Apocryphos, having been stuck in the Ark for a while, began to pulse, breaking out of his restraints that the Noah had put on him. He shook his arms and legs to regain motion, before exhaling loudly and cracking certain parts of his body to ready himself for battle.

He could feel the power pulsating throughout his body, the power that had come from Mei. She was fighting, he knew, and he knew that she didn't have long after she started absorbing power to live. It was a risky move.

What Apocryphos didn't understand was why she would go to the lengths that she would be? What was her reason? And why did she do it only after 7000 years?

Is it because of that Noah? The Noah she was in love with?!

His thoughts began to swirl as his memories pulled him back to when he was still human, when he was still an accommodator, before he was taken over by his Innocence and became what he was today.

The best friend that he had fallen in love with.

The realisation that she had fallen in love with another man.

The horror of finding out that the man she had fallen in love with, was their enemy.

The shock when she said that she was pregnant with his child.

The betrayal of her morals as an exorcist.

What was he supposed to do?

Apocryphos, previously Aelius, pressed his hands to his face, throwing his head back as he screamed, sorrow flooding his body as the only human part in him cried.

Even after all these years, several millennia, he would never forget. The reason that he became Apocryphos, the reason that he did all that he did.

The reason was Mei.

Tyki glanced at Wisely, who was using an akuma to help him.

Why the hell would he tell me all this?! What does he expect me to do in this situation? The Noah wanted to rub his temples. It wasn't a relaxing position to be in, with Mei and Nea on the opposite side of them, and exorcists the other way.

Was it going to be a full scale war?

Maybe.

Probably.

Along with the information that the Demon Eye had given him about Mei and how she will use her power, he still didn't get why she wanted to use it in the first place. What resonated with her so strongly that she decided to do this now?

He even told me about Mana and how he's connected to the Earl, but what am I supposed to do with that information? Understand why Nea wants to kill us all?

The Noah of Pleasure sighed and recounted what Wisely had told him about Mana.

That Mana and Nea were both one in the same, and the Millennium Earl's halves that were originally one whole. That Mana had become the Earl.

What didn't make sense to Tyki was that, if Mana and Nea were one, wouldn't they have joined together as one person rather than stay as two separate individuals? And why would they have wanted to kill one another when each of them wants to be near each other?

That's because they yearn for each other as they are two separate halves of a whole. They can probably be joined again to become the Millennium Earl, but I doubt it because Nea wants to kill the family.

Tyki paused his thoughts momentarily for Wisely to talk to him.

Yeah, but what's his reason? He's a Noah. Why does he want to kill everyone? If he wants to become the Earl then that's just dumb. Just combine with the current Earl, they're the same person aren't they? Tyki thought, raising a brow.

Wisely glanced down at the powerful Noah. Even he had no answer as to the real reason why Nea wanted to kill the Earl.

So you don't know? Tyki cast a glance to the younger male.

No, I don't. I also don't 100% know the reason why Mei wants to use the fire of purification either.

Tyki went silent, thinking. He backtracked to every conversation that he could remember that involved Sin and himself, as well as Mei. As much as the memories and conversations that they had were fun and he would never trade them for the world, it didn't give him any information for his current situation.

…k…

He raised an eyebrow at the sound that dared interrupt his thoughts. He looked around, seeing that everyone was getting ready to fight. He didn't see anyone wanting to talk to him. He might've been hearing things.

…ki…

He glanced around yet again, wondering where the voice was from. He thought he was hearing things the first time, but after the second time, it was definitely someone calling his name.

Ty…ki…

Hearing his name was surprising. Especially as it echoed in his head, just like Wisely's when he was talking to him through his mind.

Almost immediately, the Noah of Pleasure looked to the Demon Eye.

Tyki…it's Road! How many times do I have to call your name for you to respond?! Geez!

Road?!

Tyki was there when Road had disappeared because she was hit with Apocryphos' power. Was she finally able to muster up the strength to talk to her family?

Listen, Tyki! Cross Marian is alive!

Tyki's golden eyes widened as he heard those words. He was sure that the information he had heard from the others was that his previous target was dead. Word had it that Apocryphos had killed him.

How? Didn't Apocryphos get him?

I don't know. But Apocryphos did get him. He spoke to Allen to get him out of Nea's consciousness when you were fighting him before.

Huh? Is that why the he went back to normal? Weird.

Tyki, be careful. He's alive and I was going to tell you this, but he's dangerous.

Yeah, I know that.

I'm serious! The reason he got himself wounded by Apocryphos was so that he could move around more easily!

How so?

I don't know!

Then what's the point of telling me?

Geez! You're not making this any easier!

I don't know what you want to tell me though!

Cross Marian is helping Mei! I don't know what he's doing but if Mei has activated her purification abilities then it's most likely that he's doing something for Mei.

Is that so?

On a side note—

Tyki heard his niece's voice cut off. He raised a brow as he looked back at Wisely, who looked just as confused.

What had cut off the connection?

After Komui had received the message from Mei, to go to the specific location that they are in now, he gave an order to every single exorcist and Finder that he could connect to, and told them that their current mission objects to find Mei and the fugitives were put on hold, maybe even cancelled. This made him a target for the upper echelons of the Order and Church, who had started to criticize his position as the Head, threatening to strip the position away from him if he did not follow their commands.

