Chapter 136 - The Emptiness of the Abyss
Ymir walked through the endless paths realm. She stopped as she saw the current holder of her Cart Titan lay atop the sand.
She looked at the person and wondered why they decided to be here on this day. She dropped her bucket on top of the sand and looked around her.
Endless sand, she thought. For two millenniums. Such a long time to be in such a dark and lifeless place. Yet I feel the freest I have ever, she thought.
Ymir stared at the young woman who laid in front of her. She thought of how all of her pieces are finally coming back together. She thought of how she would be rebuilt once again when the time comes.
"Annie! Why are Falco and Gabi here?" Reiner yelled.
"We had to come. Look at what happened to all of you. What would you have done if we hadn't come?" Annie answered back.
Reiner spoke nothing back. He knew that it was good that they came back for them when they didn't them the most. Yet, two from the group were missing. One in the stomach of a large ancient titan. The other, no one truly knew. I hope Pieck's okay, Reiner thought. He couldn't bare the thought of losing another one close to him. At least, Gabi and Falco were here. Perhaps, I deserve this, he thought.
The atmosphere on the flying bird was quieter than they could hope for. Perhaps, it was a loss of hope that kept them quiet. Or maybe even a desire to give up and accept a defeat. Yet, they pressed on, forward.
"Where's Connie and Armin and Pieck?" Annie asked, looking at all of them.
A melancholy Jean shook his head. He wondered if this was all worth it. Saving the world without expecting anything in return. Yet, he could still hang on to a bid of hope that this would all end soon and they would be at peace.
"Connie's dead… And we left Armin and the cart," An unfazed Levi said, staring blankly at Falco's feathers.
He wondered where this all went wrong. Where their lives all went wrong. Perhaps, it was the Battle of Wall Maria. Maybe even before that, on the day he met Erwin Smith. Or maybe even 2,000 years ago. When Ymir the Founder walked their world.
"Okay," Jean said, pulling himself together.
"Me and Reiner will go and try to blow up the nape. Captain Levi stays here with Gabi and Falco. And Mikasa and Annie, you both will try to get Armin back. But we cannot stop until the Rumbling is no longer," He continued, looking at everyone.
He himself realized that perhaps, things were supposed to be this way. In the end, life choice is what shapes the world. A cruel world it was, but also one with great beauty.
"Falco! Swing back around to drop us off. Then, stay in the air," Reiner said, patting Falco's feathers.
As if the Founder could hear them speaking, three dozen or so ancient Warharmer titans appeared from the back of the Founder. They all held large bows, made out of the founder's substance. They all stood in perfect unison. As if they were about to play a grand orchestra that would sound through off the entire battle, they lifted up their arms and stretched the bowstring back. Drawing an arrow, they all let go.
One after one. They flew through the air. Toward Falco. Toward the saviors of humanity. The arrows flew faster than the spend of light. The alliance could hardly tell that they were there. Until an arrow bolted itself into Falco's right wing.
"OW!" Falco cried.
His titan screeched in pain as another one hit him near the other.
"FALCO!" Reiner yelled as Falco tried his best to speed up.
"NOW, GO!" Jean yelled.
Most of the alliance jumped down from Falco and toward the Founder. As they fell further down the sounds of two titans transforming and ODM gear filled the air. The ancient titans watched them closely as they landed on the Founder. Waiting for a perfect moment to attack.
"Annie, its that one over there that took Armin! The one that looks like a pig!" Mikasa yelled, grabbing on to Annie's shoulder.
Annie scanned the area that Mikasa pointed to. A pig, she thought. Disgusting creatures.
Mikasa let go of Annie and made her way to the titan that carried Armin. She wondered why it didn't run away or other titans didn't protect it. Then she thought, Its a trap.
"ANNIE, STOP! ITS A TRAP!"
Falco was trying his best to keep himself gliding in the air. He could no longer fly very well, but at least they weren't crashing either. He made his way to the fort. Fort Salva. He wondered he couldn't see people down below. Perhaps, they were just hiding. Or they had already escaped to a better place.
