"W-What…?" Mikasa's pupils trembled as she spoke in disbelief.
"Yes… Aunt Carla is gone," Chen Si said softly, lowering his gaze.
"How could this be…" Armin's eyes shook.
Sasha, Connie, Historia, and the others were all deeply saddened upon hearing the news. Carla had a great reputation within the training corps—she was a beloved cook who everyone adored.
"I will wipe out every last Titan from this world!" Eren growled in a low voice, his eyes bloodshot.
"Eren…" Armin looked at him, pained by the hatred in his expression.
"Go ahead and do it, Eren," Chen Si said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Eren nodded heavily, and together they looked toward the distant walls.
Armin stared at their backs as they stood side by side. For a moment, he froze—somehow, he felt that Chen Si and Eren would bring about a profound change to the world.
"Who? Who's there?!"
Suddenly, arcs of electricity shot from Chen Si's eyes as he stared intensely at an empty spot. He felt all the electrical energy in his body surging uncontrollably toward that location.
"Chen Si, what do you see?" Eren looked in the same direction and rubbed his eyes. For a moment… he thought he saw two people.
"What's wrong with you?" Mikasa asked anxiously.
Who was that? Why did it feel so familiar… Have I seen them before? What's going on? Why does the lightning inside me feel like it wants to go to them? Chen Si frowned deeply.
Beyond countless layers of time and space.
"So… that was me back then…"
A 183 cm tall Chen Si stared blankly at a younger version of himself—identical in appearance, yet only about 170 cm tall.
"Yes. Back then, we still shared the same goal," said a tall man beside him, about 185 cm, wearing an open jacket that revealed his abs, his hair tied back.
"I will protect you, Eren."
"Hahaha… Chen Si, after all these years, you're still the same. Don't you want to say something to your past self?" Eren laughed, though there were faint tears in the corners of his eyes.
"No need," Chen Si replied with a faint smile. "I trust that I made the right choices. Eren… this time, you won't have to repeat the cycle."
Chen Si, Eren, Mikasa, and the others returned to their dorms to pack their belongings, preparing to head to the Survey Corps headquarters.
"Brother, Eren, it's time to go," Mikasa called from outside their room.
"Got it! Coming!" Chen Si said as he put away the shirt and coat he had brought from before crossing over.
Mikasa suddenly sensed a gaze behind her. She turned and saw Levi, standing there at 160 cm tall.
Her expression turned cold as she glared back, her fingers cracking.
I'll settle things with you sooner or later.
"Hm?" Levi noticed the hatred in her eyes, tilted his head slightly, then turned and left indifferently.
"This… what is this…?"
Eren suddenly found a round wooden object on his bed.
"What is it?" Chen Si hurried over.
"You're still not ready? We're about to assemble!" Mikasa placed her hands on both their shoulders.
"This is something we carved together before… a smiling face. Why is it here…?" Chen Si froze slightly as he picked up the wooden disc.
"…Mom came here before she passed away…" Eren's eyes filled with tears.
Seeing the smiley face, Mikasa was instantly pulled back to years ago—when the three of them sat together at Eren's house carving wood. Carla had loved those little expressions. It had been Chen Si's idea.
Tears streamed down Mikasa's face. Eren choked, forcing himself not to cry.
"Don't hold it in. Just cry," Chen Si said, pulling them both into an embrace, his own eyes moist.
When a loved one passes, the pain doesn't always hit immediately. It feels as though they're still there. But when fragments of the past resurface—when memories pull you back—that is when the heart is truly torn apart.
Outside the dorm, in a corner, Keith watched the three children crying together. His expression dimmed, and his heart ached.
I'm sorry… children…
"Brother… when can we go back home and live a peaceful life again?" Mikasa suddenly asked.
Chen Si's heart tightened. He gently cupped her face and wiped away her tears.
"We will. That day won't be far. I promise."
Former Survey Corps Castle
"Erwin, I've compiled all the intelligence we have on Sawano Kawa into these documents. Prepare yourself," Winyaad said as she knocked and entered the office.
"Thank you for your hard work, Chris," Erwin said, standing up with a nod.
"Looks like your dream is about to come true, Erwin," Levi said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"This is…?" Erwin picked up a document, his pupils shrinking.
"These are records on the Nine Titans—from the nation called Marley," Winyaad said calmly.
Erwin's pupils trembled. His breathing quickened as he gripped the documents tightly. As he continued reading, shock filled him. It felt as though his entire being was being shaken to its core.
"My father was right. The royal government is wrong. There really are humans beyond the walls… and they come from a nation far more powerful than ours. Their technology surpasses ours completely."
"So? Do you still have the confidence to lead us? Or are you thinking of retiring?" Winyaad asked.
"This is still just information. I want to confirm it myself… to see with my own eyes the world beyond the walls—and the humans out there," Erwin said, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.
"I'm your temporary squad leader—Ness. Though maybe your friends will recruit you away soon enough, haha. But for now, I'll be leading you," Ness said with a friendly smile.
"Our friends?" Armin asked, confused. "We're all new recruits. We shouldn't have that kind of authority, right?"
"Hahaha, your class is something special. Commander Erwin has decided to make an exception—he's forming a Chen Si Squad, an elite unit, just like Levi Squad, Miche Squad, and Hange Squad."
"So even as a new recruit, he's already becoming a squad leader?" Jean said, clearly dissatisfied.
"As expected of Chen Si…" Armin sighed.
"If I join Chen Si's squad, I can eat whatever I want, right?!" Sasha said excitedly.
"Hahaha! Even though Chen Si will lead the squad, selection will still follow elite standards. You'd better work hard and not fall too far behind your friend!" Ness laughed.
"Hey—hey! Charrette, let go of me! Someone pull him off!"
Suddenly, Ness's horse bit into his hair.
Please drop some power stones support me at my
PS: Access advance (100+) chapters at
Patreon: NanamiTL