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| “ | The reason that life ultimately survived was because it was in its nature to multiply. Life took new forms in order to multiply, adapting to every kind of environment and eventually leading to us as we are now. It sought numbers. It sought spread. It sought abundance. And so. This is to say the purpose of life is to multiply. This sand. These pebbles. The water. They don’t seek to multiply. But life never stops in its frantic quest to do so. After all. Death and extermination of the species runs counter to the goal of multiplying. That is why we face the punishment known as fear. And why that child so desperately sought to avoid such pain. Something stronger. Something larger. She gave birth to an undying body. And then she escaped to a world that was free… of even death. | „ |
| ~ Zeke Yeager to Armin Arlert about the main purpose of life and how it started the Power of the Titans. |
The "source of all living matter" (有機物の起源 Yūkibutsu no Kigen) is one of the two overarching antagonists (alongside King Fritz) of the Attack on Titan franchise. Despite being an antagonist, it is not truly heinous like many of the other antagonists, including King Fritz himself.
It is an enigmatic anomaly that granted Ymir Fritz the power of the Titans. With the creature’s goal of multiplying itself, its goal was granted due to the Eldian Empire spreading Ymir’s bloodline. With the Subjects of Ymir coming into existence, they carry a piece of the anomaly within them, and thus making the Power of the Titans an exclusive racial ability unique to only the Subjects of Ymir. The world did not know of the creature’s existence (until the day where humans at Fort Salta saw the creature emerge from Eren Yeager’s Titan body), and because no one was aware this creature existed and witnessed how Ymir gained her power from this creature, many people came up with their own theories and narratives.
Appearance[]
The "source of all living matter" appears to be an animal-like organism resembling worms such as earthworms and lobopodians (like Hallucigenia and velvet worms). The creature’s body is long and elongated, while also being non-segmented. The head of the anomaly is slightly more bulbous compared to the rest of the body which is more equally proportioned. There are also numerous symmetrically even antennae protruding out of the left and right side of the body, that each have two smaller sensors sticking out at the end. The creature is both translucent and bioluminescent, with a blueish hue to it, plus in the anime’s first two appearances regarding the creature, it was also shown to have a bright spine-like organ within its body.
The creature does not appear to have an exact size. During its first introduction, it was at least large enough to merge with Ymir Fritz’s spine while she was just a small girl at the time, making it probably around 1.20 meters (3 feet) in length. During its second appearance when it came out of Eren Yeager’s body. Its body was noticeably longer with way more antennae coming out of the body. In its final appearance, the creature erupted from Eren Yeager’s Founding Titan and was now much more gigantic. At least large enough in height to almost tower over the Armored Titan, and while its exact length was unknown. It was presumably about as large as that of Eren’s Colossal Titan form, towering over all other Titans.
Personality[]
In glaring contrast to all other villains within the story, the source of all living matter lacks any proper individuality and true personality, due to its nature as a primitive organism no different than an animal. Instead, the creature symbolizes life’s everlasting quest of replication and self preservation. It acts as a simpleminded organism that lacks any complex behavior apart from simple stimuli and sensory abilities used to react to its environment. But at the same time, the idea that the creature granted Ymir’s wish to become free of death by giving her the Power of the Titans and creating the Paths realm gives off the impression that it can at least react to others’ emotions but doesn’t truly feel that for itself, as it seems to only act on pure instinct.
The anomaly does seem to be aware of the “presence” that it has on the Subject of Ymir, as it deliberately transformed all Subjects of Ymir in Fort Salta to aid it in reconnecting to Eren and to fight off the Armored Titan, having a complete metaphysical link with everyone that carries Ymir’s blood. Despite this, anomaly is not truly malicious, while it did transform numerous innocent Eldians and tried to keep Eren Yeager alive, who was committing the Rumbling. It can be assumed that its only driving motivation is to simply keep on existing, not understanding any ideas or goals other than its basic instincts.
Powers and Abilities[]
The anomaly is a mysterious and enigmatic being, cloaked in secrecy and possessing powers that are beyond human comprehension. Its abilities are vast and far-reaching, surpassing anything that could ever understand.
Titanization is directly linked to the "Source of All Organic Life" and serves as the ultimate origin of the Power of the Titans. This power was first bestowed upon Ymir Fritz, allowing her to transform, and has been passed down through generations of her descendants, the Subjects of Ymir (eventually all identified as Eldians), profoundly influencing the course of their history. The Paths' manipulation ability of the Source of All Living Matter plays a crucial role in the Eldians' society by overseeing and managing the interconnected pathways that link all Subjects of Ymir. These pathways serve as a conduit for the transmission of memories, thoughts, and even the transfer of control from one generation to the next within the Eldian community. Through the manipulation of these Paths, the anomaly is able to maintain a unique and intricate network that facilitates the exchange of knowledge and power among Eldians, shaping their collective identity and history.
The Subjects of Ymir's connection refers to the anomaly functioning as a pivotal point that connects the minds of all Eldians via Paths. This unique connection enables the Founding Titan, when wielded by an Eldian of royal descent, to alter the memories and physical forms of Subjects of Ymir at will. The interconnectedness of Eldians through the anomaly allows for a profound level of control and manipulation over their shared consciousness and bodies. The Paths dimension within the anomaly implies that it holds the power to not only bring into existence but also control entire universes and alternate realities. This suggests a vast and intricate ability to shape and mold the fabric of existence itself. The anomaly possesses incredible durability, as evidenced by its ability to withstand powerful attacks without showing any signs of damage. Its physical form has only been seen briefly, further adding to its mystique and impressive resilience. The concept of immortality surrounding the SAOLM is shrouded in mystery, as its relation to the Paths and its resilient nature suggest the possibility of eternal life.
