40.
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CHAPTER FORTY — Clash of Titans
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...
Returning to the top of the wall, Rosalie wobbles on unsteady legs as Charlie gently releases her from his hold. However, both pay it little to no mind, too busy watching the brawling Titans to care.
Roaring, Eren slams his fist into Reiner's face as they hit the ground. Their landing is anything but graceful as they crater the earth in a tangled heap, sending plumes of dust and clods of soil into the air.
Everyone above could feel the aftershock of the landing. However, before they could check on Eren or rush to his aid, their attention is quickly diverted to Bertolt as he brings his hand down in a swatting motion.
"EVERYONE, JUMP AWAY FROM THE WALL!"
An Hange's shrill order, they all immediately scatter.
Rosalie grunts as Charlie hoists her up; carrying her on his shoulder as he sprints for the edge of the wall with Keiji following close behind.
As they join the others that had hooked into the side of the wall, Bertolt's gargantuan hand hits the stone above with an echoing boom, sending debris into the air and field below.
"It got Ymir and somebody else!" Keiji could be heard exclaiming over the chaos, and the observation has all eyes gazing at Bertolt's left hand— in which Ymir and an unknown soldier's legs could be seen firmly grasped.
However, before a rescue attempt could be made, the tendons around Bertolt's mouth begin to snap as it opens wide— almost grotesquely nightmarish in the way it unhinged to reveal two rows of blunt teeth. Leaving them all to helplessly watch as he tosses the two captives inside.
Hange sneers, her disquietude giving way to unbridled determination. "All capable soldiers, prepare to attack! We're taking the Colossal Titan! It's a threat to all of humanity!" She suddenly yells as she propels herself up the wall with a surge of gas, and other Scouts are quick to follow suit. "SWARM THE BASTARD!"
As they fill the airspace surrounding him, Bertolt aims another swat at the oncoming Scouts; missing a second time as they all separate and swerve around the limb, continuing their way up and around his shoulder to the back of his head.
Some manage to hook into his neck, however, before they could even attempt to slice into the nape, Bertolt releases a powerful burst of steam that forces them to retreat.
"Is he trying to disappear again?" Hange questions aloud once they're all standing on solid footing a safe distance from Bertolt's reach, her eyes never straying from the Shifter's massive form.
By this point, Rosalie, Charlie, and the other two Scouts aiding Connie and Krista have left the wall's side and rejoined the group. And all turn to look at Armin when he speaks up.
"No, something is different." The blond denies with a shake of his head. "The last time he vanished instantly. But now, he's maintaining his form and emitting heat like a furnace. If he keeps protecting himself with steam…"
Trailing off, Armin pauses for a moment in thought before suddenly shooting his hooks into the air and toward Bertolt. The winds of steam blow them away, making the blond gasp in realization. "We're unable to attack him with ODM Gear! Wh-What do we do?!"
"We can't do anything. We wait." Hange answers simply, her discontent obvious as she stalks forward, a stern expression on her usually cheerful face. "Squads Three and Four, take position behind the target. Rashad has command."
"Got it!"
Hange doesn't miss a beat and continues, even as the designated groups begin to move out. "Squad Two will wait here. Lauda is in command."
"Understood!"
Hange's gaze then trails over to a few Scouts leading Connie and Historia away; the two in return, helping some of those injured from the initial transformation.
"Rosalie…" She calls thoughtfully, "Since you don't have your gear, I want you to stay with the wounded. Connie and Historia will help you. See if there's anything that can be done for them. You're in charge."
Rosalie nods, all too glad to be away from the action for a bit longer. "I'll do my best…"
Hange looks up at Bertolt's towering frame once more. "It's yet to be seen how long he can keep his body burning, but… Eventually, he has to come out. We'll wait for that moment to attack." She strides forward at that, addressing everyone still within earshot. "Listen up! Forget about capturing them. Kill 'em and don't hesitate!"
Armin, Sasha, and Rosalie share a look of unease.
By this point, Hange had reached the edge of the wall and was gazing down at the two Titans below. "Armin, Sasha, and Squad One follow me! We've got a date with the Armored Titan!"
...
...
Rosalie looks up as Connie appears on her left with another Scout, dragging the injured male and adding him to the small row of soldiers waiting for some form of treatment.
"I think he's the last one." Connie informs, stepping aside when the brunette shuffles closer.
