Pairings: Lavi/Allen + Neah/Lavi [slow burn]
Rating + warnings: T / strangling/asphyxiation, major character death

Footsteps, heavy and loud upon the dust-covered ground, the rapid thud thud thud of his heartbeat - these were the only sounds Allen could hear.

At first, Allen met no-one else as he ran through the ruined halls of the Black Order. He could hear Lenalee behind him, as well as Krory and Miranda's footsteps further down the hall. He thought of Apocryphos, of Lavi and Kanda, of Cross, of Mana's tear-stained face as he died.

Allen shook his head, teeth gritted, trying to push all thoughts but one out of his mind: he had to defeat the Earl, defeat Adam. Saving Akuma, saving human beings - both those sides of him still held true, but in that moment, more than anything else, Allen wished for his own salvation.

For the first time in his life, Allen wanted to save himself.

With tears in his eyes, Allen ran through the debris-littered halls of the place he had once called home, knowing what he would have to do.

He rounded a corner and saw pure and utter chaos unfold before his eyes. Bodies littered the floor. A figure stood, one arm raised, trying in vain to hold back something that Allen could scarcely even recognise anymore. The Level Five had become huge, hideous, unravelling in its greed and desire for power. Bak Chang stood before it, blue light emanating from his palm and trailing down his body to the floor, arcing in twists and turns beyond the hall.

Finders stood by his side, using barriers to aid him in restraining the Level Five. Exorcists also stood close-by. Marie, Chaoji, Timothy were led by two Generals - Klaud, with her simian Innocence, and Tiedoll, expression grave - preparing themselves for battle. Stood to the side were Noah, awkward and out of place, looking up at the Level Five with a conflicted expression.

Allen saw Road and Tyki stood to one side and made his way towards them. He stopped before them, hands on his thighs as he panted for breath. Lenalee stopped just behind him, while Krory and Miranda kept going, making for the group further ahead.

Allen raised his head, saw the shock on Tyki's face, and shook his head. Before Tyki could speak, he pointed down the hall.

"You… need to go… to the Innocence chamber."

Tyki blinked a few times, confused. "Wait, what?"

Lenalee cut in before Allen could speak, face lined with exhaustion. "Apocryphos… Lavi…"

Tyki pointed at himself, eyebrow raised. "You're… asking me to help?"

Allen raised himself up fully. Tyki saw the stigmata upon Allen's skin, felt the presence of his Noah Memory, and faltered.

Allen gave a weary smile. "That's an order, Tyki."

Tyki hesitated before huffing, walking past Allen with a disgruntled expression. "The old Earl never bossed me around like that." He paused. "Wait, yes, yes he did." He groaned and scowled down at Allen. "Man, you being the new Earl is so fucking weird."

Allen laughed, voice strained. "You're telling me."

Tyki gestured at Jasdevi, who were looking up at the Level Five with an awed expression, and practically dragged them along with him. Allen watched them go with a smile before turning back to Road, smile falling.

"We need to -"

"Adam. I know."

Road's voice sounded strained. She looked more tired than Allen had ever seen her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, trying his best to look reassuring. Road sighed, patted his hand, and exchanged a glance with Lenalee - who managed a somewhat awkward smile in response - before gesturing at the Level Five.

"I don't think even you could stop that now."

Allen sighed, expression grim. "I know, but I get the feeling if we do this right, we'll end everything one way or another."

Road nodded. The sound of footsteps made her, Allen, and Lenalee turn. Link stood before them, breathing heavy. His hair was streaked with white, making clear the strain Atuuda had placed on him. Behind him stood two figures that Allen recognised - Tokusa and Tevak, trying their best to smile despite the situation.

Before Allen could speak, Link cut him off, urgency in his voice. "Who are you right now?"

Allen blinked and pointed at himself. "Me?"

Link didn't say anything, eyes narrowed. Allen realised the stigmata upon his forehead said more than enough. Allen felt a pang of fear, wondering if this was the moment when Link would finally turn his back on him, and spoke with a subdued tone to his voice.

"I'm… my name is Allen Walker. As for the rest of it..." he sighed and shook his head. "I have no idea."

Road smiled. "You're the new Millennium Earl."

Allen grimaced. "Somehow that just doesn't sound right."

Lenalee paused before cutting in. "You're… an Exorcist?"

"No, that's not right either."

Link shook his head. "It doesn't matter, you answered my question. Are you here to help us fight -" Link hesitated, as if he couldn't find the right words, before pointing at the Level Five "- that?"

Allen shook his head. "No, we have to defeat the Earl."

Link blinked then narrowed his eyes. "Are you not the Earl now?"

Allen groaned, frustrated. "I mean, yes, in a way, but I don't mean - ah, never mind. Just come with me."

Link looked back at the group of Exorcists and Finders dealing with the Level Five then shook his head.

"I can't. They need -"

"We're going to need all the help we can get."

Lenalee's voice had a hard edge to it. Link saw the way she was holding herself, the hollow look in Allen's eyes, and sighed. He exchanged a glance with Road - who gave a little wave in response - then looked back at Tokusa and Tevak, who smiled in response.

Tokusa looked at Allen and gave a pained smile. "I'd say it's messed up that you're a Noah, but -" he gestured at himself "- I guess I can't talk."

