*
Quietly after a few hours of riding down the valley towards Wall Maria, the sun was completely gone behind the mountains. We were then greeted by the night, as the began to grow colder by the minutes that ticked by. However though I spent hours of fighting titans during the night, a few months ago at Utgard castle, it still haunted me.
I didn't want to admit such a pathetic fear, but we had nothing with a low percent of survival that very night.
Endless titans coming from every direction, limited weapons, defending children that were defenceless and watching your comrades fall at the jaws of death. No matter how I look at it, it pained me to know that I barely just made it out. Without Ymir risking her life and exposing her secret, our lives would've definitely would've been cut short.
"Akira..." his voice was a barely a whisper, feeling his warm hand brush against mine.
Turning to him, "Hmm?"
His calloused fingers brushed over my cold hand, before threading his fingers through giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
"You're shaking," He states, concern lacing in his nonchalant tone.
Shaking my head, "I'm not, just cold," lying through my teeth, while keeping my eyes ahead of myself. Carefully watching where we stepped, my stomach churns in response. Though I'm experienced, it still imprinted on mind.
"Well, you are cold," he agrees, while his thumb draws warm circles over my knuckles. Soon a heavy pause drifts between us, walking in complete and utter silence. Only the sounds of boots, our ODM gear clanking, rattling of the glowing ore lanterns were made, while I tried my best to keep myself composed and calm.
I'm one of humanity's strongest soldiers, so I should act like one....
"...Akira--"
Levi was suddenly cut off when we hear someone collapse from behind us, startling a few horses and dropping his lantern in hand, clashing to the ground. My horse jerks for a moment, causing my hand to break away from Levi's, slowing easing her. "Easy girl, easy," my hand brushing against her neck soothingly, before coming to a halt beside Levi.
Levi clicks his teeth in irritation, "Slow down, make sure the ground is lit," Levi warns the soldier, as he quickly picks himself up along with the lantern.
"Right, sorry sir," The soldier quickly apologises, before collecting himself.
"Will we get there soon?" Levi turns to Dirk, who stood with us both. "It's just about dawn."
"Well, once we get over this mountain," Dirk pulls out a small mountain, scaled and drawn from when they mapped out a trail to Shiganshina, during the two months. "Shiganshina should be close by."
"Right, let's move forward," Levi nudges his chin forward, before we continue trailing along the pathway. Quiet our pace was, I soon felt Levi take my hand again with more assertiveness with his gesture.
"Levi...?"
"Just....trying to warm your hand up," he quietly replies, defensively. He brought my hand to his mouth gathering both his hands, looping his arm through the reign. He blew hot air in the small dome of his hands, feeling warmth seeping into my hand. Delicately he held it, while we kept walking along the trees, "There...feel better?"
The moment his met mine, my cheeks were heating up in surprise from his sudden affection.
"Um....y-yeah," my eyes trail away, as he lowers his right hand while still grasping mine with comfort. "Thanks...."
My ears were burning at the tips but soon the further we walked through the mountain, a small gasp of realisation sets in. This path, that tree......I remember always come by here, when mother would secretly mentor me or whenever I had to collect firewood. My eyes snaps up darting around seeing the glowing ore shining upon familiar spots of the path.
"This place........." I breath out, chills running to the tips of my fingers. My ears pick up on the sounds of the river, that flowed heavily nearby. "....we're almost there, at the clearing......there's a trail closeby."
"Good, get ready to go on horseback everyone," Levi instructs, firmly.
*
SHIGANSHINA DISTRICT - WALL MARIA
Within minutes dawn started to break, as the pink and blue hue dusts across the cloudy sky. The cool air slowly rises, as the wind pounds against my ears. Galloping towards the back entrance to Shiganshina, I remained ahead of most soldiers but close by to Erwin. Just seeing the very wall that was crumbled, to bits of rubble and stone, made me recall the painful memories that I tried to forget that day.
Though it was hard, my main goal was retake Wall Maria.
"There could be titans anywhere, so keep your guard up!!!!!" Erwin informs everyone, his voice reaching out to them. "This operation has officially begun. All Troops! Switch to ODM gear!!!!!"
Steadying myself upon my horse I perched upon her, covering my face with my hood, and drew my blades before activating my ODM.
Our main plan as Erwin has revised with us was that, we must seal the inner and outer gate of Wall Maria. With that achieved, Shiganshina will be isolated, and will annihilated all living titans inside. The enemy will predict this plan, and counter it by targeting Eren, however....we all must keep our faces covered by our cloaks. By the time the foe can even locate Eren, he'll have plugged up the outer gate.
