Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 67: Oppenheimer
Lazarus searched endlessly for Gabi and Falco on his ODM gear. He scoured every building and checked every open window. He even intensely questioned some of the Yeagerists who'd been left behind before the Marleyans executed them. But there was still no sign of them, and he refused to believe they were dead.
His gear was running on fumes at this point, forcing the albino to perch atop a random rooftop and sit down for a minute. Both his gas and his ammunition had been severely drained from the fight and its aftermath. His arms felt stiff from holding those massive guns in place for long periods of time. If he's not careful they may end up getting torn from his body. If not for his Titan strength, they probably would've by now.
"I guess I've been pushing myself and my new weapons too hard. It's still a prototype after all. Still gotta sort out some bugs. But at least I know it works now. I was able to shred through Eren's hardening like paper. With a few more tweaks, I know it will beat him." He spoke in between deep breaths. "As soon as I find the kids. Michael, Erwin and I will bring the Wings of Crystal out of the shadows and fight back against Eren! … But I've searched every street block. Every alleyway, house, shop, and hospital. There's no way they could've disappeared."
As he was thinking aloud, he noticed the airship the Scouts had retreated to is now ascending and leaving Liberio airspace.
"Unless… Oh no!" Lazarus leaps off the roof and blasts off in the direction of the zeppelin. "Please be wrong! Please don't tell me they're on that airship!"
The gas canister on his back was dangerously low. To conserve gas, he was forced to slow his pace or else he wouldn't have any left to carry them home should they be up there. On the way he notices the massive crystal pillar arching diagonally to the east, pointing towards the airship.
He inevitably spots Colt in the streets on his knees, which isn't a good sign. He slows his pace as he reaches the ground a few feet away from Beast Titan's successor.
"Colt? What's wrong? Where are the kids?"
The powerless candidate lifts his head from his hands and addresses his former superior. "Lazarus, thank God you're here. Udo and Zofia are dead! Gabi and Falco went up to the airship. I wasn't quick enough… They're gone!"
Shock overtook the Wings of Crystal's co-founder. He suspected as much but he didn't want it to be true. Of course, Gabi would be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this and Falco would follow to make sure she didn't get hurt. The deaths of their friends were the driving force that pushed Reiner's cousin over the edge. She's out for blood, completely neglecting everything Michael had taught her.
"Colt, where is Michael?" He slowly asked, remembering the massive structure next to them. It wasn't here the first time he scoured the city. Michael had been here recently. And he was afraid to find out where he went.
"M- Michael was trying to stop them. He and the kids are still up there now… I'm sorry."
"NO! NOT AGAIN!" Lazarus turns himself around and attempts to fly up to the airship with the Founder's Bane. But his gas had run out before he could reach twenty feet, causing him to crash headfirst into the ground.
Colt rushed to his side and helped him up, though he struggled to lift him with the added weight of his weapons on both arms. All Lazarus could do was sit there and watch the airship fly off into the sky miles away from their location.
It was like deja vu. Once again Michael was forced to go to Paradis and leave him behind. But this time everyone aboard that ship knows who he is. What will happen to him and the kids he couldn't bear to think about.
"What the hell, Michael! You're just as stupid as Gabi for going up there alone! I get that you wanted to protect them, but you should've waited for me! Now I'm gonna lose you all over again!" He vented his frustration. He would've slammed his fists into the ground if they weren't holding onto his Gatling guns.
"We're not gonna let those devils get away with this!" Colt assured him.
Lazarus soon finds the strength to stand up, though his eyes haven't left the retreating airship. "They're not devils, Colt. Eren is the only devil among them. He tried to kill your brother and Gabi knowing I'd stop pursuing him and go back to save them. Only a true devil would have the coldness to do something like that. And I let him slip right through my fingers for the fourth time! It's my fault they're up there!"
"Michael knew what he was doing."
Colt and Lazarus looked behind them and were surprised to see Erwin approaching them still dressed up in his black cloak.
"Erwin, I-
"I already know what's happened. I was the last one who saw Michael before he boarded that ship."
"Why didn't you stop him?!" He raised his voice slightly at him.
"I wanted to. But Michael insisted on risking his life to get them back. He believed he needed to prove himself worthy of carrying on my legacy by helping Gabi. I couldn't have stopped him even if I used force." He closes the distance between himself and Lazarus and looks directly into his eyes. "We will get them back."
"And what if we don't this time?! The Scouts won't take any risks. The moment they reach Paradis, they'll lock Michael up and feed him to Mikasa! He won't be able to put up a fight either if they resort to using the kids' lives to keep him on a leash!"
"Hange wouldn't do that."
"What if Hange isn't in charge anymore?!" Lazarus came back hard. "I've seen so many of the Scouts bearing the mark of the Yeagerists I saw in my visions. So many people are devoted to Eren and his twisted motives! For all we know, Eren's in command of the Scout Regiment now."
The stoic Erwin notices the distress in Lazarus's voice and places his hand on the side of his right shoulder. "If that is true then we have no time to lose. We must make a retaliatory strike on the Yeagerists as soon as we can. But first, we need to prioritise those who have survived the raid. Thanks to Michael's interference, Willy managed to survive. He's with his family and the rest of the citizens in the northern safe house."
That does explain where Erwin was throughout the entirety of the raid, Colt and Lazarus thought to themselves. They hoped everybody's families were spared from Eren's wrath. They better be if the Marleyans valued their motherland. However, after this, Lazarus has his eyes set on burning the one behind all this death and destruction.
"We will also have the support of the Warriors." Erwin points Lazarus in the direction of the greatly injured Reiner and Galliard who are leaning on each other so that they can stay upright while walking.
"Reiner! Porco! Am I glad to see you guys!" Lazarus approached them, though he kept his distance to avoid a possible accident involving his guns and their faces.
"Wish I could say the feelings mutual." Galliard mocked weakly, still suffering from the beating he'd received from the Attack Titan.
"Not the time, Galliard… Listen, Lazarus, there's something you need to know." Reiner spoke just as weakly.
"Hold that thought. Where's Pieck, Annie, and Bertolt?" He concernedly asked.
"That's what I was trying to tell you… Pieck is being tended to in one of the houses near the plaza… I'm sorry, Laz. But Annie and Bertolt have been captured by the Scouts."
