Love, beyond reach

The five of them returned to the apartment building.

Rei Ayanami split off halfway there.

Shinji watched her lonely figure retreat. He wanted to say something, but hesitated, opening his mouth without getting a single word out.

Huang Zhetian stood beside him, still sipping from his can of orange juice.

You couldn't say it after all. That sense of familiarity actually comes from your mother, Shinji...

If he told Shinji that now, he was sure Shinji wouldn't be able to keep it secret. If things escalated, Shinji might even confront Gendo Ikari about it. That would really blow things up.

"Come on. Why do I keep feeling like Shinji is just as stupid as Zhetian? Still staring after that Honor Student? Idiots!" Asuka turned back toward the two fools who hadn't followed, sounding exasperated.

"Well, Rei lives alone, too. Maybe that's why she's so withdrawn. Being quiet isn't necessarily her fault. The four of you are teammates, so you should help her out more." Misato started to take out a cigarette, then put it back and looked up at the three of them.

"Giving her that vegetarian lunch was my way of looking out for her..." Huang Zhetian said.

"Hmph! I'll let it slide this time, but tell me next time you do something like that! Stupid Zhetian!" Remembering what Misato had said, Asuka abandoned the idea of giving him a thorough scolding.

They returned to Misato's home.

They opened the door and switched on the lights.

Without a shred of concern for appearances, Misato tossed her clothes into the air and whooped with delight.

Then she went to the refrigerator and pulled out rows of beer. She popped a tab, took a huge gulp, and let out another shriek...

Huang Zhetian held his can of orange juice. "..."

Asuka had been about to head to the bathroom. "..."

Shinji had been about to remove his headphones, but put them back on. "..."

Only after finishing a beer did Misato open her eyes and notice the three of them standing there, watching her.

She scratched her head and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, it's just so good. Mm~ Go do your own thing... Hehe."

"Another nutcase... If I keep living with you people, am I going to catch it?" Asuka grumbled, gathered her clothes, and drew the curtain before undressing to take a bath.

As usual, Shinji sat motionless in a chair, staring blankly. Who knew what he was thinking?

Only after coming to this world did Huang Zhetian discover how utterly uneventful the Evangelion characters' evening leisure time was.

An aging single woman drinking beer and howling like a wolf.

A withdrawn boy listening to his portable player through headphones.

A tsundere girl who headed straight into the bathroom after coming home.

And me? I just watch them...

And occasionally drink some orange juice.

When will I get to kiss someone? Pah! What am I thinking? I'm an innocent boy! Shame on me!

Finding the living room thoroughly boring, Huang Zhetian got up and returned to his room.

He closed the door.

When he opened his eyes, his pupils turned an eerie blue!

He scanned the room for anything out of place.

After confirming that everything was fine,

Huang Zhetian sat on the bed and opened the system panel.

He had received a reward for defeating the Space Angel, just as he had for the Rain Angel. There was only one reward, with no bonus reward triggered.

Every time he worked himself half to death, the rewards had been so generous. Why were they dwindling now?

This time, the system's reward was an incomplete divine domain.

Calling it precious felt wrong, since it wasn't worth a damn right now.

Calling it useless also felt wrong, since it had "divine" in its name.

Note: The Sword God fell, and the Sword God's Domain Fragments scattered across the myriad worlds. The fragment you currently possess is the largest. It contains Sword God Techniques, weapons, or even the Sword God's divine power!

But!

After all that impressive boasting, a catch still came at the end...

However, everything you possess of the Sword God is incomplete, with its power reduced to the absolute minimum. Evolution is currently unavailable. Activate?

The absolute minimum, and evolution is currently unavailable.

All of that seemed pretty useless right now. It really wouldn't help him much.

"Whatever. Even a mosquito has some meat on it. System, activate it!" Huang Zhetian sighed, feeling disappointed. He had fought himself half to death, and his lungs still hurt so badly. Getting something like this hardly seemed worth it.

Still, he had risked his life to obtain it. Could he really consider throwing it away?

Ding! Activating!

