Chapter 162 194: Of Course, I Am a Professional.

The matter was resolved, but the aftershocks triggered by the fall of the Angels were only just beginning. Even ordinary citizens, ignorant of the classified details, could sense that this battle was unlike any other.

The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Angels had arrived in rapid succession. NERV couldn't even definitively determine whether Bardiel or Zeruel was the thirteenth; logically, Bardiel, who had ambushed them halfway, appeared first.

Of course, it didn't matter. Shinji had no interest in ranking the dead. However, the impact of this battle was too great. From SEELE to various world leaders, meetings were being held with frantic frequency. In comparison, the renewed destruction of Tokyo-3's urban area—the first major damage since the Third Angel—became a negligible footnote.

Intelligence agencies worldwide were hyper-active. Various combat recordings were analyzed repeatedly. Bardiel was manageable, and the arrival of two Angels back-to-back was acceptable—after all, the Dead Sea Scrolls only stated that a single Angel would combine with Adam to trigger an Impact; they never specified the interval between Angels.

Based on past experience, the frequency of Angel attacks was irregular, ranging from ten days to a month. Shortening that frequency to "minutes" was understandable.

The main problem lay with Zeruel. This Angel didn't head for Tokyo-3. Had Unit-01 not intercepted it urgently, millions of casualties might have occurred before anyone could react. This was a grave issue.

It must be understood that this war between humanity and the Angels was peculiar. Most governments acted more like investors; aside from funneling resources to Tokyo-3, the war had little impact on them. As long as Shinji was fighting hard on his end, everyone else went about their daily lives.

Border conflicts and terrorist attacks never ceased. Due to information control, most people didn't even know Angels existed before Sahaquiel; for billions of humans, the situation felt more like watching a distant show.

But this time was different. The war had expanded beyond the borders of Tokyo-3, and NERV's information blackout could no longer suppress such a massive disturbance.

"If you hadn't taken out Zeruel so quickly, there's no telling how much chaos would have erupted," Misato Katsuragi remarked in the underground operations briefing room, flipping through her files with a sigh of relief.

Military losses remained classified. Ordinary people only knew that a monster had been crushed by a giant robot. Whether the Angel was too weak or Unit-01 was too strong lacked any real tangible meaning to them.

"True. If Zeruel had destroyed Tokyo-2, it would have been a disaster," Ritsuko added, twirling a pen. "Most people lack a proper understanding of the Angels. Once they realize they are living through the apocalypse, chaos will inevitably ensue. Human society is a complex thing, you know."

Shinji nodded. He knew all too well. Society hid all sorts of "ghosts and gods," including those who worshipped the Angels as deities. Under the grip of fear, people were capable of anything.

"That is precisely why I revealed my power to the world."

He was calm. Or rather, this was a familiar "scent" to him. In Shinji's experience, war was always total. Planets, systems, and even entire sectors would be engulfed in flames. He had never heard of a xenos threat that put all its effort into attacking a single fortress while the rest of the world lived a normal life.

"Power is the only thing that can soothe hearts. We must do our best to prevent the war from expanding. What often makes a planet irrecoverable isn't a Chaos invasion, but the loss of order. The number of humans who die in internal strife is often a hundred times greater than those slaughtered directly by the xenos."

Misato and Ritsuko exchanged a glance. Whenever they encountered such intractable problems, Shinji was always composed. This wasn't just about willpower; it was because he had seen too much. Having studied in a place teeming with "ghosts and gods" really made a difference.

"But the seeds of chaos have been sown."

"They are still within the range of suppression. Isn't that what the United Nations is for? I don't expect them to help much; I just need them not to trip us up."

Shinji waved a hand dismissively and took a sip of the coffee on the table, unwilling to pursue the topic further. In the 40th Millennium, such tasks were the responsibility of the Planetary Governor. Protecting the peace and stability of the populace was not within the purview of the Astartes.

"Things aren't all bad. MAGI's calculations are out. Consistent with your judgment, the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls still holds. No matter how short the interval, there can only be one Angel near 'Adam' at a time."

Ritsuko was optimistic. As long as MAGI's calculations aligned with Shinji's conjectures, it was as good as gospel.

"So it's just a tactic? No different from previous Angels?" Misato pondered, propping her chin on her hand before making a pained face. "But this is too hard to deal with. The Angels have poured so much into breaching Tokyo-3, and now they're shamelessly taking hostages."

Indeed, other human cities were now hostages. NERV could not turn a blind eye, and Shinji could not allow the world to fall into anarchy.

"Not necessarily. The Angels cannot completely escape their instincts; they won't stray too far from Tokyo-3. MAGI used data from Gaghiel to run the numbers."

Ritsuko pressed a remote, and a circle with a diameter of 1,000 kilometers appeared on the screen.

"As long as their goal is to breach Tokyo-3 and merge with Adam, the Angels won't exceed this range. Logically, going beyond this wouldn't serve as bait, because existing human aircraft wouldn't have enough time to transport Unit-01."

