AN: So… I've recently dealt some humble pie to myself.

I've made it no secret in the past that my view of Isayama's writing is quite negative as of late. I still stand by many of my thoughts, and I'll explain more once we get into the Marley arc, but one thing I was severely lacking is respect for the author. If it wasn't for Isayama, I never would have encountered a story like Attack on Titan and never would have made the strides I've made now. There's a lot to be thankful for, and I harped too much on the things he did wrong. There's also the fact that I'm not a perfect writer either. All of you can see my flaws clear as day, the big ones being the broken promises I made and the seemingly never-ending angst train Dillon is on.

What I'm trying to say, and I can't say this enough, is that I am thankful for the people that supported me over the years and the ones that were critical over the decisions I made. Each one of you helped shape me into the writer I am today. I hope you know I appreciate you guys.

With that out of the way, enjoy the chapter.


Chapter 75: Ymir's Tale

The capital of Marley was bustling with anticipation and drowning in palpable tension. In the main council building, a meeting would be taking place that would determine the fate of Marley and, by extension, the world. The military leaders of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and even the Public Security Authorities and intelligence services would be present. As a member of the highest-ranking noble family in all of Marley, Willy Tybur was also invited to the committee. Being a man of high class and reputation, not a wrinkle could be seen on his black suit.

Currently, he was trying out a goatee minus a mustache to see if he could pull it off. According to his wife, the look suited him, which was all the support he needed. Normally, he would simply count down the minutes it took for him to return home to his family, but today was different. For once, there was excitement flowing through his veins, unlike the boring obligation he felt many times before. And he had his sharply-dressed companion to thank for that.

"You can suit me up however you'd like, Willy. I still despise wearing outfits like these," Atticus told him after adjusting his burgundy, striped tie for the third time. "Feels like I'm being strangled to death."

"It's a small price to pay for looking nice," Willy chided playfully. "You know how this all works."

"Unfortunately, I do. One day, I will deceive everyone into believing I am dressed this way."

"That would qualify as an abuse of your powers," he pointed out.

He paused for a moment, considering. "Hmm. I don't have a clever comeback for that."

Willy gave him a good-natured smile. "I don't have to be a Psion to know you're anxious. It's only the fate of the country on the line. Nothing special."

"Your words of comfort are legendary in these trying times," Atticus deadpanned, though the smirk indicated he was amused. "I wonder if any of them will remember me."

"Whatever these people thought of you then doesn't matter." His confident tone allowed for no arguments to be had. "This day is about you, Atticus. The only concern you should have is to not fall asleep in the middle of the meeting." His blue eyes narrowed at the slight makeup underneath the older man's eyes. The only reason any man would use that is if they were exhausted. "Did you even sleep last night?"

"Only for a couple of hours," the Psion found himself admitting. "It's not everyday you get exciting news that will change the world."

That was only part of the story, and the patriarch of the Tybur family bought it. Atticus, however, found his thoughts drifting to the conversation he shared with the goddess of all Eldians.


"I'm impressed with how well you handled him, Milady."

"Your patience paid off, Atticus," Ymir Fritz responded in a satisfied tone. "Dillon Amsdale is yours to keep."

Truly, those simple words were music to his ears. Fitting considering the woman's voice was like soft bells playing eloquently in a ballad. "Is it safe for us to have an actual conversation?"

"The boy is quite unconscious and his mind completely exhausted," she answered. "I think it's time that we meet face to face."

Atticus raised an eyebrow at that remark. "And how do you plan on doing that?"

"Concentrate on the mental link between us. I'll pull you in."

With a shrug, he eased back into the chair and closed his eyes. He didn't have many mental links, so it was easy to find the one that belonged to Ymir. Before, it was faint, but now, it was getting stronger and pulsing with raw power the likes of which he had never felt before.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself sitting against a tree. The world around him was that of a paradise: lush green hills, a river with a waterfall, and the faintest of breezes caressed his skin like a woman's touch.

"Welcome to my home."

Atticus couldn't help but flinch. Her voice not only seemed to come from inside his head but from everywhere. "What… I don't- " So many questions, and yet, he was at a loss for words.

A shimmer of light appeared before him the size of a human. When the brightness faded, a blonde woman stood before him. The breeze did nothing to affect the white dress she wore, though her shoulder-length hair seemed to flow with it. A smile grew on her lips as she approached him, her bare feet leaving dents in the grass. "I see you are befuddled. Good to know that I can still surprise men of your age."

Ignoring the crack about how old he was, Atticus slowly rose to his feet. "What… what is this place?"