Allen shook his head, expression softening. "I'm just glad you're okay."

A horrifying shriek drowned them all out. They turned and saw the Level Five had broken free, up until Tiedoll used his Innocence to trap it. It was only a matter of time before it would break free once more.

Allen suddenly felt a shadow of a presence, as if a cold hand had grabbed at his very soul. Heart jack-hammering between his ribs, Allen felt Neah's presence re-join his own and looked up to see the Millennium Earl, free of his human form, hovering above the Level Five.

All looked up, gripped by fear, watching as the Earl turned his attention to the Level Five. He dropped down, standing upon the Level Five's head with a pleased smile.

"You've done well, my little Akuma." The Earl chuckled. "Though you're not so little anymore, are you, hmm?"

The Level Five strained against the bindings created by Tiedoll's Innocence. Its many mouths parted, voice strained.

"Food!"

The Earl nodded. "Yes, yes, but you know -" the Earl's grin widened "- you're also food, aren't you?"

The Earl's outward form lost its shape, integrating with the Level Five beneath him. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with an ear-splitting shriek, the Level Five writhed where it lay, many eyes wide and filled with terror.

Tiedoll tried to maintain his hold on the Akuma, but failed. Bak raised his hand, desperation fuelling his movements, but before he could do anything, the Level Five grew still. Its form changed, shifting into a perpetual grin, golden eyes wide and bulging.

The Millennium Earl had taken on a monstrous form, many arms gripping at the shattered stone beneath him, many eyes peering down at the horrified humans before him. He looked around him for a moment before opening his many mouths to speak.

"It isn't enough."

The Earl raised two of his arms and pushed up against the ceiling. It cracked before completely shattering, debris falling without mercy upon those beneath it. For a moment, all became dark, dust clogging the air.

Allen came to in a haze of sight and sound. Road was still beside him, gazing up at a figure in the distance. Tiedoll was stood, his Innocence glowing white in the darkness. Debris littered the ground, but most of it lay upon Tiedoll's Innocence, branches protecting those beneath.

The Earl was gone. Allen pushed himself up with a wince, teeth gritted. Road wasn't far behind, Lenalee close by. He met the gaze of Link, Tevak, and Tokusa. Without a word, they pushed through the debris and those struggling to get up, in pursuit of what could only be called a monster.

The hallways were dark, littered with dust and debris and the occasional corpse. Allen didn't look too closely, not wanting to recognise anyone. He looked back at Lenalee, saw the haunted look on her face, and wondered if Komui was okay.

They reached a point where Lenalee and Allen both collapsed, injuries returning to them. Allen knew Miranda couldn't possibly cover the entire Order building with her Innocence. He gritted his teeth, hand firmly grasping his bleeding injuries, hoping Kanda and Lavi would remain covered by Miranda's ability at the very least.

Without a word, Link stepped forward and used Atuuda to heal both their wounds, just enough for them to be able to fight. Lenalee and Allen nodded their wordless thanks and on they walked. Allen tried to ignore the white streaks in Link's hair, the slight limp in his gait, guilt rising up within him.

Allen felt Neah's presence strengthen the further they walked, felt his fear and apprehension. His resolve seemed shaken, all his tenacity and spite-fuelled confidence eradicated by fear. Allen placed an internal hand on Neah's shoulder, meeting his gaze with a reassuring smile.

"We'll get through this."

Neah blinked a few times before shrugging off Allen's hand, a ghost of a smile on his face. Those that heard Allen's words knew it wasn't meant for them, but they took it as encouragement all the same.

The bright luminescence of moonlight spilled into the hall that they entered. It was the same place Neah and Allen had defeated the Earl, just enough to save Mana from his fate, at least. Allen's heart twisted at the memory of it.

He felt Neah tense up beside him and knew he felt just as grieved by it, if not more so. Allen tried to push the memory out of his mind, knowing later he would weep over it, would spend many listless nights remembering the smile on Mana's face.

For now, he had to fight, probably for the last time.

Before them was the Earl, consuming a Level Two that was desperately trying to break free of his hold. Road stepped forward, voice thick with pity.

"Oh, Adam... what have you become?"

The living embodiment of Adam's wrath turned to its sister. With a shudder, the Earl's form changed, shifting into one that was more recognisable to them all. The Earl's perpetual grin parted as he let out a hissed breath.

"I've become what I needed to. Since I cannot claim a new host, I will exist without one."

The Earl summoned his sword. Without a word, Link and the Third Exorcists summoned seals and bound the Earl in place. The Earl turned, eyes wide, glinting with malevolence. He noticed Allen was staring him down and chuckled.

"I will destroy you, and take from you what I am owed." The Earl spread his arms wide. "I will become the God we lost."

The Earl broke free of his restraints and leapt forward. Lenalee stepped in the way, armour-clad and filled with determination. She raised a hand and grabbed hold of the Earl's arm before aiming a foot at his torso and kicking him backwards. The Earl quickly righted himself and, in a sweeping motion, swung his sword and met Lenalee's armour in a shower of sparks.

Allen raised himself up and tried to activate his Innocence, but to no avail. He looked down at his left arm, feeling no connection it. Allen gritted his teeth, hopelessness and dread building within him. He had no idea what he could do to even fight.

