As the inky darkness of the moonless night enveloped the lush forest, the valiant soldiers of the Survey Corps advanced steadily towards their fateful destination. The rhythmic clopping of their horses' hooves against the soft earth filled the air, a symphony of determination and purpose. Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the stillness, causing the troops to halt abruptly. A soldier, his eyes wide with alarm, pointed towards a towering figure in the distance - a Titan, motionless and silent, seemingly dormant in the absence of the sun's energizing rays.
Hange, her mind ever-buzzing with theories and speculations, recalled the chilling incident at Wall Rose, where Titans had inexplicably moved under the cover of night. "Could it be," she mused aloud, her voice trembling with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, "that the moonlight, a mere reflection of the sun's power, provided these aberrant Titans with just enough energy to stir from their slumber?" The thought hung heavy in the air as the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of their mission amplified by the potential presence of nocturnal foes.
As the first tentative rays of dawn began to paint the horizon in hues of orange and pink, the Survey Corps approached the base of the towering wall that encircled the ruins of Shiganshina. Erwin, his voice ringing with authority, commanded his soldiers to switch to their ODM gear, the metallic clicks and whirs filling the air as they prepared to scale the immense barrier.
"Listen well," Erwin began, his steely blue eyes scanning the assembled troops. "Our plan is twofold. First, we must seal both gates of the district, isolating the area and preventing any Titans from escaping. Second, we eliminate any Titans that remain trapped within Shiganshina's walls." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Remember, there may be hidden enemies seeking to capture Eren. Keep your hoods up at all times to conceal your identities and confuse our adversaries."
As the soldiers began their ascent, Eren paused for a moment, his green eyes filled with a mixture of nostalgia and pain as he gazed upon the crumbling remains of his childhood home. Levi, ever-vigilant, noticed his hesitation and barked, "Stay focused, Eren. We have no time for distractions." Eren nodded, his jaw set with determination as he propelled himself upwards, keeping pace with his squad.
Aaron Mustang, his emerald eyes sharp and calculating, moved alongside Levi's squad, his every sense attuned to the slightest irregularity. Suddenly, he froze, his gaze fixed upon a smudge of soot marring the top of the wall. "A fire," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing with possibilities. "Erwin!" he called out, his voice urgent. "I found evidence of a recent campfire. Reiner and Bertolt could be nearby."
On the outer wall of Shiganshina, Hange surveyed the surrounding area, her brow furrowed with concern. "The Titans," she remarked, her voice tinged with unease. "They're nowhere to be seen." Levi, his expression impassive, replied, "Doesn't matter. We stick to the plan." Hange nodded, raising her flare gun and firing a verdant green signal into the sky, marking the commencement of their operation.
Erwin, his gaze fixed upon Aaron, placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Stay with me, Mustang," he commanded, his voice low and earnest. "Conserve your strength. We need you at your best to face the Shifters." Aaron, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination, nodded in acknowledgment.
As the green flare arced across the sky, Eren leaped into action, his ODM gear carrying him swiftly towards the breach in the outer wall. With a primal roar, he sank his teeth into his hand, his body engulfed in a blinding flash of light as he transformed into his Titan form. Unbeknownst to the Survey Corps, Reiner and Bertolt watched from their hidden vantage point, their eyes narrowed with anticipation.
Eren's Titan form slammed into the breach, his hardened skin sealing the gap with a resounding crash. Mikasa, ever his faithful guardian, swiftly helped him rejoin the squad, her black hair whipping in the wind. "My gear's intact," Eren reported, his voice raspy from the exertion of the transformation, "but I lost my cloak." Without hesitation, Mikasa unclasped her own cloak and draped it over his shoulders, a silent gesture of unwavering support.
A flare streaked across the sky, announcing the successful sealing of the outer gate. The squads converged upon the inner gate, ready to begin the next phase of their plan. Eren, his brow furrowed with confusion, remarked, "That was... almost too easy." Levi, his voice cold and unyielding, replied, "Don't let your guard down. As long as our enemies live, they can break through these walls again and again. This operation isn't over until we take down Reiner, Bertolt, and any other allies they may have."
Erwin and Aaron watched as Hange's squad fired a flare, signaling the completion of the outer gate's sealing. "Something's not right," Aaron mused, his eyes scanning the area. "Not a single Titan sighting. Could the enemy be caught off guard?" Erwin, his expression pensive, replied, "Perhaps, but we can't be certain."
Suddenly, Armin rushed towards them, his face flushed with excitement. "Commander! Captain Mustang!" he called out, his voice breathless. "I found something." He held up a metal teapot, its surface still warm to the touch. "Three cups, with residue of what appears to be black tea. And look," he pointed to the soot Aaron had noticed earlier, "evidence of a recent fire."