Flying over many torn houses and rubble, my heart began to break after five years of waiting for this moment.
The memories I made here, the people I once knew, and how the land here flourished no matter rundown it may seem. Yet, behind my families closed doors were something, I wanted to forget. Especially with my father.
Finally after flying through at a rapid pace towards the inner wall, as I see Levi already landing. Reaching the surface of the wall, Eren was hesitant to move for only a moment as he gazes over our home. Racing towards him I place a firm hand upon his shoulder, "Get moving to the Outer Gate, now!"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Not far away I activate my ODM and flew towards the Outer gate myself, along with Levi as we kept ourselves at a close distance whilst keeping our guard up. While doing so, a sharp jolt shocks inside my chest again, as a short half gasp chokes in my throat. The pain was surfacing a little, yet it wasn't an injury.....but a warning.
He's here, I just know it......
Landing upon the surface on top of the outer wall gate, Levi and I quickly go back to back to keep ourselves sharp and on guard. No sign of life or anything, and what scares me the most is the lack of titans since we've arrived here. It should be swarming with titans, so.......what's going on?
"I know we're overdue for some luck," Hanji spoke up, standing guard with us. "But how have we not seen any titans yet?"
"We still have to continue," Levi says, as Hanji and I nod in response.
"Right," I pull out my smoke gun, raising it before setting a green flare signal to inform Erwin on the inner gate. Knowing it's clear where we were, it was now time for Eren to block the outer gate now.
"We have no reason or cause to call it off," Hanji points out, calmly.
"It's true," I murmur, tugging the hem of my hood over my nose to shield my eyes. Soon within seconds I notice in the spur of the moment, a green blur pasts us to the sky. A bright light erupts powerfully, raising my forearm to shield my eyes from the blinding light. The wind blows wildly around, as all our eyes were on Eren's transformation, slowly seeing the hardening ability working.
"Come on, come on," I murmur to myself, and surely enough Eren bursts out of the thick layered crystals. His titan markings trailing down beneath his eyes, as exhaustion hits him. Mikasa flies down without hesitation in time to collect him, as she aids him flying back to the surface of the wall.
Hanji raises her arm, "The enemy could strike any second!!!" warning everyone, warily. "Stay on the lookout!"
"Right!"
Mikasa soon lands in front of us, as Eren grunts with little discomfort.
"Eren...!" Hanji races towards him, when I noticed he isn't wearing his cloak. Must've disintegrated whilst in his transformation.
The electric shock was pulsing through my chest, as my hand reaches to grip my shirt for purchase. My breath hitches, clenching my jacket tightly feeling chills running down my spine eerily.
Shaking my head I turn to find Levi checking on one side where the soldiers down below, that were inspecting the blockage Eren created. "How's it look?!"
"Looks good over here!!!!"
A green signal flare was shot up, which made me feel relieved. Heading to the other to confirm the seal, I lower my head to see three soldiers down below. "How about down there?!" I call out, my voice bouncing down the walls with a sharp echo.
"Clear!"
Soon they fire off a green flare that blows past me from where I stood, the seal of the outer gate was a success. Though once we've cleared both entrances, in the future we'll fix the gates up more properly. Our main goal was to gain back this district, and figure out the reason why the enemy wants Eren.
Hanji steps forward with amazement, "We pulled it off, huh?" before turning to Eren, with concern. "Eren, are you okay?"
"Not even tired," He sharply replies, bullishy. "All that training has paid off."
"Then we shouldn't waste time then," Hanji suggests, before meeting my eyes. With a nod, I turn sharply on my heel and began running along the surface of the wall alongside Levi. "Everyone, head for the inner gate and keep your faces hidden!"
Sprinting side by side with Levi, my face remained covered knowing that my Uncle must be watching from a distance. There's too many soldiers around for him to make a move, so he's smart and not a fool.
"Did I actually seal that gate?" I hear Eren's voice question from behind, with disbelief. "It seemed too easy."
"You did it, I saw you," Mikasa assures him, confidentally. "Try to have faith in your own strength."
Glancing over to Eren I narrow my eyes, "We're not finished, not by a long shot," I spoke sharply. "Though you can seal the gates all that you want, or can, they have more power in breaking them again later. Until we've compromised the enemy, Reiner, Bertholdt and whoever else is in involved will be assisting them."
