Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal
Chapter 64: The Warhammer Titan
Just as Willy Tybur spoke of during his speech, he and Erwin Smith did manage to meet in person and have a deep discussion about Paradis and its people in secret. Because Lazarus and Michael were being watched constantly by Marleyan spies, he had to keep their meeting a secret from them.
The meeting took place the day after the Tyburs first arrived in Liberio days before the festival. How they met started as a strange coincidence. Willy's youngest daughter had wandered off into town without an armband which got her into some trouble with the guards posted outside the gates.
Erwin was in town that day to scout out the streets, trying to determine which buildings Eren's forces would be hiding in and where they'd be stashing their weapons. The only fighting chance they've got against the Warriors is the Thunder Spears. But they can't carry enough of them into battle from their base without an outpost. The Scout Regiment had many of them back in the old days when Pure Titans were their only enemy. He began to miss those days.
He saw the child getting assaulted by the guard, prompting him to intervene and grab his arm before he could land a punch on her. After that, one of Tybur's guards arrived on the scene and reminded the idiotic soldier of the girl's family before arresting him.
As a thank you, Erwin was invited into the Tybur family household and brought before the head of the family himself. Erwin looked around and was quite taken aback by how huge the living room was. The walls and floor were glittering like gold with a red carpet covering most of the centre of it. The furniture was just as fancy as the room itself with a soft leather couch, chair, and a hand-carved table. The curtains were also red leather and were being closed by the guards to stop passers-by from peering in and disturbing them.
"So, you are the man I owe for my daughter's wellbeing?"
"I am. You must be the beloved Willy Tybur I've heard so much about." He lightly approaches the dapper gentleman and extends his right hand to him. "I am Erwin Smith. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Willy smiles as he accepts his handshake. "Oh no, the pleasure is all mine. You've done a very good thing for my family. Isn't that right, kids?"
The children all nod and thank Erwin for bringing their sister back safe and sound. The youngest wanted to run up and hug him but was held back by their mother.
"If you've done your research on me then you should know that I always repay my debts, Mister Smith. Name your price and you shall have it. Gold. Jewels. Power. Marleyan approval. Anything you desire will be yours."
"That's very generous of you, Mister Tybur. But there is only one thing I desire from you… Would it be alright if I had a word with you in private?" He asked as he glanced over at some of the guards watching him.
Some of the people in the room weren't too keen on Willy being alone with a stranger, even if he did rescue the youngest member of their family. But the head of the family assured them that he was in no danger. Even if this man had an ulterior motive, the whole house was guarded and there was no way for him to escape should he make a run for it.
Willy guided Erwin upstairs to his private study, away from the others. The room was dimly lit, and the curtains were closed. He preferred it this way. It provided a calmer, more soothing atmosphere. It also gave them the privacy he asked of him. Willy pulled out a spare chair opposite his desk for his guest before sitting down himself.
"We're alone now. Speak your mind, my friend."
Erwin skipped the small talk and got straight to the point of him being here. He begins by telling him who he really is – or rather he used to be – which was the former commander of Paradis's Scout Regiment as well as a proud citizen.
At first, Willy was having second thoughts about being alone with him, believing he may be a devil. But those concerns went away once he mentioned the Crystal Titan being his son, and his ally being the Winged Titan. Now he was interested to hear what he had to say.
The deep, emotional discussion between the two silver-tongued blondes went on for almost an hour with Erwin making sure Willy understood every little piece of information. He wanted to make sure he got his point across about what life on Paradis was like compared to what everyone else perceives it to be. Willy can tell by looking into his eyes that he wasn't lying. Those eyes had seen so much. Perhaps too much, he thought to himself.
"You- You were being serious? You are from Paradis." Willy stated with bafflement.
"Yes. I am, and always will be, a proud citizen. Though it was my dream to see the world beyond, I still wish to return one day when this war is over. My son, the Winged Titan's host, and I created the Wings of Crystal to fight all threats to it and force the world to accept Paradis as an independent country."
"And you want my help to do that?" Willy asked as he stood up from his desk chair. "I'm afraid I cannot do that. I know I said I would grant you anything you desire for saving my daughter but funding a revolution against Marley would mean putting my whole family at risk. I won't do anything that might get them killed."
"Marley is not the enemy our movement wishes to put a stop to. At least, not our primary target." Erwin clarified. Willy turns away from the window and faces his guest again. "The real enemy is a boy named Eren Yeager."
Before asking him who Eren Yeager was, Erwin proceeded with the rest of his story. He tells him that Eren was one of the newest recruits of the Scout Regiment back when he was in command, and he possessed the power of the Attack and Founding Titans. He was the reason the Omega Unit had failed to secure the Founder. He was also humanity's greatest chance to push the Titans back and reclaim Wall Maria, whilst also uncovering the secrets behind the Titans themselves and the discovery that there were others like him hiding within their ranks.
Originally, Erwin wished to utilise Eren and Michael's Titans to finally go beyond the walls and see the world. Only to have his plans set back by Michael's sudden shift in allegiances, leading to the events of the Battle of Shiganshina. Erwin was presumed dead by the Scouts and taken back with the Warriors to Marley and his inevitable meet-up with Willy right here and now.
The head of the Tybur Family was astounded by Erwin's story and what happened on that island. He hadn't heard anything on Paradis for years. As long as he could remember, the people were just living their lives in solitude with their memories constantly being altered by the current king of the walls. But now Eren has taken the Founding Titan and revealed the secrets of the outside world to the people through what he'd learned in his father's basement.
But the real nail in the coffin was when Erwin started delving into the visions of the future Lazarus had seen. Visions of Eren starting an uprising within Paradis' military. Crossing the sea into enemy territory and launching an attack on Liberio. And worst of all, the unleashing of the Rumbling.
Now he was starting to take his story more seriously. Erwin wouldn't lie to him. He couldn't see any motive behind it. Somehow this man was able to do what no public speaker could ever dream of accomplishing. Changing his view on the Eldians of Paradis.
"… This Eren Yeager you speak of, are you certain he will become the threat to the world the Winged Titan foresaw him to be?" He asked calmly after taking some time to process everything he'd heard.
"I may not have known him long, but I know Eren well enough to know he will do everything in his power to eliminate every threat to his home. When I first met him, I asked him what his goal was… He said it was to slaughter every Titan in his path. By now everyone back home has learned that Titans aren't the true threat to them, but the rest of the world… I doubt Eren will accept how things are. I truly believe he will become what Lazarus foretold."
