Recaps

Xiao Ran and the allied fleets defeated the Apostle, while the DRAGONs’ sacrifice convinced everyone that they were fighting to protect the world. After the battle, Xiao Ran suspected the DRAGONs were humans from this world, and Cruze received word that the missing people and the woman’s piece were in the DRAGONs’ world.

• Xiao Ran’s beam pierced the Apostle’s AT Field and killed it, then continued into Tokyo-3’s underground space and caused a massive explosion.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Burning Legion, where Mwu confirmed that the battle was over and no more Apostles had been detected.
• Xiao Ran told the fleet commanders that the DRAGONs should be treated as comrades and suggested they were humans originally from this world.
• Bright said NERV had arranged for the fleet to rest in Tokyo-3’s underground core, which Xiao Ran feared his attack had badly damaged.
• In the Western Calendar World, Cruze told the woman that their new friend had found the missing people and that her piece was with them; she identified their location as the world of the DRAGONs.

Cruze and Jill discussed DRAGON’s limited contact and the missing Cagalli before returning to their physical relationship. Meanwhile, Xiao Ran considered DRAGON’s role in getting his group home and arrived with his companions at NERV headquarters.

• Jill asked Cruze whether he was curious about the people who disappeared from Mars and ended up in DRAGON’s world, and he said he trusted the man with them.
• Cruze said DRAGON had confirmed they would not be enemies but had withheld information about their world, and he focused on Cagalli and his mission.
• Cruze teased Jill about whether she would have strength for her work, and Jill knocked him onto the bed with her Mechanical Arm before they resumed their intimacy.
• Cruze wondered whether Cagalli’s disappearance was connected to Marina Ismail, while Xiao Ran considered how Cruze might deepen contact with DRAGON and help them return home.
• Kouzo Fuyutsuki brought Xiao Ran, Bright, Tessa, Mwu, Captain Otto, Juzo Okita, and Ruri Hoshino to the corridor outside the commander's office at NERV headquarters.

The Victory Fleet entered the vast underground Tokyo-3 and met NERV Commander Gendo Ikari. After Bright explained the fleet’s origins and difficult situation, Gendo offered NERV’s full logistical support.

• The Victory Fleet’s warships descended beneath Tokyo-3 into a vast underground space that Fuyutsuki explained was the true Tokyo-3.
• Gendo Ikari welcomed Xiao Ran and the fleet’s representatives to NERV, then created tables and chairs in his otherwise empty office.
• Gendo asked about the Victory Fleet, and Bright described its three worlds, its enemies, and Londo Bell’s status as traitors to the Federation.
• Xiao Ran sensed calmness and goodwill in Gendo Ikari, which sharply differed from the ruthless Gendo he remembered.
• Gendo recognized that the Victory Fleet lacked adequate support and promised NERV would handle its logistics, supplies, and other support.

Gendo Ikari offered NERV’s logistical support to the Victory Fleet and pledged further assistance to Mithril and Londo Bell as threats to the world multiplied. Xiao Ran was impressed by Gendo’s apparent lack of ambition and his sense of responsibility.

• Gendo Ikari promised that NERV would cover the Victory Fleet’s logistical needs, relieving Tessa and Bright of pressure.
• Gendo said NERV would also assist Mithril and Londo Bell so that wars and other threats would not hinder its defense against the Apostles.
• Tessa and Bright thanked Gendo and offered to help NERV in return.
• Xiao Ran considered how his own supplies and Renard’s Amalgam could support Mithril and Londo Bell, but focused on NERV’s assistance and whether the EVAs might join the Victory Fleet.
• Xiao Ran concluded that Gendo Ikari seemed unusually selfless and responsible compared with other versions he had encountered.

Xiao Ran won Gendo Ikari’s trust and offered NERV support from the Victory Fleet, while revealing Amalgam’s role in their plans. He warned that Renard might ally with AmbriO, whose connection to the DRAGONs and the New Chronology World remained a dangerous speculation.

