Chapter 190: SEELE, Now in My Hands

Chapter 190: Chapter 222: SEELE, Now in My Hands

Chapter 222: SEELE, Now in My Hands

As a Blood Raven, Shinji was extremely gentle and reasonable. He would never be like those paranoid inquisitors who shouted, “Loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely not loyalty,” before issuing an execution order without even listening to a word of defense.

He understood SEELE’s methods and acknowledged their capabilities; he did not view them as cartoonish villains. But as the premise remained, mortals simply could not resolve the current situation.

If he hadn’t returned from his “further studies” in the 40K universe, he would surely have been persuaded by those righteous-sounding arguments—after all, apart from the dark mark of “eternal life,” there wasn’t much to fault them on. But as an Astartes, he had already rejected the “Human Instrumentality Project” through the Emperor’s Conjecture.

This script was also within the scope of inevitable fate. The path SEELE had found was nothing more than offering the fruits of humanity to the will of the negative universe. Of course, if this will possessed any compassion, humanity might truly be able to linger on in agony as Keel suggested.

“This script was set by Him; it is, in itself, a conspiracy. SEELE replicating the conspiracy is by no means a way out. Let me be perfectly clear: within the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls, all efforts are merely aiding the enemy.”

Keel held his breath. He didn’t know the Emperor’s Conjecture, but he knew clearly that Shinji was not sophistry. His exploration of humanity’s future went far deeper than SEELE’s; this was the essential difference between a mortal and an Astartes.

“Was it you who destroyed the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls?”

“I can only say it started because of me. You triggered the Second Impact, sending this train hurtling toward its doom, and my return set the train onto a different track.”

‘It’s all because of you!’

Keel’s face flushed red instantly. The shattering of a hope he had pursued his entire life was enough to cause one’s faith to collapse, yet he stubbornly managed to steady his emotions.

“Starting from the Third Angel?”

“Yes.”

No wonder the script began to deviate starting from the Third Angel, and then became increasingly chaotic until the Free Angel took away all the mass-produced units, making it impossible for the script to continue.

Many doubts were answered in this moment. He had been very puzzled by how the Dead Sea Scrolls had become increasingly unreliable, reaching a breaking point by the time of the 13th and 14th Angels.

“Shinji-kun, what exactly do you want to do?”

“Jump out of the framework of the Dead Sea Scrolls, break free from the inevitability of fate, and solve the problem at its source.”

‘Solve the problem at the source…’

Keel thought for a long time, then blurted out: “You want to kill God!?”

“To be precise, the will of the negative universe is just a concept for now, but soon it will be within the range of being killed.”

Hearing this dead-serious correction, Keel’s mouth twitched. He desperately wanted to say, “You’re crazy,” as he was completely unable to understand how such an insane idea was conceived.

SEELE had spent half a lifetime painstakingly following the clues to create the “Human Instrumentality Project,” hoping to let humanity linger on in another form. And here was this person, wanting to solve it directly from the source.

What was God like? What powers did it possess? Who could know? Would doing this really not enrage the other party and cause humanity, along with the Earth, to be reduced to ashes?

“No, no, this is too risky. We can’t even observe the negative universe, let alone kill God. Besides, if it can be killed, it’s not a God.” Keel shook his head. Had it not been for their “pleasant conversation” earlier, he would have already suggested the boy see a psychiatrist and stop reading so much fantasy fiction.

“I didn’t come to discuss this with you; I came because I have resolved to do so. SEELE’s historical mission is complete. The road ahead will be walked by me.”

Shinji answered coldly and firmly. He didn’t come all this way to seek approval, and there was no room for negotiation.

“I understand. You came to deliver an ultimatum.”

“You can think of it that way.”

‘So that’s how it is.’

Keel took a deep breath. Having reached his position, he wasn’t someone who could be swayed by a few words. On the surface, both of them were agonizing over humanity’s future, but often, the heretic is more detestable than the infidel.

Screech—

With a piercing sound of brakes, the train that had been speeding across the snowfield suddenly stopped. Anything in the room that wasn’t bolted down was thrown across the space.

Shinji remained motionless, watching Keel, who was also strapped into his chair. He had known the old man was pulling some trick from the moment he walked in.

It would be best if he could convince him, but if not, Shinji wouldn’t stop him from struggling.

Thump, thump.

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, Shinji turned back. Outside the window, a pair of massive electronic eyes stared in; two steel giants stood on either side of the train.

