Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 38: Sin
A lot has happened in not so little time since the Scouts managed to rescue Eren, whilst barely escaping the Hellfire Force with their lives, and sanity, still intact.
Many soldiers started to lose whatever hope they had left of defeating the Titans and uncovering their secrets within Grisha's cellar after witnessing the true destructive power of the Winged Titan. Should Lazarus ever choose to come back, he could obliterate all of them in a single strike. And now that the Crystal Titan had defected over to the enemy side, the balance of power had shifted in favour of the Warriors.
But that did not stop Erwin from pushing forward. Though Michael's betrayal still pains him, he understood why he left. The walls were never his true home. What right did he have to tell him what to do?
Things only degraded even more once the Scouts returned to the safety of Wall Rose. The Military Police have been killing off people who've been getting too close to the truth behind humanity's history than they would've liked. Just like how they murdered his father. It was clear that the government knows the truth and was trying to cover it up.
And the same Scouts who were willing to give their lives to advance humanity, have now become the enemy in the eyes of the public. All Scouts were ordered to be arrested and Erwin was to be executed for treason.
Hange was able to learn more about how the power of the Titans worked thanks to the conversation between Ymir and Bertolt Eren overheard before he was knocked unconscious. She discovered that the power can be taken if a regular Titan were to devour the previous user. But this led Armin to start questioning who Eren ate to obtain the Attack and Founding Titans.
As for Levi and his newly formed Levi Squad. They were preoccupied with trying to locate Eren and Historia who were abducted by Kenny and his First Interior Squad.
Along with Michael, Kenny was successful in delivering the three targets to his employer, who was revealed to be the current head of the Reiss family, Rod Reiss. The same man who wanted to reclaim the Crystal Titan for his own personal use.
Deep within the crystalline cavern, Michael and Eren were lying unconscious with their mouths gagged. Eren was tied to the altar with his arms held out to the sides by chains. While Michael was tied to one of the pillars. His whole body was wrapped in unbreakable chains and his hands were covered up by metal, preventing him from using his powers should he wake up.
Eventually, he managed to regain consciousness and was immediately blinded by the brightness of the cavern he was in. All he could feel was his whole body being tightened up by the chains pressing against him. The numbness of his hands. And a sudden sharp pain in the back of his neck.
As soon as his eyes adjusted, he was able to catch a glimpse of a mysterious individual standing to his left. Sitting beside him was a box full of small bottles labelled "Armour". Most of the bottles were empty, but a few of them contained a strange glowing silvery-blue liquid.
Michael's eyes widened as soon as he realised what was in those bottles and what was currently happening to him. The man standing beside him was extracting his spinal fluid and putting it into those bottles.
He struggles against his chains just as the individual finished injecting the fifth deposit of fluid into one of the empty bottles. Michael didn't recognise him, but he could tell from the gun ODM gear that he was a member of Kenny's crew. He attempted to vent his anger at him, only to realise that his mouth was still covered up.
"Captain, he's awake!"
"Well, it's about damn time!" Kenny called out from the left side of the cavern. His voice carried an echo that travelled from his current position to where Michael was being held.
He lands right in front of Michael and examines the bottles of his spinal fluid before addressing him directly.
"Careful now. We wouldn't wanna completely drain him dry. We still need to make sure there's plenty left once I steal his power."
Michael attempts to object but was unable to. Letting out only muffles and groans.
"What's that?" Kenny teased as he mockingly places his hand up to his right ear. "I can't understand helpless little runt, hahaha!"
Enraged at his taunts, Michael makes another attempt to break free of his chains. However, his body was currently in a weakened state due to the loss of a lot of his spinal fluid. He felt physically exhausted. Like all the strength he had as a Titan Shifter is slowly fading away.
"That's enough! Leave him alone."
Michael and Kenny look over to the right in response to the new voice that was addressing them. Michael recognised this familiar voice all too well. Coming into his line of sight was his old comrade, Historia Reiss.
"Despite his treachery, Michael's still a friend. What becomes of him is up to my father, not you." She stands up to the famed serial killer.
