Chapter 32
Dina and Odom manage to sneak into the crystal caverns without the Interior Police noticing. They find Eren being chained in some sort of ritual site.
"This is..." Dina mutters in surprise. "Are they seriously going to feed Eren..."
"Let's watch first before we do anything, someone is coming!" Odom says.
The two of them hide behind a giant pillar, and they see Eren waking up and struggling in the bindings.
"Eren, you're awake? Just hang in there a while longer. Everything's fine." Historia pleads.
Dina and Odom notice that Historia is wearing some sort of white dress, and she is not alone, her father is behind her.
"Eren, listen to me. My father has been an ally to all of humanity within the walls, for many years past and many years to come. We were clearly mistaken about him. It's true that he's been a problem for the Scouts, and his people did kill Pastor Nick... But he didn't have any other choice. Everything he's done, he had to do for the sake of humanity."
"Historia. Let me explain the rest." Rod says. Noticing Eren's face, he says, "What's wrong? This is the first time you've come here. Though, it wouldn't be strange if you recognize it."
Rod and Historia are walking towards Eren, Dina and Odom manage to hide from their sight so they won't notice them.
"F-father, explain to Eren." Historia says, and Rod reaches out his hand and says, "Yes. I intend to. However, there's something I want to try first. If we do this, he may remember all on his own."
Rod and Historia place their hands on Eren's bare back, causing him to experience memories of being here before. He sees Rod and his family in the underground cavern, a Titan, a burning chapel, a Scout, his father's key, and himself as a child, turning into a Titan, and eating his father.
Rod says, "Did you remember? Your father's sin..." Historia is also holding her head while trying to process everything.
Historia mutters, "Why? Why did I forget about that until now? I was never alone. That girl was always there for me. She gave me books... Taught me how to read and write... And was so kind to me... How could I forget about her?"
"You met Frieda?" Rod asks.
"Frieda?" "If it was a young girl with long, black hair...It was most likely Frieda Reiss. She was your half-sister. She must have been worried and came to check up on you occasionally. If she was erasing your memories, it was all done to protect you."
"Huh? Erasing my memories?" "Yes, but touching your hand to him seems to have uncovered those memories again."
Historia looks at Eren and then asks, "Um, Father? Where is Frieda now? I'd like to see and thank her. If she wasn't there for me, I...I need to thank her for what she did for me then."
"Frieda is no longer in this world." "Huh?" "At one time, I had five children."
Rod holds Historia into a hug and says, "But my wife and all of my children, Frieda included, were killed five years ago by his father, Grisha Yeager."
Dina widens her eyes in shock, she knows their goal is to retake the Founding Titan to restore the Eldian Empire, but she never realizes that Grisha steals the power by eating the children.
"Grisha was a person with the Power of the Titans. I don't know who the man was, but his goal was to steal the power the Reiss family possessed. The power Grisha sought to obtain...It was the Power of the Titans residing within Frieda. Frieda's Titan was superior to all other Titans. You could say her Titan had unsurpassable power. However... She did not have the experience to properly wield it. Unable to unleash her true potential, she was eaten by Grisha and he stole the power."
Rod continues, "But that's not all... He then attacked my entire family. His rampage sought to eradicate the Reiss family." After explaining how he killed his family, he says, "Miraculously, I was the only one who made it away."
"But...what about the Neumann? You said they were close friends! Wouldn't they have been there to protect them?" Historia asks.
"The Neumanns are almost wiped out, and there are no signs of the Neumann clan inside the walls." Rod says.
"Wiped out? That means Aya..." Historia gasps.
"The only living member? Yes, she is. Which is why we need her so should we can protect her bloodline and it can grow bigger because of her." Rod says.
"What does he mean by that!? Does he see her as a breeding tool? I am not going to let that happen!" Eren thinks angrily.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" Kenny is the one walking inside. "What the hell are you guys blabbering about in here? And what are you talking about my grandniece, huh?"
"Aya's his grandniece?" Odom thinks in surprise.