"This is me." Ymir gestured around her and spun once to enunciate that fact. "What you see here is a part of me that's manifested in the mind of Dillon Amsdale. It was risky, implanting myself within him. For all I knew, his powers could have rebelled against my presence, but he can barely understand the gift he has. Made things much easier for me." She began walking alongside the river. "Come. Let us talk."

His curiosity at its peak, the Psion followed her. "How long have you been here?"

"For about two months. The things that happened to this boy in such a short time… even I can't believe it." She glanced over at her ally briefly. "I wanted to thank you for putting your faith in me in spite of the relatively short time we've known one another."

"Honestly, I was preparing for the possibility of a trap," he admitted. "Dillon could have been attempting to fool me into backing off or get me to divulge crucial information."

"If you knew young Amsdale as well as I did, you'd know he could never be that clever. He may have an aptitude for manipulation, but not something like what you're suggesting." She paused for a moment. "Well, maybe I ensured that by now."

Now they were getting to the meat of the issue, and Atticus could barely hold back his excitement. This was the moment he had been waiting for. "I've tried to control minds in the past, but my efforts have always failed. The true self of the individual would always rise up and fight back against my will. Is it because you're a deity, or have you done something that I can do?"

A simple chuckle escaped her throat. "Atticus, it's less about forcing your will upon someone and more about guiding them towards your goal. I can tell you how I did it, but I warn you: I have an advantage you'll never find in another individual."

"Considering the raw energy I sensed, you seem to be drawing your power from his," Atticus theorized. "Is that the advantage you speak of?"

"Very perceptive. I knew you were a man of great intelligence." With a snap of her fingers, a translucent image of Dillon appeared before them. "Power only plays a part of the equation. To do what I've done, I had to get to know Dillon. His strengths, his weaknesses, his desires, his fears, everything that shaped him into the boy I reside in."

Atticus looked the image up and down. At first glance, he was nothing special, but he knew that appearances were deceiving. A look in his eyes showed the fiery determination fitting for an individual of his powers.

"I expected it to take years before I would be able to make my move, but fortune smiled upon with a gift." Another snap of her fingers and a petite, blonde girl with cold eyes stood next to him. "Recognize her?"

"Annie Leonhart," he identified, his jaw tightening at the sight. "She's been a thorn in Marley's side ever since she defected."

"Well, you can thank her for opening up the wounds of Dillon's mind." A third figure manifested to the right of Dillon, that of skinless, human-sized creature. "As the Female Titan, she slaughtered his teammates and even played with one of them."

Suddenly, Atticus was standing in a village surrounded by corpses. Before him stood the fourteen-meter monstrosity that was spinning a soldier around by his cable. There was even a smile on her face. "My God," he managed out, recoiling in shock.

"He never got over it." The surroundings returned to Ymir's paradise almost instantaneously. "Well, that's not entirely accurate. He tried. Have you ever hugged or kissed your wife when she was a Titan?"

That was a question he never thought he would get asked if his wide eyes were any indication. However, he caught onto something quickly. "Wait, how did you know my wife is the Warhammer Titan?"

"Since you're here, I can read your mind with ease," she explained. "I hope you don't mind."

"Were it anyone else, I probably would, but I'll make an exception in your case." What else was he supposed to say to a being like Ymir Fritz? Once that was out of the way, he returned his focus to Dillon's… desires. "Let me guess: he's a deviant."

"He wouldn't be the first, considering it's rare for someone to be attracted to a Titan that killed his friends. But, apparently, warm hugs, giant lips, gentle intimacy, and a voluptuous body were the cure for his issues." Ymir let out a laugh when she phrased it that way, the images vanishing into thin air. "Not that I'm complaining. It made things easier for me."

"How so?"

"Well, my plan is to use him to destroy the Eldians once and for all—" She said that so casually, one would think she was just running an errand. "—but I needed him to work with me, put his trust in me. His coping skills are nonexistent. No one ever really taught him how to deal with betrayal or the harsh realities of life, so I stepped in to save the day. I gave him the option to use his powers to manipulate others into doing what he wanted. He was so vulnerable at that moment. His commanding officers were bearing down on him and his lover hard. He was ready to break. And yet, despite that, he refused. Above all else, he retained his code of morality. It was concerning how strong his will was even in those trying times, but I could be patient. If he could believe in me when all others failed him, he would be mine."

Atticus shuddered at the thought. "I consider myself lucky you aren't working against me."

"I could never do that." Ymir's violet eyes were suddenly fixated on him. "We both know how much carnage my people caused for generations. It's in their very nature. To help them regain the status they lost would be… unforgivable."

