Useful Titan

"I'll kill them all… I'll kill them all…" The words slipped from Eren's lips in a low, menacing murmur. His eyes were glazed over, and his body trembled as if caught in some twisted nightmare. Armin knelt beside him, his hands gripping Eren's shoulders as he shook him gently, trying to pull him back to reality.

"Eren! Snap out of it! It's over, you're safe now!" Armin's voice was tinged with desperation, his heart pounding in his chest. But Eren was lost, consumed by a rage that seemed endless. His lean body quivered with residual energy, and Armin couldn't shake the strange feeling that Eren looked different—leaner, more fragile, and his voice softer, almost unnatural and feminine. But there was no time to ponder that now.

Nearby, Mikasa stood like a guardian, her stance unwavering, her sword drawn. Her sharp eyes flickered between Eren and the approaching soldiers. They were terrified, their faces pale as they advanced cautiously. They had seen Eren in his Titan form, a monstrous sight that struck fear into their hearts. To them, he was a danger that needed to be eradicated.

"Stay back!" Mikasa's voice cut through the tense air, sharp and commanding. She positioned herself in front of Eren, her gaze daring anyone to come closer. The soldiers hesitated, their steps faltering, but their fear was quickly replaced by anger.

The red-bearded captain, his face contorted with a mix of fear and fury, stepped forward, barking his command. "What is he?" he demanded, his voice booming across the field. "Human or Titan?"

Eren blinked, the words penetrating his foggy mind. He looked up, finally seeing the scene around him, and his heart sank as he realized what was happening. Everyone was staring at him with a mixture of horror and revulsion. The looks on their faces—like he was some kind of monster—sent a chill down his spine.

"I—I'm human…" Eren stammered, his voice shaky and uncertain. "I don't understand… What happened? Why are you all looking at me like that?"

The captain's scowl deepened, his patience wearing thin. "You don't understand? You just turned into a Titan right in front of us! How are we supposed to believe you're still human?"

Armin sprang to his feet, placing himself between Eren and the captain. "Wait! Please, listen to me!" Armin pleaded, his voice filled with urgency. "Eren's not a threat! He doesn't even know what happened! He's still Eren, our friend! He's harmless!"

Mikasa's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. "If any of you try to hurt him, you'll regret it," she warned coldly, her tone brooking no argument. The soldiers shifted nervously, clearly unnerved by Mikasa's fierce protection, but the captain was not so easily swayed.

"I don't care what he is!" the captain roared, his hand slashing through the air as he gave the order. "Fire the cannon!"

"NO!" Mikasa shouted, her voice filled with panic. She grabbed Eren, pulling him to his feet, ready to flee. They had to get out of there before it was too late. But Eren resisted, something deep within him urging him to stand his ground.

"Wait…" Eren's voice was barely a whisper, but it was laced with determination. He felt a surge of power welling up inside him, an undeniable urge to stop the cannon. He yanked his hand free from Mikasa's grasp and pulled her back toward Armin, who was standing paralyzed with fear.

"What are you doing?!" Mikasa cried, trying to pull him away again, but Eren was resolute. He bit down hard on his finger, the pain sharp and immediate.

Suddenly, the sky above them seemed to tear apart as a brilliant yellowish-green thunderbolt descended, striking the ground with a deafening roar. The impact was catastrophic, a shockwave of smoke and debris blasting out in all directions. The soldiers and Scouts alike were thrown to the ground, the force of the explosion knocking the wind out of them. The air was thick with dust and steam, and for a moment, everything was shrouded in a dense, impenetrable fog.

As the smoke began to clear, the soldiers peered through the haze, trying to make sense of what they were seeing. Then, slowly, the colossal figure began to take shape, emerging from the smoke like a nightmare brought to life. It was a Titan, but unlike any they had ever seen before. It was enormous, though only half the size of the Colossal Titan. Its form was skeletal, almost unfinished, yet its presence was overwhelming. Its massive arms stretched out, and in one hand, it held the cannonball that had been fired—stopping it dead in its tracks.

The soldiers stared, their faces a mix of awe and horror. Eren had transformed again, but this time, his Titan form was different—less solid, almost ethereal, yet impossibly powerful. It wasn't just the raw strength that left them speechless, but the realization that Eren, their comrade, was capable of wielding such unimaginable power.

