Chapter 1: Defying Fate
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin had all completed their regimen. Despite Eren being eligible for the Military Police, alongside a few others, he turned it down—choosing instead to join the Scouts.
Now, in the dining hall, the cadets were spread out, chatting among themselves, enjoying a rare moment of calm.
At one corner, Jean sat brooding, quietly frustrated. "How the hell did Eren rank higher than me?"
Nearby, a few cadets turned to Eren, curiosity laced in their voices.
"Why'd you turn down the Military Police, Eren?" one of them asked. "You had the choice."
Eren looked up, his voice steady.
"I decided this from the start. I didn't train to live in comfort. I joined to fight Titans."
Thomas, frowning, leaned forward.
"Did you forget how many died? You think this is just about fighting?"
Eren's eyes sharpened. "So what should we do then? Run? Hide? Wait to die?" His voice rose slightly. "It's kill or be killed."
The room went silent.
Even the clatter of cutlery paused.
Eren continued, his voice firm but not loud—filled with a quiet intensity.
"Back then, we didn't know anything about Titans. No amount of training prepares you for real war. I won't deny we lost a lot... but every loss taught us something. Every death pushed us further."
He looked around the hall.
"We know their weaknesses now. We can fight back. We can make a difference. So should we just give up on the ones who gave their lives for us?"
A long pause.
"There's still hope," Eren said, quieter now. "And I'm not going to waste it."
"No matter what happens," he said, "I won't let myself be Titan fodder."
His voice hardened.
"I'm going to drive every last Titan out... no matter what it takes."
Without another word, Eren turned and walked out of the dining hall.
The room remained silent, the weight of his words lingering like a storm waiting to break.
As Eren left the dining hall, the heavy silence still lingered behind him.
Armin and Mikasa exchanged a look, then quietly followed.
Back inside, Jean muttered under his breath, his voice laced with sarcasm and frustration, "Tch... if you're so eager to die, be my guest. I'll clap for you from the interior."
Outside, Eren sat on the stone steps, arms resting on his knees, staring out at the fading sky. The chill of the evening air brushed against his face, but his mind was elsewhere—locked on a future still so far out of reach.
"Eren!" a voice called.
He turned to see Mikasa and Armin approaching. Without saying a word, they sat down beside him.
Armin gave a small smile. "Nice speech back there."
Eren glanced sideways, his expression serious.
"It's because of you."
"Huh?" Armin tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"Back when we were kids... you told me about the outside world," Eren said. "The oceans, the deserts, the mountains—how vast everything is. We made a promise to go see it all, remember?"
Armin's eyes widened with realization.
"That dream... I'm still chasing it," Eren continued, voice steady. "No matter what happens, I have to reach that world."
Armin's expression hardened with resolve. "Then I'll come too. I'll join the Scouts. I'll fight beside you."
Eren shook his head. "No. You're not a fighter, Armin. Your strength is up here," he tapped his head lightly. "You're smarter than any of us."
Armin didn't flinch. "Maybe. But we're in this together. Always have been."
A brief silence passed—then Mikasa spoke.
"I'm joining the Scouts too."
Eren blinked, surprised. "You too?"
She looked at him calmly. "I promised Mom. I'd stay by your side. I'd protect you."
Eren frowned. "Mikasa... the Military Police is safer. It's the best path for you."
"I've already made up my mind," she said, her tone final. "You can't change it. Wherever you go... I'll be there."
Eren's jaw tightened. He looked away for a moment, then turned back with a mix of anger and fear in his voice.
"You're the only family I have left. I don't want to lose you too…"
There was a pause. The air between them hung heavy.
Mikasa with her resolve unshaken.
"Same for me. That's why I'm not leaving your side."
Eren stared at her, eyes flickering with emotion. He wanted to argue—but couldn't. Not against those words.
Her words left no room for argument.
The three of them sat there, side by side, the weight of the future pressing down on them—but for the first time in a long time, they faced it together.
