The Wings Of Our Dreams
AN: Hello there, my dear readers. This one took a bit but I hope that the wait was worth it. And this chapter actually marks the end of the Trost battle so I hope you enjoy it.
Alph4Scorpion180: Thanks a lot.
Lachlan: You'll have to see.
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: I'm happy to see you're enjoying this so far.
17 Throwing Stones
Collin didn't know what to think at the moment. How could he after the news he received? His gramps was alive! He pretty much lost all hope during these five years, but the impossible seemingly happened. At the current moment, nothing could wipe the smile of his face.
"C-commander," Collin spoke to Pixis. "C-could you tell me where my gramps is?"
The Garrison Commander also smiled before replying. "He is currently in the Krolva District of Wall Rose. He was taken there during the breach five years ago and stayed there since," he explained. "And I'm sure you're wondering how we know each other. Well, me and old Ferris go way back. We were actually fellow cadets during our military training, and have been friends for a long time."
Collin blinked at the information. His grandfather was old friends with the commander of the Garrison? That was… Well, he honestly couldn't believe it. Ferris told him he had friends in the military but he never mentioned one of them being such a high rank.
"So," Collin began. "Ya knew who I was durin' our visit a year ago."
Pixis chuckled. "Of course I did. Your grandfather would often speak about his beloved grandson, Collin. The moment you introduced yourself I knew," he said before putting his arm on Collin's shoulder. "And it's good to see you're still the bright spot Ferris described despite everything that happened."
Collin's cheeks began reddening from the Commander's words. "Uh, well, I… Ya know, I… keep tryin'," he stammered and immediately gave himself a mental slap. 'The hell am I sayin'? I'm makin' myself look like an absolute dunce.'
Pixis once again chuckled at Collin's reaction. "Well, that's good to hear. Though while I'd like to speak more of this, I'm afraid we have a more urgent matter to attend to."
Collin snapped back. "Y-yes, sir. I'm sorry for wastin' time."
"None of that," Pixis said with a dismissive wave. "Now come, we have a plan to announce."
"ATTENTION!"
'Bloody hell, does he have lungs,' Collin thought as Pixis' voice permeated throughout the area.
Soon after their talk finished, the Garrison Commander had the captains gather every soldier in a single place so he could make an announcement of a counter-attack. A counter-attack that involved Eren turning into a Titan and sealing the hole made in the outer gate with a giant boulder.
All in all, Eren was pretty much the key to humanity's survival. So, no pressure or anything.
"The blueprint of the Trost Recovery Operation is this! Our primary objective is to reseal the hole! And it will be done manually!"
The people below began murmuring at Pixis' words. Did they hear that right? They were going to manually seal the hole in Trost. Many of the soldiers found it too hard to believe.
'H-how are we supposed to do that?' Marco thought as his eyes looked to the top of the Wall from where Pixis was speaking. 'We don't have the technology advanced enough for such a thing.'
Pixis continued. "As for how that will be done, let me introduce the cadet, Eren Yeager!" Right on cue, Eren walked next to Pixis and saluted. "He is a product of cutting-edge science! He is able to create and take over a Titan body and control it at will!"
If people in the crowd weren't flabbergasted before, they definitely were now. Somebody coming out of nowhere and having the power to control a Titan body? That was a hard pill to swallow.
"Please, somebody tell me the Commander is off his rocker," Connie said.
Ymir frowned. "Just be quiet and listen."
"After turning into a Titan, cadet Yeager will take the giant boulder located about a league away from the gate and carry it on his back, and once again close the gate!" Pixis explained. "And it will be the duty of every single one of your to defend him while doing so!"
Collin couldn't help but grin slightly as he watched the Commander give the speech. He turned to Mikasa and Armin, who like him, stood on the side with Anka and Gustav. "Well, ya gotta admit, the man's creative. Wonder how many people actually believe that 'cuttin' edge science' explanation."
"I cannot say, but plenty of them are skeptical, I'm sure," Armin commented. "But the Commander's orders will have to be followed. Especially if we are to make it."
