Chapter 33
Rod Reiss's transformation to a gargantuan Titan begins to cause the cavern to collapse. It is so large that there is not enough room for it to stand. Levi Ackermann orders Armin Arlelt and Moblit Berner to take the wounded Hange Zoë to safety.
Kenny tries to swing away from the giant Titan, he yells, "Rod Reiss! You bastard!"
"Forget it about me, guys! You have to get out of here!" Eren yells.
"Hell no, we're not going to leave you alone." Peter says.
"Yeah, we're in this together, we promise that we're going to restore the Eldian Empire together!" Aya yells.
"I might be humanity's enemy, but I'm your ally!" Historia says, "I can't be a good girl, and I don't want to be God either! But... When I see people crying to themselves, saying they're not needed, I wanna tell those people that's just not true! No matter who! No matter where! I'll come to their rescue!"
Just then, Aya and Katrina are about to be blown away, until Levi Squad arrives and helps them.
"You okay?" Mikasa asks.
"Mikasa!" Historia says, and Levi also arrives. "Give me the keys!"
Jean, Levi, and Connie are trying to free Eren, and Eren yells, "Forget about me! Captain! Hurry and escape!"
"Shut up already, you topless wimp!" Jean yells. "It's not just a Titan! There are dudes with guns coming for us!"
They pull Eren free as part of the ceiling collapses and lands on the platform where Eren was chained just a moment before. Squad Levi finds themselves pressed back against the cavern walls with no clear way out.
Eren manages to calm himself down and Aya asks, "Eren, feeling better?"
"Yeah..." Eren says, "I'm sorry, everyone...I've been nothing but useless...Ever since the very beginning, I was never the hope of humanity..."
Jean yells, "What's this? Think you're some tragic hero? When have you ever accomplished anything by your strength alone?"
Connie says, "What a weakling. We've been through much worse than this."
Sasha says, "Not that I wanna get used to it!"
Dina says, "Right now we need to get out of here. Considering we have 5 Titans here, it won't be a problem with the Titan Hardening, right?"
Everyone widens their eyes in shock as they quickly transform, pillars of crystal rising up from the ground around their Titans, reinforcing the structural integrity of the cavern around it.
Outside, Armin and Moblit hurry away with Hange as the ground around them collapses and the surface chapel sinks into the earth. The rest of the Scout Regiment, led by Erwin Smith, arrive in time to see the mammoth Titan crawl out of the ground and drag itself away on all fours.
Inside the cavern, all of them break out from their Titan forms, and Katrina says, "I think that is going to be enough, right?"
"Yeah..." Eren finally calms down. "I'm sorry, because of Historia's touch, I think I also remember something again... I promise I'm not going to cry again."
"That's the spirit." Aya says. "Now let's get out of here."
After all of them are out of the hole, Eren hugs Aya and says, "I'm sorry for what I'm acting, Aya. I should be the tough one among the two..."
"It's fine, but please stop saying such things like that again. I don't want to lose you."
"I promise, I will never leave you." Eren says.
"Geez, stop with the flirting, it's disgusting." Jean says.
Eren and Aya blush a little as they get on the wagon with Historia, Katrina, and Dina on it. Levi informs Erwin that Hange is their own casualty. Hange is lying in a wagon, bleeding, but conscious. He also lets Erwin know that the Titan is Rod Reiss. Erwin decides that they will head for Orvud District since that is the Titan's likely destination.
"So we know why Rod is targetting Eren, but you say that he's targetting Aya because of the Neumann Blood?" Hange asks. "And you say that if Eren dies, then Aya will also die unless the Founding Titan was shifted to someone else?"
"Yeah..." Dina frowns.
"Eren, your father wasn't evil. He was trying to save humanity from the First King and to free Aya and her people from further suffering. He stole the Founding Titan from my father and then murdered his wife and children because he didn't have a choice. If he didn't, then Aya's life could possibly be worse than it already is!" Historia says.
Eren holds his head. "Dad..."
Hange says, "Are you sure about this, Historia? We can't exactly have a Titan like that wandering around inside the walls. One that big, we can't restrain. Meaning we'll have to kill your father and there's no way around it."
"Eren. I'm sorry." Historia frowns. "Underneath the Reiss chapel...I really considered becoming a Titan and killing you. What's more, not even to save humanity...Only because I wanted to believe my father. I didn't want my father to hate me... But now, it's time to say goodbye."
"It's fine... the truth is, when I was checking the future, I have seen fragments of that giant Titan..." Eren says. "However, what I saw was this moment, so I'm sorry I couldn't find out more about it..."
"It's fine." Katrina says. "The future is changing."
It is still the middle of the night when the Scouts arrive in Orvud. Levi says, "Historia. Forgot to tell you... We need you to do something. Erwin's orders. When this battle is over, since you're the true successor to the throne...become the Queen."