As he glided down further, he started to see a few people. He couldn't make them out though. But he knew that hopefully, his parents would be there, waiting for him.
"Falco! Try to land at the fort! Calmly though!" Levi yelled, still looking behind him to see what was going on.
He wished he wasn't in the shape he was now, but he wondered if this was partially his fault. Tormenting the monkey in such a way. Perhaps, it earned him this. Or perhaps, Zeke Yeager truly was a heartless person that could do no good. Or maybe even, he wasn't and he was just another Eldian making the touch choices.
Gabi wondered if she was the cause of all of this. If she was to blame for this fateful day and the days before that. She wondered if she would ever forgive herself for the evil she caused in this world. And the evil she committed. The extremely vile acts she thought of, playing in her head. She wondered how she could even live another day in a world she caused to be like this. If not for that one shot, things would be different, she thought. Maybe even, better. Yet she knew she must press forward, even through the catastrophe and pain. She thought of how she would need to make up for her sins through good acts. If that was even possible, she thought. Perhaps, though certain things are better left up to the ultimate decision of man-kind. Even if bad ones, choices are just that. Choices.
Falco did his best to land. He was glad to feel the soil on the ground once again. Levi and Gabi got off of Falco as he pulled himself out of his titan.
The first thing Gabi saw was her parents. A pair that looked at their daughter preciously. Perhaps, a parent's love for their child was the strongest in the world. Maybe it was something in the air or a strong outpour of emotions. But Gabi fell to her knees and started to sob uncontrollably. She wondered where did it all go wrong. She wondered if she even deserved to see her parents, even if it was for just one last time. She didn't understand what her life was. She knew though when she looked back at it now, she wished it had been different. A part of her, wished that she wasn't born at all. Perhaps, then Eldian's wouldn't be given such a cruel fate. Perhaps, the world would be a better place. But no, that was not it, the world would always be a cruel place Eldian's or not. But at least, you had the will to make your life what you must.
Armin appeared in the paths world. He wondered why he was here. Or if Eren had sent for him. He looked at all of the sand, everywhere. It was a flood of endless sand, no matter where you turned.
Armin looked to his left to see Zeke building a sandcastle. Zeke didn't acknowledge him or even look at him. He continued to build his sandcastle. He coughed a few times before looking up and saying:
"Armin, Eren's friend. So Ymir ate you too?"
Two Enemies brought to a common goal
Chapter 137 - The Dead Rise Again
Ymir watched on as she saw many of Eren's friends attempt to defeat him. She wondered why they would do such a thing. Eldian's are free now, she thought. But it's time to end this cycle of hatred.
"Now," She said, quietly looking on at the destruction on the Founder.
With that many things began to brew from the bones of the Founder. Mikasa and Annie looked on in horror to see many of whom they were friends with, rising up from the bones of Eren's founder. Sasha, Connie, Erwin, Floch, Hange, and even Marco rose from the bones.
First came the human-Eldian's. Ones with no titan, but still they rose up. Most carrying weapons and even ODM gear. Next, came the titan-shifters in their titan form. Such large beasts, they were. All with their eyes shaded out. It was as if someone coloured a pencil over the eyes of the Eldians. Or perhaps, they just didn't want to see the atrocity with were going to commit. Then, colossal Armin began to form right above Annie and Mikasa. He stared at them with amusement in his eyes.
"JEAN! REINER!" Mikasa screamed as she and Annie watched the Eldian's begin to move across the bones.
They were in perfect sic. As if they were nothing more than puppets at this point. They looked directly at the pair staring at them in disbelief. They seemed as though they were demons or perhaps something more sinister.
Jean turned around and saw what he wished he hadn't. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to be someplace else. Someplace better. A peaceful place would be nice, he thought. Marco, he thought. A freckled face turned around and stared back at him. With no smile or anything. Just a blank stare.
