Eren Yeager
Background:
After witnessing the death of his mother at the hands of the Smiling Titan, he vowed to wipe out all Titans in revenge. He joined the 104th Training Corps along with Mikasa and his childhood friend Armin Arlert, graduating as the 5th best soldier, and became member of the Survey Corps Special Operations Squad.
After finding the basement and also unlocking his father's memories, Eren learned the truth of what Titans are, and the history of Eldia and Marley. Eren vowed to free his home from their true enemy: the world across the ocean.
From his father, Eren gained the powers of the Attack and Founding Titans. After eating Lara Tybur, he inherited the War Hammer Titan as well.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Eren is known for being one of the best martial artists in the series. During his time in the cadet corps learning hand-to-hand combat was regular and Annie taught him many of her martial art skills, Eren then excelled in hand-to-hand combat, ranking the first place in the cadet corps),
Skilled Swordsman,
Regeneration (The ability to regenerate from being blown/cut to pieces, brain included, or from a small piece of the user's body, such as a finger, or the heart.),
Transformation (Into a Titan),
Precognition (The Attack Titan's latent ability is that its users can peer through memories of the future. When Eren sees Grisha's initial confrontation with the Reiss family, he also sees the future version of himself through them, including memories of key events yet to come),
Can control other Titans (Only if he is in contact with someone who possesses royal blood),
Limited Flight with ODM Gear
Immortality (Via regeneration),
Large Size (Type 1; The Attack Titan is 15 meters tall),
Body Control (Can harden parts of his skin which can be used to make more powerful attacks and make his skin more durable. Able to create web of hardened pillars from his body, which he uses to seal up the Chapel's caverns with his hardening ability to protect his comrades from its collapse, and the Wall Maria gate),
Resistance to Heat Manipulation (Withstood the heat from Rod Reiss's titan. Unaffected by Colossal Titan's steam),
All previous titan abilities, Weapon Creation (Can create objects and weapons with his Hardening),
Biological Manipulation (Generated spikes from his body to defend with the War Hammer Titan's abilities. Stated that he is fully capable of using the Titan's abilities to leave his prison whenever he wants no matter how tough and deep the underground cell was. Later does so, sealing his escape route in the process)
Weaknesses: Can be reckless to the point of being suicidal at times. His punches can be too strong for his body to handle, leading to his skin to tear and his bones to break. Can be killed if the one meter long and 10 centimeters wide area of his nape where his body resides is cut. The transformation can only be maintained for a limited time. (Though these weaknesses appear to have diminished significantly after the timeskip). Founding Titan can only be activated if Eren makes physical contact with someone of royal blood.
Ken Kanaki
Background:
Formerly a human studying Japanese Literature at Kamii University and living a normal life, everything was soon changed after he had Rize Kamishiro's kakuhou transplanted into him and became a One-Eyed Ghoul. After joining Anteiku as a part-time waiter, he learns how to live as a Ghoul and became known as Eyepatch.
Powers and Abilities:
Ghoul Physiology,
Instinctive Action (Kaneki has been mentioned to fight on instinct several times),
Supernatural Willpower (Being exhausted, he continues to fight against the enemy with the apparent God of Death. He continues to fight even after his body has been pierced, and his eye and brain have been pierced through),
Limited Information Analysis, Power Mimicry, Analytical Prediction (Capable of "reading" his opponents and learning to predict and mimic their techniques),
Fear Manipulation (Goes into battle with Arima, even when he was shackled by the absolute despair and fear emanating from Arima's battlefield),
Enhanced Senses (Investigators are taught dynamic vision),
Multiple Selves (Type 1 - Sasaki has another personality within him, the original personality Ken Kaneki),
Sword Expert (Has been stated his swordsmanship is elegant as though he's controlling water),
Extrasensory Perception (Can detect when something is going wrong in the 24th ward),
Social Influencing (Leadership - After becoming the one eyed king, Kaneki leads hundreds of ghouls across different wards and in different fields such as communication, recon, and resource searches),
Creation (Created a sword from his Kagune to battle Furuta with),
Improved Shapeshifting (Transformed his arm from a Kagune claw to a normal arm, changed the shape of his Kagune),
Regeneration (High-Mid - Was crushed and regenerated from it),
Post-Cochlea:
Electricity Manipulation (Blocked an electric attack from Narukami with his Kagune without being electrocuted),
Post-Dragon:
Poison & Disease (Despite absorbing far more ROS toxin than Saiko, who was infected with ROS by it, Kaneki was near completely unaffected),
Weaknesses: Mainly brain damage
Song: Unraveling Pathos (Brandon Yates)
In Ken Kaneki's thoughts, the peculiar half-ghoul found himself grappling with utter confusion. He ruminated, reflecting on the baffling circumstances that had unfolded. One moment he was embroiled in a dispute with someone upset over his unwavering gaze, and in the next moment, he was embroiled in a life-or-death battle against a titanic fifteen-meter Titan piloted by Eren Yeager, attempting to obliterate him with relentless punches and kicks that he nearly eluded. As the events unfolded, a poignant thought crossed his mind: life seemed to have it out for him.
