The Evangelion of the Ancient Gods – Nyarlathotep Type I experiment was a resounding success.
After multiple thorough inspections of Setsuna and Unit-01 confirmed everything was fine, both the Research and Engineering Divisions were elated.
"We've discovered a brand new research direction: constructing EVAs using the bodies of Outer Gods!!"
"This way, a mortal pilot could match the gods themselves. Ah, praise Cthulhu."
"..."
"I remember that in the original series, Unit-01 eventually became a god, right? Turning it into an Outer God is... well, whatever. Still godly, I suppose."
Setsuna rubbed his temples.
Since his arrival, not only had the story's plot shattered beyond recognition, but even Unit-01 itself had taken an unforeseen path.
Still, an Outer God EVA did sound pretty cool.
"Wait, I have another question—can Unit-01 be bound to a Wisdom Cube?"
Gazing at the massive machine resting in the assembly dock, he recalled something.
Whenever he upgraded his Gundams, he would materialize the machines himself, and Bulin would disassemble and retrofit them while keeping the Wisdom Cube intact.
From Strike Freedom to Turn A to Strelitzia—it had always been that way.
This Cthulhu-type Evangelion, however, had been built using the captured Unit-01 and EVA construction technology.
Its core was an avatar of Nyarlathotep—not a Wisdom Cube.
For Setsuna, it was still an external object. Unlike Strelitzia or the Eternal Snowfall, he couldn't summon parts of it at will.
Even if he could store it in a starship hangar for easy access, it was still less convenient than his Second or Third Forms.
"Uh, well..."
Akashi scratched her ear, whispering with Kayo Senju and the others for a while.
Then they pulled Setsuna and Nyarlathotep aside for a series of tests.
After several hours, they returned with a pile of reports and spread them before him.
"Commander, if you mean keeping the Wisdom Cube while transforming Strelitzia into Unit-01—that's impossible."
"Even though both are mechas, they belong to completely different systems."
"Strelitzia is a genuine technological creation, so it can be controlled by a Wisdom Cube, achieving human-machine integration and instant material projection."
"But Unit-01 is the embodiment of a god—it's a magical construct. The Wisdom Cube cannot control an avatar of Nyarlathotep, since it's a conscious entity."
"...Tch."
Setsuna wasn't surprised. The Cube handled technological constructs, while an EVA, being part god, was beyond its jurisdiction.
"So it's going to be a bit inconvenient to carry around, huh... Judging from your tone, though, there might be another way?"
He looked between Akashi and Kayo Senju.
The two exchanged hesitant glances before speaking softly.
"Yes."
"For the same reason—since Unit-01 is part of an Outer God—Commander, if you could just... become an Outer God... ah, or rather, merge your power with one, that would solve the problem, nya."
"???"
"Do you hear yourself right now?! What do you mean, 'make the Commander into an Outer God'?!"
Formidable smacked Akashi on the head.
"Ow—!"
The mechanic girl yelped, clutching her head.
"To control a divine incarnation, of course you need to master divine power, nya!"
"The Wisdom Cube can't control Unit-01, but the Commander already has high compatibility with powers from countless worlds. If he could raise his synchronization rate further and fully absorb Unit-01, wouldn't the result be the same, nya?"
"...Huh?"
Setsuna froze.
"Raise synchronization rate? I'm already at 100%, aren't I?"
Then he remembered—EVA synchronization didn't cap at 100%.
A 100% synchronization rate meant total harmony between pilot and EVA. In the original story, Shinji Ikari had once reached 400%, his body dissolving into LCL and merging entirely with Unit-01.
"You're not seriously suggesting turning the Commander into orange juice, are you?!"
Bonk—
Formidable hit Akashi again.
"It's not that! Can you think for once? Wow, are your big boobs draining your brain cells, nya?!"
The mechanic girl had no comeback after being smacked by the busty shipgirl.
