In chaotic times, the first question is always the same:
How do you survive?
To survive, one must have the strength to protect oneself
there was no room for debate.
Over the past two days, Evan Cross thought long and hard.
His original idea was simple:
Slip out of the walls.
Hunt Titans.
Farm synchronization points.
Grow stronger as Tiga.
Become untouchable
whether against Titans or humans.
But very quickly
that plan fell apart.
Because…
he couldn't get out.
After Wall Maria fell, the government sealed all gates.
No civilian could leave.
Evan had only two possible ways out:
Use ODM gear to scale the wall.
Transform into Tiga and fly out.
Unfortunately
Both were impossible.
ODM gear was military-only; civilians had zero access.
And Tiga's current form couldn't fly yet.
A grounded Ultraman was… depressing.
"Man… this is giving me a headache."
Evan rubbed the pocket where his cigarette would've been.
He had done it dozens of times in the past two days.
Old habits.
Back in his previous life, he was a chain-smoker
a pack a day, minimum.
Now?
In a world where food was scarce, finding cigarettes was fantasy.
He sighed deeply.
He had to make a choice.
If he wanted to fight Titans and grow stronger, he needed to get outside the walls.
Which left only one path
Join the Scout Regiment in two years.
The thought settled heavily in his chest.
"Is this yours?"
A flat, emotionless voice spoke behind him.
Mikasa Ackerman.
Evan turned
and the moment he saw what she was holding,
his heart skipped.
The Spark Prism.
Tiga's transformation device.
"How how did you get that?"
He snatched it back instantly, tucking it into his shirt.
He wasn't hiding it out of distrust
but out of self-preservation.
He remembered clearly
When the military learned Eren was a Titan,
they nearly blasted him into ash.
Even after being spared,
he was almost dissected by the Military Police.
Evan wanted none of that.
Not now.
Not ever.
Even Mikasa Ackerman
as reliable as she was
couldn't be entrusted with this secret.
Evan only trusted himself.
"I found it in the hay you were sleeping on," Mikasa replied calmly.
"It feels familiar."
"…What?"
"The shape. I've seen it somewhere."
"Probably not."
Evan forced a casual smile.
"It's just an old toy my parents left me. Sentimental value, that's all."
"…"
Mikasa stared at him silently.
Then she turned, stepping toward the door.
Before going in
she added quietly:
"When you lie,
make sure your eyes are steady.
It's basic respect."
Evan's eye twitched.
His eyes were steady!
He almost cried from stress!
A while later, Eren finally jolted awake.
He gasped for air, pale and sweating.
Carla rushed to him.
"Eren! What's wrong? A nightmare?"
Mikasa watched anxiously from the side.
Eren didn't answer immediately.
He rubbed his forehead, grimacing.
"I… think I…
I saw Dad."
Mikasa's expression didn't change.
"That's impossible. You were dreaming."
"…Probably…"
Carla stroked his hair gently.
"Missing your father?
Don't worry he's treating patients in the inner city.
We'll see him soon."
Standing by the door, Evan lowered his eyes.
Grisha wasn't coming back.
He had seen the key hanging around Eren's neck.
The key to the basement.
Yesterday, that key wasn't there.
Meaning
Last night, Eren had eaten his father.
Grisha passed on the Attack Titan and the key
to his son.
Even in this altered timeline,
even though Carla survived,
Grisha still completed his mission.
A broken world couldn't afford hesitation.
And so
Even with the story changed…
Some fates refused to bend.