• Xiao Ran thanked Gendo Ikari for helping the Victory Fleet, Mithril, and Londo Bell, and offered NERV combat and technical support.
• Xiao Ran said he could use his connections with Amalgam to ease NERV’s burden of supplying Mithril and Londo Bell.
• Xiao Ran told Gendo Ikari that Amalgam would remain a nail in the heart of evil, and Colonel Tessa explained Renard’s relationship with Xiao Ran and the Original Constitution.
• Gendo Ikari accepted that NERV might become the Victory Fleet’s friend and comrade as they worked to overthrow the Federation government and pursue peace.
• Xiao Ran speculated that AmbriO might be connected to the DRAGONs and the New Chronology World, and warned that Renard could become one of AmbriO’s allies.

Xiao Ran explained how Amalgam could secretly work with AmbriO and other factions to help the Victory Fleet gain the initiative across the three worlds. Gendo Ikari entrusted Unit-01, Unit-00, and their pilots to the Victory Fleet, then agreed to provide Xiao Ran with EVA information and technical support.

• Miss Huang questioned the basis for Xiao Ran's prediction about AmbriO, and Xiao Ran said it came from a feeling.
• Gendo Ikari said the Victory Fleet was key to saving all three worlds and offered Unit-01, Unit-00, and their pilots to the fleet, while insisting that fighting the Angels remain NERV's highest priority.
• Bright accepted responsibility for protecting the EVA units and their pilots, and Gendo said Misato Katsuragi would handle the transfer procedures.
• Xiao Ran requested information about the EVA units and Angels, technical support for repairs, and permission to develop new equipment for the EVAs.
• Gendo Ikari agreed to provide Xiao Ran with what he needed to protect the world.

Gendo Ikari explained why he had accepted Xiao Ran’s request: he believed Xiao Ran knew the truth about the EVAs and that cooperation could benefit both sides. After Unit-01 and Unit-00 arrived aboard the Victory Fleet, Xiao Ran began examining the information Gendo had provided.

• After Xiao Ran and the others left, Gendo told Fuyutsuki that Xiao Ran’s words showed he understood the connection between EVAs and Angels, and that cooperation could help them control and strengthen the EVAs.
• Gendo and Fuyutsuki agreed that the Victory Fleet’s goals aligned with NERV’s, and discussed the Winged Hermits’ recent activity and its possible link to increased Getter Rays irradiation.
• Gendo withheld intelligence about the Winged Hermits, reasoning that the Victory Fleet could learn about them from Amalgam and already knew of Amalgam’s support for NERV.
• Xiao Ran arranged for the exhausted fleet members to rest while Mwu and Luo received Unit-01, Unit-00, and accompanying equipment aboard the Burning Legion.
• Xiao Ran inserted Gendo’s storage device into his computer and began reviewing its contents.

Xiao Ran reviewed Gendo Ikari’s materials on EVA and considered whether its biology and technology could benefit the Victory Fleet or help him establish a Faction Territory. He ended by wondering whether this world’s Angels were connected to AmbriO.

• Misato Katsuragi and Rei Ayanami arrived aboard the Burning Legion with Unit-01, Unit-00, their pilots, and maintenance personnel, while Mwu and Luo handled the arrangements.
• Xiao Ran read Gendo Ikari’s materials and concluded that EVA was a living being made from Lilith’s cells, with armor that restrained its movements.
• Xiao Ran considered whether EVA contained souls and whether its AT Field or Lilith cells could be reproduced, but found no clear way to use or bring them back.
• Xiao Ran weighed the difficulty of turning the three worlds into Faction Territories and judged the Cosmic Era World to be the only plausible candidate, despite his outsider status.
• Xiao Ran regretted having used the 0079 World core and wondered whether this world’s Angels had a connection to AmbriO.