"Shinji was absorbed by Unit-01 because he was Lilith's descendant—and much weaker in comparison."
"But the Commander is different. He's a unique being. As long as he achieves a higher synchronization rate, he can simply absorb Unit-01 himself!"
"..."
"Interesting."
Setsuna nodded thoughtfully.
Raising synchronization to the absolute limit in order to absorb the EVA—now that was an intriguing idea.
"How exactly would I do that? If I recall, Shinji reached 400% synchronization because his mother's soul was inside Unit-01, and it went berserk, right?"
"Well..."
Akashi and Kayo Senju scratched their heads awkwardly.
"The same principle applies. The original Unit-01 had a bond with Shinji, but now this Outer God version, created from Nyarlathotep, shares a bond with you, Commander."
"As long as you and Nyarlathotep engage in... deeper communication, and strengthen your mutual understanding, your synchronization rate with her avatar will naturally increase."
"???"
Setsuna froze again.
The theory made sense—it was just that the wording... was a bit concerning.
"When you say 'deeper communication,' do you mean that seriously?"
"Are we talking about physical... or spiritual...?"
"Ahem."
Kayo Senju cleared her throat, her face flushed red. Out of professional, scientific seriousness, she gave an accurate answer:
"From a comprehensive standpoint... I believe both are necessary."
"Only through the union of both body and mind can synchronization be raised to a level sufficient for complete fusion."
The words had barely left her mouth when—
"Yay!"
Nyarlathotep suddenly pounced onto Setsuna's back from behind.
Her soft face rubbed affectionately against his cheek.
"Ehehehe... Commander, you heard her, right? This is all for the sake of great academic progress—and your personal power development!"
"When do we start? Now? Or tonight?"
"After all, you don't need food or sleep, right? And I don't either..."
"???"
Nyarlathotep was one of those rare girls who was coquettish yet not prideful—her initiative was terrifyingly strong.
Setsuna paused, finding this proposal... both amusing and terrifying.
He reached out and patted her head.
"Let's finish things here first. We'll talk about it when we get back, alright?"
He was used to handling business before pleasure—celebration could wait for victory.
"No problem~"
Nyarlathotep began counting on her fingers.
"If we can raise synchronization by 1% each time, and we need to hit 400%... then if we work really hard, we can get there in about half a month... ehehe~"
"Whaaaaat?!"
Asuka stood there frozen, dumbstruck.
She had thought they were discussing serious technical aspects of EVA synchronization—but in an instant, the topic had gone full R18.
No, considering Nyarlathotep's true nature, this might actually be R18G.
...
After securing the newly born Ancient God Unit-01—an unintended result of a brainstorming session—the Research Division redirected its main focus back toward the study of Adam, Lilith, and the Angels themselves.
At the same time, they began the modernization of Units 00 and 02, and started building a brand new Unit-03 for Mari Makinami.
A few days later, the first to be completed were the three upgraded EVAs.
"Asuka, Rei, Mari—come take a look at your new machines."
Inside the EVA assembly plant, the three girls watched in awe and anticipation as the massive cranes carefully lowered the three mechas into position.
The pale blue Unit-00, the crimson Unit-02, and the freshly built Unit-03.
"We've completely overhauled their armaments and control systems," Akashi explained proudly. "Considering pilot compatibility, these EVAs were reconstructed using the bodies of Lilith and Adam. That should be more than enough for you three, nya?"
"Ah—no problem! Actually, I still prefer the original EVAs!" Asuka replied quickly, nodding fervently.
Sure, EVAs made from Outer God bodies were stronger—but you had to survive piloting them.
Climbing into Unit-01 was, quite literally, the same as direct contact with an Outer God. Probably only someone as absurdly resilient as the Commander could endure that.
Considering that most ordinary humans would go insane just by glimpsing Nyarlathotep's true form, it was best not to tempt fate.
"But still... these are totally different from before..."
The three girls entered their respective cockpits one after another.
