Chapter Summaries

Shinji used Huang Zhetian’s disc to speak with a simulation of his mother, who comforted him and urged him to accept himself. The next morning, Asuka’s anger over her breakup erupted at breakfast, while Misato quietly cherished the ring Kaji had given her.

• Shinji placed his cello on Huang Zhetian’s disc and saw a simulation of Yui Ikari, who held him and told him to trust himself and accept who he was.
• Huang Zhetian studied the necklace he had given Asuka and worried that the coming Angels would be difficult to defeat.
• At breakfast, Asuka insulted Shinji and Misato, then admitted she had broken up with Huang Zhetian because he had not put her first.
• Kaji called Misato and invited her out for drinks, intensifying Asuka’s resentment toward the adults and Huang Zhetian.
• Asuka left without eating, and Misato reminded the others to prepare for their test at headquarters before smiling at the ring Kaji had given her.

During the attack by the Twelfth Angel, Night Angel, Shinji and Huang Zhetian were caught in a vast shadow that swallowed their EVAs, while their comrades failed to rescue them. The chapter ended with Shinji and Huang Zhetian trapped underground with only sixteen hours of life support remaining.

• Shinji learned that he had achieved the highest test results, while Asuka grew resentful of his success and Huang Zhetian’s unchanged performance.
• Night Angel appeared above Tokyo-3, and Misato ordered the four pilots to approach cautiously and try to draw it away from the city.
• Shinji and Huang Zhetian attacked Night Angel, but it vanished and reappeared beneath them, trapping their EVAs in a spreading shadow.
• Rei and Asuka tried to help, but the shadow swallowed Huang Zhetian’s Special Unit, and Misato ordered both pilots to retreat without rescuing him or Shinji.
• Akagi reported that Shinji and Huang Zhetian had sixteen hours of life support remaining, and Misato prayed for them as Night Angel’s shadow covered the city.

As Shinji and Huang Zhetian remained trapped inside the Night Angel, their life-support fluid deteriorated and their strength and hope faded. Misato opposed Akagi’s plan to destroy the Angel at the risk of the pilots’ lives, struck her, and demanded the truth about the EVAs before Akagi took command of the operation.

• Asuka blamed Shinji and Huang Zhetian for entering the Night Angel, and Rei challenged her for dismissing their situation.
• Shinji and Huang Zhetian searched the vast inner space without finding each other, while their life-support countdowns dwindled.
• Shinji panicked when his LCL turned cloudy and smelled like blood, and Huang Zhetian struggled to endure the foul fluid.
• Akagi proposed dropping all remaining N² Mines and using Rei and Asuka’s EVAs to disrupt the Angel’s imaginary-number circuit, despite the danger to Shinji and Huang Zhetian.
• Misato slapped Akagi, demanded to know what the EVAs were, and accused her of lying before Akagi took command of the rescue operation.

Night Angel invaded Shinji Ikari’s and Huang Zhetian’s mental worlds, forcing them to confront painful truths about themselves. Huang Zhetian defeated the figure embodying Night Angel’s soul and left the blood-red illusion resolved to keep moving forward.

• Night Angel led Shinji through memories of rejection and self-deception until Shinji broke down in his mental world.
• Akagi noticed Shinji’s life-support readings falling and ordered the scheduled plan moved forward by twelve minutes.
• Huang Zhetian confronted his other self, summoned the Formless Sword, and shattered the figure’s AT Field.
• Huang Zhetian realized Night Angel had become a soulless puppet and revisited an imagined home where his family urged him to press on.
• His family faded away, and Huang Zhetian returned to his chair, listening to the recorder and continuing without tears.

Shinji found the strength to survive after Yui appeared to him, while Unit-01 tore free of the Night Angel and destroyed it. Huang Zhetian and Shinji reunited, but Huang told Asuka they would go their separate ways; afterward, Akagi and Gendo discussed their suspicions about Unit-01 as Shinji recovered in the hospital.

• Shinji gave up struggling in the rotten LCL until a vision of Yui comforted him and helped him endure.
• Unit-01 burst out of the Night Angel's sphere, drenched in blood, and the Angel ruptured and died.
• Asuka opened Huang Zhetian's entry plug, slapped him, and demanded that he not risk himself like that again.
• Misato found Shinji alive, and Huang Zhetian visited him before telling Asuka they would go their separate ways.
• Akagi and Gendo watched Unit-01 being cleaned and discussed whether the EVA was truly on their side.
• Rei Ayanami visited Shinji in the hospital, where he awoke troubled by the lingering smell of blood.

Misato faced SEELE’s questions about the Angel incident while Gendo ordered a Dummy System based on Rei Ayanami’s and Huang Zhetian’s data. After Evangelion Unit-04 and its research facilities vanished in a suspected Dirac Sea incident, NERV prepared to take Unit-03 and test the Dummy System, leaving Akagi troubled by Gendo’s affection for Rei.

