Dozens of ships loomed in the distance. Built in the Marleyan style, their rowers sculling tirelessly ever closer ashore. The remaining defenders of the city-state of Veseliacum lowered the guard upon seeing familiar ships. The red-headed native barbarians came ten days earlier warning everyone on their way about the attack of Eldia, which had sent two titans to spread destruction wherever they went. The civilians were evacuated, leaving only the armies and voluntary auxiliaries to thwart or at least delay any possible invasion with gigantic siege weapons. The evacuees were sent to the far south of Paradis and were prepared to sail away to lands outside of Eldian influence and start anew, just like their ancestors had done on the island.
The ships came ashore. A number of the city guards left the confines of their walls to meet the crew and rowers. "Where is your leader?" — They asked. "They are waiting for us on that ship. We need supplies." — One answered, pointing to a great ship still at sea. They were not allowed within the city. The guards would instead deliver the supplies to them on the beach. Once the gates were opened again, a female scream, or rather a shout, echoed from the great ship at sea. The people who asked for supplies glowed briefly, their eyes and mouths emitting ominous lights. During those few seconds, the Marleyans remembered what they were told by the older ones born on the continent and became horrified, running as fast as their legs could take them away from the impending disaster. Many lights flashed and deformed giants stood in the place of those humans who came from the sea.
Hildegard was in a ship too far away to notice the details of the situation, even though she was commanding the titans from the sea. Her fists were tightly clenched as she watched with an almost unblinking stare. "I've seen it happen many times before, both in my predecessors' memories and during my training with father. Still, I will never become used to this." — She thought. A delicate hand landed on her shoulder. It was Sigrid, with a condescending look on her face.
— Why are you hesitating to order the titans to take that city, Princess?
Hildegard couldn't answer. She thought she was resolute and ready to take the mantle of the previous monarchs, but her ideals were in conflict. Sigrid sighed and directed her words to Hodritz.
— Come on, Hodritz. Go take that city for the glory of Eldia. I'm sure the Princess won't mind.
With the widest smile anyone had ever seen, Hodritz drew blood from his finger with a bite and threw himself into the ocean, swimming to gain distance from the boats. The transformation caused the surrounding water to erupt, raising a cloud of steam around the goat-like titan. Neck-deep in the ocean, the Beast Titan quickly moved towards the island. The Marleyans threw stones from giant siege weapons and managed to hit the pure titans several times, only to see them regenerating and rising from the ground again and again. The Beast Titan finally reached land and charged with all his strength towards the city walls. The defences fell easily. Hodritz began the massacre he had wished for a long time amidst desperate screams.
— You and he are opposites. Violence and peace. — Sigrid said. — But even a troglodyte like Hodritz can act for the glory of Eldia.
Hildegard continued to observe how easily the walls ceded, how buildings were reduced to rubble, and how small humans looked when compared to a titan. She reminisced a memory from one of her predecessors' tenure: another scene of humans uselessly struggling against pure titans, being picked up and chewed as if they were food on a plate...
— Your father would be ashamed of your inability to act. — Sigrid remarked.
Hildegard turned to face her with pure anger in her eyes.
— Do you think you knew my father well? He would never... — She interrupted herself.
Sigrid chuckled. "She can't even argue with me. I thought I saw a spark of willpower for a moment, but I bet it was just an impression." Hodritz raised his hand from the ruined city to signal it had been conquered, or rather, destroyed. The ship's captain approached Hildegard, asking if they should proceed to the next. She nodded without a word while Sigrid observed with a smirk. She ordered the pure titans to follow Hodritz with another scream. Even if they were not active in the conquest of the next cities, they could serve as barriers to prevent the survivors from escaping.
...
— The situation is dire, chieftess! The scouts saw a titan destroy an entire city to the north within minutes! — Exclaimed a bald man with a thick red beard that reached his chest. — There is but one city between us!
Cliodhna looked at him and then at the scouts. Ten were sent to assess the situation yet only three returned. She grit her teeth for some seconds before shouting:
— Where are the Eldians? — Her eyes went from person to person in search of Arnulf, Sören, and Ulrika.
She locked her gaze with Arnulf. Stomping the ground while walking, she quickly closed the distance and punched him on the nose with all her might. Arnulf almost lost his balance.
— Explain it to me, devil! Why is your kind attacking Paradis?
— The ways of Ymir are unknown to me.
She punched him again on the chin, this time making him fall to the ground. With a bleeding nose, he knelt on the ground and spit away a tooth. Cliodhna unsheathed her sword and pointed it towards Arnulf.
— Leave now and join the titans or stay here and I'll cut your head off.
— I will remain here. The Paths led me to this place at this moment. I will see how this plays out.
