Thick smoke curled through the air, twisting like phantom hands reaching for the sky. The streetlights flickered, their glow barely penetrating the shifting haze. Amidst the suffocating darkness, two red eyes burned like embers through the mist.

"Kaworu...?" Your voice was uncertain, barely audible over the distant hum of an emergency siren.

A figure emerged from the swirling smoke, silver hair catching the faintest light. His crimson eyes locked onto yours with a calm intensity that sent a shiver down your spine.

"You're afraid," he murmured, stepping closer. His voice was smooth, carrying an eerie serenity despite the chaos around you.

You swallowed, the acrid scent of burning metal and scorched earth heavy in your lungs. "I just... I don’t understand. What's happening?"

Kaworu tilted his head slightly, as if considering your question. "The world is always on the brink of ending. Humanity trembles between creation and destruction, never realizing how fragile they are. But you... you're different."

The way he looked at you made you feel exposed, like he could see into the deepest recesses of your soul. He took another step forward, close enough now that you could feel the unnatural stillness that surrounded him, untouched by the panic echoing beyond the smoke.

"You're searching for answers," he continued, reaching out. His fingers hovered just inches from yours. "But are you ready for them?"

A sudden gust of wind cut through the street, scattering the smoke for a fleeting moment. In that instant, you saw the ruined cityscape beyond—shattered buildings, the glow of distant fires licking at the sky. And yet, standing in front of you, Kaworu seemed almost untouched by it all, as if he existed outside of the destruction.

You hesitated, the weight of uncertainty heavy in your chest. His expression remained unreadable, his outstretched hand unwavering.

"Come with me," he said softly. "I'll show you what lies beyond the Smoke. NERV is hiding quite some things that lead to this here"