"Who the hell are you?!" Gendo Ikari demanded harshly, glaring viciously at Shinji.
"Shinji" cleared his throat, then met Gendo's gaze coldly.
"Before I answer your question, I'd like you to answer mine."
Shinji took the Briefcase from Kaji.
"What's inside this?"
"I have nothing to say."
Gendo had no intention of revealing its true purpose here.
At the same time, he reached for the handgun at his waist.
But what "Shinji" said next made his jaw drop.
"Not talking, huh? Don't worry. I'll explain."
"Inside this is the embryo that Adam-the god who created the Angels and once triggered Second Impact-regressed into."
Gendo's body trembled.
"You intend to merge with the Adam Embryo, then use SEELE's Human Instrumentality Project, which seeks to destroy humanity, to merge with Lilith-the god who created humanity, now trapped beneath this base."
"Through that forbidden fusion, you'll become a god."
Gendo's thoughts began to spiral out of control.
Why did he know all this?!
Even SEELE didn't know my objective yet. How did he know?
Shinji had been under my surveillance this whole time!
How was this possible?!
Gendo turned an enraged gaze on Kaji.
He began to suspect Kaji.
"He has nothing to do with this. He didn't tell me anything, and coming here with him was my own request." "Shinji's" stern voice rang out again.
"Since you're becoming a god, let me guess. You want to rule this world, right?"
Gendo hesitated for a second.
"I'm not that shallow."
He still wanted to preserve a little of his dignity and mystique.
But "Shinji's" next words shattered that illusion completely.
"All right, enough teasing. I know you want to resurrect your wife."
"Becoming a god just to bring your wife back-that's the most boring reason for godhood I've ever heard."
Gendo's expression turned ugly.
His usual cold composure vanished.
In its place was rage he could no longer suppress.
He had his pride, too, and the person before him had mercilessly smashed what little remained of it to pieces.
Beside them, Kaji quietly chuckled.
This drama was well worth sticking around for.
Gendo gripped his handgun.
These two knew too much...
"I suggest you stop moving your hand. I saw that."
"Shinji" took out his glasses.
"Take a guess. Which is faster, your bullet or my transformation?"
"It's time I introduced myself. Before that, I suggest you put down what's in your hand. I came here to try to resolve this peacefully."
"I'm that giant."
When those words left "Shinji's" mouth, a shudder ran through Gendo.
It wasn't as though he had never suspected Shinji, but after Ritsuko's physical examination, he had already ruled him out.
"My real name is Ultraman Zero."
"I'm from the M78 Nebula in another world. I'm the captain of Ultimate Force Zero, which operates under the Space Garrison."
"The Space Garrison is an interstellar organization that fights for peace throughout the universe and to protect precious lives."
Gendo was utterly bewildered.
"Another world? The M78 Nebula? Ultraman... the Space Garrison... Ultimate Force Zero?"
What was all this supposed to mean?
I understood every word on its own, so why did none of it make sense together?!
"Why should I believe you?"
Gendo was unwilling to believe any of it.
"With my power, do I have any reason to lie to you?"
Zero wasn't wrong. If he hadn't wanted a peaceful resolution, he wouldn't have bothered wasting words on Gendo.
"My objective is to stop and destroy the Human Instrumentality Project."
"You're delusional!" Gendo roared wildly. At those words, he finally lost control, jumping up to shout at Zero.
Listening to Gendo's frenzied voice, Zero spoke slowly.
"Calm down, calm down. I didn't come here to declare war. I came to seek your cooperation, because I can offer you something you can't refuse."
"I can resurrect Yui Ikari-Shinji's mother."
"!"
At that moment, a flicker of doubt stirred within Gendo.
Resurrecting Yui was his sole motivation for carrying out the Human Instrumentality Project. Everything he had done was for that purpose.
"You? You can break the laws of this world?"
"What do you mean, break the laws of this world...?" Zero scratched his head.
"My home has long possessed technology that creates life and uses it to revive lives that would otherwise be lost."
"It's called Life Solidifying Technology, invented by my home's greatest scientist, Ultraman Hikari."
