Chapter 1: A New Development
The survey corps had been riding for over a week. Though this time they'd picked a different direction, one that wasn't taken very often due to a distinct lack of safe houses. But they'd been making good headway. And oddly enough, the further they got from the wall, the fewer Titans they seemed to encounter.
But that didn't last for long. Levi's head swivelled as a black flair went up from the front of the formation, just as something huge came down from the mountains ahead of them.
It must have been somewhere close to 17 meters, but hunched over, walking on the knuckles of its massive arms to compensate for its relatively minuscule legs, like some kind of nightmarish ape.
On top of the monster's head and down its back were what at first appeared to be spines like that of a porcupine, but on further inspection they were revealed to be giant steel blades sprouting from its back! Fangs like massive butcher's knives jutted from its mouth, cutting into its own lips and gums in places to create the effect of an endless stream of Titan steam rising from its mouth.
Thank whatever god existed that it wasn't looking at them. Instead, its focus was drawn by another Titan, a regular 15-meter off to the formation's left, which was currently headed for the mountains itself.
The abnormal reared up onto its hind legs and pounded its chest, bellowing out a vicious roar at the other Titan, like a mighty silverback facing an intruder who dared encroach upon its territory.
The newcomer wasn't dissuaded, however, and only rushed forward with renewed vigour.
The ape climbed down from the foothills and charged the other Titan head-on. The two clashed, and the ape's massive arms won out in an instant, sending its opponent crashing to the ground, before pouncing on its back and proceeding to pummel it into the dirt with a vicious fury, as if hell-bent on smearing its enemy's remains into the bedrock, even after it was long dead.
Then a pack of smaller four meters emerged. One tried to jump on the monster's back, and the result was as bloody as it was futile. Nevertheless, the monster turned on the others and made sure none were spared.
Hour after hour, more Titans spewed from the forest, only to meet their end by the brutal fists of the monster. And all the while, the survey corps moved past.
They had hoped to simply ride past while the creature was distracted, but as is often the case, hope was a mistake.
Just as they reached the mountains proper, the monster suddenly ceased the brutal mauling of its brethren, raising its head to sniff accusingly at the air. Then it turned. Its black eyes narrowed when it saw them, and they burned with hate.
It only took a few minutes for the abnormal to thunder across the foothills and catch up to them. But by then the corps was already splitting up and heading into the passes between the mountains, many of which were too narrow for the monster's massive hands to reach.
Unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky. The passes that were too open soon bore witness to a parade of brutal massacres, as the creature mercilessly tore apart anyone it could find.
One group, including Levi, were trying to move as quietly as possible, while also trying to pretend they didn't hear the screams of their fellow soldiers echoing through the mountains.
Then one of the other soldiers at the front finally lost his nerve.
"I can't take this anymore!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. "How can you all just stand by and listen while all of our friends are eaten?!"
His question was answered seconds later when the Titan's fist smashed at the top of the chasm, sending an avalanche of boulders pouring down on his head, taking two other soldiers with him.
Then the monster was at the mouth of the chasm, reaching in for the others who stood just beyond its reach. The pass they were in was too narrow at the top, but it could still reach in at the end. Thankfully they were still too far inside for it to reach.
Nevertheless, they were trapped, with the boulders at one end and the Titan at the other. Then Levi stepped forward.
"I'm going to distract it. You all make a run for it." Without another word, humanity's warrior stepped forward. The Titan, seeing its prey in range, thrust its paw in further.
Levi jumped over the swing and landed on the Titan's arm. He ran all the way up to the shoulder and ran his blade straight into its eye.
The Titan reared back and howled in pain and rage, sending Levi tumbling to the ground as the others jetted away to freedom. The Titan shook off the pain moments later, glaring at Levi with an animalistic fury. It would never get the chance to act on that rage, however, as a cadet flew past and took out the nape of the distracted creature.
"Are you alright, sir?" Another cadet asked, landing next to Levi and offering a hand to help him up.
"Yes." The lieutenant replied, ignoring the hand and climbing to his feet. "Now let's see what's on the other side of these mountains."
Several more hours passed, and the survey corps finally emerged at the edge of a massive valley just as the sun was beginning to set. And something unbelievable sat in the centre.
The survey corps couldn't believe their eyes! An entire city, outside the walls!