Our leader, our friend

by Avalon Invel

Eric Langford. friends with the main trio. Can the powers bestowed by his parents and bloodline save them or will he die to protect the things he loves. he finds power to combine people, abilities and souls. To become a leader but a tragedy awakens an icy hot dark side of him for the use of his powers. Can one hero's noble amilbition and obsessive smooth talk carry mankind through.

38. Chapter 38 superhero

If you have any kijdness at all you will review this at the end of the chapter.

Please.

Have fun

Chapter 38. I'll drag him back by the collar if I have to. Even if it costs me my arms.

"Huh? What do you mean he's on the loose?! Sir!" Eren shouted as he ran after Levi who summoned them and dashed across the courtyard. "Just as I said lord Langford is going baloney again and going on a rampage. I wonder how many bodies and buckets of blood I gotta clean up." Levi said as he ran to the stables to find his mare. "What's going on sir? Please explain." Armin requested. Levi sighed as he untied his horse. "I went up to his room, it was empty. He left his uniform and regalia cloak behind. There was also the smell of smoke in that room. So either he went to find and kill every last member of the remaining suppression squad or recapture wall maria all by himself. Either way if we don't find him things are gonna get messy." Levi said with a hint of concern. "So where are we going sir?" Jean asked. "To the underground district. That's the closest and the best place for those MPs to hide." Levi swiftly replied as he mounted and went of with the others following. "And remember, don't let the princess now of this yet. As far as she knows I convinced him to go for a walk!" Levi barked on last time upon leaving the compound.

In about half an hour at top speed they raced from the royal estates to the main city. The capital Mitras. Levi raced straight for the entrance but soon the pungent smell of filth and blood fill his nose. He puts up a hand and skids to a halt. Approaching they find a stunned pair of MPs. "What's going on here?" Levi asks maintaining his composure, "Ca-captain Levi . . ." The soldier says. "Lance corporal." Levi corrected him. "Sir. We don't know. Its just that around this morning some sort of shadow attacked us during our break and knocked us out. By the time we came to there were screaming and shouting comming out from there." The MP said hoarsely with shaky breaths. "We tried to enter but we heard slashing and blood spilling. We're sorry sir but we were too scared to go any further so we sent a messenger to HQ to call for reinforcements. But then all of a sudden tha . . .that body and that . . bag was thrown outside." He began to shiver as Levi gestured Sasha to give him a bag of water. He turned to see a splatter of blood on the ground just beside the entrance with a stained white cloth covering it from view and beside it was a tiny bag also stained- it was a brown drawstring bag. Holding back his disgust he picked up the bag and brought it on the table set up near the tiny outpost base. The sloshy sounds coming from it didn't help much. He turned and went to check on the body. Lifting the cloth it was a middle aged man. His finger and guts hacked apart. Levi slowly ran a hand across it till he found something hard on his collar. A military badge. He didn't bother to unpin it instead ripped it off. Taking the bloody piece of metal in his hands he rubbed the blood with his thumb. Underneath he found the military police unicorn and the title of the anti-personnel control squad. 'Thought so.' Levi wondered and came back covering the body up. On the table everyone stood around it and untied the small bag. Everyone was slightly more surprised at the fact that Levi still didn't clean his bloody hands. Instead sticking those very hands into the bag.

He immediately wanted to pull it out but didn't. It was filled with liquid, soft slimy parts rough pieces and hard parts too. He gritted his teeth and grabbed a fistful of the dirty stuff and pulled it out and slapped it on the table. Everyone gulped in horror. It was like a serial killers collection stash. It was an assortment of human body fragments. Bone pieces, fingertips and nails, gut muscle, even some strange round pink objects and dark red chunks. All laced together with blood. But even among them something stood out. Platinum symmetric objects. Armin pulled one up with barely the tips of his thumb and index finger trembling slightly. It was covered in blood before suddenly Eren stepped up and with a drinking water bag he washed the blood off everything. "This is just too messed up to call crazy anymore." He uttered. Along with the one on Armin's hand the bag was full of badges of the squad. "Did he do what I think he just did?" Connie said with a grim face. "Yeah, he massacred them alright." Surprisingly it was Mikasa who answered. "So anybodies' stomach strong enough to go down there." Levi mocked. While everyone thought about it. "That won't be necessary corporal Levi." A hard voice rang from behind them. They turned to see a platoon of MPs all armed and equiped with clean up and corpse disposal tools. Commander Nile Dok standing before them. "These Langfords are so annoying. Always making messes for me to clean up." He growled but the sarcasm was clear. "Well that's the path you chose when you became an MP commander." Levi replied decently. "Well unlike you people we got work to do. LETS GO MEN!" Nile walked past them and ordered the cleaning. The men and women pull up their masks and go in. But just as Nile walked on Levi put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait, how did you get a disposal crew ready so quickly. According to that chump over there all he saw was a black shadow running in to rampage this place."

"Its Connor's son. I expected no less. Remember that stohess massacre you got tangled up in. A little Déjà vu don't you think." Nile said as he brushed Levi's bloody hand off his shoulder and walked in. As one by one MPs filed in the scouts regrouped. "So what do we do now sir. If Eric is gone how do you suppose we track him?" Armin asked. Levi and Eren remain silent. 'Frost! Frost can you hear me! Answer me goddamn it!' But Levi's frustrations were only met with silence. 'FROST! ERIC!' He roared loudly. But still no reply.

'Tch' a sparking feeling struck them. Mikasa and Eren squeeze their eyes and clutch their head. 'Is that you corporal Levi?' To their disappointment it was the voice of their queen that replied. Levi's expression contorted to one of nervousness. 'Is something wrong corporal? You sound anxious. What's wrong with Eric?' Historia's voice come at them concerned. 'Should I come see you?' Levi suddenly took a deep breath. 'Its nothing your majesty. Its just that Eric's silence is really getting on my nerves. There is nothing to worry about, sorry to disturb you your majesty.' Much to other's confusion Eren and Mikasa stared wide eyed amazed at how the vulgar, vile mouthed Levi was speaking so decently and formally. 'Uh . .okay. ..if anything comes up don't hesitate to let me know corporal.' Historia still not convinced but trusted in Levi to deal with the situation. 'Of course your majesty.' His neat reply earned a chuckle from Eren of course he dare not show it. "Why did you lie to her corporal?" Mikasa asked looking at Levi. Others stared at the two Ackermans no one understanding besides Eren. "There is no need for her to concern herself with this. She has enough on her hands with the death of section commander Langford. She is busy enough as it is. We also don't need to inform Ervin about this until I get a handle on the situation." Levi sternly replied. "Huh lie to who?" Armin asked but Eren tapped his temple with two of his fingers. Armin got the message and shut up. "Sir . . .are you concerned about her." Eren asked tilting his head. Levi turned his back on them as he said. "I'm concerned about all of you." Then started walking. Everyone stood there wondering did they just see a softer side of their strong, tough and powerful leader. "We have no choice but to wait. Let's see what Nile can dig up." Levi said. As he went to wash his hands.

(Four years ago)

"ARE YOU NUTS KID?!" The merchant's assistant yelled. "Probably. But like I said I won't sell this land." Eric replied leaning back at the force of the scream. The merchant raised his hand to silence the man. "Listen kid. I admire your hard work I really do. Turning that trash heap into fertile land it really is a miracle but how much is it really going to cost." The merchant said as he tossed another bag on the table. Eren and the others were suppressing the urge to beat Eric unconscious and take all the money and sell the land. "Are you stupid Eric? He's offering this much right here on the table. Let's just milk what we can beat it please." Eren requested in a whisper. "And throw my obsessive hardwork down the drain no way." Eric replied. "Listen Mr. merchant. I appreciate how much you are offering sir but . . .where the hell am I supposed to keep this money? There's thieves crawling all over the place. If I take this I'm gonna lose half of it at the end of the day. Don't see much help in that. Why aren't you willing to see my end of the deal?" Eric crossed his arms and tried to remain cool. For the past half an hour a local merchant was trying to get his hands on that land Eric managed to make as well as thanks to the help of the adults and the garrison. That area was vastly expanded and fresh crops were cultivated. But even so it couldn't clench the famine and starvation of the people. So the military stepped in and called for an excurtion and all the adults from wall maria were taken away. Eric was stomped there as without their support he couldn't work on such a vast area. The children also began to lose morale and his situation began to get dire. Along with that many kids reached eligible age and began to sign up into the military. Lowering their numbers greatly. As without the older, stronger kids he was losing man power. Even the fertiliser sources from the markets began to run dry. Their fixed food slowly began to lower once more.

