Recaps

Huang Zhetian arrived in Japan, fought alongside Shinji and Asuka, and grew closer to them while navigating NERV’s schemes. After saving Asuka during the Angel capture mission, he helped destroy the Angel with an N² Missile, but his Eva lost power and he passed out beneath the ash.

• Huang Zhetian passed the candidate test as the only qualified pilot, and China arranged to send his Special Unit to Japan.
• Huang Zhetian joined Asuka and Shinji in defeating the Fish Angel with battleships, then moved in with them at Misato’s apartment.
• Huang Zhetian, Asuka, and Shinji fought the Music Angel, and Huang held off its two halves until Chinese satellite support helped him withdraw.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka synchronized their movements and destroyed another Angel together, while Huang later combined his sword hilts into the Taiji Sword Hilt.
• Huang Zhetian gave Kaji the Resurrection Ring and promised to protect Asuka, while his flute performance stirred memories in Asuka and Shinji.
• Misato’s team discovered an Angel Embryo in a volcano, and Gendo Ikari ordered NERV to capture it alive for its S2 Core.
• When the Angel hatched early and attacked Unit-02, Huang Zhetian and Shinji pulled Asuka from the magma.
• Huang Zhetian seized an N² Missile and coordinated with Shinji and Asuka to force it into the Angel’s mouth, destroying the Angel and burying their Evas in ash.

Huang Zhetian grew closer to Asuka while helping Shinji face his feelings for Mana, then joined the pilots in battling several Angels. The arc left NERV battling an Angel inside MAGI as Huang considered leaving Japan for Guangdong.

• Huang Zhetian recovered at NERV, learned Mana Kirishima had transferred to Shinji’s school, and began spending time with her and the other pilots.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka went on a date, confessed their trust in each other, and kissed after seeing Shinji and Mana kiss.
• When the Military captured Mana, Huang Zhetian and the pilots fought Musashi’s Giant Machine, rescued Mana, and helped her and Musashi escape under new identities.
• Gendo and Fuyutsuki chose not to pursue the rescued pilots, while Kaji left for the United States to prepare to destroy Unit Four if necessary.
• During a power failure, Huang Zhetian led the pilots through NERV’s passages and killed the Rain Angel with a sword strike.
• Huang Zhetian gave Asuka a necklace that protected her by transferring her injury to him, and the two promised not to abandon each other.
• Misato led the pilots in catching and destroying the Space Angel, and the group celebrated their survival over ramen.
• Huang Zhetian learned that his actions could lead to Asuka’s death and used her Transfer Chain to protect her.
• An Angel infiltrated NERV’s systems and spread through MAGI, while Huang Zhetian urged Akagi’s team to exploit its evolution and received an Infinity Gauntlet as he considered leaving Japan.

Huang Zhetian and Asuka returned from China to face the Night Angel, whose attack left Shinji and Huang trapped and brought their relationship to an end. After Unit-03 became an Angel and Toji was caught in the battle, Huang was badly injured, Shinji quit piloting, and the Power Angel attacked while Shinji struggled with his decision to leave his teammates.

• Huang Zhetian took Asuka to China, where they found his former home empty, learned more about their losses, and promised to build a future together.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka returned to Japan, where Shinji received a simulation of Yui, Asuka broke up with Huang, and Misato and Kaji reconciled.
• Night Angel trapped Shinji and Huang in its inner space, where Shinji faced painful memories and Huang confronted his other self before Unit-01 destroyed the Angel.
• NERV discovered that Unit-04 and its branch had vanished, while Kaji uncovered the truth about the Marduk Institute and Misato learned that Toji had been chosen to pilot Unit-03.
• Unit-03 became the Angel Shamshiel, disabled Asuka and Rei, and forced Gendo to use the Dummy System, which made Unit-01 attack Huang and the other living pilots.
• Shinji quit piloting after learning that Gendo had used the Dummy System against Toji, while Huang suffered severe injuries and gave Kaji a letter to destroy.
• The Power Angel attacked New Tokyo-3, severed the heads of the Special Unit and Unit-02, and left Shinji at the shelter regretting that he had abandoned his teammates as Kaji began telling him about his past.

Shinji returned to Unit-01 and was absorbed after its Dummy System destroyed the Power Angel, while Huang Zhetian later helped bring him back and tried to protect those he cared about. As Rei’s borrowed life ended and Kaji vanished, Huang Zhetian was left to face Asuka’s grief and the upheaval gathering around NERV.

• Kaji told Shinji how he had been forced to reveal his friends’ location, then urged him to return to piloting, and Shinji entered Unit-01’s hangar and asked Gendo Ikari to let him pilot.
• Shinji fought the Power Angel with Unit-01, but Gendo Ikari and Ritsuko Akagi activated the Dummy System, which made Unit-01 devour the Angel and absorb Shinji as its Synchronization Rate reached 400.
• Huang Zhetian entered Shinji’s Mindscape and guided him back, while Shinji rejected Unit-01’s monstrous persona and returned to the real world.
• Huang Zhetian helped Rei Ayanami reunite with Shinji, but Rei’s limited time in the restarted world ran out, and she disappeared as Shinji held her at the beach.
• Kaji abducted Kozo Fuyutsuki to investigate Gendo Ikari’s plans, but pursuers shot him, and Huang Zhetian recovered Kaji’s body and used a Soul-Returning Pill before leaving a letter.
• Rei Ayanami told Shinji about her feelings and asked him to hold her hand, while Misato listened to Kaji’s recorded farewell and grieved.
• Huang Zhetian gave Misato Kaji’s Voice Recorder, then comforted Asuka when she said piloting EVA was all she had, and Asuka cried after he left and admitted she loved him.