Surprisingly for once things were going really smooth, ships were actually being sent from Marley to Paradise with veritable Eldians and not just soldiers in disguise as is was previously believed in. Among the nations that participated at the reconstruction project Marley was the only one not allowed to participate directly, although it still sent some founds and materials through third party nations as a show of good will. Marley was in a really bad position, and it was only getting worse. After Zeke and Pieck's betrayal the thin line that was holding Porco and Rainer loyal to Marley was only getting thinner and thinner. At this point Eldia proved itself not to be a threat to the world and continental Eldians really wanted to join a nation where they would be treated as regular citizens and no longer as prisoners of war. The neighbouring nations were also more than happy since, the more Eldians joined Paradise the more wall titans were being killed off to the point where nearly one quarter of the outer wall was completely removed. To celebrate this threshold as well as nearly forty percent of continental Eldians returning to Paradise a celebration ceremony would take place in which real peace talk would be discussed. There really was no longer a reason for the two nations to go to war although that very same reason was achieved by the threat of mutual annihilation. Still it was better for an actual declaration of peace to take place and later be broken rather than simply continuing hostilities like that.
One huge example of why Eldia and Marley would want to stop the fighting was maritime travel inside the sea between the two nations. The constant state of war made it impossible for ships to pass through that region meaning longer voyages and higher costs.
The celebration was also a historic even where all the Titan shifters would sign a peace act by which they will no longer fight one another. To sign this pact, as per request of the Marleyan military and some members of Eldia's, Annie's crystal underneath the capital will be broken by the Jaws titan thus freeing her. Annie was the first titan shifter sent in by Marley which was capture and her liberation will be the opening act on this new road of freedom.
Or so it would seem, but things are never as they look. Inside one individual's mind this vision of peace and prosperity for Eldia was the culmination of all the failures he had to endure in this life. Zeke was not convinced of lasting peace.
"It will be a failure fuelled by fake aspirations of peace. If Eldia gets all the titan shifters the other nations will no longer have the interest in building anti titan weapons. In one or two generations the current ones will be rendered obsolete or out of use because of the lack of maintenance. Peace will be achieved, for now, but what will happen when Paradise gets overpopulated? Eldia is a small island nation which aspires to have a population large enough to stop Marley if they ever seek to invade them. Even from Marley's point of view, yes they could continue the peace for now but what stops them from invading in the future? The two nations will never know peace. Seven generations from now the world will no longer have anti-titan weaponry, Marley will want to invade Eldia for the iceburst crystals and Eldia will seek to keep its titan shifters even beyond that. Who is to say, if seven generations from now the future Eldians won't divide the founding titan from the royal family and use it to stop the seven generations countdown from occurring. The world will suffer another titan genocide and another titan civil war. Why can't you all see, the only way for the world to continue is for all Eldians to die out."
Zeke's dangerous plans were bubbling up to the surface and luckily enough people were capable of realising that. Times have really changed and there are people who believe in the future between Marley and Eldia.
General Magath realising Zeke was acting in an unusual way warned the scouts about his behaviour. Together Eldian and Marleyan soldiers were sent to apprehend Zeke and keep him away from Eren.
"Zeke... I've known you for nine years. I cannot allow you to destroy our world's last chance at peace."
"Big words general, especially coming from a man such as you. I know you held some little respect for us Warriors and possibly you didn't even hated Eldians but you still won't understand. The world will reach its end if Eldians aren't stopped from reproducing. It is the only humane way of wiping them out of existence. If wasn't born I wouldn't have had to endure all my life. If my parent's weren't born they wouldn't have fuelled the anti Marley sentiment, if the titans were never born the world would have never had to face their horror. You don't understand, both Eldians and the world suffer because they are forced to keep existing!"
"Then we will all endure this curse. I cannot help but be a Marleyan, I cannot turn into a giant monster or regrow my limbs, you cannot help but be an Eldian, subject of Ymir and all the history that comes along with it. That doesn't mean we were cursed into these roles. People struggled, fought and survived for thousands of years to see us here and you'll take that away from the world? Once Marleyans were oppressed by Eldians, up to yesterday Eldians were being killed in droves by Marleyans and you will take it away from them? You will take it away from the people that fought and survived the pride of seeing their successors live long happy lives, grow and multiply? That is something as monstrous as stomping the world with the rumbling."
"You'll be happy to hear then, that I've found a way to make Marleyans and Eldians equal for one moment." Zeke pulls out a flask with some greenish gas inside.
"Through the realm of the Paths I've seen the moment life attached to Ymir's spine turning her into the first titan. I've learnt how to emulate that moment, I've created a gas capable of turning both Eldians and Marleyans into titans by forcefully attaching my titan spinal fluids to their spines!" Zeke shouts throwing the flask towards the soldiers.
"Don't breath it in or you'll turn into a titan!" The soldiers shout as they run away to safety. They run, but other people did not. In the distance all over the capital explosions take place. Zeke roars and titans burst out all over the capital turning both Eldians and Marleyans into mindless titans.
"Sound the alarm, have all the soldiers, civilians and even the dead out of these walls immediately. We have gas masks back on our ships but those are a whole day away of travelling from here!"
"Then go, I will join the other titan shifters and hold back the titans from further destroying the city."
