An experimental fanfic about the Great Titan War exploring an idea of what would happen if a shifter perishes and a newborn Eldian inherits a titan, all characters are OC, I hope they will prove interesting enough to read about!
Takes place in the "Survivors of Hell" Timeline, but has no direct links.
...
"Ever since the Fritz dynasty demonstrated its inability to govern and maintain peace amidst its own subordinates, the King's sovereignty shall no longer be recognized by the Lord of the House."
From the "Declaration of House Fern"
…
"Open fire!"
Those words marked an array of gunshots piercing the air, a momentary existence as an impenetrable wall; countless bullets were about to find their targets. It was a common sight for Aidni plains to be drenched in blood; that's why so many called them crimson. There were bodies buried beneath the grass, soldiers of two great houses that dedicated their hearts to their masters.
After today, there will be twice as many.
Leon Fern expected to arrive on the battlefield before the bloodshed started, but he underestimated the enemy's dedication. The two armies formed lines and grouped at different sides, continuing to shoot each other from their muskets, trying to toss grenades at one another. Sometimes, there would be saboteurs or brave fools who would try to distract the enemy and leave their fortifications, but most remained behind. They knew that even if they bypassed the soldiers, they would meet a demise as painful as it is inevitable at the hands of something far worse. Leon's first thoughts as he saw the chaos were of his brother, but he quickly forced those aside. His duty was to all of his people.
By the time Leon joined his troops, he led his horse towards the man in a golden coat and with mustache on his face, his eyes maintained confidence, but Leon could see that he hid some worry behind them. Once he saw Leon, however, the man rejoiced.
"Lord Fern, thank the elders! You're just in time; our men need a morale boost…How did your operation go?"
"As planned. I eliminated four of the enemy's outposts, now the enemy is stranded here." The warrior said with confidence as he looked at the fortification in front of them. The soldiers continued to fight without any signs of retreating.
"That you have, my lord, and those bastards have nowhere to run. It's only a matter of time before we root them out."
"Seems like they don't intend to march back. Any plans to change that, general Cressen?"
"What else is there to do? Lysanders have gotten desperate. They're in our territory, and their resources are limited. The more they stay, the more men they lose. The situation is in our favor."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Leon shook his head and spoke with a glint of unease. "I heard scout reports that say Otto Lysander himself was spotted behind the enemy lines."
"Yes, I heard that, too…To be honest, I have a hard time believing he'd come to this battlefield."
"Do you distrust our scouts?"
"No, my lord, but I have to remain skeptical of everything that is going on."
"Otto is their greatest weapon; he must be the only reason they are still pushing on. He's a cunning man, and with the power he possesses…"
"Hah, you mean the bitch Titan?" Cressen chuckled, much to Leon's annoyance. He was a skilled general, yet sometimes fell to his pride and underestimated the enemy. "It's no match for you, I have no doubt."
"Agile Titan, you'd do well not to demean our opponents when they're at our throats," Leon said. It was common to hear those in the house of Fern mock the Lysander's Titan for its universally feminine appearance, even on male inheritors, but this only led to people forgetting its true features. Incredible speed, agility, resilience, and extra abilities like a scream that can summon pure titans to its side. It was a dangerous opponent, and Otto himself couldn't be underestimated, either. "That said…" A smile crept on his face. "If he did not expect me to arrive at the scene so quickly, perhaps Otto hopes for an easy victory. I can perform a surprise attack…"
"And claim his Titan for the House!"
"Correct," Leon said, focusing on the idea. This could be an opportunity of a lifetime to finally deal a devastating blow to Lysanders and claim the Agile Titan, making Ferns the first family in history to possess two titans. "General, I have to ask you for a diversion…"
Before he could finish, the lord heard a loud voice.
"Leon!" He turned around and saw a young man with fair skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair, his brother might have been eleven years younger, but he already looked like Leon. "It's really you…" He took a deep breath with fear emerging in his eyes.
"Killian, what's wrong?" Leon asked, looking his brother in the eyes, which made the young man go at ease. He was eager to go to war to prove himself to his family, but the war took his toil.
"Look… They're bringing in the pure titans!"
He pointed at the opposing camp; the soldiers were bringing large cages, each one of them housing a pure titan. Giant, malformed, ravenous creature, the missing link between human and a shifter, the ones who have the curse but not the power. Abhorrent creatures, yet sometimes useful in war. They were chaotic and, if unleashed, would attempt to eat everyone in their way.