"Akira is right," Levi agrees, firmly. "The operation to retake Wall Maria, won't be over until they're killed, or apprehended."
Eren's face with surprise soon shifts with determination, "Yeah, I'm well aware,"
We kept quiet for a moment while I had this unnerving feeling, churning in my stomach uneasily. Something doesn't feel right, and by now the enemy should've at least attacked or taken their chance now, right?
Then again, my Uncle also hasn't made his move despite the odds now...so...?
Levi nears me, "Akira, do you think...?" he implies more quietly, as he seems to sense something off as well. "......he's here?"
I nod grasping my collar, "I felt a jolt of some sought, he's closeby," my voice lowers, indistinctly only for him to hear. Not wanting alarm Eren and Mikasa, all I could do was wait for his attack. "This may seem easy, but I know it will come at a cost."
My hands grip the handles of my blades, clearly still keeping my guard high.
Soon we activate our ODM gear to get to the inner gate quickly possible, before the enemy could strike. The wind was cool, but changes a subtle direction for only a moment as red smoke was fired from the inner gate. This doesn't seem good, and judging by soldiers checking along the walls ahead, confusion settled in.
"Why are we halting the mission?" I murmur to myself, seeing many soldiers scattered as they began tapping along the walls. Hanji turns to me before giving me a subtle nod, before raising her arm signaling everyone.
"Everyone scatter and stand by on top of the wall!!!!"
"Understood!!!"
Perching ourselves back upon the wall, my eyes never once left the group of soldiers that were investigating the wall. A gasp of realisation quietly leaves my lips, finally understanding what they were trying to discover. They must be searching for a cavity, a hideout even, right?
It isn't common sense to the enemy, but for us they thought we were fools. Armin must've theorised and rode his hunch out as an assumption.
Suddenly a flare gun was set off not much longer they began searching, causing my eyes to fall upon the very spot it was sent. Not far from where Armin was, I noticed something peering out of the wall, as my eyes slowly widen. However before I could go over, Levi had already disappeared from my side. Darting around looking for him, I hear a piercing cry from where the signal was set off.
A blade was impaled through the soldiers chest, as blood sprays from the ambushed attack.
"REINER!!!!!!"
Suddenly a fast blur shot down towards Reiner, recognising Levi instantly, as he runs his blade through the young soldiers neck.
Levi runs down the wall, before impaling Reiner again into his chest the second time. My heart skipped a beat with dreading fear, only to notice Levi shoving Reiner away from himself. The ex-soldier hits the ground heavily against his back, before a bright light began to brighten the area.
"What the hell...?" My breath shook, with disbelief. He stabbed him in two vital points, but how come...?
A large explosion occurs which causes the earth to tremble, and wave of wind blowing a gust in all directions. My hair flew in response to the wind, while my feet firmly settle against the surface. Finally everything clears to a heavy amount of steam, revealing the armoured titan flat on his back.
"KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!" Erwin intructs, hastily. "WE STILL NEED TO FIND HIS ALLIES--!"
Suddenly before he could finish, multiple transformation happening simultaneously in a line. The bright lightning strikes the earth like a heavy earthquake, before numerous titans stood still like a wall, blocking our way back to Wall Rose. My breath hitches in my throat, as my hands slightly shook.
We underestimated them......
However there was one titan I recognised out of all of them, feeling goosebumps run up my arms and legs. The Ape like titan stood with glowing red eyes, seeing it's giant hands lift a giant boulder. However it's stance changed differently, feeling the tension burning through the battlefield. The beast soon held it like it was a cannon ball, and soon kicks the ground from behind before twisting his body around, with a heavy throw.
My eyes draw closer, anticipating where the boulder was gonna hit.
"INCOMING BOULDER!!!!" Erwin shouts, warningly. "GET DOWN!!!!!"
Seeing Levi near where the boulder was gonna hit, along with Lena, my heart sank for a moment as I went to take a step forward. Someone grasps my wrist, drawing me near them protectively. The walls shook heavily, not understanding where it landed, but it definitely was the wall. My attention trails down towards the inner wall's gate, only for my breath to hitch in shock.
"That was......a precise throw," I breath out, with disbelief. "Shit, the horses.....they trapped them....just like on Utgard castle.....he's aiming for our horses and blocking our only escape routes!"
"What, is this the titan you faced on Utgard castle?" Hanji questions, while I nod.
"Except it was like the titans were controlled,"
"What--?"
