[Activating Skill: Fire Surge...]
"Eh?"
"Die..." Eren's voice was barely a whisper, dark and deadly, as his eyes burned with a black, seething rage. His teeth ground together, and his sleeves tore to the elbows, his flesh now burning as crimson flames erupted from his fists.
The man torturing Mikasa didn't have a chance. The air around them seemed to freeze before the heat came crashing in, and before the man could even react, pain exploded through his body.
Eren's flaming fist slammed into his chin with terrifying force that the man's head was ripped off from his shoulders, his lifeless body crumpling to the ground as blood sprayed out in every direction.
"What a pain...."
The once-bullying, torturous man was reduced to nothing but a heap of charred flesh, his head nowhere to be found, only a gory trail marking where it once was.
Mikasa's body slumped to the ground beside him, her eyes unfocused and blurry as she tried to process the moment, her breath shallow.
Eren didn't wait. He moved quickly, bending down to scoop Mikasa's form into his arms, cradling her gently despite the chaos unfolding around them. The fire around his hands flickered out as he touched her blood-stricken face, his palms warm against her cooling skin. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled on his lips, his eyes softening just for her.
"I've got you," he murmured, his voice low and steady as his fingers traced the blood on her face.
Suddenly, the sound of blades cutting through the air filled the space. Eren's squad emerged from the shadows like wraiths, their ODM gear sending them into swift motion, circling the remaining enemies with swords drawn.
They were a wall of steel and resolve, surrounding the kidnapper's forces, ready to tear them apart.
"Er...en...." Eren's name escaped her lips in a soft, broken whisper.
Eren's gaze softened, and without hesitation, he bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. The world around them seemed to blur in that instant, as if time had slowed just for them. So warm... It felt so... so warm.
"Sorry.... I'm sorry.... she... she was trusted in my squad.... and she..."Mikasa's pulse quickened, her breath catching in her throat. Her tears flowing relentlessly. She felt safe in his arms, even with the weight of the world bearing down on them.
The others watched, stunned, frozen in awe. Armin's eyes were wide with disbelief, tears rolling down his face as he watched the bond between Eren cradle her. His heart cracked under the weight of the sight, his sobs barely contained.
"It's alright... I'm proud of you Mikasa..." Eren whispered again, the words like a vow. "Don't worry… It'll be fine." Her cries started to get more louder when she heard him call her first name. Her heart broke open, Eren's voice broke her.
And just as the last word left his lips, a notification flickered in front of him, the dim blue light casting an eerie glow in the darkened forest. But none of them noticed it, not yet. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Only Mikasa, only her warmth in his arms.
[Activating Ability: Master Healer...]
Eren's breath was warm against Mikasa's ear, his voice a soothing whisper in the midst of the chaos. "Heal..."
A soft, silvery light began to emanate from his body, flowing in delicate trails toward Mikasa. The light shimmered as it seeped into her battered form, mending her wounds, erasing the bruises and cuts that marred her skin.
Her face, once swollen and bloodied, became smooth once more, her body no longer wracked with pain. But with each pulse of healing energy, Eren's own strength drained away, leaving him slightly weaker with each passing moment.
He bent down again his lips pressing against her wet, soft and salty cheek.
"Rest… Kay? We'll talk later.." Eren whispered softly, his words gentle and caring. His smile was barely there, but it was enough. Mikasa controlling her sobs nodded.
Slowly, he lowered her into Christa's waiting arms, his eyes meeting Christa's tear-filled gaze. He placed a hand on her cheek, his touch light but firm, reassuring her that she was safe, that Mikasa was okay.
A sharp, thunderous gunshot shattered the moment.
"Eren!" Christa shouted as Eren's body jerked forward as the bullet tore into his back. His muscles locked, his breath hitching as the pain radiated out. "Eren…" Mikasa's voice trembled, reaching for him with desperate hands, tears streaking her face.
Eren's smile faltered for just a moment before he turned his gaze toward her. "It's okay... it doesn't hurt that much..." he murmured, trying to comfort her, even as the blood began to pool at his feet.
But the reassuring warmth in his eyes was gone as he stood up, his face returning to its usual cold, stoic expression.
[Major Injury Detected]
[Would you like to use a health potion?]
Eren's breath came out in a slow, controlled exhale. His voice was low, almost a growl. "No."
[Increase in Heart Rate Detected]
Flashes of Mikasa's battered body, of Christa's trembling form, burned in his mind. Their faces, their pain. His mind reeled at the thought of what they had endured, the agony they had suffered.
The faces of those responsible flashed through his thoughts, and the anger simmered within him, growing hotter by the second.
"You hurt her... She was in pain... All because of you ..." His voice was barely a whisper, but the anger, the cold fury, was clear in every syllable.
Gunshot.
A bullet tore through his chest. Followed by two more. Blood splattered across the ground, the crimson trail a reminder of his mortality. But Eren didn't flinch. He didn't fall.
"I'm mad…I'm really really mad..." he muttered, the words dark and filled with a chilling, almost eerie calm. His veins began to throb under his skin, the anger now completely overtaking him.
His irises were barely visible, consumed by white as his eyes turned into empty, furious voids. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, the pain of the injuries becoming an afterthought.
[Activating Fire Surge...]
The flames erupted from his fists, fiery tendrils curling around his arms, extending up to his elbows, burning crimson hot. The air around him shimmered with heat as his body crackled with raw, unbridled power.
For a moment, everyone—Porco, Marcel, Pieck, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha, Christa, Ymir, and even Mikasa—stood frozen. Their gazes locked on Eren, unsure of what they were witnessing.
This wasn't the boy they knew, not the one who had once seemed all arrogant filled with pride or someone shoving away everyone. This person had a heart.... This person was something else, something dark and terrifying.
"And now... it's time… TO PAYYYY."