Kenny just scoffs in response to the young Reiss girl's attempt at standing up for herself. He then looks over in Michael's direction.
"Him? A friend? After he turned his back on you and the Scouts? He even broke Lil Levi's heart by changing sides. This is why I usually work alone." He kneels to Michael's level and intensely stares him in the eyes. "Face it. If it weren't for the power of our ancestors, he would've been just another little runt scrounging around for scraps. You think your "friends" care about you? They only liked the power that you miraculously obtained. But don't worry, I'll relieve you of your burden soon. Rod will make me one of those dumbass Titans. I'll eat you, and the Crystal Titan's power will be mine!"
Michael then managed to headbutt Kenny once he was close enough, causing Kenny's hat to fall off as he staggers backwards. Michael's glare was still filled with rage for him. Never once shifting since he came into view.
Kenny picks up his hat and places it back atop his head. Instead of getting triggered by Michael's attack, he instead let out a hysterical laugh, mocking him further.
"Whoowhee! Looks like the runts still got some fight in him. I like that… I'll allow that one, kid. But you only get one."
Historia just stood there disgusted with the way Kenny was treating Michael. As she said. He may be a traitor to mankind now, but it didn't change the things he did for her in the past. The same thing went for the Warriors too. She remembered what Lazarus said when they all confronted him about his lies. She knew his words weren't an act. She'll never understand what drove them to do the things they've done, but she will acknowledge that they didn't have a choice.
And Michael. The fact that he chose to come back proves that he did it of his own volition. He probably didn't have an ulterior motive for doing so either. Maybe he wanted to give his former friends a final goodbye before returning to wherever he came from.
As soon as Kenny leaves the area, Historia decided to remove Michael's gag and allows him to speak. All the while the soldier continued to extract more of his spinal fluid until all the empty bottles were filled.
"Despite what happened the last time we met, it is good to see you again, Michael… You remember this place, don't you?"
"Historia… Why are you here?" Michael weakly responded, his grip on consciousness slipping away with every injection he receives.
"My father brought me here. His only wish is to reclaim what's been taken from our family." She looks back at Eren who was just now regaining consciousness himself. She then turns back to Michael.
"I'm sorry, Michael. But you have to realise that your power is a threat to humanity if it stays with you. Lazarus is already too powerful for all of us to defeat. The only way we can defeat him and his followers is to take back the Founding and Crystal Titans."
"Listen to me, Historia… You can't give my power to Kenny! Don't you know what kind of man he is?! If he possesses the Crystal Titan, he'll be too powerful for anyone to defeat! He'll only use it to kill whoever he feels like, including you."
"You think we don't know that?"
Another new familiar voice sounds off within the crystal chapel. Michael knew immediately that it belonged to Historia's father, Rod Reiss. The same man who caused his memory loss in the first place. After all these years, he's finally come to follow through on his promise to take back the Crystal Titan and enslave the Ackerman Clan once again.
As he steps into view, Historia faces her father and embraces him for a brief moment. Rod then picks up the box containing Michael's spinal fluid and examines every single filled bottle. The soldier who has been extracting it was ordered to leave them alone and rejoin the rest of the squad at the cavern's entrance, expecting the Scouts to show up and launch an attack.
He picks up one of the bottles and looks it over. He smiles in satisfaction knowing that the power of hardening will be with them for many generations to come once they reclaim the Founding Titan from Eren.
"You've grown up a lot since we last met, Michael Suurvalta. Surely you must've known this day would come. Freida couldn't keep you hidden from me forever."
"She saved my life!" Michael raises his voice at him. "She was happy enough to free me from my family's curse. Then you had to come along and try and take my power away!"
"As I told you before. The Crystal Titan may belong to the Ackermans. But the Ackermans serve our family. Try to understand. I only want to keep our people safe. If I allow you to leave with the Crystal Titan, you and your allies will destroy the peace my ancestors brought when they built the three walls."
