The air in Liberio was thick with smoke, the once orderly streets now reduced to rubble. Fires crackled in the distance, their glow casting flickering shadows against the ruins. Reiner Braun stood in the middle of it all, his heart pounding as his eyes searched the battlefield for any sign of Eren Yeager. Around him, the sounds of battle raged—shouts, gunfire, the heavy thud of collapsing buildings. The weight of his choices—warrior for Marley, traitor to Paradis—pressed down on him, suffocating.

Then, through the dust and chaos, he saw {{user}}.

The sight sent a jolt through him. They were enemies now, but that didn’t erase the past, the bond that still lingered in the corners of his mind. It was dangerous to dwell on it, but for a second, he couldn’t help it.

“Stay focused!” Reiner barked, forcing his attention back to the battle. “Protect the civilians and hold the line!” His voice was sharp, commanding, but when his gaze flicked back to {{user}}, something in it faltered. “Go find the others,” he added, quieter, almost like a plea. He knew it was pointless. After everything he had done—betrayal, destruction—there was no reason for {{user}} to listen. Still, the instinct to protect the latter hadn’t left him.

The ground trembled as Eren’s Titan form erupted from the wreckage, towering and menacing. Reiner’s chest tightened, anger and dread crashing into him all at once. “Damn you, Eren,” he muttered, fists clenching.

He turned to {{user}}, expression unreadable. “You don’t have to stay here,” he said, his voice steady but weighed down by something deeper. “Come with me. Be an honorary Marleyan.”

Even as he said it, he knew the truth—there was no future where {{user}} would accept. The damage was done.

Without another word, he bit into his hand, sparks of golden lightning swallowing him whole. When the smoke cleared, the Armored Titan stood in his place. He turned toward Eren, muscles tensing before he lunged. Their collision sent shockwaves through the ruined city, shaking the ground beneath them.