Chapter 10: The Invasion of Trost

Never in his entire life had Dillon been so terrified. This skinless monster that towered over Wall Rose was looking at them as if they were nothing but insignificant insects. Before any of them could do anything, steam jetted out of its body like a current, knocking the cadets off the Wall. To make matters worse, its large foot smashed through the gate, large pieces of gate and Wall flying. Quickly, most of the cadets managed to attach themselves to the Wall and stop their fall except for Samuel, who was clubbed in the head by the debris. Thinking fast, Sasha detached her cables, ran down the Wall, shot a cable into his leg, and fired the other one into the Wall, securing them both.

"Try not to move," she yelled. "Understand?"

All Samuel could do was groan.

"That was too damn close," Eren commented.

"Oh, God, no," Thomas said, looking at the wall. "Not again!"

The cadets stared in horror at the newly formed hole in the Wall that would be big enough for invading Titans.

"They're gonna get in," Thomas continued, his panic overtaking him. "They're gonna get in. They're gonna get in!"

None of soldiers were more horrified by the turn of events than Eren Yeager. He was there when Wall Maria fell to the same, damned monster. He was there when the Titans invaded and proceeded to kill so many people. He was there when….

"No," he snarled in defiance. "This is over. I'm gonna put a stop to this. I will. This ends now!" Drawing his swords, he began making his way up as he yelled to his fellow comrades. "This is it, people. Do or die!" Quickly, he started giving orders. "Mount the cannons, Squad 4. Take out the Colossal Titan! This is our chance! Don't let it slip away!"

Shaking himself out of his stupor, Dillon trailed behind him. He was a soldier and he was not going to cower from the thing he spent three years training to kill. Unlike everyone else, Dillon had mental powers and he was going to use them to their full capacity. If Eren was right, they could end this all now. As he got closer to the top, lots of pieces of the Wall fell towards him including a couple of cannons. He barely dodged the wreckage by swinging around them, having several close calls and the scratches to prove it. Seemed like the Titan was getting rid of the defenses.

Crap, it's intelligent. Dillon realized when he reached the top.

He spotted Eren attach a cable into the Colossal Titan's back as he swung around, but then the Titan's gaze fell on him. Gulping, Dillon was about to attack when he noticed something in the monster's eyes, something different: a faint twinge of recognition. The blacksmith shook his head furiously. There was no way the Titan knew him. They just met today. Surely, he was seeing things. However, he saw something else in its eyes that made his anxiety rise: anger.

How the hell is it displaying human emotions?

"Dillon, move!" Eren shouted.

Snapping out of it, Dillon jumped away from its palm that slammed down where he was. Running a safe distance, he noticed Eren swinging around and landing on its arm to run up towards the head, but the Titan, to his surprise, was ignoring him. Dillon prepared to hit it with a mental attack, but steam shot out from its body and hit him. It wasn't enough to send Dillon off the wall, but it was enough to make him grunt in pain as he felt his body heat up. He couldn't see anything, but the worst part was that he felt like he was being boiled alive. Instinctively, Dillon leapt off the wall and it was a good thing too. A second later, the Colossal Titan's fist smashed down where he was standing a second ago.

After falling for a bit, Dillon latched himself to the Wall and just hung there, leaning against it. His skin felt like it was on fire even though it wasn't, he was sweating up a storm, and he was panting heavily.

"Dillon, are you all right!?" Connie exclaimed, shocked.

"Ask me… later," he responded, out of breath and his voice hoarse.

There was a loud scream courtesy of Eren and then silence.

Concerned, Thomas zoomed up to the top and noticed that the Colossal Titan had vanished and Eren was hanging off the other side of the wall, dumbstruck. "Eren, where'd he go? Did he get away, or did you take him out?"

"He's gone," Eren answered, trying not to panic. "Exactly like five years ago. He's here one moment, then gone the next. Just like that."

Mina quickly made her way towards Dillon. "We need to get you to HQ fast."

Still panting like a dog, he just nodded.

