Chapter 4

Decision and Beginning (覚悟と始まり, Kakugo to Hajimari) is the fourth chapter in the D.Gray-man series written and illustrated by Katsura Hoshino.

Synopsis
The Millennium Earl, riding on a Level One Akuma, goads Allen into trying to save the Akuma and their souls.

When the Akuma fires blood bullets, Allen cuts them down before they can touch, telling the Earl that the only reason he had gotten hit before was because he was protecting John, and that it will take more than just bullets to defeat him. In response to this, the Earl summons more Level One Akuma and has them all fire at once.

Allen tells John to leave the cemetery, then rushes in to fight.

As John is left alone, he reflects on the time he spent studying Akuma with Leo, wondering how Leo could accept the Earl's offer when he knew what it meant.

Becoming angry at himself for telling Leo about the Earl, John shouts out to Allen to destroy Leo.

Using his Cross' special ability, Cross Grave, Allen hits all of the Akuma in the vicinity with cross-shaped brands of light and destroys them, while the Earl takes advantage of the fact that Allen is fighting to start his escape. As he leaves, the Earl tells Allen that he shall destroy God and the entire world, assuring Allen that there is nothing he can do to stop him. Allen stares after him for a moment, then collapses, asking a worried John to go find a doctor.

A tearful John assures Allen he'll bring medical help, asking him to just rest.

Three days later, at John's house, Allen heads into John's workroom and finds him working on soldering a metal cross. John explains that Leo is regarded in town as a runaway, and because no one knows he's dead the cross will act as a temporary grave marker. When Allen reveals that he's going to continue on his way to the Black Order, John tells him that he's going after his father, wanting to study more and become stronger.

The two both wish each other luck.