The sounds of battle echoed through the enclave, a symphony of destruction that seemed to drown out everything else. Eren's Titan form moved with relentless force, crushing rebels beneath his massive fists as the Arachnid Titans scuttled around him, tearing through their enemies with lethal precision. But despite the chaos around him, Eren's mind was clouded with confusion, doubt gnawing at him with every passing moment.
Futoria fought nearby, her own Titan form a blur of speed and power. She was relentless, cutting through the rebel forces with a cold efficiency that rivaled even Eren's own ferocity. But there was something different about her—something he couldn't ignore. It was as though she was fighting with a purpose that went beyond Titus's orders, beyond mere survival.
Eren's thoughts raced as he crushed another wave of attackers, his heart pounding in his chest. Could it be true? Could Futoria truly be sympathizing with the rebels, questioning everything they had done up until now? The doubt, once planted by Titus, had taken root and was now blooming into something far darker. He glanced toward her again, seeing the conflict in her movements, and he knew—Titus had been right to suspect her.
Suddenly, a voice rang out over the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Eren! Over here!"
Eren's attention snapped to the source of the voice—a rebel leader, standing defiantly at the center of the battlefield, sword in hand. The man was tall and lean, his armor battered but his stance unwavering. He stood amidst the wreckage of his fallen comrades, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Eren!" the rebel shouted again, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "You fight for a tyrant! You've turned your back on your own people!"
Eren hesitated for a split second, the weight of the accusation hitting him hard. His chest tightened, his heart hammering in his ears. He had heard it all before—the whispers of rebellion, the cries of the survivors he had crushed underfoot. But this time, standing face to face with a man who had nothing left to lose, the words struck a chord within him.
"We were once protectors!" the rebel leader continued, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow. "We fought for the people! And now you've become the very monster you once swore to destroy!"
Eren's fists clenched, his Titan form looming over the battlefield like a dark cloud. The air crackled with tension as the two men locked eyes, the battlefield seeming to fall away around them.
The rebel leader pointed his sword at Eren, his voice steady. "Titus will betray you. He's already planted the seeds of your destruction. You know it. Deep down, you know what he is—and what he'll do to anyone who stands in his way."
Eren's pulse quickened, the rebel's words striking deep. He had always known, on some level, that Titus was not the savior he had once thought him to be. The bloodshed, the destruction, the ruthless pursuit of power—it had all been for Titus's vision of a world ruled by strength and fear. But was that the world Eren wanted? Was that the future he had fought for?
Before he could respond, Futoria's Titan form crashed into the rebel leader, sending him flying across the battlefield. She moved with deadly precision, her eyes cold and emotionless as she prepared to finish him off. But just as her fist was about to come down, she hesitated—her gaze lingering on the fallen rebel for a moment too long.
Eren saw the hesitation, felt the weight of it. He knew, in that instant, that Futoria was no longer fighting for Titus. She had crossed a line, and there was no turning back.
The rebel leader coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he struggled to his feet. "Futoria," he rasped, his voice weak but defiant. "You know the truth, don't you? You've seen what Titus is. You've seen the destruction he's caused."
Futoria's hands trembled, her Titan form wavering as she stared down at the broken man before her. The conflict in her eyes was clear—she had always been the one to question, the one to hesitate. And now, standing on the precipice of a decision that could change everything, she found herself unable to deliver the final blow.
Eren's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "Futoria! Finish him!"
She turned to him, her expression torn. "Eren, listen to him. We need to think about what we're doing. About what Titus is asking of us."
Eren's blood boiled at her words. "What Titus is asking of us? He's asking for our loyalty! Our strength! We've come too far to turn back now."
Futoria shook her head, her Titan form slowly fading as she reverted to her human state. "This isn't about loyalty anymore, Eren. This is about survival. Real survival. Not the kind where we crush anyone who stands in our way. The people are rising against us. They won't stop. We can't keep doing this."
Eren's fists tightened, his Titan form radiating with power. "We have no choice, Futoria. You know that."
"There's always a choice," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet despair. "We've just been too afraid to make it."
For a moment, the two of them stood in the center of the battlefield, the weight of their words hanging between them like a heavy fog. Around them, the battle raged on, but it felt distant, as if the entire world had shrunk down to just the two of them and the choice that now loomed over them.
The rebel leader, still on his knees, coughed weakly. "She's right, Eren. You can still walk away. You can still fight for something better."
Eren's heart pounded in his chest, the blood rushing in his ears. He could see the truth in Futoria's eyes, in the rebel leader's words. But he could also feel the pull of Titus's power, the overwhelming force of everything they had built together. Could he really turn his back on all of it? On everything they had fought for?
Before he could decide, the ground shook violently, and a deafening roar filled the air. Eren turned to see a massive Arachnid Titan bursting through the ranks of the rebels, its body covered in jagged spikes and dark, venomous claws. It moved with terrifying speed, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light as it descended upon the battlefield.
In an instant, the Arachnid Titan was upon the rebel leader, its claws slicing through the air with deadly precision. Eren moved without thinking, his Titan form surging forward to block the attack. The impact sent him crashing to the ground, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his body.
Futoria screamed, her voice filled with terror as the Arachnid Titan loomed over them, its jaws opening wide to deliver the killing blow. But before it could strike, a blinding light erupted from the sky, followed by a deafening explosion that rocked the entire battlefield.
Eren looked up, his vision blurred, to see the Arachnid Titan's body disintegrating before his eyes, consumed by the light. The rebel leader lay motionless on the ground, his body broken and bloodied. And standing in the center of the chaos, bathed in the glow of the explosion, was Titus.
His eyes gleamed with satisfaction, his lips curled into a cruel smile as he surveyed the destruction. "Enough," he said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "This rebellion is over."
Futoria's breath hitched, her eyes widening in horror as Titus approached them, his power radiating from him like a dark aura. Eren felt his blood run cold, the weight of everything crashing down around him.
The seeds of rebellion had been planted, but they had been crushed just as quickly. And now, standing before them, was the man who held all the power—the man who controlled their fates.
Titus smiled, his gaze shifting between Eren and Futoria. "You have done well," he said softly. "But there is still much work to be done."
Eren's heart sank, his mind racing with fear and uncertainty. He had chosen his path, but at what cost? And as Titus's gaze settled on Futoria, Eren knew that the web of deception was only beginning to tighten.