Beta's Note (BN): Hey all, I'm Kat! Otherwise known as Emeraldghost11 on here and the new beta for this story!

First off, I want to slightly scold some of you. This story is not owned by you - neither is AOT. Everyone is welcome to their own opinions, views, and wants. That does NOT give you the right to harass, bully, and downright be an awful human to my author here. If you don't like how something is done, you can leave. You don't have to read it because it's not. Your. Story. Constructive criticism is fine, but the downright harassment and bullying I have seen is unacceptable.

But! To the rest of you, thank you for supporting this story and I am glad to now be a part of it behind the scenes! I hope you're all doing well! And you can find me on here through my profile! Stay safe and Merry Christmas.

Emerald (official Beta)

AN: Thank you, Kat. Before anyone asks, no, I have not watched the new episodes of the final season. I haven't decided if I will be doing that yet. Enjoy the chapter and Merry Christmas! It's good to be back. :)


Chapter 71: Fight for the Coordinate

Groggily, Eren's eyes slowly opened upon feeling his arms stretching in opposite directions. He tried to pull back on instinct, but all he accomplished was a piece of metal pressing into his wrist. Not even his fingers could flex as they seemed glued into fists. His vision finally cleared up enough for him to realize he was in the worst predicament he had ever been in, and he was eaten by a Titan months ago!

Two sets of chains were wrapped around his waist, forcing him into a kneeling position. Bandages covered his hands so tight that he felt the blood cut off from his appendages. Clasped to his wrists were two more chains that stretched his arms out uncomfortably. He attempted to scream, though he could only make muffled sounds. A mouth guard used for aggressive dogs prevented him from opening his mouth and separated his tongue from his teeth. Adding further to this humiliation was the fact not only his shoes were missing, but his shirt. The intent was as clear as day: someone didn't want him transforming.

While he continued to struggle against the metallic bonds, he took in his surroundings. Blue crystals surrounded him at every turn, giving off a natural glow that lit up the place. It looked eerily similar to Annie's hardening ability, and yet, it all seemed so natural. Pillars about twice the size of his Titan held up the ceiling, so if he was able to get out, he wouldn't accidentally bury himself in a cave-in. What really perplexed him was the segment he was chained to. It was high above the floor and protruding towards the middle of the area. He should've guessed that he would be on the altar.

Wait… how did I know that? Eren froze his movements. The more he thought about this place, the more it seemed familiar somehow. That couldn't be right. He had never been here before.

"Hey, you're awake."

Eren flinched, his eyes darting to the floor. Garbed in a white robe was none other than Historia. At least she was alright, but why wasn't she making any moves to help him? He grunted in frustration, hoping she would get the message.

"Eren, calm down," she pleaded. "It's going to be okay."

I'll be more okay when you get me out of here! He thought to himself. If only he had Dillon's powers.

She continued to speak as if nothing was wrong. "There's something you need to know: my father is not the enemy. He's an ally of humanity. He always has been."

"Bur-hit!" At last, Eren could communicate somewhat. Did he wake up in another world? That could be the only explanation as to why Historia was defending the man who betrayed her when she was a child.

Judging by her offended expression, he definitely touched a nerve. "Will you stop throwing a temper tantrum already? There is so much you don't understand, things that even Annie could not know."

Footsteps echoed in the cavern as a middle-aged man arrived. He wore some sort of fancy, black suit that only a nobleman could afford wearing. Even from his vantage point, he could see the calculating expression on the man's face. This was Rod Reiss, Historia's bastard of a father. And yet, he was able to recall an earlier memory of the man embracing her while apologizing profusely. None of this was adding up.

"You can't blame Eren for his lack of understanding, Historia," Rod chided. "He has yet to understand the truth." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Come with me."

On instinct, she stiffened at the sudden contact. Considering the abuse she suffered from her mother, it was unsurprising. Nevertheless, she allowed her father to lead her in an attempt to show trust again.

Eren's eyes followed the duo as they travelled up the slope leading to his position. What was the old man up to?

"You haven't been here before, but I have a feeling you remember this place, Eren," Rod said. "While you carry the Coordinate, you don't have full access to its abilities. Only those of the Royal Blood can."

Historia's eyes widened. That was news to her, too. "Father, are you saying I'm… we're…?"

For the first time, Rod smiled at her. "Yes, my child. We are the direct descendants of the Goddess of all Titans, Ymir Fritz."

Eren snorted, rolling his eyes. He knew of the story Annie shared with the Scouts, how this so-called goddess was the mother of all Titans. Sure… and he could secretly travel through time. Horsecrap myths.