"We will make it," Mikasa said, her eyes firmly on Eren's form. "I have faith in Eren. He will see us through this."
"Anyone who wishes to leave will have my personal guarantee they won't be charged with treason!" Pixis exclaimed, halting some people that were actually about to leave, not believing that this was worth the risk. "Those who fear the Titans have no place being here! All of you who will subjugate your friends and families to the wrath of the Titans, you are free to leave! Your service to the crown will still be acknowledged! And I wish you good luck!"
Needless to say, people were more eager to stay and fight the moment they heard those words. The soldiers that were originally walking away went back to their previous positions.
"If we are to die at one of the inner Walls… then do it here!" Pixis said. "Let us die here!"
No more words of encouragement were needed as a new wave of determination swept across them. The soldiers knew what they were fighting for, and what was on the line if this mission failed. This was their stand. This was their chance to fight back and win.
Collin sighed. "Well, it's all or nothin' now."
"It's the best we got," Eren said as he rejoined them. "If this is our only chance then we'll take it. It's better to fight than to just accept our demise."
"Indeed," Collin said. He looked at the small folded uniform he put on one of the crates before looking back at Eren. "Don't wanna put too much pressure on ya, but ya either seal that hole, or humanity's done."
Eren chuckled. "Yeah, I guess that's true."
"Hey, Eren," Armin said before looking down. "I'm sorry I've brought you into this plan. Honestly, it's something I just quickly thought of in my head. I was just…"
"Don't sweat it, Armin," Eren interrupted. "You have a good knack for strategy, and what you came up with is more than sound. We'll succeed."
Armin brightened up when he heard his best friend's praise. "Thanks, I just… Well…"
"Cadets!"
The four quickly straightened as one of the superior officers approached. He was a taller man with gold eyes and blond hair that reached his neck, Ian Dietrich.
He was also joined by two others, that silver-haired woman with thicker eyebrows that Collin remembered from earlier today, Rico Brzenska, and another man actually matching Collin's height with very short black hair and a short beard going the length of his lower jaw, Mitabi Jarnach.
"Cadet Yaeger," Ian spoke. "We were assigned for the Elite Squad that will escort you and defend you while you carry that boulder." He looked at Mikasa. "Cadet Ackerman, you'll be with us. As the top graduate, we'll need your skills."
Mikasa couldn't help but smile hearing that she will be by Eren's side in this fight while Eren just nodded with determination.
Ian continued. "Cadets Arlert and Holt, you join the rest of the forces to lure the Titans away."
Collin and Armin saluted. "Yes, sir!" they said at the same time before departing the group.
"And try to behave this time, Cadet Holt!" Rico exclaimed with a frown on her face, clearly still miffed about what happened earlier.
Collin looked back. "Thanks for the warnin'!"
Armin and Collin then hurried their step so they could reach the rest of the troops faster.
"Collin," Armin called out. "I again thank you for what you did for us down there. But antagonizing a superior officer like that isn't a smart thing to do in any case. You were lucky that Pixis was on your side."
"Armin, I ain't abandondin' my friends for anythin'," Collin said. "'Sides, somebody needed to stand up to that damn coward."
"And as I said, I'm grateful, but you definitely need to keep yourself in check when it comes to those situations. You can be too reckless for your own good."
"Yeah, figured as much," Collin commented. "But enough 'bout that, we've a mission to complete."
And with a nod, they continued running to their comrades, unaware of a pair of golden eyes watching them.
'I really hope that you make it out of this one, Collin,' Pixis thought before taking a swig from his flask. 'I'd hate to be the one to tell Ferris I sent his grandson to his death.'
With a yell, Collin slashed through a twelve-meter's nape, making it collapse on the ground. Collin then landed on one of the roofs before overlooking the area for any more threats.
The plan was pretty simple but effective. A large group of soldiers was gathered on one of the corners of the Wall, where Titans were drawn en masse while the Elite Squad ran to the other side where Eren could reach the boulder and transform without Titan interference.
However, there was an issue. Not all the Titans were gathered in that spot and still roamed around Trost, so it was up to some of the available soldiers to lure the Titans away or, if necessary, dispatch them.
