The Titan Source

Alex conjured a tent by the lake and carefully placed the unconscious girl on a soft bed. Stepping outside, he sat beside Arwen, gazing at the shimmering water.

"What are you thinking?" Alex asked.

"I was thinking... this world is no different from your main universe. There is no magic, and the people are the same," Arwen replied, snuggling closer to him.

"You're right. But from this point onward, the original course of this world would have changed dramatically. Do you want to know what was originally meant to happen?" Alex asked.

Arwen's gaze sharpened. "Is that girl the catalyst for this change?"

"Yes. She was destined to trigger an era of chaos and endless struggle for humans," Alex confirmed. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, sharing the knowledge directly through their connection.

Moments later, Arwen opened her eyes, tears welling within them. She leaned into Alex's shoulder, silent for a long while.

"Can that be called love?" she finally asked, sadness etched in her tone.

Alex sighed. "I'm in no position to define it. But the fact that she endured so much for him... perhaps, in its own tragic way, it was love."

In the original timeline, Ymir was not just subservient to King Fritz, she loved him. She continued to obey him, not because of fear alone, but because of her devotion.

Alex extended his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, a glowing rift appeared in the air, shimmering with a blue hue. Reaching inside, he grasped something and pulled, a strange, semi-transparent creature resembling a worm, its form pulsating with energy, multiple tentacle-like appendages writhing in protest.

"This is the source of every Titan that was meant to be born in this world."

The creature thrashed violently, but Alex tightened his grip. With his other hand, he seized the bulging end that resembled a head and, without hesitation, tore it away.

The moment its head was removed, the rest of its body dissolved into countless specks of light, vanishing into the void. Left in Alex's palm was a small, radiant orb, no larger than a ping-pong ball.

"This is a universal core. Had we not intervened, it would have fused with Ymir's soul, pulling her into the Source Realm, a place beyond space, time, and reality itself."

Arwen furrowed her brows. "Why would it do that?"

"Whoever makes contact with it gains its power. It would have granted its wielder the ability to shape reality itself," Alex explained, tossing the core gently in his hand before directing it toward the sleeping Ymir.

The orb floated toward her forehead, sinking into her skin. The moment it fused with her, a transformation took place. Her malnourished body was instantly restored, her mind freed from the torment of her past, and her soul elevated to a new state of existence.

"From this moment forward, Ymir is the sole authority of this universe. Whether she chooses to destroy it, rebuild it, or shape it as she pleases, it is entirely her decision."

Alex had erased the traumas of her past, leaving her as a normal thirteen-year-old girl, albeit one with limitless potential.

When Ymir woke, she found herself in a vast, serene dimension. A massive tree made of radiant light stood at the center of a crystal-clear lake, while the small cottage where she had slept was surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant flowers unlike anything she had ever seen.

Small, unfamiliar animals roamed the land, filling the air with gentle sounds of life.

She sat up slowly, confusion in her wide eyes. "Am I dead?" she whispered to herself.

"No, you are very much alive," came a calm voice.

She turned to see Alex standing beside her, Arwen's hand gently resting in his own.

"Are you... gods?" Ymir asked hesitantly.

Arwen smiled. "Maybe."

Alex knelt before her. "You are the first to step into this place. And because of that, we are granting you dominion over it. You now hold the authority of what people in your world would call a god."

With a wave of his hand, a shimmering projection appeared before them, her old village, exactly as it had been before her capture. Another wave, and the image changed to a distant land, then another, revealing more of the world at her command. Finally, he closed the projection with a flick of his fingers.

"You can observe the world, visit it whenever you wish, and shape it as you see fit," Alex said. "The future of this world is now in your hands. You can choose to intervene or let events unfold on their own, it is entirely up to you."

Ymir stared at them in disbelief. "Why... why choose me?"

Alex smiled knowingly. "You were destined for this role even before we intervened. It is your rightful place."

Arwen stepped forward, embracing Ymir warmly. "Goodbye, little Ymir. Stay strong and live well, not for the sake of others, but for yourself."

Tears welled in Ymir's eyes as she clung to Arwen, overwhelmed with emotion. When she finally let go, she wiped her face and gave them a bright, grateful smile, one that had been absent from her life for far too long.

As Alex and Arwen turned to leave, she waved at them, her joyful expression shining through the tears still streaming down her face.