Finale: A gaze across time and space

The sudden darkness that appeared before him startled Yago slightly, but he quickly sensed a familiar fluctuation. Without hesitation, Yago strode forward.

Sure enough, a glimmer of light soon appeared in the pitch-black world before Yago, and it became clearer and clearer as Yago approached.

It appeared to be a chair made of sand, with chains tightly binding the boy on it, his slender figure disappearing silently behind the chair.

Seemingly sensing Yago's arrival behind him, the figure quickly turned around, and Yago clearly saw a pair of emerald green eyes— Big Eren.

When Big Eren saw Yago, he seemed to understand something. He turned back to look at the little Yago who was tightly bound and struggling in front of him, and a look of understanding appeared on his face. Then, Big Eren burst into laughter, a kind of hysterical laughter.

"I finally understand. How ridiculous! It is Fate itself that rebels against Fate itself. So that's how it is. Haha, so that's how it is."

"Then let me see if you can actually make it to that day. The future, you say, isn't predetermined. I want to see what you mean by the future, Yago, or rather, the Fate Titan."

Big Eren's sudden, nonsensical words left the bound Yago completely bewildered. What was this Fate Titan "? But then Big Eren suddenly calmed down and said softly, "I know you're here. Come out and see me, Yago."

Little Yago: Me? (points to his own emoji. jpg)

Yago stared at Big Eren silently for a moment, then took a step forward and said with a hint of helplessness, "I knew you'd be here. What, you still don't believe what I told you back then?"

Big Eren shrugged and laughed, saying, "We always need to confirm things, don't we? But I understand now, you were right, Yago. It's a pity that if you had really appeared in my world back then—no, you are the real one now, and I seem to be the outsider, haha—but it's fine, isn't this the best outcome?"

Yago didn't answer, but stared into Big Eren's emerald green eyes. He didn't actually need to speak; given their current state, a single glance was enough for them to understand most of each other's thoughts. Big Eren must have noticed that Yago seemed to have something else to do, because a look of surprise and understanding flashed across his face again.

Then, Big Eren said, "It seems it's time for me to leave. I shouldn't have been here in the first place. Goodbye, Yago."

"Goodbye, Eren," Yago replied calmly.

Crack! As Big Eren's figure gradually faded and disappeared, the surrounding darkness shattered almost instantly, revealing the dazzling light hidden beneath the darkness.

Everything that bound Yago vanished, Yago quietly watched his younger self break free of his restraints and suddenly turn around.

In that instant, two pairs of almost identical Black Eyes met, each pair of equally deep eyes holding different emotions: one pair filled with shock and confusion, the other with relief and a sense of vicissitude. This was a gaze that transcended time and space.

Yago stared at his younger self across from him, his youthful face filled with astonishment. What was he surprised about? Was he surprised to see his future self?

Little Yago was naturally shocked. He couldn't possibly be unfamiliar with his own face. When he saw a face in front of him that was practically identical to his own, Little Yago's worldview was greatly shaken. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.

"You want to ask if I'm you? That's right, I am you, the future you, the future Yago. What do you want to know?" Yago seemed to have figured out what little Yago wanted to ask and took the initiative to speak.

Little Yago was stunned upon hearing this. Yago saw a hint of... naivety... on his younger self's face.

Sure enough, the first question Xiao Yago asked was, "Um, Annie... who does she like?"

Yago: "..." Luckily, Big Eren left on his own initiative, otherwise Yago would be too ashamed to face him now. Sure enough, kids are all brats.

"Hehe, Annie? Of course it's you, you brat. From now on, no matter what, you can't let Annie down, understand?"

Little Yago's face instantly lit up with surprise, and he was about to ask, "Then..." but Yago interrupted him, "Shut up! Don't ask anymore, remember what I'm about to tell you!"

Yago, truly afraid that his younger self might ask some embarrassing questions again, went straight to the point. "Remember, Yago, you are the Fate Titan, the Fate Titan. Walk calmly onto the path of the future, and always remember, you are Fate!"

Yago spoke earnestly to his younger self, but little Yago's face was still filled with confusion. Yago sighed softly, reached out and made a gesture, and a white light pierced straight into little Yago's brain, forcibly instilling the meaning of Fate while erasing the memory of their meeting. Watching little Yago close his eyes, Yago then released his fingers.

Fate always follows a specific trajectory. Indeed, am I the Fate Titan of destiny that guarantees my Fate? Like a cycle, the name of Fate ultimately comes from myself (see Chapter 21 for details).

Yago could no longer remember how much he had sacrificed to maintain "Fate." He watched hundreds of thousands of people perish in the mouths of Titan, and he watched his former close friends Thomas, Ili, and Maddie pass away.

The sight of dozens, even hundreds, of Survey Corps Soldiers sacrificing themselves heroically could not stir any further emotion in Yago's heart. Perhaps only when he looked at the owner of those light blue eyes would a hint of emotion flash across his face.

To stabilize his Fate, Yago personally met with Mr. Grisha in the Paths. Between the two paths of Fate, without a doubt, Mr. Grisha resolutely chose Yago's path. He was filled with guilt and constantly repented. He had let down many people, including Dina, Zeke, and the other comrades of the Eldia Restorationists. Similarly, he had also let down Eren and Carla.

To atone for his sins and also for the new Eldians world that Yago had depicted, Mr. Grisha voluntarily followed Yago's instructions to uphold "Fate." He had only one request: to have the opportunity to see his child again. Yago did not refuse, because this in itself was in accordance with "Fate."

Moreover, Yago had been keeping a close eye on the faintly visible emerald Green Eyes behind him.

As the "Fate" storyline progresses steadily, Yago seems to sense that his emotions are fading or even disappearing. "Is this the price of maintaining Fate?"

But Yago didn't regret it. Inside the azure Paths, Yago and Big Eren sat on the ground. "What do you need me to do? Yago, you've actually done very well."

Yago shook his head slightly. "No, it's not enough. The balance of Fate cannot be compromised. For that stable future, I cannot make a single wrong step, not a single one!" As Yago spoke, a strange look flashed in Big Eren's eyes. He noticed that something was wrong with Yago, but Big Eren did not say anything. Instead, he quietly watched Yago mutter about Fate.