Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 63: Declaration of War
The show was a complete success. Willy Tybur was very proud of how everything played out. His crew didn't have a lot of time to rehearse, nor enough resources to build better backdrops. Most of their labour went into building the stage itself. But the audience saw no difference in quality. Considering this was the first ever great show they'd seen, there wasn't anything to compare it to. They were just pleased to see their contribution to the project be put to good use.
With the splendour of the grand finale behind them, the crew began work on the most important part of the show… the set-up for Willy Tybur's speech. Instead of just standing there and telling people what he thinks should happen, he will have a puppet shadow show play out behind him to help the audience visualise the story he is telling.
Ten minutes have passed since the musical production ended. The Warriors who have been part of the show reunited with their loved ones. Exchanging their praise for a stellar performance.
The joy-filled reunion didn't last too long as right now the Warriors had other, more important issues to deal with. Like the disappearance of Reiner.
Michael and Lazarus share what they've been discussing with Erwin, who didn't seem that shocked. As he once explained in his hypothetical synopses, if he were leading the Scouts to launch a surprise attack against Marley, his priority would be to split up and capture the enemy Shifters. That way there would be minimal resistance for Eren.
Right now, all the other Titan Shifters, apart from the Armoured, were gathered together in one spot, surrounded by soldiers. Eren would not risk killing them without giving the Scouts the chance to take some of their powers for themselves. However the same was true for Eren himself. Lazarus has to devour him to claim the Attack and Founding Titans.
Michael asks Lazarus to try and pinpoint Reiner's location again. Surely if Eren is with him he'll be able to pick up a strong energy signature from three Titan powers being near each other, right?
But the two Smiths were shocked to learn that Lazarus was unable to detect any trace of the Armoured Titan, nor the Attack and Founding Titans respectfully. Somehow, Eren was able to mask his and Reiner's presence from him. But how? The Founding Titan has no control over the Winged since it isn't connected to the Paths. So why is this happening?
"What do we do? Without my Titan sense, Eren and Reiner are completely hidden." Lazarus started to panic, worried about what Eren planned to do with his friend now that he had him locked up somewhere. And he can't escape by transforming, or else Eren may try something that'll put everyone in danger.
"For now, all we can do is nothing." Erwin calmly responded.
He pulled the two boys away from the crowd and into a dark alley so that they could openly discuss their next move free from prying ears.
"We know Eren is here. The Marleyans know it too. Until the Scouts become involved, we will let them and Eren fight each other. Our priority is to ensure none of the Titan Shifters are secured. We'll need their aid to stop the Rumbling, assuming Lazarus's vision is accurate." Erwin explained.
"It is. I saw Eren leading a revolution against the Paradis military. I don't know if it's happened yet, or who else is with him, but I won't let Eren kill any of my friends!" Lazarus declared.
"We should inform the other Warriors about this. Tell them to stay together and get away from the square, since that's the most likely place Eren will show himself. And when he does, I'll transform and stop him!" Michael suggested.
"No, Michael. Your task will be to protect the Tybur family." Erwin interrupted sternly. "One of them possesses the Warhammer Titan. If Eren secures its power for himself, his hardening will be equal to yours. You must make sure that doesn't happen."
Lazarus agrees with that idea. Eren already has two powerful Titans under his control. Adding the Warhammer to his arsenal will make stopping him much more challenging for the others.
"You must protect Willy Tybur with your life." Michael is about to question why since he's confirmed not to be the wielder of the Warhammer, but Erwin explains his reasoning before he can. "He is important for Eldia's future. He is the only Eldian the world doesn't hate and listens to. Once the war is over and the power of the Titans is no more, Paradis will need a voice to make itself heard. And mine alone won't be enough."
That made sense to them. Though they weren't sure of him at first, Willy had shown himself to be a nobleman who desires peace as much as they do. When he told him their story, he could've dismissed it as nonsense and continued believing the Eldians on Paradis were devils. But he understood that not all of them are the devils the world made them out to be. Only people like Eren who wish to unleash the Rumbling are the true devils.
Erwin turns to Lazarus after he asks him what he should do next. "You will continue to perform your demonstration as if everything is normal. Eren may have spies watching the entire event from afar. Make sure you aren't followed as you approach the clear zone marked on the map."
"Yes sir." Lazarus turns to Michael and unveils his sword necklace. Michael does the same with the shield necklace. "Be careful out there. Try not to die before your time. I don't doubt Gabi's skills, but no one can wield the Crystal Titan like you can."
"Thanks, buddy. You take care too. And remember what we discussed before the festival started."
"I haven't forgotten… See ya round." Lazarus then leaves the alley and joins up with the other Warriors, letting them know that he will be departing for the fields away from Liberio to transform without causing damage.
Once he was out of sight, Erwin turned to Michael and questioned what it was they talked about without him. Michael assures him that if Lazarus pulls it off successfully, they might just be able to stop Eren and reclaim the Founding Titan before the Rumbling could ever occur.
Tensions rose behind the stage as Eren and Reiner continued their reunion undisturbed by the rumbling sounds of the musical numbers upstairs. Falco was confused as to why Reiner looked so scared. Eren/Kruger told him that he and Reiner were old friends and he simply wanted to catch up.
"Now then, where were we, Reiner?"
"What's wrong?" Falco spoke up concernedly. "Mister Kruger said you were old friends and he wanted to surprise you." He turns to Eren. "It's true, right? You're old friends?"
"Yeah… and we have a whole lot to catch up on. I don't even know where to start. Good thing your little stage play gave me time to think… Sure sounded like you and your friends were having so much fun up there." He turns away from Falco and blankly looks into Reiner's eyes.