The next morning.
Buzz filled the air as word spread—the main Scout Regiment had returned from their latest mission, led by none other than Commander Erwin Smith.
Civilians gathered near the gates, murmuring and pointing as the soldiers approached, bloodied, worn—but alive.
"Is that him? Commander Erwin?" one of them whispered.
"Yeah… they say he trashed every Titan out there," another said in awe.
Among the crowd, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the other rookie cadets stood near the front, eyes wide with anticipation.
Then the crowd stirred again as a shorter figure walked past with silent confidence.
"There! That's Captain Levi!" a civilian whispered excitedly.
"They say he's the strongest soldier humanity has!"
Levi barely glanced at them, but his sharp eyes took it all in.
"Tch. Annoying", he thought as he kept walking, brushing past the praise like dust off his cloak.
Just then, Hannes approached from behind the cadets, waving casually.
"Oi! Eren, Mikasa, Armin!"
Eren turned quickly, a smile forming. "Hannes!"
The older man chuckled and ruffled Eren's hair. "Heh, you've grown. I heard you graduated. And that you qualified for the Military Police?"
"Yeah," Eren said with a nod. "But I turned it down. I'm joining the Scouts."
Hannes blinked. "The Scouts, huh...? Why?"
Eren's expression shifted—his eyes burning with fierce determination.
"Because I'm going to drive out every last Titan. No matter what it takes."
Hannes stared at him for a long moment, the smile fading from his face.
"…I'm sorry, Eren," he said quietly. "About what happened to your mother. That day… I failed. I was a coward."
Eren was taken aback. The words hit harder than he expected. He hadn't heard Hannes say that before—not like this.
But he said nothing.
He just looked down, the fire in his chest glowing hotter than ever.
But then, Eren finally spoke—his voice steady, not angry.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "It happened."
He looked up, meeting Hannes' eyes. "We didn't expect it… none of us did."
His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "But I'm not letting it happen again."
There was a fire in his voice now—a quiet, burning resolve.
"Next time… I'll be the one fighting. I'll protect the people I care about. I won't just stand by."
Hannes looked at him, surprised—then slowly nodded, a small, sad smile tugging at his lips. "You've really grown up, Eren."
Later that day – atop the Wall.
The cadets were busy prepping the cannons, loading supplies, and checking the gear. The sun beat down gently as wind carried the faint scent of iron and dust.
Eren tightened a bolt on a cannon, then glanced over at Connie. "Really? You said you were going to join the Interior."
Connie shrugged. "Well… we can still change our minds, right?"
A girl nearby—Mina—chimed in with a grin. "I think your speech might've changed his mind, Eren."
Connie spun around. "What? No way! It had nothing to do with that!"
Eren smirked but didn't press further.
Suddenly, Sasha came sprinting over, practically glowing with excitement.
"Guys! Don't tell anyone but… I may have stolen some meat from the officers' storage!"
"WHAT?!" they all shouted at once.
"Sasha, are you insane?!" connie said, wide-eyed. "If Commander Pixis finds out, you'll be court-martialed!"
Jean added, "You know they hang people for less!"
Sasha, completely unfazed and still drooling, held up a wrapped bundle like it was treasure.
"I couldn't help it! It smelled so good… I promise I'll share it with you all!"
Connie looked half-tempted. "You're out of your mind... but what kind of meat are we talking about?"
"Looks like beef," Sasha whispered like it was sacred knowledge.
Eren let out a small laugh. For a brief moment—up on the wall, surrounded by friends—the war felt a little farther away.
As the cadets chatted atop the wall, laughter and casual banter filled the air. Sasha was still hugging the stolen meat like a prize, while Jean grumbled about military assignments.
Eren, however, stood quietly near the edge, looking out over the city.
"Has it really been five years...?" he thought, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
"Since that day... everything changed."