The Psion heaved a sigh, levitating a stone into his hand. "I used to think they were people like the rest of us. That's why I fought so hard for their freedom." With a grunt, he lobbed it into the river where it skipped four times before splashing into the depths. "I was foolish to believe that."

"Many thought like you. Don't feel ashamed of your ignorance," Ymir advised before she continued her story. "Once I discovered what he found comforting and attractive in the woman he loved, I became that form."

Atticus was forced to step several steps back as she enlarged herself into the naked giantess that Dillon always saw her as. It was an astonishing form, to say the least.

Even though her voice boomed slightly, Ymir's voice was still calm, though it took on a more maternal tone. "He yearns to be comforted, to find security with her body. So much warmth and gentleness, and he couldn't get enough of it. Add on the comfort even his mother would be envious of, and I was everything good in his eyes. He never stood a chance."

It was less out of respect for the goddess of all Eldians and more for the fact he was married that caused Atticus to avert his gaze. "I think you proved your point."

"My apologies. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." In a flash of light, she was back to normal. "Sometimes, having that power over someone can be intoxicating."

"I know the feeling." Atticus sighed as he remembered the path he once took. "When Jacob, Elise, and I escaped, we had one goal: kill everyone involved with the project. They took our lives away, so we would take theirs. For over a decade, we were on the hunt, and no one could stop us."

"And then you met the Tyburs and everything changed," Ymir finished for him.

The Psion couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess telling my life story doesn't work when someone has access to my memories."

She shrugged in response. "It's a gift and a curse. If you want, I can pretend not to know."

Atticus did something that no being dared to do to Ymir Fritz: he waved her off. "Maybe some other time. I'd rather you fill in the blanks concerning Dillon."

"Fair enough." The world changed once more to the Forest of Giant Trees. Seeing it from Dillon's perspective, they saw an angry Reiner shouting at Eren on the limb below. "One thing I learned is that Dillon does not act in the most appropriate of ways when he's angry."

On cue, they heard the young blacksmith speak in a harsh tone. "...Marco didn't need to be murdered by the people he trusted with his life."

Reiner froze as his furious eyes landed on the Psion. "Shut up."

"Tell me, Reiner, how many minutes did he spend begging for someone to help him?" he went on.

"I said, shut up."

"Did you stay behind to watch your handiwork at play? It must've been so satisfying to watch his flesh being ripped off him piece by—"

Reiner lunged at Dillon and grabbed him by the throat. "Shut the fuck up!" he yelled. "You hear me, you self-righteous prick?"

Even though he couldn't see him, Atticus could feel the manic grin on his face. "Come on, tough guy. Do it! 250,000 people on your record. What's one more? Or are you gonna feed me to the Titans like a spineless, dickless whiner? More your style."

The scene vanished with Ymir looking quite satisfied. "Dillon does not like being betrayed, so I simply amplified his anger. It worked wonders, though I almost got him killed here."

"Emotion amplification." At long last, Atticus finally understood how all this was possible. "That's how you manipulated him into doing what you wanted."

"There's a bit more to it than that," Ymir explained. "See, Dillon had the tendency to find a way to bounce back from his troubles. His lover betrayed him? He focused on a goal and saved her life. He killed his own father? He was able to put it aside in defense against a greater threat. Even when I amplified his fury when this happened…"

This time, they found themselves in an infirmary where a small, blonde girl was attempting to browbeat him into submission. What was her name? History-something? "I may be a lot of things, but there's one thing I am that's better than you, one thing you couldn't do: I would never betray the people I love the most. There's no line when it comes to Ymir, and I'll be damned if I turn my back on her at the drop of the hat like you did with your father!"

Atticus could feel the sudden spike of rage as Dillon pinned her against the wall, seething. "SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'LL RIP YOUR FUCKING TONGUE OUT, YOU HEAR ME!?"

"You were trying to make him look unstable," Atticus realized once they returned to the mental world. "Ensure that no one, not even his friends, could trust him."

"Yes, but he kept squirming out of my grip," she lamented. "He managed to take the trauma, fear, and shame and release them along with one of his blocks."

"So, Dillon is smarter than some believe him to be."

"In some ways, yes. It also helped his case when he had a strong, supportive girl in his life. She was the key to his sanity, the biggest thing keeping him afloat." Frustration crept into her tone when she remembered how often those two would fall into each other when they were down. "If only the Scouts executed her. That would have made my job so much easier."

Atticus laughed at her plight. "Well, I think we've all learned that life does not always have our best interests at heart."