After reviewing the EVA data, Xiao Ran wondered about the EVAs' connection to AmbriO before Tetsuya asked to leave the Victory Fleet with Ryoma Nagare. Xiao Ran let Tetsuya go but would not persuade Ryoma to leave, and Tetsuya kept his reasons secret.

• Xiao Ran considered whether the EVAs were connected to AmbriO and concluded that this world would be useful mainly for its technology and pilots.
• Mwu told Xiao Ran that Tetsuya wanted to meet him, and Xiao Ran asked him to wait in the conference room.
• Tetsuya asked to leave the Victory Fleet and wanted Xiao Ran to persuade Ryoma Nagare to leave with him, warning that a greater threat would soon face the world.
• Xiao Ran asked whether Tetsuya was truly from this world and had never lost his memories, and Tetsuya confirmed it.
• Tetsuya refused to reveal why he had to leave, so Xiao Ran allowed him to go alone and told him to speak with Ryoma himself.

Tetsuya left the Victory Fleet to pursue a mission he could not yet explain, while Xiao Ran suspected Kouji Kabuto’s arrival had prompted his decision. The chapter ended with Miss Huang announcing that she, Ruri Hoshino, and First Officer Sanada had found a way to return to the Western Calendar World.

• Tetsuya left Xiao Ran’s conference room relieved that Xiao Ran had agreed to provide support if needed and had not stopped him from going.
• Tetsuya reflected that Kouji Kabuto’s arrival had made him resolve to leave, but Xiao Ran’s overwhelming power during the battle against the Angels had convinced him not to depart rashly.
• Xiao Ran accepted Tetsuya’s departure without demanding an explanation, though he remained wary of Kouji Kabuto and the reason Tetsuya had to leave.
• Naluo told Xiao Ran that Ruri Hoshino and Miss Huang had found something important, and Xiao Ran went with her to the bridge.
• Miss Huang told Xiao Ran, Ruri Hoshino, and First Officer Sanada that they had found a way to return to the Western Calendar World.

Xiao Ran learned that the team might return to the Western Calendar World by reproducing DRAGON’s cross-world spatial waveform, but testing the jump carried the risk of losing their only chance. He proposed sending a selected group back while the Burning Legion stayed to aid NERV, then the chapter shifted to a tense standoff on a distant planet, where a blonde woman asked when the promised assistance would arrive.

• Miss Huang explained that DRAGON produced different spatial waveforms for jumps between worlds and within a world, and First Officer Sanada said calculations and testing were needed to identify the correct waveform.
• Ruri Hoshino warned Xiao Ran that Akihito Tenkawa was their only A-Class Jumper and that they could not confirm a jump’s success without contact with the Western Calendar World.
• Xiao Ran decided the waveform had to be tested and proposed refining the analysis before gathering everyone to decide how to proceed.
• Xiao Ran suggested that the Ptolemaios and Nadeshiko return with selected pilots while the Burning Legion remained in the Universal Century to help NERV.
• On a distant planet surrounded by warships, a blonde woman asked the red-clad woman when the promised assistance would arrive.

Naza and the Overlord Legion remained trapped on Iskandar, where Starsha refused to hand over the Universe Restoration System or trust Naza completely. With Gamillas and the Hostile Legion surrounding the planet and the Burning Legion unresponsive, the two sides continued to depend on each other for protection.

• Naza sat with Starsha Iskandar on Iskandar, surrounded by Gamillas warships commanded by Desla.
• Starsha warned Naza that her protection might not last and refused to entrust her with the Universe Restoration System.
• Naza recalled how the Overlord Legion had fled the Hostile Legion to Iskandar after failing to contact the Burning Legion.
• The Overlord Legion and Starsha maintained a stalemate with their enemies by protecting one another, though Starsha kept her distance and concealed the system’s location.

The Overlord Legion remained trapped on Iskandar, unable to escape Gamillas and the Hostile Legion while searching for the Cosmic Restoration System. Fardes concluded that only outside help from the Burning Legion could break their deadlock, but the Legion had no news of them.