Gingerly tucking her fingers under the unnamed Scout's jaw, Rosalie gently turns his head this way and that, appraising the steam burns that inflicted his face and neck. "Okay… Connie, take one of the water canteens Nifa and Abel brought us and go grab some more of the fabric strips Krista is cutting up." She orders, nodding her head at the small blonde a few feet away. "We'll use them as a cool compress to draw the heat out."
As she speaks, she gives a quick demonstration using the Scout he just brought over. "Wet the cloth and cover the burns. We'll keep them covered anywhere from five to fifteen minutes depending on the severity. If someone is badly burned on the face and around their eyes, make them sit upright if they're able to, it'll help reduce the swelling."
Connie was already moving by the time she had begun to finish her explanation, determined and focused. "Got it!"
The two make quick work of the injured after that, going even faster when Krista finishes her given task and joins them. And once all of the soldiers were as comfortable as possible, the trio turn their attention to the confrontation below, each sprinting to the edge of the wall to get a better look.
The sound of ODM Gear and frantic footsteps is heard from behind, though no one turns to look as Hannes' voice follows. "What the hell is going on?! What happened…?!"
Initially, no one answers the returning soldier. However, Rosalie forces a proper response out when the older blond moves to stand to her left. "B-Bertolt, Reiner, and Eren transformed. They admitted to being the Colossal and Armored Titans— Eren's confronting Reiner now…"
Her words make Hannes' breath hitch, but Rosalie can't find it within herself to offer any consoling reassurance for the older blond. She knew that both boys below would give the fight all they had, and she could only hope that Eren somehow came out on top.
Everyone then winces when Reiner— now yards away from the wall— lands a punch that sends Eren spiraling through the air and crashing into a densely wooded area. And the sight of Eren knocked to the ground was enough to remind those in the 104th of all of the times Annie would throw the brunet during training.
"EREN…! DON'T DO IT! YOU CANT WIN A SLUGFEST WITH HIM!" Armin calls out from below, hooked into the wall's edge beside Hange. "RUN THIS WAY, EREN! DON'T TRY TO FIGHT HIM!" He advises again as the green-eyed Titan slowly stands from the cluster of trees.
"He won't listen…" Rosalie murmurs to those standing with her. 'And that armor is gonna be a pain in the ass… If Eren keeps this up, all he's gonna get from this fight are two busted hands.' She added to herself grimly, observing the thick plates of protective armor that coated Reiner's Titan from his head to the tips of his fingers and toes. 'He'll have to find a way around it if he wants to do any real damage.'
As expected, Eren ignores the blond's cries as he lets out another fierce roar. He and Reiner then charge at one another, their fists drawn back. However, just before either hit could land, Eren dodges at the last possible second by ducking low and to the right, pivoting on his heels to instead attack from behind.
Quickly, he hooks his arm underneath Reiner's before wrapping it around the aforementioned's neck, putting the opposing Shifter in a hold similar to a chokehold. Eren then twists his torso and kicks Reiner's legs out from under him, sending them both to the ground.
The two scuffle around for a few minutes, both gaining and losing the upper hand in the fight until Eren is able to flip Reiner onto his side. The former then lets out another angered roar and rips the latter's arm clean off, throwing it aside before quickly backing off.
Both slowly stand after that, eyes remaining firmly locked as they squared one another up. Eventually, Reiner is the first to move by taking a step forward. Only pausing when Eren quickly retreats back to the wall at the heavy coaxing of the observing Scouts and Garrison.
'Atta boy, Eren…!' Rosalie mentally praises, leaning further over the wall to watch as Hange moves to Eren's shoulder to offer some form of advice.
Reiner, however, wasn't going to wait long. The moment his arm regenerates, he sprints forward, breaking the armor on his legs for more mobility with each stride, and not a moment too soon is he tackling Eren into the wall and then to the ground. He then proceeds to aim various punches— all of which Eren dodges easily by quickly bobbing his head side to side.
"DON'T STAY ON THE GROUND, EREN!
"STAND UP!"
Seeming to listen to the advice of those above him, Eren bends one of his knees and plants a foot in the center of Reiner's chest before following through with a harsh kick that sends the Armored Titan careening backward, allowing Eren ample time to clamor to his feet.
Reiner surges forward again.
This time, Eren allows himself to be tackled. And as they fall to the ground in a heap, he wraps his arms and legs around Reiner's body before contorting his own in order to slam the top of the opposing Shifter's head into the ground.
