The roar of the Female Titan still echoed in my ears as I gasped for breath, my hands tightening around my blades. The chaos of battle had barely settled, yet there was no time to rest. We had barely escaped death, but victory still felt far away.
Eren's Titan form lay motionless on the ground, steam rising from the fresh wounds that had severed his arms. He was still inside, unconscious, leaving us completely vulnerable. The rest of Levi's squad moved quickly, securing the area as best they could while keeping an eye on the Female Titan.
The reinforcements she had summoned had been dealt with, but at a heavy cost. We had been pushed to our limits, and I could feel exhaustion creeping in. But we couldn't stop. Not yet.
Levi landed beside me, his sharp eyes assessing the battlefield. "Eren's down. We need to move now."
I nodded, wiping sweat from my brow. "She won't just let us leave."
Levi's gaze flicked toward the Female Titan, who remained motionless in the distance, her eerie blue eyes locked onto Eren's fallen form.
"She's waiting for something," I muttered. "She didn't finish him off."
Petra, still catching her breath, looked toward Eren with worry. "If we don't get him out of here, she might try again."
Gunther and Eld exchanged tense glances before looking at Levi for orders. He remained calm, as always, but I could see the slight crease in his forehead—a rare sign of concern.
"She knows we're not strong enough to kill her," Levi finally said. "Not yet. That means she's planning something."
A chilling realization settled in my gut. She wasn't just here to kill us—she wanted Eren. The same way she had hesitated before striking him down, she was waiting for an opportunity to capture him.
"Then we need to move," I said, shifting my stance. "Before she makes her next move."
Levi's nod was almost imperceptible, but it was all the confirmation I needed.
A Desperate Escape
The squad moved quickly, repositioning around Eren's Titan form. Petra and Eld took the front while Gunther and I guarded the rear. Levi led the formation, his movements as precise as ever.
Just as we started moving, the Female Titan tensed.
"She's coming!" I shouted.
Before I could react, she lunged forward with terrifying speed, heading straight for Eren's exposed body.
"Damn it!" Petra cursed, launching her ODM gear.
Levi moved first, cutting through the air like a blur. He slashed at the Female Titan's eye, forcing her to rear back, but it wasn't enough to stop her completely. She was adapting, learning how we fought.
I clenched my jaw. We had to create a real opening.
[System Notification: Reflexive Passives Combined into Ackerman's Instinct]
[Ackerman's Instinct - Your reflexes have evolved beyond human limits. In battle, your mind processes threats at extreme speed, allowing instinctive dodging and counterattacks. Your movement synchronizes seamlessly with combat.]
A surge of awareness flooded through me, my vision sharpening, my body feeling lighter—more precise. This was something else entirely.
"Levi!" I shouted, already moving before I had time to think.
With newfound precision, I propelled myself forward, slashing at the Female Titan's wrist. She reacted instantly, but my body moved on its own, twisting midair to avoid her grasp.
Levi took advantage of the moment, his blades striking in rapid succession, cutting deep into her tendons. Blood spurted as she stumbled, buying us the few crucial seconds we needed.
"Go! Now!" Levi barked.
Petra and the others wasted no time, grabbing Eren's unconscious body and launching away. Gunther covered their retreat while I kept an eye on the Female Titan.
But just as I thought we had gained enough distance, she did something unexpected.
She screamed.
The earth shook as a new wave of Titans came barreling through the trees, drawn by her call.
I gritted my teeth. "Of course she wouldn't let us go that easily."
Levi clicked his tongue. "Tch. Change of plans."
Unexpected Reinforcements
The incoming Titans were fast, too fast for us to cut through while still carrying Eren. But before I could suggest anything, a new flare shot into the sky.
A signal for backup.
A group of riders emerged from the dense trees, leading the charge was none other than Historia Reiss.
"What the hell—?!" Petra gasped as Historia and her squad cut through the Titans with terrifying efficiency.
I watched, stunned, as Historia maneuvered her horse with expert skill, slicing through a Titan's nape with precise ODM movements. This wasn't the meek girl I had seen in the past—she was fighting with everything she had.
"Akira! Levi!" she called out as she landed beside us. "Commander Erwin sent us to support your retreat!"
Levi raised an eyebrow but wasted no time. "Good. Cover the rear."
I found myself staring at Historia a little longer than I should have. She caught my gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed before she quickly turned away, gripping her blades tightly.
[Affection Meter - Historia Reiss: 55 → 65]
I smirked despite the situation. "Didn't expect to see you here, Historia."
She glared at me playfully. "I could say the same about you. But we can talk later—right now, let's get out of here alive."
Fair enough.
The Aftermath
By the time we reached the outer edge of the forest, the Titans had been dealt with, and the Female Titan had vanished into the distance. Erwin and the rest of the Survey Corps had set up a temporary camp, treating the wounded and assessing the situation.
Eren had been pulled from his Titan form and was still unconscious but stable. Levi's squad, though battered and exhausted, had survived.
I sat near the edge of the camp, cleaning the blood off my blades. Historia approached, hesitant.
"Akira."
I looked up. "What's up?"
She hesitated before sitting beside me. "I… I saw how you fought back there. You saved a lot of lives."
I shrugged. "It's what needed to be done."
She bit her lip, fidgeting slightly. "Still… thank you."
I studied her for a moment before smirking. "Didn't know you cared so much."
She flushed but didn't look away. "Maybe I do."
[Affection Meter - Historia Reiss: 65 → 72]
Before I could respond, Levi called out. "Akira. Erwin wants to see us."
I sighed. "Duty calls."
As I stood, Historia grabbed my wrist lightly. "Be careful."
I gave her a reassuring smile. "Always."
With that, I followed Levi into the command tent, knowing that whatever came next would only get more dangerous.
[Quest Update: Survive Against the Female Titan - Status: Completed]