Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

"Is this some kind of carving?" Shinji Ikari, arms crossed, rolled his eyes as he watched the laser carefully and slowly cutting the eggshell. He wondered if this was a little too cautious, given the laser's incredibly slow, micron-level movement.

"Is this the egg that looks like a dragon's egg?" Standing with Shinji Ikari was Ryoji Kaji and Yuu Aso, who had simply run away to avoid the mess of helping his girlfriend move her studio. Rei Kurosawa, since the other party had indeed solved his problem, wasn't angry.

Grandpa Sonoko was very efficient; by evening, the New Tokyo Suzuki Hotel had already called to inquire about their photographer partner's contact information and whether they needed a vehicle to pick her up. Of course, they didn't forget to ask when Shinji Ikari would be coming; they were very much looking forward to his visit. Shinji smiled and assured them that he would definitely come to support Rei Kurosawa once the move was complete, and the other party hung up the phone satisfied.

As Shinji Ikari's status rises, the initial investment becomes increasingly worthwhile. Now, an exorcist of Shinji Ikari's caliber would spend at least a million yen to clean a hotel, even if it's just a casual stroll around without any incident. Because of their past relationship with Shinji Ikari, they only need to pay for a few people's buffet meals and lodging, which are negligible costs.

"If you were to cut it open with a knife as you imagine, its already limited chance of survival would be quickly lost. Even the blood of the Apostle wouldn't be enough to save it; it would be too pitiful. Dr. Akagi Ritsuko is doing this to preserve as much of its vitality as possible to complete the signing ceremony. Otherwise, if your sister were to actually do it, even if it succeeded, Isayama Mei would probably lose half his life." Izumo Okuni, as the representative of the collaborating unit, the Onmyodo, had several Onmyodo magicians skilled in formations busy around him.

"You seem more nervous than when you're giving birth." Shinji Ikari teased Mei Isayama in a cheeky way. Mei Isayama, who was rubbing her hands, was taken aback for a moment, then raised her leg and kicked out. Wearing jeans today, she delivered a perfect roundhouse kick. However, Shinji Ikari was not weak either. He easily blocked the kick by placing his hands in front of his chest and simply slid a short distance to dissipate the force. Then he turned his head and glared at Izumo no Okuni beside him.

"You can't ruin a girl's reputation like that!" Izumo no Okuni reached out and tapped Shinji Ikari on the head. Misunderstandings are often the result of unintentional words being taken to heart by the listener. If there was anyone in the room who wanted to pursue Mei Isayama, Shinji's words would have made them back down immediately.

"I've never had a baby!" Isayama Mei was embarrassed to say that she hadn't done anything yet, as it seemed a bit pitiful at her age, so she could only say indignantly that she had never given birth.

"You guys really have a lot of free time." Misato Katsuragi, standing to the side, covered her forehead and chuckled wryly. Shinji, that kid, really knows how to say something... unique when he's trying to put people at ease!

Even Fuyutsuki Kōzō, standing to the side, shook his head helplessly, sighing that youth is truly wonderful. Then he looked up at a window above and asked, "So what are you thinking about now, Gendō Ikari?"

“The vital signs are starting to drop further.” Ibuki Maya frowned as she looked at the indicators. Her heart rate and various fluctuations were beginning to decline noticeably, and the rate of decline was accelerating. “At this rate, she will stop showing signs of life within two minutes.”

"Spray the apostle's blood, increase the cutter's speed by 20%." Ritsuko Akagi frowned and quickly gave the order, but she also understood that spraying blood now was the best they could do. They had tried to water the egg with the blood of the Thunder Angel before, but it still failed. So it didn't seem that the apostle's blood was ineffective as they had imagined, but rather that something like resistance had been created.

"No effect, her condition continues to decline." A few seconds after the blood was sprayed, Ibuki Maya dropped the bombshell, a conclusion that left many feeling frustrated about her study abroad trip.

"Shinji, infuse some of your ki." Ibuki Maya's words made Akagi Ritsuko make up her mind. It seemed that there was no time to delay any longer, and she had to cut it as soon as possible.

"No...it's too late." But before Ritsuko Akagi could say anything, Shinji Ikari touched the egg covered in the blood of the Angels, slowly channeling his Holy Light into it, and immediately frowned. The chance of survival was almost gone. He made his judgment immediately, "Evacuate the equipment, evacuate the personnel, it's too late to save them."

