Chapter 8: Maximilian Otto Fritz
King Maximillian Fritz-->(Images)
Titan form-->(Images)
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The following morning, the sun bathed the royal courtyard in a warm golden light. Birds chirped from the nearby trees, their songs echoing through the palace grounds.
Aiden sat perched on his father's broad shoulders, a place that always made him feel safe, free from the crushing weight of his thoughts. Up there, high above the world, he felt like a king too, just for a moment.
King Max, his father, stood tall and proud, his usual imposing presence now softened by the way he carried his son.
His booming voice cut through the morning air as he began explaining his quirk—his Titan.
"You see, Aiden, my power is the legacy of our family. Passed down from one Fritz to the next. It's more than just strength—it's the foundation of Paradis' history, our very existence. It is the Founding Titan, a power that can shape not only our world, but the entire course of humanity."
Aiden, still perched on his father's shoulders, listened with wide eyes. He had heard stories of the Founding Titan, of course. His father had mentioned it before, but to hear him talk about it now, so casually, made it all feel much more real.
Max smirked, glancing upward at his son, his deep blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "But enough talk! You deserve to see it for yourself. Now, hold on tight."
Aiden grabbed his father's hair, bracing himself as Max prepared for the transformation. The King bit down on his thumb, hard enough to draw blood. In an instant, the courtyard was engulfed in a blinding flash of light, accompanied by a deafening crack of thunder.
The air around them buzzed with energy, and the ground trembled as Max's body began to shift.
When the light cleared, a colossal figure stood in the courtyard, steam rising from its enormous frame. Aiden, still perched safely on his father's shoulder, blinked through the haze, his breath catching in his throat.
Max's Titan form towered over everything. Easily over 20 meters tall, it was a sight to behold. The Titan's muscular body was covered in intricate, blackened armor that seemed to ripple and pulse with raw power, making it look more like a war machine than a living being.
Its skin was an ashen grey, contrasted by veins of molten red that glowed just beneath the surface, like magma flowing through cracks in the earth.
Two massive horns curled from the sides of its head, resembling a twisted crown, and a series of jagged spikes ran down its spine, ending in a long, barbed tail that swayed behind it like a serpent.
The Titan's face was a terrifying mask of strength and dominance, with sharp, angular features and glowing blue eyes that radiated both intelligence and fury.
Steam hissed from its mouth with every breath, adding to its already formidable presence.
Aiden gawked. His father's Titan was unlike anything he had ever seen before—far more terrifying and majestic than the illustrations in the royal library. It looked like a creature of legend, a primordial force of nature.
Max's voice boomed from the Titan's mouth, though still recognisably his, just deeper and more resonant. "This is the power of the Founding Titan, my boy. The ability to command Titans, reshape entire civilizations. But it's also more than that. It's the culmination of every Fritz who has come before me."
Aiden's eyes darted around the Titan's massive form, taking in every detail. He noticed that, despite its intimidating appearance, there was something regal about it. The way it stood, poised and proud, as if it was not just a monster but a king.
The armour, too, gleamed in the sunlight, giving it a knight-like quality, as though the Titan itself was wearing the crown of Paradis.
Max raised one arm, and the Titan's enormous hand followed, casting a shadow over the entire courtyard.
"The Founding Titan has the power to alter memories, to command any other Titan, and even to reshape the bodies of people with Eldian blood," Max explained, the Titan's mouth moving with his words.
"But its true strength lies in the bond with the royal family. It is an extension of our will, our very essence."
With a swift movement, the Titan took a step forward, the ground shaking beneath its feet. Aiden clung tightly to his father's shoulder, exhilarated and slightly terrified. The power his father wielded was immense, and for the first time, Aiden truly understood why his family was so revered, why their bloodline was treated like something divine.
Max chuckled, a deep rumble that echoed through the Titan's chest. "I know it's a lot to take in, son. But one day, this will be yours to command. The Founding Titan is the heart of our family, and you, as my heir, will carry that heart forward."
Aiden's thoughts raced as he processed everything. He stared out over the horizon, the world below seeming so small from his high vantage point. How could he ever live up to this?
His father's power, his legacy—it was all so much. But then, as the Titan took another step, Aiden found himself smiling.