Aaron's eyes widened with realization. "The bearded bastard must be with them."
Erwin, his mind racing, asked, "Was the teapot cold, Armin?"
"Yes, sir," Armin replied, his brow furrowed with confusion. "But that doesn't make sense. We arrived as quickly as possible. If they noticed our approach, it could only have been minutes ago at most."
Erwin nodded, his expression grave. "A teapot takes far longer to cool. Our enemies must have prepared in less than ten minutes."
Armin's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "A lookout," he breathed. "They must have been warned of our arrival. There could be many more enemies hidden throughout the district."
Erwin, his gaze appraising, placed a hand on Armin's shoulder. "Your analytical skills are impressive, Armin. I'm placing a squad under your command. Find our adversaries."
The soldiers, their expressions determined, turned to Armin for guidance. "Search the nearby buildings," Armin instructed, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "Leave no stone unturned."
The squad hesitated, glancing at Aaron. "Shouldn't Captain Mustang assist us?" one soldier ventured, his voice uncertain.
Aaron, his eyes narrowing, fixed the soldier with a withering glare. "Follow Arlert's orders," he growled, his voice leaving no room for argument. Turning to Nanaba, he added, "Go with them. Keep them focused."
Nanaba, her blue eyes shining with determination, nodded. "Yes, Captain." She turned to the squad, her voice ringing with authority. "You heard him. Move out!"
As the squad dispersed, Aaron turned to Erwin, his expression grim. "Hange's squad is approaching the inner gate. Should we wait for the enemy to reveal themselves before sealing it?"
Erwin shook his head, his voice resolute. "No. We proceed as planned. If this battle drags on, our chances of victory diminish." He paused, a glimmer of something akin to amusement in his eyes. "Sometimes, it's best to play along with the enemy's plan. They're not the only ones with a trick up their sleeve."
Armin, his heart pounding, watched as Eren approached, his eyes filled with concern. Despite their best efforts, the enemy remained elusive, their presence undetected. Suddenly, a memory flashed through Armin's mind - the Titan in the Stohess District, hidden within the wall itself. With a gasp of realization, he raised his flare gun, firing a signal to gather the search squad.
"The walls," Armin explained, his voice urgent. "We need to search inside the walls themselves. There could be hollow sections where they're hiding."
The soldiers, their expressions skeptical, protested. "We already checked the walls," one argued, his voice tinged with frustration.
Armin, his blue eyes blazing with determination, shook his head. "Not inside. Trust me. If they're anywhere, that's where they'll be."
Nanaba, her brow furrowed with concentration, spoke up. "Arlert's right. We can't afford to overlook any possibility."
She turned to the squad, her voice ringing with authority. "You two, take the north side. You three, the south. Check every inch of those walls. Arlert and I will take the east and west."
As the soldiers scattered to their assigned tasks, Nanaba turned to Armin, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Good catch," she praised, her voice warm with approval. "The Captain was right to put his faith in you."
Armin, his cheeks flushing with a mixture of pride and embarrassment, nodded. "Thank you, Squad Leader. I just hope I'm right."
Nanaba clapped him on the shoulder, her grip firm and reassuring. "Only one way to find out. Let's get to work."
As they propelled themselves towards the wall, their ODM gear carrying them swiftly through the air, Armin's mind raced with possibilities. If the enemy truly was hidden within the walls, they needed to flush them out quickly, before they could strike at Eren or the unknowing soldiers below.
Meanwhile, Aaron and Erwin watched the unfolding scene with a mixture of anticipation and unease. The air was thick with tension, the knowledge that their enemies could be lurking just out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Mustang," Erwin began, his voice low and earnest, "if the Shifters reveal themselves, you know what to do."
Aaron nodded, his eyes hard with determination. "I'll take them down, no matter the cost."
In a heart-stopping moment, one of the soldiers discovered a seemingly hollow section within the wall. Suddenly, an opening appeared, and Reiner emerged from within, his blade glinting in the sunlight as he mercilessly killed the unsuspecting soldier. Armin watched in horror as Reiner stepped out of his hiding place, his eyes filled with a chilling determination.
Without hesitation, Levi launched himself at Reiner, his blades slicing through the air with deadly precision. He carved into Reiner's nape and plunged his swords deep into his abdomen, his movements a blur of speed and skill. Yet, miraculously, Reiner survived the onslaught, his Titan powers granting him an uncanny resilience.
Levi, his eyes narrowed with suspicion, kicked Reiner off the wall, his ODM gear anchoring him to the surface as he pondered the extent of the Titan's regenerative abilities. As Reiner plummeted to the ground below, he transformed in a blinding flash of light, his Titan form rising from the earth like a monstrous colossus.