"Q-Queen?! Historia?!" Sasha gasps.
"The coup d'etat was successful, but the people won't follow a regiment sitting at the top. What we need is a story to spread. That a true heir retook the crown from the fake." Levi says.
"But... what about Ms. Fritz?" Historia looks at Dina. "She is the direct descendent...won't she be the best choice..."
Dina says, "Historia, I lived all my life in Marley until I become a Titan, it will be better if you, who have been living on this island since birth, to be the queen. We might be family, but it has to be you."
The rest of the squad, meaning Connie and Jean, protest, not wanting Historia forced into another role just after she has broken free of her father, but Historia agrees.
"Thanks for your concern." Historia says. "But whether or not it's forced on me is up to me to decide, I think. However... Captain, I do have one condition."
"Hm?" Levi asks.
"Since my fate is my own, I want to lay it all on the line."
Then she also requests that Eren's family and Aya are going to help her since Dina is also one of royal blood and Eren and Katrina are her stepchildren.
When Historia attends the meeting she arrives geared for combat and takes her place among the rest of Squad Levi. Mikasa whispers, "When you're Queen, you can punch that runt in the face."
Historia flinches, and Aya whispers, "Don't worry, I'll help you out."
"We've determined the location of Rod Reiss' Titan. It's southwest, approaching Orvud. At this rate, it should reach Orvud District by dawn."
"Understood." Carsten turns to Erwin. "Commander Erwin, we'd all like to hear what your plan is. How do you intend to evacuate the citizens in time?"
"We won't evacuate." Erwin says. "We'll have the citizens remain in Orvud District just as they are."
"Uh..." The Garrison is confused. "Are you insane? Keep the citizens in the city without evacuating? By the time it's dawn, the Titan will be all over us!"
"That Titan is an abnormal." Hange says. "The target Titan is strangely attracted to high concentrations of people. Hence, Abnormal. It means the fellow will turn a blind eye to a small village, ignoring it in favor of reaching this fortified city."
Hange explains that if they were to evacuate Orvud, then the Titan would change its heading to follow them, which would eventually lead it to the greatest density of people in Mitras. That would be a devastating blow to humanity.
They also explain that they try to use the 5 Titans to stop Rod, but it is no use, even with the Founding Titan's power, which won't affect royal blood like him.
Erwin uses this to justify why they must make their stand here and use Orvud's citizens as bait. However, he acknowledges that they must protect civilians and they will take measures to save them should the Scout Regiment fail. They will have the citizens participate in an emergency evacuation drill so everyone will be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Reluctant, Carsten agrees.
Dawn arrives and the Garrison executes the "practice" evacuation on the pretense that this is a large-scale drill where cannon fire will be used against dummy Titans. The citizens are restless though and mutter about how the military is throwing its weight around as a show of power now that they overthrew their previous government.
On top of Wall Sina, Cartsen orders the first round of artillery fire at the gigantic Titan. Erwin asks, "Well, how's that...?"
The Titan emerges through it unscathed and the Garrison fires a second round of artillery from the ground at the base of the Wall.
"The ground cannons seem even less effective." Erwin says.
"Of course they are. The wall cannons barely hit the nape, even with the better angle." Levi says. "What's the problem?"
"It's a mishmash of soldiers... Cannons they scraped togehter...Superficial Leadership. To top it off, this is a northern region. Unlike troops on the front lines, they have no battle experience. However, this is the best we're going to get, and that's a fact."
"Yeah, that much is painfully obvious. Yet again, your strategy for the Scouts boils down to another gamble." Levi adds. "Just like everything else you conjure up."
Hange arrives bringing barrels of gunpowder, ropes, and netting. Hange also has two carts loaded with gunpowder with handles and triggers of Omni-directional mobility gear strapped to either side. The triggers are tied down so once the grappling hooks are fired they will reel in like regular ODM.
"Levi, Jean, Sasha, Connie, Peter, and Katrina... Take care of that side." Erwin commands as they all leave.
Then Odom, Dina, Aya, Mikasa, Armin, Eren, and Historia are helping Hange with the barrels and netting.
Erwin says, "I believe you've heard from Levi, Historia. Supposing we live through this, we'll have you become the Queen ruling our world in the walls. Naturally, having you on the front lines poses a problem."
"I doubt it will work. You think the people so naive that they'd bow to a ruler in name only?" Historia asks as she stands up.
"What is it that you're thinking?" Erwin asks.
As she explains her plan to Erwin, Eren says, "Historia... Just look how strong she's become..."
"Indeed." Aya says. "At first, I thought she was the weakest of us, but no, the weak ones are us... Somewhere along the line, I thought ourselves special. Why is why, when other soldiers died for our sake...we accepted it like it was natural."
"And the same goes with our Titan powers..." Odom says.
