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In the year 850...
For the first time, humanity recovered part of its territory from the Titans. Though at great cost. A month later, led by Erwin Smith, the Survey Corps left Karanes to find a route to Shiganshina, where it's believed the secrets of the Titans are held.
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The soldiers all gallop through the abandoned homes that were overrun by Titans. Hanji looks around and spots a Titan, yelling it out to everyone.
[Hanji]: A 10-meter-class approaching from ahead, on the left! While I'm quite interested in the contents of its stomach, I'll leave this to the support squad!..
With that, the support squad goes to kill it. One of the soldiers goes in for the cut, but it wasn't deep enough.
[Soldier]: Dammit, too shallow. Defend the ranks!..-The soldier flies around as the one Titan tries to grab it. Sasha whimpers at the sight when someone places a hand on her head and forced her to look forward-
[??]: Don't falter! Leave it to the support squad and advance!..-They continue riding their horses throughout the broken town- Forward! Forward!..
Eren stares right up ahead, remembering the plan him, (Y/n) and Levi's squad talked about.
[Gunther]: The support squad will only escort us to the old town area. Beyond that is all Titan territory. All we can count on is the long-distance scouting formation Commander Erwin devised. This is where we, of the special-ops squad, will be.
[Eren]: Oluo, can they...Can my comrades beat the Titans?..-Eren questions, leaving Oluo confused-
[Oluo]: Huh? What the hell have you been doing this past month? Listen, you damn brat. During an expedition, the point is to avoid the Titans if possi..-But he interrupts himself, when he bites his tongue, causing (Y/n) to look at him with a pout on her lips-
Everyone was now out of the town, Erwin raised his left arm as he ordered the others.
[Erwin]: Assume the long-distance scouting formation!..
[Reiner]: See you, Armin..-Reiner says as Armin gallops further-
[Jean]: Don't wet yourself even if you run into a Titan!..
[Soldier]: The vanguard will form a semicircle..-A soldier tells to everyone- Although, we're spread out, stay within eyesight of someone on all sides, in fixed distance from one another. Extend survey and relay range as far as possible..
Armin continues to dash on his horse. He glances around and flinches when crows fly out, gawking. He shakes his head and looks back ahead of him.
[Armin]: We'll be fine.. Calm down..-He then shoots to his right due to the sound of flare guns being shot. Out came a red signal as Armin remembers the instructions-
[Ness]: The vanguard scout squad encounters the Titans most often. Upon sighting a Titan, they'll fire a red smoke signal. Soldiers that see it should relay it by firing one of the same colors. After observing the signals to determine the Titan's position, the Commander will fire a green smoke signal that will indicate the formation's new course. Thus, the entire formation can advance to its destination while avoiding the Titans..
Sasha encounters a small village as she glances her surroundings sharply.
[Ness]: However, terrain or obstacles can delay a sighting, which may allow Titans to breach the formation..
As Sasha continues her hurrying, an Abnormal burst through a building, making her let out loud whimpers. She turns and makes her horse run as fast as possible, leaving in just the nick of time before meeting her doom-
[Sasha]: Red... Red smoke signal...-Sasha mutters, struggling to put the red smoke in her gun. Unfortunately for her, it falls out of her grasp as it gets exploded by the Abnormal behind her-
[Soldier]: Blouse! This way!..-She shoots her head to the left to see two soldiers as one of them fires a red smoke- Damn! Looks like we missed one..-The soldier turns to his comrade- Let's draw it toward us..-He then turns back to Sasha- Blouse! Come this way!.
With no hesitation, she swerves her horse over to them, moving on time before the Titan can chomp her. The Abnormal watches her flee when noticing the two soldiers running past it. Its new goal was now them as it started to go after them in all fours-
[Soldier]: I'll handle it. Withdraw!..
The soldier tells the other as he runs off a different direction. The soldier continues to run when he approaches small homes and one single tree. He looks behind him and pushes his horse faster, turning left from the tree, and causing the Titan to hit its face on it. Sasha makes her way to him.
[Sasha]: Squad Leader...
[Soldier]: Get back in position! He's out of gas..
And so, they went back to the plan. Armin looks up at the sky and ponders, sweating a bit.