The battlefield was silent, the echoes of the explosion still ringing in their ears. The reality of what they had just witnessed was only beginning to sink in, and it left them all reeling, struggling to grasp the full implications of what had just occurred. As the smoke finally began to dissipate, revealing the destruction wrought by Eren's transformation, the enormity of the situation hit them like a tidal wave.

Eren's breath came in ragged gasps as he realized the magnitude of what he had done. The heat and the stench of burning flesh clung to his skin, and when he looked down, he found himself standing on the nape of a Titan. The horror of it sent a jolt through his body, his mind reeling with the impossibility of it all. How was he here? How had he become this… thing?

Without wasting another moment, he scrambled down, the sensation of the Titan's cooling flesh beneath his hands making his stomach churn. He needed to get to his friends. He needed answers. As his feet hit the ground, he ran to them, but their expressions stopped him cold. Mikasa, Armin, even Connie and Jean—they were all staring at him, eyes wide with shock and a hint of fear.

"Eren…" Mikasa's voice was firm, but there was an undercurrent of worry. "You need to run. We'll distract them."

"Run?" Eren echoed, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes darted between them, the disbelief growing stronger with every second. "I'm not running. I can't just leave you all behind!"

"We can handle this!" Mikasa insisted, her tone sharpening as she took a step closer, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "If they find out what you are, what you did… They'll kill you, Eren! You have to go, now!"

"No!" Eren's defiance was instant, the desperation in his voice matching the wildness in his eyes. "I'm not leaving. There has to be another way. We can figure this out together."

But Mikasa shook her head, her expression hardening with determination. "There's no time to figure this out, Eren. They're coming, and they're scared. They won't hesitate."

Eren turned his gaze to Armin, searching his friend's face for some sign, some glimmer of hope. "Armin," he began, his voice trembling, "do you think you can convince them? That I'm harmless? If you can't… I'll respect that, but…"

Mikasa's eyes were on Armin now too, both of them waiting, hoping for a solution that didn't end in bloodshed. Armin's face was pale, his mind racing as he weighed the options, the risks. He could see the terror in the soldiers' eyes, feel it in the air around him. But he also knew Eren—knew his heart. Could they really just abandon him?

After what felt like an eternity, Armin made his decision. He dropped his 3D gear, the heavy metal clanging against the ground, and without another word, he sprinted through the lingering smoke, straight toward the soldiers. His heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he had to do this. Eren's life depended on it.

The captain, red-faced with fear and rage, was already ordering another cannon to be loaded when Armin emerged from the smoke, waving his hands desperately. "Wait!" he shouted, his voice cracking with the effort. "Don't fire!"

The soldiers hesitated, their grips tightening on their weapons as they eyed Armin warily. "Stop! Listen to me!" Armin pleaded, his voice rising with urgency. "Eren—he's not your enemy! He helped us kill those Titans! We can use him—he can help us win this fight! Please, just give him a chance!"

The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances, their resolve wavering as Armin's words sank in. The logic was there, but fear still held them back. Armin swallowed hard, his heart hammering in his chest. He saluted sharply, his voice firm despite the terror gnawing at him. "I'm a soldier. I'll do anything for the survival of humanity. And I'm telling you—Eren is our best hope."

The captain's eyes were wide with fear, his hand trembling as it hovered over the signal to fire. He couldn't see reason; all he could see was the monster that had appeared in their midst. "Enough!" he barked, his voice cracking with fear as he raised his hand to give the final order.

Armin's breath caught in his throat, his mind racing. He could see Eren behind him, ready to bite his thumb, and Mikasa's hand was already reaching for her gear, ready to fight or flee. It was all going to end in disaster.

But then, a firm, weathered hand caught the captain's wrist, halting his command. The air seemed to still as an elderly man stepped forward. His bald head gleamed in the dim light, and his presence alone was enough to make the soldiers freeze in place. It was Commander Pixis.

"Captain," Pixis said calmly, his voice carrying the weight of authority and experience. "Let's not be too hasty. Look at that boy's posture," he nodded toward Armin, who stood stiff and trembling but resolute. "That's the posture of a true soldier. I think we should hear what they have to say."