• Misato told SEELE that there was no evidence the Angel had tried to contact humanity, and SEELE discussed its plans while shifting surveillance toward Shinji Ikari and Kaji.
• Toji visited his hospitalized little sister, while Shinji learned that Kensuke was away and was tasked with delivering handouts to Rei Ayanami.
• NERV learned that Branch 2, Unit-04, its associated facilities, and several thousand people had vanished, and Akagi suspected a Dirac Sea had swallowed them.
• Misato and Akagi discussed taking Unit-03 and using the Dummy System, and Gendo ordered Rei Ayanami’s and Huang Zhetian’s data loaded into the plugs.
• Gendo and Akagi discussed choosing a fourth child as a test pilot, then Gendo invited Rei Ayanami to eat with him while Akagi felt hurt by his affection for Rei.

At school, Huang Zhetian and Shinji were assigned to deliver handouts to Rei Ayanami, and the three boys ended up cleaning her apartment before she returned. Rei thanked Shinji and privately remembered that she still had not thanked Huang Zhetian, while Toji sensed that he was approaching something he could not avoid.

• Asuka scolded Huang Zhetian and Shinji for not bringing her lunch, then left after Toji teased them about a lovers' quarrel.
• Akagi told Misato that a fourth pilot had been chosen for Unit-03, and Misato discovered the pilot was a child she did not want drawn into the EVA program.
• Hikari Horaki asked Toji to deliver handouts to Rei Ayanami, and Toji brought Shinji and Huang Zhetian along instead of her.
• Shinji and Huang Zhetian entered Rei Ayanami's apartment with Toji, delivered the handouts, and helped tidy the neglected room.
• Rei Ayanami returned, thanked Shinji for cleaning, and watched Huang Zhetian as he drank orange juice.
• As the three boys walked home, Toji wondered whether he was a weirdo, while Rei Ayanami remembered she had yet to thank Huang Zhetian.

Gendo Ikari and Fuyutsuki discussed Unit-04’s destruction, while Misato learned that NERV controlled the nonexistent Marduk Institute. As Unit-03 arrived and Toji was summoned to NERV, Huang Zhetian considered how he might prevent the danger awaiting Toji.

• Gendo Ikari told Fuyutsuki to report Unit-04’s destruction as an accident with an unknown cause, and dismissed the loss as unimportant.
• Kaji told Misato that the Marduk Institute did not exist and urged her to investigate code 707.
• Kaji took Shinji and Huang Zhetian to his melon patch, where he talked with them about pain, kindness, and happiness.
• Akagi and Misato noted that Shinji’s synchronization rate had fallen and that Toji would soon need to be told about Unit-03.
• Toji was summoned to the principal’s office, then returned to class unusually quiet; Hikari Horaki offered to make him lunch.
• Asuka found five pilots listed in the synchronization data, Unit-03 was flown from the United States, and Huang Zhetian wondered how he could save Toji.

Misato and the others prepared to activate Unit-03 while Shinji and his friends struggled with what they knew about the coming test and Toji. Unit-03 transformed into the Angel Shamshiel and destroyed the Matsushiro test site, and the system ordered Huang Zhetian to protect Toji.

• Misato left for Matsushiro without telling Shinji that Toji had been selected to pilot Unit-03, while Huang Zhetian warned Kensuke not to ask questions.
• Huang Zhetian and Toji spoke with Rei about Shinji, and Toji reflected on Hikari’s feelings for him.
• Misato and Akagi prepared Unit-03 for its activation test as Toji arrived at the experimental site.
• Unit-03 activated, resisted its restraints, and revealed itself as the Angel Shamshiel.
• Shamshiel exploded the Matsushiro test site, and Huang Zhetian received a mission to protect Toji Suzuhara.

NERV sent the Evas to stop Unit-03 after it was transformed into an Angel, while its pilot remained trapped inside. As Shinji refused to attack and Huang Zhetian struggled against the Angel’s A.T. Field, Gendo activated the Dummy System in Unit-01, leaving Shinji unsure what would happen next.

• NERV identified the moving object near Matsushiro as the Angel-possessed Unit-03 and ordered the Evas to intercept it.
• Unit-03 disabled Asuka’s Unit-02 and injured Rei Ayanami, whose Unit-00 lost its left arm when Gendo ordered it severed.
• Shinji hesitated to fight Unit-03 because he believed Toji Suzuhara was still inside, while Huang Zhetian attacked but could not break through its A.T. Field.
• Gendo ordered the synchronization between Shinji and Unit-01 severed and directed Ibuki to activate the Dummy System.
• The Dummy System took control of Unit-01, whose eyes turned crimson as the system began its attack.

