Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 75: Two Brothers
Beast and Founder. The battle comes to a head as both sides rush to attack and defend these two key Titans. The immortal Winged Titan stood between the Yeager brothers, determined to end their reign of tyranny for good.
Both Eren and Zeke were too weak to be a match for him. According to his Titan sense, The Beast Titan was on the brink of death. It is only a matter of time until he succumbs to his wounds and perishes. With Zeke gone, Eren has lost any means of activating The Rumbling. But Lazarus won't accept this victory until both brothers are dead.
Killing Zeke was the hardest thing he's ever had to do. But Michael was right. It was either him or them. And Lazarus chose the lives of those he knows are his friends.
The Attack Titan picks up the discarded double-bladed axe Michael dropped before the collision and takes up arms against Lazarus. His arms were shaking. Lazarus could tell he didn't have the proper strength to wield it. He's exhausted.
"Zeke is dead, Eren!" The Winged Titan suddenly spoke. "You can't start The Rumbling now. And my royal blood wouldn't help either. I am no longer connected to Ymir. The only other way you can access the Founder's power is through Historia. But we both know you would never put her at risk. You want your friends to live long lives, just like I do for my loved ones." The Winged Titan holds the crystal katana high and takes up a samurai swordsman stance.
"Final warning. Surrender and I will spare your life. I have another way to take The Founding Titan from you. You don't have to do this. Whatever reason you think you have that justifies The Rumbling; it doesn't have to be your only option… You can live. Take this chance and end this now!"
The Attack Titan pauses, which came as a surprise to everyone around him. They assumed he'd instantly refuse. Was he actually thinking it through… or buying time?
When he least expected it, The Jaw Titan latches its powerful jaws onto Eren's left leg and bites through the bone, severing it from his body.
"Galliard no!" Lazarus shouted.
The enraged Attack Titan swings the axe downwards, embedding it deeply into Galliard's face mask, shattering it like glass. The blade went in so deep that Porco himself caught a glimpse of it from inside his Titan.
Eren raises the axe with The Jaw Titan stuck onto it. He tried to shake him off, but the blade was stuck well. Prying him off of it would've given Lazarus a chance to slice him in half with his sword, so he decides to discard it. With a thunderous roar, The Attack Titan flings the axe and The Jaw Titan at the Winged.
The Winged Titan drops his sword and proceeds to catch him. But The Jaw Titan flew into him so fast and hard that the two of them ended up getting blasted across the district, tumbling through several houses until they ended up hitting the left side of the wall.
Annie, Bertolt, and Willy Tybur were camped out in the area under the protection of the Wings of Crystal squad stationed there, ensuring no Yeagerist tries to reclaim them. Thankfully they were nearby when his parachute was blown off course. They all hide behind cover to avoid the flying debris kicked up by the two Titan Shifters crashing into the wall.
"LAZARUS! GALLIARD!" The two Warriors yelled in unison as they rushed towards them.
The Winged Titan groans as his body finally registers the pain of his body getting smashed into the side of the wall. He sees that Galliard is in even worse shape than him and reaches out for him.
"Uhhhh, wake up, Porco." He weakly muttered. "…We're so close… find your strength!"
The tips of the Winged Titan's claws make contact with the Jaws' blonde hair. A few drops of Lazarus' blood land on his fractured face and drip into his open wound where the axe had struck him.
A spark of electricity surges through the wound and into Galliard's brain, unlocking the memories of his brother, Marcel. Porco can finally see what happened to him between inheriting The Jaw Titan and the moment of his death.
Through his brother's eyes, he can see the other members of the Omega Unit (apart from Pieck and Zeke) sitting around a campfire. This must've taken place the night they arrived on Paradis, he thought.
It was the moment Marcel revealed to Reiner that he was never meant to become a Warrior. He made Porco look bad in front of the brass to influence their decision, all so he could keep him safe. A single tear leaks from Galliard's remaining eye. All this time he'd believed Reiner somehow managed to get better than him during their academy days. The same kid he viewed as the weak link in the unit's chain. But now he knows the truth. He was worthy all along. Marcel just didn't give him the chance to prove it. But now he has a chance to. He now knows what must be done.
With them out of the way, Eren was free to approach his brother again. But The Armoured Titan was still kicking and grabbed a hold of Eren's other leg. The Attack Titan tried to break free by smashing his armoured face in, only to get shot in the head for the third time now by Magath's anti-Titan cannon.
"Direct hit on The Founding Titan! It stopped moving!" The cannon's secondary operator informed the general.
"One down. Now let's put another one in The Beast just to make sure he's dead!"
Before the reformed Cart Titan could make its approach to the Inner Gate, Floch and those of his squad who survived the surprise attack took to the air and surrounded them. Annoyed by their constant interference, Pieck swings the giant gun's barrel into one of the Yeagerists, killing him on impact, and knocking his lifeless body into another one.
Mikasa and the rest of the 104th need to deal with it but not until after they cleared out the Marleyan soldiers pinning them down. Whilst they were stranded on the roof, they managed to finish equipping their Thunder Spears making their counterattack much easier.
On the ground Commander Pyxis was leading all the officers with armbands out of Shiganshina on horseback, hoping to get them out of range of Zeke's scream before he got the chance to do it.
"I think Pyxis has the right idea. We don't have enough firepower to risk a full-frontal assault. We need to attack them from the rear." Jean suggested, finally stepping up and putting his leadership skills to the test.
The others all nod in agreement and follow his lead. Not like anyone else could've thought of a better idea. Jean fires off one of his Thunder Spears at the group of Marleyans shooting at them, blasting them in a blazing inferno. Now was their chance to make their move.
"What about those black-cloaked guys? Whose side are they on?" Connie asked as they flew through the air.
"Aren't they with Marley?" Sasha assumed.
"I don't think so. They don't seem keen on defending them or going after us. They're only targeting Yeagerists." Jean pointed out.
Mikasa takes a good look at one of the WOC soldiers firing at a Yeagerist in midair. The firearm ODM gear she was using wasn't one of theirs, the colour of their uniform was different, and their symbol. It bore a striking resemblance to The Winged Titan's wings.
"They're Lazarus' personal fighting force. They're only here to ensure he gets to Eren." She stated.