"I'm not surprised by your reaction," Rod continued, having caught Eren's disbelief. "I could speak for hours on end about the truth, but until you have proof, you won't believe it. Fortunately, my daughter and I should be able to provide just that." He was right behind the Shifter now, staring at his exposed back. "Unconventional, but it should work. Historia, press your hand against his spine."

"W-What!?" Historia exclaimed, taken aback.

"The Coordinate can respond to our bloodline," he explained. "His spinal fluid contains the power of the Titans. I understand your hesitation, but I want you to trust me, alright?"

She swallowed nervously. For all she knew, they could somehow cause him to transform. Of course, there was the other matter of touching him like that. Crossing boundaries was an understatement to what that would be like. Still, her curiosity won her over and, with an encouraging nod from her father, the two laid their hands against his spine.

Eren jolted as if he was struck by lightning, and a plethora of images assaulted his mind. Thousands of people from thousands of places flashed through his mind faster than he could blink. He couldn't keep up with them. There were far too many. Then, came the voices. So many things being spoken, it was enough to drive a person to insanity.

"Concentrate, Eren." Rod's commanding voice overtook the others. "Remember your father's sin."

My father…?

His mind zeroed in on an all-too-familiar memory, but it was different. The last time Eren saw his father, he could only remember bits and pieces. Now, he could see the moment in its entirety from Grisha's perspective whether he wanted to or not.


He was leading a ten-year-old Eren deep into a forest. The sun was setting to the point it was almost twilight. For the past hour, Eren would not stop asking questions, the most common one being "Where are we going?" Oh, how Grisha wanted to explain things to his son. There was so much he wanted to say, but his time was running out. If he lost his nerve, even for a moment, he wouldn't go through with it. He knew deep down what this would entail: dooming his life to a life of great suffering, but he had no choice. Humanity's future depended on this moment.

Once he was sure there were no witnesses and that no one could possibly hear them, Grisha spoke. "Eren… I want you to do something for me. It's very important."

Eren tilted his head to the side in curiosity. "What is it?"

Taking a deep breath, Grisha removed the key from around his neck. It was time. "No matter what, you need to reach the basement. It's the only hope Mikasa, Armin, and humanity have left."

Now, his son was completely confused. "I don't understand."

"You will." Grisha allowed the key to fall from his hand onto the ground. The second Eren's eyes followed it, he made his move. With one hand, he clamped down on Eren's wrist, and with the other, he pulled out a syringe containing the Titan serum.

Unfortunately, he underestimated Eren's instinct to immediately react when he thought he was being threatened. With his free hand, he grabbed his arm while he thrashed in his grip. "Dad, what are you doing!?"

"Hold still!" Grisha demanded through gritted teeth. "You have to let me do this!"

"No! Let me go!" Eren protested, wrestling with his father. He was doing a decent job keeping the needle from injecting into him.

"Enough of this!" Grisha shoved Eren to the ground and knocked his hand aside. His weight would be more than enough to keep him pinned. Tears streamed down his eyes, knowing how cruel this was, but there was no other way

Of course, Eren made things worse by screaming for help. "Mom! Mikasa! Please, someone help me!"

"Your mother is dead, Eren! This will help you avenge her!" Mikasa would not be coming here to rescue him. The sleeping pills he slipped into her water earlier would make sure of that. No one could interfere with this. With that in mind, he steeled his heart and pressed down towards his arm. So close now.

Suddenly, Eren managed to grab a stone and smashed it into Grisha's face. His glasses flew off, but that only delayed the inevitable. Ignoring the bruise forming on his cheek, he let out a frustrated snarl and punched Eren with a savage right cross. The way his neck snapped to the side, Grisha feared he broke his neck, staring down at the child he assaulted with wide eyes. Thankfully, he was rewarded with a pained groan. Nothing life-threatening, it seemed. With Eren dazed, he was unable to stop the needle from inserting into his arm. It was finally done.

As Eren writhed in pain, Grisha took several steps back so he wouldn't be incinerated by the explosion. It would defeat the whole purpose if he died from the transformation. He knew what was coming next, and though he feared it, he could not stop thinking about how much he had hurt his son. Never in his life could he have imagined striking his own flesh and blood the way he did. It was so instinctive, yet so wrong.

"Eren, I'm so sorry," Grisha wept, nearly collapsing to his knees out of grief. "Please forgive me."

