The story picks up right after Kairo defeats the Colossal Titan of Ruin. While the city is momentarily saved, the tension among the Valkors, especially towards Kairo, has intensified. His comrades are deeply shaken by how close Kairo came to losing control of his Behemoth Form during the battle. His best friend Lia, who was able to call him back to his senses, starts to distance herself, afraid of the destructive potential of Kairo's rage.
Kairo feels isolated, tormented by the fear that he could lose control again. Even the people he once protected now view him as a monster.
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As Kairo struggles with his inner demons, a mysterious figure, Rovan, approaches him. Rovan is a former Valkor who was exiled for attempting to tap into forbidden knowledge about the Titans of Ruin. He reveals to Kairo that the Titans may not be what they seem. According to Rovan, the Ruinbound who enslaved humanity have been manipulating both the Titans and the Valkors from the shadows, creating an endless cycle of war for their own twisted purpose.
Rovan offers Kairo a way to control his Behemoth Form permanently by accessing ancient ruins outside the walls. However, he warns that this power comes at a great price, one that could change everything Kairo believes.
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CONFLICT: DOUBT AMONG THE VALKORS
The other Valkors, especially Lia, grow suspicious of Kairo’s secret meetings with Rovan. They fear that Kairo might betray them in his search for more power, believing that Rovan, the traitor, is poisoning his mind.
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Lia confronts Kairo about his interactions with Rovan. In a heated argument, Kairo tries to explain that they’ve all been fighting for the wrong cause. But Lia, loyal to the Valkors' mission, accuses him of endangering their world and their lives for selfish reasons. The bond between them starts to crumble.
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As tensions rise, Lia’s background is revealed. Unknown to Kairo, Lia is actually the daughter of a Ruinbound, sent to spy on the Valkors from the beginning. Her mission was to keep the most dangerous Valkor—Kairo—under control, ensuring that his Behemoth Form never fully matured.
However, Lia’s feelings toward Kairo have become complicated. She genuinely cares about him but is torn between her loyalty to the Ruinbound and her friendship with Kairo. Now, with Kairo’s trust hanging by a thread, Lia’s secret could break everything apart.
Just as Kairo grapples with this revelation, a new Titan of Ruin attacks the city. But this one is different—its movements are calculated, and it seems to be deliberately hunting Kairo. As the city falls into chaos, Kairo realizes that this Titan may be under direct control of the Ruinbound. It's a weapon sent to ensure that Kairo doesn’t uncover the truth.
The chapter ends with Kairo standing on the edge of the battlefield, ready to face this new enemy, while Lia watches from the shadows, her loyalty to Kairo—and her father’s orders—hanging in the balance.