Attack On Titan: Wings Of Crystal

Chapter 23: Beast Titan

It had been five years since Lazarus and the Warriors left their homeland of Marley for the island of Paradis, populated and controlled by what they believed to be evil Eldians.

All their lives they were brainwashed into believing they were devils whose ancestors killed millions of people, and could one day destroy the entire world using The Rumbling. But living among them, calling them friends, eating, sleeping, and fighting alongside them, caused Lazarus and his friends to realise everything they thought they knew about them had been a lie. Their resolve shattered like glass.

As far as they know they were the only Eldians from Marley who'd discovered this. But they'd be wrong.

Back in the city of Liberio, in the Marleyan homelands. The leader of the Warriors, and Lazarus's old roommate, Zeke Yeager, was looking around the office of his mentor and father figure, Tom Ksaver. The previous Beast Titan.

Zeke had grown up a lot since the other Warriors left in those five years. He's now a 25-year-old man with a full blond beard. He was also wearing Tom's glasses as his way of honouring the man he viewed as his true father.

With Lazarus and the majority of the Warrior unit overseas, he didn't have much to do outside of his routine of observing the next generation of Eldian cadets with Commander Magath to determine who would be the next batch of Warrior Candidates. Out of all the cadets he saw, he took a particular interest in the oldest cadet. A tall blond boy named Colt Grice. He might be a worthy candidate to inherit the Beast Titan from him, he thought.

When he isn't doing his duties as War Chief, he spends some of his off time thinking over the Euthanisation Plan, he and Tom planned together in secret, making sure there are no flaws once the time comes for him to carry it out.

That was the reason he was in Tom's old lab right now. The room was dimly lit with the blinds down. Cobwebs covered most of the corners of the room. Equipment and furniture were overturned, implying that somebody had been in here recently, probably looking for something valuable hidden deep within his research.

Zeke peeked out the keyhole of the door behind him, making sure that he wasn't followed or spied on by Marleyan soldiers. Even though he's a war general now, he's still an Eldian in the eyes of the brass. And all Eldians, even ones that are honorary Marleyans, aren't allowed privacy in case they were planning anything behind Marley's back. That they've learned after uncovering the members of the Eldian Restorationists group. A group that Zeke himself turned in to the government, sending them and his parents to Paradis to be turned into Titans.

Satisfied with the conclusion that he was indeed alone, and with no signs of hidden microphones in the room, Zeke walks over to the bookshelf that contained all of Tom's years of Titan research. All of the books had been opened. Some of them had pages torn out of them. Most likely so the Marleyans can keep any research they deemed useful out of the Eldian's grasp.

But Zeke knew there was more research hidden away somewhere in this lab. Research that he hopes will give him the answers he'd been seeking ever since Lazarus's departure.

Glancing behind him one more time, he double-checks to confirm he's alone. With that acknowledged, he proceeded to push the bookcase to the side slightly, revealing a hidden gap behind it. It was too dark to see what was inside, but that didn't stop Zeke from squeezing through the gap and closing it behind him.

The room was pitch black, forcing Zeke to take out his lighter and turn it on. The weak glow of the lighter's flame revealed the inside of the room to his adjusting eyes.

What he found was a tiny, cramped room with both sides of the walls decorated with shelves containing all kinds of research materials. Items such as books, scrolls, test tubes containing strange liquids, and some containing blood samples. At the end of the room was a tiny desk and an old wooden chair, big enough for one person. The floor was all old creaky wood planks, making the faintest sounds even to the slightest of movements he took.

"So this was Mister Ksaver's secret lab he told me about? I never expected it to be so small, and dull." He thought to himself as he carefully examined everything in the room, whilst trying his best not to back into anything. There wasn't much space for him to move around in, so he had to watch his step.

Zeke suddenly bangs his head against an old lantern that was hanging above him on a piece of rope tied to a wood beam. He was surprised to see it still had oil in it and proceeded to use his lighter to light the candle inside, brightening up the room to a much greater degree than his lighter.