Lazarus slowly backs away from his friends upon hearing that. All this time he thought they'd been ordered not to take part in the raid because their Titans weren't needed. Or at least the Colossal wasn't. He assumed Annie was assisting in the evacuation, only permitted to use her Titan to combat any enemy soldiers who attempted to kill them. But he was wrong.
Not only does Lazarus have to worry about Michael and the kid's safety, but two of his friends as well. And they have even less chances of surviving. The only reason they'd take them alive would be so they could finish what they'd started four years ago. Give their powers to two random Scouts and increase Paradis's chances of winning this war.
"There's more." Reiner regretfully added. "Pieck told us that she recognised the soldier who lured her and Galliard into a trap. She encountered them three years ago during an inspection of the first survey fleet to go to Paradis."
"Wait. You mean the missing scout ships?"
"Yeah… This soldier was one Pieck had a personal interest in. Because they were a devout follower of Zeke Yeager." He concluded.
"What?! No! That can't be true! That would mean that…"
"I'm sorry, Lazarus. But it's true… Zeke has betrayed us." Erwin finished before Reiner could.
Tears started to build under his eyes. He tried to hide his despair by wiping them away on his shoulders, but it was evident how hurt he was. Reiner can understand. Zeke had always been like a big brother to Lazarus. Though he'd been acting so distant with him lately, they assumed it was because of his upbringing in Marley and the responsibilities he had to handle as War Chief. Nobody could've guessed he'd turn traitor.
"You knew?" Lazarus turns back to Erwin.
"I suspected he had an ulterior motive that goes against everyone else's goals. I didn't know he'd be secretly working with Eren. Considering that the Beast Titan massacred all of my men during the Battle of Shiganshina, I had zero faith he'd want to help the Scout Regiment. I doubt this alliance is his way of asking for forgiveness. He needs them for something. Capturing Annie and Bertolt was the show of loyalty he needed to earn their trust. Whatever his objective is, it doesn't take a genius to figure out it has something to do with the Founding Titan."
"What is he hoping to do? Eat it? It's not like he has royal blood in his veins." Galliard sarcastically added.
"Actually… He does." Lazarus muttered under his breath. All eyes fell on him at the same time with the same question going through their minds, one Lazarus will explain to them soon. For now, they had a lot of cleaning up to do.
The airship went silent as Michael and the kids looked up at the tall and intimidating Doctor Ludwig Oppenheimer. They could feel his eerie gaze examining them head to toe. Ludwig then looks over at the infuriated Floch Forster still clutching his bandaged nose.
He then turns his attention back to Michael and, without warning, strikes the back of his knees with the blunt end of his cane. Michael lets out a pained grunt as he collapses to the floor. Gabi and Falco quickly cling to his arms in retaliation.
"That was for breaking Floch's nose… It seems the rumour of the Crystal Titan's users having bones of crystal isn't true after all."
"Grrr, you're gonna pay for that!" Gabi attempts to grab her rifle and shoot the tall scientist. But two of the Yeagerists kick her in the stomach, knocking her back down. The rifle ends up falling out the open door beyond her reach.
Michael then attempts to get back up and attack the guy who hit her but is stopped by Falco. "Don't, Michael! You're already badly hurt. You'll only get us all in more trouble… Please stay down."
"The boy's right." Ludwig intervened. "Your little girl has already crossed the line by shooting two of our men. If you value her life, I'd keep your temper under control. Be thankful I haven't permitted them to toss those kids overboard… This isn't how I pictured our first meeting to play out, but it is nice to finally meet the famous friend of Subject 14."
"His name is Lazarus Averbach!" Michael shouted up at him. "And he's shown me what kind of man you are… That explosion, that was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Indeed. What you have just witnessed was the beginning of a new era of conventional weaponry. But enough about that, I think it's time for the others to say hello." He turns to his comrades behind him. "Tie them up and bring them to the bridge. I'm sure Hange and the others will be delighted to see Michael again."
"Yes sir."
"And if you're thinking about trying anything, Michael. Just remember what I said about those kids… There are fates so much worse than death." Ludwig chuckles sinisterly as he heads back towards the bridge.
Michael, Gabi, and Falco sit still and cooperate with their captors. They tie their hands together with rope, force them back on their feet, and parade them down the hall. Michael was receiving a lot of glares from the people around him. Most of them he hadn't met before, but the few he had affected him the most. He could not bring himself to look at Jean, Connie, and especially Sasha right now. The reunion was soiled by their actions. There was too much hatred in the air for him to utter a single word without provoking them.
Sasha attempted to speak up, but Connie grabbed her arm and silently shook his head. Now was not the time for this. She felt an unquestionable amount of guilt for her actions during the raid. Now she was afraid she'd ruined things forever between her and Michael. He only gave her a hurt-filled sideways glance in her direction before being forced through the doorway.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Eren was being scolded by Captain Levi for going off on his own and starting this skirmish. It was almost an accurate recreation of the first time he'd kicked the shit out of him during his trial. Mikasa was even giving him the same cold death stare. But Eren was unresponsive to his beatings. He just sat there and took it with a neutral look on his face.
Levi had seen that look before on the people he'd met in the underground. He never imagined the day he'd be seeing it on his face. Eren wasn't even trying to justify or make excuses for his actions, claiming that everything they needed to understand was in the letters he wrote.
"Hey, cheer up. Everything has gone exactly as you planned." Levi turns to his left and addresses another mystery guest in the corner. "How long are you gonna make me look at that thing?"
That mystery guest was Yelena. She tears off her fake thin beard and pockets it. "What's your problem? Everyone else likes it."
They were soon interrupted by the sounds of something metallic tapping on the iron door to their right in a simplistic pattern.
"Just come on in already. Everyone knows how you like to knock on doors, Ludwig." Levi commented, unimpressed by his antics.
Ludwig opens the door wide and stands before his new comrades with confidence.
"Everyone alright in there?" Mikasa asked, referring to the gunshots they all heard moments ago.
"Better than alright. We've just caught two little mice and a rat who'd been poking their noses where they weren't supposed to." He steps aside so that they can see the bound Michael, Gabi, and Falco on their knees. Almost everyone in the room was more surprised to see Michael here than two random Eldian children. "This siege had reaped more rewards than we were expecting. Wouldn't you agree, Zeke?"