A lightning bolt descended onto Eren's body, engulfing him in flames. In a matter of seconds, a four-meter Titan emerged that resembled his son. Childlike, but still a monster. It gazed at him with hunger-filled eyes, and before he could blink, it's mouth lunged straight for him. The last thing Grisha ever felt was the sensation of teeth bearing down on him.


Like a wild animal, Eren began to thrash violently against the chains, forcing the duo to recoil from him. It didn't matter how fruitless his efforts were. He just wanted to get away. Run as far as he could until there was nothing left.

"Father, what's happening to him?" Historia asked, a touch of worry gracing her tone.

"He's remembering the truth about his father," Rod answered simply. "If I had to guess, it would be his death. Isn't that right, Eren?"

The Shifter's body began to twitch as if he was suffering from a seizure. The muffled screams quickly turned into gagging.

Rod finally expressed something other than his stone-cold seriousness: worry. "He's choking on his own vomit."

"Father, we have to help him," she pleaded.

He shook his head immediately. "If we ungag him, he could transform and kill us both."

Eren's volume was decreasing, but the retching grew worse.

Historia couldn't stand it any longer and rushed to her shackled friend. Ignoring her father's commands, she yanked off the mouthguard, allowing Eren to expel the sickly fluid from his throat.

"Get back!" Rod yanked her away none too gently, forcing her to look at his stormy eyes. "Do you have any idea what he could do to you if he had the chance!?"

Historia flinched from his shouting, and her voice dropped to a more submissive tone. "He's... my friend."

Their conversation was interrupted by broken, anguished sobs. The Shifter was in no condition to turn into a Titan, much less resist.

"Eren," she called out softly.

He ignored her, for he was wrapped up in his memories. He remembered it all: the fear towards his father, the punch he received for his rebellion, the burning flames that coursed around him, and the taste… oh, God, the taste of blood. Grisha's blood. What kind of monster was he?

Seeing that Eren was in no condition to fight, Rod heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Now was a good time as any for an explanation. "Historia… in order for one to receive the power of the Titans, they must take it from the one who wields it at the time. To do so involves either devouring the person completely or ingesting the spinal fluid directly. Either way, the previous host dies."

Her face paled as a wave of nausea hit her. "Oh, my God… is that why Eren—?"

"I suspect the trauma was too much for him to handle. That's why he couldn't remember until now." The man shook his head with pity. "Another victim claimed by Grisha."

"...Why me?" Eren asked hoarsely. "Why… did he do this to me?"

"Because you were exactly what Grisha was looking for," Rod answered. "You were always determined to fight despite the reality of your situation. Every time you were knocked down, you got back up." Upon Historia's questioning gaze, he added, "I read his service record."

"But wouldn't Mikasa have been the better choice?" Historia wondered. "I mean… she was top of our class for a reason."

"True, and yet, she lacked the bloodlust and unquenched rage that Eren had above all else. It made him the perfect weapon to aim at the Titans. All Grisha had to do was give him the ability to fight them."

Eren's body sagged as he lowered his head as best he could. All this time, he thought he was Humanity's Last Hope, the sword that would cut through the Titan bodies like butter. Instead, he was a weapon of his father's design. Was his dream to see the world beyond the Walls his own, or was that desire planted in him by a conniving man. He didn't know. He just… didn't know…


Levi could hear the sounds of his footsteps and those of his comrades bounce around in the otherwise still air of the large and cold chapel. It was like the scattered applause of a bored audience. Moonlight bled in through the windows, coloured shades of blue and purple lighting up the ruined structure. Cobwebs plagued the unused pews and the rancid stench of mold nearly made him gag. Hanji was convinced that there was some kind of secret entrance in this place. Otherwise, they would be back to square one.

Annie left the Female Titan a few miles from the Reiss Chapel. No sense in letting the MPs know the Scouts were coming. He noticed she had been awfully quiet, most likely because her mind was on the Amsdale brat. She was good at compartmentalizing her emotions during battle, so he wasn't too concerned about whether she could focus long enough to shift again.

His biggest concerns were the other cadets. Connie and Jean had yet to kill a human being, and the latter had the most vocal issues regarding the path the Scouts had taken. Despite what they said back in Dauper, it would be this fight in which they would have to prove their resolve. Sasha was still recovering from her injuries, and he couldn't help but wonder if bringing her along was more of a detriment than an asset. Armin, naturally, had the brain of a strategist, but he was still "built like a daffodil" as Shadis described him. He could only hope these four cadets wouldn't get themselves or anyone else killed.

"Over here!" Hanji's voice cut through the silence like a knife. At last.

