Narration/Action
"Dialogue"
Thoughts
Flashback
Midori heard a loud bang and ran outside and saw a titan just over sixty meters. Is this what Kazuto saw? She was horrified she saw soldiers on the wall but couldn't make them out. They looked like ants compared to the titan. Suddenly bells started ringing indicating an emergency a soldier exclaimed
"EVERYONE IN A CALM A FASHION ORDER FORM A LINE AND HEAD TOWARDS THE INNER GATE."
At Least I don't have to worry about Sugha. Her school was located behind Wall Rose near Dauper village.
Everyone disregarded the order and ran amok, Midori stayed behind so as to not get trampled over by the panicking citizens. She was left behind but she wasn't stupid, once she saw a titan she knew she would be dead. Following the soldiers by looking above and waited for them to subdue the titans. She's been running for over an hour now trying to find the right paths because the main ones were blocked by titans and she didn't wanna get stomped on. She was turning down a path, but she turned down the wrong one and what she saw was a 3 meter titan chomping on an unfortunate soul's head, almost vomiting in the process. Slowly stepping so as to not alert the titan but sadly she stepped on a piece of a stray branch. The titan stopped chomping and discarded the other corpse. It turned and ran towards her.
"NO NO NO, PLEASE NO!" Midori tried to run but her legs would not respond. The titan grabbed her but she was resisting. It opened its mouth and chomped.
Akihiko was moving towards the back. He was smiling thinking about what he just witnessed. I knew he was special the moment I met him in Shiganshina, maybe he would be a good fit for my proposed strike team? Anyways he couldn't afford to be lost in thought. He was about to boost until he heard a feminine voice.
"NO NO NO, PLEASE NO!" He immediately went towards the voice but he couldn't exactly pinpoint it. Maybe she's dead?
"SOMEBODY…ANYBODY…PLEASE HELP…" No if she has that much time to say that perhaps the titan bit a limb instead? He boosted upward, maybe he could spot and save her from above Bingo! The titan that bit her was eating her arm.
She was horrified the titan was currently snacking on her left arm. No one heard me. She looked up and closed her eyes. Well…Kazuto please take care of Sugha.
"HYYYAH!" he moved his blades in a slashing motion and the titan was no more. Midori stumbled back a bit and fell down, And got a look at the soldier from behind. Kazuto? No he's taller.
The soldier turned around and introduced himself "Greetings, I am Akihiko Kayaba."
She was about to speak up but winced due to her arm missing. "Agh"
Kayaba Immediately knew what to do "Shh don't speak let me help.." Thankfully he still had a med kit in the inner pocket of his jacket, that all soldiers were issued. He knelt to her level and took it out. "...I only know the basics so I won't be of much help.." he applied pressure to her wound and wrapped the bandages around her injury. Where's Eiji when you need him..? he wrapped the bandage making sure it was secure.
"Thank you…" she didn't know his name.
"Akihiko Kayaba."
"Midori Kirigaya…" she responded back with her name.
Kayaba was surprised at this. So she's related to him…interesting.
"Alright I'll find my way back to the gate."
"Don't, get on my back."
"What are you sure..I don't want to be a burden.."
"I was headed towards it anyways, hop on my back"
She wanted to protest, currently injured she knew it would slow her down…so she hopped on his back. They were now ready to take off. Once he did there was a problem. Midori was forced to hold on tight to his neck with her palm since she only had one arm now. He landed on a nearby roof because of this.
"Sorry…"
"Wait, get off." She complied and got off his back.
He started taking off his jacket Midori covered her eyes
"Don't worry ma'am I'm just getting my sash off which is under my jacket.."
"Oh…of course, wait you're a commander?!"
"That I am…" It was common knowledge that the commanders of each regiment had a sash and pendant matching with their respective branch colors. They were now airborne bound by the sash that Akhiko put them in because her one arm wasn't enough. They were headed to the inner gate.
Eugeo opened his eyes and he now saw red everywhere. What the fuck where am I and why is it so hot in here? He noticed that he was in a blood red pool.
"Mom…where are you…?" He turned around and noticed a girl who was sinking. Kazuto, Alice I'm sorry.
"Why why why…" He was angry at himself. "...we trained for this for three long years…yet these bastards still take us away like nothing.." He lifted his bleeding arm up "...I swear to god, I'll kill with my bare hands!"