Michael, Gabi, and Falco's eyes widened when they noticed a familiar face sitting across from them at the other end of the room. Zeke Yeager was still alive. Aside from the loss of his limbs, he was unharmed from the supposed explosion to the nape. Given how Levi hadn't cut his head off yet gave Michael the impression that they were in cahoots with each other. He knew Zeke couldn't be trusted, but he never would've imagined seeing him, Levi, Eren, and Ludwig standing together in one room with him being their only enemy.
"Gabi? Falco? What are you doing here?" He asked them, ignoring the confused Michael in front of them.
"What about you?" Falco answered with a question of his own. "We thought that you were dead."
"They took you alive? How is that possible? Why would you let them?" Gabi butted in.
There was no answer from the War Chief. Gabi kept on asking what was going on here only to get increasingly more frustrated when no one volunteered to reply. But Michael knew why. They didn't kill him because he had joined forces with them.
"Hello again, Four Eyes Junior." Levi addresses him once more. "Didn't think you'd missed me so much that you'd wander aboard our airship just to see me. You must be a masochist. That's the only explanation on why you'd come back… Who the hell are these kids?"
"They are my responsibility. I'm only here because one of them was stupid enough to sneak aboard." Michael glances back at Gabi as he says this. "I have a better question for you, Captain. Why haven't you cut off that traitor's head yet?"
"Traitor? What are you talking about?" Gabi questioned her mentor.
"The only reason Zeke is here alive and well is because they brought him here. Levi faked his death and took him away, which explains your absence throughout the rest of the massacre." He turns back to Ludwig. "Zeke is also the reason you're here, isn't he? The Scouts needed a weapon that could stand up to Marley and the ultimate power of the Winged Titan. Who better than the man who created it in the first place?"
"We all know who Ludwig is and the role he played in creating Lazarus's Titan. He told us everything." Levi responded.
"Oh? Did he tell you that he's..."
"Marleyan? Yes, I did. It was the first thing I'd told them. So nice try in trying to sabotage our partnership." Ludwig mocked.
"You haven't answered my question. Who are these kids?" Levi repeated himself.
"Judging by their armbands, they are Warrior candidates," Ludwig explained. "They killed Loboth and used his ODM gear to climb aboard. Then this one shot Leon. He didn't make it."
By this point, Eren remained silent and still in the back. Seeing Michael here was an unexpected turn given the fast one he pulled during their fight. But what really shocked him was that Sasha didn't die. When he touched Historia's hand he foresaw events of the future. At this point, Gabi was supposed to shoot Sasha and kill her. Willy was also supposed to die in his mouth. Yet in both situations, Michael intervened and somehow managed to change the outcome.
He wasn't sure why, but now he's starting to piece everything together. Michael and Lazarus are unaffected by the self-fulfilling prophecy he's forced to be a part of. This could change everything.
"… Is Sasha dead?"
Everyone immediately turns to him in complete and utter confusion. What was that supposed to mean? What does Sasha's well-being have to do with any of this, they wondered. Ludwig said that it was Leon, a random Garrison recruit, who'd been killed by Gabi. Sasha was nowhere near him when that happened. What the hell is he going on about?
Mikasa kneels in front of Eren and asks if he is feeling alright. Levi just assumed he'd kicked him so hard that he is now concussed. Ludwig was intrigued by Eren's remark. He wonders if this out of nowhere question may relate to the conversation between the two of them before all this started. He makes a mental note to ask him about it later.
"… I'll leave the rest to you, Onyankopon."
Before anyone could ask what he meant by that, Hange walks in through the door left of Zeke that leads to the actual bridge of the airship. The moment she walked in she was shocked to see Michael and the two candidates on their knees in front of her.
"What did I miss?" She stuttered, still processing seeing her former comrade tied up before her. "When did we capture Michael?"
"They didn't," Zeke answered first. "They weren't supposed to be here. The kids snuck aboard and Michael followed."
"Hey, Hange… Despite the circumstances, it is good to see you again." Michael commented.
"Wish I could say the same." She responded harshly. She turns to Zeke. "Well, Zeke, it seems everything played out just like you wanted. Wouldn't you say?"
"I did make a few miscalculations, but aside from that I would. Those kids are the miscalculations. As for Michael, I'd say he's part of the plan I expected to fail the most. Didn't think he'd stupid enough to get himself caught."
Michael growls in response to his mockery. "Damn you, bastard! How could you do this to us?! To your comrades! To Lazarus! He's always spoken highly of you! Do you realise how this may affect him?!"
"Lazarus may be a smart lad, but he's too immature to see the big picture like I do. I couldn't rely on his childish dreams for world peace. It can never be accomplished. And you were too devoted to him to see it either. That makes you a waste of a Titan… Sorry, Michael." He coldly responded.
Michael's rage started to flare up again. He was on the verge of breaking free of his ropes, conjuring a crystal spike in his fist and stabbing him to death with it. But he was stopped by Levi who instantly severs his arms. Blood gushes from his wounds as Michael screams and writhes on the floor.
"I think that's enough of a reunion for today." Ludwig turns to the two Yeagerists behind him. "Lock him and the children in the hold with the Female and Colossal Titans.
The soldiers respond with an eager "Yes sir!" before picking the prisoners up off the floor. Michael struggles against their grasp, trying to get in some final words of warning before being escorted off the premises.
"Whatever he's promised you, don't trust him! He betrayed us! He'll easily betray you too!" He then directs his glares at Ludwig. "And this man is far from trustful. This old geezer is the definition of Marleyan scum!"
Yelena then decides to get involved in this little spat and gets too up close and personal with Michael. Her facial expression suddenly changes from cold and calm to an eerie death glare. That face was so disturbing that it instantly shut Michael up.
"Don't you ever talk about my uncle like that again!" She calmly, yet venomously, whispers to him.
Michael was too frightened to respond. He couldn't even give her a simple nod. He was too stunned for words or action. The soldiers used this to their advantage and carried him and the candidates away.
As soon as they were gone, Ludwig placed his hands on Yelena's shoulders and patted them gently. "Hehehe, that's my girl. You've done me proud today, Yelena. Don't worry about failing to keep the Cart and Jaw Titans locked down. Everything still worked out for us in the end."