"They can't use them without a Titan scream…" Leon noted. "Otto is there; now we can be certain."
"You mean the Agile Titan?" Killian said with worry. "That means…Wait, why didn't he attack us yet?"
"He is probably waiting for our army to grow weakened, only to strike after a brief respite and finish the job. That's what this craven would do." Leon's voice brimmed with hatred; he always dreamed of bringing Otto down after the countless soldiers he killed, and today could be that day. "We can't wait for them to get many pure titans here."
"Then what are your orders, my lord?" Cressen asked.
"As I said, I need a diversion from your soldiers. Ten minutes, that's all I need. I'll try to lure Otto out and then bring an end to him." Leon declared, making his brother reflexively shiver.
"But that's suicide! You'll have to face the Agile Titans and all of their soldiers; it's too dangerous."
"I've been through worse," Leon reassured him. "Besides, if I take Otto's power, this will put an end to our long war…And House Fern will stand victorious."
"But what if…"
"Killian!" Leon said in a loud voice, making his brother regain his self-control. "We are at war. Nothing is certain here, at least except certain death if we don't try anything. We've fought for decades, and it's time we make a decisive move. Don't you realize what will happen otherwise? Our family will grow weak from the losses, so the likes of Haron Thorson will conquer us. Or worse yet, we fall to Lysanders… I'm not going to allow this to happen. Today, I will claim the Agile Titan for our family."
"I…"
"Keep your chin high, brother." Leon smiled and put his hand on Killian's shoulder. "One day, it will be you who leads the charge with the power of the Armored."
"I…I just want to help you somehow. I don't want you to fight alone."
"In that case, aim for the pure titans when they release those pests. I'd hate to have them distract me from Otto."
"Alright…Good luck, brother."
"Good luck."
It was time to bring the enemy down.
…
Houses Fern and Lysander have always been at odds.
Even before the war, when both served at Fritz's court, they attempted to undermine each other and get ahead, but when eight families seceded from the Eldian Empire, their feud became that of bloodshed. They fought for years, mauling countless soldiers and burning villages, all in an attempt to claim each other's Titan powers. In time, this animosity grew to the point where it was clear that only one of them could remain standing, and the mere thought of losing the Armored Titan to Lysanders made Leon sick.
Cressen knew how to create a diversion. It would take some of his grenades and elite troopers to make Lysander soldiers switch their attention toward them. If Leon was lucky, the enemy still didn't know about his presence. The Armored Titan was always a powerful tool, but it was up to the inheritor to use their Titan to its fullest. Leon trained to become the next Armored; he could control the Titan as seamlessly as his own body, and all of this has been for this moment. Leon moved across the front line, hiding and scouring for Otto.
It wouldn't be like him staying in the enemy camp; others just impede him. He was probably outside, ready to leap into battle at any moment. Leon remembered what his mentor told him about fighting the Agile Titan. The enemy is far more resilient than it looks; raw power wouldn't be enough to defeat it. It would try to outsmart you, looking for any possible weak spot and mercilessly striking it. To defeat it, one had to adapt and beat the Agile at its own game.
As Leon was consumed by his thoughts, he heard a sound from behind him. A signal rocket behind him, spreading crimson smoke above the ground. It didn't take long to notice the one who fired it, a lone soldier in dark camouflage hiding in the nearby bushes. Damn it, he lost his secrecy!
Leon charged towards the soldier and pierced his heart with a blade, not giving him a single chance to resist, but this was the least of his problems. Moments after the signal, Leon saw a bright explosion on the field beside him, unveiling a smoke cloud with a slim silhouette standing within. A tall creature with crimson flesh, a strong jaw, wild eyes, short black hair, and muscles that could break anything.
Otto Lysander, the Agile Titan.
He looked at Fern, finally realizing where his enemy was. Leon watched the Titan charge towards him and reach out with its long hand, likely hoping to seize the opportunity and eat him before he could transform. Of course, Leon wouldn't allow such an opportunity. He used his sword to cut his hand, focusing all of his determination on destroying his enemy, and finally, Leon transformed. A powerful shockwave slowed the Agile Titan down, and the Armored Titan finally arose. A giant covered in golden armor with crimson spots emerging on his chest. His face was entirely covered by a hardened mask with a dark cross marking it. The most resilient of all Titans, his defenses were impenetrable, and Leon felt at home within the Armored shell.
"This is the end for you!"