“So this wasn’t heading to a shelter. Unit-07 and Unit-09 came to pick you up.”

“Apologies. As a mortal, I have no choice but to adopt despicable means.” Keel felt no shame; the battle of paths often represented a fight to the death. “Those two have already been injected with stimulants. Even if you use unknown means to control me like you did with the owls, you still won’t be able to walk out of this snowfield.”

“Not bad methods. Desperate and trying to persuade me while seeking a way out—there’s a hint of a mortal hero about you.” Shinji still looked appreciative. There weren’t many mortals who could reach this level; he had only seen about a hundred or eighty of them over the years.

“You are too arrogant. Let’s make a deal; perhaps there is a possibility for coordination between these two paths.”

“That’s too much trouble. I have a lot to do; I don’t have time to play mental gymnastics with you.” Shinji shook his head and raised his hand under Keel’s resentful gaze. “Let me correct a misconception: an Astartes is never arrogant. That illusion stems merely from your insufficient understanding of power.”

‘Ah? You really intend to dismantle an EVA with your bare hands? Even the Free Angel couldn’t do that. No, if the commotion of the battle gets out, how will you clean up the mess?’

Keel was full of confusion. He knew that on the points of hiding secrets, shifting contradictions, and unifying human viewpoints, they were on the same side. Before he could speak—

BOOM!!

A more violent and dull sound erupted. The resulting snow wave caused the train to sway left and right. Keel tilted his head to look outside. A purple-painted giant fell from the sky, landing right behind Unit-07.

‘Puppet system… no, is this the will of Unit-01 itself?’

ROAR—

Unit-01 looked up and roared, causing the wind and snow to swirl backward. Before Unit-07 could even turn around, it was slapped away like a doll. Unit-09 immediately grabbed an axe and rushed forward. The morning light in the carriage dimmed for an instant as Unit-01 jumped over the train from the top.

BANG!

The specially reinforced knee smashed into Unit-09’s chest. The inertia sent both units flying. Unit-01 straddled Unit-09, raising its fist, and began to pummel the other’s head with violent fury.

Thump, thump, thump…

The armor was shattered, blow after blow landing on flesh. Unit-09 struggled to get up, but collapsed helplessly. Instead, Unit-01 snatched the large axe from its hand and threw it backward.

SPLAT.

Unit-07, which had just stood up, had its face split open by the axe and fell backward.

‘What… what is this?’

Chairman Keel watched, trembling all over. The blood sprayed by the EVAs dyed the snowfield red. The two bodyguards he had pinned his hopes on were like children without any power to resist in front of Unit-01. What kind of stimulant? What kind of practical-use EVA? This was a one-sided crushing victory. Until both units completely lost the ability to fight, the entry plugs were forcibly ejected and then gripped by Unit-01, casually tossed onto the snow.

Thump, thump, thump.

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, the blood-covered Unit-01 walked back to the train, crouching half-way to stare directly at the old man who had created it.

The massive difference in size brought an intense sense of oppression. Stared at by those scarlet electronic eyes, Chairman Keel could no longer control his emotions; he felt an inexplicable terror consuming him.

“Meaningless resistance. Now I have to spend time repairing Unit-07 and Unit-09.”

Shinji picked up a book from the floor and began reading it slowly. Outside the window behind him stood the colossal EVA. From start to finish, he hadn’t moved a single step. He looked up at Chairman Keel, whose will and vitality were nearly exhausted.

“Meticulous plans and clever conspiracies can never defeat absolute power. Haven’t you always wanted Unit-01 to awaken? As you wish: this is the correct way for Unit-01 to go berserk.”

CRACK.

The alloy-forged carriage was torn open like paper. Unit-01 reached out, and that giant palm magnified in his vision, finally forcing Chairman Keel, that great man whose name had left a mark in history, to let out a scream like a Grots.

His psychological defenses finally collapsed, and psychic energy pierced into his AT Field like a knife, just as if an entirely new set of commands had been uploaded into a computer.

Snap.

Shinji closed the book and turned toward Unit-01’s outstretched palm. Having only walked two steps, he seemed to remember something and turned his head to glance at Chairman Keel, who looked as blank and puppet-like as a drone.

“I forgot to mention: you are the seventeenth righteous-minded mortal who attempted to persuade me, but you’re in luck—

—the first sixteen are already nothing but bones.”