"How is Ymir?" Eren asks, his brow furrowed and his breathing still labored from the exertion.
A soldier from the Scout Regiment, a man with a weathered face and a tired expression, turns to look at him.
"Well... her right arm and leg were ripped off, and her internal organs look more like scrambled eggs than anything else..." His tone is neutral, without embellishments or false hope. "A normal person would already be dead."
The silence that follows is heavy.
Eren clenches his fists.
"...Normal... huh..." he mutters, staring at the ground.
A groan breaks the tension.
"Ugh!"
Reiner, with his broken arm, struggles to climb the wall, his expression hardened by pain.
Eren moves on instinct.
"Oh, Reiner, take my hand."
He crouches down and extends his hand with the same kindness as always, as if everything were still the same. As if Reiner were still his comrade.
But he isn't.
He never was.
And soon, the truth will consume him.
"Please, you have to believe me!" Historia's voice breaks the tension. Her gaze moves desperately from one soldier to another, trying to find any trace of understanding in their faces. "It's true that she rebelled because Kiyotaka threatened her, but... I'm sure she would have done it anyway! She's selfish, yes, but... she sacrificed herself to save us!"
The emotion in her voice is palpable, but Hange's expression doesn't change in the slightest.
Historia takes a deep breath before continuing.
"I know her actions up until now are inexcusable... She kept valuable information from humanity, I understand... But she has changed." Her gaze scans the faces around her, stopping at Hange for a moment before settling on me. "Now she's an ally of humanity."
Her jaw tightens.
"As someone who has known her for a long time, I assure you Ymir is much simpler than she seems."
Hange crosses her arms, thoughtful.
"I see..." she murmurs, glancing at me quickly. She seems to want to continue questioning her, but when she sees me sigh and nod, she decides to drop the subject, at least for now.
"I understand." My voice is relaxed, much more than it was a few hours ago. "Don't get us wrong... she would be a thousand times more useful to us if she's willing to cooperate, and it's only fair that this is reciprocated."
Historia observes me in silence, evaluating me.
"Just as you said, she's someone much simpler than she seems... and I think that as long as you're around, she'll help us."
Her shoulders relax slightly at my words. Despite her reserved nature, it's easy to see the relief they bring her.
We start walking together toward Ymir's body. The amount of steam she emits is excessive, even for a Titan shifter. Her regeneration is working at its limit, fighting against death itself.
As we move, the tension between us remains. An invisible wall that even my social skills cannot easily break.
"So... Historia Reiss, right?"
She looks at me with distrust. "Yes..." she responds, keeping pace, more interested in reaching Ymir quickly than in talking to me.
I scratch my cheek, feeling genuinely uncomfortable. I try to modulate my tone, making my voice sound as warm as possible.
It used to work quite well in my other life... Seems like I've lost my touch.
Finally, I exhale a sigh and throw one last sentence before stepping aside.
"I would apologize for everything earlier, but... I think you understand the situation."
Historia stops for a moment and glances at me out of the corner of her eye. Her lips press together, and for a second, it seems like she's going to respond, but she finally shakes her head and keeps walking without saying anything.
There's no need for words.
Hange takes over and continues talking to her, explaining Ymir's transfer to Trost for treatment.
I stop in front of the stretcher, observing the bandaged body. There's nothing remarkable about it, nothing that distinguishes it from any other wounded soldier on the battlefield. And yet, the weight of its presence is undeniable.
I'm just beginning to process my thoughts when, suddenly—
Splash!
A cold, sticky liquid crashes onto my head, dripping down my face and soaking my clothes.
I blink, feeling the liquid slowly slide down my skin.
"...Haaah." I exhale calmly, closing my eyes for a moment.
"I know Titan blood evaporates," a voice behind me says, neutral, almost bored. "But human blood doesn't."
I open my eyes and, with complete indifference, turn around to find Mikasa, holding an empty bottle in her hand. Her expression is completely cold, as if she were performing a mundane task without any real interest in it.
