Chapter Summaries

Huang Zhetian completed his first EVA combat simulation at NERV’s North American branch and met the young Asuka Shikinami, forming a friendship before leaving for further testing. As he departed, he reflected on Asuka’s loneliness and hoped they would meet again.

• Huang Zhetian defeated five simulated EVAs in two and a half minutes, earning a synchronization rate of 58% and an overall score of 90.
• Huang Zhetian learned that Asuka Shikinami was a candidate for the Unit-02 pilot position and asked to speak with her alone.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka built snowmen, shared that they had no parents, and agreed to be friends.
• Huang Zhetian said goodbye to Asuka when the man in black called him back, and Asuka watched him leave feeling alone again.
• Huang Zhetian left by helicopter for further testing in France and thought about Asuka’s isolation and need for companionship.

Huang Zhetian completed his fitness tests, bought several combat skills and tools from the System Store, and reunited with little Asuka at the European NERV branch. As he prepared to leave for China, Gendo Ikari considered the pilots’ early connection and his plans with SEELE.

• Huang Zhetian passed his final physical fitness test in France and learned he would return to his branch the next day.
• Huang Zhetian spent points on hand-to-hand combat moves, A.T. Field weapons and a radiation beam, staff technique, and data-testing glasses.
• Huang Zhetian reunited with little Asuka after Gendo Ikari, Yui Ikari, and Shinji Ikari departed on a private plane.
• Huang Zhetian and Asuka built a snowman, agreed to use their given names, and promised they would meet again.
• Gendo Ikari thought about the pilots’ early connection and speeding up SEELE’s work, then reassured Yui Ikari that he was thinking about dinner.

Huang Zhetian chose a blue-and-white design and weapons for his future Special Unit, then learned that SEELE had amended the Vatican Treaty and moved his entry into the Evangelion story forward. As his system began an eight-year upgrade, he planned how to survive the coming conflicts and reach Minus Space.

• Huang Zhetian reluctantly parted from Asuka and selected a blue-and-white Special Unit design with angular eyes, requesting a staff as an additional weapon.
• Huang Zhetian discovered hidden cameras and recorders on his plane and suspected SEELE was already monitoring him.
• SEELE agreed to amend the Vatican Treaty so a country could temporarily possess four EVA units, and discussed its plans for the Script and the sixth Adam on the moon.
• Huang Zhetian received missions to kill enemies, decide how to handle Asuka's Unit-03 incident, and enter Minus Space during the fourteen-year gap; the system then began its eight-year upgrade.
• Huang Zhetian considered securing a key to Minus Space, keeping Ryoji Kaji alive, and how to deal with Kaworu Nagisa as he faced the hostile world outside.

In 2015, Huang Zhetian arrived at NERV Headquarters in Tokyo-3 and met Misato Katsuragi, who became his supervisor and offered him a place to stay. After touring the base and meeting Ritsuko Akagi and the staff, he put on his combat suit and prepared for launch.

• Misato Katsuragi welcomed Huang Zhetian to Tokyo-3 and offered him a choice between her home and the assigned dormitory.
• Huang Zhetian chose to stay with Misato and learned that Rei was the only other current pilot, while his Special Unit had not yet arrived.
• Misato showed Huang Zhetian NERV's underground base and introduced him to the command center staff.
• Ritsuko Akagi welcomed Huang Zhetian and asked Misato to take him to the simulation room for tests.
• Huang Zhetian put on his combat suit, declared himself ready, and called for launch.

Huang Zhetian moved in with Misato, and the two settled into an affectionate but teasing family routine. He reflected on his Special Unit’s power-system malfunction and suspected Gendo had arranged the delay to put his son in the field, while Rei Ayanami experienced an unexplained strange feeling before falling asleep.

