Chapter 104: Goodbye, Ymir

"I never expected this world to be invaded by dimensional beings," mused the Founding Titan Ymir. Over two thousand years ago, Ymir was a mere slave of the Eldian chieftain. When a pig escaped, the other slaves accused her of letting it go. For an ordinary person, losing a pig wouldn't be a big deal, but Ymir was a slave and thus condemned to death.

Ymir was then hunted for sport by the Eldians, but despite being struck by several arrows, she managed to escape into a hollow tree. Surprisingly, the tree's depths contained a peculiar lake. Ymir fell into the water and was possessed by a strange creature within, a dimensional being, which transformed her into a Titan.

If someone else had acquired such immense power, they might have used it to become a ruler of the Eldians. But Ymir, having been conditioned into servitude since childhood, became a powerful tool for her master, who then used her strength to become the Eldian king.

To pass on her power, Ymir bore three daughters: Maria, Rose, and Sheena, the namesakes of the three walls on Paradis Island. When a conquered nation sought revenge and staged an assassination, Ymir shielded the Eldian king. Though her Titan strength should have allowed her to survive, she was exhausted and no longer wished to live, so she died.

One would think the story ended there. However, the king ordered Ymir to continue serving the Eldians even in death. Thus, the legacy of the Nine Titans was born.

Ymir's body was divided among her three daughters, who inherited her Titan powers and continued to fight for the Eldians. Initially, there were only three intelligent Titans, but over time this expanded to nine, and countless pure Titans were spawned, all originating from Ymir's connection to the Titan dimension.

Without Ymir, Titan power would have vanished after her death. Back then, the Titan dimension held only a barren tree trunk. After Ymir's daughters inherited her power, three branches sprouted from this trunk, each eventually splitting into three, forming the Nine Titans.

Pure Titans extended from the branches of the Nine Titans. Strictly speaking, all Eldians today are Ymir's descendants, with the royal family being closest by blood.

Eldians have always been remarkably adept. Over the years, they explored and exploited much of the Titans' potential.

"Was this a tragedy triggered by a single pig?" In truth, the real cause of this calamity lay in Ymir's deeply ingrained servitude. Unlike a typical person, Ymir continued to serve in the Titan dimension for over two thousand years because of her loyalty to the Eldian king's command.

Ymir did show signs of resistance; the Attack Titan represented her suppressed desire to break free. However, it wasn't until Eren's generation, over two millennia later, that progress was made.

"What a terrifying example of the power of indoctrination," remarked Daniel Davis, noticing Ymir's tear-filled eyes. Had another slave been in her place, these events might never have unfolded. But fate chose Ymir.

Thinking of this, Daniel glanced at Zeke. In some ways, Zeke was also a victim of indoctrination. His grand plan seemed noble but revealed his internalized belief that the Eldians were devils of the earth and should not exist, a product of Marleyan education.

"Alright, it's time to act." Upon leaving the Titan dimension, Daniel sent Zeke away. Outside, the battle between Marley and the Allied Forces of the Middle East at Fort Slava was nearing its end. Marley, facing defeat, began peace talks with the Allied Forces to avoid further losses.

The Allied Forces, worn down by the prolonged war, agreed to negotiations. If the fighting continued, Marley might have to deploy the War Hammer Titan.

The Tybur family, seeking to maintain their international reputation, had long pledged not to use the War Hammer Titan in battle since the fall of Eldia. They kept the War Hammer Titan as a deterrent, willing to sacrifice their lives to prevent its power from being misused.

The Tybur family's commitment to this pledge for over a century gained them significant international respect. This status allowed them to spearhead the peace talks, justifying their involvement by claiming an imminent threat from Paradis Island. This perfect pretext diverted attention, framing the Eldians on the island as the world's greatest enemy.

"Welcome, everyone, to this banquet. We have gathered you here today because humanity faces another grave threat," announced Billy Tybur, head of the Tybur family, from a grand stage in a lavishly decorated hall filled with international delegates and reporters.

"As everyone is here, I have an important announcement," Billy Tybur continued. But before he could proceed, another voice interrupted from beside him.

"Warchief," Billy Tybur exclaimed in shock as Zeke suddenly appeared. No one expected Zeke, who had been missing for so long, to show up.

"Zeke, what are you doing? Come down," shouted Marleyan officials, equally stunned by Zeke's sudden appearance.