But her eyes...
Her eyes say something else.
They are sharp, analytical, scanning every inch of me for wounds, for signs of weakness. Her gaze is that of someone seeking to confirm with her own eyes that I'm still in one piece.
I run a hand through my wet hair, shaking it slightly to remove the excess liquid.
"...Nice way to show concern," I comment dryly.
Mikasa doesn't even blink.
"I'm not concerned."
"Ah, of course."
A heavy silence settles between us, interrupted only by the wind carrying the metallic scent of blood and the rot of evaporating Titans around us.
She crosses her arms, not looking away from me.
"Are you injured?"
I raise an eyebrow. "If I were, do you think I'd admit it?"
Mikasa tilts her head slightly, her eyes narrowing further.
"If you were, you'd hide it until it was too late."
I can't help but chuckle lightly at how accurate her statement is.
"Then, I don't know what answer you expect."
She sighs softly, as if she's tired of this game. Then, without warning, she lifts her hand and grabs my face with insulting ease, turning it from side to side to inspect it.
I don't resist.
Not because I can't, but because it would be more troublesome to do so.
After a few seconds, her grip softens, and she lets go.
"...Alright," she murmurs.
Her expression remains cold, but there's something in her posture that relaxes ever so slightly. As if she had confirmed something for herself.
I let out a sigh.
"What about you?" I ask. "You seem intact, as always."
Mikasa blinks.
"I'm not like you."
Ah, right. She says it as if I were the one made of iron.
I shake my head, exhaling a light sigh.
Mikasa remains silent for a moment, her gaze drifting to the stretcher beside me.
Her eyes harden slightly.
"...Who is it?"
I don't respond immediately.
I stare at the bandaged body, expressionless.
The silence stretches between us, interrupted only by the distant murmur of the wind and the crackling of Titan flesh evaporating.
Finally, after a few seconds, I simply say in a serene, emotionless tone:
"A friend."
Mikasa doesn't respond immediately.
Her dark eyes scan me, searching for something in my face, something to confirm whether I'm lying or if there's something more hidden behind my words.
And then...
"...Do you have friends?"
Itai...
Direct hit.
"I have friends..." I respond calmly, although the emptiness seeps into my words.
Mikasa doesn't stop there.
"Name three."
Ah.
This time, I really feel like a sword has pierced my stomach.
I lower my head slightly, thinking.
Sasha is the obvious answer, but after that...?
Connie can barely look me in the eye since what happened.
Historia too.
Jean? No.
Eren? Not in a million years.
Erwin...? More like an investor overseeing a company than a friend.
Petra...? I don't even know if she's still alive.
Levi? He'd laugh in my face for even considering that option.
Marco...? Marco is dead. But does he still count as an answer?
My silence lasts longer than it should.
I feel a weight on my head.
A hand.
I blink and look up, only to meet Mikasa's eyes, filled with pity.
Another direct hit.
I shake my head, brushing her hand away with a slight movement
"Kiyo! I finally found you!"
My brow furrows immediately.
Before I can react, something—someone—slams into my side, pulling me into a sudden hug.
Mikasa takes a step back, bewildered, her eyes darkened and her mouth trembling slightly.
My body tenses automatically, but the person hugging me doesn't seem to notice.
I look up and find a pair of bright eyes, full of enthusiasm.
Dark, neatly styled hair.
A face framed by some dirt stains, but with a smile too lively for someone in our conditions.
"...Mina Carolina."
My tone is neutral, but she doesn't seem bothered at all.
If anything, her smile widens.
"I knew you were okay! I had a feeling!"
She doesn't let go of me.
She pats my arm like we're meeting after years, not after—...? A week?
Mikasa watches the scene in complete silence, her eyes moving from Mina to me, making me tremble with fear, mentally.
I, for my part, have no idea how to react.
This is getting out of hand.
Mina finally pulls away, although her hand still rests on my shoulder.
"You know, I was looking for you after that whole mess. But nobody would tell me where you were! Were you avoiding me?"
