The heavy rain drummed against the lifeless bodies of the Titans, casting a melancholic rhythm over the battlefield. The air was thick with the stench of death and wet earth. Levi's voice cut through the gloom, his words laced with a mix of relief and somberness. "Petra, shoot the flare."
Petra nodded, her hand moving with precision as she launched a blue flare into the sky. The burst of light illuminated the ravaged landscape, a beacon signaling their hard-won victory against the Aberrants.
The ferocious battle had ended all too suddenly, thanks to Eren's bravery and instincts. Now, as the Centre Rear contingent arrived, accompanied by Erwin and Miche, Eren's face lit up with a wide smile. He rushed towards Erwin, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the thrill of triumph. "Commander! We took care of the Aberrants! And I killed the three tall ones!"
Erwin's expression remained stoic, but a hint of pride flickered in his eyes as he dismounted his horse and approached the squad. "Good job, young soldier," he said, his voice firm but measured, as he patted Eren's head.
"Hange, status report," Erwin commanded, his gaze sweeping across the squad.
Hange's expression turned somber as she began to recount the incident. "It's odd, Commander. The Centre Front didn't report any contact earlier. It's possible they were ambushed, and before they could respond, the Titans were upon them, wiping them out in seconds." Hange continued," But we did manage to kill the Aberrants."
Erwin nodded as he commanded Miche to launch a flare to indicate all troops gathering at the current spot. As the orange flare soared into the sky, the Levi Squad, minus Levi himself, swarmed around Eren, their faces beaming with pride. Gunthur ruffled Eren's hair, chuckling, "Man, that was quite a performance, Eren!" Petra, however, squeezed the life out of the little kid, her voice laced with concern, "That was too reckless, Eren! You're not a professional... what if you'd gotten caught in the attack? You wouldn't have survived..."
Oluo intervened, "Come on, Petra, dear, he did a great job. Don't scold him for that."
As the group shared a hearty laugh, the other troops began to arrive, their faces etched with exhaustion and relief. Erwin and Hange stood apart, engaged in a heated discussion. "We need to decide whether to continue the expedition," Erwin said, his eyes scanning the darkening horizon. "The clouds are closing in, which has its pros and cons. The Titans won't be able to move properly without sunlight, but the muddy ground will hinder our horses' progress."
Hange furrowed her brow, "If we press on, we risk getting stuck due to the mud. But if we turn back, we'll lose valuable time and ground."
As the discussion unfolded, Eren bounded towards Levi, his eyes aglow with excitement, and his determination at its peak. He grasped Levi's bloody hand like a little kid, eager to share his triumph. "Hey Levi, wasn't that amazing... the way I killed the Titans!"
Levi's expression remained stoic, but his actions betrayed his anger. He pulled his hand free from Eren's grip and seized Eren's collar, lifting him off the ground. "Hey, Captain, what are you—"
Petra's protest was cut short as Levi's fury erupted. "Tell me, Eren, what did I told you before starting this expedition?" he thundered, his eyes blazing with intensity.
Eren's confusion was palpable. "Eh? What happened, Levi?"
Levi's gaze locked onto Eren's, his teeth clenched in rage. "I told you to follow every order I gave, without question! And yet, you disobeyed me. You charged into battle without waiting for my signal. Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
"But I saw an opening, so I—" Eren tried to explain, but Levi's response cut him off, his voice dripping with venom. "What damn opening? You think you're more qualified? If you want to be in my squad, you have to fight my way. No exceptions."
Erwin and the others, sensing Levi's rage, hastened towards him, trying to loosen his grip on Eren's collar, which seemed ready to tear apart at any moment. "Tch... I guess it was a mistake bringing you along. You aren't good enough to be a soldier," Levi spat, releasing his grip off Eren's collar. Eren fell to the ground, his eyes fixed on the dirt, his face etched with disappointment.
As he tried to apologize, Levi turned his back, ignoring him. "Erwin, he'll be with your squad for the rest of the expedition." The words hung in the air like a death sentence.
