"Talking"
Thinking
Techniques/Attacks
I own nothing.
Armin, like the rest of his fellow trainees, was in shock. Despite this, his mind was still travelling a mile a minute.
He cut the Titan completely in half. How is that even possible? He wasn't even near it. Armin looked from the two halves of the deteriorating titan corpse to the fresh trough carved into the road all the way to the house that looked like it had a slim chunk carved out of it by a giant knife. That's… that's just not possible. The force it would take to cause this level of destruction is beyond what any human is capable of. Not even a titan could cause this, so how…
Armin's thoughts were cut off by a the voice of one of his comrades.
"What's a pirate?" asked Sasha, a tall, slim young woman with brown hair pulled up into a ponytail.
"Eh? You don't know what a pirate is? What are you, stupid?"
Pirate… where have I heard that word before?
"Mikasa!"
Armin's heart turned to ice when he heard Connie shout that name. Hearing the sound of a 3DMG user coming in for a landing, he turned towards the sound and sure enough, there was Mikasa, a fit, young woman with chin length black hair, and one of his longtime childhood friends, landing on the roof and making a beeline for him.
How do I tell her?
Mikasa's brief expression of relief at seeing Armin safe was replaced by a look of confusion when she spotted the already half deteriorated titan corpse, and the strange man standing not five feet from it.
"Who took out this titan?" Mikasa asked plainly.
"Uh… he did" Jean replied while pointing at the strange man, apparently named Roronoa, standing in the middle of the street.
Mikasa seemed perplexed, but chose to ignore it for now and instead went straight up to Armin, whose head was cast down, unwilling to look her in the face.
"Armin, are you hurt?" Mikasa asked.
Oh god, how do I tell her?
"Armin?" Mikasa repeated.
The memory was already flashing through his head. His squad was getting massacred. A bearded titan had already dropped him in it's mouth and he was slipping down towards its throat, when Eren, his best friend and adoptive brother to Mikasa, grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the titan's mouth, even with one of his legs already missing, only to have his arm chomped off as the rest of his body was swallowed down the titan's gullet. That was all Armin could remember until Connie shook him back to his senses.
"Armin, where's Eren?"
Armin could feel the tears flowing down his cheeks, but he couldn't bring himself to wipe them. The air caught in his throat as he looked up into her eyes. Judging by the look on her face, his eyes told it all. Even so, for the sake of those that were lost, Armin had to say it.
"Our unit… the 34th cadet unit…" Armin paused to lower his head again, as he tried, and failed, to control his own sobbing. "Thomas Wagner. Nic Tius. Mylius Zeramuski. Mina Carolina. Eren Jaeger. All five of them have fulfilled their duty and died heroic deaths in battle!"
Already, Armin could hear the whispers of his fellow cadets. Whispers of despair and lost hope.
"I'm sorry, Mikasa," Armin sobbed. "Eren died in my stead… I couldn't do anything! I'm so sorry!"
Armin didn't feel worthy of looking her in the face. He should have died, this much he was certain. He should have died instead of Eren.
"Armin"
Armin jerked his head up in surprise from the feeling of Mikasa's hand resting over his. To him, Mikasa's face seemed as neutral and devoid of emotion as it always had.
"Take a deep breath," Mikasa continued. "This isn't the time to be emotional."
"Wha?" Armin muttered in confusion as Mikasa pulled him to his feet. She then turned around and began to walk towards the edge of the roof.
"Marco, if we take out the titans around the HQ, we can replenish our gas supplies and climb the wall. Does that sound correct?"
Before Marco could answer, another spoke up, and it was not one of the other trainees.
"Oi, oi. I don't really know what's going on here, but if you go out to fight anything as you are, you're probably gonna get yourself killed.
The trainees looked in surprise at where the voice came from, some even instinctively reaching for their blades, and there blocking Mikasa's path was the stranger Roronoa.
When did he get there? Thought most of the trainees.
"'As I am'? What is that supposed to mean?" Mikasa asked the taller man coolly.
"You're pretty good at hiding your emotions, but not from me. Inside you are burning with rage, and that will make you reckless."
"I will not be reckless. My goal is clear."
"Having a clear goal does not mean you're safe from screwing up. You expect to kill all those freaks?"
"I do. By myself if I have to."
"And what makes you think you can pull it off?"
"Because I'm strong."
The two continued to stare at each other for several seconds, until Roronoa cracked a grin that sent a chill down the spines of most of the trainees.
"Heh. Is that so? Well how about this, I'll help you clear out some of the local rodents, and in return you show me the quickest way to the nearest port. How does that sound?"
While the rest of the trainees showed surprise at this proposition, Mikasa didn't even bat an eye and instead replied. "You lack a 3D Maneuver Gear. Combating titans is both impossible and suicidal without one."