Reiner's sudden vulnerability was the perfect time for those above to help. However, before anyone else could move, Mikasa suddenly appears; propelling herself forward with a burst of gas as she cleanly slices through the sliver of exposed muscle at the bend of Reiner's leg. She then retreats to the wall, hooking into the stone structure a little ways below Armin and Hange.
Leg giving out, Reiner loses his balance and slackens in Eren's hold, allowing the green-eyed Shifter more leverage in slamming his head into the ground a second time; cracking and splintering the armor that protected Reiner's nape, sending shards flying into the air.
"YOU'VE GOT THIS!"
"GO FOR IT, EREN! TEAR THE HEAD OFF HIS NECK…! PULL THE TRAITOR OUT OF THERE!"
Emboldened by their victorious shouts, Eren does as told and keeps pulling.
He, however, wasn't the only one.
Reiner, feeling the armor beginning to give way, uses his good leg to forcefully drag himself and Eren across the ground. Only stopping once they both reach the spot where the fight initially began.
Eren tightens his already vice-like grip, though that doesn't stop Reiner from roaring out loudly.
Fearing that he possessed the same ability as Annie, everyone begins to scour Wall Maria's abandoned, expansive landscape. Searching the area for any incoming Titans— only to find none in sight.
Eren, unperturbed, kept pulling. His task growing easier by the second as more and more armor chips away.
…
"What's with the Armored Titan? Why'd he scream like that?" Connie wonders from his spot to Rosalie's right.
His inquiry, however, goes unanswered as a loud cracking sound fills the air.
"What is that noise…?" Rosalie questions aloud as she, along with everyone else atop the wall, begins to look around curiously.
Eventually, they find their answer as their gazes lock onto the Colossal Titan's swaying form. And it was in that instant that they all understood.
The ribs of the partially formed Titan, which is what currently held its form to the wall, were snapping as they bent inwards.
Slowly— almost tauntingly— the Colossal Titan's form begins to lean to the left, and the last few bones keeping it in place begin to groan and fracture under the newly applied weight.
"Hey…! Hey…hey…hey…hEY…HEY!" Connie begins to chant, his voice growing louder and more panicked as the bones finally give way with a hauntingsnap.
Bertolt's form quickly dips at the sudden loss of support, teetering for only a second before careening fully over the wall's edge and towards Eren, Reiner, and the Scouts below.
"ABOVE YOU! LOOK OUT!" Charlie exclaims in horror, and while his warning was effective in gaining the attention of those in immediate danger below, it doesn't come fast enough for them to react.
Like a falling star, Bertolt's furnace-esque, colossal form only gains momentum in its descent. It hits the ground— where Eren and Reiner lay in a heap— like an advanced shell of cannon artillery; explosive and devastating to all close to it.
…
The sound of the collision was near deafening. Disoriented; covering their now ringing ears was all anyone watching the spectacle could do at that moment.
Aftershocks of the impact rumbled through the area— felt the most by those standing atop the wall as they were all sent to their knees, unable to stand properly against the tremors rattling their bones.
Steam and dust rise in billowing waves of ashy heat, combining dangerously with the cool rainy air as it expands with a great force; creating a powerful windstorm.
Many soldiers above are sent flying by the heavy gales, while those unfortunate to be below during the collision were pinned— forced to face the continuous waves of heat head-on.
Meanwhile, Hannes and the few others that had unanimously shared the fleeting intuition of shooting their hooks into the stone were now hunkering to fight the powerful winds with brute strength alone. The older blond, himself, making sure to wrap his arm around Rosalie in a protective embrace as they both held on for dear life; both squinting through the steam as they watched the two— still very mobile— Titans below.
Reiner, still in his Titan form, had used the distraction to his advantage and reversed the hold. Flipping Eren over, he pins the former to the ground and slams his head into the dirt before biting the brunet straight out of the nape. He then jumps to his feet and begins to flee, beginning to head deeper into Wall Maria's abandoned territory.
It's then that Bertolt makes his appearance as he climbs out of the Colossal Titan's nape with an unconscious Ymir in his arms, donning a set of ODM Gear. Fleetingly, he spares a glance over his shoulder before using the gear to hook into Reiner's back; perching himself on the retreating Shifter's shoulder.
The distance between the quartet and Wall Rose steadily grows with each stride Reiner makes, leaving the rest behind to watch, helpless and defeated, as they slowly disappear from view.
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