"Don't be sad, Shinji-kun~ Our combined synchronization rate is 100%~ Hehehehe~"
Asuka slapped Shinji Ikari on the shoulder and laughed.
No...it's been a few days, is it necessary to keep talking about it?
Shinji Ikari drank tea from a teacup and ignored the genius pilot who was carried away with his pride.
About a week ago, the results of the second round of body exchange experiments were "Ayanami Zero and Unit 2, the synchronization rate is 50%, Shinji Ikari and Unit Zero, the synchronization rate is 0.1%, and Asuka and Unit 1, the synchronization rate is 99.9%."
At that time, my mind was in confusion because of the incredible sight I saw. It was fine that the synchronization rate was only 0.1%, but it was outrageous that the synchronization rate between Asuka and Unit-0-0 was that high. This was definitely a shady story.
When I secretly asked Ayanami Rei afterwards, her answer was "It's very troublesome."
It's simple and easy to understand. If Asuka's synchronization rate is the lowest among the three, she will definitely cause all kinds of trouble.
But if calculations based on these data lead to any problems with Unit 3... it has nothing to do with me.
However, there is still a hidden danger in this matter. After Ayanami Rei answered the question about Asuka's synchronization rate, she unexpectedly asked him uncharacteristically: "What did you see?"
It seems that the information integration thought body is not omnipotent.
Shinji Ikari, who was vaguely aware that those scenes might be important, did not answer directly. He just used what Rei Ayanami said to him before as a shield: "I may have seen something, but I didn't see anything."
After that, Ayanami Rei just nodded and said "Really?" and did not mention the matter again.
On the other hand, Shinji Ikari is a little confused. He has been thinking about whether to say "you are like my mother" to her when she is cleaning, or to do housework for her, but he has never been able to find the opportunity - from the literary club
Kirishima Mana was the one doing the cleaning, and there was no need to tidy up the pure white apartment.
This was just to test whether the two Ayanami's reactions were consistent, and I didn't mean to see her blush.
"Shinji-san, do you need more tea?" Kirishima Mana walked up to him carrying a teapot.
"Uh..." Shinji Ikari looked at the empty tea cup and realized that he had drank air for a long time: "Thank you."
"What? What?" Asuka put her face close to hers: "Are you still worried about the low synchronization rate? Don't worry, this genius pilot will protect you from now on."
"In this case, from now on I will fly Unit 2 and you will fly Unit 1?" Shinji Ikari looked at her.
Let's first suggest taking off the roof.
"No way!!" Asuka immediately shouted: "Don't try to take advantage of my daughter!"
"If we don't change, the synchronization rate between me and Unit 1 is 65%, and the synchronization rate between you and Unit 2 is 55%," Shinji Ikari said.
Asuka seemed not to have thought of this, and after two seconds she finally reacted: "No! The synchronization rates between you and Unit 1 and Unit 2 are 65% and 43.5% respectively! And mine is 99.9% and 55%!
This is my total victory!”
"You can't drive two EVAs at the same time." Shinji Ikari pointed out her blind spot.
"I have the highest average score!" Asuka reacted quickly this time: "You can't even compare to Ayanami! You are the best!"
This nickname is really strange, but she probably won't take it for granted... Shinji Ikari nodded to Kirishima's real name and picked up the tea cup to drink tea.
Anyway, the window is open, no matter what.
Didi, didi——
"Hello, Mr. Kaji~" Asuka answered the phone quickly: "What! The apostle appeared directly in the city?!"
……Huh?
Shinji Ikari glanced at Rei Ayanami by the window with some disbelief, where is your early warning radar?
"..." Ayanami Rei raised his hand to pinch the frame of his glasses, blinked twice, then stood up: "Go back."
——
NERV headquarters.
"[What is that thing? Has the zebra crossing become a spirit?]"
Due to the emergency situation, the three pilots did not go to the headquarters, but directly boarded their respective EVAs. It was only then that they saw the incoming apostle for the first time from the communication screen.
It was a strange, huge sphere floating in mid-air. Its entire body was covered with alternating black and white lines, and there were three black holes on it that were at a certain angle to each other.
Like a bowling ball... Shinji Ikari thought silently.
