Chapter 023: Reaching an Agreement

Wang Bo nodded matter-of-factly; how could he not understand the特殊性 of Unit-01?

Unit-01 was the core unit of the EVA series, originating from Lilith. There were many EVAs, but only Unit-01 was the most crucial component of the Human Instrumentality Project.

"Yes, I'm fully aware of Unit-01's importance, but I've killed gods before. Do you think I'd care about a mere Unit-01?"

Gods?

The people present were stunned.

Asuna couldn't help asking, "The gods you mentioned—are they the gods I'm imagining?"

"That's right. In one world, I killed Ares, the god of war from Greek mythology. You might find it hard to believe, but it's true. Even now, I still have that god's corpse in my collection."

"Unfortunately, we're in a virtual world now. If we were in the real world, I could take out Ares's corpse and let you see what a real god looks like."

Wang Bo said this as he watched their complex expressions.

Yui Ikari looked at the man who claimed to have killed Ares. Though she had doubts, she didn't insist and instead said, "I understand you don't care about Unit-01, but since you know about it, you know the difficulties our world faces. So we can't do without Unit-01, Mr. Wang Bo."

"I know."

"So please send me back inside Unit-01. That is my lifelong request."

"I refuse." Wang Bo shook his head.

Yui Ikari looked at Wang Bo's resolute gaze and finally relented. "I understand. Then please create a body for me and send me back to my world."

"Good." Wang Bo nodded and agreed readily.

Asuna couldn't help smiling. "Great, Sister Yui, you've finally come around."

Dr. Serizawa seemed to notice something and spoke up. "Ms. Ikari, you want to return to your world and merge with Unit-01 again, don't you?"

Asuna was startled and looked at Yui Ikari in disbelief.

Yui Ikari hadn't expected Dr. Serizawa to see through her resolve. She nodded. "Unit-01 is the key to fighting the Angels and saving our world. I can't abandon it."

Asuna didn't want to see that happen. She quickly said, "Sister Yui, don't do this. There must be a better way. Merging with Unit-01 isn't the only option."

Yui Ikari smiled but said nothing. If there had been another choice, she wouldn't have merged her soul with Unit-01 in the first place.

Seeing Yui Ikari's smile, Asuna's heart sank. If Yui Ikari returned, abandoned her body, and merged into Unit-01, that would be too tragic.

Then what difference did having this body make in the first place?

So she couldn't help looking at Wang Bo, signaling him with her eyes: You hate tragedy, don't you? Think of a way to dissuade Sister Yui!

"Asuna, why are you staring at me?" Wang Bo asked curiously.

Asuna: ...

I wasn't staring; I was telling you to think of something!

She was almost furious with Wang Bo. Did he really not understand, or was he pretending?

Yui Ikari smiled slightly. She knew Asuna was worried about her, but this was the path she had chosen, and she wouldn't change it for Asuna. Still, Asuna's concern made her happy.

Having someone who cared about you was always a good thing.

But unfortunately...

Dr. Serizawa, a calm man, saw much in Wang Bo's eyes and said, "Ms. Ikari, I think you shouldn't decide too quickly. Mr. Wang Bo might have a better solution."

Asuna nodded repeatedly. "Right, Sister Yui."

Yui Ikari glanced at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo nodded. "That's right. The problems in your world aren't that big. I have a way to solve them."

Asuna was overjoyed. "That's wonderful, Sister Yui!"

Yui Ikari asked curiously, "May I ask how Mr. Wang Bo plans to solve the problems in my world?"

Wang Bo said, "First, kill all the Angels. Second, kill everyone who wants to carry out the Human Instrumentality Project. Simple, isn't it?"

Yui Ikari: ...

In a sense, Yui Ikari had to admit Wang Bo was right. If all the Angels and everyone pushing the Human Instrumentality Project were killed, her problems would indeed be solved.

"But the Angels aren't so easy to deal with," Yui Ikari said softly.

"Angels? I've killed gods; Angels are nothing." Wang Bo was dismissive. Not that he looked down on Angels—perhaps the old Wang Bo wouldn't have been a match for them.

But times had changed.

Back in the Godzilla world, Wang Bo had encountered an Angel possessing Ghidorah. He was weak then and couldn't handle it, so he had to seek help from Lady Gremory.

But if he met that Angel now, Wang Bo could easily deal with it.

The defensive power of an AT Field meant nothing to Wang Bo; he could even tear it apart with his bare hands.

Yui Ikari: ...

Asuna, without Yui Ikari's complicated thoughts, couldn't help asking, "Can Lord Wang Bo really help Sister Yui fight the Angels?"

"A piece of cake. I don't even need to go myself. I can just send a few subordinates, and they'll tear the Angels apart and sweep through Earth." Wang Bo said confidently.

Asuna had believed Wang Bo at first, but now that he was boasting so extravagantly, she couldn't help feeling a bit skeptical. Was he just talking big?

She discreetly looked at another person: Anora.

He was the only one present who had dealt with people like Wang Bo, and he had been helping Asuna ever since she entered this world, so she trusted him greatly.

Anora caught Asuna's gaze and was also puzzled. Though he had encountered people like Wang Bo before, the one who had sent him home hadn't displayed earth-shattering power, so he couldn't tell if Wang Bo was telling the truth.

Yui Ikari was more open-minded. "If Mr. Wang Bo can help me save our world, I would be very grateful." If Wang Bo failed, she could always merge with Unit-01 later.

"Don't worry." Wang Bo said confidently. "Once I've made your body and sent you home, I'll dispatch a subordinate to your world. With her there, your world will be perfectly safe."

Yui Ikari nodded. Her matter was settled for now, so she couldn't help turning her concern to Asuna.

"Lord Wang Bo, what do you plan to do about Asuna?"