Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 57: The Other Side of the Sea Part 2
Back on the battlefield, General Magath demanded a full report on what happened out there. Colt was waiting between breaths before delivering the update, still in shock over barely surviving the barrage of bullets flying past him as he ran.
"The Eldian advance squad has been wiped out! … They took a direct hit from an artillery shell and got blown to bits!"
"What of the trench?" The general asked.
"It's hopeless. We can't dig any further."
"He's right, sir." Annie interrupted, drawing his attention to his left. "Even if we could dig further, the artillery shells can still hit us."
Magath looks around his surroundings. Everywhere he looked he saw tired and injured Eldians. A lot of them were afraid to go back out there and face the enemy. They were sitting ducks.
Understanding that trenches alone weren't enough of a defence for the General. He turns to his newest "ally" and is about to ask him to construct a fortress for them. But Michael races out into the open, straight into the hail of enemy fire.
A few bullets managed to penetrate his body, acting as the catalyst for his transformation into the Crystal Titan. Upon transforming, he slams both hands down on the ground and constructs four enormous walls all around the Marleyan military force. Several towers and balconies were formed on the top edges of the wall, completing its construction. The result is a gigantic impenetrable fortress of Titan crystal.
Magath would've given him a hard time for going out on his own without listening to orders. But like Lazarus, he was not loyal to Marley. He's following his orders and going out on a whim.
The other candidates had widened eyes and dropped jaws after finally seeing a demonstration of the Crystal Titan's awesome power. Except Falco who was still dazed and confused. His head was bleeding. He must've suffered some serious head trauma in the fall. It was so bad that he claimed to not remember his friends or his own name. Even more bizarre was the fact that he believed he was flying around with a couple of swords in his hands with Titans all around him.
Annie caught wind of this and knew immediately what he was talking about. He was referring to a Scout Regiment soldier flying around on ODM gear and slaying Titans. But why would he think that? He knows nothing of Paradis other than what he and the others were taught in class. How could he possibly know about that? If he devoured a Warrior and looked into their memories it would make sense, but he hasn't. Just what was going on? She thought.
Gabi tried to fix him by pouring water on his head like she was trying to sober up a drunk man. She then catches him up on what the ultimate objective is in this war. To capture Fort Slava and put an end to the Mid-East Allied Forces. But that was easier said than done.
Fort Slava was built on high ground overlooking the harbour where the remainder of their naval fleet is. This means there's no attacking that fleet from land without control of the fort.
Falco thought it was pointless for them to be there as four Warrior candidates wouldn't be able to do much. But Gabi knew that their reasoning for being here was to judge them. To choose their next Warriors. The Beast's successor had already been chosen. The next one was the Armoured Titan.
"What about Mister Suurvalta? Will anyone be inheriting his Titan?" Sophia asked.
Gabi looks through one of the looking-glass periscopes Michael conjured to allow others to see outside without ducking out of cover or exiting the fort. She can see the Crystal Titan racing towards the outer trenches, erecting walls in front of them. She was in awe at the sight of the Crystal Titan.
Ever since he was formally introduced to them, Gabi started feeling a deep connection towards Michael. At first, she dismissed him as just some random prisoner from Paradis, as well as his father. But after he and Erwin shared with them their story and the real truth of Paradis, her whole world changed.
In the past, she truly believed the lies Marley told her and accepted them as devils. But Erwin's speech broke through the mental barriers she'd put up and pierced her beliefs. Of course, she didn't listen at first and grew angry and claimed they were lying. But Reiner shared his side of the story and confirmed it to be true. He told her of the pain and torment he went through after committing atrocious acts towards people who didn't deserve it. He was her family. She could never believe he was bewitched by them.
The poor girl's whole world came crumbling down, shattering her perception of what she believed was truth and lies. Thankfully Michael was there to help her pick up the pieces.
Over time she had been taken under Michael's wing and helped her get through it. They grew so close in the past four years that she now views him as a mentor. Just as Falco views Lazarus.
"Michael's Titan belongs to his family. Only people with his blood can inherit the Crystal Titan." She replied as she continued to observe him in action. "If it weren't for that little detail, I would've asked to be his successor… Now I'm forced to train hard for the next best Titan. Reiner's Armour."
