Chapter 5
Eren, Mikasa, and Jean are now at the port, Eren is sitting in front of Lady Azumabito and he says, "Lady Azumabito, and everything is just like I said. The Rumbling won't reach the shores of Hizuru because it is the only ally of Eldia, and it will be your freedom to choose if you want to save those nations or not."
Lady Azumabito says, "I appreciate that the Rumbling is not going to trample our homeland, however, if you think Paradis Island has reached tranquility with what has happened, then I'm afraid to say that in reality, your world has only become narrower. All you've done is repeat the cycle of mutual murder..."
"I appreciate your kind advice, however, I'm sure that even Hizuru knows the true past of our Eldia Empire. We never initiate the wars, everything started because the other nations are greedy for our Titan Power. It is true that our first king Fritz is a blood-thirsty man who wants to conquer all the nations, but after the death of Ymir, our three goddesses Maria, Rose, and Sina will never follow their father's footsteps of bloodshed unless threatened. It goes through centuries until Karl Fritz can't bear any more of their pathetic struggle and gives away the Titan powers."
Eren looks out the window and watches the Rumbling, "Despite the powers given to Marley, instead of showing gratitude, they paint us the evil of everything. They are willing to destroy us and this is what happens after their pathetic struggle."
"I understand, and that's why we Hizuru will shelter any innocent people and children in our land, once the Rumbling is over, they will return to their homelands and recreate their own paradise." Lady Azumabito says.
On the other side of the dunes, Hange, Magath, and the others are there. Magath says, "Something's wrong."
Pieck says, "The harbor. The Yeagerist has taken control of the harbor. They must've gotten there first by the steam engine. There are many soldiers with anti-Titan gear surrounding the place. They're ready for combat."
The alliance members are surprised as Hange and Magath decide to watch, and they notice that not only there are Yeagerists, but also the Hizuru military.
"Unbelievable... Floch has made it all this way this quickly... he's sharp." Hange says.
"We're done for if the Yeagerists destroy that flying boat... but why didn't they destroy it?" Magath asks.
"I'm not sure, but most likely, they don't have a solid reason to believe that there are people like us out there who are looking to stop the Rumbling." Hange says. "Plus, it's easy to destroy the Flying Boat, but it'll take decades to recreate technology that will be lost if the world is destroyed. It would be an even greater loss to let go of a flying boat in case they want to take over uninhabited continents. In addition, it could be that their main objective in taking over the port was actually to seize the Azumabito, who had many ships and technology under their control. However, if he realizes that we're here, he'll destroy that flying boat immediately. Stopping them from doing that would be difficult, even with the power of the nine titans."
"But if we fail here, we'll never be able to get the Founding Titan." Magath says. "We have to plan."
Annie then decides to kill everyone there, and this causes Armin to reject. "Hold on. If we indiscriminately attack the harbor, the Azumabito will get caught in the crossfire."
"Those people are basically our enemies, so what does it matter to you?" Annie replies.
"No, it'll be a problem if we let the Azumabito die. Annie." Pieck says. "Right?"
"Indeed. That will be a problem." Onyankopon says. "As for operating the flying boat, I can probably fly it somehow. However, if we don't have an Azumabito mechanic with us, we won't be able to get it airborne. It'll be like a boat with no wings. Right now, its wings are folded away to make it easier to tow across the water. And in order to allow it to fly, it's not enough to just reextend them. The original plan was to get it inside the hanger, where it would be inspected, and then have a test run, only then would it be arranged to be operational..."
"How long would that take?" Reiner asks.
"I don't know, depends on the Azumabito." Onyankopon says.
"So that means we have to buy ourselves enough time to prepare the airship while protecting the Azumabito at the same time. In addition, you lot don't want to cause any casualties amongst the Yeagerists, despite the fact they might get in our way, isn't that right?" Annie asks.
"We don't have to kill them... some of them are our friends from the training corp's days." Connie says.
"Then what's the plan?" Annie asks. "How are we going to get the flying boat while securing them enough time to get the ship ready?"
"There is only one way. Either we settle this in one go, or we mess up and lose the flying boat." Pieck says.
"Wait! Aren't we all here to save people? So you're saying that in order to do that, we should first kill people on the island? Why does it have to be like that!" Connie yells.
Then the others close their eyes, and Annie says, "You're right. To begin with, none of you have any obligation to do this with us. Nor any obligation to make a hard choice like this. If you'd been in our place that day, you probably wouldn't have chosen to breach the wall. Unlike us."
Reiner then remembers how Eren says the words, "As I thought, I'm the same as you."
"I see... so that's what he meant..." Reiner mutters. "The two of you don't have to fight. Just watch from a safe location together with Gabi and Falco. If the Yeagerist finds you, you'll be forced to decide whether you want it or not. But don't get involved."
"So you're telling us to just watch you kill each other?" Connie asks.