"I'll get you there." She turned her back to him. "Get on."

Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her neck and she took off towards HQ.

"It's going to be okay," Mina promised, trying to stay strong for his sake. "We're going to survive this."

"Need… water," Dillon stated weakly.

"You'll get it. Just hang on."

After about ten minutes, the two reached HQ as she slowly lowered herself down to the ground. Placing Dillon in a sitting position against the Wall, Mina grabbed an empty canteen.

"I'm filling this up with water," she said, doing just that.

He barely gave a nod, still panting.

Once it was full, she handed it to him. "Drink slowly."

With shaking hands, he lifted it up to his mouth, taking a few sips. Then, he poured the whole thing on his face to cool him down.

"Feeling better?" Mina asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "Might need another one though."

"I'll take care of it," she assured, taking the empty canteen to refill it.

"Cadets!" a commanding voice exclaimed.

Mina instantly snapped to a salute as a tall man with brown hair, eyes, and beard stalked up to them, glaring angrily. This was Kitz Voormin, a Captain of the Garrison troops. Dillon struggled to stand, so he settled for a salute on the ground. They noticed a young, gray-haired woman wearing glasses standing next to them, giving them a stern look. They had no idea who that was.

"Are you deserting your posts?" he questioned, looking ready to shoot them on sight.

Mina explained their actions quickly. "Sir, as you know, the Colossal Titan breached the Wall. Cadet Amsdale attempted to attack him, but he was nearly boiled alive by the steam that Titan produced. To keep him from passing out, I brought him here to hydrate him."

"Judging by how he looks like a dehydrated dog, I think she's telling the truth," the woman stated.

You're too kind. Dillon thought sarcastically.

"Rico, get him to interrogation room for questioning," he ordered.

"Yes, sir." With the gentleness of a crab, Rico hoisted the teen up. "Come on. Let's go."

"I need water," Dillon said, nearly falling over.

The woman growled, putting his arm on her shoulder and walking him inside the building. "Quit your whining, Cadet, or I'll feed you to the Titans myself."

Voormin turned back to Mina. "Cadet, get your ass inside and fill up your tank!"

"Yes, sir," she replied, heading to the refueling station quickly.

Inside, Rico put Dillon down in a chair and gave him a canteen of cold water. "Anything else, Cadet? Perhaps a soft pillow or a warm blanket?"

Seeing that she had a higher rank than him, he chose to answer respectfully. "No, ma'am."

She snorted, pulling out a notepad, ready to write the report. "Good. Because I have better things to do than to babysit recruits."

At this time, Voormin stepped into the interrogation room, getting right in Dillon's face."Tell me everything about the Colossal Titan."

Taking a sip of water, Dillon said, "It was huge and skinless, but it was intelligent."

"What do you mean by intelligent?" he questioned.

"It knew to take out the cannons first," he explained. "Once it was finished, it disappeared." He looked at him dead in the eyes. "The Colossal Titan's singular purpose was to bring down our defenses and let the Titans in. Nothing more."

Rico raised her eyebrows, interested. "According to the reports five years ago, all the Colossal Titan did was kick down the gate before disappearing. And you say that it used steam against you?"

He nodded. "Think of it like a tidal wave of steam coming at you. Mina Carolina, the cadet that brought me here, wasn't kidding that it tried to boil me alive."

The captain sighed. "It's not much, but it's more than we had five years ago. Can you continue to fight?"

"Five minutes, sir," Dillon requested. "That's all I need."

"Granted. Let's go, Rico."

The woman followed him out, leaving Dillon alone to his thoughts.

Why didn't I say anything about that Titan wanting to kill me? Dillon wondered. Maybe because I was seeing things…right?

Closing his eyes, he traveled right back to that very moment, the moment the Colossal Titan saw him. He studied the memory, watching as how it immediately turned its attention on him. He wasn't imagining things. The Colossal Titan had it out for him.

It doesn't make sense. He thought, drinking his water. None of this makes any sense.

