Chapter 20 - Sealing The Wall

Hello, Drinor here. I'm happy to publish a new Chapter of Attack on Titan: A Warrior of DevilsIf you want to Read the Following TWO Chapters, Write 'www.Patreon.com/Drinor' in the Websearch.The following 2 chapters are already available to Patrons.Chapter 21 (A Warrior's Heart), and Chapter 22 (The Trial of Eren Yeager) are already available for Patrons.In the ruins of Trost, dust and smoke veil the sky. The once-bustling market squares and residential blocks are now mere shadows, littered with debris and the remnants of lives too hastily abandoned.Jaime and his squad cut through the chaos.The air, thick with the stench of blood and fire, carries the distance. Jaime's expression is unreadably calm, and his movements are fluid and controlled. He leads from the front. His eyes scan the environment, trying to find the Titans.A sudden shout pierces the relative calm as the squad maneuvers through the shattered cityscape. "Captain! To your left!" The warning comes from Agnesa, her voice edged with urgency.Jaime's reaction is instantaneous, his body swinging towards the threat as his eyes catch sight of a seven-meter Titan barreling toward two of his younger squad members, Mikkel and Dorando, who are momentarily distracted.The Titan, its grotesque face a mask of mindless hunger, reaches out with hands that could crush stone. Jaime propels himself forward, his vertical maneuvering equipment hissing as he cuts a swift, sharp arc through the air. The wires tether him between the remnants of two buildings, giving him the perfect vantage as he unsheathes his dual blades with a flick of his wrists. With a cold flicker of his eyes, he dives, striking at the nape of the Titan's neck. The creature stumbles, a gurgling cry erupting from its throat as it collapses, mere feet from the petrified soldiers."Stay sharp, don't let your guard down for a second," Jaime orders, his voice barely louder than a whisper. The two nod, visibly shaken but alive, rejoining the formation as the squad continues their advance.Jaime knew this mission would be grueling, but every second counted. The longer he took, the more people would fall prey to the Titans' jaws.Commander Pyxis had entrusted him with one of his squads, and Jaime was determined to bring them all back alive. With a deep breath, he surged forward, the whir of his ODM Gear echoing in his ears. His focus was razor-sharp—until a massive Titan's hand punched through the air towards him.Without missing a beat, Jaime launched his grappling hook into the Titan's shoulder. In one fluid motion, he adjusted his swords, spinning around the giant's arm, leaving a crimson trail in his wake. With a final burst of speed, he slashed through the Titan's face, obliterating its eyes, before slashing the nape. But no rest came—two more Titans were barreling toward him.His squad, still trailing behind, watched in stunned awe as Jaime felled the other two Titans in quick succession. The third, now blind and dead, slammed into a nearby building, steam rising from its collapsing body."Who the hell is this guy?" one of the squad members stammered, eyes wide. "How is he still a Cadet? Are we sure he's not a Survey Corps Veteran?""Hey! What are you doing just standing there?" Jaime's voice cut through the shock like a blade, snapping them back to reality. He landed smoothly near them, his gaze sharp with authority."Follow my lead!" Jaime barked. "Domeric, distract them! Agnesa, Jacob—you two take out their knees while Domeric keeps them busy. I'll finish the job.""Yes, sir!" they shouted, scrambling into position as five Titans lumbered toward them, blocking their path to the gate. Domeric darted forward, using his ODM Gear to stay just out of reach of their grasping hands."Come on, you overgrown bastards!" Domeric taunted, narrowly avoiding the clumsy swipes of the Titans as he led them toward a bell tower. Meanwhile, Agnesa and Jacob swooped in from behind with war cries, slicing through the tendons of the Titans' knees.Jaime didn't waste a moment, launching himself at the weakened Titans. One after another, he severed their napes with precision, but as he finished the second, a scream pierced the air."Help!" a desperate voice cried.Jaime's gaze snapped to Agnesa, who had been caught by a Titan's massive hand, her terrified screams filling the air. The two other Titans were still struggling to stand, their knees severed but they were still alive.With a burst of speed, Jaime launched himself directly into the path of the first Titan, narrowly dodging its snapping jaws. The creature's teeth clamped shut on empty air as it crashed into its companion, giving Jaime the opening he needed. He shot toward the Titan holding