The trial began just as Micheal said that ominous sentence. From everyone's reaction it would seem that they were very much delighted at the prospect of this 'Cleansing'. Many angels were bringing up reasons on why Eren should be exterminated or vice versa. Proclaims on what they felt was justified, exaggerated facts on what imminent danger he could possess and the likes of it.
Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours; and during all those time Eren just kept his head down; listening whatever the divine beings had to offer. It's not like they will allow Eren to have his piece of say, even if this was a trial of him. Eren decided to distract himself from the flesh-eating pain by evening his breathing, blocking out most of their discussions in the process.
The trial had progressed to its peak as one of the big three; Angel Micheal; looked down at the restrained subject of discussion.
"Do you have anything to say in your defense Eren Yeager?" His words were cold, a mockery of a true trial. His piercing gaze locked unto Eren.
All eyes were now on Eren, some looking with disdain while others curious of how he will escape his peril. Eren didn't falter at the numerous judging eyes staring at him. He was just so tired of all this. Instead, he gave out one simple answer.
"I'll say this as many times as it takes," he said. "I had no choice. If I hadn't done what I did, humanity's bloodshed would have continued. That's why-"
"Now this just feels like a fucking waste of time." A voice rudely cut him off.
Eren craned his head to where the source of the voice belonged to. It was the ridiculously dressed up exorcist, a smug look was plastered on his…face?
Eren's brows furrowed at the first man. "I beg your pardon?" He questioned.
Adam's mocking laughter cut through Eren's words. "A waste of time, honestly." The exorcist's aura radiated arrogance. Everyone's attention was now on Adam. His chest raised as he crossed his arms on each side of his torso. The irking smugness still visible for all to see, like he just won a goddamn award.
"You're a fool if you think your intentions matter," Adam sneered. "Your actions were nothing but atrocities, carried out to satisfy some twisted need."
Eren's jaw clenched. "You don't know anything about me"
Adam scoffed disdainfully as his gaze settled on Eren, opting to ignore what Eren had justified by proving his own point to the angels. "Come on. This sinner's little speech is ridiculous. Are we actually going to pretend he didn't enjoy every moment of the fucking 'RUMBLING'? He wanted power, and I bet on my balls that he'd have kept going if he could."
Eren's fingers clenched against the chains, but he forced himself to remain calm. Adam's gaze bore into him, his words as sharp as any blade. Adam seeing as the crowd of delegates of angels were starting to consider his point, nodded their heads in agreement or approval. Adam briskly spread his wings has he flapped them, descending down a few feet away from Eren Yeager.
Adam further elaborated as he looked at the mass of heavenly beings. "Ya know. It just seems to me that even if he had no choice, he had initiated the rumbling for his own sick purpose." This made other angels start to converse among themselves. Eren's gaze narrowed at what the exorcist was trying to imply. It was simple.
He was trying to paint Eren as the twisted villain in the worst ways possible.
"Do you even realize your actions?" Adam taunted. "All of this was nothing but a twisted power play."
Something of the exorcist's words struck a dark nerve within Eren. "What makes you think you could just judge me like that without knowing my actual intentions?"
Adam looked rather convinced he had every right to justify the titan shifter. "Intentions? You really think your intentions matter. You're just another sorry case like the previous holders of the founder before you, Heaven had to always step in to clean up you Eldian's mess."
An angel stood up and accusingly pointed a finger at Eren. "It is true! If we let this demonic sinner continue to exist, we will endanger the inhabitants of our holy sanctuary!"
"Souls like you are meant to be purged!"
"Down with the devil!"
"He deserves a painful execution!"
"Down with the cleansing!"
Outroars of several angels hung in the air, resulting to a cacophonic atmosphere. Adam pleased with gaining the angel's side, strode forward with slow, deliberate steps, clearly relishing his position of authority. He looked back at Micheal for permission.
"Hot shot! If I may, I would gladly eradicate this unclean soul. Let's end this felony and put an end to Lucifer's mistakes!"
Micheal, standing in his all magnificent glory, gave out the order.
"Do it"
Adam's face enlightened with pure adulterated glee as he walked slowly towards Eren, his steps deliberate and resonating round the hall as he wants to strike fear into the shifter. But Eren doesn't even flinch at the reechoing strides of the exorcist, his breathing the only thing he could hear at this point.
And what Adam had just said.
"You really think your intentions matter. You're just another sorry case like the previous holders of the founder before you, Heaven had to always step in to clean up you Eldian's mess."
Previous holders…
…of the founder?...
…His father was the former holder…
What did he mean by that sentence?!
What did they do to his father!?!
Adam's feet came to a halt at the front of Eren. The brat's head was still bent down, his hair covering his full face. Adam had to give it to him. Either Eren was too shitted out to look him in the eye or wasn't scared.
The exorcist raised his divine weapon into the air, its edges glistening in the light. The surrounding light around him gave him a more frightening appearance as his mask's eyes flashed an eerie yellow.