• Naza judged that forcing the Overlord Legion to flee would lead to certain death, so the Legion stayed on Iskandar and waited for the Burning Legion.
• Fardes despaired over the Legion’s lack of a way out, their ignorance of the Cosmic Restoration System’s location, and the need to earn Starsha’s trust.
• Fardes questioned why the mission had become so difficult and wondered whether the Burning Legion was responsible for the abnormal increase in difficulty.
• The chapter explained that Xiao Ran’s identities and influence made the mission easy for the Burning Legion but had pushed the Overlord Legion’s mission to hell difficulty.

The Victory Fleet discussed whether the DRAGON Jump fluctuation could return them to the Western Calendar World and learned that Ruri Hoshino’s analysis gave them an estimated 85 percent chance of success. They considered risking their single attempt to check on the Western Calendar World and determine whether Boson Jumps could carry them between worlds.

• First Officer Sanada explained that the unusual fluctuation from the DRAGON Jump might be a key to returning to the Western Calendar World.
• Miss Huang told Tessa, Bright, and Captain Otto that the team had confirmed the fluctuation could enable a return, but they had only one chance to test it.
• Miss Huang proposed returning, or sending part of the fleet back, to check the Western Calendar World and test whether another fluctuation could bring them back to the Universal Century.
• Ruri Hoshino said the worlds appeared to share a special Boson Network Node and estimated an 85 percent chance of a successful return using an A-Class Jumper.
• Tessa identified the two questions the jump could answer: whether returning was safe and whether Boson Jumps could cross between worlds.

Xiao Ran planned to split the Victory Fleet, sending a team to the Western Calendar World while he and the Burning Legion remained in the Universal Century. Luo revealed a modified device that might let the two groups communicate across worlds, leaving its operation to be tested after the jump.

• Bright, Miss Huang, and Tessa discussed the need to travel to the Western Calendar World and asked who would return.
• Xiao Ran proposed sending the Nadeshiko and Ptolemaios with selected pilots and units while he and the Burning Legion stayed in the Universal Century.
• Tessa agreed to the plan, and Bright said he would reassign the Gundam Squad before departure.
• Xiao Ran urged the team to maintain contact with DRAGON and continue researching it as a safeguard.
• Luo presented a Cross-Dimensional Communication Device modified from captured Gedim units and assigned the returning ships to test it.

The Victory Fleet responded to an enemy force approaching Tokyo-3, leaving Danner's Son and Nir-Akama behind to guard NERV. At sea, the fleet encountered Doctor Hell's Mechanical Beast Legion, led by Baron Ashura, who challenged Kouji Kabuto.

• Xiao Ran ordered Danner's Son and Nir-Akama to stay behind while the other ships headed out to intercept the enemy.
• The Burning Legion, Ptolemaios, Nadeshiko, Yamato, and La Rams deployed their units over the ocean and waited for the approaching force.
• Soji Okita and Gido criticized NERV's reconnaissance after its team was wiped out, while Ryoma Nagare spotted the enemy.
• Gido identified the approaching gray humanoid Mechanical Beasts as Doctor Hell's legion, and Amuro concluded they had come for Kouji Kabuto.
• Kouji Kabuto recognized Baron Ashura among the enemy commanders and mocked Ashura's half-man, half-woman Mechanical Beast.
• Baron Ashura angrily declared that Doctor Hell had bestowed the Mechanical Beast upon him and vowed to settle things with Kouji.

The Victory Fleet launched its battle against Baron Ashura’s Mechanical Beast Legion after the pilots’ chatter made the confrontation awkward. Baron Ashura’s units survived the Burning Legion’s opening barrage, but the enraged Victory Fleet pilots quickly began destroying them with ease.