An incomplete halo of sword shadows appeared.

It began spinning rapidly, its radiance illuminating the entire dark room.

Finally, it slowly transformed into a mass of golden light and shot into the space between Huang Zhetian's eyebrows.

Huang Zhetian immediately sat cross-legged and began meditating.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, which had turned golden.

Much later, the color slowly faded.

"Hmm, looks like... I got a little lucky after all. Evolution isn't available now, but what about later?" Judging by his tone, Huang Zhetian had gained quite a lot this time.

What Huang Zhetian had grasped this time was divine power.

What was divine power? It could create all things, even entire worlds!

Although his divine power could currently create only a small life-form, it could create a world in the future!

Huang Zhetian looked at the white light emerging in his palm, then checked the Sword Mark on his forehead in the mirror.

Both filled him with satisfaction.

Because he looked ridiculously handsome right now!

No matter how he looked at himself, he felt he had a certain presence! Namely...

Everyone, eyes on me! I have an announcement! I'm @&%♂+!

Great! Now I'm remembering old memes.

Huang Zhetian extinguished the divine light around him.

He examined the level descriptions on the system panel.

White: faint.

Yellow: entry-level.

Blue: normal.

Red: moderately strong.

Green: fifty percent of divine power restored.

Gold: peak condition!

Evolution requires Practice Points.

If you wish to regain your peak condition, you may sacrifice half your lifespan.

Note: This lasts only fourteen years. During this period, you can also automatically restore your lifespan, because you are a god! Automatically restoring lifespan also reduces the remaining duration.

So using divine power reduces the remaining years, and restoring my lifespan also reduces them.

Put simply, I can restore however much is left after I've used some?

But the lifespan restored and the years consumed aren't proportional.

For example, one year can restore twenty years of my life. Amazing!

"Holy fucking shit! It's that powerful?! That's an endless cheat loop! A perpetual cycle! You're letting me exploit a bug?! There's really a deal this good?!" Huang Zhetian was stunned. Does that mean I can keep looping forever now? Invincible right from the start?! Then let's do it!

Who cares about Gendo Ikari?!

Who cares about that mysterious organization, SEELE?!

Who cares about the Dead Sea Scrolls?!

Who cares about the Angels, Adam, or Lilith?!

Who cares about the Human Instrumentality Project?!

They can all get lost. One swing of my sword will settle everything, and then I'll head straight to Rebuild of Evangelion!

"Host, I forgot to remind you. You only have two chances... And you won't get any more in the future," the system added timidly.

It shattered Huang Zhetian's lovely fantasy.

Huang Zhetian had been about to press the sacrifice button, but froze instantly.

"I hope your mother... [a stream of colorful, eloquent profanity]." Huang Zhetian censored himself.

He had nearly wasted one of his trump cards.

Looking at the system panel's details, he now had three trump cards.

One was a skill that likewise consumed half his lifespan.

Another was a skill that trapped him in a cycle of reincarnation.

Those three skills could only be activated as a last resort.

Otherwise, each use meant one fewer chance. Worse still, using one could kill him outright.

I'm not some reckless daredevil. Why give me this stuff?!

Huang Zhetian grumbled inwardly. Who developed this system? Who was its previous host?

On Earth in the real world, in a small city somewhere in Guangdong, a boy typing on his phone suddenly yawned. "Who's cursing me?!"

The system spoke again. "Host, would you like to see a prediction? This predicted storyline is very, very valuable..."

Why does it sound like a cook...?

Whatever. I'll open it first.

Huang Zhetian replied, "Open it. I want to take a look."

The system suddenly expanded into an enormous screen hanging in midair inside the room.

Huang Zhetian's dismissive expression quickly became deathly serious.

He saw that, because of him-

Asuka had died!

"What happened? System! Explain yourself! Otherwise, I'll storm headquarters right now and kill Gendo Ikari myself!" Huang Zhetian said viciously.

If Asuka died, what meaning would any of this have?! He had come here for her!