Without a word, Neah took control, mastering his fear and saying without words that Allen would not be fighting alone. Allen watched their right hand rise up, dark matter crackling within their palm.

The Earl chuckled. "Dark matter cannot hurt me. You know this."

Neah gave a grim smile. "Yeah, but it sure can piss you off."

The Earl sprung forward. Neah braced himself and met the Earl's attack with all the strength he could muster.

This was their final purpose: one last person to destroy, one last person to save. With Adam's destruction came their own salvation.

The Innocence chamber was dark, littered with dust and debris.

Nothing stirred, nothing moved. All was still and silent. At least, it was at first. A raised hand and a pained groan shattered the silence that had enveloped the room.

Komui Lee raised himself up, vision blurred by pain. He saw a figure stood at the far end of the hall and reached out, pushing himself up a little before falling to one side. He saw two more figures enter the hall, heard the sound of metal upon stone, and became consumed by unconsciousness once more.

Those fighting held no awareness of this. Gripped by fear, by anger, Lavi and Kanda bore down on Apocryphos with all the strength they could muster.

Apocryphos stood before them, eyes filled with disdain. Kanda buried his sword in its torso, chest heaving from the effort of it. Apocryphos grabbed hold of Kanda's Innocence, pulled it out of its body, and let feathers spread across it. Kanda recoiled as if burnt, feeling his eye sockets throb in memory of those feathers.

Lavi brought his hammer round, Fire Seal in place, and brought it down upon Apocryphos's head. Apocryphos blocked the attack with the palm of his hand, expression almost bored, before flinging Lavi aside.

Lavi hit stone hard; hard enough for the wind to be knocked out of him. He wheezed, fighting for breath, watching as Kanda sprung forward, sword arcing before him. Clutching at his chest, eyes half-lidded, Lavi knew this was a fight they simply could not win.

Their Innocence did nothing. No matter how hard they tried, they could bring no harm to Apocryphos. Lavi thought of Allen and Neah going after the Earl, of Lenalee by their side, of Krory and Miranda and all who might have survived the fall of the Black Order, and felt his heart ache.

He knew that keeping Apocryphos busy wasn't a worthless task. If it meant others would be safe then that's all that mattered, but it was hard to cling to that thought, especially when the futility of such a task weighed heavily upon his shoulders.

Lavi pushed himself up, let his Innocence curl around his hands, and ran forward. He used Kanda's shoulder to propel himself forward, foot meeting Apocryphos's face hard enough to send it flying. Lavi didn't falter, using the momentum to throw a punch at Apocryphos's stomach before calling forth a Water Seal. The seal glowed for a moment before sending a torrent of water at Apocryphos, knocking it to the ground. It raised itself up, teeth gritted.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Your weapons cannot harm me."

Lavi gave a wry smile. "Yeah, but it sure can piss you off."

He summoned an Air Seal and watched with satisfaction as the water became ice, trapping Apocryphos in place. Kanda pushed forward, sword raised before gracefully arcing its way forward, cutting off Apocryphos's head in one swift motion.

Apocryphos's decapitated head hit the ground with a dull thud before disintegrating into nothingness. Before their very eyes, a new head replaced the old. Apocryphos sighed, opening and closing its mouth with a grimace. It looked over at Lavi, expression set into one of disdain.

"If you fought me using the power of the Heart, I'd at least feel as if we were evenly matched. This, however -" Apocryphos gestured at the ice encasing it, lips curled into a snarl "- is simply embarrassing."

Lavi's rolled his eyes, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Right, yeah, that wouldn't play into your hands at all, would it?"

Apocryphos sighed. "It would save us both a lot of time and effort, wouldn't it?"

Lavi shook his head and raised his hammer before him. "Not a chance."

Apocryphos didn't respond for a moment, observing the defiance in Lavi's eyes with disdain. It shook its head a little.

"I don't understand you. All your life, someone else has dictated your fate. Be it the path of a Bookman, or the path of the Heart, it has never been your choice." Lavi winced, heart twisting in his chest. "Trying to defy your nature now is complete and utter nonsense."

Lavi felt Junior's presence beside his own, building in intensity. His mouth opened, but it was not his voice that left his parted lips, nor was it his anger and fear and doubt that clutched at his heart.

"You're right. You're absolutely right." Apocryphos's eyes narrowed. Kanda looked over at Junior, mouth opened as if to speak, before Junior cut him off. "If Bookman hadn't died, perhaps we would have done all that you wanted us to do."

Lavi looked over at Junior within their mind, filled with worry, but Junior reassured him with a smile. Junior raised his head and stared Apocryphos down, consumed by doubt, by fear, but resolute despite all that he felt. Once the observer - every instruction obeyed, heartless and without feeling - Junior took hold of all that Bookman had asked of him - of all of them - and the fate Apocryphos decreed, and freed himself of it.

"We decide what our path is now." Junior raised Iron Hammer, filled with defiance. "We won't do as you ask."

Lavi beamed within Junior's mind, filled with hope, with the freedom that came from grabbing destiny by the proverbial throat. Apocryphos did nothing more than sigh before breaking free of the ice encasing it. Lavi's smile fell.

Kanda immediately stepped forward, but all it took was a raised hand for Kanda to be brought to his knees, feathers in his eye sockets, leaving him choking and writhing on the ground.