• Ryoma Nagare and Mai Senpuuji challenged Baron Ashura while the pilots joked about the enemy’s appearance.
• Xiao Ran ordered an attack, and Mwu commanded the Burning Legion to unleash missiles and beams on the Mechanical Beast Legion.
• The Mechanical Beast Legion fired back through the smoke, prompting Kira to shield the Burning Legion with GN Dragoons and Setsuna, Tieria, and the other Celestial Being members to protect it with their GN Shields.
• The Burning Legion’s barrage destroyed only a small number of the exceptionally durable Talos-like units.
• Kouji Kabuto charged Great Mazinger toward Baron Ashura as Victory Fleet pilots attacked the battered Mechanical Beasts, destroying them in one or two strikes.

The Victory Fleet destroyed the Mechanical Beast Legion after its careless opening let the enemy strike the Burning Legion. Xiao Ran then sensed a terrifying, mysterious power erupt from Kouji Kabuto’s Mazinger and wondered if it was Mazinger ZERO.

• Ryoma Nagare and Gido’s laxity let the Mechanical Beasts bypass them and attack the Burning Legion, while Kira, Athrun, and the Celestial Being pilots reacted quickly to defend it.
• The counterattack reminded the Victory Fleet to take battles seriously and stop underestimating their enemies.
• The pilots unleashed a furious assault and wiped out the Mechanical Beast Legion, including its unusual Mazinger-like machines.
• Xiao Ran saw Kouji Kabuto’s Mazinger surrounded by a powerful, flame-like force that suppressed Baron Ashura.
• Xiao Ran sensed an overwhelming aura of destruction and mystery from the Mazinger and wondered, “Could this... be Mazinger ZERO?”

Xiao Ran feared the power Mazinger ZERO might represent and wondered why Tetsuya had left with Ryoma Nagare. Tetsuya then appeared in his own Mazinger to stop Kouji Kabuto from finishing Baron Ashura, and demanded that Kouji leave Mazinger Z.

• Xiao Ran recalled Mazinger ZERO's terrifying potential and speculated that Tetsuya had left to find a way to oppose it.
• Kouji Kabuto's Mazinger Z battered Baron Ashura, who fled as Kouji pursued and launched an iron fist at the escaping machine.
• Tetsuya's Mazinger rose from the sea and intercepted Kouji's iron fist, giving Baron Ashura a chance to escape.
• Ryoma Nagare questioned why Tetsuya had helped the enemy, and Tetsuya told Kouji to get out of Mazinger Z.

Tetsuya attacked Kouji Kabuto and demanded that he leave Mazinger Z, while refusing to explain his actions. As the two Mazingers fought and Talos-like units emerged, Xiao Ran ordered the Victory Fleet to target the new threats and let Ryoma Nagare join the duel.

• Tetsuya struck Mazinger Z with Great Mazinger, sending Kouji Kabuto into the sea, and Baron Ashura left after promising to lend Tetsuya one last hand.
• Dozens of Talos-like units emerged from beneath the island as Tetsuya insisted Kouji leave Mazinger Z and told Ryoma Nagare to come with him.
• Kouji refused to abandon Mazinger Z, and Tetsuya charged him, beginning a fierce clash between the two machines.
• Xiao Ran ordered everyone except Ryoma Nagare not to interfere in the duel and directed the Victory Fleet to destroy the Talos-like units.
• Ryoma piloted Black Getter toward the battling Mazingers, while Banjo Haran obeyed Xiao Ran and turned to fight the emerging units.

Xiao Ran trusted Tetsuya and let him settle matters with Ryoma Nagare in battle while Dawn stood by to prevent serious injuries. Tetsuya defeated Ryoma in a single exchange and demanded that he come with him.