But then knowledge of this area began to gain attention. Soon hungry merchants began to goad him into selling the land. But without any home until another year before he could sign up this was not an option no matter how much money was staked. "Just please hear me out sir. Think, food is scarce and people are willing to pay a fortune for it. If I sell my crops instead I can make this amount in a matter of months. But my problem isn't money. What I need is solid food, warm bed and clean latrines for the thousands of stranded kids for a year. If you can promise me that then I can give you this land. Everyday the government is cutting our supplies smaller and smaller. We are already forced to eat our own crops. The markets are running dry but just please hear me out." Eric retorted.

"Fine you got my attention kid. What do you want?" The merchant crossed his arms. "I will give you my methods. And how to use the materials I use. As well as the rights to my fields. In return your men will assist in my cultivation and I want authority over them. You can have the crops for yourself. Sell them and provide us with living supplies. Then split the remainder to . . how much . . . 80-20? You can keep the 80. How's that for a deal?" Eric laid it all down. In the end the merchant cocked his head as if her was stupid. "So instead of my money you want me to babysit you."

Eric looked down and chuckled running a hand through his long messy grey hair. "A very bad way to put it but yeah. That's basically it." He said. The merchant laughed. "Heh. And you also want a piece of the profit I make. This is an adults world. You think you can survive like that?" This time Eric looked at him puzzled. "Adults? What are you talking about?" Eric chuckled. "Mr. merchant look around you the government already took away all the adults. Aside from those garrison men fed by the government there is not a single adult for miles. You just walked into a kid's world. We are the only ones trying to hold it together. Come on don't you agree. You barely pay a dime and you make so many kids happy. Along with that you are making scores of legal money. Can this get any sweeter? Or are you not convinced because I'm an 11 year old kid."

"So you guys are saying you wanna work for me?" He says with a smile. Eric returned it saying. "Now that's degraded. Why would I work for you when we can work together to make the world a better place." The merchanct who wasn't too old either. He was a man in his late twenties just taking after his father. He laughed out loud. "After all that you said boy I can hardly look at you like a kid anymore. You are practically a full fledged drug dealer who can sell cocaine to a priest." Others behind him snorted. "So is that a yes?" Eric asked nervously. "I've met many kinds of people in my time and each and every one of them are dim. You boy is shining and that light is cold. Hehehe. You got yourself a deal." He stuck his hand out and shook it with Eric. "Mister, you have a proud life and happy heaven ahead of you." Eric remarked. The merchant impressed at how he handles a situation with a perfect balance of words and action. "You are twisted boy. Really twisted, I like you. So as a sign of goodwill here." He threw a smaller bag of coins at Eric who caught it and began to leave. "Thanks." Was what he last said before leaving.

"You're serious? You actually agreed to give your techniques for our housing and necessities." Reiner said. "Yup." Eric said while walking out of the tent the merchant set up. And examining the coins in the bag. "What if he doesn't keep up his end of the deal? And just steal the crops." Eren warned. "Don't worry. He'll keep his word." Eric still didn't even look at them as he stepped outside. "What makes you so sure?" Eren angrily states. "Hey are you even listening to me?" Eric scowled and stuffed the bag into his pocket. Then calming his expression looked at Eren. "I know his kind. He is a newbie. But knows all the traits of a merchant. But there is an immature competitiveness in him just like me. His pride won't let him drop his part as long as I keep mine. He is twisted but he is way better than a bad one. He makes his business by bending the rules and exploiting loopholes not breaking them. Plus we already got a system running here. As long as we have our supplies and resolve we can maintain this independantly until we join the military next year. In that period providing for us is child's play. If he goes back on his part on such a simple thing he won't be able to live with himself. And he knows this. But he will still listen to whatever I say. Because its good for his business. Being able to openly brag about helping kids and growing food his business will bloom in no time. Its a win-win situation for both of us." He grinned and shared a few coins with everyone before stuffing the rest down his own pocket. "Okay. If you say so." Reiner said as he took a few coins and pocketed them.

The shiganshina foursome met with the trio of Reiner, Bertold and Annie several months ago. Reiner quickly became sociable but Bertold turned out to be a shy and meek character. He would chat openly with Reiner but would barely speak without him. But Annie turned out to be a complete introvert. Even if spoken to the only reactions out of her would be 'hmmph's, nods and one word answers. Even in her own group she would rarely speak. No one knew each other's pasts. For all of them smiling had a broken heart underneath. Too traumatised to even speak of 'that day'. And ignoring each other's pasts and just being people. So they just tried to build up their bodies and restore their spirits with their smiles and labours. Preparing so that one day they can ascend from this wretched state and become men and women who fight for their homes. So the boy wearing a white t-shirt, brown pants and a pair of leather makeshift sandals continues his work for the optimistic future.

(Present. But several hours ago)

The now grown boy who has never faltered on his march to victory now sits in the corner of his room shivering and gripping his own arms and curled up into a ball. The walls were covered in frost. His power is losing its sharpness along with his emotions. The death of his father right before him as a recreation of his mother's death. As well as failing both of them the very weight of the unnecessary guilt that was bearing down on his shoulders. The depression for having won all this happiness and having it torn apart like glass was chipping at the last bit of sanity he had left. The countless bloodshed he went through. Turning his allies into the same breed of killers as himself. For forcing the girl he loves into a responsibility she didn't want to take. Successive victories have boiled down to the death of the man he respected, loved and admired. The man who stuck with his mystery and belief to the very end. He began to give out cold condensing breaths. He crawled up to his dresser. There he found his uniform. Remembering he kept something in it he shook it violently till it fell from the hanger and spilled the thing he desired. Thr matchbox and a packet of cigarettes dubbed weed by his father. Lighting the match its heat already began to melt the frost on the walls. The hissing of the matchhead burning that smokey smell and that warm light that soothed him in a dark manner. He pulled out a brown stick from the packet and ignited it. With trembling hands he places the other end of the burning stick into his mouth and breathed in the smoke. It irritated his lungs but through that aweful smell the narcotic effect it was having on his broken mind he welcomed it wholeheartedly. He had not given up on his dreams and wishes but they went crushed under a pile of guilt and sorrow. Now another layer of narcotics that dug into his skull and began to scrape the pain out. That numbing feeling that was calming his flaring nerves. Even in his state his powers did not recede. He could reach his location and environment. Feeling every second pass, every sound in the room. But the narcotic was just what he desired. Something to kill his brain for the moment. To make him just throw himself into the darkness and disappear for a moment. He blew it out slowly with puffs of bluish grey smoke coming out of his mouth and nostrils. A few minutes pass and the stick burns half way through. He didn't bother about the ashes falling on the floor. All he wanted was to throw away the effects of his power for the moment.

The loneliness was another factor tearing him apart. And he inadvertedly chose it himself. Too weak to interact with others but also needing it. Even the hallucinating ghost in his mind went silent. There was no more of a peep from it. Even Historia was forced to do her duties as queen but she kept her distance giving him the space she thought he needed. An hour passed. Four sticks were finished but he needed it more. His powers cleared the narcotic as quickly as possible brought his sense back to their sharpened states. Wanting to pull out another a knock came on the door. "Eric its me, Eren." Eren's voice came into the room but he was too lost to notice the first few knocks. But after he talked some more he snapped to his senses. He pulled himself to his feet and wobbled to the door. But just upon reaching the handle he stopped. As much as he wanted to open the door and step out he didn't want anyone to see his broken state. So instead just conversed with him.

. . . .

But in the end it boiled down to an arguement and Eren was forced to leave. He slumped down leaning his back against the door. His face was jumping from a snarl to glare repeatedly. He reached into his pockets and brought out another of those sticks. Lighting it he smoked again. Hating himself but as much as his mind denied it his soul didn't have the power it needed. But Eren's words kept thumping in his mind.

'YOUR DAD IS GONE, PERIOD!'

Something was boiling inside him.

'Stop moaning and griping!'

His blood was bubbling.

'Circumstances were different.'

Anger was pouring back. Time seemed to slow down the tick-tock of the clock could be heard.

