Chapter 4
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I already meet Zeke."
Eren paused as if to observe his reaction but Levi wouldn't show anything. Inwardly, a lot of things ran through his mind.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"When I saw him on top of the Walls, I assumed that he escaped... I thought you were dead."
Levi waved his hand dismissively. As if he didn't see the conflict in Eren's gaze.
Eren's lips pressed together in a slight grimace.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Marley launched an attack over the city. The Armored, Jaw, and Cart Titan tried to prevent us from touching. But then-"
Levi heard it before Eren could speak it out loud. The half brothers already met, they must've touched despite the chaos around the city. What did Eren do? Without hesitation, he pounced on Eren. He drove the shitty brat's head on the ground, twisting both arms behind him.
"Aargh!" Eren groaned in surprise as Levi pressed a knee on his back, successfully caging his arms and his face pressed on the muddy earth.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Cap-captain Levi-"
Levi Ackerman
"What have you done, you monster."
Levi sneered. This wasn't the first time he called the brat a monster, but depending on his next words...
Eren immediately fell silent after letting out a long, low sigh.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I managed to crawl near Zeke even with Reiner restricting me. So, I came out of my Titan and ran. But then, Gabi- one of the the Marleyan Warrior candidates- used a rifle to decapitate me."
Levi tightened his hold over Eren who didn't even struggled. He just laid there as if a whole grown man didn't pin him down.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Fortunately, my head landed on Zeke's outstretched hands. That's when we established contact."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Unfortunately, we didn't arrive in the realm of the Paths at the same time since I lost my consciousness due to my head being severed. So Zeke managed to study the abilities of the Founder during the time I wasn't aware."
Levi Ackerman
"Explain. Where is this Paths, what do you mean by study?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"The Paths are channels or a place where the Subjects of Ymir are all connected. It's where the Founding Titan or the Coordinate can execute its power. It's a space where there's never ending plains of sand and the night sky stretched for miles. Streaks of light representing each Eldian which connects to a large and bright tree made of light which is the Coordinate can be found there."
Levi's eyes widened at the explanation. That place he saw, where the woman healed him.
Levi Ackerman
"She took me there."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Time passes differently in the Paths. A second here might be hundreds of years in the Paths. Zeke managed to study how the Founder's power works. I thought he was the key but he managed to chain me down, and overpower my will. He rendered the Vow of Renouncing War obsolete."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"He was about to activate his plan and that's when I saw Ymir. She was always there, inside the Paths. She was the one making the Titans."
Levi Ackerman
"What do you mean?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"In there, Ymir was capable of creating and forming anything using the sand. She was the one who built the Titans, she can even regrow limbs by forming it with sand. That's probably how she healed most of Zeke's body parts... and you."
Levi Ackerman
"What is Zeke's plans? What did he do?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"He planned a euthanasia."
Levi Ackerman
"The shithead murmured something like that in the cart before he fucking exploded."
Levi Ackerman
"What does it mean?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"To take away all of Ymir's subject's ability to reproduce. Zeke plans to make it so that there will no longer be any children that can be born from Eldians. He thinks that the world will forget about the devils if they can't reproduce. That's his brilliant and delusional plan."
Eren made an abrupt movement as if he forgot that he's still restrained. He soon settled down but Levi doubts it'd last from his inability to stay still.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"As if I'd agree with that! That's the same as killing all Eldians. He says that I was brainwashed by Grisha but he's the one making decisions based on Marley's crappy propaganda."
Levi Ackerman
"Well, I agree that he's a shithead."
Levi could see suicide when he saw one. Zeke seemed like he's going one way to hell and planned to drag everyone else with him, just to appease the world. It was the same as proving that Eldians committed a sin, that they should be punished. In his opinion, it'd only give other nations the leverage to attack and completely decimate Paradis.
Eren tilted his head back.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I knew you'd agree, Captain."
Levi Ackerman
"But that doesn't explain the fact that you refrained from contacting us. You knew but didn't tell us... Why? Tell me the reason, Eren."
Levi interjected. It's too soon for Eren to feel relieved. Levi planned on instilling discipline on the brat since he looked like he forgot all about it in Marley.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
It's either that... or my plan.
Eren said, almost quietly. Levi feared what kind of plan Eren thought of so he patiently waited.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
Captain, you know how the nine titans have different characteristics? Did you ever wonder what the Attack Titan's unique power is?"
Levi Ackerman
"I'm asking about your plan."
Levi raised an eyebrow at the sudden change.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I learned about it when I kissed Historia's hand during the ceremony after the Battle at Shiganshina."
Eren ignored him. Levi further shoved his head in the dirt after realizing that the brat kept this information from them for years.
Levi Ackerman
"And you kept such crucial information for four years? I ought to-"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I'm not at the worst part yet."
Eren had the audacity to chuckle. If it was any other situation, Levi would've felt proud at Eren's tenacity but right now he just wanted to maim the shitty brat.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"The Attack Titan is able to peer into the memories of its future successors. In other words, it has the ability to foresee the future."
Eren said in a monotone voice and Levi felt the world tilting.
Four years, Eren had said. If he could see the future, and he learned that ability four years ago... Levi's grip loosened as he slowly removed a hand on Eren's head. Until when...
Eren cursed as Levi pulled on his hair to lift his head. Levi leveled a piercing stare at him.
Levi Ackerman
"What did you see?"
Eren bit his lips before speaking. His lips quivered and his eyes sheen with unshed tears. Maybe, Levi's finally seeing the true Eren Yeagar. The kid that told him that he wasn't hated because Eren understood the necessity of his action. He didn't want to believe that the last original member of his squad had fallen so low to have the same eyes as those low-lives in the underground.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Captain... can I tell you the truth?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I saw my father's memory of the night he slaughtered the Reiss family. I saw him kill men, women, and the children."
Eren paused, their eyes never broke contact, before whispering.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I saw how Grisha did it on my future self's orders
Levi Ackerman
"You... How?"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"Zeke tried to make me see how Grisha brainwashed me about my nationality and freedom in the Paths. We were there, we both saw that Grisha didn't want to kill children, because his conscience as a doctor prevented him. I was angry. So I told him to do it, I showed him convenient memories, convinced him that his actions will be for the better future for the Eldians. In the end, I-"
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
“Time passed, and I started seeing more memories from the future. I realized that everything always happened as I see in those memories. I was starting to believe that the future can't be prevented. I can't change it. I saw what a monster I'll become in the future. I'm the..."
A tear fell from those ocean blue eyes.
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I tried to hope, one last time, I placed my hopes on Mikasa. When we visited Marley, I asked her the same question I saw in my memory. If she used the same words, the future can't be changed. I hoped she'd answer differently. She didn't."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I can't change it. It's impossible. I had to do the same things as I've seen."
Eren Jaeger/ Kruger
"I was only a cog in a wheel. I was only a tool to-"
Levi released his hold on the shitty brat who's almost hyperventilating. He sat on the root where Eren previously sat. With a tug, he pulled Eren to his chest.
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