Attack on Titan: Power of 12 Titans

Chapter 34

In Capital Mitras, the Military Police Regiment begins construction on an outdoor platform for Historia Reiss's coronation ceremony.

Aya and Levi are searching the ruins of the Underground Chapel. He finds the remains of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad, crushed by falling debris. Levi says, "Hey, brat. You said that Kenny says you have Ackermann blood inside, huh?"

"I guess so, so that means we really are related to Mikasa, huh..." Aya says.

Just then, a scout comes and says, "We found Kenny Ackerman, he's still alive!"

The two of them are surprised as they rush toward the location of Kenny.

(Flashback)

Some years ago, a much younger Kenny Ackermann encountered someone stronger than him for the first time. It was a man, Uri Reiss, with the power of a Titan, which he used to partially transform and grab onto Kenny before he could kill him. Uri's brother Rod wanted to shoot Kenny, but Uri asked him to wait, noting that whoever told Kenny about them was likely part of their council. When Uri could not compel Kenny to divulge information, he correctly concluded that he was a descendant of the Ackermann family.

Upset by how much Uri was reading into him and his motivations, Kenny threw his dagger at him, but Uri blocked it with his human arm. Rod said he would kill him, and Kenny began whining about forgiveness, that Uri is the true King, and wants to escape. However, his expression changed, making it clear that Kenny was not remorseful and simply wanted another chance to kill Uri. Despite his ranting, Kenny was well aware that Uri could kill him in a moment, and he could do nothing about it.

To his surprise, Uri set him down and tore himself free of his Titan. Rod asked what Uri was doing. Since Kenny was an Ackermann, Uri would not be able to erase Kenny's memory. Shaking, Kenny drew a gun he still had on his person, but Uri knelt in front of him.

"Considering how the Ackermanns have been persecuted in our name, your hatred is justified. However... I'm afraid I can't die right now. Please, forgive me. Even within such tiny walls, to be unable to build paradise...I'm a fool..."

Kenny was deeply moved by the fact a King with so much power would bow down to someone like him, and offer to help him. He replaced the person on the council who had ratted out the truth about the Reiss family. It became his new job and ended the persecution of the Ackermanns.

"Kenny, tell me, did the Neumann sound familiar to you?"

"Ha? How the hell am I supposed to know them?" Kenny asks.

"My apologies, like Ackermanns, the Neumanns were also being persecuted." Uri says.

He also tells them how the Neumanns on the island were gone forever and how sorry he was, but Kenny doesn't seem to care since they are all gone, or so he thought.

With fewer enemies, he was able to visit his sister, Kuchel, only to discover she had passed away, leaving behind a young son, Levi, who did not go by anything else. Kenny understood why she did not give Levi their family's name.

He introduced himself to Levi as "just Kenny" and explained that he knew Kuchel. Kenny took the boy in and made sure that Levi was fed, but he did not consider himself fit to be a parent. What he did though, was teach Levi how to survive, with lessons like learning how to hold a knife, how to handle himself around the neighborhood, and how to cut a deal.

At a meeting of the Order of the Walls, Kenny met Djel Sannes of the Interior Police and apologized for killing so many of his compatriots. Sannes was unbothered though because Kenny now served the King. It was because of Sannes's own reverence for the King that he was able to do his job. He asked if Kenny was any different, and on thinking about it, Kenny supposed he served Uri simply because he was the strongest around.