"I hope you know a buncha shit is going down outside. The Scouts started a coup d'etat and all the regiments changed sides. Everyone knows the King's a big fake, and all the big shots ended up getting captured. Oh yeah, it's a royal shit show. Only a matter of time till they show up here. You oughta wrap it up lickety-split."
Odom, Dina, and Eren are surprised by the news and they are relieved.
"Yes, all right. Take your Anti-Personnel Control Squad and defend the entrance." Rod says. "I believe I told you already that. I need you and your crew to leave for the ceremony."
"Whoa, now, King. Did I make you mad?" Kenny asks. "Sorry 'bout that. I'm just so worried about you."
"Kenny... I trust you. Go." Rod says.
"So do I, King." Kenny says as he leaves.
Back with Erwin, he is informed by Pixis that his late father's suspicions are rather correct, and along with Aya's connections to the special blood, this means that Aya will soon be one of the sole targets from others who wish to have her power for themselves when it starts to surface.
"And according to Dina Fritz, or Dina Yeager, Aya's Orange hair means that she has the power of the 9 Titans. And with Eren Yeager's power inside him, she has the will to take a Titan power willingly."
"I see. That will be beneficial if we manage to get the Armored Titan or the Colossal Titan with us. However, if Reiss is able to obtain Eren's "Scream," this uprising will amount to absolutely nothing. As proof of that, they're spilling all their secrets with no shame. As if saying we'll get what's coming to us."
"I see... In other words, we may forget even that fact altogether." Erwin says.
Pyxis also tells Erwin that unlike him, he does not have a fondness for gambling. He values the number of remaining humans over his own life. The only reason he backed Erwin's plan is that he believes it is the better choice for humanity. He would have fought against Zachary, had the government been the superior choice. Realizing that his words are bleak following a successful coup, he asks about a song in which humans one day stop fighting.
One of the Scouts runs over to alert Erwin that they are ready. Before he leaves, Erwin tells Pyxis that humans will fight until humanity is one or less, causing Pyxis to laugh. Erwin then leads the Scouts towards the chapel in Reiss territory to rescue Eren and Historia.
As the bulk of the Scouts heads out under Erwin's command, Squad Levi continues their journey to the chapel. Levi says, "He's Kenny the Ripper. If he's here, he'll be our biggest obstacle. In terms of how much of a threat he is, equate him to me as an enemy. No... With those weapons of his, he's deadlier than me."
The squad expresses concerns about whether they can actually beat him, but Armin Arlelt thinks there is a possibility since training and combat experience are two different things.
"I wonder, how is it that you lived with Kenny the Ripper but know almost nothing about him, Levi?" Hange asks.
"Sorry, but I only found out his full name not too long ago. Apparently, it's Kenny Ackerman." Levi says while turning to Mikasa, "He some relative of yours?"
"My mom's family was Oriental, so being a different race meant they didn't fit in anywhere. Both were people chased deep in the mountains near the edge of the walls, so that's how they met and married. But I never found out why the Ackermans were persecuted. My dad didn't seem like a different race like my mom was."
"Has there ever been a moment where it's felt like power suddenly awakened inside you?" Levi asks.
"There has." Mikasa replies.
"Kenny Ackerman had a moment like that, too." Levi says. "One time, out of nowhere, he felt an absurd amount of strength surging within him and he knew exactly what he had to do. I've felt moments like that, too."
Peter says, "Hold on, Aya, didn't you also have a moment like that as well?"
Aya sighs and says, "I do... after my mom's death, and after I was cornered by the MPs..." Then she realizes something, "Wait, do you mean that my Dad and I..."
In the cavern beneath the public chapel, Kenny remembers a conversation with his bedridden grandfather, it is about the Ackerman Clan and the Neumann Clan. Though both of the clans were persecuted because of the king.
"Considering that Aya is the brat's daughter... what are the odds that a member of the Ackerman married to a member of the Neumann Clan and having a person with both types of blood inside her.
Above ground in the publicly known chapel rebuilt by Rod Reiss, Hange, Levi, and his squad search the interior. They find a trapdoor under a rug that leads into the crystal cavern below where the Anti-Personnel Control Squad waits for them. And they begin to have their fight.