Erwin, his voice booming with authority, ordered the troops to search for the remaining enemies. Suddenly, a series of dazzling flashes illuminated the sky behind him, and as he turned, his heart sank at the sight before him. The Beast Titan loomed in the distance, a small army of pure Titans at his command.
With a mighty heave, the Beast Titan hurled a massive boulder towards the wall, its impact shaking the very foundations of Shiganshina. The inner gate shattered, effectively trapping the Survey Corps within the district and cutting off their means of escape.
Erwin, his face grim with determination, declared that the fate of humanity would be decided in this very moment. Only one side would emerge victorious, while the other would perish in the unforgiving jaws of defeat.
Aaron Mustang, his emerald eyes blazing with anticipation, prepared himself for the battle ahead. Erwin, his voice firm and resolute, instructed Aaron to leave Reiner to the others. Levi would face the Beast Titan head-on, while Aaron's mission was to bring down the Colossal Titan.
"I trust you'll find a way to topple that giant bastard," Erwin said, his hand clasping Aaron's shoulder in a gesture of unwavering faith.
Aaron, a cocky grin spreading across his face, replied, "Consider it done, Commander. That oversized freak won't know what hit him."
As the Beast Titan and his legion of mindless giants gathered outside the inner wall of Shiganshina, the soldiers of the Survey Corps watched in tense anticipation. Reiner, his hands and feet hardened into razor-sharp claws, began scaling the wall from within, his movements deliberate and purposeful.
Erwin, his mind racing with strategies, ordered his troops to keep their distance from the Armored Titan, wary of the enemy's hidden agenda. Eren, his green eyes wide with confusion, questioned Erwin's reluctance to engage in combat.
Hange, her voice laced with concern, explained, "Reiner and his allies must have a plan up their sleeves. Erwin needs to observe their movements carefully before making a move."
Erwin's gaze fell upon a peculiar Titan that moved on all fours, carrying what appeared to be an improvised cargo on its back. It had appeared shortly after the other Titans, raising suspicions in Erwin's mind. He deduced that this quadrupedal Titan may have been the one who warned Reiner and his comrades about the Survey Corps' arrival in Shiganshina.
Suddenly, the Beast Titan let out a deafening roar, and a horde of two- and three-meter Titans charged towards the wall at breakneck speed. Erwin, his eyes widening with realization, understood that the enemy's objective was to eliminate the horses tethered outside the wall, effectively trapping the Survey Corps within Shiganshina and cutting off their means of escape and resupply.
"They're creating a cage," Erwin muttered, his brow furrowed with concern. "They can wait us out until we're weak and vulnerable."
Armin, his voice trembling with urgency, reported that the Armored Titan was drawing closer, and Bertolt's whereabouts remained unknown. Erwin, his mind whirring with calculations, concluded that their immediate priority was to protect the horses.
"Dirk, Gus, Klaus!" Erwin barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Your squads are responsible for safeguarding the horses. Hange, Levi, take your squads and deal with the Armored Titan. Use the thunder spears when the opportunity presents itself."
As the squads mobilized, Erwin pulled Levi and Armin aside, his eyes intense with purpose. He instructed Levi to descend to the outer side of the wall, protect the horses, and take down the Beast Titan when the time was right. Levi, his face set with grim determination, nodded and swiftly made his way to the designated location.
Erwin turned to Armin, his voice low and urgent as he outlined his plan to defeat the Armored Titan. Reiner, having reached the top of the wall, surveyed the scene before him, his eyes taking in the sight of the smaller Titans engaging the Survey Corps troops.
With a start, Reiner noticed that the horses were tethered in a single location, presenting a prime opportunity to eliminate them all in one fell swoop. He planned to strike swiftly and then retreat temporarily, his mind consumed with the task at hand.
As Reiner focused on his objective, he felt a slight sensation in his nape, realizing that the blade Levi had embedded there was slowly being pushed out by his Titan flesh. A wave of relief washed over him, knowing that if he hadn't transferred his consciousness throughout his body in that critical moment, he would have surely perished.
"Stay focused," Reiner muttered to himself, steeling his resolve as he prepared to execute his plan.
Suddenly, Reiner's eyes widened as he noticed Erwin and Mustang standing just a few meters away from him. A chill ran down his spine at the sight of Mustang, memories of their last encounter flooding his mind. Reiner had barely escaped with his life, and he found it strange that Mustang wasn't attacking him now.
Without warning, a blinding flash of light erupted from the ground in Shiganshina, and seconds later, Eren emerged in his Titan form, immediately making his way towards the interior of the district. As Reiner watched Eren's movements, he wondered if the young Titan shifter intended to flee through the southern part of the district, using his transformation to return to Trost without the need for a horse.
"Even if we manage to wipe out the entire Survey Corps," Reiner thought, "we can't allow someone who has mastered the hardening ability to return to the walls."
