A long, long time ago—though in the context of the Type-Moon world-lines, a few hundred years might not be considered 'ancient'—at any rate, quite a while ago... there lived a peerless genius.
He was hailed as a legendary alchemist. Like the collective of alchemists who came before him, he peered into the future to read and manage it, only to confirm that the future held nothing but ruin. In that revelation, he fell into despair.
To avert this cataclysmic future, he challenged the achievement of the Third Magic—the Materialization of the Soul. To this end, he even broke the alchemists' taboo of never sharing one's achievements with others, obsessed with his research.
However, there are limits to a human lifespan. Seeking a way to extend his life and save humanity at any cost, he found a path: inheriting the rank from the 13th of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors and ascending to their number.
Yet, in the end, he failed to achieve True Magic. In his final experiment in Transylvania, failing to grasp the Third Magic, he met his end, scattering into the air like mist... Or so it should have been. But on a night when the Crimson Moon hung high, he forged a contract with the Black Princess, Altrouge, drawing power from the moon. Though his physical body was shattered into pieces, he reconstructed his fragmented spirit particles into a driving formula that dwells throughout the world, manifesting as the phenomenon known as 'TATARI.'
Normally, when a physical body dies and the spirit particles or soul scatter into the atmosphere, they simply vanish to await a different transformation. Since a soul without a vessel possesses no will, it has no way to resist the massive currents known as the Will of the World or the Third Magic wielded by a Magus.
But before the extinction of humanity, Zepia created a sort of future calendar based on the destiny he predicted. He programmed himself so that even after his individual consciousness vanished, his 'scattered self' would move according to that flow. That is the phenomenon, the formula he created: 'TATARI.'
When specific conditions are met, his spirit particles converge in a certain region, manifesting as a natural phenomenon. He acts within that space like a storm and then eventually dissipates.
Just as a typhoon or tornado will inevitably rise again even if quelled by some means, he too is an existence that regenerates even after being destroyed. Thus, he obtained a form of absolute immortality that lasts until his thousand-year contract with Altrouge expires. Only after that period passes will he cease being a phenomenon and return to being an ordinary Dead Apostle.
However, because he has become a phenomenon, he possesses no sense of self until he takes shape as a proper 'occurrence.' Once a self is formed, he slaughters everyone in the area, draining their blood until they are mere mummies.
That is the true identity of the 13th of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors, the Unknown—the Night of Wallachia.
He seeps among the people like a natural force, spreading rumors via 'malignant information,' and eventually manifests through those very rumors.
In the region where the Night of Wallachia's spirit particles linger, groundless rumors—malignant information—begin to spread. The more people who harbor these thoughts, the more the Night of Wallachia gains truth and substance, allowing him to directly interfere with reality. Turning fantasy into form is similar to a True Ancestor's Marble Phantasm, but his ability is unique: unlike Marble Phantasm, which creates 'something' from 'nothing,' his power depends entirely on the fantasies of 'others.'
Therefore, his appearance varies depending on the region and the perception of the people. In some cases, he manifests as a rumor of a common serial killer; in others, he is said to be a gargantuan beast the size of a mountain.
Once his 'existence' is fully gathered, the self-aware Night of Wallachia deploys a Reality Marble over the entire town to drink blood. Having feasted upon the town's inhabitants, he vanishes as soon as the night passes and the final survivor perishes.
...For this reason, he is counted alongside Michael Roa Valdamjong as one of the Dead Apostles who cannot be killed by 'ordinary' means.
While Michael Roa Valdamjong evaded death through infinite reincarnation, the Night of Wallachia transformed himself into a phenomenon and a rumor—an existence that manifests itself. He has become something that literally 'respawns' no matter how many times he is killed.
"...Hearing the story, he sounds like an incredibly terrifying Dead Apostle."
"Well, I talked him up, but in reality, he's a total scrub. You remember Nrvnqsr Chaos from last time, right? Honestly, compared to him, Wallachia hasn't lived nearly as long. In terms of raw combat power, excluding survival ability and uniqueness, he's probably weaker than Vlov, the one Arcueid killed in passing."
"Hey, don't say that. TATARI is a Reality Marble, so even I have to put in a little effort."
A group of people were huddled together in an abandoned building in Misaki City.
This was essentially the greatest assembly of power since the battle to subjugate Roa. Ciel Elesia let out a deep sigh as she surveyed the group.
"I really don't know what our Director is thinking... Releasing even this 'senior' just to confirm your combat potential..."