"Lazarus's demonstration will be starting soon. We won't be able to see it, but I got us good seats for the upcoming speech. We're right beneath an apartment building. It's behind the stage, but we were still able to hear the music. The building is full of excited families. Waiting at their windows for the Winged Titan to fly over their heads… Lazarus sure has a lot of fans, doesn't he?"
He then glances over at Falco once more, remembering the time he would go on and on about how much he looks up to him, both literally and figuratively. He never displayed it, but every time he heard Falco talk about him his stomach churned. His nerves were wracked whenever his name was mentioned. A man who he believed didn't deserve the things he had. A man whom he views as truly free and unworthy of it.
"Before we start, I think all guests should be present." Eren grabs onto the back of the chair and stretches his leg out to the side, kicking the other chair away from the wardrobe. The doors flew open as whatever was being held within suddenly fell out.
Both Reiner and Falco were horrified to see that Reiner's mother, Karina Braun, had been locked in there this whole time. Her arms and legs were tied up and her mouth was covered up with a dirty rag. Karina spots Reiner and begs for his help through muffled screams.
"MOM!" Reiner didn't hesitate to get up from his chair, ready to help her.
"Don't move!"
Eren reveals a cut on his right hand to Reiner, causing him to let a terrified gasp slip out from his lips. He was willing to transform right now and blow the whole building, and its inhabitants, to pieces. Not giving a damn about the number of lives lost. He understood what this was. Eren kidnapped his mother to get Reiner to cooperate, or else he'd end up killing her alongside the people in the building above.
"Sit back down, Reiner. You wouldn't want your mom to become a permanent stain in this room, would you?" He coldly uttered without remorse. Why should he care what happened to her when Reiner was partially the reason his mother died? Unfortunately, Lazarus didn't have any parents for him to kidnap and murder, but his time to get even with the albino will come soon.
Falco starts to notice the tension between them and begins to realise that Mister Kruger is not what he claims to be. He may not understand the majority of the situation, but he was smart enough to know it was bad.
After taking a couple of calming breaths, Reiner slowly addressed his former comrade in the 104th. "Why, Eren? … Why come here? … What do you plan to do?" He hesitantly asked him, fearing what his response would be.
"The exact same thing you did."
Reiner's eyes widen with horror. His hands start shaking, driving him to place them atop his head as his PTSD starts to overcome his emotions again.
"As for why? That's the same too. I don't have a choice. That's why."
The eerie silence soon became occupied by the sounds of cheering as the crowd welcomed Willy Tybur back on stage once again. It was time for his speech. Eren instructs the two of them to listen, claiming that they cannot afford to miss a single word.
On the surface, the Warriors were all back in their seats behind their respected successors getting ready for Willy's speech and the Winged Titan's demonstration.
Before departing, Lazarus warns them of Reiner's potential kidnapping and advises them to be on guard. Zeke reassured him that he would make sure no more of their unit went missing.
Michael was backstage with Willy Tybur. From what Annie can see, he appears to be out of breath. It looked as if he'd left the plaza at some point to do something and rushed straight back hoping he hadn't missed the speech. Willy appears to be talking to him about something important, maybe telling him off for being late or something.
What was even more confusing was that Michael was escorting the whole family down the steps and away from the stage, accompanied by a handful of their personal guard. Willy himself remained as he still had a speech to get through. With Michael acting as his bodyguard.
"Something doesn't feel right. Why are the Tyburs being escorted away from the stage? Lazarus says that Eren may be close by, but I hope he wasn't implying that he's right here in Liberio?"
She and the rest of the Omega Unit were then approached by one of the patrolling Marleyan soldiers. He came to tell them that General Magath sent him, and he needed his Eldian Warriors.
Zeke instantly recognised the soldier as his trusted right hand, Yelena, in her soldier disguise. If she was here, then her other comrades are almost ready to begin.
"Very well, let's see what he needs."
Willy Tybur appears on stage dressed up in a turquoise robe. He takes a bow and waits for the audience to cease clapping and return to silence. He inhales and exhales fresh air as he slowly opens his eyes, calming his nerves and ensuring his throat is clear for what may be a long speech.
"Let's pull back the veil of time. Roughly a century ago, the Eldian Empire ruled the world with the might of its Titans." The music, provided by his guards, started to pick up as he delved more into the history of the Eldian Empire.
"Humanity, as we know it, could go extinct three times over. And the body count still wouldn't match the number of lives that Titans have stolen."
As he spoke, a spotlight shined on the curtain behind him, revealing shadow puppetry showcasing Pure Titans devouring helpless humans.
"Such is the legacy of the founder, Ymir." The light fades away, and a red light comes on. Within its hue, several actors were playing the part of helpless victims covered in blood and uttering moans and grunts, implying that they were suffering.
The crowd was surprised by the level of detail Willy was putting into the background, telling them an accurate retelling of the story of how the Eldian Empire and the power of the Titans began.
"So much has been lost. Countless people and cultures were wiped out. Histories crushed underfoot with their pride. Eldia's history is all we have left and in only terms of killing… You see, once the Eldians ran out of foes to conquer, they began to fight amongst themselves vying for power. Thus began the Great Titan War."
The curtains rise and reveal ten people dressed in ancient garments. They were pretending to fight each other, wielding various weapons such as swords, axes, spears, and war hammers. They also all wore blindfolds. Michael wondered if that was to represent their blind aggression towards one another.
"Which saw eight of the Ten Titans locked in an endless cycle of bloodshed."
Suddenly, a man dressed in an old, navel Marleyan uniform carrying a spear stood beside Willy.