Hearing that last statement was what finally snapped Falco out of his trance. Gabi was the last person he wanted to see be selected. Not only will she have to eat her cousin, but she'll only get to live thirteen years afterwards. He did not want that for her. He wouldn't tell anyone, but it was because he loved her too much to see her throw her life away.
Now that they know the real truth, the candidates have a whole new reason for becoming Warriors. To ensure freedom for all Eldians, including those on Paradis.
The crystal fortress was successful in defending the Marleyan forces from any incoming artillery shells. But the Allied Forces would not let a castle of glowing blue rock get in the way of their victory.
The Crystal Titan was still outside the castle walls keeping an eye on the fort, as well as defending any surviving Eldians out in the field. He uses his crystals to form a man-sized tunnel system connecting all the trenches with the fortress, providing them with an easy retreat.
Suddenly, a huge 150mm armour-piercing shell flies in at an incalculable speed and hits the Crystal Titan right in the shoulder. The shell came in so hard and fast that it was able to break through its crystal armour and pass right through his shoulder.
The Crystal Titan roared as its bulky body stumbled backwards and accidentally fell atop the trench wall he'd just built. Michael examined his wound and was shocked to see a clean hole in his right shoulder.
"Shit! That hurt! That must've been the new anti-Titan shells they've developed. It's strong enough to break through my crystals-
His train of thought was rudely interrupted by another anti-Titan shell coming at him from an unknown location. Acting on instinct, the Crystal Titan quickly conjures up a rectangular shield on its right arm and blocks the shell, though it was still able to crack the surface.
"Where the hell are these shots coming from?!" He internally yelled in annoyance.
The smoke starts to clear up on the battlefield. Though he can barely see it, Michael can spot the culprit behind those two shots. It was an armoured train with anti-Titan artillery guns mounted on top. Despite the enormous distance between him and it, the shell still managed to reach him and cause damage.
Annie quickly reports this development to the general and warns him that it's got Michael pinned down. But Magath didn't care. He and Lazarus made it clear to him that they're no longer with them, so why should he care what happens to them?
Colt suggested that they at least send Annie, Pieck, and Galliard out there to aid Michael or at least distract the train long enough to give him an opening to retreat behind walls and heal his wounds.
Magath didn't wanna risk the Warrior's lives. They came so close to losing the Jaws, Female, and Colossal Titans to Paradis in the past, only barely returning with the aid of the Winged and Crystal. Sending them out to protect Michael meant putting them at risk and losing the powers for good with no guarantee of reclaiming them. The power of Marley's Titans is absolute. That is a fact that must never change.
Before he could order the Eldian suicide squad to charge the fort and destroy it, Gabi offered to blow up the train tracks herself using a special bomb she made by tying several hand grenades together. It was dangerous, but the tracks had to be destroyed before the Winged Titan arrived with the Marleyan air support.
In the end, the general had no other option but to let his most promising candidate risk her life to destroy the armoured train.
"General, with your permission, I can provide a distraction for Gabi to clear the tracks. My Titan's versatility will keep me just out of reach of their cannon fire." Annie spoke up, standing in front of Gabi.
"If you get hit, your Titan would be in worse shape than Michael's. Worse, you could be killed. If you were to die here, your boyfriend would unleash his rage on Marley. I can't risk that. Denied." Magath replied sternly.
"You'll unleash his wrath anyway if Michael dies out there." She reminded him. "I don't know what he told you, nor do I care. But Lazarus went to hell and came back burned just to bring him home. Letting him die out there would've made all his sacrifices nought"
"Hmm. You make a fair point, Leonhart… Very well. Do what you have to do. Defend Suurvalta and keep the enemy focused on you and away from Gabi. As a precaution, I'll send Jaws and Cart to back you up." He then glances over at Colt. "Looks like we're going through with your plan after all, Colt. Don't think too much of it. It's a one-time thing."
"Understood. Thank you, sir!" He responded with a salute.
Annie takes hold of Gabi's hand and guides her through the tunnels leading out into the field. Once they were inside the trench outside the crystal fortress, they went their separate ways. Gabi continued down the tunnels until she reached the trench closest to the fort. She was on her own from here on out.
She was immediately spotted by the two Allies manning the machine gun at the checkpoint facing the fortress. Gabi pretends to be an injured child pleading with them, unaware that the limp in her leg was because of the heavy clump of grenades attached to her ankle dragging across the dirt.