Roronoa's sinister grin only widened, causing even Mikasa to outwardly show unease. "If you think I need some toy to help me do what I do best, then you are sadly mistaken. When compared to the rest of this lot, it's true that you're strong. However, compared to me, you're no stronger than a bug."
"What?" Mikasa asked, the first signs of frustration playing over her face.
Roronoa merely turned around and walked to the edge of the roof facing the overrun HQ in the distance. "The truth is that your are nowhere near as strong as me. However…" the green haired man then turned his head to look back at Mikasa with that same grin on his face, "if you can manage to keep up, someday you just might be."
With that said, the man once again left the trainees in awe by propelling himself off the roof towards the HQ. The awe inspiring part of this act was the rather large crater he left in the roof, and the insane distance he gained from that single leap.
"Is this guy even human?" Jean asked in astonishment.
"Armin, who was that man?" Mikasa asked next.
"I… I don't really know. He said his name was Roronoa Zoro."
Mikasa looked down at the two halves of the now titan skeleton and asked, "Did he really kill this titan by himself."
"Yeah!" Sasha yelled excitedly, "With one slice, one handed, while he was like fifty feet away from it! It was the most awesome thing ever!"
Mikasa took a moment to notice the collateral damage caused by said slice, before speaking up. "This man has insulted the honor of the 104th Trainees Squad. I, personally, can not let this stand. I'm going to show him what we trainees are truly capable of. If the rest of you want to sit here and suck your thumbs, do that. I will keep fighting." And with that, Mikasa, the top of her class, unsheathed her blades, activated her 3DMG grapple lines, and zoomed off after the strange man.
The rest of the trainees just stared in shock and indecision. It was not long before Jean spoke up.
"Shit, maybe that guy is right, that we really are pathetic." A hard expression of determination formed on Jean's face, before he rose his own blade and yelled out, "Hey! Were we trained to let our comrades fight alone?! At this rate, we're going to turn into less than bugs!"
With his declaration made, Jean rushed to follow his fellow trainee, followed by Connie, then Reiner and Marco, then Armin, then Sasha, then with a mighty yell, the rest of the trainees. All ready to risk their lives for the chance to survive.
Mikasa soared over the streets of Trost. She brought her blades up, then down across the nape of the neck of an unsuspecting titan as she passed by, not even looking back as the giant humanoid fell. The goal was clearly stated, but right now she had other ideas. She needed to do something, take action, kill titans. Kill as many titans as she can. Kill all of them. Then she won't feel the pain.
Another titan came in her sights, again completely unaware of her. Mikasa altered her path towards it, intent on ending it's wretched existence. Before she was even ten meters close to it, however, a flash of green and black streaked up from below the titan. The streak slowed down long enough to reveal itself as Roronoa, if Mikasa remembered correctly, who landed on the titans head with his black sword drawn, and then pushed off again, disappearing amongst the roofs of the town. The half of the titan (which had been completely still when Roronoa rose to its head) that Roronoa had jumped from crashed like a bloody meteor to the ground below due to the force of Roronoa's leap. The other halve teetered for half a second, before it fell forward with another crash, accompanied by a squelch due to the gore that trailed with it.
When did he even cut it? Mikasa thought as she soared over the very, very dead titan. The sword shouldn't have even reached all the way through it, how does he cause so much damage with just one sword?
Mikasa's thoughts were interrupted, however, when she suddenly felt a sensation she definitely shouldn't have been feeling. The sensation of descent. She pulled the triggers on her blade handles, only for her gear to give a pathetic wheeze in response.
She was out of gas.
Mikasa had little time to prepare herself before she violently crashed into one of the many town roofs, and then slid off said roof to land on a covered shopping stall in a large alley. While she did not break anything upon impact, save for a good three quarters of her blades, her body still hurt from the fall. She would no doubt bruise. However, the pain of her body felt nothing in comparison to the pain of her heart. She was done, she could take no more actions, thus all she could do was think, and thinking brought back the all too familiar pain of loss.
It happened again. Mikasa thought as she absentmindedly raised what was left of her right blade towards the sky. I lost my family once again… She slid herself off of the stall, only to collapse to her knees. This pain is familiar. Will I have to start fresh once again?
The thumping of a nearby titans footsteps was perfectly audible to her, but she just couldn't bring herself to care. She sheathed what was left of her blades as she continued to kneel there, in the alley, with a titan slowly approaching her. This world is merciless, and it's also very beautiful. A memory of herself and Eren as children flashed through her mind.
The titan was getting closer, but she didn't care. The last of her family was gone. There was no reason for her to fight anymore. I lived a good life. Mikasa thought as she stared into the sky.