Unit-01’s Dummy System killed the Thirteenth Angel, malfunctioned, and forced Huang Zhetian to fight it until its power ran out, leaving the Special Unit catastrophically damaged. Shinji learned that Huang was alive and that Unit-03’s pilot was Toji, while Misato and the others faced the aftermath.

• Unit-01 killed the Thirteenth Angel, and Huang Zhetian intervened to stop it from mutilating the corpse.
• The Dummy System malfunctioned and made Unit-01 attack every living thing; Huang pulled Unit-03’s Entry Plug to safety and fought Unit-01 after severing its power cable.
• Unit-01 severely wounded the Special Unit before its power ran out, leaving Huang unconscious and the Special Unit unable to fight.
• Misato learned that the Special Unit and its pilot had suffered catastrophic damage, while Shinji escaped Unit-01 in its ejected Entry Plug.
• Shinji learned that Huang was alive and then discovered that Unit-03’s pilot was Toji, prompting him to break down again.

Shinji confronted Gendo over the Angel’s attack on Toji and Huang Zhetian, but Gendo dismissed him, leaving Shinji devastated. As the injured recovered and Rei challenged Shinji to face his feelings, Huang Zhetian dreamed of a double who warned him that changing the ending would bring backlash; Huang remained resolved to change it for her.

• Shinji threatened to hurt himself and demanded an explanation from Gendo, who blamed him for being weak and indecisive before leaving; Shinji vowed never to pilot an EVA again.
• Misato learned that Shinji had been rescued and Huang Zhetian had suffered serious nervous-system and meridian damage, while Asuka and Rei worried over the unconscious Huang.
• Toji woke in the hospital, learned he had been unconscious for two days, and asked Hikari Horaki to tell his younger sister he was all right.
• Rei questioned Shinji about his fight with Gendo and challenged him to stop running away from things he hated.
• In his mental space, Huang Zhetian rejected his double’s warning about backlash and said he would change the ending for her before listening to music.

After deciding to leave NERV and never pilot EVA again, Shinji said goodbye to Misato and Huang Zhetian and learned that his classmates had been selected as EVA pilots. As Shinji waited to depart, an Angel attack warning sounded, leaving his departure uncertain.

• Shinji told Gendo Ikari he would not pilot EVA again and left headquarters after Gendo ordered his records erased and Zero assigned to Unit-01.
• Huang Zhetian discussed the coming Power Angel with Kaji, gave him a letter to destroy, and learned that Asuka was isolating herself.
• Shinji received a Purification Chain from Huang Zhetian before saying goodbye to him and Misato at the subway station.
• Misato told Shinji that his classmates had been candidates to pilot EVA and admitted that NERV had placed its hopes on him, but Shinji refused to return.
• An emergency warning announced an Angel attack as Shinji waited at the subway station.

The Power Angel breached NEVR’s defenses, and Rei Ayanami volunteered to sortie in damaged Unit-00 after Unit-01 rejected her neural connection. Asuka and Huang Zhetian fought the Angel in the underground base, where its cloth-like weapon struck down the Special Unit.

• The Power Angel destroyed NEVR’s armor layers while Misato ordered Unit-02 to intercept and Huang Zhetian to support it with the Special Unit.
• Unit-01 rejected Rei Ayanami’s neural connection, so Rei volunteered to pilot damaged Unit-00 instead of using the Dummy Plug.
• As the Angel devastated New Tokyo-3, Shinji headed toward a shelter but resolved not to pilot an Eva again.
• Asuka fired repeatedly at the Power Angel while Huang Zhetian’s Ion Cannon struck its A.T. Field without damaging it.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka charged the Angel with blades and spears, but its cloth-like strip sliced off the Special Unit’s head.

Huang Zhetian unlocked a divine sword skill after Asuka’s Unit-02 was destroyed, then fought the Power Angel with his restored vision as NERV watched. At the shelter, Kaji offered the shaken Shinji the story of his past to help him decide whether to pilot an EVA.

• Huang Zhetian used One Glance, Certain Proof to evade the Power Angel’s attack, but the skill damaged his eyes as the Special Unit’s synchronization rate surged.
• NERV’s Dummy Plug failed to activate Unit-01, while Asuka rushed toward Huang Zhetian and the Power Angel severed Unit-02’s head.
• Huang Zhetian blamed himself for holding back, redeemed the Sword God Trial Card, unlocked Ten Thousand Swords Become One, and healed his eyes.
• Huang Zhetian attacked the Power Angel with the Greatsword as its ribbons struck toward the Special Unit, while NERV struggled to analyze the battle.
• At the shelter, Shinji saw Unit-02’s severed head and agonized over abandoning his teammates; Kaji took him to his melon patch and began telling him about his past.

