Apocryphos

Character Outline
Apocryphos (隠された者(アポクリフォス)) is a special, independent, sentient Innocence that exists for the specific purpose of protecting the Heart. Until recently, it has kept itself concealed within the Order, under the guise of an Unnamed Cardinal. He has stated that his new goal is to absorb Allen Walker making him the secondary antagonist of the series.

Appearance
When in human form, Apocryphos takes the appearance of a thus far unnamed Cardinal with lightly-colored (brown in the anime) hair and glasses. He wears the same black cassock seen on the other Central, Vatican officials that he presumably arrived with but does not wear the clerical collar, having only a rosary around his neck. Over his uniform he wears a long, lighter-colored coat. In his true form, Apocryphos' body is entirely white and somewhat cracked in appearance. He is hairless, noseless and his sclera becomes dark red while his irises turn to light green. Inside the Iris, a red slit shines. He possesses a cross similar in size and shape to the one on Allen Walker's hand on his upper chest. He is taller than Tyki Mikk who is already a tall individual.

Personality
While in human guise, Apocryphos is amiable and friendly, seen comforting Allen Walker's friends when they are harassed in the cafeteria by those who think Allen should be executed, the Cardinal assuring the group that Allen would not be executed.

Once he reveals his true form, Apocryphos becomes ruthless and obsessed with protecting the Heart. He bears a deep hatred for the Noah, and a deep desire to merge with Allen and his Innocence. He also showed great anger when Allen expressed disgust at Apocryphos' attempt to merge with him.

History
Not much is known about Apocryphos' past, though the Noah within Tyki claims to have been searching for it for around 7000 years.

Seed of Destruction arc
Apocryphos is first seen, under the guise of the Unnamed Cardinal, accidentally being egged alongside Johnny Gill in the cafeteria by those who did not approve of Johnny still supporting Allen. After cleaning himself up, he assures Allen's friends that he will not be executed before going off to reorder his ruined lunch.

Later, when Allen begins to have problems with his inner Noah, the Cardinal arrives to 'heal' him. Howard Link, who has been watching Allen, backs off, only to notice that the guards outside of the room have been knocked out, just before he notices the Cardinal's hand transforming as he talks about the Heart being worried about Allen.

Feather-like tendrils grow out of the Cardinal's hand, and he uses them to damage Allen, and when Link attempts to defend Allen, the Cardinal outmaneuvers him, clasping Link's head in his hands and causing more of the feather-like substance to grow out of Link's eyes.

Allen, who thinks the Cardial is about to kill Link, lashes out with his Crowned Clown, piercing the Cardinal's skull, and when Allen begins to panic over killing a fellow 'human,' the Cardinal simply walks back to Allen and states that there is no one so deeply connected to Innocence as Allen before resuming his attempts to 'absorb' him. During this Allen to sees into the Cardinal's memories. Though this, Allen learns that it was the Cardinal who had attacked his master, Cross Marian, using Cross' own Innocence, Judgment.



Tyki Mikk and Road Kamelot then arrive, Tyki saving Allen from the Cardinal and Road comforting him. The Cardinal, who has been dealt a heavy amount of damage, starts to recover and begins to change his form. Allen noting as he does that he feels like an Accommodator. Tyki tells Allen that the Cardinal is not an Accommodator, but rather an independent Innocence that exists solely to protect the Heart. Tyki then notes that the Millennium Earl calls it Apocryphos.

His true form revealed, Apocryphos engages Tyki in battle, quickly overpowering him. Allen then rushes in and attacks Apocryphos, enraged over his hand in Cross' death. Apocryphos stated that Allen as a parasitic type has been influenced for years and resumes trying to absorb Allen, telling him that he is trying to help him. Crown Clown refuses to attack and Apocryphos states that it wished for Allen to be absorbed, claiming that the greater power will suppress the 14th. Allen tells him the thought of joining with him makes him sick. Enraged, Apocryphos makes to deliver a fierce blow to Allen, but Road throws herself between them and is hit, instead.

Link then rises and intervenes, using a destructive CROW seal on Apocryphos that results in a large explosion. As Tyki escapes with Timcanpy, Allen and Road, Apocryphos stays behind, assuring Allen that he will not let him escape. Apocryphos then resumes his Cardinal disguise and slips away, going after Allen and tracking him with his powers over Innocence.

Searching for A.W. arc
3 months later Apocryphos arrives in the train station of an unknown city, in his Cardinal disguise, still tracking Allen Walker vowing that Allen will not escape from him this time. Disguised as the cardinal Apocryphos appear again asking Kanda how much the watch is that he likes. Kanda tells him that it is a repair shop not a regular store, meanwhile Allen's Innocence reacted to the Apocryphos, knowing that he is near. Apocryphos expresses his regrets that the watch cannot be purchased but as he glares up at Timcampy, he is crushed. However, he quickly recovers, piercing Timcanpy with tendrils of innocence and throwing him back. A fight ensues between Apocryphos and Kanda but Apocryphos makes quick work of Kanda. He then informs Tim that he's aware of Tim's single weakness and despite a last ditch effort by Kanda to defeat him, Apocryphos still manages to pierce Tim with a peculiar shard from his mouth. Apocryphos then decides to leave Allen alone, stating to the two unconscious fighters he'll keep his promise for today and marvels at Timcanpy to end his life for his masters sake. As he leaves, he recalls the information inside Kanda's head and discovers that Link is alive. He notes that his betrayal is a felony regardless the reason and that Link will be pursued to death. He notes Lvellie's obsession to the 14th is what caused Link's predicament. Apocryphos then grows wings and blinds the civilians, erasing their memories of him all the while stating this is all for the Heart. Just then a large spiked coffin appears from the ground and closes on him and he easily breaks out of it only to be shot at point blank range by the Noah twins Jasdero and Devit and loses his head. A large monster erupts from where his head was and the twins begin to fight him. Later they report to Feedler that together with Sheril and Mercyma they succesfully captured Apocryphos and ask for Tyki's assistance.

Powers and Abilities
Control Over Innocence: Apocryphos has the power to use, absorb and track Innocence, and can even desynchronize an Innocence from its Accommodator, as he did with Cross Marian.

Memory Manipulation: Apocryphos can manipulate the memories of humans, chiefly using this ability to erase the memories of those who see his true nature. This method revolves around him grabbing his victims heads and giving them an order that they must follow. The only way to resist his memory manipulation is by special cases, as Kanda's tattoo was able to erase his manipulation on Kanda.

Enhanced Speed: Apocryphos was able to outmaneuver and overpower CROW-trained Howard Link, being able to appear behind him before he could react, and even Noah Tyki Mikk. Even against a skilled swordsman such as Kanda, Apocryphos was able to easily outmaneuver all his slashes despite being unarmed.

Enhanced Strength: Apocryphos has displayed great strength, being able to overpower Tyki in his brief fight with him and crash him into a wall while piercing his arms with Innocence and even deal Road a fatal blow that left her disappearing later on. His strength is enough to even pierce through a grown human, as seen when he pierced Howard Link's chest with ease.

Immortality: For the most part, Apocryphos has shown to be immune to any and all forms of Innocence. This was proven when Allen pierced through his head and felt no pain at all and continued to walk towards him without feeling any pain. This is also similar to Dark Matter, as Tyki's assault with his Tease did deal some damage, but Apocryphos was able to heal his wounds in a few moments. Even after having his neck snapped by Kanda, he recovered in seconds despite the wound being enough to kill a normal man.

Trivia

 * The literal translation of Apocryphos' kanji name is "the hidden one."