Finale: Don't Even Dream of It
"Stop... dreaming..." After struggling to utter the last words, Yago lowered his head and fell silent.
On the other hand, the Hallucigenia opposite it has become increasingly solid and taller, and its face has become more mature. Before, it only had the appearance of a young Yago, but now it has the appearance of a boy when Yago was fourteen or fifteen years old.
Ignoring the helpless Yago, the Hallucigenia's eyes suddenly lit up with dazzling multicolored light. Countless fragmented images flickered in its pupils, quickly piecing together complete pictures. The pictures showed the Rescue Squad outside in a fierce battle.
Countless Red-Eyed Intelligent Titan surged towards the Rescue Squad like a tidal wave, while the Titan Warriors of the Rescue Squad, as tenacious as the most steadfast reef in the giant waves, fought desperately to besiege and protect the last hope— the Attack Titans.
"A futile struggle." The Hallucigenia commented on the Rescue Squad in human terms, then casually glanced at the top of the Fate Titan's massive body, where Pieck's Cart Titan, summoned by Eren, Lara Tybur's War Hammer Titan were barely holding off the dozens or even hundreds of Red-Eyed Intelligent Titans that were charging frantically from below.
Time passed quickly. Compared to the vast lifespan of the Hallucigenia, a minute was but a drop in the ocean, a grain of sand in the Ganges. Yet, it was precisely this short minute that, for the first time, stirred a sense of urgency in this ancient mythical creature.
Yago is the vessel, or rather, the Fate Titan within Yago is the vessel Norman Russell, a human from another world, successfully gave the Hallucigenia hope of breaking free from human constraints, and now, that hope is within reach!
"10...9...8...7..."
When the count reached "5", the Hallucigenia's tone changed. It was no longer calm and composed, but inevitably tinged with excitement. Yes, excitement.
"Almost there! 3...2... y!!"
Before the final "1" could be uttered, boom! boom! boom!
A magnificent shattering sound suddenly resounded in the ears of the Hallucigenia, followed by an unprecedented violent tremor. The entire boundless and vast Paths seemed to have experienced a magnitude 10 earthquake in an instant.
Crack! Crack! Crack! In the distance, the enormous pillar of light that stretched to the heavens and the earth cracked open, revealing one after another winding and menacing fissure.
The Hallucigenia's eyes widened. It was furious, truly furious. Having never understood that humans could feel anger before, it now understood for the first time why anger was the strongest emotion humans experienced.
"No! Who is it!?"
Just a hair's breadth away, just a hair's breadth away, and he could have merged with this kid, completely freeing himself from the shackles of his Hallucigenia identity and becoming that great "god" once more. But now! The sudden upheaval has abruptly interrupted his Fusion with Yago.
"You bastard! Give me back my Yago!"
A roar even more furious than its own suddenly rang out from behind, and before the Hallucigenia turn around, a fair but extremely powerful fist slammed into its back.
Bang!! Incredibly, the Hallucigenia was actually blasted away.
Turning the perspective, a tall, slender figure appeared in the azure Paths. His golden hair was simply and stylishly tied into a bun. His usually calm blue eyes were now filled with a chilling killing intent. His nose was straight and his raised hands clenched into fists, creating an oppressive force.
Annie, who appeared in the Paths, was furious. As soon as she entered, she saw a bastard with Yago's face disgusting her. She couldn't help but punch the bastard.
Don't ask Annie how she knows that guy isn't Yago; the bond between her and Yago is something no bastard could confuse.
"It is... the Hallucigenia." A faint voice reached Annie's ears. In the neglected corner, Founding Titan Ymir had been standing quietly like a large ornament, finally moved. Although her lips did not move, she still sent a short reminder to Annie.
*Crack! Crack! Annie clenched his fist, the bones cracking eerily. "I don't care what kind of Hallucigenia it is, you'd better be prepared!"
Before the Hallucigenia could utter a word after just standing up, a whistling whip kick sent it flying backward, raising a cloud of dust in the air.
But how did Annie get into the Paths? Why did the Hallucigenia seem completely unaware?
Rewind half a minute. As the Female Titan made its final, desperate attempt to reach the Fate Titan at the top, Eren in the distance also reached his limit. At this moment, Eren could be described as bleeding from all seven orifices. One of his bloodshot eyes flashed with a dazzling purple light. The scene in the Paths was clearly reflected in Eren's eyes, and Eren could also clearly see the conversation between the Hallucigenia and Yago.
However, from this short perspective, Eren borrowed someone else's viewpoint, and that person was none other than his Great-Grandmother, who had always been quietly serving as an ornament! The reason Eren had been able to hold on until now was precisely because of the faint support he received from his Great-Grandmother within the Paths; otherwise, Eren's Founding Titan Power would have been completely exhausted long ago.
Even with his Great-Grandmother's support, Eren couldn't hold on for much longer.
"Final strength! Annie! Go!" Eren took a deep breath and roared hysterically, the brilliant purple light in his eyes instantly reaching its peak.
The Female Titan, who was desperately climbing, froze for a moment. Then, everyone— the Rescue Squad, the thousands of Red-Eyed Intelligent Titan, and even the Destiny Fate Titan Fusion with the Hallucigenia at the top—simultaneously ignored the Female Titan. Or rather, in everyone's eyes, the Female Titan seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Eren exhausted the last of the Founding Titan Power to temporarily conceal the Female Titan's presence; otherwise, the Female Titan would never have been able to get close to the almost completely Fusion Hallucigenia.
The Attack Titan's massive body suddenly became shriveled, and the emerald green light in its eyes dimmed. Bang!! The next second, the Attack Titan crashed to the ground.
"Eren!" Mikasa, who had been frantically slaughtering the Red-Eyed Intelligent Titan, was shocked. In an instant, she severed the nape of the neck of a Red-Eyed Jaw Titan blocking her way, and then rushed towards the Attack Titan.
Crack! The Beast Titan, which had raised its arm, and the Royal-Blood Jaw Titan, which had just torn apart a Red-Eyed Intelligent Titan, both froze simultaneously. As if sensing something, the Beast Titan looked upwards. "Yago-san, I believe you little fox won't be defeated so easily. Good luck."
Under the influence of Historia's will, the Royal-Blood Jaw Titan gave a thumbs-up to the Rescue Squad. Then, as if a gentle breeze had swept by, the Royal-Blood Jaw Titan and the Beast Titan's bodies instantly turned to ashes.
On the massive skeleton, the War Hammer Titan, covered in wounds, paused, as if sensing something. Ignoring the several red-eyed Titan charging at it, it swiftly hurled the spear it had conjured, stringing together several red-eyed Titan behind the Cart Titan. The charging red-eyed Titan only managed to grab a handful of ashes.