The Elite Squad still had to reach their destination so that Eren could safely transform.
A soldier zipped away as he looked gratefully at Collin who just saved his life from that Titan, while Collin just smiled back.
Jean then landed next to Collin. "You know, sometimes I wonder if you're just showing off."
"Killin' Titans is optional. I just decided to take that option," Collin jested. "See any more stragglers nearby?"
Looking around, Jean quickly pointed after noticing one. "A ten-meter at three o'clock!"
"Right, let's go!" Collin said before firing his cable and zipping away, with Jean quickly following.
As they flew, the Titan drunkenly turned towards them and raised its hand.
"Let's spread!" Collin ordered and the two turned in opposite directions and moved out of the way of the Titan's hand.
They circled around the Titan who was a bit confused as to who to follow. It turned to Jean but it was too late as Jean swiftly slashed it behind the knee forcing it down. Then Collin came and slashed the nape, killing it.
"Well, that takes care of that," Jean commented with a smirk.
Collin then spotted a small pillar of red smoke coming from another street in the District. Looking at it better, there seemed to be a bigger amount of stragglers there.
"A distress signal! C'mon!" Collin exclaimed before quickly zipping in that direction, with Jean following.
Passing one of the towers, they saw Sasha, Connie, and some others besieged by half a dozen Titans and trying their best to get out of the way.
"Take the one near that building! I'm takin' the one on the front!" Collin said.
"Right!" Jean said before flying over to the said Titan while Collin flew at his, and with two near-simultaneous slashes, the Titans fell dead.
"Connie!" Collin called getting the short cadet's attention. "Let's take the eight-meter one!"
Connie grinned and nodded before zipping around the Titan. Collin zipped over to the Titan, who went to grab him with its scrawny arm, and Collin responded by slicing it to pieces. Soon both of them found themselves at the back of the Titan's neck before zipping at it simultaneously.
Collin then put his blade in a reverse grip, and Connie copied the move as they sliced through the Nape with their blades from different directions, but not in any less effective way.
Seeing his blades already damaged, Collin quickly detached them and pulled out a new pair. He saw Jean help Sasha in taking down another Titan.
"No!"
Quickly turning to see a soldier being carried by another Titan and about to be eaten, Collin zipped over in a flash, and the twelve-meter quickly found itself without a nape. The soldier was freed and zipped away.
Collin let out a breath before landing on a roof and wiping some sweat off his forehead. God, this was getting tiring.
Sasha then dropped next to him with a worried expression. "Hey, are ya alright?!"
"Just fine," Collin said before seeing the last Titan falling over dead. "Damn, how long are we gonna 'ave to deal with this? Eren better transform soon or the Titans'll get us all."
"Ya know, all of this's a bit much," Sasha said. "I mean, not only did we have another breach, but now we've people transformin' into Titans? And for it to be Eren of all people…"
He put a hand on her shoulder. "I know, Sash. Honestly, I'm still processin' some o' this stuff as well. Still, we have to hold on, especially since we're so close to victory."
"I have to be honest, I don't really wanna be here," Sasha said as her hands trembled. "I'm scared outta my wits. I wanna turn 'round and just escape from it all. To at least live to see another day."
"That's totally understandable," Collin said as he softly rubbed her shoulder. "I also wanna be outta here as soon as possible. But we still have our duties. We owe it to everyone."
Sasha smiled lightly. "I know. I just hope that we succeed."
"I'm certain we will," Collin said before seeing a green plume of smoke coming from the Wall. "Heh, looks like they're at their position."
After several moments, yellow lightning appeared some distance from them followed by a loud roar and a crash. Eren's Titan slowly rose, his head visible among the building roofs.
Jean and Connie then landed next to Sasha and Collin, also focused on Eren's Titan.
"Well, it looks like it's finally happening," Jean said. "I hope he can actually lift that bloody boulder."
Collin smiled. "Trust me, if anyone could do it it's-"
Eren's Titan suddenly roared before punching one of the rooftops, sending dust and debris everywhere.
The four stood shocked at what Eren had just done.