"Host, don't worry. This is only a deduction. The general course of events won't necessarily happen. It's just a prediction," the system replied calmly.

"How could this happen? Where did things go wrong?! Impossible. Absolutely impossible! I've accounted for every detail at every step!" Huang Zhetian was losing his composure. For the first time since entering this world, he felt utterly at a loss.

He muttered to himself, almost hysterically.

So in the end, Asuka dies ahead of time because of me?!

That image refused to leave his mind.

Asuka lay in a pool of blood, gazing at him with reluctance to part. Smiling regretfully, she slowly closed her eyes...

No! I'll never allow it! Even if I have to die!

Huang Zhetian's eyes reddened. He would never allow that to happen.

Whoever caused it, he would kill them! Even if it was Shinji Ikari, he would slaughter him!

The protagonist?! What a joke. Once I kill you, I'll be the protagonist!

"System, can you roughly determine who else might trigger these events?!" Slowly calming down, Huang Zhetian turned and asked again.

"Didn't I just tell you? It's you..." The system was utterly speechless.

"I understand. Looks like Asuka and I just aren't meant to be. Even if she likes me..." Huang Zhetian sank back onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Damn it! Forget it... The bigger picture comes first! What else can I do? Right, show me that necklace's information! System!" As if struck by an idea, Huang Zhetian shouted urgently.

Ding! The necklace is currently on Asuka. Its current name is the Transfer Chain. Once the first person claims ownership with a drop of blood, any harm they suffer is transferred to the second person. The second person is likewise designated by a drop of blood; only the order differs! The necklace is legendary-grade! It also comes with resurrection!

"There's hope! But... who?" After his initial joy, Huang Zhetian noticed another problem: who would provide the second drop of blood?

Honestly, he was selfish. He wanted to be with Asuka, but...

He couldn't bring himself to harm any of the Evangelion characters.

Not even Gendo Ikari.

If Gendo Ikari didn't do anything to provoke him, Huang Zhetian wouldn't go after him.

He couldn't kill Shinji's father.

"Is this really how karma works? Heh... Fine, then. I came to this world for her, so I'll leave it for her, too!" Huang Zhetian smiled bitterly, filled with pain and helplessness.

Love. Beyond reach.

Huang Zhetian heard Asuka shouting outside his door.

Suddenly, he felt all his negative emotions vanish.

As long as Asuka lives... Maybe I really am like Kaworu Nagisa, giving her happiness the way he did for Shinji.

At that thought, Huang Zhetian made up his mind.

He walked to the door, opened it, and said to Asuka, "Asuka, lend me your necklace for a moment. I'll add something to it. You can come in..."

Asuka was showing off the necklace to Misato.

Misato stroked Asuka's necklace, unable to put it down, her eyes sparkling.

Asuka turned and replied, "What's wrong? Don't tell me you've changed your mind and want it back?"

"No. Come here, I'll show you something nice... It's even more exciting than a new game~" Huang Zhetian smiled like Brother Jie.

"You're so creepy. Fine, I'm coming... Ah! Don't!" Asuka took back the necklace and entered Huang Zhetian's room. The instant she stepped inside, he shut the door...

"Why did you drag me in here? You'd better explain, or you'll be sorry!" Asuka sat on Huang Zhetian's bed, fuming.

Her face was slightly flushed.

Huang Zhetian said nothing. He picked up the Utility Knife from the desk.

He walked up to Asuka and suddenly brought his face close to hers.

They could both distinctly feel the other's breath.

"Ha... Hah~ Wh-what are you doing? Idiot! We're still young. We can't do this yet! Ah!" Asuka stammered, feeling as though her head was burning.

She saw Huang Zhetian bring the Utility Knife toward her collar and screamed in fright.

Outside Huang Zhetian's room, Shinji and Misato pressed their ears against the door, eagerly eavesdropping.

Hearing Asuka scream inside, Shinji and Misato looked at each other in shock.

Their eyes said it all.

Misato: "Are kids these days really this wild and bold?!"

Shinji: "Don't lump me in with them. I'm nowhere near that impressive..."