POP, POP
A gunshot, Mikasa thought. She looked at the group of Eldian's and saw Sasha reloading her sniper rifle. At that very moment, time slowed down. It slowed so much, you would think it stopped. Perhaps, it was just in Mikasa's mind or even all of their minds. Yet, it wasn't a moment too soon, that Sasha shot your rifle again.
POP
Then, Mikasa shot herself forward. Toward the danger, yes. But to the scythe of death, no. I am strong, stronger than all of you, she thought. And you are not the people I care about. Her thoughts moved her forward. Toward the danger. She wondered if these replicas were truly alive. Perhaps, the old them stared from the shaded eyes of the monster. With that, Mikasa sliced the head off of Shadis. She heard a noise behind her. Taking a quick glance, she saw Annie behind her, preparing a yet another battle. But this time, a one with old foes and friends. She heard yet again, movement behind her. She turned and saw Reiner and Jean, joining them for the battle on the Founding Titan.
Jean saw Sasha. He felt as though he hadn't seen her in years. But it was not the food hungry girl. It was someone else. A monster.
"JEAN! GO FOR THE NAPE!" Mikasa yelled.
Jean froze. He felt his body cave in on him. He wondered how they all got here. What led them to this place. And if perhaps, this was all a dream or if this was meant to be. From the moment meet, a rivalry of two people. Yet friends still.
Alright, Jean. All you have to do is blow up the nape, Reiner thought. He wondered if Falco and Gabi were okay. He thought of how grown up they have become. The world had changed them so. And it made him feel sick that this is the world they had to grow up in. A world filled with pain and hatred.
Jean manoeuvred his way through the air. He did his best to avoid the ancient titans. He didn't want to end up like Connie, but if it stopped the rumbling, he would.
There were many Jaw Titans. It was as if the Founder knew what they were going for. The nape. The nape that was well-guarded by the ancient titans.
Jean didn't want to waste any more time, so he flew his way to the detonator. The bomb that would likely kill him. But he knew that he had to do it. If not for his friends and family, then for the sake of humanity. Because even a cruel world deserved to live.
As he launched his way to the detonator, as he saw it with his own eyes, his world slowed down. It practically stopped. Memories flooded through his head of a time long ago. A time he had almost forgotten. As even among the cruelness of the world, there was a great beauty. Even though this winter would be tough, the flowers would still bloom in the Spring. A world so harsh, yet so green and clear. Jean could see it now, he remembered his mother and his love of her food. He remembered the training days. days spent wondering what was to come when it was over. When it all was over.
Jean thought that things would be crystal clear to him. Yet, it remained as it once was, something that not one soul could understand. Perhaps it was to live a more brave life than you did before. Yet, life was filled with endless choices. Choices whether good or bad were not more than just choices.
Jean looked up at the sky one last time and noticed how sunny it was. Such a clear day, he thought. I wish I had noticed it before. Jean looked back down to the detonator as he went closer to it. He reached his hand out and pushed down the lever. Then, there was silence.
BOOM.
Falco looked in the distance to see a cloud of dust surround the Founding titan. He couldn't see anything. Absolutely nothing. It was as if the titan had disappeared altogether.
The rest of the Eldian's watched too. Awaiting to see if their nightmare was over. They all looked to see that the colossal titans had not begun to move again. They just simply stood there, with not a care in the world.
Falco wondered if the Rumbling will be gone now. Since the bomb on the Founder titans nape-on Eren Yeager's nape. He wondered if now Eldian's would live peacefully with the worlds hatred almost gone. But perhaps, not soon enough.
Falco turned to his left, to see many dead bodies scattered around buildings. A clash-out is what had killed those men. A clash-out of two races and different dreams. Yet, both wished for the other side to be gone. Falco looked back down and wondered if Ms Annie's father had been there. He wasn't sure what he looked like, but he knew he had a walking cane. He had never quite understood why, no one had told him. But he could guess he had.
