Imperial Palace.
The palace's energy shield shimmered with a pale blue light, enveloping the entire structure. Countless anti-gravity devices hummed softly, supporting the magnificent building's operation.
Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the palace's tranquility.
The alarm echoed throughout the palace, its sound shrill and urgent. The previously soft lighting flickered erratically, and red warning lights flashed wildly in every corner.
In the central control room of the palace, a blinding red energy reading flickered and jumped on a massive holographic monitoring screen.
The monitoring data showed that a terrifyingly powerful energy had suddenly appeared from not far away.
This energy was unimaginably powerful, its fluctuation frequency far exceeding the capabilities of Imperial technology.
"What exactly is this?"
King Carol frowned, his gaze fixed on the holographic screen, his eyes revealing deep worry and confusion.
He wore a magnificent golden robe, its surface inlaid with countless precious gems.
His face was resolute, the years etched deep into his features, yet his eyes remained piercing, radiating a kingly majesty.
The surrounding ministers were also filled with terror, whispering amongst themselves.
Chief Scientific Advisor Dr. Haddaye's hands trembled as he rapidly operated the control panel, attempting to gather more information about this energy.
His forehead was covered in sweat, his face as pale as paper.
"Your Majesty, according to preliminary analysis, the pattern of this energy fluctuation does not match any energy source we know of."
"Its intensity... is truly terrifying."
Dr. Haddaye's voice trailed off.
Suddenly, he noticed something, his eyes widening.
"Your Highness, this energy fluctuation is very likely—'Unit Zero'!"
Upon hearing the words "Unit Zero," the entire control room fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone knew what "Unit Zero" meant.
The sudden appearance of "Unit Zero" signifies that the "Origin of the World" is in danger.
King Carol sensed something was wrong and hurriedly inquired.
"Where is the energy fluctuation coming from?"
Dr. Hadaya glanced at the control panel and immediately replied.
"It's coming from the Lakaman family."
The ministers were slightly surprised. Could the owner of "Unit Zero" be Lakaman's daughter—Asuka?
King Carol slammed his fist on the throne, abruptly rising to his feet and loudly issuing orders.
"Immediately dispatch the 'Black Edge Legion' and the 'Iron Blood Legion' to the Lakaman family's residence. Protect 'Unit Zero' at all costs!"
"Yes!"
...
Lakaman's Mansion.
Fang Xian looked at "Unit Zero" and couldn't help but feel many particles around him being manipulated by it.
Is this the power of the "Origin of the World" to control a region?
If the entire Science and Martial World were mobilized by it, what terrifying power would that be?
However, it seems that Rei Ayanami hasn't fully mastered it yet.
Since she hasn't fully mastered it, then he won't hold back.
Fang Xian rushed towards the recovering "Unit-00" like lightning, his fists raining down, each punch slamming hard into the newly healed area of "Unit-00".
The fuselage of "Unit-00" showed dents and cracks again, but it continued to frantically absorb energy, attempting to recover.
Seeing this, Fang Xian knew that this couldn't continue, so he decided to use a strategy of capturing the leader first.
He gripped the outer shell of "Unit-00" tightly and ripped off a large metal plate.
Behind the metal plate was Rei Ayanami in the cockpit.
Rei Ayanami stared at Fang Xian, a smirk playing on her lips.
She held a long "E5 Laser Cannon" in both hands, aiming it at Fang Xian.
"Fang Xian, die!"
The "E5 Laser Cannon" was "Unit-00's" built-in superweapon, capable of instantly killing a top-tier expert in the world of science fiction.
While its power was immense, the "E5 Laser Cannon" also had a clear weakness: its rate of fire was too slow, making it easy to dodge.
Rei Ayanami hadn't expected Fang Xian to be so powerful, instantly defeating "Unit-00."
She knew Fang Xian intended to capture her alive, so she was prepared. The moment Fang Xian opened the cockpit door, she would seize the opportunity to kill him instantly.
The sudden attack, coupled with the close proximity, meant Fang Xian's death was inevitable.
Rei Ayanami pressed the fire button, and the already fully charged "E5 Laser Cannon" roared deafeningly.
An incredibly dazzling laser beam shot out from the barrel, instantly tearing through space.
Fang Xian's eyes narrowed, and his "Light Energy Shield" immediately enveloped his body, blocking the "E5 Laser Cannon's" attack.
"Boom!"
The immense impact struck Fang Xian, instantly sending him flying.
The air around him was rapidly compressed, emitting a muffled and deafening roar.
The basement ceiling was instantly blasted apart, large chunks of brick raining down.
Fang Xian was ejected from the ground like a cannonball.
The moment he broke through the ground, deep cracks immediately appeared in the surrounding earth.
Under the powerful shockwave, the walls of the luxury villa collapsed, windows shattered into countless fragments, and the exquisite roof collapsed in an instant.
"Boom!"
The villa's protective shield was also unable to withstand the impact, being directly pierced and disintegrated.
Asuka and Misato Katsuragi watched Fang Xian being blasted away, their hearts clenching with pain.
They didn't know why they were so worried about Fang Xian's safety.
However, they knew this was not the time to worry. Seeing the basement continuing to collapse, they immediately went all out, flying outwards.
They were extremely anxious, praying that Fang Xian would be alright.
But remembering the terrifying laser beam they'd just witnessed, they had a bad feeling and felt extremely uneasy.
Rei Ayanami smugly admired her masterpiece, slowly closing the upper cockpit and beginning to absorb energy to repair Unit-00.
Just then, a whooshing sound rang out.
"Whoosh!"
"Bang!"
Countless cracks instantly appeared on Unit-00's incredibly hard outer shell, then the cracks rapidly spread, and the entire body slowly broke apart in the middle. The two sections of the machine crashed down in opposite directions, kicking up a cloud of dust that blotted out the sky.
Rei Ayanami, sitting in the cockpit, hadn't even reacted when the hatch was forcefully pried open, revealing before her an unharmed
—Fang Xian.
"Fang Xian!"
Rei Ayanami stared at Fang Xian in disbelief. She knew all too well the power of the "E5 Laser Cannon," and at such close range, even if Fang Xian activated his "Light Energy Shield," he would be blasted to smithereens.
But now, Fang Xian wasn't even a speck of dust on him, let alone smithereens.
This was simply astonishing.
Fang Xian stepped on the "E5 Laser Cannon," preventing Rei Ayanami from resisting any further.
This time, he directly used "Fire Illusion," putting Rei Ayanami into an illusion.
A black magic circle appeared beneath his feet, connecting to Rei Ayanami and forming another black magic circle.
A large "Human Lord" appeared between them.
"Contract."
Rei Ayanami murmured to herself within Fang Xian's illusion.
"I...agree..."
The black magic circle linking the two shone brightly, merging into a large black magic circle.
A moment later, both Fang Xian and Rei Ayanami sensed the "Power of the Contract," and the contract was successful.
The light dimmed, and the black magic circle disappeared.
[Contract successful. Current contract partner: 68/202.]
Rei Ayanami's successful contract means that the "Origin of the World"
is now in their hands.