Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal

Chapter 33: Noah's Arc Part 1

Upon making contact with Zeke Yeager, Michael managed to finally regain his long-lost memories of his past life as Michael Suurvalta. An Eldian citizen of Marley and Lazarus's former best friend and neighbour.

Once he took the time to process everything, he'd just relearned, he sat down around a campfire Lazarus had just finished setting up and told them about his tale of how he ended up on Paradis with amnesia. But to get to that, he needed to go back to the beginning of his journey… The very beginning.

The year was 730. 120 years before the Battle of Trost and the events leading up to the present day. Not only did Michael recover his past, but he was able to look into the memories of his predecessor. Noah Suurvalta. His grandfather. The old man who had been nothing but supportive of him since he first awakened the Crystal Titan within himself.

Back in those days, Noah was just another Eldian citizen living in the port city of Odiha, one of the internment zones for Eldians in the motherland of Marley. The year 730 was the year he was born into the world.

The moment he was born, he was completely overwhelmed with the sounds of joy and happiness. But that joy slowly began to die down and the bedroom he was in was reduced to silence. The silence lasted only moments as the voices of the people cried out in shock and horror.

The moment Noah's life had just started, was also the moment his mother's life had ended. The bed she was laying in was soaked in her blood, as well as her white nightie and bedsheets. The husband of the recently deceased wife rushed to her side, desperately attempting to revive her whilst the doctor who was helping her deliver the baby, just stood there holding Noah in his arms.

Noah's father turns to the man and begs him to do something. But there was no way of saving her. Noah's father drops to his knees and wallows in despair.

Babies are often known for emotionally repeating whatever the people around them are feeling. They would laugh if it was positive, and cry if negative. But for some reason, Noah wasn't crying. He just sat in the man's arms, staring at his grieving father, confused as to what was going on.

The doctor assured Noah's father that her death was not his fault, nor was it their just-born son. This caused him to stand back up and look over at him. His eyes were still filled with tears.

"I know…" He slowly responded. "When I first learned Angela was pregnant, I knew this would only worsen her condition. It's not her fault. It's her damn bloodline's fault! If only she was born a Marleyan, or at least another Eldian blood type. She would've been strong enough to birth our son and live to watch him grow up."

"I'll have my people bring her body to the morgue. I'll make sure the Marleyans don't find out. They'll most likely have her body incinerated, rather than let us bury her." The doctor assured him.

"Thank you, Doctor Yeager." Noah's father says as he wipes away his tears with his right shirt sleeve. "I hope one day your son can live up to the legacy you started."

"I hope so too." He pauses for a moment to allow Noah's father to calm himself down before making preparations on what they should do next. "I'll make sure we give Mrs A-

"Suurvalta! Suurvalta is her last name, remember?! As far as we know, there's no more of her kind in this family!" Noah's father sternly interrupted him.

"But your son has her blood too." The doctor pointed out.

"That doesn't matter to me! I will raise him to believe he's like everyone else. I will NOT let him end up like his mother or anyone else who shares her blood. They're the real devils, not us!"

The doctor sighs disapprovingly in response. But it was not his business to get involved in family affairs. As he was moments away from handing Noah over to his father, he was startled by a most unusual sight. Noah's eyes turned blue.

"Strange? I could've sworn your sons' eyes were grey… Not blue."

"What are you-

Both men were suddenly blinded by a bright light that shot right out of Noah's eyes. It was so bright that the doctor unintentionally drops him. But instead of hitting the floor as they were expecting, dozens of curved white crystals form around the baby's body, shielding him from the impact of the hardwood floor.

The crystals start to spread out from his body and cover a big chunk of the floor, forcing Noah's father and Doctor Yeager to take a couple of steps back until they were up against the wall.

Eventually, the crystals stop spreading, causing both men to let out a sigh of relief. Noah was just laying in a bed of white crystals, unaware of what was going on around him.

The two men standing at the other end of the room were still frozen with fear over what had just transpired. It took a full minute for either of them to start processing what this could be.

They've both heard the stories, but they never would've believed it if they hadn't just witnessed it just now.

"That's not…possible!" Was all his father could muster the courage to say.

"It would seem your wife's bloodline has other plans in store for your son, Troy." Doctor Yeager turns to the concerned father of Noah. "You do know what this means, don't you."

"My son… has been chosen to be the next Crystal Titan."