Kaji told Shinji how fear had led him to reveal the hiding place of his brother and friends to soldiers, who killed them, and urged Shinji to choose whether to return to piloting an EVA. As Huang Zhetian fought the Power Angel in the berserk Special Unit, Shinji entered Unit-01's hangar and asked Gendo Ikari to let him pilot it.

• Kaji recounted how soldiers beat him and threatened to kill him until he gave them the location of his brother and friends, then escaped to find them dead.
• Huang Zhetian traded away his skills to keep the Special Unit powered, activated its dangerous berserk mode, and attacked the Power Angel.
• Fuyutsuki recognized that the Special Unit's secret berserk mode had been revealed, while Akagi recorded the battle and Misato watched.
• Kaji admitted that he had survived by sacrificing his brother and friends, then challenged Shinji to return to piloting an EVA rather than run away.
• Shinji told Kaji he would not let the same tragedy happen again, entered Unit-01's hangar, and asked Gendo Ikari to let him pilot Unit-01.

Shinji returned to the surface as Huang Zhetian’s Special Unit ran out of power after a devastating strike failed to kill the Power Angel. Shinji took up the Greatsword and fought the Angel with Unit-01, leaving their battle unresolved as the Angel continued to recover.

• Huang Zhetian used Ten Thousand Swords Become One to slash the Power Angel, but the wounded Angel survived and began healing again.
• The Special Unit ran out of electricity and collapsed, leaving Huang Zhetian unable to continue fighting.
• Misato prepared Rei Ayanami to fight, but Gendo Ikari announced that Shinji had returned.
• Shinji helped Huang Zhetian, took the Greatsword, and asked Misato to activate the Dummy System under his control.
• Unit-01 attacked the recovering Power Angel, which wrapped its long strips around the Greatsword as the two struggled at close range.

Shinji and Unit-01 fought the Power Angel until Gendo Ikari activated the Dummy System and forced Unit-01 to devour the Angel’s core. Unit-01 awakened and broke free of its restraints, while Huang Zhetian realized Gendo’s plan had succeeded and Seele would soon have to act.

• Shinji furiously attacked the Power Angel, but its counterattack severed Unit-01’s wrist and blasted it away with a cross-shaped laser.
• Gendo Ikari signaled Ritsuko Akagi to activate the Dummy System, which overrode Shinji’s control and drove Unit-01 to attack again.
• Unit-01 cut down the weakened Power Angel, and its Synchronization Rate with Shinji climbed past 300 as the Dummy System ordered it to devour the Angel’s core.
• Shinji dissolved into the LCL, leaving behind his clothes and the necklace Huang Zhetian had given him, while Unit-01 ate the Power Angel and reached a 400 Synchronization Rate.
• Unit-01 awakened, broke its restraints, and roared as Kaji predicted Seele would be forced to act and Gendo Ikari declared that everything was only just beginning.

Unit-01 consumed the Power Angel and gained an S² Engine, leaving NERV and SEELE facing an uncontrolled EVA and severe damage. Huang Zhetian lost most of his system powers, while Asuka found comfort with him and asked to reunite after the Angels were defeated.

• Unit-01 broke its restraints after eating the Power Angel, and Akagi told Misato that no one could stop it.
• Huang Zhetian realized SEELE and Gendo Ikari would scrutinize him, then discovered the system had taken most of his items and abilities.
• SEELE discussed Unit-01 and the Special Unit’s unexplained changes, but Chairman Gehirn chose to treat the Special Unit as an experimental Berserk Mode anomaly and leave Huang Zhetian alone.
• Akagi and Ibuki reported that Unit-02 and the Special Unit were badly damaged, while Misato left Unit-01’s hangar, troubled by its autonomous activation.
• Asuka asked Huang Zhetian whether she could still pilot an EVA, and he comforted her until she agreed to reunite with him after the Angels were defeated.

After Shinji disappeared into Unit-01 at a 400% synchronization rate, Misato confronted Akagi and demanded answers about NERV. Kaji comforted Misato and promised that Huang Zhetian would tell her the truth when the time was right, while their old feelings resurfaced before he left.

• At headquarters, Fuyutsuki and Gendo Ikari called Unit-01's loss of control an accident and planned to freeze it, while Gendo admitted the Special Unit's fate was not accidental.
• In the Command Room, Ibuki failed to eject Unit-01's Entry Plug, and the video showed Shinji's clothes floating in the LCL after he had been absorbed.
• Misato questioned Akagi about Unit-01 and humanity's plans, slapped her, and stormed out after Akagi said the EVA had its own will.
• Kaji visited Misato with food, listened to her questions about NERV, Adam, and the Human Instrumentality Project, and promised Huang Zhetian would explain matters when the time was right.
• Kaji kissed Misato, then told her his feelings had not changed in eight years before leaving; Misato recalled the kiss and affectionately called him an idiot.