Ah, SUPER sorry for the delayed update! Minor time switch but I did promise a chapter for the events of chapter 93 of the manga through the people of Paradise's views. It'll be a bit shorter than the last two, but this is really just filler here. Next chapter will return to the present, Gabi and Falco learning the truth, and their decisions as well as Reiner's on what to do now. Well I've said enough, don't want to spoil anything else. Drop a review. Let us begin.
Also tell me your guys thoughts on chapter 103 and theories for 104! I'm going to be putting mine in the bottom of this chapter, which I promise will be out before the next one of the Manga (104) is officially released although I always read the Raw version as soon as it's out.
Sorry, No Visitors Allowed.
The day was starting to get interesting to say the least for those in the Paradise Island military. Already the Scout Regiment had improved on the Thunder spear concept as well as stockpiling in hardened skin/crystal weaponry near strategic points along the coast of the entire island, not just the section of island directly facing Marley. After all the Islanders have to consider the possibility of attack of invasion from other countries like the Mid-East union who they already dealt with the first time a few months after Annie Leonhardt's awakening. Right now the Female Titan herself was just enjoying some late afternoon lunch with Eren and the rest for the 104th after a good day of progress on the newer style of 3DMG gear.
The newer model was heavily reminiscant of the rigs used by the Military Police First Squad once lead by the infamous Kenny the Ripper. However where his squadrons models were made exclusively for fighting against human foes, the newer versions were equipped to fight against both human and Titan shifters for the incoming war with Marley and their 5 titans. The newer and deadlier versions of the high pressurized hand pistols were also able to be stowed away and the handles repurposed to use the classic Titan slaying blades that were symbolic of the gears design itself. Another feature that was currently being tested out was for the under grips of the pistols to be capable of firing the Odm hooks that were used to manuever around areas of interest and even be used as weapons in their own right.
So far the top best rig users were both of Humanities strongest as well as a surprising third spot reserved by none other than Jean Kirschtein, partially due to the fact that he was one of the original top Odm users of the 104th cadet class only topped by Mikasa Ackerman. While it was actually expected that both of the Ackermans would excel in the gears usage rather well, Jean was able to keep up with them quite easily. He was one of the best sharpshooters with the hand pistols in both ranged and close combat, even though long ago he hadn't been as proficient in hand to hand he certainly wasn't a pushover when it came down to it now. He kept his training in all the new gears in high priority, making sure he knew just how to use every advantage each new wave could give while adding his own personal style to it. His demeanor changed a bit from how he was from when he first joined the scouts, partially due to Annie's confession of being involved in Marco's death years ago, to actually being noticed somewhat by Mikasa much to his surprise and joy. He was more level headed and less prone to emotional or temper related outbursts towards anyone. In truth while the change was welcome, it just went to show that war did indeed change people.
However none of those thoughts were on that as they all enjoyed a good serving of Meat and potatoes, which came with some light teasing towards the well known Potato enthusiast among them all, Sasha. The red headed huntress was currently cleaning up her own plate when Connie, decided to be a good friend even more so than he already was, and slipped the girl half of a plate he saw someone had abandoned for no reason. To both him and her it was fair game, though he wasn't feeling particularly hungry at the moment in light of recent events despite the major leaps and bounds their island was currently making. Connie made less jokes nowadays although he still shot a good one now and then, Sasha seemed less carefree but still held her own way of doing things due to her more finer instincts. Ever since the creation of the newer Thunder Spears and the Odm rigs, the pair had begun to act more serious when the job required. Sasha had begun to excel at marksmanship thanks to Connie's help and tips, Connie began to get his inner Hunter and tracker out thanks to Sasha showing him the ins and outs of the style.
Armin had become even more calculating than he had seemed before, but he also seemed to hold a sort of depressed state at times. While all of his friends had tried talking to him and helping him through it, he still insisted that he was fine, and so they reluctantly gave him his space. But in truth the was he looked whenever he was in those moods was scary and tragic, because he seemed to hold that same glint of having no choice that his predecessor Bertoldt once held. Like he hated what he was, but he was still prepared to do whatever it took to protect the people he cares about. Although Bertoldt had resolved to killing them all out of some strange act of mercy and some anger towards Armin for his failed attempt to use Annie against him once again, he still felt the guilt and fear that everyone of them had seen when Armin's mindless form lifted his limbless body into his waiting maw.