Agnesa, slicing through its wrist in one clean motion. The severed hand fell, and Agnesa tumbled to the ground just as Jaime delivered the final blow to the Titan's nape, blood spraying through the air. Jaime's purple eyes were ablaze as he killed the other two Titans.Jaime landed heavily on a nearby rooftop, the tiles cracking beneath him. His chest heaved as he surveyed the battlefield. The rest of his team joined him, their faces a mixture of guilt and fear. Agnesa looked shaken but alive. The other two... cowards. Jaime's fury boiled over as he stepped toward them, his gaze like fire."You two just stood there!" Jaime's voice rang out, filled with rage. "You watched your comrade nearly die and did nothing!"Jaime clenched his jaw, biting back the urge to yell. There wasn't time for discipline, not now. They were on a countdown, and the clock was merciless. "Either fight, or better yet, go find a corner to hide like cowards," he snapped. Without waiting for a response, he turned to face the gate.The path to the gate was eerily clear for the moment, but beyond Wall Rose, Titans marched steadily toward them. Inside the city, more of the monsters had already begun to approach, their mindless hunger driving them forward. Jaime knew the odds—there weren't enough soldiers, not enough gas, and if they tried to take on all the Titans, they'd be dead before reinforcements could make a difference. As much skill as he had, Jaime wasn't invincible.His gaze shifted upward toward the wall, memories flooding back of when that giant bastard—the Colossal Titan—had appeared. Jaime had barely managed to prevent it from destroying all the cannons."You two, get up there," Jaime ordered sharply. "The Colossal didn't manage to take out all the cannons. Use what's left to take out the Titans coming our way." The soldiers saluted quickly and shot off with their ODM Gear, disappearing over the wall's edge.Jaime turned to Agnesa, his voice firm. "Agnesa, give the signal. It's time to start the operation.""But sir, there are still Titans inside Trost!" she protested, her eyes wide with concern."Yeah, and we can't kill them all," Jaime responded sharply. "The path to the gate is clear *right now*. That's what matters. If Eren can seal the gate, the cannons will deal with the rest. If we wait, we're dead, and more Titans will pour through that breach. Now send the signal!""Yes, sir." Agnesa quickly grabbed the flare gun and shot a green flare into the sky. It soared high above, signaling the start of the operation.Jaime watched as another green flare shot up from the far side of the wall, signaling their comrades in position. His heart surged with a mix of hope and dread as he saw Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and their group take off toward the boulder. They were so close.Suddenly, a golden bolt of lightning crashed down, and Jaime's heart nearly stopped. His mind flashed back to when the Colossal Titan appeared, marked by the same kind of lightning. This wasn't just a coincidence.But Jaime had no time to dwell on the possibility of a traitor in their midst. He had to focus—Eren needed to seal the wall. "So it's true! Eren... he's terrifying!" Agnesa whispered, her voice thick with disbelief.Jaime watched the Rogue Titan as it turned toward the boulder. "Come on, Eren," he muttered under his breath. "You can do this."But instead of lifting the boulder, Eren's Titan form suddenly punched the roof of a nearby house, sending debris flying. Jaime's eyes widened in horror."What the—" Jaime's words caught in his throat as Eren's Titan then punched himself in the face, collapsing to the ground, steam billowing from his body.Agnesa's voice broke the silence, panic rising in her tone. "What's happening? Why is he doing that?"Before Jaime could respond, a red flare streaked into the sky. The failure signal. His blood turned cold."Did we already fail?" Agnesa asked, her voice trembling.Jaime muttered a curse under his breath. They were out of time. He wanted to rush to Eren, to figure out what had gone wrong, but that wasn't an option now. Titans were closing in fast. They had to protect Eren's position at all costs, even if he was down for the moment. The mission had to succeed, no matter what.He glanced at Agnesa, who was frozen in fear, her eyes wide and filled with terror. Jaime gritted his teeth, grabbing her by the shoulder and forcing her to meet his gaze."Hey, snap out of it! If you just stand here, you'll die. Do you hear me?" His voice was fierce, commanding."Y-Yes, sir," she stammered, her voice weak, filled with defeat."Then move! Don't just stand there waiting to be eaten. We have to protect the Rogue Titan. We might die, but if we do, at least our