• Misato picked Huang Zhetian up, and he agreed to eat instant food at her home after learning she had never cooked.
• Huang Zhetian found Misato’s apartment full of garbage, then helped her clean and prepared their instant-food dinner.
• Huang Zhetian and Misato teased each other over being called “Auntie” and “big sister,” and Misato welcomed him as family.
• Huang Zhetian told Misato that piloting an EVA felt like his calling, then considered his Special Unit’s malfunction and suspected Gendo had timed its repair delay to coincide with Shamshel’s arrival.
• Misato told Huang Zhetian he would start school the next morning, and they agreed to take turns cleaning.
• Rei Ayanami took her medicine, wondered about a strange feeling inside her, and fell asleep.

Huang Zhetian prepared to pilot the newly arrived Special Unit as Shamshel attacked, while Misato explained the military’s role and the Jet Alone Series Project. Shinji Ikari arrived in the abandoned old city, glimpsed a blue-haired girl, and saw Shamshel emerge as armed helicopters faced the Angel.

• Huang Zhetian learned that school had been dismissed early and traveled with Misato to NERV Headquarters to prepare for Shamshel’s attack.
• Misato told Huang Zhetian that his Special Unit could operate for only three minutes and that he was expected to buy Headquarters time if the military failed.
• Huang Zhetian discussed the European branch’s Jet Alone Series Project and learned that his system had changed into the completion system.
• Shinji Ikari arrived in the old city, failed to contact Misato, and briefly saw a blue-haired girl before she vanished.
• Shamshel emerged beside the mountain as Shinji watched armed UN helicopters retreat in front of the Angel.

Shinji Ikari arrived at NERV with Misato as Shamshel survived the military’s attacks and N² Mine, forcing NERV to take command. Gendo ordered the Special Unit deployed, and Huang Zhetian prepared to fight the Angel.

• Misato rescued Shinji from Shamshel, while Gendo and Kozo discussed the Angel’s A.T. Field and decided to deploy the Special Unit.
• The military detonated an N² Mine beneath Shamshel, but the Angel survived with only scorched skin.
• Misato introduced herself to Shinji and explained that the Angel threatened Tokyo-3 and humanity.
• The military chiefs transferred command to Gendo, who ordered the Special Unit launched ahead of the target.
• Misato brought Shinji to NERV, where he showed her his battered identification paper and card.
• Huang Zhetian entered the Special Unit’s Entry Plug, completed his connection checks, and prepared for launch.

Huang Zhetian used the Special Unit to kill Shamshel, while Shinji Ikari learned he was expected to pilot Unit-01 and resisted Gendo Ikari's demand. Huang received new system rewards but remained unable to fight again until the delayed repairs arrived, and Misato asked him to help welcome Shinji.

• Misato got lost while leading Shinji Ikari through NERV until Ritsuko Akagi found them and explained that repairs for the Special Unit were delayed by two weeks.
• Ritsuko told Misato that Huang Zhetian had deployed against Shamshel and that Shinji might have to pilot Unit-01; Gendo Ikari then showed Shinji the battle and ordered him to understand his role.
• Huang Zhetian pierced Shamshel's A.T. Field, survived the Angel's laser attack, and killed him by driving a spear through his core.
• Gendo Ikari told Shinji to pilot Unit-01 or leave, but Shinji objected and felt abandoned when Misato urged him to fight for humanity.
• Huang received an upgraded Special Unit Summoner and an A.T. Field human form from the system, then told Misato he was safe and agreed to help welcome Shinji.
• Huang reflected that the Special Unit could not deploy again until its delayed parts arrived and wondered whether the past and present could still connect.

Huang Zhetian’s damaged Special Unit left Shinji Ikari as NERV’s only available pilot, and Shinji agreed to follow his father’s orders and move in with Misato. As SEELE advanced its plans and Asuka struggled with fading memories of a friend, Huang Zhetian examined a secret summoner that could call forth an upgraded Special Unit.

