*

The clouds have gathered rather closely, with clouds darkly grey and thicker together with a chilly breeze. 

However it wasn't the issue, but the information Hanji has shared since we started making our way here to Wall Rose. Gathering from what I've been given, the culprits they assumed were the spies peaked my interest. Hanji and I have been discussing quietly about this for a while, but it did strike me odd about their hometown.

Finding out both Reiner and Bertholdt, being the possible culprits of both breaches, I didn't want to believe. No one did, but this was life or death. Yet, my question is why they are here? What brings them to settle near the deadliest Regiment, of all the walls of our nation?

Another issue was that Historia Reiss was also important, to the mystery behind the walls. 

Much was to be learned once we've returned back to Trost, and to plan our attack on the two culprits. I've had my eye on Reiner, but Bertholdt? Those two hardly spent time with Annie, so how on earth....? So much was happening, so much information that needed to be stored in my mind.

Refusing to be checked for any wounds, my body was alright. I assume.

Exhaustion was creeping slowly, but I still needed to remain cautious knowing we have two possible titan shifters. The Colossal and Armoured, if that is really is the dreadful truth. Going over lists, wondering who was missing and was originally from Miche's squad.

However Miche was assumed missing in action, but that feeling wasn't shaking off.

Reaching the top we brought up Ymir's body slowly, and carefully while I helped the children climb up with some help. Even though my muscles and limbs were aching, and I was in a weakened state, I kept pushing myself. I couldn't waver, not while we're still not somewhere safe in a district. 

"Please, you've got to believe me!" Historia pleads, while I stood beside Hanji. "I'm telling the truth! Ymir could've run away any time she wanted! She chose to fight the titans to save our lives! She had nothing to gain, putting herself on the line like that....doesn't that speak volumes about where he loyalties are? Corporal, you witness it all, say something!"

Hanji turns to me, knowing Ymir's motives were straightforward.

"She's right, but she didn't tell us that she's one of them," I say softly, my throat was rough and hoarse. "However, I do want to thank you properly for keeping you all safe, when I couldn't bu--"

"I know she had no right to keep her power a secret," Historia cuts me off. "It's hard to look past how much humankind might've gained, from knowing what she's been keeping to herself, but...I think......I think she was just worried about what people might do to her........Clearly her priorities have changed now. This isn't nearly as complicated as it looks. No one is close to Ymir than me......and there's no question in my mind whose side she's on!"

Hanji was rather silent before angling her eyes, "Is that so? Well, under the circumstances it certainly behooves us to be friendly......"

Shifting our eyes upon Ymir's body being carried on a roughly made stretcher, by three of our Scouts before being placed down carefully.

".....her priorities aside, I'll wager what she can teach us about the enemy is beyond measure" Hanji says. "Probably. Even so. You say this isn't as complicated as it looks, but from where Akira and I are standing, the world gets more complicated by the hour."

Walking on over I bite back my painful groans, not even sure what I've injured.

"Oh, uh--Historia Reiss you said your name was?" Hanji spoke up, making me angle my eyes down upon my cadet.

"I did, that's correct," She replies, rather honestly.

"Isn't Reiss the name of a noble family?" Hanji questions, even though she knew the truth. They just wanted to hear it from her own words.

However Historia's face falters, and comes to a halt.

"Yes, it is," She sadly replies.

"Huh, Historia.....hmm" Hanji places a warm hand upon the child's shoulder. "Nice to meet'cha!

Pulling away from her we head on over to Ymir, seeing her rather look a little more pale than before. The rain was gently showering down upon us, hating the fact we almost lost. Nifa gently ties the rope around Ymir, to keep the girl stable on our return.

"How's she doing?" Hanji questions Moblit, who stood there supervising the shifter.

"Comatose, but stable," He replies, gravely. "The bleeding stopped, though steam appears to be coming out of her wounds."

Glancing hanji's direction I sigh deeply, "The best course of action for now, is taking her back to Trost," I spoke up. "She needs the proper medical care, I just.....feel terrible for some reason."

Hanji hums in agreement, "She's in your hands," She instructs Nifa, who nods willingly.

"Consider it done,"

Hanji turns to me, "What about you? How is your previous wound?" She questions, rather calmly. After what she informed about the two remaining culprits, we had to act casual and not say anything. 

