Wasn't planning on writing this when I first uploaded the story on AOT, but decided to give it a shot. A variation of ANR ending, takes place after chapter 1 and during chapter 2.
...
Mikasa knew what she had to do, yet her resolve wasn't strong enough. She was never strong enough.
Even as the warriors of the Alliance landed on the Founder's Spine, preparing to fight Eren to the bitter end, Mikasa still hoped that there was another way. A way to convince him to stop this madness and return to them…As if this was at all possible after all the horrors that he inflicted upon both Paradis and the outer world. Armin believed it too, and he was determined to reach out to Eren, to talk to him and make him stop the slaughter. Mikasa wasn't brave enough to look him in the eyes, so she resorted to fighting side by side with her friends and former enemies while Armin separated from the group and found himself at what must have been the Paths.
From there on, utter chaos ensued. Mikasa and other members of the Alliance began a tumultuous clash with the Titan shifters of the past, both familiar and completely alien, all in a desperate effort to maintain their position, stall Eren, and save Armin. It was a relieving sight for Mikasa; after all, she didn't have to strike directly at Eren anymore; each one of those had been a far more acceptable target. Finally, Mikasa could fight to the fullest. She immobilized one Titan after the other, maneuvering in between the chaos with her ODM, covering her friends, and gradually pushing forward. For a while, it even seemed as if they had the upper hand…Some Titan shifters began to rebel against Eren and attack others, but all of this was quickly undercut.
It was difficult for Mikasa to figure out her feelings toward Annie Lionheart. She was a ruthless murderer who killed many scouts; there was a time when she deserved nothing but contempt. But after learning the truth about Marley and the situation the Warriors found themselves in, Mikasa couldn't help but feel a degree of sympathy…Just enough to feel her heartache when she saw Annie defeated and taken by a powerful Attack Titan. Eren ate her and claimed the power of the Female Titan, taking another step toward becoming an all-powerful being. Whether it was to the Female Titan's scream or simply the power that he gained, Eren was able to put the rebellious shifters back into their place.
From there, it was loss after loss. Jean's death hit them hard enough, but they still had the advantage before Annie got eaten. Connie was the next to die, and then Levi, their strongest soldier. Pieck, too, was severely wounded, and out of the battle on Falco's back; Mikasa wasn't sure if she was dead or alive. It was a cruel thought, yet Mikasa would rather Pieck die than get eaten and make Eren even stronger. It was just she and Reiner left, and their chances were incredibly slim; they battled on the opposite sides of the spine, trying to take as many enemies with them as they could. They've gone too far to give up.
She would never surrender.
The woman traversed the air, avoiding one of the Jaw Titans consuming her whole. Mikasa jumped on its back, wounding the shifter and making it scream. The Jaw attempted to strike back and plunge Mikasa's flesh with its claws, but she quickly jumped back and sliced the monster's arm, leaving it temporarily vulnerable with just enough time for her to finish it off. Mikasa landed on the Founder's Spine again, but she didn't even get a few seconds to rest.
Another Titan emerged, rushing towards her with speed that surpassed most others, a phantom that Mikasa saw murder Levi without mercy. Would real Annie hesitate? How real was this creature? Mikasa didn't have time for those questions; all she cared about was bringing the Female Titan down. Mikasa looked at Annie…Why did her hands start shaking all of a sudden? Mikasa thought of her previous battles against Annie, both in the wilderness and in Stohess, and tried to recreate her movements and predict her pattern of attack, but all she could think of were her own cries.
"Eren!"
They fought side by side back then; Mikasa rushed after the Female Titan to save him and then helped him finally neutralize Annie at Stohess, back in the days when the two would not hesitate to fight for each other…So much has changed, so much was uncovered…She would give everything to return to those days, as bleak and hopeless as they seemed at the time. Even the thought of them made Mikasa feel a few tears form in her eyes, a moment of hesitation that was over the moment Annie attempted to attack her.
It wasn't her time to fall yet, not when she still had people to fight for, even if, at this point, it was just Armin. He was the one who put in all the effort to convince Eren to change his ways. Giving up would mean abandoning him. Mikasa rose up on her ODM, clinging to Annie and engaging in a battle with her. If Annie was as tactical and swift as she was when Mikasa first fought her, then striking her neck would be next to impossible, but but another Titan could turn the tide. Mikasa watched Annie raise her hand in an attempt to crush her, using the hardening on her fists, but it wasn't anything Mikasa hadn't encountered before. She plunged her blades into Annie's arm and continued to slash her pale skin. The Female Titan attempted to kick Mikasa, but the woman quickly ascended upwards and escaped Annie's strike. Eren's control must have suppressed parts of her mind, of all their minds; perhaps some of those parts were responsible for tactics; she wasn't as dangerous as she would be without this mental block, which gave Mikasa an advantage.
In a streak of confidence, Mikasa decided to try her luck. She leaped towards Annie's face, attempting to slice both of her eyes. She only had time to cut one, which was shielded by the hardening just before Mikasa could strike it. Annie recoiled and regained her composure, luring Mikasa into the open. Moments later, Annie moved her arm much quicker than before. She clawed Mikasa, breaching through parts of her armor and leaving fresh wounds on her skin. Mikasa clenched her teeth, trying not to scream; she got as far away from Annie as possible to recover her strength. The spine was full of dead and wounded titans, but what worried Mikasa was her inability to see Reiner. He knew Annie well and was physically stronger; he could've helped Mikasa bring the Female Titan down, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Mikasa saw another familiar face. The Attack Titan from before was the same one that defeated Annie while she was still alive. He was severely wounded; half of his body was charred, and one of his arms was missing. When Mikasa landed, she finally got a closer look at him. The moment she saw this Titan, she felt like he was familiar, but only after seeing him regenerate did Mikasa realize that his appearance was identical to the Titan from Marley that Eren once described. Grisha's predecessor…Eren Kruger. His wounds were peculiar as if they came from an explosion, but where did they come from? The last she saw this Titan, he was about to fight Reiner…Could he have been victorious? The thought made Mikasa's heart race as she landed at the spine. She was encircled from both sides, with Kruger and Annie approaching her. She wouldn't last long against them, and it seemed that Mikasa's only hope could be Pieck and Falco joining the battle, but soon, her eyes caught something. A glimpse far above, a silhouette amidst the skies that was getting further from the spine with every passing second. It was too big to be a bird and was definitely not a plane or zeppelin; it could only be the flying Titan…It was Falco, moving away from the epicenter of the battle, abandoning Mikasa and Armin. He couldn't have been alone either; Gabi and Pieck must have been with him, which means that the 'Alliance' lost its last Titan shifter. Mikasa's heart sank, utterly and completely; there were absolutely no allies left by her side. Pieck ran the moment she realized that her chances of surviving were slim; Mikasa should've expected that…She has always been pragmatic and didn't care for the people of Paradis; she was only in it to stop Eren. As for others…They were slaughtered. Every single one of them was defeated by Eren and his shifters, and all of their hopes were completely shattered in a single instant. There was no chance to win for Mikasa, stranded in this hell with no one but her two childhood friends, one of whom was on the other side, powerless to do anything and the other…He was the personification of this very hell. For a moment, Mikasa felt content to fall and accept her death; even if she won, somehow, she would have nothing left to fight for; this moment of weakness opened her up, allowing Annie to leap towards Mikasa, preparing both of her hands for crushing her last opponent.