The shifter was mumbling something under his breath, despite being close it was hard for Adam to make out. Adam's eyes narrowed at Eren.
"What was that? You do realize you are about to be executed right?"
"What happened to my father's soul?"
Everywhere was stiffly quiet. Like as if they dreaded that question.
Yup, this kid definitely got guts. Adam was no fan of the eldian race, might as well see this guy's dread further dig down to despair. Adam's lips quirked to a devilish smile.
"Let's just say-"
"Adam" Sera tried to caution.
But Adam continued, undeterred. "-he's been taken care of-"
"Adam!"
"-Permanently."
Eren could hardly breathe at that moment. What came next was something he was and will never be prepared for. "Just like each and every single Eldian that had died over the past 2000 years."
Eren breath hitched. No, that can't be right. Right? Heaven has been known to be a sanctuary haven for all good souls. Not all eldians were bad. Surely they can't just extinguish a dead person's soul because of their race. Right?! Despair and dread were slowly crumbling Eren's cool façade as he looked at the higher up angels that had been silent this whole time. He had to know if this was all a joke. He desperately prays for this to be a joke.
"Is-Is this true?" His voice was flagged with a hint of demand rather than a question. Eren's voice was barely more than a whisper, but it resonated in the silence. Sera suddenly found the floor to be the most important thing as of right then; while the three prominent angels exchanged glances at one another.
Rapheal scoffed at the confiscated soul. "And what makes you think you are in the position to demand for answers devil spawn? You have quite the audacity to still raise your voice after all you have-"
"Rapheal! That's enough." Angel Micheal had called out before Rapheal could escalate things further. Said angel's face looked almost betrayed at the sudden interruption from his brother. "But Micheal.."
"He has the right to know. Afterall, it's not like Eren Yeager can do anything with the information." Micheal's attention diverged from his heavenly brother to Eren, his demeanor unchanging. "If you are looking for an answer. Then yes. "Every Eldian who has passed through Heaven's gates in the last 2,000 years have been killed or rather 'cleansed', making sure we leave no stone unturned. Both in heaven; and in hell. However, despite our precautions; there has only been few that had been able to escape from our exorcists."
Eren's breath caught, his heart pounding as he took in the full weight of Micheal's words. They…they had exterminated every single Eldian soul that had died over the millennia. His friends from the 104th, his comrades, his family—they were all gone, erased by Heaven's will. It couldn't be true, could it?
Michael looked at him without emotion, barely nodding. "We had no choice. Eldian blood is corrupted, tainted. Heaven is a holy place; we cannot tolerate such impurity." His tone was calm, almost detached. "Even if we could rid an Eldian soul of its curse, there would be no place for it here. Those souls were purged. But you'll join them soon enough, Yeager."
"Micheal, that's not what we talked about…" Gabriel muttered under his breath as Micheal gave a piercing look at the angel, shutting him up before he could elaborate his concern. Even though Eren had heard that, he wasn't really paying attention anymore. Heaven…also commits…prejudice.
Wait, if they were referring to all deceased Eldians from 2000 years up to the rumbling. Then that would also include…
No. No…NOO!
Armin's grandpa.
Mikasa's parents
Hange
The special operation corps
Commander Erwin
His father…
MUM.
His friends from the 104th; his family, his superiors… Many lives included. All…GONE.
Micheal; oblivious to the swirling uneasiness of Eren; continued speaking. "Yes, some were good souls. But the poison within their system, one that flows through all Eldian blood. Cannot be tolerated here. Heaven is the most holy of this entire universe, we simply cannot allow foreign intrusions. Even if there was a way to get rid of the parasite within each Eldian soul, it will still ultimately lead to inevitable death."
Why does that statement feel so wrong in many places. Too many holes in that answer. To many…
[[[ LIES?]]]
Eren was startled. He looked around to find the person talking but now one was moving their lips. The teenager was confused only to find out… that this voice was in his head. The voice, tainted with something close to being sinister echoed in Eren's mind, breaking through the silence.
[[[ You feel it don't you? A false reply coated in unseasoned wine. I know heaven was always hypocritical. But this…??? ]]]
Eren stiffened, recognizing the voice immediately. It was like the same one that had always taunted him in his darkest moments, pushing him to finish what he'd started. It laughed now, dark and mocking. But the voice was a different one. Could it be-
[[[ You do realize I can hear everything you are thinking about in your mind. Brat]]]
It followed me here too?! I thought it was just a dream!
Voice (Not sure what to call him) let out an irritable sigh like it was annoyed. Eren was trying his best to ignore the thing talking in his head.
[[[ You can ignore me all you want brat. But I'll just say this: Still thinking about dying?]]]
"What?"
Eren could feel the voice forming a smile, like it was mocking him.
[[[ You said it yourself "I'm tired of living. I've accomplished all I have to do" You thought that you could see your loved ones one more time once you are dead? Was that your driving force when you still followed through your visioned future? Pitiful.]]]