• Huang Zhetian met Shinji Ikari, and Misato explained that the Special Unit would be out of action for two weeks while Unit-00’s pilot remained unrecovered.
• Shinji accepted Misato’s encouragement to pilot Unit-01 and move in with her, while Huang Zhetian declined to cook and joined them on the drive home.
• SEELE discussed the Fourth Angel’s defeat, the costs of repairing the EVAs, and the progress of its Human Instrumentality Project with Gendo Ikari.
• Huang Zhetian inspected the system’s summoner, which could call forth an upgraded Special Unit that repaired itself after being dismissed, and decided to keep it hidden for now.
• NERV’s German commander agreed to send Unit-05 parts to Japan after headquarters diverted them to repair the Special Unit.
• Asuka lay awake in Germany, unable to feel excited by her improving combat results and worried that she was forgetting the boy she considered her truest friend.

Shinji Ikari settled into Misato's house and prepared for his first simulation test while feeling trapped by decisions others had made for him. Huang Zhetian tested his upgraded Special Unit X and planned how to counter Gendo Ikari, while the author’s closing note described family criticism and thanked his mother for supporting him.

• Misato welcomed Shinji Ikari to her house, where Huang Zhetian assigned him cleaning duty and offered to guide him through the next day's test.
• Gendo Ikari and Ritsuko Akagi discussed restarting Unit-00, monitoring the Special Unit's pilot, and using Shinji's unstable state to release Unit-00 from its frozen condition.
• Shinji Ikari felt overwhelmed by his enrollment and the simulation test, and Misato encouraged him before bed, but he remained silent and questioned why he could not refuse.
• Huang Zhetian transformed into Special Unit X, tested its weapons, and considered how Shinji Ikari and Kaji could help him oppose Gendo Ikari and stop the coming events.
• The author described being mocked by relatives for writing novels and thanked his mother for defending and supporting him.

After arguing with his mother over his lack of work and income, Tianxiajian left home but reconsidered his plan to go to Shenzhen before the New Year. He returned home before dawn, decided to find work and experience life after the holiday, and left readers with an early farewell while promising occasional updates.

• Tianxiajian argued with his mother about broken promises, his studies, and the little money he earned from writing novels, and she threw his clothes out and told him to leave.
• Tianxiajian packed his luggage and left, planning to travel to Shenzhen for work, but his older cousin advised him to wait until after the New Year to avoid being scammed.
• Tianxiajian spent the night at an internet café reflecting on his writing, his lack of income, and his mother's worries about his future.
• Tianxiajian decided to set his book aside, gain work and life experience after the New Year, and return home before dawn.
• Tianxiajian said farewell to readers ahead of time and promised to post another chapter or two when he could.

Shinji Ikari completed a simulated battle test against Shamshel, while NERV staff discussed his unexpectedly enthusiastic response. At school, Huang Zhetian warned Toji about ignoring evacuation advice and told him Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01, would soon join their class.

• Huang Zhetian showed Shinji Ikari training and battle footage, then sent him into a simulation to defeat Shamshel within five minutes.
• Shinji Ikari shot the simulated Angel’s core and repeatedly attacked reconstructed Shamshel models, treating the exercise like a game.
• Ritsuko Akagi, Misato, and Ibuki Maya discussed Shinji Ikari’s focused mood and his tendency to obey instructions to avoid trouble.
• Huang Zhetian reminded Toji that he had ignored advice to take his sister to a shelter before Shamshel arrived.
• Huang Zhetian told Toji and Kensuke that Shinji Ikari would soon join their class as the pilot of Unit-01.

Huang Zhetian welcomed Shinji Ikari to school and prepared to guide him in battle after Rei Ayanami announced an emergency assembly. NERV identified the approaching Fifth Angel and activated Tokyo-3’s combat defenses, while Toji and Kensuke stayed behind to secretly film the battle.