Inside, the new control system was highly intelligent—featuring a full holographic interface displaying the unit's real-time status.
"Commander, Commander! I don't quite understand the new EVA controls—can you come teach me?"
Asuka poked her head out of the cockpit, waving toward Setsuna below.
"Pilot training? How about I teach you? I'm pretty good at this," Gudako volunteered enthusiastically.
"No thanks. This isn't the same as your Strelitzia, right?... The Commander understands EVAs way better than you."
Asuka puffed up her cheeks.
"Alright then. I'll take you out for a test run."
Setsuna could easily read her intentions and smiled faintly as he joined her in Unit-02's cockpit.
"Evangelion Unit-02—activate!"
Boom—
A single step forward sent tremors through the ground.
Asuka tapped a few controls.
[Weapon Module—Activated]
Click—click—click—
The armor plating on Unit-02's shoulders and arms slid open, revealing numerous missile pods and compact high-energy weapons.
The original slot on its back that had stored the Progressive Knife now held a longer, sleeker energy blade.
In her hands, she looked like a fully armored Jedi Knight.
"What's this?!" she exclaimed.
"That's a Gamma Laser Cutter Sword, nya! An EVA should definitely have proper close-combat weaponry," Akashi explained, tail swishing proudly.
"It can slice through the hull of a small starship and even pierce energy shields."
It was stylish. It was powerful.
Compared to this new blade, the old Progressive Knife was basically a box cutter.
And beyond that, her EVA was now armed with all sorts of advanced weaponry she could barely recognize.
Even though she'd been studying the Starsea Empire's science diligently, the sheer complexity of interstellar-era technology was overwhelming. She could only remember a small fraction of it.
"That's a corrosion missile launcher, a mini Tachyon Lance emitter, and a matter disintegration device..." Rei Ayanami recited calmly.
"Yes. The EVAs you're piloting now each have enough firepower to completely cleanse all terrestrial landmasses of pre-space Earth. So please—don't play with the weapons."
Setsuna gestured for them to activate the anti-gravity mode.
Boom—
The thrusters of all three EVAs flared with faint, ghostly blue light.
The towering mechas, each over fifty meters tall, slowly lifted off the ground.
"Wha—?!"
Asuka and Mari yelped in surprise.
"The EVAs are now equipped with dark matter reactors and propulsion systems. You no longer need umbilical power cables, meaning you can operate freely in space."
"When entering interstellar cruise mode, the EVAs are capable of faster-than-light maneuvers between star systems. Of course, their speed is still a bit slower than a full starship."
"Waaahhh—!"
It was the girls' first time piloting flying EVAs, and Asuka and Mari couldn't stop screaming in excitement.
Contrary to their expectations, even while hovering high in the sky, the EVAs were incredibly stable, easily maintaining position. Their propulsion system operated on principles completely different from the primitive chemical rockets of the Common Era.
"Faster-than-light?! You mean this mecha can actually accelerate beyond light speed?!"
"This is the basic entry ticket for the interstellar age—nothing surprising," Setsuna said casually as he guided them into flight mode.
"Alright, everyone—follow my lead."
The three pilots, unfamiliar with controlling aerospace mechas, followed behind Unit-02 as it led the formation skyward.
Beep—
Not long into their flight, Sophon's voice chimed through the comms.
"Abnormal energy detected in the Atlantic Ocean."
"Target confirmed—Fifth Angel, Ramiel. It's advancing toward Tokyo-3."
Through the holographic interface, they could see it clearly—a massive, blue, octahedral fortress hovering above the sea, moving inland while firing plasma beams at distant targets.
"Another Angel?!"
"Should we go down and intercept it? With three EVAs, we should be able to—"
"No need. The era has changed."
"Things like Angels only take two shots to deal with now."
Setsuna showed them how to open the armament modules and lock onto the target.
Whoosh—
Two corrosion missiles streaked through the sky, leaving fiery trails.