One of them wanted to shoot her at the risk of being Eldian, but the other manning the machine gun was an honest man who'd never shoot a child, even if they were Eldian.
The first Allied soldier was about to open fire until they were both blinded by the sudden brightness of yellow lightning striking the ground not far from where the Crystal Titan was last seen. They both gasped in shock at seeing the Female Titan standing tall in the open fields. A shiver ran down their spines as they could feel its cold gaze upon them as if she was looking right through them.
"Is that…" One of them stuttered only to have his partner finish his sentence for him.
"It's the Female Titan! Shoot her!"
"But she's not meant to be here! He told us Marley lost the Female Titan to the Island Devils!"
"Obviously he was wrong! Knew we never should've trusted that guy. Just focus your fire on her! Take her down!"
The armoured trains inevitably notice her and switch targets. They open fire in her direction but Annie uses her Titan's great agility to dodge the incoming shells.
As she runs along, she digs her hardened fingers into the ground, kicking up huge clouds of dirt and dust to obstruct their field of view. The train cannons ceased firing until it cleared. Firing blindly would be a foolish effort.
The Crystal Titan uses this distraction to get up and make a dash towards the Female. The two of them stare at each other for a few moments.
Michael couldn't help but chuckle internally. This was just like their last encounter back in the Forest of Giant Trees. The first time he transformed into the Crystal Titan. Back then they were enemies, and he ruthlessly tore her to pieces trying to kill her. He never would've imagined seeing the day the two of them would be fighting together as a duo. The irony was overwhelming. It was as if he was seeing an alternate universe where he and Annie were always allies and never enemies.
The moment quickly passed, and they snapped back into action. The dust eventually clears, and the two Titans are now in the line of sight of the armoured train. Michael stands in front of Annie and conjures up a massive shield on his left arm between them and the train, expecting the cannons to fire.
But the train was suddenly blown up by Gabi's homemade explosive. Her plan worked. While the enemy was focused on the two Titan Shifters, she was able to destroy the biggest obstacle in their way and save the lives of the Eldian suicide unit.
Michael sneaks a quick peek over at Gabi who is waving over at him with a big smile on her face. The Crystal Titan couldn't physically smile back so he responded with a simple thumbs up as a way of telling her "Good job."
"A thumbs up? So uncool." Gabi thought to herself.
Enraged at seeing their train derail and crash into the checkpoint, the enemy soldiers aim their rifles at the rapidly retreating Gabi, completely forgetting about the two Titans charging at them.
The Female Titan charges in and takes them out with a hardened roundhouse kick, smashing up the other checkpoint. The Crystal Titan follows this up by charging into the next one with his shield. Large spikes erupt out of the front, giving it a more devastating strike.
Despite all that, one of the gunners miraculously survives the collision and opens fire on Gabi. Falco rushes out of the fortress in a bold, but foolish, attempt to save her. Since both Michael and Annie were preoccupied with the remaining checkpoints around the fort, it was up to Porco Galliard to leap in and protect the two candidates.
His Jaw Titan gets on top of them, using its armoured mask as a shield from the bullet storm. The Cart Titan then arrives on the scene with four turrets on its back firing in all directions. The turrets were manned by the members of the Panzer Unit, each once trusted by Pieck to aid her in battle.
The tides of war were turning in Marley's favour now that their Titans were out, and their armoured train had been destroyed. And as if things couldn't get any better, the Marleyan forces pick up the faint sounds of a Titan's roar coming from above. The four Titan Shifters on the field all look up, knowing who it belongs to.
It was none other than Lazarus in his Winged Titan form. And trailing behind him in a V formation were several Marleyan airships. The cavalry had arrived.
Like the Cart, the Winged Titan also had modifications made to it. A huge chain was wrapped around its neck. The same kind of chains ships use to drop their anchors. Hanging off the chain under him was a big metallic box with four barred windows on each side. Inside the box were the remaining three members of the Omega Unit. Zeke, Reiner, and Bertolt. All of them were strapped to chairs that had been nailed to the floor of the box to prevent them from moving about inside.