Leon shouted, he knew that Otto wouldn't hear him, but his anticipation was too strong to pass up the opportunity. The two titans clashed, Leon knew that Otto would attempt to secure his opportunity for a cowardly strike and couldn't allow him to do this. Leon uses the overwhelming power of the Armored Titan to grab Otto's hands and pull them out. With any luck, he'll rip them apart and rid the Agile Titan of a powerful tool.
Of course, Otto was quick to retaliate. He hit one of the crimson spots with his leg, causing a surge of pain to pulverize Leon's body. The small openings in his armor allowed him to be more agile than some other Armored inheritors, but they made him vulnerable. This strike weakened Leon's grip, allowing Otto to free one of his hands and reach for the Armored's nape, but Leon didn't allow him to get so close. He pulled the Agile Titan by his hand, bashing him into a nearby patch of land, disorienting the enemy for a moment.
Leon raised his leg, aiming to stomp Otto and break his Titan form; he wouldn't be able to transform again, not so quickly. He managed to land one precise blow, but before Leon could finish the job, Otto jumped up and pushed the Armored back with both of his legs. This gave the Agile Titan an opportunity to stand up, but instead of attacking directly, Otto unleashed a piercing scream. This made Leon look around and realize that the Lysander soldiers released the pure Titans from their cages. This was their plan all along…To summon those beasts and have them attack.
As far as Leon knew, the pure Titans would try to attack the Agile Titan first, but if he stayed far away…Soon, his suspicions were proven. Otto jumped aside, getting close to the camp, which left the Armored as the target for a dozen pure titans moving towards him.
Leon had no choice but to focus on his primary targets, although he tried to keep up his guard in case Otto decided to strike. Two pure titans jumped Leon simultaneously, each taking one of his arms. They attempted to chew on them, but Leon's armor was impenetrable. He was quick to crush both of their necks and earn himself a rather brief respite. There were more on their way, reaching out for his vulnerable spots, desperately trying to claw through his flesh. Unfortunately for them, they had no chance of even getting close.
Leon used the power of hardening to crystallize parts of his body, leading to desperate titans breaking their teeth as they attempted to bite him. Leon used this moment of confusion and unleashed an array of strikes that crushed the pure titans one after another, like mere lambs to the slaughter. They weren't much of a threat to him, and Leon was already preparing to attack his main target…
However, just before he got his chance, the enemy soldiers opened fire. A myriad of cannon balls aimed at Leon. Normally, those would be completely harmless, but if they manage to strike a weak spot without hardening, then the pain could distract Leon from his battle. The Armored continued to resist, he was about to rush to the cannons and crush the entire array of them, for they were powerless in the face of the Armored Titan.
However, before Leon could come close, the ruthless Agile Titan leaped forward and clawed into the Armored's back. Its claws sunk deep into the few chunks of flesh that the Armored had led; Leon felt Otto's glow getting close to the nape…But he didn't allow him to come close. Leon hardened his nape, forcing Otto to take his claws out and lose his grip. After this, the Armored turned around and punched Otto, forcing the Agile Titan to the ground. Leon landed a few punches on the Agile, making it cough with blood and display notable signs of weakness.
Despite this, Otto was quick to recover. He used the hardening on his body and jumped away from the Armored, but not before landing a few strong hits. The hardened fists were enough to put some cracks into Leon's armor. Both titans were bruised and needed a momentary respite, but their battle was far from over. Leon felt his heart beat quicker by the second. His enemy was wounded and within his reach. It was a desperate, foolish move on Otto's part, making him fall right into Ferns' hands. It would be a crushing defeat for the Lysanders, perhaps the one that would put an end to their family's power. Without their Titan, they will fall to all the others, while Fern's inheritors will carry two Titan powers. This monumental victory was within his reach…
With this in mind, Leon charged forth and clashed with Otto once again. Both Titans sparred with their hardened fists, trying to bypass the other's defenses, but Leon had the advantage. His strikes were powerful and put dents into Otto's defenses. It might take a while, but Leon knew that his triumph was inevitable. He wounded Otto's arm and punched him in the face, once again forcing the enemy on the defensive. This battle was coming to a conclusion until…
A gunshot from the flank, someone was opening fire. More enemy soldiers that came to help Otto? That would be foolish; no way they expected a couple more cannonballs to stop Leon…Any doubt Leon had was gone once he realized that the cannonball hit the Agile Titan's eye, making Otto recoil in pain. Leon tried to track down the origin of the shot while keeping his eyes out for Otto, and soon, Leon froze in fear. A lone man, a young soldier in golden Fern coating, takes his position atop a small hill and behind a thin bush cover. He operated a cannon, getting himself into a perfect position to open fire.
