Ultraman: It turns out this is the easy mode.

How deep is the water in the world of Ultraman Tiga? Perhaps only those aliens who once tried to seize this blue planet truly know—the vast majority of them have personally experienced its unfathomable depths through blood, tears, and destruction.

From the mysterious and unpredictable giant of light, Tiga, who sleeps in the pyramids, to the well-equipped and resourceful GUTS team that always manages to create miracles; from the alien, Choi Myo, who can even use his treasured weapons to kill parasites and transform into powerful monsters, to the unknown forces hidden in the shadows all over the world, every being has caused the invaders a great deal of trouble, and even cost them their races.

But this is only the scene in the world of Ultraman Tiga. In the vast multiverse, other worlds have even more terrifying rules. If you offend the highest level of existence in those worlds—such as the world consciousness that maintains the operation of the world—the terrifying consequences would be enough to make even the most insane and unscrupulous ambitious person tremble, not daring to even have the thought of resistance.

Gendo Ikari, the man who once attempted to manipulate the Angels, control EVA, and promote the "Human Instrumentality Project," is now someone who deeply understands this terror.

He spent his entire life scheming and pursuing power and control, but he never imagined that he would eventually touch the bottom line of world consciousness, which is the most inviolable line.

“Finally, the world is about to be reshaped…” Deep in Gendo Ikari’s consciousness, there remained an obsession with the “Human Instrumentality Project” and a hint of smug satisfaction at its impending success.

He once thought he was the master of the chessboard, able to manipulate the pieces at will and dictate the course of the world. But before this smug obsession could fully ferment, it was completely enveloped by a vast, indescribable, and bone-chilling power.

The surroundings were no longer the familiar, metallic NERV command center, nor the LCL incubation chambers that housed EVA pilots; there was only boundless, seemingly all-consuming darkness.

This darkness was devoid of light, sound, and even the passage of time was imperceptible. It was as if his consciousness existed in the entire universe, and that consciousness was on the verge of being completely torn apart and swallowed by the darkness.

Just as Gendo Ikari's consciousness was gripped by panic by the boundless darkness and he was trying to explore his surroundings, a voice that was both imposing and filled with obvious irritation and suppressed anger resounded directly in the core of his consciousness without warning.

The voice had no medium of transmission, was not perceived through the ears, but was directly imprinted deep within his consciousness, so clear as to explode right next to his ears, making his consciousness tremble involuntarily: "I know you're eavesdropping, Gendo Ikari... no, perhaps I should call you by your original name, Rokubungi Gendo."

That last name, like a cold key, instantly pried open Gendo Ikari's deliberately sealed past, giving his consciousness a sudden jolt.

'Who...is speaking?' Gendo Ikari's consciousness fluctuated violently, filled with shock and vigilance.

He tried to struggle, wanting to break free from the cold force enveloping him, but no matter how hard he tried, he found that his consciousness was firmly imprisoned in this darkness, with no possibility of moving at all.

Throughout his life, he had schemed and plotted against countless people, from the veterans of SEELE to subordinates of NERV, and even attempted to manipulate supernatural beings like Angels and EVA. But he had never felt such a desperate sense of powerlessness—the opponent's power was like the entire sky pressing down on a single speck of dust, leaving him with no right to resist.

"I am the consciousness of this world." The voice gave Gendo Ikari an answer that was hard to believe, without any hesitation.

Immediately afterward, an indescribable rage surged forth like a volcano dormant for billions of years, instantly engulfing Gendo Ikari's consciousness and causing him excruciating pain, as if he were being scorched by lava. "Do you know what kind of trouble you bunch of self-righteous idiots have caused me! For your ridiculous 'Integrity Project,' you didn't hesitate to tear apart the dimensional barrier of this world, attracting monsters from the next world! You almost caused my world to completely collapse!"

The World Consciousness was clearly in a terrible mood at this moment, every word was uttered with gritted teeth, as if it wanted to unleash all the anger it had suppressed for so long on Gendo Ikari.

It should be understood that world consciousness is supposed to be an existence that transcends all emotions. Its core mission is simply to maintain the balance and stability of the world and mechanically correct any anomalies that might lead to the collapse of the world.

But the crazy actions of this group of humans, from awakening the Angels to manipulating EVA to cause large-scale destruction, and finally tearing open the dimensional rift to attract monsters from outside the realm, have forced this "ruthless" being to unleash real anger and killing intent.