• Misato told Huang Zhetian that the Special Unit’s repair parts had arrived early and asked him to help Shinji Ikari settle into their class.
• Toji, Kensuke, and Huang Zhetian warmly welcomed Shinji, while Hikari Horaki helped him adjust and Huang observed Rei Ayanami and Shinji.
• Misato and Ritsuko Akagi discussed Shinji and Huang’s personalities, their relationship with Misato, and the unexpectedly quick arrival of the repair parts.
• Rei Ayanami summoned the group to an emergency assembly, and Huang told Shinji that Unit-01 would join the Special Unit in battle before ordering Toji and Kensuke to go to the underground shelter.
• Toji and Kensuke decided to stay outside and secretly film the battle as NERV confirmed the Fifth Angel’s arrival and mobilized Tokyo-3’s defenses.

Shinji and Huang Zhetian fought the Fifth Angel, but Shinji abandoned their plan and rushed into close combat, allowing the Angel to overpower both EVAs. The Angel hurled Special Unit onto Rear Mountain near Toji and Kensuke, then attacked the mountainside with them still there.

• Ritsuko Akagi briefed Shinji and Huang Zhetian on their roles as Misato launched Unit-01 and Special Unit against the Fifth Angel.
• Shinji fired the Gatling gun while Huang Zhetian attacked through the smoke, but Shinji rushed in instead of drawing the Angel’s fire as planned.
• The Fifth Angel broke through their attack, damaged both EVAs, and destroyed the weapons building before Shinji could retrieve the backup rifle.
• The Angel battered Unit-01 and Special Unit, severed Special Unit’s Power Cable, and hurled it onto Rear Mountain near Toji and Kensuke.
• Huang Zhetian discovered Toji and Kensuke beside Special Unit as the Fifth Angel attacked across the mountainside.

Shinji and Huang Zhetian defeated the Fifth Angel together, though both EVAs were badly hurt after Shinji's disobedience forced Huang Zhetian to take the brunt of the battle. After Misato confronted Shinji and blamed herself for the adults' role in forcing him to pilot, Shinji rode a train uncertain whether he would run away.

• Shinji drew the Fifth Angel away while Huang Zhetian's Special Unit tackled it and moved the fight away from Kensuke and Toji.
• Huang Zhetian restrained the Fifth Angel and called for Shinji to stab its core, but the Angel severed Unit-01's arm as Shinji kept the knife in place.
• Huang Zhetian joined Unit-01's hand and pushed the knife into the core, destroying the Fifth Angel as the Special Unit ceased functioning.
• Misato reprimanded Shinji for ignoring her orders, then regretted blaming him and slapped herself in remorse.
• Huang Zhetian found Misato with a red handprint on her cheek and played along with her claim that she had slapped herself because of a mosquito.
• Shinji rode a train listening to his Walkman, anxious and guilty as he wondered whether he would run away.

After Shinji Ikari ran away from home and spent the night in an alley, Huang Zhetian found him on a mountain and encouraged him to face his choices and recognize that others cared about him. Shinji regained hope, agreed to return, and walked back with Huang Zhetian while listening to music.

• Shinji Ikari left home, wandered through the entertainment district, and slept in an alley.
• Misato discovered Shinji was gone, and Huang Zhetian told her he would find him and bring him back.
• Huang Zhetian met Shinji on a mountain, offered him breakfast, and talked with him about piloting an EVA, freedom, and the people who cared about him.
• Shinji cried with happiness, declared that he had friends and a goal, and said he had not left.
• Huang Zhetian led Shinji back toward the city, teased him about cooking dinner, and shared music with him.

Huang Zhetian punished Toji and Kensuke for their reckless behavior, then encouraged Shinji to connect with Rei. Shinji grew more troubled by his father’s warmth toward Rei, ending the chapter alone with Rei’s identity card and unanswered questions.