loved ones will live. So, what's it going to be? Stand here and die, or come with me and die fighting?"Agnesa's eyes hardened, determination replacing her fear. "I WILL FIGHT, SIR!" she shouted."Good," Jaime replied with a grim nod. "Then follow me."Without hesitation, he leaped over the roof, his ODM Gear propelling him forward. Behind him, Agnesa followed her newfound resolve propelling her into the fray. The battle wasn't over yet.Jaime swiftly dispatched the two Titans closest to Eren, his blades slicing through their napes with precision. Mikasa mirrored his movements on the opposite side, taking down two more, but it wasn't enough. More Titans kept coming as if drawn to Eren's Titan like moths to a flame.Agnesa fought with fear in her eyes, slashing through the kneecap of one Titan and sending it crashing to the ground. Jaime wasted no time delivering the killing blow. Another Titan lunged toward Agnesa, but with quick reflexes, she used her grappling hook to propel herself backward in a burst of gas, making her the perfect decoy. Jaime seized the opportunity, dropping down from above and cutting through the nape of the Titan with a swift, deadly strike.The Titan collapsed, and Jaime felt a wave of relief as Agnesa rejoined him on the rooftop. They sprinted toward Eren's location, where they spotted Armin standing on Eren's back, his face filled with desperation. Eren's Titan form was missing its face, steam rising from the gaping wound."Armin! Why isn't Eren moving?" Jaime shouted, his voice tight with frustration as he scanned the battlefield. In the distance, a soldier's scream was abruptly cut off by the sickening crunch of teeth."I don't know!" Armin yelled back, his voice cracking with helplessness. "I'm trying everything, but he's not responding!"Jaime cursed under his breath as Mikasa landed beside him, her eyes relieved at seeing him unharmed. But there was no time for relief. "Armin, keep trying! He *has* to seal that wall! Do whatever it takes!" Jaime ordered, determination hardening his voice. With no other choice, he focused on keeping the Titans at bay.Come on, Eren. You can do this; Jaime's thoughts raced as he used his ODM Gear to blind a Titan with a well-timed burst of gas, disorienting the creature long enough to slice through its nape in one fluid motion. More shouts for help rang out, and Jaime didn't hesitate. Another soldier was in trouble.Three Titans were converging on the soldier's position. Jaime adjusted his grip on his blades, one facing forward, the other backward. Without thinking, he launched into a whirlwind of motion, spinning around the first Titan's back, his blades carving through its nape. Blood sprayed in an arc as Jaime seamlessly moved to the second Titan, slicing through the creature's nape before it could react.In the chaos, Jaime's vision tunneled to his final target—the Titan holding the struggling soldier. His movements were sharp and instinctive, and before he even realized it, the Titan was dead, collapsing in a heap as Jaime landed on a nearby rooftop."Holy crap, Sir! How did you do that?" Agnesa gasped, her eyes wide with awe as she landed beside him, followed by the soldier he'd just rescued."Sir, thank you!" the soldier choked out, hugging Jaime's waist, tears brimming in his eyes."You can thank me by surviving," Jaime said curtly, pulling away as the soldier took a shaky sip of water, trying to steady himself.Jaime glanced down at his hands, the realization hitting him. That...that was new. He had never moved like that before—never fought like that. The skill, the speed—it felt almost impossible to do. *What the hell just happened?* He had never seen anyone fight like that, so where had it come from?*"Awakening."* The thought struck him suddenly. Kenny had mentioned, vaguely, warning him that if he ever wanted to survive against the Titans, he would need to awaken. But Jaime had never fully understood what that meant. He knew he got stronger; that much was obvious, but why could he suddenly make moves he had never seen or heard before?Before he could dwell on it further, the rest of the squad, including Mikasa, regrouped with him. Rico's voice cut through the air, laced with urgency. "Sir, this isn't working! We can't hold this position forever!" She shouted at Ian, who stood silent, his eyes fixed on the advancing Titans. Despite the cannons still firing from the wall, more Titans poured through the breach."Maybe..." Jaime hesitated before speaking, but the situation left little room for second-guessing. "Maybe we should cut Eren out of his Titan, get him beyond Wall Rose, and regroup. We need to figure out more about his power before we make any more plans." His suggestion hung in the