Erwin was convinced of this the moment he learned that Armin had died. Between him, Eren, and Mikasa, Armin was the peacekeeper. The one who always tried talking things through first and only using violence as a last resort. But now that he's dead, nothing is holding Eren back from unleashing his wrath. He would be more determined than ever to protect what little friends he cares about left and ensure his enemies' suffering.
Erwin pulls out a piece of folded-up paper, unfolds it, and places it atop Willy's desk. He thought he was receiving a letter, but what he didn't expect was a sketch of what looked like a regiment symbol. It had the same shield crest as the other three but in the centre of it were two rifles in the shape of an X. Under the butt end of the rifles were two feathered wings identical to the ones the Scouts used but spread outwards.
"What is this?" Willy asked as he examined the symbol.
"Lazarus saw those who've been following Eren wear this symbol on their backs. It's a sign of the uprising he has stirred amongst the three regiments. If his vision of these "Yeagerists", as they've called themselves, do attack Liberio during the festival, they'll be wearing this mark."
As soon as he got the gist of their upcoming situation, Willy and Erwin began planning a countermeasure against Eren and his followers. It was then that Erwin suggested putting on a stage musical production before his speech to keep the VIPs distracted whilst the Marleyan military had more time to prepare for the attack. Which he agreed to.
"… Right, so if they attack, they'll do it during my speech?"
"It's not guaranteed, but it seems like the strongest possibility."
"I see. I'll inform the general to seat his officers in a special section, grouped up near the end of the crowd."
"… Is this really what you want to do?" Erwin asked.
"We Tyburs haven't just sat around enjoying ourselves. At least this generation hasn't. We've been at work, fostering relationships with the world's ruling class. Improving people's perception of Eldians. And keeping track of the events on Paradis Island… At least, I thought we were. What you've shared with me today I will never forget. We've been careless in watching each other's backs. Before we knew it, our enemies had crossed the sea and were at our necks. I fear that we can find our throats slashed at any moment now."
"I believe the Yeagerists are receiving help from within Marley. I have my suspicions on who it may be, but I don't wish to jump to conclusions until I know for certain." Erwin explained. He hadn't told Michael and Lazarus this yet, but he believed they were smart enough to come to that same conclusion themselves. Lazarus's visions only showed him the Rumbling and Yeagerists uprising, he hadn't seen the details leading up to them.
Marley has many enemies, even within their own military. To smoke out the enemy, you must light a fire beneath them. They both know when and where Eren will attack, giving the Wings of Crystal an advantage. Their plan had a great many risks. Even if pulled off correctly they'd be risking lives. Though Willy saw sacrificing a bunch of incompetent Marleyan officers as a necessary loss. Nobody would miss a bunch of racists. But the lives of Eldian citizens will be lost as well. By now Erwin should be used to it. But watching innocents die was one of the few things in the world you never get over no matter how much you try to forget.
But he would also be amongst those who'll perish by standing on a stage out in the open. Willy was willing to die for their plan to work, but Erwin wasn't. He still had a use for the current head of the Tyburs.
"When the enemy makes their move, and they will, the whole crowd surrounding your stage will erupt in chaos. If we go through with this plan your life will be in danger. But I will take precautions to ensure your survival. My son, Michael, will act as your bodyguard during your speech. When Eren emerges, he will strike him down." Erwin concluded. He knows the Yeagerists will do whatever it takes to ensure he and his family die to secure the Warhammer Titan. Eren will need it to give himself an edge against the powers of the Winged and Crystal Titans.
"I appreciate your concern, but I won't need a bodyguard. If I don't stand on that stage, the world will not take notice. There must be officers, ambassadors, and journalists from around the globe in that audience. And crucially, the Eldian civilians who are killed, myself included, must be mourned by all." He lifts his head from staring at his feet up to eye level with Erwin. "… As victims of an unforeseen attack. If I escape while my people die, the world will not rally to our cause."
"The world will not change its views on Paradis if you were to die. When we prevent this crisis and erase Titans from the world, our people on that island will need a voice to convince the world of the part they will play in saving it. They will not listen to a man who was originally from that island, nor two Titan Shifters who have defected from Marley." Erwin explained clearly. "You are the only one the world will listen to. The Wings of Crystal need you, Willy. Paradis will need you. Your family needs you. Are you willing to let your children grow up in the new world we hope to create without you in it?"
Willy paused momentarily. He gets where he was going with this. He didn't want to die either, but he could not see any other way to rally the world against Eren and show them just how dangerous a threat he was.
"You said you would grant me whatever I desire in return for saving your daughter. You reforming Paradis in the eyes of the world is all I ask in return."
Willy exhales a slightly annoyed sigh. He figured he'd use the "You owe me" card on him. Now he had no choice but to accept Erwin's proposition. Though his story was enough to convince him that Paradis is not all as his ancestors believed it to be, he would prefer to see it for himself. Perhaps Erwin's way may not be so bad after all.
"I did say anything, didn't I? … Fine, we'll try it your way. But I still have my doubts the rest of the world will take anything I say seriously."
"They will once we've stopped the Rumbling and prevented the world from being flattened," Erwin assured him. The two of them shake hands once more, sealing the deal. "I do have one more favour to ask of you."
"What is it?" He asked.
"The Wings of Crystal movement consists of only Lazarus, Michael, and myself. We are in dire need of reinforcements. Many Marleyans and Eldians respect you and will believe anything you tell them. If it's possible, I would ask that you handpick those you trust the most to join our ranks. The Warriors alone aren't enough to stop Eren, as I have proven back in Shiganshina."
"So, you want me to recruit soldiers for your cause? I suppose I could try, though your movement won't be growing as long as you're under Marley's thumb." Willy pointed out.
"Once Magath sees for himself what Eren is capable of, he'll have no choice but to ally with us. Once that happens our numbers will grow, and with Lazarus's connection to the Warriors, we'll have eight of the ten Titans on our side."
Both of them nod in agreement that the chances of Marley joining forces with the Wings of Crystal is their best chance at defeating Eren and the Yeagerists. They are too proud of their motherland to let it be demolished by the enemy. They've proven this many years ago when they temporarily put their hatred for Eldians aside to finally put an end to the 10-year war they've had against the Britannian Empire.
The plan to eliminate Eren, prevent the Rumbling, and save the world had been established. All that remained was ensuring it all went according to said plan.