With a sigh, the teen stood up and headed towards the refueling depot. The time had finally come to fight Titans, and he needed to go after them with everything he had. Everything depended on it.


The entirety of the 104th had gathered in the courtyard of headquarters. Most of them were terrified, but they managed to keep it together. This was what they were trained for and they were going to defend their homes.

"I want everyone divided into four squadrons just like we practiced," Voormin ordered, though it sounded like he was on the verge of panicking. "All squadrons are responsible for supply readiness, message relay, and enemy combat under the command of the Garrison Regiment! The intermediate squadron will be taking the vanguard, the cadets will be taking the middle guard led by the support squad, rearguard will go to the elites. I expect you all to man your posts knowing the advanced team was wiped out!"

There were several shocked gasps from the cadets. Things were getting bad quick.

"That's right!" His voice was cracking just a little. "The outer gate is history. The Titans are in. This means the Armored Titan is likely to reappear. If, and when, he does, the inner gate will also be history."

There were whispers scattering throughout them all about how this was horrible and thoughts about how they were all gonna die.

"Quiet!" Voormin ordered. "Those of the vanguard be ready! Your mission is a very simple one: defend the Wall until the evacuation's done." He glared at all of them. "Now, be aware, all of you, that desertion is punishable by execution. If it comes to it, lay down your lives. Dismissed!"

"Yes, sir," they all responded.

With the debriefing over, many of the cadets ran off to their respective squadrons to prepare for battle. Unfortunately, there were a lot of them that were beginning to panic, including Jean.

"Why did this have to happen now?" he asked in fear. "Just one more day and I would've been heading for the Interior."

It didn't help when he watched another cadet vomiting his guts out while Krista attempted to comfort him.

Not even Dillon was immune to the fear that was slowly consuming him. He sat against the wall, staring at his shaking hand. Almost dying wasn't new to him, but that fear was far more evident today than ever before. He had encountered his first Titan and he was almost killed. Never in his life had he come so close. Never in his life was he so terrified. He was so wrapped in his thoughts that he ran into and over a warm body. The person in question squeaked and fell to the floor. Her brown hair was tied back now, but it looked messier than before. Sasha was tanner than almost all the other girls, but her face was deathly pale and sweaty.

"Sasha?" Dillon asked, shocked to see her in that condition.

She scrambled to her feet, clawing at the wall for her support. "I'm sorry, I..." Her mouth opened and closed a few times. He could hear her heavy breathing. She closed her mouth, gritting her teeth slightly. She tried to talk again, but still no words. She gestured at him, perhaps asking how he was or flailing about for help.

Dillon's eyes widened in horror, thinking she was having a seizure. "Sasha, you need a medic." He was about to turn and find one.

Sasha seized his arm, gripping it tightly.

Dillon grunted in pain. "Sasha, let go. I'm trying to-"

She shook her head, trying to compose herself. Then she blurted the thoughts on her mind. "Are we going to die?"

So, that was it. A panic attack. He kicked himself for not seeing the symptoms sooner. He was like this when they broke through Wall Maria, a scared and panicked kid, and he was on the verge of another one now. He wasn't going to lie to her, so he told her, "Whatever happens, we're going to fight, and we won't let them win." He needed to be strong for her.

"That's just what people say," Sasha whispered, her hand going limp. "I..."

She stood there for a few moments as soldiers bustled around them. Some were frantically checking and re-checking their gear. A few huddled into corners to say final goodbyes or to offer prayers to whatever they believe in. A few even cried. Most had a stricken, trance-like look about them as each was haunted by the thoughts that plagued men and women facing death.

"My stomach hurts."

Dillon gripped her shoulders. "Listen to me, Sasha. I know you're scared. I'm terrified. That Titan almost killed me twice, but we have to beat our fears together. If we don't, we are all going to die." Dillon prayed that she would understand. He was on the brink of losing it like the rest, and he needed to get something accomplished.

Sasha's lowered look quivered, but she nodded her head. "R-right."

Thank you, Lord. "How's Samuel?"