'If you want to piss on something then piss on those fucking MP survivors or shove it up the beast titan's ass.'

Out of anger he bit down hard on his cigarette and spit it out. Charging to his closet he opened it violently. With a dull pair of eyes he sees his killer skin. Grabbing his black attire he changes and jumps out the window. Hours later fully equiped he finds himself on the entrance of the underground district. MPs casually knocked out behind him. Previously he broke into HQ and stole Carven's badge. Entering the first thing he noticed was the dank smell of sewer water. People drinking in pubs. People living in their homes. Life is still hard but the place is far more brighter than it was a year ago. The organised crime centers were wiped out in a matter of weeks thanks to Levi and the MPs combined efforts. Now the only thing left are robbers, thieves, rapists and pedophiles. But once again now military police heed their calls and dispatch proper forces to deal with such matters. People pass strange glances at him for his strange appearence. Yet continue with their lives. Few children run into him running their hands on him but he didn't have anything of value. But then one of the kids grab the badge in his pocket and try to run away. Eric stood there for a moment putting some distance between them.

The boy who stole the badge was chuckling to himself. "Who was that creeper? Like he was asking to be robbed. Probably one of those dumb MPs." He looked at the badge and under a hole of the roof of the caver under a ray of sunlight he saw the shine on the platinum badge. "Wow, an MP badge. Score! This oughtta get me a fortune." He ran several twists and turns to hide his tracks but suddenly as he ran on a straight line he noticed a shadow on an alley he was about to pass by. And as he crossed it a long hand leaped out of the shadows and grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him into the alley. The hand that looked no more older than a teenager but with the force of an elephant behind it but the swiftness of a cheetah. The hand quickly moved from his collar to his mouth. "Didn't your mother ever teach you that stealing is wrong?" His captor spoke. "Look I'm going to let you go and we are going to have a chat. Scream and it'll be your last understand." He nodded swiftly. Eric lowered his hand. "Pah . .who do you think taught me to steal in the first place." The boy sarcastically replied wiping his mouth. "Who the hell are you? You ain't from around here that's for sure. And you're too young to be an MP of this class. So who are you creepy guy with weird accent."

"Sheesh, look who's talking. Well you're right. I'm from the surface. But I got a bone to pick with the central MPs. You know anyone who holds a badge like this." Eric said.

"Not exactly know but I did see a couple of broken and burned dudes and chicks with them." The boy replied. "You wanna tell me your name?"

"No, its better if we stay on a no name basis." Eric said as he peeked around the corner. "Whatever, I have a request for you. Can you find me one or more of these people with the badges."

"What's in it for me? These freaks are armed and dangerous." The boy uttered. "You're pretty calm for a captured kid." Eric said. "I've been through worse. Not like those survey corps guys but I had my fair share of trouble. You smell like blood but you have a nice vibe. Plus you aren't that tall to be a bad guy." Eric looked at the boy and saw his state. A torn white shirt with barely any buttons holding up. A pair of oversized torn trousers. And a musty pair of sandals. His face was covered in dust and under the tears of his clothing Eric noticed several cuts and bruises. "Seriously you judge people by their height, that's crazy you know." Eric said. "Not as crazy wanting to attack those nasty soldiers. You must have a SERIOUS personal issue to beef with them."

"Say kid you have any family or peers?" Eric asked. The boy shook his head. "Just that pack of rugrats you saw earlier." Eric nodded. 'What about your parents?" He seemed slightly more disturbed. "Don't bother. Besides why would you spill all the secrets about your life to this shady looking stranger. "My . .mom was a hooker. And she was killed by some drunkard asshole who didn't get his money's worth. And my pops was a thief but one day he got caught by the military police and tortured to death." He honestly spoke everything. "I told you not to say it." Eric reached into his pocket and pulled another cigarette. Lighting it before the boy with a match and smoking it. "I see it'll do." The tone of which he stated it startled the boy. "Hey what are you planning? Listen buddy. I might be small but these fella's are all I got. And if you plan on doing something with them then I'm gonna . . ." He said nervously. But a soft hand patted him on the head. "Chill kid. I won't hurt you. There was a raid a couple weeks ago. All the children were found and evacuated. How the hell were you left behind?" The boy looked down. Eric was impressed, this boy who's body looked so malnurished and tired that even a breeze could knock him down but he was determined to stand up for himself. "We were at the furthest end of the district and before that we were captives of a slave trade. But after everything went down we managed to escape but by the time we could find anyone those dirty bastards already began to tighten their grip here and we had to hide. And . . .and . . .and what the fuck are you smoking?! That shit smells disgusting. Damn you are messed up." The boy returned to his sarcastic state. "Kid. I'll make you an offer. You will show me where these so called MPs are hiding and disappear behind the shadows. After events pass if I'm satisfied I'll take all of your friends to the surface and to a special place built by the queen just for you." The boy chuckled. "As if. Who are you to prepare something like that you smoking crackpot?"

"Captain Eric Langford of the special operations squad, first division of the survey corps. Lord of the noble house of Langford and the queen's boy friend. I have the power to do that. Are you willing to risk your life to escape this hell hole to the makeshift paradise the queen herself is constructing for you." The boy's jaw dropped at the proclaimation. His eyes brightened up ready to shout but Eric quickly put a hand on his mouth to shush him. He was almost jumping with disbelief. "I don't care how much blood and guts you gotta spill but I gotta see the dark side of the legendary Eric Langford."

"That awkward feeling when you notice the world is crazier than you are. Okay kid but stay out of trouble."

"Yes sir." He said with a military style salute with the wrong set of hands.

(First target, pub)

"Like I said stay outside and don't you dare look. . . .and cover your ears if you can." Was the last thing he said as he walked inside. People turn to look at this new person. The clanking of the metal gear under his black cloak. He took a seat and uttered. Aside from the gentleman over there anyone who values their lives get the fuck out of here." Many quickly filed out some remained. Not being able to feel the blood thirst coming from him. The man in target lifelessly continued his drink. "What the hell do you want?" He asked. "You want the sad truth or a happy lie?" Eric said. "This world flooded with lies. One truth can't hurt." The man said finishing his drink. "Okay. My name is Eric Langford. You bastards killed my dad. I'm high and I want to violently torture you to death because the bitch who did it committed suicide before I could get my hands on her."

The man nodded his head but suddenly tossed the glass in the air. He whipped out a gun and turned to face him but then. ~slash~ his arm was lopped off from the elbow. The hand holding the gun fell like a flopping fish on the ground. The MP found a blade pointed right at his face. "Two choices. Either you spill the location of every member of the surviving force and I toss you to the main MPs or we can see how many bottles here I can stuff you in."

"In my oath. I'll never tell you . . . .. .I "

Ten minutes later, Eric walked out wiping his blades and putting them back in. "So you done." The boy hiding in the shadows asked. Peeking around Eric seeing the blood and guts all over the place. "Yeah. Let's go." Eric said.

He killed. Again and again. But for some reason it didn't seem to quell the gaping hole in his chest. The boy would never see his actions always hiding in a corner, listening to the cries of pain and using his own imagination. Seeing this is the rage of the Langford hiding behind the cloak of the survey corps. Everytime he would walk in somewhere he would come out with bloodier and with a cigarette in his mouth. But for a boy living in the underground independantly it wasn't that bad of an experience. It made him feel like Levi. The hero of the underground to the kids. Who lived on his own and lived on sewer water just like them now holds respect and is a warrior for mankind. He watched, those wretched MPs that ruined the barely established peace in the underground region. He knew it was evil but in such a world evil has no meaning. He watched from afar as a spectator, as all the carnage went down. He was even crafty enough to extract some valuables from his leftovers. Badges, guns. Money. "What the duck am I doing with my life?" The boy muttered seeing the bag of dirty badges and flesh pieces he got. "Since when did I become Eric Langford's corpse cleaner. But damn if I sell this I can get out of here in no time."

But slowly he saw Eric staggering. "Need more . . ." He tiredly uttered. He was tapping his clothes frantically looking for something. "Out of sticks." The boy said. Eric looked haggard then the boy threw a packet at the older boy's face. "Not as fucked up as the one you smoke but enjoy. But then Eric stopped, he sighed then stumbled to a corner to an alley and slumped down on the ground. "What the hell am I doing with my life?" He threw the packet away and buried his head in is hands. The boy leaned his back to the wall. "Yeah, life is hard." "This is . . .this is just wrong. What am I doing? This isn't what I'm meant to do." Headache began to hurt his head. But he resisted the urge to crave for another. "So that's about all of them. What are you going to do now? Go back to your peeps? Or you got bigger fish to fry." The boy pulled out his blood bag and began to examine it. Carefully squeezing the excess blood out. "You promised. In exchange for this you will give me and my pals a way out of here. You didn't forget now right?"