He watched as Ms Braun was tearful. Perhaps, it was about her son and Mr Leonhart. Or perhaps, just her son. Falco wondered if Gabi's cousin was okay. If Reiner was okay. He wondered what was happening on the Founder. And he knew that as soon as he healed, as soon as he could, he would fly again and help them. He knew that he had to protect Gabi too. Even if it would kill him.
"So, Eren's friend, I have been watching you and the rest of the group. You all seem to think that everything is fine," Zeke said, staring at the ground.
"Two dead so far. Falco and Reiner are next. Then Annie and maybe more. Armin, you are dead and so is Pieck… She hasn't made it here yet though. Ymir consumed you to get all of her powers back. To become whole again. I guess depending on how you see it, it might be a good thing. No more Eldian powers anymore," He paused, looking up at the stars above them.
He looked up at Armin who wondered what would happen now. Now that the world would not be as it once was. A world filled with hatred was crushed.
"All of these stars you see above us, are the souls of all Eldians. Living and dead. In my long time here, I wonder who these grains of sand are… So, did Eren tell you anything. I feel as though my brother, whom I thought I was close to, betrayed me. He wronged me and you too. And all of your other friends. While I have been here though, I play it back in my head, over and over. Like a never-ending story. I wonder where it all went wrong."
Zeke pushed the sand around from around him. He kept his gaze at the sand. As if he was scared to look his past enemy in the face. Or maybe, he just put the blame on himself.
"The tree is the Founder?" Armin asked, pointing to the bright tree to his right.
Zeke nodded and said:
"And now, since Ymir is free, we make the titans. But after the founder consumes all the shifters, there won't be any titans left to make. We will be endlessly stuck here with nothing to do and anything to make. But at least we have all of the current shifters. And we won't age. Time here is stopped."
"Is there anyway we can send a message to the outside world. Or escape it?" Armin asked.
Zeke shook his head.
Armin felt hopeless. Stuck here forever they would be. Time is stopped here and nothing can continue it. Armin worried about his friends and wished that Eren would come here to talk even if it was just for a moment.
"We may not be able to send a message. But we can watch," Zeke said, pointing to the Founders tree.
Chapter 138 - Behind the Dust
Eren sat in the Paths realm. No one there and with nothing to keep his mind at bay. He was forever in thought. Not gone though, just resting. Just at peace. Forever in this endless land. He wanted to travel back to his house. To Wall Maria. A place long gone from this world. Yet still, a place that he held so dearly to his heart. A place that would always be with him, no matter where he was.
He thought of Mikasa and Armin. The ones he held closest to his heart. Like a brother and a sister. He wondered what they were doing now. But he couldn't bare to watch it on the tree. A tree connecting the dots in this world and even the next. A tree that use to be nothing more than that, a tree. Yet, it shined with everlasting beauty in Paths. It could even outshine the brightest of lights. Perhaps, one day, as it grew stronger, it could outshine the sun.
Eren wondered where his life all went wrong. He wondered why it was the way it was. But perhaps, it was supposed to be this way. Maybe, it was supposed to end like this. But no, my life is not over yet, I must always keep moving forward, he thought. Even if everything outside of my home must end.
He looked at the stars above him. Or at least, they looked like stars. But paying more attention to what they do, you might notice that they move. The ones that shined the brightest, were the loudest. The ones that moved the most, were the strongest. Perhaps, though even the ones that didn't shine the brightest or move the most, were equally as important. Perhaps, all Eldian's are the same or at least the same amount of special.
Eren put his fingers through the sand. It was soft, it felt like clouds. Clouds, he thought, I wish to see them again. The big blue sky, Eren felt as though he hadn't seen it in years. At least, it felt that long. Time felt stopped in Paths. No more pain was felt in the Founder's land.
Eren remembered his mother. He wondered which one of these floating stars she was. He wondered what she would think if she saw him now. Perhaps, she would wonder why he was destroying the world. Why he was ending the lives of so many people. Mostly people that wouldn't live in this land.