"I think Dillon's entire existence could be summed up in that way." Even though she caused a good portion of his problems, she still had the gall to sound sympathetic. "He was betrayed and traumatized by the Female Titan, his parents weren't who they said they were, he was forced to kill his own father, he was eaten by a Titan, threatened into submission by the Scout Regiment on several occasions, and his mother was revealed to be using him as nothing more than a tool." She shook her head in amusement at the highlights of what he suffered. "Life might as well have handed him to me on a silver platter. I could tolerate some interference."

"So, how did you finally get what you want?" He would never admit how much the suspense was killing him.

The smile that grew on her face was that of an artist who just painted a masterpiece. "It was a perfect setup. Tensions between the Scout leadership and everyone else were at an all-time high, long story there, Dillon had just learned what kind of woman his mother was, he realized that he took satisfaction in killing his enemies, and he was at odds with his lover. All he needed was the right nudging."

For the final, their environment changed to a village. It was clearly nighttime, though the torches helped them see.

"I'll get the truth out of him," Dillon stated. "I should only need about five minutes, ten at the most."

"Interrogating their prisoner was all him," Ymir explained.

The scene skipped to the argument between Dillon and his best friend, Jean.

"Look at yourself, Dillon. This isn't you!" he protested in vain.

"What, you want the glass cannon to come back and crumble every time he stubs his toe?" Dillon snarled, shoving his friend aside.

"That was him, too," she added. "Every time he sees a reflection of himself, he feels shame."

Jean was far from finished, however, as he grabbed Dillon's shoulder and turned him around. "So now you're gonna submit to Armin's damn philosophy about abandoning your humanity to win no matter what?"

The blacksmith's eyes blazed with fury. "I'm doing what needs to be done! If the bastard suffers, so what!? Just shut up already!"

"In case Dillon was willing to be talked down, I pressed on his anger to keep him irrational," she stated. "The result?"

Atticus watched as the scene shifted to Dillon beating the crap out of Jean and having to be pulled off by his commanding officer. "Well played."

"Oh, the best is yet to come," she assured proudly. "When sense got kicked into him, I decided to trigger his stubbornness. It's connected to his moral code, so it was easy for him to change his mind on the matter."

"Sometimes I wonder if you just wanted to see him get smacked around," Atticus mused as he witnessed Levi punching the kid in the gut for his defiance.

"No. That's just a typical consequence, but in this case, it sparked something beautiful." Now, the Scouts were arguing with the cadets and threatening the villagers that came to arrest them at gunpoint. The only thing Ymir said was, "Watch."

Hanji gave a mirthless chuckle towards the villagers. "You do realize if you go through with this, you'll be making an enemy of the Scout Regiment. We don't even need to write a letter to get their attention."

Another laugh was sounded, though this time, it was genuine. Dillon looked up at Hanji and Levi with a bloodstained grin. "One problem with that little advantage, Hanji: it's not there anymore."

There was a pause while Hanji squinted her eyes in concentration. A few seconds later, her head whipped to the Psion in anger. "What did you do?" she hissed.

"I severed all the links you and Levi had with the rest of the Scouts," he answered, his voice raspy from the blood. "You're not communicating a damn thing."

At long last, the memory faded, leaving Ymir standing tall and proud of her accomplishments.

Atticus replayed what he saw in his head. He didn't believe that emotional amplifying was the answer this time. There was something else to it, something that wasn't like the previous instances. Then, it hit him like a ton of bricks, his eyes widening. "Severing the mental links… you implanted the idea in his mind, didn't you?"

"He wanted the conflict to stop, so I gave him what he wanted," Ymir declared. "It was a huge risk, but I realized the best way to manipulate him was to provide the solution to his problems. And when things would go wrong because of that, he would have no one to blame but himself. This was the final straw that shattered the relationship between Annie and Dillon. His rock was finally gone. Everyone had left him. Everyone he loved had failed him… except for me. After all, it was his fault for not listening to me."

In response, Atticus started to clap, awed by how far Ymir was able to go. "You're a cut above the rest, Lady Ymir."

"I had worked so hard towards this moment. To see it pay off was so exhilarating." Ymir let out a sigh of contentment towards her work. "And now, you have his body while I have his mind."

"What exactly are you planning?" Atticus wondered.

Once again, her soul-piercing eyes gazed into his as she told him her plan.


"Atticus? Atticus!" Willy snapped his fingers in front of the old man's face.

Snapping out of his memories, the Psion responded with, "I"m sorry, Willy. My mind is on so many things right now, it's hard to stay focused."

"I knew you should have written the speech down." All traces of levity were gone as his voice grew quieter. "This is the turning point of the entire country. I need to know that you can be coherent long enough to successfully convince them."