"No, I didn't forget. But now, how am I supposed to go back now." Eric uttered. "Matthew." The boy said. "What?" Eric raised his head. "Matthew Averin. That's my name." The boy finally said. "Get out of here. This shithole isn't a place for the great captain Langford to be hiding in. Go back up there and destroy whatever thing that's weighing down on you. But remember there is a kid waiting for you okay." The boy tapped him on the shoulders and sneakily placed the packet in his pocket. Biting his lip hard enough to cut it he stood up and ran. But shouted back. "I'll remember to find you Matt. I promise."

Deploying his gear he flies to the entrance back outside. The boy watched from behind with a chuckle.

(Currently)

Levi and company returned to scout HQ and were wondering over their next move. After the MPs clean up twelve confirmed bodies were recovered in pieces. More children and women were recovered. The children were sent to the Reiss orphanage, the women were sent to work as either servants to military bases, cooks, cleaners, and several other odd and simple jobs. From a neutral view they are still living in a poor standard. But for them it was life of grateful debt and happiness from the life as a prostitute, sex slave or some brute's oppressive punching bag. Many imprisoned men were allowed for hardwork and paid labour at the construction sites for educational facilities and hospitals Historia was founding. And the underground was finally freed from its corrupted iron grip. Eric Langford disappeared from the map. After saying his farewells to the boy he was not spotted again.

But Levi held back on sending the news to the main council. As a meeting was currently going on. "So how is the situation going commander Ervin?" Pixis asked mostly concerned about the health and welfare of Eric but also how they are coping with Connor's death. "We are making progress, our new weapons are developing well. Section commander Hange has continued to perform experiments regarding Eren's power. The special operation squad are performing their duties as well. The recruits are already being introduced to Eren's titan form to toughen them up. They are also being regularly trained for using the new weapon. The titan guillotine we constructed is killing over 50 titans everyday on average." Ervin reported as emotionlessly as possible almost sounding like a machine. "How is the military police doing Premier sir?" Pixis asked. "Yes general Pixis. Thanks to Connor Langford's efforts and repeated drills the military police are finally shaping back into the people they are supposed to be and even the people acknowledge it. Initially the senior officers were opposed but it was only a matter of time before we brought everything back together. Its a tragedy that Connor had to die like that." Everyone then slowly begin to notice Historia being incredibly quiet. "Your majesty. Is anything in your mind?" Zackery asked. Historia came back to her senses. "Uh . .sorry I was distracted. Where were we?" She said awkwardly. "Nothing in particular, just discussing how the state of affairs were going. How is the orphanage going your majesty? After that incident the children must definately be startled."

Historia nodded. "Yes. It was difficult but they seemed to recover better I expected. Growing up in harsh environments they have tremendous inner strengths sirs. I'm amazed they can act normal now. But I'm more worried about one thing." She said. "The situation on Langford? Yes it must be a hard blow for the boy to lose his father right there." As the conversation rolled on to its conclusion. The door to the council room was thrown open. An MP stood there and huffing tiredly he salutes them. "I'm sorry for the interruption sirs! But there was an incident in the underground district." He reported. The men turned to look at the soldier. "What happened?" Zackery says. "S-s-somebody unauthorised went down there and tracked every surviving member of the suppression squad. Then massacred every single one of them." Many were shocked at the news,

"What do you mean by massacred?" Ervin stood up. "As in ripped to pieces sir." The soldier replied. "Who did it?" Ervin had a hunch but still asked. "We don't know sir, the MPs on watch were knocked unconscious before the assailant went in and did that. We have no confirmation." Ervin pinched the bridge of his nose in disdain. But then their attention turned. To Historia who was shivering in her seat. She was grabbing onto her shoulders and convulsing. She hastily stands up from her chair. "Pl-please excuse me." she barely spat out as she ran out of the room frantically holding her mouth. "Your majesty! Are you alright?!" Many officials were scared. Ervin also excused himself. In a few moments he found himself outside the women's restroom enduring the painful hurling sounds coming from inside. "Your majesty are you alright?!" Ervin said alarmed. He heard of the reports that Eric's powers were as of late negatively affecting the people connected to him with their bloodline powers. Showing brief episodes of such incidends. Slowly she calmed down and soft huffing sounds were comming from inside. Here Historia began to wash her face and trying to clean out the chunk of blood and vomit on the basin. It didn't call for an expert to know something was definately wrong with Eric as well as herself and she knew her state isn't going to last much long unless she does something about Eric. She looked at herself in the mirror. Water still dripping off her chin and the dark circles beneath her eyes were prominent. "I gotta find Eric and deal with this . .fast." she said to herself as she wiped her face with a cloth and stepped out to meet Ervin.

(Many moments later)

"So where the hell is he?" Jean complained as he was busy wiping the blood off the floor. Eren and the others sitting gloomily on their seats while Levi was sipping on his coffee. Eren seemed deep in thought surprisingly along with Armin. Mikasa was sitting in the corner with the others. The people of the council were oblivious to the fact that something similiar. "He's beyond the walls." Eren suddenly uttered. Everyone's eyes snapped to him. "Say what!?" They shout at his face. "What do you mean he's outside the walls?" Jean shouted. "Exactly what I said." Eren said clenching his fists. "On what basis!" Jean retorted. Eren didn't reply for a moment. "A-a-a freaking gut feeling." Eren said hoarsely. "A gut feeling?! Are you nuts? Do you know how big it is for him to be outside the walls?!"

"YEAH I GET IT! I GET YOUR POINT. I KNOW THAT IN HIS CONDITION UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING HE'S NOT COMMING BACK. AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET HIM IS TO SEND OUT AN EMERGENCY EXPEDITION." Eren barked back to him. "So do you know much that will cost and how many lives we're putting at risk." Jean retorted.

"Eren you're not thinking what I think you are?" Mikasa worriedly askes. "Remember three months ago when I was taken. He busted his hump all by himself to get me back. I can't abandon him now." Eren began to babble. "Hold your horses. You're not seriously considering going outside." Jean said. "Yeah. You scared?" Eren mocked him. "Of course I am. Do you know how many people died on the last excursion? We survived on pure luck that time. I'm not going to risk my balls getting singed out there before the wall maria recovery mission. Besides how the hell would Eric be able to get outside without anyone noticing and where would he even go." Jean barked back. "If you had any you castrated horse! I don't care about anything all I know is smack dab on the way to shiganshina ready to turn Reiner into steamed lobster." Eren insulted him back. "Say WHAT! You long haired self deluded prick!"

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE WOULD YOU TWO ANNOYING ASSHOLES JUST SHUT UP!" To their shock it was Armin who roared out shut them up. His face almost reddening at the intensity of his own sound. "Its more than just that. Eric can easily carry a horse over the wall. Hell the titans don't attack him. With that he can walk into shiganshina undisturbed. In which case he's going to fight the colossal, armoured and the beast at the same time. I don't think even Eric can take them all on." Armin muttered. "No he can, just that he's gonna blow up half the town and himself in the process." Levi replied. Suddenly Mikasa slapped her hand on the table. "Its not like that. Anyone connected to Eric will know. His mental state plays a large part in his power. That cocky sarcastic bastard is an important factor in his ability. But right now in that depressed, ragged state the only thing he will kill is himself." She huffed. "That's all the more reason we should get him back before he encounters them." Eren stood up. "Corporal come on. Are you going to leave him to die? You can't be so cold."

"Alright we'll go." Levi said.