"Uh, is that supposed to happen?" Connie asked.
"I... I'd wager it ain't," Collin commented.
Eren roared again with his arms raised and his fists clenched before he began looking around. Several straggler Titans seemingly heard that and began walking towards Eren.
Jean frowned. "Dammit! Why isn't this idiot picking up the boulder?! How much more simple instructions do you need?"
"Uh, wha… What do we do?" Sasha asked.
"I'm goin' over there," Collin said. "Don't know what's happenin', but I ain't lettin' those oversized blokes get to 'im."
"Wait, you're going alone?" Connie asked.
"None of ya'll have to join me. It could be dangerous."
Jean scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because we're here because we thought it's going to be safe. Enough with the selfless hero bullshit, you're not doing this by yourself, country boy."
Collin flashed a smile. "Well, we better get to work."
Eren smashed through another roof, forcing Mikasa to dodge again and land on another building while Eren's glowing green eyes turned, seemingly boring holes into her. He forcefully took his fist out of the debris and roared.
Mikasa frowned heavily at this development. To think that he would lose control right at a crucial moment. Noticing something out of the corner of her eye, her head turned sharply to see that there were several Titans advancing. There was even a fifteen-meter abnormal running towards them with its flailing limbs.
This was bad. Not only was there an out-of-control Eren to worry now they have other Titans coming.
The abnormal opened its salivating jaws seemingly readying itself for a bite. Mikasa glanced back at Eren who was once again approaching her and back to the abnormal. All right, now she just needs to focus on getting-
Out of nowhere, Collin zipped over and planted his feet on the abnormal's head, making it actually tilt over and slam into a building, which in turn made it halt. Sasha then came and slashed away the nape.
Mikasa quickly got over her surprise and jumped away from yet another one of Eren's punches.
Connie ended up slicing an eight-meter's nape while Jean took out a ten-meter.
Collin and Sasha found themselves on the building with the steaming corpse of the abnormal before glancing at Eren.
"W-Why's he attackin' Mikasa?" Sasha asked.
"I dunno," Collin answered. "Guess Eren's lost control."
The two then saw the three superior officers assigned to the Elite Squad land next to them, not looking too pleased with the situation.
"What are you doing here, cadets?" Ian asked. "This wasn't a part of your mission."
Sasha gulped. "Well, uh… you see, sir, we-"
"No offense, sir," Collin interrupted before pointing at the out-of-control Eren, who was stomping on a three-meter that ambushed him. "But I'm pretty sure that also ain't the part of the plan."
"As much as I don't like the cadet's attitude, he's right," Rico said as she took out a box of signal flares. "The mission is a failure."
"Wait, Rico!" Ian exclaimed. "We aren't terminating the mission!"
"Are you insane?!" Mitabi asked. "The Titan is out of control! How can our mission succeed now?"
"Because that Titan is our only hope!" Ian exclaimed. "Eren Yeager is the best chance we've got. And if we can somehow make him snap out of it, we still have a shot at this."
"You can't be serious," Rico said. "Are you that willing to risk the lives of our comrades? For this slim chance?"
"Yes," was Ian's quick response, with Mitabi and Rico looking shocked, hell even Collin and Sasha did. "Slim chances are better than no chances at all. And I'll make sure we take it, down to the very last man if need be." He turned to Collin and Sasha. "You two, go help Ackerman in defending Yaeger ."
"Yes, sir!" the two said before quickly zipping away.
"I like 'im," Collin said with a grin, to which Sasha nodded.
"Rico," Ian said. "Use the red flare to signal reinforcements. That should get us at least two dozen soldiers."
With a huff, Rico nodded before taking a red-marked canister, loading it in her signal gun, and firing a red flare into the sky.
"Now we also do our part. We protect Eren Yeager from the overgrown bastards."
A ten-meter fell as Collin and Sasha finished it off before flying away. Which was right in time as they avoided a swipe from Eren.
"Why's he after us?!" Sasha asked.
"Guess it's takin' his faculties a little while 'fore they come back right!" Collin said. "Till then, we keep those bastards away from 'im!"