A long time passed without another sound.

Misato: "Maybe we should go in... If they're doing that stuff, we can stop them..."

Shinji: "After all this time?! Isn't it a little late for that?!"

Just as they finished exchanging looks, the door was yanked open.

Caught off guard, Shinji and Misato tumbled into the room.

Huang Zhetian: "!!!!???? What the fuck!?"

Asuka: "!!!!!????? Why!?"

Shinji swiftly picked up his fallen portable music player, returned to his room, and shut the door...

Misato scrambled to her feet and laughed to ease the awkward atmosphere. "It's late. Everyone should get some sleep... You two, show some restraint~"

Asuka stared at their outrageous antics, completely dumbfounded.

She turned to look at Huang Zhetian.

Huang Zhetian spread his hands, indicating that he didn't "understand" either.

Suddenly realizing what had happened, Asuka stomped on Huang Zhetian's foot in embarrassed anger and rushed back to her room.

"Ow... Oh my God, why am I always the one getting hurt?!" Huang Zhetian clutched his foot with both hands and hopped in place, his face twisted in pain.

Seeing that all three had returned to their rooms, Huang Zhetian's expression settled.

He returned to his own room and shut the door.

Earlier, he had dripped his blood onto Asuka's necklace.

The blood had fused with the crystal, turning it red.

Naturally, Asuka had been delighted, and she had even apologized for kicking him in the room earlier.

But now... Better not get into that.

What he needed to do was now complete.

From now on, he could let loose without worrying...

Huang Zhetian walked over to the window and drew back the curtains.

He gazed at the stars in the sky. They were so pure.

Suddenly, he spotted a shooting star streak past, disappearing in an instant.

"Will I disappear without a trace like that shooting star, too? Still, there's one good thing..."

"The wish someone makes might come true..."

Inside Asuka's room.

Asuka was lying on her bed, with the Crystal Necklace, now red, beside her pillow.

The more she looked at it, the more she loved it.

"Stupid Zhetian, saying this red color represents his heart. Hmph! You gave me such an expensive gift. What am I supposed to give you in return? My most precious possession?! No! I need to watch him a little longer. Maybe I should give stupid Zhetian a present first? I've got it!" Asuka rolled back and forth on her bed, turning the question over in her mind.

What could she give her temporary boyfriend in return?

Suddenly, she remembered that there was something just right in her suitcase.

She quickly got up and rummaged through it. Before long, she found a small box.

She carefully opened it.

Inside lay a pocket watch.

"This will do~ Stupid Zhetian will definitely be happy!" Asuka carefully took out the pocket watch, its age giving it a sense of history, and felt a little excited.

Having found the gift, Asuka fetched a sheet of paper, along with scissors and other tools.

After some cutting and trimming, she turned the box holding the pocket watch into a little gift box.

Asuka was very pleased with the result.

Suddenly, she felt a stab of pain in her hand.

Her hand was bleeding. Apparently, she had cut herself while handling the Utility Knife earlier.

But then Asuka noticed that the wound was slowly healing.

Before long, it had healed completely!

Yet the blood left on her hand proved that what had happened was no illusion.

Asuka looked at the red Crystal Necklace beside her pillow.

She understood at once.

"Idiot! This gift is so precious... But I love it!" Asuka thought Huang Zhetian had given her the gift to protect her.

But she had overlooked one detail: why had Huang Zhetian asked her to take the necklace inside earlier? What had been the reason?

Because Asuka hadn't seen that part of what Huang Zhetian had done.

Huang Zhetian's room.

"Ow... What's going on? Why is there a cut on my hand?" Huang Zhetian looked at his little finger, where a small wound was slowly bleeding.

The system replied: Asuka was injured, and her injury was transferred to you.

"What is she doing in the middle of the night? That Asuka... Ah, forget it. Maybe it was an accident." Huang Zhetian didn't give it much thought. Such a minor injury could easily be ignored. He put a bandage over the cut, then fell into a deep sleep...

Love was beyond reach.

But it could still protect.