The Garrison captain was understandably furious with Stoick when he announced that they weren't going to evacuate the district.
"What the hell are you thinking, Stoick?" he yelled, grabbing the hem of Stoick's jacket. "If we don't get these civilians out of the city, they'll die by the thousands! That hulking monstrosity will be a short stroll away from the Wall by morning!"
"That Titan is an abnormal," said Valka.
Garrison captain turned on her. "Right? And what the hell does that even mean?"
"It behaves strangely, unlike most items we encounter it only attracted to large groups of people, hence the word abnormal. Put simply, given a choice between the two soldiers right next to it and a distant but densely populated city, it will choose the city. So if we were to evacuate Hunter's populist to the interior of Wall Sina right now, the Titan will change course, destroying the Wall and anything else in its path. Left unchecked, it would make its way to the city with the greatest density of people, Meridian, the ensuing rampage would deal a devastating blow to humanity. As we rode for Hunter, we attempt Ragnar Keatson recently discovered power to control Titans. Johann's Titan didn't react in any way."
It was true that they had attempted for Ragnar to control the Titan, but it didn't seem to heed him. In fact, he had been able to control any Titan since that day, making everyone wonder what setting off in the first place.
The Garrison captain then released Stoick, clearly realising the situation.
"If we are to stop this thing, it will have to be outside the Walls of Hunter District," said Stoick. "For that to happen, we require the citizens here to act as bait. However, this doesn't change the fact that our first and foremost duty as soldiers is to protect the people. In the event that we are unable to hold off the target, we will take measures to minimise civilian losses. We will announce a districtwide evacuation drill tonight; the people will be gathered away from the outer Wall and will be able to escape if the battle was lost."
"It seems as if there is no other choice," said the Garrison captain.
"The huge body of this type is the largest we've seen yet; as such, it presents an easy target. Our Wall mounted cannons should prove highly effective, but if we can't bring it down artillery, the Scout Regiment will follow everything we have at it."
Clearly, not everyone liked this plan, but they knew they had very little choice but to go along with it.
It was now daybreak, and the Garrison soldiers were sitting on the wall mounted cannons for the volley. They could already see the Titan approaching them, but it was still too far from their range.
At the same time, they had already evacuated people outside the Wall, but no one was particularly happy.
"As part of this drill, dummy tightens, and cannons will be utilised," said the woman in charge. "This will be a large-scale exercise like nothing you've seen. However, we ask that you remain calm and follow our instructions and then—"
"Ma'am," said an old man. "Really got to go and get my store ready for the day. Can't you let us go home?"
"You won't have any customers today; take the day off."
"I've got a living to make."
"This is Northern Sina. Why are we having drills?"
"The military ousted the King, and now this."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying militarily is only doing it to demonstrate their power. Now the fake King is gone; they want to remind us that they're in control."
"You mean that they're putting us through all this just to flex their damn muscles?"
"Yeah, at this point, I think I prefer the fake King, even if he was incompetent."
Their argument abruptly ended when they heard a large rambling.
"Hey, look over there!"
Everyone turned to their shock. They saw a large amount of steam erupting from beyond the Wall.
The steam was actually coming from the Titan, which was now within range of the Garrison cannons.
"Fire!" the Garrison captain ordered.
They immediately fired every single wall mounted canon at the Titan. It was certainly hard to miss, but strangely some of the cannons missed completely, and most of them didn't even hit it on its neck, let alone the nape.
The Scout stood ready as they watched the onslaught, prepared to jump into action if the need arises.
"Well, how that do?" Stoick asked, looking at his son, who was looking for a spyglass.
Everyone waited in bated breath to see any kind of movement coming from the smoke.
"Not even close," said Hiccup.
Show another emerging from the smoke was the Titan and continue to advance.
"Fire!" said the Garrison soldier in command of the ground cannons.
The Garrison soldiers immediately fired the ground cannons, but they were even less effective than the wall mounted cannons.
"Looks like the field cannons are even less effective," Stoick noted.
"Makes sense; the cannons on the Wall have a way better angle they didn't do shit to it either," said Eret. "What's the problem?"
