The air was thick with the scent of blood and the guttural roars of approaching Titans. The Female Titan's chilling scream had echoed through the dense forest, summoning reinforcements like mindless beasts answering the call of a predator. The rumbling of their massive feet shook the very earth beneath us.
Eren lay on the forest floor, his Titan form battered and smoking. His arms had been torn off, steam rising from his wounds as his body struggled to regenerate. He was spent—unable to fight.
Levi's squad was surrounded. And we were running out of time.
Tactical Maneuvers
"Petra, Eld! Get Eren's body and retreat!" Levi's voice cut through the chaos with unwavering authority.
"But, Captain—" Petra hesitated, her gaze darting between Eren and the Female Titan.
"That's an order!" Levi snapped. "Akira, Gunther, you're with me. We'll slow her down."
I nodded, already activating my ODM gear. The grappling hooks latched onto a high branch, and I shot forward, adjusting midair to gain the best angle of attack. My body moved on instinct, honed by countless battles and system-assisted growth.
Gunther flanked from the right while Levi moved in from the left, both of them executing with terrifying precision. The Female Titan's piercing blue eyes scanned us, calculating our movements. She didn't panic. She adapted.
And then she struck.
In one swift motion, she pivoted, her leg swinging outward in a sweeping kick designed to take us all down in one go.
Too predictable.
I twisted my body midair, narrowly avoiding the attack while slashing downward at her exposed thigh. My blade cut deep—but just before I could sever the muscle, her skin hardened, nullifying the damage.
Gunther wasn't as lucky. The force of her kick caught him midair, sending him crashing into a thick tree with a sickening crack.
"Gunther!" Petra's scream rang out from the distance.
Levi's eyes flickered toward the fallen soldier for only a fraction of a second before refocusing. He didn't hesitate. He couldn't afford to.
The Female Titan lunged for Eren's motionless form, her movements faster than anticipated. My system pinged, warnings flashing across my vision.
[Danger!] [Threat Level: S-Rank] [Survival Instincts Activated!]
I reacted instantly. My muscles tensed, my reflexes sharpened as I launched myself between Eren and the oncoming Titan. My blades met her hardened fingers in a shower of sparks, the impact sending shockwaves through my arms.
Too slow!
Then, Levi was there.
With blinding speed, he tore into her exposed arm, his spinning strikes cutting through her flesh like a buzzsaw. She recoiled, jerking her hand back as steam erupted from the wounds.
"We need to retreat now!" I shouted. "The Titans are closing in!"
Levi's expression remained unreadable, but he nodded. "Fall back!"
The System's Gift
As we regrouped, my system chimed again.
[Quest Updated: Survive Against the Female Titan - Status: Ongoing] [Bonus Objective Achieved: Inflict damage on the Female Titan] [Reward: 1x High-Grade Lottery Ticket]
A lottery ticket? Now?
I didn't have time to use it, but the system had never let me down. I mentally activated it, feeling a rush of energy surge through me.
[Rolling…] [Congratulations! You have obtained Ackerman Bloodline (Sealed)]
I nearly lost my grip on my ODM gear.
Ackerman Bloodline?!
Before I could process it, my vision swam. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as a sensation unlike anything I had ever experienced overtook me. It wasn't just a power-up. It was a revelation.
My instincts sharpened. My mind became eerily clear. Every movement, every attack pattern, every possibility laid itself bare before me. My body knew things before my mind could register them.
This… this was what it meant to be an Ackerman.
Levi glanced at me. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing something had changed. But now wasn't the time to explain.
I had a battle to finish.
Counterattack
The Female Titan was already regenerating, her eyes still locked onto Eren. The surrounding Titans were closing in, drawn to her call.
No more hesitation.
I moved.
One second I was still, the next, I was a blur.
The world slowed around me, every motion magnified in my mind. My ODM gear propelled me forward with devastating speed, my blades cutting through the air. Before she could react, I was already upon her.
I struck.
A perfectly timed slash across her Achilles tendon, cutting deep before she could harden it.
She staggered.
Levi followed up instantly, his blades carving into her shoulder in a whirlwind of steel. Blood and steam filled the air.
She stumbled.
I twisted midair, repositioning for another attack before she could recover. My movements were beyond fluid—they were natural, as if my body had always fought like this.
The Female Titan's eyes met mine. Recognition. Surprise.
Too late.
With one final burst of speed, I drove my blades toward her nape.
Then—
She roared.
A deep, earth-shattering roar that sent a pulse through the air. This time, it was different—more desperate. More determined.
The other Titans responded instantly.
I barely had time to react as multiple Titans lunged from all directions, their massive hands reaching for us. The Female Titan was sacrificing herself to ensure Eren was taken.
"Akira, MOVE!" Levi's voice snapped me back to reality.
I disengaged just in time, my ODM gear yanking me away from the incoming horde. But the Female Titan wasn't retreating—she was stalling.
"Dammit," I muttered. "She's buying time."
Levi clicked his tongue. "We can't afford to lose more people. Fall back."
I clenched my fists, my body screaming to finish the fight. But he was right. We had to regroup. We had to live.
Aftermath
We retreated to a secure clearing, Eren's unconscious body carefully placed onto a horse. The mission had failed. The Female Titan had escaped. And we had lost Gunther.
Petra sat on the ground, silent tears streaming down her face. Eld clenched his fists, his jaw tight with frustration. Even Levi, always composed, seemed tense.
Mikasa had her eyes locked onto Eren's face, her expression unreadable. But when she glanced at me, something changed. A flicker of… something.
I checked my system notifications one last time.
[Quest Update: Survive Against the Female Titan - Status: Completed] [EXP Gained: +3500] [New Passive Skill Unlocked: Ackerman Instincts - (Integrated Reflexive Skills)]
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. The battle had taken its toll, but I had gained more than I had lost.
The Ackerman Bloodline was no longer sealed.
And I had just taken my first step toward changing this world's fate.