The lantern allowed him to see all of the room now, showing him various things he hadn't spotted before. Such as the photograph of what appeared to be a younger Tom Ksaver with his friends Lucia Muller and Leonardo Waldenburg. They appeared to be in their young teen years by the looks of them, and they had yellow armbands instead of red, implying that they were still candidates when this picture was taken.

Zeke smiled at seeing his mentor in his younger years. It started to remind him of his younger years as a candidate alongside his friends. He started to wonder what was taking them so long in capturing the Coordinate. He and most of the brass assumed that it wouldn't take long since the Winged Titan was their most powerful and unstoppable weapon.

And just like that, Zeke remembered the reason why he'd come here in the first place. He was hoping to find any research from Tom that relates to the Winged Titan and the False Founder Project. Marley wanted to use it to create more Winged Titans like Lazarus after seeing the results of it during their first mission. But he wanted to get to it first, learning as much as he can about the project whilst also making sure Marley never learn the secret behind it. Should any more Winged Titans be created, all Eldians within the Warrior Program would be obsolete.

"Where is it? It must be here somewhere!" He frustratingly thought as he rummaged through the various books and scrolls for answers. "I have to know. Why did only Lazarus survive the experiments? What is it about him specifically that allowed him to obtain this power? It can't just be coincidence and luck. There's something more to it, I know it!"

Zeke searched all of the shelves thoroughly, desperate to find out the truth. But at the same time, he made sure not to damage any of Tom's research out of respect for him.

Finally, after what felt like an hour of looking, Zeke finds a briefcase tucked away at the back of the shelf, hidden behind the books. He opens the case and was shocked to find documents of all the test subjects in a folder, along with their pictures and background. More test tubes containing blood samples that were properly sealed to prevent spillage. There was also a work diary at the bottom of the case. One that belonged to Tom, Lucia and Leonardo.

"This is it. Everything Tom, Lucia, and Leonardo were able to dig up about the False Founder Project. All the research behind it was destroyed in the explosion, but this should help me understand Lazarus's powers a little more."

Zeke gently places the contents in the case on the desk and spreads them out. The file lies open with all the subject's profiles spread out. The blood vials were placed in the centre of the desk to ensure the highest chance of not falling over. And the diary was placed on the left side.

Zeke sits down at the desk and begins reading the profiles of the subjects, including Lazarus's, and comparing the blood types listed in the files to the labels on the test tubes. He then started reading through the diary very carefully, making sure he memorises all the vital information inside. After he was done he plans to destroy it all to ensure Marley never gets their hands on it. It's not worth leaving them hidden in this room as there's always the possibility of someone coming across it themselves eventually.

As he read through the diary, his eyes began to widen in shock over what he had discovered. He then cross-referenced it with Lazarus's profile in the folder, piecing together the puzzle of the secret project.

He briefly thinks back to that one time when he was a child. The day he and the other candidates had to take a blood test as part of orientation. He remembers what blood type he was that day. He was an AB Negative, which was considered the rarest of blood types amongst Eldians. And Lazarus happened to have the same type as himself.

Suddenly, everything clicked with him. He now understands why Lazarus was the only survivor of the experiments. It had nothing to do with the fact that both his parents were Titan Shifters, as the military had assumed. Zeke knew there was more to it than that.

"Now it all makes sense! Oh, Lazarus… You have no idea just how special you really are."

Back on Paradis Island, Lazarus and Michael were sitting with their classmates from the 104th Cadet Corps. Everyone except Eren, Mikasa and Armin. They were tasked with staying with the Scout Regiment as Eren was still under the watch of Captain Levi. And Jean was with Commander Erwin.

Erwin had instructed his son and the 104th top graduate to relay everything that had transpired with Annie back to Miche and his squad who were watching over the rest of the 104th members under suspicion of being the Winged, Colossal, and Armoured Titans. They were stationed at an outpost south of Wall Sina.

After filing their report they were tasked with sitting with the others and awaiting further instructions. Everyone in the room was sitting around, bored out of their minds. They all were able to kill some time by listening to Michael and Lazarus's story with Annie and what went down in Wall Sina.

