The Truth Beneath the Floor

The battle had ended, but the weight of what lay ahead was just beginning to settle in. The once-vibrant district of Shiganshina was now a graveyard of ruins and steaming Titan corpses. The scent of blood and burnt flesh lingered in the air, mixing with the dampness of the smoldering earth. Soldiers sat on broken walls, tending to wounds, their faces hollow from exhaustion and grief.

Yet, amidst the wreckage, a singular objective remained unfinished—the basement.

Eren stood at the edge of his former home, his breath steady but his grip on the key tight. Mikasa stood beside him, her unwavering presence as steadying as ever. Armin, though still recovering from the toll of battle, had the gleam of curiosity in his eyes.

Levi glanced at the group before shifting his gaze to Akira. "Let's move. The faster we do this, the better."

Akira nodded, hands tightening into fists. He already knew what was inside. The truth. The past. The reason all of this began. Even so, experiencing it firsthand was different from reading it in the comfort of his old world. This is where everything changes.

The Descent into the Past

Navigating through the debris, they found the remnants of Eren's childhood home. The structure had mostly collapsed, but the underground entry remained intact beneath a pile of rubble. With combined effort, they cleared the way, revealing the wooden hatch leading downward.

Eren hesitated for only a second before inserting the key. A metallic click echoed in the silence.

The door creaked open.

Dust floated in the dim light as they stepped into the underground room. Bookshelves lined the walls, an untouched desk sat in the corner, and three books lay neatly secured in a hidden compartment. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin carefully lifted them, hands trembling.

Levi stood by the entrance, arms crossed, while Akira watched in silence. This was it. The revelation that shattered the very foundations of their world.

Armin flipped open the first book, eyes scanning the neatly written pages. Then, he froze. His hands shook as he turned the book toward the others.

A photograph.

Not a painting or sketch, but a photograph of a family—Grisha, a woman, and a child. The technology was completely foreign to them.

Armin's voice wavered. "This... this means humans exist outside the walls."

Mikasa's breath hitched, and Eren clenched his jaw. The very thought contradicted everything they had been taught since birth.

Akira sighed internally. And so, the truth starts unraveling.

The Fallacy of Their World

The journals detailed everything. The history of Marley. The oppression of Eldians. The truth about the Titans. Grisha's past, the Attack Titan's legacy, and the war beyond the sea.

Eren sat in stunned silence, his fingers tightening around the pages as he read. "So we're... the true devils? The ones everyone wants dead?"

Mikasa gently placed a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't react.

Levi exhaled. "It changes nothing. You saw what they did to your mother. To everyone. Whether they hate us or not, survival is still the priority."

Akira remained quiet, letting the weight of the revelations settle. He already knew this, yet seeing their reactions firsthand stirred something within him. He glanced at Eren, wondering how this knowledge would change him.

Armin, despite the shock, analyzed everything with his sharp intellect. "If there are humans beyond the sea... it means we're not alone. It means there's still something beyond this cage."

Hope flickered in his voice, but Eren's eyes darkened. "Hope? After knowing that they want us dead?"

Akira finally spoke, voice even. "What do you want to do about it?"

Eren looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"

Akira shrugged, leaning against the wall. "Knowing this, you have two choices. Accept defeat and wait for them to come kill you, or fight for a future where we decide what happens next."

Eren gritted his teeth. "Of course, I want to fight."

Akira smirked. "Then don't let this break you. Let it fuel you."

Eren met his gaze for a long moment before nodding slowly. The fire in his eyes hadn't dimmed—it had only shifted, becoming something more controlled, more determined.

Levi watched their interaction before turning back to the books. "We take these with us. Erwin needs to see them."

A New Path Forward

The group resurfaced from the basement, the books securely in Levi's possession. Outside, the remaining soldiers gathered, awaiting news.

Erwin, though battered and barely standing, approached. "What did you find?"

Levi handed him a book. "The truth of our world. And the reason why we've suffered."

Erwin's fingers trembled as he flipped through the pages. The emotions playing across his face—shock, disbelief, then a quiet acceptance—spoke louder than words.

The soldiers murmured among themselves, sensing the shift in atmosphere. Hange adjusted her glasses, an intense curiosity burning in her gaze. "So, we weren't the last humans? Then that means... there's still something out there."

For the first time in a long while, a different kind of tension filled the air—not fear, but possibility.

Akira took a deep breath, staring at the sky above. This is the real turning point. Now that they know the truth, the war is inevitable.

He clenched his fists. And I'll make sure we win.

Levi and Akira: A Warrior's Bond

As the soldiers prepared to return, Levi approached Akira. "You handled yourself well in that fight."

Akira smirked. "I'm good at not dying."

Levi huffed. "Hmph. We'll see about that in the next fight."

There was a mutual understanding between them. A silent acknowledgment of respect between two warriors who had stood in the thick of battle together. Akira knew Levi wasn't one for unnecessary praise, and that was fine. This was better—a genuine recognition of his worth.

Levi crossed his arms. "We're gonna need you for what's coming. Don't slack off."

Akira grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

System Notification

As the group prepared to return to the inner walls, Akira suddenly felt a familiar sensation—a system prompt appearing before his eyes.

[System Alert: Mission Completed]

Main Quest: Uncover the Truth

Objective: Discover the contents of Grisha's basement. ✅ Objective: Ensure survival of key members. ✅ Bonus: Maintain Levi and Eren's trust. ✅

[Rewards Granted]

100,000 System Coins Skill Upgrade Token (Rare) +5 to All Stats Special Item: Reiner's Hardened Plate (Can be fused into equipment for enhanced defense)

Akira smirked at the rewards. Not bad. The fight was brutal, but at least I got something good out of it.

With the truth finally uncovered and the war against Marley looming on the horizon, he knew this was only the beginning. But one thing was certain.

He would shape the future with his own hands.