Suddenly outside the titan a hand came out and it stopped moving and collapsed. Shortly after a titan emerged by ripping out its back.
I'll kill them all… As the mysterious titan stepped on the nape to ensure it was dead. Another titan appears roaring at it as if it was challenging it. He got in a fighting stance and punched the head as it went flying in a building and killed it by stepping on the nape.
I need to kill more!
Kayaba reached the inner gate with Midori still in tow, she slipped out from the sash and started following behind. they stopped just a little before reaching it. He saw a soldier's backside who looked like she was arguing with a merchant.
He heard the merchant say "Oi oi oi, surely you wouldn't kill me, once your boss hears this you'll be out of a job."
He decided to respond, "Oh really?"
"Ye- C-commander?" he was shocked to see a high ranking member of the scouts. Alice saw his sash and was shocked to see him. Most of the civilians were uneasy as they nicknamed him 'Heathcliff' as he was ready to sacrifice anything against the titans.
"Commander, can you please tell the people to help me push in my cart?"
"No."
"Tha- wait what?"
"It'd be easier to let the people pass then your merchandise can go."
"W-what but-"
"Tell me can you replace your merchandise?"
"Y-yes bu-"
"There you have it, you can replace the merchandise easily, human lives you can't."
"And what if I refuse…?" He tested, Kayaba unsheathed his blades and said in a low menacing voice "I guess we are gonna have to get physical"
"You win, but your boss will hear about this." He reluctantly agreed to pull the cart out and let the people pass.
"Thank you Commander."
"No need to thank me."
Suddenly Midori fell down "Agh" her wound started to hurt more and more.
"Ms. Kirigaya are you alright?" Alice went to go help her and she noticed her bandages were red but Midori stopped her and tried to move forward.
"Please Alice, you're Kazuto's friend, call me by my first name."
Kayaba noticed her wound and took her shoulder and put it around him. He wasn't gonna let her die if he could prevent it. Midori was surprised by this.
"You need a medic and I know someone who can help you."
"But my nephew I need to-"
"He's alive and well, also I know someone who can help." Thinking of a certain beauty.
As they went further and further inside.
"Alice, we can go now."
"No, I have something to do, Renly."
"But-"
She took off, Renly tried to go after her but Eldrie stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.
"She needs to do this because some of her friends are scouts."
Renly just frowned. You better survive Alice. As they went and scaled the wall to get to safety.
Kazuto was relentless; it seemed as if he leveled up. He'd easily get around a titan and slice the nape as if he'd have years of experience doing this Koichiro and the others could only watch in amazement. There was a titan in front of Kazuto about to grab him, "Kazu watch out!" Kazuto noticed this and quickly held the sword behind him backwards. He charged forward cutting the whole arm off and turned and cut the nape. To the regular soldier it looked like he spun and razed the fucking arm. Wait a minute did he practice that secretly, Kazuto you reckless son of a bitch. Koichiro chuckled mentally.
Kazuto was exhausted and the soldiers managed to find a nice rooftop to settle down on. I'm sorry he kept repeating in his head. The situation was still dire as the HQ was overrun. One soldier was still enthusiastic about retaking HQ.
"We can do it-"
"Really…?" Diaval spoke up "...Just take a good look even if we had the resources we aren't that strong…" Suddenly Alice landed. "Where's Eugeo?" Everyone tensed up at this…especially Eiji…Kazuto didn't even want to know the answer to that, Eji spoke up.
"We were doing fine until…" he stopped, trying to recall the horrible memory. "...there was an abnormal who caught and…ate our Sergeant…Dakira…" Eji started tearing up… "..we- no I.. could only watch in horror…" He was shaking "..each member fought valiantly…Eugeo died in my place..I'm sorry…" he muttered the last part. Alice started walking up to him
"It's not your fault…"
Eji didn't say anything…Why did he join? Was it because Kayaba called him valuable?…even if he couldn't fight he was a damn good medic…but medics are useless in this world at least that is what Eji thought.
She noticed everyone was down, so she tried to pick up the mood.
"Why are we soldiers?"
No one answered that, the mood was too gloomy even if there were veteran soldiers among them they couldn't fight without gas.