"That said, can this really be solved?" Armin asks.
"I'm not interested in being a spectator." Hange says. "I already killed four Yeagerist with my own hand anyway. More importantly, humanity does not have much time left. I saw Titans moving from the shore, giving off a massive amount of steam. Judging by the speed, they've already arrived on the continent of Marley. The closest Marley's cities in the northeast must have been annihilated by now. I didn't expect they'd cross the ocean this fast. Who knows how many have been killed already."
Then Magath turns to the others and kneels in front of them. "Connie and Armin. I want to apologize for my behavior last night. Eren Yeager was right. We were wrong. I spoke so flippantly about justice. Even at this late stage, I cowardly tried to justify my own actions. All because I was afraid to reflect on myself and see the despicable side of Marley within me. This isn't your responsibility. It's wrong to place the sins of the past on your shoulder just because of your race."
He turns to the Warriors, "Pieck, Porco, Annie, Reiner, there's no reason for you to be burdened with this world's hatred either. But... We do have the responsibility to remember this foolish blood-stained history and pass it on to future generations. Eren Yeager, no, the Founding Titan wants to erase everything. We must not let them. So long we continue to avert our eyes from our own foolish acts...This hell will never end. That's why I beg you. Please overlook our foolishness just for now."
Armin says, "I refuse to just stand by with clean hands."
As Eren and the others are still in the building, we hear Armin's voice, "Floch! Where are you? Please, anybody! Where are the Azumabito?"
Mikasa says, "That's Armin..."
Jean asks, "What is he doing here?"
Eren say, "He is going to doom our island by saving Marley. It seems that we're going to fight them..."
Eren opens the window and says, "If you're looking for Floch, I say he's not here, he's at Capital Mitras because he's training the new Eldia military."
Armin and Connie aren't expecting to see Eren there. Eren says, "Even after the conversation yesterday, you two are still insisting on killing everyone on the island, aren't you?"
Armin gasps and says, "No! We're not going to kill anyone on the island... we just need the Azumabitos..."
Eren says, "Why would the Azumabito help you, when we already promise them that Hizuru is not on the path of the Rumbling and their nation is safe? All of you realize that they are just money grubbers who refuse to help us negotiate with other nations and only want our resources for themselves."
Then Eren jumps out of the window and bites his hand, going into the War Hammer Titan form, Mikasa asks, "Eren?"
"I'm sorry to say this..." Eren says. "THE ENEMY IS HERE! THE ARMORED TITAN, THE FEMALE TITAN, AND THE CART TITAN ARE HERE! ARMIN, CONNIE, AND HANGE ALSO BETRAYED ELDIA! THEIR GOAL IS TO KILL US!"
Everyone gasps at what Eren is saying, and Eren says, "Mikasa, Jean, protect the Azumabitos! Don't let Marley get them!"
Mikasa and Jean nod as the Yeagerists are trying to shoot Connie and Armin. Mikasa says, "Jean, you bring the Azumabitos to the basement, I'm going to fight too."
Jean nods as they all rush to the basement, and Mikasa notices both Reiner and Annie appear and they're about to transform.
"Eren! Watch out!" Mikasa yells, and Eren notices the Armored and the Female Titan are approaching. He quickly creates a bow and arrow and shoots through them.
The Yeagerists are trying to shoot Armin and Connie, but they're also fighting back. Jean is rushing to bring the Azumabitos to safety, only to meet Hange and Magath on the way.
"Jean! Wait, we're not going to fight you!" Hange says.
"And you want us to believe you?" Jean asks, "Eren told us everything about your talking last night, and we've already decided that letting you stop the Rumbling will mean the island will be doomed. Unless you promise that if you manage to stop the Rumbling, you will do nothing to harm the island, which I doubt that will be the case."
He adds, "If he hadn't watched his mother eaten alive when the wall was breached... Eren would never have done anything like this. No, Eren didn't want this as well, he tried to negotiate with all the nations for peace, and in return, they all attacked them and killed a lot of our soldiers, and just after the failed negotiation, Willy Tybur also went with that speech to declare war on our island! You people left him with no choice but to use the Rumbling!"
"Oh, so now you want to talk about history? You should at least understand that Eldia was the first to devastate Marley and put our people through hell." Magath says.
"How long are you going to play the victim over something that happened two millennia ago? And Marley was never the victim in the first place. Eldia is the true victim!" Jean says.
Lady Azumabito says, "That's enough, Jean. I know that you want the flying boat so that you can stop the Rumbling."
An engineer says, "It usually takes a day for the maintenance before we can fly the plane, if it's in good condition, half a day will do."
"And that's why we have an idea. A city south of here is Odiha, in which Azumabito has a facility. You can get the plane ready there. You can leave now on the ship with the plane docked and have the plane to fly from there."
I'll end the chapter right here, and the next chapter will be the continuation of the fight.