Are you with me or not?

Kazuya had been at the Survey Corps headquarters for a few days, but his mind wandered far beyond the monotonous and repetitive walls of that place. During all these days, he observed them with the curiosity of a god watching his puppets dance. They returned from the walls empty-handed, except for the remains of soldiers who had been devoured by titans. An arm here, a leg there—pathetic rewards for a people who insist on living this illusion of safety. The voices of the civilians were loud, small flies in a world he saw as his own. "A waste of resources!" they shouted about Erwin and the Corps. But Kazuya? He didn't even blink.

"NPCs..." he thought. "Why should I care about their irritations? If they're unhappy, just obliterate them or play with their emotions until they fall at my feet." The simplicity of his reasoning was impenetrable; after all, what god would stoop to the level of mere peasants?

The most fascinating thing, however, was the false depth of these creatures' emotions. "They are programmed so well..." he reflected, recalling a fragile recruit who, in a nervous breakdown, hugged Kazuya and vomited. "Would he throw himself in front of a titan to protect me? A pawn worth keeping, perhaps." He smiled to himself, pleased with the thought of being at the center of such a complex simulation.

The boredom of those days at headquarters was an affront to his greatness. Training routines, cleaning—all ordered by the obsessive Levi. Kazuya tolerated it, but his mind was constantly working on strategies. "Unfortunately, I can't move openly yet. It's too early to face the protagonist and his lackeys," he pondered, feeling the cold stones under his feet as he walked. "But it's only a matter of time. The gate of Trost District hasn't been destroyed yet... but it will be."

As if by divine command, hurried footsteps echoed through the stone corridors. Erwin's stern face emerged, and his powerful voice broke the silence. "We've received an urgent report: the gate of Trost District has been breached by the titans. We've been called to give immediate reinforcement!"

The screams and chaotic movements of the soldiers only fueled the fire in Kazuya's chest. "Ah, finally the play begins..." he whispered, almost savoring the chaos around him. He watched the frenzy with a supernatural calm, as if everyone were dancing to his music.

While Petra and Oluo argued, he just observed, evaluating their expressions—fear, determination, despair. Mere expressions of creatures without purpose. For him, this battle was just another step toward his inevitable destiny of divinity. "Finally, the monotony breaks," he murmured, a smile slowly forming on his face. "The show starts now, and I am the conductor."

*

The district was in chaos of flames and screams, an infernal cacophony that resonated in Kazuya's ears like a glorious symphony. The roar of the titans, the hiss of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment cutting through the air—it all merged into a macabre dance orchestrated for a god. And he, of course, was at the center of it all. Kazuya moved from rooftop to rooftop, slashing the titans' necks like a conductor directing his bloody symphony. Each blade was a brush, each strike a masterpiece. He glimpsed the huge boulder that Eren Yeager had used to seal the hole in the wall and felt a surge of disdain. "Fools, thinking this will save them," he thought as he dove into the shadows.

He knew he needed to be stealthier. Did they really think he, an entity destined to reign, should expose himself to curious and judgmental gazes? What a joke! As the confusion around him grew, he slinked through the shadows, dodging the Survey Corps patrols. His true mission, to find the protagonists and claim the role he believed was rightfully his, was just beginning.

Suddenly, a female voice broke his concentration.

"Kazuya, so you were here. I've been looking for you, boy. Come here."

He turned slowly, as if granting the privilege of his attention. "Officer Hange," he replied, maintaining a facade of respect, but in his mind, he saw himself as a king who condescended to speak with a subject. "How can I help you, officer?"

Hange, with her usual insane excitement, seemed like a child who had found a new toy. "I heard you're a potential recruit... very strong!" Her words were a mix of fascination and pathetic supplication. "I need you to capture some titans for my research. Of course, as a favor, not an order," she added, almost pleading.

Kazuya watched the woman in front of him with calculating eyes. He could just use his ODM gear and disappear. "But why not play a little?" he thought, a smile appearing on his lips. "Sure, Hange. How could I refuse a request from one of my senpais?"

*hours later*

The sound of the tensioned ropes holding the captured titans echoed around like music to his ears. Hange was ecstatic, immersed in the euphoria of her discoveries, and he felt a perverse pleasure in seeing her expression. "Thank you, Kazuya. I don't know how I can repay you for this," she said, barely diverting her eyes from the captured beasts.