"Aww, Ciel, is that any way for us to talk? Oh, hello, Princess! It's been a long time since we met in person!"
"Have you been well, Merem?"
...First, there were the members of the Burial Agency who had rushed over for verification after receiving the 'notification' sent to the Holy Church: 7th Rank, Ciel Elesia, and 5th Rank, Merem Solomon.
Joining them as support were Sister Yuika Suse and the Enforcer, Noel.
"...It feels like the group has grown, Karma-kun. Merem and Noel joining wasn't in the plan, was it?"
"There's no point in telling me. What more could you expect when even Sis has joined the fray?"
"True... This group is essentially a dream team. No matter how pissed Zepia gets, it'll be hard to get through them, especially while he's being 'neutralized' by me."
Two 'Connected Ones' currently residing in the Kirigaya apartment mansion...
The linguist Godword Mayday and the Magician Aoko Aozaki.
"...Misaki City won't be blown away, right...?"
"Don't worry, Shiki. I'll protect it... Mmph...!"
"Get away from my brother, you upper-tier vampire...!"
...And the faction that had joined from the Tohno household.
Arcueid Brunestud, who stood as 'the strongest' all by herself; her lover (?), Shiki Tohno; and the head of the Tohno family, Akiha Tohno.
"Then, shall we get started? The 'malignant information' has already spread sufficiently due to the recent rampages of Roa and Nrvnqsr... Godword, I assume your preparations are complete?"
"Perfect timing, Fifth Magician. Shall we begin?"
Arcueid used Marble Phantasm to completely isolate the abandoned building from the outside world, while Ciel and Akiha began setting up Bounded Fields in the vicinity.
"Godword, call the Night of Wallachia."
"Understood."
Gazing into the 'empty' air for a moment, he spoke his Divine Words in a somber tone.
[The. Night. of. Wallachia. is. here.]
And the Unified Language faithfully reshaped the world according to the meaning of his words, summoning the 'phenomenon' that was essentially a natural force into this very spot...
[...Who... No, who are all of you?]
The 'natural phenomenon in human form' that appeared in that state began to look around at us in confusion.
"First off, I should say it's a pleasure to meet you. Zepia Eltnam Oberon... Or should I call you the Night of Wallachia?"
[It matters not how you address me. I am an existence created by Zepia that drifts through the world. I am both Zepia and the Night of Wallachia at once. So, for what reason have you summoned me?]
His eyes dyed crimson and both hands transformed into the claws of a great beast, he took a stance as if ready to pounce at any moment if he didn't receive the answer he desired.
Staring back at him, I conveyed our purpose on behalf of those gathered here.
"The reason we called you out is very simple... We need your help to prepare for the 'extinction' that will occur in 2014 and 2015. It is, so to speak, a mission to save the world."
*
[Did you say... save the world?]
As I spoke, the Night of Wallachia thrust his blood-colored eyes toward me.
Glaring with his crimson pupils, he dropped his floating body onto the rooftop and began to vomit words mixed with screams and shouts, as if howling in agony.
[Don't make me laugh! Human history ends in 2014? No such future existed in any calculation of the alchemists of the Atlas Academy! Do you have any idea how much sacrifice was made, how much thought was given, and how much research was conducted by us alchemists to stop such a senseless 'destruction'? We thought, and thought, and thought before acting! We imagined and simulated every possible method! But in none of them was there an extinction in 2014... Without even performing such basic 'calculations,' you dare summon this body?!]
"And?"
[You pathetic trash, who cannot even see the future right before your eyes, do not dare speak of extinction!!!]
Insulting me for mentioning destruction with a cold voice, the Night of Wallachia unleashed a massive spell at me, which then vanished without leaving a trace.
[Wha— What?!]
"My, I expected you to attack without hesitation, but I didn't think you'd be quite this violent..."
[The Holy Church... Have you come to subjugate me? Yes, you who would destroy the world for the sake of your own faith...!]
At that moment, Godword's shout cut between us.
More accurately, it was his Unified Language...
"[You. Will. Not. Move.]"
[This is the Divine Word of World-Fixing... No, a language of an even higher stage. How is a 'Connected One' here...!]
"Godword, can you fix his reason so the Night of Wallachia doesn't go mad?"
"Nothing difficult about that. [The. Night. of. Wallachia. Shall. Not. Lose. His. Reason.]"
As another command of Unified Language detonated, the bloodshot eyes of the struggling Night of Wallachia returned to the pupils of an ordinary human. Instead of thrashing about, he sat down quietly and began to survey his surroundings.