Pushing off I activate my ODM towards where Erwin stood, leaning my body forward to gain speed. The wind pounds against my ears, while my hands grip my blades more tightly than ever. Finally I land upon the wall above the inner gate, before rushing to Erwin and Levi's side.
"Erwin, this titan........he's trapped us just like on Utgard castle!" I exclaim, cautioningly. The memory was daunting, but now having experience, I'm more prepared than anything. "He's playing with us, just like like that night. By taking out our own horses, it seems he's blocked our only escape routes just to corner us instead."
Erwin scoffs, "It seems the enemy hopes for the same thing we do," he clarifies, rather calmly. "To win this conflict once and for all," he draws his blade. "It's our side or theirs now...We can let the titans crush us, or bring them crashing down!"
All soldiers stood aligned together, facing the beast titan steadily while maintaining our composure.
"Commander, he's about to climb," Levi informs Erwin, as he joins Erwin and I. Turning around I saw Reiner already on his feet, in a running stance. Steam emits from his armour, when I noticed the armoured hardens it's hands into sharp claws, along with his feet. He soon pushes off with immense speed, hearing it's heavy footsteps thundering towards us before clamping down on the wall.
"Soldiers! You are not yet to engage the Armoured titan!!!!!" Erwin orders, vehemently. "Maintain a safe distance!!!!!"
"Yes, sir!!!!!!"
Judging by why Erwin hasn't ordered us to attack, I assume he's observing their movements just so he can pick up their strategy. Smart he was, I myself for one couldn't anticipate their movements yet either.
"They have one more intelligent titan," Erwin informs us. "It's that guadruped type, though there may well be others."
Glancing over to the left of the beast, I soon saw the titan he was talking about. It has some kind of cargo strapped to it, so clearly it didn't just appear just now. So, it's a shifter, like Reiner and Bertholdt.
Suddenly a bellowing roar disrupts the birds within the trees, as the beast raises his fists and struck the ground heavily, causing the earth to crumble. Within seconds I narrow my eyes, noticing the smaller titans began charging full speed towards the walls. A gasp follows as I glance down to see soldiers down below, while guarding the horses safely.
"Just as you said Akira, this is just like the siege of Utgard Castle," Erwin spoke up, not breaking eye contact from the threatening titans below. "They'll start by targeting the horses."
I nod in agreement, while my hands grip the blades tightly.
"Exactly, but this time.......it's war,"
The larger titans were still standing side by side in formation, as if they're there to prevent us from any means our only escape.
A heavy clamp shakes the wall from where we stood, as a few soldiers stammer and waver sensing the Armoured climbing up closer to where we were. "Sir! What now?!" Armin asks, hastily. "The armoured Titan is almost up! Bertholdt hasn't shown yet, but he must be nearby!"
"Yes, I'm well aware," Erwin simply replies, before finally falling quiet while observing any chances, options or ways to get out of this alive.
"You finally ready to say something, Erwin?" Levi asks, impatiently. "Been waiting so long, I could've made breakfast."
Erwin finally after a while turns to the rest of the soldiers, "Dirk Squad and marlene squad, too!" he began, gesturing his blade to the teams. "Join Klaus squad and protect the horses at the gate!!! Levi squad and Hanji squad, I need you to take down the Armoured titan!!!! Employ the Thunder spears at your own discretion! Do whatever it takes to achieve your objective! This is our moment! Our chance to strike! The fate of humankind depends on this battle! Lay down your hearts and lives, one final time, for humanity!!!!!!"
His speech soon touched many hearts, as they all headed to their assigned missions.
"YESSIR!!!!"
Drawing my blades again Levi, Armin and I turn sharply on our heels, making our way to aid Levi's squad, with Lena and Hanji's squad to take Reiner down.
"Hey hold on, you four," Erwin puts ourselves to a halt. "Hanji and Lena can handle both squads, so I'm gonna need you two right here.....Akira and Levi."
"So I'll protect the horses instead of Eren?" Levi questions, talking back to Erwin.
"That's right..." Erwin swipes his blade towards the beast titan, that sat back and relaxed from afar. "...and when the chance arises, you both strike him down. You two are the only soldiers I can trust to dispatch the Beast Titan."
A moment of consideration, we both obeyed his orders with arguing further.
"Understood, sir," Levi clearly replies. "I wasn't fast enough to finish off the Armoured one earlier, but I'll atone for that by taking the Beast Titan's head."
