Rain hammered down relentlessly, drenching the city of Trost in a cold, unforgiving shroud. Each drop struck with a ferocity that seemed to mirror the chaos below, where the cries of the fallen still echoed faintly in the air.
The horizon stretched dark and oppressive, a grim canopy that seemed to mourn the countless cadets who had perished under its somber shade.
The cobblestone streets were slick with water, their once-sturdy surface now painted with the crimson stains of battle.
The heavy clouds overhead churned, thick and menacing, as though the heavens themselves grieved the senseless loss of life. Lightning flickered sporadically, illuminating the blood-soaked ruins for the briefest of moments before plunging them back into shadow.
The sky an unbroken sheet of gray that mirrored the tension between the two figures. Eren stood motionless, his dull turquoise eyes fixed on the towering Armored Titan. Steam hissed from the jagged gaps in its plated body, white hair soaked and clinging to its muscular form.
"The Armored, huh?" Eren muttered, his voice a monotone hum. Behind him, the remnants of the elite squad had long retreated. The evacuation was complete, but Eren hadn't followed.
He had muttered something about comrades still fighting, but now, alone against the titan, his presence was an unspoken challenge. Each of the titan's massive footsteps sent shuddering cracks through the cobblestones, like the heartbeat of the doomed city itself.
Reiner Braun, hidden within the Armored Titan, focused on the lone figure before him. Eren stood at the gate, his hands in his pockets, no ODM gear, nothing yet his stance eerily calm.
"Eren?" Reiner whispered, unease flickering in his mind. He just paused looking at Eren for a moment before he sighed, his voice low and guttural. "Forgive me, warrior, but this is where you fall."
Eren's icy gaze lingered, "Come, traitor," he whispered.
In a split second the Armored Titan charged, its massive frame tearing through the ground, each step a thunderous quake. Eren remained still until the last second.
[Activating Skill: Fire Surge…]
Loosening his stance, crimson flames flickered to life around his clenched fists.
The flames grew, licking at the rain as if defying the storm itself.
"Hey Reiner...?" Eren whispered from a distance.
Reiner's eyes widened, disbelief cutting through his focus. No ODM gear? Is he insane? The sheer audacity of it made Reiner hesitate.
"Do you remember…" Eren muttered as he began sprinting toward the titan, his voice steady and cold, "…when you asked me why I never bothered making friends?"
With a single leap, Eren propelled himself high into the air, his strength bringing him level with the Armored Titan's head. The titan halted his feet skidding against the road.
And for some odd reason Reiner's instincts kicked in; his massive fist shot toward Eren with a speed that belied its size.
[Activating Skill: One Hit…]
"Hah!" Eren roar pierced through the atmosphere, his flaming fist meeting the titan's armored hand in an explosive clash. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, splitting the rain. For a moment, time seemed to stop.
Then...
The Armored Titan's plated arm shattered, its entire form disintegrating into steam and dust. Flesh, muscle, and bone vaporized in an instant, revealing Reiner's human body beneath. Reiner gasped, his eyes wide as his body collapsed, tendons and skin disintegrating into dust.
Eren's flames extinguished replaced by a scythe materializing in his grip with a pulse of purple energy. The mist of the rain mingled with the lilac glow of the weapon.
"It's because...," Eren said, his voice low and void of emotion. Without hesitation, he hurled the scythe, its blade embedding itself squarely in Reiner's skull.
[Activating Burning Effect…]
Lilac flames erupted from the wound, consuming Reiner's face as his pained screams tore through the storm. And with a satisfying thud his body fell on the ground.
[Damage increased to 50%]
Eren landed near him, and without a word his deliberate steps led him to Reiner. He planted his boot on Reiner's chest and wrenched the scythe free.
With a single swing, he severed Reiner's limbs, the clean cuts leaving no room for recovery before placing the scythe back into his inventory, his gaze cold and unrelenting.
"Heal," Eren whispered.
Steam hissed as Reiner's burned face regenerated, the pain replaced by raw confusion and fear as he stared up at Eren, who stood over him, unyielding.
Eren's voice cut through the rain like a blade. "…the shittiest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."
Reiner's mind raced. How did Eren know about him? Wait... did he know about the others? Panic clawed at his thoughts as he looked at his severed limbs.
Reiner glanced down at his severed limbs, steam hissing from the stumps as his titan healing struggled to keep up. His gaze flicked back to Eren, who stood over him with an air of cold detachment.
The realization hit him like a thunderclap—Eren knew. He knew shifters couldn't initiate a second transformation when their bodies were too occupied with regenerating injuries.
Of course, Eren would know. He was a shifter himself.
Reiner's teeth clenched as his breathing quickened. And that.... And with just one damn punch from a mere human.... No from this devil was enough to over power the armoured titan.
Reiner's breath hitched , his voice barely audible. "Just… who the hell are you?"
Eren raised his fist ready to punch him, his expression devoid of pity. His lips parted, his words the final nail in the coffin.
"I'm Eren Yeager."
Eren whispered darkening Reiner's vision.