"Oi! Don't tell me you're giving up!"
Mikasa brought her gaze a little lower, and saw Roronoa standing on the roof above her, all of his swords in their sheaths and a disappointed look on his face. "You said you were strong, didn't you? Strong people don't give up!"
Mikasa stared at him, her mind blank by pain and loss.
"If you're as strong as you say, then show me!"
Show you? Mikasa thought. I don't think I want to. I don't think I can be strong anymore.
The titan was soon close enough to reach her, and it slowly extended its arm towards her, its fingers outstretched. Mikasa closed her eyes as she waited for the end.
That, at least, is what she planned to do. Her body, on the other hand, had different plans. With a flourish of movement, Mikasa brought out her blade and cut off the fingers of the titans before they could close around her. The titan responded by bringing it's other hand down in a smashing motion, only for Mikasa to jump clear of the impact.
Huh?
The titan brought it's first hand down again, this time the impact causing Mikasa to be launched against the wall as she jumped away.
Why?
Again the titan swung towards her, and again she jumped clear.
I thought I had given up.
The jump sent her tumbling and rolling down the alley. Mikasa coughed up some of the powdered debris that the titan caused with its attacks, and then rose to her feet.
Why am I standing? Why am I struggling? My life has no meaning anymore. What's keeping me going?
The titan began to slowly approach her again. As it approached, a voice, a memory, yelled in her head.
"FIGHT!"
"Eren…" Mikasa whispered.
"FIGHT!" Eren's voice repeated, "FIGHT! YOU MUST FIGHT!" The memory of when Eren had saved her from slavers, when he had first showed her what the will to fight was like, flashed through her head. With a gasp, Mikasa came to a realization.
I'm sorry Eren. Mikasa thought as her eyes began to water. I'll never give up again. If I die, I won't be able to remember you. Tears trailed down Mikasa's cheeks as she steeled her eyes, gripped her blade tighter, and prepared to fight, 3DMG or no. So I'll survive no matter what! With her resolve hardened, Mikasa let forth a battle yell, daring the titan several times taller than her to come closer.
Then the foot of another titan slamming into the ground behind her launched her into the air, as said titan slammed its fist into the first titans jaw, pulverizing it into a bloody mulch with a single hit and sending the chubby titan skidding down the alley a great distance.
Mikasa found herself once again on the ground. "What's going on?" Mikasa thought out loud as she looked up at the titan. Immediately she saw the differences between it and the many she had already killed. It's flesh was tanned, it's body thin and heavily muscled. Both it's face and ears were angular and pointed, and it's teeth were visible as it lacked any lips.
The muscled titan let loose a roar that forced Mikasa to cover her ears before it charged once again towards the other titan. Mikasa starred in morbid awe as the titan tore apart and stomped down upon it's would be brethren with frightening furiosity.
A titan is killing another titan.
"Heh. That one sure is pissed."
Mikasa snapped her head to her left to see Roronoa standing there, casually watching the brutal beat down with that same grin on his face.
"By the way, good job," Roronoa commented, "You stood your ground. That's good. It would be a shame if someone like you died from just giving up."
What is with this man? Mikasa thought as the titan in front of them let loose a roar of victory.
"Mikasa!"
Mikasa didn't even turn towards the sound of her friend Armin. She was too busy looking from the green haired man towards the titan that was walking away from the corpse of its large prey. She didn't even let out a sound of surprise when Armin rushed down from behind her, picked her up, and then carried her towards the roofs. The two successfully landed on the roof, despite a rough landing.
"Mikasa, are you hurt?" Armin asked in concern. Before Mikasa could answer, Connie landed next to them.
"Are you guys ok?!" Connie practically yelled.
"Yeah." Armin answered. Armin and Mikasa got back on their feet.
"We gotta get going." Connie stated. His face took on a look of fear as he saw another titan approach the titan Mikasa had already encountered. "Shit, this is bad! There's two 15 meter classes over there!"
"I don't think you need to worry about that one on the left."
The three trainees looked back towards Roronoa, who had just appeared behind them. How does he do that? they all thought.
"Watch," Roronoa said again, indicating the two titans.
The three trainees turned back to do as he said just as the muscled titan roared a challenge towards the new titan. The other titan answered with a roar of its own. Then the muscled titan did something the trainees thought no titan was capable of: it raised its fists in a fighting stance. The trainees watched in shocked awe as the other titan charged forward, only to have it's head knocked off from a mighty left hook. The head was sent sailing into the distance, before it smashed into a church tower. The titan killer looked at its ruined left hand as it rapidly regenerated. The headless titan tried to get up from where it fell, only to have its attacker viciously stomp on its neck stump, killing it.
