Chapter 103: Hello Ymir (Part 3)

As Daniel Davis approached the Survey Corps' base, he noticed numerous new faces and many wounded soldiers. The signs of battle were evident, suggesting that Erwin and his team had dealt with the Reiss family within the walls. The presence of battle marks also hinted that the Warriors from Marley might have been taken down here. Daniel hoped that none of them had inherited Reiner and the others' Titan powers. It would be a cruel irony if someone had just inherited a Titan power with only thirteen years of life left, only to hear Daniel's news about the potential end of Titan powers.

Inheriting the Titan's power requires a significant commitment and acceptance of a limited lifespan of thirteen years. Daniel, personally, wouldn't want the Titan power regardless of its strength. The ruling Titan families, like the Tybur family, only continued to pass down the Titan powers to maintain their political influence. The current Tybur family head, for instance, hadn't inherited a Titan, leaving that burden to his sister.

Different worlds, shaped by different educational and cultural beliefs, have varying attitudes toward such sacrifices. Daniel couldn't expect Erwin, Eren, or others to accept his worldview, given the vast differences in their environments.

"I wonder what Mikasa will do after Eren's time is up," Daniel pondered as he met with Erwin, Captain Levi, Hange, and Eren's trio.

After a quick glance at Eren and his friends, Daniel focused on Erwin. Just like in the original story, Erwin had lost his left arm. Levi and Mikasa had their arms bandaged, indicating that even their skills had been tested in battle. Without Zeke's involvement, the Survey Corps had fared better than in the original timeline, where only nine survived. The absence of key figures, including a volunteer from the Military Police, hinted at the significant changes Daniel's actions had triggered.

"Thank you for your help," Erwin said, sincerely expressing his gratitude. He made no mention of Daniel's abrupt departure earlier.

Erwin's thanks were for the crucial information Daniel had provided. They had confirmed the details about the world outside from the books in Eren's basement. They had also dealt with Kenny and the Central Military Police, preventing further casualties within the Survey Corps and revealing the true identity of the royal family, the Reiss family.

"What brings you here this time?" Erwin inquired after the initial pleasantries.

"Who is Eren?" Daniel asked, despite already knowing the answer. Identifying Eren was straightforward; he just had to see who Mikasa was closest to.

"I'm Eren," Eren replied. He was uninjured, a testament to the Titan's remarkable healing abilities, which could restore even severed limbs and heads.

"I came at your brother's request to discuss the Titan problem," Daniel began. To resolve the issue with the Titans, he didn't necessarily need to intervene directly. If he could bring Eren into the Titan's dimensional space, Eren, with his Founding Titan power and Zeke's royal blood, could free Ymir from her bondage.

Eldians had wielded the Titans for centuries, and it was implausible that they were completely unaware of the origins and nature of Titans. Eren and Zeke could both access the Titan's dimensional space, suggesting that past Titans likely had similar experiences.

Understanding the exact circumstances of Ymir's transformation into the first Titan was a key reason for Daniel's return to the island. Though he had a hypothesis about the Titans' origins, the details eluded him. This pursuit of truth, coupled with other considerations, motivated his journey back. If not for these reasons, he could have simply destroyed the tree in the dimensional space. But as a fan who had eagerly followed the story for answers, Daniel sought to uncover them himself.

"My brother? Zeke? Where is he? Did he come with you?" Eren's voice was filled with excitement at the mention of his brother. Having read Grisha's journals, he knew who Zeke was and what he had done.

"Eren, calm down," Mikasa urged, trying to soothe him.

Seeing Mikasa's concerned expression, Daniel couldn't help but shake his head. Given the timing, Eren had only eight years left to live.

Daniel could solve Eren's problem. The thirteen-year lifespan issue stemmed from a depletion of life force. This was something Daniel had confirmed while studying Zeke's body. Although Ymir's Titan body was constructed from the sand in the dimensional space, this formation wasn't unconditional. The peculiar tree's enormous size was a result of this process.

However, Daniel had no intention of extending Eren's lifespan. Extending life, in any world, can drive people to madness. His relationship with Eren didn't warrant such intervention. This situation differed from his decision to help reunite Carter and Captain Rogers, as he wanted to prevent them from harboring regrets.

"It seems you understand what happened back then, but you likely don't know the full story," Daniel continued. Eren looked ready to argue but was stopped by Armin, the group's strategist.

"Zeke did what he did to end the tragic fate of the Titans. As I told you before, the world sees you Eldians as the devils of the earth. As long as you possess the power of the Titans, that perception won't change."

This reflected the broader truth that those who are different are often feared or envied. The Marvel universe, for example, has a troubled relationship with mutants and other super-powered individuals. People question why some have powers while others don't. This underlying tension is mirrored in Harry Potter's world, where Muggles have historically persecuted wizards.

"So, you've found a way to end the Titans' power?" Armin asked, stunned.

"Yes. By combining the Founding Titan with royal blood, we can unlock incredible potential." Through his research, Daniel increasingly viewed the 145th King Fritz as a fool.