Apocryphos grabbed hold of Junior's hammer, teeth gritted. It shattered in Apocrphos's hands as if it was made of glass. Junior's eyes widened, shock flooding through him. He took a step backwards before Apocryphos grabbed hold of his face.

"I have had enough of this."

Burning, agonising pain flooded through Junior's body. His vision disappeared, feathers clogging his eye sockets. The stigmata in his palms throbbed. His right eye felt as if it was going to burst. Junior screamed, falling to his knees. Apocryphos refused to let go, voice shaking with anger.

"I tried to work with you. You denied me." Junior tried to break free, desperate and afraid. "I tried to break you. You denied me." Kanda crawled his way forward, teeth gritted, blind and driven by desperation. "Now I have decided - you are not needed."

Apocryphos lifted Junior up by the throat. Junior choked, unseeing, pain flooding through his body like wildfire.

Apocryphos smiled "If I assimilate with the Heart, none of this will matter. I will do what must be done."

Junior froze. Sheer and utter terror flooded through him. With one hand around Junior's throat, Apocryphos raised its other hand to grasp at Junior's right eye. Junior struggled, writhing in Apocryphos's grasp, mind a scattered mess of internal screams. Apocryphos smile widened all the more.

"Surely she would want this." Apocryphos dug its fingers into Junior's eye socket with a smile. Junior nearly passed out. "Surely she would want to become part of me."

Kanda grabbed hold of Apocryphos's lower leg and dug his nails in. Apocryphos paid no heed, focused only on Junior, on the power held between its fingertips. Apocryphos tugged. Junior's voice broke, screams dying off into a choked noise.

The sound of footsteps drew Apocryphos's attention. From the hall beyond, two figures entered. Apocryphos curled its lip in disgust and let Junior fall to the ground. Junior clasped at his right eye, body trembling, wheezing and struggling to breathe.

Apocryphos took a step forward and narrowed its eyes. "So, you've come to destroy the Heart, have you?"

Tyki Mikk placed a hand on his hip with a wide smile. "No, we're here to destroy you."

Apocryphos laughed, tone mocking. "Oh? Have you now?" It gestured the room around it. "I have already killed two of your brethren today. I'd be quite happy to rid you of your lives also."

Jasdevi stepped forward, a wide grin upon their face. "Big talk for a guy who isn't even wearing clothes!"

Tyki sighed, exasperated. "Shut up." He turned his attention to Junior and Kanda with a shake of his head. "You two look like you've seen better days, huh?"

Junior couldn't get up, body shaking, eyes wide and filled with horror. Lavi took over in his stead, scarcely able to push through the sheer and utter agony of what they had just endured.

Lavi raised himself up, woozy and disoriented. Kanda staggered onto his feet, helping Lavi up once the feathers had fully cleared from his eyes. Lavi clutched at the right side of his face, teeth gritted, and wondered if the Noah were really there to help.

Apocryphos made its move. Tyki responded by forming a shield of dark matter, blocking Apocryphos's attack with ease. Jasdevi raised a hand above their head. A gun materialised out of thin air upon their palm. They grabbed hold of it and fired, bullets finding their mark, leaving fire and flame in their wake.

Lavi remembered the twins from the Ark and sighed, relieved that he didn't - seemingly - have to fight them again. He and Kanda watched the Noah fight Apocryphos, exchanged a glance with each other, and shrugged.

Lavi looked down at his shattered hammer, considered something for a moment, and then extended his right hand. A tattoo flashed upon his skin, Innocence calling to something higher than itself. His hammer swirled its way from the ground to his palms, reforming itself with fluidity and grace. Lavi turned his hammer this way and that before activating it, and then gave Kanda an exhausted smile.

"Ready?"

Kanda sighed, held his sword tightly between his fingertips, and took a step forward. That was enough of an answer, and with a deep breath Lavi re-joined the fray.

If Apocryphos seemed daunted by being even more outnumbered, it showed no sign of it. While Kanda and Lavi could do little else but annoy it, Tyki and Jasdevi were making headway. Dark matter eroded Innocence, though Innocence could do the same in turn. More than once, Tyki found himself at the mercy of the Exorcists fighting alongside him. The irony of it was not lost on him.

Tyki raised a hand, dark matter building within his palm before exploding outwards. Kanda just about moved out of the way, throwing Tyki a dark look - who shrugged in response - before they observed Apocryphos fall to its knees, skin burning and crumbling away a little.

Jasdevi used their hair as rope, trapping Apocryphos in place before lifting it up. Tyki looked up at Apocryphos for a moment before grinning.

"Some Grim Reaper you are."

Apocryphos placed a hand on Jasdevi's hair, watching with satisfaction as it disintegrated at its touch. Jasdevi cried out, clutching at their hair with gritted teeth.

Lavi stepped forward, hammer at the ready, and used an Earth Seal to trap Apocryphos once more. Apocryphos sighed, exasperated. The earth around him crumbled, allowing it to fall to the ground.

It didn't notice Kanda, who had snuck up behind it. Kanda extended his sword and sheath outward, blue light arcing its way from one to the other. He pulled back his two blades and thrust them forward, impaling them through Apocryphos's chest.