Instead of seeing his life flashing before his eyes as he was expecting, Willy saw that one interaction with Erwin moments before meeting his gruesome demise at the jaws of the Attack Titan. Time was almost at a standstill. He caught a glimpse of Michael trying to protect the people from the flying debris of the apartment building Eren exploded out of. He told Erwin he would stay alive to be the voice of Paradis. But he couldn't see any way of him surviving this. He will die here. But he will die happy knowing his family is far away from the square.
But God had decided now wasn't the time for the Devil to take him yet. As he was inches away from falling into the Attack Titan's mouth, a large crystal spike erupted out of the ground beneath Eren and stabbed him through the bottom jaw. Willy smacks into it and slides down its smooth surface to the bottom of the stage. Michael quickly constructs a slide beneath him that ends in the front row. Willy lands right into Michael's arms and straight into the hands of his guards.
"Get him away from here! I'll hold him off!"
The guards immediately obey and carry Willy away from the square. The rest of the crowd began to panic and scatter in all directions in terror. The whole square erupted into utter chaos.
Eren's fists harden and produce brass knuckles, allowing him to punch the slimmer part of the pillar near the top, breaking it off the rest of the body.
He slowly removed the broken piece of the spike and scanned the area for Willy, who was nowhere to be seen. His jaw was hanging on by a single joint, causing him to force it back into place. It would take some time for it to heal, but he didn't need his jaws for this next part. Just his own two fists.
Michael was expecting him to attack him since he was the only obstacle in his path now. But Eren didn't seem to notice – Or he did, and he was simply ignoring him – and instead made a charge for the stands where all the Marleyan military officers were seated.
He dive-bombed onto them, reducing them to crushed human remains and blood splatter. Michael was horrified by what he was witnessing. Not Eren killing the Marleyan higher-ups but seeing him trample any innocent civilians that were in his direct path.
Among the poor unfortunate souls was one of the Warrior Candidates, Zofia. Her top half had been crushed by a big chunk of debris with her legs being the only part of her still intact. And Udo was suffering a fate far worse. His whole body had been violently stomped on by the retreating crowd.
Gabi was fine, which calmed his nerves. But she is distraught over the death of her friend and the state of the other. Colt attempted to snap her out of the shock they were in. To them, the attack happened so fast that they didn't have the time to process what was going on.
"Gabi! Are they alright?!" Michael asked worriedly.
"Gabi's fine. But Udo needs medical attention! And Zofia is…"
Michael glances over at what remains of Zofia and is horrified by what he saw. Seeing her mangled body lying underneath a huge piece of the building reminded him of the tragic loss of his caretakers back in Shiganshina. Back then he was reduced to a broken mess and a deep hatred for the Titans started to build up within him. Now history was repeating itself in the eyes of his protégé. And he knows she'll start feeling the same hatred for Eren he once did towards the Omega Unit when they attacked Wall Maria.
It didn't take long for Gabi's mind to properly register Zofia's corpse beside her, widening her eyes with shock and horror. Michael tried his best to obscure her view, but it was already too late. She lets out a scream of pure terror as she watches Eren destroy her home. He pulls her into a sudden embrace, trying to calm her down, but the young candidate is completely overwhelmed with despair. She sinks her face into his chest and bawls her eyes out, mourning her friend's death whilst Michael holds her tight.
He turns around and looks back at Eren who is pummelling the remnants of the bleachers with his hardened fists, making sure he's killed every single Marleyan officer. His anger started flaring up within him. Though a part of him understood his rage and his reasonings for this, it still didn't excuse the fact that he was killing innocent people. Lazarus and his team may have done the same thing, but it was under Marley's orders. Eren was acting alone, according to Lazarus's vision.
"Colt, get the kids as far away from here as possible. Make sure Udo gets help." He lets Gabi go and hands her over to the chosen leader of the Zeta Unit.
"I'm not leaving without Falco!"
"Falco will be alright. Reiner is with him. I'm not gonna ask you again. Get yourself and the kids outta here." He sternly repeated himself.
"What are you gonna do?" He unknowingly asked.
"You need to ask? I'm gonna stop that monster!" He declared as he formed a crystal knife in his hand and wrapped his fingers around its blade.
Knowing what was about to happen, Colt picks Udo up after helping Gabi on her feet and leads them down the safest route to the hospital.
"I know why you're doing this, Eren. Had I never recovered my memories and continued to live as a Scout, maybe… I might've done the same thing. You want payback for everything Marley's taken from you. You want to take away everything Lazarus loves since that's all you can do to make him pay… I can't let you! Killing the Marleyan officers? I don't give two shits about that. But destroying the whole world? That makes you a bigger monster than all of Marley and the Warriors combined!"
With those thoughts in mind, Michael pulls the blade across his palm, cutting it and triggering his transformation into the Crystal Titan. The bright glow emanating from him drew Eren's attention and he glances round to see the Crystal Titan forming behind him.
Instead of standing around and letting him finish, Eren sprinted towards him with his fist pulled back and slammed it right into the side of the Crystal Titan's half-formed head. He knocks him right into the destroyed apartment building and continues to wail at him with a barrage of punches, not even giving him the chance to finish transforming.
Internally Michael was stunned, he never thought to do this, let alone for Eren to be the one to think of it. "He- before I even finished forming?! Clever bastard!" Michael thinks to himself angrily, unable to retaliate as Eren pummels him mercilessly.
Eren had seen him transform many times before. He knows that the bones and muscles form first before the crystal-spiked armour can take form. Attacking now while he was still an unprotected pound of flesh was his best chance of taking him out of the fight. With Lazarus gone, he was the next special threat. The last time he fought Michael he got the drop on him by attacking from below. His hardening stood no chance compared to his, and he could move fast despite his bulky appearance.
But now he's got the upper hand on him. He'll just keep punching so that his body will be more preoccupied with healing than completing the transformation.
"This won't be like last time, Michael. I know all your tricks. Don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you yet. We still need your power. Killing you now means losing the Crystal Titan to the youngest member of the Ackerman Clan. And I promised Mikasa I'd give her your power."
The half-formed Crystal Titan manages to catch Eren's fists and hold them in place long enough for him to kick him off and get back up. He then summons crystal shackles to hold Eren in place, buying him just enough time to finally finish his transformation.
But Eren broke free almost immediately and grabbed a hold of some random civilians still in the area and threw them at Michael's face. Their bodies explode on impact with his crystallised mask. Their blood gets into his eyes, blinding him. He uses this opening to harden his kneecaps and knee Michael in the gut, shattering his torso armour. But he didn't stop there.
