Collapse, surrender to me!

Grace began to shake hands.

As soon as Kewpie stretched out his little paw, the Water Angel seemed to have shrunk and became the size of a keychain.

Kyubey also thoughtfully made a keychain, hung the water angel on it, and then pinned it on Grace's skirt.

Even if the Clown King comes, he has to call him a confidant.

……

The water angel disappeared.

But the people at the command center were not happy at all.

Ordinary generals may not know the inside story.

But Ikari Gendō understood the reason.

According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Gretchen should not have appeared.

His plan had already proceeded to this point, and the occurrence of such a mistake would be too fatal.

"Can you find any traces?"

"Yes! The other party didn't try to hide his tracks at all!"

Amid the frantic report, the figure of Grayshu appeared on all the screens.

He walked leisurely towards the Third New Tokyo City. Even though the other party knew that NERV was observing him, they did not take it seriously.

And the other side.

Misato Katsuragi also drove to a city outside New Tokyo to pick up Shinji Ikari.

"By the way, where did you go just now? It was very dangerous."

"I went to a painting studio." Shinji said frankly.

"Is there a studio here?" Katsuragi Misato asked suspiciously, taking out the electronic map and clicking on it: "What? I said I was right. This place has been under military martial law for a long time. How could there be such a thing as a studio?"

"It was destroyed by the explosion just now..."

Shinji said this without any regretful look on his face.

That studio was another world, and he felt he could go back there at any time.

"Well, speaking of explosions, it's great that this car can still move... By the way, Shinji, you don't plan to ask anything?"

"Um……"

"Well, really...don't we usually ask what that big thing that just appeared is? Or what exactly happened, right?" Misato tried to start a conversation, but Ikari Shinji didn't say a word.

What does this monster that suddenly appeared have to do with an ordinary person like him?

It would be better to think about the time I just spent with Grayshu in the studio.

"That big guy just now was an apostle."

Misato had no choice but to talk to herself, forcing herself to explain while driving.

"The quasi-ultimate life form that ate the Fruit of Power aims to destroy us who devoured the Fruit of Wisdom..."

"You are taking me to where my father works now," Shinji said suddenly.

"Ah, that's true." Misato was stunned for a moment: "Do you know what he does?"

"His job is very important, it is to protect humanity... Of course, that's what the teacher said." Ikari Shinji said: "If what you just said is true, then he should be working against the apostles."

"Wow, I didn't realize you're quite smart."

Misato said with some surprise.

The car then drove into a building with the NEVR logo printed on it.

"By the way, did your dad give you an ID card?"

"Have."

Shinji took out a letter.

It was wrinkled, with tape on it, and a card inside.

Misato took the letter, took a look at it, and immediately frowned.

Because on the letter, Ikari Gendō only wrote two words - come here!

It's not a father's attitude towards his son at all. Instead, it's like he's treating a tool.

"It seems that you and your father don't have a good relationship." Misato forced a smile: "Same as me."

"Ah."

Shinji didn't say much. The conflict between him and Gendo Ikari didn't accumulate over a day or two.

"But...if dad is really working hard to protect humanity, I will reflect on myself."

Shinji recalled that in the studio, when he asked Graysh if she had any complaints about Hen not coming back for so many years, Graysh said:

"My dad is a hero. He is out there fighting Honkai and saving many people every day. He comes back to be with me, but he can only protect me, but outside, he can protect many people."

When Shinji heard what Gray Shu said.

I thought of my father.

According to the teacher, his father, like Hen, was doing things to protect humanity.

He was somewhat skeptical at first.

But today that huge monster, including the affirmation from Misato.

Shinji couldn't help but feel excited.

His experiences are so similar to Grayshu's. What if his father is also a hero who protects humanity?

The thought of this.

The grievances I suffered over the years seem to have faded a lot.

"It seems like we have been driving underground... How long have we been driving?"

"Well, almost there, here we are!"

Misato said.

Shinji's eyes suddenly opened up.

This is a huge underground space.

This underground city, as a fortress of mankind, presents a magnificent scene.

The huge dome rises high into the sky, ingeniously supporting the structure of the entire city. Brilliant lights illuminate the wide streets, dotted with intricate buildings and landscape decorations.

The transportation hub is busy and orderly. Underground trains and elevators are constantly running, quickly connecting people to every corner of the city.

"How spectacular..." Shinji couldn't help but exclaim.

"This is humanity's fortress, NERV Headquarters. It is the hope for rebuilding the world."

Misato said as she got out and walked into the elevator with Shinji.

After a while of twists and turns, the two met Ritsuko Akagi who came to contact them.

"You are twenty minutes late, Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi. We are short of time and manpower..."

"Sorry, sorry." Misato Katsuragi tried to get away with it.

"He must be that boy." Ritsuko looked at Shinji Ikari, "I'm the person in charge of Project E in the 1st Section of the Technical Bureau. Ritsuko Akagi, please give me your guidance."

"Hello."

Shinji responded quickly.

He always felt that this blonde sister was difficult to get along with.

"Now that you are here, come on."

Ritsuko Akagi looked decisive and swift.

Soon, the confused Shinji was brought in front of Unit-01.

"This……"

"This is the ultimate universal humanoid decisive battle weapon created by humans, the android, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Unit-01. It is the last trump card of our species."

"Is this Dad's job?" Shinji murmured.

"Yes."

Ikari Gendo's figure appeared above, looking down at his son.

Filled with an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"Long time no see, get ready to attack."

"You called me here just for this?!"

Of course Shinji Ikari is not stupid.

"You want me to pilot this to fight that thing just now?!"

"Almost." Commander Ikari had a blank expression and a cold tone.

"I won't do it! Why are you telling me now? Why didn't you say it in the letter?! Didn't you not need me all along?"

"It's needed now."

“…Why me?”

“Because no one else can drive it.”

"I can't drive it either. This is the first time I've seen this thing!"

"I'll have someone read you the instructions, and you just follow them."

"Impossible... It's not that simple, I..."

"If you want to drive, hurry up." Commander Ikari's eyes and tone suddenly became sharp: "If you don't want to drive, get out of here!"

"We're running out of time." Ritsuko said indifferently.

"Shinji! Think about why you are here." At this time, Misato also came over and started to put pressure on him.

Shinji raised his head, and the staff around him seemed to stop what they were doing and looked at him.

He was like a piece of Tang Monk's flesh that entered the demon's cave, feeling so depressed that he couldn't breathe.

"dad."

Shinji suddenly raised his head and looked at Ikari Gendo with a hint of hope.

"I just want to know one thing now. Are you the hero who protects the world?"

"..."

Commander Ikari was completely stunned by his son's words.

Today is probably the most retrograde day for him.

Apostles are not like apostles, and sons are not like sons.

How could Shinji possibly say something like this at a time like this?

Did you meet someone or encounter something?

Commander Ikari guessed many possibilities at once, but he had no time to verify them.

He did not answer his son's question either.

Just responded with a cold look.

Even Shinji could see the meaning of that look.

If you like it, open it. If you don’t, get out.

Suddenly, Shinji's expectations were shattered.

His father, the guy who didn't really protect humans.

He could not feel the aura of a saint like Ma Liang, nor did he have the faith of Grayshu that he had in risking his life to fight against the collapse.