"I'm prepared soldiers, strapped together cannons and shallow leadership," Stoick summarised. "The Titans have always attacked from the south; not only is this a northern Garrison, it's in the interior. Therefore I can tell you for a fact this is the best we'll hit."
"Yeah, that matches painfully clear, and of course, your strategy as getting through this battle comes down to a gamble. Just like every other plant you've ever come up with."
"Stoick, I brought the equipment," said Valka. "All the gunpowder, rope and netting I could find. We still need to put it together, though. Hiccup also came up with this little beauty."
Mason then arrived, pushing a small cart with a barrel of gunpowder wrapped around it and anchors attached to its front.
"We got another one further down," said Valka. "The trick is held in place so once by the wind itself up just like ODM gear. So any damage?"
"Not even dent," said Eret.
"Then it sounds like we'll be actually using these things."
"Captain Eret, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, you handle that side," Stoick ordered.
"Yes, sir!" said Snotlout and the twins.
Stoick then turned his eyes to Historia, who was helping the others prepping the gunpowder.
"I believe that you heard from Eret, Historia," he said, approaching her. "Assuming that we live through this, we'll have you become the Queen rules this world in the Walls. So, naturally, I can't have you fighting on the front line."
"I doubt that plan will work," she said, looking up at him. "People won't bow to a queen in name alone; they aren't that naïve."
"Exactly what are you suggesting?"
Ragnar watched as the two of them talked, though he couldn't hear what they were saying over the noise coming from the cannons.
'It's amazing how strong she's become in just these past few days,' said Ragnar looking at her. 'At first, it appeared that she was the weakest among all of us, but she's proven us wrong. Honestly, after all the carnage I've seen can barely find the strength to carry on. I have my Titan powers to fight back against the Titans, but I've seen more people perishing for my sake so far. Still, no one has pondered what we would do even if we do seal the Wall; I don't know if I can carry on like this.'
He then looked over the Wall and saw four children playing, three boys and a girl. You can't help but think back to 5 years ago.
"Hey, take a look at those kids down there," he said to Hiccup and the others. "They're just like us on that day."
"Yeah, we were clueless too," Fishlegs nodded. "We had no idea that Titan is taller than the Walls was about to attack us either. They may end up seeing the same site we saw that day."
"Maybe, but things are different this time," said Hiccup as he tightened the ropes. "Those kids will have soldiers who are ready to protect them. Those kids will have us."
Hiccup then turned to Astrid; she had the most painful memory out of them all. Astrid lost her mother that day, and ever since then, she vowed to eliminate every single Titan.
"Can you guys keep your hands busy? We're running short of time," said Astrid.
"Sorry, just reminiscing," said Hiccup.
Astrid looked at him and nodded. "Hard to believe that it was only five years ago. The three of you guys are completely different from that day, yet I'm still the same."
"I wouldn't say that," said Hiccup placing a hand on her shoulder. "Back then, you charged in without thinking, but now you plan ahead."
Astrid laughed. "No, I still charge in without thinking; it's you that stops me from killing myself. Sometimes I don't know how you do it; you always seem to remain calm even though you're terrified most of the time."
Hiccup shrugged. "I wish I could tell you, I just push forwards."
"You were born early into this world, you know," said Valka as she approached them. "He was so weak, so fragile, I feared you wouldn't make it. But your father never doubted; you always said that you would be the strongest one of us all."
"I don't know about that," said Hiccup rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hiccup, humanity has only gotten this far thanks to you," said Fishlegs. "If it weren't for you, the entire Cadet Corps would be food for the Titans, and you came up with a strategy for plugging up the hole in Trost."
"Not to mention you came up with a plan to deal with the Interior Police; we would have been slaughtered without your planning," said Astrid. "You give yourself too much credit."
Meanwhile, the Titan had finally reached the base of the Wall. However, this meant that the Garrison troops now had a clear shot at the back of its neck.
"The enemy is moving; adjust your aim!" the Captain ordered. "Our target is the back of its neck. Fire!"
They then all fired a volley right down the Titan, and this time it actually had an effect. They had done enough damage to leave the back of its neck abominable, giving them a clear shot at its nape.