Adding to his relief, Mike entered the building along with Moblit, Nifa, Keiji, Goggles, and roughly thirty Scouts. After retaking their old outpost, Hanji contacted her squad and sent them to Mike so they could gather reinforcements. It was a miracle they had found him in the short time they had. Not often did the Scout Regiment face good fortune.

While the 104th quietly intermingled with the other Scouts, the leaders made their way over to Hanji. By the altar, where a stylised rug had been yanked aside, there lay what at first glance looked like a trap door.

"This is it," Hanji said, voice brooking no discussion. "Eren and Rod's forces will be on the other side. I just hope the layout's close to what I predicted…"

"If it isn't," Mike spoke up, "we'll improvise."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.," Levi stated, bringing the discussion to a swift end. The more time they wasted, the less chance Eren had. And after all the pissing around they had done, all the setbacks, all the arguing and heartache, Levi was determined to get this matter done with. He cast a look at the Scouts; specifically, the 104th. "You all ready to get your hands dirty?"

The older veterans nodded silently. They knew exactly what they were getting into and the consequences that would be coming. As for the cadets, all of them tried to make brave faces, but their apprehension was clear as day, like a foul stench in the air. Levi chose not to call them out. It was easy for one to say they were ready to take a life; it was a whole different thing to actually go through and do it. Armin's hand, perhaps the hand that had held the gun that had taken his first victim, was shaking. Mikasa, top of her class, had a face that could have been carved from stone, but he didn't doubt that there was some dread behind her grey eyes.

Dread that she would be too late to save Eren.

With what he knew now, about his heritage, he couldn't help but feel… more concerned for her than the others. She wasn't just another cadet anymore; she was family. He wasn't alone anymore. And Kenny, he could be his—

Immediately, he locked the thought away and focused on the kids he was sending into Hell. "…Looks like you are."

No more hesitation, no more waiting.


"Father, I… I saw someone when I touched Eren," Historia said. "A woman. A kind and gentle woman."

"Did she have black hair and blue eyes?" Rod wondered as he gagged Eren once more. No point in taking unnecessary risks now that he calmed down somewhat.

She nodded. "Yes. Do you know who she is?"

The man pursed his lips before giving his answer. "She was your half-sister, Frieda Reiss, my eldest daughter. From time to time, she came to visit you when you were younger."

For the first time in a long while, Historia's eyes brightened at the news. "Really? But I don't-I mean, I didn't remember that."

"That was for your own safety." Rod felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as he confessed the truth. "My wife gave me five, beautiful children, one of them being Frieda, but you were… illegitimate. If word got out that you were my daughter, my enemies would not have hesitated to use you and hurt you to get to me. Frieda understood that more than anyone, so she erased your memories every time she went to see you."

Historia looked down at the ground, tears filling up her eyes. "She was the only person who ever cared for me back then. She was… she was all I had."

Rod gently laid a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I'm sorry you grew up in a loveless household. If I had known…" He let out a somber sigh. "I made a terrible mistake and you paid for it."

She didn't want to ask because the likely answer terrified her. Still, she needed to know. "Is Frieda alive?"

He bowed his head in grief. "No. Five years ago, my children and my wife were slaughtered by a man named Grisha Yeager."

Eren flinched at that name, not wanting to hear more about the atrocities his father committed. How he wished to be deaf to the world around him, safe in what little ignorance he had.

Rod refused to give him that as he continued his story, especially after the only family he had left was driven to silence. "He broke into our home to take Frieda's power away from her. I have no idea how Grisha came to be in possession of his own shifting abilities. Your sister fought bravely that day. She was the greatest of all Titan Shifters, the bearer of the Coordinate, but her inexperience led to her death. Frieda…" Rod's voice broke a little, the painful memory haunting him still. "...she was eaten by Grisha. And yet, that wasn't enough. He wanted to destroy the Reiss family once and for all. They were just children, and he-"

The man clamped his mouth shut, desperately trying to prevent the tears from his own eyes. He couldn't allow himself to be vulnerable in front of the only daughter he had left, his only hope in life.

Historia was too shocked to even utter a syllable. She had witnessed more than enough evil humanity had to offer this world, but this still managed to surprise her in its ruthlessness. She didn't know what she wanted to do. Cry? Scream? Hurt someone? It was too much for her to think about. Just more evidence that the world despised her for existing.

"Hey, I hate to interrupt your scheduled weeping, but we've got to get a move on!"

All eyes darted towards Kenny, outfitted in the specialized gear meant for killing humans. His expression made it clear he had long since lost his patience with the whole situation.

