Devil of All Earth

"Children of the Devil! I'll kill every last one of you!"

- Bertolt Hoover declares vengeance on the Eldians

The Daichi no Akuma (大地の悪魔) was a figure of Eldian mythology who made a deal with Ymir Fritz, causing her to become the first of all Titans. Eren Kruger believed that the Devil was nothing more than a myth fabricated by the Marley government to stain the reputation of Ymir.

Manga
In all illustrations depicting the Devil, it is shown as a large, crouching figure with a menacing smile. In the book Frieda Reiss reads to Historia, the Devil is covered in a large cloak and hood, whereas in the book Mr. Yeager reads to Grisha, its head is exposed, revealing two goat-like horns and a long tail. It also appears with sharp claws, large muscles, and pointed ears.

Anime
In the anime, the illustration in the credits is different from both Mr. Yeager and Frieda's book, it has a humanoid body with goat-like horns, human-like eyes, slim tail, blond hair and beard. Unlike its manga appearance, it does not have sharp claws and is not smiling.

History
Over 1,800 years before the Fall of Wall Maria, a girl by the name of Ymir Fritz is said to have met with the Devil, and the two made a deal. It is unknown what Ymir offered the Devil, but in return it granted her immense power, turning her into the first of all Titans. Eren Kruger later claimed to Grisha Yeager that this myth was false, and that he believed Ymir had in reality discovered the origin of all organic material, where she gained the power of the Titans. However, Kruger also claims that there is "no such thing as truth in this world," indicating that it is possible for neither story to be true, as both contradict each other and tell a different tale.

At the time when Historia Reiss, a direct descendant of Ymir Fritz, was growing up on her family's farm in Wall Sheena, her half-sister Frieda Reiss visited her frequently, teaching her important life lessons such as reading and writing. Occasionally, Frieda would teach Historia the story of Ymir and the Devil, instructing her on how to be a loving and beloved girl as Ymir was.

Return to Shiganshina arc
Some years later, when the Survey Corps discovers Grisha Yeager's basement, they find three journals. Within Grisha's writings, he recounts his childhood when he was told the story of Ymir and her deal with the Devil as well as Kruger's revelation of the falsehood behind the myth.