AUTHOR'S POV:
Floch, Hange along with five Yeagerists arrived at the forest of giant trees.
From afar, they saw a sleeping Zeke with Yeagerists around him.
"Zeke..." Hange muttered.
When the 30 Yeagerists saw Floch, they approached him while one of them woke Zeke up.
"Zeke. It's time to go." The Yeagerists said.
"Huh?" Zeke said, rubbing his eyes. Then he looked up at Floch, Hange and 5 Yeagerists. "Finally... It's time..." He stood up and stretched a bit.
.
"Where is Captain Levi?" Floch asked to one of the Yeagerists.
"We disposed him." A Yeagerist said.
Hange gasped with wide eyes. "There is no way..."
"Good. Now, dispose Hange too." Floch said, looking at Hange.
"Yes sir!" A 2 Yeagerists said and took Hange to the forest.
"Levi..." Hange muttered.
.
Floch turned to Zeke. "Zeke, it's time to go. Eren must be waiting for you." He turned around.
"Yeah." Zeke said and walked after him. "All we can do is move forward..."
.
While walking, they heard two gun shots sound from the forest.
They didn't even react and kept going.
.
Soon, the two Yeagerists left the forest and caught up with the others.
.
.
Multiple sparks of blue lightning hit the floor and the Attacking Titan let out a roar as his body began to form, leaving strong waves of steam everywhere.
The lightning strikes shook the building up.
.
Armin, Connie and the others gasped, looking at the roof.
"What's happening?" Connie asked.
"It's begun." Armin said. "The titans are making their move!"
.
Pixis stared at the roof with a serious expression while the others had a frightened expression on their faces.
.
The Jaw Titan was shielding Pieck and Gabi from the strong waves of steam.
"Mr. Galliard!" Gabi exclaimed, looking up at him.
"I knew it'd be tough." Pieck said.
"Miss Pieck, you didn't betray us?" Gabi asked.
Pieck looked at her. "Gabi, you thought I'd sell out my comrades?"
"But you said we don't have a future if we serve Marley!" Gabi said.
Once the steam stopped emitting, Pieck looked up at the sky. "Look!"
Gabi looked up and gasped as five Marleyan airship were making it's way to Shiganshina.
"I don't believe in Marley." Pieck said. "I believe in the comrades who've fought along side us."
.
"I see the smoke signal." Magath said, holding a binoculars, standing inside the middle air ship, along with Reiner, Colt and some other soilders. "Pieck and Galliard have found his location."
.
At the edge, the Attacking Titan was standing there, glaring at the airships.
.
"The Founding Titan is here." Magath said, looking at the Attacking Titan. "It's time to get payback for Liberio. We'll end him here and now."
.
The Attacking Titan kept glaring at the airships as his hair flew in the air.
.
Eren furrowed his eyebrows from inside his titan nape. "Bring me... Reiner!"
.
Hundreds of Marleyan soilders jumped off the air ship with parachutes, each carring a anti-titan rifles.
.
"Push!" One soilder yelled as three others pushed a giant box out of the air ship.
Two parachutes opened up and the box was landed safely.
.
"Miss Pieck! Miss Pieck!" Gabi called out, nudging Pieck as the Attacking Titan and the Jaw titan stood in a fighting stance. "Miss Pieck!"
Pieck turned to her and grabbed her. She then turned to the Jaw Titan, cuffed hand raised. "Porco!"
The Jaw Titan turned to her and swang his hand, cutting Pieck's hand from her wrist.
The severed hand fell on Gabi's hands and they both cried out in horror.
"That hurts!" Pieck said and jumped off the building.
Blue lightning struck as the Cart titan's body formed.
.
The Jaw Titan jumped at the Attacking Titan, trying to claw but the Attacking Titan dodged his attack.
The Jaw Titan clawed the Attacking Titan's right arm and jumped on a cone shaped roof.
The Attacking Titan hardened his forearm and threw a punch at the Jaw Titan but the Jaw Titan jumped off the roof in time.