The part where Annie was confirmed to be the Female Titan shocked all of them, some of them refusing to believe it themselves. Whilst others started to worry for Lazarus who they assumed was the most hurt by this reveal. Everyone knew that he and Annie were a thing. So they wondered if he kept his cool throughout the whole capture mission.

Michael of course told them how he fought Annie alongside him and Eren and managed to overpower her, but she was able to save herself by forming a crystal cocoon around her body.

After that, the cadets went back to being bored only playing chess and gossiping to help pass the time. Michael spent his time sitting next to Sasha and talking about their past. Though Mostly Sasha opened up to him as Michael still didn't remember much from his past.

And Lazarus was spectating a chess match between Reiner and Bertolt. So far Bertolt was winning, which was no surprise to Lazarus. Bertolt always was the brightest bulb amongst them. Had he not been so shy, he could've been made second in command to the Warriors instead of him.

"So Annie's been captured?" Bertolt mentally asked Lazarus whilst keeping his attention on the chessboard, as was Reiner.

"I'm afraid so. In the end, I couldn't get her out of there. But the good news is she's safe… Though it'll be some time until we're able to free her from her crystal prison."

"She had no other choice." Reiner interrupted whilst making his next move on the board. "It was either imprisoning herself or dying. At least this way she won't be tortured by them."

"Still, I plan on rescuing her someday. As soon as we bring Eren and Michael back to Marley, I'm coming back for her." Lazarus replied determinedly.

After a while, Michael and Sasha started to get tired from all this sitting around and doing nothing, forcing the two of them to start nodding off and collapse their heads onto the table. Michael was still mentally and physically exhausted after his fight with Annie. Using the Crystal Titans' powers to summon and form crystals out of nowhere causes a lot of strain on his mind, and all the blows he endured during the fight caused his actual body to bruise. Sasha however was just plain bored to the point she could fall asleep.

Suddenly, for some strange reason, Sasha quickly stands up in shock, causing Michael to sit up from the table and address her.

"What's wrong, Sasha?"

"Uh guys, I think I'm hearing footsteps." She warned in a frightened and serious tone.

The others were confused by her warning thinking she'd lost it again. Michael however presses his head against the floor, causing Lazarus and the others to take notice. His eyes widen when he confirms that Sasha was telling the truth.

"She's right. I hear it too."

The cadets all look amongst themselves still confused as to what was going on. But before any of them could ask for more details, Nanaba - another Scout who was one of Miche's subordinates - lands outside the window.

She warns the cadets that Wall Rose had been compromised and Titans were heading their way. All the cadets were shocked by this news. Especially the Warriors. Neither of them had planned on breaching the Wall, and they would never go against Lazarus's orders and do what they'd believed was best without his supervision.

"What's going on?" Lazarus telepathically demanded.

"It wasn't us. Bertolt and I have been here this whole time." Reiner quickly responded.

This was growing troublesome for Lazarus. But before he could come up with a theory on what was happening, he and Michael were ordered to equip their ODM gear and help guide the rest of the cadets who didn't wear their uniform and evacuate the base immediately.

Without question, that was what they did. Everyone practically runs out of the castle, climbs atop their horses, and races out of the town they were staying in, behind their superiors.

Lazarus looks back at the cloud of dust being kicked up by the Titans approaching them. Using his enhanced eyesight, he can confirm that there are a total of nine Titans heading their way.

"This can't be right. None of us had breached the walls. And these Titans don't appear to be ones I've created. Yet the way they're moving… It looks off?" Lazarus thought.

"Lazarus!" Michael cried out to him, gaining his attention. "Did you hear what Miche said?"

"No sorry, I got distracted. How the hell are there Titans here all of a sudden?"

"My guess is the Colossal Titan breached Wall Rose somewhere. That's the only explanation I can come up with. Anyway. Miche said-

"I said the second the Titans reach the woods we'll split up!" Miche explained to the two cadets behind him. "We'll split into four separate teams, recruits and soldiers alike in each unit. When I give the signal, we'll scatter in different directions simultaneously. Get the word out to civilians. Do not engage the enemy! Which one of you is most familiar with the area?"

