For the next month, Eren visited Kouta every day. After seeing that Mikasa had no particular reaction to him, Kouta allowed the boy to hang around. Without the traumatic rescue from the original timeline, Mikasa's heart remained firmly anchored to Kouta—a bond even their sibling status couldn't stop.
Kouta lived by a bold philosophy: As long as there is love, blood is no obstacle.
However, despite his domestic life, Kouta never stopped training. He knew that in just one year, the Shiganshina District would be invaded by Titans, and Wall Maria would be shattered by the Armored Titan. Even with his enhanced physique, he wasn't sure he could go toe-to-toe with a Titan yet. Their strength was immense, and their only weakness—the nape of the neck—was difficult to reach without specialized gear.
He needed more power, and the fastest way to get it was to absorb the faith generated by the Church and the common folk directed toward Wall Maria.
"Mom, we're leaving," Kouta said, waving to the stunningly beautiful woman at the door. Beside him stood Mikasa, her face expressionless to everyone but him.
"Remember to come back early!" Shia instructed.
Lately, Shia's feelings toward her son had become complicated. As descendants of the Oriental people, many traditions had been lost, but the internal hierarchy remained: the men were the heads of the household. With her husband dead, Kouta was the master of the family. Even as his mother, tradition dictated she serve him. This shift, combined with the sight of her children's intense closeness, stirred a strange, unyielding jealousy in her heart.
I won't let her have him all to herself... she thought, watching them walk away.
"Hey! Armin!!!" Eren's shout echoed through the town as they approached.
A small blond boy turned around in surprise. "Eren!"
Kouta watched as Armin Arlert ran over. He was one of the central figures of this world, and while he was physically weak now, his mind was worth a fortune.
"Armin, let me introduce you," Eren said proudly. "This is the awesome older brother I told you about, Kouta Ackerman! And this is his sister, Mikasa."
Armin looked at them with pure admiration. To a boy who was constantly bullied, Kouta—who Eren had described as a warrior—was like a god. Kouta offered a polite nod, and the group set off.
"Eren, I found something amazing," Armin whispered, his voice low. "It's a book about the world outside the walls."
Eren's eyes lit up. Forbidden knowledge was exactly what he craved. "Big brother, let's look at it together!"
They found a remote corner and leaned against the cold stone of the wall. As the children marveled at the descriptions of salt oceans and mountains of fire, Kouta felt the massive, stagnant reservoir of faith power within the stone
Wall Maria was the first line of defense, and for a hundred years, every person living in its shadow had sent their prayers and hopes into this stone. Even without a formal church nearby, the wall was a literal god to these people.
As Kouta began to drain the power, an invisible torrent of energy surged into his body. His heart swelled with joy. This was enough power to fuel his abilities for a lifetime—if only his body could hold it.
Suddenly, Kouta's eyes narrowed. He hit a wall. His current vessel was full; he could no longer accommodate any more faith. It was frustrating—he hadn't even drained one-thousandth of what the wall held.
I need to strengthen my vessel, he realized.
He closed his eyes, letting the absorbed energy circulate through his system. It began to nourish his muscles, his bones, and his soul. He could feel himself becoming exponentially stronger. He regretted not doing this sooner—had he possessed this much power back when the traffickers arrived, he could have wiped them out with a flick of his wrist.
But he still had time. Under his mental drive, his physical and spiritual strength doubled in a matter of minutes. However, he knew the danger of uncontrolled growth. He didn't have Mikasa's innate ability to control every fiber of her body perfectly; if he pushed too far, he might lose control of his own strength.
Kouta reached out and took Mikasa's hand. She looked at him and smiled softly.
If I can't hold it all, she will, he thought.
He began to funnel the excess faith power into Mikasa. Because of her Ackerman bloodline, she was the perfect vessel. She felt the sudden surge of vitality and looked at Kouta in shock. He simply shook his head, signaling her to remain silent. Mikasa nodded. She didn't care where the power came from, only that it would help her protect her brother and mother.
Snap!
"I can't believe it... I want to see it for myself one day!" Eren exclaimed, closing the book with a heavy sigh.
"Eren, there are Titans out there!" Armin reminded him quickly. To Armin, the world outside was a death trap, and the walls were their only salvation.
Kouta stood up, feeling the thrum of energy under his skin. He looked at the towering stone above them. The walls
were impressive, but he knew they were just a countdown.