Apocryphos faltered a little. The cross in its chest cracked. Tyki grinned, Noah Memory delighted at the prospect of destroying the Innocence before it. Tyki stepped forward, hand raised. Before Tyki could react, a fist embedded itself in his stomach. He looked down, saw the feathers spread through his body, and gritted his teeth. He stumbled backwards.

Lavi moved forward, only to watch as Apocryphos grabbed hold of Kanda's blades and pulled them out of Kanda's grasp.

Apocryphos turned, all wrath and fury, and thrust Mugen right through Kanda's chest.

Time came to a slow, lurching stop. Lavi's eyes widened, horror flooding through him. Kanda fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Lavi watched, agonised, hoping beyond hope for Miranda's Innocence to kick in. However, he soon realised with a pained cry, that there was no future for Kanda once Miranda's Innocence deactivated.

Shock became grief. Grief became denial. Denial became wrath. Somewhere, deep within Lavi's heart, something - someone - woke up. A tattoo arced from his right eye across his nose, curling under his ear.

The very air became thick, suffocating. Apocryphos turned and found itself looking at someone that was no longer Lavi, ex-apprentice to the Bookman Clan. No, this was someone else, someone Apocryphos had not seen for centuries, someone it knew as intimately as it knew its own name, its very soul.

Tyki looked up, eyes half-lidded, to see someone with feathered wings, many faces with many eyes. His Noah Memory shrunk away from it, agonised by the mere presence of this awful creature. He could only watch, Jasdevi by his side, as scarred hands held Apocryphos's face, almost gently.

Apocryphos sank to its knees, reverence in its eyes. "Eve."

The person froze, head cocked to one side, as if the name held no meaning for them. Tyki looked over at what had once been Lavi, eyes narrowed, unable to rid himself of the feeling of dread sitting within his heart.

Eve - Mother of All, the heart of all Innocence - opened her mouth to speak. Only Apocryphos could understand, her speech long since lost to the ages of the Earth, but Tyki and Jasdevi could feel it, a stirring deep within their soul.

"That..."

Apocryphos smiled, filled with a zealous adoration so pure it brought tears to its eyes. "Yes?"

Eve paused, as if considering something for a moment, before her smile fell. "That does not belong to you."

Apocryphos's eyes widened. Eve withdrew a hand and plunged it deep into Apocryphos's chest. With a tug, she pulled out something that shined like the midday sun, green and glowing like the emerald garden of her younger years.

Apocryphos fell, betrayal showing in its eyes, before disintegrating into nothingness.

Surrounded by haloes of light, Kanda pulled his sword out of his chest with a bloodied cough. He pushed himself up and gritted his teeth. He couldn't see Lavi anymore, face obscured by something that left Kanda feeling horrified.

He knew, without being even remotely aware of the deeper machinations of the war, of what had come to pass many ages of the Earth before now, that if he didn't bring Lavi back, something bad was going to happen.

Kanda watched as Eve clutched at the Innocence in her hands, many faces contorting into one of frustration. He stepped forward, hesitant, Innocence held tightly within his grasp. Eve looked up at him. Kanda stopped dead, eyes wide, feeling as if he was many years in the past, looking up at the dead body of who he had once been, Innocence clutched between his bloodied fingertips.

Eve stepped forward. Kanda's Innocence sprouted feathers. He felt himself fall to his knees. Hands clasped at his face, gently, caringly. The Innocence that had once been Apocryphos fell to the ground with a dull clatter. Kanda remembered blonde hair, gentle smiles, the soft sand dunes of Mater, and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, Eve stopped. She let go of Kanda and looked over her shoulder. Somewhere, someone was calling for her.

Flashes of light illuminated the hall. All sound became swallowed up by darkness. In the centre of this ruined hall, the battle to end all things took place.

The Millennium Earl was a force to be reckoned with. Sheer and utter hatred filled every gesture, every attack he made. A millennia of hatred - of God, of Innocence, of everything - came pouring out, brandished against all who dared to defy the First Apostle.

Neah, with Allen by his side, clung to determination, to strength, to their need for salvation. Dark matter clashed with dark matter, cancelling itself out. If they'd tried to fight the Earl on their own, they would have lost, but in that moment they weren't alone. Every time they stumbled, someone picked them back up.

Road embedded her candles in the Earl's flesh, leaving holes in the suit that contained it, holes that slowly resealed themselves. Whenever Neah became cornered, Road called to the power of her dreams, warping the Earl's form, clinging to whatever connection she still had with the suit she had created all those decades ago.

Lenalee fought with all the strength she could muster. She took hits for others, armour defending her, and used all the speed she could give herself to arc into the air, graceful and untouchable, bearing down on the Earl with her Innocence. Dark matter could not hurt dark matter, but Innocence persevered where dark matter could not.

Link and the Third Exorcists hindered the Earl with their seals, used spelled daggers and slips of paper to bind him in fire and flame. Link healed where he could, Atuuda curling its way around his tattooed hand.

It was a valiant effort. The holes in the Earl's form slowly began to take longer and longer to seal up. Neah and Allen felt hope rise up within them, but the Earl's wrath only worsened the more they fought, and soon whatever control he once held completely disappeared.

The Earl threw Lenalee aside, ripped off the seals attached to his torso, and grabbed hold of Road's head before flinging her to the ground. He cast a glance at Tevak and Tokusa, eyes wide and filled with greed.

He reached out to them. "I need more."