Bertolt and Zeke looked just about the same as they did four years ago, but Reiner was now sporting a short stubble beard. The three of them look out the windows through the bars at the battle raging below. They spotted the Cart, Jaw, Female, and Crystal Titans out on the field dodging and attacking the fort's wall-mounted cannons. All their attention was on them which suited the Air Force fine.
"We're flying over the fort now." Zeke updated them. He glances in the two friends' direction. "You two remember your tasks?"
"Yeah. We drop the captured Titans down on them to take out as many of the soldiers within the fort as possible. Then I'll drop down to take out the remaining cannons the others couldn't get. Then you drop down to take out the ships in the harbour. In case something goes wrong, Lazarus will drop this container down on the ships and Bertolt will transform and blow them all out of the water." Reiner explained, remembering their discussion from hours ago word for word.
Zeke nods. He turns his attention back to his window. The airships are now passing over Fort Slava and are beginning to drop the dozens of Eldian prisoners down on them via parachute.
Within the Winged Titan's nape, Lazarus displayed his disgust towards this action. One of his demands was to no longer turn Eldian prisoners into Pure Titans, but Zeke went ahead and infected them with his spinal fluid anyway. It was all his idea too. He didn't receive orders to do so from General Magath.
"Why, Zeke? I could've easily bombarded the inside of the fortress with my fireballs, lightning bolts or crystal projectiles. Why would you sacrifice any more of our people just to take out a small contingent of enemy soldiers?"
"My plan is more effective." Zeke mentally answered him, startling Lazarus slightly. "Get me as close to them as you can."
The Winged Titan growled in response and followed through on the order with no say in it. A flare was fired off into the air from the tallest tower in the centre of the crystallised fortress, alerting all soldiers to retreat at once. A warning that the kinetic bombardment is undergoing.
Zeke opens the container door and holds on tight to the bar on the side to prevent himself from falling over. He clears his throat before taking a really deep breath through the nose. He then unleashes a scream that echoes through the sky.
All the paralysed Eldians simultaneously transform and plummet towards the fort. Due to the height they were dropped from, roughly half the Titans were killed on impact. Those who survived the fall wasted no time going after the closest human to snack on.
The Crystal and Female Titans use this opportunity to sneak in through the hole in the wall Michael made earlier when he shield-charged through it. Only to be hit in the Achilles heel by another armour-piercing shell. Michael stumbles forward and skids across the ground, crushing several people, buildings, and small Titans in the process.
The Female Titan quickly scanned the area, trying to find out where that shot came from. Turned out to be a second armoured train travelling upwards to the top of the fort, trying to get a better vantage point.
"There's another armoured train?!" She mentally exclaimed in frustration.
The train fired off another round in her direction. Annie manages to protect herself by hiding behind a random fifteen-meter Titan, using it as a meat shield. Though the shell was able to cut cleanly through its nape and graze her right shoulder, forcing her Titan to scream in agony.
Lazarus is drawn downwards to her and Michael's location. They were in trouble. He quickly makes his descent just as Zeke is closing the door and getting back in his seat. The Winged Titan's chest started to glow as it began to build up heat to channel into its throat.
Once in range, he unleashes a powerful flame breath attack on the armoured train while diving. Reiner quickly gets into position to jump as he pulls up again. Now is the time to make his move.
He kicks the door wide open before leaping out of the container. He pulls on the cord over his left shoulder, releasing his parachute and slowing his descent.
The Crystal Titan recovers and attempts to get back up, only to end up falling flat on its face again. It was then Michael realised that he was missing his left leg. Blood was gushing out of his wound, staining the ground underneath him.
"Argh! That shell must've taken my leg off! How the hell did they hide a second armoured train inside the fort?!" He wondered. The Crystal Titan's eyes widen with shock when he realises that the armoured train was still chugging even after getting hit at point-blank range by Lazarus's flame attack. "Are you fucking kidding me?! It's STILL going!"
The Crystal Titan quickly turns around in an attempt to protect Annie, only to spot several wall-mounted cannons aiming at her. He quickly tackles the Female Titan and lies atop her. Titan energy surges through the ground, forming a circle around them. Smooth, 18-inch-thick crystal walls erupt out of the ground and converge over them, forming a protective dome around them identical to the one he used to protect himself and Reiner from the Colossal Titan's explosion during the Battle of Shiganshina.
