Once

Yago and Bertholdt looked at each other, neither of them speaking, remaining silent.

After a long silence, Yago spoke first, saying, "Bertholdt, do you remember Thomas and Ili?"

Upon hearing these two somewhat familiar names, Bertholdt's pupils contracted slightly. Yago continued, "Watching them die right before your eyes, Bertholdt, do you remember what Ili shouted last?"

Bertholdt's eyes widened, as if scenes from the past were flashing before his eyes.

... Memories--- In the Trost District ravaged by Titan, three warriors from Marley stood atop a high tower, witnessing the hellish Trost District before them.

Annie stood at the far end with her arms crossed, her eyes unfocused, her heart filled with worry for someone's safety.

Even Reiner, the one who proposed the plan to destroy Wall Rose, was trembling slightly.

Bertholdt, who had transformed into Colossal Titan and personally kicked down the gates of Trost District, was in even greater agony. The cries of agony from the people and Soldiers within the city were like iron spikes piercing his head.

"We've already destroyed the wall, so why is the King the Walls still so calm? Damn it! If we can't reclaim the Founding Titan, how can we return to our homeland? Bertholdt, become the Colossal Titan again! Kick through Wall Rose!" Reiner said excitedly, pressing down on Bertholdt's shoulder.

Before Bertholdt could return, a snapping sound came from behind the three of them. They all turned around and saw Ili staring at them in disbelief, carrying Ili badly injured Thomas on his back.

"Reiner, what... what were you saying?" Ili's voice trembled.

Reiner stood there, stunned. Had Ili overheard their conversation?

Ili put down the injured and unconscious Thomas, then pounced on Reiner, grabbing him by the collar and shouting, "Reiner! What you just said, was it all true?! The wall! You destroyed the wall?!"

"Ili, I... it's a misunderstanding!" The decisive warrior Reiner from before seemed to have disappeared; now Reiner seemed somewhat at a loss.

"Damn it! I heard everything! Destroy the walls, return to your homeland! Become Titan? Who are you people?!"

Ili shoved Reiner aside in a fit of rage, then pointed at Annie and said, "Why! Annie, do you know all this too? Yago once told me that he trusted you the most. How can you do this to Yago?"

Annie's face paled, and she involuntarily took a step back, but she said nothing.

Ili finally grabbed Bertholdt again and demanded, "Bertholdt! You're the Colossal Titan? Why? Why did you destroy the walls? Do you know how many civilians will die at the hands of Titan? And your comrades in the Training Corps! Why did you do this? Answer me!!"

Bertholdt stammered, unable to speak, but Ili grew increasingly agitated, "Back to your homeland? You have a homeland too?! So many people lost their homes when the walls were destroyed! So many became refugees, so many, including my father, died because of it! You bastards!"

With a whoosh, in his excitement, Ili drew the Blades from his waist. Bertholdt's breath caught in his throat, and his mind went blank for a moment.

Thud! A steel knife pierced through Bertholdt's chest, blood dripping from the tip and flowing all the way to his feet.

Ili weakly released the Blades. Behind him, Reiner, his face contorted with rage, released his own Blades and watched Ili fall.

"Reiner! You!" Bertholdt was shocked, but Reiner said with a gloomy look in his eyes, "There's no other way, we can't let anyone else know who we are!"

The smell of blood seemed to have attracted Titan from nearby, and several Titan moved closer together.

"Let's go!"

"But what about Ili and Thomas?"

"Do you want to expose your identities? Ili already knows who we are! Let's get out of here, the Titan is already approaching!"

Annie approached the unconscious Thomas and said, "But Thomas is just unconscious; he probably doesn't know who we are. Let's save him."

"No! We can't take that risk!" Reiner refused outright.

"If you won't save him, I will!" Annie said, reaching out to lift the unconscious Thomas, but a Blades suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Annie, don't push me. We can't take any risks to get back home safely. What will we do if our identities are exposed? What will Yago think of you? A traitor?"

Upon hearing Yago's name, Annie stopped what he was doing, his expression turning grim.

Finally, the three activated their Omni-Directional Mobility Gear and left the tower, the terrifying chewing sounds and faint screams of the Titan clearly reaching their ears.

"I... I thought we... were comrades-in-arms, but why? Bel... Thoth, I thought we were comrades-in-arms..." Coughing up blood, Ili managed to utter his last words.

Bertholdt gritted his teeth, silently repeating a few short words in his mind, "I'm sorry..."

(For related plot details, please refer to chapters 50, 53, and 56)

After recalling, Bertholdt could only say helplessly, "I remember what Ili said, but there's nothing I can do. I am a warrior of Marley, Colossal Titan, and an enemy of the humans within your the Walls."

"This is all I can do, Yago. If you want me to betray Marley, I'm sorry, I can't. You also possess the power of the Titan Power. Kill me and take my Titan Power."

After saying that, Bertholdt closed his eyes. If he died now, it would be a relief for Bertholdt. Too many people had died because of the disaster caused by the Colossal Titan, and the pressure of guilt made Bertholdt feel like he couldn't stand up straight.

Yago fell silent. Was he to steal Bertholdt's Colossal Titan? But if he did, who would inherit it? Armin? But Armin was filled with longing for the world and for freedom; was it fair to him to have the Titan Power for only thirteen years of life?

After a long while, Yago stepped forward, Hardening on his hand solidified again, forming a sharp, Hardening claw.

The Hardening easily cut a wound on Bertholdt's forehead, and blood gushed out.

Yago took a small glass bottle from his pocket and collected a few drops of Bertholdt's blood.

Bertholdt opened his eyes and saw Yago staring blankly at the small bottle.

The Colossal Titan —this was Yago's primary objective for this mission.

Putting away the small bottle, Yago dared not rashly obtain the Colossal Titan from Bertholdt's blood, because he could not guarantee what the Fate Titan of the Colossal Titan.