"Sorry to make you wait." Rod puts his hand on Historia's shoulder. "Listen, Historia... This may sound very strange to you, but Frieda is not entirely dead."
"Eh?" "The memories of Frieda still live on. Would you like to meet your sister?"
Historia is slightly delighted. "Yes!"
Eren, Dina, and Odom recognize the syringe, and Eren struggles to break free. And just then, they hear Levi and the others approaching.
"It seems like they're nearby..." Dina says to Odom.
"Yeah, I think it's time we show ourselves." Odom adds.
"It seems the enemy is nearby. Let's hurry, Historia." Rod says.
"And what do you think you're doing to my son?" Just then, both of the Reiss family notice Dina and Odom standing in front of them.
"Dina? Odom? How did you get here?" Historia gasps.
"The power of the Sky Titan makes it easy to get here before you guys." Odom says.
"You're Rod, right?" Dina says, "If you don't know, my name is Dina Fritz, I am also a descendent of the first King. I'm also the wife of Grisha Yeager, the one who stole the Founding Titan from you."
"You..." Rod stares at the woman in front of them. "I was the one who asks Grisha to take the Founding Titan."
"Why are you telling me this?" Rod asks.
"I'm here to save my son, like you, I also have the Reiss blood in me. You're not going to sacrifice Historia." Dina adds. "Now let him go."
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!" Kenny walks in.
"Kenny?" Rod is surprised., he already have two problems and he doesn't want a third one.
"So unless it's a Reiss who eats Eren, they can't become a true king?" Kenny asks.
"That is correct." Rod says.
"Th-then... even if I turn into a Titan and eat Eren, it'll mean nothin'?" Kenny continues to ask.
"What are you-?" Kenny grabs Rod's collar and aimed his gun at him. "Father!" Historia cries out.
"Do you think I'm lying to you or something?" Rod asks.
"Nope. I wanted long for this day 'cuz I knew you weren't lying about the succession ritual. For crying out loud! You used me this whole time knowing full well what I was after, you sleazy playboy!"
"I'm grateful for you." Rod says. "You may have been a stray dog that my whimsical younger brother took in, but-"
"Keep on insulting Uri, and you can say goodbye to half of your head." Kenny yells. Historia snatches the gun and yells, "Stop it! Let my father go!"
"Huh? You're plain pitiful, Historia." Kenny says. "Don't you get it?!"
Kenny slaps Historia to the ground. "This father of yours wants to turn you into a monster and make you eat Eren."
Historia then says, "Because that's my duty. Yeah. I'm going to eat Eren and bring my sister back. I'll inherit the world's history and exterminate every last Titan! That's my duty!"
Dina says, "You won't be able to do it, Historia. Did you forget about the renouncing vow? If you take the Founding Titan from Eren, you won't be able to do what you've just said."
She turns to Rod with a glare, "And besides, why do you need Historia to do it while you can do it yourself?"
Kenny tries to put the blade into Rod's mouth. "He doesn't want to become a Titan himself! He's just trash that forces his brother and daughter too! That's this father of yours!"
"He's wrong, Historia..." Rod grabs the knife. "I must not become a Titan myself. Do not believe... what anyone else says..."
Historia is now conflicted, and Kenny lets go of Rod. "Oh, is that right?"
"Father!" Historia rushes to Rod, who turns and says, "Kenny. You've served well up until now. You're free now. Go find another purpose in life... and live out your years."
"Eren!" Just then, they see Katrina, Aya, and Peter rushing toward the cavern. "You again!" Aya notices Kenny as she prepares to fight.
"Calm down, now, brat. I have no reason to fight you." Kenny says.
"Aya, Katrina, Peter. Just wait for a second." Dina says while turning to Rod, "Now Aya is here, how about telling her what you just said to her right now?"
"What do you mean?" Aya asks with confusion.