Thirteen years have passed since this great discovery. Since then, Noah's father had been sheltering his son in their own home, forbidding him from ever leaving except to go to school. As far as Marley knows, he's just a regular thirteen-year-old Eldian citizen living a normal life.

The name Noah was given to him by his late mother. He was named after a character from a storybook from her childhood. A story about a man who was tasked by God to build a giant wooden ark big enough to house two of every living creature in the world to survive a great flood that covered the whole planet. The only good story she'd ever known that didn't involve Titans, Marleyans, or anything of the sort.

As he grew older, Noah's developed mind started to burn with questions. Why was his father determined to keep him hidden? Why did his mother pass away during childbirth? And why do people treat him differently?

He never got the answers to those questions. But he did learn more about the world he was born into from school. He learned that he and everybody who possessed an armband like him were part of a race of devils known as Eldians, or Subjects of Ymir. He learned about the power of the Titans and how Marley possesses seven of them, and the Eldians that lived on Paradis had the other two.

All the other kids in his class just sat there and absorbed all that information like a sponge. He couldn't help but wonder why it was only him that questioned this lecture. Surely there had to be more to this story than just what they told him.

His eyes were drawn away from the boring teacher and focused on a young girl who was sitting next to him by the window. She was resting her head on her hands, admiring the beautiful, sunny day outside the window. She had long locks of flowing blonde hair. Her eyes were blue, just like his, only hers had a sparkling gleam in them, whilst he was more like a deep, unmoving ocean.

Noah had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. Ever since he first laid eyes on her on his first day of school, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately for him, other boys had their eyes on her for a while. Being the most beautiful girl in class did come with its disadvantages.

The only other boy who had a crush on her was a skinny-looking, nerdy kid who was sitting at the back of the class. He was always quiet. Too afraid to speak his mind unless the teacher orders him to. Back then, Noah thought there wasn't much competition between them. He was strong, smart, and handsome. The kind of guy who always gets the girl. Whilst the other kid was the cowardly loser type. Though he didn't think that of him, despite him threatening to win over the girl he loves.

Fortunately for him, the girl was looking in his direction, smiling over at him whilst twirling a lock of her golden hair around her index finger. Noah smiled back at her in response. Yeah, he had nothing to worry about.

After school had ended, all the children rush out of the school building, excited to finally go home. Noah was exiting the school building with the girl.

"Hey, Alicia, you want me to walk you home?" He offered.

"Oh, thank you, Noah. But don't you live in Odiha? That's in the opposite direction of where I'm going?"

"Yes, but I don't mind walking an extra mile just to get you home safely." Noah smiled back at her as he offers her his arm. "Shall we?"

Alicia giggles as she takes his arm and intertwines it with her own. She rests her head upon his shoulder as the two of them walk off in the direction west of their school. Both of them were unaware that the shy, nerdy boy from earlier was watching them leave. He hangs his head in defeat, knowing that any further pursuit to win Alicia over was pointless.

Suddenly, the kid feels something hard strike him in the back of the head, causing him to tumble forwards and fall on his face.

"Ha! Look at this! This scrawny little devil went down like a domino! And I thought they were built to be as tough as the Titans!"

The scrawny kid slowly turns his head around to get a good look at his attackers. Standing over him were two teenage boys. Neither of them was wearing armbands, which implies that they're both Marleyan.

"I can't believe they're allowing devils to go to school with us. They're just gonna stink up the place with their hellish stench!" The other Marleyan teen replied. "You should probably wash your hand after punching him like that. It stinks of Eldian!"

"You're right." The first one briefly glanced back at his friend. "But first, let's remind this little devil who rules this school."

The two Marleyans then proceed to mercilessly kick the kid in the sides whilst he just curled up in a ball and took it.

Alicia's ears briefly pick up the sounds of the bullying and stops walking to get a better look at what was going on. She lets go of Noah and prepares to rush over to help. Noah quickly grabs hold of her arm, stopping her.

"Let go, Noah! Frederick's in trouble."

"Don't Alicia. Those guys are Marleyans. We start something with them, and we'll be sent to Paradis!" He warned her but to no avail.

Alicia breaks free of Noah's grip and rushes over to Frederick's side, defending him from the Marleyan bullies.

"Leave him alone!"

"Well, looky here. We've got ourselves a devil disguised as a princess." One of the Marleyan boys teased before grabbing her by the arm and pulling her close. "For a devil, you sure are a looker."

The other Marleyan teenager intervenes by pushing Alicia away from his friend, sending her to the ground alongside Frederick.