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening roar shook the sky. A sudden flash of lightning cracked down from the heavens, striking the top of the wall with blinding light.
The cadets froze.
And then... towering above them... his skinless frame steaming...
The Colossal Titan stood at the gate—just like five years ago.
Wide-eyed and frozen in terror, Eren could barely breathe.
"It's him…"
Before anyone could react, the Titan released an enormous burst of steam. The force of it slammed into the cadets like a shockwave.
"Get back!" connie shouted—but it was too late.
The blast hurled them off their feet, knocking several backwards into the air.
Eren, mina, Sasha, Connie—all were flung over the wall.
But in mid-air, training kicked in.
Thwip!
ODM hooks fired instinctively.
Gas hissed as their maneuver gear engaged. They anchored to the wall, swinging wildly but regaining balance just in time.
"Damn it…!" Eren growled, gripping his blades. "It's happening again!"
Above them, the Colossal Titan loomed—motionless, yet impossibly massive.
The Trost gate was vulnerable. The fate of the district hung by a thread.
As the cadets steadied themselves midair, the Colossal Titan raised its massive, steaming leg.
Eren looked up, eyes wide.
"No... he's going to—!"
Eren stared at the gaping hole in Wall Rose, steam still billowing from the Colossal Titan's disappearing form.
Then—
It hit him.
A rush of heat behind his eyes. His breathing slowed. The chaos around him became muffled, distant.
"Eren, take Mikasa and run!"
His mother's voice echoed in his head.
FLASH
He saw her again—Carla Yeager, trapped beneath the rubble, crushed and helpless.
FLASH
The Titan's grotesque smile as it reached down. The moment Hannes turned away. The moment Eren screamed.
"No… NO!"
FLASH
His mother's last words. Her outstretched hand. Her body being lifted. The sickening crunch.
Back in the present, Eren's body trembled. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
"Not again…"
"Not another wall…"
"Not more lives lost…"
His eyes lit with rage, cutting through the haze of memory.
"I won't let this happen again!" Eren shouted, loud and raw. His voice echoed across the wall.
The other cadets looked at him—surprised, shaken.
Eren turned to them, ODM gear hissing as he adjusted his stance.
"If we let fear stop us now, then we're just waiting to die! We fight—because that's the only way to survive!"
Eren launched himself toward the Colossal Titan, his eyes locked on its exposed nape.
"This time... I'm ending it!"
He fired his ODM hook, anchoring it to the Titan's shoulder. With a burst of gas, he swung upward, blades drawn, aiming straight for the kill.
But the Titan reacted—its massive hand slammed into the wall, causing a shockwave of force. Eren leapt, adjusting midair, and fired again—this time hooking onto the Titan's hand itself.
It swung again, but Eren narrowly dodged, spinning through the air like a blur. He swung behind the Titan's neck, blades ready to strike.
But then—a rush of blinding steam erupted from its body.
"No!"
The intense heat and pressure blasted Eren backward, forcing him to disengage. His body spun uncontrollably before he regained balance with a last-second anchor to the wall.
Panting, he looked back through the smoke.
And then—nothing.
The Colossal Titan had vanished.
"What…? Where did it go?" Eren whispered, stunned. "Just like five years ago…"
A cadet shouted from the wall, "Eren! Come back!"
He turned and quickly rejoined the others. The air was tense—no one spoke of it, but they all felt the same fear:
It had appeared and vanished… again.
Suddenly, an elite soldier called out, "All cadets! Report to HQ immediately!"
At the same time, Military Police squads began moving through the district, shouting commands and organizing civilian evacuation. Panic was spreading.
Meanwhile, the cadets rushed to secure the breach. They worked together to deploy a massive net structure, aiming to slow the Titans if they entered too quickly.
From the top of the wall, cannons were fired—thunderous blasts echoing as explosions lit the smoke-filled sky.
Below, cadets with ODM gear charged toward the breach, blades drawn.