A stone-cold visage morphed onto Rod almost immediately. "Why are you interrupting us, Captain?"

Kenny rolled his eyes at the attitude. "What do you want first: the fact that old man Fritz was outed as a fake and his whole council has been arrested, the fact that every military regiment is coming for our heads - or the fact that the Scouts are about to come crashing through the door any second?" He threw his hands up in surrender. "But, hey, far be it from me to get in the way of your tears, Your Majesty." A smarmy bastard as always.

The true King of the Walls was unamused, but a flash of worry distorted his features. "It's highly likely the Female Titan is with them. Are you and your men prepared for that?"

The psychopath-turned-soldier grinned. "We've been waiting for this day ever since the Scouts got their dirty-ass claws on her. Don't worry your royal head."

"Then go," he ordered. "Do whatever it takes to keep them away from the ceremony."

He delivered an over-exaggerated bow before walking away from the group. "As you command."

While he took the skies, Kenny couldn't help but consider what was to come. Perhaps the Scouts would win the day and throw everyone in chains just to face the noose. Perhaps Lord Tubby would get the Coordinate back in his precious clutches through his daughter. In the end, what was Kenny compared to all that? What were any of them compared to the machinations of powers greater than the imaginations of insignificant humans? To take it for his own was an intoxicating thought. It would make his life very interesting, but… perhaps it didn't matter. Not anymore.

There was no way in hell Kenny would ever surrender. Not as long as he had breath in his body. Perhaps, for once, he wouldn't just decide which soldier would die at his hand. He could decide his own fate. And if Levi was there…

A toothy grin stretched his lips to full capacity. It had been far too long since he had a challenge.


There was an untold number of days in which Traute Caven asked herself how she ended up in the strangest of circumstances. Working for a homicidal maniac like Kenny tended to bring that question out of her. At first, things were going according to plan with eradicating the Scout Regiment once and for all, but because their Commander Erwin was so damn brilliant, he turned the whole government against the Interior MPs. Now they were the fugitives and the Scouts had come to destroy them once and for all. Life had a tendency to screw everything up.

A brief reconnaissance revealed that they had around one hundred soldiers ready to storm the cave. And yet, that wasn't what gave her worry. They could match those numbers easily. No, there was the fact that two people were among said forces: Captain Levi and Annie Leonhart. A man who, despite being caught off-guard previously, managed to kill twelve of her men, and a woman who could transform into the deadliest adversary they had ever come across if the reports from Yarckel were to be believed. Her presence alone among the Scouts required an immediate expansion of the Interior MPs, especially ones that were good with a blade.

None of this would deter Caven or any of the other MPs from doing their duty. They all knew what they signed up for the minute they let Kenny Ackerman into their lives. Would they be able to kill them all? Doubtful, but they could stall long enough to prevent the Scouts from reaching Eren Yeager. He was the center to all this madness as usual, but this time, the Scouts would not retrieve him. The preparations were complete and the MPs were ready for whatever would come.

"Take your positions," Caven ordered. "It's time."

Three, brave soldiers made the sacrifice of waiting at the top of the stairs. The double doors were the only entrance into the caves, and they would shoot whoever came in. If Annie was the one leading the charge, odds were that she would let herself get shot and fall to allow herself enough room to transform. A good plan, but with a small group of MPs waiting at the bottom, they could blow her head clean off, eliminating the Scouts' greatest weapon once and for all.

Go on, Captain. Caven urged silently with narrowed eyes. Make your move.

Then… the doors exploded.

On instinct, the three MPs opened fire, but the weapons proved useless against a gigantic, skinless arm that reached out for them. There was no escape for them as the hand came down, crushing the trio with a sickening crunch.

Caven's eyes widened in horror at the sight, unable to believe it. There was no way Annie could have successfully shifted behind the doors. The area was much too small for a Titan's body, so how…?

A partial transformation! She finally realized what the Scouts had planned. "Shoot the arm! Now!"

It was too late as several Scouts, including Captain Levi, ran across the arm. Without missing a step, they fired signal flares in every direction they could, creating a dense fog of green smoke. When the MPs opened fire, the shots were wild and inaccurate. For all intents and purposes, Caven was blind.

To make matters worse, the arm began to disintegrate into steam, signalling that Annie had abandoned her limb. A massive explosion rocked the caverns, forcing the MPs to shield their eyes. Within seconds, the Female Titan was formed completely, and she savagely swatted two MPs aside that were too close to her. Caven barely had enough time to move as Annie charged forward. The ground rumbled with every step as she ran deep into the caverns. It was obvious what the bitch had in mind.

