The power of the Nine Titans.
Paradis Island.
The Marley Empire.
The Eldians.
The vow renouncing war.
The Marley Warriors' mission to seize the Founding Titan…
A torrent of shocking revelations shattered everything the Survey Corps once believed in. Their entire worldview cracked and collapsed.
It turns out the world is vast.
It turns out the Walls only cover an island. Beyond them, there are other humans.
It turns out the Titans outside the Walls are of the same blood.
It turns out the king always had the power to prevent calamity.
It turns out…
Erwin had always believed his will was unshakable. Yet now, as Ymir's words tore down everything he thought he knew, he realized he had underestimated the weight of truth. His mind reeled—if this was reality, what meaning did their years of exploration, their loyalty to the crown, or their sacrifices even hold?
Levi, usually the unflinching strongest soldier, stood silent. Petra's mind was blank, her face pale. Mike clenched his fists, unable to form words. Even Hanji, driven by boundless curiosity, could only mutter fragments, the truth burning in her mind yet too vast to comprehend.
Lock studied their faces and knew they could not fully accept this truth in one day. He cut through their daze with his steady voice:
"Commander, you haven't reported Ymir's existence to the royal government yet, have you?"
"Not yet…" Erwin's brow furrowed. "Lock, what are you implying?"
Lock's gaze hardened. "Given what we know now, it's best not to report her at all."
Silence. Their instincts told them to protest. But the words Ymir had spoken still echoed too strongly. Their faith in the king had already cracked. Blind obedience suddenly felt dangerous.
Erwin drew a long breath. His chest tightened with unease as he looked at Lock's calm face. "You're not shaken at all by this?"
Everyone turned their eyes on him. If not for Lock's known origin in Shiganshina, they would have suspected him of being Marleyan himself.
"Of course I was shaken," Lock admitted, a faint smile on his lips. "But more than that, I'm relieved. For the first time, the path ahead isn't lost in fog. The enemy is no longer hidden in shadow. Until now, we were cicadas hunted by mantises, ignorant of the oriole waiting behind. From this moment, we are no longer blind prey."
Erwin's lips parted before he realized he was speaking: "Then we must become the oriole."
Lock's eyes glinted. "Exactly. But only if the royal government doesn't chain us down. And tell me—do you think that's likely?"
Erwin's expression darkened. He turned sharply toward Ymir, his jaw tight. "Very well. I'll leave her in your hands, Lock. For now, she cannot transform again—not in front of outsiders."
"Understood." Lock placed a hand on Ymir's shoulder.
She blinked, then answered, "…Got it."
With a curt nod, Erwin turned and strode away. He needed space, solitude, anywhere to steady the chaos inside. A pang of regret gnawed at him—had he handed Ymir over to the Military Police, there would be no conflict, no torment. But then again… would living in ignorance forever truly be better? Could a king who hides behind Walls, indifferent to his people's suffering, still deserve loyalty?
His heart warred with itself. Which path was right? Where did the future lie?
Mike broke the silence next. His deep voice carried resignation. "I'll pretend I never heard a word of this. I'm a soldier. Orders are all that matter." He gave Lock and Ymir one last heavy look before leaving.
"…Same here," Levi muttered flatly. He turned and walked off, hands shoved in his pockets.
Hanji lingered, her excitement rekindled. "Lock, I could—"
"No."
Ymir's voice cut her short. Her eyes were steady, her tone resolute. "I know what you want. But I won't be anyone's experiment. I'll only follow the captain."
Lock stepped in before Hanji could argue further. "Leave it for now. If we draw too much attention, the Military Police will start circling. Ymir must remain hidden."
Hanji's lips curled into a smile despite the rejection. "Temporary, then. I understand." She waved and turned to leave, her grin hiding a calculating expression once her back was turned. Her mind was already racing.
One by one, they departed, until only Lock, Ymir, and Petra remained in the valley.
The two women stood in silence, their thoughts tangled and heavy. Lock sensed their need for privacy and broke the quiet with a faint smile.
"You two talk. I'll be waiting at the exit."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the mouth of the valley, his silhouette shrinking as the afternoon light spilled across the stone walls.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San