"They've moved him to a field hospital here in Trost. I think the grapple went through his femur. He can't fight like that. They say they'll move him out with the others when they can."

"You saved his life, Sasha. You had better reaction times than any of us."

"But what if he's not evacuated in time? We're soldiers, but we're hardly one of their priorities." She looked about to cry. "We're their shields, but we don't even get the same food they do."

"Sasha, don't focus on the what-ifs," Dillon said desperately. "We can't. Please."

"They'll throw us all to them if they have to," Sasha mumbled, her voice oddly monotone for food being the subject. "Then they'll eat well. You can tell a lot about people by how and what they eat compared to those around them. I miss it... like it's a part of my soul and if I can have it, I'm okay." She never said what it was. "Krista nibbles like she grew up some place where people had to be fancy, but stuffs it when no one is looking like she's desperate. Ymir likes to act all selfish, but I know she stole food to give to kids who didn't have better. Eren doesn't care about taste and treats whatever is in his way as an inconvenience. Then there are the people who send us to die. They take the best and send us to those things who'll eat us. I notice more than people think I do." Her voice became a whisper as she brushed a stray hair aside. I know what's going to happen."

Dillon was at a complete loss. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He couldn't help her, much less himself. Helpless. That's what he was.

She gave him a look that mirrored that helplessness. "You eat like… you're alone in some ways. You share it like you share yourself, but you never get back what you need. I knew that when you traded your food to me for..." She trailed off for a moment. "You ate better when she was around you after that. I think she made you happy." Sasha grabbed his shoulder. "Dillon, Annie eats food with... I dunno. Like she doesn't think she deserves it, like someone begrudges her every bite. She looks lonely all the time. You've got to find her, Dillon. Don't let her feel that right now."

Dillon felt pulled in so many directions. He was trying to help her, but she was trying to help him instead. "But, Sasha, you're... I can't just leave you." Sasha, tell me how to help you.

Sasha stood up straighter and tried to put on a brave face. It looked more like her "I have an upset tummy" face. "I'll be..." She deflated a bit. "Just be safe, and, uh, remember, that big ugly thing pulverized our meat in that box, so let them have it."

He gave her a brief hug and immediately went to go find Annie. He found her walking through the crowd, craning her head this way and that. She was already kitted up. "Annie!"

Her head snapped in his direction and she pushed through to him. Despite her height, no one stayed in her way for long. Once they got close enough, Dillon immediately hugged her tight, wanting nothing more to collapse at this very moment. Hell, his legs nearly gave in. She held him just as tight without hesitation. A rare display of affection from someone so recalcitrant at times about holding hands or much else.

"Annie," he whispered. "I... the Colossal Titan. It... oh, God."

"I saw," she said into his shirt. "Everyone did."

"I was on the Wall. He was right in front of me."

Annie pulled away sharply and looked him up and down. "Are you hurt?"

"Some slight burns from the steam and a few scratches, but that's... that's not important." He hesitated, afraid she would think him insane. "Annie, that thing looked at me and... it tried to kill me."

"What?" She shook her head. "But last time it just went for the gates?"

"It did go for the gates. It knocked off the cannons so we couldn't use them, but when Eren tried going after it, it still targeted me. It wanted me dead."

"Dillon, how could you know that? It's an aberrant titan. Why you?"

"I don't know!" His voice was a little louder than he meant. "I could see it in its eyes. Recognition. Anger. Human emotions. I didn't imagine it. I swear. I've never seen a Titan before... so why did it know me?" He let out a shaky breath. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

She stared at him and for a second there was no coldness. He could see raw fear shining in her eyes. Her shoulders slumped, and she appeared almost feeble. "It was a life or death situation for you. You'll think all kinds of things. Doesn't make you crazy. Just cause they have people's shapes doesn't make them think like people."

Dillon shook his head. "What am I supposed to do, Annie?"

She looked at a loss. "I don't... stay alive. That's what you do." She reached up to touch his face. "Are you listening to me? Stay alive. This isn't us sparing, these aren't training dummies, and for god's sake none of us live in the world that Eren Yeager pretends we do. When you see them, people will freeze. That's when people die."