"But that encompasses all of Japan."

"It can't be helped; that is the cruel reality. I'm actually relieved Tokyo-3 was built in a narrow island nation like Japan."

"Should we report the calculations to the Japanese government?"

"Don't do something that seems kind but is actually harmful. Do you want the Strategic Self-Defense Force attacking us? They would certainly hide the news and then demand we move 'Adam' elsewhere. What other country would dare accept it? It would just trigger a war between the UN and the SSDF."

Ritsuko adjusted her glasses, her gaze cold and rational. She shut down Misato's "good intentions" on the spot. It was a white lie; after all, the Angels hadn't caused massive destruction yet.

"We'll just have to let the people of Japan suffer a bit. Don't they love Tokusatsu films about giant robots fighting monsters? Now it's just happening to them for real."

Misato sighed, making a joke to lighten the mood. She turned her head, but saw no emotion from Shinji.

In the eyes of an Astartes, humanity had no nationalities. If sacrificing a small portion of the population would ensure the safety of the vast majority, they would even do it proactively.

"I don't care about any of that. I only worry about one thing."

"That the Angels will become even more terrifying? True—the gods are adding weight to the scale. The current Angels are fundamentally different from the first ones."

Ritsuko was the authority here. Looking back, every Angel seemed stronger and smarter than the last.

"Not that. I am also becoming stronger, fundamentally different from my initial self. Even Zeruel was crushed by me."

Shinji shook his head gently. He wasn't as panicked as SEELE. The logic was simple: no matter how strong or smart the Angels became, he only needed to be stronger and smarter than them. It wouldn't cause much trouble.

"I see. You're afraid of the quantitative change becoming a qualitative one."

"Exactly. That is what I fear. The process of quantitative accumulation is difficult, but the final qualitative leap is what brings despair." Shinji smiled, confirming that Ritsuko Akagi was indeed the smartest among them. He said gravely:

"I have another theory. Since the energy of the S² Engine originates from the Negative Universe, proving that the Angels are directly linked to it, are these changes merely for the purpose of reaching Adam?"

According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, their sole purpose was to reach Adam. But now, because destiny had been altered, the Scrolls were no longer accurate.

"You mean... these are the tentacles of a god touching the physical world?" Ritsuko asked tentatively.

"Exactly. Just as an embryo develops from a single cell, there is a process before a god can let out its first cry. Doesn't the fact that the Angels are getting stronger and smarter fit that process?"

Shinji spoke faster; he loved talking to people this intelligent.

"Because of evolution, He can cause his offspring to change until quantity achieves quality, turning them into Warp entities that can rewrite the rules. The Fruit of Wisdom was reclaimed, while the Fruit of Life was more of a gift."

These words linked perfectly with the previous "Emperor Conjecture" and explained the difference between humans and Angels. The Negative Universe was a place of return for human souls, where the dead carried "data" back. Angels were the opposite; they were extensions of the Negative Universe into reality.

"So, you're saying future Angels will be extraordinary, transcending the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls?" Misato, her head spinning, raised her hand.

"I didn't travel back from the end of the timeline. I have no idea what the Angels in the Scrolls look like or what the differences are."

Shinji shot her a look, telling the "idiot" not to interrupt. Misato immediately hung her head in mock dejection. To him, every Angel was an unknown; strength was irrelevant because Shinji gave his all every time.

Ritsuko shot Misato a triumphant look. In all of NERV, only she and Gendo could keep up with Shinji's train of thought. For Shinji, it was experience; for them, it required immense imagination.

"So, what you fear is the leap from quantity to quality—the emergence of a conscious will that rewrites the rules and welds the Doors of Guf shut."

"Exactly. Only then would He be truly invincible."

Shinji nodded heavily. It was the same old story: before a Warp entity is born, everyone can compete in growth speed. But once it manifests, there is no comparison.

"Then, should we accelerate? SEELE should have the ritual nearly ready."

"Kaji hasn't sent word yet, but it should be soon."

Shinji leaned back slightly, waving a hand. "No need to rush. There is only one chance to open the Doors of Guf. We must ensure success and time it perfectly. Otherwise, even I cannot kill a concept."

True—God was still just a concept. Even if the Doors of Guf opened, it wouldn't last long. He couldn't just sit in the Negative Universe waiting for it to be born. So, too early won't do.

But too late won't do either. God was touching the Negative Universe projection of an Astartes; He certainly wasn't "stupid." The moment consciousness was born, He would rewrite the old rules.

"It's like cooking. You must master the heat. All I can do is prepare the ingredients so they can be tossed into the paddle at a moment's notice."

"That sounds dauntingly difficult." Ritsuko took a breath. Even she could only grasp the concept; she couldn't formulate a countermeasure. "But you must have a way, right, Shinji-kun?"

Looking into those expectant eyes, Shinji lifted his head, his gaze resolute.

"Of course. I am a professional."

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