That didn't stop the cannons from firing. They all unleashed their shells upon the dome's surface. The simultaneous barrage was able to damage the dome, forming cracks along its surface. But the Crystal Titan repaired the damage instantly. However, it was not fast enough to stop the armour-piercing shells that were able to pierce the dome and graze his back. It hurt like hell for Michael, but at least he had armour protecting him from the full effects. Annie did not.
As Reiner was closing in on the fort, he took a good look at the wall and counted how many cannons were still standing. His comrades managed to take out most of them, leaving him to clean up the rest.
Looking down at the wall caused some unexpected painful memories to appear in his mind. For unknown reasons, his psyche decided to taunt him by comparing the walls of Fort Slava to the three walls protecting Paradis from the Pure Titans Marley had sent to the island for decades.
"Another wall." His left hand clenches tightly around the knife he pulled out earlier. He grasps the blade end with his free hand and slits his palm, triggering his transformation. "I'm getting sick and tired of all these walls!"
After nailing the landing, the Armoured Titan races down the side of the wall and knocks off all the remaining cannons and soldiers stationed atop it. The armoured train gives up on the contained Crystal and Female Titans and fires off another shell at Reiner, taking his left arm clean off just like it did Michael's left leg.
Reiner dodge-rolls out of the way before it could hit him again, and lands straight into real danger. One of the cannons was directly in front of his face.
"SHIT!"
But he was saved just in time by Galliard's Jaw Titan coming in and squashing it and the men operating it. Reiner exhaled a breath of relief. Had he been a few seconds slower his head would have a massive hole by now.
"Phew. Thanks, Galliard."
It was never Galliard's intention to save Reiner. He just happened to be in the path of his actual targets. He continued to leap from building to building, destroying the remaining cannons.
The Armoured Titan got back up and dashed for the armoured train. He used the nub of his destroyed arm to block another anti-Titan round and shoulder charges the train, knocking it off the rails for good.
He then picks up the train by the front gun and spins himself around. The Armoured Titan let out an intense battle cry as it singlehandedly tossed the derailed train at the last of the fort's defences. It's done. Fort Slava's been cleared of enemy forces. The war is won. The rest is just mop-up.
The Winged Titan was circling the fort watching the fight unfold. He spots Reiner breaking open the heavily damaged dome and pulling Michael and Annie out into the open. The Armoured and Female Titans lift the Crystal and link their arms together to help him walk out of there. At least until his leg grew back.
Annie waves her free arm up at Lazarus, telling him the fort has been cleared. Now all that remains is to take out the remaining naval ships in the harbour. Ships that were preparing to set sail and retreat.
"The Allied Forces are retreating," Lazarus warned Zeke and Bertolt.
"Don't stray, Lazarus," Zeke reassured him. "I'll take care of them." With that thought, Zeke leaps out of the container and releases his parachute.
"It was our failure that allowed this war to happen, Lazarus…"
Halfway down Zeke cuts his palm and transforms into the Beast Titan. The Marleyans, Warrior Candidates, and Eldian soldiers all bore witness as the brightness of the process lit up the sky like a supernova. The Beast Titan lands in the centre of the fort just a few feet away from the other three bipedal Titans.
"…But every war is awful. Don't you agree?" He addresses the other Warriors behind him.
Neither of them had the function to answer him so he took their silence as a yes. He proceeded with his role in the attack by picking up some unattended anti-Titan shells, gathering up as much as he could to use as projectiles to sink the enemy ships.
He slowly approaches the broken part of the wall facing the harbour and takes up his pitcher's stance, the same way he decimated the Scouts in the Battle of Shiganshina. He intends to do the same with the last of the Mid-East Allied Forces.
The moment he throws the shells at the fleet, the ships unleash their own bombardment in his direction. Zeke puts his arms up in a vague attempt to protect himself even though it wouldn't do much to save his skin.
The Armoured Titan drops the Crystal Titan and jumps in front of the incoming shells, taking the majority of the punishment. As Michael fell back down, he plunged his left fist into the ground until it sunk a few feet under and quickly erected another wall to close up the opening before they could unleash a second wave.
Reiner and Michael were down, and Zeke was now unable to finish them off. His throw was able to take out the front line of ships, but the majority of the fleet was still afloat and getting further away from the port. Things weren't looking good now, and just when they thought it was all over.