"Your ancestor manipulated their memories! Made them believe that every man, woman, and child is all that's left of humanity. But the truth is-
Michael's mouth was quickly covered up again by Rod, preventing him from saying anything that could disrupt his plans on having Historia obtain the Founding Titan from Eren.
"That's enough out of you. We wouldn't want you exhausting yourself." He then glances back at Historia and Eren. "My apologies, Historia. I thought he would listen to reason. But it appears this Lazarus you speak of has brainwashed him. He's no longer the comrade you once knew."
"Father… who's Frieda?" Historia questioned him. For some reason hearing that name gave her a sense of nostalgia. As if she once knew someone of that name. But she couldn't recollect any memories of ever knowing someone named Freida.
"I'm afraid that is a long story. One that could take hours to explain. So instead, I will show you who she was. Follow me."
Rod guides Historia up the stairs leading up to the altar where Eren was being held. He takes hold of Historia's hand and guides it towards Eren's back. Upon making physical contact with him, both Eren and Historia were able to see flashes of a memory that took place in this very cavern.
The sudden surge of energy that flowed out of them and into Eren could be felt by Michael too. Though he was unable to see the things they were seeing.
They saw images of Rod, Frieda, and the rest of their family. Frieda was biting her hand, triggering her Titan transformation. She appeared to be fighting whoever's eyes they were seeing through. The individual appeared to be another Titan Shifter. And they were able to kill Frieda and devour her human body.
Afterwards, the images of the intruding Titan Shifter brutally killing the rest of the family appeared. He crushed the eldest son within his grip. Trampled Rod's wife and baby underfoot. And squashed the last of the family with the palm of its left hand, smearing them like bugs. The next set of images showed the man in human form running alongside a younger Keith Shadis. And the final image shows him giving the key to Grisha's basement to a young Eren, before injecting him with a serum, and turning him into a Titan.
The last image also shows the transformed Eren picking him up and preparing to devour him. But for a brief moment, Eren was able to catch a reflection of the mysterious individual. He confirmed moments before the memory flash ended that those were his father's memories.
After all this time, he finally figured out what happened to Grisha. He possessed the Attack and the Founding Titans before him. And around the time Wall Maria fell, he passed both powers down to him.
"Now do you remember? Have you learned of your father's sin?" Rod asked him rhetorically.
Historia was currently frozen with shock over the things she had just seen. All her life she believed that she was alone growing up. Her mother wanted nothing to do with her, and her father had always been away.
But it turned out she was never alone. Frieda had always been by her side. Teaching her to read, write, act ladylike, ride horses, and so on. She had a loving half-sister watching over her.
Rod explains to her that Frieda was indeed her older sister and was the original host of the Founding Titan before Grisha came and killed her.
Every time she would visit her, she would erase her memories of ever being with her to protect her little sister from the thought of losing her in thirteen years. Touching Eren must've triggered a side effect that caused all those memories to re-emerge.
Michael was overhearing everything that Rod was discussing with his daughter. He once had the privilege of meeting the kind-hearted Frieda Reiss himself. Like Historia, she erased the memories of his old life to reset his body back to before he awakened the Crystal Titan. She did it to protect him from the very man standing before him.
He never took the time to wonder what had happened to her after she had to leave him high in the trees. Though he had an idea Eren had something to do with her death, he never would've expected his father to be the one who devoured her and then passed it down to him.
Historia was filled with grief and anguish. She knew it wasn't Eren's fault that his father wanted to eradicate the Reiss family. But she couldn't let such a selfish act go unpunished. Eventually, she decided to obey her father's instructions and become a Titan herself so that she could eat Eren and reclaim her sister's power.
Michael struggles against his chains and lets out a muffled outcry behind his gag, desperately trying to talk her out of it.
Eren hadn't even noticed Michael being tied to that pillar until moments before he saw Grisha's memories. He didn't have the time or thought process to question why he was here or what the Reiss family wanted with him. But thankfully, Historia asked those questions for him.
"Father, If I do become a Titan and eat Eren, what will happen to Michael? Do you plan on giving his power to that madman?"
"Hey! I heard that!"
