With Dina Fritz repeatedly exercising the Founding Titan's abilities along the march, her control grew noticeably steadier. As a result, Lock's entire convoy advanced far faster than expected. In just eight days, they reached the northern coastline—an expanse none of them had ever imagined. The moment the sea came into view, a wave of awe rippled through the soldiers and technicians alike.
"Th-that… that can't be real, right?!"
"It's enormous… It doesn't even end. Is this really all water?!"
"Idiot, the Commander already told us. This isn't a river. This is the sea—an ocean bigger than every district on Eldia put together!"
"I thought he was exaggerating… but after seeing this… I believe it now."
"I wonder what people from other nations look like. Do they have the same number of arms and legs? Maybe they have more—"
"Shut up before someone thinks you're serious."
"...Fair enough."
Their excitement almost drowned out the waves. Lock didn't join the chatter. Standing beside a massive rock at the shoreline, he gazed out at the meeting point of sea and sky, letting the salty wind brush past him. The sheer scale of it—untamed, endless—sparked something fierce and ambitious inside him.
One day, this sea will be under our command too.
His goals were no longer simply about freeing Eldians. Somewhere along the way, his vision had shifted—expanded. Power had a taste, and it was intoxicating. He knew it, acknowledged it, and refused to let it cloud his judgment. If anything, it only sharpened his awareness:
To protect what he had built, he must remain strong.
To stay strong, he must remain above all others.
"Let's establish the port as soon as possible," Lock murmured to himself. Once navigation routes opened and foreign contact began, Paradis would transform anything the walls had ever seen.
He turned from the view—only to find Dina Fritz approaching him.
"You don't look very surprised," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"It's just the ocean," Lock replied. "And I've seen it before."
"You're not telling the truth." Her voice was soft, almost teasing, but she didn't push further. Instead, her expression grew serious. "Even so… Have you thought through what comes next? Marley's patrol ships occasionally pass this area. If we build a seaport here, it will be discovered sooner or later."
"It's our own coastline. We'll build what we want," Lock said coldly. "If Marley decides to attack, we will not bow. And if it comes to that… the rest is your responsibility."
"My… responsibility?" Dina blinked. "You mean…You expect me to act?"
Lock's gaze shifted to her—calm, unreadable, but carrying a pressure she couldn't ignore.
"What's wrong?" he asked lightly. "Don't tell me you're bound by the non-war vow as well."
Her breath caught. She knew that if she hesitated here—just for a heartbeat—Lock would consider her unreliable and remove her without hesitation. The last few months had shown her exactly what kind of leader he was: ruthless when needed, unyielding in principle, and always willing to act first if a threat appeared.
"I'm not that fragile," she said quickly. "If Marley attacks, I won't stand aside."
"Good." Lock turned back to the sea. "With the current level of Marley's naval weapons, if we can command enough Pure Titans, we should sink their ships easily. Once your coordination improves, I want Titans stationed beneath the waterline. Hidden. Waiting."
Dina's eyes lit with sudden realization. "A submerged Titan barrier… Turning their sea advantage into a trap. That's… ingenious."
Lock simply nodded. "Let's head back. Stay in the wind too long, and you'll catch a cold."
She followed silently.
Once the convoy was fully assembled at the seaside base, the shock and excitement spread even faster. Many had only heard vague mentions of "lands outside the walls," and none had seen the ocean. The reality was overwhelming—beautiful, terrifying, and humbling.
Lock didn't restrict their reactions. In fact, he encouraged them. He ordered that all personnel not on duty be given a half-day break to freely explore the coastline.
What happened next was chaotic in the most predictable way.
Some tasted seawater and spat it out immediately.
Some wandered too close to the waves and were knocked flat.
A few saw small marine life and fled in panic, thinking they were miniature Titans.
Others stood mesmerized by seashells as if they were ancient artifacts.
Lock sat atop the roof of the temporary command building, watching the commotion below with a faint smile.
"How nice," he muttered. "They don't have to think about anything. No decisions. No burdens. Just follow orders and enjoy the world they never knew existed."
Dina—standing beside him—almost opened her mouth to retort, but swallowed the words. Lock's tone wasn't mocking. If anything, there was a rare note of envy hidden within it.
Below them, the gathered soldiers and researchers marveled endlessly.
"These people…" Dina murmured, eyes softening. "When they bring this experience back inside the walls, everything will change. The people's worldview will shatter and rebuild. Curiosity will spread. Old ideas will crumble."
She paused, then added with quiet conviction:
"This will be the beginning of Paradis's true awakening."
Lock didn't reply immediately. Instead, he observed the horizon, the sea breeze tugging at his coat, the rhythmic crash of waves echoing the pulse of a world far larger than the one behind the walls.
Dina continued, unaware of his silence:
"When they tell others what they saw, your influence will grow even further. You'll become more than just a commander—you'll become the symbol of a new era. A leader who opened the world for them."
Lock finally looked at her—this time with a glint of something new.
He had underestimated her.
Dina Fritz wasn't simply a vessel for the Founding Titan.
Her insight, her political instincts, her ability to understand the flow of human hearts… all of it was sharper than he'd expected.
Interesting.
Perhaps she was more dangerous—and more valuable—than he initially believed.
Meanwhile, along the shoreline, the laughter and shouts of newly awakened minds mingled with the sound of the tide, marking the first true step toward a future where Paradis Island would no longer live in a cage.
The sea had opened their eyes.
Now Lock intended to use that opening to reshape the island—and the world.
---
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