Why didn't she die?
Something or someone shielded her; a giant Titan body emerged between Mikasa and Annie, saving the wounded woman. Another Titan shifter? Mikasa thought all of them were back under Eren's control, but this one resisted. It was a bulky Attack Titan with a beard and strong arms, yet another description Mikasa remembered from Eren's tales.
"Mr…Yeager?" She spoke quietly, fighting her disbelief. The Attack Titan shook and clenched his teeth, desperately trying to overpower Annie. For a moment, he gained the upper hand and tossed the Female Titan aside; she landed on one of the larger bones, which pierced her body and immobilized Annie for some time. Grisha turned towards Mikasa, towering over his adopted daughter and raising his hand. Was he about to attack her, or was he an ally? Was he still fighting Eren's control even after he gained the power of another Titan? She saw his hands shaking and the rage emerging in his eyes; Grisha was on the brink of attacking her here and now, but the sheer willpower of the spirit within held the Titan back. So many memories that she shared with the Yeager family; they were the ones who saved her and gave her a future when Mikasa was about to give up…And Grisha was fighting for her even now. Mikasa knew he wasn't the only one. She couldn't give up, not yet.
Before Grisha could do anything, another Titan plunged his hands through the doctor's neck, tearing into his throat as he let out a raging scream. Mikasa had no choice but to retreat while she could, watching Grisha fall on his knees as Kruger tore into his body and forced him to the ground. Grisha was too weak and drained to resist, and all he could do was give in to his fate. Kruger did not hesitate while nearing Grisha down, and in his eyes, Mikasa saw a stark disappointment that no simple mind-controlled puppet could display. When Kruger was about to rip Grisha's head off, Mikasa couldn't help but reflexively turn away. Alone again…
Mikasa landed on a relatively safe spot, finishing off a few more wounded shifters, and looked around her. The spine was swarming with titans of all types, searching for their victims. Eren made his choice; Mikasa wanted to believe that he still would hesitate to murder his friends in cold blood, but everything she saw pointed to a different conclusion. She could use her ODM to evade the Titans, but she didn't have that much gas left. Sooner or later, it would run out, and Mikasa would remain completely powerless against those hordes. Was this truly a situation with no way out?
As Mikasa planned her next move, she saw something peculiar. One of the nearby Titan corpses lying on the plateau beside her began to evaporate at a faster rate than others. Soon, it lost shape in its entirety, allowing a rising human hand to emerge from underneath it. Mikasa froze in shock as she watched this movement, the realization finally striking her. This could only be him.
"Armin!"
Mikasa charged towards him, thankful that Armin emerged and that the spot he was in turned out to be relatively safe. Eventually, Mikasa landed in front of him, looking at a half-naked man getting himself out of the Titan. He had his eyes open and moved slowly, still confused as to what was going on around him, but no longer taken by the Paths.
"A-Armin!" Mikasa said in a trembling voice as tears streamed down her eyes; she looked at his body to confirm there were no dangerous wounds and helped him get up.
"M-Mikasa…What…" Armin's first words were full of confusion and uncertainty, but after looking around and recognizing the battlefield, he regained his composure and took a deep breath. "It's really you…Thanks."
"What happened? What did you see? Did you talk to Eren?"
"Yeah…" Armin said in a pained, heavy tone. "I tried to talk him down and explain why he couldn't go on with the Rumbling, but he didn't change his mind. He…He didn't want to fight me, Mikasa. He tried to avoid it, but he didn't stop…He will never stop." Armin looked down in shame. "He thinks that this is the only way to save Paradis, save all of our people, and…His child."
"His child?" Mikasa was overtaken by shock.
"When I touched him, I saw a vision…Historia's baby, it's…It's his. He swore that it would be born free and live free. He would make his child be a child of a monster, but in his eyes, all of this is the only way…"
"And now, did you escape?"
"I am not sure…But I think Zeke helped me and shared some of his energy. He resigned and gave in to what he believed to be the natural cycle. He won't help us, but I felt a momentary doubt in him…Yes, that must be it."
"Then…What do we do?" In the end, even Mikasa's feelings for Eren meant nothing, a truth she desperately tried to deny right until this moment. The way he looked at Historia, the way they stood up for each other in the face of overwhelming odds…There was nothing surprising about it.
"Where is everyone else?" Armin wondered. "We have to regroup and think of something else, I know we don't have much time, but…"
"Armin, I…" Mikasa's hands shook as more tears streamed down her eyes. The moment Armin saw her broken expression, he must have realized the gravity of their situation.
"M-Mikasa, did someone…Who? Are they…"
"Falco left us, together with Gabi and Pieck…They might have taken Reiner too, but I doubt he would've left; he is probably dead…"
"And…Others? Levi, Connie, Jean, Annie?"
Mikasa clenched her teeth, unable to speak any words. Even thinking of their deaths was enough to make her feel utterly nauseous. As much as she tried to form a cohesive sentence, all Mikasa could speak of were inconclusive echoes.
"I saw…He…Connie tried to help, and…He…Levi tried to….But…Ate Annie…I, they…" As Mikasa said those words, she witnessed what little hope Armin still had left his eyes, paving the way for emptiness and sorrow.
"Are we…Are we alone, Mikasa?" Armin found the strength to say those words out loud, and all Mikasa could do was nod. It was too late for all of them.
Suddenly, the harrowing silence was broken by a ravenous Cart Titan emerging from the nearby plateau.
"Mikasa, to the right!" Armin shouted as the monster approached its victims. Mikasa stood in Armin's defense and slashed the neck of this monster, forcing it to fall to the ground and scream in agony. The woman rose up, preparing a strike that would finally finish the creature off, but a strong hand grabbed her from behind. Another Titan emerged from beyond the smoke and caught Mikasa completely off-guard.
"NO!" Armin's screams wouldn't do her any good. Mikasa turned around and saw a bulky Armored Titan. The plate covering was unmistakable, but this armor was remarkably smaller than any Mikasa had seen before, in addition to having long hair…Was this it? The face of her doom?
Those were Mikasa's last thoughts as the creature's jaws closed around her.
…
There was no reason for Zeke to smile, and yet he couldn't help but maintain a faint grin after hearing Armin's decisive speech. After all, this was the most he could respond with, and after so much time that he spent in the Paths, even this felt like good entertainment.