"But there was one brilliant Marleyan who saw in this chaos a path to victory. It was the heroic paragon we all know as Helos. Thanks to his cunning manipulations, Eldian infighting grew far worse, and the empire grew weak."
The man dressed as Helos soon joined hands with the man who was holding the war hammer earlier, as a representative of the Tybur family. Helos stood tall over a man in a red cloak with a beard. He was an adaptation of Eldia's king, with his crown discarded in front of him.
"Then Helos joined hands with the Tybur family and forced the supposedly unbeatable King Fritz to retreat to a far-flung island… That said, he fled with his powers, and his most loyal servant, intact. And his reign continued."
A yellow light shines down on the curtain and reveals a shadow of a group of Colossal Titans standing tall as the actor playing King Fritz retreats behind the curtain.
"With him, he took tens of millions of Titans, ready to trample the world at his command."
The light temporarily fades, allowing the stage crew to ready the next shadow puppets. When the lights came back on, Michael was slightly shocked to see that it was a shadow of the Crystal Titan raising its hands. Half of the Colossal Titans were shown to be getting covered up by large blocks. Michael recognised it as one of his ancestors using the Crystal Titan's powers to construct the three walls around them.
"The Crystal Titan, the King's most loyal servant, constructed enormous walls around the millions of Titans to protect his people from the dangers of the outside world… The Crystal Titan remained in servitude to the royal family for hundreds of years, until the power was randomly given to an Eldian within Marley's borders named Noah Suurvalta."
Michael's eyes widen at the mention of his grandfather. He was not expecting Willy to tell the world his family's story. But he was. He told the world what he told Lazarus and the others. The story of how Noah found a way to break the Curse of Joseph Ackerman, the first Crystal Titan, and how he passed that knowledge onto him. Though he skimmed over some of the details regarding what happened to Michael after he'd been freed from the curse and lost his memories. He never revealed Erwin's true identity to the public.
The lights die down once more as Willy gets back to the main topic of his speech. The island of Paradis and the great danger that is unfolding at its core. But before he could get into that, he figured now was the perfect time to share with the world the truth behind the Winged Titan's creation.
"It's believed that our world continues to exist unbroken for one reason alone… chance. Our scholars can feel it no better explanation. In order to fight this existential threat, my father, Thomas, had decided that the best way to defeat Eldia's most powerful Titan was to create a Founding Titan for the motherland."
More actors came out on stage dressed in what appeared to be scientist clothing. They were all conducting different experiments. Standing in front of them was a tall man with a ponytail and wearing a black trench coat. He was shaking hands with the actor playing Thomas Tybur. Michael recognised the same man he saw with Lazarus when they travelled back into Lydia and Dante's past.
"My father gathered the greatest scientific minds in the world to be involved in this grand project. He used our family's wealth to construct a secret underground facility in the city of Odiha. Many experiments regarding Titans were carried out, but none were as ambitious as the False Founder Project… For years, humanity has tried to unlock the secrets of the power of the Titans. Trying to find a way to utilise it at will. But not even the best specialists in the world could tackle a project this big… But all of that changed when Doctor Ludwig Oppenheimer was brought in."
The actor playing Ludwig was holding up a vial of liquid up high. the other scientists were gathered around him, staring up at the vial in awe, like he was holding the cure for world hunger or cancer.
"Ludwig was a gifted scientist who had been studying Eldians since he was a child. With his aid and the resources provided by my family, the first False Founder Serum was created… But the serum proved too fatal for any Eldian to handle, eventually reducing them all to mere blood stains all over the lab. But that didn't stop Doctor Oppenheimer. He kept trying until finally, after many years of trial and error, he succeeded. He gave us…"
Just as he was about to say its name, an ominous yellow glow emerged from behind the stage and buildings behind it. Lazarus had just transformed and was about to make his pass over Liberio.
"The Winged Titan!"
Right on cue, the Winged Titan roared as it flew over Liberio's square. Everyone looked up with a mix of fear and awe. Those who hadn't seen the Winged Titan before were afraid whilst those who have were excited.
Willy paused for a time as Lazarus performed a couple of passes over Liberio, showing off its flying skills, which seemed to impress the majority of this crowd, including Willy himself. He was happy to finally see the creature his father's investment went into, soaring above the clouds. The moonlight bounced off its hardened skin, giving it a shining effect. Its long white hair flowed in the wind as it banked left and right.
The Winged Titan then startled most of the VIPs by unleashing a fire blast up into the sky, briefly lighting the ground up. Willy assured them that they were in no danger, and this was all part of the demonstration. Once its feats were explored, Lazarus turned tail and flew off into the distance. Carrying out his instructions to fly all over Marley until he reached the sea and turned back around. Giving Willy more than enough time to finish his speech undisturbed.
Once he was gone from view, Willy continued. "The Winged Titan, and its user, may not have gained powers equal to the Founder, but the capabilities it does possess have made it Marley's most powerful weapon ever spawned… Unfortunately, the people responsible for its creation, and all the secrets they held, were tragically lost to us in the explosion that consumed almost all of Odiha. What you have all witnessed is the first and only result of decades worth of research and hard work."
"Since it was proven to be an unbeatable weapon of great power, Marley sent it, and four Titan Warriors to take the Founder… But they were beaten not only by the Founder but by the Crystal Titan too. The current user of its power had been living among the King's people for years, growing up believing he was one of them, with no memory of his true self… Although the Warriors were able to restore his memories and claim the Crystal Titan for the motherland, it came at the cost of losing the Founder."