Dillon placed his hands on top of hers, trying to commit her touch to memory. "I won't freeze."

"Yes, you will," she said in a hollow tone, as if she had prior experience. Her home had disappeared to the Titans. Maybe she had. "Every one of them will, but recover and survive. Don't attack them from the front, and whatever you do, don't descend into a group of them, even if someone you love is in their hands. And if you have to, run."

Dillon opened his mouth to respond, but then he closed it. All he did was place a kiss on her forehead. "I love you." It was the first time he ever said those words to her.

"I..." Annie looked, if anything, more shaken than before. "Please don't die. I know you don't want to use your powers, but if you have to, do it. Survive. I can't... that can't be how today ends. That can't be the thing that haunts me most of this day. Please."

"I won't die. I'm coming back."

She nodded, but still shied away from his touch. "Then go. Don't say goodbye. Just go."

"Why can't I say-?"

"Because it can't be goodbye." Her voice fluctuated with emotion just for one moment.

It hit what she was saying, and he simply nodded, a sad expression in his eyes. Heaving a sigh, he let her go and began making his way for his squad.

Off to the side, he could see Eren and Mikasa having a talk, and judging by their expressions, it wasn't a pleasant one. He wanted to go over there, but there was no more time. He could only pray that they would all make it out alive.

Once he got close to the squad, Dillon realized was composed of Franz and Hannah, but there were also two other people with them. One was a black-haired boy with a stocky appearance and hazel eyes. The other was a dirty blond-haired girl with brown eyes.

"All right," Franz said, gulping. "Let's, uh, introduce each other quickly. Franz Kefka."

"Hannah Diament."

"Dillon Amsdale."

"Elsa Glöckner."

"Vaughn Hoffer."

"Captain Voormin has assigned me as team leader," Franz explained. "As stated, our main objective is to hold the Titans back by any means necessary."

Hannah gulped nervously as the thought. Even though she trained for this, she was not keen on dying today.

"Can it even be done?" Vaughn asked quietly. "There are so many of them."

Dillon sighed. "We won't get anything done if we just stand around here talking about it."

Elsa nodded in agreement. "If we die, we die for humanity. That's all there is to it."

"Squad 31, move out," a nearby officer ordered.

"That's us," Franz realized. "Time to go."

Though they were nervous, the five were determined to do everything in their power to keep humanity safe. They just hoped it would be enough to make a difference.


Squad 31's position was about two miles east of Squad 34, which was Eren's group. In the distance, they could see Titans of all shapes and sizes walking around the city looking for humans to eat. While the Colossal Titan was frightening on its own, seeing these beasts wander the streets was something else. The way the Titans moved, almost like they were drunk at times, the cemented grins on their faces, they truly were creatures out of their worst nightmares.

"Freaky as hell," Vaughn commented.

"What's the plan, Squad Leader?" Dillon asked, trying to hide his own fears.

"Charging in isn't going to work against these things," Franz stated. "We're gonna need a much better approach." He paced back and forth, trying to think of one.

"Maybe we should let them come to us," Hannah suggested nervously. "I mean, we could hide out in these buildings and strike when they get close."

Her clearly-not-her-boyfriend gave her an encouraging smile. "That's actually a good idea. We can split off into two groups. One group will have to draw the Titan in, and the other swoops in and kills them quickly."

"It's a risky plan, but I'd choice that over charging in like a suicidal maniac," Dillon said.

Elsa, who had been quiet this whole time, added, "I'm in."

The squad zoomed forward, drawing closer to the Titans. Their first target was a twelve-meter Titan that had a stocky appearance. Quickly, they split off into two different buildings via the windows. Vaughn, Franz, and Hannah one the left side, and Dillon and Elsa on the right.

"Get ready to move," Elsa whispered, swords at the ready.

Nodding, the blacksmith prepared his weapons as well as the thumping sounds drew closer. His heart raced with every step of the Titan. It was like drums coming from Hell itself.