"Leave the monitoring equipment behind, evacuate personnel!" Ritsuko Akagi's lips curled up. These devices were useless, it was just a matter of money. However, what was different from the past was that because of NERV headquarters, mainly because Ritsuko Akagi held the combat data of Unit-01 and all the relevant data of Shinji Ikari, other branches had no choice but to "willingly" pay a portion of their expenses to headquarters in exchange for "data support" from NERV headquarters.

So this time, NERV headquarters wasn't particularly short of money. Although the heating on one side still hadn't been installed, for Ritsuko Akagi, the loss of this batch of testing equipment was entirely within the technical department's capacity to cover! However, opportunities to directly observe the evil god were rare.

"It's best not to store direct video footage, otherwise it wouldn't be surprising if something went wrong," Izumo no Okuni whispered a reminder as he walked out. From the beginning, the Onmyōryō (the Bureau of Yin and Yang) hadn't been very optimistic about this kind of reckless behavior, and so far, everything that had happened was developing according to their predictions.

Although Izumo no Okuni did not touch the egg, she had complete faith in Shinji Ikari's judgment. The egg was nearing its end, its life force weakened to the point of decay, so now was the perfect opportunity for Shinji's sister to take over.

"I really didn't expect it to happen so quickly..." Mei Isayama slowly knelt down within the array constructed by the Onmyoji, took off his coat to reveal his smooth back, and, hearing Shinji Ikari reaching into his wallet, threatened, "If you dare to peek, you're dead!"

"My Ryoko is way better than you!" Shinji Ikari said without turning his head. With their sharp ears and eyes, even the slightest movement would be noticed by the other party, so it was clear that he had no such intention.

After dripping his blood onto the Divine Mirror, Shinji Ikari looked at the slowly opening mirror and saw the slightly annoyed expression on his sister's face. He instantly adopted a defensive stance. *I haven't done anything lately!* *I haven't done anything at all!* *I haven't gone to the infirmary!* *I haven't done anything reckless!*

"Stay put! If you run around, I'll beat you up!" Shinji Ikari froze upon hearing Kirie Himuro's fierce words, then obediently knelt down!

Himuro Kirie thought for a moment, then finally used the barrier rope to tightly bind Himuro Morimi, suspending her upside down in mid-air, swaying with the wind, face to face with the evil spirit opposite. Only then did she huff and puff as she stepped over the Divine Mirror. The next instant, she saw Shinji Ikari kneeling on the ground with a puzzled expression, then immediately attributed this to her usual unreliable younger brother trying to amuse her again, a smile spreading across her face.

Himuro Kirie glanced at the egg Shinji was holding, then looked at Mei Isayama kneeling behind Shinji, and nodded. "What you mentioned last time? Is she sure she wants to do it? The price will be high, and the consequences may not be good. When intelligent spirits grow up..." Her eyes turned ferocious as she seemed to remember something, "It might not be as wonderful as you imagine!"

She never expected that Mimori, who was originally very well-behaved, would become so mischievous after obtaining the puppet body secretly made by the Yin-Yang Bureau. Moreover, because it was a body directly equivalent to that of a young girl, she possessed terrifying talent and had been taught something by Gojo Satoru, and was already able to use some simple spells.

In addition, being in a place as gloomy as the Himuro Mansion, as a spirit, she was practically cheating with unlimited physical strength and magic power, and the destructive power she generated was astonishing, comparable to half a dozen huskies running wild in the Himuro Mansion. In just one week, she had already forced Himuro Kirie to start using force to suppress her.

"I have made all the necessary preparations. I will treat it as my own child. If it is a rebellious son, then he will understand the consequences of offending me." Mei Isayama took a deep breath, listening to Kirie Himuro's somewhat gritted teeth. Like Shinji Ikari, he felt a little stiff all over, but he quickly rallied his spirits, tried to focus his attention, and began to prepare to accept the "curse" of the evil god.

"It's good that you're prepared for this!" Himuro Kirie glanced back at Mikami Mirror, twitched her lips, and decided to hurry up, otherwise there would be more trouble when they got back. "There will be some pain next."

Why did Himuro Kirie decide to hurry up? Shinji Ikari already knew the reason. He was staring in disbelief at the scene in the Divine Mirror. Himuro Mimori, who was tied up in mid-air, seemed completely unconcerned about being upside down and was swinging on a swing in mid-air.