It was that fear that some talks of the original secondary attack option of using mindless Titans was out of the picture, at least for now. Using the collasal ones inside the walls however was still going to be an option, especially if any nation tries to invade them once they attack and depart from Marley with their people in tow. The infiltration option was seeming all the more likely to be used, even if the option itself wasn't very enticing because of the major risks involved. But since their information on the final Titan power and it's capabilities were unknown, Armin had conferred with Hange as well as Historia about trying to scout then out before they were to launch the main assualt at an opportune time. With his compelling argument that they could also use the opportunity to try and take the other shifters dead or alive in secret convinced them to give the plan more thought and consideration.
Right now Armin was currently working with Hange on a type of handheld explosive package that could be easily activated and deployed without many complications, part of the knowledge they had aquirred from the Mid-Eastern Union soldiers they still had prisoner up north in Sina. While most were uncooperative and left alone in their cells, one or two had offered his services in offering modern warfare advances in exchange for his countries safety. A surprising demand but an easily acceptable one since Paradise didn't wish to wage war any more than they needed to. True they wanted revenge against Marley, but they weren't going to flaunt and destroy as Marley had done since King Fritz retreat to the island. Nor would they live up to any name or title the world had declared on their race by outright destroying them all, but they were certainly going to give Marley and the world a grim reminder of just why the Eldian race should not be messed with.
So far the production of the explosive packages were going at a good rate, with the way things were going now they would have enough to have destroyed one of the walls on a whim. After all since the scouts along with Eren and Annie's help eradicated every trapped Eldian within Titans within a year of her awakening, there was no need for people to live in such fear of the outside world any longer. Well to an extent, there was always the fear of invasion from other countries but the Scout Regiment along with the Garrison had fortified strategic positions all throughout the island to provide a quote response effort to any such incursion. Such freedom allowed more farming and such, no longer where the people in the walls starving from lack of land to till and raise animals on. People like Sasha were thrilled to be able to once again reclaim their homes and even expand them further as long as they helped out others by providing some of the crop they harvested. To them it seemed like a fair trade off, and very few problems ever arose because of the deal. And since there was plenty of land to be tended to by choice, more recruits had begun to join the military forces under the eyes of the 104ths own former instructor Keith Shadis, who was also reinstated as a general under commander Hange.
As Hange and Armin continue to tinker with new designs for even smaller versions of the explosives, a frantic sound of footsteps approaching grabbed both of the main strategists attention when the door opened with a slam. There stood a messenger in the form of a newer Garrison patrol member along the seaside teams having been in place for 3 years now. Their intended purpose was to alert the island and as many of their forces possible of any Intruders and enemy forces that may come from Marley, even if since the last scouting expedition had resulted in no activity whatsoever . But for a member to arrive here in such a state now clearly meant that things had once again changed. "Commander! We have incoming enemy ships! Signs and markings from Leonhardt's debriefing confirms they are Marleyean Boats!" He nearly shouted as he gave the classic salute with his right arm over his hear and left behind him. Hange stood up at the same time as Armin did, and asked for elaboration.
"How many soldier? Does this group require the use of the shifters or not?" She asked quickly as Armin began to ready himself mentally for any possible action on his part. "We count at least a dozen mam, all large scale battleships. We will need them, they're not fully docking in the usual spot we've been told, they're holding back a ways. We can't get to them using the odm gear of by boat without being shot down." At these words Hange harshly began to quest him further. "Have you or any of our men made contact of any type? Have any shots been fired? Casualties lethal or not? Speak!" The soldier frantically shook her head while staying in place and responded.
"No man, all we've done is observe from the hidden bunkers, we're sure we haven't been spotted and we haven't seen any ships break off or change course. They're staying in place last we checked."
"How long have they been here? When did they arrive?" Hange presses on as Armin leaves the room to alert the others, Eren and Annie especially for what is to come. As the blonde exits the room he hears one last bit from the messenger.