Cliodhna swung the sword with the intent to hit his neck, but her blade was stopped by an incredible force. Ulrika held the blade between her palms. Before Cliodhna could react, Ulrika kicked her hands upwards, releasing her grip from the hilt and launching the sword to the air. Still stunned by the sudden counterattack, Cliodhna staggered backwards. Ulrika seized the opportunity, grabbed the falling sword and slashed at Cliodhna, severing her arm. The Fomhóire, sure that their chieftess would win but a moment ago, began to charge towards them both. Prepared for the worst, Ulrika stood her ground and wielded the sword the same way a warrior would.
— Stop! — Cliodhna ordered. The Fomhóire immediately stopped on their tracks. — The devils can transform at any moment! If they wish to remain, let them until their boats take them away to the continent!
Arnulf ripped off a piece of his toga and wrapped it around Cliodhna's gaping wound to stop the bleeding. He looked deep into her eyes, saying:
— I assure you that you and the Fomhóire will be spared. Trust me.
He backed off as the tribesmen carried a semi-unconscious Cliodhna away in order to properly treat the injury. Ulrika stared at the severed arm lying on the ground and the puddle of blood around it. "I think I understand this power now. King Anders created weapons second only to the titans." — She thought. Steam rose from Arnulf's face as he regenerated from Cliodhna's punches. Considering the situation, his expression was surprisingly calm.
— Hey, where has Sören run off to? — Ulrika asked.
— Leave him be. We shall follow the Fomhóire for now.
— And let him wander alone? He should be with us!
— Our people will find him in no time if he's doing what I think. Don't worry, the shield of Eldia is unbreakable.
The horse Sören rode on suddenly stopped, neighing and rearing when he tried to make it go forward. "It's spooked. It can only mean they're close." He decided to go on foot. A small fleet could be seen on the sea from far away, as well as another city. Wondering if he would make it in time, Sören began to run as fast as he could through the beach. "The city seems to be yet untouched. I don't see smoke or destroyed buildings from this distance." He bit his own hand and transformed in order to cover the distance faster.
The Marleyans saw the Armoured Titan pass by their city but were confused upon noticing he completely ignored them. Still running, he finally met Hodritz in Beast Titan form.
— Brandt! So you're not dead yet! — Hodritz exclaimed.
The pure titans caught up to them, remaining static behind Hodritz. Hildegard noticed the other titan that came from the opposite direction.
— Sören! He's alive! — She said out loud in relief.
He stared the Beast Titan down. Hodritz stroke his goatee.
— Are you going to let me through? — The booming voice asked.
The Armoured Titan remained motionless. Hodritz sighed.
— As expected, we're going to do it the hard way.
He charged at the Armoured Titan, hitting him with his enormous horns. The hardened plates on his shoulders and arms cracked on impact. Hodritz recomposed himself and began throwing punches at Sören.
— I don't even need hardening to win this fight! Let me through!
The pure titans suddenly ran towards him. He turned back from the fight and braced for the impact. "They're no match for me. I'll tear their napes away." Despite launching some titans to the air with his blows, their sheer number overwhelmed the Beast Titan, who fell to the ground with the weight. The biggest ones pinned his limbs to the ground.
— Hildegard! What is the meaning of this?!
There was another flash of light on the ocean. Sigrid transformed into the Warhammer titan. "When did she leave?" — Hildegard thought. A crossbow materialised in the Warhammer Titan's hands. She shot with surprising accuracy at the titans, killing them one by one. Sigrid then aimed at Sören.
— No... Not him... Don't you dare to touch him! — She shouted with the most intense emotions she had ever felt.
Countless lights flashed on the ships still at sea, which were instantly destroyed by the explosions caused by the transforming Eldians. The titans swam frantically towards Sigrid, who ceaselessly shot at them while backing away. She reached the beach and promptly materialised a giant hammer. She smashed each titan that came from the ocean, but they were too many and was overwhelmed by them. With both the Warhammer and the Beast titans incapacitated, another titan rose from the waves. Its soaking wet blond hair gave it a horrifying appearance.
— You can't do this to me, Hildegard! — Sigrid exclaimed.
— Devour.
— Huh? It can't be! Hildegard, you monster! — Sigrid shouted as the titans gnawed on the Warhammer Titan's flesh.
An enormous, spiked dome-like structure emerged from the pile of titans, launching some into the air and impaling others. A spear took shape in Sigrid's hand. She prepared to throw it as the Founding Titan watched with an empty gaze. Before the spear could reach her, Sören jumped in front of it, taking the blow for the queen. Almost as if there was no hardening at all on the Armoured Titan, the spear pierced his chest. Sigrid was clearly tired.
— Surrender. — The Founding Titan ordered.
— I know when to surrender... And it seems you learnt when to attack... — Sigrid said.
After making the titan lay on the ground, Sigrid emerged from its nape. Still in titan form, Hildegard stared at her with a piercing gaze.
— Come on, Hodritz! Leave that goat body behind and do as the queen says!
Reluctantly, he emerged from the Beast Titan's nape and joined Sigrid. The pure titans were motionless, awaiting their next orders.
— We will search for Arnulf and offer peace to the Paradisians. Only then will we return to Eldia.
— As you wish, my queen. — Sigrid replied.