Zeke, in his attempt to save Eren, successfully transports them back to past memories using the Founding Titan's power. To Zeke's surprise, Eren, who was previously resistant, now eagerly invites Zeke to explore other memories.
The next memory they visit is from when Eren was nine years old.
After witnessing these nine years of memories, Zeke realizes that Grisha had never instilled any information about Titans in Eren. Grisha had completely let Eren grow up freely.
Given this, Zeke fails to comprehend why Eren betrayed him. Eren hadn't been brainwashed by his father, Grisha, so Zeke doesn't understand why Eren refuses to end this conflict.
He cannot fathom what Eren intends to do with the Founding Titan's power. Upon hearing this, Eren calmly states that he has remained unchanged since the moment he was born. His sole pursuit has always been freedom. Rather than have his freedom taken away by others, he would rather snatch it from them first.
This, he emphasizes, is not something his father, Grisha, made him do, but rather his inherent nature.
Listening to Eren's words, Zeke feels a sense of melancholy.
Zeke is unsure how to make his foolish brother pull the trigger. However, upon turning, he discovers Eren engrossed in a past scene: the moment when young Eren placed a red scarf around little Armin.
Zeke declares that with the Founding Titan's power, he can proceed with the euthanasia plan at any time.
But he states he will never abandon Eren, just as Mr. Ksaver once did for him. Before saving the world, Zeke wishes to save himself from his misguided state. At this point, the memories finally arrive at the day the Wall was breached.
Grisha, in his basement, is recording information about the world beyond the Walls. He also places a photograph of himself with Zeke and Dina inside a book, which he then carefully locks away in a bookshelf.
On this same day, Armin tattles to his mother, Carla. Upon learning of Eren's desire to join the Survey Corps, Carla severely scolds him. However, young Eren retorts that he doesn't want to live his entire life in ignorance, confined within the Walls.
Seeing Eren's resolute expression, Grisha is deeply moved.
Grisha feels it is time to tell Eren about the world outside the Walls. However, due to his work, Grisha promises to reveal the secret of the basement to young Eren upon his return.
Upon closer inspection, however, this statement is clearly addressed by Grisha to the adult Eren.
After bidding farewell to his family in the afternoon, Grisha learns of the Wall's breach. To save his wife and son, Grisha is forced to seek help from the location of the Founding Titan.
Grisha implores the King of the Walls to immediately kill all the Titans that have breached the Wall, before the people within the Walls are devoured.
However, Frieda, the inheritor of the Founding Titan at the time, refuses Grisha's request, believing it is time for the Eldians to atone for their past sins.
Frieda declares that this is the time for the descendants of Ymir to face judgment.
Following the tragedy of the Great Titan War, Frieda, influenced by the vow of renunciation of war, believes it is necessary to protect the power of the Titans from falling into the wrong hands.
If the Founding Titan's power were to fall into the hands of the weak again, the world would once more descend into hell.
To protect the world, the Eldians must tread the path of gradual extinction. Frieda's ideology aligns perfectly with Zeke's thoughts, but Eren, listening beside them, is filled with rage.
Grisha continues to try and persuade Frieda to save the people, arguing that the people within the Walls, whose memories have been stripped by the Founding Titan, are innocent. Being devoured by Titans without understanding why is hardly atonement.
Yet, Frieda indifferently states that no matter how many times the Eldians reflect, it will never bring back those persecuted by them.
Therefore, they need not know anything, but simply accept their fate. It is enough for the Eldians to sacrifice themselves. Hearing this, Grisha is stunned. However, more than the fear of facing the Founding Titan, Grisha is more afraid of the person standing behind it. Behind Grisha stands Eren, filled with boundless fury.
Undoubtedly, Grisha notices Eren's presence. Eren stares intently at Frieda.
His gaze is like that of a demon from hell. Grisha knows that even if he were to take the Founding Titan, the Titans would be unable to wield its power.
The Nine Titans each possess unique characteristics, and the Attack Titan residing within him also has its own distinct nature. Grisha wonders if he now understands why the Attack Titan has never followed anyone since the beginning.
The Attack Titan was born precisely to oppose the selfish intentions of the King.
Grisha exclaims with emotion, "The Attack Titan can peer into the memories of future inheritors, meaning it can foresee the future." Frieda is instantly taken aback, and Zeke is also bewildered as to how the Attack Titan possesses such an ability.
Of course, Frieda immediately raises doubts, stating he has never heard of the Attack Titan having such a characteristic. Grisha then declares that the future of consuming the Founding Titan here and ending the royal bloodline is already determined, and he raises a surgical knife towards his own palm.
However, the next second, Grisha collapses to his knees, the surgical knife falling to the ground.
Grisha finds himself unable to harm a child. He, of all people, is a doctor responsible for saving lives.
Zeke, standing nearby, is incredulous, for Grisha did indeed cruelly kill the royal family here and seize the Founding Titan.
The past of the Titans cannot be changed. Yet, Eren watches his father Grisha with a cold, indifferent expression.
Eren fiercely speaks to his father, Grisha, "What are you doing, Dad? Have you forgotten why we came here? Isn't it to avenge your sister who was eaten by wild dogs?"
"To avenge your comrades who were devoured, like Dina. To avenge them, we must keep moving forward. This is the story you started, Dad!"
Grisha truly seems to hear Eren's words. Under Eren's instigation, Grisha steel himself and stabs his palm with the knife. After a fierce struggle, Grisha brutally kills all the royal family members except Reiss.