"What about you? You, my true love, meddlesome and reckless fool who rushes to death."
Annie tightly embraced her father, savoring this hard-won happiness.
Meanwhile, Falco was also searching for Gabi's whereabouts. Upon seeing Gabi safe and sound, Falco rushed forward for a big hug, pulling Gabi into his arms.
At this moment, Levi seemed to see something as well. All the Survey Corps soldiers who had sacrificed their hearts for freedom appeared before him. Levi couldn't help but sigh, feeling that it was finally over. Everyone else watched Levi with contented expressions, standing quietly.
They all performed the familiar salute towards Levi in unison, and Levi, with a look of relief, responded by offering his heart.
On the other side, a familiar figure also appeared before Jean and Connie. It was Sasha, who had died. Sasha looked at them with a smile, just as Mr. Braus had said, at least the children had to escape the cursed forest. Perhaps she was overjoyed that the two had made it out.
At the same time, Reiner also met his mother, Karina. Karina was relieved by Reiner's safe return. Reiner stated that he was no longer the Armored Titan. Karina then tightly embraced her son, apologizing to Reiner with guilt, saying she was truly sorry and would never ask anything of him again.
Hearing this, Reiner couldn't help but tear up.
It was time for Jean to leave. If they stayed any longer, Eren wouldn't be properly buried.
"Yes, let Eren rest eternally in a quiet place." Mikasa then took Eren's arm and walked into the dust.
Mikasa said that Eren had always been napping under the tree on the hill. Hearing this, Armin agreed that it was indeed a good place.
Watching Mikasa's receding figure, Armin wiped away his tears. His eyes were now filled with determination, as he still had to fulfill the task Eren had entrusted to him.
As Mikasa gradually moved away from the battlefield, she saw a familiar woman in the dust. Mikasa met her gaze and said softly to Ymir, "You are the one who has been watching me in my mind, aren't you?"
"I believe your love is a long nightmare, and the lives taken can never be reclaimed."
Even so, Mikasa had to admit that it was precisely because of the existence of beings born from Ymir that she was who she was today.
"So, please rest in peace."
Ymir's form gradually dissipated with the dust. In this final moment, she finally found peace from the long-standing turmoil in her heart.
Perhaps for Ymir, waiting for 2,000 years for answers was worth it.
Just then, the commander from the fortress arrived with a large group of soldiers. Due to the recent Titan attack, the commander had to confirm whether the Eldians present would suddenly transform into Titans again.
Mr. Reiner quickly explained to the commander that Eren Yeager was dead and the power of the Titans had disappeared from this world, so there was no need to fear the danger of Titans.
However, the commander was not easily convinced and demanded that everyone present immediately prove they were human and not Titans.
The situation instantly became tense. Just then, Armin stepped forward and said, "If the power of the Titans still existed, you people would have already been trampled to death by me."
Hearing this, the commander quickly questioned the identity of the young blond man. Armin firmly replied, "I am Armin Arlert, an Eldian from Paradis Island, the one who killed Eren Yeager, the Attack Titan."
Time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye. That final battle was later known as the War of Heaven and Earth.
At this moment, Historia's daughter was celebrating her third birthday. Countless people had lost their lives due to the Rumbling, and the survivors endured daily the pain of their unhealable wounds.
Amidst the people's grief, as the world feared, the islanders, fearing retaliation from the world, called for unity.
"Only through victory can we live; defeat means death. Without fighting, we can never achieve victory."
Perhaps Eren was right; the fighting would never cease until either the world or Eldia was completely annihilated.
Yet, even so, Eren had chosen to entrust the future to everyone.
The ship continued to sail across the sea, carrying Armin and his companions who were traveling everywhere for peace. Reiner, with a lovesick expression, sniffed the letter from Historia, saying that no matter how many times he read it, Historia's handwriting was beautiful and carried a scent.
Jean reminded Reiner that Historia was already married and he shouldn't harbor any improper thoughts about married individuals.
Connie, hearing this, questioned Jean why he had been so concerned about his hairstyle since earlier. Jean replied that he naturally wanted to impress the ladies.
The group's destination was Paradis Island.
Annie couldn't help but ask Armin, "Will all of this really go smoothly?"
"You all not only destroyed the walls, betrayed your homeland, but also killed Eren, whom the Eldian people revered. Yet now, this group is gathered together as United Nations ambassadors to negotiate."
Pieck said that she wouldn't be surprised if they were attacked even now. Connie believed that Queen Historia would definitely protect them.
Armin said softly, "The struggle will not end. But if everyone sees us together, they will surely want to understand our story. Why would we, who once slaughtered each other, appear on Paradis Island seeking peace? Our task is to tell it all."
The free bird continued to fly further away, and a pure white feather gradually fell into Armin's hand. On the other side, Onyankopon, Falco, and Gabi were taking Levi around the world. The once naive children had grown into young men. The future was not perfect, but it didn't seem too bad either.
Meanwhile, the large tree on the former hill was growing lush and verdant.
Mikasa sat quietly under the tree, keeping watch.
Mikasa softly said, "Eren, be happy. Everyone will come to see you soon."
Mikasa gently stroked Eren's tombstone.
After an unknown amount of time, Mikasa gradually fell into a deep sleep. The scene of waking Eren under the tree that day reappeared hazily in her mind.
Thinking of this, tears involuntarily welled up in Mikasa's eyes.
Just then, a pure white bird suddenly arrived and helped Mikasa wrap her red scarf.
After confirming the scarf was securely in place, the bird flew freely into the azure sky. Watching the departing bird, Mikasa believed it was a manifestation of Eren, the wings of freedom he had always pursued.
"Eren, thank you for draping this scarf upon me."
So, does the story of the Titans end here? The answer is no.
Years later, Mikasa returned to the site, placing a bouquet of flowers for Eren.
The sapling then had become a large tree, and the former hill had been incorporated into the expanding city.
Many more years passed. Mikasa had now become an elderly woman, but she still came here to personally offer flowers to Eren. Humans are born and die. Mikasa, with the passage of time, would eventually return to the earth, still wearing that red scarf.
Time always passes in the blink of an eye, as if it were yesterday, or as if many years have passed. Just as Eren said, "The war will not cease."
At this time, Paradis Island plunged into war once more. The once-tall buildings were reduced to ruins by the ravages of war. However, the tree that grew on the hill continued to grow vigorously.
Another thousand years passed. The former war-torn ruins were now covered by trees and green grass. No one knew what had truly happened here.
The sapling on the hill had now become a towering tree, reaching for the sky.
Just then, a boy in an explorer's outfit arrived with his small dog, seemingly searching for something. The boy stopped in front of a massive tree. A large and deep tree hollow seemed to be guiding the boy's arrival.
Eren and Mikasa's story finally reached its conclusion, but the future continued.