*

A shaky exhale leaves my lips, eyes widen in horror.

"Shit," cursing under my breath, my ears pick up the same hissing sound coming closer and closer. Without any warning or knowing where this was gonna land, my heart pounded with every lingering second.

"You here that?" Nanaba asks me, but before I could reply it crashes just above where we rested on the wall. My head snaps up, as the stones went flying everywhere. The dust clouds over while I cover my eyes with my forearm, before seeing both Lynne and Hennings being taken out by the attack.

"No, Lynne!!!! Henning!!!!!" Nanaba cries out, as her throat strains with how painful her voice broke.

Without hesitation I push off from the wall, and caught Hennings while Nanaba reaches up and caught Lynne. Safely we get to the top quickly, feeling Hennings weight pulling me down. Reaching to the top we both lay the two down, seeing no signs of life. Blood pours from Hennings head, and Lynne lays limp in Nanaba's arms. 

"Oh shit!" I hear one of the children exclaim, while I lay Hennings flat on the ground carefully.

"They're dead, they just.....died instantly," Gelgar trembles, before helping Nanaba rest Lynne down beside Henning.

Anger was boiling in my veins more and more, frustration seeping through. They didn't have to die like this, not ever. Standing up, a shadow casts over my eyes while clenching my jaw tightly. Never have I felt so helpless, not knowing what to do but to kill my way to survive. 

That's how it is, that's how this world works......... 

'What a load of bullshit'

Soon my eyes darken while lifting them slowly, before taking the time to see where they were coming from. Storming towards the edge, the moonlight gave me enough light to see far beyond. 

"He did this!" I hear Connie exclaim, rushing towards me. "The one that made a B-line for the wall! Hairy son of a bitch is randomly--"

He gasps out, when my eyes fall upon more titans coming towards us.

"Shit! We've got twice as many as before!!!" Connie warns everyone, while my eyes narrow up to find the hairy beast titan perched upon the wall. Judging by the aim, and direction, it was definitely him. 

"It's like these attacks are intentionally coming at us," I observe, as Nanaba hums in agreement. "Some kind of strategy, but why us? There's nothing for their gain, only to kill us and be devoured so--?"

"You're right, this isn't random at all," Nanaba agrees. "We're being toyed with!"

Suddenly I hear the distant roar of the beast titan, feeling my heart grow heavier by every dreading second. The sound was even bone chilling, when I felt the tower shook and tremble making me stumble forward. My eyes widen almost toppling over, only catch a glimpse of the cluster of titans. My palms grazes hard against the stone, blood seeps through.

Before my body could topple over, a hand grabs the back of my jacket with a forceful tug back. Gaining my balance my eyes turn to see Reiner standing behind me, as I thank him quietly seeing he used his one good arm.

"Thanks,"

With that Nanaba and I match each other's gazes, before we firmly nod.

Flying down we both began to take every titan down, to lessen the numbers. To be honest, this was the most in one fight in my life. My heart rate was beating more faster, anger coursing through my veins. Channeling all my rage through my blades, I angle them and killed three titans in one swoop. It was roughly estimated, but it quickened my attack.

"Dammit, I'm almost out of gas," Nanaba curses, as my eyes widen.

She soon flies towards a heavy looking titan and takes it out, only for it to topple into a smaller tower allowing it to crash on top of it. The dust clouds around, while I switch my focus on the titans at hand. Remaining near the tower, I kept working my way through only to hear Nanaba cry out Gelgar's name.

The air in my lungs were lessening, gasping for air while trying to maintain my focus.

A titan caught Gelgar's weakened state as I went to take the cut, only for Nanaba to beat me. Slicing through a titan in my way, my blades suddenly shatter in sync with Nanaba's. The chime rings in my ears, feeling my head pounding and throbbing.

"Shit!"

However it seems Gelgar's body was thrown into another level in the tower, with a large broken hole inside. "Gelgar, no!" Nanaba cries out.

I reach to a higher level leaning myself against the side, trying to give myself distance with whatever little gas I had left. Turning to Nanaba, my eyes slowly widen in horror as her eyes match mine. 

"I-I've, run out of gas!" She calls out, as my knuckles grew white with how tight I was gripping the controllers.