As the battle raged on for hours, Bertolt remained hidden, his mind consumed with worry for Reiner. His friend had transformed into his Titan form some time ago, but there had been no signal from him since. Bertolt feared the worst, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Reiner's body protruded from the partially exposed nape of the Armored Titan, battered and bruised from the relentless explosions of the thunder spears. The upper portion of his Titan's head had been blown off, leaving him vulnerable and exposed. The soldiers who had carried out the attack celebrated their victory over Reiner, their cheers echoing through the ruins of Shiganshina.
Jean, his face twisted with bitter triumph, turned to see Sasha and Connie struggling with the sight of their former comrade in such a pitiful state. Anger flared within him, and he snapped at them, reminding them that they were the ones who had just killed Reiner.
Just as they were about to prepare for another attack, the Armored Titan stirred, its head moving slightly before letting out a thunderous roar. Inside a barrel strapped to the back of the Quadrupedal Titan, Bertolt recognized the signal, his heart leaping with a mix of relief and dread.
The Beast Titan, its eyes glinting with malice, grasped the barrel and hurled it towards the interior of Shiganshina, its trajectory aimed directly at the heart of the district.
Hange, her voice rising above the chaos, ordered an immediate elimination of the Armored Titan using the thunder spears. Armin, recognizing the roar as a desperate cry for help, noticed the barrel hurtling towards their position. His mind raced with the realization of what was about to unfold.
"Get back!" Armin shouted, his voice laced with urgency. "The Colossal Titan is going to land on top of us! It'll destroy everything in its path!"
The soldiers quickly retreated from Reiner's fallen form, but before Bertolt could initiate his transformation, he caught sight of his battered comrade. Without hesitation, he leaped from the barrel, using his ODM gear to navigate towards the Armored Titan.
Landing on the shoulder of his friend's Titan, Bertolt assessed Reiner's condition, relief washing over him as he realized that Reiner had managed to survive by transferring his consciousness from his nervous system to his Titan body as a last resort.
"Reiner, you need to move!" Bertolt urged, his voice strained with desperation. "If you can't hear me, brace yourself for what's coming."
Bertolt turned his attention to the advancing Survey Corps troops, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination as he prepared to engage them in combat.
Suddenly, Aaron Mustang appeared out of nowhere, his emerald eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. He slammed into Bertolt with the force of a charging bull, sending him crashing through a nearby window. They tumbled into a room, a once-cozy living space now reduced to a battleground of shattered furniture and broken glass.
Aaron wasted no time, his fist connecting with Bertolt's liver in a brutal blow that knocked the wind out of him. Bertolt gasped for air, his eyes widening in shock and pain. Desperate, he attempted to bite his own hand, hoping to trigger his transformation, but Aaron was too quick. With a swift kick, he struck Bertolt's mouth, sending him reeling.
Bertolt staggered backwards, his back slamming against the wall. He felt the heat of the steam rising from his wounds, the regenerative power of his Titan abilities working to heal the damage. Gritting his teeth, Bertolt launched himself at Aaron, his fist aimed at the captain's face.
But Aaron was a blur of motion, effortlessly dodging the attack. He seized Bertolt by the collar and hurled him against the wall, the impact cracking the plaster and sending debris raining down around them.
"You know, Captain," Bertolt spat, his voice dripping with venom, "I used to fear you. But now, I see clearly. You're nothing but a demon."
Aaron let out a laugh, his voice mocking. "Boo hoo, are you going to cry? Is the beating I'm giving you too much for you to handle?"
Bertolt stumbled to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. He lunged forward, his teeth bared as he tried once more to bite his hand. But Aaron was ready, his fist slamming into Bertolt's stomach with devastating force.
The blow was so powerful that Bertolt coughed up blood, the crimson liquid splattering across the floor. Aaron's eyes widened, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.
In a flash, Aaron activated his ODM gear, the cables whirring as he propelled himself out of the window. "Everyone, get back!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos of the battlefield.
Bertolt, his body trembling with rage and pain, finally sank his teeth into his hand, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth. A blinding explosion rocked the district as he transformed, his Colossal Titan form rising from the ruins like a vengeful god.
Aaron watched from a nearby rooftop, his face set with grim determination. He knew that the real battle was just beginning, and he was ready to face it head-on. With a cocky grin, he launched himself towards the Colossal Titan, his blades glinting in the sunlight.
"Time to show this oversized bastard what humanity's strongest soldier can do," Aaron muttered to himself, his heart pounding with the thrill of the fight.
As the soldiers of the Survey Corps scrambled to regroup and assess the situation, Aaron Mustang charged forward, his emerald eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He knew that the fate of humanity rested on his shoulders, and he was determined to rise to the challenge, no matter the cost.