"Careful, man. She's trying to bewitch you with her feminine charms! A devil is a devil, no matter how good-looking they may be."

Coming to his senses, the other Marleyan decides to make short work of Alicia by raising his leg, ready to stomp on her face. "Then I'll just have to smash that pretty little face in, won't I?"

"Hey, asshole!"

Before the Marleyan and his friend were about to follow through with their attack, Noah dashes right up to them and punches the first one in the face so hard that he ended up getting sent flying into the school building.

His friend didn't have time to react as Noah proceeded to do the same thing to him. Decking him so hard that he got a concussion.

"Noah?" Alicia uttered.

"Both of you get outta here now! That won't keep them down for long."

"But Noah-

"Please do as I ask!" He raised his voice at them without even looking back. "I'll get them to chase me so you two can get home safely."

"But… you'll be sent away," Frederick warned him. "The Marleyans will take you to Paradis and turn you into a Titan!"

"Maybe. But at least you two will be safe. Now go!"

Frederick instantly got back up and made a run for it west. Alicia however was still hesitant to leave Noah all alone to face the Marleyans, fearing what they would do with him.

The two bullies soon recover from Noah's punches and spot their attacker standing before them.

"You're gonna pay for that, filthy devil!"

"Then come and get me, you Marleyan scum!" Noah taunted right back at them.

Enraged, the two Marleyan teens chase after him in the opposite direction of Alicia and Frederick. Alicia could only watch as Noah led them away, fearing for his survival after this.

Noah leads the two bullies out of the town centre of Liberio and into the city of Odiha. He eventually leads them into an empty warehouse building said to be demolished in two days. They pass a sign that reads "Future sight for the new Marleyan Car Factory".

Noah inevitably runs out of breath and comes to a stop at the far end of the warehouse. The two Marleyan boys slowly approach him, rolling up their sleeves, readying their fists for another beatdown.

"You devils are all stupid as well as ugly! Did you really think you could get away with striking a Marleyan like me and not get punished for it?" The first bully rhetorically asked.

"You Marleyans are all the same." He uttered. "You think you're so superior because you believe you're real humans. But not having the power of the Titans doesn't make you human. It's what defines you as a person. And people like you who prey on those who are different from you are, makes you the real devils here!"

The second bully gets agitated by Noah's words that he was ready to throw down right here and now.

"That's it! I'm killing him now!"As he was about to charge tackle him, he was stopped by his friend. "Why are you stopping me, Alonso?

"Patience, Ramon." He then reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles, causing Noah to tremble in fear slightly. "This little devil just needs to be taught a really, REALLY, painful lesson… Then we'll kill him."

He hands one of the brass knuckles to his friend before slipping on the other one on his right hand.

"If you kill me, you'll only end up getting in trouble yourselves." Noah attempted to scare them out of following through on their plan.

"Killing another human being is against the law, yes. But you Eldians are not human, and you never will be!" Alonso taunts as he closes the distance between them. "No one will care if an Eldian like you is killed by a Marleyan. Some people will praise us as heroes for it. Your kind should all be wiped out!"

"Yeah. Maybe afterwards we'll go after that girlfriend of yours and that scrawny freak! Who knows, we might start up an Eldian purge, hahaha!" Ramon devilishly snickered.

The two Marleyans then proceed to viciously beat Noah up with their spiked brass knuckles. Each punch pierced his flesh like a bunch of pins were stabbing him all over. The pain was almost unbearable. Both bullies held him up with their ungloved hands, whilst beating him with their knuckled fists. Most of the damage they've dealt went to his face. Each impact of the small spikes caused his facial features to be rearranged.

By the time the Marleyan boys were satisfied with their revenge, they let go of Noah's shirt collar and let him drop to the ground. As a result of their beatings, his face had been horrifically disfigured. He received two black eyes, forcing them shut, making it impossible to see. His nose was broken and constantly leaking blood, and he even lost a couple of teeth. His body was also mutilated and full of holes from the spikes. His shirt was completely soaked in his blood. His injuries were so severe to the point where he was having difficulty breathing.

"Huh? He's still alive. He's pretty tough, I'll admit." Alonso commented.

"Shall we finish him off?" Ramon asked.

"No. That'll be too merciful. Let's leave him there to suffer. It's no less than what he deserves. Damn Eldian."

Ramon and Alonso wipe the blood off of their knuckles and prepare to leave the abandoned warehouse. Whoever's working with the demolition crew will likely notice his body and dispose of it long after they're gone. Even if the police trace his murder back to them, nobody will care about an Eldian being murdered.

