The mouth was drawing closer and the slayer shut his eyes. It was now that he felt weak, his fury had died down and all his bravado was diminished. He was limp in the titan's arms and his eyes were half shut. Why? How could I have failed? It seemed impossible to him, he was supposed to win. The panicking feeling in his chest proved that he was done. It was this feeling that he felt when the priest had thrown the sacred sword into the well. This feeling as he was slowly sucked into the well, his identity, his life, and Mono had been stripped from his grasp. He had been finished, his quest had been cut short.
Now he was feeling that self-hatred once again. Where did I go wrong? He couldn't comprehend his end. Wander wasn't supposed to die, he wasn't supposed to fail. He was going to win, he had to. That was obviously false. He was going to die, he thought bitterly as the tongue of the titan rolled in the beast's mouth. He would die like every other poor soul here. Not only that, he wouldn't see Mono again. The slayer glared death in its face, his pride not allowing a tear to fall.
And then the screech interrupted his thoughts. He thought his last stand would be of pride and then he'd descend to hell, most likely. Wander just stared at the titan, its feet crumbling the cobblestone street, the mighty fists demolishing the houses and its sharp teeth roaring with what he described with rage. The colossi slayer's face had the usual emotionless mask on and he sighed. Now what? It seemed like time slowed. No, that wasn't right. It sped up.
One second, his head was halfway in the titan's mouth. Two seconds, he felt his body's restraints fall and he tumbled down into the mouth. Three seconds, his body landed on hard wooden floor. He blinked and looked around. It was then that his heart began to slam heavily in his chest and his mouth gasped for air. He fell on his hands and knees, taking shallow breaths in like they would be his last. They almost were. Gathering his courage, his poked his head out the window.
Rage monster. Freak. Abnormal. He watched in a mixture of shock and confusion as the titans battled. His chest was still heaving. At the time, he wasn't ready to face death, but in his situation he couldn't really reschedule. This titan, who was crushing the head of the previous titan, had saved his life. Wander looked around the room his was currently in and thought of what had just happened. The titan had dropped him into his mouth and the rage titan had tackled the other titan causing him to fall through a window.
He looked around the tiny room and took notice of not having his sword. How to leave… He found a staircase and exited the building, returning to the streets. A sudden feeling of being small struck him as he stared at the giants in front of him, but as he collected his swords and bow, he glared at the titans. He raised the sword, hoping he had ran into a titan that held Dormin's soul. He frowned at the dull light. It doesn't have his soul. I would have died by some random titan. He turned and left the titan to the rage monster that was behind him.
Once again, his sword shined brightly, the beam of light bright and on his previous path. The pain from before had increased and he gingerly touched his stomach where he knew Dormin's soul had nestled itself. His feet stumbled and all his remaining adrenaline evaporated. He leaned against a wall and felt his pain begin to lessen. He needed to kill more. He will kill more. He grunted with the effort to straighten and felt sweat bead on his hairline.
Wander turned to the titan and watched with fascination at the beast's brutal fight. When the gore became too much for him, he turned and continued down the path. Wander wasn't weak and his endurance wasn't like any other. So after a couple of minutes winding down alleys and resting every now and then, his strength slowly recovered. The slayer began to jog, silently thanking his old horse who used to be his transportation in between each colossus.
A stomping made him stop and he gingerly raised his sword. With a smile, he realized that it was pointing directly at the sound. He sheathed the holy sword and reached behind his back, equipping the massive bow.
Connie stood on the edge of the building, watching the heartbroken Mikasa raise her sword and told them to fight. To stand up. To win. And then from the corner of his eye he saw it-no him. He was moving through the narrow streets and the only thing Connie could think of was cool. Wander looked exactly like Mikasa right now. Both of them tight lipped, a hard and tough glint in their eyes and eyebrows that were angled down in a look of slight despair.
Yet, he didn't realize the depth of his thoughts. He couldn't comprehend that both Mikasa and Wander were feeling almost exactly the same thoughts except for one minor detail. Mikasa was still catching up with Wander. Wander had felt everything Mikasa had right as she lifted that sword. As she told off the group that had lost their hope. Her heart was aching at the loss of Eren. She didn't care for her own life now. Wander did, but once again they were both connected as such.
He needed to stay alive to protect Mono, Mikasa needed to stay alive to protect Eren. But what both Connie and Mikasa didn't realize, and probably never would, was that Wander had failed twice at protecting the one he loved. And as Wander stopped in his tracks, the black smoke around him signaling his collection of the demon's souls, he turned to Mikasa. He didn't know what had happened, he wouldn't until quite some time, but at that moment their eyes connected. And he gave her but a simple nod that held deep meaning.
Wander understood her pain and although nothing could really break through her shell of defeat, his simple nod made her feel a moment of pure relief. That she wasn't alone, that as she jumped from the building and shot towards her enemies, she knew there was someone out there that could understand her. She just didn't realize how deep that understanding went.