Hange rushed to Eren's side, trying to lift him up, but his gaze remained fixed on the ground. For the first time, he felt the sting of Levi's disappointment, and it cut deeper than any Titan's blade.
"Very well, then," Erwin replied, his gaze shifting to Eren, his voice firm and commanding. "Soldier, get up!"
Eren nodded, his nose reddening as he struggled to hold back tears. He muttered under his breath, "Fuck you, Levi..." as he approached Erwin and mounted his horse.
Erwin's expression remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed a hint of concern. He decided to press on, leveraging the rain's advantage. The squad reorganized into two groups: one led by Miche and Eren as the left wing, the other by Erwin himself as the right wing. The Levi Squad took the center front, with the amateurs at the rear, providing protection and signaling support in case of emergencies.
As they ventured deeper into the unknown, the rain intensified, casting a gloomy veil over the landscape. Eren's heart was still heavy with grief due to Levi's toxic words but he knew he had to focus on the mission. The Titans wouldn't wait for their personal dramas to unfold.
After a long ride, A dense forest enveloped them, its towering trees like sentinels guarding ancient secrets. The rain's gentle patter on the leaves above created a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Eren. Miche's voice cut through the silence, his words dripping with a warm, gentle cadence.
"So, what's your name, kid?"
Eren's response was hesitant, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm Eren. Eren Yeager."
Miche nodded thoughtfully, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I never thought Commander Erwin would bring a kid on such an expedition, especially as a member of the Levi Squad. I think Erwin's out of his mind." Eren remained quiet not wanting to reply.
The forest seemed to grow quieter, as if the trees themselves were listening to the conversation. "Are you still mad a Levi?" Eren's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and hurt.
Miche's expression turned somber, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Levi has his own ways of expressing emotions. What you saw wasn't just anger; it was something deeper." Suddenly Eren's expression changed, confusion etched on his face,
" Eh? What do you mean? He was just scolding me"
"And why was he scolding you?" Miche asked his gaze piercing through Eren. "Because I attacked the Aberrants without waiting for his signal." Eren replied.
Miche nodded asking ," Why are Aberrants labelled as Aberrants and not Titans."
"Well because they can ru...." Eren answered but before he could finish Miche interrupted," Wrong! Kid the reason why they are labelled Aberrants is because their movements and behaviour are unpredictable. Some can sprint , some can even climb trees. They can even change course at any moment."
Eren's gaze fell realizing why Levi had emphasized following his orders.
Miche's voice brought him back to reality
"Surving against Aberrants requires great skills and what some call luck. You can't always predict their actions."
Eren's eyes flashed with defensiveness. "He could've just talked to me like a normal person, like you're doing now. What was the point of showing all that anger and frustration?"
"Levi's not like us Eren. The day he found out that you were his cousin he swore to protect you." Eren's hurriedly asked," Why though.."
"He's lost a lot of people in his life.. his mother, his friends Isabella and Farlan.. Everyone he cared about he lost... He's learned to keep moving forward even when the pain becomes numb..." Miche replied knowing all about Levi.
The trees seemed to loom closer, their branches tangling above like skeletal fingers. Eren's gaze fell, his shoulders sagging under the weight of Miche's words.
The forest was silent now, the only sound the soft thudding of horses' hooves on the damp earth.
Miche's voice broke the silence once more, his words laced with a deep concern. "I fear losing more of his family might shatter him completely, Eren. That's why he's so worried about losing you... You're like a little brother to him. So don't die on him, Yeager."
Miche's words pierced Eren's heart like a sword, leaving a deep emotional wound. Eren's smile was gentle, his nod barely perceptible. "Hmm.. okay..."
Suddenly, A scout member's urgent call cut through the air. "Four normal Titans approaching due east!"
Miche's gaze locked onto Eren's, his eyes burning with intensity. "Ready, Eren?"
Eren's nod was resolute, his green eyes flashing with determination. Miche drew his blades, the metal glinting in the fading light.