"That wasn't exactly what happened, but it's better than telling them the real truth. The public wouldn't handle the thought of the Winged and Crystal Titan fighting against their motherland. General Magath must feel the same way, otherwise he would've made our defection public by now." Michael thought to himself.
"It's clear now the ancient engine of cruelty called the Eldian Empire is alive and well today. And it has grown significantly stronger over the years. Strong enough that not even the Winged Titan wasn't able to stop it."
Whilst the speech was going on, Yelena was escorting the Warriors away from the square and into an almost completely deserted street, save for a couple of Marleyan guards.
As they were walking, they all looked up and spotted the Winged Titan flying over them. Without drawing any suspicion, Zeke pulls out what appears to be a small black disc, roughly the size of a bottle cap, with his thumb and index finger. He gently presses down on it, activating a tiny flashing light on the side of it before slipping it back into his pocket.
"My orders are to send you to the gate, Yeager." Yelena reminded him.
Zeke took this as a sign to clear out so that she could follow through with her plan to lure the others into a trap. He continues down the streets whilst Yelena leads the other down the corner on the left.
Annie was falling behind as she couldn't take her eyes off Zeke. Something still didn't feel right with her. Everyone was on edge when Reiner was reported missing, yet Zeke was strangely calm. Zeke may not be as caring towards the members of the Omega Unit as Lazarus was, but if any of them were at risk of being captured or killed surely he would be just as worried as the others. But he wasn't. This goaded her into following him instead of the others.
She keeps her distance to not make it obvious. She does not know him as well as Lazarus does, but she knows he's not an oblivious fool. The superior strength of the Beast Titan wasn't the only reason he was made War Chief.
As he was walking along, Zeke removed his glasses so he could clean the lenses. He glimpses Annie tailing him in the reflection of the right lens. Instead of acknowledging her, he continues forward until he disappears in an alleyway to the left.
By the time Annie reached it, he was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes shift side to side, trying to spot him as she inches further inside.
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind by the stealthy War Chief who had appeared out of a back window of a random building. He holds her wrists behind her back whilst covering her mouth with a cloth contaminated with an unknown substance.
Annie struggled against him, but the scent of the substance started making her feel dizzy. Her body was going limp, and her eyelids felt heavy. Zeke eerily shushes in her right ear as though he were soothing a baby to sleep. It didn't take long for Annie to go under and pass out. Her body falls backwards into Zeke's arms.
"Sorry, Annie, but you should know by now that I do not like being followed." He says as he picks her up and places her over his shoulder.
"This complicates things. She was supposed to be lured into the trap with the others… Then again, maybe with her as our hostage, we can prevent Lazarus from interfering with my plans… I should go find Yelena."
By the time Bertolt had noticed Annie was missing he, Pieck, and Galliard were too far from the turn they'd taken. He started to worry. What if whoever's taken Reiner got to her next?
He taps on Pieck's shoulder and warns her of Annie's sudden disappearance. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one with a bad feeling. There was something familiar about the soldier escorting them that she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
As they were walking by, Pieck was unexpectedly greeted by the Panzer Unit, the soldiers who manned the turrets on the Cart Titan's back during the Battle of Fort Slava. She cheerfully runs up to them and leaps into the biggest member's arms, wrapping her arms around him and pulling them in for a hug.
Or that's how it looked from Yelena's perspective. What she was actually doing was warning them that the soldier escorting them may be an enemy spy and they should follow close by in case they get into trouble.
"What was that?" Galliard asked.
"What? Those soldiers ride the Cart Titan into battle. I need their support, so I try to build a bond with them."
"No offence, but it seems you did more harm than good," Porco commented as he looked over at the Panzer Unit's terrified expressions.
Yelena eventually leads them to a random house on the street corner. The first room by the front door looked almost empty minus a few chairs. Pieck and Galliard wandered in first and took a look around. The whole place was deserted. General Magath was nowhere to be seen. Bertolt stood still within the doorway and scanned his surroundings. Now he knows something wasn't right.
"What is this? Where's General Magath?" Porco demanded of her.
Instead of answering him, Yelena pulls out her knife and cuts a rope that is hanging to the left side of the door. Bertolt only had less than a second to react upon seeing it and attempted to snatch it from her. But it was too late.
Severing the rope, caused a trapdoor to open from under the other two Warriors' feet. Before they knew it, they ended up falling down a deep dark hole in the ground.
"No!" Bertolt screamed as he tried to reach out and catch them before they could, but yet again he wasn't quick enough. The hole was so deep that he had difficulty seeing the bottom where they landed. A horrible crunching sound echoed up the walls, followed by pain-filled screams.
"Shit! They must've broken their legs!" Bertolt angrily gets up and is prepared to tackle the enemy spy. "You're gonna pay-
But before he could react, he felt a sudden hard smack in the back of his head. Bertolt loses consciousness and ends up falling backwards away from the trapdoor.
"Nice job, Yelena."
Yelena holds her composure as she turns to address Zeke. Though he didn't come alone. Hanging limply over his right shoulder was an unconscious Annie Leonhart.
"I was wondering where she ran off to." She commented as she looked over her body. "The Cart and Jaw Titans are trapped. I also left the Colossal up here as you've requested."
"Excellent. The others will be pleased to see I've held up my end of the bargain by bringing Bertolt back to them. As for Annie, she could be used as a bargaining chip we can against Lazarus. Make sure they're properly secured and ready for transport."
"But of course," Yelena responded with a smile. She picks up Bertolt and drapes him over her shoulders like how Zeke did Annie and proceeds to carry him away from the street. Zeke was slightly impressed with how much physical strength she had to lift a man who was as tall as her.