"It finished off the other titan off?" Armin asked in disbelief. "It knew of a titan's weak point?"
"Oi. Weak point? These things have a weak point?" Roronoa asked.
"Y-yeah. The nape of the neck. You have to hit there or else the titan will just regenerate any damage done to it," Armin answered.
"Ah… that explains why that one giant tried to get back up after I took half its head off."
"You didn't know about that? It's pretty much common knowledge," Connie stated.
"Nah, it's news to me. Cutting them completely in half seemed to keep them down, so I've just been doing that."
The trio of trainees couldn't help but notice the surrealism of someone saying a statement like that so casually.
"Gah, we have no time for this!" Connie yelled, "We gotta get out of here before that titan comes back!"
"No. I don't think it's interested in us," Armin stated as he watched said titan walk away down the street. "It could have attacked us long ago."
"He's right," Roronoa stated, "the rest of these freaks just feel hungry. But that one… that one feels angry. Very angry. And that anger is backing up a purpose, unlike the rest of them."
"What the hell are you talking about? Look, just think of it as an abnormal and let's get out of here!" Connie quickly countered. He was about to turn to leave, before Armin stopped him.
"Wait! Mikasa's out of gas!"
Mikasa looked away in shame as Connie reacted to the knews. "Huh?! Are you fucking kidding me?! What are we gonna do without you?!"
"It's obvious what we have to do," Armin stated. "I'll give you my gas, it's practically useless on me."
"Armin?!" Mikasa blurted out in shock.
"There's no other choice!" Armin cut her off, as he was already in the process of taking off his gas canisters. "Just… please use it carefully this time. You must save everyone."
It was then that Mikasa truly realized the responsibility on her shoulders. She was her squad's greatest chance at surviving, and there she was about to throw her life away because of her own problems. Shame filled her as she thought this over.
"All right," Armin brought her out of her thoughts. "Your maneuver gear's good to go. I gave you all my blades as well. Just leave one with me. Now that I think about it, I don't wanna be eaten alive."
"Oi. There's no need to go that far," Roronoa spoke up.
"Huh, but-"
"Kid, no one is leaving you here," Roronoa stated with conviction.
"I agree," Mikasa said next, "I will never abandon you, Armin."
Armin seemed in shock at their words. His shock didn't last as he heard the roar of the titan killer not far from them. He looked towards the roar and saw the titan, just standing there. An idea came to him.
"Guys, listen to me! I have a suggestion."
"A suggestion?" asked Connie as he and Mikasa waited for an answer. Even Roronoa seemed interested.
"I know it's crazy, but… Couldn't we use that Titan?"
"What?" Connie asked surprised, Mikasa looking just as surprised by the suggestion as him. Roronoa, however, smiled the moment he heard it.
"It's only attacking other titans," Armin continued. "It seems uninterested in humans. I was thinking of luring it to the supply tower somehow. If it can handle the other titans for us, we could get everyone out of this alive!"
"Lure it? How would we even pull that off?" Connie asked in disbelief.
"The same way you lure any other big fish," Roronoa answered ominously, "With live bait."
"Roronoa, what are you suggesting?" Mikasa asked next.
"First of all, just call me Zoro. Second of all, stay here for a sec, and I'll show you." With that, Zoro drew two of his blades, one black and the other white, and ran off towards a seemingly random direction. With a great leap, Zoro disappeared behind a row of houses, before the many sounds of destruction was heard.
Shortly thereafter, Zoro reappeared on top of the houses, and if their biology would have allowed it, the jaws of the trainees would have been resting on the roofs they stood on.
Because held up above Zoro with one hand was the bloody upper half of a 6 meter class titan with it's arms clearly missing. The titan thrashed and writhed as much as it could, but Zoro's monstrous grip was unrelenting. Then from where he stood, Zoro lept over the trainees and landed on the roof closest to the rogue titan.
"Oi! Big guy! I got something here for you!"
Needless to say, he got the titan's attention.
Author's Note: Ok, second chapter done. If you couldn't already tell, I actually used a lot of the material directly from the Shingeki no Kyojin anime and put it here. The reason for this is because I want to try and follow the Shingeki no Kyojin story, with Zoro causing minor differences here and there that will eventually turn into huge differences as the story progresses. Obviously, because Zoro just got here, there aren't many differences between my story and the original Shingeki no Kyojin. This will change with time. Those who aren't privy to Shingeki no Kyojin, and even to an extent One Piece, will most likely be lost for most of the story. Sorry about that. Also, do you think I took Zoro's observation haki too far? Does it really allow the wielder to sense emotions? Just something I thought I should ask the reader's at large. Expect next chapter up by the end of next week, if not before.