He grabs Michael by the hair and continues to repeatedly beat his face with his free hand. Just when things couldn't get any worse, Eren did something completely unnecessary and brutal. He picks Michael up and starts spinning him around. He uses him as a wrecking ball and kills a huge number of innocent civilians who are hiding in their homes. He soon lets go and sends the Crystal Titan flying through a whole street like a battering ram, smashing everything and everyone in his way.
As he was recovering, the Crystal Titan's eyes widened with pure horror at the devastation he'd caused thanks to Eren. This was a step too far even for him. He again compared this situation to Lazarus. When he killed innocent people, he never did it intentionally or as brutally. He always regretted his past mistakes. But what Eren just did was truly monstrous. He did not give a single damn about any of the lives lost during that skirmish. It was as if he were a child demolishing an entire ant colony without acknowledging them as living beings. Killing them just for the fun of it, because he can.
This only proved to Michael that everything Lazarus foretold about him was true. If he could do something this horrible, then he'd have no doubts about The Rumbling.
As they were fighting, some members of the Scout Regiment were all hiding out in buildings waiting to make their move. Eren made it clear to them that he could handle Michael himself and he didn't require their help unless more Titan Shifters showed up. Mikasa and Jean were apprehensive about the excessive loss of innocent lives Eren was causing just to gain a one-up over Michael. But Eren didn't care. To him, this beatdown was payback for everything the Warriors did to Paradis.
Sasha was also present on the roof of the house they were camping out in. She was watching the fight go down through the scope of her sniper rifle. Seeing Michael again after four years was difficult for her. She knew the day would come when they would have to fight as enemies. And she also knew that if Eren succeeds in subduing him, the outcome will end with him being fed to Mikasa. She didn't want that. She cared about him too much to see him die.
She was one of the few OG Scouts around who still couldn't see Michael as an enemy no matter what evidence was displayed in front of her. Eren's last words to her before departing on his own echoed through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.
"If you try to protect him again, I won't guarantee your safety." Those were the last words he said to her before he left. It felt like a threat, though she was unsure. She initially doubted Eren would kill her for still caring about Michael. But after what she'd just seen, she was starting to think he was losing it.
The Crystal Titan roars in anguish as he stands back up and angrily stares down at the approaching Eren.
"You've gone too far, Eren! Now you've made it personal!"
The Crystal Titan conjures a massive sword in his hand and swings it at Eren who blocks it with his hardened arms. Michael anticipated this and summoned more spikes out of the ground, impaling Eren's body from behind, and holding him in place. He follows this up by thrusting the sword through Eren's chest.
Instead of pushing him back, Eren instead pulls the sword in deeper so that Michael is within range. And to add insult to injury, he forces the Crystal Titan's head through one of his own spikes, shoving it through so deep that it went right through.
Michael yelled in agony within his Titan's nape. His actual body was unharmed, but he could still feel the immediate pain of his head being skewered. He lets go of the sword's handle and backs away as he struggles to pull the spike out of his head. This gave Eren more than enough time to break free and remove the sword from his torso.
He was prepared to finish him off by slicing up his limbs with his own sword, only to be interrupted by another bright yellow glow building up behind him. Another Titan Shifter had just entered the field of battle.
The Attack Titan looks back and spots a new Titan body manifesting before him. Except this one was different from any other Titan Shifter he'd seen transform. This one was manifesting from the feet up. All Titans usually transform from the head and the body followed shortly after.
He didn't have the time to question it. Because standing before him was the Warhammer Titan. Like Lazarus's Winged, it was covered almost completely with hardened skin with the eyes and mouth visible through a few strips.
Amidst the chaos, Willy's sister and family maid, Lara Tybur, had wandered back to the square once she heard the people screaming and running for their lives outside the safe-house window she and the others were hiding out in. She came back to avenge her brother and destroy Eren, unaware that her brother had survived.
Upon transforming, she summons her signature weapon and swings it as hard as she can at Eren's head, knocking him down in the centre of the square. She then summoned her own crystal spike out of the ground and impaled the Attack Titan right on it.
By this point, the Crystal Titan was able to remove the spike in the side of his head, which now had a big gaping hole. The Crystal Titan started feeling woozy and fell backwards onto the ruined stage. He couldn't move his body. His Titan had become immobilised due to lacking a Titan-sized brain. There was nothing Michael could do but lay there and watch the Warhammer continue to fight him in his place.
"Shit! It hurts! Dear fuck it hurts! The spike is gone, but it still feels like someone's stabbed me in the side of the head. I can't move my body! I don't think I could conjure something right now, even if I tried..." He thought to himself in an almost drunken manner. "Where are you, Lazarus?!"
Miles away from the centre of Liberio, the Winged Titan soared gracefully across the night sky admiring the view of the city from above. Nobody can appreciate a view like this the same way he can. If only everything down on the streets was as peaceful as it was from the air, he thought to himself.
By the time Eren had begun his attack he was gliding over the docks the VIPs arrived in Liberio from. He was coming towards the end of his demonstration. All that was left was to circle the sea border, make his way back to the square and come in for a perfect landing. By then Willy should be finished with his speech. He didn't know what was said, but Michael could always fill him in on the details later.
When he reached the open water, he started to notice that something was off. There were meant to be soldiers in the watchtowers monitoring the ships going in and out of the docks as well as ensuring he stayed on course. But the docks were deserted. Not a single Marleyan soldier to be seen. Something didn't feel right about this. The Marleyans have been keeping a close eye on him ever since his defection. This demonstration would've been the perfect opportunity to go back on the deal and attack them from the sky if he wished to do so. So why wasn't security doubled? It was strange even for him.
"If there's no one here to survey my route, that can only mean one thing… Eren must've made his move by now."
Thinking that, the Winged Titan was prepared to turn around and fly back to Liberio Square as fast as he could. But he didn't get the chance to once his pointed ears twitched in response to picking up the distress call of someone in need of his assistance. His enhanced eyesight detected a lone wooden rowboat just sitting in the middle of the sea far outside of the borders.
The Winged Titan continued on its flight path and headed towards the boat. He didn't have time to question why a single boat was out there to begin with. His first instinct was to see if there was anything he could do to help.
As he got closer, he noticed the boat was occupied by a single inhabitant. It was a cloaked figure with his hood up, hiding his face from his birds-eye view. He appeared cold and afraid from his perspective the way he hid his arms under his cloak. But in actuality, he was concealing something from him.
"He's in range! Do it now!" He shouted into a handheld radio he pulled out from underneath his cloak.
Before Lazarus could react, a burning orange light appeared above him. He slowed his pace to get a good look at what it was and was shocked to see that it was a fast-approaching, giant Thunder Spear.