[Armin]: Something's strange... It's been a while since the red smoke signal was fired, but we've yet to regroup..Don't tell me...-He then recalls what the instructor said in the small classroom-
Note that the methods I've discussed are only for use against easily predictable, normal Titans..
From a distance, a black smoke was signaled out to everyone, making Armin gasp.
[Armin]: A black smoke signal?..-He goes and places the black smoke in his flare gun and pulls the trigger above his head, launching out the signal- Is one ignoring nearby people and heading straight for the formation's center?.. There's no doubt about it. It's... an Abnormal!..
Right as that thought was finished, an Abnormal came bursting through trees, along with two soldiers trying to stop it.
Combat is only necessary against Abnormals, which are unpredictable..
[Ness]: Damn, guess we have no other choice..-Ness mutters before turning to the other soldier- Sys, you get its nape! I'll stop it in its tracks!..
[Sys]: Roger!..
Ness goes and seethes his blades from either side of his body.
[Ness]: Fighting with the device on level ground is clearly unfavorable. The chance of success is extremely low, but I can't risk having the formation torn apart..-Ness thinks, looking over to his left- Arlert should be over there..I don't want to let a new recruit run into one of these..-Ness crouches on his horse then jumps off- We'll kill it here!..
His hook attaches to the Abnormal's foot as he skids on the grass. He then goes and cuts it off, making the Abnormal fall.
[Ness]: Now, Sys!..-And like that, Sys goes in for the kill. From afar, Armin smiles-
[Armin]: Squad Leader Ness did it!..-His smile eventually drops when he notices something in front of him-
[Ness]: We go it, huh?..-Ness pants as his horse comes to his aid- You came for me? That's why you're my favorite..-He places his blades back and climbs on his horse, galloping away- I love you, Shallot!..-From behind Ness, footsteps can be heard echoing. Sys and him turn around- Again? What's the right flank scout squad doing?..
[Sys]: If it ignored them and came this way, then it must be an Abnormal too..
[Ness]: Here we go again..-Ness turns to Sys and exclaims- Sys, let's do it once more..-Sys nods again. They look forward again, grunting a bit- But really, to think we have to do this twice in a row... And it looks like it's a 14-meter-class at least. This one will be tough..-They look back one more time before gasping, seeing that the Titan was charging ahead-
They quickly move out the way as the Titan was about to step on them. Ness and Sys turn back around to hear the sound of a smoke signal being fired. It was Armin, who was looking rather terrified.
[Armin]: What's that? It's so fast!..
[Ness]: Don't let it get to Arlert! Sys!..-Ness orders as Sys attached himself on the nape of the Titan-
He goes in to kill it, but the Titan grabs him. Armin gasps as the Titan grab's Ness's gear, slamming him on the ground. The Titan lets go of Sys's dead body as it skids on the ground. Armin watches as the Titan stares at the ground. It looks back up and starts to run again, this time, heading towards Armin. He maneuvers his horse away from the Titan, still clutching the spare one in his hand.
[Armin]: No, wait a minute..That's not an Abnormal. It has intelligence! Like the Armored Titan, Colossal Titan, Eren and (Y/N) ... It's a human controlling the body of a Titan!..-Armin glances behind his shoulder in a mil-second before returning his gaze in front of him- Wh-Who is she?! Why?! This is bad. What do I do? I'll die too. I'll be killed!..-Armin looks at the spare horse and let's go off the leash- Go! Run away!..
But the horse gets crushed under the Female Titan's foot. Armin looks up when the Female Titan's leg raises.
[Armin]: What is she... No, what are they ...aiming for?..
Somewhere off, Titans had eaten and killed many soldiers in their way. The bodies of the soldiers and horses were surrounded by pools of blood.
[Soldier]: Someone tell them... The right flank survey squad has been all but wiped out. A female Titan brought a large army of Titans..-The soldier who speaks meekly gets lifted up by a Titan as it has its mouth open- Is anyone here?..
Back with Armin, the Female Titan stomps in front of him, causing his horse to stop and drop Armin to the ground. He rolls as his hood gets placed on his head. Armin goes to stand up, but freezes once the Female Titan kneels down to him.
The Female Titan stretches her hand as it goes to lift up the hood. Armin fearfully looks up to see her smile down at him. She lets go and takes off, leaving Armin flabbergasted.