As Eren aimed a devastating downward punch, Ken gracefully vaulted over the extended arm, narrowly avoiding the impact. With agile prowess, he sprinted up the colossal arm, his Kagune emerging from his lower back as numerous dark, organic tendrils emerged. Intending to blind his adversary, he plunged them into Eren's left eye. However, the left side promptly hardened with crystal armor, effectively thwarting his attempt to inflict damage to the eye.
As Eren raised his hand to seize Ken, the half-ghoul evaded the grab just in time, resulting in Eren inadvertently striking himself instead. Ken chuckled at the unfolding scene, proceeding with a hit-and-run strategy, probing the gargantuan opponent with repeated assaults using his Kagune. Despite this, each successive attack was obstructed by the crystal hardening that manifested over various regions, even in seemingly vulnerable areas, preventing substantial damage.
Reflecting on the unfolding situation, Ken strategized swiftly as he adeptly evaded the relentless pursuit of the relentless Attack Titan. The half-ghoul found himself darting across the streets of Tokyo, bounding from the walls of buildings as they passed.
"He's remarkably quick to defend against my attacks, even anticipating them in blind spots. But can he effectively counteract a move that doesn't appear threatening?"
In a daring move, Ken swung from a nearby light pole, seemingly offering surrender as he propelled himself toward the colossal foe. The Attack Titan responded predictably, launching a forceful punch. Ken expertly dodged the punch, seamlessly flipping over the fist and spiralling up the arm with nimble agility. Leaping off the titan's shoulder, his Kagune swiftly sliced through the right arm, spiraling it in a pattern until it was severed from the shoulder. The Titan unleashed a thunderous roar, both surprised and outraged by the damage inflicted.
Having successfully dispatched the severed arm, Ken swiftly landed beside the remnants, eating bits of it to grow his power. To his surprise, he discovered that the texture and density of the flesh differed significantly from his expectations. Despite the muscular interior and familiar flavor, the texture and density was almost light and fluffy, akin to biting into freshly baked bread straight from the oven.
As another enraged roar pierced the air, Ken swiftly leaped aside, narrowly evading a foot that crashed down onto the discarded arm. In one fluid motion, he soared up the titanic body, preparing for a decisive strike, but the Titan's head hardened in response. Undeterred, Ken executed a precise and forceful blow with his Kagune, cleanly slicing through the jaw and partially decapitating the behemoth.
Ken exhaled a victorious breath, seemingly satisfied with his successful strike, but his momentary triumph was abruptly interrupted by the uncanny and unexpected reaction of the Titan. Even without a brain, the body autonomously retaliated, dispatching a powerful, crystallized punch that fiercely struck Ken. He tried using Kagune to block, but the attack was overwhelming. The forceful impact sent him hurtling through the air, slamming him into the unyielding concrete of a nearby building with a resounding crash.
"What in the hell...?"
Ken groaned softly, his voice tingled with a mix of astonishment and irritation, as his body was miraculously healing the damage sustained from the ferocious Titan's forceful punch, and the impact against the building. He observed the creature with a hint of fascination, witnessing it gradually regenerate its right arm and upper head, meticulously rebuilding the bones, muscles, and then encasing them with new skin. Ken, observing the regenerating Titan with annoyance, let out a sigh of disbelief, murmuring,
"Don't tell me this thing is immortal."
As the Attack Titan roared and charged towards Ken, he swiftly dodged the incoming charge, allowing Eren to crash through the building and emerge from the other side in a display of brute force. Ken remained unfazed, poised for the next countermove.