"But if that's true, then that means Lazarus isn't fighting for Marley," Sasha added. "And if that were true then…" She looked down to her right where she spotted The Crystal Titan still struggling to move again. "Then Michael isn't one of them." She muttered that last part to herself.
"What?" Connie picked up on it though.
Sasha brushed it off and kept her focus on the path ahead. She and the others notice a sense of familiarity with the way these new Scouts were fighting. The soldiers themselves didn't have a lot of experience utilising ODM gear like they have, yet the way they move in sync with each other and heavily rely on one another to take down an enemy, it felt like they were watching themselves in their early days as Scouts. Back when Erwin was in command. They even employ the same strategies Erwin showed them. But how do they know this?
"Damn Michael!" Jean uttered as he watched some WOC take out the Yeagerists so flawlessly. "He must've taught these guys Commander Erwin's strategies in Marley. If this is his way of honouring him then it's sick!"
That would make a lot of sense, Connie thought. Michael was Erwin's son. Nobody could perfectly replicate Erwin's leadership skills than his adopted child. It also confirms that these soldiers aren't just Lazarus' regiment.
"Whoever they are or how they learned our strategies, it doesn't matter!" Mikasa butted in. If they're here to help Lazarus eat Eren then that makes them our enemy too! Do not hesitate to cut them down!" She said coldly.
The four of them unknowingly pass over Ludwig who finally emerged from the house he'd crashed into. Aside from a few bruises he was still in one piece though he was having difficulty walking properly since he'd hit his left leg on the floorboards first before the rest of his body. Luckily, he still had Felix's cane to keep him upright as he hobbled over towards Eren's location. He was still dead set on being by his side when he unleashed The Rumbling. In the position he was in now, he couldn't offer assistance to the young Yeager if he wanted to, even with the ODM gear he confiscated from the WOC.
All he could do was use its guns to shoot any other WOC that crossed his path. He stays close to the shadows to lessen the chances of getting spotted. Keeping his right arm holding the gun steady was difficult. It wouldn't stop shaking. One wrong move could cause him to accidentally fire the gun and alert the enemy.
He slowly breathes in and out deeply, calming his nerves and relaxing his muscles. His ears twitch in response to the sounds of The Attack Titan roaring. Peeking his head out the alleyway he can see The Armoured Titan on top of him, wrestling with Eren, ensuring he stays down until Lazarus recovers and finally eats him. Only then can he and Bertolt carry out their vow.
"I don't think so, Braun." But Ludwig makes things difficult for him by firing a barrage of machine gun bullets into the exposed parts of his flesh around the nape.
The Armoured Titan reels back and roars, allowing Eren to push him off and start crawling towards The Beast Titan. Down a leg and an arm, it would take even longer to reach him. Oppenheimer might as well lend a hand.
No longer having the patience to wait for his wounds to heal, Michael decided to bail out of his Titan body and get clear of the battlefield. It would take some time for his body to recover enough energy for him to transform again and with no ODM gear, his options to help Reiner were vastly limited.
His wounds were still healing. He was in no shape to return to the battlefield yet. He needed to find Erwin, Gabi and Falco.
Fortunately, he didn't have to go far. He spots Erwin and Gabi running after Colt and Falco. It sounded like they were telling them to stop and not get anywhere near Zeke.
"DAD! GABI! OVER HERE!" He shouted at the top of his lungs whilst waving his hands in the air.
He managed to get their attention with ease, forcing the duo to stop and wait for him to get close enough. However, they weren't the only ones who'd heard his cries. Ludwig did as well, though he stayed out of sight and watched the three of them reunite from a safe distance. He was very tempted to shoot Erwin for punching him in the face earlier but decided against it knowing Michael could send a crystal projectile hurtling towards him, killing him before he'd have the chance to watch The Rumbling start.
"Michael, are you alright?" Gabi asked.
"My wounds aren't too bad. You should've seen Galliard… I won't be able to transform again until I've completely healed."
"Then you better stay close to me until you do. Both of you." He sternly suggested. "Our numbers are depleting much faster than I thought. We must gather our remaining forces and rally to Reiner's aid. Give him more time to keep Eren away from Zeke until Lazarus gets back."
"Eren can't use the Founder's full power anymore. Zeke's dead. Lazarus killed him."
"You're sure?" Gabi clarified.
"I saw it with my own eyes." He assured her.
"You may wanna put your glasses on. Look!" Erwin points behind Michael over to the gap between the buildings, where they had a clear view of the Inner Gate. Michael puts on his cracked glasses and is horrified to see The Beast Titan moving.
"Zeke's moving?! He survived?!"
"Let's move! We have to finish him off before he screams!" Erwin ordered.
"No! Falco!" Gabi uttered as she raced towards the Beast alongside the two smiths.
The Beast Titan's sudden movements didn't go unnoticed by Lazarus and Magath. They too were shocked to see him still alive. They thought for sure he was done after getting shot in the neck, having his left arm torn off, and his back incinerated.
The Winged Titan musters all the strength it can to get back up. Annie and Bertolt back away as he does so, giving him space.
"Laz, what's going on?!" Annie raised her voice at him.
"Zeke's still alive! If I don't finish him off now, it's all over!"
"Let the general handle this!" Willy interjected. "The Wings of Crystal are losing their numbers! You need to defend what's left of our forces!"
"Not until I've eaten Eren!" The Winged Titan shouted back, startling Willy. "I won't let Zeke rob Eldians of the freedom to have children, nor Eren their freedom to live! I'm ending this now!"
He leaves before Annie can clarify what he meant by that. Lazarus tried to take flight, but his wings had holes in them from the debris he kicked up. He'll have to get there on foot.
Zeke notices his approach and realises he can't hold out any longer. "It's time, I'm calling the Titans. Hold on." He lightly whispers to Eren before sucking in as much oxygen as he can, readying his pipes for the loudest scream he could muster.
"DON'T DO IT!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing in response to Colt showing up out of seemingly nowhere, pleading with his former predecessor. Even Lazarus stopped when he saw him with Falco. "Thank God he's alright", he thought. But what is he doing with Colt? Surely they don't think they can reason with him. He already gave him plenty of chances to surrender and he didn't listen. If he couldn't get Zeke to change his mind, what makes him think Colt can?
"Please listen, Falco accidentally got some of the wine in his mouth! He'll turn into a Titan! Don't scream!"