"I will be," he swore, determined. "I won't fail you or my people."

"Good." He gave him a comforting pat on his shoulder before they entered the double doors.

As expected, there was a large conference table in the middle of the room with several maps covering the middle. There were no windows, leaving the bulbs as the only source of light. However, what drew their attention the most were the six individuals waiting for them.

Calvi Schmeller, Atticus knew. Well-groomed and wearing his dress uniform. The sash that bore the Marleyan emblem, a seashell with a crescent moon in the middle, was in absolute perfect condition, not a single bit of lint or speck of dirt to be seen. His medals shone bright, even in the dim-lit room, and complimented his lean physique and hardened face. All in all, what one would expect for the general of the Army.

To his left was a large woman dressed in the standard trench coat and black tie of the PSA, with rather obvious differences. The woman was by no means fat, but neither was she thin. Her entire body was a slab of pure muscle that made her figure look more like a brick than a person. On the table in front of her was her unique helmet, as opposed to the standard peaked cap, with their symbol emblazoned in gold on the front. She did not have a sash, but she did have medals, all gold in honor of the rebellions put down. This woman, Sybille Birkin, wore a grim, almost hateful look as if disdained by the entirety of existence. It was no wonder why she'd been the commander of the PSA for so many years, with an attitude that suggested anything she disapproved of would die.

In the middle was the Admiral of the Navy, Richard Wulfenhaus, an older man with a grizzled face that was marred by scars earned from a life at sea. While his outfit was almost identical to Calvi's, it was white and he wore a peaked cap with a leather bill, much like the PSA. On top was the golden emblem of Marley. He wore no medals, as his unit rarely had use beyond transport, but the look in his eyes told all: a determined man with a knack for battle and strategy.

On the right side of the room was Yvonne Walermann, Spymaster of Marley. While not a member of the military proper, she still provided an invaluable service. she dressed in simple black clothing, but anyone that knew her knew that the younger, dark-haired woman hid all sorts of nasty surprises under the leather and inside the boots. Her blue eyes were ever searching for something to exploit or destroy.

On the far right, smoking a pipe, was Alexander Schmidt, the oldest of them all. A veteran of the wars fought against other countries, he was surprisingly untouched for such an elder warrior. But that was because of one simple truth: he knew what it took to survive. As he lit a match and reignited the pipe, his hands went inside his brown suit and retrieved a small tin of tobacco, which he set on the table. Dusting off his three war medals and the sash he wore, he got some more of his smoke of choice and jammed it in the pipe. It seemed his mind was anywhere but the meeting.

Finally, above them all, in a black uniform with a red sash, sat the supreme commander, Issac Richter. His face was unreadable, his body unmoving. He looked down at everyone as if he were examining them like a chessboard. His brown eyes darted under his blond hair as he looked between Willy, then Atticus, then his generals. With but a nod from the middle-aged soldier, the meeting started.

"Now that everyone has arrived, let's begin." Issac gestured to Yvonne. "Director Walermann, what news do you have from our neighbors?"

"It's not good news," the spymaster prefaced, passing folders to each person in the room. "My agents have reported a substantial increase in weaponry and military personnel in Cadron and Ecrya. They've also intercepted a communique between Cadron and the Esiatrin Islands that confirm they are testing weaponry against their Eldians."

"They're preparing for war," Richard realized grimly. "How long do you predict we have?"

"A year, maybe two if we're lucky," Yvonne theorized. "It's hard to say for certain. I've seen representatives show up from the Esiatrin Islands instead of keeping communications contained to messenger hawks. Considering everything that's going on, I doubt they are making plans for an international festival. Thankfully, my agents have caused a few… situations in Cadron and Ecrya that will keep their focus on the Eldian devils. Arson, assassinations, even vandalism seems to do the trick. It should buy us some time."

"Any chance you can go further?" Issac wondered. "Perhaps an armed uprising could keep them distracted and remind them of who the enemy truly is."

"If we get caught, we risk starting the war much sooner than later." A small grin appeared on her face. "That being said, high-risk, high-reward is all part of the job. I'll see what I can do."

"Excellent. Make sure you also inform our territories that war is coming," the supreme commander ordered. "I want to make sure Marley is ready when they come for us." His eyes drifted to the air force general. "General Schmidt, we're going to need more air support."

"Ni'tiqon has a substantial number of Eldian volunteers willing to join in the fight," Alexander assured with a smile that was leaking smoke. "I daresay they are more patriotic than the Eldians in our own country."