She touches my forehead, while I hiss quietly.

"I'm alright.......I can manage," I assure her, wanting nothing more than to embrace Levi and rest. 

Hanji sighs rather hesitantly, shift her glasses turning around.

"Alright then, on with our mission," She shifts our focus, and began heading in the opposite direction. Glancing down at Ymir's ghastly state, I begin following along with Hanji. "Finding the hole and patching it up."

Moblit and I follow alongside her, feeling my stomach churn.

"That's the issue," I spoke up, my eyes wearily drifting out to the open lands within Wall Maria. "We checked along the walls, but no signs of demolition. Nothing."

"Are you sure? We must check again," Hanji replies, wanting to make sure there was some sign that another famine will begin. "Whether you couldn't because it was dark, we must check again."

"I will agree with you," 

We soon reach another group of Scouts with Connie from the 104th, "We all on the same page?" Hanji asks everyone. "We'll decide what to do with Ymir, later. oh, and Connie? Chin up......Akira will order a squad to investigate your village. She has to investigate around the area anyways, so it will ease your worries. For now, stay focused."

I rested a comforting hand upon Connie's shoulder, "Let's just focus what have at the task at hand, clear?"

Connie nods, "Crystal!"

My anger was still stirring within me, masked with exhaustion. That damn beast titan, what the hell is that monster? Could it be a shifter? Questions begin to overwhelm my head again, only to hear a heavy sigh from Hanji who was rather confused.

"It's troubling," Hanji says. "You would expect this area to be teeming with titans."

"I will agree with you there," admitting my own thoughts, my jaw clenching with frustration.

The sudden sound of horses approaches us from below, caught our attention to look down. There, Garrison soldiers were approaching us, only recognising a certain face. Hannes. Question is, why were they here?

"Hannes?" Mikasa was surprised.

"Is that the Garrison advance squad?" Hanji questions, rhetorically. "Tell me they've located the breach."

Waiting for them to hitch their horses, Hannes was the one climbing up towards. Soon his head appeared after a matter of minutes, looking rather exhausted. A frown stretches his lips, grunting up to meet my eyes.

"The walls perfectly fine," He informs us, as my eyes widen.

"So I was correct then," I claim softly.

Eren's eyes widen, "What?"

"We spent all night looking for it," Hannes explains, meeting my eyes again. Eren aids him by pulling up more safely. "But between Trost and Krolva District, there's nothing. No hole anywhere."

"That's impossible!" Hanji was confused.

Hannes stood up towering over me, "We ran into a search party from Krolva, and retraced our steps," he recalls. "Not a single titan on the way here, either."

"But," Armind says, hesitantly. "We know for a fact that there titans on this side of Wall Rose."

"Oh come on, how much have you had to drink, seriously?" Eren scoffs, thinking Hannes was only giving us false news.

Such a typical answer from the boy, knowing he prefers to deny everything and forget about it. Knowing how Hannes had his habits with drinking, and gambling his money, I know he was being sincere. Not even caring Hannes was higher rank, he still was a damn brat.

"Why you little--" Hannes pauses, in realisation. "Hold on, wait a second. What the hell are you kids even doing here?"

My head was clearly throbbing in pain, while trying to focus on retracing my steps. The titans came straight from where Ragako was, so then how was there no breach? Hannes check over it, and Nanaba and I scouted along too, with no luck in finding the breach. 

A heavy gust of wind blows by us, as a chill runs up my spine.

"So, if there's no breach..." Hanji starts to say. ".....then I guess we have to change tactics. We head back to Trost Immediately!!!"

However while falling step alongside Hanji, I grew more cautious while keeping my guard up. Wanting nothing than to shower, and rest up, I still needed to be alert. Moblit seemed to notice my sudden change in behaviour, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.

"You okay, Corporal?" He asks, with concern. "You're looking rather pale."

Nodding with a gentle hum, I send him a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, just....need some rest,"  

Hanji gasps, "Oh no, what if there's a species of titan we haven't seen yet that knows how to dig?"

"Section Commander, she was just--" MOblit tries to show concern, when I assume the same case.