[Armin]: She's not going to kill me? What just happened? She took off my hood...and looked... at my face?..
[Reiner]: Armin!..
He turns to see Reiner dashing over to him, along with a spare horse.
[Armin]: Reiner!..
[Reiner]: Hey, can you stand? Well, for starters, you're dead meat if you don't have a horse outside the walls. Hurry!..-Reiner shouts as Armin gets up and hops on the horse. They then follow the Female Titan from a distance as Reiner acknowledges- I saw a smoke signal for Abnormals... Was it for that one with the nice ass?..
[Armin]: She's not an Abnormal...-Armin stated firmly- She's a human controlling a Titan's body!..-Reiner turns to him confused. Armin continues to stare forward 'till he remembered something- Wait a second, I should fire a smoke signal first..-He goes and grabs the black container and struggles to put it on- Q-Quickly... I have to let them know... with a smoke signal...
But someone else had already done it. They turn around as Reiner announces.
[Reiner]: Wait, looks like Jean fired one..-As Jean makes his way over to the two, they hear two signals being fired to their right- From the right flank? Does that mean we got hit so bad we can't continue?..
[Jean]: It seems we lost part of the right flank scout squad..-Jean shouts, approaching the two- Hordes of Titans came and I don't know why, but a lot of them are extremely agile, but the formation can't function. Many have died already, and if we're not careful, all of us will!..
[Armin]: That's the same direction she came from..No way... Was she leading the Titans here?..-He thinks out loud as Jean furrows his brows together-
[Jean]: "She"? Why is a Titan over there? Is it an Abnormal?..-Jean throws questions at Armin, who shakes his head-
[Armin]: No, it's a human in a Titan body...Someone with the same power as Eren and (Y/n)..
[Jean]: What?..
[Reiner]: Armin, what makes you think that?..Reiner blurts out as Armin replies-
[Armin]: Titans merely prey on people. People die as a result, but the act of killing isn't their intention. But in her case, the moment her vitals were targeted, she flung Ness to the ground, crushing him. She didn't kill to consume, but for the sake of killing. In that regard, her very nature is unique. When the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan destroyed the walls, she must've been the one that brought all the Titans. Their goal has always been to attack mankind! Wait, maybe not. I get the feeling she's looking for someone. Assuming that's true, she must be searching for... Could it be Eren?..or (Y/n)?..
[Reiner]: Eren and (Y/n)?..But the Levi Squad, which they both are in, should've been in charge of the right flank that she passed through..-Jean and Armin shoot their heads to him, surprised-
[Jean]: The right flank? The plans I got had them around the rear of the left flank...
[Armin]: But mine had them around the front of the right flank. Well, there's no way they would've been put so far ahead..
[Reiner]: Then where are they?..
[Armin]: Most likely in the safest spot of this formation, so I guess they're somewhere in the center rear..
[Jean]: Armin! We don't have time to think right now. It's impossible for us to signal how dangerous it is with smoke signals! Before long, even the command squad will be destroyed. If that happens, the formation will fall apart and everyone will die..
[Reiner]: What are you getting at?..
[Jean]: In other words, at this distance, we might still be able to draw her attention. We can buy time until everyone has withdrawn. At least... I hope we can..
[Armin]: She really is intelligent. To her, we're literally nothing more than insects. We'd be crushed by even the slightest blow..-Armin mutters. Jean shakes his head slightly-
[Jean]: Seriously?..-He then chuckles- That's pretty scary...
[Reiner]: Are you really Jean? The Jean I know is someone who only thinks about himself..-He gives Reiner a quick look before sighing-
[Jean]: It hurts to hear that. It's just that I don't want to disappoint those... indiscernible, scorched bones. II... I know what needs to be done now! Not to mention, this is the job we chose! Lend me a hand!..
Then, there was silence. Armin went to put his hood on and turn to Jean.
[Armin]: Pull up your hood. All the way. That way, she can't see your face. She shouldn't mindlessly kill us until she knows who we are!..
[Reiner]: I see..-Jean averts his eyes to Reiner, who listens to Armin- So you think she won't kill people who might be Eren? I'm relieved to hear that. And while we're at it, let's hope she has bad eyesight!..