The twelve-meter could smell them. That much was clear. The question was which group it would go for. Suddenly, it roared and charged to right side. The humans inside were closer.

"Move," Dillon shouted, jumping out of the way of a hand that almost grabbed him.

"Come and get us, you bastard," Elsa taunted, trying to keep its attention on them.

It reared its head back in preparation to slam into the opening face-first, but the sound of flesh being cut made it freeze for a moment. Slowly, it fell to the ground, its nape having been split open. The other three landed inside, Franz's sword covered in blood.

"You two okay?" he asked.

"Next time, you're the bait," Dillon replied, just a little shaken up.

He chuckled and stared at his sword. "My first Titan kill."

"Good job, Franz," Hannah complemented.

The moment was interrupted by a rumbling sound and the ground shaking violently.

"Three Titans incoming," Vaughn announced after looking outside, horrified. "Two ten-meters and one fifteen-meter."

Switching out the blade for a new one, Franz said, "Stay together and take them out quickly."

"Yes, sir," they all replied.

Firing their cables, Squad 31 zoomed out onto the nearest rooftop to get a better view of the situation, but it was too late. The fifteen-meter was the first to reach them, lunging at the building they were standing on.

"Run," Franz yelled.

Barely, the five jumped away as the Titan crashed into the building, demolishing it completely. Most of them were able to grapple to a different building. Franz, however, flew right into the side of the building, falling to the ground in a heap.

"Franz," Hannah cried, throwing caution to the winds as she descended to the ground to help him.

Dillon watched the scene begin to unravel quickly. The two ten-meters were closing in fast and the fifteen-meter was reaching out for Franz. Hannah managed to slice its fingers off and attempted to pull Franz away, but he was too heavy. She was too caught up in despair to notice the fifteen-meter reach with its other hand. Vaughn looked like he was about to try and bolt, and Elsa was prepared to go down fighting.

I once said that I thought I could be a good leader. Dillon thought to himself as he steeled himself for what he was about to do. Time to find out.

His eyes started to flash as he shouted out orders. "Vaughn, Elsa, hold the ten-meters off! I'll take care of the big guy."

"You got it," Elsa replied, going for the one on the right.

Vaughn was more reluctant. "But, Dillon—"

"Go!" he ordered, focusing all his energy on the monster in front of him.

The Titan stopped, instinctively clutching its head in pain. Blood began leaking from its face as Dillon made the capillaries in its brain burst. Given that this thing was bigger, it took a lot more mental strength to do so. When he noticed Hannah finally pull Franz away from the Titan, Dillon swung around on the cable and sliced open the nape, killing it instantly.

Elsa and Vaughn were doing pretty well. Surprisingly, Vaughn was a better fighter than he let on once he let go of his fear. He managed to blind the ten-meter Titan he took on before slicing its nape. Elsa cut open the Achilles Heel on hers, making it fall to the ground. She quickly killed it before it could get up. With the Titans dead, Squad 31 managed to scramble to a high rooftop as the bodies left behind began to decompose quickly.

"Is everyone all right?" Dillon asked.

Franz nodded, rubbing his sore head. "I'm gonna have a wicked headache in the morning."

Suddenly, Elsa stalked up to him and pointed a sword at his neck.

"Elsa, what are you doing?" Vaughn questioned.

"What are you?" she demanded.

"Elsa, I don't—" The point hit his neck.

"You stared at the Titan, and blood began to pour from its face," Elsa stated, glaring at him. "So, I'm gonna ask again: What. Are. You!?"

Gulping, Dillon answered, "I'm a human with psychic abilities."

"Psychic abilities?" Vaughn repeated.

"You know, mental attacks, levitating objects, things like that."

Elsa's grip on her sword tightened, the tip nearly touching his neck."How is that possible?"

"It's a long story!" he replied quickly.

"Condense it," she ordered.

"Elsa, there's no time for that," Franz interjected, walking over to them. "As much as we all want to ask him questions, we have more important things to worry about."