Rod sighed quietly in relief upon Kenny's sudden arrival. Should he ever learn his true intentions with him once he obtains the Crystal Titan, it would most likely result in his, and possibly Historia's, death.
"Hey, what's the holdup? Whatever you guys are talking about, we don't have time for it. Things are going straight to hell outside."
"Do explain. What's been going on?" Rod ordered.
"Well, the Scouts started a coup d'etat and all the other regiments have taken their side. Everyone found out that old King Fritz was a fake, and now his whole council has been arrested. Yep, it's a royal shit show! It's only a matter of time til they show up here. So, I suggest you hurry up and gimme that serum so I can eat this kid and take his power. The first thing I'm gonna do with it is put Lil Levi and his squads' heads on rows of spikes!"
"Not yet." Rod denied. "The deal was you get the Crystal Titan AFTER Historia reclaims the Founder. Go take the Anti-Personal Control Squad and defend the entrance at all costs. Once you're done, we'll begin the ceremony."
Kenny sighs with frustration, but he obeys his king nonetheless. He had waited so many years for a chance to inherit the Crystal Titan. He could wait a little longer, knowing the payoff will be worth it.
"I trust you, your grace." He ever so slightly removes his hat, showing his devotion to him before turning around and walking away. "Have my serum ready when I return."
"The Scouts are here?" Michael thought to himself. "This isn't good. If they see me here, Levi will most likely- No. He'll definitely kill me. I'm technically an enemy of the walls now. They won't take any chances of letting me live… Still, I have no regrets about coming back. I still plan on seeing my father one last time. If Levi and the others wanna get in the way of that, then-.
Just before he was about to finish that thought. A sudden memory of him spending time with Sasha popped into his head. Why was he thinking about her now of all times? Is it because she's technically his enemy too? Possibly. But he could not accept the fact that Sasha's opinion of him had changed since he switched sides. She was even in denial about Lazarus, Reiner, and Bertolt being evil as some of the others claimed.
"Sasha…"
He then remembers a conversation between him and Lazarus that took place after the equipment inspection the day after Sawny and Bean were killed by Annie. He remembered Lazarus teasing him about liking Sasha as more than a friend.
Back then he was in denial about it, both him and Sasha. Even the time he met her father for the first time, she told him he was nothing more than a friend. But now that he's tied up to a pillar, hands and mouth covered, and about to be eaten by a Titan-fied Kenny the Ripper, he can no longer deny his feelings.
"It turns out you were right, Laz. Maybe I do have some feelings for Potato Girl, hehe. But it's too late for me now to act on those feelings. She and I are on opposite sides. There may come a time when we may have to fight… and maybe even kill each other. All for the sake of winning a war. Mikasa was right. The world is a cruel place."
The sounds of battle could be heard miles ahead at the entrance of the cavern. The Scouts have arrived. It was now or never if Rod wished to regain the Founding Titan through Historia.
"There isn't much time." He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small box containing a syringe and a bottle of Titan serum. He quickly assembles the syringe, empties the bottle and hands it over to his daughter. "Hurry, Historia. You must become a Titan and eat Eren now! In order to reclaim the power, you have to consume his spinal fluid."
"You haven't answered my question, Father." She interrupted him as she pushes the syringes away from her. "How can you be sure Kenny won't turn on us as soon as he receives the Crystal Titan?"
Rod takes a look around, making sure that Kenny isn't within hearing range before answering his daughter's question.
"Long ago, the Ackerman Clan used to be the bodyguards of our family. They possess a Titan power unique only to their blood. The Ackermans are indeed among the few families the king can't control. But the one who holds the Crystal Titan is… Our great ancestor used the Founding Titan's power to alter the mind and body of its first user. Making it so that all who control his power will be cursed to hear his voice and follow his last orders. Frieda had broken the curse for Michael. But only for him. Once a new Crystal Titan is born, the curse will befall them too."