For now, at least, he could enjoy the ride.
Max glanced upward again, noticing the grin on his son's face. "Feels good, doesn't it?" he said, his Titan voice still booming but warm.
Aiden laughed despite himself, the tension easing from his body. "Yeah, it does."
With that, Max took one last step before slowly beginning the process of returning to his human form. Another flash of light, another burst of steam, and the colossal figure shrank down, leaving King Max standing tall in the courtyard, once again just a man. Aiden slid off his father's shoulders, landing gracefully beside him.
"Not bad, huh?" Max said, his usual prideful grin spreading across his face as he ruffled Aiden's hair.
Aiden looked up at him, still in awe of what he had just seen. "Not bad at all."
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After the display of his Titan transformation, King Max beamed with satisfaction, as if the whole courtyard were his personal stage and Aiden his audience of one. But it wasn't over yet. Max turned to Aiden, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Alright, little prince," he said, rolling his shoulders. "You've seen the power of the Founding Titan, but I haven't shown you my true quirk yet."
Aiden blinked, still reeling from the earlier demonstration. "Wait, there's more?"
"Oh, much more," Max grinned. "Wielders of the Founding Titan naturally inherit two quirks—one from the Titan lineage and one they're born with. And mine... well, let's just say it makes me pretty hard to beat."
Aiden's curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
"Endless Strength," Max said with a dramatic flair, striking a boxer's stance. "As long as I have energy, I can keep fighting. Not only that, but the longer I fight, the stronger I become. No limit, no cap. I just keep getting stronger. Watch."
With that, Max started shadowboxing the air, throwing punches with surprising speed and power for a man of his size. At first, it seemed like a simple warm-up, his fists cutting through the air with controlled grace. But then, something began to change.
Every minute that passed, Max grew noticeably bigger, his muscles bulging, veins popping. His punches became faster, heavier, each one landing with a *whumph* that Aiden swore he could feel in his chest.
The ground beneath Max's feet began to crack slightly with each step, the sheer force of his movements sending tremors through the courtyard.
"See?" Max grunted between punches, not even looking winded. "Every minute, I grow stronger. There's no ceiling to this power. No matter how long the fight goes on, I just keep getting better."
Aiden watched, mouth agape, as his father continued to grow in both size and strength. By the third minute, Max was towering even higher than before, his muscles so defined they looked like they could bend steel.
His fists were practically blurs in the air, punching with the speed of a professional boxer and the force of a freight train.
"And the best part," Max added, throwing in a flashy spin kick for good measure, "is that I never get tired. As long as I've got energy to burn, I'll keep getting stronger and stronger!"
Aiden's eyes were wide. "Dad, that's insane. How do you even lose a fight with a quirk like that?"
Max paused, grinning like a proud lion, his massive chest heaving. "Simple—I don't."
The King stopped his shadowboxing and stood tall, flexing his arms with a smirk. "It's what makes me the strongest warrior in Paradis. Well, that and my stunning good looks." He winked at Aiden, clearly enjoying the spectacle he'd put on.
Aiden couldn't help but laugh. His father's confidence was unshakable, bordering on theatrical. But even so, it was hard not to be impressed.
Watching him grow stronger by the second was both inspiring and... slightly terrifying. It was as if his father had no limits.
Max knelt down to Aiden's level, his size still a bit exaggerated from the quirk's effects. "Remember, son, strength isn't just about muscle or power. It's about heart, determination, and knowing when to strike. You might not have the same quirks as me, but you'll have your own strengths—ones that will make you just as unstoppable in your own way."
Aiden looked up at him, a mixture of awe and amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, but... I think I'll leave the whole 'growing into a giant muscle beast' thing to you."
Max laughed heartily, giving Aiden a playful pat on the back that nearly sent him toppling over.
"Fair enough, fair enough! But one day, you'll find your own way to shine, and I can't wait to see it."
Aiden smiled, feeling the weight of his father's words. Even though Max was a giant in every sense of the word, he had a way of making Aiden feel important, like he was destined for something great—even if it wasn't Titan-sized.
Still, the image of his father ballooning into a hulking mass of muscle while shadowboxing was something he would never forget. And neither would the cracks left in the courtyard floor.
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