He instinctively dodges its trajectory expecting it to strike him in the nape and explode like last time. But instead, the Thunder Spear broke itself apart and split itself into a dozen smaller missiles all connected to what appeared to be a giant, Titan-sized net.
The Winged Titan breathed fire at it, but the net appeared to be made of fireproof steel and ended up wrapping itself around him, closing his wings around his body. The miniature Thunder Spears kept on flying downwards, dragging its captured prey into the depths of the ocean. Lazarus tries to break free using his super strength, but the mystery man on the boat removes his cloak and reveals himself to be a Scout Regiment soldier. Except for the symbol on his back which was the same one Erwin had shown a drawing of to Willy. He was a member of the Yeagerist group he foresaw.
The Yeagerist came equipped with eight Thunder Spears and fired off one of them into the water and towards the drowning Winged Titan. The Thunder Spear embeds itself into the left side of his torso before exploding, causing Lazarus to let loose a gurgled scream that was muffled by the seawater. The net continued to drag him down until he hit the very bottom. The Thunder Spears anchor themselves into the sea bottom, keeping him pinned down.
The net was not only fire resistant but extremely heavy for him, especially now with the weight of an entire ocean piling on top of it. The Winged Titan could barely move. Its whole body was submerged and weighed down by the weighted netting. His fire breath was useless underwater, and he couldn't utilise his hardening whilst his arms were bound by his wings. He was, for the first time in his life as a Titan Shifter, completely incapacitated.
"The Winged Titan has been apprehended. He won't be getting in our way this time." The Yeagerist in the boat proudly announced into his radio to whoever launched that netting.
High in the sky concealed within a thick layer of clouds, an airship was hovering high above the waves directly above the boat. Behind the steering wheel was a dark-skinned man with a shaved head.
Standing beside him was Zoe Hange decked out in a new black uniform equipped with a new version of the firearm ODM gear. She wore an eyepatch over her left eye after she lost it in the Colossal Titan's explosion in Shiganshina. She reaches past her new ally and picks up the receiver.
"Excellent work. Keep hammering him with Thunder Spears to ensure he stays under. That net may be strong, but I doubt it'll hold him forever. If he gets involved it's all over. We'll be sure to pick you up before the big boom." She responded/reassured him.
"You really think this'll work?" The black man asked.
"I'm positive, Onyankopon. We've run the data through all possibilities twice. This has to work."
Onyankopon sighs with a hint of guilt in his voice, as if whatever is about to happen he feels is going too far. "I get how this helps deal with The Winged Titan. But this seems like overkill, which is very strange for me to point out given what the Winged Titan and his Warrior pals did to my homeland of Courland… I don't know. I guess I'm just scared. We've been planning this attack for years. I still find it hard to believe it's actually happening."
"Well believe it, my friend." Another voice spoke up from behind the two of them. "Think about all the evils Marley and the Warriors have brought to all of us. I made it clear to everyone involved that we don't have the luxury to have second thoughts. You better not chicken out on me now."
Hange turns around and confronts the mysterious figure accusing Onyankopon of being hesitant. "Give him a break. He's just upset that he has to be the one to press the button."
"Really? You didn't seem to have a problem with it when I told you it was so you could avenge your homeland. What changed?"
Onyankopon scrunches up his face with uncertainty. He won't deny that he did volunteer for this role in the invasion. But there was a huge difference between wanting something and doing it. Though he was obscured by shadow, he could feel his supervisor's eyes piercing his soul through his back. He's come this far. No point backing out now.
"Nothing's changed! I can do this!"
"Excellent. Fortunately for you, now is not the time to make our move. We still need to wait for the signal from Yelena, Eren, and his division. We still need to acquire the Crystal and Warhammer Titans to gain an advantage over Marley."
Back in the square, things were starting to look bad for Eren. He was now at the mercy of the Warhammer Titan's mighty weapon. General Magath and the surviving officers were watching the battle from the safety of a far-off rooftop. The Crystal Titan may be down for now, but Michael's involvement gave Lara Tybur time to sneak up on Eren and catch him with his guard down.
Various officers were shouting in the General's ear, reminding him of the Warrior's absence and the fear of the Winged Titan not returning. But instead of acknowledging their worries, he aims a rifle at the Attack Titan's head and fires off a single bullet. It was a harmless plink, but the first shot had now been fired. Marley's counterattack has begun.
He anticipated the attack, but he never realised Eren himself would make such a grand entrance. Nor did he think Willy would still be alive. He was told he planned on dying to help rally the world against Eren, only to be saved at the last second by Michael. Once again, he has gone against his orders. Though Willy's survival may provide him and his militia an opportunity to strike back.
"That looks to be the usurper of Founding Titan down there. The Attack Titan… We're up against Eren Yeager himself." Those words sparked little mutters of fear from his fellow officers. "Just means he's saved us a trip to the island. Get into position, men! Prepare for battle!"
"Understood sir!" They all shouted in unison.
The Warhammer Titan prepares its signature weapon for another attack and lets out its own roar as it swings it towards Eren for a devastating strike.
Eren uses his hardened fists to shatter the base of the pillar he was impaled on and manages to break away moments before the hammer impacts it. Though the top part was still embedded in his chest.
The Warhammer covers the whole square in crystal spikes which stab through the soles of Eren's feet, holding him in place for the many cannons stationed around the square to bombard him with cannonballs.
The Attack Titan was unsuccessful in protecting himself from all of them and was forced into a position to stand there and take it whilst protecting his nape with his hardened hands.
Michael was still watching the fight through his Titan's eyes. It was all he could do as his body was still healing from the brutal beatdown he received from Eren. For now, it looked like the Warhammer Titan was winning. It had taken out both of Eren's arms with a downward swing, leaving him defenceless. The Marleyans were hoping the Warhammer would eat him and obtain the Founder. But instead, it was just standing there, readying its hammer for one final strike.
Eren soon emerges from the nape and faces down the Warhammer Titan without a shred of fear in his eyes. The Warhammer raises its hammer high and speaks to her would-be murderer, asking if he wishes to share his final words.
"It's time, Mikasa."
Suddenly, out of the smoke kicked up from the fight, Mikasa Ackerman swoops in on the new ODM gear equipped with four Thunder Spears on each arm and unloads all of them into the Warhammer's nape.
Unlike the prototypes used in the Battle of Shiganshina, these new ones had longer-ranged wire pins and twice the explosive power as their predecessors. The Warhammer Titan was down.