Levi turns to me stepping closer, pushing away my hair placing a small tender kiss. Not even fazed that Erwin was standing there, we wouldn't know if one of us will survive this. Sinking into his warm touch, he exhales.
"We can do this," his eyes searching into mine, while I give a warm smile of encouragement.
"Right,"
Erwin raises his arm to stop me from going down, as Levi was confused for a moment. Erwin nudges his head to go forward, as his eyes lingered upon me hesitant before letting me go quickly. Pushing off, I turn to the Commander with a inquisitive look.
"Commander?"
Erwin turns to Armin, "Armin, I have a plan for the Armoured titan, too," informing the young soldier. "We have to win on two fronts to secure victory, I can handle one...the other I'll leave to you and Hanji."
Erwin runs his plan to the young genius, whilst I kept my guard up on the Armoured that climbed up the walls. His claws digging into the hard stone, and soon Armin dispersed back towards where Hanji's squad was. Confused as to why Erwin wanted me to hang back with him, left me pondering if there was something he wanted to say or inform me about.
"That man is here, isn't he?" Erwin presumes. "Clearly he isn't a shifter, and we currently don't know his plan of attack.......what will you do about it?"
My jaw clenches tightly only to feel my pulse throbbing painfully, the electric jolt tightening my chest.
"......."
Erwin glances over his shoulder, while my hand grips my collar tightly.
"Akira?"
A short gasp leaves my lungs when I felt an unknown presence swiftly fly high above me, as my head throws back to see a black figure in view.
Without warning in a blink of an eye, the dark blur dives down before grabbing me, whisking me away from Erwin's side. Falling down the wall at rapid speed, Erwin's voice echoes down the walls. My eyes snap up only to meet with a pair of familiar mismatched eyes, my breath hitches in my throat dryly.
Flying directly past the armoured titan, I could hear my ODM gear scratching against the wall aggressively.
"Finally, after months of waiting.....I can end you!!!!!!!"
Gritting my teeth fighting against his strength, my hands sharply grasp my blades and activated my gear. Shaking him off quickly I swoop so low I almost touched the ground, before I hoist my body up to a house. Boots slid across a tiled roof, as multiple tiles shattered from the impact off onto the ground.
Snapping my head in his direction, his large figure swoops down.
"I have questions!" I demand forcefully, as he lands upon the same roof and runs at full speed.
He lunges towards me as I activate the wires against a large chimney, directing my body high just before he could swipe his blades. Landing swiftly back upon the plated roof, I lower my body sharply before slicing his side. He grimaces slightly, before his body somehow bends back, his arm pivoting in my direction.
Dodging it while stepping back, we both began fighting with our blades.
Clashing against each other, steel against steel, our eyes met fiercely with a driven purpose behind our intentions to kill. His blinded eye held no emotion, but despite that, his hate grew stronger with his heated glare. Seething through my teeth under his strength, my eyebrows knotted with exertion.
Though his confrontation was abrupt, I've prepared myself this time.
"How's that wound?" he sneers confidently, his voice deepens. "Must've been a pain in the ass, to get that fixed...I'm sure."
"Provoking won't meet your goal," I growl thickly, my chest rumbling with heat boiling within my veins. Our blades grind against each other, "All I want is to know, what you meant about my mother? About my family, why are you so fixated in ending me?"
He chuckles with a gravelling sound, before swiping his blade.
We both jump back to give distance between ourselves, "So you don't know about our family? Our heritage? The very reason why you were born?"
Remaining quiet, he dryly scoffs tilting his head with a cocky grin.
"Guess you'll have to take me down first!" He challenges me, just when I hear another transformation rumble nearby. Golden lightning shot down from the sky, before seeing Eren's titan form appear through the thick steam. Snapping my head my uncle pushes off, as I block his attack again sharply.
Eren must be distracting Reiner for now, which will ease Erwin's side of the battlefield. Yet, I must end my uncle's life before returning to the frontlines.
The armoured glides down the wall, as his claws steadily trailed down before landing heavily, crushing the earth beneath him. Focusing myself upon the man before me, I trusted my soldiers to handle Reiner without a worry. Raising my blade I shift my stance, angling my right blade flat in front of me, while the other sharp end pointed directly at him.
"I will get my questions answered," I growl, my eyes dangerously glaring into his own. My voice grew deeper, keeping myself firm and on guard. "Even if I have to force it out of you, by cutting those limbs off........and it won't be a clean cut."
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