Zeke and Lazarus gasp and their eyes widen. It didn't take long for Laz to figure out why he said "Don't scream" Zeke had utilised Operation Grapevine to feed wine tainted with his spinal fluid to random Eldians within the walls. Just like his parents did before his time. And Falco somehow got mixed up in it. He can see now why Zeke was holding back his screams. He didn't wanna trigger the Titans too early.
"What? …Falco! No!" The Winged Titan muttered to himself. This shocking reveal was enough to convince his body not to continue his approach. He just stood there, frozen. Magath and Pieck notice this and decide to make their move. They'll take out the Beast's nape before he gets the chance to scream.
"I'm your successor! I'm inheriting the Beast Titan so I can keep Marley from sending my whole family off to paradise, remember?" Falco was trying to free himself from his brother's grip, but Colt wouldn't let go even with his full attention on Zeke.
"Even before you betrayed us, I could never figure out what you were thinking. Maybe I don't know the real you… But still, I never could've imagined you as the kind of person who could drive a child into your battles. I'm not saying this to try and make you roll over and give up on your plan. Just hold off! Let Falco get out of range before you scream. You can kill whoever you need to after that, Marleyan or Eldian! I won't try to stop you. But please! DON'T TURN MY LITTLE BROTHER INTO A MONSTER!" Colt pleaded with The Beast Titan, hoping to get through whatever fraction of humanity was left inside him.
Zeke closes his eyes and grits his teeth, struggling to come to terms with all this. Deep down he wants to grant his former successor his wish. But he can't. This may be his only chance to summon reinforcements for him and Eren. Should he hesitate Lazarus, or Magath, will make sure he dies for real.
Michael, Erwin and Gabi manage to catch up to them and tell Falco to get away as far as he can. She begs Michael to transform and carry Falco outside the walls, but Michael reminds her that he's still unable to transform again so soon.
"Oh, Colt." Zeke slowly replied. "You care deeply for your little brother, just like I do."
"Don't do this," Colt muttered fearfully.
"I understand… And I'm so sorry."
"NO!" The Winged Titan roared.
The Beast Titan finally lets loose its loudest scream ever. Everyone within proximity to him covers their ears. The shockwave of the roar blows over Falco and Colt. Falco begs his brother to get away but Colt refuses to let go. He'd rather die holding him in his arms than live to see him become a Titan.
Gabi attempts to rush over to them, but Micheal and Erwin hold her back. Michael slams his palms down on the ground and constructs a crystal dome around the three of them.
Everyone who drank his spinal fluid froze up in fear as they noticed their bodies were glowing a bright yellow. Time slowed from their perspective, especially Pyxis, who was enjoying one last drink of whatever concoction was in his flask before closing his eyes and accepting his fate. This marks the end of the old Paradis military.
Within a matter of moments, hundreds of bright lights shoot up into the sky, lighting up all of Shiganshina in a bright golden hue. Those lights became explosions that took out most of the buildings around them. The explosions only lasted a few seconds, but to some, it felt like hours. A massive cloud of smoke was built up from all the transformed Eldians, covering the whole district in a dense fog.
The Marleyans on the roof couldn't see a thing. Panicked, they quickly start setting up their anti-Titan rifles. Many of them didn't get the chance to and ended up getting grabbed and eaten by the dozens of Pure Titans now plaguing Shiganshina.
The Titans targeted anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby and gorged themselves like the mindless savages they'd become. Yeagerist, WOC, Marleyan, all of them started losing a considerable number of soldiers to the Titans.
Chaos breaks out all over Shiganshina as the Pure Titans aimlessly run about, eating anything that moves and crushing the rest underfoot. Ludwig took shelter inside a random house to escape them. His machine gun gear wouldn't do anything against them. He had no choice but to stay put until he got an opening.
Lazarus froze upon seeing Falco's Pure Titan standing a few feet away from him. He looked abnormal compared to others. His neck was longer, and his face was pointed outwards. His Titan somewhat resembled a newly hatched chick. Why this is he hasn't the faintest idea.
"Falco, take Lazarus." The Beast Titan orders him, not even baring to look up from the ground, still feeling guilty for turning him.
Falco's Pure Titan turns its elongated neck in The Winged Titan's direction. It roars eerily before dashing for him with his arms stretched out to the sides. Lazarus panics and backs up. His arms locked with Falco's as he got close enough. Falco forces Lazarus on his back and viciously tries to bite down on his neck, forcing Lazarus to hold his head back.
"Falco, stop! He orders in a vain attempt to get him to cease. He can't control Titans that are already under the influence of another Shifter. There's nothing he can do. The only thing that can be done to save him is to feed one of the Nine to him.
Zeke then commands the two Pure Titans near him to go after Reiner. Both of them obey without question and tackle The Armoured Titan, allowing Eren to break free and finish his pursuit.
Gabi pressed her face against the crystal dome's surface to try and spot Colt, see if he was okay. But all she found in the spot he knelt in was a burnt husk that used to be him. The young girl collapsed to her knees and started crying. Michael pulls her into his embrace, patting her back gently.
Reiner grabs Eren's leg whilst wrestling with the two Pure Titans piled on top of him. He was using all his strength to keep Eren away, fighting through the pain of having his body chewed on by the Pure Titans.
Eren tries to push him off with his nub but to no avail. It was then that The Cart Titan finally reached the top of the Inner Gate and Magath aimed the cannon straight down at the Beast. With one final shot to the nape, Zeke was dead, for real this time they hoped. They'd manage to defeat Floch's whole unit, minus Floch himself, and succeeded where Lazarus failed.
"That shot put him down for good. Mission accomplished. We're safe, at least for a while." He immediately aims the gun at Eren. The Attack Titan was within his line of sight. "That just leaves the Founder. You've got no need for that head. All we need is your spinal fluid."
Magath's finger squeezes the trigger ever so slightly, taking satisfaction that this final shot will put Eren down for good. But he was interrupted by a Thunder Spear explosion going off behind him and Pieck, destroying the cannon. The culprit behind the attack was Mikasa whose shot was a little too slow. That was her last Thunder Spear. She quickly draws her blades and cuts down the two Marleyans shooting at her.