As she carries him out, she stops upon noticing Zeke is still inside staring at the trapdoor.
"Zeke?"
"Ironic, isn't it?" He commented aloud. "This hole was dug to contain Lazarus and let him starve to death three days after the explosion took place. He'd been down there for many months until Mister Xaver and Miss Muller demanded his release… Seems a little strange to now see Pieck and Galliard succumb to the same fate."
"Ah, so that's how you knew this was here," Yelena replied after putting the pieces together.
"Indeed. I was the first one Lazarus told about the darkest chapters of his life. And speaking of the devil, I've just alerted our comrades to his approach. I assume you gave them the coordinates of the route the Winged Titan is currently on?" He asked.
"Yes. Once he's out far enough, they will ambush him."
Back in the square, Willy continued his speech about the history of the Titans. Now that the origins of the Winged Titan were unearthed, it was time for him to speak the real truth behind the world's history. The actors playing Helos and the Warhammer Titan stood beside him as he spoke.
"Most of you consider the history I just recounted to be common knowledge. But I stand here now to inform you that it is somewhat divorced from the truth. I know this because the Warhammer is not the only inheritance the Tybur Family bestows. With passed down memories. Truths, which I will now share with you… Some hundred years in the past, the Great Titan War was ended not by Helos, nor by my Tybur forbears. The saviour who ended the fighting. The hero who saved the world… was King Fritz himself."
That reveal sparked a reaction out of the crowd as they immediately started talking amongst each other, questioning if what they just heard was true.
"He was plagued by guilt over the Eldian Empire's vicious past. He'd grown weary of families and countrymen torn apart by war. And he wept for Marley, a nation under constant oppression."
A turquoise light shone down on the acting King Fritz and Tybur's ancestor as they joined hands in a pact for peace.
"So, when he inherited the Founding Titan, he plotted his own downfall with the Tyburs. Together we created a Marleyan hero to drive the king out. His name, Helos… Years later, my father would do the same with the creation of the Winged Titan."
General Magath was positioned atop a tall building watching the speech from afar with binoculars. He and his men were waiting in anticipation for Eren and his followers to make their move.
"After that, King Fritz and his crystal army led as many Eldians to Paradis as he could. With his Crystal Titan captain erecting the three great walls around them. He left a warning that if anyone threatened his peace, countless Titans would be unleashed in retaliation. However, he never intended to make good on this threat… King Fritz made a Vow Renouncing War and bound his successors to uphold it just as he had. Just as the first Eldian King had cursed the first Crystal Titan to continue to serve him even after death. Their souls would plague the minds of their descendants, forcing them into slavery… King Fritz's ideology was passed down to each new king of the walls, and the Titans with the power to crush the world remained dormant."
"Marley didn't stop Eldia, and chance hasn't stopped the world from being crushed. It was the king of the walls, Karl Fritz, the man who yearned for peace. He said that if Marley grew strong someday and came in force to shatter his peace and seize the Founding Titan, he would accept it. He believed the sins his people committed were so horrific that they could never be atoned for… "When the day of retribution finally comes, I will accept it. But until then, let me enjoy this world paradise free from strife. I ask for nothing but a brief span of peace". Those were the final words the king left us with."
The crowd was even more shocked than before. More and more of them were whispering to each other, struggling to accept this revelation as truth. But Willy wouldn't lie to them, some of them thought. Maybe there was some truth in his story.
Gabi, Udo, and Zofia were just as shocked. It was all true. Everything Erwin had been teaching them behind the real story of Paradis was true. They wondered if everything else Erwin had been telling them was true as well.
Gabi looked over to where Michael was standing on the right side of the stage. He was barely within her line of sight, but she knew he was there. "Michael must've known this all along," she assumed.
Willy gives the people time to process what he'd just told them. It was a lot to take in, especially for the Marleyan citizens who grew up believing the folktale King Fritz invented as fact. But there was still much more he needed to get off his chest.
"It's true. To secure our own safety, my family joined hands with King Fritz and became heroes to the world. But our fellow Eldians became devils. But plainly, we Tyburs are petty thieves. Growing fat on honour we did not earn. I stand before you willingly parting with my false glory. Because I have come to understand… that the world we share is in grave danger."
"This is it," General Magath thought to himself. "This is the part where we declare war on the one who holds the Founder's power."
"General Magath!" A random soldier reported it with the Marleyan military salute. "The Warriors are gone, and we haven't heard from any of the soldiers we sent to collect them."
"Mobilise the reserves at once. Track them down." He ordered the soldier manning the radio beside him. He turns back to the random soldier. "Any news from the port lookout tower on Lazarus's location?"
"Yes sir. They say they have him in sight. He should be passing over the docks very shortly."
So far so good. However, Magath couldn't shake the feeling that something bad would happen. He shouldn't care about Lazarus being attacked after his desertion. But like it or not, he was still their best chance at defeating the upcoming threat Willy Tybur is close to announcing.
Pieck and Galliard remained still as they let their bodies heal their broken bones. It took some time before the pain finally subsided, allowing them to process what just happened.
"Shit! That really hurt!" Galliard muttered to himself. "What the hell is this place?"
Pieck takes a look around her surroundings now that her body has recovered enough. She noticed that they were sitting on a large pail of hay which explained the somewhat soft landing and why it felt so itchy. She tried to look over the walls hoping to find any bumpy surfaces to use as stepping stones to climb out of, but it was too dark to see.
"Hey, Porco, do you still have that lighter your father gave you for your birthday? I need to borrow it for a second."