When Zeke looked into Armin's determined eyes and listened to his idealistic speeches about the possibility of solving this conflict without further violence when the land beneath them burned, he couldn't help but feel pity for the boy, but also envy him, in a way. Perhaps Zeke would've been just like him in his youth if he had made a different choice. What is he latched into Eldian or Marleyan version of history, became a fervent believer in the cause, swore that he would aid his comrades in building the 'better world,' whatever it was…Zeke knew that the longer he would cling to delusion, the more painful the realization would be in the end. Armin saw the brutal truth of this world and its natural cycle, yet still clung to his beliefs. Admirable and foolish. Zeke knew that his time was nearing; now it was back to his lonely existence, sitting in Paths with the shadows of Eren and Ymir looming over him…Zeke failed to save Eldians, failed to fulfill his promise, and accomplished his goal, but in the end, he should've known this would be the outcome. He was just a cog in this world's natural cycle of destruction, violence, and misery. A conduct for Eren to free Ymir Fritz, only to be tossed aside and left behind.
However, Zeke's solitude did not lost nearly as long as he expected. A silhouette emerged not far away from him, someone fell on the sand. It was a young woman in ODM gear, but without any weapons, she quickly stood up and looked around, displaying her boisterous attitude and willingness to resist even such overwhelming powers.
"Mikasa Ackerman…"
"You…" Mikasa looked at Zeke with eyes full of rage and disgust, even reminding him of Levi at this moment, but she quickly switched her demeanor and looked away. "I have to get out of here, now!"
"You can't." Zeke sighed and shook his head, completely giving in to their fate. "Your will doesn't matter anymore, you are under Eren's watchful eye, I don't think he intends to let you go easily."
"Shut up!" Mikasa snapped. "You might have given up, but not me! Armin is still out there; he can't fight alone…" Mikasa turned around and looked at Zeke with suspicion, beginning to approach the bearded man. Perhaps he should be fearing for his safety, but Zeke knew that Mikasa was powerless here and that she was unlikely to even try. "He told me that he thinks you helped him get out of here…How?!"
"I gave him a nudge. My powers in this place are limited, and I wasn't sure if it would work, but apparently, it did."
"Do the same for me, now!"
"If you want to get something, you should try to be more polite with that…But either way, I'm afraid I can't help anymore." Zeke responded calmly.
"Why?"
"That 'nudge' cost me a lot of power, doing another one so soon will be risky. You can try to fight if you want, if you're at least half as strong as Levi I doubt I'll be a match for you, but I wouldn't try it if I were you, it is futile."
"Then what would you try?! To just sit here and await the end? Just give up?"
"Mikasa, sit down," Zeke said in a fairly friendly manner.
"I'm not coming too close to you."
"Sit wherever you want; all I want for you is to relax, close your eyes, and listen."
"That's just a waste of time!"
"Just try it, I think you'll understand."
Mikasa took a deep breath, sat on her knees, and closed her eyes. Zeke closed, his too. The Paths were an elaborate and complicated dimension, but once one learns the trick and has enough peace within them to surrender to its flow, they can catch a glimpse of what is happening in the outside world. Zeke heard the roars of multiple Titan shifters, Eren's personal army…The screams of the Alliance members as they were slaughtered one after the other until only Armin was left, fighting desperately and to no avail. Sometimes, he even managed to glimpse into Eren's own thoughts; at this point, they were reminiscent of a chaotic whirlwind of hate, shame, and despair. The way his soul screamed every time one of his friends was lost…How he refused to turn Reiner a phantom shifter, believing that he has fought enough and giving in to his sentimentality, how a part of him desperately wanted to stop and weep before Armin and Mikasa, but nonetheless, the part of him that wanted to move forward prevailed over them all.
"Do you hear it, Mikasa? The echoes of our people suffering? Of the cataclysm that is happening outside? The inevitable Rumbling…"
"I hear…I see Armin. He's still fighting; it's hard for him to do so alone, not when all of those titans are after him; that's why I have to go, why I…" Mikasa spoke in rage and opened her eyes, disrupting the seamless flow.
"Armin made his choice," Zeke said coldly. "He could have chosen peace and a few blissful moments, but instead, he clung on to his naive ideals and the suffering that they bring. It doesn't matter how much he fights; the outcome would be the same. Foolish, but in the end…I suppose it's not for me to change his mind."
"And what do you propose, instead? To just lay our weapons down and give up while we are still alive, while we have the slimmest chance? To forget all we've been through, all the reasons we have for living and fighting…?!" Mikasa stood up and spoke with emerging rage in her voice. She was no different from Armin, drowning in her own spite and despair, a pathetic, grotesque sight.
"Our 'reasons for living' are always hollow and will inevitably get crushed by inevitable reality."
"Yours, maybe…So, if you really want to die, then at least do something useful with it! Use your remaining powers to leave the paths; have me kill you! We get to strop the Rumbling, and you get your deaths that you so wanted!"
"Ha-ha…" Zeke chuckled quietly.
"What's so funny?"
"Was that a theory you developed before the attack? That is because activating the Rumbling required both Eren and me. Would killing either of us stop it?"
"Is that wrong?"
"You failed to account for her." Zeke pointed at the phantom tree in the distance with a pale, white-haired girl who walked around it in silence, patiently waiting. "Do you know who this is?"
"It must be Ymir…Our Founder."
"Correct. When Eren and I established a connection back on Paradis, we both found ourselves in her presence. My royal blood proved a conduit for Eren to finally meet her. We both needed her aid yet in the end…I have to admit that I did not understand her as well as Eren did. I believed that I could free her by allowing her to let go of the miserable existence she's been leading for countless generations, but Eren's words and his embrace…They changed her. They awakened the rage that rested within her for all those years. He didn't enslave her, did not force her to do anything; he showed her a taste of what her heart desired, and now she helps him of his own volition. Born a lone slave, yet the original carrier for what we call 'royal blood.' Do you understand?" Zeke looked at Mikasa with curiosity.
"Does this mean…"
"They don't need me anymore. Eren used me to establish an unreadable bond with our Founder, and both of them chose to do this Rumbling. Killing me would achieve nothing. Killing Eren might be possible, assuming you do it by some miracle, but I highly doubt it. Ymir is no longer passive; she has regained control over the paths. If Eren is dead, she will regain the power of the Founder in its entirety and continue alone. She had already discarded the outer world, but what about Paradis? Do you think she will be merciful to an isle, the people from which killed her only friend?" He relayed the truth, watching Mikasa shake with yet more tears emerging in her eyes. "I talked about it with Armin, too, watched him try to convince Eren…It would've been laughable if it wasn't so depressing."