"...No."
A light laugh escapes her lips "Doesn't sound very convincing, Kiyo~."
Mikasa finally decides to intervene "...who are you?"
Her tone is cold and direct. I suppose even in those 3 years, the number of people I talked to was limited—but Mina doesn't seem intimidated in the least.
"Me? Mina Carolina, Kiyotaka's training partner~."
The casual way she says my name makes Mikasa shoot me a glance.
I decide to ignore it.
Mina steps toward her, examining her with curiosity "And you must be Mikasa Ackerman, right?"
Mikasa nods without saying anything.
"Wow, what they say is true. You're more intimidating in person."
Mikasa's eyebrow rises barely perceptibly.
Mina smiles, but it's not a mocking smile.
Rather, it seems... honest.
"But it's also clear you care too much."
She turns back to me, completely ignoring the way Mikasa is watching her.
"And speaking of caring! What happened to you? Are you hurt?"
She starts inspecting me.
Moves my arms.
Checks my uniform.
...This is getting out of control.
I step back a step, taking her wrists and gently pulling them away.
"I'm fine."
Mina looks at me with pursed lips, clearly unconvinced.
But before she can insist, Mikasa interrupts "Why do you care so much?"
Mina blinks, surprised by the question.
Then, she shrugs with a playful smile.
"Why not?"
Mikasa watches her in complete silence.
For a moment, I have the feeling she's analyzing her.
But Mina, as always, seems completely unaware of the tension in the air.
How long must she have been mentally preparing just for this approach?
She dramatically sighs.
"You can't blame me for worrying! After all, Kiyo is my hero."
I look at her, slightly confused.
"...Huh?"
She taps my chest with the back of her hand.
"Don't be modest~. If it weren't for you, I..." Her voice trails off a bit.
For the first time, her expression changes.
It's not much, but I see a flash of something different in her eyes.
As if she remembered something she prefers not to mention.
Then, she shakes her head with her usual energy.
"Anyway, I'm glad to see you're okay! And I'll make sure you don't pass out from exhaustion out there, so you better let me help you!"
I don't have a chance to respond before she grabs my arm with absurd firmness.
Mikasa continues to watch everything in silence, but this time... her gaze seems more analytical than before.
I, for my part, don't know how to feel about all this.
It's annoying.
"It's the vanguard of the Stationary Troops!"
Luckily, Hange's voice saves me from this situation.
Her tone is carefree, but her expression is serious.
I immediately shift my gaze and step back, and Mikasa follows my example.
Below the wall, at least eight soldiers on horseback are advancing toward us.
Mikasa is the first to speak.
"Hannes-san...?" Her voice has a different tone. It's not just recognition... There's a hint of hope in it.
"They came to help us locate the breach in the wall." Hange responds.
--------------
"There are no breaches anywhere," says Hanneth, struggling as he climbs the wall, being helped by Eren, who holds him steady with a hand.
"Huh...?"
Hanneth repeats: "We've searched all night, and I can guarantee that, at least between the Trost and Chlorba districts, there are no abnormalities in the wall."
"What is he saying...?" Hange barely manages to pronounce, clearly surprised and puzzled by the statement.
"We came across soldiers coming from the Chlorma district and rechecked the wall, retracing the other team's steps... Also, during all this time, we didn't find a single Titan."
"But we saw Titans, there's no doubt about that..." Armin speaks in a low tone, clearly confused, looking around as if something doesn't fit.
"Are you sure you checked the wall from top to bottom? Maybe you're still drunk or something!!" Eren says with a mocking tone, trying to lighten the tension.
"AS IF I WERE DRUNK IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS!" Hanneth responds, clearly irritated. "And now that I think about it, why are you guys still here?"
...
"Mn... Well, if there are no cracks in the wall, we have no choice but to cancel the operation. For now, let's wait in Trost." Hange sighs, clearly frustrated, as the rest of the soldiers begin to walk back.
