Chapter 1304
Shinji: I won't pilot an EVA!
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Looking at the behemoth crane in front of me
Shinji's eyes were filled with light.
That's really amazing!
Mr. Cui Ming's Balga
The orange steel behemoth stood silently in the center of the hangar, its boom still in the post-battle posture, fragments of the Angel of Music remaining on its surface. Sunlight streamed in from the high windows, illuminating the construction site paint and reflecting a reassuring sense of solidity.
He then looked at the gray-haired Balga beside him.
These are said to be military-grade Barga robots.
Compared to Cui Ming's custom-built machine modified by the S2 agency, these military models appeared more austere, with thicker armor, more weapon hardpoints, and a standard tactical gray paint scheme. They were neatly arranged on the other side of the hangar, like soldiers awaiting orders.
That's also the one he'll be driving later.
That's right, Shinji Ikari felt he needed to do something!
He watched as Cui Ming drove the Balga, crushing the Apostles. That pure mechanical violence, that fighting style that required no special talent, no soul synchronization, only courage and skill, deeply captivated him. He no longer wanted to be a bystander, no longer wanted to hide in a corner watching others protect the world.
Therefore, he will pilot the Varga into battle!
Shinji idolizes Trevor, so when Trevor pilots the Vulcan, Shinji thinks the Vulcan is great!
Indeed, this is true.
In a sense, Barga is also a form of aggressive technology.
Those super-regenerative monsters of the Star Guides possessed terrifying cellular repair abilities; they could heal themselves even after being cut in half, and even Ultraman's beam attacks struggled to completely destroy them. Yet, even such terrifying enemies were utterly crushed by Vulgar's impact.
That's a monster! Its stats are far beyond what an apostle could ever achieve!
Shinji recalled the battle log that Cui had shown him—Vulgar accelerated by spinning, then used the solid iron ball at the end of the boom to smash the monster at supersonic speed. The immense kinetic energy directly shattered every cell of the monster, annihilating it along with its regeneration core. That kind of simple and brutal physical destruction was more effective than any fancy energy attack.
"I want to apply to become a driver."
Shinji walked toward the commander's office with firm steps.
"I want to drive a Varga."
Choi Myung looked at Shinji
"Alright."
Cui Ming also knew about Shinji's situation. Although piloting an EVA was different from piloting a Vulcan, the Vulcan was simpler in some ways.
He sized up the boy before him. Shinji stood ramrod straight, his eyes filled with the unwavering determination of someone who had finally found their direction. In this world, Shinji hadn't been forced to pilot Unit-01, hadn't endured that mental torture, but he still wanted to fight—not for his father's approval, not for the fate of humanity, but simply to protect something with his own hands.
No complicated weapon usage is needed, just smash! The Balga is, after all, an engineering tool; weapons are simply a matter of pressing a button.
Cui Ming patted Shinji on the shoulder and pointed to the gray military-grade Vulcan.
"Let's go up and give it a try."
Shinji's eyes lit up, and he strode towards the cockpit, his movements as he climbed the ladder a little clumsy but full of enthusiasm. Choi followed behind, watching him sit in the driver's seat, his fingers trembling slightly on the control stick.
“Don’t be nervous,” Cui Ming leaned against the hatch, his tone calm. “This thing is more robust than you think. The power lever is on the left, the boom control is on the right, and the weapon system is on the center console. The red button fires, and the green button recovers. It’s that simple.”
"No...no need for synchronization or anything?" Shinji asked.
“No need,” Cui Ming shook his head. “You are you, and the machine is the machine. It won’t read your thoughts, it won’t corrupt your soul, and it won’t forcibly take over when you lose control. If you tell it to go east, it will go east; if you tell it to smash, it will smash. It’s that simple.”
Shinji gripped the joystick and took a deep breath.
The engine of the balga emitted a deep roar, like the breath of a giant beast awakening.
“Let’s go,” Cui Ming jumped down the ladder. “To the training grounds, I’ll teach you how to spin.” Shinji nodded, his eyes fixed firmly ahead. This time, he was fighting for his choice.
Cui Ming really liked his old friend, Balga.
It transcends the simple relationship between weapon and driver; it is a bond that transcends countless cycles of life and death.
Throughout EDF's history, on battlefields ravaged by the Star Guides, and in countless moments when humanity faced extinction, this orange steel behemoth accompanied Cui Ming as he fought his way out of the encirclement. Its crane had ripped up the wreckage of monsters, its tracks had crushed Star Guide strongholds, and the roar of its engine was Cui Ming's most familiar battle song.
Although Asuka likes Balam, who was modified by her mother.
Even after discussing it in bed for a long time, the two of them couldn't reach a conclusion.
“The Balam’s mobility is indeed better,” Asuka said, lying on the bed with her golden hair scattered on the pillow. Her tone was serious and professional. “Mom specially installed a plasma cannon and missile pods. The firepower configuration is very reasonable.”
“But,” she turned over and looked at Cui Ming, a hint of resentment in her blue-green eyes, “I still think that Balga’s simple and brutal style is unfair.”
“Mobility is important on the battlefield,” Cui Ming said, lying on the bed with his hands behind his head, “but the Balga has its advantages. One blow and mobility is useless.”
Asuka didn't refute, only letting out a soft hum. She knew that what Cui Ming said was true. After her mother, Soryu Kyoko Zeppelin, had carefully modified Balam, it was indeed an excellent combat machine, but when facing certain super-regenerative monsters, it still needed the pure physical crushing power of Vulgar.
after all
Balga is truly Cui Ming's old buddy.
Countless cycles of reincarnation, countless times driving the Varga.
Cui Ming gazed out the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through time. He recalled when he first acquired the Balga; it was just an ordinary EDF engineering vehicle, used for transporting supplies and building fortifications. But in the flames of war, they grew and evolved together. Cui Ming learned how to use this engineering vehicle to crush the enemy, and the Balga grew stronger and stronger through countless modifications.
He remembered the anxiety every time the Bulga was damaged, the joy of restarting it after repairs, and how, on the desperate battlefield, only the Bulga's cockpit could give him a sense of security. It wasn't the unsettling, living feeling of a biological weapon, but a pure, reliable loyalty belonging to steel and gears.
“It won’t betray me, it won’t go berserk, it won’t fail me when I need it most,” Cui Ming said softly. “As long as I hold the joystick, it will keep fighting.”
Asuka fell silent. She recalled the feeling of piloting the Balam, the sense of security she felt protected by her mother's skill. She could understand why Cui Ming was so attached to the Balam—it was a sense of control, a trust based on equality and camaraderie.
“Idiot,” Asuka buried her face in Choi Myung’s chest, her voice muffled, “I’m going to patrol in my Balam tomorrow.”
"Ah."
"You're not allowed to steal my prey."
"it is good."
"If you encounter danger, don't try to tough it out; call for help."
"it is good."
Choi Myung hugged her, feeling the warmth in his arms. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the small orange model on the bedside table—a miniature version of Varga, which Choi Myung had made by hand one night.
This is enough.
As for who will be stronger tomorrow.
Let the battlefield decide. (End of Chapter)