"Only a few hours now, as soon as we saw the ships approach I was sent to warn you and the rest. I haven't heard anything since nor seen any other Messengers arrive after myself." At this Hange nodded and dismissed him, but gave him a final set of orders before he was to return to his assigned group. "Alright soldier, you've done well. Notify four Messengers and send word to Queen Reiss as well as commanders Dok and Pixis, and be sure to let Zackley know what's going on. We're launching a rapid response group now."
The soldier snapped to another salute before leaving at a brisk pace. "Yes commander!"
Armin hurried into the mess hall of the scouts more recently constructed headquarters, and luckily found Annie and Eren sitting next to each other talking low to themselves while everyone else was eating when they heard him come in. His sudden arrival drew their attention when he announced to the entire group. "We've got enemy ships along the southern shore, we've confirmed their origins. Their Marleyean." At these words everyone's lit up and widened, but two sets of eyes burned a different way. Looks of hatred worn in blazing Emerald green and now merciless Icy blue, alive at the chance to take some small piece of revenge. And their owners were anticipating the thrill to come when their names left Armin's mouth.
"Annie, Eren, were gonna have to lead the main assualt effort. Get your gear together, we're leaving in five minutes." Armin firmly told the anxious pair but they could see that as accepting of the inevitable body count to come as he appears, he still holds a hint of innocence in his blue eyes. Everyone started making ready, food was left on the tables much to Sasha's dismay but she got over it. Eren was the first to say anything when he got to Armin first, and spoke low to him. "Are you going to be able to do it Armin? Annie and I should be enough to-" but surprisingly he was stopped when Armin put a hand on his shoulder.
Eren could see his childhood friend taking a gulp before exhaling, and when Armin looked back at him, he could see his friend having they same glint in his eyes that he had during his near death back in Shinganshina. The same one commander Erwin held when rescuing Eren from Reiner, and the same one he wore when knowingly leading a suicide charge against Eren's half brother Zeke.
The look filled with the determination to win no matter the cost.
"I'll do what I have to Eren. Like you said Eren, the only way to live is to fight. If we can't give up something, then we'll never change anything. I've got you partner." Armin grimly smiled, and found himself seeing and hearing a different voice saying those last few words. From the one person they were truly going to focus some effort into bringing onto their side that might just work, Reiner. The other Warriors were a hit or miss opportunity, if it didn't work initially with reasonable advantages for them to surrender or offer their services, then they would be treated with a kill on sight attitude.
Eren nodded at his friends words and turned to Annie who had finished adjusting her gear and walked over to the pair. Eren could see how alive her eyes were, of course since they confessed to each other years should things have been different for both of them, but he could see the way they were now. He'd once said to himself that she always looked bored, and would only look interested in anything relating to hand to hand combat. And when Annie told him of her hatred for Marley he'd seen the same energy his eyes held when he was younger and less controlled, less deadly.
All Eren could see in her eyes was the need to destroy, for vengeance. And he was joyful for the fact they he could find that feeling in someone else.
"Are you two set? We're going to have to at least get a chance to assess before everyone else gets there, that's where I think you come in Armin. Are you ready for this?" Annie asked and Eren answered for him with some humor in his voice. "He's good, but I'm a bit hurt Annie. Caring for Armin over me?" She faintly smiled as she rolled her eyes, knowing he wasn't serious, despite how much he had changed over the years.
It was ironic for her to be more open with all of them, not being so closed off even if she was still the quietest of their class next to Ackerman. Eren wasn't as loudmouthed, he thought things through just about every time, but when he did decide to focus all his efforts it was scary to see. His hand to hand combat against her in both her Human and Titan forms had gotten closer and closer to him easily overwhelming her not because of just sheer strength, but exceptional strategic thinking on the whim. She was definitely the most impressed out if them all, even though they'd all shown their own ways of telling Eren he's gotten better.
She tapped him on the head with her knuckles and he muttered "Ow" even though he wasn't hurt in the least. Annie was sure to let that be known. "Oh please, I've hit you harder than that and still seen you come right back at me. But are you ready?" She asked and Annie saw Eren's smile, the same one he had long ago before the final battle between them in Stohess. The kind of smile she hasn't really seem since training, the one which could inspire confidence and still seem easygoing.
"Yeah, I am Ann. Now let's go. Hate to leave our guests without any hosts to greet them..."