"I'll tell you why…" she walked to the middle of the roof where the soldiers were gathered. "..BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS TIRED OF LIVING IN FEAR OF THE TITANS…SO WE DECIDE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THEM…" She hardened her resolve "...EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY TAKE AND TAKE AND TAKE WE STILL HAVE TO FIGHT…ISN'T THAT WHY WE TOOK UP THIS MANTLE TO DESTROY THIS EVIL?"
Something awoke within Kazuto but he stayed sitting. Alice seemed to
notice no one was moved. Fine I'll do it myself
"..FINE YOU CAN ALL SIT HERE LIKE BABIES AND TWADDLE YOUR THUMBS WHILE I DO THE JOB MYSELF…" She took off. A little later, Kazuto followed. Diaval decided to speak up.
"SINCE WHEN WERE WE TAUGHT TO LET OUR COMRADES FIGHT ALONE, LETS GO YOU LITTLE SHITS."
They followed Alice and Kazuto, who seemed like veterans combating titans "Yo why does Kazuto seem much faster?" a soldier exclaimed. Kouichirou seemed deep in thought. "He's using gear two!" Just how much does he train?
Suddenly Kazuto's ODM sputtered and he fell off to the side. Kouichirou was about to go after him but someone else shouted "I'll get him Diaval, lead the troops!"
"Got it, Tsuboi!"
"Eiji come with me in case Kazuto's injured."
"Roger."
Kazuto was free falling until he landed on an abandoned vendor. What's the point of living, I couldn't even protect Sachi, my squad and Eugeo… There was a fifteen meter titan approaching him reaching out to grab him. He had his right hand on the hilt of his sword waiting for the right moment. Once the titan was in range he quickly chopped his finger off, to him it felt like a reflex because he had no intention of doing it. It was because he heard that voice in his head. So he got up and ran in the opposite direction, but it was too late.
Another fifteen meter titan appeared in front of him blocking his way. Kazuto ran to the middle of the street. I'm going down fighting. Kazuto thought with conviction as he readied his broken blade and got in a fighting stance. Just before he could even move, something strange happened.
The titan behind him moved forward and punched the head off of the one in front. Then it repeatedly stomped on its nape in rage. What?
Eji spotted Kazuto "There!" He was behind the titan, Gotta save him quickly, if worse comes to worse I'll be bait and Tsuboi can kill it. He swooped in and grabbed Kazuto luckily the titan didn't notice, no he just didn't care. They landed on a rooftop where they couldn't be reached but could still see the abnormal.
Eji and Tsuboi noticed the large skeleton by the titan. Kazuto seemed to have gotten out of shock. "That titan-"
Tsuboi interrupted, "I know we saw it kill the other and thought it was just a greedy abnormal."
The abnormal seemed to have no interest in them and went towards a group of four and started attacking them. Tsuboi's face seemed to have clicked as if he had an idea, "Let's kill the titans around it, leading it to the horde at HQ."
"I don't have any gas." Kazuto interjected.
"Here take mine." Eji connected both of his canisters to his and gave him half of his gas. "I'm pretty much useless, you and Tsuboi are better at this."
Diavel didn't know what to do. They were on a rooftop and there were titans facing away munching on some humans. Damn it why did Tsuboi have to leave, he's much more suited for this than I am. This would've been easy but most of the veteran soldiers have scaled the wall or died. A soldier decided to speak up "Don't worry I'll kill them!" he hooked on to the back of a titan but was noticed and grabbed by another. His pleas were loud and could be heard by everyone. This was the perfect opportunity to make a run for it.
"EVERYONE FOLLOW ME AND TRY NOT TO GET GRABBED!" Diavel used his ODM to traverse from rooftop to rooftop and the others followed. Some were grabbed and the majority made it through.
Shit how many are dead.. "Shit." he muttered
"How many died because of me?"
Suddenly he was tapped from behind, he turned his head.
"Hi, I am Andrew most of us are alive because of you…"
Suddenly one of the HQ walls broke and two titans could be seen staring at them.
"SHIT MOVE BACK!" Diaval and the other moved back I was stupid to think we could make a difference against them. Suddenly a titan fist punched them to the ground soon after Kazuto, Tsuboi and Eji crashed through the windows.
"Guys that titan beats up other titans." Eji exclaimed
"What?" Diavel couldn't believe what he was hearing, a titan turning on their own kind, how absurd.