"Commander Erwin, we might have fought on different fronts, but this once let us fight to keep this fragile peace a reality." Magath says as he and his troops start the evacuation of the Eldians capital.
"Commander Erwin, what is going on here?" Pieck, Eren and Leo are the first to arrive.
"You're here good. Have any of the scouts been transformed into titans?"
"No, we were inside the barracks when explosions were heard all over the city. Armin realised it had to do with the green gas all over and now he and Hange are working on converting gas canisters into breathing masks to operate inside the city."
"That's good, very good. Pieck, I need you to help with the evacuations. The Cart's mobility and speed are crucial in stopping more people from turning into titans. Eren, you stay by my side no matter what. Leo, go find the other warriors and send them to our location. If you find Zeke launch a red flare into the air, by no means should he reach Eren. One last order, don't die out there, this might be the scouts' last mission before our retirement." Erwin turns around and gives them the salute before separating. Leo takes to the sky with his 3DM gear and Pieck starts running on the streets heading for places where the gas hasn't reached yet.
"What the hell is going on here?" A feeble voice says through the commotion. Awakened by Zeke's shout Annie crawled out of the basement and made her way to the surface. "Titans all over? Has Marley managed to invade the capital?"
"Annie!" Leo dressed as a scout climbs down from the rooftops. "Are you capable of fighting?"
"Who are you?"
"The Warhammer titan. Never mind that, are you capable of fighting? We need you in this fight."
"Who are we fighting?" Annie asks thinking Leo was Marleyan.
"The titans. Zeke has gone rogue and is planning to sterilise all Eldians. He is also capable of turning Marleyans into titans."
"That's a lot to take in one go."
"Annie!" A voice shouts from afar. It was Rainer and Porco.
"Great, I've found you all. Ready your titans and hold off the mindless ones while the city is evacuated or we'll be overrun."
"Who the hell do you think you are to give us orders traitor?" Porco shouts not wanting to join Leo in the fight.
"I've kicked your ass more than once, now get in line, follow order as well do and maybe tomorrow's sunrise won't be over an island trampled by titans and war machines."
"This is not the time Porco. We must do whatever we can to stop all this or it will lead to a rumbling, I can feel it." Rainer says siding with Leo. "What do you want us to do?"
"Eliminate pure titans, stop the spread of the gas if you can and keep humans away from it. If they inhale it they become pure titans no matter who they are. Head towards the fortress where Erwin and Eren are joining the scouts who are preparing masks to breath in these conditions! If you find Zeke use one of these to signal his position, engage immediately and take him out!"
"This is all so crazy." Annie says not knowing what to think.
"Annie, a lot of time passed since you were trapped in that crystal. You once said you wanted to go home, home came to you. Nearly half of all the continental Eldians came to Paradise including most of Liberio. There were people you wanted to see back home isn't that true? If we get through today you'll see them again." Annie agrees to help them and all four head for the central fortress which was being assaulted by titans.
"You cannot transform Eren no matter what. Transforming would give up your position to Zeke immediately." "At the same time my hands are tied behind my back. If I turn into the colossal titan the shock-wave and destruction caused by the transformation could spread the gas all over the city and destroy this fortress. All we can hope is for the mask to be ready in time."
While titans were gathering around the walls of the fortress Armin and Hange were turning the gas canisters into breathing masks.
"Now for the first test." Hange says putting one of the refashioned masks over. "Guys, if I turn into a titan let me eat Zeke's beast titan afterwards please. Ho, to become a titan though, that would be one hell of an experience."
Hange puts on the mask and jumps outside into the green gas cloud. It worked, the mask stopped Hange from breathing the gas, the scouts can go out and fight the titans now.
"Don't look them in the eyes as you do it, you might recognise someone you knew!" Erwin shouts as he joins the scouts fighting the titans. Their numbers were truly impressive. Zeke hid his gas flasks all over the city and as the wind blew it spread even further turning more and more people into titans. On the edge of the titan hoard however the Armoured and Jaws titan transformed and starting carving their way towards the fortress.
"Reach the fortress, aid the scouts! Annie, you come with me and gear up with 3DM gear. In case Zeke shows up I will need you as a trump card in order to take him by surprise." Leo grabs Annie and swings through the air bursting into the fortress courtyard.
"Go, go!" Leo shouts before joining the fray as well. As he gets into the air though rocks hit the side of the building and scouts are splattered onto the fortress's sides. From the far end of the titan hoard Zeke just threw a handful of rocks at them. He was protected by titans which held around his body as armour while fifteen metres abnormals were creating a wall to protect him from any form of artillery.
"There he is! Defeat the Beast titan and the mindless ones will lose all their capabilities!" Erwin commands and Levi rushes towards the beast titan.
"Eren, remain here, we cannot have you risk meeting with Zeke. 104th division, protect Eren at all costs!" Erwin and a good chunk of the scouts rush Zeke.
"Too bad they won't find anything there." Zeke says coming out of hiding. He transformed only once, crystallised key parts of his body and ordered his pure titans to carry his Beast titan body as if it was a doll to trick the scouts into attacking him. Using this distraction he sneak around the base and got close to Eren.
"So tell me brother, are you ready to finish this?" Zeke asks as lightning gathers around him.
"Let's finish this you lunatic." Eren says biting his hand.