"Huh. Guess that explains why you threw more rocks at us than planned. You had to put on a show for your comrades, didn't you? Quite the performance coming from a mangy hairball." Levi turned to Zeke, still carrying the desire to kill him and fulfil his last order from Erwin.
"Aw please don't glare, Levi. You don't wanna make me piss my pants, do you? You gave quite the performance too. Both down there and right now when you stopped Michael from assassinating me. I'm surprised you didn't let him, considering how bad you wish you could actually kill me."
Levi examines Michael's severed left arm and lightly taps the side of the crystal knuckle blade he'd formed, letting loose a light ringing sound. He tosses them both out the window before approaching the smug beast.
"I'm the kind of person who saves the best bite for the end of my meal. I can really savour the taste that way. I didn't cut his arms off to save you, I did it because no one but me will have the pleasure of watching the light fade out of your eyes." He responded coldly, though Zeke remained unintimidated.
"I took out Marley's brass and their primary fleet and port. That ought to buy us some time." Eren spoke up before the silence could drag on.
"Before the whole world comes crashing down on us with a coordinated attack you mean." Hange corrected him. "Every single time you get yourself caught we give up lives to get you back. No matter how high the cost, we pay it. You noticed that trend and used it against us. Held yourself hostage to force our hand. We had no choice except to do what you wanted. You put your trust in us, and we've lost our trust in you, Eren."
Ludwig gets in between them, sensing the animosity within Hange. "We've gained more than enough from this. Not only do you have the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood, but you also have the Crystal, Female, and Colossal Titans in your custody. And my bomb has struck fear in the people of the world. They recognise Eldia's power."
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a vial of blood with a label on it that reads "Subject 14".
"And thanks to Zeke, I have recovered enough of my life's work to restart the False Founder Project once more. Soon you will have an entire army of Winged Titans far more powerful than the prototype. All your comrades' sacrifices are about to bear fruit. Once I get started on this, The Winged Titan you all feared will become a thing of the past. Eldia will not only be free but become the most powerful nation in the world!" A creepy smile forms on his face as the exciting thought of it starts to overwhelm him.
Hange, Levi, and Mikasa felt uneasy watching him stretch his arms out with his head leaned back. He looked like he was losing his mind. He'd been like this ever since they first met him, and they're still not used to it. Even Hange couldn't stand to look at him, which was weird given her usual psychotic behaviour whenever Titans, science, and discovering something new were involved.
Ludwig was an extremely odd case from the moment he'd first arrived on Paradis Island and met its inhabitants. It led many to wonder what kind of man he was before. What was it that gave him this unique expression of Subjects of Ymir and the Titans? How can a Marleyan view them as gifts from God when the whole world sees the opposite? Just how did Doctor Ludwig Oppenheimer become the man he is today?
To answer that question, one must see how he grew up. Ludwig was born in Marley in the year 805. His family weren't rich, powerful, or well-connected. His father was a member of Marley's military and his mother was a doctor at the psychiatric hospital where the mentally unstable survivors of war were kept. The same hospital Noah was sent to and where Eren met Falco.
Growing up, Ludwig was taught by both his parents to hate Eldians like everyone else. But since the day he'd first learned of them and the power of the Titans, he instead started formulating a deep fascination towards them. He was told they were devils, but he couldn't see them as such. Even when he learned of the Great Titan War he was in awe at the display of raw power these giants possessed. Regeneration. Hardening of the skin. Causing large explosions just by transforming. The very fact that there are people in the world who can utilise this power and control it fascinates him.
When he entered the academy, Ludwig dedicated himself to researching Eldians, Paradis, Titans, and all relating to them. He wanted to understand how this power works, where it came from, and why only Eldians are capable of harnessing it. His obsession often sabotaged his social life. None of the other students would even look in his direction, and his parents kicked him out of their house, convinced he'd been bewitched by the devils.
Ludwig grew to loathe the unnecessary hate Eldians around the world were receiving. They may have caused untold amounts of death and destruction throughout the Great Titan War, but he appeared to be the only one smart enough to realise that literally anyone would do the things they've done if they'd received these powers instead of them.
If Marley obtained the powers instead, they'd be persecuted as devils by the world. The concept of discrimination only affected Eldia most because of the Titans. Had this power never existed they all would be treated equally and unfairly.
He never thought he'd ever find a kindred spirit that saw the world the same way he did. Everyone viewed Eldians as devils and evil. Was he really the only one who thinks they are the key to humanity's evolution?
As a child, he had only one friend. A boy named Felix. He was different from the other kids. From birth, he's been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. He often struggles with words, but his great intelligence more than made up for it. He had special crutches on his arms to help him walk. Other kids often made fun of him for being different. But Ludwig saw him the same way he saw Eldians. Something to be praised for being unique rather than hated.
As they got to know each other, he eventually learned that he too shared his fascination with the power of the Titans, though has a completely different view of it. He was more interested in learning how they can take their powers and distribute them to every man, woman, and child in the world. Ludwig and Felix studied together throughout all of their academy years until the day they eventually graduated with honours. Afterwards, the two friends decided to move in together in Felix's old home in the capital. His parents had left it to him after they passed away.
At the age of 25, Ludwig and Felix were offered jobs at the Marleyan military headquarters to be the head of the institution of Titan Research and Development. The purpose of this department was to discover new ways to defeat Titans as well as enhance their usage of the seven Titan powers to make them strong enough to finally start the Paradis Island Operation.
Much of the research utilised today had originated from them. Such as feeding Titan Shifters pieces of other Titans to grant them new abilities, the discovery of Subjects of Ymir being connected to the Founding Titan, and much more. But researching Titans was just a cover for what they were really doing. It was at this point in time the False Founder Project was born.
"Ludwig, I d- don't think it- it can be done." Felix stuttered between words. He was dressed up in a military uniform with a lab coat over it. He had shaved brown hair and replaced his crutches with a cane to help him walk. It was the same cane Ludwig carries in the present timeline.
"That's what everyone else believes. But I know if we combine our brains, we can do it!"
Ludwig still looked about the same as he did when Lazarus and Michael first encountered him in Dante and Lydia's past. He wore the same clothes as his best friend and had the same ponytail, only it was blonde back then.
He was carefully administering a few drops of Titan serum into a beaker that housed a plethora of spinal fluid they'd obtained from the current Warriors.
