They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 161 Asuka Arrives

After the Angel of Thunder confirmed its silence, its body was naturally retrieved by NERV.

Because it was a precise, one-shot kill, its biological tissues, except for its core, were preserved almost perfectly.

For Zhang Qi, this was naturally excellent research material.

Using MAGI's computing power, Zhang Qi began to analyze the DNA profiles of the three apostles.

The development of technology in this world is itself a distorted product.

SEELE only managed to create a monster like EVA by using Adam as a sample and a Dead Sea Scripture that was difficult to understand and resembled a product manual.

However, in conventional technological fields, such as materials science, semiconductors, and precision machining, it is not much ahead of his previous era.

This is like airdropping Tony Stark himself into a feudal dynasty; even if he had the complete blueprints for the Iron Man suit in his mind, he would still be unable to forge a Mark suit out of thin air.

Because building such a system requires more than just blueprints; it requires a complete industrial system as support.

But this is where the advantages of biotechnology become apparent.

If an ancient person were to obtain a sample of EVA's flesh and blood by chance, and provided there were sufficient energy supplies, it would indeed be possible to "feed" out an Angel, an unreasonable being.

It was through cloning the body tissues of Adam and Lilith that humans were able to create EVA and, based on this, propose related theories, such as the super biological computer MAGI.

In the past, although Zhang Qi possessed the technology of the Descendants, he was troubled by the lack of the most crucial experimental samples, since Lilith alone was not enough.

Now, from the water angel to the day angel, and now to the thunder angel before him, the remains of these three apostles have finally completed the most important piece of the puzzle for his research.

Various previously shelved theoretical verifications and reverse engineering projects are progressing at an exponential rate.

What he was even more looking forward to was that the "local specialties" brought by Kaji Ryoji would be arriving soon.

……

A few days later, the sun shone brightly.

A vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft belonging to NERV is flying smoothly in the blue sky.

Inside the cabin, Zhang Qizheng closed his eyes to rest, while Shinji Ikari leaned against the porthole, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and curiosity.

Below him stretched an endless expanse of blue.

That pure, deep, all-consuming blue was a magnificent sight he had never seen in his fourteen years of life.

"Ayanami, look... this is the ocean..."

Shinji Ikari instinctively turned his head to share his excitement with the girl beside him.

After fighting side-by-side against the Angel of Thunder, his relationship with Rei Ayanami grew much closer in a subtle atmosphere.

Rei Ayanami followed his gaze, her blood-red eyes reflecting the deep blue. She simply nodded slightly, saying nothing, but not looking away either.

Before long, a steel outline appeared where the sea met the sky.

As the plane descended, the outline gradually became clearer.

Five massive, mountain-like aircraft carriers formed the core, surrounded by dozens of escort ships and destroyers, forming a formidable and heavily guarded task force.

"This is the United Nations Navy Pacific Fleet, USS Horizon. Please identify yourself immediately."

A clear and serious inquiry came through the radio communication channel.

"This is NERV, identification code T-800."

Zhang Qi picked up the communicator and calmly recited the code.

"Identification code confirmed. Welcome, Dr. Zhang Qi, and Kazusa Katsuragi."

The fleet has cleared your landing zone; you are ready to land at any time.

After a brief silence, the other person's tone immediately became enthusiastic.

The plane landed smoothly on the deck of the flagship "Horizon".

The moment the hatch opened, a sea breeze carrying a salty, fishy smell rushed in.

On the deck, rows of soldiers in white naval uniforms stood in neat formation, their eyes fixed on the few people who were stepping off the plane, filled with undisguised curiosity, awe, and scrutiny.

Shinji Ikari was taken aback by the scene and instinctively shrank back, leaning closer to Zhang Qi.

"You are a heroic pilot who single-handedly defeated three Apostles in succession. They are all your admirers, so there is nothing to be afraid of."

Zhang Qi noticed Shinji Ikari's embarrassment, patted him on the back, and encouraged him. Before he finished speaking, a fiery red figure rushed out of the crowd like a whirlwind, accompanied by a clear and cheerful shout, and jumped directly into Zhang Qi's arms, hugging him tightly like a kitten that had found its owner.

"Heh~ Long time no see, Asuka~"

A helpless yet indulgent smile appeared on Zhang Qi's face as he reached out and ruffled the long, orange-red hair of the girl in his arms.

The newcomer was none other than Asuka Langley Soryu, the second pilot and exclusive pilot of EVA Unit-02.

Due to work reasons, he spent a considerable amount of time in the German branch, where he was responsible for assisting in the development and debugging of Unit 2.

It was there that he met Asuka, who was just a little girl at the time, and Misato Katsuragi, who was young.

"Hehe~ Long time no see, Uncle Zhang Qi~"

Asuka raised her head, revealing a delicate face, her azure eyes sparkling with cunning.

"Honestly, you start acting all cute and clingy as soon as you see Zhang Qi. Asuka, you really are still a child at heart~"

Seeing this, Misato Katsuragi covered her mouth and teased her in a mocking tone.

"Hmph, at least she's better than some lonely old woman who wants to be pampered but has no one to talk to~"

Asuka immediately broke free from Zhang Qi's embrace, made a face at Misato Katsuragi without showing any weakness, and retorted sarcastically.

Shinji Ikari looked at the girl in front of him with some curiosity. She was wearing a beige dress and exuded a dazzling aura like the sun.

"Come, let me introduce you."

Zhang Qi broke the two women's usual bickering with a smile. He pulled Asuka aside and said to Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami,

"This is the pilot of EVA Unit-02, Shikinami Asuka Langley."

"This is Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01. This is Rei Ayanami, the pilot of Unit-00."

Then, he pointed to Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami, and then pointed to Asuka.

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Asuka's gaze instantly locked onto Shinji Ikari. With her hands on her hips, she walked confidently to him like a proud peacock, looking him up and down with a playful smile on her lips.

"So you're the Third Child? I heard you've already taken down three Apostles. Not bad!"

She leaned closer, patted her unremarkable chest with her finger, and announced in a matter-of-fact tone,

"However, now that I'm here, there's nothing more for you to do. You can go and take a long vacation to rest!"

"Forehead……"

Shinji Ikari was taken aback by this sudden declaration of provocation. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

"Are you trying to say that you're stronger than Shinji? Why? You haven't even defeated a single Angel."

Just then, Rei Ayanami, who had been silent all along, suddenly tilted her head, her clear red eyes filled with pure curiosity. She looked at Asuka and asked in a serious tone, as if discussing an academic issue.

"You guy..."

Asuka's smug smile froze instantly, her azure eyes seeming to spit fire as she glared fiercely at Rei Ayanami.

Does this person even know how to speak properly? Didn't the people at the Japanese headquarters teach her what flattery and politeness are?

"OK OK……"

Caught between the two girls' threatening gazes, Shinji Ikari felt utterly overwhelmed. He looked up with a troubled expression, pleading with Zhang Qi and Misato Katsuragi.

"Heh, those were truly youthful days..."

Misato Katsuragi smiled helplessly, preparing to step forward and smooth things over by separating the three problem children.

However, just then, a familiar male voice with a touch of magnetism and languor rang out from not far behind them.

"It's been a long time, Misato..."

Misato Katsuragi froze abruptly, the smile on her face vanished instantly, and she slowly turned her head away.

A man wearing a dark jacket, with a bit of stubble and a slightly unruly demeanor, was leaning against a nearby container, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at her.

It was her ex-boyfriend, Ryoji Kaji.

(End of this chapter)