"If you don't believe me, ask the Sergeant or Kazuto."
"I believe you." Koichiro stated with conviction Itsuki nodded as well.
"So if that titan is taking care of business what can we do inside.." Diavel stated "...They have control of the refill station not like we can just waltz in there.."
"We need a plan." Tsuboi exclaimed
For a few minutes the soldiers were thinking Diavel was stumped.
"Hey look, we found some muskets!" exclaimed Rika.
"What are they gonna do against titans?" Alice had a confused face
Suddenly an Idea popped in Diavals head.
There's the lift and…
"Guess we don't need them."
"Wait!" Diavel yelled and everyone looked in his direction "...we could make use of those muskets." A scout looked at him like he was crazy. "How?" Diavel cleared his throat.. "You see that unused lift..I was betting we could use the lift to blind the titans with those muskets. We just have to lure them all to us-" "But we'll be surrounded" another interrupted. "Then we will fire in every direction. I wasn't even done, anyways the most flexible will hide on the poles while we act as bait and lure them."
"Who's the most flexible?"
"Kazuto, Tsuboi, Koichiro, Alice…" He started naming a handful and the rest were to grab a musket.
Kazuto and those mentioned were getting ready then Kazuto suddenly spoke up, "Think this will work Koichiro?"
"It will especially with you around."
"Hmm…?"
They were now on the lift going down whimpering, Diavel hoped that no one would fire prematurely or they would be fucked. A group of titans headed towards the lift "Eek!" Rika exclaimed. "Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" Diavel exclaimed. It was so nerve racking as you could only see their white teeth and creepy ass smiles. Almost…come on you piece of shits show us your damn eyes. The atmosphere was so tense that it could make grown men piss their pants. Diavel saw it's eyes.
"NOW FIRE!"
They shot in every direction; it looked like a bright flash to the ones hiding. That's the signal Kazuto gripped his swords and hooked on to whatever he could since some lights were off, using his boost to propel him in the direction of the nape and slicing the nape. Touching the ground gracefully a little while later someone turned on the rest of the lighting
"WOOHHOOOOO, TAKE THAT YA BASTARDS" they all yelled out excitedly
As they were refilling gas Koichiro gave Kazuto a handkerchief.
"Hmm?" Kazuto was confused.
"You may have not noticed but there's dry blood on you…"
"Oh…"Sachi's "...thanks…" Unconsciously he shed a tear and Koichiro knew exactly what happened. He pulled him in a hug and whispered to him…
"Look…i know how hard it is to lose the people you love…after all they took my mother from me…but it's better to talk it out than bottling it all up…so clean yourself up and if you want I'm all ears."
"I..didn't even…" his voice cracked "...get to say goodb-" he hiccuped as he cried on his shoulder "..ye…" Then suddenly his voice went from sad to angry "...i swear I'll wipe them out…"
Koichiro was scared and would hate to be his enemy. Kazuto stood up straight and wiped his tears away "Mention this to anyone and you are dead." Koichiro put his hands up "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
"I have to go refill my ODM." Koichiro went to talk with others while Kazuto reflected My uncle was right, even though I avenged her I still feel…
Everyone refilled on gas and most of them scaled the wall some of them didn't and watched the mysterious titan being preyed on…
"Look…that titan…why is it being eaten..?" Alice was shocked that such a strong titan was being eaten by its own kind.
"I mean it did beat up the others." Kazuto said
"But why eat it?" Tsuboi questioned
"Interesting…" Everyone looked at Koichiro like he was gonna say something but he just stared off into the distance.
"Oh..well looks like it's done for…" Lind said and left.
The others were just shocked at what they were witnessing. Never in the history of humanity have they ever encountered a titan that turned on its own kind.
Suddenly Eji recognized the abnormal walking by, and It seems the rogue titan had its own reaction. It raged and bit the abnormal titan by the nape and used it to knock the others down and he stepped on each of their nape. It then killed the abnormal and fell down as if expiring. Tsuboi spoke up.
"Well it looks like it's dead, let's go guys."
"Wait."
"What Kazuto?"
He squinted at the nape of the titan and saw someone submerge from the nape of the titan. "Someone is in the nape!" Alice looked at the nape… No it can't be.. She jumped down Immediately and was now running towards a blonde haired person.