Link raised himself up, fear flooding every inch of his body. He summoned more seals, watching them cling to the Earl's body with desperation. The Earl kept moving, form shifting into something more monstrous. Tevak and Tokusa found themselves rooted in place, dark matter clutching at their hearts.

Link shook his head, voice strained. "No!"

As soon as the Earl touched Tevak and Tokusa, they became lost within him, eyes wide and filled with horrified tears as they became consumed by that which had twisted them into hatred, into something far from human.

Vision blurred by tears, Link gritted his teeth and ran forward, dagger in hand. Road thrust out her arm and held him back, pity showing in her eyes.

"It's too late."

Link struggled against her, but he knew deep down that she was right. He and the others watched as the Earl shuddered and shifted in place. When the Earl finally settled, he raised a hand, grin widening. Dark matter built within the Earl's palm, building and building until it exploded outward.

They had no time to react. Neah found himself flung backward, hitting the ground so hard it winded him. Struggling to breathe, vision hazy, Neah didn't notice the Earl until it was too late. The Earl bore down on him, eyes glinting with madness.

"I've come to realise something."

The Earl reached down, grabbed hold of Neah's head, and lifted him up. Neah dug his fingers into the Earl's arm, dark matter spreading before dissipating into nothingness.

The Earl chuckled. "I never needed a host."

The Earl increased the pressure on Neah's head. Neah cried out, expression contorted by pain. Lenalee pushed herself forwards, Road not far behind her, but the Earl raised a hand and formed a barrier, preventing them from coming closer. He turned his attention back to Neah, grin widening.

"I never needed you. I never needed your brother. I never needed a human form to start with!"

Neah struggled in the Earl's grip, eyes wide, mouth parted in a choked scream. The pressure was unbearable. He could feel Allen within his mind, crying out in agony. He called to the dark matter within him, letting it explode out of him with all the wrath he could muster, but the Earl cared little. Neah's vision went white at the edges.

"Once I get rid of you, I will consume the Noah Memory you hold."

Neah's eyes rolled back. Allen, desperate and afraid, called to the only power he knew.

"Then I will be whole."

Crown Clown.

"This emptiness will leave me."

Crown Clown, please.

"I will take this world down with me and that abhorrent God will bother me no more!"

Vision blurred at the edges, head throbbing, Allen felt his bond with his Innocence, so weak he could scarcely feel it. The Earl's voice faded away. Everything faded away but the tenuous bond he held, beating in time with his heart, the heart that held a shard of Innocence within it. Allen closed his eyes, ignored pain, ignored fear, and called out.

Activate.

The Earl froze. He turned to look behind him, eyes wide. Someone stood just beyond the barrier. Shoulders hunched, fingers twitching, many eyes in many faces peered back at him.

After many ages of the Earth spent apart, Adam met the gaze of Eve. Sheer and utter terror flooded through him.

"You…" The barrier cracked. The Earl shook his head a little, fear rising. "You can't…"

Road looked over at Eve and found herself unable to move, Noah Memory writhing within her. Lenalee and Link both turned to look at her, noting the fear on her face with concern.

Link swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the nauseating feeling of dread within him. "What… is that?"

Road shook her head, unable to speak. Lenalee looked closer, heart pounding within her chest, a slow and horrifying realisation washing over her.

The barrier shattered. Eve stepped forwards, arm outstretched. The Earl dropped Allen as if he had been stung. Allen hit the ground hard, vision swimming.

Allen watched as an outstretched hand drew closer, fingers gently placed against his left hand. For a moment, Allen saw an emerald garden, a person with many faces, shackled and bound by that which was bonded to her. Allen's left hand glowed bright.

A cloaked figure appeared before him. It shined so brightly it hurt to look at it. Allen raised a hand to ward off the light. When his vision finally cleared, he realised who was stood before him.

A mask hovered above a cloak of light. Crown Clown turned and looked down at its master. The mask tilted, as if it was smiling.

Allen looked down at where his left arm should be and saw nothing. He blinked, eyes wide, before looking up once more. He pushed himself up and felt an ache in his heart. He clutched at his chest, woozy and disoriented. He remembered Tyki's wide smile, an outstretched hand, bleeding out under the cold light of an unforgiving moon.

He dispelled the memory from his mind and watched as Crown Clown bore down on the Millennium Earl. In the back of his mind, he heard words, spoken at a time in which he knew so little of himself, of what would come to pass.

Allen Walker…

Crown Clown raised a hand above its head, a white light emanating from its palm.

… Someday, in the black future…

A sword materialised within its grasp, the mirror image to the Earl's own.

… Your Innocence will create a great Destroyer of Time.

Crown Clown grasped its sword and pulled it sharply downwards, metal screeching against metal as the two swords crashed against each other. Sparks flew, casting aside the darkness surrounding them.

Allen could do little more than stand and watch his Innocence, wide-eyed and stunned into silence. Crown Clown had become sentient and beyond his control. He could feel his bond with it still, but he had no control over it anymore.

Allen turned and watched as Eve stepped forward. He saw many eyes in many faces, feathered wings. For a split second, he thought he saw scarred hands, the bright glow of a tattoo, and felt his heart skip a beat.

"Lavi?!"

Allen's voice was filled with disbelief, with fear. The others heard his voice, looked over at Eve, and finally understood the dread within their heart.

