ONE MORE HOUR LATER
Sana watched as several scouts approached from a distance—some riding horses, others using their 3D maneuver gear. Among them were Erwin and Levi, both riding alongside other scouts. The Titans must have been cleared from the area by now.
But there was a sinking feeling in her chest. Farlan and Isabel were nowhere to be seen.
Are they okay? Sana thought, her anxiety growing.
She couldn't keep the worry at bay any longer.
"Where are Isabel and Farlan, Levi?" she called, rushing toward him, her voice tight with tension.
"Farlan twisted his ankle, and Isabel is looking after him," Levi replied, his expression betraying a hint of frustration.
Sana's heart sank further, but she could barely form a response before Levi's gaze shifted. There was something different in his eyes—something unspoken between them.
Why was he hesitating? Why was he questioning whether or not he should ask if she was okay? It was as if everything had changed. He felt distant, far removed from her in a way he couldn't explain.
Was this how it felt—this divide, this space between them? They had been so close once, but now... now it felt like there was an ocean separating them, no matter how close their bodies were.
Can we ever go back to what we were? he wondered. The thought lingered, but he couldn't let it consume him. There was no time for this kind of questioning, not with everything that was happening.
Erwin gathered the scouts, his commanding voice cutting through the noise of the battlefield.
"Prepare the necessary equipment. We must capture the Titans while they are still alive. Team Mike will draw their attention and guide them to the nets. Team Levi will immobilize them, and we'll use the nets to trap them. Hange's squad will take charge of transporting them back to headquarters. Is everything clear?"
Sana's squad was not allowed to participate in the operation. Instead, they were tasked with caring for the injured. She learned that they had lost two soldiers in the chaos. It hit her hard. Everyone had someone they cared for. Everyone had promises to keep, things they hoped to protect. Yet, in this brutal war, so many would lose everything.
The thought of all those lives lost for reasons they couldn't fully understand weighed heavily on her heart. She couldn't bring herself to accept it, but she knew they were headed toward an inevitable war—one where countless lives would be sacrificed.
How many more lives will be lost?
She couldn't help but feel the bitterness of it all. Soldiers didn't even know why they were fighting, just following orders. And the officials of Marley and their allies—driven by greed for resources, exploiting the people of Paradis—were the ones pulling the strings.
Sana clenched her fists. I won't let this happen. I won't let them get away with this.
Mike's team had successfully drawn the attention of the five-meter Titan and was guiding it toward the net. The Titan was moving steadily, but the distance between it and the net was still considerable.
As they waited for the Titan to close in, Sana could only hope that things would go as planned. They had never intended to capture these Titans—it wasn't part of the original strategy—but the need had arisen, and they had no choice but to adapt.
I should've seen this coming, she thought grimly. If only we'd been more prepared...
The plan was simple: once the Titan reached the net, Team Levi would take swift action, cutting off its legs and arms to immobilize it. It was a risky move, but with Levi's skill, they'd be able to contain it without much trouble.
The net had to be raised quickly. The 5-meter Titan had to be captured, but it would take every ounce of focus to make it happen without a hitch.
The chaos had to end soon. It felt never-ending, exhausting for everyone involved. But Erwin had made the call, and Levi would follow it through, no matter how overwhelming it became.
When will this nightmare stop?
He was tired—tired of the constant fighting, of the bloodshed, of the endless cycle of death. Yet, he couldn't stop now. He couldn't back down, no matter how much he wanted to.
All he wanted was for the madness to be over. He longed for a day where things weren't so... broken.
And then, just as the Titan drew close, a voice broke through his thoughts.
"Be careful!" Sana's voice rang out, unexpected yet somehow grounding.
Levi didn't know how to respond to her—his instincts told him to ignore it, but something inside him softened. The words made him feel... something.
For a moment, just a fleeting moment, he allowed himself to feel warmth in the middle of the cold chaos.
The moment left her frozen. Why had she said that? Why did the words slip out?
Now everyone was staring. She could feel their gazes on her—some curious, some amused. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was what happened next.
Levi's team advanced, taking their position. Two of his soldiers used their hooks to latch onto the Titan's legs, cutting through its tendons and immobilizing it. The creature crashed down, right into the waiting net.
But it wasn't over. The Titan struggled, trying to lash out with its arms. One of Levi's team members was nearly caught in its grasp, but Levi acted with lightning speed, severing the Titan's lower and upper jaw before it could do any more damage.
Sana couldn't tear her eyes away. The brutality of it all—it was overwhelming. But Levi was in control, cutting through the chaos with a precision that left everyone watching in stunned silence.
For years, no one had seen anyone kill a Titan so effortlessly. It seemed too easy when Levi did it. But it wasn't easy—it never was. His strength was unmatched, and his focus, absolute.
Once the Titan was incapacitated, the nets were raised, and the 5-meter Titan was safely secured. Hange's team would transport it to headquarters, and it would be dealt with there.
Hange and Moblit stayed behind as the others began the transport. Their focus was on Dina Fritz, the special Titan. It was crucial to keep her capture a secret—there could be no mistakes. The truth about Dina's identity could not be known yet.
Sana knew it seemed inhumane—cutting down the Titans like this—but there was no other option. If they didn't take precautions, they risked everything.
She could only pray for forgiveness, for this mission to succeed, and for them to survive long enough to make a difference. The next step was clear: capture Dina Fritz.
Everything depended on it.