"You can't win! This battle is over!" The Cart Titan roared. She and Magath were still in one piece though their cannon was toast. Even if it was two versus one, Mikasa likes her odds. She'll make quick work of them both.
Down on the ground, The Winged Titan managed to push Falco off and attempted to fire lightning bolts at Eren, but Falco's Pure Titan leapt onto his back and sank his teeth into his nape.
"Falco! He's got my nape! … No! Not again!"
What he was referring to was the time the Scouts fed him to Armin's Pure Titan unaware that he'd survive. He always does. Should Falco manage to eat him that horrific moment will only play out again. He'll come out unscathed with his Titan still under his control, whilst Falco will end up dead.
To avoid this, The Winged Titan uses its wings to push Falco off of him. He can't bring himself to kill him. Falco was like a little brother to him. Someone who looked up to him literally and figuratively. Someone who was going to go the distance to protect the girl he loved, just as he once did.
"I won't kill you, Falco! I… can't kill you. You mean too much to me."
Falco's Pure Titan eventually decided to give up on Lazarus and seek out another target instead. And there was one just ripe for the taking a few feet behind him. Wondering why he stopped, The Winged Titan turns around. Its eyes widened when it spotted a greatly injured Porco Galliard limping towards them.
"It took everything I had to heal even this much. But now… I can make my death count."
Falco's Pure Titan lets go of Lazarus and turns around slowly to face the approaching Galliard.
"Galliard! What're you doing?!"
"Thanks to you, I was finally able to witness some of my brother's memories. Reiner was the weakest candidate in our unit, but he tricked the brass into making him a Warrior. He screwed me out of it to protect me. And you knew all this time… Heh, you always were too nice to him."
The Winged Titan reached out to Falco but wasn't quick enough to stop him from running after Galliard.
"Wait! You can't! DON'T DO IT, PORCO!"
Galliard smiled as he embraced his last moments on Earth. He was happy knowing in the end he was the best out of him and Reiner.
"… I can let go of whatever doubts I still had… There's no denying I deserved it more than him… See you in hell, Lazarus-
Those were the last words he just managed to speak before dying a gruesome death in a Titan's mouth. Lazarus watched in horror as Falco devoured Galliard, inheriting The Jaw Titan from him. The only good that can come from this is Falco will be human again, though he'll probably freak out when he discovers he had to eat Porco to do it.
Now both Galliard brothers were eaten by a Pure Titan whilst he did nothing. How could he let this happen again? Though he could've killed Falco before he could reach him, he still froze up like he did nine years ago as a child. Only this time he froze because he couldn't bring himself to kill someone he loved.
The Winged Titan stood up and the world started spinning around him. All the fighting, screaming, and death all played out simultaneously though he was becoming oblivious to it all. He could feel his emotions starting to get the better of him. His Titan body reacted to his emotional instability and responded by covering itself in flames. His eyes glowed a bright red as his anger started to flare up alongside the flames.
"Enough is enough! No more!"
Everyone in the area was startled by the raging roar coming from the flame-covered Winged Titan. Everybody's eyes widened in horror. They know exactly what this was. Lazarus was tapping into the power of the Hellfire Force, just like he did years ago both on Paradis and in Odiha.
"Shit! He's gonna incinerate the entire area! All forces fall back! FALL BACK!" Magath ordered in a state of panic.
The Winged Titan squatted down and spread its wings outwards before launching itself high into the sky like a flaming rocket. The shockwave of the blast-off shook apart the roads, houses, and Pure Titans in the vicinity, destroying them. Annie, Bertolt, Willy and the WOC soldiers quickly take cover behind the furthest intact building to protect themselves.
Ludwig pokes his head out of a roof access door of the house he was stationed in. As he climbs out, he spots the flaming Winged Titan circling back around after climbing high enough. He was making a dive straight for Eren. Everyone assumed he was gonna unleash the Hellfire Force and annihilate all of Shiganshina. But he knows Subject 14 was too much of a carer to sacrifice everyone's lives just to kill Eren.
He finds Eren still struggling to break free from Reiner's grasp, unaware of the approaching danger.
"EREN, LAZARUS IS COMING FOR YOU! YOU'VE GOTTA GET UP!" He shouted so loud that he'd almost lost his voice. His throat throbbed, forcing him to instinctively grasp his neck.
The Attack Titan stops what he is doing and gazes up at the sky. He was right, The Winged Titan was gunning for him. He needed to move now!
The Armoured Titan, however, delivers a strong left hook into Eren's mouth. The Attack Titan activates its hardening and freezes Reiner in place. Eren's actual body then breaks out of the nape and makes a mad dash for the Beast Titan's decaying corpse.
Michael and Erwin continued to watch from behind their dome. Erwin was the first to notice Eren running. But Zeke is dead. Why is he still so keen on making contact with him? Unless…
"Zeke's still alive!" He warned Michael, breaking him away from Gabi. "Eren's approaching him in human form! Stop him!"
As if Michael needed a reason not to. The crystal dome shatters and turns into dust particles around them as Michael runs like hell towards Zeke. He was secretly hoping Erwin was just being paranoid, but he knows whenever he has a bad feeling it's almost always accurate.
Through the dense smoke, both Eren and Michael catch a tiny glimpse of Zeke's actual body lying next to his Titans. His left arm and lower body were gone, adding more steam to the fog.
"That trick I stole from Pieck worked out alright for me. I played dead long enough to get their attention off me, and you managed to figure it out before them. We can win this!"
Michael tries to summon some crystals to kill him, but his powers still haven't recovered. "Come on, stupid powers! Give me something! Anything! Please!"
Concentrating desperately, harder than he ever had before, Michael diverts any energy he had from healing into his right hand. A weak blue light emanates from the palm and his hardening powers manifest a survival knife. That act alone slowed his movements. Still, he pressed on.
"Argh!" However, he ended up getting shot in the leg by Ludwig standing on the rooftop he was passing. Michael stumbles forward and falls over a few feet away from where Zeke is.
"You will not interfere with humanity's next stage in evolution! Hurry, Eren! I've got him!" He called down.
Ludwig was about to fire another few rounds into Michael's head to finish him but was stopped by Erwin who shot first. Ludwig ducks behind the sloped side of the roof to avoid it.