After thinking about their plans for the future, they wonder if it's enough to save humanity, even without the Rumbling.
Eren looks down into the city at a group of kids below and remarks on how they remind him of himself and his friends on that day when the Colossal Titan appeared.
"Hey." Eren says, "The kids in this city remind me of us on that day."
This time Armin joins the conversation. "Yeah... Nobody thinks today is the day a Titan bigger than the wall attacks."
"They might end up seeing the same sight as we did that day." Aya says. "But there's one big difference."
"Atop the walls, soldiers stand to face the Titan. And that would be us."
Eren sees how Dina and Mikasa are working together, Dina says, "Guys, there's no time to stop. Keep your hands busy."
Just then, much to everyone's surprise, Eren starts to punch himself. "Hey! Eren! Cut it out!" Aya rushes towards him and grabs his hand.
"What are you doing? We talked about how Odom is the one who transforms, not you." Armin says.
"No... I'm just beating the shit out of a useless brat." Eren says. "I hope he's dead and gone for good."
"Just how many times do we need to tell you that you're not useless?" Aya says with anger. "Did you forget that if you kill yourself, I will also go with it as well!"
Eren freezes as Aya is right. "I'm sorry, but I promise, I'm going to be better than you. And I will make sure you have that peaceful future you deserve...I swore we'd live our lives together and I'll make sure we get that future from here on out no more doubt will guide me." Eren thinks with determination.
Meanwhile, the Garrison prepares another round of artillery at the nape of the approaching Titan, which has almost reached the Wall. Though they riddle its head and upper body with holes, the wind changes, causing all the hot air blowing off the Titan's body to wash over the defenders on top of Wall Sina. The Garrison soldiers are no longer able to see and fire blindly straight down at the Titan below.
"Damn it..." Katrina and Peter transform and keep the temperature low.
Erwin asks, "Are we too lae?"
The Titan's hands reach up and land on top of the Wall as it pulls itself upright. Its face and belly have been scraped away from all the dragging it has done on the ground, and its entrails spill on top of the Wall, scattering the soldiers below. Panic grips the city, as Orvud's citizens see the Titan and flee for safety.
Levi says, "We'll take over from here."
Then Odom starts to transform, and Eren says, "There is another thing that's different from then. It might not be all they hoped for, but now...humanity has an ace up its sleeve."
Then Odom starts to fly into the sky and the children notice him. After Peter and Katrina splash every scout with water, Armin yells, "We're ready to go!"
Both Armin and Sasha roll out the carts loaded with gunpowder and Erwin fires a signal flare to announce the commencement of their attack. Armin and Sasha fire the grappling hooks and the triggers reel the carts and accompanying barrels of gunpowder into the Titan's hands, where they explode due to the sheer heat of its body. This causes the massive Titan to lose its grip and slump forward so its head rests just above the Wall.
"Yes! It's losing its balance!" Eren yells.
"Odom!" Erwin yells.
Odom quickly flies toward the Titan and throws the sack woven out of netting and stuffed with barrels of gunpowder into the throat. With the heat, the gunpowder does not need a detonator and combusts in a chain reaction that causes the entire top half of the Titan to explode, including the nape.
"All troops! Finish it off with ODM gear!" Erwin yells.
Everyone jumps into the air and cuts up the chunks of flesh that could possibly be the nape.
"Where is it?" Aya asks as they try to find the nape.
"Historia!" Dina notices her and Historia finds the nape and slashes it. Historia sees a vision of him in the past, arguing with his own father about exterminating the Titans, being reassured by his brother Uri and later his daughter Frieda, and seeking comfort with his mistress Alma.
The nape explodes and the onlookers below see Historia fall.
"Historia!" Everyone yells in surprise, and Historia lands on a padded wagon, which cushions her landing, and the citizens of Orvud crowd around, wondering if they have been saved.
"Were you the one who finished the final blow?" Historia wakes up and thinks, "Was that all... my imagination? Am I really... acting on my own accord?"
She stands up and says, "I am Historia Reiss. The true ruler of the walls!"
Sunset falls, and not far from the Underground Chapel, a grievously wounded Kenny Ackermann walks away from the rubble. He removes his Anti-Personnel ODM and slumps against a nearby tree, wheezing for breath.
"Kenny..." Levi and Aya walk towards him.
"Oh, gee... It's you?" Kenny coughs blood.
"Your comrades we fought, they all ended up getting crushed." Aya says. "Are you the only survivor?"
"Seems that way." Kenny says.
After only the three of them alone, Levi says, "With those burns and that blood loss...there's no helping you now."
"Yeah?" Kenny asks. "I wonder."
Just then, he takes out a box of Titan serum, Aya notices it and says, "The Titan Serum?"
Here is a new chapter, and as you can see, Historia is still going to be the queen in my story. I hope you like it.