Noah attempted to reach out to them, but his body was too weak to move. He started to lose consciousness after wasting what little strength he had trying to cuss at them.

"Wake up, Noah."

Noah's eyes shot wide open in response to the sudden, unfamiliar voice that called out his name. He checks his surroundings, only to realise he was no longer in the abandoned warehouse.

He was standing in some kind of black void with only a chandelier of glowing crystals hanging over his head. As the crystals brightened up the area, he was able to see the many, many, spirits of the previous Crystal Titan users standing around him. All of them varied between age, gender, and era. Some wore clothing that was way out of date while others wore clothes more suitable to his time.

All of them were just staring blankly at him with their glowing ocean-blue eyes, not making a single sound. Not even the faintest breath could be heard escaping their lips. That is if ghosts even need oxygen.

"Who are all you people? What is this place?" He asked them. But not a single one of them answered. "Can you even hear me?"

"Oh, they can hear you… They just prefer not to speak."

Noah quickly turns around in response to that voice. He then spots The Reaper standing behind him. Beside Reaper, was a young woman who was down on her knees and had her arms stretched out to the side by crystal chains that stretched on for miles without end. The woman had short black hair that was sloped to the right while her left side was shaved. She had a muscular build and pale skin. Her clothing consisted of a white vest, brown trousers and black boots. Her head hadn't moved from her position of blankly staring at the non-existent floor.

"Who are you? And what are you doing to that woman?!" He demanded of him.

Reaper ignores his question and proceeds to remove the chains binding the woman's wrists, causing her to drop to the floor with a deafening thud. He then picks the woman up and carries her over to the crowd of past users. The crowd parted ways slightly, giving her a space among them.

Upon placing the woman down in the empty space, the woman's eyes start glowing blue and she ends up joining the others in hypnotic unison. Once that deed was done, he turned his attention to Noah.

"Welcome to the Crystal Cave. That's what we call this place."

"Who are all these people? Why was that woman chained up?" Noah asked again as he approaches The Reaper. "I demand answers!"

The Reaper sighs annoyingly in response. "Yet another talker… Since you own my powers now, I can understand your confusion. I'll make it brief. I am The Reaper. I control this domain. These people around me are your ancestors as well as my descendants."

The Reaper explains to Noah about the Crystal Titan and how he inherited the power after the woman he'd just placed with the others ended up committing suicide for unknown reasons. At least unknown to Noah. Most likely Reaper knew the reason why, but he chose not to share it. Just like how he refused to share his real name with him.

He then explains what the Crystal Titan is to Noah, so he'd have a better understanding of it when it's finally his turn to use it.

"So… every single person who's used this Crystal Titan power end up here?"

"Yes," Reaper answered bluntly. "It happens to all of us eventually. It's the cost of controlling such power… So, you better make use of it while you still can. Though it may already be too late for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your body has suffered near-fatal injuries from those two Marleyans. It was how your soul ended up here. Those who possess my blood have inhuman instincts that only awaken when we're either near the brink of death, or they've been activated by members of the royal family." He explained. "You can save yourself by using our Titans healing factor. But if you do, you must swear to serve me and the Eldian Empire…forever."

As he says this, a magical screen appears before them. It showed Noah's body slowly slipping away. In response to his body dying, his soul felt a pull. The Cave was calling to him.

"What's gonna happen to me if my body dies?!" Noah asked, terrified by the thought of losing his life as it had barely begun.

"If you die, you will forever be trapped in the Crystal Cave. Your soul will join the others sitting around us. Your time as the Crystal Titan will have ended before it even began. That would be a first amongst my kin."

"No! I can't die here!" He grabs a hold of Reaper's cloak as he desperately looks up at him. "I'll do it! I'll forever serve you and all of Eldia. Just please don't let me die! I want to live my life before it ends."

Live his life. That was something Reaper would've scoffed at once upon a time. But he had an understanding of how desperate his situation is. There was once a time when he just wanted to live a life. But a certain someone stripped him of that luxury, despite his dedication to him. He'd been so full of bitterness and anger about it ever since. He'd been taking out his anger on all who obtained the Crystal Titan after him. It was so much easier for him to do that than blame himself for how things turned out.

Seeing this boy beg him for a second chance at life, he couldn't help but feel…sympathy. Something he hadn't felt in a very, VERY, long time. Not since…

"Very well, Noah Suurvalta. We have a deal." The Reaper responded as he places his hand on his head with his thumb pressed up against his forehead.