Eren thought of Reiner. Someone who he finally understood. Someone who he knew that he was the most like. He wondered why he ever judged Reiner for his actions. When in reality, his were just as vile. Perhaps though, something connected these two Eldian's. Perhaps by this very tree of light that sat to the left of Eren. Or maybe, all Eldian's were connected by the tree, by the coordinate. Every Eldian being specially meant to be attached.
Eren thought of Historia, the girl that would bare the new Eldian. The Eldian that started all of this, the Founder. Such a difficult task it must be, he thought. Yet such a special one. The child would be something great one day- as she aged. Perhaps, the child would accomplish tasks that only one could dream of. Extraordinary ones. Better than me, Eren thought. I am nothing. I am a disgusting person who does evil things. Things one wouldn't want to think of. I will never do anything worth praise for. But maybe, I can make life better for others even if it causes some pain.
Eren closed his eyes. He wished for his life to simply disappear. Into another place, is all he wanted. To be free of the chains of the world. Yet, here he was, a broken man yes. But perhaps, he would endure the pain so Eldia could be at peace. Even if he would be the only one burdened with it. And the only one unable to experience true freedom. But at least, others would. And to him, that was alright.
A loud horn noise began to make a sound. It's time, Eren thought. It's time for the moment to begin.
Reiner ran as quickly as his titan legs could carry. He wondered if Jean was okay, and if Eren's nape was blow up. He wondered if perhaps the bomb blew the nape up completely. He wondered if Eren was even there. Or if he was somewhere else.
The dust almost faded away completely, revealing the Founder's head to be separated from the nape. The head looked no different than it had before. The same lost face expression. The same open eyes. Yet, it seemed to be still alive. Reiner looked at it, then he wondered if the blast killed Eren or if he was even here. He looked around, then he heard a loud thumping sound.
Thump, thump
He wondered if it was near him. He wondered if it was the colossal titans moving again. He looked behind him to see indeed it wasn't. He turned directly to his left to see under Eren's founding titan, a large titan began to move. It was tall, at least eighty meters. The titan had long blond hair. It sort of looked like the female. But with skin. Then, it hit Reiner, this was the Founder, Ymir Fritz.
Falco bites his hand, causing lighting to struck. He wasn't sure if he looked his Titan. He sort of did, but flying made him feel sick to his stomach. He wondered how he was able to do it. To fly. Perhaps, Zeke had something to do with this. Or at least someone in the Paths realm surely. Right?
Falco wondered if he was even cut out for this whole titan thing or if this was something he was even meant to do. He worried about what would happen with the Armoured titan. He had a titan already. But, what about Gabi? Of course though, he knew that Reiner would never give his cousin a titan. Yet, he wondered what would happen after the time is up, their worlds you disappear from the face of the Earth. Their titans would be passed down through to the next generation, and so on and so forth.
Falco wondered if Eren Yeager would end that. End this long cycle of hatred that brewed into the core of their world. He wondered if this was really the only thing to do. To eliminate hatred from the world, even if it involved killing it. Yet, he wished that everyone could just talk it out. Even if it took months or years. It would still be worth it from this endless war that must be fought a moment longer.
Falco looked at Gabi and Levi. The both of them stared blankly toward Eren's titan. Much could not be seen, but they could only guess what was on the other side of the dust. Once it would settle though, they could see once again.
Chapter 139 - The Aftermath of an Explosion
"When all of Ymir Fritz's titans are pushed back together, Eldian's will be free," Zeke said, playing with the sand.
Armin and Pieck listened to what he was saying. Though both of them still were slightly in denial of why they would be here forever. Stuck in the endless realm of the Path that connected all Eldian's.
"Once that happens, no more titans and no one will be burdened with the pain of being born. Our deaths change everything… I suppose though, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe we can end all bad things. But then again, humanity will always be greedy. Yet, I suppose, we can still look at the beauty of it… But not with the world being destroyed. I don't know how to stop Eren."
Zeke looked up to the bright floating objects above.
"But maybe even after being here, we will understand how we should have lived our lives. Instead of what we actually did… Do you have any regrets?" Zeke asked, looking at Armin.