'World consciousness?' Gendo Ikari's consciousness was utterly astonished by this answer, filled with an unbelievable sense of absurdity. 'But... according to all the ancient records and occult materials, world consciousness should be devoid of emotions, merely maintaining the world's balance mechanically like a machine. It's impossible for it to possess such strong emotions...'

He tried to refute it with his own understanding, but deep down he vaguely understood that the vastness and majesty of the power before him could not be faked by an ordinary being.

"No emotions?" The voice of the world's consciousness suddenly rose several octaves, its rage almost scorching Gendo Ikari's consciousness to ashes. Every word carried a destructive pressure. "Even without emotions, you heaven-defying, reckless bastards have managed to provoke them into having emotions!!!"

It had never seen such a troublesome race. Despite being a tiny existence in the world, they dared to try to control the world's destiny. In order to "complete" the world, they did not hesitate to destroy the foundation of the world and even open dimensional rifts, bringing in terrifying monsters from other worlds.

The power of those extraterrestrial monsters far exceeded the carrying capacity of this world. If it hadn't exerted all its strength to forcefully suppress and repair the dimensional barrier, the entire world would have collapsed completely long ago and turned into dust in the universe.

The voice of the world consciousness still carried an intense, overwhelming anger, crushing Gendo Ikari's consciousness as if it were a tangible force.

However, within this extreme anger, a hint of malicious coldness gradually emerged. The malice contained within that coldness made Gendo Ikari's consciousness shiver: "But it doesn't matter. You, the instigator, will personally experience the consequences of angering a world and almost destroying it... You will pay this price with eternity."

At this moment, the voice of world consciousness has completely lost its initial pure majesty, carrying a bit of personal emotion brought out by anger—a complex emotion mixed with extreme rage, cruel mockery, and a strong desire for revenge.

Every emotion was like the sharpest ice blade, scraping against Gendo Ikari's consciousness, making him feel a bone-chilling cold, and an unprecedented despair enveloped him.

'What do you mean... what do you want to do?' Gendo Ikari's consciousness struggled to convey the question, a strong sense of foreboding wrapping around his consciousness like dense vines, making him tremble uncontrollably.

He schemed and plotted his entire life, but all he wanted was to see Ikari again and reunite with her. For this, he was willing to sacrifice everything, even let the whole world perish for his obsession.

But the vast and malevolent force before him seemed poised to utterly shatter his last and only hope.

"You want to save that woman named Yui Ikari, right? All your schemes and calculations are for the purpose of seeing her again and possessing her, isn't that right?" The world's consciousness seemed to see through the deepest obsession in his mind, its tone filled with undisguised cruelty and mockery, each word striking at his core. "Then let me tell you some 'great news'—Yui Ikari's soul has been used as the purest nourishment by the alien monsters that you idiots have attracted here, and has been completely torn apart and devoured until not a trace remains."

Not even a trace of her soul remained, let alone any chance of reincarnation; she completely vanished from this universe.

"No!!!" Gendo Ikari's consciousness let out a heart-wrenching roar, a roar filled with despair and disbelief.

Every word from the World Consciousness was like the sharpest blade, carrying deadly poison, instantly piercing through all his psychological defenses and utterly shattering his obsession and hope.

Yui Ikari is the core of all his plans, the only light in his cold life, and the only meaning for him to live.

He had done so much, sacrificed so much, even risking to become an enemy of the entire world, yet now, the world's consciousness was telling him that his beloved's soul no longer existed? There was no possibility of seeing him again? Ah~ what a beautiful, desperate roar! The world's consciousness clearly sensed Gendo Ikari's collapse and pain, and even revealed an emotion similar to "pleasure," as if it had heard the most beautiful music in the world.

Its long-suppressed anger found initial release at this moment.

Finally! Finally, the instigator who turned the world upside down can taste this deep-seated, heart-wrenching pain!
The pleasure of this revenge made its anger-driven emotions even more pronounced.

"You didn't think this was the end, did you?" The voice of the world consciousness lingered with a mocking tone, toying with his collapsing consciousness like a cat playing with a mouse, its cruelty undisguised. "I'm not that merciful."

The Yui Ikari you knew, the one you longed to reunite with, has completely vanished from this world, leaving not even a trace of her existence.

