Dark Side Royalty: AKA What if Eren became the Devil? As in, literally?

Eren didn't know what to expect when he died. He knew if there was a Hell, he belonged there. He was just skeptical of one existing. Between all he had learned of the Paths, Ymir, and the true nature of Titans, he half expected that the Paths were the only afterlives or, more depressingly, there was just nothing. That they ceased to exist upon death.

He quickly learned that these ideas were false. Hell was real. It was very, very real.

The first thing he noticed was the screaming. Far away, echoing faintly, yet also blaring in his very ears. Where was it? Who was it?

Then came the heat. It was warm, so warm, too warm. Why didn't it burn and boil him? Why wasn't he on fire?

The smell came next. Burning, so much burning and ash. Why wasn't he gagging for breath? Why wasn't it choking his lungs?

Finally came the whispers. The chanting. The bailing, roaring, and cawing. What, what ,what were they!?

And, at last, he opened his eyes.

He was laying flat on the ground. Ground that was rough and jagged, and he could see something falling in his unfocused vision. Was that...lava? Was he remembering the volcano again?

Eren forced himself up, getting to his knees as he raised his head. He still had a body, somehow, despite being beheaded. Twice now that he thought about it. What was going on...?

He froze as he realized he was surrounded by...things.

They were small, the size of children. But they had small heads with large mouth full of uneven fangs, long arms and long fingers with longer claws, wide feet that stomped on the ground. Their leathery skin was various colors. Some green, some blue or purple, but mostly red. Their large, sickly yellow eyes were gazing upon him with an eager, toothy grins.

Eren jerked away from them in alarm, finding himself against a wall. The strange creatures reached for him, but didn't move closer. Eren looked past them and felt something dying in his throat, and his soul.

There were monsters all around him. One was tall and lanky, with a diamond-shaped stone for a head. A human-ish creature with two heads, each with only one eye. A flock of horned, winged snakes. So many more, each more terrifying than the next.

But the worst were the people. People he knew on instinct, even if he barely met them: Louise, Phil, Daz, Samuel and more. The Yeagerists. Those that had died because they followed him, tried to prevent Armin and the others from stopping him. They were barely human now, their skin charred and covered in burnt marks that they wore with pride, almost grinning as they held their bayonet-tipped rifles.

At their feet were more people who they had stabbed and impaled to the floor. They were still gasping in pain and horror, gasping for breath and staring at him in terror.

And all of them, he knew as well: Rod Riess, Gross, and even Willy Tyblur.

They were all split into two, forming a path down their middle that led to...a throne. A throne of stone, adorned with bones and painted in blood. It was framed by massive falls of lava, parted by the heads and arms of what looked like...no, those were definitely Titans. The Wall Titans, their faces pitched forth, looking as if they were frozen in the middle of a furious roar, their raised arms interlocked as if they were holding back the tide of some great flood.

Eren knew where he was. This was Hell. This was where he began suffering for all eternity, wasn't it? Tormented by the images of those he used and got killed following him. Exactly what he deserved, after all. He was the worst person to ever live, with little contest to that horrid title. He had slaughtered humanity down to a fifth of its numbers, stole the dreams and futures and freedom from hundred of millions.

So...where was it? Where was the agony, the horror, the unending pain? How long were they going to stand there and drag this wait out? Were they just waiting for the ring leader, whoever ruled Hell to welcome him formally into perpetual agony? Was this just some sort of sick joke for the re-

One of the small creatures grabbed his hand.

He looked at it with wide eyes. It grinned wider, but didn't attack. Instead, it pulled him forward, eagerly waving him to follow it. Numbly, he allowed it to guide him down the path. With dawning comprehension, he watched as the Yeagerists saluted him, dedicating their hearts even in damnation. The monsters, denizens of this inferno roared at him. No, not at him.

For him.

He looked to the throne again as he drew close. There, at the right side, was Floch. Of course it was Floch, standing there somehow looking more human than all the others, save for the wings upon his back. Leathery, bat-like wings, but wings all the same.

Floch nodded to him before glancing off to the side. Eren followed his sight and turned to his right, looking to a cliff face nearby. There in the distance stood Erwin Smith, looking as he did in life, with the only exception being the endless trail of ash that flowed off him. The Fallen Commander nodded, and nothing more, before vanishing as ashes into the winds of hell.

Eren sighed deeply and welcomed the smoke in his throat. It almost felt pleasant, somehow, as he accept this unexpected turn of events.

He pulled his hand from the imp, and moved forward. With a turn, he sat on the throne and allowed himself to rest in it.

All at once, Hell itself viciously cheered and screamed to welcome the Devil upon his throne. Only now did Floch give his salute as his comrades cheered, stabbing their victims in celebration.

Eren didn't concern himself with the sadism before him as he propped his arms on the throne and rested his head in his hand, glancing up. Beyond the cliff he had appeared before were mountains. And on each of the three mountain tops stood the mighty form of a petrified Titan, larger than any save his Founding form and Ymir herself.

The Daughters of Ymir, the namesakes of the Walls: Maria, Rose, and Sina. Each suffering for the past two thousand years in this pit of punishment. If even they were here, then almost everyone he knew would be here one day. He snorted as he allowed dark amusement to form in his heart. It'd be an interesting reunion.

But that would not be for a long time still. Right now, he had a kingdom to inspect.

It was strange. After all that time, all that suffering, killing, and pushing onward...he finally felt free.

Perhaps he had always belonged here.

For who else would better rule over the Demons of Hell than the Devil of All Earth?

End of Chapter

Okay, so...yeah. After the ending with Eren dying, this idea popped into my head. If Eren goes to Hell, there's a good chance they'd just crown him king of the place. A bit short, but I just wanted to show this idea to you guys. Hope you enjoy it.

And as the saying goes:

Better to Rule in Hell than Serve in Heaven.

PS The title is a referrence to the song "Land of the Dead" by Voltaire.

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