The smoldering remains of the once-great enclave stretched out before Titus, who stood at the highest point of the ruined citadel. His gaze swept over the destruction, his dark eyes gleaming with satisfaction. What had once been a symbol of power and nobility was now nothing more than ash and rubble. The massacre of the nobles, the decimation of their people, and the destruction of their homes had all been part of his grand plan. And now, as the dawn of a new era began to break, it was time to repopulate the city—not with humans, but with the monstrous creations of his twisted vision: the Arachnid Titans.
Titus's cloak billowed behind him in the wind as he turned to address Eren and Futoria, who stood at attention by his side. Both had proven themselves in the bloodbath that had decimated the enclave's elite, and now they were ready to take on their new roles as generals of his growing army. Yet, while Eren's gaze burned with fervor and ambition, Futoria's eyes remained cold and distant, her face a mask of unreadable emotion.
"The time has come," Titus said, his voice cutting through the still morning air. "This enclave will rise again, but it will not belong to the weak or the noble. It will belong to the strong, to those who serve me without question." He gestured towards the horizon, where the first of the Arachnid Titans began to appear, their massive forms crawling over the ruins like living shadows. "The Arachnid Titans will be the new rulers of this city. And you, Eren and Futoria, will oversee their integration into our forces."
Eren's chest swelled with pride, his Titan form crackling beneath his human skin as he nodded eagerly. "It will be done, my lord. We will ensure that no one challenges your rule."
Futoria remained silent, her eyes following the movement of the Arachnid Titans as they swarmed the city. There was something unsettling about them—the way they moved, the unnatural way their bodies twisted and turned. These creatures were nothing like the Titans she and Eren had become. They were… different.
Titus's smile widened as he watched the hordes of Arachnid Titans descend upon the city, their chittering cries echoing through the streets. "The enclave will serve as the foundation for my empire. From here, we will spread across the land, and soon, the entire world will tremble before our might."
Eren's excitement was palpable, but Futoria remained silent. Her mind churned with conflicting thoughts. She had seen what these creatures could do—how easily they had torn through the noble district, leaving nothing but death and destruction in their wake. And now they were to be the backbone of Titus's army? Something about it felt… wrong.
As Titus continued to revel in his vision, Eren turned to Futoria, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Futoria shook her head, forcing a small smile. "Nothing. Just… thinking."
"About what?"
She hesitated, glancing at Titus to ensure he wasn't paying attention. "About what we're doing," she whispered. "About what we've become."
Eren's expression hardened. "We're survivors, Futoria. We've done what we had to do. This is our chance to build something new—something strong."
"Something built on blood," she murmured, but Eren didn't hear her.
Titus turned to face them once more, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "Eren, I want you to oversee the construction of new strongholds for our Arachnid forces. We'll need a network of fortresses across the enclave to house them. Make sure that the supplies we've gathered from the noble district are put to good use. Futoria, you will manage the integration of the new Titans into our military structure. I want them ready for battle when the time comes."
Futoria nodded, though her heart wasn't in it. The thought of commanding these creatures filled her with unease, but she had no choice. This was the path she had chosen.
Titus gave them one last glance before turning and walking away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the citadel. Eren and Futoria were left alone, the weight of their new roles pressing down on them.
"We have to be ready," Eren said, his voice firm. "Titus is counting on us."
"I know," Futoria replied quietly, her eyes drifting to the horizon where more Arachnid Titans crawled into view. "I just wonder how far we'll have to go to stay in his good graces."
The following days were a blur of activity as Eren and Futoria carried out Titus's orders. The enclave, once a bustling center of human life, was now overrun by the Arachnid Titans. Their nests, strange and grotesque, spread across the city like a disease, and the streets that had once been filled with laughter and conversation were now filled with the eerie clicking of the Arachnid hordes.
Eren thrived in his new role, his Titan form a constant presence as he oversaw the construction of the strongholds. His desire to prove himself to Titus pushed him to new heights, and he quickly became known as one of the most ruthless commanders in the enclave. The workers—human slaves captured from the surrounding areas—feared him, but Eren took no notice. All that mattered to him was the power that came with his position.
Futoria, on the other hand, struggled with her duties. The more time she spent with the Arachnid Titans, the more uncomfortable she became. They were different from the Titans she and Eren had become. These creatures were bred for destruction, their loyalty to Titus absolute. And while she could command them, there was a part of her that felt as though they were watching her, waiting for her to slip up.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the enclave in a blood-red glow, Futoria stood on the edge of the city, watching the Arachnid Titans as they moved through the streets. Her thoughts were heavy, filled with doubts about the path she had chosen.
A soft footstep behind her broke her reverie, and she turned to see Eren approaching, his Titan form glowing faintly in the fading light.
"Still thinking about what we've become?" he asked, his tone slightly mocking.
Futoria sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't you ever wonder what it's all for, Eren? What we're really doing?"
"We're building something stronger than what came before," he replied, his gaze hard. "The enclave was weak. The nobles were weak. Titus is giving us the chance to create a new order, one where we have power."
"At what cost?"
Eren shrugged, his face unreadable. "Does it matter?"
Futoria looked away, her heart heavy with the weight of her conscience. "Maybe it does," she whispered.
That night, as Futoria lay in her quarters, sleep eluded her. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was coming—that the Arachnid Titans were only the beginning. And as much as she wanted to believe that they were in control, she couldn't help but wonder if Titus had already planned their downfall.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the distant sound of skittering—Arachnid Titans moving in the shadows of the enclave. They were everywhere now, filling every corner of the city, their presence a constant reminder of the destruction they had wrought.
And as she closed her eyes, Futoria couldn't shake the feeling that the enclave, once a place of life and prosperity, had become a tomb—a tomb that she and Eren had helped build.