He sighed and wondered what would have happened if he had done something differently. Yet, maybe things were supposed to be this way.
"I regret not seeing the world. I regret killing all of those people in Libero. I-I don't feel human anymore, doing all of those awful things to the world. How do you live with it, Eren?!" Armin said, standing up and looking around.
"He doesn't," Pieck said, staring at the sand.
"He is probably thinking about those awful things right now. Nobody can truly feel happiness doing these things. Not even Eren."
Falco drifted through the wind. He wasn't happy to be up in the air again, but he thought of how it was better than being on the ground. Surely, the explosion killed Mr Eren, he thought. He still wondered why he had said all of those things to Reiner on that day. The day Libero was almost destroyed. He wondered what he had meant. Yet, he didn't want to know. He knew that Reiner had been sent to Paradis to do the very thing Eren was. To end the cycle of hatred, even if a part of humanity has to pay the final price. Perhaps, the cycle was not intended to be broken. Maybe it was intended to go on and on, for the very thing they tried to destroy, greed.
Falco looked on in horror at the colossal titans. They looked like puppets. Puppets that were simply there to fulfil the deed of humanity. Most looked to the ground, but they didn't move they remained perfectly still, waiting for their master to call upon them.
Reiner looked up in horror to see Ymir Fritz's Founding titan, walking slowly to him. He wasn't sure what to do. He had never seen a titan, other than the colossal's, that big. He wondered why she was walking so slowly. It was as if she knew that he could do nothing to stop her. A titan at eighty meters was too difficult to take on by himself. He would need others to help him. Annie and Mikasa are busy, he thought. Armin is gone, Jean is gone. I'll have to do this on my own.
He knew that he must keep moving forward. As Eren said, he thought. I have to keep on going, even after I'm gone. I can be a hero again, just as I've always wanted. He ran toward the blown-off head and kicked it. He knew he had to destroy the Founder's head. Or at least, that's what he thought.
He heard something and turned around to see Ymir Fritz's Founding titan staring back at him. She grabbed him.
"REINER!" Jean screamed, holding up both of his swords ready to attack the Founder.
Reiner turned his head. He had never been happier to see him before. He couldn't believe that he was still alive. It was as if he had out-smarted death himself.
Jean had surely suffered an exploration and the aftermath as well. His face was burnt and his arm was bleeding. He looked in pain, but he continued to move forward, even when facing death.
Jean hurried to the Founder. He swung the swords to the back of the titan's nape. Reiner fell to the ground as Ymir put her hand to her nape. There was nothing there. Perhaps, the titan was being controlled by something elsewhere.
The Titan that once walked the Earth, began to walk again
Chapter 140 - The Cost of Freedom
Mikasa saw her life memories. She saw her childhood that she missed so dearly. She saw Eren stabbing a man to death. She wondered why she was seeing this. Then, she realized, this was the Founder.
A bright light shone itself through their world. The alliance saw a large tree grow from the Founder, Ymir's titan. The tree was plotted with bright green leaves. The tree had nine large branches each connected itself to the other.
Mikasa wondered what the tree was and how it got there. She was memorized by it. So much so that she didn't notice the screams of titans and people in the background. The tree was a bright light in this dark world.
All of the Eldian's around the world could see. As if it was right in front of them-as if it was stretching out its hand for them to take-as if it was alive. It was showing them memories of their life. Perhaps, the tree was death itself. Or maybe, it was something far bigger than they could grasp. Perhaps, this was the concept of life itself. The concept of the world sat in front of them. What an honour it is, some thought. What a bright beaming object, others said aloud.
The tree didn't speak or move. Instead, it drew Eldian's into it. Calling them, to a greater world. Then, there was silence.
Gabi sat in front of the wall. She wondered what existed outside of it. She wondered if some of humanity lived outside. She stared at the wall, wondering why it had to block the view of the world. A world worth viewing, yet it couldn't be reached. But she wanted to explore it so. Even if it meant venturing out in it alone.