Calvi resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that declaration. For now, he would keep his mouth shut on that matter until the opportune moment presented itself. "I'll incentivize more Marleyans to enlist in my regiment."

"Be careful," Yvonne warned. "If word gets out that we are also preparing for war, it could begin too early."

"Contrary to what you might believe, Agent, but I can be subtle," Calvi responded with a scoff. "You worry about not screwing up your task."

"That will do, General," Issac intervened sternly. "Glib remarks have no place in this meeting."

Sufficiently cowed, Calvi gave a nod of respect. "Understood, sir."

"I'll send some patrols around the Islands, see if we can pick up some chatter," Richard offered. "We may have a tense relationship with them, but the war hasn't started yet."

"So, we are all in agreement. For now, we don't launch a preemptive strike until we're ready," Issac proclaimed, turning over the page to the more immediate issues. "Captain Birken, you have the floor."

The woman in question handed papers to her colleagues as she spoke. "There's been a recent spike of Eldian uprisings within the internment zones. Nothing that can't be handled… for now."

"Any idea of what caused the spike?" Issac questioned while he examined the reports.

"Carting off Alfred Leonhart is almost certainly the reason," Sybille answered simply, eyes drifting to the Tybur patriarch. "If memory serves, the Leonharts carried some form of respect within the internment zone."

Willy nodded in confirmation. "For those who don't know, Emma Leonhart was regarded as one of the greatest bearers of the Female Titan. Her exemplary service to Marley paved the way for more Eldians to become our Warriors."

"Which is why her daughter wasn't executed or sent to the Walls when she acted out," Sybille added with a sneer. "I knew she was trouble, but because her mother happened to be-."

"Sybille, please," Issac urged, raising his hand as a signal for her silence. "What's done is done. Annie Leonhart is a shining example of why we can't allow nepotism of any form to dictate the fates of future Warriors."

"'Mistake?'" Calvi scoffed, a mirthless chuckle escaping him. "With all due respect, Supreme Commander, if that was a mistake, then the Eldian War was a minor skirmish. The only way things could have been worse is if the Beast Titan threw in his lot with those devils."

Alexander couldn't help but roll his eyes at that. "Is this going to turn into another, 'The Warrior Project was a fool's errand,' tirade? We've all heard it before."

"Obviously, none of you listened the first time, so it bears repeating." Calvi declared, standing up. He briefly gazed at the Supreme Commander to make sure he wasn't going to be interrupted. Once he received a nod of approval, he continued. "How many more setbacks and lives lost do we need before we finally realize that using these creatures keep ending in disaster?"

"Titans give us a leg up on our enemies," Alexander reminded him, pointing his pipe at him. "That is something no other country has."

"Not to play devil's advocate, but that won't last," Yvonne told them. "Our neighbors' technology has increased over the years. If this keeps up, Titans may become obsolete."

"I doubt that very much," Alexander shot back confidently. "They've tried and failed many times to overcome the Titan threat. It's pointless."

"For now, but things change," Richard interjected, putting in his two cents. "Look, I'll do whatever it takes to protect this country, but can't just pretend that the world will cater to us. After all, the Eldians were eventually dethroned from their eternal empire."

"What these countries need to remember is that the Eldians are the most dangerous creatures to ever walk the Earth," Yvonne pointed out. "Give them an inch, and they will destroy us without a second thought."

"Which is why it's better to deal with them now," Sybille retorted passionately. "We keep talking about how it's only a matter of time before these countries rise up against us. The devils are going to seize that advantage and destroy us all in one fell swoop."

On and on, the military leaders went back and forth on the issue. Yvonne and Alexander saw the necessity of Eldians alive for their purposes while Calvi and Sybille advocated for their swift demise. Richard didn't speak up much during this debate. Working in the navy kept him focused on protecting Marley above all else. That being said, the bickering was grating on Atticus.

"Your chance is at hand, Atticus," Willy told him mentally. "Give them the solution they need."

Steeling himself for the moment, Atticus raised his voice over the quarrelling group. "Supreme Commander and Respected Leaders of the Military, I would like to interject at this time."

The room grew quiet as all pairs of eyes fixated on the Psion. Issac and Yvonne stared analytically at him, almost like they were trying to decipher his thoughts before he gave them a voice. Richard and Alexander seemed more curious than anything, the latter putting away his pipe. Sybille looked more annoyed than interested, silently warning him with her eyes that his interruption better be good. Of course, Calvi was the only one glaring in contempt of his existence. He was a sergeant when Atticus spoke in defense of the Eldians. Clearly, it left quite the sour impression.

