The streets of Marley's capital were as prosperous as ever.
This city, with a nearly constant population of over 1.2 million inhabitants, was always overflowing with people.
The elite, dressed in suits, purchased bonds at the bank; noblewomen traveled in carriages to tea parties; and men dressed as clowns pushed carts, offering colorful balloons and lollipops.
The city gleamed on the surface; the fountain in front of City Hall sparkled beneath the sunlight, where two bronze statues of heroes, wielding long-handled tridents, trampled the evil King Fritz beneath their feet.
An elderly scholar with a mustache and a single gold-rimmed monocle taught Marleyan history to his young students. Children under the age of ten stood beneath the statues, gazing up at their imposing figures.
"About one hundred years ago, the Eldian Empire ruled much of the world through the power of the Titans."
"Since the appearance of Ymir Fritz, the Founder, countless people were devoured or subjugated by the Titans. Entire nations disappeared beneath Eldian rule."
"The Titans destroyed countless countries and cultures, erasing their histories. For centuries, humanity lived under the shadow of the Eldian Empire."
"Finally, about one hundred years ago, after conquering all its enemies, the Eldian Empire began destroying itself from within. That conflict would later become known as the Great Titan War."
"The families who possessed the Nine Titans fought one another without end. It was then that a Marleyan saw an opportunity amid the chaos: the hero Helos!"
The elderly scholar gestured enthusiastically as he explained to his students the origin of the bronze statue standing behind him.
"Our Marleyan hero, Helos! Thanks to his courage and strategy, the Eldian Empire grew weaker and weaker amidst its internal conflicts."
"Afterward, Helos joined forces with the Tybur family, inheritors of the War Hammer Titan, and together they forced King Karl Fritz to abandon the continent and retreat to Paradis Island."
"It was then that Marley freed itself from Eldian domination and became the most powerful nation in the world!"
"Professor, I have a question."
A young boy raised his hand.
"Didn't Helos defeat King Karl Fritz?"
"Unfortunately, that was not the case..." the old man replied, regaining a calmer tone. "To end the war and stabilize the continent, Karl Fritz left the mainland along with many Eldians and relocated to Paradis Island."
"Then... could King Karl Fritz return someday and attack again?"
The child looked worriedly at the scholar's wrinkled face.
"You have nothing to worry about," the old man replied with a smile as he bent down and gently patted the boy's head. "The Eldians living on the island remain isolated behind enormous walls. Besides..."
The scholar proudly spread his arms.
"Just look around you! Marley is a strong and prosperous nation. Our beloved homeland will never be subjugated again!"
However, before he could finish saying the word "prosperous," the impossible happened.
In a fraction of a second, an explosion of blinding fire illuminated the sky.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the city, and the sky, which moments before had been clear, turned a dark crimson red.
An immense column of black smoke rose into the heavens.
A scorching wind burst outward in every direction as flames devoured everything in their path.
The violent shockwave swept away buildings near the point of impact.
Seconds later, the burning air reached the central plaza, and the elderly scholar was hurled into the fountain, landing drenched amid the water splashing everywhere.
Dazed, he lifted his head and looked toward Marley's harbor.
There, surrounded by clouds of steam and fire, stood a skinless Titan.
"The Colossal Titan..."
Its gigantic figure dominated the horizon while steam escaped from its body like an erupting mountain.
Desperate screams echoed all around it.
Chaos spread everywhere.
Elegantly dressed elites fled in terror seeking shelter.
Children cried while sitting on the ground.
Some had fallen during the stampede and were bleeding from their knees and ankles.
That day, humanity once again remembered the terror of the Titans.
"Aah!"
The elderly scholar jumped to his feet inside the fountain.
"Run! Everyone run! King Fritz has returned!"
Off the coast of Marley, the ships belonging to Paradis Island that were advancing for the full-scale assault also witnessed the colossal explosion.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Erwin ordered, lifting the hood from his head. "Captain Hannes has opened the path for us! Advance!"
"For Paradis Island!"
"Dedicate your hearts!"
The merchant ships' internal combustion engines roared as they were pushed to maximum power. Iceburst Stone fuel generated intense heat, driving the cylinders under tremendous pressure as the vessels charged toward the harbor.
Thanks to their calculations, they avoided the epicenter of the explosion and landed on the flank.
Erwin led the special forces equipped with ODM gear, while Mick, the inheritor of the Armored Titan, transformed the moment he set foot on Marleyan soil.
The rest remained in position behind the Colossal Titan, using it as their first line of defense while protecting Eren Yeager and Dina Fritz and covering the final withdrawal.
They had to prepare for the worst.
Even if the plan failed, they had to ensure that the power of the Founding Titan could return safely to Paradis Island aboard a crewed aircraft.
"This is Marley..." Levi muttered as he flew above the densely populated buildings.
Terrified crowds were everywhere.
As expected, the Marleyans were completely unprepared for battle. Only a few hours had passed since the repatriation ship had arrived at the harbor.
Military mobilization took time.
The army was stationed at other bases, and the navy responsible for the city's defense had already been annihilated by Hannes's previous explosion.
Now Paradis' special forces advanced across an empty battlefield.
They soon found the Cart Titan and Zeke.
Pieck emerged from the nape of the Cart Titan, which had been severely damaged by the flames. That was why she abandoned that Titan body and transformed once again.
The Cart Titan could transform hundreds of times within a short period.
Although its combat power was relatively weak compared to other Titans, its endurance was unmatched.
Despite running at full speed, it had inevitably been affected by the shockwave. To protect Zeke, that body was no longer usable.
"I didn't expect there to be so many people outside," Kenny Ackerman exclaimed in amazement as he led his own annihilation squad.
Marley's population density was terrifyingly high, unimaginable to the natives of Paradis Island.
"How did they build such a cluster of buildings without Titans? Did they work Eldian slaves to death?" Kenny couldn't help but wonder.
Standing among the ruins, he looked toward the Colossal Titan and muttered,
"What terrifying power!"
"But that person said that the weapon they're about to create will be even more powerful and terrifying than the Colossal Titan's explosive transformation."
If they possessed such a weapon, not even the Rumbling would be a threat.
Kenny had joined this operation specifically to witness that moment with his own eyes.
He desperately wanted to see what kind of power could accomplish such a feat.
At that point, simple violence—the violence he had always believed in—would probably become meaningless.
"After transforming, the Colossal Titan requires two to three months before it can fully transform again. Once deployed in battle, it can only remain active for about an hour. The Marleyans will organize their army quickly."
Erwin stood atop a rooftop, looking down at the Cart Titan and Zeke.
"Time is of the essence, so I ask you, Miss Pieck, to guide us to the place where Marleyan prisoners of war and high-ranking officers gather. You should know where they are located."
He looked directly at her.
"Please accompany us."