The Warriors might still win the day. The Winged Titan was closing in on Eren at top speed. He'll be dead before he can reach his brother. The Winged Titan stretches its arms forward, ready to grab Eren and shove him straight in his mouth. But he was blasted out of the sky by two Thunder Spears fired off by Jean and Connie. Lazarus loses altitude and crashes into the castle where Yelena and Onyankopon are. The two of them quickly headed inside before The Winged Titan came crashing into the side of the castle wall.
"Lazarus!" Reiner struggles to pull his hand free from the hardened Attack Titan. With Lazarus down it was down to him to stop Eren. Though he too ended up getting blasted in the side of the head and back by Sasha.
Zeke reaches his only functioning arm out to his younger brother as he is a mere few meters away from him.
"RUN! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!"
Eren's ears twitch upon hearing another anger-induced roar from The Winged Titan. He briefly glances around his right shoulder and is shocked to see it still approaching him on all fours like The Cart and Jaw Titans. Charging down the streets directly behind him at full speed.
"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY! THIS ENDS NOW, EREN!" Lazarus internally roared alongside his Titan.
Sasha, Jean, and Connie were all out of Thunder Spears. There was nothing more they could do to stop him. The flaming Winged Titan was quickly closing in on Eren with its mouth wide open. This was it. The Wings of Crystal have won.
"Hurry, Eren, before he- Ack!" A sharp pain overwhelms Zeke, cutting off his warning. Inch by inch he turned his head until Michael came into his line of sight. His left hand was gripped tightly onto Zeke's shoulder, and with his free hand, he was able to stab the former War Chief in the back even after getting shot in the leg.
As Eren was turning his head back around in response to Zeke's gasps for air he caught Gabi kneeling in the street to the right of him, aiming Colt's anti-Titan rifle at him. The gun was massive compared to her but the young candidate maintained a firm grip on it.
Time froze at that moment. Mikasa was evading the bullets fired off by General Magath whilst fighting The Cart Titan. Annie, Bertolt, and Willy were taking refuge inside an abandoned shoe shop to get away from the Pure Titans whilst the WOC soldiers were slicing their napes. Ludwig and Erwin were exchanging bullets between themselves. Michael raised his knife, ready to stab his heart next. And the Winged Titan was inches away from swallowing Eren.
Time resumes when Gabi pulls the trigger, firing off a single shot at Eren. The large 50cal bullet passed right through his neck, severing his head from his body moments before it was swallowed up by The Winged Titan. Ludwig, Jean, Connie, and Sasha watched with horror as they saw Eren's body fall into The Winged's mouth. His legs are the last parts they see before he descends into the jaws of death.
Eren's head was sent flying, blood gushing out from the disconnected stump. Michael stops the moment he realises the head is about to land within Zeke's extended palm. He tries to knock it back with his knife but misses. Eren's head lands in Zeke's open hand. A brightness overwhelmed him and Lazarus, blinding them.
The bright light subsides just as fast as it occurred. Lazarus finds himself back in the Paths Realm. It took a few moments for the realisation of where they were to sink in. Lazarus stares at his hand, confused as to why he's back in his human form. Wasn't he in Titan form a moment ago? He recalled seeing Zeke catching Eren's head. Michael was touching Zeke before that happened and he had Eren's body in his Titan's mouth. That is why they are here.
Lazarus stood up and admired his surroundings. Far ahead of him was the life tree where all the paths converged. The centre of it all. The last time he and Michael came here they only viewed some of its infinite branches. And at the end of his parents' branches was his own tree separate from all other Subjects of Ymir. But he couldn't seem to find his burning bush this time.
"I'm… back in the Paths."
"Hello, Lazarus. It's been a while." Zeke quietly spoke up, drawing his attention to him.
Zeke was there too, sitting atop the soft sand with his legs crossed. He had a cuff around his neck with five chains attached to it, burrowed deep in the sand.
Something was different about him. He looked much older. His hair, beard and fingernails have grown in length and the blonde colouring in both his hair and beard is bleached. His eyes looked bored and tired like he hadn't slept in years. Just how long has he been there?
"What do you mean? We were fighting not long ago." He exclaimed.
"In the real world, we were. But we're in the realm of the Coordinate, where all paths converge. When members of the royal family inherited the Founder and exercised its power it transported them to the plain we're on now."
"Yeah, I already know. I've been here before." Lazarus rudely remarked. "Michael and I came here to see the lives of my parents. I wanted to know who they were. What they were like. How they were involved in the False Founder Project. But you already knew all that, didn't you? Just like you knew all along I was a part of the "royal family" you mentioned."
Lazarus angrily approaches Zeke as he speaks. "Just like you knew all along that Annie was pregnant and were gonna let that Marleyan monster experiment on MY child!"
This is just Zeke's luck. Of the three of them to come here next, it just had to be the one guy he'd hurt the most. Why couldn't it have been Eren? He could've executed his plan before getting the chance to run into the albino. With these chains holding him down, running wasn't an option. He might as well try and make amends before his brother arrives.
"I still need Eren to carry out the Euthanisation Plan. Until he arrives, I've got nothing but time on my hands… At least now I have someone to talk to."
"Oh, so now you wanna talk?!" Lazarus raised his voice at him. He gets down on his knees to be at eye level with his traitorous friend. "Well, it's too late for that now, "buddy!" Lazarus venomously threatens, placing a small dagger of hardened crystal on his neck. "I should slit your throat where you're sat!"
"We both know you can't do that here, Laz. The rules of life and death do not apply in this realm… You might as well sit down and join me. You won't get the chance to do so in the real world."
He hated to admit it, but he did make a good point. If this is the last time they will get to talk as former brothers, then he might as well try and salvage any of the old Zeke, though he highly doubts there's a trace of him left. Lazarus sits down across from Zeke with his legs crossed and angrily glares at the aged man.
"Since I can't kill you, I guess I could take a moment. Michael won't be as forgiving as I am whenever he gets here."
Zeke chuckles. "You've always had a kind heart, Laz. Always trying to look past the faults of even the worst of people. Some people don't deserve such kindness."
"Finally, something we agree on." He coldly replied, referring to him in particular. "Must've been easy for you to play me like a fiddle, huh? Making me believe we were friends when you lied and manipulated me and-
He suddenly stops, prompting Zeke to lift his head and look at him properly. Lazarus stands up and takes a step backwards. Zeke calls out his name concernedly, wondering what was upsetting him all of a sudden.