"Here they come!" someone yelled.
Dozens of Titans were approaching.
And now…
The real battle had begun.
At HQ, chaos had taken over.
Cadets rushed through the halls, shouting, scrambling, grabbing blades and filling gas tanks. The sound of heavy footsteps—Titan footsteps—echoed in the distance, growing louder.
Armin stood near the gas station, his hands trembling as he fumbled with a canister.
"This… this is bad," he muttered, eyes wide. "The situation's completely out of control…"
He dropped the nozzle, gas hissing out.
"Armin!"
A firm hand grabbed his shoulder—Eren.
Their eyes met. Eren's were burning with determination.
"Look at me. We're going to stop them. We're not dying here."
Armin's breath caught in his throat. That fire—Eren's unshakable resolve—cut through the panic.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the outside gate. Screams followed.
A nearby cadet burst in.
"The front line collapsed! Titans are breaking through!"
At the wall
A squad of cadets who had leapt into battle now lay scattered. Some had been crushed. Others were badly injured. A few were still alive—barely—dragging themselves back, covered in blood and dust.
Smoke and fire blurred the view, but through it—the towering shadows of Titans marched forward.
One cadet, clutching his broken leg, cried out,
"W-We couldn't stop them…"
Inside a lavish room in the inner district, Commander Dot Pixis sat calmly at a chessboard, playing a slow game against Lord Wald, who sipped wine, unconcerned by the world beyond the castle walls.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
An elite soldier rushed in, saluting sharply.
"Commander Pixis! Wall Rose has been breached! Titans are invading Trost!"
Pixis stood up without hesitation.
"Then I must go."
Lord Wald's cup trembled in his hand.
"You're leaving? Nonsense! Your duty is to protect me!"
Pixis adjusted his coat, face grim but composed.
"No, my duty is to protect the people in the towns. Not men who cower in castles."
"Wait! Pixis—come back! I order you!"
But Pixis was already out the door.
Back at HQ Supply Room, the tension had reached a breaking point.
Armin stood frozen, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. But Eren's voice cut through the panic.
"Get your gear ready. We're going out there. Now."
Eren locked his gas tank, blades gleaming. His eyes burned—not with fear, but with purpose.
Elsewhere, in a hastily assembled war meeting, Commander Kitz Woermann addressed the gathered cadets and soldiers.
A map of Trost lay on the table. Titans had already breached the gate.
"We'll divide into three groups—Vanguard, Middle Guard, and Rear Guard," he said, voice sharp.
"Elites will hold the front line. The rest of you will support where ordered. And listen well…"
He glanced around the room, his voice dropping with grim intensity.
"If anyone tries to abandon their post… they'll be executed."
A stunned silence.
"There's also a chance the Armored Titan may appear."
Whispers turned to trembling. Jean whispered to himself,
"What was I thinking… I signed my own death sentence."
In the gear prep area, Mikasa turned to Eren.
"If anything happens… don't hesitate to find me."
"What are you talking about?" Eren replied. "We're in different squads. I'll be fine. I can protect myself."
Just then, Ian, one of the elites, approached.
"Cadet Ackerman. You've been reassigned to the Rear Guard on special orders. You're with me."
Mikasa looked surprised. "But… sir, I'm just a cadet. I might slow you down."
Ian narrowed his eyes. "You follow orders. That's all I need."
Mikasa stepped forward, her eyes locked on Ian.
"Sir, with all due respect, I request to be assigned near Eren."
Before Ian could reply, Eren snapped.
"Hey—don't act foolish!"
Everyone nearby froze. Eren's voice wasn't just loud—it was sharp, cutting through the heavy air like a blade.
He turned to Mikasa, frustration flaring in his eyes.
"We've been given orders, Mikasa. This isn't just about you and me anymore."
His hands were clenched at his sides. "This is war. Look around—people are dying. This isn't some childhood game where you can always follow me around and protect me."