air, drawing the squad's attention.Mikasa's expression was conflicted, uncertainty flashing in her eyes, but Ian seemed to consider the idea, his gaze hardening with determination."It might be our only chance," Jaime pressed, watching as more Titans closed in. "We have to decide now, or we won't make it out alive."All words came to a stop when they all heard a loud boom!"What the hell was that?"BOOM!!"Where is that coming from?"BOOM!!!Jaime's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. His eyes widened in disbelief and pure exhilaration. "Eren is carrying the boulder!" he shouted, his voice ringing with a mix of awe and relief. He pointed toward the massive stone hovering just above the ground, clutched tightly against Eren's Titan shoulder as he trudged forward. Each of Eren's heavy steps sent shockwaves through the ground, cracks splintering like glass beneath his feet."Eren!" Mikasa's voice broke with joy as she beamed, her eyes locked on the sight of him moving forward. Armin landed beside them, his face flushed with excitement."Mikasa!""Armin?""Eren's done it! He's carrying the boulder to the gate! If he makes it, we win!" Armin's shout echoed across the battlefield, filling the air with a surge of hope that cut through the chaos. The soldiers around them exchanged uncertain glances until Ian's voice roared above the noise, making the decision for all of them."Listen up, soldiers!" Ian's voice boomed with authority. "Protect Eren at all costs until he seals that gate! Even if it means giving your lives!"The order was clear, and determination spread like wildfire through the ranks. Jaime turned to Agnesa, his voice steady. "You heard him. Stay close to me." She nodded quickly, following at his side, with Jonah, the soldier he saved earlier, right behind them.Jaime caught sight of Mitabi's squad sprinting through the streets, desperately trying to divert the Titans' attention. They were putting their lives on the line, but Jaime had his own mission. His gaze locked on the Titans, lumbering toward Eren's left flank."I'll take out their knees. Agnesa, Jonah—finish them!" Jaime barked as he launched himself off the rooftop with his ODM Gear, his body soaring just above the ground. The Titans turned toward him, their massive hands reaching, but Jaime's blades moved faster. With a sharp spin, he sliced through their fingers and then tore into the backs of their knees, sending the giant beasts crashing down."Die, you bastards!" Agnesa yelled, her voice raw as she delivered the killing blow to one of the downed Titans, while Jonah followed suit, driving his blades into the other.Jaime spared a quick glance toward Mitabi's squad, their bodies were scattered across the streets. But then his eyes fell on Ian, who was using his ODM Gear in a desperate attempt to save a soldier already halfway in the jaws of a Titan."Get to the roof!" Jaime shouted to his team, before springing into action. His gear propelled him through the air as he slashed through a smaller Titan clutching a woman. In one smooth motion, he fired his grappling hook straight into the eye of the Titan that held Ian. The creature roared in agony, its grip loosening just enough for Ian to slip out before its jaws could snap shut.Without hesitation, Jaime spun faster than he ever had before, his blades slicing cleanly through the Titan's nape. The creature crumpled to the ground as Jaime landed heavily on the rooftop beside Ian, his breath coming in ragged gasps.Ian, still catching his breath, looked up at him with a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. "Thank you, soldier," he said, his voice thick. "You didn't have to risk your life for me."Jaime shot him a wry smile. "Of course I did. We made promises to our loved ones, didn't we? We're all making it back."Ian let out a shaky laugh, nodding as he got to his feet. "Yeah, you're right. My wife would never forgive me if I didn't. Thank you." He swallowed hard, a smile flickering across his face.Together, they turned to face the gate, and what they saw filled them with hope—Eren was there, standing just in front of the gate, the massive boulder still on his shoulder. The last Titan in his way crumbled to the ground, killed swiftly by Rico and Mikasa.Boom!!Boom!!BOOM!!!"DO IT, EREN!" Armin's voice tore through the field. Eren's Titan roared in response, a monstrous sound that echoed across the battlefield as he slammed the massive boulder into the gaping hole in the gate. The ground quaked violently beneath them, the walls around the breach cracking and trembling. Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, there was silence. A heavy, breathless silence.