"… But who am I to accuse you of lying when I'm no better than you!" He thinks back to the day he revealed his true identity as The Winged Titan to his friends in the 104th. He remembered the sad, angry, hurt looks on their faces when they learned the inspiring number 1 graduate who'd shown his devotion to them, and his squad, was all deception. He hurt them just as much as Zeke hurt him. He fully understands how they feel… How Eren felt.
Truth was he'd always known he was to blame for setting Eren down this path. He just wanted a chance to undo his mistakes before his vision of The Rumbling could become a reality. He thought if he corrected it, he'd redeem himself in the eyes of the world… What a fool he was, he thought.
"This is all my fault. I caused all this." He muttered to himself.
"Caused what?"
Ignoring his question, Lazarus returned to the print he made in the sand and continued conversing with his old roommate.
"How long have you been here?" He asked, changing the topic of discussion.
"Don't know. Everything here passes in an instant out there. I remember seeing Gabi blasting Eren's head clean off seconds before you ate him. But in those few moments before his brain shut down, we've made contact… I've been waiting for so long. Sitting here alone in silence, years running together, wondering when my brother was finally gonna wake up. But instead of him, I got you. It's as if God is punishing me for all these years of neglecting you."
Lazarus fiddles with the chain in the middle. It felt as cold and metallic as it looked and sounded. "Why're you chained up?"
Zeke looks down at his chains before answering. "These chains represent the Vow Renouncing War. They're what prevents me from using the Founder's full power as I please. You don't have any chains, which means it is true. You are no longer connected to The Founding Titan."
"Why is it you have difficulty accepting this when it was you who discovered it in the first place?"
"Because the Founder, Ymir, uses the earth… the sand of this world to sculpt the Titans. It's how all Titans regenerate and form. The last time I was here, she reformed my broken body from the ground and returned me to life… But you're not connected to her. She has no power over you yet somehow your Titan still reforms every time… I have spent eons trying to figure out why and I still don't know the answer. You're a mystery, Lazarus. Perhaps one that can never be solved." He spoke softly as he picked up a handful of sand and let it slip through his fingers, rejoining the ground.
Lazarus and Zeke continued to talk to pass the seemingly infinite time in The Paths, waiting for something, anything, to happen. They'd often talked about the stuff they used to do together as kids, such as the one time they had to climb over Liberio's wall during curfew to retrieve Zeke's baseball after accidentally throwing it over. Or the time Lazarus broke his ankle falling down a flight of stairs. Back then Zeke did not know about his Titan powers and just assumed it was just a sprain.
As nice as it was for Lazarus to be reminded of the good times they've had, it didn't make him forget all the bad he's done. After seeing his and Tom's final exchange he can sort of understand why he thinks the Euthanisation Plan is a good idea. It would allow all Subjects of Ymir to live long lives until their race peacefully dies out, erasing Titans from the world.
But this world was his birthright as much as it was the people in his life. They shouldn't be wiped out when a simpler solution is an option.
"… I can never forgive you for what you wanted to do, Zeke. Just as I know the others can never forgive me for what we did nine years ago. But coming here has given me one final chance to stop what I've been dreaming about ever since I became the Winged Titan. The Rumbling… You can't trust Eren. He doesn't care about you. He only wishes to free Paradis by destroying all threats beyond its shores. Being his brother doesn't change that."
"I know." He replied. That came as a bit of a surprise to Lazarus. He keeps his mouth shut to allow him to clarify. "The plan was for him to use a fraction of The Rumbling to destroy the Allied Forces."
"That's not it! Eren plans to unleash ALL of the Titans within the walls to destroy EVERYTHING! There won't be a world left if he succeeds. Did you seriously believe he'd want to euthanise the Eldian people? Sorry to break it to you, but Eren's been playing you from the start just like you have me. He's only playing along to make sure he makes it here." He stands up once more.
"But he's not here yet, which means there's still a chance to stop him. You know in your heart I'm right. I never lied to you, Zeke. Unlike you."
Lazarus turns around hoping to head over to the Coordinate and see if he can find Ymir and get her to eradicate the power of the Titans. But instead, he finds Michael standing a few feet away with his back turned to him. "When did he get here", he thought. How long had he been standing there? Is he even aware of his, and Zeke's, presence?
"Michael, you're finally here! Thank goodness. When did you wake up?" There was no response. "...Michael?"
He seemed to be transfixed on the Coordinate itself. But why isn't he acknowledging the one he came close to killing right here beside him? Lazarus called out to him again, but there was still no reply. Starting to feel worried, Lazarus leaves Zeke and approaches Michael. He waves his hand in front of him.
"Hello? Michael, can you hear me?!"
Michael startles him by grabbing his arm and turning to face him. "I heard you the first time, jeez!"
"Then why weren't you answering? Now's not the appropriate time for one of your jokes." He stated annoyingly.
"Sorry I… I just needed a moment to take this all in." He responded slowly. He continues to gaze into the magnificence of the Coordinate. "I only just got here. How long has it been for you?"
"Not sure. It felt somewhere between hours and years. Can't imagine how long it's been for Zeke."
"Zeke's here?!" Michael shockingly asked. He spots Zeke upon turning his head right, only now realising that it isn't just him and Lazarus. Panicked, he scans the whole realm for any sign of Eren, but he has yet to show up.
Lazarus catches him up on everything Zeke and he have been talking about. The chains. The mysteries behind how his Titan is the way it is. And what they should do when Eren arrives. But Eren wasn't the one Michael was waiting for.
At last, he made it to the centre of The Paths Realm. He'd been desperate to find this place for so long. Not since he and Lazarus went back in time, but when he got his memories back. All for the hopes of running into the one behind the power of the Titans itself. The Founder Ymir.
And there she was emerging from the Coordinate, or Yggdrasil as his grandfather called it. She was just wandering aimlessly in this plain of existence, not even acknowledging the new faces that had entered this realm. Through the memories of his ancestors, Michael had heard many stories about Ymir. Now he can finally put a face to the name. She was a young girl, roughly around 12. Same age he and Eren were when Wall Maria was breached.
