The ground shook as the Eldian cavalry charged the Marley lines. They managed to be only half-formed, confusion ripping them to pieces. But they were no beginners. After a few angry barks from officers they made something resembling combat posture, aiming their guns towards the mass of horseflesh. It was up to Magath to give the final order.
"Fire! ", he shouted, and the air was ripped by the sound of hundreds of rifles.
Number of the riders fell, just to be trampled by those who were behind them. Unfortunate problem of the cavalry. But the rest of them rode on. Another volley was fired, and more men died, and then they were upon them. The flimsy barricade made of bayonets was swept aside like a leaf in a river. The screams of pain mixed with the neighing of the horses as they cut their way through the footmen. Magath chuckled. It was going exactly as Zeke predicted. And they had a plan ready to go.
With a roar, his warriors shifted on different places of the battlefield, strategically picked to support their lines of infantry men. The Marleyans clumped to them, horses screaming in fear as the titans started tearing them apart. At the same moment Pieck busted through the camp wall in her cart titan form with a full battle gear strapped to her back. The cannons opened fire, tearing bleeding holes in the bodies of the Eldian riders.
Jean didn't waste any more time. They accomplished their goal. Grabbing a whistle hanging around his neck, he sounded the retreat, turning his horse around and running back to the wall. They bought the time. Now it was up to other guys. He squinted his eyes towards the moving frontline of their troops, trying to locate his shifter friend among them. But he didn't see him.
"Tear them apart Eren, "he gritted through his teeth.
As the dust cleared from the running cavalry, Magath was greeted by the sign of quickly approaching lines of Eldian infantry. Before his troops could line again, the guns sounded from the enemy, cutting down number of his soldiers. And then the titans attacked. Zeke squeezed a boulder in his fist, creating a gravel and throwing it into the enemy squads. The guns on Pieck's back started shooting, claiming more lives. But they kept advancing.
When the two armies clashed, it sounded like the end of the world. Screams, fountains of blood, cut limbs and more and more wounded crawling on the battlefield. And in the middle of it, the Attack titan appeared. He rose to his full height on fifteen meters, roaring towards the sky. His body quickly covered the critical parts with black hardening armor, granting him additional layer of protection. And then he smashed his fists into the screaming mass of Marley men.
Blood. There was blood everywhere. Eren didn't see much. He was like a backseat passenger in his own head. The titan consumed every piece of his mind, laying into the enemy with the rage of a berserk. The tiny figures of the enemy combatants were crying in fear, trying to get away from him. But he didn't let them. Stomping the grown men like ants, the ground itself shook with the power of his blows. Some of the few remaining artillery units tried targeting him, but it did nothing. The shells either hit his armor, inflicting no damage, or tore out chunks of his flesh for it to be regenerated in a few seconds.
No, this was not enough. The titan didn't want this. This was a massacre. He wanted a challenge, a fight. He cried out his disappointment to the heaven, crushing a few more of the tiny soldiers. And the he spotted him. Towering amongst the lines, there was a worthy adversary. The seventeen meters tall ape, the beast titan. The Attack titan roared his challenge, preparing to charge him. But he was suddenly pounced from behind by something large. The massive jaw of Galliard locked around his nape, trying to crush the human body hidden there. But that part of him was the most armored one. The massive teeth scraped uselessly against the layers of hardening. He reached to his back, grabbing the enemy and smashing him against the ground. But before he could follow up with a devastating punch, massive boulder hit him square into the face. He stumbled backwards, dazed, just to be attacked by a volley of the cannons mounted of the cart titan. The shots managed to take out his eyes. Blind, he covered his face with his hands, waiting for his sight to regenerate. The moment it did, he was rammed by Reiner.