[Jean]: Armin, you always stuck to Eren like glue, so I thought you were a creep, but I knew you were a capable guy..
And so, Jean puts his hood on while Armin turns to him, confused and a little thankful.
[Armin]: Huh? Oh, thanks. But "creep" is a bit mean...
As the Female Titan continues to run, Armin turns to Jean and Reiner with a nod, signaling them for position.
[Armin]: She's slowed down a lot from when I first saw her. Is she tried? If she starts running at full speed again, we won't make it. Now's our chance. Otherwise...
[Jean]: Listen up..Remember what I said. Draw her attention for as long as possible so that the formation can withdraw. Even if it's only for a second longer. If we cut a leg tendon, that'd be more than enough. Don't push your luck though. Killing her isn't necessary!..
[Armin]: She's aware that her nape is vital. She's completely different from average Titans. It's impossible to kill her. At least not according to the limits defined by human knowledge..-He remembers the way Mikasa and Levi killed the Titans with a single blow- But... if it's those three, then maybe...
Jean goes to seeth his blades as he tries to attach himself on the Female Titan's foot. She turns and stomps on the hook and starts to skid on the ground. She then turns to Armin and slaps the horse he was on away, causing him to lose his gear and roll on the ground.
Jean gasps and starts running to Armin as Reiner ducks from the horse that was launched. There lay Armin on the ground, blood rolling down his forehead as the Female Titan kneeled down to him. His eyes start to twitch in fear while Jean screams.
[Jean]: Armin!...-He then uses his gear to latch on the Titan, causing her to turn around- Why you... Her movements are on a completely different level! Damn. We underestimated her!..-He removes his hook on her back and dodges the slap she tried to use. Jean flies over to the nape, who she uses her free hand to protect- She covered her nape..
[Reiner]: Jean!..-Reiner screamed as Jean continues to fly around-
[Jean]: Damn, I can't get away!..I'm going to die! Once she grabs my wire, I'm finished!..-As the Female Titan goes to swing at him, Armin pushes himself up the ground and screams-
[Armin]: Jean! Avenge that reckless idiot!..-he stops after hearing that while Jean stares at him confusedly-
[Jean]: Armin! She stopped moving?..
[Armin]: That's the one!..¿That's the one that killed him! He really ended up dying on the right flank! Avenge that reckless idiot!..-The Female Titan doesn't even move an inch as Jean slides himself on the ground-
[Jean]: What happened? Did he hit his head and go insane? This really isn't the time for that!..-Jean thought as he turns to see Reiner removing his hood and holding his blades- Reiner?..
[Armin]: It crushed my best friend with one stomp! I saw his body stuck under its foot!..-Armin screams while Reiner latches on the Female Titan's nape. Jean watches Reiner in worry as he thinks-
[Jean]: He's going straight for the nape? Wait, that might work! Now that she's distracted by Armin!..
As Reiner goes to cut the nape, the Female Titan looks at as Reiner's breath hitches. She gives him a smirk before grabbing him while Armin and Jean turn pale-
[Jean]: H-Hey...-Jean mutters while Reiner struggles in her grip. She places her thumb on his head and presses it, blood spewing as Jean backs away in horror- H-Hey... Reiner, you...
But he was alive and well as he used his broken blades to cut off the fingers of the Female Titan. Jean's mouth hangs as Reiner swerves down and throws Armin over his shoulder. The Female Titan stares at her steamy hand while Jean celebrates.
[Jean]: Reiner did it! Mikasa was so strong, I forgot. But he's really strong and reliable, too...
[Reiner]: We brought enough time, right?!..-Shouts Reiner- Let's get away from her already! If she doesn't eat people, she shouldn't follow us!..
As soon as her hand heals, the Female Titan stands back up and runs the opposite way from the three boys.
[Reiner]: Look, the giant bitch got scared and is running home now!..-Armin turns to see and lightly gasps-
[Armin]: What...Why? That's toward the center rear. Could she be... heading toward Eren and (Y/n)?..
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Preview...
"You monster...
Even highly trained members of the Survey Corps are unable to stop the Female titan. The monster finally catches sight of Eren in a forest of giant trees.
Next episode: ‹Forest of Giant Trees: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 2›
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