"Do not let her reach Eren!" Caven shouted as the Scout Regiment began to pour through the opening.

The battle had begun at last.

Jean could only describe what he was witnessing as utter pandemonium. Scouts and MPs alike were dropping like flies, blood and limbs splattering the pristine caves. Were it not for his experience fighting Titans, he was sure the smell would be too much for him to bear. That thought unnerved him. He had gotten used to the stench death left behind. Damned Titans. Damned humans. Damned war. Damned everything!

With the signal flares firing throughout the caverns, it prevented the MPs from scoring kill shots half of the time. This provided him with the opportunity necessary to strike one of them from behind. For a brief second, he hesitated upon seeing the frightened look on the soldier's face. Drawing human blood repulsed him, especially considering these people were just following orders. However, he remembered the vow he made and with a scream, he swung his blade.

A severed head plummeted to the ground with the body following shortly thereafter. Some of the blood coated Jean's face, forcing him to quickly, yet shakingly, wipe it off. Unlike Titans, this particular blood would not dissolve into steam. Leave it to the laws of the universe to taunt him over his first kill, his first human life. There was no going back now.

Nearby, Connie was being pursued by two soldiers. He weaved around the pillars, dodging the gunshots by the skin of his teeth. If this kept up, he was gonna get a body part blown off his body unless he could figure something out. Miraculously, an idea came to him in the form of green smoke. Steeling himself, he dove in. The MPs took the bait and followed suit. Once their guns were reloaded, they opened fire, but their shots struck nothing but walls. When they came to the other side of the smoke, they were met with blades courtesy of both Connie and Nifa. One slash from his blade and another head fell.

"Nice job, Springer," Nifa complemented after bisecting the MP closest to him.

Nice job? Nice job!? Connie couldn't trust himself to speak after such an outrageous statement. Even the slight nod he gave back to her took so much effort. At this point, all he could really do was keep going.

Arrows flew from Sasha's vantage point as she tried to take down as many soldiers as she could. She was still too injured to be flying around on the ODM gear like everyone else, but that didn't mean she was useless. Not as long as she had plenty of arrows to spare. She made a mental note to thank her father for the supplies. So far, she had unloaded eight arrows at the enemy. Two misses, two wound shots, and four kill shots. I've still got it. She thought to herself.

Then, as she reached for another arrow, an MP charged straight for her, guns at the ready. Sasha only had a split-second to react and it wasn't fast enough. Fortunately, a blade pierced the chest of the MP just as she pulled the trigger, the round missing completely.

"Watch your back, Sasha!" Hanji warned, detaching the blade along with the body from her hilt.

"Thanks!" the hunter responded after breathing a sigh of relief. That was too close.

Seeing that the MPs were starting to retreat, Hanji gave her orders. "Pursue them! Keep them off Annie's ass!" Hang in there, Eren. We're coming!

Up ahead, the Titan Shifter in question felt a weird sense of déjà vu as she continued her run. Trying to retrieve Eren while killing every soldier that got in her way? The only difference was that she was trying to save him, not capture him. Gunshots were not that much a problem. Her body was too thick to allow them to cause her any harm. MPs armed with blades, on the other hand… that required her full attention. Making sure that her nape was covered, Annie spun on her heel and swung her arm out, catching two soldiers that were gaining on her. She felt a shallow cut on her heel, but a quick stomp ended the idiot's life in an instant.

A smile slowly came upon the Female Titan as she made her kills. For once, she didn't have to hold back or have to worry about killing any of her allies. They were too far behind to get in her way. This was a moment where she could finally feel alive, feel strong. What were they against her? Nothing!

"Focus, Leonhart!" Levi commanded after taking down a nearby gunman.

Leave it to the captain to spoil the moment. With an annoyed growl, Annie continued her run towards the objective. Well, at least she had some form of release.

Levi could understand the excitement of dominating people but now was not the time. They all had a job to do, which was why he, Mike, Mikasa, and Keiji followed closely behind her. Not only were they the best the Scouts had to offer, but they could keep an eye out for any surprises. There was no way that this was all the soldiers had to offer, especially considering who led them.

Mike and Keiji tag-teaming several, bladed MPs was unsurprising, but seeing Mikasa weave through a trio that foolishly tried to take her out was a sight to behold. Every kill was perfectly calculated and executed. Part of him wondered that if the determination on her face was out of reaching Eren at all costs. Most likely. Still, whatever it took to get the job done.

The tide was in the Scout Regiment's favor… so, naturally, this was the moment for their infamous bad luck to kick in.