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"Fire the damn cannons! Reload before they can regroup, do not let the devils regenerate!" An authority filled voice barked at his men as they watched from the safety of their ships, nearly 4 miles away.
The situation along the southern shore had escalated dramatically with the appearance of the devils Titan shifters almost a half hour ago. So far the army had been laying down a suppressing fire with timed shots from all of their ships, but the Islanders had also returned fire from rudimentary cannons with effective shells of their own. Aside from the cannon fire two Titan shifters had appeared and begun launching Hardened skin and diamond like crystal spikes towards the ships. Wherever they hit the deadly missiles stayed embedded in the hills of the ships, though only 2 had actually been sunken so far.
The rest while damaged hadn't taken in too much or in some of them any water, and the army had been successful in crippling one of the Giants, a 14 meter without skin which matched the description of the Female Titan which has been MIA since the failed retrieval mission 3 and a half years ago. The one deemed to be the current Attack titan had fought fiercely against the ships when it saw it's fellow shifter take a deadly blow to it's legs from a expertly aimed round. With the current rate of fire victory seemed to be leaning towards the Marleyean Ships, even as another of their boats took a devastating blow from crystalized Spears chucked at them with frightening skill from the Attack Titan. But the commander of the small fleet felt that something was wrong, even as they saw the Female Titan having to take cover from a shell which nearly decapitated her. A question that was bothering the captain since the battle had begun.
Where was the Collasal Titan?
The commander knew that from the debriefing by the Armored Titan's current holder that the shifter power had been lost on the island along with the Female Titan power, but so far the shifter had not made an appearance of any sort. It held a sense of anxiety in him, but his men didn't know of the possibility of attack from such a weapon. He couldn't dwell on it too much however, and so he kept giving orders to focus their ships fire on the two Titan shifters they did see. But then things started to change when the female Titan retreated behind a outcropping of rocks along the coast line while the Attack Titan burst forward to dive into the ocean. The move startled all of the men on the ships as orders were given for the fleet to retreat a ways back to give ample distance for aimed cannon fire to actually be effective.
The Attack Titan dove further under the water, completely out of sight by anyone on the boat decks when things seemed to calm. A horribly silent and tense sense of calm was the more accurate way to explain it as no fire was returned from the island, and none from the ships fired either. The ocean waves were the only movement and sound for all to hear as the seconds seemed to drag on.
CRACCCCCCKKKK!
"ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!"
The silence was destroyed when a massive form burst from the waves and body slammed into one of the boats, capsizing it with an extreme amount of force and a bloodthirsty roar as the Attack Titan stood victorious as the ship sunk. It turned it's massive angry emeralds towards the nearest boat and grabbed wreckage from the one it just crushed, and threw the burning metal pieces towards the lower hull of two boats clustered together. The pair of ships took immense damage as two massive holes now allowed thousands of gallons of water to rush into their lower levels and begin to sink, and the Attack Titan turned to slam a hardened fist into a nearby boat trying to back up and hastily defend itself from this new offensive. The comman barked orders for all ships to aim and fire upon the Devil when he saw something moving out of the corner of his eye.
The Female Titan was back on it's feet in full control and form and hefted something in it's right hand, something the officer couldn't really distinguish as her hand wrapped around the object completely. He started to order for half of his boats to send fire upon it and the other half to still fire at the Attack Titan when the later dove beneath the waves once more, the sudden disappearance causing some of the ships to accidentally fire upon each other. While none were overly crippled by the action it didn't catch the attention of the main commander as the Female Titan brought her arm back and threw the object above the group, much to the confusion of them all. He immediatly thought that perhaps it was a bomb of sorts, but to his utter bafflement it appeared to be a normal barrel. Even if it was an explosive the size of it wouldn't hold nearly enough gunpowder to even blow a small hole in any of the ships, but suddenly the world lit up with a blinding amount of light and sound.
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Moments earlier Armin was taking deep breathes inside the cramped interior of the barrel he was hiding inside of, gripped in Annie's massive Titan hand as she picked him up from off the ground. He steadied himself for his part in the plan they've concocted, and he couldn't help but see a flashback in his mind, although it was one he never experienced. The memory wasn't his, it was Bertoldt's.