"Squad Leader, you've seen what he's capable of," she shot back. "How do we know we can trust him?"

"I just saved Franz's life," Dillon pointed out, frustrated. "Are you seriously going to forget that?"

"There's an angle," Elsa growled. "There has to be. How can anyone trust you with that kind of power?"

"Elsa, please," Hannah said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "He saved Franz's life."

"And do you really think I'd use my powers to hurt humanity when there are Titans that will do whatever they take to eat us?" Dillon added.

It was a long ten seconds, but after that passage of time, she sighed and lowered the sword. "Fine, but if you try anything-."

"I get it." Dillon turned to Franz. "What's our next move?"

"How long can you do that for?" he asked.

"I don't know," Dillon said, "but I'm gonna go all out."

Hannah rushed over to him, taking out a handkerchief. "You're bleeding."

Dillon was about to retort, but she wiped the blood from his nose. Once she was done, he finally spoke. "It happens if I go too far."

"So, it's not gonna last long," Vaughn realized.

"I was high on adrenaline, but now that I'm not, I can take it easy. I can give the Titans some nasty headaches and you guys can deliver the killing blow. The more I strain to use these powers, the more likely I'm gonna get dizzy and lightheaded."

Franz nodded. "We'll keep an eye out if the strain becomes too much for your mind."

"Got it."


What went from an attempt at a cloak-and-dagger plan turned into a hit-and-run tactic. With Dillon's abilities, they could actually go search for Titans to kill. Granted, there were Abnormals, Titans that displayed bouts of intelligence, to worry about, but it was thanks to the blacksmith that their lives were made a little easier.

"12-meter dead ahead," Vaughn announced, growing a lot more confident as of late. "Who wants that one?"

"I'll take it," Hannah said with a grin. "You guys have been having all the fun."

"It's only been fifteen minutes," Franz informed her.

"And I only got one Titan kill," she stated.

Dillon rolled his eyes while making them glow. "Go for it, Hannah."

She charged towards the Titan as it held its head in pain and slashed its neck. Unfortunately, the cuts were too shallow.

"Circle around and try again," Franz exclaimed.

"You holding up there, Psychic?" Elsa questioned.

"Can't stay on this guy much longer," he said. "Hurry up."

Quickly, Hannah circled around and cut the nape, striking a killing blow. "Yes!"

"There we go," her not-boyfriend congratulated.

"What's the tally so far?" Vaughn asked.

"Four for me," Elsa answered, "five for Franz, three for you, and two for both Hannah and Dillon."

"I should point out that I assisted on most of your kills," Dillon reminded them, "so my number is above all of you."

Suddenly, drops of water began to fall from the sky. It quickly increased to many as a downpour of rain fell on them.

"Feels nice," Vaughn commented, letting the rain wash over him.

"Let's take a couple of minutes," Franz suggested.

Dillon sat down and rested against the window, finally able to relax for a bit.

"Hey," Elsa said, standing next to him. "Sorry about earlier."

"You were confronted with something you couldn't comprehend," he replied. "Sure, I'm just a little ticked off, but I can't completely hold it against you." Wouldn't be the first time.

She sighed. "This whole thing is so insane. Right after graduation, we immediately get attacked, and now I'm standing next to the only human with abnormal abilities."

"It's a lot to take in," he agreed. "You should've seen my girlfriend's reaction."

"What's her name?" she wondered.

"Annie Leonhart. Cold at first, but she warms up after a while."

She chuckled. "Glad you have someone to live for."

"I'll introduce you if we run into her." He looked up at her. "What about you? Have anyone special in your life?"

Before she could answer, the bell began to ring in the distance.

"The civilians made it out," Hannah realized, smiling.

That's when the reality of the situation hit Vaughn. "At what cost?" When the squad looked at him, he explained himself. "I mean, we're the only ones in our squad to have someone like Dillon. Everyone else had to fight these Titans without the advantage we have. Can you imagine how many have died already?"