"Roar!" With a flick of Himuro Kirie's finger, the egg, which had been cut about a third of the way open, shattered instantly. A listless, faint spirit, as if it were about to dissipate at any moment, was extracted directly from it. Then, with a gentle squeeze of her other hand, the entire egg, from the shell to the dragon's body that had already taken shape inside, was pulverized into a blood-red paste.

"Shinji, infuse your holy light into the array," Himuro Kirie instructed.

"Huh?" Shinji Ikari was taken aback. There was no problem with the injection itself, but if he wanted to inject himself, he would definitely have to go over there... Hmm, then wouldn't Mei Isayama be completely exposed to him?

"You're not listening to me either?" Himuro Kirie, exuding a fierce and imposing aura, stared at Shinji Ikari.

"I just didn't expect this." Shinji Ikari stood up with a wry smile. His sister, the fierce goddess on the verge of exploding, was someone he couldn't afford to mess with! At most, it would just be a fight with Mei Isayama. She was still short of his face wash. Oh well, he figured he wouldn't be able to escape this fight soon anyway; this EVA testing ground was big enough and sturdy enough. "Forgive me, Mei!"

"bring it on!"

Chapter 188 The Curse of the Evil God

"Pfft..." Shinji Ikari tossed the empty sake bottle aside. As his qi circulated, he exhaled a breath of sake, no longer trying to hide it. There was nothing to conceal; he knew what he needed to know. Golden holy light began to surge wildly from his body. Although, because his cultivation was not yet complete, this holy light was not yet solid, and it drifted out more like a cloud of golden mist.

"What astonishing metrics." Ibuki Maya stared in shock at the scrolling data stream before her. This was not data that a human should have; it was the power displayed by a great demon in its unleashed state.

“That bastard…” Izumo no Okuni licked his lips. The rising holy light seemed to be burning, perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol. It was different from the holy light of Sensui Shinobu that they knew before. “No wonder that person was favored by that master.”

"Disconnect all video recording and storage devices. Everyone, you can watch, but please don't take out your phones or any other recording devices." Misato Katsuragi gestured to the people around her, and a group of security soldiers in heavy combat uniforms surrounded her.

"Rest assured, there are no fools in the Countermeasures Bureau here. The stronger Shinji Ikari becomes, the better it is for us in the Onmyōryō! In a sense, we have been looking forward to him recreating the power that makes all the demons in the world tremble from the very beginning!" Izumo no Okuni crossed his arms, turned slightly to the side, and showed an excited smile on his face. The two sorcerers next to him also showed similar smiles.

Yes, wherever there are people, there is conflict. The Countermeasures Bureau considers Shinji Ikari, who possesses the Holy Light Aura, a serious threat, but the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang) is hoping for the emergence of another Sensui Shinobu, who once dominated the world! After confirming that Shinji Ikari and Honda Shinichirō, who stopped Sensui Shinobu back then, had a lineage, the Onmyōryō was just going all in. Otherwise, why would Shinji Ikari, a low-level exorcist, take on so many missions? Is Izumo no Okuni, as the pillar of the Onmyōryō, really that idle?

In this damned age, humanity needs its trump card: the more the better! When an absolute power that breaks the balance appears, these damned creatures will all have to tuck their tails between their legs and behave themselves again! After Morishita Yamato and Michiko slaughtered monsters at the mountain god festival, it wasn't just the Countermeasures Bureau that got drunk!

“We won’t say it, we even hope he can grow up faster!” Izumo no Okuni cupped his face in one hand, looking at Fuyutsuki Kozo beside him. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come at all, would we? “That day is something everyone is waiting for.”

"Thank you very much for your support." Fuyutsuki Kozo nodded and gestured to Katsuragi Misato. Katsuragi Misato stood at attention and saluted Fuyutsuki Kozo and Izumo no Okuni before turning and leaving with the security personnel.

"It's starting!" Izumo no Okuni waved to Katsuragi Misato, then turned to look at the video. Shinji Ikari was already kneeling on one knee at the edge of the array, his hands gently pressing on the array.

As the golden holy light was injected, the magic circle on the ground began to emit golden light, and golden chains quickly sprang out, accurately locking onto the shirtless Isayama Mei.

Yes, this magic circle is not aimed at anyone else, but at restraining Isayama Mei himself. The method of signing a contract has failed, and now Himuro Kirie is operating it, using the flesh and blood of this unborn dragon and the eggshell as a medium to forcibly possess or merge the nearly disintegrated soul into Isayama Mei's body.