"Me sir!" Sasha responded whilst raising her right hand. "My hometown is just to the north of here. I know this region like the back of my hand." She then turns to Connie. "Connie too. Tell them."

Connie however was in a state of shock, completely oblivious to what Sasha had just said.

"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.

"My village… My village is to the south. That's where the Titans are coming from." He finally uttered as he slowly regained the strength to move his mouth.

"Sir… I want to go home." He continued in his shocked tone of voice. "I need to see if my family is safe. Please, sir!"

"Very well. Guide the southern team to the other settlements first, then you're free to return to your village."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'll go with you." Lazarus interrupted.

"What? No, you're crazy. They'll be everywhere!" He warned him.

"You think I care? Have you forgotten who led our team during training, as well as the fact I took down three Titans at once? As long as I'm here we have a fair chance."

"Bertolt and I will help too." Reiner intervened, offering his support. Bertolt nodded in agreement showing he was up for it as well.

"I'll help too." Michael butted in.

"Not you, Smith." Miche interrupted. "You're with me. We need to buy the others enough time to warn the other villagers. I may need the Crystal Titans' help if it gets too tough."

"Oh, I see. Very well then." Michael hesitantly agreed, even though he wanted to help his friends.

Once the group was about to enter the forest, they all split off into four separate groups, leaving only Miche and Michael to go back and lure the Titans away.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, some of the Titans stop walking and just stand there blankly. Not even looking at Michael and Miche.

"What the? Why did they stop?" Miche asked out loud.

"I've seen this before, during the attack on Trost. A bunch of Titans were heading for the wall, only to stop at the last second." Michael then quickly looks up expecting the Winged Titan to be there ordering them around like last time. But the sky was empty, apart from the clouds. "He's not there!"

"Who? The Winged Titan?"

"Yeah. The last time I saw this, he was up there watching us. My guess is he has the power to control the Titans and make them follow his orders. But he's not here. Why are they-

Michael was then startled by the three Titans all turning their heads to look in his direction in unison, freaking him out in the process. They then start to dash towards them bizarrely, acting like a bunch of Abnormals.

"Do not engage them!" Miche ordered him. "Just follow me! We'll lure them over to that building and take them out there!"

Michael nodded and followed his orders. Whilst he still had questions over the sudden change in the Titan's behaviour, he chose to forget about it and help the lieutenant take them out and buy the others more time.

This will be a walk in the park for them. With Michael possessing the Crystal Titan and Miche being the second strongest Scout, under Captain Levi. He did not doubt in his mind that things could go badly.

"Smith. Are you able to transform again after your fight with the Female Titan?"

"I think so. My stamina is still recovering, but I should be able to manifest it again to clear out a few Titans."

"In that case, save that energy for when you desperately need it. For now, just use your ODM gear and follow my lead."

"Yes sir!"

Miche and Michael soon leap off their horses and draw their blades. Without the slightest hesitation, the two skilled soldiers make short work of the Titans around them.

There were a lot more than they expected, but not a problem to take out. One by one they cut down every Titan that crossed their path until only four remained.

The two of them take a break on top of a rooftop, keeping an eye out on the four remaining Titans, making sure they know where they are and their attention was still on them.

Though it was only nine, Michael was still exhausted from his fight with Annie to take them all out quickly, and Miche was down to his last set of blades and had a little amount of gas left.

"How are you holding up?"

"Fine," Michael answered between deep breaths while resting his hands on his knees. "I guess I still haven't fully recovered my energy. Still though." He raises his right hand to his mouth. "I should be able to maintain enough energy to transform again."

Miche stops him from biting his hand by forcing him to lower it back down.

"No. Don't risk it. We've bought the others more than enough time. We should call our horses and get out of here."

He follows this up by putting two fingers in his mouth and letting out a loud whistle that echoed throughout the valley. Michael repeats the process with his signature whistle. All that was left for them to do was wait and keep their eyes peeled for their horses.