Michael was not surprised she'd be the first one on the scene. Only she put herself on the front lines for him when no one else would. He also wondered if she'd be willing to watch the world burn for him. From the times he spent with her as a Scout, he learned there were no blurred lines when it came to winning this monster's affection.
And she was not alone. A dozen more Scouts appear out of nowhere behind the building Magath and his soldiers were on. They all unleash their new Thunder Spears at the cannons, blowing them and those manning them into oblivion. Followed by gunning down any survivors with bullets.
Mikasa quickly joins Eren atop his Titan's shoulders and looks over the devastation he caused during his fight with Michael who was still paralysed on the ground.
"Glad to see that all of you made it."
"Please, Eren, come home." Mikasa addressed him in a concerned manner. "… Eren, you understand what you've done, don't you? You have killed so many civilians. Innocent people. Kids… There's no taking this back."
"So what?" He bluntly uttered without taking his eyes off the downed Warhammer and Crystal Titans. "They didn't give a shit about the innocent lives they've taken when they attacked Shiganshina. Michael didn't give a shit when he betrayed us… Lazarus didn't give a shit when he killed Armin."
"But this isn't-
Eren quickly turns his head and glares at Mikasa, silencing whatever complaints or excuses she is about to voice.
"As long as they live, we will never be free. They will all pay for what they've done. Any civilians who get in my way will be trampled… All these deaths are on Lazarus, not me."
It was at this moment that Mikasa was starting to worry about Eren. Back on Paradis, they both made a vow to avenge Armin and their people for everything Marley and the Warriors have done. But she never dreamed Eren would go this far. In trying to get revenge on Lazarus, he ended up walking a mile in his shoes.
"It's not over, Mikasa."
The Warhammer Titan was back on its feet acting like those explosions did nothing to harm it. Mikasa questioned how the person controlling it could still be alive. Even if she were immortal like Lazarus, it would've taken a while for her actual body to grow back from whatever's left.
And just when it couldn't get any worse, the Crystal Titan had healed enough to start moving again, twitching as its nerves and brain regenerated enough to struggle to its feet. Now both masters of hardening were back in the game.
"That's impossible. I blew up the nape of the neck!"
"And I stabbed Michael through the head with a spike. But they're both still alive." Eren finished.
The Warhammer conjures a crystal crossbow in its right hand and fires an arrow immediately at Eren. But he was saved at the last second by Mikasa. Michael soon manages to get back up on his feet as the hole on the side of his head shrinks until it disappears completely.
The Crystal Titan forms an extra thick layer of crystals over its nape to protect him from the Thunder Spears. It was the best he could do to keep himself safe for a while. He's unsure what Eren's followers plan on doing to him, but he's certain their secondary objective is still to capture him so they can feed him to Mikasa. Killing him would only result in the power transferring to Gabi, assuming the enemy has no idea of his, Lazarus, and Erwin's secret plan.
With that in mind, he began to wonder where Erwin was in all this. Last he heard he said he was watching over their base of operations, Lucia's shop. He wondered how he must be reacting to seeing his former soldiers attacking the city and killing civilians.
Once he was at a safe distance, Eren examines the Warhammer Titan. Like the Crystal, it can build weapons out of hardening. But only weapons. It has limits compared to its original counterpart. And unlike Michael, this Titan wasn't bound to the Ackerman Clan. If he can eat it, he'll be able to take on Michael and Lazarus much easier.
"Mikasa, keep it occupied for me. If this works, I'll be able to eat the Warhammer and use its power to take Michael out of the fight for good. Once he's down for the count we'll capture him and feed him to you." He turns back towards her. "You do still want the Crystal Titan's power, don't you?"
Her eyes widen as a small gasp escapes her lips. By now she and the others were aware of the Curse of Joseph thanks to the knowledge given to them by their mysterious new allies. Knowing the fate that will bestow itself on her if she goes through with this, Mikasa starts to feel unsure if she should, even if it is to help Eren.
Eren notices the look of hesitation in her eye and narrows his gaze at her, telling her to get her act together and do her part. That look alone shocked her back into her usual deadpanned, unquestionable self.
After Magath manages to escape the surprise attack from the Scouts, he calls in for reinforcements to aid them in Liberio. He called in the entire division in the mountains and navel fleet to assist them in their hour of need. He orders for the entire Internment Zone to be sealed off, preventing any of the Island Devils from escaping. Especially Eren.
Colt and Gabi reach the hospital but are too late to save Udo. The entire hospital was full of severely injured patients. Not just the rooms. The lobby, the hallways, and even the front and back gardens were filled with them. Even if there was room it wouldn't do them any good. Udo was dead long before they reached the front door.
Colt gently lies him down on a white blanket in the grass, removes his broken glasses, and closes his eyes with his palm. Until Falco is found safe and sound, he and Gabi are all that remains of the Zeta Warrior Unit.
"Gabi, you should go find your family. I'm not sure if anywhere is safe but get as far away from the plaza as you can. I just… need to track down Falco."
"I'm going too."
Slightly shocked by her response, Colt turns to Gabi who is completely consumed with rage over the deaths of her friends. Before she was wallowing with despair and desperate to save Udo. But now her sadness was replaced by anger.
"Because I don't get why Udo and Zofia… needed to die!"
She holds out her left hand and channels all her concentration on the palm. She grunts with strain as she stares intensely at her hand.
"What are you doing?"
"Don't distract me!" She blurted out without taking her eyes off her hand. "If I concentrate very hard, I might be able to construct a weapon out of crystal."
"What? What makes you think you can do that?" Colt asked in a manner mixed with confusion and worry.
"Because Lazarus gave me some of the Crystal Titan's powers. If I can at least construct a knife with it, I can sneak up behind Eren and slit his throat!"
Colt's eyes widened with shock. Did he hear right? Gabi has pieces of the Crystal Titan inside her. How is that possible? It shouldn't be considering she has no Ackerman blood. But given how nothing was happening, he was starting to see what this was. Gabi has succumbed to optimistic delusion. Her mind is making up false hopes of her having the power to kill Eren and avenge her friends out of guilt that she managed to survive whilst they didn't.
He wasn't sure how he should address her now. Straight up telling her she's delusional would spark more rage out of her. And pretending to go along with it will only boost her ego to the point she'll get herself killed believing she is invulnerable.
As he thought about how he should calm her down, the frustrated Gabi grunted in anguish and gave up trying to construct her own weapon. Now she was sprinting away from him and heading back towards the plaza they'd just come from.
"Gabi, no! It's not safe!"