"We- We've been at this for weeks! The results will… always be the same, no matter how much you t-tamper with the T-Titan serum."
"When Ymir received the power of the Titans, King Fritz ensured that only his subjects could use it and no one else. For years I've been questioning how and why. The answer is simple. It's because Ymir's desire to serve him is what enables her power to pass down throughout Eldia's history." He quickly covers his face in fear, worried the serum may explode in his face again for what feels like the billionth time.
"The original Founding Titan can't be tampered with. So, to share this power with the rest of the world, we must create our own Founding Titan. Once we perfect this serum, we will give it to a strong Eldian. We'll train that Eldian to harness the full powers of our Founder and destroy the original. And finally, we'll have that subject alter all life on earth to make them perfect."
Ludwig turns to Felix. "Think of the possibilities this power can do. The Titan's regenerative properties will heal all wounds and fix all disabilities that people obtained from birth, like yours. You won't need a cane to walk anymore. And it's not just physical birth defects. We can also heal those who are suffering from mental instabilities. Amnesia, depression, phobias, all of them gone with a snap." He clicks his fingers as he describes it. "The Human Race will be purified and all-powerful!"
"It won't change how p- people view Eldians."
"Of course not. But over time the discrimination over Eldians will fade into nothingness when everyone can become like them. Everyone will have the power of the Titans. And when everyone becomes a devil… no one will be." Ludwig starts to chuckle to himself. It started as a chuckle until it started devolving into a sinister cackle.
Felix takes a couple of steps back not just in response to his partner getting too excited from this experiment, but also in fear of their latest attempt blowing up in their face. It had happened so often that he accepted it as the norm.
He cowers behind the counter as Ludwig drops the last of the collected spinal fluid into the concoction contained within the beaker. But nothing happened. There was no explosion. No loud ringing from the fire alarms. No explosive residue dripping off of the walls.
His body shakes as he musters all his strength to push himself back up using his cane as leverage. He catches a glimpse of Ludwig standing at the counter holding the glowing beaker high. The liquid inside was constantly changing colours in the sunlight coming from the windows. He had his back turned to him, but he could tell he was smiling right now.
"My analysis reads that the spinal fluid of all ten Titans is coordinating and fusing their properties back into one. We did it, Felix! We've finally recreated the power of the Titans as it was when Ymir obtained it!" Ludwig gently puts the beaker back down and rushes over to the side table by the kitchen area. He pulls out a bottle of wine from the cupboard and two glasses.
He rushes over to his partner's side and hands him a glass before pouring it. Felix looks at the beaker with uncertainty. "B- But, Ludwig, th-this is only the beginning. There's s-still so much we d-don't know."
"I'm aware of that, my old friend. But fortune favours the bold. It's time to show the world what we've done!" He declares proudly.
"How?" He questions him.
"How do you think I got it to work this time? After all these attempts I know what went wrong. We only had to work with what we had. It didn't work because the serum was incomplete. We needed the spinal fluid of the Attack and Founding Titans for it to work. A few days ago I acquired those key components from the current head of the Tybur Family. I told him that if we were able to get it to work, we could continue our research at his lab."
Felix was a little taken aback by this news. He wasn't informed of this. Ludwig just went ahead and acted alone without his consent. He couldn't help but feel a little betrayed.
"You told others about our pr-project? It was supposed to be a secret!" He sternly reacted with his wine glass shaking in his free hand.
"Keeping it just between us was part of the problem. We only had each other to relay information back to. We weren't getting anywhere! The only reason it's worked this time is because I reached out to people with the money and resources to improve our chances."
"You should've asked me first!"
"Why? This whole project was my idea. I invented the serum! I did all the work while you just stood there and watched!" He angrily pointed out, starting to lose his patience with him.
"I'm ill! There's not much I CAN do!" He responded just as furiously. Silence falls upon the lab as the two of them have calmed down. Felix effortlessly hobbles over to a chair and sits down by the window, giving him a nice view of the town outside.
"… I don't wanna f-fight you… I don't like what you did. B-But if you t-truly believe this is right… I will c-continue to help you."
Ludwig takes a couple of calming breaths before replying to his friend. "Thank you. And I'm sorry for dragging your disability into this. It was unprofessional of me."
Felix nodded in agreement. The two Marleyans sit together by the window and clink their wine glasses together as they make a toast to the future they hope to build once they've perfected the False Founder Serum.
After introducing his partner to Thomas Tybur, he and Ludwig were soon brought down to the underground labs of Eden's Nest. It was there their experiments would continue for many years to come.
It was around this time when Thomas recruited Alpha Warriors, Dante and Lydia, to aid their team in the project, as well as Michael's birth parents, with the task of searching for the strongest of the Warrior Candidates to become their first test subjects.
It was Felix who came up with the idea of injecting the subjects with a series of steroids first before the serum itself to strengthen their bodies and minds. But almost all of them were killed by the steroids before they could test the serum.
Ludwig often made improvements to his formula to increase the False Founder's power. Granting them abilities such as telepathic communication, the power to transfer Titan powers from one Subject of Ymir to another, immortality, and much more. He wanted to make his Founding Titan the most powerful the world had ever seen. Little did he know that he was very close to succeeding.
With the deaths of Dante and Lydia, their latest test subject came in the form of their son, Lazarus, designated Subject 14. And this one managed to survive the entire process.
But the combined powers of all ten Titans, plus the ones augmented by Oppenheimer, proved to be too much for the young boy to handle. His body temperature kept on increasing until it finally erupted into a gigantic fiery explosion that consumed Eden's Nest and all within it.
Ludwig managed to survive by sealing himself inside a fallout shelter constructed within one of the labs where scientists were testing the explosive powers of various bombs. He was so afraid of the horrors his creation was wreaking upon the facility that he'd ended up leaving his entire team behind to burn to death. Most of all, his beloved friend and partner, Felix. He was among the first to be consumed by the Winged Titan's flames when it burst out of the ground beneath the car factory.
Ludwig remained trapped in the vault for three whole days with only canned soup to satisfy his growing hunger. The doors were programmed to unlock every three days once closed. By the time he was released, he'd gotten to see the consequences of his creation's actions. There was nothing left but a massive gorge of pitch-blackness and rubble. It looked like it went on for miles, stretching towards the very end of the facility. There was a single ray of sunshine that came in from above, but it wasn't bright enough to light up this giant cavern.