If Isayama Mei weren't powerful enough, there would be no need to even consider this matter. The soul of a young dragon is enough to turn an ordinary person into a mindless half-demon, or a bloodthirsty half-demon driven by the dragon's wild nature...

Because Himuro Kirie was in charge of the operation, under the "curse" of a fierce god, Isayama Mei and the dragon's souls would be forcibly symbiotic. In addition, given Isayama Mei's own strength, the possibility of her losing her independent consciousness became extremely low, so low as to be negligible.

"Ah..." As Himuro Kirie's pale little hand slowly turned, the special "paint" in mid-air began to slowly drift onto Isayama Mei's back. The intense pain brought by the rising flesh of the dragon caused Isayama Mei to roar involuntarily. The immense pain began to reverberate within her body, and this was only the beginning.

However, during this process, the conscious Mei Isayama gritted her teeth and bit her lips until they bled rather than struggle, allowing Kirie Himuro to use special "pigments" to draw a special tattoo on her back. Amidst the rising blood-red smoke, the white dragon drawn from ashes was riding the clouds.

Mei Isayama is not Shinji Ikari. Having confirmed that she wouldn't die, Kirie Himuro had no intention of indulging her. There was also a troublemaker at home who was swinging on her own barrier rope, so Kirie Himuro had no intention of pausing. With a flick of her hand, accompanied by the vast power emanating from her body, she easily broke through the holy light emanating from Shinji Ikari. The remnant soul of the young dragon, which had been kneaded into a white ball of light, was slowly cast into Mei Isayama's body.

"Ugh..." In that instant, Isayama Mei could no longer hold back and struggled violently. However, she was firmly bound to the ground by too many golden chains, and waves of pain surged in her chest. Although Himuro Kirie had controlled her power, this was a genuine "curse" from the evil god. The terrifying power, the unspeakable pain, and the heart-wrenching agony caused Isayama Mei to lose the strength to even roar. She could only let out a muffled groan from deep in her throat.

As time went on, the tattoo on Isayama Mei's back became more and more vibrant, with a divine dragon almost bursting out of his body. Finally, the dragon's soul in Himuro Kirie's hand entered Isayama Mei's body, and Isayama Mei's muffled groans temporarily stopped. Isayama Mei, who was covered in sweat, might have collapsed if he hadn't been bound by the chains extending from the array.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Himuro Kirie stepped forward, extending her pale hand. A drop of inky blood, writhing with terrifying resentment, clung to it. Just gazing at the blood on the ground created the illusion of vengeful spirits swirling around it. This single drop of blood fell from her index finger, splitting in mid-air before landing on the dragon's eyes. In the next instant, those eyes seemed to shift slightly.

"Ah... Roar..." The icy, bone-chilling blood of the ferocious god sent a shiver down Isayama Mei's spine. Then, this time, the maddening pain surged up with overwhelming force, almost completely engulfing Isayama Mei's mind. Isayama Mei's eyes rolled back, and he roared to the sky.

However, her roar quickly turned into a huge dragon's roar that echoed throughout the entire area. Even through the thick steel plates, everyone at the observation station could clearly feel it.

"It's done!" A smile appeared on Asou Yuu's face. From today onwards, Isayama Mei is a person of her own! There is no need to care about the past Isayama family anymore. She is Isayama Mei, the starting point of the new Isayama family.

"This...is truly enviable!" Izumo no Okuni stared at the video, his eyes filled with envy. Such an opportunity was rare and precious, requiring all the necessary conditions to be met. Not to mention anything else, just obtaining a dragon egg that was on the verge of death was incredibly difficult. Izumo no Okuni was envious, but not jealous at all. Was the "curse" of the evil god so easily endured? To put it bluntly, if Isayama Mei couldn't quickly increase her strength, her lifespan would be shortened by twenty years, and the various hidden dangers and costs were only just beginning.

"I'm going back now." Seeing that she had finished her business, Himuro Kirie didn't plan to stay any longer. There was another brat causing trouble at home. She brandished her delicate iron fist, intending to go back and give her disobedient sister a good beating. Physical beatings don't hurt, do they? I'm a fierce goddess!

"Alright! I'll leave the rest to you." Shinji Ikari stood up and stretched. Although his Holy Light energy was almost depleted, the alcohol he had drunk was still making his blood surge. He needed to use some of it up so he could sleep tonight, right?