Boom—
The first missile shattered the Angel's AT Field.
The second detonated on the surface, creating a crimson-black annihilation sphere that vaporized everything within its radius—leaving behind a smooth, hemispherical crater over a hundred meters wide.
Ramiel was erased in an instant, not even dust remaining.
"Efficient, right? That was the Type-I Corrosion Missile—good for small ground targets."
"The EVAs are also equipped with city-level and planetary-cleansing ordnance. I'll teach you how to use those later."
Setsuna yawned lazily.
"..."
Asuka was stunned by the overwhelming display of technological superiority. Humanity once relied on EVAs to barely fight Angels? No—the only problem back then was that their weapons weren't violent enough. Against armaments capable of annihilating continents or planets, Angels were insignificant.
Hummm—
The EVAs pierced through the thick clouds, climbing higher and higher.
Acceleration increased rapidly until, in the blink of an eye, they broke through the atmosphere.
When Asuka opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the vast, star-filled void of space.
"Ah..."
Staring out at the radiant sea of stars, the three girls were speechless.
"So beautiful..."
In the old era, astronauts had to undergo years of training and preparation just to barely reach orbit.
Now, for these next-generation EVAs, it took less than ten minutes.
"This is the real New Century Evangelion—a symbol of the interstellar age. The old ones? Call them Old Century Evangelions; they're practically primitive."
Mari quipped casually.
"..."
Asuka gazed at the stars, momentarily dazed.
Facing this scenery she had never seen before, countless memories flashed through her mind.
Her tragic childhood, her mother's insanity and death from the Unit-02 experiment, her pride and arrogance used as armor to hide her fragility...
But now, surrounded by the infinite starlight, beside a man from another world, she felt her heart shift subtly.
Those old pains suddenly seemed so distant, so unimportant. In the Starsea Empire, she had a dazzling new future ahead of her.
"What are you spacing out for? Want to take a little tour of the Solar System?"
Setsuna playfully pinched her cheek.
"From here to Neptune takes less than an hour—or we could swing by the Moon or Mars if you'd like."
"Ah..."
Asuka blinked, turning her head shyly.
"Thank you, Commander."
"And, um... I'm sorry. I used to think you were weird... not a good person. I was wrong."
Pfft—
Setsuna almost laughed, giving her cheek another gentle squeeze.
"I never said I was a good person. Come on—smile. Be a good girl from now on."
"???"
"Ugh, you're unbelievable! Do you really like teasing girls inside a mecha?!"
"That's right, Asuka. I'm the one who ordered the EVA upgrades—you wouldn't want to lose your EVA privileges, would you?"
Setsuna said it so naturally it made her blush instantly.
"Ah?! ..."
Asuka froze.
She couldn't tell if he was joking or dead serious—she couldn't read this man at all.
So she looked up at him pitifully.
"Do we really have to do this... here?"
"Relax, I'm kidding. Once we're back, report to the Eternal Snowfall. I'll show you around."
"Eh?"
...
Humm—
After several rounds of test flights in outer space, the three EVAs returned to Tokyo-3.
Setsuna had taken them on a quick tour of the Solar System, testing all their newly installed weapons along the way.
The machines modified by Bulin performed flawlessly. If they could handle an Outer God EVA, standard models were child's play.
Their reliability and stability were both exceptional.
The girls, having never seen such advanced technology, were thrilled—each experiment with gamma lasers or corrosion missiles brought wide-eyed excitement and cheers.
Clack—
As the cockpits opened, the girls hopped down, still reluctant for it to end.
"Ahh~ If only we could fly around a bit longer. Space is so big~" Mari brushed her hair back, still grinning.
"If you want to explore space more, have the shipgirls take you out next time."
Setsuna smiled and tapped open a holographic display.
"Hm? The Research Division says their work is nearly complete too?"
"Looks like we're done here. Time to go home."
—
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