"You all know this man, but you may not know his other identity," Zeke's words piqued the interest of the audience. Billy Tybur was highly esteemed for his role in defending humanity from the Titans, making Zeke's revelation shocking.

The Marleyan officials' faces turned pale. They knew what was happening but were too late to stop Zeke from speaking.

"His other identity is the true ruler of Marley. The wars Marley has waged over the years were all under his command."

A murmur of disbelief swept through the crowd. Cameras flashed incessantly as the hall buzzed with astonishment.

"You're talking nonsense," Billy Tybur shouted as six Marleyan soldiers rushed the stage, their guns aimed at Zeke.

"You know the truth," Zeke said, turning to the soldiers, "Are you sure you want me to fight here?"

His words made the soldiers hesitate. They understood Zeke's power, and any conflict here could have disastrous consequences.

"I think our commander knows the truth," Zeke continued, directing attention to the Marleyan military and government officials in the hall.

"You're insane! You've been controlled by the devils from the island," Billy screamed as Zeke held his arm, preventing his escape.

"Everyone, I've come here today for another reason. After years of effort, we Eldians have discovered a way to completely eradicate the Titans' power."

The hall erupted into an even greater uproar. For over two thousand years, humanity had feared the Titans, and only in the last century had they begun to see them as a conquerable threat.

"Is this true?" shouted a representative from the Allied Forces.

"Of course. It's easy to verify. In fact, as I stand here, the power of the Titans has already vanished."

In the Titan dimension, as Daniel's golden axe disappeared, the Titan Tree finally fell. As it collapsed, Ymir, silent until now, began to sob uncontrollably, her cries heart-wrenching. Daniel sighed softly.

After two thousand years, Ymir was finally free, even though she would soon disappear.

"Fortunately, Kamar-Taj's magic is designed to deal with dimensional beings; otherwise, this would have been much harder. It's a pity," Daniel thought, watching the Titan Tree crumble into dust.

In the world of Titans, everything depended on the existence of the Titan dimension's tree. With its fall, all Titan powers would cease to exist. All of Daniel's research would now be in vain.

Daniel was somewhat frustrated but not entirely regretful. True Titan power resided solely in Ymir, the Founding Titan. Even if someone consumed all nine intelligent Titans, they couldn't compare to Ymir, who alone could defy the thirteen-year lifespan of Titan power.

Only by obtaining the dimensional being that merged with Ymir could one achieve the full extent of Titan power.

Dimensional beings are indeed mysterious. Such a small creature caused such immense turmoil.

"Ymir, you are free now," Daniel said, watching her body disintegrate like the Titan Tree. Ymir smiled at him before vanishing completely. It was her first and last time speaking in her life.

"Let's go," Daniel said, grabbing Eren's shoulder and leaving the Titan dimension. Without the Titans' power as a guide, not even Daniel could return to this space.

"It's time to send you back," Daniel said, erasing some of Eren's memories with his wand before knocking him out. He then returned Eren to Paradis Island.

"This is impossible," murmured the international delegates and reporters, watching in shock as Eldians injected with Titan serum failed to transform.

Zeke and Billy Tybur were arrested, marking the beginning of turmoil in Marley. The restorationists among the Eldians seized the opportunity to act. Meanwhile, most Eldians in the Liberio internment zone stayed indoors, uncertain of what to do next, awaiting the outcome of Marley's internal strife.

"The Titans' power has vanished," reported the Survey Corps members on Paradis Island, who had consumed the Colossal and Armored Titans' powers. They immediately informed Commander Erwin when they found they could no longer transform.

"Is it over?" Erwin mused in his room after receiving the news.

"Annie, you're finally awake," said Hange, Armin, Mikasa, and others, watching Annie emerge from her hardened cocoon in the basement.

"You..." Annie began, preparing to transform into a Titan, but Armin spoke first.

"The Titans' power has completely vanished from this world."

Annie looked at the bloodstained bite marks on her hand, her eyes flickering before she leaned silently against the wall.

"As expected, the Allied Forces' unity crumbled without the threat of the Titans," Daniel observed as the Allied Forces splintered, halting their campaigns against Marley.

Marley

 descended into civil war.

The changing situation was a boon for the Eldians on Paradis Island. Erwin organized a group to travel to Marley. Seeing the ocean and meeting other humans for the first time left Eren and his friends in awe. Knowing about the world beyond was one thing; experiencing it was another.

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