*Well done, Eren,* Jaime thought, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. Eren had done the impossible—Trost was saved. Despite the countless losses, humanity had earned its first victory against the Titans.Rico fired a green flare into the sky, signaling to the survivors that Trost was secure. The few soldiers left alive let out cheers of triumph, but it was short-lived. There were still Titans roaming the city. The fight wasn't over.---Armin struggled to pull Eren from the nape of his Titan, but the heat radiating from the body was unbearable. The connection between Eren and the Titan felt like fire, searing his skin."Armin," Mikasa called softly as she landed beside him, her face tight with concern."He's too hot. I can't pull him out," Armin said, frustration mounting."We'll have to cut him out," Rico interjected, already unsheathing her blade. Mikasa opened her mouth to protest, but Rico acted swiftly, slicing through the tissue binding Eren to his Titan. The severed connection caused Armin and Eren to fall backward onto the ground below.As Armin looked up, his heart froze—two Titans were lumbering toward them, their grotesque faces twisted in hunger. "ARMIN!" Mikasa's voice rang out in panic.Suddenly, two blurs zipped through the air, and the Titans collapsed in an instant, steam rising from their bodies. Armin, Mikasa, and Eren looked up, eyes wide with disbelief, to see Jaime standing atop one of the fallen Titans. The other figure was a stranger, someone they hadn't seen before."Those are...the Wings of Freedom," Eren murmured, recognizing the emblem on the stranger's cape before the soldier turned to face them, his expression cold and indifferent."Oi, brats, what's going on here?" the stranger barked.Jaime glanced at the exhausted group and knew they couldn't explain. Straightening, he saluted. "Sir. The operation to seal Wall Rose has been a success. Our orders now are to regroup at the top of the wall," Jaime said with respect, his eyes fixed on the Captain.Jaime knew exactly who this man was—the one Kenny had mentioned, Kenny's first brat. Captain Levi.Levi barely spared Jaime a glance, turning to his squad. "Kill the remaining Titans until everyone's reached the top. Then we retreat."Jaime hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next as Agnesa and Jonah joined him, awaiting his command. "What are your orders, sir?" Agnesa asked, her voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on her.Jaime almost told them he was no longer their captain, that his role had been temporary, but he decided against it. "Head to the top of the wall. Your job here is done," he ordered. Jonah gave a respectful bow."Thank you, Captain," Jonah said gratefully before using his ODM Gear to head for safety. But Agnesa lingered, her gaze fixed on Jaime."And you, Captain? What about you?" she asked quietly, her tone edged with concern as she realized he wasn't planning to join them."I need to make sure the rest are safe before I go. Now go, Agnesa. You did good today," Jaime said, offering her a small nod before launching himself back into the fray. He didn't notice the sadness in her eyes as she finally turned to leave.Jaime flew through the battlefield, cutting down every Titan he could. His eyes quickly locked onto a soldier trapped on a tower, his face streaked with tears as two Titans reached up to grab him. Without thinking, Jaime swooped in, dispatching both Titans in quick succession. Another lunged at him, but Jaime spun mid-air, severing its fingers before carving through its nape. But when he looked back, the soldier was gone. He quickly landed on a roof, looking around for him."He's safe, soldier." Jaime whirled around at the calm voice and found himself face-to-face with Captain Levi, his expression as serious as ever."Sir, what are your orders?" Jaime asked, sensing that the fight wasn't quite over.Levi's eyes lingered on Jaime for a moment, studying him with a faint curiosity before turning to his squad as they joined him."Who the hell are you?" one of Levi's soldiers growled, annoyance dripping from his voice as he noticed Jaime. "Why are you still here?""I'm the temporary captain of Squad One of the Garrison. My squad is safe at the top of the wall. I stayed behind to save more lives," Jaime replied, feeling a strange compulsion to explain himself."Well, your job's done. Let's move." Levi ordered.With a nod, Jaime took one last glance around the battlefield before following. For now, his role here was over.Jaime and Levi's squad reached the top of the wall without trouble, and a red flare shot up. The cannons mounted along the wall roared to life, firing down at the remaining Titans in Trost."Yahuu! Look at them go! The cannons are tearing them to shreds!" a Survey Corps