Lazarus felt an eerie vibe emanating from the girl. Her eyes were greyed out and appeared empty. She looked like she was possessed. Maybe she was, he thought. Possessed by the royal bloodline, forced to follow all their orders. To sculpt new Titan bodies out of sand whenever a Titan Shifter called on the power of the Titans. Toiling away. Spending years fixing their wounds. What happens instantaneously to them takes decades for her. She truly was a slave.
"So, this is Ymir." He and the others watch as she wanders around the tree of light. "She looks like she's waiting for Eren. Waiting to carry out her next orders. I don't think she could hear me if I tried talking to her. Even if she could, I doubt she'd listen. I'm not connected to her."
Michael starts to slowly approach Ymir as she decides to change direction and head towards where they're standing. It was hard to tell how far away she was. The tree was so massive that they couldn't make out if she was miles or just a few feet away. But that didn't stop Michael.
"Michael, what are you doing?"
"Finally, after all these years of waiting, biding my time, forcing myself to play along with Marley and its Warriors… I have finally found you, Founder Ymir." As he closes the gap between them, a spark of blue energy emits from his palm. Crystals emerge from his hand and start forming something long and thin. At first, it was unclear what he was constructing until the crystals straightened out and took the form of a longsword.
"Now I can finally kill you and end this fucking nightmare!"
Michael lets out a battle cry as he picks up speed and charges straight for Ymir with his sword aimed at her head. Lazarus and Zeke were both shocked by this unexpected development. Lazarus rushes after him as fast as his legs can carry him and manages to grab Michael's right arm, stopping his assassination.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"What needs to be done to ensure nobody gets to use The Founding, or any of the Nine Titans, ever again!" Michael answered as he struggled to break free.
"That wasn't the plan! Our plan was for me to obtain The Founding Titan from Eren and command Ymir to turn all Eldians human!" Lazarus reminded him, refusing to let go.
"You mean your plan!" Michael stops to briefly face his brother in arms. "I'm sorry, Lazarus, but I was never on board with your childish plan! I only said I was in the hopes of coming here. I have my own motives for being here, and that is to kill Ymir and end Titans forever!" He explained.
"That's exactly what I want?! What makes your plan any different than mine?" Lazarus questioned, slightly hurt that Michael had been keeping secrets from him as much as Zeke.
"The difference is… Everyone but you and me will lose the power of the Titans."
Michael's mind flashes back to the moment in time when he made contact with Zeke and got all his memories back. Once he recollected his true life in Odiha, he agreed to join the Warriors and help Lazarus accomplish his endgame goal.
"… I lied when I told you my memories were the only thing I'd lost when I first came to Paradis." He started slowly. Lazarus maintains a firm grip on his sleeve in case he makes another dash for the Founder.
"That day I also remembered the plan to liberate the Ackermans from their slavery. A plan that had been passed down to me by my grandfather… He discovered in his research that The Crystal Titan, although it is completely separate from the Nine, does maintain a connection through the Paths. The Curse of Joseph was instigated by The Founding Titan and can only be broken by the Founder's full power. I broke the curse for myself, but how long until it takes over another Ackerman? Or worse, they all die out and The Crystal Titan with it? ...Ymir is the link to my family curse. Once I kill her, that link is severed, and all Ackerman's will be free of its influence… Surely you didn't really believe I'd join the enemy of the Walls for no reason other than to be with you again, did you? No. I only did it to get you to trust me enough to bring me here. I had hoped that when we went there to visit your parents I'd run into Ymir then. But she never showed."
"You mean you didn't take me there to show me what they were like? You were using me?!"
"At first, I was, yes. But everything I said to you in the past was true. I promise." Michael attempted to reassure him but to no avail. The damage had already been done. Lazarus can never look back on that moment the same way ever again.
"What about me?! Killing Ymir does mean erasing Titans, but it also means destroying my one chance to undo what Ludwig did to me!" He raised his voice at him. "I hate being immortal! I wanna die for real one day! I wanna grow old with Annie! Watch my kids grow up! To watch Falco and Gabi grow up! To see the world finally at peace. Being immortal will ruin all that for me! You want me to stay this way forever just so you could free the Ackermans?!"
"I am sorry, Lazarus… But in the grand scheme of things, your plan never mattered. I don't care if you remain The Winged Titan or not." He stated coldly with a hint of guilt in his tone.
"How could you say that to me?! Your best friend?! YOUR BROTHER?!" He shouted in his face.
"What makes you think Marley will ever keep their word after the Titans have vanished?!" He shouted back, startling the albino Warrior. "Once Titans disappear they'll have no more use for Eldians and discard them like trash ready to be incinerated. They'll target everyone you've ever loved the moment you've become human again. They'll kill Annie and your baby without remorse. Then they'll kill everyone within their motherland. And they won't stop there. They'll target Paradis, then Eldians all over the world until every last Subject of Ymir is dead and gone, regardless of being human or not… We need the Winged and Crystal Titans to remain to maintain our power over Marley. I need you to keep on living forever so you can transfer my Titan to Gabi, and then to her chosen successor and so on. To ensure The Crystal Titan never falls into the wrong hands."
Lazarus' anger flares up like a raging inferno, triggering him to punch Michael hard in the face, knocking him into the sand. His sword flies out of his hand and embeds itself in the sand mound a few feet behind him.
"How! The fuck! Can you! Be so! Selfish!" He venomously roars at his downed friend. "You just decided that's how things should be?! You WANT me to keep being The Winged Titan?! What I want doesn't mean anything to you?! You just want me to suffer living too long, watching everyone I know and love die of old age, including you, just so I could keep performing rituals for Crystal Titan successors?!"
Lazarus takes a moment to catch his breath. He could feel a tightness in his chest, making it slightly difficult to breathe. It felt like he was on the verge of having a panic attack. The pain behind his supposed best friend hurt him inside. He thought he could always trust Michael no matter what. That he would always have his back as he'd have his. But apparently not.
"You said you believed in me! But you're just like Zeke! You're just like everyone else!" Realisation suddenly struck him. He sees what this is.
"… I get it now. You wanted me to suffer, for what? Destroying the walls?! That's it, isn't it?" He proclaimed.
Before Michael could utter a response, Lazarus kept on ranting. "You said you forgave me for what I've done, even though what I did was unforgivable. I should've known it wasn't that easy!"