The Titan's keen intuition alerted him to Ken's impending approach from behind. He pivoted and launched another powerful punch, this time encased in crystal. The clash of forces ensued as Ken's Kagune met the Titan's crystal-clad fist. Despite the formidable resistance, Ken's Kagune overpowered the hardened crystal, shattering it and effortlessly plowing through the hand and skull, ultimately piercing through the Titan's newly regrown brain.
Ken held onto a flicker of hope, yet the Attack Titan defied expectations, roaring in defiance. In a swift display of brute strength, it seized Ken in its clutches and ruthlessly tore him in half. Subsequently, with a forceful motion, it dashed Ken towards a concrete wall, violently smashing his upper half against the crushed surface, leaving a gruesome splatter behind.
Despite the overwhelming trauma inflicted on his body, Ken once again healed the deep wounds and restoring his body to its original state, even re-growing his severed legs. Displaying a remarkable feat of resilience, Ken adeptly utilized his Kagune to swiftly burrow underground, employing stealth.
The Titan emitted a mighty roar, manifesting crystal armor over its clenched fists, slamming them forcefully into the ground. In response, Eren shook the earth beneath in a coordinated effort to collapse the very ground beneath the elusive Ken. The intense vibrations reverberated beneath the surface, threatening to crush the concealed Ken alive.
Unfolding with precise and calculated movements, Ken burst out of the ground, equipped with extended, blade-like arms. In a swift and decisive maneuver, he ruthlessly sliced through Eren's Achilles tendons, rendering him abruptly vulnerable as his ankles lost crucial support. With agility and ingenuity, he immediately manifested organic spiked nets, meticulously entangling and restricting Eren, piercing his body in multiple places, causing a steady flow of blood to seep out, painting a chilling tableau.
With precision and relentless determination, Ken bounded across the colossal body, poised to inflict maximum damage to the brain. His plan was to not only obliterate the brain but also extensively damage the brain stem and cervical spinal cord, effectively disabling the rest of the body. However, just as he was about to shatter the brain, multiple spikes violently pierced through Ken's body, one of them brutally severing his right arm in the process.
Amidst his battle with the formidable Titan, blood cascaded from Ken's lips, leaving him stunned as he observed Eren forcefully eject himself from his motionless body. In that moment, his thoughts raced, a flicker of realization passing through his mind:
"So he wasn't this thing; he was only concealing himself within the nape of this flesh puppet."
As Eren locked eyes with Ken, the stark contrast between their eyes was unmissable; one eye a mirror of a human's, the other bearing the distinctive black and red hue of a Ghoul.
"What lies before me now is a being unlike any I've encountered before. This individual is neither a Titan Shifter, nor a conventional human. Instead, I must acknowledge the stark reality: this person is undeniably a monster."
In a startling moment, Eren plunged his teeth into his own hand, drawing blood willingly. A surge of raw power cascaded through him, awakening his unique ability to transform. An explosion of light burst forth from his body, sending Ken hurtling backward and obliterating the remnants of the Attack Titan's form into a sea of bloody fragments. From the dissipating smoke, Eren emerged anew, transformed into the formidable Warhammer Titan.
Ken blinked his eyes, momentarily disoriented by the blinding flash that enveloped him. With a focused will, he regenerated the grievous wounds and restored his lost arm. Instinctively drawn towards the tantalizing scent of fresh meat, Ken lunged at one of the bloody chunks, eager to devour it. This action allowed him to replenish his strength, infusing his being with renewed power and resilience.
Despite his vision still blurred, Ken possessed a heightened sense, enabling him to detect the thunderous footsteps of Eren rapidly charging. Simultaneously, he keenly perceived the displaced air from the massive warhammer as it bore down upon him. With swift reflexes, he gracefully leaped, narrowly avoiding the impact as the hammer smashed into the ground with a resounding thud. The shockwave reverberated beneath Ken's feet, but he remained unfazed as he landed on the hammer, casually snapping the knuckles of his right hand using his thumb. Nonchalantly, Ken declared resolutely,
"Weapon or not, I refuse to be defeated."
