Ackerbonds and Ackerpowers
Though, take this with a grain of salt, as I’m also going off of No Regrets for Levi. Specifically the anime, as there’s something said that isn’t said in the manga. - And I’m unsure how canon the anime is. I know Isayama supervised No Regrets and also added Isabel and Farlan to the Manga but ya know...
So we have three Ackerman’s and three “Ackerbonds”.
Mikasa and Eren. Levi and Erwin. Kenny and Uri.
We know Mikasa activated her Ackerpowers when her own and Eren’s life was in danger. - That’s the only Ackerpower awakening we’ve seen so far.
And I believe her Ackerbonding with Eren happened AFTER than moment. Here’s why.
Mikasa right after Eren says the following.
“Come on, let’s go back. To our home.”
I think it matters especially when you keep in mind that Mikasa just lost everything she had, she’s a kid that has nothing more than her parents. She quite literally even asks Grisha in which direction she needs to go to get home.
Now Eren’s words give her the direction she needs in life again.
I’m 100% sure that Levi awakened his Ackerpowers prior to meeting Erwin, or rather prior to Farlan and Isabel’s death.
However, I’m also certain that this is the moment in which the Ackerbonding for Levi and Erwin happens.
Erwin also has an important line here:
“I expect you to come with me.”
Again, I’m certain this matters because... Well Levi lost everything he had as well. His mom died long ago, his other parental figure Kenny left him long ago, he was just a criminal trying to survive and maybe reach the surface eventually. Now he’s reached the surface but his close friends died right before his eyes. He’s lost. No where to go. No more direction.
But then Erwin comes along and gives him a clear direction.
It is slightly different in the manga, but the gist of it is also Erwin giving Levi direction in life.
Now Levi even has a line that gives all of this even a little more weight.
“I don’t understand. I’ve never understood. Even if I believe in my own strength... Even if I believe in the decisions of my trusted friends... In the end... Nobody... but this man is gazing up at something I can’t see. Fine, I’ll follow you, Erwin Smith. I will never regret this decision, for as long as I live.”
Now we have Kenny after fearing for his life and Uri bowing down to him.
There’s no clear line from Uri to trigger anything but I suppose here it’s more Uri’s idea of peace and actions. Plus Kenny finding interest in exactly this and thus, also finding a direction in life that’s not just living in hiding as Ackerman or Kenny the Ripper.
Though the thing with Kenny and Uri is a bit more hazy than Mikasa or Levi... Kenny also followed Uri because Uri saw something Kenny couldn’t see.
“What does it feel like? From their point of view, what do they actually see? Could trash like me, see the world the same way you saw it?”
But Kenny was still strong before that. There’s no real change in his strength or skill from what I can see. As he’s already been known around as Kenny the Ripper prior to bonding with Uri.
Yeah so, my conclusion is... Eren’s speech about Ackerman’s being designed to protect and awakening their powers once they find someone to guard is bullshit. Ackerman’s aren’t slaves in the sense Eren would like them to be, but rather followers that look for direction. And maybe that is something that only formed after the Ackerman Clan turned back on the royal family and the whole clan lost their original purpose of the Royal Family’s Right Hand Men.
I mean we’re still left in the dark regarding Levi’s and Kenny’s awakening, but their bonding process happened seperately. Mikasa just happened to have both happening in the same event and Eren being too dense to reflect on actual events.
As a little personal note; It’s probably just Zeke trying to manipulate Eren by telling him bullshit (Unless Eren somehow managed to tap into certain memories due to Zeke’s help). Nonetheless, I still love Eren. He’s full of shit in this chapter but still insanely interesting to watch.