However, as Komui knew better, he fought for his way. And even then, as much as many of the upper echelon disagreed, the same amount agreed with him. Because of that, he was able to hold on to his position and do as he needed.

It was a very quick meeting, and right afterwards, Komui met with Rouvelier.

Rouvelier was intent on not letting Mei go with her fire of purification, leaning towards the intention that he wanted to take the power and use it for himself under the guide of a command for the Order.

Komui was unsure of how that would work, but still held his ground on not wanting to do anything to hurt Mei and Sin. After all, although they were technically enemies, what had Mei and Sin done that was so bad that warranted the Order to automatically go exterminate them? Because they fell in love with a Noah?

If anything, the one who's suffering the most was Sin.

It was then that Rouvelier had hit Komui, screaming in his face that it wasn't about the exorcists but rather the war and how the Order would win. He didn't care about the causalities, just that they had to win the war or else there wouldn't be any more exorcists or the Order.

Upon hearing that, Komui stood up for the exorcists that the Order treated as tools.

Neither of them came to an agreement, however, for the war that Mei had proposed, they both agreed. Needless to say, they had the same goals in the end, regardless whether or not they agreed on other factors.

Nea glanced at his sides, seeing that both the Noah Family and exorcists were there. Mei stood next to him, as calm as ever, holding onto her Innocence like she was a heroic knight. Except, in this case, she'd be the instigator of a war.

His eyes trailed to the Noah family, seeing that each of them were ready to fight, sans a couple of them. He noticed Road wasn't there, remembering that Apocryphos had knocked her out and she was recovering.

Golden eyes went back towards the woman, curling slightly to signify his slight amusement, "Are you sure you're up for this?"

Mei didn't look at Nea for a full 10 seconds before answering. "Yeah. Just like we planned." She responded curtly.

"What do you mean just like we planned? You went ahead and did it all faster than I thought you would've." Nea retorted.

"Sorry about that." Mei laughed lightly. It was empty. "I don't think there's any time left."

"No time?" Nea's eyes widened a fraction before going back to their normal size. "Did the girl use the wings too much?"

Mei nodded, "I don't think she knows how much it forces me to come out and subdues her."

Nea rolled his eyes. "Why don't you just separate her from you? You can do that, can't you?"

"No, I can't do that." Mei responded, pressing her lips into a thin line. It was one of the first things she thought about.

Nea had no say in this. He would've liked it if he and Allen could be split, but because it was Allen's body he was using and the memory was implanted into him, it was not possible. Mei and Sin, on a side note, are almost one in the same, yet not, would be the best way to describe it.

"Nea." His name was spoken softly, prompting his eyes to flicker to her once again, "Kill me when you need to. We're going to end this once and for all."

Hm? Nea had turned his body towards the akuma army, but he glanced his golden irises to the woman. Was he hearing things? If Nea was right in his hunch and assumption, he definitely heard something in that last sentence. But, he couldn't make out what it was.

That's no good. If there's hesitation in her actions…

The Earl spoke a few words with his clan and army of akuma, throwing out a war cry and beginning to move. In response to this, the exorcists did the same.

"They're moving." Mei observed, seeing the armies move.

"Hey. I know you've been lying to me about your powers, woman." Nea's hand went to his hip, "I know I can't get my hands on the fire of purification."

"Oh? And when did you find out?" With genuine surprise, Mei's brows rose. She was sure that all the words that she spun in order for this moment were connected, rather than broken.

Did he hear it from Wisely? Or did he figure it out himself? Mei's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she thought of the possibilities in how Nea got his information. She was staring at Allen now, but the aura that he gave off was completely different to the boy that only wanted to save both humans and akuma.

"You think I can't figure it out for myself? I'm not dumb." Nea rolled his eyes at Mei, who lightly punched his upper arm. He wasn't going to give away how he got the information to Mei, but knowing her, she would be able to figure it out if he gives her a few minutes to dwell on it.

Mei didn't dwell on it. She was here to fight, and here to finish what she started. She didn't have the luxury nor time to think of things like this.

Mei drowned out the sounds of the akuma that were charging towards them,

Alright…I have around an hour.

Mei exhaled slowly, feeling the very power in her body pulsate through every nook and cranny – she didn't know if she was feeling things, but she swore her power was getting sapped slowly by the sword in her grasp - it was almost like a parasitic beast.

Her red irises observed the area in front of her – the akuma were charging right at her, but it split halfway through when the exorcists joined the fight.

Sin, I'm going to borrow this body for a little bit longer.

Mei…I, I feel like your voice is getting further, further away…

Sin spoke in a manner that seemed like she was almost breathless, her voice was like it was going to fade away and disappear – it was something that Mei didn't think would happen.

Instinctively, her eyes narrowed, thinking of all the possibilities that could have caused this. It wasn't in the original plan. It wasn't something that had been passed down.

Was it something that didn't happen before but happened now? Or was it something that always happened?

Sin. As long as you can hear my voice. Don't stop trying.

But…where, where am I? Why…why are we fighting? I…

Sin, don't worry. Let me borrow your body for just a little bit longer.

Ah…okay…

Mei's grip on the sword handle tightened as she thought the next sentence. She didn't know whether or not it would succeed, but, she had to try. All for the sake of her goal. All for the sake of the ones who would suffer the most.

I'll return it to you soon.