"Lazarus-
"All this time you've been pretending to be my friend again, using your memories of our childhood to plan out the perfect revenge. You wanted me to know how you felt when you found out I was The Winged Titan. Killing me wasn't an option, so you decided to make it so I would beg for death by living a literal life sentence! To have the whole world age and change around me while I remain frozen in time."
"Will you just listen-
"Of course, it was all a ruse! Who would wanna join the guys who brought Titans into their walls all of a sudden? Because that's how everyone sees me, as the bad guy! … Ludwig was right all along. I really am a child living a fantasy! Too stupid and naïve to see the reality of the world!"
"LAZARUS, SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LISTEN TO ME!" Michael shouted at the top of his lungs, finally putting a stop to his pointless rambling. "Yes, I will admit I had those thoughts at the time. I even thought about killing you, Reiner, and Bertolt as soon as I got my memories back… But as I got to know the real them, I realised that they're not entirely to blame. You're not to blame... I meant that… I'm not doing this for revenge for what you did. I'm only doing what I think is best for the world. I wish there was a way for both of us to get what we want but there isn't! Having one Eldian live forever over watching all others die is the better choice."
"Except it's not my choice. It's yours." Lazarus tearfully pointed out.
"Yes, it is." He glances back over his right shoulder and notices Ymir is getting closer. It was now or never. "Look at it this way, Laz. You will be getting what you want. Eldians will be human. Titans will be no more. And our people will continue to exist in this world as long as both of our Titans are still around."
"Nobody should have the power of the Titans. All humans, no matter what race, have demonstrated that any form of power corrupts all! It's corrupted Marley! It's corrupted Eldia! It's corrupted you! … I am done letting it corrupt me!"
"Now you're just making excuses." Michael denied. Only to be rudely interrupted again.
"The Great Titan War. The Eldian Empire's rise to power. The 145th king wiping the history of the world from his subjects and imprisoning them behind walls. The False Founder Project. Us breaching the walls in the first place! Throughout the Titan's history, humanity has been using its power to destroy, conquer, and enslave. People have always been dangerous with the capacity to kill and destroy. Power only makes the destruction bigger. Mankind cannot- No, should not, be trusted with such power."
Michael sighs with frustration and slowly rubs his face with his free hand. There was no getting through to him, nor were his long rants gonna make him change his mind. The responsibility to fulfil a plan centuries in the making was too great to just say "No" and walk away. What would his ancestors still trapped in the Crystal Cave think if the cycle kept going? They'd have been holding onto false hope for nothing. He couldn't let it all be in vain.
Talking was getting him nowhere, so Michael decided to take action and stomp his foot deep into the sand. Crystals come out of the ground and cling to Lazarus' body until he is buried up to his neck in shiny blue rock. Lazarus tries to break free, but Michael constantly adds a new layer of crystal over the old as soon as it cracks under pressure.
"You're right about all that, Laz. Power does corrupt all. It has corrupted my family for eons. All the more reason I must be the one to put an end to it, as well as Eren's corruption to unleash The Rumbling. The time for talk is over." He walks over to his discarded sword and pulls it out of the ground. Ymir was now a few feet away from him. The perfect range for a sword thrust. "The time to take action is now!"
"NO!" Lazarus and Zeke yelled in defeat.
Michael races towards Ymir and yells as he raises his sword high above his head to bring it down as hard and as fast as he can to slice the Founder in half. Ymir wasn't responding to his approach. She didn't even look at him as he raised the sword. Was she that oblivious to their presence?
Zeke and Lazarus look away, not wishing to witness Michael destroy the source of the Titans and forever ruin their chances of using her to complete their individual missions. But they were both startled by a loud ringing sound that echoed throughout The Paths. It was an ear-piercing clinking sound. Like someone had just smacked two metal poles together.
They open their eyes and all share in Michael's shocked expression as to what was the cause of the high-pitched clang. Michael's sword was blocked by another blade constructed from Titan crystal. But this one was a larger, broader sword than Michaels. It was a deep blue colour, and the handle was large enough that it looked like it needed to be wielded with two hands. The blade had an unending turquoise-coloured ripple flowing outwards from its centre. Its wavy pulses were almost hypnotic to Michael.
"It's… you!" Michael stuttered, still shocked not by the blade, but by the one wielding it against him.
Michael was pushed back by the crystal greatsword's wielder. It was a middle-aged man, roughly in his mid-forties, with long flowing black hair, a thick beard, and ocean-blue eyes. His clothing looked like battle armour from a bygone era with a long black cloak over his shoulders. Strapped to his belt were a couple of daggers. Lazarus and Zeke had never seen this strange man before, but Michael knew him all too well. It was the very first Ackerman and Crystal Titan user, Joseph Ackerman. He returns to a standing position with Ymir hiding behind him.
"Who's that?" Lazarus asked Michael.
"The Eldian Empire's Grim Reaper… Joseph Ackerman."
Lazarus' eyes widen. He heard Michael mention him on a few separate occasions, but he never thought he'd see the day he'd get to see him in the astral form. "He's the first Crystal Titan?"
Michael nodded, keeping his eyes focused on his greatest ancestor. Both past and present Crystal Titans hold their swords up to each other, neither one of them choosing to back down.
"So, you've finally uncovered my true name… Never thought you'd return here after freeing yourself from our curse, young Michael." Joseph spoke in a raspy deep voice. Ymir takes his hand in her own, causing the elder Ackerman to look down at her and grip her hand firmly whilst still being gentle.
"Try to understand, I'm trying to save our family and the world. If Ymir dies, you and those who came after you will all be freed. You can finally move on to the afterlife."
Joseph narrows his eyes and pulls his hand away from Ymir to hold his sword steadily with both hands. "I won't let you hurt her!"
"Fine. Then I guess I'll have to get rid of you first." He takes up another swordsman charger's stance. "Let's go, Reaper!"
Michael and Joseph roar as they charge for one another and clash their blades once again. Both of them are determined to complete their mission. Lazarus, Zeke, and Ymir watch as they begin what may be the battle that determines the fate of the world. But Joseph had never backed down once since he became a warrior for Eldia. He made a promise to Ymir that he would protect her till the very end of time. And even in death, he will continue to protect her. No one can fathom the lengths to which he'd go for his Founder… No one.
To Be Continued