"But sir you can't abandon our best . . .. . .wait you agree?" Eren took a second to realise Levi's reply through gritted teeth. "Yeah, but if we are going this is going to be covert. Only those of us here. We don't need manpower to bring Eric back. Force is useless since we're no match for him. Its best if we keep this force as small as possible . In fact its better if I go alone." Levi uttered turning away from them. "No way. Sir if we have to find Eric I'm going too. I'm better at convincing him." Eren protested. "There is no point dragging you into this. You are exactly what they want. I'm not handing you to them on a silver platter. And what can you convince? Your speaking skills are about as good as a chicken trying to moo." Levi said grimly. "I don't care sir. I made a mistake and unless I see him in person I can't rectify it." Eren replied. "What did you say?" Levi's tone hardened, he stood up and stood right before Eren sadly falling a few inches shorter than him. "Yesterday ago when I was trying to get him to come out of his room I got annoyed at his stubborn attitude and vented out my stupid anger." Eren confessed. "As usual." Jean added. "Not now horseface. I told him to stop whining about what could have happened. Then told him if he wanted to take his frustration out on something do it on those MPs or shove it up the beast titan's ass." Everyone's eyes widened at that. "And it looks like he is really gonna do it half of it which he already did." Levi sighed and rubbed his own face. "What more could I expect from you?" Levi said tiredly. "Alright then its just you and . . ." "Wait just a moment sir." Of course Mikasa couldn't hold on to her napkin. "If Eren is going anywhere outside the walls then so am I." But then Eren scowled at her but as he opened his mouth.

"I have always trusted your judgement to do as you please but aren't you going a little overboard Levi." A new voice lanced into the room. The voice belonging to commander Ervin Smith. Levi boredly turned his head to face is slightly annoyed superior officer. "Hiding the fact that Eric went missing, Not stating who or what caused the underground massacre despite being fully aware of it. And now you are planning to sneak outside the walls. Have I really become that obsolete to you?" His voice was monotone. "Its not like that. Its just that lately you've been really out of it. You are normal and fine on the surface but after that incident with section commander Langford you are getting a little rough around the edges. You've been drinking more than usual, and I didn't know survey corps. drills were this tough and rigourous." Levi replied without looking at him. "It doesn't matter. I am your commander and superior officer. And he is our biggest weapon. I thought it was your standing order to constantly update me on the wherabouts of the two of them. Out of shape or not it was your obligation to inform me." A tinge of anger seeping in now. "I also didn't say it because you were around the queen all day. I didn't want her to know of this before got my own handle of the situation." Levi said. "Since when were you so considerate about people's feelings Levi." Ervin pointing out the radical change in Levi's attitude. But as Levi was about to say the person he most feared the news would reach to walked in. "Is it true? That Eric ran away outside the walls. To battle the titans on his own." Her majesty Historia Reiss. "Not precisely. But my senses do pick up his presence somewhere out there and Eren also shares the same view as me." Levi answered. "So he's out there. And are you planning an impromptu expedition to recover him?" Levi looked away silently. "If so then I want in." This sent a lightning bolt down their backs. "Hell no, out of all the people who should stay inside these walls you are the first person in line." Levi shouted. "No you don't understand I have to . . ." She said looking down and clenching her fists. "What do you mean have to? All you gotta do is stay here. We can take care of it Historia." Eren said enthusiastically. "For once I agree with this asshole." Jean also said. "Me too. Historia there is no need to risk your life. Stay here we promise we will bring him back." Mikasa also said gently. "That's right your majesty. You are the queen, you are not a scout anymore." Armin jumped on too.

"ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!" she shrieked startling everyone. "You don't get it do you." She grabbed her right arm with her left and hung her head, eyes disappearing beneath her bangs. "He knew something like this was comming. Something that kept warning him of such a situation. He was always scared. Looking after everyone, checking out the slightest bit of details on everyone's security. But the main factor is that not once or twice. Many times he made me promise if he ever fell down the hole of madness I will be the one to pull him out. I would always laugh it off as a superstition but it really happened. Its . .its . .not that I'm scared of losing him but I'm scared of losing the Eric Langford I love. His mental state is deteriorating every minute. After all the support he gave me to fight through the hardships, all those peaceful nights of sleep, that affection is irreplaceable. If after countless times of promising him I go back on my word it will be a betrayal of his trust and my love for him. I won't be able . . .I . .forget ruling . . .I won't be able to live with that." Tears began to appear behind the shadows and drip on the floor. "He saved me more times than I can count ready to dive into the jaws of hell to pull out our hopes. This . .happiness I was granted over the past one month was like a living dream to me something I thought I never had and what was left was stolen from me when my mother was killed right before my very eyes." She brought her hands to her face to violently rub the tears off. "See that. I . .I promised never to cry again. My promises already began to crumble. While his ironclad ones are already changing the world."

Her head snapped back up with sparkling eyes. "So please I implore you. Take me with you on your mission." Suddenly she gets down on her knees and bows almost as begging. Levi couldn't take it and dived to stop her. Pulling her back up by her arms. "Easy now. Someone of your stature shouldn't bow before scum like me. You made your point, you'll come along and we are going to drag his ass back in here if we have to." Levi saw the girl's grit as well as her fear of losing the person she holds dear. The person that gives her the courage to continue to act. The one who did everything for her has now earned her loyalty for her to do anything for him. But upon touching her he realised something. He had constantly been underestimating her. It was a common mistake for people of his skill level. In that regard she is nothing but in general in simple appearence she looked like a normal beautiful girl. But underneath that same grace lied three years worth of titan battling training. She was underwhelmingly shorter than most average soldiers but those arms were still lined with the same titan battling muscles as the rest of his squad. With one kill in her record as well. And now that he thinks back she has survived two excursions beyond the wall as well as a city battle. Though only by evasion and luck she still survived. And for a scout it is a feat of acknowledgement no matter what tactics you employ. "So get ready we are moving out . ." Levi let go of her as she composed herself. "Wait just a minute on whose authority are you planning to set out." Ervin interrupted them. "Are you going to stop this mission Ervin?" Levi asks him. Ervin stood silently. "Common sense states that what you are about to do is foolish and extremely dangerous. And with the life of our monarch at stake its an immediate rejection. But . . ."

"But?" Levi asked. "But ever since Eric made his presense known in the battle of trost common sense has been thrown out the window, blown away by the wind into a titan's anus then heat cooked and buried. Still if we must go we must go but first this mission only holds as much priority as you make it to be. So please all of you participating please state what is the value in this mission to you." Ervin announces.

Everyone looks amazed at this shift of tide. Connie stood up first of all. "I'm taking part. That bastard Eric is always doing crazy stuff but I'm grateful to him. Not for his effort for humanity by for me. When I lost my village, my people and my mom he was the one who helped me cope with her death. That was the only reason I'm able to recover as quickly as I could. And of course he's my comrade. I'll never abandon a comrade as long as I live."

Everyone's eyes followed the commander's gaze as it fell on Sasha. "I uh . .this is a bit . . . .embarrasing to say . ." She seemed nervous to speak but the others urged her on. "I like his cooking. I want to save him so that I could eat more of that delicious stuff makes." Then followed it up with her goofy smile. All of them were slightly amused at her reply. Then they all looked at Jean. "Yeah well, he's kind of an inspirational figure for me." Jean crossed his arms and looked away embarrased to confess that though everyone knew it. And lastly the trio of shiganshina but strangely they who had the most contact with him said. "He's my friend. That is all the reason I need to go save him." Though many may misunderstand Ervin, Levi and Historia all understood it. Its not that they don't have any reason for it but in fact had so many too many to specify. Then finally Ervin faced Levi with a challenging look. "It was always in our nature to remain loyal to one another. But I want to know Levi why are you doing this. Don't give pathetic excuses like he's humanity's hope or that he is your charge so its your responsibility."

Levi seemed reluctant to answer. "Todays world is a really dark place and everyone is dying left . . ," "I thought I said not to make such excuses." Ervin said. "Let me finish, the reason I'm doing this is . . ." Levi hesitated again. Everyone patiently waited for his answer.

"He's too fun to let die."

Everyone was shocked while Ervin was impressed.

(Few hours later)

"Tragedy, betrayal, murder, theft, suicide, rape, pedophilia. In what angle do you see this world as paradise king Reiss. All of you foolish people living false lives in this pathetic cage. But what can we do. We are all decendants of the devil after all, Reiner and Bertold you foolish children. Even after spending five years with him you cannot tell him out. You have always stood out boy. Whether in here or your family out there. But I don't get their obsession in picking you out. As we are all labeled children of the devil you stand seperate.

Now come forth descendant of the traitor."