Riding inside of a barrel just like the one he was in now, the place being just outside of his hometown Shinganshina on top of the Cart Titan's back. He felt the strong grip of the Beast Titan pull it's long hairy arm back and throw him forward in an expertly aimed pitch, one trained with years of experience. The rush of air as he watched through the small hole for him to breathe and see through in order to know when to shift. And when he was about 60 meters from the ground and in the center of the city, he slashed his finger with a nail stocked out from the barrels insides, feeling the surge of power as the lightning struck him.
Armin shook his head from the memory he inherited as he felt Annie draw back her arm and prepare to throw him, back in the present against the boats from Marley. He looked at a small shard of metal he'd brought into the barrel with him, and started to slice his finger tip, drawing blood.
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The immense blast knocked all of the boats in different directions, and a huge wave of water spiralled them from being able to face any one direction long enough to see just what had happened. Another minute of rolling later and nearly 2 dozens meters from where the group had once been, the boats began to recover from the unexpected shockwave, but as they look to the source of the explosion. All of their jaws dropped in shock and their eyes widened with fear as they looked upon the massive blood red body standing in the water and far above it, lacking any skin whatsoever and peering down upon them as if they were insects. Massive blue eyes stared at each and every one of the men in front of it, while the ones behind stared at the humongous back being presented to them.
The Collasal Titan had appeared.
Immediatley the orders which once were to attack were now for a full retreat, although they wouldn't be able to be carried out. The Collasal Titan began to steam slowly at first, but the force and winds began to build higher and higher and the light also seemed to appear. Scalding and hurricane speed winds whipped around the ships and began to heat up their hulls, the gray metal starting to turn red slowly, burning everyone aboard and inside them. And Armin hasn't even built up to the full blast yet, he has to make sure Eren was far back on the shore before he could do that. His large head, though it was small in proportion to his body, turned to glance behind him where Annie had tossed him from. Back there he could see Eren crawling out of the water like some sea monster, and he turned back to face Armin as he blew the enemy away without mercy. Eren nodded his head towards his best friend and Annie nodded hers as well. Armin turned back to look down upon the dying men, and allowed more power and steam to burst forth from his body.
The same force that nearly killed him, burning his skin and flash until he was little more than pure muscle and even some bone.
The force and power of the God of Destruction.
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Alright I'm back guys and gals, and again I'm very sorry that I have been absent from this story for two months now, but I've been caught up in writing for my main story Wings of a Warrior as well as my most popular Webs of Hearts which will be wrapping up soon (pun intended). Also my first Tokyo Ghoul story One Rung Up The Food Chain has been getting more and more popular, and is also taking off strong. Now my thoughts on 103 were pretty good, although I felt it was a bit short. Happy in an odd way to see that Eren couldn't break the crystal Lady Teiber created. Im not happy that he couldn't kill her, cause I want the Warhammer to be taken from them and for Paradise's side, but it means that Eren hasn't eaten Annie because she was last seen encased in the same material. I am pissed that's he hasn't reappeared yet, it's been what 70 Chapters now? Happy to see more of the Paradise crew, same with seeing Falco and Reiner alive although I wish the later would've woken up and decided to fight with his friends instead of whatever he's doing to himself. Also I'm very anxious to see what has happened to Pieck, out of all Marley's warriors we've come to know aside from the Titan trio she's my favorite. I'd hoped long ago that she would've been more neutral in this fight because she seems to know things aren't right about Paradise. Fuck Porko still, don't like him one bit. Hope he dies and Falco maybe hers his powers. Zeke...I hate to say but something is up with him. Especially the whole "Eren Jaeger is not my enemy" thing, but I still don't like him. He's too cruel for my taste, and before you try to accuse me of favoring the warriors who went to Paradise over him, they knew what they were doing was wrong and it all affected them. Zeke knows the people are helpless and took pleasure in slaughtering them. So I hope he dies, maybe even if he and Eren are on the same side that Eren double crosses him and takes his power into someone else like Jean or even Connie. Well until then you've at elast been updated. Next chapter should be soon because I've been working on that one more than this because I had a hard time doing the Paradise crew as opposed to Eren and Reiner talking. Remember to review and tell me your thoughts on everything as well as your own theories!