More than a thousand years had passed since the Earth-shattering event that ended Eren Yeager's life and the curse of Ymir Fritz. The brief peace that followed between Eldia and Marley crumbled under the weight of resurfaced hatred, old wounds, and the endless thirst for power. Wars returned—more brutal, more advanced. Skyscrapers pierced the sky, cars raced at blinding speeds, military jets ruled the heavens, yet human animosity remained unchanged, ancient and unrelenting.
On Paradis Island, the survivors built an enormous dome of reinforced glass and advanced alloys—known simply as the Dome of Safety. Beneath it, people lived filtered air, slept to the distant rumble of missiles, and woke to the same fear every day. The old walls, once titans in disguise, had become mere names for regions: Rose in the north, Maria in the south, Sina at the center.
Yagami Ackerman, sixteen years old, lived in central Sina. Broad-shouldered and strong, his sharp eyes missed nothing. A red scarf was always wrapped around his neck—even in the hottest days. He never knew why he refused to take it off; it just felt wrong to remove it. He raised a small black dog named Shadow and preferred animals to most people.
He had lost his parents at twelve, during one of the last major wars with Marley. They sacrificed themselves to save him. Since then, his grandfather Minato Ackerman—once the respected chief of police in Paradis, now a retired man who spent his days between bottles of liquor and stolen glances at young women—became his only anchor.
His two closest friends were Haruka Fritz and Yuri Arlet.
Haruka, the beautiful blonde daughter of King Kenji Fritz, had bright blue eyes and a rebellious spirit. She hated the palace rules and loved playing with ordinary island children, often arguing with her father about her freedom. But Minato's reputation allowed her to spend time with Yagami without trouble.
Yuri, the sharp-minded blond boy the same age as Yagami, was frequently mocked for his thin build and quiet nature. Yet he saw things others missed.
After a recent mysterious truce between King Kenji and Marley—no details were ever shared—some joy returned to the island. People began leaving the dome, repairing damaged areas, and even racing old undamaged cars for fun.
But their favorite flying disc court had been destroyed in the last raid. They had to find a new place.
"This spot looks perfect," Yuri said, pointing to a wide clearing in southern Maria.
"Hurry before my father starts looking for me," Haruka replied with a small smile.
Yagami threw the disc hard toward Yuri, who dropped it and laughed.
"Same strength as always… No surprise. You're an Ackerman."
Yagami frowned. "You still repeat that old myth about Ackerman power. It's just a story. I'm strong—that's all."
But the moment shattered.
Jimmy and his gang appeared.
"This is our spot. Go play in the rubble," Jimmy sneered.
"We got here first," Yuri answered calmly.
"Oh, the crybaby. Surprised you survived the war with that long tongue," one of Jimmy's followers mocked.
Yagami stepped forward. "Leave us alone. Forgot what happened last time?"
Jimmy grabbed Haruka's hair from behind and raised his fist.
Yagami moved like lightning—twisted Jimmy's wrist until it cracked. Jimmy screamed and fell.
From behind, one of the gang pulled a knife toward Yagami.
Haruka threw herself in front, taking the blade in her hand instead.
"You idiot! You hit the governor's daughter!" Jimmy yelled in panic.
The attacker panicked and raised the knife again.
Yagami pulled Haruka into his arms, shielding her, taking shallow cuts himself. Then he ran with her and Yuri into the dense southern Maria forest.
They stopped under an enormous tree—its trunk wider than anything they'd ever seen.
"Put her under the tree," Yuri panted.
"Isn't this the one Grandpa talks about so much?" Haruka asked through pain.
"Yeah… look why it's so massive," Yagami replied.
Yuri searched for clean cloth to stop the bleeding.
As Haruka rested against the trunk, drops of her blood seeped into the wood.
The trunk absorbed them slowly, like it was drinking.
"Yagami… the tree…" Haruka whispered.
A small cavity cracked open in the trunk. Inside, something grew—swelling, pulsing with faint blue light.
Yuri gasped. "What… is that?"
Yagami stepped closer. Something stirred inside his chest—not fear, but something ancient, familiar.
In the distance, Jimmy's voice echoed—getting closer.
"We have to go. Now," Yagami said quietly.
"But… don't you want to know what's happening?" Haruka asked, eyes wide.
Yagami looked back at the tree one last time.
Whatever was inside the cavity kept growing, as if waiting for them.
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