The two split as they passed a ten-meter, who wasn't quick enough to grab them. Collin turned back and zipped down to slice the ankles, which gave Sasha an opportunity to finish it off.
A soldier ended up screaming as Eren just nearly missed him.
"Dammit!" Collin exclaimed before zipping next to Eren, with the giant green eyes now on him. "Listen Eren, if you're there, then ya better come to your senses."
Eren just roared before dropping down his fist at Collin, though the tall cadet ducked and zipped away.
"It's no use!" Sasha said as she joined Collin. "He ain't listenin'!"
"Well, there must somethin' we could-"
Collin saw Mikasa zipping over to Eren's head, her feet planted on his nose while she held some of Eren's giant hairs for support as Eren let out a hiss.
"Eren, please!" Mikasa said. "Don't you recognize me?!"
Eren only clenched his giant fist in response.
"Listen! You have to come back! All of us depend on you!"
"Ackerman, move!" Ian ordered.
Mikasa barely saw the fist in time before she jumped off Eren's head, which resulted in Eren punching himself in the face, actually destroying half of it with how much force was in that punch. With a few stumbles backward, Eren soon dropped down, with his back pressing against the boulder.
Mikasa landed on top of one of the buildings, soon joined by Collin and Sasha. The three watched the downed form of Eren's Titan. The left side of his face was steaming while his long tongue was hanging from his mouth because of the broken jaw.
"Well, 'least his calm," Collin commented.
"Do you… Do you think he'll be normal after this?" Sasha asked.
"We can only hope that punch knocked some sense back into 'im," Collin said.
"What are you three standing there for?!" Ian said causing the three's heads to snap to the roof he was standing on. "We aren't done! The Titans are still coming after him!"
That was indeed the case. Right now, half a dozen more Titans were stumbling through the area.
"Let's get movin'!" Collin said before they jumped off the building and fired their cables.
"Hey!" Sasha called out. "Where are Connie and Jean? They were with us a few minutes earlier."
"I… I ain't sure," Collin said. "Haven't seen 'em for a while?"
A horrible thought came to Sasha's mind. "D-Do you think they're…?"
"No, I don't believe they are," Collin answered. "They're pro'ly just busy elsewhere. But we should focus on the mission first."
Sasha took a breath and nodded, and the three went to protect their friend and only hope.
Several more minutes passed, and three more Titans fell on the ground in pretty short intervals. Collin landed on one of the buildings, trying to catch his breath. He took a glance at where Eren was, but his Titan was still seated against the boulder. Eren looked like he hadn't moved an inch ever since he knocked himself out.
Collin detached the worn-out blades and took out his third pair as he saw two Titans, an eight-meter and a ten-meter approach. With a few trigger clicks, he found himself circling around those Titans and killing the one further back and then the second one soon suffered the same fate.
"C'mon, wake up," Collin muttered himself after glancing at Eren. He had no idea just how much more they could go on.
But regardless, they had to go on.
After flying through the street, he heard someone screaming. Taking a turn he saw another group, with a female soldier being held by her leg by a twelve-meter. However, another figure came to the rescue.
"Oh no, you don't!" Reiner exclaimed as he came behind the Titan, and sliced his nape. The woman was then caught by one of her teammates.
Reiner moved away only to be met by a fifteen-meter who reached for him. He lightly gasped and readied his blades, only for a blur to appear behind the Titan and the nape came flying off.
"Nice to see ya!" Collin said as he came into the view.
"Yeah, nice to see you, too," Reiner said with a smile as he realigned himself to fly alongside Collin.
"If ya don't mind me askin', how're the others?"
"They're fine. Annie's with Connie and Jean, and Bertholdt and I are with another group. I just lent my assistance to this one."
Collin nodded. It was a big relief to hear that Connie and Jean were alive. "Then how about-?"
"Look, Collin," Reiner interrupted. "I'd like to chit-chat, but we don't have time. Let's go back to our duties, and we'll talk later."
Collin sighed. "You're right," he said. He was disappointed they couldn't talk more but Reiner was right. No time for distractions now.