She was well out of earshot before Colt's words could reach her. Gabi was determined to play her part in the Wings of Crystal and prove herself worthy of the Crystal Titan by helping Michael kill Eren. The rush of avenging her friends was clouding her ability to think things through. She didn't even acknowledge the warnings given to her by the two Marleyan guards who were friendly towards her and the others a few days ago.
One of the guards ordered her to turn back and find her family, only to be silenced by the line of trucks exploding via a Scout's Thunder Spears. The two guards were then sniped from a distance by Sasha, who immediately took off to join her comrades approaching the square. But not before setting up a lamp on the edge of the roof.
Gabi's rage took over once more as she grabbed the guard's discarded rifle and charged through the checkpoint and back into the warzone.
Sasha and Connie rejoin Jean, Floch, and the others on a rooftop near the plaza. This was around the time the Crystal and Warhammer Titans had just gotten back up and were prepared to take Eren down together.
"We've stalled their reinforcements," Connie spoke for both of them.
"What about the lights?" Jean asked.
"All of them are in place now," Sasha responded before Connie had the chance to. "Are things going alright?"
"For now. But that might change now that Michael's recovered." Jean points them in the direction of the Crystal and Warhammer Titans attacking.
Sasha looks away with regret and doubt. Regret that Michael needed to be stopped by her and the others, and doubts whether she can get him to switch sides again. The last time she tried that he told her he couldn't. Asking him again wouldn't change anything. His mind had been made up.
"Michael, I don't wanna see you get killed. But I can't let you get in our way either… Eren won't let me sit on the fence this time. I have to play my part in this invasion, whether I want to or not."
The Warhammer and Crystal Titans each construct a sword of hardening and attack their aggressors. Lara was after Mikasa while Michael was focused on reaching Eren. He was sitting on one of the spotlight towers completely defenceless. He had no ODM gear or weapons of any kind. Grabbing him will be a snap. And yet he decided not to go charging in blindly. He must have some kind of trick up his sleeve. He was too smart to fall for such an obvious trap.
Instead, the Crystal Titan stood its ground and raised its guard, expecting any more Thunder Spear-wielding Scouts to close in on him and attack his nape. By standing in the centre of the plaza, he had a good distance of flat land between them and him. He'll also be able to hear them coming once he focuses his hearing. His eyes were still fixed on Eren, waiting for him to make his move. And if anyone were to sneak up on him he could count on Lara Tybur to watch his back until Lazarus and the others get here.
When it looked like attacking the Warhammer wasn't accomplishing much, Mikasa switched targets and went after the Crystal instead. She fires all of her Thunder Spears into his nape and triggers the explosion. But something was off. Michael didn't react. And his nape was only partially damaged. The extra layer of crystal seemed to have kept him safe. But to ensure it stays that way, a whole new layer of armour replaces the pieces Mikasa had blown away.
She, Eren, and the others soon realised why he hadn't attacked yet. He was waiting for them to make the first move so he could counterattack. A wise decision from a tactical standpoint. Especially with the Warhammer acting as its protector.
"Huh? I was expecting you to come at me the moment you got back up. I should've known you'd be too smart for that, Michael. After that beatdown I gave you, you've decided to go on the defensive while the Warhammer fights for you." He glances over at the Warhammer which was currently laying on its side after taking a Thunder Spear to the knee.
"This strategy won't help you for long. I've finally figured out how this Titan works. I knew that something was off. There was something abnormal about the way the Warhammer materialised." He briefly thinks back to when he first saw the Warhammer Titan manifest behind him. "It was the first time I'd seen a Titan form from the feet up."
He inevitably spots what appears to be a long fleshy cable attached to the back of her left foot. The cable stretched across the ground towards the remnants of the stage and went underneath it. Eren concluded that was where the Warhammer's host was hiding. And Michael just so happens to be standing in front of it. Now it all made sense. The Warhammer was defending Michael. And in turn, he was defending Lara.
Because of this, Eren can't just jump down and transform again. Michael would pummel his Titan mid-transformation like he did to him earlier or subdue him before he could bite into his hand. He'd have to get around him first.
"You're not getting past me, Eren! I know you know where Lara's body is. The moment you move an inch from that building, you're mine!" Michael thought to himself even though Eren wasn't able to hear his thoughts.
"MICHAEL!"
The Crystal Titan's ear twitched. He knows that voice all too well. It was a voice he hadn't heard in four years. The most beautiful voice he'd ever known. A voice that belonged to the one friend he regretted hurting the most out of everyone else in the 104th. His beloved Sasha Braus.
She was standing before him on the remains of the stage just a few feet behind him. Michael desperately wanted to turn around and look at her. To see how much she's changed in the last few years. But he can't. This was the same tactic she used on him before in Shiganshina. Back then she was able to distract him long enough for the Scouts to take him out. He won't make that same mistake again. Saving the world from Eren's fate must come before all else… even her.
"Please, Michael. Look at me!" She places both hands next to her mouth to amplify her shouting. But the Crystal Titan still didn't move. He refused to let Eren out of his sight.
"I know nothing I say will ever make you give up. You've made that abundantly clear back home! I just wanted to tell you something I haven't gotten the chance to tell you before you betrayed us… Michael, we all know about how your Titan works. We know about its curse and that you weren't you when we first met. I know the Michael I knew was nothing more than a persona. A mask you've been hiding behind because you've forgotten who you really are… The moment you remembered was the moment you betrayed us, wasn't it?" She desperately asked him.
Without looking away, the Crystal Titan responded with a single nod and a grunt, confirming that whatever Sasha was told about him was true. Sasha's head drops in defeat. She didn't wanna believe it. She could never accept the fact that the boy she fell in love with was nothing more than an illusion of who he truly was. The Scout's new allies were telling the truth. That truth made it easier for the others to decide whether they should kill him or not. To them, the Michael Smith they knew. The son of Commander Erwin. Their friend and most determined soldier who vowed to destroy the Winged Titan, is dead. There was only Michael Suurvalta. An enemy of Paradis.
But Sasha refused to accept that. There was no way a person's personality and views of the world could change so much from some old memories. She still believes pieces of the old Michael still reside within him. But there was only one way to prove it.
"This isn't how I wanted to do this, but I don't have a choice…" She takes a really deep breath and closes her eyes before finally revealing her true feelings for him. "…MICHAEL, I LOVE YOU!"