Then everything was in slow motion, seeing titans at her reach. Soon my legs and actions moved on their own, as I ran down the wall seeing the titans grabbing limb of limb onto her. My pulse quickened, while trying to get down there as fast as possible, while trying to keep my eyes open.

"Nanaba!!!!!!!!" I scream out, the pain straining my voice while reaching my arm out.

Her eyes were white in fear, skin pale as a ghost while her hand reaches out to mine.

"Akira!!!!!!!!!"

Her leg was viciously ripped from her body, as I choked on my air before she thrashes against their hold. She cries out repeatedly before realising I was too late, 

"No, no stop it! Please! I'm sorry, daddy!" She cries out, feeling my heart sink. Activating my ODM to get high from the danger, all I could do was watch my best friend die before me. "I'll be a good girl from now on, I promise! No, daddy! No--!"

Her head was raised to the maws of the beast, as it clamps shut biting her head clean off.

My body went numb all of a sudden feeling myself rather exhausted, but soon anger begins to take over. Seeing both Gelgar being devoured before me, I burst at full speed to the roof tops. Reaching the top I finally land roughly, before racing towards Lynne and Hennings ODM. 

"Corporal, what are we gonna do?!" Christa wavers with fear, feeling the tower being shoved and torn apart. 

Resting my knee firmly on the ground, I detach the old shattered blades as they clatter against the stone.

"Just stay here, and still," I warn her, and mainly ordering them all.

Taking the remaining blades from the broken ODM from the two, thanking that my assumption was correct. Scavenging for what is able to be used, I freshen my controllers with new blades. A few were shattered from the debris, so I only two set of fresh blades. 

"But what about you? You're fighting there all alone?!" Connie questions with concern, while I lift my head flashing him a smile of warmth. His eyes widen in response, before I check the tanks.

"Everything is gonna be alright," I assure him, even though I'm petrified. 

I could feel all eyes were on me, while hearing the sickly crunches of my comrades bodies being devoured. Not again, this can't be happening again. With myself too overwhelmed with rage, my Anxiety and panic attacks weren't going to solve anything. 

Knocking the tanks to check if there was some gas in them, I managed to have at least three quarters of a two tanks left. 

Discarding my old tanks, I began placing the new ones in quickly, while keeping my eyes on the titans that were still hungry for us. Finally adjusting the straps and clips, I stood up rolling my aching shoulders. The sun was slowly rising up, as morning was almost at it's peak. The faint glow gave me some more light, seeing more steam emitting into the air.

"Corporal, what about you? Your head is--" Christa points out worriedly, as my fingers touch something warm rolling down my forehead. Red painted my fingers, before brushing it off.

"I'm fine, you lot just stay up here til I've eliminated them all!"

With that I take a deep breath in, feeling like my own mind was shifting. A new goal, a new mindset was in play. Anger was channeling through my blood, while allowing my mind to stay clear. Diving in, I flew with intense speed in a bloody battle. Blades chiming together, painful grunts and groans leave my lips. My body was slowly running on fumes, exhaustion catching up.

Hoisting myself I raise my body before dropping my blades into a vice grip, before vertically spinning down with intense speed. Blood coating my body, growling under my breath while trying to maintain a clear mind.

The air in my lungs grew laboured and raspy, while clinging onto life.

Harsh wind pounds against my ears, deafening everything all around me. Slicing up a smaller titan, it collapses only for my eyes to rest on many titans still thundering towards us. With less provision to keep maintaining weaponry and gas tanks, it was harder to conserve it. My hair messily covers my eyes, trying to plan my next attack. 

A giant hand reaches towards me, but I dodge it quickly. 

However a tug on the wires pulled me down, causing me to gasp in alarm. Darkness encases around my body, feeling the weight crushing me. Sharply I spin horizontally, slicing through the fingers with blood trailing after. Bursting out of the palm of the beast, I glance back to see more than dozens behind. 

"Shit, when will this damn end?!" I roar in anger, before resting up against the side of the tower. 