"Remember what I said, Reiner!" Collin exclaimed before shooting off in another direction. "Don't die on me!"
Reiner smirked. "And you remember what I said! Don't you die either!"
With a new wave of satisfaction, Collin gave himself some acceleration and flew through several streets. He took out a six-meter before it could react. Then a twelve-meter appeared and tried to grab him but Collin jumped over the palm and ran on the arm. He jumped and caught the nape with a cable, and with a swift move slicing through it.
After a few more seconds of flying, he was met with a group that had Mikasa, Sasha, Ymir, and Krista.
"Well, look who decided to join in!" Ymir said before killing an eight-meter. "Could've come a bit earlier!"
"Ymir, stop it!" Krista chastized her best friend.
"Sorry 'bout that!" Collin said. "I'll be more considerate next time!"
After that, the next minutes were non-stop carnage as the soldiers and Titans began killing each other. Collin found himself covered in steaming blood a lot more than he'd like. He half-growled when he saw a soldier having his head bitten off by another Titan and within a second he was there with the nape flying off.
Krista exclaimed in fear as she was caught by a Titan, so Collin sped over and slashed the arm off. Ymir came the very next moment and killed the Titan in anger.
Collin's leg was grabbed by a Titan, making him halt in the air, but before the Titan could do anything significant, Sasha slashed its nape.
Smiling at the rescue, Collin resumed killing the Titans, helping Mikasa take out a particularly crazy abnormal that jumped around as they sliced through the neck so strongly they almost outright decapitated the Titan.
After taking out the last Titan near them, the group landed on a nearby rooftop.
"Damn, this is taking forever," Ymir complained.
"How much more can we go on like this?" Krista asked. "The hole still isn't plugged and those Titans are never-ending."
Mikasa wiped some blood off her face. "We'll just have to have faith."
A loud roar was suddenly heard, making all of them jolt.
Sasha blinked. "Is that…?"
"Yup, that's Eren, alright," Collin said. "Looks like he's finally awake."
Then came giant footsteps. Very loud giant footsteps even compared to those of Titans. Their hopes rose when they saw the giant round boulder above the rooftops, moving as steam came from below.
Soon, Eren's Titan came into view, holding the large stone above him while he almost looked like he was glowing with heat as steam poured heavily from him.
"Eren…" Mikasa said as a smile graced her lips.
"Bloody damn, ya finally did it," Collin as he also couldn't help but feel happy.
"Guys!" came the voice of Armin as he landed next to them, his face showing nothing but seriousness and determination. "Eren's doing it! All we have to do now is help him reach the gate and we win!"
"Then let's not waste any time! Let's get movin'!" Collin exclaimed and all of them quickly flew in Eren's direction.
Soon, every soldier went to help Eren and keep the Titans away. Their hopes were restored as the thundering footsteps of Eren's Titan pounded in everyone's ears.
Collin slashed a ten-meter's nape after Ymir helped by cutting the ankles. Armin was able to take a twelve-meter out with the help of Krista, and Sasha and Mikasa took out an eight-meter that was about to pounce on Eren.
But not everything was without cost. Collin saw Mitabi crushed by a Titan after being distracted by the death of one of his comrades, and Ian was devoured after saving another soldier's life. Collin honestly wanted to enact some form of vengeance, but he had to follow Eren and keep the Titans away from him.
With a yell, Collin took out another Titan before seeing how close Eren was. 'C'mon, Eren. Just a little more.'
Another Titan found itself in front of the gate, after which Collin quickly used his gear with the intention of taking it out. But as it turned out he didn't need to as Rico stabbed the Titan in the eyes, which gave Mikasa enough time to slice the nape, making the Titan fall over as Eren got closer.
"Eren! Move!" Armin shouted.
With the loudest roar yet, Eren dropped the boulder right into the hole where the gate was, picking up a large cloud of dust as well as cracking the stone from the force. The gates… have been sealed.
A grin etched itself on Collin's face after seeing that and soon he let out a laugh. "Ya did it! Ya son of a bitch, ya did it!"