A man with shaggy blond hair wearing a brown coat stood in the middle of a clearing waiting the arrival of . . . Out of nowhere leaped in a magnificient white horse catching him by surprise. For someone as sharp as him to not notice his arrival. The black figure on the cloak jumped off his horse high into the air deploying his ODM gear. He didn't even waste a second as both of them feel the pressure ooze from the other. "Langford?!" The older man shouts. "BEAST TITAAAAAAAAAN!" Roaring he came blades drawn. There was a nickel ring on his index finger. Before he even had a chance to draw the spike he had to dodge to avoid being bisected. But the blazing rage of Langford arrived and chopped through his arm with bone crunching sounds. Cutting that arm off entirely. Swiftly he twisted around and swung his second blade straight for his neck. But immediately.

"Too slow boy." A spark came from the open arm wound and he exploded in a pillar of golden green light. Eric was blasted off at the point blank shockwaves pelting him. He smashed into a tree as the wood broke under his weight. A cloud of smoke shot up in the air but the incredible irony of it was that the nearby titans all begin to move away from their location that approaching as two entities face off. Both scratching and clawing to get to this point by the sheer force of their willpowers and the strength of their intellect. But both sharing their immunity to this disgraceful fate of being chewed by titans. A pair of dead, icy blue eyes stare at the brown pits on this giant hairy beast that emerged. Eric flicked his wrists to jolt them awake and charged. "NOT EVEN WASTING A SECOND. HOW VERY LIKE YOU YOUNG LANGFORD." The titan said as he reached for a decently sized tree. Ripping it straight off its roots he turns it into a makeshift weapon in fending off the monster approaching. The trunk was too thick for him to cut through so he was beaten backwards. Yet in a split second he was back on his feet. "So you can talk." Eric mumbled, before using his gear to dash up a tree. The beast titan tracking his every move. 'Using a thick tree as a defense, pretty slick. But I expected this bastard to have cool tricks up his sleeve. So it did pay to visit the mass military foundry before comming here. He pulled a tiny bottle from his cloak and tossed it at the tree. It struck and burst into red hot flames. The beast titan was shocked and had to throw his weapon away when the wood rapidly began to burn. "LIQUID EXPLOSIVES!" 'How cunning.' The beast titan was blinded for a second in the smoke yet he could still see Eric's attack. He brought up both his arms before his eyes and took the stab. Two hands intercept the blades from piercing his eyes. He began to close his palms as Eric was in them. But Eric had a move of his own. Letting go of the right sword and charging up his hand. In a flash of white light and blue electricity he punches the hand causing the flesh on the surface to decompose and crumble freeing his blade. He kicked off and escaped being crushed. The beast titan takes a step back. 'Incredible, so that was the famous anti-coordinate power that they all fear so much.' He looked at his hands as they already begin to heal. 'The power to absorb and vanquish, you have created a horrible weapon lord Langford.' Eric begins to put distance between them. 'Fuck, this isn't going good. I planned to tear him apart from the very beginning but I just can't find the power for it. I feel so damn weak." He thought as those eyes struggled to hold its shine and began to darken. He had already lost his telepathic conversation ability. His strength was dropping below average. Energy didn't seem to hold inside him. Because he couldn't pay full attention to the fight. He felt a craving towards something else. And everytime he tries to not think of it flashes of his parent's deaths kept banging his mind.

Even at this distance he sensed danger approaching and jumped off his perch from the tree. As strong heavy projectiles bombard the tree crushing it. "FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!" Eric cursed as the beast titan smiling threw hand fulls of crushed rocks towards him. He didn't even have time to deploy his gear as he jumped from tree to tree like a monkey trying to evade the shower of hard stones. The beast titan seemed to enjoy this evenly matched fight and it seemed that the momentum was about shift in his favour. "LIKE HELL IT WILL!" as the master of the madness arts Eric stopped and super kicked one rock shooting it back. It went straight and smashed into his left eye. The beast titan roared. But as long as his sight lasted he didn't seem to stop and he would always find the rocks lying around in the area. Eric began to regret his choice of kicking a rock that large that hard. His right ankle was paining and throbbing. He hid behind a tree to catch his breath. "TELL ME LANGFORD BOY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT BASEBALL IS?" The beast titan's voice came up. "Baseball? YEAH ITS A SPORT!" He shouts back. Smelling danger he jumps off his perch. Instantly with loud explosions the tree branch is obliterated. 'Where the hell does he find those rocks?' He thought as he saw they were now even smaller pieces thrown with more force. Faster and lighter. They had the same momentum but more piercing power than crushing power. "ITS BOTH PAINING AND AMUSING TO SEE HOW YOU MANAGE TO DEAL WITH MY PITCHES. BUT WITH THAT FOOT I'D SAY THIS IS STRIKE ONE." His sloshy grimy voice was ear grating. But Eric was already in motion releasing excessive gas to cloud his vision. He picked up speed and tried to ease his footing. He tried to use his power but it failed. Nothing happened. The area wasn't cooling, the titan didn't lose power. His foot didn't recover. 'Shit what's going on? Why isn't it healing already?' Seeing its futility. "Fine, I'll take care of it myself." He whispered as he finally managed to get close and slashed a full diagonal line across his back. The hair caused a lot of deflections which resulted in an extremely painful and rough cut. "YOU STUPID IDIOT! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PLAYING. THERE ARE THREE FATAL FLAWS!" Eric announced as he disappeared into the smoke. "FIRST CORRECTION, A PITCH IS A SINGLE BALL THROWN NOT A BARRAGE OF SHOTS." Out of nowhere he appeared and sliced his left achillies tendon.

"SECOND CORRECTION, A STRIKE IS WHEN A PLAYER MISSES THE BALL NOT WHEN HE IS HIT IN THE BODY." The beast titan threw a wide range of rocks in all directions. Continuing to evade he jumped to gain altitude. "AND THIRDLY IF YOU WANNA PLAY BALL, YOU'RE GONNA NEED A BAT!" Then amidst the smoke he went for the kill. Going straight for the nape. Winds blew wildly as he thunderously approached. But the beast saw it comming. His gigantic teeth clicked. He twisted around

He turned and leaped into the air towards him. Spreading his arms wide to give himself as large an appearence as possible. Eric who was never intimidated by titans in his life felt himself quiver at his massive hideous appearence. And his whole world turned upside down at that split second of hesitation.

He was viciously slapped away, "UUUUAAAAAAAHHHHH!". He was send flying till he violently crashed on the trees, ground and dust. But the monster behind him was far from foolish. He charged blowing the dust and rock out of his patch then came right on top of him and spreading wide smashed down like a pile driver on him. Another blood curdling scream erupted from his lungs. He spits out blood from his ribs almost being crushed as it got sandswitched between the giant and the earth. The grey haired boy was ready to cry in pain but the monster was not done. "YOU ARE POWERFUL BOY BUT IT SEEMS YOU ARE NOT PARTICULARLY IN THE MOOD FOR THIS. IN WHICH CASE I WILL INDULDGE MYSELF . . . IN RIPPING THOSE ARMS YOU USE SO SPECTACULARLY . . ." With one hand pinning him down the other' thumb and two forefingers wrap around his right arm where the bandana was tied. He couldn't even shout a reply as the beast maniacally pulled it. First a bit slowly but a titan was a titan. Pain was like one million volts of electricity was burning his flesh off. But then . . . .

~crack~tear~snap~

Just when he thought his pain couldn't get worse he realised his limbs really were being ripped off his shoulders. Bones breaking and seperating as the muscles and cartiliage was falling apart. His face went white and terrified. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, stop, stop, stop." He begged but then the breath out of his lungs were taken out as even the skin on the surface began to tear and break apart. Blood vessels opening and spilling out staining the right side of his coat. His legs couldn't keep kicking a and struggling any more. Any second his arm is going to be in the beast titan's hand. He couldn't transform, he couldn't call for help. He couldn't even draw forth his power. "I SAID STOOOOOOOOOOOP." To the titan's and his surprise bluish white light emerged. The gale force winds picked up again. The hand pinning him down began to decompose and weaken, enough to the point he could free his other hand and strike blowing the other hand of. Barely freeing himself he ran away clutching the limp arm and dripping bright red blood all over the place. As his pitiful figure disappeared into the woods the titan looked at his hands which we're both destroyed below the wrists. He gave an amused smirk and watched them heal.

"Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah." Huffing exhaustedly he kept running. 'Pathetic, it can't be. I'm getting my ass kicked by a titan. I have to get out of here for now, without my arm I. . . .fucking hell.' Once again the beast ambushes him and smacks him against a tree. "ITS OVER LANGFORD. TIME AND AGAIN YOU HAVE FOUGHT BACK AGAINST OUR ADVANCE BUT IN THE END YOU ARE AN IMPURE BLOOD CHILD WHO GREW UP IN A CAGE. Now I shall put an end to your fear . . . ."

The titan stands seventeen meters tall pressing Eric against a tree suspended fifteen meters in the air. His head hung in failure. Dead eyes hidden under white bangs. Tears coming down as a final symbol of his bloody downfall. 'Is this it? Death in the hands of a titan. This is where the tale of Langford comes to an end? This forest the final resting place of the last surviving Langford? I pulled a stupid move again.' Despairing thoughts come up in his mind. 'Why do you hate me life? Is this what I get for wanting to change the world. Come one I came this far. Well I suppose it was with the support of my friends that got me through the most part. Did I just abandon them all to fight for myself, what a jackass. I guess this what I get in return.'

The boy who's will was the very driving force of his deeds. He was granted powers to break through the very bindings of the world yet the world refuses to bring him down. The ironclad determination that has created miracle after miracle began to break.

'Come on Eric is that it.' His own voice came back to him. The voice of his dark side, the ghost after so long came back. 'Are going to falter here?' Eric closed his eyes one more time. Then it was like falling into a dark abyss. It didn't take long he opened his eyes to see a shinging light in the distance, the ground was green. His back against the tree. He weakly moved his only useable arm to reach but failed. It was like he was under chains. 'What else am I supposed to to do?' He opened his eyes and saw his own self looking out into the light. 'Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool. You giving up titan shit?' He looked left to see the girl crouching on the ground and looking at a pink flower. 'I don't know. But there is no fight left in me. And what the fuck is that light?' He says.

The ashen haired boy with the red glints look out and says. 'Have you ever thought what those lights were in a tunnel during a near death state?' Eric narrowed his eyes. "Its fucking train ready to ram you in the face. Listen success is sort of like a girls pregnancy. Every blissfully ignorant asshole congratulates you but doesn't even know how many times you got fucked for it. Eric just looked out again. 'And how do you plan to fight back dickwaffle? My body is literally being ripped apart. My power just isn't working. This puke faced hairball is ready to rip my head off. Fighting this is like a t-rex trying to masturbate.' He glowered. 'If you have the energy to pull one liners then get your head out of your ass and fight.' The girl said picking the flower off the ground. Walking towards the light and blowing. The light disappeared and the sight was breath taking. The world he envisioned, the world he desires. A vast plains, a sparkling river running through them. People living in settlements happily working hard. There are schools, factories and other buildings. In the far off distance is the more developed cities with their tall buildings and skyscrapers. Everyone now and then struggling. Facing problems, pains sufferings, struggles. But the one thing he most hated was gone. The constant fear of monsters coming in and killing them. People living with pain and struggles but not fear.

'The world I want. The inverted world I saw that day. When my mother died I saw hell. Monsters coming in and killing people. They all face their ends in the titan's jaws or drowning in the pool of blood in their stomach's. I had resigned to my fate before the chance act of a faceless soldier saved my life. Ever since then the ideal of erasing such a world was threaded to the very core of my soul. Even if I were to become a different person I won't be able to let it go until such a world will cease to exist. Then the fun part started when my father tossed in this blue stuff. I was fulfilling my wish. I didn't need anything more, people and my power they were the only tools I needed to bring the change I desired. But such an ideal is like throwing yourself into an infinite ocean of black water and being the only light. But I accepted that role. I didn't care what would become of me as long as my people were happy. But inadvertedly I ended up becoming precious to them. Eren, Historia, Mikasa, Armin, Levi. Its names like those that keep pulling me back.'

'Will you continue down that ideal, Eric? Even if that path is laced with suffering, disappointment and end in ruin.' For the first time he heard a concerned and normal tone out of his mouth.

'Yeah, no matter what becomes of me. No matter how much the world denies me. If I can forge on to create a world where people can stop living in fear . . . I know what a beating is like. Getting fucked again and again trying to step up and rise. Enduring pain. Putting your head down and moving foreward. All of us has suffered but it made us better people than who we were before. But there is more I realised in this world if any doesn't turn you into minced meat you can recover from anything. If that's the case I have no problems to drag down my friends. I will make sure they fall as low as me then we will all skyrocket to glorious heights. If I can do just that. . . . my dream and the legend of Langford will never die.'

Power thundered across the whole world as it slowly began to crumble. 'If that's the case then go back home Eric.' The ghost looked at him directly. His eyes looking despicably calm, even the blue colour coming back. 'If you want to achieve that go back home, to your people, your superiors, your commrades, your friends, your love. You can't die here.' Then on his right the girl steps up. She looks different too. That feral look was not there. She turned to face him. Her hair still covered one half of her face. She said, 'Your people need you. So stop giving up. Wake up, turn this situation upside down and go home. Take this hairball for a homecomming present.' But then she followed it up with the brightest smile he ever saw. With the sunlight comming down making her messy hair shine like platinum. Their bodies then suddenly begin to fade. The sparkling power from them came to each of his hands. The ghost also shining in sunlight. His eyes completely identical to his. There was no more of those red glints anymore. And as the red on the inside faded.

So did the blue on the outside. The beast titan rushed his hand to wrap around his head to twist it off. But as it approached Eric with his bare teeth bit on the flesh wrapping around him. With sheer force ripped the muscle below the thumb clean off. Stunning the titan enough for him to look at him straight in the eye. Suddenly everything looked brighter. The feeling was like jammed gears began to spin once more. They could feel the cries of pain from the titans in the distance.

BOOOOOOOM

Massive light appeared once more as his eyes once more blazed with power and life. Red glints took over. Using the force of his power he viciously breaks out throwing the shocked titan back. Using his gear to already charge. Giving him no time at all. The titan's hand exploded. Instantly new steel was pulled out. The pair of flesh parring blades immediately got to work. The beast titan just as his mind began to comprehend the cross slash all across his torso already began to count the 17 slashes that we're forming on his right arm. The titan tried to wave his other arm but it was now in the process of being chopped up. He unleaahed a roar of anguish and frustration as to how not even his keen eyes could not even track him. 'What is this? This is completely different from before. Strength, speed, power. He kicked it up by over 5 notches. Just a few minutes back he was nothing but now . . ..'

'What's wrong? Does it hurt? It should.' His ghostly voice echoed in his mind and mocked him. The titan looked down and saw a flash on his ankles before they were also heniously chopped off. The titan began to lose his footing then smashed onto the forest floor. 'Incredible, so this is what he spoke of. What father wanted on his side. His true compatibility exceeded my expectations. He truely is the prodigal son of Nicolaus Winchester Langford.' He fell and chose to go defensive and tried to harden the part of his nape. But then. . .

Bang . . .bang . . .bang.

Severely powerful gunshots blast his nape. Piercing through and exploding. Reaching down to his human body. Those sounds were high pitched and had incredible punching power. '.22 Magnum shots!?' He inadvertedly mumbled. Eric flew over him sporting a massive hand gun. 'CUSTOM .24 WITH EXPLOSIVE TIPS MOTHERFUCKER' Eric roared as he reloaded and fired successive shots all in the same part as his nape. After finishing his second round he moved in and hacked him out of his body. "Gotcha . . ." He yelled as he grabbed the back of the collar of his coat and yanked him out. Then tossing him out. The man fell on the dirt struggling to get back up before he was shot in the chest again. Coughing up blood he fell then turned around. To see the demon with blades approaching. "I don't need a titan form to deal with shit like you." He was already bleeding that intense exertion already tore open his wounds but they began to heal.

He began to walk towards him before another lightning flash lit up the sky. Both men look at the source and hear massive charging sounds. Out of the trees the armoured titan jumps out screaming as he rushed. "Son of a bitch." He got it out as Reiner slapped him away. Using gas to ease his fall but he still crashed as the stab of meat rammed him. He then cupped him in his hand and lifted him up. 'Warchief Zeke. Are you okay? Hell what is Eric doing here?' Reiner then turned to look at Eric staring silently at him. 'Thats it Eric, I'm tired of your threats now I don't care power or not, I'm gonna . . .' Reiner said as he charged fists roaring smashing where Eric was standing on. Eric countered with a slash across he knee joint. Reiner didn't buckle but instead used that opening to kick Eric. He crashed again. Eric painfully got up and with a scowl shook his head. He cut his forehead previously and blood began to trickle down and stain him. 'I'm tired of all this.' Eric said as time seemed to slow down for all of them. His hand slowly began to move towards his mouth. Zeke watched curiously from afar as Bertold came to assist him. Reiner began to run towards him once more. Swallowing Eric opens his mouth puts the base of his thumb in and . . . . . . .