The roof where the Attacking Titan's fist collided was destroyed.
.
Jumping back and forth on several houses, the Jaw Titan moved away from him.
.
The Cart titan climbed up the roof and came to rescue Gabi.
The Attacking Titan quickly looked at her but did nothing.
.
The Cart titan opened her mouth and Gabi sat there.
The Cart titan closed her mouth and jumped off the building and moved far away.
.
The Attacking Titan looked up at the air ships. 'To think Marley would launch such a desperate attack... Given what little they know, they shouldn't have taken this risk.'
.
"Eren, can you hear me?!" Yelena yelled with a frightened expression. The Attacking Titan looked down at her. "Come out of your titan body! Hide inside and escape underground with the War Hammer Titan! If you fight, you are at a disadvantage!"
After a moment of staring, the Attacking Titan looked ahead and started walking.
Yelena, Onyankopon and the others back away a bit as the giant foot of the Attacking Titan fell before them.
"Eren!" Yelena yelled, approaching him while the Attacking Titan jumped off the building,
Once on the ground, the Attacking Titan started walking towards the soilders.
The Attacking Titan noticed Reiner, who was still mid air.
.
'Bring it on... Reiner.' Eren thought.
.
Reiner lifted his goggles and brought his wounded palm up to the Attacking Titan's view.
A blue lightning orb appeared and the parachute exploded as the Armoured titan's body began to form.
.
Attacking Titan kept moving towards Reiner. 'Only you could've convinced Marley to do something this stupid.'
.
The Armoured titan landed on the ground, in front of the Attacking Titan, creating a small shockwave of dust.
.
Yelena saw the Armoured Titan's arrival. "Mobilize the troops!" When no-one moved, she threw her hand infront of them. "Hurry! Protect Eren!"
.
The Yeagerists obliged and ran down the stairs.
.
Yelena turned around and looked ahead. "Eren... Why?"
.
The Attacking Titan's hair flew in the air and his eyes were glowing, giving a death glare to the Armoured titan.
The Armoured titan lowered his jaw and let out steam as he growled.
The Attacking Titan's eyes again glowed as he roared and ran towards the Armoured titan.
The Armoured titan growled and bent down slightly, ready to fight.
The Attacking Titan jumped at him and pushed him to a building, sending debris everywhere in the streets.
.
Gabi was looking at the destruction, still in the Cart titan's mouth.
She noticed a glimpse of the Armoured titan. "Reiner! He really came!"
The Cart titan took a turn and went to where the rest of the Marleyan soilders were.
Magath was waving his hand for the Cart titan, kneeling on a rooftop. "Pieck! Over here!"
The Cart titan stopped before him and dropped Gabi to the ground who rolled up a bit and groaned.
Magath walked up to Gabi as she tried to sat up.
Magath picked her up from her collar. "Gabi!" He suddenly hugged Gabi with gritted teeth and closed eyes.
Gabi gasped at the sudden embrace. "Commander Magath?"
Magath pulled away from the hug and held Gabi's shoulders. "Dammit, Braun! Why'd you go behind enemies lines?!"
"I-I'm sorry!" Gabi said with teary eyes, frightened.
"Unbelievable!" Magath said and looked up as Colt ran up to them, panting, holding a anti titan rifle.
"Colt!" Gabi called out.
"Where is Falco?" Colt asked, looking around.
Gabi gasped and looked away. "He's still in that building over there." She looked up. "He's being held since Zeke's spinal fluid got in his mouth."
Magath looked at her with a shocked expression.
Colt gasped. "Seriously?"
"He's being detained along with around 300 soldiers who drank it." Cart titan said as she was pulling out the anti titan artillery gear from a destroyed house. "There're about 500 other soldiers in the area, but Zeke's nowhere in sight." She pulled away a white cloth with her mouth.
Magath stood up, holding his helmet. "Reiner's fears are what brought us here. Can the enemy use the Founding Titan?"