Humming in agreement, "There could be, that is......they would find it hard to pinpoint,"

"Guess you're right," Hanji sighs deeply. "We'll just hypothesis later, I bet your head must be about to explode....Akira."

"Tch, you have no idea," I chuckle softly, finally smiling a little.

Walking calmly further away, my breath hitches in my throat dryly, and my stomach churns suddenly. This unsettling feeling, the sudden change of weather causes a stir with tension.

What is this feeling? Danger........?

Something wasn't feeling right from the start, my heart was beating and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Moblit and Hanji seemed to catch on, as my eyes subtly glance to see Reiner casually talking with Eren from afar. Armin and Sasha trails behind us, when Mikasa pauses in her steps behind the two.

She must been feeling it too, then?

Thankfully Hanji gave me a new set of gas tanks, and blades for me. It was out of caution, and common sense to bring spares. My hand slowly rests against my controllers, my behaviour was off and more wary than before. My protective side slowly creeps back, as my foot shifts a little.

Getting a better glance my eyes slowly widen, seeing steam emitting from Reiners wound. 

"Shit,"

Bursting forward with little strength I had, my body almost shoves both Armin and Sasha along with Mikasa. Even though I knew I wouldn't make it on time, my blades were drawn already. However pain shot through my body, causing my movements to falter in the process.

"Shit!"

"Akira, get out of there now!" Hanji cries out, but it was too late.

Their transformations were bursting forward, as a massive gust of air and hot steam swallowed us. The bright light begins to blind us all, causing myself to fumble over whether to shield my face or activate my ODM gear. Attacking them wasn't an option, as a transformation can kill many. 

"Eren! Run away!" Armin cries out, his voice straining fearfully.

I could see their eyes flashing with a mixture of regret, and painful expressions from both Reiner Bertholdt. My heart sank further, as soon as their bodies begin to full transform. The thundering sound deafened my ears, as I shield my face digging my grappling hooks into the stone.

Many of our soldiers began flying from the contact, as cries echoe all around.

The force of the wind was sending me backwards, while the burning steam starts to heat up my face and arms. Planting my feet firmly, my eyes squint up to see them growing larger. The air was too hot, so damn hot feeling the tears in my eyes dry up. However as far as I could see, Eren's smaller frame was being taken up in the palms of the Armoured.

Yet, thinking I was away, a dark shadow casts over my own body.

My eyes slowly widen lifting my head up to see the Armoured's hand lowering down upon me. Gritting my teeth together, while fearfully being stuck between hot steam and Reiner's hand, I didn't know what to do. Suddenly the air slowly dissipates, as I quickly roll out of the way. He reaches towards me again, but I dodge him before he jumps off the wall hastily.

Why was he trying to grab me? Did he think I was a threat?

Snapping back to reality my eyes snap upon the colossal, only to see it take something or someone in the air. Realising who they took, they both were being held captive. Yet, another large glowing explosion signals me, that Eren has begun to fight the Armoured. 

Grimacing from the hot steam, I blink my eyes a few times to gather moisture before they sting anymore.

The Colossal towers over us, realising how large it was compared to how many times I've encountered it. Arms long and outstretched, he raises his arm ready to attack us. Barely even focusing on the rest of it's form, the rest of it's body was built into the wall securely.

"Shit! Everyone, jump away from the wall!!!!!!" I yell out, warning everyone.

Everyone obeyed without faltering, as the Colossal was looking at us like we're flies to him. Leaping from it's attack, he swung his arm rather slowly at us. Activating my ODM gear I jump off, before embedding the hooks onto the side to support myself.

My foot plants firmly on the side, as I glance up to see some soldiers that were too late, flying from the colossals burning hand. However, my eyes widen seeing both Ymir and another soldier in both hands. Pulling myself back onto the flat surface of the slight crumbled wall, but the moment I look back up everything got worse.

The Colossal threw both Ymir and a soldier into it's mouth, before closing his jaws firmly with a clash.

"Shit!!!!!!" Keiji curses angrily.

Everyone fell dead silent while processing that our situation has gotten worse, and that being said my body was on the verge in shutting down anytime soon. Yet, Ymir's life was in great peril.  I don't understand why, but we needed to get her back. We needed to get Eren back, no matter the circumstances.

