A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here! Enjoy!

edited on october 4th, 2022 @ 3:45am

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙸𝙵𝚃𝚈-𝚂𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽,
𝓟𝚁𝙸𝙳𝙴.

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"ARMIN, WAIT. EVEN IF YOU head for Ragako, you won't catch Connie." Mikasa informed as Armin was getting ready to leave.

"Mika is right. He's got to be miles away by now. Besides, what would you even say if you did?" Josiah asked. "Will you ask him to give up on saving his mother?"

"I will. Even if it's pointless, I've gotta do everything in my power. Otherwise, we won't gain Gabi's trust. She's key. Any chance at keeping Reiner and the Cart in line depends on her. The problem of inheriting the Nine Titans hasn't gone away. We might repeat another 2,000 years of war over Titans and their powers... On this tiny island. Honestly, I'm so tired that I could sleep like a log for two days. But right now, I've gotta do what I can. It may have a huge impact on humanity's future. I'll tell Connie that maybe his mom should stay as an upside-down Titan." Armin ranted.

It stayed silent for a moment as Armin stood up. "See you." He said.

"Armin... What should I do?" Mikasa asked, causing Armin to stop.

"Go help Jean with Josiah. Think of how yourself." Armin replied.

"And Eren? What about him?" Mikasa then questioned, causing Josiah to snort.

"Is she seriously asking about that bastard now?" He wondered.

"I don't know! What can we do anyway?! Hange and the captain might be dead! Floch might point a barrel at our heads! What's more, Annie might be awake now! The military has fallen apart! It's chaos!" Armin grabbed onto his head. "Oh, yeah. Historia might be in danger. The Volunteers, the Azumabito, and Niccolo are at risk, too. I don't have time to think about the bleak Eren situation! Can't you see that?!"

Armin looked at Mikasa's face. "Sorry." She apologized.

Armin looked down. "If Commander Erwin was here, he wouldn't have snapped at you like that." He spoke.

"Huh?"

"Absolutely not. You're not going to think that." Josiah spoke up, causing the two to glance towards him.

"Josiah?"

"If Commander Erwin was here, do you honestly think he would be on our side? He would support Eren's massive genocide, no doubt about it." Josiah continued before turning to Mikasa.

"And Mikasa, for fuck's sake, stop thinking about Eren for once. Armin's right. We got bigger problems than that good-for-nothing asshole."

"Josiah!" Mikasa exclaimed.

"What? I'm just stating the truth. I've given up on Eren. He's not coming back. He's gone, Mika. The sooner you realize that, the better." Josiah said before he stormed out of the room.

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A gunshot was soon heard as Floch shot a Volunteer's hand. "Stop, Floch! Don't shoot him!" Jean exclaimed.

"Relax, Jean. I'm helping him understand. He couldn't grasp the situation, but I think he does now. Now everyone knows what happens if you decide to mouth off." Floch said, raising his gun. He soon heard the door open as Josiah stepped in.

"There you are. Where the hell were you?" Floch asked.

"Out gaining supporters. I see you're still alive, Floch. How unfortunate for all of us." Josiah mumbled the last part under his breath.

"Hey, who elected you to act like king of this place?" Jean then asked as Floch turned to him.

"I'm glad you asked, Jean." Floch responded before turning to everyone else.

"Listen up, everyone! Ten months ago, Eren told me his plan: His plan to use Zeke and gain control of the Founder!"

"Wha—?!" Jean said in shock.

"I gathered comrades, aided Eren, and today, his plan was fulfilled! You Volunteers lost both your leader and the military who had your backs! And soon, you'll lose your homelands! They'll be reduced to giant footprints! You lost the reason you came here— the dream of reviving your homelands! Even so, if there are any among you who will aid our Eldian Empire, speak up! We will welcome you as fellow Eldians!" Floch said.

"Screw you, asshole! I'll be dead before I bow—!"

Floch interrupted him by putting the gun to his head. "Pay your respects!" He shouted before shooting the Volunteer dead. His body dropped to the ground as Floch put bullets into his body while Jean and Josiah stared in horror.

Blood soon appeared, painting the floor a dark red. "His pride as a Volunteer wouldn't let him live in submission. But is pride worth dying for? What's so wrong with submission? Isn't it much better than dying like this?" Floch asked as the other Volunteers gritted their teeth.

"Take some time to think. Lock 'em up." Floch ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

Mikasa soon walked up the stairs. "What the...? Jean, Josiah, what happened here?" She asked as neither Jean nor Josiah answered her.

"To answer your question, I act on Eren's behalf. If Eren is solving the problems outside the island, I'll wipe out the resentment within it. Anyway, after surviving through that hell four years ago, it's finally in our grasp. Do you know what it is?" Floch questioned as Jean and Mikasa didn't answer him.

"Freedom. You don't have to fight anymore. You can live as you please." Floch placed a hand on Jean's shoulder. "Jean, didn't you want a comfy life in the interior as an MP? Go live it. You're one of our heroes." Floch told him.

"Is it... over?" Jean repeated.

"It's over, so go back to being the old Jean: Reckless, annoying, and cheeky." Floch said.

"What'd you call me?" Jean questioned. His eyes widened when Onyankopon gave him a look.

"Floch, what happened to Captain Levi and Commander Hange?" Mikasa asked.