"Well done, with torn into its flesh! One more barley and we—"
Suddenly hot steam erupted up at them; not only was the seat burning their skin, but now they can no longer see the Titan.
"So hot!" Tuffnut yelled.
"Dammit, it's just our luck," Eret cursed. "The wind must have shifted."
"What do we do?" said the Garrison soldier. "I can't see Captain!"
"It doesn't matter; the target is right beneath us! Keep shooting!" he ordered.
The Garrison soldier then immediately unleashed the cannons, and everyone waited in bated breath to see whether they had been successful.
"That wasn't enough," said Stoick.
Sure enough, emerging from the steam with a giant hand which clampdown on Wall. The sudden force actually demolished the top of the wall, causing rocks to fall into Hunter District. The four kids that Ragnar had noticed earlier looked up to see a horrifying sight.
"It's a Titan."
The Titan was lifting itself up against the Wall, and it was the most horrifying side anyone has ever witnessed. The Titans face had been completely ripped off, no doubt from all the time it had done crawling across the ground. It wasn't just its face either; its torso was also ripped apart, causing its stomach to fall on top of the Wall.
Upon seeing the Titan people, Hunter District immediately panicked and ran as far away from the Wall as possible. The Garrison soldiers were trying to calm them down but to no avail.
"Titan!"
"Please, you have to stay calm!" said the Garrison soldier.
"Shut up!"
The Garrison soldiers on top of the Wall were now in full retreat.
"Fallback!" the Garrison captain ordered. "Everyone run!" He then watched as the Titan clenched its fist, doing even more damage to the Wall. "Shit, it's breaking through. The city I grew up in is about to be devastated."
Eret then appeared and placed a hand on his shoulder, making him jump. "The Garrison has done its duty. Let the Scouts take it from here."
So they wouldn't be burnt to a crisp, the Scout had doused themselves with water and were now putting their plan into motion.
"Looks like we're up, Ragnar," said Hiccup.
"Right," Ragnar nodded, who was the only one not doused in water. "Oh and Hiccup, there's one more thing that's different from then. It's not all we hope for, but it's something. Mankind has something of its sleeve now."
Ragnar then bit down on his hand and transformed, and the four children noticed him as they ran.
"Wait a second, another one?"
"All set, Dad!" Hiccup yelled as he and the others doused themselves with water.
Fishlegs and Heather then positioned the carts in place, waiting for Stoick's signal.
"On my mark!" Stoick yelled, aiming his flare gun in the air. "Now!"
He then pulled out the trigger and fired red smoke into the air. Once they saw it, both Fishlegs and Heather fired the anchors on the carts at the Titan's hands. They then released the triggers, and the carts began speeding towards the base of the Titan's hands.
"Take this!" Heather yelled.
The bowels slammed into the Titan's hands, and use of the heat coming from it, the gunpowder ignited, creating an explosion. Everyone watched, and then suddenly, the joints within the base of the Titan's hands snapped, and he began to collapse.
"It's losing balance!" Hiccup yelled.
The Titan then fell forward, and head slammed into the Wall.
"Ragnar, go!" Stoick roared.
Ragnar then ran through the smoke carrying the netting filled with gunpowder. He charged towards the Titan as quickly as he could before it had a chance to recover. All of this was part of the plan Stoick devised early in the morning, in case the Garrison failed to eliminate it.
"So what you're saying that to take this Titan down, we're going to stuff gunpowder down its throat and hope that is enough to destroy the nape of the neck?" Eret simplified.
"That's correct," Stoick nodded.
"With all the heat the bastard is making, I expect the powder to you ignite to ignite without a detonator," said Eret folding his arms. "Although a lot of this is banking on the Titan hanging its mouth open."
"An explosion outside of the nape may not penetrate; the flesh inside its throat is soft, more vulnerable. But the target may protect that point; it's been dragging its face along the ground. Frankly, we don't even know it has a mouth to open; that's the gamble this time."
Fortunately, the Titan did have a mouth, but even better since its face had torn from its head that meant that the mouth could no longer be closed.
"I've got you!" Ragnar yelled and plunged the entire net down the Titan's throat.
