BOOM!
Violent impact erupted on Red King's abdomen. Kicked off large patches of ruin dust from gaps in its skin. Then Red King's entire body toppled backward.
Surrounding monsters had closed in.
Lias decisively raised his left arm. Right arm clasped at left wrist.
WHOOOM!!!
A Spacium Beam instantly erupted. Hit the monster directly ahead in the face. Then Lias immediately rotated angle. Swept this Spacium Beam in a full circle at extreme speed.
ROOOAR!
GRAAAH!
These freshly awakened monsters got stunned directly. Heads covered in scorched marks.
BOOM!!
And Lias instantly leaped into the air. Sonic boom impact spread.
Using high altitude advantage, arms crossed before chest. Massive energy gathered. Then aimed at the monsters below. Violently extended arms horizontally.
Multiple Guillotine!
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!
White cross-shaped light blades released from various parts of Lias's body. Dense strikes toward the ground!
Eight monsters each took a light blade. Injuries accumulated again. Tough skin split open in large patches.
"Amazing..."
"Such strength, truly worthy of Space Garrison elite." The Blue Tribe scientists in the sky saw this scene. Couldn't believe it.
Monsters they couldn't handle—Lias alone could solve. Such combat power—they truly envied.
Shinji Ikari also watched this battle intently. Wanted to understand Natsuki-san better.
Until morning.
RING RING~
The preset alarm sounded. Pulled Shinji Ikari from dreams back to reality.
He rubbed his eyes. Reached out and turned off the alarm.
Lay in bed. Stared blankly at the ceiling.
"Is that Natsuki-san's power...?"
"Amazing..."
He still savored the battle he'd just witnessed. More thrilling than sci-fi movies—truly gave him considerable shock.
And having witnessed the power of monsters and light giants, he wasn't so afraid of Angels anymore.
Felt... Angels seemed just so-so.
Each monster in that dream—placed in reality—could easily destroy Tokyo-3. Even if Unit-01 fought with all its might, it seemingly couldn't defeat such monsters.
"Natsuki-san... is Lias your past name?" Shinji sat up from bed. Asked the air before him his inner confusion.
He remembered Natsuki-san hadn't mentioned this name during self-introduction.
After his question, the air remained quiet.
Natsuki-san's phantom didn't appear.
"Eh?" Shinji froze a moment.
Then remembered Natsuki-san was still training in the mental space. Twenty hours, he recalled. Only nine hours had passed.
"Hope Natsuki-san's training goes smoothly." He silently prayed for Natsuki internally.
Then got out of bed. Dressed and washed up.
Today was his transfer day. Registration already transferred to Tokyo-3 Municipal First Middle School.
"Misato-san, should I prepare breakfast for..." Shinji opened his room door. Came to the living room. Just called out wanting to ask if he should prepare an extra breakfast. But Misato Katsuragi seemed to have left early for business.
Entrance shoes also taken. Only him alone in the apartment.
In the past, he might have felt lonely. But now his heart wasn't so empty. His whole person more energetic.
"Looks like I only need to prepare my own breakfast." Shinji confirmed Misato wasn't home. Didn't overthink. Turned and took ingredients from the fridge. Prepared to cook. "Still need to prepare lunch bento too."
Shinji hadn't received much care since childhood. But also developed independent living skills because of it.
Soon, he had everything ready. Also tidied up the house's garbage.
Carrying the garbage bag out the apartment door. Said to the empty apartment: "I'm heading out."
This was life's essential ritual. Also represented Shinji trying to embrace his life.
The crack opening his closed heart was growing larger with time.
Arrived at school. Teacher helped him process all procedures.
Then brought him to the classroom.
"Everyone, this is the new student transferring to our class today. Hope everyone can get along well in the time ahead." The teacher pointed at Shinji and introduced him to classmates.
Because of yesterday and the day before's battles, many realized Tokyo-3 wasn't a safe place. Most with financial means had left. Some classmates in this class also transferred to other schools. One-third of classroom seats were empty. Perhaps more would transfer later.
Someone like Shinji actively transferring to such a place was quite rare.
"Hello everyone, I'm Shinji Ikari. Hope to get along well with everyone in the time ahead." Shinji encouraged himself internally. Came before the blackboard. Wrote his name. Then smiled with effort and spoke to classmates.
"Eh... transfer student."
"Actually transferring in at a time like this."
"Looks pretty delicate though."
"Actually a little handsome guy."
Shinji's self-introduction quickly triggered classroom discussion.
Simultaneously—
Shinji also noticed a familiar figure sitting by the window.
She wore the same uniform as other girls. Bandages still not removed. Looked somewhat pitiful. Used her uninjured hand to prop her chin. Looked outside through the glass. Seemed unconcerned with everything in the classroom. Like a solitary flower blooming alone.
'I remember she's... Ayanami... Rei?'
Shinji recalled her name. They'd just met yesterday in the hangar.
'Her injuries... recovered enough to move this quickly?'
He remembered Rei Ayanami could only lie in a hospital bed then. With normal human recovery ability, impossible to resume activity in such short time.
But the fact was—she already sat in the classroom.
Seems NERV base still had many things he didn't understand.
Carrying his bag, Shinji sat in his seat. Prepared to approach Rei Ayanami during lunch break.
Regarding this girl who was also an EVA pilot like him—he was quite curious.
And he remembered Natsuki-san needed to gather intelligence. If so, he'd start with Rei Ayanami.
Right now, Rei Ayanami silently watching the sky suddenly moved.
She took out her phone for contacting headquarters from her bag.
A line of text on it.
[After school today, you and Shinji both need to come to base for physical examinations]
She silently nodded.
[Received]
Replied with these two words.
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