Effortlessly wielding the colossal hammer, Eren forcefully hurled Ken upwards with a mighty swing. Ken, unfazed, skillfully navigated his ascent through the air, employing his Kagune with finesse to maneuver elegantly. In a calculated maneuver, he aimed to strike at the nape with precise surgical precision. However, the sudden emergence of a tail-like whip from Eren's other hand caught him off guard. The whip snaked around Ken, ensnaring him in its intricate coils, hindering his movement and impeding his strategic move.
With each forceful whip-like swing, Eren mercilessly bashed Ken against any hard surfaces, causing immense pain as his bones shattered and his vital organs ruptured, only to be healed seconds later as his body swiftly recovered. Despite the relentless torment, Ken fought to maintain concentration, gritting his teeth against the overwhelming pain.
Ken, having adapted to the unrelenting pain, summoned his Kagune, swiftly tearing through the binding tendrils that had ensnared him. With a swift and decisive motion, he grappled onto the Titan's neck, successfully incapacitating it. However, as he delved into the nape, desperately searching for Eren, confusion shrouded him. Frustrated, he exclaimed in bewilderment,
"Where on earth is he? He's meant to be right here!"
Ken, taken aback by the unforeseen blow to the back of his head with a piece of rebar, fell to the ground, momentarily reeling from the impact. As he looked up, a moment of clarity returned, only to find Eren standing over him, his triumphant declaration echoing as he hit him again,
"I knew you'd predictably aim for the nape again, so I simply relocated from that particular spot."
As Eren stood poised to deliver the finishing blow, his malicious intent unmistakable, Ken's Kagune erupted involuntarily, piercing Eren's body and halting his lethal strike. The Titan Shifter gasped in pain, a trickle of blood escaping his lips as he dropped the rebar, the tables suddenly turning against him. Rising gracefully to his feet, Ken exuded a serene composure, effortlessly cracking the bones of his neck and his left hand's knuckles with a subtle gesture.
"You were on the right track when targeting my head. Had you crushed it in your giant forms, you might have emerged triumphant. Yet, as a mere human, it would be necessary for you to surpass the strength of your current state fourfold at least to inflict any true harm on me."
With a haunting sense of inevitability, Ken declared,
"As for you, you are a fascinating individual, possessed of extraordinary power. Yet alas, I have dealt devastating blows to your vital organs. All that remains for me to do now is to spare you the imminent suffering. Allow me to put you out of your misery."
With unwavering resolve, Eren defiantly locked eyes with Ken, and despite his impending fate, he defiantly spat blood into his attacker's face, uttering a final curse,
"Fuck you."
In a chillingly swift moment, his heart was pierced, and Eren's body succumbed to his mortal wounds, and in mere seconds, his spirit departed, leaving behind nothing but an extinguished life. Ken Kaneki gently laid Eren's body down, closing his eyes in a quiet moment of respect. Despite the circumstances that led to this outcome, he didn't truly wish to kill this human, but it did start out in self-defense. The weight of his role as the One-Eyed King of the Ghouls weighed heavily on his conscience, propelling him towards his home, where his beloved wife, Touka, awaited him.
Strength: Now, brute force is something Eren clearly has the advantage of. His Titan forms can lift a 25,000 ton Navy ship, while Ken is nowhere near that close.
Speed: Ken is fast enough to dodge machine gun fire from multiple people, and from the distance he was at, he'd be at most reacting up to speeds of Mach 3. However, Eren could be considered faster, as he swatted away a cannonball flying at him when it was eight meters away. Reacting to a cannonball at that distance would require a reaction speed of Mach 4.25. That's 1.41X faster.
Skill: I'd say that Ken is the more skilled, since that while he's just as mentally damaged as Eren, he does not let his temper get to him, and can keep a calm head in most situations, thus letting him use his abilities better.
Experience: Eren has been fighting for twice as long at four years, but neither of them have fought something like the other, with Titans and Ghouls being very different.
Powers: While the Titan Shifting is a powerful ability, and boasts a similarly strong healing factor even for the brain, so long as Ken had meat to eat, which the Titan forms had plenty of, Ken would always last a war of attrition, and can make up for the slight speed gap by empowering his Ghoul side, and having the instincts to move when he needs to. Not to mention, his senses would always keep him aware of the environment, so he could use it to his advantage if he wanted.
The winner is Ken Kaneki.
Next time:
"Gone! Gone! -- The form of man -- Rise, the Demon Etrigan!"
"I was a devil born to wipe every single one of you demons from the face of the earth. I am Devilman!"