"Time to wake up, Crystal Titan."

Noah gasps for breath as though he'd just woken up from a nightmare. His deep breaths drew the attention of Ramon and Alonso. They both immediately turn around in shock to not only see Noah still alive, but his body was healing itself. His face was restored to its original appearance, looking as if all the damage dealt to it had been reversed. He soon managed to get back up on his feet as the last of his injuries healed. He stares down at the two Marleyans, paralysing them with his glowing blue glare.

"What the hell?! That's impossible! He should be dead!" Alonso cried out in disbelief.

"He's a devil! He's using his evil demon powers to heal himself!" Ramon reminded him whilst panicking.

Suddenly, Noah's body starts to glow a bright white. A surge of electrical energy sparks out of his body and channels itself into the ground. Soon afterwards, pillars of white crystal spikes burst out of the ground and form a circle around himself and the bullies, trapping them in a circle of crystals.

The two Marleyans fear for their lives as they desperately attempt to break the crystals separating them from the warehouse exit door. They bang their fists against the structure so hard that their hands started to bleed.

Noah slowly approaches the duo. He stretches out both his fists and a white glow emits out of them, followed by a crystal construct of spiked gauntlets. Once the gauntlets were formed, he slams his fists together, unleashing a high-pitched ringing sound, forcing the bullies to stop what they were doing and slowly turn around to face their attacker.

Before he could react, Ramon's head explodes from his body as the gauntlet made contact with his face. Blood and brain matter splatters all over the crystal walls and Alonso's face. He screams in terror and pointlessly backs himself up against the wall in a failed attempt to avoid meeting the same fate.

Bits and pieces of his head paint the wall red as his limp, headless body collapses against the wall, leaning up against the headless body of his friend.

Noah just stood there blankly, basking in the glory of killing two Marleyans who had it coming… For a time at least.

As his eyes returned to normal and the crystal gauntlets and walls disappeared. Noah allowed his sense of reason to return after instinctively killing the bullies. Upon seeing their headless corpses laying in pools of their own blood, his eyes widened with horrific shock at the realisation of what he'd just done.

He scurries away from the bodies, getting some serious distance from them before processing his actions.

"What have I done?!" He muttered to himself as he continuously paces the floor in fear. "I killed them!"

"They were Marleyan. They had it coming."

The sudden hearing of The Reaper's voice forced Noah to stop what he was doing and scans the area for him.

"Reaper! Where are you?!" His voice echoed throughout the empty warehouse.

"I'm still inside the Crystal Cave, which is inside your mind. We're all here."

Noah then starts hearing the voices of the various spirits he encountered in the Crystal Cave speaking to him nonstop. It didn't take long for him to start getting overwhelmed by it all. Forcing him to cover his ears, though it was pointless to do so.

"Argh! My head! Make them stop talking!" He begged.

"I can't," Reaper responded. His voice somehow overpowered the others in intensity and volume. "You said you would devote yourself to us if we helped you. I gave you the strength you needed to kill those evil Marleyans. Now you must vow to use the Crystal Titan in the name of our queen!"

"I haven't forgotten!" Noah shouted out in frustration as he continues to try and drown out all the constant chattering in his head. "But why am I hearing all these voices in my head?!"

"That, my dear boy, is the cost of wielding my power… When I first obtained the Crystal Titan for myself, a curse was placed on me to ensure I always use it in the name of Eldia and its rulers. After my death, I was sent to the Crystal Cave. It is the one place the souls of the Crystal Titan users go after they die. Everyone who possesses my power will have their minds endlessly tormented by me and my descendants, constantly reminding them of who they must be loyal to and how to use it. Now, it's your turn. If you refuse to carry out my orders, you will be condemned with the voices of the past until your mind breaks. Once that happens, I will assume control of your body and carry out my duties in your place. I will continue to serve the queen until your mortal body dies." Reaper thoroughly explained.

"Is that what happened to that woman before me?"

"For some people, the responsibility is just too much. She thought that by ending her life she would finally be free. But instead, her soul is now another crystal that brightens up this void. Now you have to carry the burden until the day you pass the Crystal Titan on to your descendant, or you end up killing yourself too… As long as my blood continues to exist in this world, so will the Crystal Titan. Eventually, every one of my descendants will end up here. Doomed to be isolated in darkness for all eternity… That is the curse of being the Crystal Titan."

