[FLASHBACK – THE KIDNAPPING]

The underground chamber reeked of damp stone and burning torches. The air was thick with the tension of unspoken truths and concealed intentions. My hands were bound, the rough rope biting into my wrists. Across from me, Eren was in a similar state—restrained, bruised, but far from broken. And beside me, Historia sat in silence, her gaze lowered.

Rod Reiss stood before us, his looming presence casting long shadows against the walls. Kenny Ackerman leaned lazily against the entrance, his signature hat tilted just enough to hide his smirk.

"Historia," Rod said, his voice smooth yet insidious, "it's time you embraced your true purpose. You are the rightful heir to the throne. Only you can bring order to this wretched world."

Historia flinched but didn't look up. I could see her fists clenching in her lap. She was scared—but more than that, she was conflicted.

Eren gritted his teeth. "Don't listen to him! He's just using you!"

Rod continued as if he hadn't heard. "Your mother's death was unfortunate, but necessary. The power within Eren—what he holds—must be returned to the Reiss bloodline. It is your duty."

My body tensed. "So you want Historia to inject herself, turn into a Titan, and eat Eren? That's your grand plan?"

Rod turned his gaze to me, regarding me like a mere inconvenience. "It is the only way. You wouldn't understand, boy."

I smirked despite myself. "Oh, I understand perfectly. You're a coward who let his entire family die instead of taking action himself. And now you want Historia to do what you never could."

Rod's face twitched at that. Good.

Historia finally spoke, her voice small but steady. "And if I do this? What happens then?"

Rod's expression softened, as if he truly believed in his own righteousness. "Then you will save humanity."

"That's a lie," I said sharply. "You're not saving humanity. You're just repeating the same cycle that's been going on for generations. You want to lock people in this cage forever."

Historia's grip on her dress tightened. I saw it—the struggle, the war waging in her heart. But she needed to hear it.

I turned my full attention to her. "Historia, listen to me. You get to choose who you are. Not him. Not me. Not anyone else. You don't have to live for the sake of a family that abandoned you. You can live for yourself."

She finally looked at me, her eyes wide, uncertain. "But… if I don't do this…"

"Then we'll find another way." My voice was firm, unshakable. "Together."

Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say more, but before she could, Kenny let out an exaggerated yawn. "Touching speech and all, but I've got a job to do."

The moment shattered as he lunged forward, his ODM gear whirring. I barely had time to react before my instincts kicked in.

[Skill Activation: Reiryoku Enhancement]

My muscles surged with power, and with one fluid motion, I snapped the ropes binding my wrists. I spun, kicking the incoming blade just enough to deflect it. Kenny's eyes widened slightly before his grin widened.

"Well, ain't you full of surprises."

The fight exploded into chaos.

[THE BATTLE]

Blades clashed in bursts of steel and sparks. The underground chamber became a whirlwind of motion as Kenny's squad flooded in, ODM wires crisscrossing through the air. Levi was already tearing through them like a storm, his precise movements cutting down enemies before they even knew what hit them.

I dodged left, barely avoiding a bullet, and countered with a slash, severing a gunman's wires. He plummeted, crashing into the stone floor below.

Eren was still restrained, struggling against his binds. Historia, however, had taken hold of a fallen blade. She turned to Rod with something in her eyes I hadn't seen before—resolve.

"I won't be your pawn anymore."

Before he could react, she swung the sword downward, shattering the injection vial in his hands. The liquid splattered uselessly against the floor.

"Historia!" Rod howled, his face contorted with desperation.

She turned to me, breathing heavily. "We have to stop him."

I nodded. "Leave it to me."

Rod scrambled backward, reaching for another vial, but I was already on him. I struck, my knife slicing across his wrist, sending the remaining serum flying. But the bastard was desperate—he lunged, smashing his face into the spilled fluid.

The transformation was instant. The chamber quaked as Rod Reiss began to expand grotesquely, his body stretching into an unnatural, monstrous form. Heat erupted from his growing mass, forcing us all to retreat.

"Shit—he's going full Titan!"

Levi landed beside me, barely breaking a sweat. "We end this now."

[THE FINAL STRIKE]

Rod's Titan form was enormous, his bloated, malformed body dragging itself toward the surface. He was heading for the walls, aiming to devour everything in sight.

"I have a plan," Historia said, looking straight at me.

I smirked. "I like the sound of that."

We launched into action. As the Scouts bombarded Rod with explosives, Historia and I maneuvered our way up his back, cutting through steaming flesh. The heat was unbearable, the stench of burning muscle nauseating, but we didn't stop.

Historia reached the nape first. With one final, determined leap, she plunged her blade deep into the exposed flesh, carving through with all her strength.

Rod's Titan let out a deafening, dying roar before its massive body crumbled, disintegrating into steam and falling debris.

Historia landed gracefully on the wreckage, breathing hard. The people below watched in stunned silence before a single voice cried out—

"ALL HAIL HISTORIA!"

The cheers erupted like wildfire. Historia turned to me, her expression unreadable.

Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and kissed me.

It was brief but fierce, carrying unspoken gratitude, relief, and something deeper. When she pulled away, she whispered, "Thank you, Akira. For everything."

I let out a breath, a slow grin forming. "Anytime."

[BACK TO PRESENT – THE WALL]

Historia and I stood side by side, the wind cool against our skin.

"You always believed in me," she said quietly. "Even when I didn't."

I glanced at her, smiling. "That's what friends are for."

She scoffed, but her fingers brushed against mine, lingering there.

For once, there was no war. No duty. Just us.

And that was enough.