Galliard rummages through his right-side pockets, searching for it but has no luck finding it on his first try. This meant it was in one of his left pockets. Reaching into them would be a problem though as his left arm was still broken and still in the process of healing.
Pieck shuffles herself closer to him to reach his pockets. Fate seemed to favour her more as she was able to find it on her first attempt, causing Porco to grunt in annoyance.
She opens the lighter and flicks the activation switch a couple of times until it finally produces light. She carefully shines the lighter against the walls and begins her search for a stepping stone. What she wasn't expecting to find was the words "Help me!" carved into the stone. Beside it was a tiny handprint of dried blood.
The sight of blood spooked her slightly, causing her to back up a bit until her back hit something. It wasn't the other end of the wall. It was something loose, metallic, and cold to the touch. It made a high-pitched jangling sound, triggering a disturbed gasp out of both Warriors.
"What was that?!" Porco asked, slightly spooked.
Pieck turns herself around and aims the lighter at the other side of the wall. Her eyes widen with horror when she sees that the eerie sound belongs to a chain with a blood-soaked cuff at the end of it. The other end was nailed to the stone wall. Close beside the chain were more words etched into the wall. Words like "Hungry!" "Please kill me!" and "Make it stop!" There was also a whole section of wall covered with tally marks, marking how many days whoever was kept down here was in.
Galliard felt uneasy looking at it all. It was like he was standing in a horror story setting.
"This is no pit. It's a torture chamber." He stated in a disturbed manner. "But who was being kept down here? Someone with Titan powers like us?" He guessed.
"Not just anyone" Pieck clarified. She points the lighter towards another part of the stone wall. There was a carved drawing of two stick figures. One of them was wearing a cowboy hat and the other had long hair. Underneath it was the words, "Where are you?" That was when it all became clear to her.
"This is the pit the Marleyans kept Lazarus in after the explosion in Odiha." She places her hand on the cold, stone walls where the tally marks are. "Poor Lazarus. He must've been locked away down here for weeks with no food or water. How horrible."
"Why no food or water?" Galliard questioned.
"He's immortal, remember? He can't die of starvation, so the brass saw no reason to feed him. It would just be a waste of resources… Yet, despite all he's been through, he grew up being a good person. How could anyone have the mental capacity to carry on after this?" She asked rhetorically.
"And now whoever that soldier was wants us to suffer the same way he did!" Galliard retorted in frustration. "This hole is too cramped to transform in. We'd only end up crushing each other… I'm still confused though. What's that soldier's plan?"
"Couldn't tell you. They were familiar though." She replied calmly.
As of this moment, there was no way out for the two of them. All they can do as they wait to be rescued is let their bodies focus on healing. Sitting in silence may be a challenge for Porco with all the disturbing dried blood and scratched-up drawings plastered all around him.
Willy's speech was nearing its conclusion. He looks over to his left and notices Michael still standing there. He wondered if he'd crossed a boundary by sharing his story with the world. A story that was none of their business. It may've been a selfish move, but he'd hoped it would help get his point across about how vital having the Crystal Titan out from under Eldia's thumb is.
Now was the time to carry out his atonement. As much as he'd wished his family was here to see it, it was too dangerous for them to be anywhere near the stage when it all went down. Knowing this, he had to stay and finish what he started. After a brief breath in and out, he continued.
"As I mentioned before, the Crystal Titan serving under King Fritz during the war erected three walls, using a great host of Colossal Titans. Counted together, the walls surely contain tens of millions of them. They guard the king's peace as his shield whilst the Crystal was his spear. Or they did. But now that peace is being threatened from within. An uprising has taken place on Paradis. The king has been deposed. The Founding Titan stolen."
A blood-red light shines on the curtains as a silhouette of what appears to be a devilish figure appears with sharp claws and teeth, an evil grin, and spiky hair.
"The thief is an enemy to every man, woman, and child in the world, including Paradis itself. An enemy of peace. A brave man from that island told me all about him. He once served in the island's military. He had a dream to see the world beyond the walls he was trapped inside of and share his knowledge with us."
Michael and Gabi immediately knew he was talking about Erwin. But neither of them knew he and Willy had a meeting before he and Lazarus did. A risky move on his part, but it seems to be working out for the Wings of Crystal movement. Now the whole world knows that the only devils in the world were not the people of Paradis itself, but Eren Yeager and his growing army of followers.
"From one Eldian to another, I listened to his story. King Fritz's years of peace behind the walls was the spark that became the blaze that started this raging inferno. When the thief, and those that served with him, learned the real truth of the world beyond their walls, they wished to invade it and take vengeance upon those who've sent Titans to their island. For the safety of himself and his loved ones, I will not reveal the man's name. But I will reveal the name of the one who holds the Founding Titan and the power to flatten our world… His name is Eren Yeager!"
As they were listening to the speech, Eren told Reiner that he finally understood why they plunged his home into hell. Because they were on a mission to save the world. They did what they did because they had to.
During their discussion, Falco was able to piece together how "Kruger" and Reiner knew each other if they hadn't met in Marley. He was a citizen of Paradis. That's why he seemed so afraid.
Karina continued lying on the ground listening to every word of Willy's speech. She knew immediately that it was Eren Yeager Willy spoke of that kidnapped and brought her here. She can't see any way of surviving this.
By the time they hear the part of the speech where Willy declares him the real devil of Paradis, Eren undoes the knot on his left trouser leg and allows his leg to grow back. Falco and Karina were horrified by what they had just seen. Kruger was Eren all along, and he'd been manipulating Falco into helping him.
"You- You tricked me." He quietly muttered. "After all you've said, I respected you. But you were just using me."
