Paradis Island.
Beyond the walls.
The Jaw Titan hadn't slowed for even a moment, sprinting from the moment it burst through the breach.
Clamped tightly in its jaws was Reiner's hardening crystal, giving him no chance to break free or escape.
It just kept running, on and on.
At last, it reached a riverbank, on a high ground.
Scanning the distance and finding no Pure Titans nearby, Roger finally relaxed. He tilted his head back and bit down hard!
His fangs scraped and locked onto the hardened crystal, stabbing deep into it.
Roger poured every ounce of strength into his jaws, nearly exhausting himself.
Finally, cracks appeared, spreading wider and wider.
Inside, Reiner kept his eyes shut, guilt written across his face.
"Reiner, I'll miss you too."
Returning Reiner's words to him, Roger clenched harder, shattering the crystal at last.
Blood burst forth, splattering across the Jaw Titan's armored face, dyeing his eyes red.
Most of it was swallowed along with the spinal fluid of the Armored Titan.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The moment he devoured the Armored Titan's power, Roger's eyes widened, his heart hammering violently, faster and faster.
Memories flooded into his mind, flashing like a carousel.
"Reiner, we've been abandoned. That's why we can only live in internment zones surrounded by walls. Demon blood runs in our veins. The reason you don't have a father is because of this. Your father is… a Marleyan. He can't be with an Eldian. If only we were Marleyans instead… (sobs)"
"Who said you could walk! Run! You filthy pigs' descendants! You don't want to become honorary Marleyans, do you? Faster! Catch up to Roger and Porco!"
"Do you know? In just a few years, we'll march on Paradis. Soon, it'll be our turn to inherit the Titans! Out of our eight cadets, six will be chosen!"
"Great, we'll finally become Marleyans!"
"Huh? Reiner, what are you so happy about? You're the weakest of us! Out of the two who won't be chosen, one will definitely be you."
"What did you say?! And you, Porco, what about you?! Other than long-distance running, what else are you good at?"
"…Don't worry. It'll be different."
"I'll become a Marleyan. I'll live with my parents together again!"
"I'll wipe out all the devils on the island!"
"Sit down, Reiner."
"Stand up, Reiner."
"Wake up, Reiner."
"Go to sleep, Reiner."
"…"
The searing pain felt like it was tearing Roger's brain apart. He released his transformation, collapsing from the Jaw Titan's body onto the ground, the cool earth soothing his burning body as the heat finally dispersed.
"Rest in peace, Reiner."
The pain faded, and Roger finally understood him.
For Reiner, becoming a Marleyan was everything. Despite his lack of talent, he gave his all, again and again, until he was finally recognized and inherited the Armored Titan.
But…
For those in the internment zone, wasn't that the same for everyone?
Tears slid from Roger's eyes, but his gaze hardened with resolve.
"I'll put an end to all of this with my own hands!"
He thought, preparing to head back into the walls.
But when he sat up, he realized his right hand was still connected to the Jaw Titan's right hand, which had fallen alongside him.
The rest of the Titan body had evaporated, but that one hand remained.
Just as he was about to pull it free, he noticed something—armor had grown over it.
Armor like the Armored Titan's, covering the massive arm.
"Looks like I've inherited the Armored Titan's power. And it seems it can't be undone," Roger muttered, slightly worried.
Would it affect the Jaw Titan's agility?
Despite his exhaustion, Roger transformed again.
Because of his drained strength, this Jaw Titan was malformed. But after testing a run, he realized there was no hindrance.
It was like cavalry armor—light armor fitted for charge.
The plating grew only in suitable places, leaving joints free while offering protection.
Other than being heavier, everything else was fine. In fact, his strength felt greater, his steps more powerful.
"Haa…"
Releasing his Titan form again, Roger's stomach growled. He decided to hunt some rabbits to roast.
Heading into the forest, he searched for burrows.
But while searching, he came to a mountain ravine.
Through thick brush, he glimpsed something glinting.
Metal?
How could there be metal beyond the walls?
Cautiously, he moved closer.
There, lying untouched, was a complete set of vertical maneuvering gear.
"?"
Roger frowned.
Why would ODM gear be here?
Could a Survey Corps soldier have died here?
He didn't touch it.
Something felt off.
While he hesitated—
Rustling sounded behind him.
Whipping around, Roger froze. A pair of giant eyes stared at him.
A Titan!!
Its belly grotesquely swollen, it crawled on all fours like a spider, creeping toward him.
The instant Roger turned, it lunged, jaws yawning wide to swallow him whole!
Boom!!
Its face slammed into the ground, devouring soil—and Roger along with it.
Roger had been careless, swallowed whole.
But the Titan didn't chew; it even gulped down chunks of earth.
Inside its stomach, Roger drew a dagger from his sleeve and slashed his palm!
Boom!!
A massive hand burst out from its mouth, ripping it apart!
"ROAR—"
The Jaw Titan emerged, clawing the nape for good measure to ensure its death.
The Titan lay dead.
But Roger didn't dare release his form.
If he were swallowed again, both the Jaw and Armored Titans would be lost.
Now, he directed the Jaw Titan to pick up the ODM gear from the ground. Looking down, he noticed something—the spider-like Titan's torn belly was spilling out more ODM gear, along with countless Survey Corps uniforms and skeletal remains.
Roger suddenly realized.
So that was it…
The Adams squad that died by this ravine—
They must have been lured by this ODM gear… and devoured alive by this abnormal Titan.
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