Alice grabbed him before he fell. It was Eugeo he was unconscious on his knees but Alice caught him. What happened to you? She lowered her head and put her ear next to his heart hoping to hear a heartbeat.
Ba-dump
Ba-dump
Ba-dump
She let her tears fall and silently screamed into his shirt. What in god's name happened to you? Alice then dried her tears as the others were approaching.
They were now inside
So we've finally discovered the shifter
They were surrounded by garrison soldiers as most of the scouts did not witness and were on standby. Alice tried explaining what happened to Eugeo but the Captain would not listen no matter how much they pleaded.
It doesn't matter he won't listen, I need to inform Kayaba
Tsuboi left the trio without saying anything.
"Sergeant, where are you going?!" Kazuto yelled at him but no response as he was in deep thought.
"TELL ME ARE YOU HUMAN OR TITAN?!"
What the fuck, why won't the captain listen?
"I AM HUMAN!" I've been a human all my life at least
"I guess I have no other choice…then." Godfree raised his arm to signal the cannon squad.
Koichiro was sitting down, thinking about the past events.
"Yo Koichiro what happened?"
"I can't tell you Lind, was ordered to keep quiet by the higher ups..."
"Oh…"
Godfree moved his hand to fire. Then the cannon squad fired.
Kazuto immediately moved in front of Eugeo, shielding him trying to protect him. Suddenly an image of his father holding and trying to syringe him.
"If you want to protect Alice and Kazuto…master and use this power to reclaim our lands and free our people…from this injustice. "
He suddenly moved his right hand into his mouth and bit his hand and transformed into a titan sized skeleton.
"RELOAD" he yelled to the cannoneers. He was waiting for the smoke to clear.
Eugeo was thinking on how to get out of this suddenly an Idea popped in his head.
"I'm going to run away outside the walls, My father said the secrets behind titans are in his basement."
"I'll go with you."
"Alice, it's too dangerous…"
"I don't want to lose you…again."
"Well I think you both are being stupid…" Kazuto put his hands under his chin in a thinking position. "…if only we could convince the captain we aren't a threat…" He was in deep thought then something suddenly came to him.
Eugeo knew that face and they both looked at Kazuto.
"Kazuto it's up to you to convince him,"
Kazuto's shoulders seemed to droop "What..no I can't…" remembering his failure with Sachi. "I'm not strong…"
"Cut the bullshit…Kazu.." Eugeo seemed to think he was the only one who could do it, no he knew he could do it. "You were the only one who wanted to join and fight those bastards after what happened and managed to convince your Aunt to let you join the military. You also convinced us also which I know was for the better because I am tired of living in fear. With my newfound ability to uh shift...into a titan…" That's what he recalled in his memories or heard. "...we can fight back even harder than before but he won't listen to me, that's why you need to do it Kazuto."
He seemed to be picked up by Eugeo's words and decided to help convince that Eugeo isn't a threat.
Godfree was squirting his eyes but he couldn't see them. Suddenly a large clang could be heard and a silhouette of a person could be seen. It was a scout named Kazuto Kirigaya, a fresh graduate godfree seemed to recall. Godfree raised his arm once again to signal the cannon squad.
"Wait, don't shoot."
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't?"
Damn what's a good reason..? He then realized something. Wait they all saw Eugeo fight and preyed on like a regular human. Well shit here goes nothing…
He took a deep breath and mustered all the courage he could and saluted. "EUGEO IS NOT A THREAT, IN FACT I DON'T NEED TO GIVE YOU A REASON. YOU ALL SAW EUGEO IN TITAN FORM ENGAGE THE OTHER TITANS NOT ONCE DID HE HARM A SOLDIER…" Some of the garrison soldiers lowered their weapons as several of them thought he made sense. Kazuto recalled a boulder and came up with an idea"...IT MIGHT EVEN BE POSSIBLE TO RECLAIM THE DISTRICT UTILIZING EUGEO'S NEWFOUND ABILITIE-"
"NO, ONCE A TITAN ALWAYS A TITAN!" He started to lower his arm but was stopped.
"Can't you see this soldier is miraculously pleading?"
Chapter 8 is done thanks again to my betas and writers. Please do not hesitate to leave feedback questions or criticism. Are you enjoying this fic? If not, what can I do better?
Peace