The captain hesitated, his eyes darting between the commander and Armin, before finally lowering his hand. The soldiers eased up, their weapons still ready but no longer aimed.

Armin exhaled slowly, the relief washing over him like a wave, but the fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of his mind. This wasn't over yet—not by a long shot.

Ū—Ū

Above the towering wall, Commander Pixis gazed down at the writhing mass of Titans below. He squinted, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "None of you ugly bastards are worth getting eaten by," he muttered to himself before turning his attention to the trio of young soldiers beside him.

"Armin, isn't it?" Pixis asked, his voice carrying a lighthearted tone that contrasted sharply with the grim situation.

Armin straightened up, his nerves on full display. "Sir, yes sir!"

Pixis chuckled, waving off the formality. "No need to be so stiff, kid. Now, when you were talking about your friend's Titan powers being useful—were you just bluffing to save her, or did you mean it?"

Armin hesitated, frowning as he looked at Mikasa. "Wait, Mikasa isn't a Titan shifter—Eren is!"

"Ah," Pixis nodded thoughtfully, a slight twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Interesting naming choice."

Armin took a deep breath, his voice steadying as he spoke. "It was both, sir. I wanted to save Eren, but… also," he gestured toward the massive boulder lying amidst the ruins of Wall Maria, "if Eren's Titan can lift that boulder, we can block the breach and stop more Titans from entering."

Pixis stroked his chin, considering the young cadet's words. His gaze shifted to Eren, who stood trembling under the weight of what was being asked of him. "Cadet Yeager," Pixis began, his tone more serious now, "do you think you can do it?"

Eren bit his lip, his uncertainty plain for all to see. "I… I'm not sure if I can control the Titan."

Mikasa, ever the protector, gently placed a hand on Eren's shoulder. She could feel the tremors running through him, and her heart ached for the friend she had always known as strong, now so vulnerable. 'Poor Eren,' she thought, noticing how lean and frail he seemed after his transformation.

Pixis's expression softened, but only slightly. "Perhaps I should rephrase that," he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Cadet Yeager, are you willing to try?"

Eren's eyes, once filled with doubt, now blazed with a sudden resolve. All the fear, the confusion, the anger, boiled down to this moment. "Yeah!" he answered, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hands.

Pixis nodded, satisfied with the answer. He looked back down at the Titans below, the chaotic scene that had once seemed overwhelming now a battlefield waiting for a new strategy. The weight of the world pressed down on the young soldiers, but in Eren's resolve, there was a glimmer of hope.

The commander turned his back to the edge of the wall, staring down at the battlefield below. The Titans moved sluggishly, their grotesque forms lurching as they clawed at the broken remains of humanity's defenses. Pixis knew the risks, knew the odds were slim, but what choice did they have? He clapped a hand on Eren's shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring.

"Then let's give them hell," he said, a thin smile on his lips.

Ū—Ū

Eren felt like he was teetering on the edge of reality as his ODM gear shot him toward the boulder. The weight in his chest was suffocating, almost as if his own ribs were closing in on his lungs, squeezing the breath out of him. Maybe it was just the stress, the overwhelming dread of what he was about to attempt, or maybe something more sinister lurked within him. But there was no time to figure it out—no time to waste.

With a resolve born out of desperation, Eren sank his teeth into his thumb. The pain, sharp and searing, was a necessary evil, a trigger for what came next. He barely had time to process the agony before his body was consumed by an eruption of green lightning. This felt… odd.

As his consciousness was enveloped by the flesh of the Female Titan, Eren was met with a jarring shift in perspective. The sensation was alien—familiar yet entirely foreign. He blinked, disoriented, trying to ground himself in this strange new reality. The first thing he noticed was the cool, almost soothing sensation of the Titan's skin pressing against his own. It was then that he realized, with a mixture of shock and fascination, that he was encased in the nape of a Titan with a distinctly feminine form.

The Titan he had become was not just any Titan. It was elegant yet terrifying, with a lean, athletic build, wide hips, and powerful limbs that hinted at both grace and brutality. Its face was eerily feminine, smooth with delicate features that seemed at odds with the raw strength it possessed. But its eyes—its eyes were the most unsettling of all. They were a predatory green, glowing with an intensity that sent chills down the soldiers' spines. The Titan's black hair cascaded in wild strands over its shoulders, framing a face that was both beautiful and monstrous.