A few seconds later, just as Eret theorised, the gunpowder exploded due to the heat. Then the entire Titan exploded, and pieces of it scattered across the district.
"Go, deploy the ODM gear and finish it off!" Stoick ordered.
All of the Scouts immediately launched themselves into the air and began cutting their way through each and every piece of the Titan.
"Gigantic though it is, its vital point is still 1 m high and 3 cm across. Unless we destroy that, it will regenerate and perform another shield of heat. We cannot waste this chance."
"Where is it," said Hiccup as he looked around. "Which one?" Then to his surprise, he saw Historia shooting past him. "Historia?"
'I understand your reasons, but I can't approve of you entering combat,' said Stoick.
'Please, sir. I have to; I finally found my purpose, the duty that I was actually meant to fulfil. That is why I am standing here right now.'
'Well, at any rate, with my body as it is now, I can't exactly stop you, can I?'
Historia had noticed the large chunk of flesh from the Titan, which contained a piece of its spine.
'I'm sorry, commander, I know this is selfish, but this is the first time I stood against my parents,' she said and fired an anchor at the flesh. 'The first fight I ever had with my father.'
She then spun around and slashed right through the flesh, and then suddenly, images of the father's past loading her mind.
She saw her father in a jail cell looking at her grandfather. 'Father, you have to listen to me! You can easily eradicate the Titans for good! So why? Why won't you just do it?'
She then saw an image of her Uncle Ake in a white robe. 'I can handle it, brother; it's fine. Pray for me.'
She then saw her mother, who apparently was a maid in service to her father, who was crying in her apron.
'Ase, you're the only one who understands,' he said.
Then she saw her sister Helga. 'You can leave it to me, father; I won't lose the ghost of our ancestors.'
Then suddenly there was a huge explosion which sent crashing down into the streets below. Somehow she was able to do it; she had killed her father and ended the threat of his Titan. The people below watched as she fell towards the ground and crashed into a cart.
The cart practically snapped under the force of the impact, but what was ever inside of it cushioned her fall. The people then began to gather around her as if they had just woken from a dream or nightmare.
"The Titan has been destroyed."
"Hey, you okay? You're not injured, are you?"
"It looks like you don't the final blow."
Historia was still reeling from the vision she had witnessed. 'Was that real, or did I imagine it? Am I acting for myself, or am I still someone's tool?' She then sat up, looking at her feet. 'I don't know, but I've always gone along with things until now, it least.'
Regardless she rose to her feet and looked at the people that had gathered. "It's okay, my name is Historia Dove! And I am your rightful queen!"
By some miracle, Grimmel had managed to survive the cave and though not for long. The entire right side of his face was completely burnt, and he was clutching his side as he walked and images from his past loading his mind.
'I must apologise for I cannot die on this day,' said Ake as he bowed his head towards him. 'Please forgive me.'
Ake then entered a dark room with a skinny Eret was located. 'You're not deaf, are you? Can you hear me or can't you? Got a name?'
'Because of that, I will do anything that he needs me to, our you any different?' said an MP.
'What do I care?' said Shard. 'It's fine by me.'
Then, of course, he remembered the last time he saw his squad before they were crushed.
He finally managed to reach a tree and removed his gear before sitting down against the tree. His wound was far too serious; he would be lucky to survive the next 10 minutes. He then remembered the last time he saw Eret as a kid and walked away.
"Grimmel," said a familiar voice.
Grimmel opened his eyes and saw standing over him was Eret and a second Scout, both with rifles in hand.
"Ah, shit, not you," he said, holding out some blood.
"Found what was left of your squad; it looks like they were crushed in the cave in," said Eret. "I guess you were the only survivor."
"Sure looks that way."
Eret then turned to the Scout. "Report back; I'm fine alone."
"Understood, sir," said the Scout and ran off.
Eret then looked back at Grimmel. "Between the burns and blood you've lost, there's nothing I can save you now."
Grimmel then smiled. "Oh, yeah? I wonder."
He then pulled something out, and Eret's eyes widened as he had pulled out a syringe similar to the one Johann had tried to use with Historia and a vile of the same liquid he consumed.