"Is fighting against this destruction laughable for you? You never cared for the people, only for your twisted ideals…"
"Maybe so, but it doesn't change the fact that all the naive solutions of talking out the centuries-long conflict, even the half-measures Paradis Government provided, all of those are laughable. Eren saw much more than any of us ever could, and by being here, I witnessed glimpses of it. To possess both Attack and Founding Titans, a burden too heavy for any single person…He saw where all the paths lead. He saw what would come from talking, from trying to shield Paradis for years, and from doing a partial rumbling. The same outcome, the world would unite sooner or later and annihilate all of the Eldians. That is why he made the choice to make an alliance with me. That is why he didn't give any of your half-measures true considerations. He knew that this was the only way to save coming Eldian generations, but you fail to grasp this…Tell me, Mikasa, why reject the Euthanasia plan if it spares your children from all the world's suffering and grants living Eldians protection? Our people would know peace while the world would be consumed by their hatred and warfare. And what of your team? Even if they save the smallest part of the world, they will regain their power and come for new generations, for your children. They will annihilate them for the sins of their parents just because the previous generation was afraid of getting their hands dirty in pursuit of unsuitable principles. There is no nobility in what you're doing, none whatsoever. That's why, even if the euthanasia plan will never happen, I'm more than content to see you fall. Pieck realized the futility…But you and Armin never will."
"Then why did you help Armin get out of the Paths? It was you, wasn't it?" Mikasa pleaded, asking Zeke to pause and look into himself for a moment.
"Hm…As ironic as it will sound, I'm not exactly sure; at least I wasn't in the moment. I felt like I wanted to do it simply to spare myself from listening to more of his speeches, but I think there's more to it. He reminded me of the soldiers I killed at Shiganshina, the ones that charged toward me without fear or hesitation, ready to die for a dream that they will never see…Armin was about to meet that same end. I knew I couldn't convince him, and so I thought about Erwin Smith and others…They made a choice to die for their belief. I doubt they were satisfied with the outcome, but did they prefer it to simply trying to escape or surrendering to their deaths in peace? I don't know if the knowledge that they never gave up gave them solace in the end, but I know that this was what they chose. That's what Armin chose, as well, and it felt tactful to not take this choice away from him."
"He still has the Colossal Titan, but does he have a chance to defeat Eren?"
"No, he does not." Zeke shook his head. "I know what state of mind Eren is now. He is broken by the path he has taken; he's gone too far to turn back. He must have taken you into Paths to try and shield you, but he knows that he has to kill you sooner or later. He tries to avoid killing Armin, yet he knows that it is inevitable, as well. Whatever there is that's left of Eren Yeager will finish the Rumbling, and you cannot stop him." Zeke closed his eyes, and another powerful tremor emerged from outside. An explosion and a transformation that was able to pierce the Founder's Spine.
"W-what's going on?" Mikasa wondered, clearly feeling this too.
"Armin isn't holding back any longer."
…
After so much effort that Armin put into building bridges, trying to convince Eren to stop this rampage before it was too late…Was this how it was going to end? Amidst a hopeless wasteland with him and Mikasa having no choice but to watch the devastation that Eren was inflicting? He couldn't accept it…He simply couldn't.
After Mikasa was absorbed into Paths, Armin was left alone to fend off the titanic creatures, but he had no hope of standing on his own for long. His ODM was damaged, and he was not nearly as strong as most other scouts and warriors. Annie, Bertholdt, Kruger, the long-haired armored Titan, multiple Jaw and Cart Titans…All of them were on Armin's trail right now, as if racing in an attempt to figure out who managed to eat him first.
Armin closed his eyes and thought of all of his friends and allies who decided to fight against Eren. Jean, Connie, Reiner, Annie, Levi…The faces of brave heroes who managed to put their differences aside and come together to save a world that despised them. People who, against all odds, believed that there was hope to be found in the future, the hope that didn't lie in violence, bloodshed, and destruction. And Eren killed them all…Armin remembered the words Eren said to him in the paths.
"I don't want to fight my best friend."
If only he knew that by that point, the decision had already been made, Armin wouldn't have held back. Now, he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the monster that Eren became had it in him to murder his best friends if they stood in his way to 'freedom.' If this was the case, then it was time to play by Eren's rules. Armin bit his hand, thinking of all his fallen friends. They were his reason to fight until the end, even when all the hope seemed lost…He prayed this moment would never come, but it was time to abandon his humanity and become a devil himself.
As Armin transformed into the Colossal Titan, he unleashed the most powerful explosive wave he could muster. It was so strong that it annihilated the Founder's Spine in a matter of seconds, as well as scorched some of the nearby Wall Titans. Armin could feel his pain manifesting into righteous rage. He was at a point when all words were said, and there was nothing left but to battle on.
"Is that what you wanted, Eren? For me to admit I was wrong?"
Armin spoke to himself as the Titan's shell overtook him. When he could look over the land, Armin saw an ashen filled with charred bones from the spine and the severed parts of the Wall Titans. Eren was nowhere to be seen; as for the Titan army that he led…They all stopped. In an instant, all of their movements halted, and they turned into something akin to a ghost army standing in complete silence. Armin could still move, but he wasn't sure what to do next. He felt that if he made a single wrong move, everything would go terribly wrong. He was as towering as the Colossal Titan; Armin knew that there was a refugee camp right behind him with some Marleyans and Eldians. He was their last line of defense against whatever happens next.
"Is this how you wanted it to end, Eren?! Was it all for…Why, Eren?!" Armin knew that no one heard his voice, yet he continued to scream, allowing his hands to shake. Tears streamed down his eyes, quickly evaporating due to the Colossal's heated body; Armin was waiting for Eren's next move. He knew that his old friend was still there, biding his time…
Finally, Eren has shown himself. Another powerful explosion was right before Armin, a shockwave that caused even the mighty Colossal Titan to recoil. Armin could see his friend's torn body at the epicenter of it. His head was connected to the rest of his body, and soon, it was covered by the most powerful shell Armin had seen yet.
"Eren!" The man shouted and attempted to reach out, but he felt the pain of Eren's flame all around his Titan body. Armin might have been sufficiently protected for now, yet if he continues to move forward, this might break his armor. It was a familiar sense of pain…Armin thought of the day he battled in Shiganshina when he came up with a plan to defeat Bertholdt, willing to sacrifice his life to give his friends a chance. Just like now, Armin was consumed by the wildfire with nowhere to run, endured agonizing pain, thinking that this would be the end of his…Instead, he got another chance of life. Life as a Titan, in which, nevertheless, he still failed to protect his friends. But as long as there is the faintest of hopes, as long as there's just one person who believes in him, even if it's just Mikasa, Armin would not stop resisting.
Then, he finally saw Eren emerge in his new form. It was a Titan that was vaguely similar to Eren's Attack Titan form but much larger. He was only a few heads shorter than Armin. His size almost reached that of a Colossus. Eren's azure eyes were full of rage and determination. His body had a different coloring; his flesh was a mixture of pale white and golden tints, most likely reflecting the titans he had absorbed over those years. Eren looked up, allowing his and Armin's eyes to meet. Staring into Eren's eyes…Armin couldn't help but feel utterly mortified. He already saw this back in Liberio and on Paradis, but this was something else entirely. There was nothing human about them; those were the eyes of a ruthless monster that would stop at nothing until he fulfilled his genocide.