"This is… cool," Eren thought, though the thrill that ran through him was tinged with unease. He flexed the Titan's limbs, feeling the sheer power they held, the terrifying potential to destroy anything in his path. "I can—"

"Eren! Can you hear me?" A voice sliced through his thoughts, sharp and insistent. Mikasa had landed on the Titan's shoulder, her gaze piercing as she stared into the glowing green eyes of the Female Titan. "We need to get the job done. Now!"

Eren looked at her through the Titan's eyes, the world around him taking on a distorted, dream-like quality. The Titan's face remained a mask of indifference, but it nodded in acknowledgment. There was no time to question, no time to doubt.

Taking a deep, shuddering breath, the Female Titan turned its attention to the boulder that lay ahead. The ground quaked beneath its feet as it bent down, massive hands gripping the rock. Muscles rippled under its skin, a grotesque display of power and strength, as it lifted the boulder onto its shoulder. The weight was staggering, almost unbearable. Eren could feel the strain deep within the Titan's body, every movement a battle against the crushing force that threatened to bring him to his knees.

"This is too heavy," Eren's thoughts were frantic, the pressure inside the Titan nearly overwhelming. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears like a war drum. Sweat mixed with the warm, viscous liquid that surrounded him inside the Titan, a suffocating reminder of the monstrous form he now inhabited.

Below, the soldiers moved with precision and desperation, their ODM gear zipping through the air as they engaged any approaching Titans. It was a brutal dance of life and death, each soldier risking everything to buy Eren the time he needed. The sun glinted off their blades as they sliced through Titan flesh, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart.

With a final, earth-shattering scream, Eren forced the boulder into the breach. The sound of stone grinding against stone echoed through the abandoned city, a harrowing noise that seemed to reverberate off the empty buildings. And then, silence—a heavy, oppressive silence as the Titans outside were momentarily kept at bay.

But the victory was bittersweet. Eren's Titan body trembled, a violent shudder that ran through its entire form, before it collapsed to the ground. Steam hissed from every pore as the body began to disintegrate, the monstrous flesh melting away like wax.

Mikasa and Armin were at Eren's side in an instant, their blades flashing as they cut through the tissue that held him within the Titan. The air was thick with the smell of blood and burnt flesh, the sounds of their frantic movements the only thing cutting through the eerie silence.

"You did it, Eren!" Armin's voice was breathless, filled with a mixture of relief and disbelief as he pulled Eren's limp body from the steaming wreckage. He hugged Eren close, only to freeze as something soft pressed against his chest. His face twisted in confusion as he pulled back slightly, his hands shaking.

"Armin, is something wrong?" Mikasa's voice was tinged with panic as she knelt beside him, her eyes wide with concern. "Is Eren okay?"

But before Armin could respond, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The sound of heavy, thunderous footsteps echoed through the streets as three Titans, each towering at 15 meters, charged toward them with terrifying speed. Their eyes were wild, filled with a ravenous hunger that sent a chill down Mikasa's spine.

But just as the Titans closed in, a blur of green shot through the air. The Titans halted mid-stride, their monstrous bodies convulsing before they collapsed to the ground, their napes cleanly sliced through in a single, fluid motion.

Levi stood over the fallen Titans, his expression cold and calculating as he sheathed his blades. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him—the steaming remains of the Female Titan, the unconscious boy in Armin's arms. "What is that thing?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "And who are you?"

Eren's eyes fluttered open at that moment, his vision swimming as he tried to focus on the figure standing before him. "Did we win—?" His voice trailed off as his eyes locked onto Levi. His heart skipped a beat, disbelief and awe flooding his senses. "No way! Captain Levi!"

Mikasa and Armin froze, their blood turning to ice at the sound of the voice that came from Eren's mouth. But it wasn't Eren's voice—it was higher-pitched, softer, undeniably feminine.

"Who are you, girl?" Levi's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing further as he scanned the trio, his patience wearing thin.

"She's Mikasa Ackerman, sir!" Eren answered, seeing them not replying.

Levi frowned, cloearly confused. "I asked you, cadet."

"Huh?"

Armin, always quick to respond, found himself at a loss for words. "Eren...I think you are a girl..."

"Huh?!"

TBC