"Yeah, I was. I'm sorry." Eren replied in a deadpanned manner, not even bothering to look in his direction. "I did it because I needed your help."
"Help?" He thought, trying to figure out what he meant by that specifically. It didn't take long for Falco to deduct that he was referring to all those letters he had him send outside the Internment Zone. Eren told him they were for his family, when in reality it was to reach out to his comrades.
Falco backs himself up against the wall and slides down to the floor in despair. All this time he'd been aiding the world's greatest enemy, and he didn't have a clue. It's a good thing Lazarus wasn't here. He would've been disappointed in him, he thought.
Willy's speech continued to echo through the basement ceiling, allowing them to hear the end of it.
"If the Colossi of Paradis are ordered to walk, the Rumbling will be felt across the Earth, and death will follow. Until now, only royalty has had the power to wield the Founding Titan. But the Winged Titan foresaw the future and saw this Eren Yeager use the Founder's power without having royal blood, which means he could begin the Rumbling at any moment. Once the walls of Paradis begin to walk there will be nothing we can do. Except flee in vain from the sound of Earth-shaking steps that will herald our doom. These monsters will crush every city. Trample every tree and flower. They will literally flatten our world. And not even the full power of the Winged Titan will be enough to stop it. It would only take a few Titans down until it ends, narrowly affecting the outcome."
A very tiny smirk formed on Eren's face. Those were the words he was waiting to hear. He wanted to hear firsthand if even Lazarus would be weak and helpless against the full might of the Rumbling. Now he knows for certain that his plan can drastically affect him too. Michael wouldn't be able to make a difference either. He holds the power to create something out of nothing (and crystal) Whilst Eren had the power to reduce all creation into nothing.
"He's exactly right." He started speaking again after a moment of silence listening to the speech. "I'm the bad guy Willy says I am. If nobody stops me, there's a chance that I'll destroy your whole world… But to my eyes, you looked like the bad guys too. That day when you breached the wall. When Titans destroyed my home. When I watched as my mother was eaten."
Eren gazes deeply into Reiner's guilty eyes, piercing his soul with his intense glare. Although he already knew why he, Lazarus, Bertolt, and Annie did what they did nine years ago, he wanted to hear it straight from the horse's mouth.
"I couldn't understand it. Why, Reiner? Tell me why my mom was eaten."
Reiner shifts his eyes towards his helpless, pleading mother. Her eyes filled with fear and tears. Fear that Eren will make Reiner watch her die just as he was forced to watch Carla be eaten. He gulps nervously and utters his honest-to-God answer.
"It's because… we broke the wall… that was protecting her." He hesitantly responded.
"Why did you break the wall?"
"So we could use the chaos to sneak in and to find out if the king would react."
"But what was your mission?"
"To save the world, by taking the Founder."
And that's that. Just as he'd predicted. He knew they didn't have much choice if they truly believed they were doing all that to save the world. Their actions were understandable. Unforgivable, but understandable. He could never forgive or forget what they've done, but he can now relate to why they would do so.
But those thoughts only applied to Reiner, Bertolt, and Annie. When it comes to Lazarus, he believed he had a choice. The moment he received his powers he had the freedom to choose what to do with it. But instead, he blindly followed orders and led the attack on the Walls. Because of him, many innocent people have died. Worst of all, his best friend, Armin.
Eren kept seeing his demise play out over and over again in his head whenever Lazarus was mentioned. The horrific sight of seeing his Pure Titan body being mutilated by the Winged Titan. Armin was his inspiration to escape the walls and see the wonders of the outside world. A sea that glows like fire. Fields of ice. And mountains that stretched high into the sky… He will never forgive him for killing Armin, but a tiny part of him is relieved he died before discovering what the world was really like.
"I remember what you said," Reiner spoke up, snapping Eren out of his thoughts on Armin. "You promised we'd pay for what we did, and you promised pain." He looks him right in his only eye. "So, is that why my mom's here? Are you here to make me pay?"
"Yeah, I did say that, didn't I?" He glances away from Reiner and scratches his hair. "Let's forget about that… At first, I considered every person on this side of the sea an enemy. But later I crossed the sea and slept under my enemy's roof. Ate the food they offered me… Reiner, I'm the same as you."
Those words came as a shock to Reiner. They're the same? He can see why he would think that.
"Some of these people are awful. But some are good." He turns to Falco as he says this before turning back to Reiner. "Same where I'm from inside the walls. We're all just people. But you were taught that the people in the walls weren't like you. That we were demons. You were just kids who got brainwashed. Hatred was part of your training. Even Lazarus wasn't immune to their brainwashing." That last part he had his fingers crossed behind his back. What he'd just said may be true to everyone, but he can never accept it. Just as how he can never accept a world without Paradis.
"As young as you were, how could you have fought that? You couldn't have. And well, it looks like you've already paid."
By this point, Reiner had lost what little restraint he had on his emotions and let his guilt completely take over. He fell out of his chair and was down on his knees. Tears started building up in his eyes, no longer able to live with the pain.
"No! You're wrong, Eren!" He started wallowing with despair. "That day when Ymir ate Marcel, Annie and Bertolt wanted to end the mission right then. Lazarus may have been the one to give the order, but I was the one who convinced him that we should keep going. Not just to save my own skin, but because I wanted to become a hero! I wanted to be respected! It's my fault, not his!" He arches his back up to show Eren the truth in his eyes.
"The truth is your mother was eaten by a Titan because of me!" He shouted out loud. Before he knew it, he was back on his knees, pleading with Eren to kill him. Like Bertolt, he wasn't thinking clearly and just wanted his suffering to end.