• At school, Toji and Kensuke apologized to Huang Zhetian, who punished them with one hundred synchronized push-ups counted by Shinji.
• During PE, Huang Zhetian told Shinji about Gendo rescuing Rei during Unit-00’s accident and urged him to get closer to her.
• Ritsuko explained that Rei’s personal history had been erased and that Unit-00 would return to service, while Shinji watched Gendo and Rei smiling together in the hangar.
• At a bar, Misato and Ritsuko discussed Shinji’s need for his father’s affection and Huang Zhetian’s influence on him, and Ritsuko gave Misato Shinji and Rei’s identity cards.
• At home, Shinji held Rei’s identity card and wondered why Gendo smiled at her but remained cold toward him before falling asleep.

Rei slapped Shinji after he insulted Gendo, and Huang Zhetian explained that she admired Shinji’s father. Ramiel arrived over New Tokyo-3 and attacked the two EVAs as they launched, leaving the Special Unit shielding Unit-01 with its A.T. Field.

• Rei entered the underground passage with Shinji, who apologized and asked whether she feared piloting an EVA again.
• When Shinji criticized Gendo, Rei turned and slapped him; Huang Zhetian explained that Rei idolized Gendo and teased Shinji about the slap.
• NERV detected Ramiel approaching New Tokyo-3, identified it as an Angel, and ordered Unit-01 and the Special Unit to launch.
• Huang Zhetian resolved to hold back his strength and planned to take the kill when the EVAs fought Ramiel.
• Ramiel charged its core and fired a laser at the newly launched EVAs, while the Special Unit moved in front of Unit-01 and raised its A.T. Field.

Huang Zhetian and NERV retreated after Ramiel damaged Unit-01, then prepared a long-range operation to destroy the Angel before it drilled through to Headquarters. As Shinji recovered, Misato set up Operation Yashima, and Huang Zhetian drew new skills and an incomplete spear fragment; the chapter ended as a hospital door opened.

• Huang Zhetian used Special Unit to shield Unit-01 and fired an A.T. Field beam at Ramiel, but the attack damaged his unit and failed to defeat the Angel.
• Ramiel struck Unit-01 and paralyzed Shinji Ikari, so Huang Zhetian helped drag Unit-01 to safety while NERV evacuated both pilots.
• Ramiel began drilling toward NERV Headquarters, and Misato concluded that the team needed a long-range weapon because the EVAs could not approach safely.
• Huang Zhetian drew the skills "Pop Out and Get Sniped" and "Palm Thunder," along with an incomplete spear fragment, then went to check on Shinji with Rei.
• Misato and Ritsuko Akagi prepared Operation Yashima, which would use Japan's electrical power and a High-Output Positron Rifle to snipe Ramiel with EVA support.
• Suzuhara and Kensuke failed to contact their friends, while Rei and Huang Zhetian waited outside the hospital; the door opened just as they sat there.

As Ramiel drilled toward NERV Headquarters, the pilots and staff prepared Operation Yashima, a coordinated positron-cannon attack. Shinji agreed to pilot Unit-01 again after Misato showed him Lilith and reminded him that he was not alone; the chapter ended with the three EVAs in position as Japan went dark.

• NERV personnel deployed power equipment and assembled the positron cannons while Gendo discussed the pilots and the experimental Dummy Plug with Fuyutsuki.
• Rei delivered Operation Yashima's schedule to Shinji and said she would pilot Unit-01 if he refused; Huang Zhetian encouraged him to be himself.
• Misato showed Shinji Lilith and explained that stopping the Angels was necessary to prevent humanity's extinction, and Shinji agreed to pilot again.
• Misato and Ritsuko assigned Shinji to fire first, Rei to defend Unit-01, and Huang Zhetian to deliver a surprise shot if Shinji missed.
• Shinji listened to a supportive message from his friends as Japan's power was redirected, then asked Rei why she piloted an EVA; she answered that it was because of her bonds with everyone.
• Shinji and Rei prepared in their EVAs while Huang Zhetian waited with the Special Unit on Outer Mountain, ready for the attack on Ramiel.