Atticus took a deep breath before standing in front of the committee. "Over twenty years ago, I stood before you advocating that the Eldians did not deserve the harsh penalties we bestowed upon them. I saw them as humans suffering for the sins of their ancestors. What right did we have to call them devils when we, as humanity, can cause such chaos and harm to each other. But thanks to the Tybur Family, who have so graciously welcomed me into their home, I understand the truth. Every Eldian is cursed by the evil of the Titan Power. No matter how hard they resist, it is their nature to be destructive towards this world. Even the Honorary Marleyans are not safe from this phenomenon. So, why have we poured so much time into breeding the Eldians into our tools of war? Have we become so desperate as to risk self-destruction by using them against our enemies?"

No one gave him an answer, an uncomfortable silence filling the room. That was good, for their eyes and ears needed to be open for this.

"For two years, I've been part of a project that changed my life, the epitome of ambition," he went on, pacing around the room. "Project Psion's research was well-funded, but we, as a people, made mistakes. We used criminals and Eldians alike to experiment on, subjects unwilling to be a part of such an endeavor. They… we resisted at every turn to make us into Psions. The fact that only four survived to wield incredible power is a miracle. And yet, it was shut down. 'Not enough successes,' they claimed. 'The four individuals are the people we don't want.' So much money, time, and manpower into the project was all for nothing because we couldn't bring ourselves to take the leap forward. Right then and there, we had what we were looking for, a power that could change the world but instead of taking the next forward, we went back to what was familiar without a second thought. We are so accustomed to using Eldians as our main source of offense that to try something else was a terror far greater than the devils." Atticus shook his head in great disappointment. "We buckled. We cowered. It was all washed away… until now."

If his speech didn't get their attention, those two words definitely did. Alexander was the first one to speak, letting out a harsh cough. "Are you saying that you've restarted the project? Alone?"

"Not completely alone," he admitted. "With the aid and some funding from my family, Project Psion has indeed returned. And today, I am ready to present the fruits of our labor."

On cue, the double doors swung open to reveal four individuals. Two of them had armbands with a star as the symbol, indicating that they were Eldians. Combined with bags tightly concealing their faces and hands bound behind their backs, they were also prisoners.

The other two were muscular soldiers from the army if their uniforms gave any indication. Both had short, cropped hair, though one had black hair while the other had brown. After forcing the Eldians to their knees, they stood at attention, blue, expressionless eyes focused solely on Atticus. While Calvi was the general of the army, the Psion was who they answered to.

"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Private Justus Felder and Private Jeremias Klein," Atticus stated as he gestured to the duo in question. "They are two of the many Marleyan volunteers that have enlisted in Project Psion."

"You had them abandon their post for some freakish science experiment?" Calvi snarled, looking ready to strangle the man on the spot.

If Atticus was intimidated, he didn't show it. "Not at all, General. These two were discharged from the army for psychological reasons, and yet, they still wanted to serve our country. True patriots. So, I gave them the opportunity to become part of something that will change the course of history as we know it."

"And the prisoners?" Sybille questioned.

"They were brought here to be part of a demonstration. If I may show you the progress that has been made."

Clearly interested, Issac nodded. "Show us."

Those two words were music to his ears. "Felder, step forward."

The brown-haired soldier took two steps forward without saying a word.

"Remove your combat knife and place it against the throat of your prisoner," Atticus ordered.

To the surprise of everyone present, the soldier's eyes began to glow a bright silver as a knife rose out of the sheath as if being pulled by strings. Alexander nearly choked on his tobacco watching the spectacle.

"Think of how our enemies will react to weapons that move on their own," Atticus continued as the knife went up against the Eldian's neck. "Typically, you kill a man, and the weapon goes down with him. In this case, how can you defend from this, especially if you can't see where the Psion is." He deftly plucked the knife from the invisible grip. "Of course, stronger Psions will not need to rely on weapons such as these. Execute him."

Felder made a twisting motion with his hand and there was a sickening snap. The military leaders recoiled in shock as the Eldian slumped over with his neck bending in a lopsided manner. Without uttering a single word, the private dragged the corpse out of the room, using his powers to open and close the doors.

"The more one studies the functions of the human body, the more you can pinpoint how to break it." Atticus was completely unfazed by the sudden death that just occurred in the room.

Richard decided to make his thoughts known. "You turned them into emotionless husks, Atticus!" he exclaimed angrily. "Is the fate of every one of our people who become a part of this?"