There was no way of knowing how much time had passed for the cursed scientist as we wandered the ruined facility in search of his friend. He refused to leave until he found out what happened to him.
After what felt like days of searching for Felix, he discovered his discarded cane. He couldn't find his body. He couldn't find any bodies at all, only their belongings and what was left of their clothing.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened. Felix, Thomas, his team, and everyone else within Eden's Nest have been reduced to ashes. Ludwig falls to his knees in the dusty remains of his comrades and picks up Felix's cane. Usually, when a person loses someone they care about they'd often break down into tears and mourn for them. But not Ludwig. He had never shed a single tear in his life. Not even tears of joy. He didn't cry when his parents kicked him out, and he won't cry now. Instead, he held the cane close to his chest and blankly stared at the ashes at his feet.
Wallowing in self-pity would only dampen his scientific endeavours. Accidents happen from time to time and there's nothing he can do about it. Felix would not want him to throw everything they've worked so hard on away just to spend the rest of his life depressed over losing his friends and life's work. The world still needs fixing, and there was nobody else in it that could fix it except for him.
"You're right, Felix. This world needs our help. We still have a goal to complete. With you gone, it's down to me to finish what we started. Even if it means starting all over again from scratch and sacrificing my social life, it's worth it! The world cannot go on like this! It needs perfection! I will start again far away from here. Set up a new lab in another country. Marley is too stupid to see the potential our False Founder Project will bless upon the world. I'll show them! I'll share my knowledge with their enemies. Make their armies big and strong enough to oppose them. And once they've destroyed them, I will turn to their greatest enemies… The Eldian Empire."
Fast forward towards the point in time when the Omega Warrior Unit were dispatched to Paradis to retrieve the Founding Titan, Ludwig learns of his first successful False Founder Marley has utilised against the nation of Courland. A Titan with wings and the powers of a God. They called it The Winged Titan.
When Eden's Nest was destroyed, he assumed the experimental False Founder was erased alongside his colleagues and research. Not only did his creation possess powers equal to all Ten Titans, but it was also unkillable. Unfortunately for him, it was also under the Marleyan military's control. Lazarus was still a child, and children can be easily manipulated. It was only a matter of time until they used his Titan to conquer every nation in the world.
This wasn't his intended use! He wanted to use the new Founding Titan as a genetic template for what all humans should become. He was meant to use his powers to alter the anatomy of all human beings to gain the power of the Titans and the power to transform and control their Titan bodies at will.
But all the Winged Titan became was just another weapon to add to Marley's arsenal. He didn't have the power to change anyone's body, otherwise he would've done so already.
Since its introduction to the world and the demonstration of its power in Courland, almost every nation lived in fear of the Winged Titan. Any plans to form an alliance and fight Marley as one had been withdrawn. This hindered Oppenheimer's ultimate goal. He needed the Middle East to ally themselves to keep Marley distracted for his secondary objective.
The solution to this problem was simple. The other nations needed weapons more powerful than Titans to give them the motivation they required to launch an attack. They already have people with the courage to fight their Marleyan oppressors. They just need a little push.
Ludwig spent the five years Lazarus and his allies lived on Paradis working his way through the ranks of the Middle East's military, gaining their trust and support in the first stages of his plan to form the Mid-East Allied Forces.
To get their attention he invented new Anti-Titan weaponry capable of killing Titans in a single blow, even one of the Ten. Weapons such as the Anti-Titan cannons with armour-piercing artillery shells, the armoured trains, and much more.
The various governments were so impressed with his achievements they brought him before the leaders of all the nations against Marley and resolved to test his level of ingenuity. As revolutionary as all these weapons are, they still highly doubt the Mid-East Allied Forces stood a chance against Marley's Omega Warriors. Especially once word got out that all seven of them had returned from Paradis alive. Not only that but now they have the Crystal Titan under their control. That made them more dangerous than ever.
But Ludwig wouldn't give up. He's come this far orchestrating this alliance. He won't let the Warriors' partial success scare them into not attacking.
"… I understand your concern, Councillor. But try to understand things from my perspective. The Warriors may not have sustained any casualties, but they still haven't obtained the Founding and Attack Titans. If they had, then yes, I would agree that the chances of declaring war are impossible. This changes things."
"This changes nothing, Doctor Oppenheimer. Marley's Warriors are too strong for even Courland to defeat because of the Winged Titan. Even before it showed up, the great Britannian Empire had fallen at the hands of the Titans. As impressive as your weapons have demonstrated, we cannot see a chance of us winning against the Titans, especially now they have the Crystal Titan. The chances of us winning have gone from 2% to 1. It's not worth risking the lives of so many good men and women from all our countries. I'm sorry. There won't be a war." One of the world leaders of the Allied Forces Council declared.
"I anticipated that would be your response, Councillor. And I have something that might change your mind."
A couple of his assistants walk in through the doors carrying a wooden table. Whatever was on the table was covered up by a white sheet. Another assistant walks in carrying a set of presentation boards and a stand to put them on. They set them down in the centre of the courtroom behind Ludwig and immediately depart.
"What is under that sheet, Doctor?" Another member of the council asked.
"The future, Councilwoman… The gateway into modern warfare. The key to defeating Marley and surpassing the power of the Titans. What you are about to see will guarantee the Allied Forces' chances of winning this war… Ladies and gentlemen of the board. I give you… The Atomic Bomb!"
With a quick, enthusiastic swish of his arm, Ludwig unveils a model of the Atomic Bomb. The same bomb Paradis dropped on the Winged Titan and the entire port. The members of the board all gawked at it with a mixture of curiosity, confusion, and suspense. They had no idea what they were looking at. They were expecting a new type of cannon or vehicle. But they weren't expecting this.
"That's supposed to be a bomb? This tiny thing? I have grave reservations it'll make a difference."
This isn't the actual Atomic Bomb, it's only a model. The finished product will be over 10 feet long and weigh around 10,000 pounds, according to my calculations."
He approaches the presentation boards and uses his cane as a pointing stick. The first board showed an internal blueprint of the bomb and listings of what resources were used in making it.
