Watching older Eren appear before his eyes once again, Yago's heart was shaken beyond words. Paths, the Founder, the past, the future—all tangled together, leaving him overwhelmed with a deep sense of helplessness, as if he could no longer see the road ahead.
Where exactly did older Eren come from? Why did he exist here? Did Mr. Grisha learn something through older Eren? Why did Great Ancestor bring them back to the past??
A trace of blood-red appeared in Yago's black eyes. Great Ancestor seemed to notice something off about him and had likely anticipated that his emotions would become unstable.
Without making any noticeable move, in the next moment Yago vanished from where he stood.
...
Inside the Paths space, Yago fell to the ground in a sorry state, spitting out the sand in his mouth. His expression didn't look good. Was Great Ancestor treating him like a yo-yo, tossing him from one place to another?
When Yago stood up, he realized that the pillar of light that once seemed distant as the horizon was now almost right before his eyes. The dazzling beam stood tall and unwavering, radiating a gentle glow. Under that soft light, every cell in Yago's body seemed so comfortable it wanted to scream.
However, Yago was not the only one standing before the pillar of light. Not far to his right stood another slender figure.
Ebson spread his arms as if embracing something, his face filled with joy.
"Isn't this truly magnificent, Yago? We meet again."
Yago: "!! Ebson!?" Hearing that familiar sharp voice, Yago immediately reacted.
Ebson opened his eyes as well, revealing equally brilliant black pupils. He chuckled softly and said,
"Shouldn't you add 'sir'? That's basic respect. After all these years, you're far less polite than when you were a child. Besides, the power within you exists because of me."
Yago ignored Ebson's nonsense completely. Facing this madman who created artificial Titan power, he didn't want to waste a single word.
"Why are you here? Could it be… you're also an Eldian hiding under a Marleyan identity?"
Then, as if he suddenly realized something, Yago demanded, "
Norman Russell—do you know him? What's your relationship with him!?"
Hearing the name Norman Russell, Ebson's face visibly stiffened. The calm in his black eyes instantly turned savage, though his expression remained composed. He didn't answer Yago's question and instead asked back,
"Oh? You sure have a lot of questions. What, you know Norman Russell? Heh… what is he to you? Why so anxious?"
"He's my father!" Yago blurted out almost instinctively.
But in the next second, both Ebson—and even Yago himself—froze. Why had he suddenly spoken his thoughts out loud?
The moment Yago declared that Norman Russell was his father, an icy killing intent erupted from Ebson. His black eyes were instantly consumed by blood-red.
"Heh heh… father? Of course. I should've realized it long ago. Norman, Norman… I really did give you a good name." Ebson's expression twisted as he let out a strange laugh. If Chief Steward Bill were here, he would immediately recognize this as the precursor to Ebson losing control.
Sure enough, in the next moment Ebson completely snapped. Veins bulged across his neck as he roared hoarsely,
"Why won't you just disappear!? What does your existence even mean? Is it just to mock me? You're already dead! Dead beyond death! I killed you with my own hands!"
Yago's eyes widened. Ebson had just admitted it—he was the one who killed Norman Russell. His father?
"You bastard!" Yago lunged forward. His furious punch smashed Ebson to the ground. At that instant, Yago's black eyes were also engulfed in a crimson hue.
Ebson's frail body was like paper before Yago, completely unable to resist as he was pressed into the ground and beaten mercilessly.
"Hahahaha, Yago, you still don't know, do you? That fool Norman didn't even realize until his dying breath that I was the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes. With his last breath, he even begged me to protect you and your mother. Hahahaha!
How naive. He's always been like that—arrogant, thinking he sees through everything. Hahahaha! And your mother, that foolish Eldian woman—just one shot, and her head shattered. It was the very night you were born. She never even got to see you before she died. And her brother? He's still working for me even now." Ebson laughed maniacally as he continued to provoke Yago.
Consumed by rage, Yago nearly lost all reason. He raised his foot and stomped down on Ebson's head with brutal force. Ebson's body was nearly crushed apart, riddled with countless hollow gaps.
"Shut up! Shut up! I said shut up!!"
"Yago Norman! Take a good look at these eyes of yours! These are your father's eyes! Hahaha! And this heart and blood of mine—I have your father to thank for them! Without him, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today. Praise Norman!" Ebson stared directly at Yago with blood-red eyes, shouting loudly.
Buzz—Yago's mind rang violently. Ebson's eyes… his heart… his blood…
"I'll kill you!!"
At the moment Yago lost control, Ebson suddenly convulsed. Then, without warning, he thrust a hand into his own chest, ripping out a mass of pure white light, and forcefully shoved it into Yago's chest.
In an instant, a dazzling light exploded from Yago's body—resonating with the towering pillar of light behind them.
No one knew what happened after that.
...
When the dejected Eren and the hollow-eyed Zeke were brought back to the Paths by Great Ancestor, they both saw Yago sitting alone on the ground. Seeing them return, Yago reacted sluggishly. In the end, he only said dryly:
"The war… is about to begin."
...
Far East.
Inside the freezing base, large numbers of soldiers gathered. Elite troops from various Far Eastern nations rapidly assembled under their countries' orders. These soldiers, hardened by the extreme cold, were all tall and valiant warriors. In response to their nations' summons, they gathered without hesitation—even though they had no idea what they were fighting for.
Ebson walked out of the laboratory with unsteady steps, his face unable to hide his excitement.
"Sir, as per your instructions, the new batch of Far Eastern troops has been fully assembled. The previous one hundred thousand soldiers have already been arranged," Bill said respectfully with his head lowered.
Ebson glanced sideways at Bill, a smile curling at the corner of his lips before he looked away.
"Then let it begin!"