• Xiao Ran persuaded the Victory Fleet to trust Tetsuya and ordered Dawn prepared for launch.
• Juzo Okita and other leaders voiced their trust in Tetsuya, calming the fleet as it continued fighting the Talos-like units.
• Xiao Ran launched Dawn and told Tetsuya he would not interfere, asking him to explain himself when they met again.
• Tetsuya declared that he intended to take Ryoma Nagare away, and Ryoma challenged him to fight without Kouji Kabuto interfering.
• Black Getter and Great Mazinger clashed, and Great Mazinger badly damaged Black Getter in one exchange.
• Tetsuya told Ryoma to come with him.

Great Mazinger crippled Black Getter, but Ryoma Nagare refused to go with Tetsuya and insisted that saving the world required everyone to work together. Getter Robo suddenly arrived and drove Great Mazinger back, leaving Ryoma ready to keep Tetsuya from escaping.

• Great Mazinger severely damaged Black Getter while deliberately avoiding its head, and Xiao Ran watched to see how Ryoma Nagare and Kouji Kabuto would respond.
• Tetsuya apologized and demanded that Ryoma come with him to help save the world, but Ryoma refused and argued that they had to unite and share the truth.
• Tetsuya moved Great Mazinger toward the disabled Black Getter to take Ryoma by force, while Xiao Ran prepared to intervene.
• Getter Robo arrived at high speed and attacked Great Mazinger, knocking it far away with a pair of powerful strikes.
• Ryoma Nagare leaped from Black Getter into Getter Robo, and Tetsuya watched as Ryoma vowed to keep him there.

Ryoma Nagare’s Getter Robo and Tetsuya’s Great Mazinger battled with enough force to tear apart the isolated island while Xiao Ran studied the Getter Ray’s power and risks. Nadeshiko then detected DRAGON jump fluctuations, and countless DRAGONs appeared with a red PM at their forefront.

• Tetsuya took control of Great Mazinger and attacked Getter Robo, while Ryoma Nagare answered by unleashing its power.
• Great Mazinger and Getter Robo clashed at tremendous speed, their energy blasts and shock waves breaking apart the island.
• Xiao Ran observed Getter Robo’s Getter Ray and considered both its potential value to the Legion and the danger of its possible will.
• Nadeshiko warned everyone that DRAGON jump fluctuations had appeared around the island.
• Countless DRAGONs emerged less than a minute later, led by a red PM that appeared before everyone.

A red PM appeared with a swarm of DRAGONs, interrupting the battle between Great Mazinger and Getter Robo. Luo and Nine identified the red PM as technology akin to Ange’s machine, while Salia and Vivian reacted differently to the revelation.

• The DRAGONs and a red PM arrived, causing Great Mazinger and Getter Robo to stop fighting and turn toward them.
• Nine told Soji Okita that the red PM and Ange’s machine appeared to share the same technology.
• Luo explained that Ange’s PM differed fundamentally from the other PMs and confirmed Nine’s analysis of the red machine.
• Salia resolved to surpass Ange with her new machine and win Jill’s approval.
• Vivian happily said she would use her new machine to keep up with Ange.

Xiao Ran negotiated with Salamantine, the Miko Princess of the Dragon Kingdom, after she appeared with the DRAGONs and challenged the Victory Fleet to prove its sincerity. He agreed to leave his machine and accompany her and Ange, while ordering the fleet to follow its plan and prepare for his safety.

• Hilda asked whether Luo's new model or Ange's machine was stronger, and Luo said that a machine's suitability depended on its pilot.
• Elsa questioned why DRAGON had technology like Ange's machine, and Luo suggested asking its pilot when they had the chance.
• Xiao Ran approached Salamantine with Dawn and asked whether she had come as the Miko Princess or for another purpose.
• Salamantine questioned whether the Victory Fleet truly wanted cooperation and challenged Xiao Ran and Ange to come with her without their machines.
• Ruri Hoshino and Miss Huang objected, but Xiao Ran privately told Mwu and Sheryl that he sensed no hostility and decided to accept Salamantine's challenge.
• Xiao Ran ordered the fleet to continue its original plan, told Graham to stay aboard the Burning Legion, and prepared to leave with Salamantine.