Suddenly, Aaron Mustang appeared out of nowhere, his emerald eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. He slammed into Bertolt with the force of a charging bull, sending him crashing through a nearby window. They tumbled into a room, a once-cozy living space now reduced to a battleground of shattered furniture and broken glass.
Aaron wasted no time, his fist connecting with Bertolt's liver in a brutal blow that knocked the wind out of him. Bertolt gasped for air, his eyes widening in shock and pain. Desperate, he attempted to bite his own hand, hoping to trigger his transformation, but Aaron was too quick. With a swift kick, he struck Bertolt's mouth, sending him reeling.
Bertolt staggered backwards, his back slamming against the wall. He felt the heat of the steam rising from his wounds, the regenerative power of his Titan abilities working to heal the damage. Gritting his teeth, Bertolt launched himself at Aaron, his fist aimed at the captain's face.
But Aaron was a blur of motion, effortlessly dodging the attack. He seized Bertolt by the collar and hurled him against the wall, the impact cracking the plaster and sending debris raining down around them.
"You know, Captain," Bertolt spat, his voice dripping with venom, "I used to fear you. But now, I see clearly. You're nothing but a demon."
Aaron let out a laugh, his voice mocking. "Boo hoo, are you going to cry? Is the beating I'm giving you too much for you to handle?"
Bertolt stumbled to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. He lunged forward, his teeth bared as he tried once more to bite his hand. But Aaron was ready, his fist slamming into Bertolt's stomach with devastating force.
The blow was so powerful that Bertolt coughed up blood, the crimson liquid splattering across the floor. Aaron's eyes widened, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Shit," he muttered under his breath.
In a flash, Aaron activated his ODM gear, the cables whirring as he propelled himself out of the window. "Everyone, get back!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos of the battlefield.
Bertolt, his body trembling with rage and pain, finally sank his teeth into his hand, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth. A blinding explosion rocked the district as he transformed, his Colossal Titan form rising from the ruins like a vengeful god.
Aaron watched from a nearby rooftop, his face set with grim determination. He knew that the real battle was just beginning, and he was ready to face it head-on. With a cocky grin, he launched himself towards the Colossal Titan, his blades glinting in the sunlight.
"Time to show this oversized bastard what humanity's strongest soldier can do," Aaron muttered to himself, his heart pounding with the thrill of the fight.
Aaron, his eyes blazing with determination, launched himself towards the Colossal Titan, his ODM gear propelling him through the air with incredible speed. However, just as his hooks were about to find purchase in the Titan's flesh, a burst of scorching steam erupted from its body, causing the grappling hooks to lose their grip. Aaron let out a frustrated grunt as he landed on a nearby rooftop, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing to find a solution. "It's impossible to get close with that steam."
As Aaron surveyed the battlefield, his heart sank as he noticed the Colossal Titan advancing towards Erwin, its massive form casting a shadow over the commander. "Tch," Aaron clicked his tongue in annoyance, his jaw clenching with determination.
Without hesitation, he activated his ODM gear once more, the cables whirring as he propelled himself towards the Titan. Again, he attempted to anchor his hooks into its flesh, but the Colossal Titan unleashed another wave of searing steam, engulfing its entire body and forcing Aaron to retreat.
"It can't keep this up forever," Aaron thought to himself, his mind calculating the Titan's potential weaknesses. "But it might reach Erwin before it exhausts itself."
In a moment of unexpected clarity, Aaron called out to Bertolt, his voice carrying over the chaos of the battlefield. "Bertolt!" he shouted, his tone a mix of understanding and determination. "I know the pain you must be feeling, having to kill so many people, probably against your will."
The Colossal Titan paused for a moment, its massive head turning slightly towards Aaron, as if considering his words. Aaron continued, his voice growing stronger with each word. "But that's the difference between you and me, Bertolt. I would do it without remorse. I would burn the entire world to the ground for Historia and my sister."
With a newfound sense of purpose, Aaron sought out Hange, his eyes scanning the battlefield until he spotted her distinctive figure. Landing beside her with a graceful thud, Aaron spoke with urgency. "Hange, I need those thunder spears."
Hange, her eyes wide with surprise, quickly handed over the powerful weapons. Aaron grasped them tightly, his fingers curling around the triggers with a sense of grim determination.
Armed with the thunder spears, Aaron once again launched himself towards the Colossal Titan, his movements precise and calculated. As he approached, the Titan unleashed another burst of steam, but Aaron was ready. He quickly descended towards the Titan's ankles, noticing that the steam was less intense in that area, likely to conserve energy and allow the Titan to continue walking.
With a fierce battle cry, Aaron fired the thunder spears, one embedding itself in each of the Titan's ankles. The impact was tremendous, causing the Colossal Titan to stumble and falter. Seizing the opportunity, Aaron swung himself towards the Titan's legs, his blades poised to strike.