With tears in her eyes, Rico took out her signal flare gun, and fire a yellow signal in the air, signifying the mission's success. The sacrifices of Ian, Mitabi, of so many people this day, weren't for nothing, as humanity gained their first major victory over the Titans.
Collin landed near the body of the Rogue Titan and swiftly approached Eren, Mikasa, and Armin after they were able to dig Eren out of the giant carcass.
"He alright?" Collin asked.
"He's scorching hot," Armin answered. "But he's fine."
Two large shadows then appeared over them, and in panic, they turned to see two at least twelve-meter Titans looking at them. Collin quickly walked in front and got into a battle stance as one of them began reaching for them, only for a blur to appear and cut the nape of that Titan. The figure then stopped itself and zipped over to the second Titan, killing it in a near-instant.
The Titans fell in front of them, picking up dust to which Collin had to cover his eyes for a bit. The figure then landed on the Titan's body showing a man with short hair and of shorter stature. He had a green coat with a symbol they were all too familiar with.
"Those are…" Mikasa said.
Eren's green eyes were open and struggling to look in front of him, but even he could see the symbol. "The Wings of Freedom."
The man then turned his head in their direction and looked at them with his sharp black eyes. The man was easily recognizable, being among the most famous members of the Scouts, Captain Levi.
"Hey, brats… What's going on here?" Levi asked before scoffing. "Never mind that. We got a job to do. Follow me if you can."
Collin blinked his shock at meeting Captain Levi and quickly followed the man as he began zipping away.
Levi wasted no time as he sliced through a fifteen-meter Titan, and moved on to the next target. Collin, not wanting to be left out, dashed at a ten-meter killed quickly as well.
An abnormal fifteen-meter then showed up and began running at them to which Levi just scoffed and zipped down, after which the Titan sound found itself without legs, which made the Titan fly through the air for a bit. As that Titan turned mid-air Collin used the opportunity to cut through the nape.
"Nice going there, cadet," Levi said after seeing that little display. "It appears you have some skill."
"U-uh, thanks, sir," Collin said before quickly zipping over to a six-meter and killing it.
"Hey there, mister Abnormal!" a jovial voice sounded.
Collin saw a brown-haired woman with goggles zipping across the street with a large smile on her face as the Titan ran after her. Collin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow considering that's not really a regular reaction a normal person had for a Titan, even less an abnormal one.
"I hope you don't mind, but-"
In a flash, Collin was already on that abnormal, and sliced the nape off, making the Titan tumble to the ground.
"H-huh?!" the goggled woman exclaimed before looking at Collin with annoyance. "Hey, what'd you do that for?!"
Collin looked at her confused. "But… What did I do?"
The woman groaned. "Don't you understand? That Titan was-"
"Shut it, Hange!" Levi said as he came into the fray. "We're here to kill Titans, not talk to them. So focus on that before they start chewing on you."
"Ah, you're no fun, Levi!" the woman pouted.
"Well, now you know how I feel every time I have to hear you talk."
Hange gasped, though if it was genuine or mockingly Collin couldn't be sure. "That's so cruel, Levi!"
Levi just rolled his eyes. "Tell me when I give a shit."
'Why do I have a feelin' these two got some issues between them?' Collin thought as he looked at them interact.
Collin then saw a twelve-meter reaching for him. Narrowing his eyes, Collin quickly moved over the attack, bypassing the Titan as well before turning around, grasping it with his cable, and swiftly cutting off the nape.
"Nice try," Collin commented with a grin.
"Oh, that was a nice move," Hange said with a smile, but then got a bit of a surprised look when she saw the symbol on Collin's jacket. "Wait, is he a cadet?"
"Doesn't matter," Levi said uninterested. "We have Titans to clear out."
The rest of the extermination didn't take long as there were no more Titans going through the broken gate. Collin spent some time alongside Levi and Hange while they took care of the Titans.
"Hey, brat!" Levi called as he took down a seven-meter. "You're coming with us after this! We'll need to know what happened in this dammed place!"
"Yes, cap'n!" Collin said before taking off a nape of an eight-meter.
Soon, Trost was cleared of Titans as almost everyone gave a sigh of relief.