Mikasa looked stunned, but Eren wasn't done.
"I'm not a kid anymore. I trained for this, same as you. I can protect myself. So go… and follow your orders."
There was silence.
Mikasa's expression didn't change—no anger, no tears, just quiet understanding. She nodded once, then turned without a word and followed Ian into the shadows of the Rear Guard.
Armin stood nearby, tense and unsure.
Eren took a deep breath, muttering under it.
"I can't always rely on her… not if I'm going to change anything."
Eren, Armin, Mina, and the other cadets stood atop the rooftop, tense, watching the chaos unfold below. Orders came through—they were to assist the vanguard.
Without hesitation, they launched into the air using their ODM gear, zipping between towers. The sound of compressed gas and rushing wind filled the air—until a sudden blur cut across the sky.
An abnormal titan, leaping midair, eyes wild, arms stretched wide.
"Look out!" Armin shouted.
He grabbed Eren and yanked him just in time—the titan crashed into a nearby tower, stone and debris scattering. The group scattered midflight. Most landed safely, but Eren was left hanging from the edge of a rooftop, barely clinging on.
Before anyone could react, a scream rang out—Thomas.
They turned and saw him, caught in a titan's grasp. In one swift motion, the titan tossed him into its mouth and swallowed him whole.
"THOMAS!" Eren's scream cracked through the air.
Fueled by rage, he launched himself toward the titan. It swung its massive hand, nearly swatting him, but Eren evaded and crashed hard onto a rooftop, groaning in pain.
From his position, Armin turned—only to freeze.
A titan stood before him, its face eerily human, like a grotesque old man. It was staring directly at him.
Armin's breath caught. His limbs refused to move. And then—the titan grabbed him.
"This is it..." Armin thought, suspended above the titan's gaping mouth.
"Eren... we were supposed to see the ocean together…"
The jaws began to close—and then, light burst through.
Eren shot in from the side, slicing the titan's mouth open. He dragged Armin out, tossing him onto the rooftop behind.
But—Eren didn't make it out.
He was still inside. Struggling. Desperate.
"Eren!" Armin cried out in horror, scrambling to reach him.
But before he could, the titan's jaw clamped shut.
Blood sprayed.
Eren's severed arm and leg hit the rooftop.
Armin fell to his knees, trembling. His mind went blank.
"No... this can't be happening... Eren... no..."
The titan turned and walked away, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake—and behind, a shattered boy who had just lost his best friend.
Eren's eyes slowly opened.
He blinked up at the soft blue sky, the sunlight warm on his face. The last thing he remembered was... a Titan's mouth closing in—Armin's scream—his own blood.
But now... he was lying on grass.
He pushed himself up with a grunt, confused. The ground beneath him was firm, earthy. The air smelled fresh—no smoke, no blood. Around him stretched a lush mountain landscape, filled with distant peaks and tall trees swaying in the breeze.
"This... this isn't Wall Rose. This isn't anywhere I've seen before..."
Suddenly, a voice called out from nearby.
"Hey, kid! You okay?"
Eren quickly turned, heart racing. Standing a few meters away was a man—tall, with wild, spiky black hair jutting out like a palm tree, completely defying gravity. He wore a blue martial arts gi, loose pants tied at the waist with a white belt, and his tone was casual, friendly.
Eren hesitated. "...Who are you?"
The man smiled warmly. "I was training nearby with my student when I felt something weird. You just kinda showed up out of nowhere."
"Where... where am I?" Eren asked, still wary.
"Mount Paozu," the man replied, as if that answered everything.
Eren blinked. "I've never heard of that place."
"Not surprised," the man said with a chuckle, walking closer. "So, what's your name, kid?"
Eren hesitated for a moment before answering, "...Eren. Eren Yeager."
The man grinned and extended a hand. "Nice to meet you, Eren. My name's Goku—Son Goku."
7/4/2025
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