But the Colossal Titan was not finished. It released another wave of steam, this time from its lower body, forcing Aaron to retreat once more. Thinking quickly, Aaron anchored himself to a nearby building, using the momentum to propel himself upwards. In a daring move, he aimed for the Titan's teeth, his hooks finding purchase in the hard enamel.
The Colossal Titan continued to release steam, but Aaron's hooks held fast, the metal refusing to disengage from the non-fleshy surface. Aaron could feel the scorching heat of the steam, his skin blistering and burning under the intense temperature.
"Why the hell am I doing this?" Aaron muttered through gritted teeth, his body screaming in protest as he held on for dear life.
As the pain threatened to overwhelm him, Aaron's mind drifted to a memory from his early days with the Survey Corps. It was a time when he had been at odds with nearly everyone, his rebellious nature and short temper causing constant friction among the ranks.
In a particularly heated incident, Aaron had thrown Mike out of a window, causing a massive commotion and earning the ire of his superiors. All because he had refused to follow the orders of a squad leader.
Later that day, Aaron had gone to visit his sister Rosy at the hospital, seeking solace in her gentle presence. To his surprise, he found Erwin sitting by Rosy's bedside, his blue eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and understanding.
"What are you doing here?" Aaron asked, his voice laced with suspicion and a hint of protectiveness.
Erwin smiled softly, his gaze meeting Aaron's with a sense of calm. "I wanted to meet the reason you fight so fiercely for humanity," he said, his voice gentle and sincere.
The two men stepped out of the room, leaving Rosy to rest peacefully. As they walked down the hospital corridor, they encountered Levi, his expression stern and unreadable.
Without warning, Levi's fist connected with Aaron's jaw, sending him stumbling backwards. Aaron, his eyes wide with surprise and anger, rubbed his aching face, glaring at Levi with a mix of indignation and respect.
"That's for the mess you caused this morning," Levi said, his voice flat and unapologetic. "I brought you into the Survey Corps, and now I'm responsible for your actions."
Aaron, his pride wounded but his determination unshaken, straightened himself up, meeting Levi's gaze with a defiant stare. "I didn't ask for your responsibility," he spat, his words laced with venom.
Erwin, ever the diplomat, stepped between the two men, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Let's not forget why we're all here. We have a common goal, a shared purpose."
Levi scoffed, his arms crossed over his chest. "And what purpose is that? Babysitting a hotheaded brat from the Underground?"
Aaron's fists clenched at his sides, his anger rising like a tidal wave. But before he could respond, Erwin spoke again, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.
"We're here to fight for humanity," he said, his blue eyes shining with a fierce determination. "To give people like Rosy a chance at a better life. And to do that, we need soldiers like Aaron, who are willing to push boundaries and challenge the status quo."
Levi's expression softened slightly, a flicker of understanding passing over his face. He turned to Aaron, his voice low and serious. "Don't make me regret vouching for you, Mustang. You have potential, but you need to learn to control your temper and work with others."
Aaron, his pride still smarting but his resolve strengthened, met Levi's gaze with a nod of acknowledgment. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep Rosy safe," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Even if it means playing nice with the rest of you."
Erwin smiled, his hand coming to rest on Aaron's shoulder in a gesture of support. "We're all in this together, Aaron. Never forget that."
As the memory faded, Aaron found himself back in the present, his body still clinging to the Colossal Titan's teeth, the scorching steam threatening to consume him whole. But with the reminder of his purpose, of the people he fought for, Aaron found a renewed strength surging through his veins.
"For Rosy," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the steam. "For Historia. For humanity."
With a fierce determination burning in his emerald eyes, Aaron Mustang cranked his ODM gear to maximum power, the gas propelling him skyward with incredible force. As he soared through the air, his dark hair whipping against his face, Bertolt watched in a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"This guy is absolutely insane," Bertolt muttered to himself, his eyes wide with a combination of fear and reluctant respect.
At the apex of his ascent, Aaron released his grip on the triggers, allowing himself to plummet towards the Colossal Titan in a daring free fall. The wind roared in his ears, his heart pounding against his ribcage as he hurtled downwards, his body a mere speck against the vast expanse of the sky.
But Aaron had a plan. Using the momentum of his fall and the remaining thrust of his gas, he aimed directly for the searing steam that enveloped the Titan's form. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched tight as he prepared himself for the inevitable pain.
As he pierced through the veil of steam, Aaron felt the scorching heat engulf his body, the searing pain nearly overwhelming his senses. His skin blistered and burned, the agony tearing through him like a thousand red-hot knives. But still, he pressed on, his eyes narrowed with unwavering focus.
"Damn it, Mustang!" Bertolt cried out, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and desperation. "Why did I have to be the one to face him?"