"Lazarus, behind you!" Bertolt shouted as loud as he can whilst poking his head out from the door.
The Winged Titan performed a 180-degree turn and was shocked at what was approaching from the south. It was a huge fleet of enemy airships.
"It's the Allied Forces airship fleet! I thought I destroyed them all! They must've had more stashed away somewhere, fired them up, and followed us here." He estimated.
Lazarus was even more disturbed when he realised that the airships weren't after him. They had their guns trained on the crystal fortress and all within it, including Falco and his friends.
"Shit! No!" The Winged Titan blurted out loud. "There's no time to deliver you over the retreating ships AND defend the others! Even if Michael takes the wall down, they're out of Zeke's throwing range now."
"Hovering in place and thinking what to do will only waste time. You'll have to drop Bertolt into the fort." Michael mentally spoke up to him.
"But what about the ships?"
"Trust me, Laz. I've got an idea. Just drop Bertolt and protect our comrades. Those kids need to live."
The Winged Titan let out a sigh and lowered itself as close to the fort as possible before tearing off the chain holding the container up off of his neck and dropping it. Bertolt was securely strapped to the chair to protect him from the G-force of falling in the box.
With that done, the Winged Titan rapidly ascended and flapped its wings as hard and fast as he could to reach the airships before they reached the fortress. Lazarus straightens his arms forward and uses his hardening ability to form spiked knuckles on his fists and sharpen the blade end tips of his wings.
The airships all open fire on him, but he dodges their fire by banking left and right. He charged straight through the first airship like a bullet, causing it to explode on contact. The second and third ones he tore to shreds with his wingtips as he passed in between them. And the last one he blew out of the sky with a concentrated fire blast.
Taking out the airships was only the first step. He also needed to make sure they crashed far away from the fortress, which was easier said than done.
While he handled that, the Crystal Titan took the wall down and put his crystals to more practical use. This would prove to be one of his more challenging constructions that could go wrong if done incorrectly. Fortunately, he had four years of training and experimenting with his Titan powers. Through all that time he discovered new ways of utilising crystals and what to build with them. Even things he originally deemed impossible to pull off.
The first of his new advanced creations was a massive, Titan-sized catapult. The metal box containing Bertolt was placed in the launch pad and aimed directly at the retreating fleet. Since Reiner was down for the count, Michael had to help Annie hold it in place while Zeke was adjusting the aim and how much reel power should be utilised. He needs to hit the target dead centre. Too much or too little would lead to disastrous consequences.
"FIRE!" The Beast Titan roared.
The two Warriors let go and the giant crystal catapult hurls the anxious and terrified Bertolt across the sea and right within range of the enemy ships. He cuts his own finger and triggers his transformation mere moments before he hits the water.
The Colossal Titan's nuke-sized explosion managed to engulf every ship in the nearby ocean, reducing them to nothing but scraps of metal and charred human remains.
The Colossal Titan stood tall amidst the chaos as it watched the remnants of the Mid-East Allied Forces sink to the bottom of the sea, along with their hopes of destroying Marley.
Bertolt slowly turns himself around to face his comrades. He manages to spot Lazarus pushing the last of the flaming airships far off into the distance and out of harm's way of the Warrior Candidates.
All around him was death and destruction. Fire and water. In the beginning, it didn't seem to faze Bertolt. Not even during the fall of Shiganshina when he breached Wall Maria. But the Battle of Shiganshina had changed his perspective on war as a whole. Now he feels remorse for all the lives that have perished under his Titan's foot.
Within his Titan's nape, Bertolt started to break down into tears. The stress was starting to get to him. For nine years since he obtained this power, he'd been suppressing his emotions. Closing his heart off from the rest of the world and following instructions from his superiors. He'd been doing it for so long that it finally exploded in an emotionally unstable eruption.
The Colossal Titan continues to watch Lazarus as he flies down to the fortress to check on the Warrior Candidates. The other Warriors left the fort to join him.
"Back then I was willing to fight for myself. To prove myself a valued member of this unit… But now… Now I don't know if I can keep this up anymore." The Colossal Titan closes its eyes. A single tear drop trickles down its left eye. The drop instantly evaporated into steam due to the immense heat given off by the Colossal's huge muscle mass.
"I will never tell the others this, but… Maybe things would've been better off if I had died on that island."
To Be Continued