The saying, "Heavy is the head that wears the crown," applied here. As a king, Fritz's personal whims had catastrophic consequences. If he had been an ordinary person, his actions would have been inconsequential, but as a ruler, his decisions shaped nations. This kind of recklessness might explain how tyrants are made in history.

King Fritz's attitude was essentially, "You can fight and struggle as you wish. I'll take my people and live in isolation." His self-imposed exile, combined with his use of Titan powers to enforce his will on his descendants, left them with a distorted sense of purpose.

Theoretically, a Founding Titan with royal blood could bypass the Vow of Renunciation of War. They could choose to impose or lift this vow on themselves. But King Fritz transmitted his pacifist beliefs through the Titan lineage, causing his descendants to adopt his mindset upon inheriting the Founding Titan. 

If Fritz had truly wanted the Eldian bloodline to fade away, he should have sterilized his people like Zeke planned rather than continue their propagation. 

"This can't be real," Daniel's revelation left the group around him in shock and disbelief. It was as if their entire struggle, their battle to the death, had been rendered a cruel joke.

"Yes, that's why there's a plan to seize the Founding Titan. Zeke exploited Marley for this purpose."

"But if we lose the Titans' power, how will we protect ourselves?" Armin quickly caught on, proving his role as the group's strategist.

"That's up to you to figure out. But I can share the latest developments from the outside world," Daniel said. He then recounted the ongoing conflict between Marley and the Middle Eastern Union, also touching on the global perception of the Titans.

He handed over several books from the outside world to Erwin and Armin to substantiate his claims. The brutal simplicity of Titan warfare lacked the complexities of modern military strategy. It boiled down to sheer force, either through Titan might or advanced technology.

The mission of Reiner and the other warriors would have been easier had they been modern spies rather than brute soldiers with Titan powers. The lack of sophisticated tactics hampered their efforts to secure the Founding Titan.

"Marley and the Middle Eastern Union," Armin murmured as he sketched a rough map on the ground, lost in thought.

"This is a rare opportunity for the Eldians to integrate into the world. If you continue to wield the Titan power, no one will dare to ally with you."

"Commander, this could indeed be our best chance. But we'll need to find new ways to strengthen ourselves," Armin concluded after a period of contemplation.

"If you agree, the Founding Titan should come with me," Daniel suggested, turning to Erwin.

"Alright, I'll go," Eren volunteered before Erwin could respond.

"Are you the Founding Titan?" Daniel asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, I am," Eren confirmed.

"Wherever Eren goes, I go," Mikasa declared with unwavering determination.

"No, only one person can come. Don't worry, I'll ensure his safety. Too many people will make it harder to infiltrate," Daniel declined, not wanting to bring Mikasa along. The excuse was valid, though his main reason was simply not wanting her there.

"I'll go alone," Eren insisted, stopping Mikasa from arguing further. Seeing Eren's resolute expression, Mikasa reluctantly agreed. Eren was the only one who could sway her.

"If anything happens to Eren, I'll make you pay," Mikasa warned, her eyes cold as she stared at Daniel.

"Can you even take me on?" Daniel thought but outwardly reassured her, "Don't worry, he'll be fine."

"Be careful," Erwin urged. In the end, they had no choice but to trust Daniel. If they wanted to avoid being targeted by the entire world, they had to take a risk.

"I will," Eren promised.

"He's still so naive

," Daniel mused. Eren was less hardened than his counterpart in the original story, having been spared many of the hardships due to Daniel's intervention. Levi and Mikasa had handled most of the heavy lifting against the Armored and Colossal Titans, leaving Eren with less personal growth.

Daniel refrained from asking about Annie and the others. His knowledge of them was too detailed to explain away easily, so he kept his curiosity to himself.

"Is this Eren? Is he alright?" On the secluded island, Daniel emerged from the golden portal, carrying an unconscious Eren. Zeke's face filled with concern upon seeing his brother.

"He's fine. Just unconscious," Daniel reassured him. He didn't want Eren to see the portal, one of the reasons he hadn't brought Mikasa. Knocking her out too would have been excessive.

Daniel trusted that Zeke wouldn't reveal his secrets, but Eren was another matter.

"As expected," Daniel muttered as Eren and Zeke began to connect in their Titan forms. Using their combined powers, Daniel opened the Titan dimensional space, allowing Eren and Zeke to appear there in human form.

"In a way, this Titan dimension is like a consciousness space or a soul space," Daniel speculated as he observed the scene of Eren, Zeke, and Ymir holding hands.

Originally, Eren was the key to freeing Ymir, but not the current Eren. It would take the matured Eren of four years later, who had experienced significant personal growth, to truly liberate Ymir.

"So, this is why Ymir became a Titan. It's such a tragic story," Daniel sighed deeply after learning about Ymir's life and the events leading to her transformation from Zeke and Eren.

Ymir, the first Titan, had a life filled with suffering and pain. Her death didn't end her misery but continued it, leading to the ongoing tragedy of the Eldian people for over a thousand years.

The notion that only Eldians could become Titans was a tragic coincidence, born of Ymir's unique circumstances. Had it been someone else, the fate of the Eldians could have taken an entirely different path.

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