"Soldiers!!!!!" Hanji shouts loudly and clearly, from the side of the wall. "Prepare to attack!!! The Colossal titan doesn't walk away from this! It's a threat to all mankind! Swarm and terminate that bastard!!!!!"

Hanji flies ahead of me, before I flew after without a moment's hesitation.

This beast was the one that killed my home, killed my mother, lead my district to devastation. My personal feelings aside, my mind switches rather fast. Blood lust starts to crawl back in, as my eyes darken. Rising high in the cluster of all us Scouts, the Colossal faces us head on.

"You're not gonna leave us, you fucker," I dangerously growl, as my blood boils.

The Colossal draws it arm back before taking a swim towards us again, but it's mobility and momentum was rather slow. My body soon moves on it's own, as I soar up it's arm. Dodging it, I skim across the hot flesh with my blades firmly in hand. Diving below I began spiralling around at a fast pace, slicing through the thick flesh.

The heat ran up my blade, feeling the burning sensation bite my palms.

"Shit," 

Pulling away from it's arms, we all charge right towards the Colossal head to capture it's nape. It's movement was limited, but I felt unsettled. It sends another heavy punch in my direction, but I dodge again quickly before making it to it's nape.

"He's wide open! Slice the nape!!!!!!"

Simultaneously, a huge wave of steam sent us all flying back. I tried digging my hooks into it's flesh, but the force of the air bounced back. The heat was too extreme, as we began falling back knowing some of us will be burned harshly. Falling back my feet slid across the stone wall, while shielding my face. 

Heavy pants leave my lips, feeling black dots filling my vision.

"Shit, I've been at this for too long," I groan out, wanting to collapse to my knees. Yet, I'm standing before the Scouts as the strongest soldier here. Now, they need me more than ever if we have to pull this off.

"Water, we need water!!!!!" Someone calls out.

Grunting I turn to everyone, "Head further back and cool off!" I order everyone. "We'll drench ourselves, and wait again for another opening!"

"Yes Ma'am!"

My body isn't in the best shape now, however enough to defend myself at least. Standing close to Hanji and Armin, we kept our distance to prevent any further burns. A soft discomforting grunt leaves me, while I clutch my rib sorely.

"I don't know...." Armin spoke up. ".....Something's different here."

My eyes snap up to see the colossal still in one piece, but steam surrounding it like a barrier. It's form was well balanced too, and perfectly still as if it was not giving up.

"....The last time he disappeared, it was more or less instantaneous," Armin explains. "He's maintaining his form to emit heat.....I think he's protecting himself."

He shot out his wire towards the colossal, only for it to bounce back from the heat and steam.

"As long as he generates steam, our rigs are useless!" Armin points out, while my anger was steadily boiling inside me. "Wha--What do we do?!"

Hanji turns to him, "Now? Nothing," She replies firmly. "Except wait." Walking towards their soldiers, her voice grew louder and clear. "Squads three and four take position behind the target. Rashad has command."

"Got it!"

"Squad two, stay put," Hanji continues. "Lauda has command."

"Understood!"

Hanji stood by my side, "How long he can act like a blast furnace remains to be seen....But he'll come out of there eventually, so when he does....we'll rush the big bastard,"

Pushing past all my exhaustion and pain, my head was held high.

"He won't last, they all have limits.....especially after using such excessive amounts of energy," I comment, as Hanji hums with agreement. Turning around she faces the rest of squad one.

"Listen up! I want you to forget about taking them alive," She says sternly. "Destroy them, so second thoughts. Armin, Akira and Squad one follow me!....."

Charging in the direction where the battle lies, between Eren and the Armoured, we all follow suit flying down the wall.

".....we've got a date with the armoured titan!"

Knowing our skills weren't rather useful in taking the Colossal down, we had to compromise whether to take out the armoured. The Armoured that day, that day when I lost my family......was one of my own cadets I trained. I tried to deny it, but no matter how, betrayal is betrayal.

Twisting my body I activate my ODM and shot my wire up, to gain some stability against the side of the wall. Sweat glides down my temple, from the incredible amount of heat from the Colossal and movement. Smearing my forehead with my forearm, my eyes focus on the battle at hand on the ground. 

However, Eren was look great with having his titan hand torn off.

Reiner was beating him by a long shot, knowing how strong