Kazuya laughed internally, but outwardly he kept the appearance of a loyal soldier. "Just tell Commander Erwin that I'm ready for anything," he said, his challenging gaze seeking approval.

"No problem... if you capture more babies for me," joked Hange, with the manic gleam back in her eyes. He knew he had planted a seed there.

Kazuya turned, ready to return to his mission. "I'd better head back to this district's military base," he muttered to himself. But as he turned the corner, his luck greeted him with a glorious sight: Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart, and Bertolt Hoover, the infamous Warriors of Marley. A slow, predatory smile spread across Kazuya's face. "What irony," he muttered, advancing like a predator spotting its prey.

"Hey, you three. Got a minute?" he asked, approaching with a confidence that bordered on divine arrogance. The three exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and caution,

"Well, to cut the conversation short... I know you're from Marley, and I know your plan," he said calmly, a sincere smile forming on his face. "And it seems you still haven't found the Jaw Titan."

The silence between them was so dense it seemed to suffocate the air. Kazuya watched the three in front of him, feeling the adrenaline course through his veins. When Annie, the most impulsive, moved forward with her blades ready to cut his throat, he felt the thrill he so sought: the moment where he could demonstrate his true superiority. With a wide, manic grin on his face, he activated his Strongarm ability. The woman's blades met the steel of his fists and shattered like fragile toys, metal shards flying around.

"You three," he said, his voice laced with a mocking tone, "do you really think you can intimidate me?"

Reiner, Annie, and Bertolt instinctively leaped back, their hands quickly moving toward their mouths, ready to turn into titans. Fear and determination were etched on their faces, but Kazuya just kept smiling, like a predator who had cornered his prey.

"Guys, guys, calm down," Kazuya spoke in a seemingly serene tone, but his eyes displayed a mad gleam. "I'm on your side." He took a step forward, trying to get closer, his forced smile widening into an almost caricature expression of confidence.

Reiner, still with tension written all over his face, grunted. "Prove it."

Kazuya laughed, a low and cruel sound that echoed through the destroyed alleys of the district. "You want proof? Very well. Listen carefully, because what I'm about to say are secrets only those truly from Marley would know."

He took a step forward, now with a theatrical air, as if he were on the stage of a great spectacle. "Reiner, your mother... Oh, she's proud of you. So proud of the 'Warrior of Marley' she raised. She always knew you were the most loyal of all. And Annie..." He turned to her, his eyes narrowing in an unsettling way. "Your father misses you every day. He begs for you to come back alive. He said the world isn't fair, but at least he believes you can be stronger than he ever was."

Annie hesitated, her hands trembling. Bertolt, beside her, looked with a mix of hope and distrust. Kazuya seized the opportunity and pressed on. "And Bertolt... your parents still pray every night for your return, so that your sacrifice hasn't been in vain. They've never lost faith in you."

Bertolt let out a smile, small but evident. Relief mixed with surprise at those intimate words.

"Now tell me," Kazuya continued, his voice taking on a more serious and somber tone. "Are you ready to capture the Founding Titan and the Jaw Titan? I know exactly where they are. Are you with me or not? After years of infiltration, I managed to locate them."

Reiner still hesitated, but his eyes were now fixed on Kazuya's, trying to decipher any lie. "And why should we trust you?" he asked, still with a slight tremor in his voice.

Kazuya opened his arms as if making a divine proclamation. "Why''

''would I reveal myself if not to be on your side? I could have exposed you to the entire Survey Corps! But instead, I choose to work with you because your mission aligns with my... greater goals."

Reiner and Bertolt exchanged glances, and Annie sighed, her expression finally softening. "If you betray us, I won't hesitate to kill you," she muttered.

Kazuya just smiled. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Annie."

With a nod of agreement, Reiner said, "Okay... we're in. But if you try anything..."

Kazuya nodded, satisfied. "You have my word," he lied effortlessly, like a snake offering an apple. "The day has come to rewrite the fate of this world."

Author's notes: In this chapter, I chose to tone down Kazuya's megalomania a bit. What did you think of this change? Do you prefer him with his excessively megalomaniac personality, or do you like this more toned-down version?