"Kenny is one of the stronger Ackermans I've seen. Having him as the vessel for the Crystal Titan will make Paradis unstoppable. He won't have the freedom to do as he pleases with it. Because once you inherit the Founding Titan, you will have control over him. Only an Ackerman can inherit the Crystal Titan. And only we can control it. No matter how many times the curse can be broken, the Crystal Titan will always be the loyal protector of our Founder, Ymir, and all who came after her. It is in its nature. Its purpose for existing. It can be nothing more than that."
"Hey hey hey! Wait just a damn minute!"
Rod's eyes widen in shock, knowing whose voice that was. He then looks over at Michael who appeared to be squinting his eyes in a way that looked like he was smirking around his gag like he was telling him: "Yep, you done fucked up now."
Kenny descended from the ceiling with his Gun Gear and furiously approaches Rod. Pointing his right gun at his head.
"In case I didn't hear right. You're saying if I were to eat Michael and take his powers, I'll also inherit my family's curse?!"
"Yes, that's right." Rod carelessly answered, knowing it is pointless for him to deny it.
"So then what? Even if I do become the Crystal Titan, I'll only end up being your gopher?!" Enraged, Kenny grabs Rod by his shirt collar and lifts him off the ground. He then presses his gun right up against his left eye.
"You knew about my family curse all this time, and you wanted to control me like a damn puppet?! I waited a long time for this day because I believed that I could grow beyond my current limits! I wanted to be the strongest, deadliest criminal in the world! With that power, nothing could stand in my way! Damn you, prick! You knew I didn't have a chance in hell of using it however I wanted! You just wanted to use me, huh?!"
"I'm very grateful, Kenny. When my brother first brought you into his service, I thought it was just one of his foolish whims, but-
"You keep on talking shit about Uri, and you can kiss this half of your head goodbye!"
Historia quickly intervenes as Kenny was moments away from pulling the trigger.
"Let go of my father!"
"Come on, this is pitiful. Don't you get it, Historia? Your father doesn't give a damn about us. Like me, he just wants to use you. You telling me you're really ok with him turning you into a monster and eating your buddy Eren?" He questioned her.
"If that's my duty, then that's what I'll do!" She responded intensely and without even thinking it through. "I've made my choice. I'll eat Eren and bring my sister back! I'll inherit the world's history and exterminate every last Titan in the world!"
Things were escalating too much for Michael to handle. After all his effort to struggle and break free, he was finally able to untie the knot holding his gag up, allowing him to speak his mind and hopefully snap Historia out of whatever delusion her father had inflicted on her.
"Don't do it, Historia!" He yelled over at them, drawing all their attention to him. For a brief moment, they seemed to have forgotten he was even there.
"You don't know what you're doing! That old bastard is lying to you! My Titan isn't the only one that's cursed! If anyone with royal blood inherits the Founding Titan, they'll end up being controlled by the king who built the three walls. You'll become a slave to his will. Any decision you make will never be your own again! Think about it. Why would he make you a Titan instead of inheriting it himself? He wants to be free by taking away your freedom! That's the kind of man your father is!"
"Don't listen to him, Historia! That isn't the truth!" Rod quickly defended himself, making up excuses to save his skin whilst fighting against Kenny who was now attempting to cut his tongue out with a knife." It is essential that I do not become a Titan myself. You mustn't believe him! I'm the only one you can trust! He betrayed you. He only wishes to take the Founding Titan for himself and use it for evil!"
A sudden realisation washes over Kenny as he looks over at Michael after looking up at Eren. He drops Rod and rushes over to his bag, grabbing the second syringe and Titan serum that was to be used for him.
"Of course. Why didn't I think of this sooner?" He begins to slowly approach Michael as he assembles the syringe. "The curse only affects us once we obtain the Crystal Titan. It forces us into servitude of the king's Titan. So, I wonder what will happen if I were to eat both Michael AND Eren."
Everyone gasps in shock as Kenny rolls up his left sleeve and was moments away from injecting himself.
"Why have one Titan power, when I can have three?! If I simply become the being my family's sworn to protect, then there won't be anyone left to control me."