Calmly, I simply return to my place next to the stretcher, at a significant distance from the others. I maintain a relaxed posture.
Everyone walks calmly, but Eren, Reiner, and Berthold hang back, as if something still doesn't quite fit.
Casually, I place my hand on my waist, not taking my eyes off them.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changes sharply.
"I am the Armored Titan, and he is the Colossal Titan,"
Reiner's words come out of his mouth with a dark tone, as if he's saying it without caring about the reaction of those around him. Eren stops, frozen, his face completely pale.
"WHAT??! What are you saying?" Eren can't help but shout, confusion overtaking his expression.
"What?" Bertholdt grabs Reiner's arm, trembling and sweating profusely. He seems completely out of his mind, but his words are shaky.
"Our goal was... to eliminate everyone inside the walls, but... that won't be necessary anymore," Reiner continues, as if it's nothing, without changing his posture or gaze. He speaks with a disturbing calm, as if it's just a casual conversation. "If you come with us... We won't touch the walls again."
"WHAT?!" Eren screams, unable to process what he's just heard. "WAIT! I don't understand ANYTHING!"
"I'm telling you to come with us. I'm sorry it's sudden, but we have to leave right now," Reiner continues, his tone a little more impatient. The tension in his words is palpable.
"RIGHT NOW!? WHERE TO!? WHERE DID YOU WANT TO GO!? HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM ABOUT THIS?!"
"I can't tell you where, but..." Reiner hesitates, searching for the words. "Well, think of it like our homeland. Our... only chance to survive."
"So..." Reiner lifts his gaze, almost challengingly, and asks: "What's your answer, Eren? It's not a bad deal, considering the crisis we avoided by leaving."
"Mmm..." Eren lowers his head, looking at the ground as he processes everything Reiner has said. His face darkens, exhausted, and doubt seems to invade his mind. "What should I answer?"
Eren isn't sure what to do. Reiner's words have left him lost. There's something strange about the way he speaks, as if there's no more path to follow, as if there's no other purpose. It's as if he's questioning himself. For the first time, Eren doesn't know if he's facing an enemy or a... potential opportunity.
"HEY!!! Are you guys coming!?" Armin's voice calls out from a distance, catching the group's attention.
...
Eren sighs deeply and, without losing composure, lowers his head for a moment, giving the impression that he's making an internal decision. Finally, with a characteristic gesture of someone trying to alleviate tension, he steps towards Reiner, as if speaking to an old friend.
"Look, you're just exhausted! Right, Bertholdt? You've been through hell! It's normal to be a bit delirious." Eren pats Reiner on the shoulder, as if trying to calm him down.
"Y-Yes, he's right!" Bertholdt is startled and quickly nods, trembling. "You're really tired, Reiner!"
"Also, if you really were the Armored Titan, guilty of humanity's massacre, why would you even want to have this conversation with me?" Eren challenges, as if it's the most absurd thing in the world. "You can't expect me to just agree to follow you like this, right?"
His voice rises slightly, but there's something in his words that changes the tone of the conversation. Reiner doesn't respond immediately. They both stare at each other for a moment, measuring the distance between words and action. Bertholdt, in the background, continues trembling but seems willing to follow the flow of the conversation, using Eren's words as an escape route.
Reiner watches him, but his eyes are empty. It's as if he's already accepted the inevitable. As if the thread holding him to this farce has finally broken.
His gaze drifts off, his lips parting slightly, and then, as if speaking to himself, his voice slips out, broken by something much deeper than simple fatigue.
"Oh... it's true..." He whispers, his tone trembling, as if trying to convince himself of something. "Yes... that's true... What was I thinking...? I really... went crazy..."
Eren watches him closely, his body still tense but showing no signs of immediate hostility. Instead, he steps forward cautiously, measuring his words.
"Anyway... let's go back to the village for now." His tone is calm, trying to restore normalcy. As if just saying those words could seal what just happened and move on. Reiner doesn't respond immediately.
Eren continues walking slowly, but the silence drags on too long. Something feels off.