"I don't know but its safe to say it's their trump card." The Cart titan replied.
.
Some soilders ran up and placed crates carrying weapons on the ground.
.
"The fact that they haven't used it yet..." The Cart titan said and looked at the anti titan artillery. "...likely means the conditions aren't right for Eren to use it."
"What are the conditions to activate it?" Magath asked.
Gabi's eyes widened as she remembered the conversation Zeke, Hange and Eren had on the air ship. "'Now we have the Founding Titan and a Titan with royal blood.'" She stood up.
The Cart titan was putting the anti titan artillery on her back and listening to Gabi.
"I heard Zeke say that aboard the airship retreating from Marley!" Gabi said.
"What? Are you saying Zeke is a titan with royal blood?" Colt asked with a shocked expression.
"If his parents were Restorationist leaders, it's possible." Magath said.
"Supposing that's where he gets his special powers, it might just be true." The Cart titan said, adjusting the artillery belt on her torso. She then stood in all fours at a soilder's signal. "If Zeke's absence is why the Founding Titan isn't being used, we can't let Eren and Zeke come in contact."
.
Two houses were destroyed near them, as two titans were fighting.
.
"Commander! Reiner is-" Gabi said in a panic.
"General. And Marley's shield isn't easily broken." Magath said while climbing up a ladder to the artillery. He stopped and turned to them. "No, we're protecting more than Marley. The fate of the world rests upon our shoulders." He resumed climbing. "We're not here to kill the Founder and put off the problem." He stood on the artillery along with two soilders and looked down at them. "We'll eat the Founding Titan and end 2000 years of malice!"
.
The Armoured Titan's fist went through a roof and collided with the Attacking titan's hardened forearms.
With a growl, the Armoured titan threw several punched at the Attacking Titan while moving forward but the Attacking Titan kept blocking them with his crossed hands, moving backward.
The Armoured titan brought his fist back and threw a powerful punch at the Attacking Titan but the Attacking Titan moved a bit to his left and his hands brushed with the Armoured Titan's hand.
The Attacking Titan grabbed the Armoured titan's hand and dragged him a bit.
With a roar, the Attacking Titan threw a punch at the Armoured Titan's face, breaking his facial armours.
The Armoured titan clenched his fist and was about to hit the Attacking Titan but the Attacking Titan threw a punch at the Armoured titan's face, breaking more armour plates.
The Armoured titan fell to his ass. But, before the Attacking Titan could hit him again, he held the Attacking titan's torso, ran towards a building and slammed him to it, breaking the whole building.
The Attacking Titan's threw a kick at the Armoured titan's face before the Armoured titan could hit him.
The Armoured titan fell back with a broken jaw and the Attacking Titan sat up.
The Attacking Titan stood up, looking down at the Armoured titan when suddenly the Jaw Titan jumped up at him.
Sensing his presence, the Attacking Titan began to form spikes using the power of War Hammer Titan.
The Jaw Titan easily dodged and swang using the spikes to reach the Attacking Titan.
.
"I'll make you pay..." Porco angrily said.
.
The Jaw titan sliced off the spikes using his claws.
.
"...for trampling all over my home!" Porco said.
.
The Jaw Titan threw a kick at the Attacking Titan's back, pushing him towards the Armoured titan who quickly grabbed his head and shoulder with a growl.
.
"Eren... All on your own, you're not a big threat." Reiner said
.
The Attacking Titan grabbed his wrist, trying to break free.
The Jaw Titan jumped up over him.
.
"Just give it up This to the end for you." Reiner said.
.
Eren's eyes widened and began to glow.
.
Suddenly, two spikes were generated from the ground and pierced through the Armoured titan and Jaw Titan's torso, hanging them above.
.
The Yeagerists started to come, using their ODM gears.
.
"Now finish them!"
"Let's give 'em their favorite. snack-Thunder Spears!"
.
Reiner and Porco gasped, looking at the upcoming soilders.
.