Allen and Lenalee both felt a tug at their hearts, feeling as if something - someone - was calling to them. A higher power, ancient and undying, aged far beyond the measly decades they had spent upon the Earth.

Road watched, face tear-stained, filled with a terror only the other Noah could understand. Allen felt that feeling alongside a deep, wordless sense of unity, and knew not what to do.

The Earl, riddled with doubt, with fear, managed to push Crown Clown backwards, before finding himself face-to-face with all that he feared. Eve opened her many mouths and spoke in a tongue that only Adam and Road knew. Allen and Neah felt a sickening lurch pass through them, a shadow across their heart, their Noah Memory recoiling as if burnt.

"You… you did this. This is your fault."

The Earl shook his head, voice shaking. "No, I… I did this for you." Eve shook her head, many teeth gritted. The Earl spoke louder, filled with desperation. "I destroyed the pieces for you. For you! Then those angels could never -"

Eve grabbed hold of the Earl's throat, eyes wide and filled with hatred. Crown Clown lifted its sword, metal pressed into the Earl's back. The Earl's eyes darted this way and that, looking for an escape, for anything. He met Road's gaze, a shaking hand reaching out to her.

"Road! My dear Road! Please!"

Road shook her head with a sob, hands placed over her ears. Allen and Neah looked over at her, heart gripped by pity. The Earl gritted his teeth, looked anywhere but Eve, gaze meeting Allen and Neah's own, the fear in his eyes shifting to anger.

"I will not… be defeated. I will…" the Earl's form shuddered, making Eve loosen her grip a little. "I will have my revenge!"

Dark matter exploded out of the Earl with all the force of a bomb going off. Eve was flung backwards, hitting the ground hard enough to draw a pained cry from her. Crown Clown hit the far wall, form disintegrating a little. Allen groaned, falling to his knees, feeling as if someone had taken a knife to his heart.

Lenalee ran to his side. She placed a hand on his shoulder, opened her mouth to speak, and then abruptly stopped. Allen looked up at her, watched the colour leave her face, and looked behind him at Eve, heart jack-hammering against his rib-cage.

Eve raised a hand. Lenalee's Innocence began to glow bright, a force-field of light extending outwards. Allen was flung back, hitting the ground hard enough to wind him. Wheezing, consumed by fear, Allen watched as the Earl backed away from Lenalee with a hissed breath. Lenalee fell back, back arching, boots losing their form before slowly encasing her.

Allen cried out, pushed himself up, and ran towards Eve. He grabbed hold of her, voice wavering, eyes wide and filled with terror.

"Don't!"

Eve turned, many eyes widened in shock. She looked over at Lenalee, saw the way she struggled, heard her screams, and felt something - someone - rise up within her. Lenalee's Innocence retracted, returning to its normal form. Lenalee relaxed, chest heaving, horrified tears streaming down her face.

Allen looked over at Lenalee, and then back at Eve, only to realise with a jolt that Eve was gone. No many-eyed, many-faced visage, no feathered wings - just Lavi, eyes wide and filled with terror, tears falling down his cheeks.

Allen grabbed hold of Lavi and pulled him close, eyes screwed shut, relief flooding through him. Lavi buried his fingers in Allen's shirt, chest heaving, horrified by what he had become. Neither noticed the Earl, not until the sound of metal screeching against metal filled the air.

Allen and Lavi looked up at Crown Clown, shining bright amongst the darkness, sword raised to meet the Earl's own. Crown Clown turned to look down at them both, mask tilting to resemble a smile, before turning back to face the Earl. With a gesture of its gloved hand, a glowing cross appeared before it, light building in intensity before exploding outwards.

The Earl was flung backwards. He buried his sword in the ground, sparks flying as metal met stone. He came to a stop across the hall, eyes wide and glinting with fury.

"How dare you make a mockery of me?!"

He drew himself up taller, sword falling to the ground with a clatter before disappearing. The Earl's form changed into something more monstrous, golden eyes wide and bulging.

Allen and Lavi drew themselves up, standing by Crown Clown's side as they watched the Earl change. Link ran to Lenalee's side, helping her up before they both limped their way towards them. Road remained where she stood, watching the Earl with a look of sorrow on her face.

Link shot Lavi a glance, finding it hard to forget the monstrous form he'd seen him in, before meeting Allen's gaze.

"We can't keep this up. What do we - ?"

A deafening shriek from the Earl cut him off. All turned to watch as the Earl extended its many arms towards them, expression set into one of malice.

Crown Clown readied itself, sword raised, light building around it. All prepared themselves for a blow… but it never came. The Earl's arms stopped short of them, body frozen in place.

To the side of the Earl, barrier in hand, was Johnny Gill, bloodied and bruised and altogether rather terrified, but resolute nonetheless.

Finders came to join him, their own barriers in hand, holding the Earl back to the best of their ability. Allen watched, eyes widening, as something thin and metallic caught the light and arced around the Earl before wrapping around him.

The Earl turned its head to look at Marie, strings extended from his hands to wrap around the Earl, holding him in place. Others had entered the hall, all looking up at the Earl with resolute determination.

The remnants of the Black Order - those still able to fight, at least - encircled the Earl.

Klaud Nine made her way towards Allen and the others, raising an eyebrow at their awestruck state. "Well? Are you going to help or not?"

