How ironic—Yago was actually brought down by his own tactic. The Armored Titan's arm tightened harder and harder around his neck, and for a moment Yago's Fate Titan was completely unable to break free.
For a split second, Yago was both shocked and furious, roaring,
"Damn it, what the hell is going on?!"
The Armored Titan's body was already venting steam everywhere, clearly overexerted, yet the arm choking the Fate Titan's neck still retained its strength.
Inside the nape, Reiner's eyes were bloodshot.
"Don't even think about stopping us from going home!"
"This is bad—Mikasa, Yago is tangled up!" On the back of the Attack Titan, Armin had just worked together with Mikasa to pull the exhausted Eren out of the nape flesh when he noticed that Yago's Fate Titan was firmly locked down by the Armored Titan.
Mikasa turned her head at the words, and sure enough, that was the case.
"Armin, take care of Eren. I'm going to help!" As she spoke, Mikasa drew her twin blades. Although her heart was filled with Eren, she would never stop caring about her companions as well.
But just at the critical moment when Mikasa was about to move, a figure had already leapt into the air, reaching directly above both the Armored Titan and the Fate Titan.
Golden hair fluttered beneath a crown, and Historia's green eyes reflected the image of the Armored Titan.
"Reiner, why are you traitors?"
A drop of fresh blood fell from Historia's fingertip. Strands of yellow lightning appeared around her body, finally converging and enveloping her completely.
First came a mass of white bones, then flesh and sinews—an entirely new Titan was being born.
"Roar!" The piercing shriek announced the arrival of a brand-new Jaw Titan.
Completely different from the slender Jaw Titan Ymir had once become.
The Jaw Titan Historia transformed into was far more powerful.
A body a full seven meters tall—its limbs were not long, but its muscles bulged, giving it an explosive presence.
Its face was covered by a layer of white bony armor. Near the mouth, the mask curved into two fang-like protrusions, and beneath it was a gaping maw packed with sharp teeth.
Its hands were also covered in sharp white exoskeletal claws. But the most striking feature was still the Jaw Titan's forehead.
There, a diamond-shaped, sword-like protrusion rose up, like a queen's high-worn crown.
The brand-new Jaw Titan leapt up and slammed down onto the Armored Titan's back.
It opened its jaws and began tearing into the Armored Titan's nape.
Before the Jaw Titan's teeth and claws, the Armored Titan's hardened skin and defenses were as fragile as biscuits.
Reiner, who had been gritting his teeth to endure, suddenly felt a chill across his back. Then his true body was seized by an overwhelming force, and he was yanked uncontrollably out of the Armored Titan's body.
"Urgh—cough, cough." Reiner couldn't help spitting out a mouthful of blood, his vision blurred. He could only vaguely see himself being held up before a strange Titan.
Pfft—the Fate Titan's nape also burst open, and Yago emerged with a pained expression.
"Reiner, you've really surprised me. Where is Bertholdt?"
But Reiner's consciousness seemed hazy.
"Ho… hometown. We're warriors. I'm sorry… Marcel, Annie."
Yago shook his head and glanced around. Bertholdt might be hiding somewhere nearby.
The Jaw Titan glanced at Yago, and Yago said, "Thanks for your hard work, Historia."
"Let go of Reiner!"
Yago froze for a moment. After recognizing the voice, he relaxed and lifted his head.
"Bertholdt, so you really are here."
...
On top of the tower, cold sweat streamed down Bertholdt's forehead, a dagger pressed tightly into his palm.
"Bertholdt, don't overthink it. We finally caught Reiner—how could we possibly let him go!" Yago deliberately provoked him.
Bertholdt clenched his teeth, his expression twisting as he shouted,
"If you don't release Reiner, then I'll transform into the Colossal Titan right here, and we'll all die together!"
At those words, Yago's expression instantly turned grave. He shouted back,
"Bertholdt, take a good look around you—look at the humans on this island being trampled by Titans! Look carefully! Are they demons?"
Bertholdt's ferocious expression stiffened. Yago continued pressing him.
"After living here for so many years, have you still not realized Marley's lie? The people here aren't demons—they're our compatriots! Our Eldian compatriots! Flesh-and-blood compatriots!"
"It was you and Reiner who destroyed the peace! How many soldiers died, how many children lost their parents, how many families were torn apart? Who is the real demon? Bertholdt, tell me!"
"Ahhh!!!" Perhaps Yago's words struck directly at his soul. Bertholdt collapsed, clutching his head and screaming.
All those memories of the past stabbed into Bertholdt's mind—the refugees they had mixed in with, the hunter uncle who took care of them but later hanged himself, the refugee children on the streets who had lost their families.
But memories of Marley also surfaced—his father lying in a hospital bed back home, waiting for treatment, the hopeful gazes of his relatives…
"I—we just wanted to go home too! I just wanted my father to receive treatment! I—I didn't mean to do it. I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" Bertholdt's eyes were wet, yet his tone grew even firmer.
He stood up, letting the tears fall.
"We are demons. We've already committed every evil. There's no turning back."
The small blade pressed toward his palm, a hint of resolve appearing in Bertholdt's eyes.
Seeing his movement, everyone else grew tense. Armin shouted,
"Wait, Bertholdt! Don't act rashly—we can still talk this through!"
But Bertholdt had already made his decision. The dagger stabbed decisively into his palm.
Blood sprayed everywhere. Bertholdt's eyes widened. A severed hand fell onto the top of the tower, and at the same time, a blade had already pierced through his shoulder.
The severe injuries caused the Titan power to prioritize repairing his body rather than transforming him into the Colossal Titan.
Bertholdt glanced behind him. The person standing there made his body tremble slightly. After a long pause, Bertholdt let out a bitter smile.
"Annie… you and Yago really fooled all of us…"
"I'm sorry, Bertholdt."