Karina broke down into tears. No parent should have to hear their child begging for death. This was all her fault. She used Reiner as a tool for revenge against the Marleyan who impregnated her. She wanted to show him that their son was not a mistake and could make her an honorary Marleyan. She'd been so focused on that goal that she'd forgotten to be a mother. And now she is on the verge of being killed by Eren without getting the chance to tell him she's sorry.
Eren looked down on this helpless shell of the man whom he once called comrade. He didn't expect him to take the blame for his mother's death when the easiest thing to do was pin the blame on his immortal leader. He would've believed that if he did. But he was dedicated to Lazarus and the rest of his friends.
His ears perked up as he started paying closer attention to Willy's speech. It was almost time for it to end… and for him to make his move.
"I have always hated my blood. And more than anyone, I have wished my race would disappear. However, I confess that I want to live. That despite everything, I believe this world is my birthright just as it is yours. The people gathered here may belong to different races, different nations. But if we are to survive this crisis we must join as one. And with the aid of the brave man and the power of Marley's Titans, we can protect the innocents of Paradis from Eren. So please, if you wish to live then lend me your strength. Help me protect our world's future! If we work together, we can overcome any obstacle! Any threat!"
The whole time the tormented exchange between the new Vice Chief Reiner and the deceptive Eren played out in front of him, Falco was on the floor grieving over his mistakes. But after hearing Lazarus's name being mentioned several times, he'd come to a realisation.
By now the Winged Titan is far from Liberio and potentially flying over the sea right now. The flyer said that the Winged Titan should reach the end of its route by the time Willy's speech wraps up which, judging by the sounds of the crowd above, seems to be the case.
But if Eren truly plans on doing the same thing the Omega Unit did on Paradis, then why waste his time talking to him? Before attacking one would think the best first step would be to get rid of the strongest Titan… Unless.
He instantly rises from his floor and looks over at Eren in terror.
"What did you do to Lazarus?!" He demanded of him.
Eren froze for a second and slowly turned his head to the left.
"You really admire him, don't you?" He uttered coldly. "Unfortunately, my comrades will be there waiting for him. I won't let him get in the way of my mission… Sorry, Falco. You should've chosen your idols more carefully." He turns back towards the sobbing Reiner. "But I was right. I am the same as you."
His words cause Reiner to stop crying and look up at Eren, who looks like he is offering a hand up, to which he hesitantly accepts.
"It's not just you, Reiner. I can't deny that I'm the same as Lazarus too. He and I do have one strong thing in common." He continues to hold Reiner's hand, preventing the Vice Chief from pulling away from him. "I will keep moving forward…"
He then coldly stares into his eyes once again. Only this time they weren't lifeless like before. They had a green glow of determination and a strong will. A will that sent a shiver down Reiner's spine.
"… Till I killed my enemies."
Time starts to slow down from Reiner's perspective as he notices arcs of electricity spouting out of the wound on Eren's hand. His eyes shot completely wide knowing what he was doing. He's chosen now to be the time to assume Titan form and blow the whole apartment building, and all the innocents within it, to pieces.
Karina's muffled screams echoed through his mind. She was positioned behind Eren out of reach. He was forced to choose who to save in literal seconds before Eren transformed. He desperately wanted to save her. But doing so would get Falco killed.
Instead of running away, Reiner's first instinct was to grab Falco and hold him close to his chest as he raises his hand to his mouth and bites down hard, triggering a partial transformation into the Armoured Titan to shield Falco and himself from the blast.
Karina's life flashed before her eyes before she was blown up by Eren's discharge of Titan energy. She was never angry with Reiner for not saving her. On the contrary, she was proud to see him prioritise the child candidate. That act alone has shown how much better a person Reiner's become in her eyes. She can let go of the doubts and fears she had about his upbringing. She has faith that he will stop Eren from destroying the world.
Before Eren activates his transformation, Michael, and the rest of the audience, are clenching their fists as Willy Tybur passionately declares war not on Paradis, but on Eren himself.
"I ask each of you to join me as I go to fight the king of all devils, Eren Yeager, who wishes to plunge our world into hell! Help me defeat him! Here and now, as a representative of Marley's government, I send this message to Eren Yeager!"
As he was listening, Michael suddenly felt a vibration on the floor of the stage, prompting him to get down on one knee and place his ear against it. His eyes widen with terror upon recognising the rumble. It was the same rhythm the Attack Titan gave off when it transformed within Shiganshina. He remembered from the time he was hiding in the underground tunnels beneath Maria's southern district.
"Shit! It's Eren!"
The bottom of the apartment building lit up with bright yellow lights that were rapidly climbing through the floors, reaching for the surface. Michael quickly turns himself around and leaps off the stage, trying to warn everyone to evacuate immediately.
"Consider this a declaration of war!" Willy concluded moments before the Attack Titan appeared.
"EVERYONE, GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"
By the time Michael's sudden warnings could be heard, it was already too late. The Attack Titan burst out of the building and let loose a murderous demonic roar. Everyone froze with fear, unable to mentally accept what was happening. Most of these people had never seen a Titan before, apart from the Winged Titan moments ago. But Lazarus was high in the sky and no threat to them. Eren was the exact opposite.
With a swift motion, Eren swoops his left arm down towards Willy and launches him up into the air. Chunks of the stage had been gathered up in the motion and merged with the flying chunks of the building scattered all over the square.
Michael watched in horror as Eren was moments away from devouring Willy whilst the falling debris came crashing down around him. Eren had picked the perfect time to strike. The whole world had just declared war on him… and he answered.
To Be Continued