Mikasa sat at her table in the kitchen of the small house she owned that overlooked a small hill. She felt as though something was missing from her life. But she couldn't quite grasp the idea. She wanted to know what it was. Yet, at the same time, she felt content and at peace.
She read the newspaper in front of her, fidgeting with a ball. She was baffled at the idea of the Survey Corps going outside of the walls once again. She wondered why they constantly liked putting themselves in danger. Especially for a world that just didn't exist outside the walls. But who knows, she thought. There could be people there. Maybe even large bodies of water that were bigger than lakes. Like Armin talked about.
She looked up as she wondered who Armin was. She never recalled meeting someone called, Armin. Such a silly name, she thought. Yet, she couldn't get the name out of her head. It was stuck inside. She knew that he had to be of someone of importance for her to think of him so. Perhaps, he was a real person. Then another name, Eren. Whose Eren? she thought. I have never heard someone called that.
Mikasa felt tears drop down her face as she wondered why this Eren made her so sad. She wondered why she was thinking of people. She felt tears drop fasting from her eyes as her mind shouted, Eren and Armin, at her. She wondered why she was trying so hard to think of these people.
Jean stood in front of the forest. A forest he liked to go hiking in now and again. But this time, something was holding him back. He wanted to know why he chose this instead of the Military Police. For now and ever, he would just be a baker. He wondered why this world was so difficult to live in. He looked directly to his right and he would see the endless wall that protected them from the titans that lived outside. He wondered why they just couldn't run off past the walls. Even if people died, they would be free of this cage, he thought.
Eren walked slowly to where his old friend and the others sat. Stuck endlessly in the world of the Path. They would roam here forever. But perhaps, their sacrifice would allow Eldian's to be free and live freely within a world clear of greed.
Falco saw Eren and waved at him. Others frowned or even glared. Armin chose to keep his gaze away from his old friend.
"Is this what you wanted? Eldian's to be chained again?" Armin asked.
Eren sighed and sat down next to Reiner and Annie.
"This was the only way. Now, with our sacrifice, all Eldian's will finally get to explore the world. Away from humanity's anger from them. Ymir can finally be reborn as an Eldian within the walls. She will be free of pain from her old life. For two-thousand years, she was here. She deserved to be free."
Armin looked up to Eren. He didn't stare at him coldly or anything-just a blank stare and that was all.
"You wiped out most of the world. What are Mikasa and the others going to find when they have the courage to explore it? Dead trees? Remains of humans who were trampled to death… Don't try to excuse yourself. WE COULD HAVE TRIED FOR PEACE AGAIN! EVEN IF-"
"HOW?! WE TRIED SO MANY TIMES, ARMIN! There was no point to keep trying. And now they can be free again. Even if we can't- Even if the rest of humanity can't. At least Mikasa and Gabi and Jean can. Even Levi. They can live peacefully now," Eren said, looking down.
He felt tears in his eyes. He knew what he did wasn't right, but he thought there was no other way to achieve true freedom. Perhaps though, the cycle of hatred could never be truly gone. It would continue forever and ever. Even if the world was banished from this universe and isolated from this world, hatred would always continue even through the end of the world.
"I'm so sorry, Armin! God, I'm sorry," Eren cried out, with tears streaming down his face.
"Don't forgive me. I don't deserve forgiveness for the things I have done. I don't want it either. I-I can't live with myself anymore. I hate myself. I wish I was never born. I wish I never went to my dad's basement. None of this would have happened. At least then, I would be dead… But at least now, all of the pieces of the titans have been put back together, so now Ymir will wear them all now. But the titans can never truly be eliminated. This was the only solution though. To cleanse the world of its hatred and allow us to be the saviours of humanity. But now we have to bear the suit of making the titans."
As the world was cleansed of its sins by Eren Yeager, the trees still blossomed and the birds still sung their song. Perhaps, humanity can never truly be ridden from its hatred of others. But at least now, the world would be reborn and that is what mattered the most.
The world was reborn from this world. What will the Eldian's do next?