With a deep breath, they charged towards the Titans, their movements a symphony of death. Eren launched his grapple hooks towards the sturdy trees, the metal biting into the thick bark with a satisfying crunch. With a burst of gas, he propelled himself upwards, his gear whirring as he soared towards the Titans.
The Titans, oblivious to the danger, lumbered forward, their eyes fixed on the scouts. But Eren and Miche were the predators now, their blades slashing through the air with deadly precision.
Eren's blades sliced through the Titan's neck, the sound of flesh tearing and bones crunching echoing through the forest. The Titan's head lolled to the side, its eyes frozen in a permanent stare. But Eren didn't stop there. He swung his blades in wide arcs, cutting through the Titan's shoulders and chest, the metal biting deep into its flesh.
Miche joined the fray, his own blades flashing in the fading light. He darted between the Titans, his movements a blur of speed and precision. His blades struck true, slicing through the Titans' legs and arms, sending them crashing to the ground.
The Titans retaliated, their massive fists swinging wildly. Eren and Miche dodged and weaved, avoiding the blows with ease. They were a well-oiled machine, their movements choreographed to perfection.
Eren launched himself at the largest Titan, his blades flashing . He struck again and again, the Titan's flesh tearing apart under his onslaught. The Titan stumbled, its legs buckling beneath its massive frame.
Miche took advantage of the opening, striking the final blow. The Titan crashed to the ground, its body shuddering with a final, violent tremor.
The forest was silent once more, the only sound the heavy breathing of the two scouts. Eren and Miche stood victorious, their blades still trembling with the force of their blows. The other scout members shot flare for signaling.
But their triumph was short-lived. A new Titan emerged from the trees, its eyes fixed on Eren with a malevolent glare. Eren's heart sank, his grip on his blades tightening. This one was different. This one was bigger, stronger, and faster. Maybe an Aberent and about 17 meters.
The battle was far from over.
"I'll take out the arms, you take out the legs!" Miche bellowed, his voice echoing through the forest as he launched himself at the towering Titan.
Eren nodded, his eyes fixed on the Titan's massive feet. He crouched low, his swords held in reverse grips, and pressed the button on his sword handle. The grapple hooks shot out, biting into the trees behind the Titan with a loud thud.
With a burst of speed, Eren released the gas and pulled the lever, soaring towards the Titan's feet. "Right there," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity as he sliced through the Titan's leg's joints.
With a loud and deafening roar, The Titan crashed to the ground, its arms flailing wildly as Miche took them out with swift precision. Eren saw his chance and took it, positioning his body horizontally as he launched his hooks upwards, gaining ground with a swift burst of speed.
In mid-air, he launched his hooks again, this time at the fallen Titan's nape. With a fierce cry," Die!" he slashed through the Titan's neck, the blade biting deep. The head separated from the body, blood gushing out in a crimson fountain that splattered Eren's face and clothes.
The scouts watched in awe, impressed by Eren's confidence and skill." The hell who is this kid." One of the scouts said while the other replied," I heard captain Levi himself trained him." Another scout continued," And look at that style... the way he's holding the blades.... reverse grip just like captain levi." While the scouts whispered Miche approached Eren as he nodded in approval, a hint of a smile on his face. "Well done, Eren. You're a natural."
Eren smiled, relieved, as the other scouts approached them with their horses. "Alright, let's go," Miche ordered, mounting his horse with a sense of urgency.
As they advanced towards the forest's edge, they were met with a sea of white flares, indicating a full retreat back to the walls. Eren's brow furrowed in confusion. "That's odd. Why did Erwin call off the expedition?"
Miche's gaze swept the horizon, his eyes narrowing at the sight of countless red flares. "Tch... those damn Titans. They're everywhere."
"Captain, look!" one of the scouts exclaimed, pointing towards the horizon. "A brown flare!"
Miche's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the flare, his mind racing with possibilities. "It's from the center front," he muttered, his voice laced with concern.
Eren's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. "What does it mean?"
Miche's expression turned grim. "It means the Levi Squad will engage themselves with the Titans."
