Those within the Coordinate system saw a skirt-like ray of light emanating from themselves.
To tell the truth, this invisible connection had always been there; only now was it revealed before their eyes.
The invisible light became clearly visible to them, with countless threads converging within the Coordinate system, gathering into a dazzling tree of light.
Gale, holding Ymir's hand, stepped out from the place where the Coordinates converged.
Eren followed closely behind, turning to look at what stretched out before them.
Across the entire world, all the Subjects of Ymir saw it. They saw the "fate" that bound them together.
Not only humans, but even the Titans were enveloped in that ethereal light: the "threads of fate" visible only to the Subjects of Ymir.
For a brief moment, the mysterious aurora slowly danced within the Coordinate system, like strands of silk fluttering across the sky before dawn, creating a scene of incomparable beauty.
It was as if countless invisible threads connected the world above and the world below, allowing one to feel the vastness of the universe and its infinite, mysterious power.
Time itself seemed to stop in that instant. Everyone gazed at the mysterious light, their souls gently embraced by its radiance.
"Ymir longed to connect with others," Gale murmured softly. "That is why we Eldians gather in the Paths."
"The Founding Titan could alter the memories of our race and manipulate the spirit of every individual, and it was through this connection that it could do so."
"What will happen to the power of the Titans after this? Will it disappear?" Eren asked, aware of Gale's desire to no longer rely entirely on the power of the Titans.
Gale shook his head and answered honestly, "It won't disappear, but no new Titans will be born. Titans will no longer eat people, and the Curse of Ymir will be completely lifted from all Titans on Paradis."
Gale placed his hand upon a ray of light, grasped one of the beams, and pulled with all his strength.
The souls of the Titans were drawn out.
The souls of Ymir's people, who had been transformed into Titans and were now dazed, arrived at the Coordinates.
"Without a physical body to anchor it, a soul will gradually lose its weight and eventually fade away. Rest in peace here. Every one of you deserves it."
One by one, the figures transformed into ethereal specks of light, like dancing fireflies, scattering in every direction. Some floated toward the sky, while others sank into the earth.
Then, the light that connected them all began to shatter.
"Subjects of Ymir, I am the last inheritor of the Founder's power." Gale's voice echoed clearly in the ears of every Eldian. "I am speaking to you using the final remnant of the Founding Titan's power."
"You do not need to know who I am. You only need to know one thing: today, I will bring an end to the tragic fate of the Titans. From this day forward, no new Titans will be born. Those who became Titans now have their souls resting peacefully within the Paths."
"To stabilize the situation on Paradis Island and throughout the world, the existing Titans will not disappear, but neither will their numbers increase. The Subjects of Ymir will no longer transform into Titans. Their consciousness will no longer be manipulated by the Founding Titan. Their lives and memories will no longer be altered by the Founding Titan."
"The tragic fate of the past 2,000 years ends today."
In the Stable District, Gabi and Falco watched as the light around their wrists faded into nothingness.
"Falco... that voice..." Gabi looked at him with a serious expression.
"It's that gentleman." Hearing the voice, Falco gave a slight nod.
It was Tuesday night, and they were attending class in the large lecture hall.
On Paradis Island, a rain of light, visible only to the Subjects of Ymir, streamed toward the sky.
Some people stepped out of the classroom, while others opened the windows and watched the inverted rain of light, like countless stars, gradually fade away.
The concept of the Founding Titan would cease to exist. From that day onward, the Eldians would finally attain true "freedom."
…
Several days later, in the royal capital, inside the government hall,
Gale, dressed in civilian clothes, sat at a table, handing over the remaining affairs to the officials.
The civilization that had rapidly been built on Paradis Island using Titan technology still existed. The Titans continued working, but now no souls inhabited those bodies; only mechanical commands remained.
Gale had not sacrificed these people. Instead, he had saved their souls from terrible suffering after they had returned to normal, having spent hundreds of years transformed into Titans.
"Is the Founding Titan Ymir here?" Erwin looked at Gale and asked.
"She's standing by the window to my right," Gale replied, looking into absolute emptiness.
To his eyes, Ymir, in her youthful form, stood beneath the sunlight streaming through the window, gazing downward.
But to Erwin, there was nothing beside the window. From that day onward, no Pure Titan would ever be able to see Ymir again, nor would they be able to enter the Coordinate system.
"Why is the Colossus Power Plant still operating even after Ymir left the Coordinates?"
"They are the souls of the deceased, our ancestors," Gale said with an understanding far beyond anyone else's. "Their chaotic souls are repairing the Titans' damaged bodies."
"You gave them orders?"
Gale shook his head and said, "I have no authority to give orders to others. Those souls repairing the Titans on Paradis Island are our fallen comrades, voluntarily contributing to the island."
"However... this situation won't last forever." Gale raised a finger as he explained, "In one hundred years, the souls within the Coordinates that have lost their bodies will gradually return to their most primordial state, becoming a kind of elemental nothingness."
"After one hundred years, all Titans will lose their ability to regenerate. They won't disappear, but once injured, they will no longer recover."
"As for the Intelligent Titans, if they wish to use the power of the Titans, they must personally go to the Coordinates and create a Titan body. They can affect only themselves. After they die, the power of the Intelligent Titans will disappear. That power will no longer be passed down through that cannibalistic ritual."
"So we have to free ourselves from our dependence on the Titans within one hundred years?" Erwin pressed his lips together.
"Look at it another way—don't we have a hundred years?" Hange patted Erwin on the shoulder. "A nation is built through the efforts of millions of people. Didn't we already know that? Besides, in a hundred years, none of us will still be here. We've already done so much for our people, and the rest will be the work of future generations."
"You're right, Hange." Erwin sighed after thinking it over.
"I'll come back after my journey." Gale smiled. "Paradis Island is my home. I was born here, I grew up here, and I've spent my life on this land. Of course I want it to prosper."
"After fulfilling my promise to Ymir and satisfying my 'personal wishes,' I'll eventually return here."
"But for now, allow me to take a short break." Gale stood up and gave a slight bow.
"Damn it, I want to go out and have some fun too!" Hange wiped away her tears.
"I'll write to you again," Gale said, embracing Hange. "If anything interesting happens, I'll definitely tell you about it."
"At least send us some gifts, you brat." Hange laughed, happy that Gale's sacrifices had been rewarded.
"I will," Gale replied with a faint smile.
Hannes, Levi, Erwin, Pixis, Petra, Mike... Gale embraced everyone he knew, bidding them farewell.
"Well then... I'm off to take a break for a while," Gale said from the doorway. Finally extending his hand as though guiding someone, he stepped out of the town hall.
He walked through the solemn gates, the golden sunlight shining across his face. He looked back, put on his hat, and continued forward.