As Aaron continued his relentless descent, his mind drifted to a memory, a fleeting moment of peace amidst the chaos of his life. He found himself standing beside Historia on the farm, the warm sunlight casting a golden glow over the fields of swaying grass.
"Why the insistence on the orphanages?" Aaron asked, his voice soft and curious as he turned to face her.
Historia, her blue eyes shining with a gentle determination, met his gaze. "Every child deserves a chance at a better life," she said, her words filled with a quiet conviction. "A chance to grow up loved and cared for, to find their place in this world."
As Aaron listened to her words, a realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. If something were to happen to him, if he were to fall in battle, he knew that Rosy would be in good hands. Historia's unwavering commitment to the orphanages, to the children who had been left behind by the cruelties of the world, gave him a sense of peace, a knowledge that his sister would never be alone.
The memory faded, and Aaron found himself back in the present, his body still plummeting towards the Colossal Titan, the searing steam threatening to consume him whole. But with the reminder of Historia's love and the knowledge of Rosy's safety, he found a renewed strength surging through his veins.
"Damn you, Bertolt!" Aaron roared, his voice raw with pain and determination as he hurtled towards the Titan's nape.
With a final burst of gas, Aaron propelled himself forward, his blades flashing in the sunlight as he aimed for the Titan's weak spot. He slammed into the nape with incredible force, his blades sinking deep into the flesh as he anchored himself against the scorching steam.
The Colossal Titan, in a desperate attempt to dislodge its attacker, released an even greater surge of steam, the heat so intense that it seemed to melt the very air around them. But Aaron held fast, his blades buried deep in the Titan's flesh, his body a living shield against the searing onslaught.
With a primal scream of rage and agony, Aaron tore into the nape, his blades slicing through muscle and sinew with sickening ease. He reached into the depths of the Titan's flesh, his hands searching for the human form within.
Finally, his fingers closed around Bertolt's limp body, and with a final, wrenching pull, Aaron tore him free from the Titan's nape. In a flash of blinding pain, he drove his blade deep into Bertolt's stomach, the steel piercing through flesh and bone with sickening ease.
Together, they leaped from the Titan's form, Aaron's ODM gear carrying them to safety as the Colossal Titan began to crumble and fall. They landed hard on a nearby rooftop, Aaron's body screaming in agony as the full extent of his burns made themselves known.
Bertolt lay beside him, unconscious and bleeding, his face a mask of pain and defeat. Aaron, his breath coming in ragged gasps, struggled to push himself upright, his body trembling with exhaustion and pain.
Armin, his blue eyes wide with concern, landed beside them, his ODM gear hissing as he disengaged the cables. "Captain Mustang!" he cried out, his voice laced with worry. "Do you need assistance?"
Aaron, his vision blurring at the edges, shook his head. With a trembling hand, he pushed Bertolt's mutilated body towards Armin, his voice rough and strained. "Take him to Erwin," he said, each word an effort. "I'll be fine. I just need to rest."
Armin, his face a mask of uncertainty, hesitated for a moment before nodding. With gentle hands, he gathered Bertolt's limp form, securing him with his ODM gear. "I'll make sure he gets there safely," he said, his voice soft but determined.
As Armin vanished into the distance, Aaron felt the last of his strength leave him. He collapsed back onto the rooftop, his body a broken and burned shell of its former self. The pain was a constant companion now, a searing agony that threatened to consume him whole.
But even as he lay there, his life slowly slipping away, Aaron's thoughts turned to Historia. He saw her face in his mind's eye, her golden hair shining like a halo in the sunlight, her blue eyes filled with a love and compassion that knew no bounds.
"I'm sorry, Historia," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the battle that still raged around him. "I tried to keep my promise. I tried to come back to you."
As the darkness began to close in, Aaron felt a sense of peace wash over him. He had fought with every ounce of his strength, had given everything he had to protect the people he loved and the world he believed in. And though he knew that his time was running out, he found solace in the knowledge that he had made a difference, that his life had meant something.
On the other side of the wall, a scene of chaos and desperation unfolded as the soldiers of the Survey Corps charged forward on their steeds, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. The thundering hooves of their horses echoed across the blood-soaked battlefield, a symphony of courage in the face of certain death.
Zeke, his eyes narrowed with contempt, watched as the soldiers advanced, their faces set with grim resolve. He lamented the fact that they had not come up with a better plan than a suicidal charge, a testament to the foolishness and desperation of the human race.
But as he prepared to unleash another barrage of devastating rocks, Zeke was suddenly taken aback by the sight of smoke billowing towards him, the signal flares used by the Survey Corps to communicate on the battlefield. For a moment, he was caught off guard, his mind racing to comprehend the unexpected development.
Just moments before, Erwin Smith, his face a mask of unwavering determination, had rallied his soldiers, his voice ringing out across the chaos of the battlefield. "Forward!" he cried, his arm raised in a gesture of defiance against the overwhelming odds. "For humanity! For the future!"
