Returning to the Paths

All of Yago's initial hopes vanished the moment Zeke touched Eren; he pinned his hopes on the Founding Titan Power being sealed away, just as Big Eren had said.

But when Yago felt that pounding in his heart, he knew things were in trouble.

A faint rumbling sound rang in Yago's ears, and everything in front of him seemed to freeze in place as if a pause button had been pressed. Butterflies fluttering in the Royal Palace gardens hovered in mid-air, and everyone in the hall was also frozen in place.

Carla's face still bore the marks of pain and worry, Ymir's anxiety as she rushed toward Historia was also etched on her face, and Yelena's gaze was fixed on Zeke, her eyes filled with fervent hope.

Yago couldn't feel his own body; his consciousness was like a limp sponge, only able to perceive what was in front of him.

"No! This can't be! Zeke! You're ruining the future of us Eldians!" Yago's soul struggled.

In this frozen world, Yago forced himself to take a step, a step that felt like struggling against a category 12 typhoon.

It was as if countless brick and stone walls were blocking his way. With each step forward, Yago felt as if he were using his flesh and blood to smash through one city wall after another.

In an elegant office in the Far East, Ebson sat upright in a chair, surrounded by several Titan Warriors who seemed frozen in time, like sculptures.

Sitting at his desk, Ebson's face was expressionless. Suddenly, his eyes behind Ebson glasses turned bloodshot, then crimson, flashing with an eerie light. Suddenly! Ebson's dark pupils darted around, and a strange smile began to appear on his lips.

Time seemed to lose its meaning for Yago. He had no idea how long it had taken him to reach Eren Yago Zeke. Those mere fifty meters felt like five hours, or perhaps five, fifty, or even five hundred years.

Finally, Yago slowly reached out and pressed down on Zeke's hand that was holding down Eren.

A dazzling light seemed to explode before Yago's eyes, the blinding light causing Yago to lose his vision, and everything before him became a white blur.

After an unknown amount of time, Yago's vision gradually cleared.

It was still that deep blue night sky, with countless glittering stars. Beneath my feet stretched an endless desert. If I looked closely, each grain of sand was like a tiny, crystal-clear gem. It also seemed that in the distant sky, there stood a dazzling pillar of light that reached the heavens and the earth.

However, unlike what Yago had seen before, this time the beam of light connected to dozens or even hundreds of light paths, like drooping willow branches.

This is a road.

Yago ran desperately through the sand, searching for Eren and Zeke. He lost track of time and didn't know how long he had been searching. Finally, Yago spotted the two figures on a distant Sand Dune.

Zeke and Eren remained in the same pose as they were in the real world. Zeke, looking relieved, placed his hand on Eren's head, and the two seemed frozen in place, just like the people outside.

Yago rushed to their side and yanked Zeke's hand away, an action that seemed to press a power button.

"Zeke!!" Eren's angry roar echoed through the road. Eren's powerful ramming caused Yago in front of him to fall flat on his face.

Zeke stumbled backward, staring in shock at his hands. Then he looked up and surveyed his surroundings. When he saw the magnificent starry sky and the towering pillar of light, Zeke smiled—a smile of relief that brought tears to his eyes. This was the Path! He had finally reached the Path.

"Damn it, Zeke! Yago! Let me go!" The roar behind Zeke pulled him from his reverie. He turned around and saw Yago desperately clinging to an enraged Eren.

To be honest, Zeke wasn't surprised that Eren was here, since the Founding Titan Power was in Eren's possession. But the fact that Yago was here did surprise Zeke. However, it was just a surprise; Zeke no longer cared. Since Yago had already appeared on the road, everything was already set in stone.

So, although seeing Yago was a bit of a surprise, Zeke was also somewhat pleased because he could now mock Yago-san.

"Yago-san, you really like to play tricks on me. Wasn't it said that the Founding Titan Power was sealed? Then what's going on here? I really misjudged you. I didn't expect you to be so cunning, Yago-san," Zeke said sarcastically.

Yago pulled Eren back, and in response to Zeke's taunts, Yago retorted, "Heh, likewise. Zeke's cunning is beyond my reach. I never expected that you were behind the Imperialists. This Coup was probably also orchestrated by Zeke, wasn't it?"

Zeke shrugged. The Imperialists wasn't really part of his plan. If you had to say, it had a lot to do with Yelena, but since Yelena was his subordinate, you could just blame it on him. Anyway, he didn't care anymore.

Zeke: "Yago-san, it's a pity. Although you've been deceiving me all this time, it seems Fate has ordained my Eldia Euthanasia Plan to succeed. What are your thoughts?"

Yago replied coldly, "Thoughts? Do you know you're severing the future of the Eldia People? What right do you have to decide the lives of future Eldians? Do you think such an inhumane plan can gain the support of any Eldians?"

Upon hearing Yago's words, Zeke immediately became agitated and retorted loudly, "Yes! Of course! That person taught me a lot! He is a great sage, and only he understands my good intentions! What do you know? So what if we cut off the future?"

No matter what, the rest of the world will see us Eldians demons! No matter what we do, we won't change their minds! Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain you can't change. So let's make the Eldians disappear from this world, disappear with our demonic name, so we'll never have to bear this stigma again!

Zeke loudly proclaimed his true thoughts, but he saw no agreement in the eyes of Yago and Eren. A wave of sorrow washed over him. Indeed, apart from Master Ksaver, no Eldians would understand him, no one...

Thinking this, Zeke's eyes hardened. He looked up to the sky and roared, "Founding Titan Ymir! The descendant of Fritz, I call to you! Heed my command!"

Seeing Zeke like this, Eren could no longer contain himself. He struggled free from Yago and charged at Zeke, raising his fist. "You Temee! What right do you have to make choices for all the Eldians on your own!"

A scene of brotherly love and filial piety unfolded before Yago.

(In the next few chapters, Muzi will fill in some of the plot holes from before. Those who are interested can keep an eye out. P. S. Don't say that the Imperialists in the last chapter was stupid. I was wrong. I'll let my Great-Grandmother take the blame later, okay? Please don't torture me. ಥ_ಥ)