Dillon looked down at the street and noticed that some of the puddles were mixed with blood. Whether it was Titan blood or human blood, the point was made. Soldiers have been giving up their lives all day to make Trost safe. It was a sobering thought.

"They won't be forgotten," Franz promised as he looked at Headquarters from afar. "Let's head back to Headquarters and regroup with the others. Gas is good on my end. How about you guys?"

"Good enough to make it," Dillon answered.

"I'm good," Elsa assured.

"Same as Dillon," Vaughn stated. "I'll make it."

"I have enough," Hannah said.

Dillon stood up…and promptly stumbled, the world spinning.

"Easy there," Vaughn warned as he and Elsa held him back, concerned. "You okay?"

Shaking his head to ward off the dizziness, he answered, "I think I reached my limit."

"I can carry you the rest of the way," Franz offered.

Once again, Dillon found himself piggyback riding his way to safety, and he was sufficiently annoyed. "Twice in one day. This better not become a regular habit."

"Wait, this happened before?" Hannah asked.

"Later," he replied with a sigh.

Squad 31 was on the move again except it was a little quieter this time around. Some of them began to notice the dead soldiers lying in the streets, and they were grisly sights to behold.

"I recognize some of them," Vaughn whispered. "People that I knew in Training."

Worried, Dillon made a mental call to his girlfriend. "Annie, are you there?"

There was no response.

He was about to try again, but the lightheadedness got worse. Seemed like communications would be shot for a while too. Until then, he would have to hope that he wouldn't see Annie among the bodies.

"We're about halfway there, guys," Franz stated. "Let's keep up the—"

There was a loud roar that came from their left, causing their eyes to widen in horror. A thirteen-meter was coming at them, full speed. Instantly, Dillon tried a mental attack, but he didn't have the strength to do it.

"We can't lead that thing back to HQ!" Vaughn stated. "We have to kill it now."

"I've got it," Elsa assured, pulling back.

Before anyone could stop her, she dodged a bite attempt and circled around, ready to cut open the nape. Then, it happened. Her tank ran out of gas. Thrown off balance, she made a cut that wasn't deep enough to kill it. She crashed against the side of a building, which shattered her gear. She fell to the ground as she cried out in pain, her arm twisted at an odd angle. Elsa was completely vulnerable.

The minute that happened, Franz put it all together. Elsa lied to them. She knew that she had the least amount of gas, but she pretended everything was fine. She didn't want to be a burden and was willing to sacrifice herself if it meant getting the rest of the squad got to safety.

She didn't want them to save her.

With a pained look, Franz made the hardest call of his life. "Keep going!"

Hannah, who was about to turn around, stared at him in shock. "Are you crazy? That thing's going to eat her!"

"Damn it, Hannah, I know," he shot back, his eyes glistening with tears. "We're running out of gas, and we have to make it to Headquarters without delays!"

"Please, don't make me leave her," she begged.

"Run!" came the final cry of the woman they were leaving behind as the Titan lifted her up.

"I'm sorry," Franz whispered as they continued forward towards their objective.

"Elsa, no!" Hannah shouted, about to turn around.

"Don't you dare go back," Franz commanded angrily, though there was pain in his words. "I won't lose you, too!"

Part of Vaughn wanted to go back and save her, but more Titans were coming their way. There was no time. He felt like a horrible person as he obeyed his squad leader. Hannah was openly crying, and she still followed her squad away from her friend.

All four of them could hear her screaming as the Titan crushed her body in its hands. The pitch of her voice got higher and higher until it suddenly stopped. Aside from the cables pulling them forward, there was dead silence. Elsa Glöckner was no more.


Remastered Edits: Props to Necromancy101 for writing Sasha and Annie's lines in the middle. I really liked how that turned out. You can also see a reference to the Attack on Titan 2 game. Also, also, I emphasized a bit more on the emotional toll this is taking on everyone, that no one really has it completely together. I hope I did that a bit more justice.

I hope you all enjoyed this one. If you think these changes were big, wait until you see the next chapter.