splattering from his face.
His glowing eyes dimmed, his colossal body slumping motionless.
"Shinji's… going to die…" Misato whispered.
"Status report!" Ritsuko demanded.
"No signal. Unit 1's offline," came the operator's reply.
All hope seemed lost as the monster swelled to 40 feet, trudging closer to the HQ, each step reverberating through the headquarters.
"What... do we do?" an operator asked, glancing at the shocked faces of the crew. Meanwhile, Ikari remained expressionless, frozen in complete stillness.
Then... a single, blazing white eye reopened.
The figure on the monitors stirred, energy crackling. "Shinji's… back?" an operator gasped. "No," Ritsuko said darkly. "That's not Shinji."
Misato's eyes widened. "The Eva… it's gone berserk."
With a primal roar, the Eva surged forward, green energy blazing as it smashed into the creature's head.
It leapt back, circling for another attack as Fuyutsuki observed with grim satisfaction. "It's over."
The creature raised a shimmering rainbow barrier in desperation. "An A.T. field!" Misato gasped. "It's impenetrable!"
But the Eva tore off its own arm, chunks of flesh flying as it regenerated instantly. With a fierce howl, it latched it's fists onto the field, it's green energy corroding the barrier.
"GRRRAAH!" The Eva surged forward, its mighty arms tearing through the field in a blinding explosion of light.
The creature countered with a blinding beam, striking the Eva directly. Silence blanketed the area as smoke hung in the air.
From the smoke, a green flare reignited. The Eva descended from the sky with a forceful crash, landing feet-first on the creature's skull.
It grabbed the monster's tusks and wrenched them apart with raw strength.
With relentless fury, it struck the Angel's red core, each blow hammering it into the ground with thunderous force.
The core shattered, and the creature convulsed violently before erupting.
BOOM!
A massive explosion engulfed the area, erasing all trace of the Eva and the angel.
The buildings stood untouched behind their barricades, though cars and lampposts lay in ruins.
The control room was silent. Only Ikari remained unmoved, his expression unreadable.
.
.
Suddenly...
From the smoldering aftermath, the Eva emerged, dripping in purple blood, its eyes blazing with primal intensity.
Misato murmured, almost breathless, "That's… the Eva's true nature."
As the first rays of dawn stretched across the city, casting a warm glow over the blood-streaked giant, she watched in awe.
"Incredible," she whispered, her voice steady with finality as the scene faded to black with the Eva standing resolute against the rising sun.
Chapter 1 - End.
Note: I kept it faithful enough but through the 5 or so chapters I've worked on, It diverges quickly!
I plan on changing a lot of things to fit a vision for what I imagine this story to play out like!