soldier shouted in amazement, watching as the Titans were obliterated by the barrage.Jaime paid no attention to the cheers. His focus was on finding Mikasa, Armin, and Eren. When he reached them, he saw Eren slumped against Armin's back, fast asleep, while Mikasa stood protectively in front of him, fending off a woman with glasses who seemed a little too excited."Mikasa, what's going on?" Jaime asked, walking up to the group. His answer came in the form of the strange woman squealing."Oh my God, Erwin! Can I please study him? Can I get closer?!" she cried out, practically drooling at the sight of Eren.Jaime wrinkled his nose in disgust. The woman's enthusiasm was unsettling—like she was one step away from having an orgasm."What's happening here, Erwin?" Levi asked as he approached, standing beside the Commander."Levi, meet the reason Trost is still standing," Erwin replied a hint of amazement in his voice. "Eren Yeager can transform into a Titan and control that body. He used it to lift the boulder and seal the gate." Commander Pyxis nodded in agreement, backing up the explanation.The revelation visibly shook Levi's squad, their eyes locked on the unconscious cadet who had done the impossible."That kid did this?" Petra asked, astonished."He doesn't look like much to me," another soldier muttered, skeptical."What do we do with him now?" someone asked, cutting through the murmurs."We'll put him in an underground cell for the time being," Erwin declared. His words made Mikasa tense up, her protective instincts flaring. Jaime could see it—she was about to say something rash, something that would get her in trouble."I don't think that's a smart move, Commander," Jaime interjected, drawing everyone's attention.Levi narrowed his eyes at him. "And why should we listen to you, brat?"Jaime was a little annoyed; it was not like Levi was taller than him; if anything, he was two inches shorter than Jaime, and he was about to say as much, but Commander Pyxis came to the rescue again as he cleared his throat. "Cadet Jaime has proven himself valuable in this operation, Commander Erwin. He was the one who warned me of what I just shared with you."Erwin's gaze sharpened, studying Jaime with newfound curiosity. "Go on, Cadet Jaime. What do you suggest?"Jaime straightened, his voice steady as he spoke. "I think Eren should not been like a time bomb, it's true that we don't know everything about his abilities yet, but we should not forget that he was the one who sealed Wall Rose and saved Trost. Without him, we would still be counting the seconds until The Armored Titan decided to show up, and destroy the other gate like they did with Shiganshina. I'm sure his apperance made them change their mind and delay the attack. I don't think we shouldn't treat Eren like a criminal. If we put him underground, we don't know what could happen. He could transform accidentally and crush himself. But if we keep him in a safer, more comfortable place, with his friends nearby, there's no reason to fear him."Jaime saluted, finishing his plea. He didn't notice the look of gratitude Mikasa and Armin exchanged behind him."I think Cadet Jaime raises a valid point," Pyxis added with a smile. "And let's not forget, this cadet killed over twenty Titans today."Jaime blinked. *Twenty?* He doubted the number, but Pyxis seemed to enjoy the exaggeration.Jaime noticed Levi glancing at him occasionally, and he wondered if he could somehow tell Kenny had trained him, but he couldn't see how that was possible."Very well," Erwin said at last, turning to Oluo. "Levi Squad, place Eren Yeager in a safe location above ground. I want four soldiers guarding him at all times. Only we and the three cadets who defended him are allowed near him.""Yes, sir!" Levi's squad moved quickly toward Eren's unconscious body. Mikasa, tense and ready to fight, tried to stand between them and Eren, but Jaime gently grabbed her wrist."Mikasa, he'll be safe. Go with him," Jaime said softly.Mikasa hesitated before sighing and nodding. She and Armin followed the squad as they carried Eren away.With the situation finally under control, Jaime's mind wandered to his friends. *Annie, Ymir, Krista—were they safe?* He wanted to check on them, make sure everything was alright. He turned to leave when a voice called out."Cadet Jaime."He stopped, looking up at Commander Erwin, who regarded him with a penetrating stare, as if trying to read his mind."Yes, Commander?""Commander Pyxis mentioned that before the plan to reclaim Trost, you shared an interesting theory with him. I'd like to hear more about it before you leave."This will be a long day...If you want to Read the Following TWO Chapters, Write 'www.Patreon.com/Drinor' in the Websearch.