Chapter 19: Attack On Titans, Part 8

When Eren transformed into a Titan and captured the Colossal Titan.

“Mikasa, did you know? That Eren could transform into a Titan?”

“No, I had no idea.”

“Perhaps Eren is hiding more secrets than we realize.”

Instead of answering Armin’s words, Mikasa stared at Eren, who had transformed into the Attack Titan.

‘Eren, what are you thinking?’

He seemed like a different person from the Eren she knew.

Carrying Bertolt in his hand, he climbed back up the wall.

Everyone watched in stunned silence as I emerged from the Titan’s nape, having severed the connection.

“Aaaah! Eren was a Titan all along!!”

Sasha, the potato girl, screamed, covering her face with her hands.

Ignoring Sasha’s outburst, I stood before them in my human form.

“Feel free to ask any questions. I’ll tell you everything I can.”

Mikasa slowly approached me.

She cupped my face in her hands and asked, “Eren, are you still Eren?”

“Yes, Mikasa. I’ll always be the Eren you know. Forever.”

Seemingly relieved, Mikasa sighed.

“That’s a relief…”

Having reassured Mikasa, I turned to Armin.

“Armin, the time has come. Let’s go see the ocean.”

“The ocean…?”

“Yes. We promised when we were kids, remember? To see the ocean.”

“We did.”

Don’t be so confused, Armin. I’ll explain everything.

The truth about this world.

And about our enemies.

After some time, the Survey Corps returned from their expedition.

Erwin, Hange, and Levi had returned.

I was now in a cell, handcuffed.

Erwin and I sat across from each other at a table.

Hange, the squad leader, stared at me with excitement, while Levi, to my right, wore a displeased frown.

“He can transform into a Titan, yet he’s not fully restrained. Isn’t that a bit careless, Erwin?”

“Levi, if he intended to harm us, he wouldn’t have surrendered so easily. There’s no need to worry.”

Erwin’s logical argument silenced Levi, and our conversation began.

“Alright, let’s start with this. Are there more like you within these walls? Titans with intelligence.”

“Yes.”

“Who are they?”

“Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhart.”

Levi grabbed my collar.

“If you’re lying, I won’t forgive you. Are they really Titans?”

“Yes.”

Erwin spoke, “This is unexpected. We anticipated the Armored Titan’s existence, given the Colossal Titan’s presence, but another one?

Or rather, two, including you.”

He looked at me. I answered, “There are five more. There are nine intelligent Titans in total.”

A heavy silence filled the cell, the weight of my words sinking in.

“Five more…?”

Erwin was the first to recover.

“Your eyes suggest you’re still withholding information.

Will you tell us everything you know? The whole truth?”

I broke the handcuffs with my bare hands.

“Of course. To eliminate the false kings and establish myself as the ruler within these walls, and to subdue the enemies beyond the walls, the people within must know the truth.”

I revealed everything.

That the King within these walls was a fake, not of royal blood.

That there were nine intelligent Titans, each with unique characteristics.

And the origin of the Titans, the mystery that had plagued them for so long.

“The Marleyan nation beyond the walls created the Titans?”

“Yes. By injecting Titan spinal fluid into us Eldians, they transform us into mindless Titans.”

“What? So I’ve been killing humans all this time?”

Levi was distraught. I said, “That’s not entirely inaccurate, but don’t blame yourself. Once I master the power of the Founding Titan, I can turn them back into humans.”

“What…?”

“I inherited the Attack Titan and the Founding Titan.

The Founding Titan is the origin of all Titans.

Originally, only the Founding Titan existed.

There were no mindless Titans.”

“There must be a condition to using the Founding Titan’s power. What is it?”

Erwin asked. I looked them both in the eye and answered, “An inheritor of one of the nine Titans who is not of royal blood must make contact with a Titan of royal blood. That is the condition for wielding the Founding Titan’s power.”