Then, he hears it.
https://youtu.be/vy63u2hKoPE
"...I've been here too long..."
Reiner's voice doesn't sound the same anymore. It's low, guttural, laden with something that goes beyond exhaustion. Something that has been about to explode for years.
"I spent three years of my life here... Living surrounded by idiots..." His jaw tenses. His fists clench tightly, the veins in his arms bulging under his skin. "That's why I said something stupid like that..."
Eren's face begins to darken. His instincts scream that something is about to explode.
"We were just kids who didn't know anything back then..."
Reiner's voice becomes quieter, more dangerous. His eyes tremble, his teeth grinding as if he's holding something back.
"If I had never met those idiots..."
Eren feels a chill run down his spine. Something in the way he says it, in the way his voice shakes between fury and lament, makes a brutal truth materialize before him.
"I... I wouldn't..."
Reiner slowly lifts his head. His expression is no longer that of a confused man or a weary soldier. No. Now there's something much deeper in his eyes. Something devastating.
"...I never would have become the pathetic bastard I am now..."
His hands move slowly, and with a mechanical gesture, he begins to unravel the bandages from his broken arm.
Bertholdt instinctively steps back. His breath becomes shallow.
"No..." He whispers weakly, as if trying to stop him. But Reiner doesn't hear him anymore.
Steam begins to rise from his exposed skin.
Eren watches him with a mix of horror and late understanding.
Reiner's broken arm—until a few seconds ago splinted—moves naturally. The torn muscles reconstitute. Blood bubbles, boiling over the regenerated skin.
And then, in a heavy tone, as if dictating his own sentence, Reiner pronounces the words that seal the fate of everyone present.
"As a warrior... I have to take responsibility and fulfill my duty to the bitter end."
The atmosphere breaks.
The atmosphere breaks.
"REINER!!! ARE WE DOING THIS?? HERE AND NOW!!??"
Bertholdt's scream echoes like thunder in the silence, tearing away any doubt that may have remained.
Reiner doesn't respond with words. He just moves forward.
His step is slow but heavy, like an executioner approaching his victim.
Eren steps back instinctively, but his mind remains trapped in confusion. What the hell is happening?
"YES!!" Reiner's voice sounds firm, trembling, broken. "WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS!!"
"HERE AND NOW!!"
Eren feels a chill run down his spine.
This isn't a joke.
This isn't a misunderstanding.
Reiner and Bertholdt are no longer hesitating.
Before he can react, Mikasa moves.
In one step, her body disappears in a blur.
In the blink of an eye, her sword pierces Bertholdt's arm, cutting through flesh and bone without resistance.
His blade shines with blood under the light.
Bertholdt stifles a scream.
But he doesn't fall.
"Mikasa!" Eren's voice echoes, but she doesn't stop.
She spins on her axis, changes the position of her sword, and—
—aims directly for Reiner's neck.
The blade advances, unstoppable, looking to end it all in an instant.
But then— Reiner raises his arm, which falls to the floor cut, but thanks to that, he stays standing.
The sound of bubbling flesh fills the air.
Mikasa frowns and leaps toward Bertholdt, finding an opening, but a kick from Reiner sends her flying.
Reiner exhales, his breath heavy.
Mikasa retreats, ready to strike again, but the pressure in the air changes.
The thunder still rumbles in the air as I make a decision.
Without haste, with deliberate and fluid movements, I grab the cloth from the stretcher next to me.
Reiner and Bertholdt, who were barely reacting to Mikasa's cut, suddenly freeze.
I observe them from the corner of my eye.
Their bodies tense. Their expressions change.
Horror.
The residual steam dissipates instantly, revealing a shattered body.
No limbs.
No consciousness.
But unmistakable.
Annie Leonhart's face lies before them.
Pale. Weak. Defenseless.
Reiner freezes.
Bertholdt opens his mouth, but can't speak as tears fill his eyes.
For a moment, there is only absolute silence.
At the same time, I raise my other hand.
