The air in the enclave grew heavier with each passing day. The Arachnid Titans, now firmly entrenched in the city, had begun to spread their influence beyond the ruins, infiltrating the surrounding lands. Titus's vision for world domination was no longer a distant dream—it was becoming a reality. The city, once a symbol of human strength and unity, had been reborn as a hive of monsters, and from this dark nest, Titus intended to launch his conquest.
Eren stood on the parapet of the citadel, looking out over the horizon. The sky was a dull gray, clouds swirling ominously overhead as if the world itself could feel the weight of what was to come. Below him, the Arachnid Titans scuttled through the streets, their grotesque forms moving with a terrifying grace as they carried out their orders. They were efficient, obedient, and deadly—everything Titus had hoped for.
But even with the power he now wielded, Eren couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in his chest. The conversation with Titus still echoed in his mind, and the betrayal he had committed against Futoria gnawed at him like a festering wound. She had been his closest ally, his partner in all of this, and yet he had handed her over to Titus without a second thought. He had convinced himself it was the right thing to do—that it was necessary for their survival—but the guilt weighed on him all the same.
Behind him, the heavy door to the parapet creaked open, and Eren turned to see Titus approaching. The leader of the enclave was dressed in his usual dark armor, his eyes gleaming with the same predatory light that always seemed to follow him.
"Eren," Titus greeted, his voice smooth and commanding. "It's time."
Eren nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "For the expansion?"
Titus's smile was thin. "Yes. The time has come to spread our influence beyond this enclave. The lands surrounding us are weak, vulnerable. Their defenses are nothing compared to the power we now wield."
Eren's gaze drifted back to the horizon. "And what about Futoria?"
Titus's smile faltered, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Futoria's loyalty is being tested, as it should be. I will not tolerate weakness in my ranks, Eren. You did well to report her doubts to me, but make no mistake—if she proves herself unworthy of her position, she will be replaced."
Eren's chest tightened, but he nodded. "I understand."
"Good," Titus said, his tone cold. "Now, your orders are simple. Lead the Arachnid Titans to the neighboring territories. Take control of the key strongholds along the trade routes. I want to see them fall by nightfall. Futoria will lead a separate contingent, but you will oversee the main assault."
Eren's mind buzzed with conflicting emotions. The thought of leaving Futoria in charge of anything, after what Titus had said, made him uneasy. But he knew better than to question Titus's orders. "It will be done, my lord."
Titus's gaze lingered on Eren for a moment longer, as if gauging his resolve. Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared back through the door, leaving Eren alone on the parapet.
The hours leading up to the assault were tense. Eren gathered his forces at the edge of the enclave, the Arachnid Titans lined up in terrifying precision, their massive forms blocking out the light of the setting sun. They were ready for battle, their loyalty to Titus unquestionable. Eren's heart raced as he donned his Titan form, his body crackling with energy as the transformation took hold. He had become more comfortable in this form over the past few weeks, but there was always a part of him that felt out of place—like this power wasn't truly his.
Futoria stood nearby, her own Titan form shimmering in the fading light. Her expression was calm, but Eren could sense the tension beneath the surface. She had been quiet ever since their last conversation, and he couldn't help but wonder if she had sensed his betrayal.
As they prepared to march, Futoria approached him, her eyes locked onto his. "We're really doing this," she said, her voice low.
Eren nodded, though the guilt weighed heavily on his chest. "It's what Titus wants. We have to see it through."
Futoria's gaze flickered with something he couldn't quite place—was it doubt, or was it resolve? "I just hope we're ready for what comes next."
Eren wanted to say something, to reassure her that everything would be fine, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he simply nodded, turning his attention back to the task at hand.
With a deafening roar, the Arachnid Titans began their march toward the neighboring territories. The ground trembled beneath their weight as they moved in perfect formation, their spindly legs slicing through the terrain like knives through flesh. Eren led the charge, his Titan form towering over the battlefield as they approached their first target: a fortified town that controlled one of the main trade routes leading into the enclave.
The town's defenders had heard of the Arachnid Titans, of course. Stories had spread like wildfire after the destruction of the enclave, and many had fled, abandoning their posts in the face of certain death. But some remained—those brave or foolish enough to believe they could stand against Titus's might.
As the Titans descended upon the town, Eren's mind was blank, his body moving on instinct. He crushed the walls of the fortress with a single blow, the stone crumbling beneath his fists as the defenders scattered in terror. Arrows and gunfire pelted his Titan form, but they were nothing more than annoyances, bouncing off his skin as though they were insects.
Futoria fought beside him, her movements swift and deadly as she tore through the remaining defenses. But even as she fought, Eren couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong—that this wasn't just another battle. There was a darkness in the air, a sense of dread that lingered at the edges of his mind.
The town fell quickly, the defenders crushed beneath the weight of the Arachnid Titans. Eren stood in the ruins, his breath heavy as he surveyed the destruction. The ground was littered with the bodies of those who had tried to resist, their blood soaking into the earth.
Futoria approached him, her Titan form fading as she reverted to her human state. Her eyes were dark, her face pale. "It's done," she said, her voice hollow.
Eren nodded, though there was no sense of victory in his heart. "Yeah."
They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of their actions hanging between them. The town was theirs, the first step in Titus's grand plan for expansion. But as they looked out over the ruined landscape, neither of them could shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far darker.
As they made their way back to the enclave, Eren couldn't help but glance at Futoria, wondering if she felt the same unease that gnawed at him. The world was changing, and they were at the center of it. But as Titus's influence spread, Eren couldn't help but wonder—how long before they, too, became nothing more than pawns in his twisted game?
Futoria, for her part, remained silent, her thoughts a mystery. But Eren could sense the tension in her every movement, the weight of their actions bearing down on her just as heavily as it did on him.
And as the walls of the enclave loomed in the distance, Eren realized with a sinking feeling that there was no turning back. The expansion had begun, and with it, the world as they knew it would never be the same.