"[The Twelfth Apostle suddenly appeared in the Third Neo-Tokyo without any warning. We had no time to carry out the city subsidence, nor could we conduct a fire test. We can only rely on your on-the-spot performance,]" Misato Katsuragi said: "[However,
So far...well, most of the apostles have the same play style, which is to 'neutralize the AT field and destroy the core'. You should pay more attention to its special abilities and, if possible, try to reduce the degree of damage.
to the lowest level.】"
"[Hmph, with such a big ball, the target is obvious, and whether it can emit beams or conjure tentacles, it is no match for this talented pilot!]" Asuka said arrogantly.
I seem to have heard the saying that "a proud soldier will be defeated"? Shinji Ikari looked at the communication interface of Unit Zero.
"[Where are the tactics?]" Ayanami Rei's expression was unusually serious, and he ignored Ikari Shinji's gaze.
"[One EVA for long-range sniper support, one for close combat, and the last one for mid-range suppression. If the labor is divided...]"
"[Of course I will do the melee combat!]" Asuka said, "[The synchronization rate is 99.9%, which allows EVA to easily perform actions that are difficult to do when the synchronization rate is low, which is very suitable for melee combat!]"
Your current synchronization rate has not reached 60. Thank you.
"[...Then, Zero is responsible for sniper support, and Shinji-kun is responsible for auxiliary suppression.]" Misato Katsuragi did not expose her: "[The launch locations of the three EVAs have been adjusted, launch!]"
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The three EVAs rose straight from their respective standby locations and parted ways halfway.
Shinji Ikari looked at the window of Unit Zero again despite his busy schedule, and found that Rei Ayanami shook his head and nodded at him with subtle movements.
I understand, Asuka can't beat her and needs her own support.
Let’s make a first move—eh?
While looking at the apostle in the window, Shinji Ikari touched his left arm, but his touch was empty. There was nothing there except the sleeve of his combat uniform.
……what's the situation?
——???——
"Is there such a possibility?" Shinji Ikari looked at the strange snow-white environment outside: "What Ayanami means is, 'If you can't beat me, you can win if you bring Asuka back'?"
[Kuri Curry...] Chestnut balls against fingers.
"No, I'm not blaming you for not warning me. Who knew the apostle this time would be so weird." Shinji Ikari touched Kurizi Qiu's head.
The huge "zebra crossing sphere" displayed by the twelfth apostle was just an illusion. When attacked, it would disappear immediately and appear elsewhere. Asuka thought it was some kind of teleportation ability, and when she chased after it with a sword, she fell directly into it.
The "shadow" of the sphere.
No, it can now be completely confirmed that it is not a shadow at all, but the entrance to this strange space.
At that time, when Shinji Ikari directed Unit 1 to step on the edge of the "Shadow" and pull Unit 2 out, he seemed to realize that his prey had been snatched away. The coverage area of the "Shadow" instantly expanded five or six times, and the suction power also increased.
More than a little stronger, he responded to the situation and just threw the No. 2 unit away, when the entire No. 1 unit was completely swallowed up by the "shadow".
However, because he realized that the swallowed part was not harmed, he made a quick wit and made the last swallowed hand of Unit 1 make a thumbs-up gesture outside.
In this way, NERV should come to rescue him after planning, and the preparation time left for them is... the time limit for the life support system to fail after the insertion plug is completely isolated, which is 14 hours.
Although the appearance of the apostle this time seems to be beyond Rei Ayanami's expectations, she will always find a way and there is no need to worry at all. In the past ten hours, she still has Kurumi Ball to chat with, and she will not have any psychological problems. Perfect
.
The only thing that made him a little worried was... Shinji Ikari looked at his left arm.
The "Duel Disk" appears as usual, but the card library is empty.
Do you know that this is outrageous? In the past, several apostles have already appeared in decks targeting themselves. This time, they have directly cleared their own card library. Do you have the ability to duel openly!?
"[I feel relieved to see you still have such fighting spirit, partner (Aibo).]" A familiar voice sounded.
"Ayanami—who are you?"
Appearing in front of Shinji Ikari was a black-haired boy with sharp eyes. He was wearing a black vest and dark blue leather pants, with a golden triangle hanging on his chest and a pure black cape on his back. However, his hair style looked a bit...
Starfish, there are a few golden highlights on the forehead to decorate this "starfish".
"[My name is Atum,]" the black-haired boy said, "[I am your...substitute.]"
[Kukukuri——!] Chestnut Ball narrowed his eyes and moved around, seeming to be laughing.