"It doesn't work like that, Kenny!" Rod corrected him in between breaths as he was still getting over almost being killed by him. "The Crystal and Founding Titans must never be combined! It'll only lead to devastating consequences."
"As much as I hate to say it, he's right." Michael continued. "Each of the Ten Titans has a purpose. A reason to exist. The Crystal Titan's purpose for existing is to serve and protect the Founding Titan. Not become the Founder itself. You'll only end up killing yourself and the three powers will be randomly transferred to others."
Kenny's anger only grew in response. As a man who was a professional asshole, he could tell when someone was lying to him. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew both Michael and Rod were telling the truth about the impossibility of combining both Titans into one.
Frustrated, He disassembles the syringe and places it back in its box. The only reason he worked for Uri Reiss in the first place was so he could one day possess the power of the Ackerman Clan. But no power, no matter how great, could ever be worth sacrificing his freedom.
He glances over at Rod and Historia briefly before he walks up to Michael. He then points one of his guns at him, causing Michael to look away in a panic, fearing he may blow his head off.
But to his surprise, he instead shoots the chains that bound him to the pillar, freeing him from his bondage. He then uses his knife to cut the leather straps holding the metal cuffs that covered his hands, allowing them to come loose.
"What are you doing?!" Rod attempted to approach him, but Kenny holds him at bay by pointing his right gun at him and Historia.
"The deal was I capture him so you can get more of his spinal fluid. You've got enough there to last a couple of decades."
"But I thought you wanted my power in return for my capture?" Michael reminded him, confused by his sudden turnaround.
"That was before I learned of the hardships that came with it. I'd rather be cut down by Levi than hear your voice squabbling in my head! Now take your damned power and get outta my sight! It reeks of runt!"
Michael was speechless. He never would've expected Kenny the Ripper of all people to turn down an opportunity to become an all-powerful Titan. But he respected him for it. He got the one thing he and his grandfather, Noah, never had when they obtained the power. A choice on whether to inherit it or not. Kenny may be a dangerous man, but at least he was free.
Before Rod or any of the Anti-Personnel Squad could stop him, Michael makes a break for the right side of the cavern. Eren was confused as to why he was running in the opposite direction of the exit. There was a dead end in front of him. Where could he possibly go from there?
Once he reaches the end of the cavern, Michael places both hands on the crystalline wall, channelling Titan energy from his body into it, forcing the crystals to split apart and reveal the hidden tunnel behind it. Eren was shocked to see that there had been an alternate exit hidden there all this time.
Michael only partially opens it to a human-sized hole. Due to the significant loss of his spinal fluid, his body was too weak for him to assume Titan form. He'll have to walk back to Shiganshina as a human until his strength returns. He shivered at the thought of how long that would take, but he had no other choice.
Simply staying in the cave wasn't an option either. If Kenny and his squad knew about the tunnels, there was a strong possibility others might know too.
He looks back at Eren and Historia one final time before closing the tunnel entrance behind him. Historia appeared to be worried for him. Eren, however, only glared at him with anger and intent. He didn't need Lazarus's ability to read minds to guess what he was thinking. It was clear to him what his intentions were.
It was a look that said, "This doesn't change anything. You're a traitor, Michael. And you will be dealt with as one." Michael let out a sigh of disappointment as the tunnel entrance closes. Sealing him off from the others.
Traversing the tunnel network in human form had proven to be much more difficult for Michael than how he would in Titan form. The tunnels themselves were massive. Large enough for a fifteen-meter Titan to run around in. And the length of the tunnels themselves stretched on for miles. It connected the north of Paradis to the south. It would take him forever to travel back to Shiganshina, even if he did know the way.
Hell, even traversing them on horseback would take hours, if not days, for him to get there. There was also no concept of day and night within the tunnels. The only indication he had was the brightness of the crystals themselves. If it was bright, it meant it was daytime. If they were dimly lit, it meant it was night.
As he walked, Michael kept making attempts to transform by biting his hand, but nothing happened. His healing factor, hardening, and crystal constructs worked just fine. He just didn't have enough energy to transform again. If only he had some faster way of travel that didn't require transforming.