"Aya Neumann. You have both the Ackerman blood and the Neumann blood inside you, which makes you the strongest human possible." Rod says. "Judging your hair color, you have the powers of 9 Titans already, once you gain the 12 Titan powers, you can lead humanity to safety. However, with Yeager having the power inside him, it is useless and you will continue to suffer...Since you're here, you have to take the Founding Titan power and transfer it to Historia now!"
Aya freezes a little, and she says, "Why would I do that? Eren can still use the Founding Titan's power now that Aunt Dina is here!"
Dina says, "Another thing I haven't mentioned since Aya awakened her powers by touching the Founding Titan power inside Eren, her soul is now bound with Eren, if Eren died, Aya will also die. If Aya died, Eren would also die."
This causes everyone to gasp in shock. Eren and Aya are now feeling terrified, and Historia is hesitating to eat Eren now.
"Well if this isn't interesting..." Kenny walks towards Eren. "Kenny! What are you doing?"
"Go ahead and turn into a Titan." Kenny says. "I won't interfere anymore."
Kenny grabs Eren's head, and Eren's eyes looks lifeless. "However, no head starts."
He frees Eren from his mouth bindings and grabs the knife. "You both become Titans and have at it. If Historia wins, you'll have your peace. But if you lose to Eren, the situation stays the same."
He slashes Eren's forehead, causing blood to come out.
"Keep drawing breath till I run out and die?" Kenny asks. "Can you even call that livin'?!"
Rod rushes to Historia with the syringe in his hand. "Historia! With this injection, you can become a powerful Titan! Then you can eat him, but in fact, it's more than that! You must bite his spine and consume the spinal fluid!"
"But that will also kill Aya!" Historia says, "Aya, I'm sorry..."
Eren says, "It shouldn't have happened... I'm so sorry, Aya...if it wasn't for me you wouldn't be suffering so much."
"Eren? What are you talking about? You have to fight back!" Katrina says.
"Aya, take my power and just give it to Historia, that way you'll be still alive..." Eren says, "With the power of the Attack Titan, I was the one who motivate Dad to take away the Founding Titan... I still remember how he begged Zeke to stop me from activating the Rumbling..."
Everyone is surprised to hear what Eren is saying, "I can never atone for it all. It shouldn't have happened... Those days of training... That dream beyond the walls...I... shouldn't have happened. I also saw how I would use the power to kill 80% of the population outside Paradis... maybe it would be better that you take it away..."
"Eren... no... I can't do it..." Aya says. "If you're going to die, then I'll die with you as well..."
"Aya... what are you talking about?" Dina asks in surprise.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not leaving Eren alone. Go on, Historia..." Aya says as her eyes are lifeless.
Historia throws the syringe to the ground, breaking it. Rod gasps in surprise as he grabs Historia's shoulder. "Historia!"
Historia throws him over her shoulder and he lands on the floor with a sickening crack. "You're just giving yourself an out and manipulating other people! I've had it! I won't let you kill me! Aya, Eren, and I are also friends, and I'm not going to be the cause of their deaths!"
She starts to run up the stairs and yells, "Guys! Let's free Eren!"
Dina, Aya, Katrina, Peter, and Odom nod as they quickly rush toward Eren. "What are you doing? If I go on living, everyone will keep suffering! Hurry up and eat me! I can't take living like this!"
"Shut up, idiot! Just shut up, crybaby!" Historia yells. "Exterminate the Titans?! Who the hell wants to do that bullshit?! I'm starting to hate humanity! You do the Rumbling and wipe them out! I'm humanity's biggest enemy! Got it? I'm the worst girl who ever lived!"
"Yeah, Eren! Why the hell did I fall for a crybaby like you who's giving up on life? Jeez didn't we promise to live our lives together!?"
"And if you and Aya die right now, what about us? We promise to restore the Eldian Empire together!" Katrina says.
Down below, a crippled Rod pulls himself across the floor to the remains of the syringe and laps at the spilled injection fluid, causing him to transform into a Titan. Everyone widens their eyes in shock as Dina says, "Oh no..."
And here is a new chapter, and as you can see, I decide to put some Season 4 stuff in this chapter. I hope you like it.