Eren didn't hesitate to attack; he unleashed a ray of pure light that quickly revealed itself to be an example of Titan hardening, as it created a crystal hammer, much like the one Lara Tybur used, but far larger, befitting Eren's colossal size. The Founder raised his weapon and unleashed it upon Armin with incredible speed, the speed that he should never have been able to achieve given the limitations of his size, but Armin couldn't deny what was right in front of his eyes. The Colossal Titan had to react in kind, raising both of his arms and clutching Eren's hammer at its handle. The moment he grabbed the hammer, Armin immediately felt his hands shaking; he never encountered such raw, unbridled power before. Eren wasn't only fighting with his own forces; he had the Founder's power on his side, with her and Zeke, no doubt, watching from the Paths and waiting for their battle to unfold. They must have thought of Armin as a minor inconvenience…He wondered if Eren thought this, too.
Armin let out an ear-piercing roar before using all of his power to push Eren aside. It was a small step, but the decisiveness was enough to make Eren recoil and weaken the grip on his hammer.
This was the perfect chance for Armin to attack.
The Colossal raised his hands and tried to strike at Eren's neck; the first hit was successful as he smashed the Founder's weak spot, causing him to roar in pain. Armin tried to strike again, but Eren didn't give him a chance. The Founder created more weapons; this time, those were the giant crystals emerging from the land beneath Armin. The man felt those towers piercing the Colossal's muscles. He attempted to move out of the radius, but when his every limb was pierced, Armin quickly realized that he was trapped. Eren stood in front of him, preparing to tear the Colossal apart.
Armin focused; he knew that his only way out of it would use much of his energy, but there was no other option. He closed his eyes and began to emit as much steam as possible. Just as Eren was about to lay his hands on Armin, he felt the brunt of this agonizing heat. The Founder roared as he tried to break through this wall of flame but only ended up inflicting unimaginable pain from the burns upon himself. Was this really how it had to end? Why did this have to be the only way?
Armin hoped that the heat could at least weaken the crystals enough for him to break them with his own hands and the Colossal's strength, but Eren wasn't planning to give up. He formed another layer of hardening around his body, just like the War Hammer Titan…Armin felt his heart sink at the realization that this would be more than enough for Eren to reach him. The Colossal acted quickly, grabbing the nearest crystal and plucking it from the ground. When Eren finally reached Armin, he plunged it into the Founder's rib cage. At first, Armin felt that he got the upper hand by wounding Eren, but this doubt was quickly dispelled. The Founder looked up with his eyes of pure rage, making the crystal faint and evaporate as he healed all of his wounds, much to Armin's horror and shock…The emotions that made him pause.
One direct hit.
When Eren stroked the Colossal's head with his hammer, Armin felt as if someone was simultaneously breaking every single bone in his body; it was an agonizing nightmare that made him want to scream and beg for mercy. He couldn't hold his balance and fell to his knees, emitting a powerful wave that ravaged the scorched ground around him. He was brought low, with Eren overshadowing him. The Founder could've easily killed Armin if he wanted, but he hesitated.
I don't want to fight my best friend.
Those words echoed in Armin's mind, making more tears fall down his cheeks. This was wrong…This was all horribly wrong.
And to make matters worse, Armin could see a camp in the distance, the one that Eren's army nearly reached. There were still survivors there…People cling to life and hope, even after the horror that they saw. There must have been innocent civilians among them, those who didn't deserve to suffer and die. Armin fought for their sake, as well.
Suddenly, he heard a powerful roar coming from Eren, a roar that was immediately followed by a dozen flashing explosions from the camp. No…There must have been Eldians there, and if Eren had access to Ymir's powers, he could turn them into titans at will.
"No…What have you done…" Armin said in pain and disbelief as he watched the mindless, pure Titans ravage the very camp he tried to protect. They did not continue their feast for long, however.
Eren screamed once again, this time in a manner that reminded Armin of the Female Titan. The moment pure titans heard his scream, they turned around, and all rushed towards Armin. They all jumped at the opportunity to bite into his heated flesh, starting with arms and then moving to the head. Armin could feel them climbing his body like an organized swarm; all of them wanted to tear his neck. This must have been the order Eren gave to take Armin away from his Titan form and render him powerless. He would stoop so low as to use those people to his advantage and throw their lives away…Armin felt sick to his stomach, but he had no other choice.
He squashed those pure Titans like bugs, one after the other. Every time he crushed one of them, Armin felt as if he was murdering a real person who fell victim to Eren's powers…Why did this weakness have to show up now? Why did Armin always have to hesitate even when there was nothing holding him back? As the Colossal dealt with the overwhelming swarm, he could see the Founder raise his crystal hammer. A few seconds…Armin was ready to bite back. He raised his leg and hit Eren as hard as he could while the Founder left himself in the open. Armin aimed for Eren's legs, bringing the Founder off-balance and forcing him to the ground. As Armin stood up, there was only one thought circling in his mind that he should've fought back sooner…Time and time again, he gave Eren chances only to have him spit in Armin's face.
If this was the game his former friend wanted to play, then so be it.
…
Fight.
Move forward.
Never dare to stop.
Those were the words that looped in Eren's mind on repeat as he walked across the entire world in the form of a god. Ever since the message he left to his younger self. When he talked to young Eren, he did his best to appear confident and certain in his choices, to inspire his journey so that he could arrive at this exact moment. But this didn't mean he was oblivious to the suffering of his friends outside. He knew some of them would try to stop him, and he gave him a fighting chance, not wanting to take away their freedom. It would only be fair…
He was a complete fool.
Jean, Connie, Levi…There was no way back from this. He saw this timeline, and countless others in his visions, he knew it was a possibility…And now it has become his reality. A reality to live in, to fight in, and bring to its bloody conclusion.
The moment Armin broke Eren's balance, the Founder was quick to regain his ground by using his arms to partially restore his stature. Nevertheless, it was still enough for Armin to get up. The Colossal's face was ripped and mutilated by the pure Titans that attacked it, but it wasn't enough to immobilize Armin. It was a foolish hope, but Eren wanted those pure titans to finish the job…For every time he came close to annihilating Armin, his hands would hesitate again and again.
The Colossal Titan finally decided to attack; he kicked Eren and hit his back with his steaming arms. Armin's transformation, his resistance…It was enough to disrupt Eren's focus and even make the Wall Titans halt subconsciously, unveiling his main weakness. He could end this here and now; he saw exactly how this battle would turn out, yet he couldn't help but still hold onto a glimmer of futile, naive hope…In this way, he wasn't that different from his friend.