"Hmm!" Himuro Kirie nodded at Shinji Ikari's condition, glanced at Mei Isayama who had stopped howling, and said, "Be careful." Then she turned and entered the Divine Mirror.

"Roar!" Mei Isayama struggled more and more fiercely, and the chains hanging on his body were visibly being consumed rapidly. The spot where Himuro Kirie had just broken through shattered first, and then, like falling dominoes, they began to collapse in large numbers.

"Good heavens! Here it comes!" Shinji Ikari adopted the starting stance of the Invincible East style. When the fight started, he didn't intend to hold back just because Mei Isayama was a woman, otherwise he would definitely be beaten into a fat man by Mei Isayama.

"After!" It seemed that Isayama Mei's rationality had not returned yet. A pair of horns seemed to grow on her forehead, and Isayama Mei, whose body was covered with scales, rushed forward. These few steps of sprinting were completely without any rules, but were simply an attack driven by wildness.

"Tsk... In the current situation, I don't look forward to face wash at all." Shinji Ikari didn't hesitate. He took a step forward, dodged Mei Isayama's outstretched claws, and slammed an elbow into her waist. Then he immediately turned around and kicked her, exchanging a kick with Mei Isayama, who was stimulated by the pain.

"Tsk, those scales are really hard. It feels like I've kicked a steel plate." Shinji Ikari didn't back down. Instead, he moved closer, preparing to press his palm down on Mei Isayama's chest and abdomen.

"You know, I've been waiting for this day for so long!" Suddenly, his wrist sank, and a hand covered in scales grabbed Shinji Ikari. Mei Isayama's voice rang in Shinji's ear.

"Hey! You think you can outmaneuver me?! You're naive."

"Thud!" Fist and palm collide, a storm sweeps out!

Chapter 189 Fate, Commands from the Spirit World

"Feeling good? Happy?" Asou Yuu cut a peeled apple in half and handed it to the two unlucky guys lying in NERV's medical ward on either side of him. "How are you feeling now? Two world-renowned powerhouses!"

Shinji Ikari and Mei Isayama glared at each other, then each began to gnaw on what they were holding, their eyes looking at each other as if they were mortal enemies.

"Hahaha! Two bruised and battered pigs!" Izumo no Okuni, standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back any longer. The more shocked they were on the monitor, the more stupid these two unlucky guys looked. It wasn't that Izumo no Okuni wasn't professional enough, but Shinji Ikari and Mei Isayama looked so miserable that they couldn't possibly be the same people as the two who had been fighting and beating each other so violently before.

"I don't care." Shinji Ikari glanced at Mei Isayama. The fight between the two of them was not only about settling old scores, but also about determining how much Mei Isayama had gained. Since the time was short, Mei Isayama could only use his most direct combat skills, so the two of them just went all out to settle their personal grudges.

The fight between the two wasn't particularly spectacular; it was just a brutal exchange of blows. But watching them leap and bound through the EVA hangar, traversing the walls with ease, they demonstrated to everyone what the human body could achieve, and how these two insane lunatics managed to demolish half the laboratory.

There's still half of it that's too high to reach...

Right now, the old man from the engineering department is still scratching his head about how to repair this place. Although the branch has "voluntarily" contributed, NERV's budget is like a leaky sieve, not enough everywhere. They really can't afford to abandon such a large laboratory and rebuild it from scratch. At least, half of it is still intact, right? And it's just laying cement, steel plates, and cushioning materials, which should be relatively easy, isn't it?

Of course, the consequences of such a fight were also very serious. Especially later on, Shinji Ikari found that the head-on fighting style was completely unable to shake Mei Isayama's scale armor. It could only make his hands, feet, and fists ache. After fighting each other for a long time, Shinji Ikari felt that he was just unlucky and began to use penetrating force without any hesitation.

Now it was Isayama Mei's turn to suffer. After taking a blow, he originally wanted to retaliate as before, but he never expected that Shinji Ikari would start using such a shameless trick. Caught off guard, he almost spat out blood.

“You two are like little kids.” Asuka stood to the side. “Shinji Ikari, don’t you realize the responsibilities you should bear as an EVA pilot? How could you get yourself so badly injured?!”

"Where did this underdeveloped little girl come from?" Mei Isayama said irritably. Although Shinji Ikari was the one who injured himself, it didn't mean he could just watch this little brat spout nonsense.