Floch stood up. "Ah... Unfortunately, they were killed by Zeke." He answered.

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Josiah was dressed in his green Scouts uniform, standing on the left side of Floch, while Jean stood on his right. "Our Eldian Empire has been persecuted by the world for over a century! But it's now over! Now, we're free! It was all thanks to Eren, our liberator, and us, the Yeagerists! We've won against the world!" Floch exclaimed as everyone down below cheered.

"Dedicate your heart!" Floch did the salute.

"Dedicate your heart!"

Josiah and Jean stared at Mikasa, who stared back at them.

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"People of the empire! Thank you for gathering here today! We will now execute these two Volunteers who dared to turn against the Eldian Empire!" Floch announced as Jean pointed his gun at Onyankopon's head while Josiah was on the side, flipping his gun around.

"With this, we Yeagerists will inherit Eren's wishes to rule the world! And declare our reign over this island of Paradis!" Floch declared as everyone cheered.

"This criminal is named Yelena! She rebelled against Marley, and supported the Eldian Empire with an ulterior motive! Her goal was to hand the power of the Founding to Zeke, and to make his Euthansia plan into reality, thus wiping out every single Eldian from existence!" Floch said.

"In the end, she's always just a filthy Marleyan!"

"Eren has defeated Zeke and stopped their plan. But this criminal has acted as Zeke's faithful servant all along!" Floch continued.

"Die, you harlot!"

"Go to hell where you belong!"

Floch pointed his gun forwards. "Yelena! Do you have any last words?" He questioned.

"You're not going to shoot yet?" Yelena asked.

"Die, mainlander!"

"You were never a match for us, the Subjects of Ymir!"

"Only those with Ymir's blood will survive!"

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!"

"I'm not shooting just yet!" Floch exclaimed, pointing his gun towards Onyankopon next.

"This criminal is named Onyankopon. He worked well for Eldia, ignorant of the Euthanasia plan! However, he dared say he'd choose death over a life under the Eldian Empire! If you've changed your mind, now is your time—" Floch started to say.

Onyankopon started laughing. "I assisted Eldia to save my homeland from Marley. That was also to help you all! And as a result of that... My homeland will be trampled, and my family will be slaughtered. And now? The only ones left are a bunch of pathetic xenophobic scoundrels!" He continued laughing. "Life is not worth living if it means I'd have to flatter the likes of you! All of you should already know how unreasonable it is to be killed in a sudden, indiscriminate murder! Why don't you guys understand that?! Don't just stand there! Say something, Jean!"

Jean only pointed his gun forwards in response. Onyankopon soon glanced over at Josiah. "Josiah!" He called out his name. Josiah tried his best to maintain a neutral face.

In order for this plan to work, Josiah couldn't show any reaction.

Jean glanced over at Josiah, who responded using his eyes. He pointed his gun downwards, firing four shots.

Both Onyankopon and Floch looked at the four bullet holes.

"Huh? Hey."

"Hmm... Guess I'm really off my game today. Seems I missed." Josiah said.

"What... are you doing?" Floch asked.

Pieck soon appeared, knocking down the Yeagerists in her way. "Floch!" Jean shouted, pushing Floch aside.

Pieck had grabbed Jean, Josiah, Yelena, and Onyankopon in her mouth as she escaped.

"It's the Cart Titan!"

"They got away!"

"It ate Jean and Josiah!"

"Yelena, too!"

"Damn it! Where's Mikasa?" Floch asked. "Hurry up and get her... Where is Mikasa?"

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"Did you hear that?" Connie asked.

"Four gunshots in a row." Mikasa replied. "That's our signal from Josiah."

"We've got plenty of weapons and food packed already." Connie informed.

"Their attention should be all on the other side of the fort. Let's go!" Armin said.

The group soon left as Annie looked back. "Somebody is watching us!" She announced.

"What should we do, Armin?" Gabi asked.

"We just have to keep going! Let's hurry, Mikasa!" Armin answered.

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Jean was throwing up while Josiah was covered in Titan slime. "Never again... I'm never going into a Titan's mouth willingly again..." Josiah muttered in disgust.

"I have to agree." Jean added.

"The Cart can stay in Titan form for months at a time, right? Do you brush your teeth?" Hange asked.

"That's very rude to say to a lady." Pieck replied.

"Since when did you join forces with Marley?" Onyankopon asked.

"Last night." Jean replied.

"Are you okay with this? Your position would have been secured if you'd stayed with the Yeagerists." Onyankopon pointed out.

Jean sat up. "I wished I could've just cooped in my room with my ears shut. But..." He trailed off.

"If I had, that burnt ashes of the dead would never have forgiven me."

"Jean... I don't really understand what you're saying. But thank you." Onyankopon told him.

"Just wash yourself already." Jean said, splashing a bit of water on him.

"Why did you save me as well?" Yelena questioned.

"Securing you was part of the deal to borrow the Cart's power. They wanted to have you alive." Hange replied.

Yelena turned around, facing Magath.

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Reiner woke up to getting a kick in the face. "Wake up." Annie ordered as Reiner saw her.

"Annie!"

"Calm down, Reiner." Gabi said.

"Don't worry. We're all on the same side." Falco reassured.

Connie stared down at Reiner. "We have no time. Let's go." He said.

"To where?" Reiner questioned.

"To save the world."

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A/N: Another chapter is done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1893 words.