The soldiers, their hearts swelling with a renewed sense of purpose, charged forward, their horses surging beneath them like a tide of unstoppable fury. But even as they rode, the sky above them darkened with the shadow of impending doom.
Zeke, his eyes glinting with malevolent glee, unleashed a barrage of rocks, the jagged projectiles hurtling through the air with sickening speed. The stones found their mark, tearing through flesh and bone with ruthless efficiency, painting the ground red with the blood of the fallen.
One of the rocks, its surface slick with the gore of its victims, struck Erwin's horse with a sickening crunch, sending the commander tumbling to the ground in a heap of shattered bones and torn flesh. Erwin, his face contorted with pain, clutched at his abdomen, the jagged stone having torn a gaping wound in his side.
Floch, his eyes wide with horror, watched as his commander fell, his heart pounding with a sickening sense of dread. But even as he faltered, Gus, his face set with grim determination, called out to him, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife.
"Keep moving!" Gus roared, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "We can't stop now!"
As he rode forward, his heart pounding with a desperate desire to live, Gus's mind raced with thoughts of the people he loved, the moments of joy and laughter that had filled his life in recent months. He thought of Mustang, his captain and friend, of Neil and Nanaba, his comrades in arms, of the Queen and little Rosy, the light of their lives.
"I want to live," Gus whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the roar of the battle. "I want to keep spending time with them, to see the world we're fighting for. I won't let it end here. I'll cling to life with everything I have."
But even as he rode, his heart filled with a desperate hope, Zeke watched the advancing soldiers with a mixture of contempt and rage. He thought of the King Reiss, the man who had stripped away the memories of his people, leaving them blind to the errors of their ways, doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.
And then his mind turned to Aaron Mustang, the Unruly Stallion, the man who had bested him in their last encounter. "That idiot," Zeke muttered, his voice dripping with venom. "He only won by sheer luck. It won't happen again."
In his anger, Zeke's grip on the rocks tightened, his fingers crushing the jagged stones to dust. He cursed himself for his weakness, for allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment. "I'm not like my father," he growled, his eyes flashing with a feral intensity. "I will enjoy what I do, and I will finish this once and for all."
With a roar of primal fury, Zeke unleashed another barrage of rocks, the jagged projectiles tearing through the ranks of the charging soldiers like a scythe through wheat. Gus, his face set with grim determination, continued to fire his signal flare, the smoke billowing around him like a shroud of impending doom.
As the rocks hurtled towards him, Gus's mind flashed to Mustang, his captain and friend. "What are you doing right now, Captain?" he wondered, his thoughts a jumble of fear and desperate hope. "Have you already defeated the Colossal and Armored Titans? After all, you're invincible. You always come back to us."
But even as the words formed in his mind, a hail of rocks tore through the air, their jagged edges glinting in the sunlight. Gus felt a searing pain in his skull, a blinding agony that tore through him like a bolt of lightning. He looked down, his eyes widening in horror as he saw his leg, the limb shattered and mangled beyond recognition.
And then the world went dark, the light fading from Gus's eyes as he slumped forward in his saddle, his life snuffed out in an instant by the relentless onslaught of the Beast Titan. Around him, the screams of the dying filled the air, the once-proud soldiers of the Survey Corps reduced to broken and bleeding husks on the blood-soaked ground.
Miles away, in the opulent halls of the royal palace, Historia stood at the window, her blue eyes fixed on the distant horizon. She felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach, a gnawing unease that she couldn't quite explain.
"Aaron," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. "You always come back to me. You emerged unscathed from your battle with Reiner, from your fight with the Beast Titan, from every mission you've ever undertaken. And yet..."
She trailed off, her brow furrowed with worry. Despite her unwavering faith in her love, despite the knowledge that he was one of humanity's strongest soldiers, Historia couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that some unseen danger lurked just beyond the horizon.
But even as the doubts gnawed at her, Historia forced herself to remain strong, to cling to the hope that had sustained her through so many dark and desperate times. She thought of Aaron's emerald eyes, of the way they sparkled with mischief and determination, of the love and devotion that shone in their depths whenever he looked at her.
"I believe in you, Aaron," she whispered, her voice filled with a quiet conviction. "I believe in your strength, in your courage, in your unbreakable spirit. No matter what happens, no matter what dangers you face, I know that you will always find your way back to me."
And so Historia stood at the window, her heart filled with a bittersweet mixture of love and fear, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon as she waited for news of the battle that would decide the fate of humanity. She knew that the road ahead was long and treacherous, that the enemies they faced were powerful and relentless, but she also knew that as long as Aaron Mustang lived and breathed, hope would never truly be lost.