"Over the years I have been researching the power scaling of the Colossal Titan respectively on account of its destructive power. I've tried my hardest to measure the exact power scaling of its explosion. On the low end, it can reach up to 1,567 kilotons. On the high end, according to my sources who've witnessed the invasion of Courland, it can reach a level of 2,312 kilotons of TNT. Enough power to level a small town… Once completed, I expect my Atomic Bomb's explosive yield to be double that."
Some of the people in the court trembled at the very thought of a bomb being twice as powerful as the Colossal Titan. Ludwig ignored their murmurs and continued his explanation.
"To achieve this, I have built special C4 explosive devices powered by Ice Burst Stone, a resource only found on Paradis, to harness Titan energy and make it unstable. I call them Ice Bursters. Each one has an explosive yield of 26,400 feet per second. Enough explosive power to take out a train car. My Atomic Bomb contains ten of them. Theoretically, the Titan energy and Ice Burst Stone could strengthen the destructive power of the bomb and level more than just a small town."
He lifts the current sheet up and over the stand to unveil the next sketch, which was a three-sided drawing of a Titan Shifter transforming. The first part was the individual biting their hand with sparks of lighting shooting out of them. The second was piles of flesh surrounding them, looking like it was being drawn to them. And the third was a Titan body nearing completion of its formation.
"I've been studying Subjects of Ymir for as long as I can remember. For so long I've been trying to scientifically explain how they're able to conjure a Titan body around themselves. I think I've finally figured it out." As he explains his hypothesis, he points his cane at each image.
"Eldians can rapidly draw in ambient atoms from the atmosphere around them in order to undergo Titan transformation. This sudden and rapid gain in mass has the side effect of releasing huge amounts of explosive energy. The bigger the Titan, the bigger the blast. That is why the Colossal Titan's transformation is the most explosive."
He then lifts the three-part sketch and reveals an image of a closeup, internal showing of one of his Ice Bursters. Next to it was a simulated effect of what the explosion could look like.
"My Atomic Bomb works by using Iceburst Stone to draw in atoms in a similar way, condensing them down into a supercritical state before releasing them all at once, resulting in a gigantic output of energy that could theoretically overthrow the fully released energy of the Colossal Titan."
One of the council members raises their hands. Ludwig kindly ceases talking and allows them to speak their mind.
"Doctor, if this bomb is as powerful as you claim it to be, what are the chances that something could go wrong, and you end up blowing our city away?"
"I thought one of you might ask me that at some point." He points his cane at the centre of the dome part of the bomb where a small device was connected to the wires connecting all the explosive components. "This is why I've developed this stasis inhibitor to lower the Ice Bursters' explosive potential and put them in a dormant state. It makes transporting the bomb easier and risk-free for your military. Simply dropping it on the enemy would be a gutsy move. Your men wouldn't have time to clear the area before detonation."
He surprises everyone by opening up the model and pulls out the same detonation device he used in the Liberio Raid. "The only way for the bomb to go off is by pushing this button. Don't worry, it's not active yet. I've still got a long way to go before I can assemble the actual bomb… Allow me to give you a simulation of what the bomb's true explosive potential is."
He returns to the board and lifts the first page over, showing the court a sketch of Marley's capital from above. At first, they were confused. But he assured them that what they were looking at was a before-the-bomb comparison.
When he lifted the second page, the whole room gasped. What they saw was almost all of Marley's capital completely blacked out, implying it had been destroyed. The crowd began whispering to each other, contemplating whether they may actually have a chance now.
"As I explained, this is only theoretical. We won't know for certain the full power of it until we test it on Marley. This may be your only chance to demonstrate to the rest of the world that we don't have to live in fear of Titans anymore… Marley may have Titans, but you have me. I am the one chance you've got to finally bring the hammer down on those Marleyan warmongers." He concluded.
The whole courtroom fell silent as the world leaders began discussing if they should take a chance on Oppenheimer's Atomic Bomb and declare war or turn him down and continue to live in fear of them. The introduction of this bomb has raised their chances of winning a war against Marley from 1% to 35%. Had they lost the Colossal, Female, Crystal, and Winged then it would've been 50/50. Their chances were still too low and going through with it did have its fair share of risks. What if the enemy were to gain knowledge of this bomb and use it to build their own against them?
Ludwig assured them that there was no chance of that happening. He was the only man on earth who knew the secrets behind the Atomic Bomb. Without him, the chances are absolutely zero. Even if the Winged Titan were to prevent the bomb from reaching the centre of the capital, it would still have enough explosive range to take out a good chunk of it. Many of the nations in this alliance wanted to win this war. Marley had already taken too much from them. Any of their people living among them were treated like dirt and forced to live in refugee camps with only scraps of food to live on and campfires to keep warm in the winter. This bomb may be the only opportunity they've got to put an end to all that.
After a long, carefully thought-out discussion, the world leaders of the Mid-East Allied Forces have reached a decision.
"The council has spoken. Marley has taken so much from all of us using their Titans. The Allied Forces was created to use any means necessary to finally end them. Though our chances are still slim, we will take anything we can get… Doctor Oppenheimer, we have decided to grant you permission to build your Atomic Bomb. How long do you need to get it up and operational for us?"
Ludwig smiles mischievously. He almost squealed in response to how excited he was to get started. "It pleases me greatly to hear you say that. My team and I will begin construction as soon as possible. But I require a few conditions on your behalf first."
"Whatever you desire, you shall have it."
"Excellent… The first thing I'll need is a bigger lab to test the bomb's properties. I'll also need more scientists, resources, and money to pay for the equipment needed for assembly."
"Granted." The head of the council slammed his gavel down, ascertaining his asks as enforced by law. "Then I think I speak for all of us when I say, the Mid-East Allied Forces will finally declare war on the nation of Marley!"
The whole court erupted with a thunderous cheer and applause. And so, the stones have been paved for the beginning of the long four-year war between Marley and the Mid-East Allied Forces. Ludwig smiles once again. His plan was working perfectly. This war will serve as the perfect distraction for Marley and the Winged Titan while he plans to confront the people of Paradis and offer them his assistance, all in the hopes of meeting the bearer of the Founder himself. The one who proved to be a difficult obstacle for his prototype False Founder.