Throughout Attack on Titan, the SAOLM is portrayed as an incredibly powerful force that played a pivotal role in reshaping human history. Its impact can be seen in various aspects of the Eldian narrative, including the creation of Titans and the ability to control individuals through Paths. Despite many mysteries surrounding it, the SAOLM remains a captivating and influential entity within the series.
History[]
Past[]
As Ymir tried to escape from the Eldian oppressors who were hunting her down, she stumbled upon a mysterious and powerful force pulsating beneath a towering tree in the depths of the untamed wilderness. When she reached out and made contact with this enigmatic anomaly, she was suddenly transformed and bestowed with the Power the Titans, assuming the form of the very first Titan in history (subsequently split, and her form becoming known as the "Founding Titan").
Return to Shiganshina arc[]
In his extensive journal entries, Grisha Yeager vividly described a profound conversation he had with Eren Kruger, where Kruger delved into the intricate details surrounding the enigmatic figure of Ymir Fritz and the mysterious origins of the Titans. Kruger articulates the various interpretations surrounding Ymir's superhuman abilities, with some viewing it as a diabolical force and others as a divine blessing from a higher power. Additionally, Kruger mentioned certain beliefs, possibly from scholars, holding that the Power of the Titans stemmed from the very essence of life itself, serving as the fundamental building block of all living organisms, the "source of all living matter". Despite these diverse perspectives, Kruger acknowledged the fluid and uncertain nature of historical explanations, emphasizing the ever-evolving and enigmatic nature of this ancient lore.
War for Paradis arc[]
In his quest to connect with Zeke Yeager and access the power of the Founding Titan, Eren Yeager finds himself facing a fatal blow from Gabi Braun's anti-Titan rifle. Despite being decapitated, Eren's severed yet still conscious head makes contact with Zeke, resulting in their consciousnesses being transported to the Paths with the soul of the Founder Ymir. There, Eren witnesses the Coordinate, the source of Ymir's power, before gaining control of the Founding Titan (in real time, it occurs just moments after his decapitation, while Zeke and Eren spend a long time wandering through memories). Suddenly, an anomaly emerges from Eren's body and reconnects with his head, creating a new Founding Titan form and saving Eren from certain death.
At Fort Salta in southern Marley, as anticipated by Gabi, the strange entity emerges from the back of Eren's Founding Titan after the Rumbling is halted and Jean Kirschtein uses explosives to decapitate it, but this time it appears in a much larger form. The colossal anomaly tries to enter the decapitated head of the Founding Titan, but is hindered by Reiner Braun's Armored Titan. Reiner holds the anomaly back while Armin Arlert transforms into the Colossal Titan, surrounding both Reiner and the anomaly in a fiery transformation.
The anomaly manages to survive the explosion as Reiner and Armin approach it with the intention of killing it. However, a second explosion erupts from the crater behind them, revealing Eren in a new huge Titan form, loosely resembling the Colossal form. Armin confronts Eren, leaving Reiner to handle the "shining centipede." The creature starts releasing a large amount of gas as it continues to writhe and move towards the top of Fort Salta. The Marleyan and Eldian soldiers quickly realize that the gas is similar to the Marleyan Military's gas weapon made with Zeke's spinal fluid, which was previously used in past battles and missions, such as for turning the people of Ragako into Titans. Soon after, the Eldian refugees from Liberio, as well as Jean and Connie Springer, are transformed into Pure Titans and leap off the mesa to protect the anomaly. Sensing Eren's presence, the anomaly heads straight for him in an attempt to reunite with its head, followed by an army of Pure Titans. Reiner steps in the creature's path to restrain it, but is overwhelmed by the swarm of Titans trying to pull him away. Annie Leonhart and Pieck Finger transform voluntarily to help Reiner and take on the creature, but they are also attacked by the Titan horde.
After Mikasa Ackerman delivers the fatal blow to Eren, the Power of the Titans dissipates, causing all Titans to revert back to their human forms permanently. The anomaly that had plagued humanity also ceases to exist, disappearing into steam along with Eren's demise.
Gallery[]
Manga[]
Trivia[]
- The entity known as the "source of all living matter" shares striking similarities with Hallucigenia, an ancient aquatic worm species from the Cambrian era. This resemblance becomes even more evident when a Hallucigenia sparsa makes an appearance during Zeke Yeager's explanation of the beginnings of life.
- The entity exhibited numerous characteristics commonly associated with living beings by Zeke, including the ability to adapt, transform its appearance, and strive for reproduction.
- In the conclusion of both the anime series and the final chapter of the manga, the tree where Eren's head was buried is shown, and in the final scene taking place in the future it's grown and resembling the very tree where Ymir Fritz first encountered the "source of all living matter" before becoming the original Titan. This symbolic imagery might serve as a reminder of the cyclical nature of the story and the interconnectedness of past and present events in the world of Attack on Titan.
External Links[]
- Source of all living matter (Manga) on the Attack On Titan Wiki
- Source of all living matter (Anime) on the Attack On Titan Wiki