When Armin attempted to attack again, Eren summoned an array of crystals to piece his arm once again, desperately stalling the colossal. Armin let out a pained roar as he found himself amidst Eren's trap once again. The Founder used this opportunity to raise his hand and pierce Armin's torso, withstanding the hellish heat, only to get an opportunity to defeat his stubborn opponent. The Founder focused and began to crystallize a shard right inside Armin's chest, making the Colossal Titan screech in pain as he was gradually torn apart from within. Just a few moments and Armin would be powerless to fight back…
The Colossal reacted almost instantly; he grabbed Eren's arm with both of his limbs and squeezed it as hard as possible. Eren was surprised that Armin still had this much power left, and this left him open for a moment. The Colossal fought with all of his raw strength, slowing down the formation of the crystal in him until he finally tore Eren's arm off his body. The Founder screamed in pain and anger, realizing that he underestimated his opponent. Armin didn't stop there; he landed a few direct hits on Eren, which caused the Founder to shake and step back. At long last, Armin finally gave up on his fears and reservations…A shame that it had to happen in the most unfortunate of moments.
In the next moment, the two titans remained static and watched each other carefully, waiting for their opponent's move. Armin was wounded, his body grew thinner with all the steam he used, and his regeneration powers were not nearly as effective as Eren's. He could not keep this up for long, but Eren knew that Armin wouldn't give up, nor would he attempt to run away. This was the resolve in his eyes…To remain standing in the face of adversity. Eren closed his eyes, feeling the power fill him. He wasn't alone in this battle; Ymir watched him from the paths, and she wanted to see the Rumbling completed as much as Eren did. She mended his wounded body and fractured soul, filling Eren with decisiveness and energy to move forward and continue his battle. Her will was absolute, and he was its extension; as long as the Founder's power filled him, Eren was absolutely unstoppable. He could feel this power circulating within him at this very moment.
Ymir granted strength to Eren and his army, slowly making the Wall Titans open their eyes one after the other, refocusing them on the Rumbling. Humanity has not been destroyed yet, there was much work to be done. Eren's arm regenerated and he was ready finish this.
Armin attacked first, trying to use a small window of opportunity while Eren was still regenerating, but this was not enough. Eren created a crystal shield around him, and the moment Armin's fists reached it, the Colossal was his with an overwhelming surge of pain. He wasted too much of his powers to break Titan hardening so easily now, and Eren had the advantage. The Founder punched the Colossal, making his opponent reel in pain and gradually lose his balance.
Armin shook but still looked up at Eren to continue his resilient stand. Armin's body has grown faint and weak, with cracks all over it. It would only take a few more strikes before he can't resist anymore. In a desperate attempt, the Colossal charged forth and aimed for the Founder's neck, but even with all of his remaining power, the most he could do to Eren's armor was a small crack that emerged after the Colossal used both of his hands to strike the Founder. Eren used this opportunity to raise his crystal hammer and bash the opponent's head with all of Ymir's power infusing this strike.
The hit was precise and strong…Too strong even.
When the hammer collided with the opponent's head, it smashed it, turning into a puddle of blood and torn muscle, ripped from the Colossal's neck. In one fell swoop, Eren annihilated the strongest of the nine titans…There was nothing and no one who could stop him. The Colossal remained static for a few brief moments, but he soon collapsed on the ground, right by Eren's side. It was over, and the Founder had won, leaving room for nothing but the grave silence.
The army behind Eren has reawakened from their brief slumber and was ready to follow him to the end of the world. He already stalled long enough in this cursed place, there was no time to waste, but no matter how hard Eren tried to focus, his attention always got diverted. He looked at the fallen foe beside him, looked at the bloodied stain on the body's neck, gazed from his towering sight…And saw him one last time.
Armin.
Wounded and stuck between the Titan's muscles, half of his body scorched and the other soaked in his blood. His head was cracked open with crimson rivers tarnishing it, but somehow, Eren still felt his presence…His life. He could see Armin's only remaining eye brimming with tears, reaching out towards Eren with his mutilated hand. A part of Eren wanted to help him, to abandon his Titan shell and run towards Armin, to offer his friend a warm embrace and beg for forgiveness…To say everything that Armin wanted to hear. That none of this had to end this way, that there is still a chance to stop the mass slaughter and find another solution. Eren hoped that Armin would stay away, but he knew from the beginning that this was a futile delusion. This was the way it was always going to end. Both Armin and Eren made their choices, and they would suffer the consequences.
Eren turned around and gave his army a simple order.
To follow him and to keep moving forward.
The March continued with Eren himself leading the charge. At long last…He won. A hollow, painful victory, the only one Eren could expect. Now was not the time to mourn yet, not while there was still work to be done…Eren walked towards the edge of the world, swearing that none would remain standing.
He knew that behind him, his best friend was being stomped to death by the Wall Titans. That he died broken, weak, defeated, and alone. Died along with the hopes and dreams that he carried in his heart.
Eren knew this, but he refused to watch.
…
"Eren has seen the future, time and time again…Every single branch of it, every single turn of events. It is hard to accept the course he has taken, but with his naive mind and endless struggle for life and freedom, there was never any other option. He has become a part of the natural cycle, and we are the ones who will inevitably bear the brunt."
Ymir pretended not to hear Zeke's words as they echoed in her ears. He had someone else to talk to, now, another prisoner…This did not concern her. With Eren removing the largest obstacle on their path, nothing would stop the Rumbling.
The world's destruction…
It has been thousands of years since Ymir felt anything. Even before her death, her desires and emotions were burned out in a cycle of pain, abuse, and torment. She could've done anything she wanted with the Founding Titan's power, yet she had no desires or will. In life and death, forever trapped at the heart that interconnected all Eldian people, still mindlessly obeying and feeling absolutely nothing.
This long wait made her numb. As Ymir watched cities and villages annihilated, saw its people running away in fear and terror, saw them pray, hide their children, and commit suicide at the sight of the approaching monstrosity, Ymir couldn't find it in herself to feel anything. She didn't hate those people. They were very similar to how she was one day. A naive slave girl thinking that there was something, anything worth living for, awaiting her in the future. All Ymir knew was that this was what she wanted. Only annihilating the world would free Eldian people from suffering and strife…Her old tormentors that she still defended.
Perhaps she will be still bound to the echo of Karl Fritz and his descendants, but for once, Ymir could allow her mind some clarity. The people that suffered for the crimes of their ancestors were nothing like those that made her life hell. They suffered, falling to the much stronger world around them and being forced to make an impossible chance. She wanted to give them a chance, because they deserved it.
Ever since she felt Eren's embrace and heard his words, she realized that for the first time in generations, someone was able to make her feel human, to feel like she was more than just a weapon or a tool. Even after all she endured, Ymir could still fight and reclaim her freedom. Eren was there to stand by her side, to become the devil of Eldia himself. Ymir could feel that this was how Eren saw himself, yet she could see that he was different from King Fritz. He didn't take any pleasure in the destruction the two of them were causing; he simply accepted that this was Eldia's future.
Ymir could've ended the Titan curse at any moment and surrendered to her mortality ever since she opened her eyes and broke her chains, but this wasn't her time to leave yet. Eren gave her a choice that had been denied to her for so long, and now it was time for Ymir to repay.
She did not want Eren to feel alone.
…
Historia knew that there would be no way back for her.