Collin zipped alongside Levi and Hange, following them to the top of the Wall where they landed. Levi was then met with a man who had his blond hair put in a ponytail and a taller man with short black hair.
"Eld, Gunter, report," Levi said as he crossed his arms.
"Looks like all the remaining Titans within the Wall have been exterminated, captain," Gunter said.
"But what about the hole in the Wall?" Eld said before glancing down to where the entrance was just recently sealed.
"There is no need to worry," Rico said as she arrived at the scene alongside a blond man with fairly thick eyebrows.
Collin almost felt his breath get caught in his throat as even he knew who the man was. Commander Erwin Smith, the leader of the Scouts.
Rico continued. "The Garrison Regiment is already working on it."
"Indeed, but this puts a great burden on your Regiment," Erwin told her. "I'm sorry we can't be of more use."
The silver-haired woman brought her hand up. "No. We appreciate the reinforcements. If we were on our own…" She slightly dropped her head at the thought of what horror would befall them if the Scouts didn't arrive.
Erwin turned to the short captain. "Good work, Levi."
"Trust me, I hardly deserve the sole credit," Levi said before looking at Collin. "If anything, you should be thanking this kid. He was more than a little help."
Collin now actually felt breathless as all the eyes were now focused on him. A drop of sweat rolled down his head as he wasn't sure how to react to the attention he was receiving.
Erwin raised a curious eyebrow. "A cadet?"
"He's Collin Holt," Rico began, which made Collin look at her curiously. "He's a member of the 104th Cadet Corps, just like Eren Yeager who just sealed the Wall."
The moment Erwin's eyes landed on him, Collin suddenly felt a huge urge to shrink.
"So, is that right?" Erwin said.
"Erwin, if I'm being honest," Hange said with a smile. "I had no idea this kid was a freshly graduated cadet. You certainly wouldn't be able to tell that with how good he was in the field."
That comment actually made Collin's cheek redden while he scratched the back of his head.
"I see," Erwin said before approaching closer towards Collin who tried his best to remain composed. "If their praise is anything to go by, and it usually is, then you did well to stand up to your fears and fight, Cadet Holt."
"Th-thank you, sir," Collin said before saluting the Scout Commander. So not only did he get to meet the Garrison Commander, but he also got to meet the Commander of the Scouting Regiment on the same day? He honestly wished that it wasn't a crisis that made that happen.
"Yes, you did an outstanding job today," Hange said as she walked over and slightly leaned forward. "I bet you'll become a very fine soldier."
"I… I'll do my best," Collin said, slowly getting out of the salute. He was honestly still finding it hard to believe. He didn't think he'd get such praise from the high-ranking Scout members, hell, even the Commander himself.
"If it's not too much trouble for you," Erwin said. "Then I'd like for your to report what happened here at Trost. With all the developments I heard happened here, I want you to tell me as much as you can. Will that be any trouble?"
"Uh, no," Collin answered. "I'll tell ya everythin' that happened."
"Oh, looks like he's also a country bumpkin," Hange commented, no doubt recognizing his accent.
"Cadet, meet me at HQ tomorrow," Erwin said. "We will have to ask you some questions about the current development."
Collin nodded and saluted again. With all the things that happened today, the Colossal appearing, fighting for his life, Eren turning into a Titan, and sealing the hole made in the Wall, somehow he still found it weird he was actually talking to such high-profile Scout members.
He had a feeling that he was slowly taking steps into a larger world.
AN: And that is it for now, my dear readers! The Battle for Trost is officially over! This chapter was very action-packed so I hope I at least did okay when it comes to delivering action. And I tried to blend the gameplay and the anime which is why the soldier's mostly fought and not really just distracted the Titans. And I'm sorry if it seemed like I'm skipping over some parts, but I think you'd probably get sick of me writing things like 'he cut the nape' or 'he slashed the neck' over and over again. I just didn't want it to be repetitive. I hope you don't mind.
Also, I implore you to check out my other stories. Trust me, they are worth it. And leave a review, they are very great motivators.
See you next time!