Killian.
"No…"
What is his brother even thinking?! Cressen wouldn't dare to use the son of Lord Fern as bait, especially not alone. Did he escape the encampment? Try to follow Leon into battle and help? That was awfully like him…He would never want to leave his brother alone in such a battle, no matter how stupid and idiotic it was. Even now, Leon saw primal fear in Killian's eyes, but it was overshadowed by his desire to take part in this battle and help his older brother.
This momentary distraction lets Leon lose control of the situation. Otto wouldn't dare allow any nuisances, so he rushed towards Killian, who was no doubt going to crush him. Leon jumps towards them, unable to push the Titan aside, and stands between Otto and Killian. He would've activated hardening, but everything happened too quickly. The Agile Titan's hand pierced one of the weaker parts of the Armored's body by crushing a cracked plate on his chest. Leon could feel the pain and agony spreading throughout his entire body, but this was nothing compared to the agony Killian would feel if Otto got to him. Leon felt his enemy's arm going deeper; soon, Otto would pierce his back and grab Killian, spelling a certain demise for the soldier. Leon acted reflexively, making his very core harden along with his entire Titan shell. Otto's hand got stuck inside the Armored body, making the Agile Titan pull away swiftly and rip his own hand apart to get away from this trap. Leon, meanwhile, jumped out of an opening he made for himself and landed right in front of his brother.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I…" Killian stuttered. "I wanted to help! To cover you while you fight the Agile, I…"
"You fool! You should've stayed behind."
"But I got him, I can help!"
"Run!"
Leon felt Otto's steps; the Agile Titan was closing the gap, and Leon had to fight.
"But what will…"
"I SAID RUN!" He shouted at his brother, finally causing him to rush away as he looked back at his brother. Leon turned around and wounded himself, beginning another transformation. The second one won't be as strong enough as the first, but it would still give him a solid fighting chance against weakened Otto…But before Leon could finish his transformation, the Agile attacked him.
Just a few seconds before his armor would fully form, he felt the brunt of the Agile Titan's hits. Otto only had one fist left, but he didn't hesitate to use his steaming, cut arm to plunge the Armored Titan's skin. Leon attempted to resist, but he wasn't at full force before finishing the transformation, a process that Otto has completely broken. One hour after another, Leon began to lose his form and strength. He roared and attempted to crush the Agile's neck, but he was too quick and clawed deep into the Armored's nape, all while his opponent had no energy left to harden himself.
"NO!"
In the next instant, Otto ripped the man from his Armored body. Leon attempted to resist, but he was completely powerless. He wouldn't survive a third transformation in a row when he was wounded; the most he could do was to take out an additional weapon, a small knife he held in his pocket. Leon tried to wound the Agile's hand in an attempt to make it loosen its grip, but none of his hits were strong enough. Could it be…
He lost. The famed hero of house Fern, who nearly claimed the power of the Agile Titan for his family, is now about to be eaten. He couldn't hate his brother; seeing Killian run away and Otto lose his interest in him was the only relief Leon felt from the situation, but other than that, he felt his heart shatter. As Leon watched the Agile Titan open its mouth and bring him closer to his teeth, he realized the true gravity of his situation. Not only was he about to die, he was about to give the power of the Armored Titan to a Lysander…The decade-long feud, all his plans and promises, and his path to becoming a hero all were annihilated right before his eyes.
"I promise you, father…I will bring honor to our name. I will end this war!"
The memories of his own oath echoed in Leon's eyes, and tears began to stream down his face. He fell to the enemy, disgraced his father and the entirety of house Fern…But the knife was still in his hand. Otto would never gain the power of the Armored Titan. Leon wouldn't allow it. Even if it will be lost to the Ferns, even if it will disappear for many years, it is still better than giving it to the monster before him. Leon closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he had made his decision.
Leon put the knife to his throat, focusing all of his remaining Titan powers into one hand, all he needed was enough to cut off his head and cause an explosion that would distract the Agile and give him a few precious seconds that are needed for the fluid to lose all of its power. Better this then to give Lysanders the power that belongs to the Ferns.
"Father…Killian…I'm sorry…"
It happened quickly, just as he wanted it to.
The slash.
The explosion.
Then oblivion.