"Well? Will you cooperate with me, or carry out a plan that I'm certain to destroy?"
Zero genuinely hoped Gendo would cooperate with him.
Because he was destined to part ways with Shinji eventually, and before that happened, he wanted to give Shinji a family.
"Why are you so confident that this plan will fail?" Gendo still wanted to put up a fight.
"Shinji's" gaze immediately turned cold.
"Because I love humanity."
"I won't stand by and watch humanity be wiped out like that."
"Now that Shinji and I share one heart and one body, I'm both an Ultraman and a human."
"You've seen my power. You should know perfectly well that destroying this entire base would be child's play for me."
Gendo had no choice but to believe him. After all, the being before him was far too powerful.
And from what he had said, an extraordinarily powerful civilization stood behind him.
Gendo didn't want to contemplate how strong a civilization that called itself the universe's police might be.
Even if he could deal with the one before him, Earth itself might be in danger if his homeworld found out.
"Most importantly, Shinji doesn't agree to this plan," Zero said with a smile.
With Father of Ultra's authorization, even if the Space Garrison's higher-ups tried to hold him accountable upon his return, he could simply say he had been forced to act in self-defense to protect Shinji and himself.
Shinji's voice rang out in Gendo's mind.
"Father, I will never agree to sacrificing the entire world to bring Mother back!"
"Then aren't you afraid Shinji won't be able to survive in this world? SEELE might...?" Gendo made one last attempt, believing Shinji was Zero's weakness.
Instead, Zero's eyes turned utterly icy, as though he wanted to pierce right through him.
"There are many Earths and many human civilizations across the multiverse."
"I'm friends with plenty of humans, including some good families."
"If you try to do anything to Shinji, I'll take him to a universe where he can live comfortably."
"You should be able to guess what I'll do before that..."
Zero thrust his face right up to Gendo's and glared at him.
Now somewhat frightened, Gendo finally stopped arguing.
"Then when do you intend to resurrect her?"
Gendo assumed he would have to do something, perhaps even destroy the Human Instrumentality Project, before Zero would help him resurrect Yui.
"The day after tomorrow at the earliest, the following day at the latest. It'll take time for one of my people to get here."
Gendo: ???
After a long silence, he spoke slowly.
"Then I can only... agree..."
"In that case, I'll hold on to this for now."
"Shinji" opened the Briefcase. At the same time, a rift opened beside him, and he picked up the resin-encased Adam Embryo and tossed it inside.
This was Zero's Dimensional Backpack. Opening it consumed a considerable amount of energy each time, so he rarely used it.
"I hope you'll keep your promise..." With the Adam Embryo gone, Gendo could now only place his hopes in Zero.
"I'll keep my promise. But before that..."
"There's something I need to do..."
"Shinji" suddenly reached out and grabbed Gendo.
"This has nothing to do with my attitude toward that plan, or with the relationship between this Earth and the Land of Light!"
"This is a personal matter between you and me!"
"I'm going to get justice for Shinji!"
With that, Zero smashed a fist into Gendo's face.
"Why did you abandon Shinji?!" (A punch.)
"Why did you leave Shinji to suffer so much all alone?!" (A kick that knocked him to the floor.)
"Why did you treat Shinji like that? You bastard, do you deserve to be a father?!" (He stepped forward and kicked him.)
"Answer me, you bastard!" (He grabbed his collar and punched him.)
After a flurry of punches and kicks, Gendo lay on the floor with his face bruised and swollen.
"Shinji, let's go." Satisfied with the beating, Zero handed control back to Shinji.
Once they left the base, Zero noticed Shinji holding back tears again.
"What's wrong, Shinji? Did I not hit him enough?"
"No... I'm just so happy... Zero..."
Shinji couldn't help it. Tears spilled down his face again.
After all these years, someone had finally voiced what was in his heart and vented his anger for him.
He had never dared hope that anyone would care about him, but now he no longer had to worry about that.
"It's what I should do. I just can't stand parents like that. Let's go home, Shinji."
"Okay!" Shinji smiled through his tears.
Bathed in the light of the setting sun, Shinji ran toward home.
Before you continue