What words could describe he felt? As Levi buried his blades into the Female Titan's eyes, he only felt the blood pulsing in his ears. He only felt anger. Rage. His mind was bombarded with the images of the bodies of the dead. Of the soldiers he didn't know. And of the soldiers he did. Eld. Gunther. Aruro. Petra… Levi's inconsolable grief turned into murderous rage as he continued to carve the Female Titan. The blood that spilled on him and on the grass seemed to come from him rather than her. His heart was pounding out of his chest, and he felt an inhuman scream claw at his throat as he tore the Female Titan up. Levi had not felt pain like this before. There was nothing but pain. How Levi wanted to kill the Female Titan. How he wanted to carve he up into little tiny pieces and make her death fucking insufferable. But he told that friend of Eren's that they would not kill her. As Levi turned to strike again, his eyes widened at the sight of that stupid friend of Eren's going for the nape of the neck.

"Stop!"

Shit… Levi thought as the Female Titan's hand turned toward Mikasa Ackerman. She aimed to break her spine, where she would land, dead, sprawled unnaturally against a tree. Levi's breath stopped at the thought, thinking about a certain ginger-haired soldier who had met her death that way. Shit…!

Levi pushed the brat out of the way, seeing her stunned gaze as the Female Titan broke his spine and as he was hurled against a tree. Using the last of his strength, Levi cut the Titan's mouth with his blade. The sound of Eren's name echoed vaguely in his ears as blood seeped out of him. Every bone in his body was broken. Levi couldn't move. It physically hurt to breathe. His barely-open eyes saw the brat escape with Eren in her arms. Good… He still had his blades, even though they were broken. His hands wouldn't let them go even as agonizing pain ran through his limbs and as his blood dripped onto them. He was cold. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around him, squeezing. Levi fought the scream that tore at this throat as he felt his limbs getting crushed as agony seeped into him. Blood leaked on the ground. As Levi was falling into death's arms, he thought he saw a smile on the Female Titan's face.

Fuck…you… Levi weakly thought. Using his broken heavy arms, he pushed his broken blades into the Titan's face. A scream clogged in his throat as he felt himself high in the air. The Female Titan's mouth was open. She meant to eat him. The only regret I have… Levi thought as his fucked-up body came closer and closer to the Titan, was that…I wasn't…able…give you a peaceful...future. The Titan's teeth were white and gleaming with saliva. The gums were pink and tinted with blood. I'm sorry…Klau – The scream that had wanted to come came. A blood-curling scream echoed across the skies as Levi felt his body snapped in half. The light finally faded from his eyes as his body was swallowed by the Female Titan.

And that was how Captain Levi, Humanity's Strongest, met his end. Despite the heavy losses of the 57th expedition which included Captain Levi and his squad, the Survey Corps were not able to capture the Female Titan. A young Survey Corps member named Deiter Badge attempted to recover his comrade's body, igniting Titans to almost overrun the Survey Corps. However, the bodies of the fallen had to be abandoned in order for the Survey Corps members to survive and escape the Titans.

On the morning Eren Yeager was supposed to be executed in Stohess District, the identity of the Female Titan was revealed to be Annie Leaonhart. Eren Yeager managed to defeat the fellow Titan-shifter, but she managed encase herself in an indestructible crystal. 200 civilians and military personal including the Military Police died in result of the plan crafted by Erwin Smith. Although Erwin Smith was tried, the trial was suspended from lack of good judgement. Approximately a week after the 57th expedition, Wall Rose was reportedly breached. The forces of the Survey Corps were deployed once again, despite record losses in the aftermath of the expedition.

It was revealed shortly after that the breach of Wall Rose was a ruse for a bigger plot. Reiner Brown and Bertolt Hoover, members of the 104th Trainees Squad, revealed themselves to be the Armored Titan and the Colossal Titan that destroyed Wall Maria five years ago. Their objective was clear, and they successfully kidnapped Eren Yeager. However, at that moment, the Colossal Titan also managed to damage Wall Rose, creating a hole in the Wall. Erwin Smith, commander of the Survey Corps had to make a decision. Commanded the combined efforts of the Survey Corps and the Military Police to rescue Eren Yeager and leave Wall Rose to her fate, or abandon the mission to rescue Eren Yeager and defend Wall Rose from the Titans that would surely invade the Wall. The man decided that the civilians and the military casualties would have to be necessary sacrifices for humanity, and embarked on the mission to rescue Eren Yeager.

However, Survey Corps members Jean Kirstein and Armin Arlert defied this order despite the punishment of death, and commanded the members of 105th Trainees Squad, who had to aid the Garrison from the regiment's small numbers, to defend Wall Rose. However, despite their efforts, over 80% of the 105th Trainees Squad died. The Garrison also suffered severe losses as well. 15,000 soldiers were eaten or died in the line of duty, along with Jean Kirstein. Armin Arlert was seriously wounded. 2,000 civilians were eaten. Beyond the Wall, Survey Corps member Historia Reiss was kidnapped by Ymir, who was also revealed to be a Titan-shifter, and the three rouge Titan-shifters retreated to Wall Maria. They have not been seen since that day.

Although Eren Yeager was rescued and sealed the hole in Wall Rose, his role in humanity was questioned. He was promptly arrested by the Military Police with Erwin Smith. Two months after the attack, the trial deciding both of their fates were held. Armin Arlert managed to persuade the Military Police to allow Eren Yeager live on the condition that he would train his Titan ability for the span of four years beyond the Walls. The Survey Corps and their expeditions would be suspended until he returned. Armin Arlert and Jean Kirstein received royal pardons from the King, and a statue of the fallen hero was made in Wall Rose in his honor.

However, Armin Arlert was not able to convince the Military Police to spare Erwin Smith. And so, in the year 852, the former commander was executed. The Trainees Corps was immediately revised in the aftermath of the attack on Wall Rose. All divisions of the military sustained severe losses, and a new regiment was required. The age of signing up for the military was reduced to ten; each trainees squad would disband into the divisions at age thirteen. Although there was much protest, nothing came of it. In the year 855, Eren Yeager returned with former Survey Corps members Mikasa Ackerman and Hange Zoe.

The Survey Corps, disbanded for four years, resumed, and immediately set out on the 58th expedition. Although he was a former associate of Eren Yeager and now blind, Armin Arlert was selected to become the 14th Commander of the Survey Corps. The people in Wall Rose remembered of how he had bravely defended the Wall with the fallen hero Jean Kirstein, and cheered when the decision was made. Two years passed in relative calm despite the heavy number of casualties of the Survey Corps. However, only a day after the 81st expedition in 857, Commander Armin Arlert died. Mikasa Ackerman, one the senior squad leaders, became his successor and the 15th Commander of the Survey Corps. Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman were now the only surviving members of the 104th Trainees Squad.

On the morning of that spring day of 857, this story begins.