He seemed to be using his ability—Malignant Information—to scan for our general data. After about three minutes passed, he let out a long, weary sigh and spoke.
[Incredible. To think such a lineup of individuals would gather in one place.]
"It seems your reason has returned. Now, shall we start our discussion?"
*
The rational Night of Wallachia possessed the full intellect of Zepia Eltnam Oberon, once called a legendary alchemist. While completely isolated from the outside world, he fully absorbed the memories of the 'Incineration of the Human Order' and the 'Pruning of History' reproduced by Godword.
[I see... Not a natural disaster, nor an alien invasion, but a 'termination' without reason... Certainly, it belongs to a future that we alchemists could not read.]
"We invited you here to secure the cooperation of the Atlas Academy. After all, you were once the successor to the Director of Atlas, and you are at least one of the top three alchemists I know."
"Furthermore, Zepia Eltnam Oberon is a man who... even at the final moment when he despaired of everything, did not give up on the salvation of humanity, challenging it even to the point of turning himself into a Dead Apostle and a phenomenon. Surely, we can have a productive conversation."
"Oh, for your information, regarding the Third Magic you sought—it has already been confirmed that the salvation of humanity through it is impossible. A future where all of humanity is saved using the Third Magic has been judged a future where the engine of progress is castrated, resulting in a Pruned Phenomenon."
"The same goes for the Fifth Magic. You should know the reason why."
"Additionally, even if you were to seek out the Third Magic separately, this generation's Third Magic has already been secured by me. If you need proof, I can materialize the spirit particles that compose you right now."
Godword, Arcueid, Ciel, Aoko-sis, and finally me.
We took turns systematically breaking his mental state. Finally, realizing that everything he had done was meaningless, while simultaneously trapped in the dilemma of being unable to let go of his sanity, Zepia looked at us with a wretched expression.
[I have already read and grasped your 'information.' You intend to respond to the 'Incineration' of the King of Demon Gods at the Security Organization for the Foundation of the Human Order? And the vermin inside is planned for disposal after the incineration...]
"Communication is certainly easier with someone who knows everything. Correct. But in that process, we'll need the help of the Atlas Academy in various ways. Weapons like the Storm Border or the Black Barrel."
[You seem to know quite a bit about the secret wishes of Atlas yourself... Personally, if you intend to act for the salvation of humanity, I can express my support as much as you like.]
I had brought the asymmetrical powers of the Fifth Magician and Arcueid just in case negotiations proved difficult, but I breathed a sigh of relief as the negotiation went smoothly.
[However, it seems it will be difficult for me to help you directly.]
"...Are you kidding?"
[That's not what I mean. I am fundamentally a Dead Apostle who opposes humanity, and furthermore, I have become a phenomenon that slaughters people while trapped in madness. Although the Unified Language has altered the world to fix my current 'self,' I will naturally vanish by dawn tomorrow, the fixation of the Unified Language will unravel, and I will fall into madness once again. And I will start wandering aimlessly in search of the meaningless Third Magic once more...]
"I see. Even with Unified Language, complete 'materialization' is impossible..."
[My transformation into the TATARI phenomenon is a contract with the Black Princess, Altrouge. Unfortunately, it seems Godword's Unified Language is not strong enough to destroy the Black Princess's contract.]
"Then we just have to return the phenomenon that is you back to 'reality.'"
[...?]
Well, Arcueid is someone who can manifest an entire village on a remote mountain. Creating a 'physical body' for Zepia—who still has a self and whose soul, though shattered, is gathered in one place—shouldn't be an issue.
[W-Wait. But I have a contract with the Black Princess. That oath bound to my soul is...]
"Hey, who do you think is standing right in front of you?"
[The Third Magician... I see, manipulating the soul... Is that it?]
"Arcueid has already regained the power of the 'Crimson Moon.' She's simply restricting her output and keeping her personality in charge. Though the Black Princess's power is formidable... before me, who can manipulate the soul itself, it is nothing but a meaningless contract."
Godword released the physical restraints placed on Zepia and caused his spirit particles to coalesce into a single point.
Floating in the air once more, he looked at us with eyes full of intellect and agony, quite different from before.
"Zepia Eltnam. We can personally prove to you as many times as you like that your gamble failed. But the destruction we must respond to is right before our eyes..."
"I've told the Einzberns this as well, but if we can just stop this 'extinction,' I can directly share the achievement process of my Third Magic with you."
How about it? Will you accept our proposal?