“I should say…” Shinji Ikari sat up in bed and lifted the sheet, “We can move around without any problem if we want to, it’s just a little sore.” To be fair, once the Master East style is fully mastered, it’s a monster-level fighting power that can tear apart steel objects with bare hands. This fight is only comparable to when Shinji Ikari and Domon sparred and really got into a fight back then. Apart from the pain, it’s not a big problem.

"Yeah... I might have some internal organs dislocated, and some blood clots. Damn it, Shinji, you really went for it." Mei Isayama also sat up, but reached down and pressed on several spots on his body, frowning slightly, still feeling some pain. "Don't underestimate exorcists who have been fighting on the front lines for a long time!"

"Alright, but it seems you've gained a lot this time!" Shinji Ikari sighed as he watched Mei Isayama move his body with a hint of gritted teeth. He had finally made a breakthrough, and now his companions' combat power was skyrocketing. Yuu Asou, standing next to him, now possessed S-rank combat power.

Meanwhile, Shinji Ikari could clearly sense that Mei Isayama had been holding back during their fight. Even so, her physical abilities and the power she displayed still gave her an edge over Shinji. Of course, Mei Isayama's current state was more like a burst of energy, and it wouldn't last long. Moreover, Mei Isayama was noticeably weaker than before.

"..." Asuka was somewhat stunned. Anyone who saw Shinji Ikari and Mei Isayama being carried into the infirmary would have thought they were seriously injured. After all, their faces were bruised and swollen, and their bodies were covered in bruises. Looking at the state of the laboratory, well...

However, this idea was only shared by those present, aside from the Onmyōryō (the Bureau of Yin and Yang). After all, the Onmyōryō were very clear that, in most cases, given the working environment of exorcists, the current injuries, while not minor, were definitely not excessively severe, and no bones were broken, and the meridians appeared to be mostly undamaged.

“However, I’m currently completely exhausted, Ritsuko-nee, can you arrange a test?” Shinji Ikari looked at Ritsuko Akagi beside him, but Ritsuko Akagi seemed a bit overwhelmed right now. Whether it was the arrival of Kirie Himuro, when Kirie Himuro “cursed” Mei Isayama, or the subsequent fight between Mei Isayama and Shinji Ikari, the sheer volume of data was enough to keep the technical department busy for a long time.

"Maya, take my place." Ritsuko Akagi glanced back at Shinji Ikari and sighed. Asuka was right; Shinji really did have a childlike temper. Shinji was going to take the test now to let Asuka, who accused him of being irresponsible, know that even under these circumstances, he still had a synchronization rate far exceeding hers.

"Hmph!" Asuka wasn't stupid. On the contrary, her tsundere attitude was just a facade. The girl's talent was quite high, so she could understand in an instant what Shinji Ikari was planning. He was just trying to embarrass him.

"Oh, right, the invitation tickets for Fuyumi-nee." Before leaving with Ibuki Maya, Shinji Ikari reached into his pocket and tossed a stack of Ristorante F invitation tickets to Izumo Okuni beside him. Shinji had called the Onmyoryo, so they had to show some appreciation, and Ristorante F's restaurant was just enough to entertain them.

Of course, some weren't so happy. Izumo no Okuni, who accepted Shinji Ikari's meal voucher, glanced at him and rolled his dead fish eyes. "Meal voucher? Is this how you try to fob me off? You should at least give us a Ristorante F top-tier set meal! Is this all?"

"Eat it or not, it's up to you!" Shinji Ikari completely ignored Izumo no Okuni, who was jumping up and down.

"Hahaha... Hiss... Hahaha... You wanted to see this as a joke, didn't you!" Mei Isayama laughed immediately. The meal vouchers that Fuyumi Mizuhara gave Shinji Ikari weren't exactly large or filling, but she would give them to him whenever she had time, so that he could come over whenever he had free time. Whether it was to help make some desserts in the kitchen as a special feature of the day, or to pack some set meals to take to Ryuji Danma's motorcycle shop, Fuyumi Mizuhara was happy to oblige!

"My restaurant may be a bit pricey, but isn't it much tastier than the McDonald's across the street?" Mizuhara Fuyumi, who didn't like to talk much, once questioned Ikari Shinji, who was carrying a big bag of McDonald's meals.

"You've worked hard! But there's really nothing else on hand." Shinji Ikari shook his head. "Just grab a bite for now! I'll treat you to something better later!"