I squeeze the flare gun trigger.
BANG!
The shot cuts through the air like a whip.
From behind the wall, an instant later—hell breaks loose.
Dozens of figures emerge from the shadows, hanging with their 3D maneuver gear.
There is no doubt.
There is no fear.
Only war cries.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
"SHINZO WO SASAGEYO!!!!!!!!!!!"
The blades shine under the sun as more than twenty swords pierce the flesh of Reiner and Bertholdt before they can react.
They stab into their arms, their shoulders, their legs.
Blood splatters the wall.
The swords sink in, twist, tear.
One. Two. Three.
Too many hits to count.
The roars of pain from Reiner and Bertholdt mix with the soldiers' cries.
But the fight is not over.
Because in the middle of the chaos—
—I feel the temperature around me rise.
And then, The air warps.
A bright light fills everything.
The sound is suppressed for a moment, as if the world is holding its breath.
And then—
BOOOOOM!
The world is consumed by fire.
The roar of the Colossal Titan tears through the sky, a storm of steam and heat that devours flesh, steel, and stone.
The soldiers have no chance.
Their screams are instantaneous.
They turn to ash before they can even understand what has happened.
The blackened swords fall to the ground, useless.
Bertholdt doesn't fully transform.
Only half of his body emerges above the top of the wall.
From above, his empty eyes watch us.
As if fate has already been sealed.
Reiner wastes no time.
The fire engulfs his body.
The heat overwhelms the air.
And then, the beast of metal plates rises.
The impact destroys part of the wall.
The stone fragments fall in all directions.
The roar of the Armored Titan shakes the ground.
And in the middle of the chaos—
—with a single movement—
Reiner grabs Eren.
His arm closes around him like a steel trap.
Eren doesn't struggle.
He doesn't fight.
He doesn't scream.
He only cries.
He grits his teeth, his body tense with impotence.
And then, they fall.
Reiner slowly lets himself drop from the wall
And from above—the gigantic hand of the Colossal Titan moves.
Almost in slow motion.
But its target is clear.
The stretcher where Ymir lies.
His hand takes it almost gently, ignoring Historia's scream.
And with his other hand—He heads toward me.
The heat is suffocating.
The air burns my lungs.
But my reflexes act before my survival instinct can even react.
I fire the hook from the maneuver gear.
The rope tightens.
I propel myself with all my muscle strength, dodging the giant palm by mere centimeters.
The ground fractures under the impact of his hand, but I'm already in the air.
The fall is inevitable.
But I use my own body to cushion the blow.
Annie crashes into my chest, her limbless body weightless in my arms.
The pain explodes in my back as I hit the stone.
But I ignore it.
There's no time for that.
---------------------
Eren falls.
The world around him distorts, a whirlwind of fire, rubble, and tearing wind.
But in his mind—
—there are only memories.
Three years.
Three years of laughter.
Three years of battles.
Three years of camaraderie.
Three years of living with them.
Reiner, the older brother who always led them.
Bertholdt, the silent but reliable friend who was always by his side.
Three years of trust.
Of eating together, sharing fears and hopes, fighting side by side against what they thought was a common enemy.
Eren learned to trust them.
To see them as companions.
As friends.
And now, as reality drags him into the abyss.
the truth shatters him.
The faces of Reiner and Bertholdt are etched in his mind.
But they're not the same anymore.
They're no longer soldiers.
They're no longer his friends.
They are monsters.
The ones responsible for the destruction of his home.
For the hell of his childhood.
For the death of his mother.
For everything.
And then—
—the fire of fury consumes his soul.
His eyes open with pure rage.
His mouth twists into a heartbreaking scream, a roar of pain and betrayal that shakes the very sky.
"REINER..."
The wind hits his body, but he barely feels it.
Desperation drowns him, but his rage devours it.
"BERTHOLDT..."
His teeth clench so hard that blood trickles down his lips.
His hands form fists, trembling with hatred.
And finally—
DAMM YOU...
YOU TRAIDORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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