Eren gritted his teeth as the voice kept on ranting in his head. Like all he had ever done was all in vain. A wasted accomplishment. "Shut up.."
[[[No seriously, I mean really? Your race is the most hated creatures in all of the mortal realm and you think heaven will take in the likes of your kind as well? You really thought Heaven would welcome you and your kind? What a big propaganda]]]
Eren's fists clenched tighter, his knuckles white against the restraints. He could feel something deep within him, a rage smoldering, a bitterness building.
[[[ It's really sad to see the one thing you have been planning for all go to waste. Hmmm…I wonder if the others will be purged as well once they get here. HAHAHAHAHA!]]]
This damn voice... SHUT IT!
[[[Poor Mikasa, poor Armin. Your promises to see in hell will be all for nothing. Because there is no heaven or hell for your KIND! What a devious twist!]]]
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
[[[OOH. I KNOW! Maybe they must have fed your mother to a titan just like she died back on earth-]]]
"I SAID SHUT IT!!!"
Eren's voice had taken a far deeper and demonic like tone, startling the angels has Adam faltered with his weapon. Shifting back a few centimeters has the back of Eren bursted out with a fiery ting of red and green, his spinal cord illuminating the entire hall.
Rapheal narrowed his eyes at the scene. "What is the meaning of this Eren Yeager?!"
Micheal sent a chilling glare at the first man. "Adam. I said kill him!"
[[[Yes Eren. Let your anger flow through you. It doesn't matter what you are trying to do, heaven is just going to shut you down]]]
"Shut-me-down?" Eren repeated with his demonic voice in a monotonous manner.
[[[Think about all the pain you felt. All you have gone through just to deprive your happiness for others. Don't you deserve a little bit of happiness as well in your measly life? They are no better than the Military police back on earth.]]]
"Back-on-earth…"
Something in Eren snapped that moment. Heaven…heaven killed the souls of all the eldian predecessors?! He felt like his head was spinning from the crashing weight of that information. All those Eldians; even the many innocents are all dead?!
Their souls never had a resting place because these deities had deemed them impure? Contaminated?! They terminated his father's soul?! Despite realizing his father just followed what he told him to do. The ringing in his ear only seemed to grow more and more, the angel in his front not realizing the teen's inner turmoil but most definitely seeing the appearance start to change.
[[[Eren let me ask you one question. What will you do if someone tries to take away your loved ones. Even better… Your FREEDOM?]]]
Eren didn't need to think too much about that. The answer was obvious.
I will take away theirs.
[[[And…?]]] The voice beckoning for him to continue.
Adam, despite his previous tremor, was more than delighted when he thinks of what Micheal's statement implicated to Eren. He must be dreading what's to happen to him. Not like he cares. "Any last words Yeager?"
What escaped from his mouth weren't words. But laughter. Pure. Demonic. Insane laughter. Walls, he really was pathetic. Adam face shifted to irritation.
"What the fuck is so funny Yeager?"
Eren's head slowly raised to face the first man. Whatever face he might have pulled must have been frightening as he heard audible gasps and screams. But he doesn't care. All Eren could see…
…was red.
That was the last straw. It was like the final link of a chain breaking, and he felt a surge of raw, unstoppable power flood his veins. His skin burned, his body shook as the bindings started to crack, glowing red. Angelic energy clashed with the fury of the Founding Titan within him, his will refusing to be subdued any longer. The chains shattered as Eren stood, his eyes glowing with a fierce, unearthly light. His muscles pulsing with holy and unholy power.
With new found strength, Eren wrenched the chain holding his left arm down, swinging it at the first man and knocking him back with the holy binding. His veins started to glow green and red, the major source coming from his back as his spinal cord illuminated the already brightened hall. Red horns protruded from his forehead, fire seeping out from his gritted teeth and a set of new eyes formed below his eyes. When Eren opened his eyes, they were bloody red with glowing green irises. The one below had golden irises. The pair of eyes were set on one person, Micheal.
"People like you just love to take away the freedom of others don't you? Eren said as his eyes were dark with anger. "You talk about holiness, but all I see is hypocrisy. You judge us, but you have your own agenda—pretending to be protectors when you're really cowards.""
Micheal only looked down with composed anger.
"You strip away freedom for your twisted purity" Eren growled, voice a mix of grief and defiance. "But I'll die fighting for mine."
Adam had gotten back up only to be knocked back with brute force of his left arm that transformed, covered in the dense unbreakable armor of the Armored Titan. He swung, knocking Adam back with a thunderous blow that reverberated through the hall.
Eren smile was unhinged with a dose of glee and insanity. He was no longer just a soul on trial; he was a warrior standing against the very forces that claimed to be just.
"But don't worry. Because I will kill…EVERY. LAST. ONE. OF. YOU!"
For the first time, Heaven felt fear.
The voice couldn't help but chuckle.
[[[It seems things are about to get interesting. Eren Yeager]]]