The Cart titan was standing on the wall with the anti titan artillery.
.
Suddenly a giant bullet was fired and it pierced through the head of the Attacking Titan and hit the ground, breaking a house.
The Yeagerists's near by cried out as debris fell on them.
.
Yelena was staring ahead with wide eyes.
"Wha-?!" Onyankopon exclaimed.
"What the-?!"
.
Blood started to drip down from the Attacking titan's head and he fell to his knees.
.
"Load the next round!" Magath ordered, looking through the telescope at the Attacking Titan.
.
"Roger!" A soilder said and out a giant bullet on the cylinder.
.
"Got its brains! The Attack Titan lost motor control!" Koslow said.
"Well done, Commander." The Cart titan said.
"You mean, 'General'. And Marley's military sure has fallen on hard times." Magath said. "Its best gunner climbed all the way to its highest rank."
.
The Jaw Titan was trying to bite off the spike while the Armoured titan was punching it.
.
Some Yeagerists were looking at them, standing on a rooftop.
"Shit! The Armor and Jaw will escape!"
Suddenly, the Marleyan soilders from another rooftop fired and kill them.
The Yeagerists dropped dead on the ground, one by one.
.
"It's the enemy!" One Yeagerist exclaimed, hiding behind a roof.
"They're on the roof!
"There are too many!"
.
The Marleyan soilders continued to shoot at them.
.
"But they're slow! Wrap around em!"
.
The soilders on the air ship started firing at them.
.
"No way... I thought most of their officers were slaughtered." A man beside Yelena said with shock. "How'd they regroup in less than a month? At this rate.-"
"The Founder will get eaten!" Onyankopon exclaimed and ran away towards the prison cell.
.
Yelena was staring ahead with wide eyes. 'Eren, you're not like other people. You're special.'
.
Gliding, using the spikes, the Jaw Titan charged at an immobilised Attacking Titan with a roar.
More spikes began to form from the ground and towards the Jaw Titan.
Jaw titan easily dodged them and landed on a rooftop.
.
Another shot from the anti titan artillery peirced through the Attacking titan's head and a large amount of blood fell on the ground.
The Attacking titan leaned on one of the spike, immobilised.
.
"Let him wear out." Magath said. "The War Hammeria powerful, but its power exhausts quickly."
.
Steam arose from the Attacking Titan's head as he leaned there, mouth open.
.
"Don't forget: This surprise attack was built upon Willy Tybur's sacrifice." Magath said.
.
More Yeagerists were shot dead by the Marleyan soilders.
.
"Like he gave his life to proclaim, what we need is a Helos--a new hero." Magath said.
.
The Yeagerists's lifeless and bloodied bodies were on several rooftops.
.
The soilders continued to shoot.
.
"A hero to save the world." Magath said.
.
The Armoured titan walked up to the Attacking Titan, a spike still pierced through his torso.
.
"Eren, enough already." Reiner said.
.
With a roar, the Armoured titan removed the spike from his torso and held it between his hand.
After a moment, he charged at the Attacking Titan with the spike and stabbed him on his chest.
The Attacking Titan looked up, roaring sightly.
.
"You've lost." Reiner said.
.
The Armoured titan stabbed deeper in the Attacking titan's chest and the Attacking Titan started to roar loudly.
.
"You have suffered enough already." Reiner said.
.
Onyankopon was standing before the jail cell of Jean and others, holding a key chain, panting heavily.
The scouts glared at him.
"Onyankopon?" Jean called out and grabbed the bars. "What's going on outside?!"
Onyankopon flinched. "Marley came flying in on airships. There're about 500 soldiers, plus the Armored, Jaw, and Cart."
Several scouts gasped.
"And Eren is fighting alone." Onyankopon said while unlocking their prison cell while Mikasa, Armin and Faye were listening with wide eyes. "But he is struggling. He is not gonna last." He unlocked the door and the luck fell on the ground. "Marley will steal the Founder! Help us! We ve gotta protect Eren!" He opened the get but gasped as Connie grabbed his collar
"Are you shitting me?!" Connie yelled in anger and frustration and pinned Onyankopon to a wall. "What's this about 'we'?! This is your fight! Why should we listen to you, you traitor?!" He tightened his grip.