The caves shook slightly as a massive explosion erupted from the ground. On instinct, the Scouts moved to cover, but Levi spotted the source. The MPs had planted a barrel filled with gunpowder and coated with oil. When Annie was close enough, they opened fire just as her foot came down. The Female Titan let out a roar of pain and shock as she crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Her foot had been blown off completely, leaving a bloody, mangled stump in its wake.

"Annie!" Mike exclaimed, zooming down to aide her. Any soldier worth their salt would attempt to cut the nape at this point. He cut down a bladed MP that was aiming to do just that.

Levi and the others were about to join him, but then his eyes caught sight of cannons lined up against the walls. Familiar cannons. "Mike, look out!"

Mike blinked, and the MPs opened fire.

Hooks attached to long cables impaled Annie's body from both sides, though she still was quick enough to keep her hand over her nape. It was obvious that they took a leaf out of Erwin's playbook. She attempted to move, but like all the times before, she was pinned completely.

However, slightly above her, Mike was caught in the line of fire. His body was skewered with five hooks that went through his body and impaled the wall. He hung in midair like a macabre art piece for all to gaze upon. There were choked gasps emanating from him, but within seconds, his body went limp.

"Mike!" Keiji screamed, horrified at what they had done to him. He attempted to reach his body, but gunfire put a stop to his actions, especially when his shoulder turned red.

Levi and the others were forced to take cover behind some columns. Keiji was clutching his shoulder, but his wound seemed superficial. Thank whatever God for small miracles. Unfortunately, it was squashed as the MPs rallied around the last man Levi ever wanted to see.

"Damn," Kenny said with a whistle that echoed in the caves. "I gotta say that is a really fine kill, wouldn't you say, Levi?"

The captain let out a snarl, readying his blades. Once again, he was hiding with the psychopath holding the advantage.

Adding insult to injury, he just strolled up to Annie like taking a walk through a park. "And, look who we have here: it's my long-lost daughter. Oh, they grow up so fast."

The Female Titan narrowed her eyes in recognition, but she stayed silent… not that she could say a word. However, the telepathic link between her and Levi worked like a charm. "I can't move. There's too many cables holding me down."

Swearing under his breath, he mentally relayed the news to Hanji and the others to hold back until he could come up with a Plan B. At least there was a temporary lull in the battle. "See anything?"

"An army of MPs ready to gun down every Scout that comes into their line of sight. They've taken up—" She let out a scream of pain as two blades were embedded in her eyes and left there.

"Nice try, sweetheart," Kenny taunted with a smirk. "I know all about that psychic link your sex toy gave you. The reports were very thorough." He called up to Levi's hiding place. "Sorry for taking away your eyes, Levi, but I just can't have the surprise be spoiled."

"Are you expecting me to surrender, Kenny?" he questioned in annoyance. "Annie, can you open your mouth?"

"Yes, but I can't bite him if that's…" Her voice trailed off in understanding. "Oh."

"That would be disappointing if you tried," Kenny responded. "The way I see it, you only have two options: run away with your tail between your legs, or get gunned down like the rabid dog you are."

As if Levi didn't face that choice every single time he went outside on Expeditions. The Scouts looked death in the eye all the time. This was no different. The monsters were just smaller and more talkative. He pulled out his flare gun, loading it with the last signal flare he had. He silently motioned for Mikasa and Keiji to do the same with their guns. "Now!"

The Female Titan let out an ear-splitting shriek that shook the caverns. Kenny and his soldiers recoiled from the sudden noise, prompting the Scouts to take advantage of their disorientation. Levi, Mikasa, and Keiji zoomed forward, opening fire for the last time. The MPs shielded their eyes as green smoke clouded their vision. Seeing an opening, Mikasa dive bombed towards Annie, blades ready to cut her free.

"No, you don't!" With great speed, Kenny intercepted her with a well-placed tackle, slamming her against the wall. He attempted to shoot her, but she managed to push his wrist aside just as he pulled the trigger. That rendered one of his guns ammoless at least. Mikasa tried to stab him with one of her blades, but he manoeuvred around it easily. With a quick move, he detached the blade from the gear and smacked his pistol right across her face.

It was hard to determine what went through Levi's mind at that second. Those who were alive to see it would call it a moment of weakness for the only family he had left, a family he wanted the chance to know. Others could reason that the closer he was to Kenny, the less likely his subordinates would take a shot at him. Whatever the reason was, it prompted Levi to change course from going for the cables to making a beeline straight towards Kenny, firing a hook straight at his head.