With blades on the brink of shattering I discard the, before refreshening them with new ones from Lynne's ODM. My hands were shaking slightly from holding the controllers for too long, my body growing heavier. My rib wasn't even helping at all, feeling it against my lungs. My hand nestles beneath my breast, trying to ease some tension in my rib. Yet, rage sirs within me, the more I realise the kids only have me. 

Inhaling slowly I try to calm my mind, before locking onto my targets.

Absently minded, I push off and began to go on a rampage. My upper biceps ached, but I pushed through. Bellowing yells erupt from my mouth, while trying to take as many down. To lessen the odds against us, not sure how all of this will end. Running my blades past two titans, they both fall beneath me, when a bright blinding light covers my vision. Shielding my arms with my forearm, the wind blows a gust past me.

Pulling myself to the edge of the wall carefully, the light dims down only for my eyes to widen.

A short titan with sharper teeth roars after transformation, before jumping to each titan and ripped their napes off repeatedly. Blood heavily rolls down my forehead, coating my left eye while trying to keep focus at the task at hand. Flying back up to the children my eyes were wide, "What the hell is going on?!" I demanded angrily, when Christa rushes towards taking my arm.

"Please? Don't harm her?!" She pleads, but all I was is confusion. "She's protecting us! Don't do it!--"

"Do what? Who is that titan?!" I calmly question, even though we're all still in a tight situation. Suddenly a heavy tremble causes the tower to shake, almost losing my footing on the edge.

"It's Ymir!" Connie answers, as my eyes slowly fly open.

A bloodcurdling roar pierces the air, as my boots graze against the rough stone. Glancing down I take in more of the small titan, realising there were three shifters amongst us. There is the colossal, the Armoured and now this? What's worse, is that if I could trust Ymir. On a rampage, each titan falls under Ymir's brutal attacks.

Teeth piercing into flesh, blood being spilled continuously.

Grunting furiously seeing Ymir struggling beneath the titans, I push off without another word and began defending her. They kept tugging at the hair, biting at her limbs. Millions of questions were flooding my mind, wondering whether she was a spy or not. The sounds of her roars, were more shrilling and high pitch.

Running my blade up the spine of a titan, I horizontally slice it's nape with steam emitting in the air.

Suddenly I found myself against the wall, but I was falling. My eyes were staring up at the sky, the air leaving my lungs feeling things in slow motion. A breathy shudder leaves my lips, not understanding why I'm not strong enough. Was this punishment, for allowing everyone to die before me? 

'No, I refuse to die!'

"Corporal!!!!!" Connie cries out, seeing his head leaning over the tower.

Shooting out my grappling hooks I dug them against the side of the tower, before bursting into the air high up. Christa screams were muffled, as my ears were ringing quite loudly. Once I got a clear shot from above, my eyes lock onto Ymir who was struggling with the swarm of titans. 

Switching my grip on my blades, I lean more forward before spiralling down at a rapid speed.

Flying through a shower of blood, my hair messily clung to my bloody forehead. Taking down several titans, I notice Ymir jumps towards the tower. Promptly she began drawing stone bricks out from the large tower, and began throwing them all at the titans individually. The tower was slowly tilting over the enemies, but my eyes caught sight of the children.

"Ymir! Save everyone!!!!!!!" I yell out, without hesitation. Hoping she was protecting then, and not doing it for her gain. 

She soon listens to my order before jumping towards them, while I kept fighting on with my blades. Almost at the brink of shattering, I needed to keep going til I've run out. I've already used up two fresh sets, only with one set remaining. Finally Ymir got everyone upon her back, before they all came crashing down. The debris collapsed everywhere, titans swallowed up by the debris of stone and rocks.

Flying to a high wall down below, I allowed myself to take a breather.

Silence fills the air while I pant heavily, as my body was hurting all over. Exhaustion has taken over my body, but I kept pushing before seeing the children safely on the ground.

"You kiddo's alright?!" I ask in concern, as Connie gives me the thumbs up.

"We're okay, but....what abou--" before he could finish, my head picks up the sound of stone crumbling. My eyes narrowed eyeing across the sea of stone, only to see movement. 

Ymir without hesitation turns around, and began attacking the titans that survived the demolition of the tower. Pushing off I decided to help Ymir out, knowing there were many beneath the rubble. Slicing their napes with immense speed, my movements were getting sloppy.