"[Well, I shouldn't use concepts I'm not familiar with,]" the boy who called himself Atum sighed: "[To be precise, I am the embodiment of your ability as a 'qualified person'."
Shinji Ikari later discovered that the reason why he felt familiar to him was that his voice was almost exactly the same as his own, except for the difference in pitch and pitch.
"Hmm..." Shinji Ikari thought for a while and then said: "So, you are the master of the 'Magic Tube', 'The Curse of the Hexagram', and the 'Reflector Power' cards?"
"[Oh? Why do you think so?]" Atum raised his eyebrows with surprise in his words.
"Because all I had before were cards related to magic. It wasn't until I arrived in New Tokyo City 3 and obtained the 'Skyscraper' that the 'Hero' series of cards appeared." Shinji Ikari looked at the chestnut ball: "That was probably at the same time.
Bring it to me when the 'chestnut ball' appears."
"[Yes, that is the deck of its new owner after I sent this little guy away,]" Atum smiled slightly: "[As the 'Duel King', it doesn't matter if you use the deck of your juniors, right?
?】"
"Just hearing this title, I think your story will be very long..." Shinji Ikari said: "However, you are here specifically to introduce me, right? Do you have a way to get me out of the current predicament?"
"[This is the 'Sea of Dirac', also known as the 'Imaginary Number Space']" Atum said: "[Only 'things that have left the original world' can appear here, and your 'hero' deck still relies on
Naturally, it cannot be used in the 'Third New Tokyo City'.】"
"Throwing people out of their original universe? The apostle this time is really outrageous." Shinji Ikari complained.
"[Actually, that's just an illusion. If you were really thrown out of your original universe, I wouldn't be the only one who would appear here.]" Atum replied.
"Then..." Shinji Ikari still wanted to get to the bottom of it.
"[It just so happens that the second owner of this little guy has a deck that is suitable for your current situation, but it was too fast to take with you. I will give it to you now.]" Atum raised his hand to stop it.
Shinji Ikari continued to digress and pointed at his duel disk.
Phew...the originally empty deck was instantly filled with a stack of cards, and the "card drawable" effect appeared.
"you……"
"[I can't show up in your world, because 'I am you' there, and there shouldn't be any chance in the future," Atum said: "[Churizi Qiu's situation is a special case.]"
"...Thank you," Shinji Ikari bowed his head slightly to Atum: "For your care over the years."
"[If you really want to express your gratitude, just pay more attention to the girl named Kirishima's real name,]" Atum smiled: "[She will surprise you.]"
"Huh? Isn't she -" Shinji Ikari raised his head and wanted to ask, but the mysterious young man had disappeared: "...a future spy?"
[Kuri Kuri~] Only Chestnut Ball, who had grown wings at some point, was still waving his claws to the void to say goodbye.
"He does have a face that never shuffles cards..." Shinji Ikari complained and raised his hand to draw a card.
【New Universe】
There is no explanation for this card. On the card is a huge vortex, which is composed of various colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, entangled and surging clouds.
It’s hard to guess what the card is used for just by looking at it…
Shinji Ikari thought about it for a moment, then gave up thinking and typed it out.
Buzz——
The moment the card was played, the pure white void world outside the inserted plug instantly changed and became like...an animated picture of the card face of the new universe.
However, unlike what was expected, this "vortex" is not moving from the outside in, but is constantly expanding outward, as if a universe is really being reborn.
Is this what the universe looked like when it was born? It was really beautiful.
Whoosh whoosh——squeak——squeak——
Shinji Ikari had nothing to do. While chatting with Kuriko Ball, he drew cards to check the strength of the "New Universe" deck. He also took a nap during the period. Finally, after about twelve hours, the "New Universe Expansion" reached its limit.
The terrifying sound of a balloon being inflated to its limit began to be heard from all directions.
This apostle's "Dilac Sea" is slightly smaller - although the "Dilac Sea" itself cannot be measured in terms of size.
Anyway, let’s strike a cool pose first…
Squeak, squeak, squeak—bang!
When the NERV headquarters was about to launch a rescue operation, the zebra crossing-like spherical body of the twelfth apostle and the shadow below it fell apart like a balloon in front of everyone, revealing that he was kneeling on one knee, making a thinker gesture
The first machine.
"[Shinji——]" Halfway through Asuka's cry with a cry, she suddenly turned into a roar: "[Go to hell! You idiot!]"