"Hmph! That's more like it." Izumo no Okuni was very displeased with Isayama Mei's mockery. She stuffed the meal voucher Shinji Ikari had given her into her pocket, tossed her head to her subordinates, and gestured for them to follow her. Although it was just a set meal, Ristorante F's set meal was considered a premium option. "Let's go. Even though NERV provides meals, McDonald's can't compare to Ristorante F's set meal."

"Actually, this isn't just McDonald's, it's just not as good as McDonald's," Isayama Mei added casually from the side.

“I agree with that.” Misato Katsuragi sighed. Initially, she ordered from McDonald’s to give Maou Sadao face, but now everyone is used to the endless supply of standard McDonald’s blind box bags in the restaurant. Misato glanced at the closed electronic door. Did Shinji Ikari have something he wanted to say to Ritsuko Akagi? He was being so mysterious, but with Ryoji Kaji right there, she couldn’t ask directly.

"So, is there anything you want to say?" Ritsuko Akagi asked as they walked out the door and turned into a street without surveillance cameras.

"It's not a big deal. I'd like to bring a friend for a full physical examination, and if it's convenient, I'd also like to conduct an experiment." Shinji Ikari took a deep breath. This matter had given Shinji a lot to think about. He himself hadn't expected that his Holy Light Aura was about to enter a substantial stage.

Shinji Ikari decided to conduct a comparison, and wouldn't it be perfect if one of his friends came back? He could serve as the most suitable experimental control group.

"Oh? No problem. When is that brat coming over?" Ritsuko Akagi lit a cigarette and followed Shinji Ikari forward.

"It should be in the next few days. After the experiment is completed, I'll go to Tokyo to repay your favor." Shinji Ikari said, spouting nonsense. "Don't go too far this time."

"Hmm." Ritsuko Akagi nodded. "It wasn't that much of a commotion last time." Ritsuko didn't entirely agree with Shinji Ikari's assessment. "Anything else?"

“This might involve destructive experiments, so…” Shinji Ikari smiled and looked at Ritsuko Akagi, “Could we postpone the repairs of the testing site a little longer, so as not to damage other areas?”

"A destructive experiment? What kind of experiment?" Ritsuko Akagi became curious. What was Shinji Ikari planning to do? Hadn't he demonstrated enough destructive power just now? The two of them collided with terrifying power capable of splitting rocks and shattering stones. With a single kick, they could cause a 50mm thick steel plate to explode, twist, and deform. Their fighting power was simply too exaggerated.

"Regarding spiritual power, a friend of mine has also returned after mastering it. I'd like to see two things," Shinji Ikari said, holding up two fingers. "One is whether alcohol has an effect on everyone." As Shinji said this, Ritsuko Akagi began to nod.

Ritsuko Akagi has confirmed that the alcohol can affect everyone. The problem is that NERV itself does not have any exorcists besides Shinji Ikari. When she asked Mei Isayama before, she was flatly refused. She had a little bit of that alcohol before, but it was too strong. Shinji Ikari practices powerful holy light energy, and he doesn't like being used as a guinea pig.

In addition to the need for secrecy, Ritsuko Akagi cannot hire outsiders to conduct experiments, which has resulted in NERV not having good data. However, now that Shinji Ikari has proposed to conduct this experiment, it seems that everything is ready, which is a good thing for NERV.

"Is the opponent very strong?" Ritsuko Akagi smiled with interest. "Like you?" It's no secret that Shinji Ikari's companions are capable of fighting.

What initially seemed like a tactical weakness, Asou Yuu, now possesses technical equipment that isn't exactly top-secret within the industry. Asou Yuu's decision to have Kurosawa Rei find a safe place to hide was partly due to the fact that he was being watched. Many people were now coveting the technology in his possession.

As for Mei Isayama, although it wasn't NERV that ultimately solved the problem, they were involved throughout the entire process. They witnessed Mei Isayama's transformative evolution and saw the dilapidated state of the laboratory, which was how the two tested their combat abilities.

And then there are Shinji Ikari's friends... what kind of monsters and demons are they? Are there any weaklings among them?

"Strong? Very strong! He has a resilient heart. Although he may seem a bit naive now, he will become a fearsome powerhouse in the future." Shinji Ikari shook his head. "So don't you think he's the perfect test subject?"

"Understood." Ritsuko Akagi was pleased with Shinji Ikari's idea. "Give him an opportunity, and also gather the information we need?"

"That's about it, but regarding the physical exam..." Shinji Ikari smiled, "If possible, could you please not leave any information?"