Three of the remaining Titans surrounded the house. A fifteen meter was leaning against the side of the building staring at them with its arms crossed. And two four meters were wandering the grounds bellow their location.

In the distance was another Titan that seemed to have no interest in them. Michael continued to stare at it in awe. There was something about this abnormal that seemed odd to him. It was the second tallest Titan he'd seen, standing at around seventeen meters with a huge build to its body and elongated arms. This was also the first time he'd ever seen a Titan covered in what appeared to be thick brown fur.

"What's up with that Titan? It looks more like an animal than a Titan. I don't even know what it looks like. It doesn't matter. It's just lumbering around. I don't think it even notices us. Whatever it is, it's definitely an Abnormal." Michael thought to himself, his eyes not once leaving the furry Titan. "Still. Why do I get this feeling that it's different? Could it be a-

Michael was snapped out of his trance by the sound of his horse galloping and neighing in the distance. He sighs in relief that his horse was able to respond to his call. Miche's horse however was still nowhere to be seen.

"Ah, there you are girl," Michael muttered even though his horse was well out of earshot.

"Get out of here once your horse reaches you. I'll keep the Titans distracted while you escape." Miche instructed him.

"What?! I can't just leave you here."

"I've given you a direct order, cadet!" Miche raised his voice with authority, shutting Michael up instantly. "You need to rejoin the others and keep yourself safe. The commander will have my head if you died on my watch, got it?!"

"I- Yes sir!" Micheal responded slowly.

He turns his attention back to his horse as it was closing in on their location. But he and Miche were shocked when they saw the furry Abnormal pick up the horse and crush it in its grasp.

"What the! It went for the horse?!" Miche stated obviously in shock.

Michael then draws his blades and takes up a fighting stance. His suspicions were correct. This was no ordinary Abnormal. All Titans, no matter how abnormal they were, always set their sights on humans. None of them had ever taken an interest in eating any animals. So seeing one grab his horse out of nowhere caused him to start thinking outside the box on what his next move should be.

The Beast Titan slowly turns its head towards the two of them, giving them no time to react as it reels its arm back and proceeds to throw the horse at them.

Michael only had less than a second to react to push Miche aside as the horse's body impacted the roof. Miche ended up falling through the roof and crashing into the bedroom below.

Michael ended up falling off the roof and landing right into the hands of the tiny Titan with a cartoonishly big head and eyes. Michael swings his blades at it in an attempt to break free but to no avail. He then cries out in agonising pain as the Titan sinks its teeth into his legs.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, the Titan stops what it was doing and just holds Michael in place. A menacing shadow looms over them, causing Michael to look up. He was shocked to see the Beast Titan approaching him and sitting down on the ground. The two of them stare down at one another, with Michael too scared to question what was happening right now.

The small Titan then proceeds to take another bite out of him, growing impatient with the Beast's demands. This action confused the Beast Titan. He clearly heard him the first time. Why was it disobeying his orders?

"You must not have heard me." He wraps his long fingers around the Titan's big head and proceeds to squeeze. "I told you to wait!"

He crushes the Titan's head in his grasp, causing its massive eyeballs to explode out of its sockets, as well as release its hold on Michael.

Miche soon recovers from his fall and watches the exchange unfold outside the window. He was just as shocked as Michael was to see a Titan being capable of human speech. The Beast Titan addresses Michael and asks him a couple of questions.

"May I ask what you call that strange weapon of yours?" Its voice bellowed, causing Michael to flinch from the intensity of the volume. "That thing attached to your waist that allows you to fly?" He clarifies.

Michael was still frozen with terror to answer any of its questions. The Beast Titan realises this and starts to annoyingly scratch its right ear.

"Hmm, I am fairly certain we speak the same language. Perhaps you're too frightened to formulate a response? I also notice you use swords. Fascinating. Must mean you know we reside in the nape. Oh well. I suppose I'll just take it back with me."