Eren's fear was palpable, his eyes wide with worry. "I... I have to go. I can't leave them to fight the Titans alone." He knew the Levi Squad was capable, but the thought of them facing the Titans in an open field, without support, was haunting.
Miche placed a reassuring hand on Eren's shoulder. "Don't worry, Eren. It's a piece of cake for them to handle Titans like those. They're the best scouts we have."
Eren nodded reluctantly, knowing he couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment. Miche launched a white flare, confirming their retreat, and Eren followed suit, his heart heavy with concern for the Levi Squad.
As they retreated, Eren couldn't shake off the feeling that they were leaving the Levi Squad to face the Titans alone, and that thought haunted him.
As the Miche squad emerged from the treacherous forest, they spotted blue flares on the horizon, signaling the Levi squad's victory over the Titans. Eren's heart swelled with pride and relief as he watched the white flares rise, indicating the Levi squad's retreat.
"Man, they really are amazing," Eren exclaimed, his smile wide with admiration.
A scout chuckled. "What else do you expect? They're the Levi squad, led by the strongest soldier."
As the orange flares dominated the horizon, the troops gathered, preparing to move as a single unit. The clouds scattered and The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. Soon The Levi squad caught up, their exhaustion evident on their faces.
Eren's eyes met Levi's, but Levi didn't acknowledge him, his expression still stern. Eren decided to wait until they were within the walls to talk to him, not wanting to risk another confrontation.
The rest of the squad was welcoming, though. "Yo, kiddo! Great to see you still breathing," Oluo said with a grin.
Eren nodded, knowing they had been worried about him after the Titan attack in the forest. Erwin's voice cut through the chatter, his decision firm. "We won't be resting tonight. We'll press on to Shiganshina, torches in hand."
The scouts nodded, their faces set with determination. They knew the journey ahead would be long and treacherous, but they were ready.
The scouts travelled for the whole night and the next half day till afternoon before reaching the Gates of Shiganshina despite the arduous journey they safely arrived.
As the gates of Shiganshina creaked open, a warm golden light spilled out, bathing the weary scouts in its radiance. The crowd's cheers and smiles enveloped them like a gentle embrace, soothing their fatigue. Eren's eyes lit up with relief as the scouts moved inside, his muscles aching from the constant riding.
"Man, finally! Long journeys are such a pain," he exclaimed, stretching his arms over his head. The crowd parted as the scouts made their way through, their horses' hooves clattering on the cobblestone streets.
The crowd's laughter and applause swirled around them, a joyous cacophony that lifted their spirits. The scouts smiled, their faces creasing with exhaustion, as they waved to the crowd.
Erwin's voice rang out, his eyes shining with pride. "Citizens of Shiganshina, today we stand before you, weary but triumphant. We've faced the Titans, and we've emerged victorious.
We've lost comrades, friends, and family members. But we've also gained something invaluable - hope.
Hope that we can reclaim our world from the Titans. Hope that we can rebuild and restart.
We, the Scout Regiment, have taken the first step towards a brighter future. And we won't stop here.
We'll keep pushing forward, no matter the cost. We'll keep fighting for every inch of the land this world could offer.
And we won't do it alone. We'll do it together, as a people, united in our determination to survive and thrive.
So let us honor the memories of those we've lost. Let us celebrate our victories, and let us march forward, together, into a brighter future!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their faces wet with tears, as Erwin's words ignite a fire of hope and determination within them
The crowd's cheers grew louder, their voices hoarse from shouting. The scouts' horses, sensing their riders' relief, nickered softly, their ears pricked up in exhaustion.
As they made their way through the crowd, the scouts were met with warm hugs and pats on the back. The injured soldiers were whisked away to the medical ward, their wounds tended to with gentle care.
Despite the six casualties and several injured, the atmosphere was one of triumph and gratitude. The scouts had faced the unknown and emerged victorious.
But....
A soft whisper cut through the jeering crowd, "Eren?" Eren's eyes scanned the sea of faces, landing on a girl dressed in blue, her hat shading her eyes. His expression faltered, surprise etched on his face...
"Fuck..!"