Ever since that fateful day, she has spoken with Eren, ever since he told her about his course and the future. Such a disgusting, monstrous act, so many innocents desecrated under the army of the Titans' feet…There would never be any forgiveness for Eren for committing this massacre and for Historia for endorsing it. A part of her wondered if she had made the wrong choice if she willingly sacrificed countless people instead of trying to reach out for peace. She knew that many of her friends would cling to the belief, and for a good reason. Armin and Hanji, most of all…By the time the birth process was over, both of them must have been dead. All of them were. This was a harrowing thought that tore Historia's mind apart and made her weep in shame and despair. There was nothing she wanted more than to go back in time, return to those simple, careless days when she was just one among a group of friends, a group that would do anything for each other, that was united against a shared threat and would do everything to protect their people…
But those were the days of pretense, weren't they? Of running from the harsh reality of the world, the reality that Historia and others had to face when they learned the truth behind the elaborately crafted facade that they believed in. Historia remembered her words from back then.
Let them all get eaten by the Titans.
Oh, how she hated humanity…Truly, the worst girl in the world.
Now, her rash 'wishes' came true in the most twisted and grotesque of ways. Yet this is what they chose, and it wasn't a path they could return from. All of this was so that those who come after would not live in a world that despises them, that constantly forces them to suffer and threatens to exterminate them so that they never know the horrors their parents witnessed. Historia wiped her tears and looked at the crying newborn girl in her arms. An innocent child craving for succor with a long life ahead of her. A life born on a day when so many have lost theirs. Historia's last solace and her hope for the future. The woman looked down at the child, finally mustering a warm smile.
"It's alright…You are free."
…
Move forward.
Move forward.
Move forward.
Across the burning water, across the plains of sand, across the land made of ice, until there is no sight left unseen.
Move forward.
Move forward.
Move forward.
Across the bustling cities and quiet, remote villages, among the civilizations with countless years of history until not a trace of them remains. Burn every single one to the ground. There was nothing left to talk about, no hope nor solution, only flames.
Move forward.
Until the screams have finally gone silent.
Move forward.
Until the rivers of blood and tears have turned to vapor.
Move forward.
Until the fires beneath your feet are finally extinguished, leaving only dust and ash in their wake.
Move forward.
Until you cannot see the way back.
Until the edge of the world is just within your reach.
The colossal army stood across the northern mountainous highland, their heads pointing towards the nearby shore and a cold, icy sea into which it led. They did not walk anymore and didn't move a single step, even though each of them was ready to obey orders. There was nowhere left to go.
The world has been annihilated, and the final weapon of Eldia reigned supreme. The centuries-long cycle of hatred was broken, along with the countless innocent lives that desperately cried out for an answer in a single unison. What did they do to deserve it? Why did they have their life taken? Was this what they lived for? They never got their answer and never will.
Eren stood at the shore with his Titan body lying behind him. It got worn out after so much toiling, an inevitable outcome. He felt the same way. Eren walked slowly towards the shore, his hands shaking and his legs barely holding on. He could crumble at any moment, surrender and perish at the edge of the world, alone and forgotten, withering away after committing so many sins. Here it was, the freedom he pursued so fervently.
Eren felt the presence of others, too. Once the colossal fulfilled their duty, they released those trapped in the paths. Now, they stood right behind Eren, bearing witness to the fruits of his labor.
"E-Eren…" He heard Mikasa's horrified voice from behind, making Eren slowly turn around. He made a small misstep during his movement, but it was enough for him to lose balance and fall to his knees. He saw them standing before him and watching in silence. Mikasa, Zeke…And the Founder herself. They were freed from the paths and saw the trail of destruction that Eren left behind. Felt every single life extinguished. They knew exactly what he did.
"Mikasa…" Eren reached out to her, only to have the woman recoil in horror and cling to her sword that was back in her hand now that she was freed. Her eyes looked absolutely mortified, and fresh tears were quick to form. She didn't want to be close to him, and this realization made Eren's hands shake even harder. Zeke looked at him with a mixture of pity and disappointment, eventually shaking his head.
"I warned you, brother, but you still chose to do it your way…You must have known that it all led to this." He spoke calmly and with a tone of resignation. It must have been far easier to see all of this when he already gave up on life a long time ago.
"I…" Eren could barely speak. Even trying to form words was enough to throw him into a fit of endless and agonizing panic. He killed them all…No, not all; Mikasa was still alive; he tried his best, he saved her, he… "C…Come with me." He said in a quivering voice. He looked at Mikasa and Zeke once again.
"Come with you?" Zeke raised an eyebrow with suspicion.
"I…I killed them all, I…It's the end for them, but…Not for us! We can still go home and…It will be safe there; there are no more enemies who will destroy us…There will be no Titan curse. We will be free! All of us will be free. Please…You can still…Still live…" His words were barely cohesive, yet he managed to convey his plea. If they, especially Mikasa, agreed to return to Paradis and live, there would still be someone…Something to latch onto. All of his friends…He couldn't have killed them all; he wasn't that much of a monster. Eren wanted to think that he tried to protect them, that he did everything, but they simply chose to stand in the way…It was inevitable; it must have been inevitable. But he still tried…He still saved Mikasa.
"A tempting offer, but I'll refuse," Zeke said somberly. "I can't blame you for it, given all you've been through, but you are not thinking clearly, Eren. I have done far too much damage to your country and people ever since I first set foot on Paradis, and I've gone too far to regret it. Those people will never accept me. If what you say is true and the curse will truly be gone, then perhaps you've outplayed me, in a way…But it won't change much. You murdered millions so that a few could live on. Now, they will live with the knowledge that countless people just like them died for the sake of this goal. Not everyone will be able to sleep in peace, knowing this…You doomed them all to another cycle of suffering. I could've prevented it, but you didn't listen. It's your world now, Eren, and I won't be a part of it." Zeke declared proudly but took a pause after that. "Although, I suppose there is one request I'd ask of you."
"W-what…"
"Pieck, Gabi, and Falco escaped during the battle, I don't know where they went. There is only one place where they can attempt to find refuge, Paradis." Zeke said quietly, showing an undertone of regret in his voice. "I have never been a loyal ally nor a friend to the warriors…All three of them trusted me, and I turned my back on them. It was necessary, but I can't say it was easy. Gabi and Falco are just children and Pieck…Her crimes before Paradis pale in comparison to mine. If you ever meet them and will have an opportunity for a peaceful resolution…I ask you to take it. If they won't be a threat to you and Paradis, give them a chance. Can I count on you to do that?"
"Y…" Eren still shook, unable to look Zeke in the eyes. "I will…I'll try…"
"I hope so," Zeke said before turning towards Ymir. "In that case, there is nothing left for me anymore…Ymir." He spoke to the girl in a soothing, humbled tone, a far cry from how he did before. "I ask of you…Will you grant me peace?" He said to the girl, and after a slight pause, Ymir nodded.