All your efforts, all your calculations, have become a joke.

'No!! Why!! No!!' Gendo Ikari's consciousness was completely thrown into chaos, and despair overwhelmed him like a surging tide.

He screamed and struggled frantically, trying to deny this cruel reality, but no matter how hard he tried, he had no strength to resist.

The words of the world consciousness were like a final judgment, utterly crushing all his hopes and leaving only endless darkness and pain.

"Don't rush to completely collapse, I haven't finished yet~" The voice of the world consciousness was full of malice, as if it was enjoying Gendo Ikari's painful struggle. "In order to thank you for your 'huge contribution' to my world, I have prepared a 'generous gift' for you."

Once my world is rebuilt, a new 'Yui Ikari' will appear in the new world.

Of course, don't get me wrong, she has absolutely no relation to the Yui Ikari you know. She has no memories of you, no fragments of your soul, and no feelings for you whatsoever.

but……"

At this point, the World Consciousness deliberately paused, as if to whet Gendo Ikari's appetite, and then emphasized in a destructive tone: "She will look exactly like your wife, Yui Ikari, in appearance, voice, and temperament, without any difference."

In some ways, it's no different from the 'reincarnation' you're hoping for.

But you can only watch helplessly as she falls into someone else's arms, falls in love with someone else, builds a happy family, has children, and spends her life with him.

"What do you think you would do if you saw this?"

"No!!! No!!! No!!!" Gendo Ikari's consciousness cried out in a desperate plea, his voice filled with despair and fear.

This is a million times more cruel than simply killing him!
He was allowed to live, but he had to watch with a clear mind as the replacement of his "beloved" belonged to someone else, watching her live happily with another, while he could only be a bystander, without even the right to get close.

This is an endless torment, a punishment more terrible than hell!

"Hahahaha!" The World Consciousness finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, the laughter filled with the pleasure of revenge and cruel delight. This laughter echoed in the depths of Gendo Ikari's consciousness like a demonic sound, constantly tearing at his nerves. "I will seal your memories, completely erase your identity as 'Gendo Ikari,' erase all your plans and schemes, and erase all your obsession with Yui Ikari."

Then... you are given a completely new and ordinary identity, and as an observer, you witness firsthand the person you most desire and long for, falling into someone else's arms!
You'll find yourself irrevocably drawn to her again, falling in love with her once more, yet you'll never have her. You might even watch her live happily with someone else, without even the right to be jealous!

'No! You can't do this!!! You can't do this!!!' Gendo Ikari's consciousness struggled wildly in despair. His pride, his calculations, his indifference were all shattered at this moment.

He could accept death, he could accept failure, he could accept the complete collapse of his plans, but he absolutely could not accept such a cruel ending!

This endless torment of watching his beloved belong to someone else is something he simply cannot bear!

"Hahahaha! You bunch of idiots have ruined me so much, almost destroying my world completely, turning me from a ruthless balancer into this emotional mess! If I don't let you know what true terror and eternal torment are, I'll be letting myself down!!!" The world consciousness's rage and the pleasure of revenge intertwined, its tone becoming increasingly frenzied, each word carrying destructive power, crushing Gendo Ikari's consciousness.

'No! Please! Don't do this! Only this! Only this is not allowed! Absolutely not!!!' Gendo Ikari completely abandoned all pride and scheming, abandoned all pretense and indifference, and humbly pleaded deep in his consciousness.

This was his final bottom line, the only pain he could not bear.

He would rather be completely wiped out than endure this endless torment.

In the endless darkness, Gendo Ikari let out a desperate cry, each sound filled with heart-wrenching pain and helplessness, his consciousness beginning to show signs of collapse due to extreme despair.

Unfortunately, his pleas and his pain seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the enraged world consciousness, even as if they were adding to the world consciousness's amusement at its revenge.

The world consciousness has made its final decision; it will not easily erase Gendo Ikari, as such punishment would be too lenient on him.

It will give this ambitious person, this instigator, an ultimate physical and psychological despair, an eternal torment.

May he pay the most painful and thorough price for his actions in endless cycles of reincarnation and observation.

In the darkness, an even stronger and colder force began to surge, sweeping towards Gendo Ikari's consciousness like a tidal wave.

The power to seal his memories has quietly descended, about to completely rewrite his consciousness and destiny. (End of Chapter)