Zepia Eltnam Atlasia from two different worlds are not the same.
The Zepia in Naoki's world, although also a Dead Apostle, is not an Ancestor. He has served as the Headmaster of the Atlas Institute for five hundred years. In many ways, he fits the traditional image of a Magus—one with great responsibility.
Whereas the Zepia in Ayaka's world—Night of Wallachia—possesses a far more fanatical and deranged personality.
He pursued the Sixth Magic. For this, he made a contract with Altrouge Brunestud, the Eclipse Princess of Black Blood. Though he ultimately failed, after his death he became a phenomenon, endlessly repeating his challenge against the Sixth Magic.
This is Tatari as a Dead Apostle. Moreover, as a magus, he seems to have a certain obsession with elegance and drama. Previously, the Ainsworth family that Naoki encountered in the parallel world were people who acted strictly according to a predetermined script. This parallel-world Zepia bears a strong resemblance to them.
"Not romantic—I'm surprised you still have the nerve to say that now."
Naoki laughed.
"Did gathering power for two days give you the confidence to talk like this? Or do you not understand what's happening right now?"
"You will die here—that is an undeniable fact."
As he spoke, Naoki already gripped Excalibur in his hand.
Feeling the mana fluctuations radiating from the Holy Sword, Tatari's form trembled slightly. Then, thick mist rapidly spread from his body, instantly covering the entire night sky and forming a roof over the unfinished building.
Immediately after, as the roof solidified, the surrounding environment began to shift rapidly as well!
A magnificent hall manifested—perhaps better described as a throne room. At a glance, the entire space resembled a scene where a king met with his ministers.
But strangely, throughout this grand throne room, countless chains were entwined, as if meant to bind something. There were far too many chains to count.
Naoki's and Arcueid's expressions changed simultaneously.
"This place…"
"The Millennium Castle."
Almost as if laughing in fury, Arcueid spoke the name of this space, but the anger and disgust in her voice were so intense they could have made even wood flinch.
To manifest a counterfeit like this in front of its true original—Tatari was truly audacious.
"Ah, ah, ah~~~~"
And upon the throne at the far end of the room, a shadow slowly rose. As if sighing, it stepped forward with graceful, dance-like movements toward the three of them, letting out a long, weary breath.
"How utterly boring."
The false Moon Princess looked profoundly bored.
"I will die here? You traveled all this way just to prove such a false proposition and interrupt my challenge for the Sixth Magic… futile! Utterly futile! My challenge for the Sixth Magic is urgent, and now I must waste my time on trivial matters!"
"Completely pointless! Time is far too precious!"
After an ear-splitting roar, Tatari suddenly raised his hand toward the sky. The vast dome instantly shattered from the outside. Blood-red light gushed from the cracks and fissures!
"You shall pay for wasting my time with this false moon."
As if venting his rage, Tatari fiercely swung his arm downward. The false Red Moon immediately plummeted from the sky!
Seeing the moon rapidly descending, Naoki tightened his grip on the Holy Sword. Then, he quietly exhaled: "I'm truly amazed at you. Where did you get the audacity to transform into Arcueid before us—and even use this technique?"
"Do you think our Princess has such a gentle temperament?"
*BZZZZZ!*
The moment Naoki finished speaking, an oppressive pressure suddenly descended within the Millennium Castle!
This was pressure formed from mana of extreme density, originating from behind Naoki.
*DUNG!*
With a single step, Arcueid crushed deep into the floor of the Millennium Castle. She stepped forward, one pace at a time, until she stood in front of Naoki. Her cold, golden eyes locked onto her counterpart before her, then she tilted her head up to gaze at the falling moon.
"Disgusting."
Arcueid judged it with utter contempt. Her pale arm swiftly swept toward the falling moon—
As if erased from existence, the falling moon vanished into thin air, as though it had never been there!
"What…?"
Tatari's expression instantly froze.
The moon disappeared?
Why?
Arcueid's cold voice rang out again, arms crossed over her chest: "When there exists a superior Imaginary Manifestation, an inferior one can only remain a mere illusion."
"Your moon is too crude, too rough—utterly lacking in beauty. I will not allow such a filthy, ugly moon to appear before Naoki's and my eyes."
"Look well, my pitiful kin from another world, no better than livestock! Witness what a true Moon Fall should look like! Carve it deep into your soul before you die!"
*BZZZZZ!*
The pressure descended once more!
Unlike the previous pressure—an accidental release of extremely dense mana from Arcueid—this time, the pressure was pure physical phenomenon. Just as an object above exerts pressure on what lies beneath, Naoki and Ciel below now bore the crushing weight from above.
And the source of this pressure—
"This is the true Moon Fall."
Looking up at the Red Moon reappearing in the sky, Naoki—who shielded Ciel from being crushed—wore an expression of slight awe.
Beautiful, breathtaking, dazzling.
The Red Moon reflected in his eyes was an existence of such magnificence. This was the second time he had witnessed Arcueid's Moon Fall. The first was in Fuyuki City two years ago, but at that time his mind had been elsewhere, so he hadn't been able to fully appreciate its splendor.
Now was different.
This was the genuine Moon Fall, wielded by Arcueid herself! Not Zepia's crude imitation, nor Naoki's incomplete replica. The entity in the sky was undeniably the most perfect Red Moon!
"Fall, and be destroyed!"
With Arcueid's final declaration, the flawless Red Moon descended with a thunderous roar!