Wander could sense it again. It tingled up his spine and his chest felt like it was being punctured. And then the feeling faded, once again. He was out of steam, but as he watched all the people behind him jump from the rooftops and soar through the streets, he felt longing. His sword had butchered a wide range of titans-ranging from abnormal, possessing a fragment of Dormin's soul, to simple and dumb titans. He wasn't stupid, treating average titans like they were nothing wasn't a trait in someone who kills titans. Wander had fought numerous titans now and he knew how dangerous a slow minded giant could be.
Keeping at a fast paced jog, he followed the group. He needed more fuel for his ODM gear and he admitted to himself that he was rather useless on the ground. He listened to the padding of his feet on the cobblestone ground and his mind thought elsewhere.
Wander wondered how long he would have to stay here and what it would take to leave. Along with that, what else was hiding behind the corners of this place? Where were the colossus hiding and how would he find them? How could he hide such things to these people? Eventually he would have to tell someone about his origins. And how he knew about colossus and more importantly how to kill them. A cowardly thought began to cloud his mind. What if I died?
This thought made him stop in his tracks and he stared at the ground in shock. Mono wouldn't know, she would be looking for her oddly familiar 'son' who also seemed to look like her old fiancé. His heart race began to increase and he felt his breathing quicken. He clenched his chest and stared at the cloudless sky. He felt his heartbeat slow and a shaky breath escaped the nervous slayer. He looked to the gates in the distance, standing far and strong. He knew where he'd find the colossus. Where there were plenty of titans, there would be his titans.
He looked to where he knew his team was. "I'm sorry, but you people are slowing me down," he said out loud and snarled at the ground. "I don't belong here," he hissed and his hand grabbed the green cloak on his back. "So I'm done playing dress up." He ripped the cloak off his back and threw it to the ground. His eyes were once again confident and set on his ways. He unbuckled his ODM gear and it dropped to the floor. It made a loud crashing noise.
Wander knew exactly where he was going. Through the hole in the wall where titans poured into the city. He wasn't a Scout. He wasn't even part of these damnable people's army. He was a rogue and would forever be branded one. So why would he need to pretend to be something he's not. As he began to walk away from the fallen equipment, he stopped. Titans were different. Maybe he could climb fur, but smooth skin wasn't climbable. He picked up the ODM gear once again and threw the swords away. They were useless without steam.
But this bow wasn't. He silently thanked Hange for this great idea and adjusted the quiver on his back. There were no walls to protect him now, there were no people to help him and no 'friendly' titans to save him. He was once again alone and surge of confidence and strength poured through him. No longer would he have to look behind him to see if his friends were all right. Or cooperate with people who couldn't even hold a candle to his skill. These damn five years were useless. Maybe he learned a history lesson with those people or found out why titans wanted to eat him, but he couldn't see why that was important at all.
The only thing he learned in that training camp was this; people die, they scar you and make you who you are. And those scars can save you or kill you. And those people were full of them, something he had known quite well. But those scarred people were slowing him down. It had been five years and he killed one colossus and its team of flesh colossi. To him it was pathetic and this damnable camp wasted his time. He began to move quicker to the hole in this mighty wall and a sense of freedom began to absorb him.
He raised his sword high into the air and he smiled cruelly as he saw it point directly through the wall. As he reached it, he noticed the swarming titans. I can't kill them all… He growled and sheathed the sacred sword and opened a house door and looked through the window. The house was somehow intact and he thanked whatever god had granted him this pleasure. Titans can sense a human's presence like a bloodhound. How can I get out of here without them noticing me? He scanned the house, looking for an alternate exit and walked up the stairs as quietly as possible. As he crossed the dark hallway he tripped and staggered forward.
Wander's hands struck out and he held the wall for support. Looking to what he thought was furniture that he tripped over, he found a body. He held his hand over his mouth and shuddered. The man's eyes were glazed and his mouth was sealed shut. His hands were clutched on his chest and Wander slowly approached the body and stared at the knife that was dug into the man's chest. He killed himself. Wander shut his eyes and an idea came into his mind. It was a sick and twisted idea and he knew it would haunt him for his life, but this was the only way.
It took him some time to convince himself to commit to his idea and his head was swarming with morals and bad luck. But what choice did he have. He might as well get it over with and then think about it later.
He grabbed the man and tugged the knife out of his chest. Like a sack of potatoes, he threw the man over his back and slowly made his way farther up to the top of the building. A balcony looked towards the wall and he ducked to hide his presence from the titans that roamed around his hiding spot. He had only one chance and he'd have to trust his skill to make this work. He lifted the body and leaned it on the balcony. His heart beat slammed in his chest and he tried to block out what he had to do.