Her out of nowhere confession echoed all over the plaza, sparking a reaction out of everyone in the area on both sides. Jean, Connie, and Mikasa were all shocked by this. Mikasa almost lost her focus after hearing that, but not enough to get her killed by the Warhammer. Eren wasn't at all affected by it. He didn't care. Though he couldn't understand why Sasha, one of his oldest friends, would ever love someone like Michael. It felt like she was forgiving him for all the things he'd done. If anything, it angered him. No one should ever love a monster unless they were a monster themselves like Annie and Lazarus. That same logic applied to himself as well. He will do things that make him unworthy of love and happiness. Things that make Lazarus's actions feel more like the equivalent of taking candy from a baby.
"I was in denial because my father kept teasing me about it. I kept telling myself we were just friends. But the truth is I've always liked you from the moment we were put on the same team together in the 104th. Ever since I saw you hunt that boar I've started seeing you in a new light. Even when you first became the Crystal Titan I've liked you. And I still like you even now." Tears started to trickle down her face as she looked up at the Crystal Titan's form. She was tired of talking to the back of his head.
"So can you please turn around so I can tell you to your face?"
The Crystal Titan directs its eyes away from Eren and down at the ground. He had always dreamed of the day he'd hear those words from her. But here? Why tell him here of all places? They're in the middle of a battle. Now was hardly the time for a confession. But then again, she always had a way of making situations awkward even if it was unintentional.
Michael slowly turns his head to the right and glances down at Sasha. In that moment the focus on stopping Eren had faded away, and his emotions overtook him. He wanted to look Sasha in the eye and accept her feelings for him. But instead, he was staring at the pointed ends of two Thunder Spears.
"I'm sorry." She uttered as she attempted to hold back her tears. She fires off two Thunder Spears right into the Crystal Titan's eyes.
The Crystal Titan roars in agony and stumbles away from the stage. Both its hands were covering its face trying to stop the pain but to no avail. Now was Eren's chance to get after Lara.
With his eyes gone, Michael could only hear the sounds of the Attack Titan forming beside him once more followed by another roar. Michael stops flailing about and stomps his right foot down hard, causing multiple pillars to erupt out of the ground in the direction of Eren's location.
Suddenly, he felt something sharp cut into the back of his knees where his exposed muscle was. The pillars only managed to manifest halfway due to this interruption, allowing Eren to push past him, shove his right fist into the ground, and pull out a crystal cocoon that contained Lara's body.
This one looked different compared to the one Annie was imprisoned in. It was rounder and more smoothed over and the bottom was where the end of the cable connected. Eren rips off the attachment, causing the Warhammer Titan to collapse and dissolve.
The Crystal Titan attempted to attack him using his own handmade crossbow, only to end up getting the joints in his arms cut to ribbons by whatever severed the joints in his knees. It was happening so fast and too precise for an ordinary soldier to pull off. And the way he was being carved up was familiar to him.
"Levi. Shit, I should've figured he'd be close by. I- I can't move my arms and legs! At this rate, he'll take me down the same way he did Zeke!"
To save himself, the Crystal Titan falls backwards, burying the back of his neck in the ground to prevent him from being cut out of the nape. He was right. The one responsible for severing the nerves in his limbs was none other than Levi Ackerman. Though his uniform was a little different, he still wore the Scouts' green cloak and carried the standard ODM gear. He preferred it this way. There's no skill in firing a bullet.
Levi lands on top of the Crystal Titan's head and looks into its burned-out sockets. "Long time no see, Four Eyes Junior." He gazes into his reflection in the Crystal's mask and fixes up his hair before continuing. "This feels nostalgic. This is almost exactly how our last meeting went down. With your Titan taken down by my hand and you at my mercy. That quadruped Titan isn't around to save you this time. And don't depend on Lazarus to come rescue you. Hange and the others have already taken care of him."
The Crystal Titan reacted slightly to Levi's threat. Levi jumped off of his forehead and landed to the side of him, right next to his left ear.
"He should be drowning in the sea by now. We know it won't kill him. But at least he'll be out of the way for a good long while." He emotionlessly stated right in his ear. He then leans in closer and lowers his volume down to a whisper. "As for you. All you can do is lie there and listen to the sounds of your comrades screaming. As soon as Eren eats the Warhammer, he'll cut you out of your Titan and immobilise you… Honestly, you and Lazarus deserve worse for killing Erwin and robbing us of the chance to bring him back!"
As he says that, Levi thinks back to the time when he was ready to inject Erwin with the Titan serum, only to change his mind and waste it on Armin. He thought he deserved to rest in peace for carrying the entire Survey Corps so far. It was thanks to his sacrifice that they finally learned the truth. But they could've had more than that had they realised the Winged Titan's power could not be stolen. Truth is, Levi blamed himself for what happened more than he did the two Wings of Crystal founders.
Eren stared at the crystal dome Lara was in and was ready to bite into it and devour her. Only to be jumped from behind by Galliard's Jaw Titan. He knocks the crystal out of his hands and sinks his sharp teeth into his nape.
"This is the moment I've been waiting for! I'm taking the Founder right now!"
Levi instantly drops whatever he is about to do with Michael and dashes towards Galliard. He holds his blades in a reverse hand grip and spins himself around as he slashes one of the joints holding his jaw.
"What?! Why can't I bite?!" His Titan eyes spot Levi coming in for another attack. Galliard soon realises who his attacker was. It was the same soldier Zeke had warned his unit about. The one who took down his Beast Titan with minimal effort. "Wait, could that be him? Is that… Ackerman?!"
He didn't have time to confirm it, as the Attack Titan backed itself into a building, squashing him. He then grabs him by the hair and pulls his hardened fist back, ready to punch. But the Jaw Titan slashes at his arm, forcing him to let go.
He needed to fall back. Eren had just taken out the Crystal and Warhammer Titans. Challenging him alone is a death sentence. The responsible thing to do was to fall back and wait for any of his Warrior comrades to back him up. But a Thunder Spear went off just as he was about to grab onto the ledge above him, sending him plummeting back down to earth. The Scouts mobilise around him and Michael and prepare to attack them directly. Michael manages to regenerate one of his eyes by focusing all his healing energy on it, the same way Annie did to take out the old Levi Squad. He knows he's been beaten. Even if he could heal faster and get back up, he could never bring himself to kill his former friends. They all knew this too, which was what gave them this advantage. When it comes to them, he will always hold back.
Galliard was confused as to why so many Paradis Eldians were challenging him and Michael without fear. They were powerful Titans, yet they managed to turn the tides of this battle in their favour.
"Are we really gonna lose to a bunch of humans buzzing around us like flies?! No, they're not humans… they're devils!"
To Be Continued