In the dim forest, specks of starlight shone down. Bang!! With a loud explosion, countless birds were startled into flight. The massive body of the Attack Titan collapsed heavily within the woods, kicking up a large cloud of dust. Amid the smoke, a thin figure staggered out.
Grisha's clothes were in disarray, and he himself looked rather disheveled. His steps were unsteady—clearly, having just seized the Founder's power had taken a heavy toll on him.
"Can this really work? Will the future really change? Eren... Father doesn't want you to become like that. Eren, please believe in Father..." Grisha muttered to himself as he walked absentmindedly.
Eren, Zeke, Yago, and the Founder stood not far away, watching Grisha. For some reason, after suddenly stopping, Grisha actually began walking straight toward where they were.
All of a sudden, Yago felt someone tug at him. Turning his head, he saw that the Great Ancestor had somehow produced two chairs from nowhere and was signaling for him to sit.
Yago froze for a moment, then, as if possessed, automatically sat down, leaving the space to the father and his sons.
Thud! Just as he reached Eren and Zeke, Grisha could no longer hold himself up and fell to the ground. Struggling to prop himself up, he lifted his head and looked directly at them.
"Father... he—he can see me!?" Eren's eyes widened in shock. Zeke was equally stunned, because in Grisha's eyes he saw deep shame and affection.
"So... so it really is you. Eren, Zeke, my children..." Two lines of tears streamed down from Grisha's eyes.
"That's wonderful. You're here—then it means the future really has changed. That's truly wonderful." Grisha shakily stood up, extending his hand as he slowly walked toward his two sons.
But Eren and Zeke both stepped back in fear. Grisha's gaze dimmed, and his raised arm fell helplessly.
"I'm sorry... I really am a terrible father. Eren, please forgive me for not being by your side and Carla's... and Zeke..."
Grisha suddenly turned his gaze toward Zeke, his voice filled with guilt.
"Zeke, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to you, and to Dina. I was selfish. I shouldn't have destroyed your childhood. I shouldn't have kept forcing you. If... if I had a choice, I... I should have spent more time with you, watched you grow up with my own eyes, instead of making you carry so much. I'm sorry, Zeke."
Zeke stood there blankly, listening to his father's words—listening to his confession and regret. This was nothing like the father in his memories. In Zeke's world, Grisha had always been a cold and heartless man. His childhood had been devoid of fatherly love; the only semblance of it he had ever felt was from Teacher Ksaver.
But no one else's love could replace a father's. No matter what, Zeke had always harbored a barrier toward Grisha. He had never thought Grisha had any feelings for him. Wasn't he born just to be used? Used to fulfill that ridiculous dream of the Eldian Restorationists?
When he first learned of Eren's existence, Zeke's initial reaction wasn't anger. He wasn't angry that Grisha had betrayed Dina. He believed that this younger brother he had never met must also have been deceived and used by Grisha. That alone proved Grisha was no good!
But now, hearing Grisha pour his heart out in front of him, Zeke's eyes still unwillingly grew moist.
Grisha's voice choked with emotion. The Great Ancestor, who was sitting with Yago watching the scene unfold, suddenly waved her hand. A flash of light passed over Zeke and Eren's bodies. In the next moment, Grisha actually embraced Zeke—a physical, tangible embrace.
"I'm sorry, Zeke. I'm a terrible father. But please believe me—Father loves you. Zeke, protect Eren. You are brothers. Don't let Eren fall down the wrong path. Trust Yago. The future of Eldia depends on you." Grisha held Zeke tightly as he spoke from the bottom of his heart.
"Eren! You've grown up—you're a man now. Protect your mother. I'm sorry to both of you. Please forgive my selfishness. And also, take care of Mikasa. She's a good girl. Don't let down your companions. You must... live well and happily." Grisha then embraced Eren as well, speaking sincerely.
While the emotional drama between father and sons played out here, Yago suddenly stood up in shock, pointing toward a distant figure, unable to say a word.
A fitted long coat, medium-length hair fluttering, hands in his pockets, those green eyes as calm as still water—seemingly noticing that Yago had spotted him, older Eren turned his head toward Yago, revealing a meaningful smile as he placed a finger in front of his lips.
Then, in the blink of an eye, another figure appeared behind older Eren, and the two of them disappeared from Yago's sight together.