Choice

"Historia, Eren Jaeger is merely a Vessel. The Founding Titan's true power can only be unleashed within our Royal Family! It is a power capable of controlling all Titan, a power belonging to the gods!"

Rod Reiss's face was filled with fanaticism, but Historia in front of him seemed somewhat stunned, and asked in return, "Dominate all the Titan? Why? Then why doesn't the Reiss Family exterminate all the Titan? Why doesn't they save humanity?"

Rod's expression calmed down, as if he were recalling something, and then he slowly said, "Why? When Uri and I were young, we also thought about it, and we even asked our father, but unfortunately we never knew the answer. Uri and I even made a promise that whoever inherited the power would save humanity."

"But it wasn't until Uri transformed into Titan and ate my father, and even Frieda ate Uri, that I realized it was all the will of the First King."

Rod held up the Syringe, looking at the pale purple liquid inside. "The First King desired that humanity live under the dominion of Titan; this is true peace. And only our Reiss Family can possess the power to maintain this peace. Even if other usurpers seize this power, they will be unable to use it!"

"What did you say?!" A loud shout drew everyone's attention.

With a whoosh, Kenny, clutching his stomach, rushed to Rod' side, grabbed his collar, and angrily demanded, "Rod! What do you mean? You mean that even if I transform into Titan and eat Eren, I still won't gain Uri's power?"

Rod, though captured, did not resist, but calmly said, "Yes, only the Reiss Family can use this power. Kenny, we also have to thank my Odd Younger Brother for bringing back a Loyal Dog for our family."

Bang! Ah!!

Rod screamed in agony, clutching his left wrist. Looking at his left hand, all that remained was a mass of minced flesh.

"Dare to insult Uri again, and I'll smash your head in next time!" Kenny said coldly.

"Father!" Historia exclaimed and rushed to help Rod up.

Rod was sweating profusely from the pain, but he still endured it and said, "Kenny, I'm sorry for using you. Now, you're free. Choose the path you want to take, pursue your own goals."

Kenny was taken aback. Goal? What was his goal again? All along, his goal had been to see the world through Uri's eyes, but now...

After a moment of silence, Kenny suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahaha, ridiculous, Rod, you don't know anything!"

As he spoke, Kenny looked at Historia, "Tsk tsk tsk, this poor little girl. Can't you see that your father is a cowardly bastard? He doesn't dare to inherit the power himself, so he makes his Younger Brother and daughter take the blame. In the end, he's just a selfish bastard."

Rod looked at Historia and explained, "No, that's not it, Historia. I can't become Titan. I can't control myself when I become Titan!"

Kenny activated his Anti-Personnel Omni-Directional Mobility Gear Device, flew to the bound Eren, and muttered to himself, "Since that's how it is, I won't interfere anymore. Let Fate decide."

With that, Kenny snapped the chains binding Eren's hands with a single shot, freeing Eren from his restraints. Then, he swiftly slashed Eren 'Eren forehead, causing blood to gush out.

"Come on, Historia, you become Titan, and Eren becomes Titan too. Whoever eats the other first is the winner!" Kenny said, seemingly excited, but if you looked closely at Kenny's eyes, there wasn't a trace of excitement in them.

With a trembling right hand, still intact, Rod raised the Syringe, looked hopefully at Historia, and said, "Historia, hurry, complete your mission!"

Historia took the Syringe and looked up at Eren on the platform.

Kenny immediately moved aside to avoid being caught in the crossfire of the battle of the Titan.

Unexpectedly, Eren, freed from his restraints, didn't move at all. He just sat there dejectedly on the ground, blood still dripping from the wound on his forehead.

"Eren, why aren't you Titan Transformation? If you Titan Transformation n't, I'll eat you and you'll die!" Historia shouted at Eren.

"Eat me! This power was plundered by my father; it never belonged to me. Historia, eat me! Inherit the power and protect the future of humanity!" Eren had never been so dejected; his father's actions had dealt him a heavy blow.

Eren thought that if it weren't for his father, perhaps the Reiss Family wouldn't have allowed the Titan invasion to happen, and perhaps so many of his close friends wouldn't have sacrificed themselves in the battle to reclaim Trost District.

Eren gave up struggling; now all the choices were in Historia's hands, and she would decide what to do.

Memories flooded back as Historia recalled scenes from the past: the care everyone in the Training Corps had shown her, Ymir's heartfelt words, and the brutal battle to retake Trost District, where countless comrades had perished.

"Only humans living under the rule of Titan are at peace?" Rod's words made Historia fall into deep thought.

In the Trost District, she witnessed firsthand the devastation inflicted upon humanity by Titan —the screams of humans captured by Titan, the agonizing cries as they were devoured, the pleas, the curses... What kind of peace is this?!

Historia's gaze suddenly hardened, and the Syringe fell from her hand, rolling away to Rod.

Rod looked bewildered, and Kenny was equally confused. Neither of them had chosen to transform—what was going on?

"Historia! You!!"

Her father's roar had no effect on Historia; at that moment, only Ymir's words echoed in her mind, "Historia, from now on, live for yourself!"

This was her choice!