Dusk was arriving over the horizon, carrying with it a heavy blockage of dark clouds filled with rain that fell heavily upon the continent. By now, all the children, both Marleyan and Eldian, have arrived home safe and mostly sound from school. Everyone except Noah, who had been missing all day. His father started to grow worried. He was pacing the floor, thinking of the many possibilities of what could've happened. Maybe he'd gotten attacked. Maybe he'd gotten in trouble with Marleyan police. Or maybe… Someone had discovered his secret.

That last theory forced Troy to finally take independent action and go find his son himself, wherever he may be.

But his worries started fading away in response to hearing the front door open. He races downstairs only to be met with relief upon seeing his son home unharmed. He was completely drenched in rainwater. Most of the blood that stained his shirt had been washed away, though some of it remained. Troy noticed it moments after breaking off the relieved hug he'd given him.

"Noah! Where have you been?! School ended hours ago! I was so- is… is that…blood?!"

Noah said nothing in response. His head hung low as he blankly stares down at his own two feet, unobservant of his own father's actions. Even his words were drowned out by the overwhelming noise of a thousand voices.

His silence only worsened his father's anguish. He wondered what was going through his head right now.

"Noah please, talk to me! You're scaring me!"

"What am I, Father?" He finally found the courage and sanity to speak.

"What do you mean?" He questioned him.

"I know everything!" Noah raised his voice. Not out of anger or frustration, but as a means to make his voice heard among the many others still talking non-stop in his head. "The Crystal Titan. The curse behind it. Everything! And I know you know about it and kept it hidden from me for years!"

Before his father could ask him how he knew, Noah cuts him off to answer his question before he had a chance to ask.

"I met the man who calls himself The Reaper. He told me all about this power that has now awakened inside me. Along with the hundreds of souls that are constantly talking in my head even as we speak! They won't stop! Ever since I've awakened this power to defend myself from those Marleyan kids, they've been flooding my brain with their unending bickering!"

"Noah I-

"Who was my mother, Dad?! What kind of family did she come from whose ancestors punished their own flesh and blood like this?! Why must I live a life where I hear voices telling me what to do and what not to do?! I did nothing to deserve this! NOTHING!"

In a fit of rage, Noah dramatically flips over the dining room table, smashing all the plates and glasses atop it in the process. His anger then transformed into despair as he collapses onto the floor. He wails in sadness as he curls up into a ball in front of the fireplace, trying his hardest to block out the voices in his head.

His father sits down beside him and gently strokes his back, attempting to comfort him. He knew this day would come sooner or later; he just wasn't ready to tell him the truth yet.

This was why he was so overprotective of Noah. He hoped that by keeping him locked up he could prevent any disasters that would've awakened his dormant instincts, thus bringing out the Crystal Titan and resurrecting it once again. But as a result of avoiding this inevitable fate, he unintentionally caused it to happen much sooner than he would've liked. He was still just a kid. No child should ever have to suffer like that.

Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, he decided to ease some of his burdens by telling Noah the truth about his mother and their cursed bloodline. The bloodline he despised so much. Almost as much as the island devils of Paradis.

"Ok, Son. You deserve to hear the truth." He slowly started. "This won't ease your mind, but it'll at least give you an understanding as to why you're different from other Eldians."

Noah wipes away his tears with his shirt sleeve and looks up desperately at his father.

"All my life I've grown to hate the family your mother was born from, even before I met her. And she did too. Her ancestors hated their lineage so much that they discarded their old name and went into hiding so that this power would never fall into the wrong hands.

"So Suurvalta was originally her last name, not yours?" Noah clarified.

His father slowly nodded in response. "Your mother comes from an ancient bloodline that was bred specifically to serve that mad Eldian King… The Ackermans… Angela Ackerman would've been her name if her ancestors had never changed it… Everyone in the Ackerman Clan is cursed! Cursed by that evil king, Karl Fritz, and his obedient slave, Ymir! The Ackermans are the deadliest warriors in all of Eldia. Everyone who carries their blood is doomed to live a life of slavery and manipulation. And those who possess the Crystal Titan have it far worse…"

"And it all originated from one man. A man who was once the sword and shield of the Eldian Empire and its ruler… The man who became the first Crystal Titan, as well as the first Ackerman warrior… The man that calls himself, The Reaper."

"Who is he?" Noah hesitantly asked. He was then startled by the sudden emergence of The Reaper's voice.

"My name… is Joseph Ackerman."

To Be Continued