However, destiny had played an incredibly cruel joke on Gendo Ikari.
Unit-01, the machine that had integrated Yui Ikari's soul and will during a failed experiment, recognized only her biological son—Shinji Ikari—as its sole pilot at its deepest core. This bond, rooted in the very origin of life, transcended any technological means or human arrangement. This forced Gendo Ikari to personally push his son—the very person he sought to either "protect" or "exclude" from the final plan—into the center of the stage, making him the most critical and dangerous executor of the Project.
Thus, Shinji's existence took on a dual significance. He was not only the sole pilot of Unit-01; his unique, inseparable link with his mother's soul inside the machine made him one of the indispensable living keys to triggering the "Third Impact."
According to SEELE's ancient script and Gendo's secretly adjusted personal agenda, initiating the Third Impact and opening the "Doors of Guf" required the convergence of three key elements. One was the "Vessel of Adam"—an entity capable of carrying and activating the power of Adam to serve as the impact's detonator. This "vessel" was none other than Unit-01, which housed the core of Adam and was guarded by Yui's soul.
Completely unaware, Shinji had become the most central and tragic link in his father's grand plan to reunite with his late wife, even at the cost of annihilating the current world.
Under the guidance of Shinji (the avatar), the comprehensive overhaul of EVA Unit-03 was officially declared complete. The machine, predominantly white with striking red stripes, stood silently in its private hangar. Its internal systems, weapon interfaces, and core logic were now deeply integrated with Osiris' technical concepts and preset protocols. It was no longer just a NERV EVA, but a specialized weapons platform that responded, to an extent, to Shinji's will.
Asuka, the designated pilot of Unit-03, had completed her preliminary synchronization training with the new machine. Although her operations required adjustment due to the altered characteristics of the unit, her immense combat talent and growing trust in Shinji's commands made her the most suitable master for this white EVA. Unit-03 and its pilot formed Shinji's first line of defense—a force he could directly mobilize and rely upon.
Simultaneously, during a routine cross-dimensional communication, the original body at the Dead World base in the Warhammer universe reported a critical breakthrough.
The information stream indicated that an EVA created specifically for "Shinji"—which could be called the "EVA-Titan" type—had successfully completed its basic construction. This unit utilized EVA technical data and biological samples transmitted by Shinji, combined with the biological modification technologies of the Warhammer universe and STC system optimization algorithms.
The EVA-Titan featured a set of deeply modified "Dummy Systems" derived from the analysis of NERV technology and integrated with the cybernetics of the Adeptus Mechanicus. It was a hidden trump card, an ultimate unit of violence belonging entirely to himself, free from the control of SEELE or NERV.
However, the original body also pointed out current limitations. The system's operation relied on a powerful external consciousness for psionic connection and remote control. Due to resource and priority considerations, the original body had not created a new, independent avatar for this unit. This meant that at the critical moment, Shinji (the second avatar) would need to establish a psionic link and "pilot" it remotely, bearing the double burden of his own actions and the control of a massive war machine.
Regardless, this EVA-Titan residing in the Warhammer world served as the second layer of Shinji's insurance. If necessary, the original body would dimensionally deploy the EVA-Titan into the EVA world.
The critical moment arrived swiftly: the Tenth Angel, Zeruel, struck.
The atmosphere in the NERV command center was tense to the breaking point. Misato Katsuragi clenched her fists as Ritsuko Akagi frantically calculated possibilities, but the flashing red alerts and plummeting status data on the screens heralded a desperate situation.
Zeruel's multi-layered AT Field exhibited a strength far exceeding any previous Angel. Unit-01's melee strikes and progressive knives failed to even create a ripple.
Asuka, piloting Unit-03, deployed a miniaturized positron cannon from a distance, loaded with specialized "Cherubim II" warheads containing catalytic particles.
"Cherubim II, fire!" The specialized rounds turned into streaks of light, slamming into the Angel's AT Field. However, the purifying light, usually invincible, yielded little results this time. After piercing several layers, it was stopped—the strength of Zeruel's AT Field far exceeded the instantaneous breakthrough threshold of the Cherubim II.
The Angel exhibited overwhelming power. Unit-02, attempting a high-mobility flank, was struck by one of Zeruel's ribbon-like arms like a giant whip; it was sent flying instantly, its armor shattering.
Worse, in the ensuing melee, Unit-01 was ensnared by the Angel's other ribbon arm, the crushing force making the EVA's armor creak and groan. Then, a lethal beam fired from the Angel's eyes precisely pierced Unit-01's shoulder armor, inflicting heavy damage.
The three EVAs, along with humanity's most advanced "Cherubim" weapon systems, appeared pale and powerless before the absolute strength and defense of the Angel.
Shinji, like an observer standing at the edge of the storm, watched the shifts with cold calm. He knew that when Gendo's obsession, Shinji's confusion, the secrets of Unit-01, and the imminent arrival of the EVA-Titan finally converged, the moment that would decide the future would begin.