Radial lighting lit up the whole horizon. There was a green glow and a tower of steam. From it came a beastial roar. Eric sat stunned as out of nowhere the rogue titan emerged and punched the armoured titan off. Eric found strong arms wrap around him and pull him back into the forest. Reiner was sent flying back. The rogue titan then slowly backed away much to their surprise. Reiner got back to his feet shakily but then. 'Wait let them go I have a plan.' Warchief Zeke had already concocted a plan.

Meanwhile the hands that was harrasing and dragging Eric back was none other than Levi. Beside him were several familiar faces. Notably his own squad. And commander Ervin. "What the hell happened brat? I know you were a bit loose on the head but slaughtering MPs and beating the shit out of titans isn't exactly your way of stress relief. And why the fuck do you smell like weed." Levi said in his usual deadpanned voice. Eric didn't struggle much but pulling his weight was enough of a challenge to deal with. They finally reach out outside the forest where they regroup. By that time Eren already emerged by himself from his titan body. Ervin came and saw the contorted look on his face. A part of him wanted to comfort the boy just saying even if his father is gone his people are still with him. But another was furious, what wanted to revert to his previous self and just beat the boy back into shape. "What was that back there?! Your antics have gone far enough. We'll deal with you back in the city." Ervin said. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!" Eric roared out. "I had 'em! IF YOU GAVE ME A COUPLE OF MINUTES I WOULD'VE CAME BACK WITH THE BEAST TITAN AFTER KILLING REINER. ITS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU THEY GOT AWAY!" He screamed at their faces. But then someone punched him in the face. Eric turned to see Jean. "What the hell man? Pull yourself together. Why are you freaking out?"

"Outta my way horse face." He said in a very low voice. Eren then shouted "STOP BEING A BITCH ERIC! YOU ALREADY GOT YOUR REVENGE. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO GO NUTS AND BEAT UP THAT ARMOURED BASTARD!"

"That's rich coming from a guy obsessed with revenge." Eric said back. "Eric stop it. We shouldn't fight here. Its too dangerous. We have to go back." Mikasa spoke up. "Shut up Mikasa, I don't need you to start sucking his dick now." Eric openly spoke before being kicked in the gut. Jean began to lose his temper while Eren was biting his tongue to hold his back. "That's it asshole, you crossed a line saying tha .. . " But he was silenced instantly as he was struck by the back of his hand he flew a few meteres before he crsshed. Drawing a blade he charged towards the forest. Levi, Mikasa and Eren ran towards him to stop him. Levi and Mikasa were top far away to catch him but Eren got right in front of him. "Stop right there!" Eren didn't move while Eric instinctively raised his sword. "GET OUTTA MY WAY!" He screamed and swung. Eren and the others froze. He just transformed. His reserves were running low. They weren't sure if he could transform in time. The sword went straight for his neck. Everyone sensed a fatal blow coming.

"EREEEEEEEEEEN!" Mikasa shrieked wildly. But then as Eren thought he was gonna die. "Stop it." Golden threads of long hair enveloped Eric's vision and his blade slowed but didn't change direction. He forced himself back but the swing was made.

~slash~

Blood dripped on the ground. Everyone's heart skipped a beat at the sight. The girl huffed painfully but didn't cry out. Eric looked at the girl he loved stand before him clothed in full survey corps uniform. Blood dripping down her hands. He looked at the steel embedded into her flesh. Everyone was stunned as they see their own queen stop the blade of their stongest warrior with her bare hands. Blood oozed out of the finger's of her left hand and the palm of her right. Leaking out and staining her forearms down to her elbows where they keep dripping on the ground. Everyone was dumbstruck at her foolish bravery but even more impressed by the fact that her finger's weren't sliced through. Steel half way into her hands down to her bone but didn't have the force to break through. "H-h-h-Historia? Wha-what are . ." Eric stuttered. Her face showed pain but she didn't show it grabbing the cold blade with her bare hands she looked at him straight in the eye and gave a peaceful smile. "I promised to never leave your side. I promised if you ever lose yourself I will bring you back no matter what. As long as my feet can move, my mouth can speak, my heart can beat I will keep looking for you. I will take you back home. No matter how many times you run away. I will protect you even if you can't. I will do it as many times as I have to, even if it costs me my arms." Her hands begin to shake as she held back her incredible pain and urge to shriek. "So please put down your sword and let's go back." She said tilting her head sideways trying to look as cool as possible. Eric began to lower his hands. The steel seperated from her hands and more blood spilled as they fell limply on her sides but the next scene made their hearts stop. Blowing out of the forest on the other side the armoured titan emerged and threw a massive stab of rock at them ready to crush them.

Eric began to see it as a reflection of his mother's death. But not this time. This time he will not stand like a statue. He turned and saw everyone looking dumbstruck trying to evade it. Eric charged up energy in his hand and rapidly fired resulting in a gust of wind throwing them all out of the way but himself. He took a step further but then saw it was too late. He looked at Historia's horrified face then to her heavily damaged hands. He gave a sad smile and said. "I'm sorry." Before the rock crushed half of him underneath. Reiner disappeared behind the giant trees. Eren was seeing red and brought his hand to his mouth but Levi stopped him. "Not now, we gotta get him out." Eren brought his hand down and ran to help Mikasa who was the first to get to work lifting the boulder. Historia was holding onto her bleeding hands and crying.

After getting it off they find him half crushed. The entire left side of his head smashed in. His bones in shambles. Holding back his disgust he pressed his ear against his chest. In a few seconds he hears s faint heart beat. He instantly fires a blue flare and it looked like Ervin ran and brought in Armin, Connie and Sasha with a wagon. They were horrified but moved fast on their job to take him back. Eren helped on the brink of tears.

(The next day)

In the following incidents they didn't encounter anymore titans Eric's body healed up on the way but due to the severe damage to his brain he remained asleep. Historia's hands were treated. The incident was only shared with a few members of the scouts, council and the MPs under Nile. Eric was left to rest in a hospital while everyone else recovered from theie personal traumas. Historia took a break from the meetings. The remaining trio of shiganshina discuss about their own issues. Everyone acted like nothing more than an accident had occured but kept it to themselves.

(Eric's view)

When I came to my head was throbbing like a sledgehammer was beating me. Slowly, steadily I try to open my eyes. My mind was completely garbled up. I couldn't think much. The sunlight indicated morning. My body felt stiff and pained all over. I sat up looking at the white t-shirt and pajama pants on. I tried to stand up, putting my right foot on the ground but it flared up in pain. What the hell happened to me? I begin to rub my own head. But enduring the pain I put my other foot on the ground. Where am I? I looked out the window and only saw a city scape. Nothing made sense. Straightening my back I stand up. The wobbling caused me to grab onto the bed frame.

Then the door opened I tried to see who it is. It was a beautiful young girl of average height. She seemed to be wearing normal standard clothes. Nothing fancy to call high nor to cheap to call poor. But as soon as she laid eyes on me her eyes for some reason they welled up and she ran in and hugged me. I couldn't understand anything.

"Oh Eric, I was so worried. You're okay." Her warmth was something else. I just rubbed her back returning the warm I was suddenly given. She seperated and placed her hands on my chest making me nervous. The fingers on her left hand and the palm of her right were taped up in bandages. "Eric how are you feeling?" She utters my name and asks me a simple question. "I'm . . .fine." I say with some hesitation I can't find a decent thing to say to her. My mind felt empty. She looked at me and my confused silence seemed strange to her. "What is it Eric? What's wrong?" She asks.

I had to ask this question to the girl who was getting so close to me hoping she wouldn't take this the wrong way. "Um . .excuse me but who are you?" She looked dumbfounded. "Eric what's the matter, its me Historia." The name didn't click in my head.

"I'm sorry but who are you miss. Historia?"

TBC - - . . .

Yes that happened. Please review or i will be forced to shut down this story. :(