He then comes to a halt as an ingenious idea popped into his head. He then proceeded to smack himself on the forehead for not coming up with this idea a long time ago.
"Of course! Why didn't I think of this sooner?!"
He then channels his Titan energy into his feet and conjures up crystals from under the ground he was standing on, allowing crystals to grow, spread out, and completely cover his boots.
"I just hope this works and I don't embarrass myself. Wait a minute?! There's nobody here but me. Who am I afraid will see me like this?!" He rhetorically asks as he self-facepalms.
With that out of the way, Michael begins to test his ingenuity. It had been quite some time since he got the chance to properly experiment with his Titan powers. He'd been so busy fighting against Titans, Lazarus, and dealing with Joseph in the Crystal Cave that he hadn't had the chance to discover the limits to what he can and cannot create with his crystals. He made a vow to himself that once things have quieted down, he'll be more inventive with his powers.
But as he was moments away from testing out his newest experiment, he ended up falling on his ass in response to the tunnels shaking all around him.
He quickly breaks his legs free from the crystals and gets back up, trying to avoid the falling debris above him.
"What's going on now?!"
He turns around and looks down the way he just came from. He was only a mile away from the entrance to the chapel. But he couldn't help but feel like the tremors were coming from that direction.
He quickly races back down the way he came to see what exactly was going on. It wasn't any of his concerns, technically speaking. But he was a Warrior now. If there was a small opening for him to capture Eren and bring him back to Marley, then he has to take it.
As he re-opens the entrance, he was blinded by a huge burst of energy that lit up the entire cavern. It was not only bright, but he could also feel an intense heat building up within the chapel. It was as if he was standing close to the sun itself.
He then notices an extremely large Titan body forming within the centre of the light, mere inches away from the altar where Eren and Historia were. Rod Reiss was nowhere to be seen within the area. The only assumption he had was that he was that large Titan whose body started taking up the entire cavern, causing the ceiling to start caving in.
Michael's jaw drops at the size of Rod's Titan. It appeared to be twice as big as the Colossal Titan. And the heat it produced proved to be even more intense than the steam blasts Bertolt can unleash.
"OH, WHAT THE FUCK?!" He yelled both in fear and bewilderment.
Michael then notices that the box of his spinal fluid had been left behind on the ground. Now was his chance to take it back before the others could make use of it.
Unfortunately, the debris falling from the caving ceiling ended up crushing the entire box, spilling it all over the ground.
Not what he was planning. But at least he can rest easy knowing that nobody can harness the power of hardening from it now. Though a part of him was frustrated that he went through all that pain for nothing.
Levi and the Scouts inevitably arrive on the scene and attempt to rescue Eren from his bindings. Sasha and the rest of his former friends were among them.
As Rod's Titan continued to grow in size, the ceiling only grew to become even more unstable. The Scouts quickly backed up against the wall. Like rats cornered in a maze, they had nowhere to go.
Michael clenches his fists. He was unsure of what he should do next. His body was still in the process of replenishing his lost spinal fluid, preventing him from transforming. Even if he could transform, his Titan would only end up buried alive. But he couldn't just leave them to die. Even if they saw him as an enemy now, it didn't change how he still views them.
Time was short. It was now or never if he was gonna make a choice. Either he exposes himself and risks his life saving them. Or he simply closes the entrance again and leaves them to be buried. Of course, he would choose the former.
Letting out a heartfelt battle cry, Michael rushes out of the tunnel and slams both his fists into the ground, impaling them through the crystal and into the soil beneath.
His eyes glow completely blue as he musters all his strength to construct giant pillars to hold the ceiling up.
"What the? Crystals?" Jean uttered.
"Could it be?" Connie added in equal confusion.
Sasha vividly scans the area for the source of the pillars. She was overjoyed to see Michael standing just outside the tunnel with both his fists on the ground.
"It's Michael! He's come back to save us! I knew he would!" She pointed out excitedly.
"Michael? He's here? But why?" Armin questioned.