"Ymir!!!!!!!" Christa cries out, earning my attention to shift to Ymir. My eyes widen, seeing all the titans burying Ymir beneath them. 

"Shit!!!!"

I fly in taking all the titans swiftly, but too many were devouring Ymir. Limbs were being torn off at the sockets, blood was heavily pouring out. Taking each titan down, I could hear Christa calling for Ymir. Slicing another titan, my eyes were burning with lust for blood. Steam emits from my body, as blood coated all over me. 

Heavy laboured pants leave my lips, while the titans continued to feast on Ymir.

Swallowing thickly I swung my blade, blood cleaned from the stainless steel. The nagging pain was pushed back, before I began to kill the titans in a frenzy. It's happening again, my body is moving on it's own. I can't stop, not til they all die and the kids are safe.

"Christa!!!!!" Connie cries out.

A gasp leaves my lips, as a titan suddenly appears around the corner of the wall about to devour the girl.

"Christa!!!!" I yell out, flying towards her without thinking.

Angered by how slow I was, I use every last of my gas tanks bursting forth towards her. With one swift motion, I sliced through the thick flesh before hearing maneuvering gear fly above me. Landing roughly against the stone, my head snaps up in the direction to see a Scouts cape.

"Mikasa," breathing out with relief, before activating my ODM to get a better view. Once I land upon the stone wall, my knees almost buckled with relief. Many Scouts flew above us all, taking care of the titans one by one. Which means I shouldn't slack off now. 

Activating my ODM gear I began to follow through, until my blades shattered.

*

The morning sun rose higher creating a cool colour in the distance, and the breeze a subtle chill. The blood disappeared from my clothes, as my eyes rested on the carnage we created. Once the forces were regrouped, things went still and quiet. Even though my body wants to collapse; I'm in front of the scouts. I couldn't express my weakness, but Ymir however......

All the young recruits, adding Armin, Eren and Mikasa surrounded the young girl.

"Can't be......she's really....?" Armin breathes out in disbelief, while I knelt beside Hanji, checking Ymir's large wounds.

Ymir's right leg was torn right off at middle of her thigh, and she lost her right arm at the elbow. We quickly tied around where the blood circulated, to prevent any further blood loss. If she's a titan, then would she regenerate? Slowly she would, but the state she was in was hell. A large gash at her side, staining her shirt, and red veins looking things nestled around her neck. Patterns that resembled Eren's post titan state, outside his titan form.

Christa held her head gently, "Ymir......"

Ymir weakly opens her eyes, to meet with Christa's tearful ones. 

".....just as promised, my real name is Historia...." Christa confesses, causing my eyes to slightly widen turning to Hanji. The scientist held a knowing expression, as I knew that they need to fill me in about what's really going on. I must've missed on something whilst being away, especially finding out this child was the actual royal blood of the Reiss family. 

I've learned my history, and by damn Hanji needs to explain to me everything.

Ymir weakly smiles before fading in and out of consciousness, looking rather at peace and content. After finally getting her on a wagon, and tied down for support, a few of the kids sat upon the wagon. Hanji on the other hand wanted me to ride alongside her, concerned that I wasn't alright.

I can't blame them, we were almost at death's door if they hadn't shown up.

"I assume Miche came back safely," I spoke up, while settling down upon the spare horse I was given. 

"Huh? Miche hasn't returned," Hanji replies, with a perplexed expression. "I assumed he met with another unit, or stayed with you.....right?"

My heart sank in response, many questions overwhelming my pounding head.

"........."

"Thank you Akira, you saved those kids lives," She spoke up, causing me to gasp quietly. "I'm sorry we couldn't make it any sooner, or else they wouldn't hav--"

She trails off not wanting to push any further, knowing the night we had was hell. 

"I-It's fine," I ensure her, swallowing my anguish. Digging into my jacket, I pull four scout emblems from the four that perished. My hand shook while staring at them, with my eyes glazed over with light tears. Why? Why did they have to die such meaningless deaths? "......I also have a request......Hanji,"

"Hmm, what is it?"

-------------------------------------------