Moments after, Eren saw Zeke gradually faint. His body withered and decayed as his limbs began to turn into ash. Zeke remained silent, looking over the snowy wasteland that surrounded him one last time, and then closed his eyes. Even as his face fainted into oblivion, he remained stoic. For him, it was peace, and Zeke's yearning for it hasn't changed. To save himself from life, the ultimate form of suffering.
A part of Eren envied him.
The man stood up, using all of his remaining strength to maintain his balance, and looked at Mikasa, who still stared at him with disbelief and terror.
"M-Mikasa…You can still return. Come home…I promise I'll pardon you. The Yeagerists won't lay a finger on you, I…It's not the end yet, it…It shouldn't be."
"Eren…" Mikasa spoke in a quiet, trembling voice. "You killed Armin." She said, making Eren freeze on the spot, watching Mikasa's empty, broken eyes. "You killed them all…"
"Mikasa, I…"
"Please…Stop. Don't say anything." The woman closed her eyes with a River of tears falling down her cheeks.
"I didn't want to, I…"
"Just stop, I…Please, no more!"
"I had to…"
"SHUT UP!" Mikasa screamed in rage and charged towards Eren. With a single disarming push, she forced him to fall to the ground as she towered above him. Eren felt no pain; he became numb to it, and he couldn't force himself to speak either. He simply looked into Mikasa's eyes as she took her blade out and put it at Eren's throat. Her tears fell on the blade, slowly flowing onto Eren's neck and face. He didn't have it in him to resist. "You killed them all! You…You murdered them…And you think that after that, you can just…You can just forget it? To pretend like we can just move on?!" Mikasa screamed in anguish and despair. "How…How can you do this? How can you still look to the future after you…How can you let go of it?! Tell me, Eren, please! I…I don't understand…" Her voice grew quiet again; Eren could feel the weakness in her hands as if she would disappear in an instant. "Kill me, too…I was against the Rumbling, I was with Armin, I…Why can't you just fight? Isn't that what you did? Why do you give in to me? I don't understand!"
"M-Mikasa…" Eren whispered. "Please…Kill me…" Eren said and closed his eyes. He deserved this death; the world deserved justice after all the suffering he inflicted…Paradis was already saved. They would live on and make their own future, unburdened by the knowledge that a mass murderer lives among them, unpunished. This way, every piece will fall into place…After all, Eren said to Mikasa to push her away, to dissuade her from following him and having blood of millions on her hands, he could think of no better person to finally end his misery.
One slash.
No pain.
Eren felt blood streaming from above, drenching his neck and face in crimson. He opened his eyes and saw a grotesque image. Mikasa slit her own throat and now coughed in agony as her face grew pale.
No…
It only lasted for a few seconds. After that, Mikasa fell to the ground right by Eren's side, drowning in her own blood. She froze before Eren. Place face, lifeless red eyes, an expression of uttermost horror and despair. Eren couldn't hold back his vomit.
She was gone. Gone amidst the furthest edge of the world, denying Eren the peaceful absolution that he yearned for. He live fading away, just like countless Wall Titans that began turning into ash after Zeke's demise. The stains of history faded away, leaving only one man who had decided the fate of the world.
Eren wept over Mikasa's body. He screeched like a tormented animal and clung to her withering flesh, desperately trying to wake her up even though he knew that it was too late.
"MIKASA! NO, PLEASE, PLEASE…WAKE UP!" His screeches turned into an echo that quickly spread across the northern shore, but there was not a soul to hear him. Eren fell on his knees, hugging Mikasa's corpse and drowning in his tears that mixed with the young woman's blood. "I'm sorry, I…I'M SORRY! Mikasa, Hanji, Connie Jean Levi…Armin…I'M SORRY! M-Mika…You should've lived! You should've…" Speaking for too long was difficult in itself, and Eren wailed once again. Sniveling and shaking, not even trying to look above himself. Everything in the world, every single sight, no matter how beautiful and majestic, would forever remind him of this day. Whatever happens next will forever be ingrained in his memory. The moment of freedom that he moved towards for years was finally within his reach, and it was disgusting.
He would've never stood up if not for the feeling of a small, warm hand on his shoulder. The essence of a girl who had no reason to stay behind any longer, the one who freed all of her people and paid the ultimate price. He could feel the aura of freedom emanating from her, could feel her curse being lifted from all surviving Eldians; she has regained control and, with the powers bestowed upon her, freed them all. Ymir herself began to fade, just as peaceful as Zeke, but Eren still felt her presence close to him, a new life springing forth, something that he could not describe in words yet could feel in his soul. After taking a deep breath, Eren finally looked up and saw a single Wall Titan still standing at the shore.
It was there to take him home.
…
The Rumbling dissipated as swiftly as it emerged, leaving a mark on the world that will last generations. The millions of Wall Titans marched across the world, annihilating all the known nations. Marley, Hizuru, Mid-Eastern nations…All of them became dust. In the end, the people of Eldia found themselves at a precipice, yet somehow at the exact spot at which their lives began. In a matter of days, they have become humanity.
And yet, this time, there were no walls.
Through countless sacrifices and atrocities, through the battle of heaven and earth, the Eldians have finally become free. They knew of the price that had to be paid for their freedom, and many were disgusted by the actions of the one who made this choice. Others were invigorated, celebrated this as a victory for the restored Eldian Empire, and praised their leader as if he were a god. Others simply found themselves letting out a swift and shameful breath of relief. One way or another, the war was over, and there was no longer a threat that loomed over their home. The Titans have also disappeared. No one has ever laid their eyes upon a single one since this fateful day. The Yeagerists maintained their grip on the government, and the cycle continued…Everything became as it once was. A kingdom built upon the ashes of torment and destruction, a country of people who abandoned humanity for their freedom. Each one would share the guilt, yet most would not have to struggle with the burden of being the ones to act, being the ones responsible for the deaths of countless innocents. They got a chance to live, and it was up to them to make the most of it.
Most of them were anxious to see this new Paradis, this new future. So much so that barely anyone paid attention to a lone man walking on the road where the gates to Shiganshina once stood. A frail, shaking man stumbling and wandering, looking as if the simple gust of wind was enough to make him fall to his knees. No one in their right mind would recognize the devil in him, and most people didn't even want to look. Not at the embodiment of sin and destruction that paved the way for their future. The man once made a choice that he believed was right. A part of him said that he should let go and accept those consequences and that he should not allow his life to be burdened by regrets, but he knew that it wasn't possible any longer.
When the man held a knife to his throat, he considered ending it all, but he never had the heart to do it. Not when there were still two people waiting for him, far away from the crowds and cities. A place where a woman waited for him, the only person who willingly shared the burden of his sin.
He would never stop mourning, never escape the life of sin, never forget the screams of the children that he callously murdered…But he will not forget the goal all of this was for. Eren would never know true freedom after what he has done, but his daughter…
She will be there to see the world so many died to build.
She will live in a world where she doesn't have to suffer because of her blood.
A world of beauty that she could appreciate without fearing for her life.
A world in which she will be free.