A/N: Hello, readers! Welcome to another chapter! Enjoy!

edited on february 5th, 2023 @ 3:08am

»»————-　★　————-««

»»————-　★　————-««

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙸𝙵𝚃𝚈-𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴,
𝓟𝚁𝙸𝙳𝙴.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

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.

"Hey, who elected you to act like king of this place?" Jean 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 and Jean 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, what happened here?" She asked as Jean didn't answer 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. He let out a gasp when Onyankopon gave him a look.

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

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

»»————-　★　————-««

"Judging by their course and speed, those airships are heading back to Marley. They probably saw the rumbling and left the rest of us for dead." Pieck claimed.

"No, it's the right call. They'll be able to inform our motherland faster. It's better than waiting to get crushed." Magath stated.

"But... at this rate, there's nothing we can do. Is there any possible way to stop it now?" Pieck asked.

"No... But either way, we'll fight to the bitter end—"

"Um...!"

Both Pieck and Magath turned as Pieck's Titan headed straight for Hange. 

"Hold up!" Hange raised their hands in surrender. "Could you not eat me just yet? I'm completely unarmed."

Magath pointed his gun at them. "Oh? Who's that over there? Don't worry. He's just a harmless fellow who refuses to die and a Titan shifter who's too weak to transform." Hange said, referring to Levi and Simon.

»»————-　★　————-««

Hange was on the look out, shooting a nearby Yeagerist as a tear slipped from their eye. "There's no one chasing us now." They informed, moving back the bushes to reveal an unresponsive Levi and Simon.

"Levi. Simon."

Nighttime soon fell as Hange was patching Levi up. Simon laid on the other side of Levi still unconscious as Hange looked at him, seeing that most of his injuries were already close to healing.

"Everyone got turned into a Titan. But the two of you survived." Hange mumbled to themselves. "It looks like Simon tried to protect you as best he could. That husband of yours really does love you."

Hange finishes stitching up Levi, cutting off the thread with some shears before sitting down next to Levi, their hands resting on their head as they look back at Levi and Simon.

"What to do now? It's not like we can stop Zeke with just the three of us. Guess we can only leave it to Armin or Commander Pixis now... Even if Eren betrayed Zeke, the Yeagerists will still rule this island with spinal fluid. And we'll be on the run on this island for the rest of our life." Hange mumbled.

"Perhaps it's simply our turn. Even though we think we're doing the right thing... Once the time changes, we'll find ourselves in the cells." Hange took a glance at Levi and Simon once more. "Maybe we should just live here together. What do you think, Levi, Simon?"

Hange soon got transported into the Paths, before they quickly found themselves back in the forest, making them gasp.

"That was... It can't be... Eren's destroying the whole world?" Hange exclaimed.

"Levi!" Hange then said as Levi sat up.

"That Beast piece of shit... Where is he?" Levi asked.

Hange grabbed onto his shoulders. "You should lie down." They instructed. "Zeke headed to Shiganshina together with the Yeagerists. Half a day has passed since then. Just what happened?"

"I screwed up. I failed... to notice his resolve to die for his cause." Levi responded, holding up his hand in which two of his fingers were missing. "I let him get away, again."

"I'm sure you want to get your revenge. But now—" Hange began.

"If we just... run away and keep on hiding... What will we have left?" Levi interrupted.

"Oh, so you heard me talking to myself." Hange replied as Levi suddenly widened his eyes.

"Simon... Is he—"

Hange pointed next to him, causing Levi to glance over, seeing the gray-haired male laying peacefully next to him, his bangs slightly covering his right eye. Levi sighed in relief.

"He's fine. He may be unconscious for about another day. He transformed trying to protect you." Hange informed.

"I figured. What an absolute dumbass." Levi mumbled. "What are you making? Are you planning to carry Simon and I with that by horse? I know you're not the type who can stay still outside of the action."

"Yeah, you're right. I can't." Hange agreed.

»»————-　★　————-««

"My goal is to kill Zeke. Our interests align. Theo Magath. Pieck Finger." Levi told Magath and Pieck. By now, Simon was awake as well.

"Levi Ackerman. I've heard your skill rivaled even that of the Ten Titans. But look at you now. How do you intend to dodge my bullet?" Magath threatened, raising his gun once more.

"I'd like to see you try, old man. Just because I'm too weak to transform at the moment doesn't mean I'm not afraid to kick your ass." Simon spat out.

"You shouldn't be talking, Simon Laurent. Did you not steal the Crystalized Titan from us?" Magath asked.

"Huh? I didn't steal shit. My mother gave me her power because she didn't want to give it to arrogant pricks like you, and I can see why." Simon spoke.

"I can't dodge any bullet. But I've presented myself in this miserable state to my enemy. Will you shoot, or will you listen?" Levi answered Magath. "It's up to you."

Magath lowered his gun. "Then let me ask you before I shoot. You said you'd kill Zeke. Where is he right now?" He questioned.

"I believe Eren has absorbed him so he can make use of his Royal Blood. Or should I say, the Founding Titan absorbed him." Hange was the one who responded.

"It seems like you know everything about Titans, Prof. Hange. Even more so than Marley. Have you seen this Founding Titan for yourself?" Pieck asked.

"I know it's unbelievably large and seemed impossible to beat. Which is why... We have to do this together." Hange replied, clenching their fist. "Let's combine our forces."

»»————-　★　————-««

"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!"

"Hey, Mikasa. Are you gonna join the Yeagerists and become one of our rulers?" A Scout asked.

"Not interested." Mikasa replied in a bored tone.

"But it sure looks like Jean is all up for it." The Scout said.

Jean stared at Mikasa, who only stared back at him.

»»————-　★　————-««

"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.

"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 forward. "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 and fired four shots into the ground. Both Onyankopon and Floch looked at the four bullet holes.

"Huh? Hey."

"Oh shoot, I missed." Jean 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, Yelena, and Onyankopon in her mouth.

"It's the Cart Titan!"

"They got away!"

"It ate Jean!"

"Yelena, too!"

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

»»————-　★　————-««

"Did you hear that?" Connie asked.

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

"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.

»»————-　★　————-««

Jean was hunched over and throwing up with Onyankopon next to him. "I'm not getting into a Titan's mouth ever again!" He exclaimed.

"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 Jean.

"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.

»»————-　★　————-««

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."

»»————-　★　————-««

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

Word Count: 2296 words.