The massive battering force used in the past to tear down the wall sent him flying backwards, hitting the ground. But he was not as weak as he used to be. Steeling himself, he dug his heels into the ground, stopping the enemy charge. His hands sneaked around the torso of the armored titan, and he squeezed with all his strength. The armor protecting Reiner's torso cracked, leaking blood and steam. Before he could continue, the Jaw jumped him again. Attacking like a hound, he tried biting out Eren's neck. Attack titan was however quick enough to put a hand in front, and the massive mouth locked around a forearm instead. The force of the jump was strong enough to pull him to the ground, and he fell, letting go of Reiner. He wrestled with Galliard, managing to free the other hand and delivering a massive punch into his face. The faceplate broke under the force of it, and the Jaw backed off, hissing. Eren stood, taking a stance learned from Annie, preparing himself to continue the battle. But before anyone could do anything, the enemy camp exploded.
It was Armin, of course. In the heat of the battle he managed to sneak behind the lines, and now he transformed. The massive explosion and the heatwave of steam immediately erased the lives of hundreds of Marley troops. The remaining men run on the field, disoriented, being picked of by Eldians. Magath couldn't believe it. After all this time, all those preparation, he would lose. The bitter taste of defeat appeared in his mouth, and he spat, hoping to erase it. There was only one way to go now. The last remaining airship was hidden away, prepared to carry them back to Marley on moments notice. But this was the end of his dreams. He won't be the conqueror of the devils. He will be a laughing stock of the others, most likely demoted or even imprisoned for his actions. He was prepared to accept this. It was better than letting all his men die here. But before he could give the order to sound the retreat, a lot of things happened at once.
Firstly, several massive spikes appeared from the ground, puncturing the colossal titan and pinning him in place. Next, a giant carrying a hammer rose on the horizon accompanied by squads of soldiers in Marley colors. Magath could not believe his eyes. Lady Tybur was here. And she brought reinforcements. He grinned, feeling the tears of relief in his eyes. The tide was turning.
Armin wasted no time in dissolving his body and getting on the ground, joining his soldiers and ordering a quick call to retreat. They were not prepared for this. As he rode back to the wall, the newly brought enemy artillery started shooting, tearing holes in the now confused mass of Eldian troops. The cries of victory turned into cries of terror, as they started running back to where they came.
The Attack titan didn't understand what was happening. His friend the colossal appeared for a brief moment before being stabbed through by giant spikes appearing out of thin air. Now his side was getting bombarded by cannons, and his allies were running for their lives. He grumbled in discomfort. And then he saw her. His nemesis. The Warhammer. His blood boiled, and his muscles tensed. He was ready to take her on now, to undo the humiliating defeat he suffered from her hands in the past. But the reasonable part of his brain called for attention. There was no way he can win with four other shifters still standing in his path. The Attack titan was bloodthirsty, but he was not stupid. So, he turned and retreated. He will get his revenge one day. Just not today.
Levi watched his lines flow around him, gritting his teeth. Zeke was so close. He could see the almost smug smile on the giant ape face, as he threw rocks at the running Eldians. No, he will not let him get away again. For Erwin. The commander kicked his horse into motion, making beeline for the hairy giant. Lost in his amusement, he didn't spot him. Not before the gear brought him up to face the monster. The fear that flashed in his eyes might have been funny for another man, but it only fueled Levi's rage. The beast reached out, trying to swat the man from the sky. And felt the blades go through his flesh in a second. Fingers fell off, followed by whole forearm as Levi flew straight for the nape. The hardening was once again too late.
Zeke screamed in pain as he was cut out of the neck. The giant body of his titan collapsed. And as in the past, he was staring into the dark eyes of the vengeful Ackerman. He rammed his blade right into the older Yeager's mouth. And then he looked around. He was surrounded. The Eldians retreated to the wall. Marley soldiers were all around him, watching him with a mix of awe and fear. The shifters were also present. Reiner, Galliard, Pieck and even Warhammer were standing near. He could bargain for his life with Zeke's. He could try to cut some deal. But he spent too long fantasizing about finally being able to get his hands-on Erwin's murderer. Fuck it. Commander Levi Ackerman cut, and his blade was true, severing Zeke Yeager's head from his body in a single swing.
The short man closed his eyes. Feeling tears flowing down his cheeks. This was for you, Erwin.
Now I can die in piece.
All around him, the Marley troops jumped to action.