He grabbed the knife that was previously in the man's chest and his hands shook as he placed it below the dead man's chin, square in his chest. Shutting his eyes and sliced down and felt the blood splatter his face. His breaths began to quicken, but he thought only of Mono and the colossi. This man is dead, there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't want to die. He grabbed an arrow and took a step back from the body. He prayed that this would work.
His bow was aimed at the man's chest and he continued to take deep breaths and finally he held it. The arrow let loose and time appeared to slow. The body flew with the arrow's extreme strength. The blood splattered across the entire street and the titans all turned. The blood and movement had attracted them to the dead man and each one of them began to move. Wander knocked another arrow and hooked it to the ODM gear. His aim was dead on and it landed just above the hole in the wall.
He jumped onto the rails of the balcony and his body flew with the arrow. Titans turned and he used their bodies to launch his feet again and again. He was almost there. A titan lashed out at him and he grabbed the mighty sword from his side and sliced at the monster's eyes. It stumbled in surprise and he continued flying. He was so close to the hole in the wall and titans were falling to his feet. He had the knife still in his hand and used it to slaughter titans in his way. With his strength and skill, he didn't need razors for swords. He could do this.
Hope soared and he grabbed the arrow that was attached to the wall and unclipped the cords that were attached to the arrow manually. As he fell, there was no fear. Although it pained him to know this, Dormin's soul that was in him strengthened him. He had fallen off colossus, he could manage this fall. Once he landed he groaned as the impact was more painful than expected, but this didn't stop him. Adrenaline was rushing through every vein in his body and he moved quickly.
A clomping behind him made him turn in surprise and he laughed. Luck truly was on his side as a brown horse made its way towards him. He laughed and jumped onto the terrified horse. It had no reins or saddle, but he knew how to handle horses. He thought of his old horse, Agro, and smiled sadly. Now is not the time for reminiscing. Wander scolded himself and dug his heels into the stallion's side and it reared. The mighty beast raced through the hole and he continued to urge it to go faster.
The horse obeyed his commands and galloped at a remarkable speed. He turned around and his eyes widened at the party of angered titans that followed him. The colossi slayer turned around on the horse, being skilled as a marksman made him deadly, even on horseback. He aimed his bow and shot towards a shorter titan. The force shot him off the horse and he flew straight at its forehead. The titan tried to grab him, but he twirled out of its grip and he grabbed onto the hair that sat atop the ugly beast's head. He pulled out the knife and returned his bow to his back, although not exactly in that order. His knife and sword combo found the giant's neck and he killed it before its hand could reach him.
The next titan he had chosen to kill was coming at him at a fast pace. His speed quickened and he used the cord that was still attached to the arrow to support him. He reached the forehead and grabbed the arrow from the forehead and used it to aim at a nearby tree. He flew again and landed painfully onto the branch. He winced and saw that he twisted his ankle. He cursed and watched as the titan approached him, its speed also quickening and he glared in determination. The reused the arrow once again and ignored the pain in his foot.
He twirled in the air and sliced through flesh again and again until finally only one titan was left, for the moment at least. His breath was shallow and he knew he didn't have much strength left to fight these beasts. He grabbed the second arrow, the first one broke after its reuse, and aimed it at the titan. He had been hidden in the trees for quite some time and he felt the panic return that he hadn't felt in a while. It was when he had killed the first colossus and was beaten and nearly destroyed himself. His wounds were great and life threatening but once he woke in the temple, his wounds were gone and his strength had returned. He had been healed completely as if nothing had happened.
His ankle was just fine after about half an hour of fighting and dodging titans. It was irregular, useful, but irregular. So when he aimed the bow, he aimed at the neck. He wasn't going to kill it with his sword right away, he would wound it with his bow and the shot had to be perfect. His right coil of cord in his ODM gear was hooked to his sword, which was currently planted in a tree, while his left coil of cord was attached to this arrow. He aimed and shot the arrow. It sliced straight through the titan's neck, closer to the flesh that needed to be removed, and he flew along with it. His bow was switched with his knife and as the titan recoiled from the impact, he sliced the remaining flesh to kill it and with enough speed, slammed the lever and the arrow's cord detached and he flew back to the tree he had been in.
As the titan fell, he held the cord that was attached to his sword with both hands and stretched his legs out to stop the impact of hitting the tree. His plan worked perfectly and he climbed the cord and returned to the branch of the tree. He eased the sword out of the tree, which proved to be quite the challenge, and sheathed it. His breathing was heavy and he sat down on the branch and a laugh escaped his lips. Wander felt for the first time, relief. Slowly he climbed down the tree and out of habit whistled for his horse. He stopped and shook his head.
The horse had to be long gone now, but as he began to walk he heard to clomping of hooves and he turned in disbelief. There stood the brown stallion and he let out a grateful laugh. He shook his head and rubbed the horse's muzzle. He grinned and shook his head. "Agro," he whispered and the horse whinnied. A sudden sense of déjà vu enveloped him.