"Maybe he managed to get away from Lazarus and the others and escaped?" Sasha assumed.
"No… He's still one of them." Eren muttered under his breath. "The Anti-Personnel Squad captured him and brought him back here so they could steal his power and give it to their leader."
Levi's eyes widened slightly in response to Eren's remark. Kenny Ackerman wants Michael's power? It would certainly explain his determination to see his mission through to the end. But why give it to him of all people? He makes a mental note to ask Eren everything he knows once they find a way out of the cave and stop the Rod Reiss Titan.
Michael eventually reaches the limit of his current state of well-being and collapses onto his knees. The pillars he constructed were able to hold the ceiling up for now. But with the emergence of Rod's Titan finally breaking through the surface of the ground, it won't hold for long.
As soon as he regains enough strength to stand again, he starts limping towards the tunnel. But Levi and Mikasa were not too keen on letting him walk away. Should he return to Lazarus and the others, the balance of power will never shift in their favour. He needed to be stopped.
"Sorry, Michael. But you're not getting away!" Levi boosts down towards Michael as fast as he can, readying his blades to slice up his legs. He can't get away if he doesn't have any legs.
Michael quickens his pace and leaps through the entrance. The tunnel instantly reseals itself as Levi was coming in for the kill. His blades break upon contact with the wall, forcing him to retreat up to the altar.
"Shit! He got away! Damn, traitor!"
"Captain! The ceilings starting to give away. We gotta get Eren and Historia outta here before the pillars break!" Armin warned him.
Levi looks over at the pillars Michael constructed and noticed they were beginning to crack under pressure. He then examines the rest of the cavern, trying to find the nearest way out.
Unfortunately for them, the pillars were on the brink of shattering much quicker than they thought. Michael only gave them a limited amount of time to evacuate, and he wasted it trying to capture him. It was a good thing Hange's currently unconscious. He never would've heard the end of it from her.
As the Scouts were trying to come up with a plan, Eren notices one of the bottles containing the Crystal Titan's spinal fluid was laying right next to him. Someone, most likely Kenny, must've dropped it, trying to run away with it.
He picks up the bottle and looks it over. This was the last of Michael's spinal fluid. The rest of it was crushed by the falling debris. He remembered Rod Reiss mentioning that any Titan Shifter who ingests the spinal fluid of the Crystal Titan would gain the power of hardening for themselves.
Since the plan was to have Michael plug up the holes in Wall Maria using his hardening was no longer an option, Hange turned to harnessing Eren's power to harden. Though at the time nobody knew that the power could only be obtained a certain way.
Maybe Michael's sudden return wasn't so bad after all, he thought. Because now Eren could obtain his power of hardening for himself, and use it against him, Lazarus, Reiner, Bertolt, and anyone else who was against humanity.
With his determination returned at last, Eren grabs the bottle and places it in between his teeth. He races over to the destroyed altar, right where the Rod Reiss Titan was breaking free.
With one bite, Eren drinks Michael's spinal fluid and finally triggers his Titan transformation, using the cut on his forehead Kenny inflicted on him moments after Michael left.
Upon transforming, the Attack Titan immediately began hardening, creating dozens of crystallised pillars that spread out throughout the cavern. It was like a spider spinning a web of crystals, desperately trying to keep the ceiling from caving in. His pillars came out more unstable compared to Michael's, but they appeared to be doing the job.
Levi and his squad quickly take shelter underneath Eren and waited out the cave-in.
Eventually, the Rod Reiss Titan was able to completely break out from the ground and began slowly crawling its way towards Orvud District, the northern section of Wall Sina. Its body was so hot, that all plants and animals nearby were incinerated on contact.
Erwin was in the distance of the church standing above the crystal caverns below. Just when they thought they'd been through enough with the Winged Titan's Hellfire Force, they now have a 120-meter-tall Pure Titan to worry about.
All his plans on launching a counterattack against the Warriors will have to wait. First, he must focus on saving the people of Orvud. Though he was completely unaware of the fact that his adopted son was travelling through the tunnels beneath him.
To Be Continued