Link, Lenalee, Allen, and Lavi exchanged a look before nodding. Link met Klaud's gaze, concern evident in his voice.

"Are the injured…?"

Klaud nodded. Link looked over at Allen, expression softening a little, before looking back up at the Earl. He clenched his hands into fists, teeth gritted, before he visibly relaxed.

"Allen." Allen looked over at him and saw grief and wrath in his eyes. "We can't let Tokusa and Tevak's deaths be in vain."

Allen nodded, looking over at Crown Clown for a moment before raising his head to gaze up at the Earl. Link took off at a run, Klaud by his side.

Allen felt a hand entwine with his right, another placed upon his back. He turned to see Lenalee on one side, battered and bruised but still hopeful, still ready to fight. She patted his back before making her way forward, activating her Innocence and readying herself for battle.

Allen looked down at the hand entwined with his and held it tighter. He raised his head and met Lavi's eyes, seeing the pain there, the weariness, the lingering fear. He did his best to smile.

"Let's finish this."

Lavi managed a weak smile in return. He let go of Allen's hand and activated Iron Hammer, expression set into one of grim determination.

They made their way forward. The Earl struggled against what bound him, eyes darting this way and that. The barriers cracked, unable to withstand the power the Earl still wielded. With a shattering sound, the barriers diminished, leaving the Earl trapped only by Marie's Innocence.

With gritted teeth, the Earl pulled and sent Marie crashing into a nearby wall. Now unbound, the Earl turned his attention towards Road, eyes narrowing.

"I need more."

Road froze, eyes widening. The Earl extended a hand towards her, beyond control, beyond salvation, far gone enough to cast away the family he had once treasured.

Road drew herself up, confliction replaced by rage. She raised a hand and the Earl's form shuddered. Road gritted her teeth and stepped forward, voice trembling.

"I gave everything for you." The Earl writhed in place, unable to withstand the power of Road's Dreams. "All I wanted was for our family to be safe!" Candles manifested around the Earl, glowing in the darkness. Road bit back a sob, tears streaming down her face. "I can't let you do this, not anymore!"

Candles embedded themselves into flesh. The Earl shrieked, collapsing to the ground in a cloud of dust. In a flash, Klaud's Innocence grew in size and grabbed hold of the Earl's shoulders, holding him down.

Lenalee saw her opportunity and turned to Lavi, who nodded. His hammer lost its form and reshaped itself into gloves. Lavi knelt down, palms facing upward, two Air Seals hovering just above them.

Lenalee took off at a run and jumped. Lavi placed his hands below Lenalee's feet, gritted his teeth, and raised his arms upwards just as Lenalee used all the power at her disposal to jump.

In that moment, Lenalee was almost too fast to be seen. In a blur of movement, she shot up towards the open sky, rising above the cracked ceiling to see the first light of the coming dawn. For a moment, time slowed. Lenalee took in the light of the sun with a smile and closed her eyes.

Her Innocence changed form, armour protecting her but also adding to her weight. She braced herself, a seal appearing above her feet. She propelled herself back down, too fast to be seen, leaving only a flash of light in her wake. She crashed down upon the Earl with all the power of a falling star, leaving a gaping hole in the Earl's outer form.

The Earl cried out, teeth gritted in pain. Strings of metal extended around him and pulled. Marie held fast. Lenalee leapt backwards to safety.

The Earl let out a frustrated growl. "Enough!"

The Earl suddenly changed form. Lau Shimin fell to the ground, Marie's strings wrapped around thin air. The Earl raised a hand and grabbed hold of the sword hilt that had materialised before him. Before anyone could react, he sped towards Lenalee, eyes wide and filled with hatred.

Allen, with Crown Clown by his side, stepped in the way. Crown Clown raised its sword, lifted it above its head, and drew it back down, sending a blade of light towards the Earl.

The Earl staggered, off-balance for a moment, before he raised himself up. He hovered in the air, hand raised above him. Dark matter crackled within his palm, building and building until it overshadowed him completely.

Lavi ran to Allen's side, realising with a sickening jolt that the Earl was going to try and take the entire building down with him. Fear and indecision clawed away at him, but he knew what had to be done. He took in a deep breath, called to what dwelt deep within, and felt the tattoo arc across his skin with a searing heat.

The emerald garden, green and growing, with Eve stood beneath its sheltered bowers. Her presence joined Lavi's own. They raised a hand, right eye shining bright. The power of Innocence built around them, a white light intensifying before consuming all in its wake.

Darkness became light. Allen drew a hand across his face, eyes narrowed against the blinding light. When his vision cleared, he saw the Earl fall, half-disintegrated. Allen ran forward, Crown Clown by his side.

Crown Clown raised Allen up, cloak billowing behind them. Neah's presence built. Together, Allen and Neah grabbed hold of the sword in Crown Clown's right hand. With a cry, they raised their sword and cut the Millennium Earl in half.

The Earl's eyes widened, sword falling from his grasp and disintegrating before it hit the ground. He reached out, but could do little more than watch as his arm faded away before his very eyes.

The scenario had come to an end, curtains closed before a hopeless tragedy. Upon the world's stage, Whiteface bowed, Auguste defeated before him.

Adam, the First Apostle, disintegrated into nothingness.