"Captain!" was the last word Keiji spoke before his body erupted with bloody holes. His corpse resembled that of Swiss cheese before flopping to the ground in a gory heap.

Levi gritted his teeth at the death he caused. It was possible both of them would have been shot to death in an effort to reach Annie, but the outcome would remain a mystery. He made his choice and Keiji died because of it. Time to start living with it.

Kenny dodged the hook and Levi's attempt to cut his head clean off. Thinking fast, Kenny sprayed part of his tank of gas right in Levi's face, blinding him. A kick to the jaw sent the pint-sized captain to the ground. With the two major threats dazed, Kenny made a run for it into a nearby hole in the wall.

With the captain out of harm's way, a group of MPs led by Caven swarmed the Ackerman duo to finish them off. Levi and Mikasa knew that they wouldn't be able to take to the skies without getting shot, which left only one choice. They fired everything they had in their tanks, creating a smokescreen to protect them. Caven tried to shoot Mikasa, but she missed as the two darted into the catacombs Kenny fled into. She almost ordered the others to give chase were it not for the timely arrival of the Scouts, armed and ready.

"Soldiers, keep them away from the Female Titan at all costs!" Caven shouted with all her might. "For the glory of the King!"

The two sides clashed once more, and death continued its eerie song.


AN: Okay, there's a lot to talk about in this chapter, so let's get to it.

First, let me start by saying that I had no intention of including Erwin's gambit of taking down the corrupt government in this story. There really wasn't a good spin on things that I could have done with it, and I didn't want to hash out the exact same dialogue this time.

Now, let's talk about what I DID include: Eren's flashback. I have a strong feeling I'll be getting some strongly-worded messages about what Grisha did to Eren. This is just my interpretation of how that scene could have gone down. I felt driven to add a bit more humanity in the past and present to make the scene more emotionally raw than it already was. Also, I hope you manga readers caught a certain Easter Egg I added to Eren's scene. Here's a hint: it's not in the flashback.

Then there's the battle itself. I will be the first to admit that I am terrible at large-scale battles (one of the biggest reasons why it took me so long to get this chapter out there). With the massive forces of the Scouts, I decided to increase significantly the amount of Interior MPs to compensate for the fact that Annie was with them. The Scouts get the Female Titan, and the MPs get exploding barrels. I thought it was a fair trade. Yes, I said barrels PLURAL. You didn't think Kenny would just have one, did you? XD

Speaking of our favorite psychopath, let me talk about him for a bit. I really enjoy writing Kenny because he's unapologetically an asshole. He's the closest thing AoT has to a Joker-like character. That being said, I feel like his motivations for gaining power are… I don't know how to describe them. On one hand, it does add a layer to Kenny past his "I kill because I can" attitude he seems to exhibit. On the other hand, I can't help but think it's incredibly stupid. So, you want to gain the power of the Titans, kill everyone that gets in the way of your goal… so you can gain compassion? Maybe I'm missing something, but it just seems ridiculous. There's also the fact that this revelation comes while he's dying, almost like Isayama was telling me, "Hey, remember this psychopath? Here's some context so you can feel sorry for him." At least, that's how it felt like. So, in this version, Kenny will remain shrouded in "mystery" and he goes to battle thinking, "If I'm gonna die, might as well do it in an epic-like fashion."

Which brings me to the final part of this chapter. I get the feeling that there will be A LOT of negative towards one singular moment: Levi saving Mikasa instead of trying to break Annie free. I am no stranger to controversy concerning my characterization of Levi, so I will attempt to explain my motivations as to why I made that decision.

It all boils down to one thing: the one thing I've been wanting for a long time is the chance to write Levi and Mikasa vs Kenny. It's fanservice at its finest. I know that, but just like the intimate scene Dillon had with Female Titan back in Chapter 55, if I want to have fanservice in my story, there needs to be a reason why. The familial connection between Mikasa and Levi provided the opportunity for that. I've stated before how much I wanted there to be a better connection between Levi and Mikasa in light of the fact they share the same last name. When she was about to lose her life, I felt like in light of everything Levi had gone through (losing Isabel and Farlan and getting those wounds reopened by Elise, having to work with a hated enemy, losing Levi Squad save for Eld, getting screwed over by the most mentally-unstable psychic in the story), I think Levi took a stab at happiness at the cost of Keiji's life.

Dark, I know, but this is Attack on Titan. Darkness is the main course.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter, I look forward to your reviews, please consider adding to the TV Tropes page, and I will see you all in the next one.