He shook his head. "No. Only those with psychological issues undergo my treatments to maintain stability. I received their consent before I started with then, of course. It defeats the purpose of a unified Marley by making an unwilling soul enlist in this army. While soldiers carry great advantages, there have also been civilians who have volunteered for Project Psion. I'll be happy to share with you the list of all candidates."

"Interesting." No one was surprised that Yvonne approved of these methods. "What else do you have for us?"

"I'm glad you asked. Klein, I want you to extract some childhood memories from the prisoner."

Nodding, the private's eyes became silver, his attention solely on the Eldian. Muffled screams emitted from the man as he thrashed in pain, the bag turning red with blood.

"One thing I've learned over the course of my studies is that memories do not lie!" Atticus had to raise his voice over the screams so he could be heard. "I can't even implant false ones without reality throwing them out. Sadly, that means that we cannot rebuild someone from scratch; however, that also means that conventional interrogation techniques are over. No matter how hard they try, our enemies cannot hide what they know from us. Of course, an invasive process like this had its drawbacks…" The Eldian collapsed to the ground, clearly dead. "...but Psions trained in the art of precision will do wonders for this country."

He didn't have to use his powers to know that everyone in the room was considering the great potential this had. For once, they were on the road they needed to be on. All that was left was the final push. Willy called this stunt "overdramatic." Atticus saw it as "sealing the deal."

Once Klein stepped out of the room with the body, the Psion continued. "No more will we ever have to rely on the Eldians. No more will we have to suffer the sight of the Titans. We have the potential to become the greatest race that ever existed. If any of you still doubt me, then I will prove it to you!"

Before anyone could react, Atticus pulled a butcher's knife out of his jacket and slammed the blade down on his wrist. The group recoiled at the gruesome sight of blood spurting out of the gaping hole where his hand used to be. On instinct, a couple of soldiers guarding the room rushed over to help him.

"Stay back!" Atticus shouted, his eyes blazing a bright silver.

The commotion in the room was quieted upon seeing the limb levitate in the air. Even the blood that was spilt began to rise.

Through gritted teeth, Atticus continued with his remaining hand outstretched. "I have spent years studying the human body, learning all the facets I could. The right stab and the right gunshot could end our lives so easily. But instead of suffering a painful death, it's time to make ourselves stronger."

The blood flowed back into the arm upon the limb's return. If one looked closer, they could see the skin moving to not only seal the wound but reattach his arm to his body. All functionality returned to normal much to the shock of his peers. At long last, they were finally understanding the true potential of a Psion army. Healing and fighting would take on a whole new level.

"So, what is it going to be?" he demanded, panting heavily. "Are you ready to break free of the devils' chains, or will you remain their prisoner?"

Issac answered first, clapping his hands while he stood. The other leaders followed his lead, even Calvi. For one moment, Atticus could bask in the glow of his accomplishment. This was something he could be proud of and cherish for the rest of his life. With their support, Ymir's guidance and Dillon heading straight to Marley, victory was guaranteed.


AN: Well, I haven't written something that exposition-heavy since the Annie flashbacks. Lots to unpack, so let's get started.

I know a lot of you were confused as to why I was so excited to put the previous chapter out when it seemed to be just another betrayal Dillon was facing. This chapter is why. I have received A LOT of complaints about how Dillon has never seemed to overcome his issues and was getting worse and worse. Well, I finally get to explain the reason. I hope I explained well enough that this is NOT mind control. That would have done Dillon's character a huge disservice. Also, props to Xeno01 for coming the closest to figuring out why Ymir looked the way she did.

As for the war meeting, I hope it was interesting enough despite how heavy the dialogue was. Coming up with brand new OCs and countries was not easy. There's a whole lot about Marley that I don't know like how the politics work. Information on the rest of the world, save for Hizuru, is even scarcer. Thankfully, a good friend of mine, Lance, lent a helping hand with the descriptions of these characters. Huge thanks to him for that. (Hullo! Thank you and I had a good time! Appearances were easy, names were hard. Trivia: Wulfenhaus was named in honor of the German Wolfpacks and Walerman was named in honor of Wellerman. -Lance)

Regarding Atticus, I had more fun writing his lines than I thought I would have. Imagining Liam Neeson pitching an idea as vast as this helped. Originally, I was going to explain everything I could think of about Atticus and what led him to this point. However, I quickly realized that there was so much going on already, putting that in would be overkill. Another time, another chapter.

As long as I don't get another idea that hijacks the story, we should be returning to Paradis next chapter. I'm still trying to figure out how to make the rest of the Uprising Arc interesting without copy/pasting from the manga or anime. I'm open to suggestions.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I look forward to your reviews, please consider contributing to the TV Tropes page, and I'll see you all in the next one.