Shinji Matou at Your Service

Upon seeing the crimson moon, ancient memories buried deep in Zepia's brain resurfaced.

"This, isn't this from when I created the Night of Wallachia—?"

Under the crimson moon, the pure white princess stood with her arms crossed.

"Do you remember now? You drew power from the crimson moon to make yourself a phenomenon, a power that would last until the moon reappeared."

"But the crimson moon should still be in the future. My drive formula should last a thousand years, and until then, I should maintain my TATARI form."

To Zepia's question, Arcueid merely gave a cold laugh.

"When the drive formula ends, you revert to your original form, don't you?"

"—!"

Zepia's pupils suddenly contracted. Before he could ask, she continued.

"If the thousand-year drive formula doesn't yield a correct answer, Night of Wallachia will revert to the dead apostle Zepia, as per your contract with Altrouge."

"Wait, does this mean—"

"That's right, this is the end of your tedious journey. Rejoice, for this is a sight you'd have wasted a thousand years to see."

"Impossible!!!"

Zepia swung his hand violently as if to assert his judgment.

"Time travel belongs to the realm of magic. How could you bring the moon from a thousand years in the future?"

"This is a world where falsehoods become reality. For a short time, there is nothing I cannot do here. According to the Night of Wallachia, both you and I are false rulers. The difference is, my imagination is superior to yours, making your imagination a poor delusion."

The Night of Wallachia is merely the King of False Words, capable only of converging rumors and manifesting fear. Compared to a true ancestor who can alter reality with thought, there is an insurmountable gap. The TATARI reality marble he created became a domain ruled by Arcueid.

Using this domain, she created a miracle she normally couldn't—a crimson moon that should appear in a thousand years.

Realizing this, Zepia trembled as he asked, "Then, my wish…"

"The end of the drive formula is the end of humanity."

Her voice grew colder, her lofty demeanor becoming more distant.

"A barren Araya is no problem, but living a predetermined life is also a form of suffering. For someone as helpless as you, I have no interest in using my power any longer, especially as your script is unpleasant. Let it end here, Night of Wallachia."

As an alchemist and one of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, Zepia Eltnam Oberon had failed to unravel the mysteries of the Sixth Law, leading to the dissolution of his body. Anticipating this result, he completed the drive formula named 'TATARI,' successfully maintaining his existence in the world by spreading his powerful dead apostle spirit particles, reassembling under certain conditions to continue his challenge.

Repeating this endlessly, the TATARI would last until the world's end. He dreamed of achieving the Sixth Law after countless cycles, but—

"Is this the result of infinite time?"

Facing Zepia's final question, Arcueid delivered her last judgment.

"Indeed, even after countless loops, it's just an impossible daydream. As TATARI, your aimless wandering is meaningless. You're merely a legend in human lore. A legend can disappear at any time, and yours will end tonight!"

...

Upon hearing Sion's recount, Shiki could hardly believe his ears.

"Disappear—does that mean we can defeat TATARI tonight?"

"Exactly."

Sion was also both shocked and delighted.

"Right now, he's neither TATARI nor Night of Wallachia, but the dead apostle named Zepia before he became a phenomenon. If he's in a physical state, there's no mistake. If we destroy him now, the dead apostle named TATARI will cease to exist!"

Zepia himself was aware of this, but instead of giving up, he convulsed, laughing maniacally, his twisted face more grotesque than any grimace.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Is that so? Is that how it is? It's unattainable? Are you saying that even if the TATARI lasts for thousands of years, it's still unattainable? Crimson Moon! But I won't be destroyed! I am immortal! Even if tonight comes to an end, I won't be destroyed!"

Accompanied by endless laughter, an immense killing intent erupted from Zepia. In other places, killing intent was intangible, but in this world where falsehoods became reality, killing intent also became reality.

"If I kill you, the illusion will disappear. If I still can't achieve the Sixth Law after that, then this Night of Wallachia will end here. Princess of the True Ancestors, I will drain your blood and use that power to research the next method."

This was the last method Zepia could think of, his final struggle! If it was with the earthly god-level power of the last True Ancestor, with the ability to alter reality through imagination, there might still be a way.

"My name is Night of Wallachia, an immortal existence who has become a phenomenon. Even with the five existing magics, I cannot reach a deeper mystery. With a human body, it's unattainable? So be it! With a discarded human body, it's still unattainable? So be it! If it belongs to the realm of the gods, ha ha ha ha ha—"

The completely mad alchemist began to advance, step by step, towards the arbiter under the crimson moon. The black mist that had been dispersed earlier reappeared and gathered around him at an astonishing speed.

Touko, who was synchronized with her puppet, suddenly clutched her forehead: "Detecting a massive magical response, malicious data exceeds the threshold—damn, does he still retain such powerful strength?"

"I'm afraid so. The Night of Wallachia was already one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors before becoming a phenomenon."

Sion also seemed to sense the change through special means and appeared even more distressed than Touko.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go support them immediately!" Riesbyfe picked up her shield and headed for the door.

"We're going too."

Akiha and Shiki exchanged a glance and hurried after her. Shiki turned back and asked, "What about you guys?"

"I'm going too. I have to go."

Sion bit her left hand again, "I have to defeat him myself."

"But your body—"

"It's fine, I'll recover soon."

Sion's steps were shaky at first but quickly stabilized.

Touko gazed thoughtfully at Shion's back and finally did not rise:

"I'll stay here and continue monitoring. If anything unexpected happens, I'll notify you immediately."

"Alright!"

Akiha nodded, "Kohaku, get the car, we need to get there as fast as possible."

"Yes, Miss! Touko-sama, Hisui, please take care of the house."

"Understood, sister."

The twin maids bowed in succession without the slightest hesitation. This time, there was no pretense or stiffness in their actions, only genuine sincerity.

Touko disconnected the image on the crystal ball. She first waved at the space behind her, then drew a series of incomprehensible runes in the air, and finally lay down on the sofa with her eyes closed, muttering to herself:

"You little brat, if you lose, just watch how I'll spank you."

Then, she saw, the astonishing change occurring in the boy, a development she had never anticipated.