"S-Sorry! But if I went against Yelena. she would've blown my head off!" Onyankopon said.
"Eh?! You were just pretending to be nice to us..." Connie said and got teary eyed. "While plotting to take over Paradis with your wine! I'm fed up with getting betrayed all the time!" He narrowed his eyebrows while Mikasa, Faye, Armin and Jean went outside the cell. "By Reiner. Bertholdt! Annie! Eren! I'm sick of it, dammit! Why the hell should we help Eren if it means none of us can have kids?!" Connie lifted him up. "Well?!"
"Wait." Armin called out and held Connie's hand. "Let's hear him out, Connie."
Onyankopon fell to his knees and coughed while the rest of them went out the prison cell.
Onyankopon coughed more a few more moments and took a deep breath. "I honestly had no idea. The wine, the euthanization plan... The Volunteers didn't know!"
Connie clenched his fist and leaned forward. "Eh?!"
"He's telling the truth." Nicolo said. "Yelena told us to keep quiet. She said not to tell the Volunteers."
"Besides, I don't want Eldians to get euthanized!" Onyankopon said. "I want to build Paradis together and beat Marley side by side! That's why I threw everything away to come! I gave my all to the people of this island!" He clenched his fists and looked up at them. "And I did it because..." He brought his fists up. "I believed this island had a future! Kids are the future! If the euthanization plan is carried out, what's the point of all our effort?!" All of them kept staring at him. "Please believe me!"
"I do." Armin said and all of them looked at him.
"Armin?" Connie called out.
"You once said this: 'We exist because we're wanted- including Subjects of Ymir. It's more interesting with a mix of people.' You've shown that your views basically go against Zeke's. You're that kind of person." He moved forward and offered Onyankopon a hand. "On your feet, Onyankopon."
"Armin..." Onyankopon said and stood up, holding his hand.
"We believe you too. But what now?" Jean asked and Connie held his head. "If we help Eren and Zeke, it means letting the euthanization plan happen."
Onyankopon turned to him. "No, we can stop the plan." He looked down. "But if we lose those two, we can't protect the island."
Connie came forward aggressively. "So, what are you saying we do?!"
"If nothing else, show off the rumbling's might to the world." Onyankopon said.
"Eh?! The Rumbling's might. Huh?!" Connie yelled.
Armin turned to Mikasa. "What do you think, Mikasa? Do you want to help Eren?"
"Yes. Of course I do." Mikasa said confidently. "I don't care what he said to me. I will help him regardless."
"But-" Connie said.
Armin brought his hands up to his elbow level. "You guys honestly think Eren wants to stop Eldians from having children?"
Jean looked down. "While I don't think it's like him, it's not that outrageous-"
"It is outrageous! This is Eren!" Armin said, cutting him off.
"So why doesn't he oppose Zeke and Yelena?!" Connie asked angrily.
"'Cause he doesn't have to!" Armin argued. "The Founding Titan's power is ultimately his to use!" He clenched his fists. "When Yelena brought up the idea to him, he had no other choice! If he refused, who knows what Yelena would've done? But if he goes along with it and convinces them he's their ally..." He leaned in slightly with clenched fists. "He can protect the island with the rumbling! Nobody will dare touch Paradis Island for years!"
All of them just stared at him in silence.
.
The Attacking Titan kept roaring as the Armoured titan was stabbing him.
.
Soldiers kept shooting from the airships.
.
Two Marleyan soilders threw grenedes on a rooftop when Yeagerists were standing.
.
Several Yeagerist's bodies were hanging from a rooftop.
.
Streets were filled with dead bodies.
.
The Attacking Titan kept roaring.
.
'This is the end for your sufferings, Eren...'
______________