Within the first year of the Mid-East war, Ludwig was unable to deliver on his promise to give them the world's first Atomic Bomb. He and his team of scientists were pressured to complete the bomb before the Marleyan naval fleet invaded Fort Slava.
Most of the war occurred out in the ocean. They were purposely stretching Marley's forces thin so that the airship fleet could approach the mainland and drop the Atomic Bomb right in the centre. But Ludwig didn't have the time or enough resources to properly test if the bomb was working. He tried reasoning with the higher-ups, but they were too blind and too impatient to give him the time needed to finish the final adjustments.
Because of their incompetence, the airship carrying the bomb ended up getting shot out of the sky by the Winged Titan. The bomb exploded on reentry, but it ended up being a dud with only some of the Ice Bursters going off from the heat of the Winged's flames. The first-ever Atomic Bomb was a failure.
Instead of being forced to build another one, Ludwig decided to flee the country by stowing away aboard a Marleyan ship bound for the island of Paradis. Without him, the Allied Forces have no way of replicating his work. Their chances have dropped back down to 1%. It was far too late to surrender. The war had only just begun. Marley won't allow them that option until they've severely crippled their military. Only then will they discuss the terms of surrender.
Ludwig remained hidden on the boat for quite some time until he was inevitably discovered by one of the crew members. Despite his claims of him being a Marleyan citizen, the soldiers remained unconvinced and threw him in the brig.
Several hours later when the ship was far out to sea and miles away from any conflict, Ludwig was greeted by an unexpected visitor. From what he could see through the porthole in the door, it was another soldier, a tall one at that. And female judging by the sound of her voice.
"You're relieved. I'll take over."
The soldier guarding his cell nods and leaves his post, allowing his replacement to take over. Once the coast was clear, the soldier unlocked the door and stepped inside. The soldier was revealed to be Yelena wearing the same fake beard she had on when she spied on Lazarus and Michael as well as lured Pieck and Galliard into the pit. Ludwig continued to gaze at the wall with his back turned to her, refusing to give her the satisfaction of taunting him. But that wasn't why she was here.
"You're Ludwig Oppenheimer, right?"
Ludwig glances at her over his left shoulder. "That's Doctor Ludwig Oppenheimer to you."
"My name is Yelena. My father was-
"I don't wanna hear your life story! I have better things to think about to be the slightest bit interested in anything you have to say!" He scoffed back at her.
"… Even if my grandparents happened to share the same last name as you?" She retorted.
Ludwig lifts his head from the cold, dirty, metallic floor in response to that question. He slowly picks himself up and faces the mysterious soldier.
"Now that I've got your attention, allow me to properly introduce myself… My full name is Yelena Oppenheimer. My grandparents were Peter and Katherine Oppenheimer… Your parents."
Ludwig's eyes widen with surprise. He lightly approaches Yelena and looks her in the eyes. "You're my… daughter?"
"Niece actually. After you left, my grandparents had another son to replace you. Frank Oppenheimer. My father… Sorry to disappoint." She teased though her face remained expressionless, something Ludwig noticed.
"But you have my eyes. That look, I haven't seen it on anyone apart from myself whenever I looked at my reflection." He backs away from her until he reaches the end of the wall. "I knew my parents hated me, but I never would've guessed they'd replace me… Doesn't surprise me as much as having a niece though. How did you find me, Yelena?"
"I wasn't really looking for you to begin with. I'm part of a survey team to scout out the Island of Paradis and find out what's been going on. But that's Marley's objective. I have my own plans. Plans that may greatly benefit everyone now that you're here."
"What sort of plans?" He asked curiously.
"I am the leader of an Anti-Marleyan Volunteer group that wishes to overthrow Marley. We started out as a loose collection of rebels. Our group is composed of people from different nationalities who had seen their homeland being conquered by Marley. After being forced to join the Marleyan forces and to fight for the country that oppressed us, we've grouped together to try and take Marley down. Initially, we've had very little success and lost morale over time. But all of that changed when we met Zeke Yeager." She explained.
"The Beast Titan?"
Yelena nods. "When we first gazed upon his Titan, our spirits were renewed, and we joined forces with him."
"Why would you join forces with the leader of the Warriors?" He questioned.
"Because Zeke has a plan that will finally put an end to this cycle of hatred that has poisoned our world. We wish to help him accomplish his plan, but we can't do it alone. That's why we're going to Paradis. We plan to ask the Eldians living there for help."
Ludwig was intrigued by this idea. He planned on going to Paradis for a similar reason. Perhaps fate has blessed him by uniting him with the niece he never knew he had.
He and Yelena continued talking about their respective plans and intentions for when they arrived. Both parties saw great potential in each other's respected objectives. They soon came to a conclusion that would benefit both of them and Paradis. A scenario in which everyone but Marley wins.
"…So, Uncle, are you in or out?" Yelena finished.
"I'll join your volunteer group, provided you can convince the Paradians to accept our help."
"They will once we go into detail over what benefits our alliance can give them." She assured him.
"Then I am in." He extends his right hand towards her, intending to seal the deal with a handshake.
But Yelena could no longer hold back her emotions and latched her arms around her slightly taller than her uncle. She was so happy to finally have a family member who truly understood her. Her own parents had shown to be just as dull as her grandparents. Too blind and too stupid to see the bigger picture. Only Ludwig can understand how that feels with his upbringing being similar to hers.
She soon let go as quickly as she embraced him and reverted her facial structure to her usual bland, emotionless self. "Sorry, that was unprofessional of me."
Ludwig gently cups her left cheek with his hand, tilting it up slightly. "Never be sorry for embracing family, my dear… You and your volunteers have my full support. However, I do have one condition.
"Yes?" She hesitantly asked, worried he was having second thoughts.
"I want my cane back. It belonged to a dear friend of mine… More than a friend actually."
"Like a brother?" She assumed.
"More than that."
It inevitably clicked with Yelena on what her uncle was talking about. There was only one thing greater than friend and brother that he felt for Felix. She knew because she had the same feelings towards Zeke.
"Oh… I see."
To Be Continued
Author's Note: In case you're wondering, Yes, I have watched the Oppenheimer movie around the time it came out. I hoped it would give me some inspiration when writing about Ludwig's backstory in this chapter. I also had to get creative with the technicals behind how an AOT Atomic Bomb would work. I think I did alright. What do you guys think?