He then slowly reaches his left hand towards him. Panicked, Michael turns his back on it and was just about ready to bite his hand and transform to defend himself.

But he stops when he can feel his ODM gear being removed from his waist. Once it had acquired his gear, it got back up and started to walk away. Leaving a very confused and slack-jawed Michael on his knees, flabbergasted by what just happened.

By this point, Miche has had enough of standing around and watching. Michael was still surrounded by Titans who were waiting for the order to attack at any moment. Now was his chance to step in and protect the commander's son.

Blades were drawn, Miche kicks the window open and leaps out on his gear, letting out a battle cry. Both Michael and the Beast Titan turn their attention to him as he attempts to slay the Beast.

To defend himself, the Beast Titan orders the three remaining Titans to attack him. The Titans comply with the order and rush him all at once, ignoring Michael in front of them.

"Miche no!"

Miche attempts to fight them off, but the fifteen meter swats him out of the sky like a fly and sends him crashing into the open field. The impact greatly injured him to the point where he was now unable to fight back against the approaching Titans.

"Miche!"

"Forget about me, Michael! Save yourself! Tell Commander Erwin what happened here!" He shouted before being grabbed by two four-meter Titans.

The Beast Titan simply watched from a distance, intrigued by the soldier's dedication to allow himself to get eaten and give his comrade time to escape. Even though he knew it be pointless as they were both going to die anyway.

"Ah, so you DO know how to speak." He uttered to himself. Seeing no reason to stick around, he starts walking away from the squabble, examining Michael's ODM gear in the grasp of his thumb and index finger. "This is an exceptionally clever idea I must say."

Miche starts to scream in terror as the two small Titans grabbed his arms and legs and proceeded to pull him in both directions, like two children fighting over a toy with no realisation that they'll tear his limbs off in the process.

Michael finally snaps out of his frozen glare like he was a deer staring at the headlights of a car, and decided to save Miche despite what he was told. But with his ODM gear gone, he could not fight the Titans as he is. Therefore, there was only one thing left to do.

He bites down on his hand and triggers his Titan transformation. The flashing lights and the sound of a lightning strike causes the Beast Titan to stop in its tracks and turn around once again. He was shocked at what he was seeing. He recognised this display of bright lights as the beginning of a Titan Shifters transformation. It was obvious to him that the soldier he stole the gear from was the one transforming. But he could not understand what kind of Titan he was transforming into.

"What?! What is this?"

Suddenly, two crystal spikes erupt out of the ground and impale the two Titans fighting over Miche, killing them both instantly and releasing the injured lieutenant from their grasp.

The smoke soon clears, revealing the Crystal Titan to Zeke. He was slack-jawed at what his eyes were presenting him. But his surprise quickly faded as Michael was starting to approach him.

"Kill him!" He ordered the fifteen-meter Titan.

The last Pure Titan dashes towards him, but Michael manages to take it out like it was nothing with a hardened punch to the back of the nape.

"So this is the Crystal Titan I've heard so much about. Looks like Lucia and Lazarus weren't lying after all." Zeke thought to himself. "You are the Crystal Titan." He addressed Michael, forcing him to stop his approach for now. "Tell me. Who are you?"

The Crystal Titan says nothing in response and stretches out its left arm. A light emerges from its palm as crystal starts to take shape within it, forming a broadsword.

"Did you not hear me? I asked you to identify yourself!"

The Crystal Titan responds by letting out a loud, deep, bellowing roar at the Beast Titan. Miche covers his ears in response whilst the Beast Titan was unaffected and unintimidated.

"It appears you cannot speak in Titan form." He pointed out. "No matter. I have no choice but to beat you into submission, rip you outta your nape, and force you to answer my questions."

The Beast Titan places Michael's ODM gear into its mouth and takes up an unusual fighting stance. The Crystal Titan decides the same and takes on the typical swordsman stance with the blade held in both hands in front of him.

Miche continued to sit there in silence as he was about to bear witness to an all-out fight between these two Titans. Not even acknowledging the thought that he might become collateral damage should he stay sitting out in the open.

To Be Continued