*

Eren has the armoured pinned down, having the upper hand. My hands steadily grip my blades, ready to take action. The armoured was struggling under Eren's strength, while awaiting for Eren to take the hit again. Not being able to predict their next moves, until the armoured quickly shoves Eren off him with pure force.

Yet Eren latches on the armoured arm, and wraps his legs firmly into a locked grip around the neck and slammed him back down. Judging how well Eren was approaching this battle, he kept a level head.

However knowing Reiner had further experience as a titan, he was a danger to us all. Eren's legs clench tightly around Reiner, seeing steam emitting into the air. Suddenly I begin to hear the sounds of plates breaking, or being torn, as a spur of blood sprays from a plate being shattered. Reiner however shakingly grabs Eren's leg and pulls it away, only for Eren swing his leg around again and slammed him into the earth.

Trees fell underneath them, and the earth breaks like an earthquake hit.

Eren soon locks him to the ground, and began pulling on Reiner's arm. Soon the armoured plates shattered into pieces, as their roars pierce the air. My heart picks up, adrenaline slowly coming back to me. 

"That's it Eren, you've got him," I whisper, when Eren rips his arm off entirely.

The two pull away as Reiner knelt there, as Eren kept his distance. No matter if Eren runs away now, they will only keep coming back. I soon notice Mikasa and Armin return against the wall, after reasoning with Eren before. Soon a shadow looms over us, as my eyes widen seeing how fast Eren ran over to us. 

With his back up against the wall with Hanji and I, we both land on his shoulder to discuss our next move, "Listen up Eren," Hanji spoke up. "If we're going to get you out of here, you've got to buy us some time. Stop Reiner dead in his tracks! Think you can manage to break off his leg, with another one of those joint holds? Our blades don't do much good against him. He can't be outmuscled, but he can be outsmarted, if you play it right."

Eren's titan head shifts to us, and with a deep low rumble with a nod, I swear Hanji was gonna explode.

"Also Eren, I believe in you," I sternly encourage him, knowing it might ease his mind with any wandering doubts. He nods with another low rumble, as Hanji shifts their glasses once more.

"We're both counting on you!" Hanji says confidently, before we both jump back to the wall to give us some distance.

Eren soon prepares himself to fight Reiner again, as the armoured thundered towards him. Soon Reiner broke into a sprint and then both collide into each other, before Reiner grabs Eren and throws him into the wall. He was so fast, it was like he was lighter when the plates on his calves break. Mobility must be how he achieved this.

Without giving him a break to get up, Reiner strikes towards Eren head, when he missed by a few metres. Taking that opportunity, Eren went straight for the leg and locks on. Reiner strikes past Eren's head, missing him again and again repeatedly.

"Eren, get up!!!!!"

"Don't let Reiner pin you! Get up!"

"Throw him!"

Eren manages to shove the Armoured to the ground, gaining his balance to face him head on. Pushing off from the wall, I follow after Hanji as we follow along with their battle in the air.

"Since when is he so light on his feet?!"

"We're completely and utterly useless!" 

However Hanji shook her head, "No, it's not feasible that his body is as hard as stone from head to toe," Hanji spoke up. "He couldn't move as fast if that were the case. Warriors used to sheathe themselves in armour. Way back in the olden days, they had to leave certain sections uncovered for freedom of movement, though; like the armpits and groin or the spot behind the knee."

I nod in agreement, "That's what I've observed since their battle begun, so he does have weaknesses," I point out, glancing at the thick muscle beneath the knees and calves. "Pretty explanatory once you analysed this, however we must still keep our guard up."

"Akira is right," Hanji agrees with me.

Turning to Mikasa, "Mikasa, come with me," I sternly say, as she comply's with my order. 

Suddenly in that moment the earth shook under the two shifters, as Reiner tackled Eren to the ground. Yet, Eren used his move again and put the Armoured into a headlock, and locked tightly. Reiner had his weakened points exposed, leaving me and Mikasa to take the hit. We both burst at full speed taking our chances, I switch my grip and flew along the wall.

Once we both locked on to our target, I use all my strength knowing full well the muscle with still be tough.

Raising my body high up gaining momentum, I began spiralling down with intense speed towards the point beneath the knee. Roaring into my attack, I slice through the thick flesh, with my arms straining with protest. My hair messily covers my eyes once we sliced right through, as I let out air that I held in.

Fall back to the wall quickly, my body was throbbing from the harsh movement.

"Shit," I utter out, before gaining control on gravity against the wall a few metres away from Hanji. Almost losing my footing, the wire kept me balanced. 

Gazing down on the intense battle blow, as Eren's grip begins to shattered the armoured plates on Reiner's back. Eyes widening in response, Armind burst forth, "You've got this!!!"

"Go for it, Eren!"

"Rip the traitor's head off!!!!! Drag him out into the open!"

"Come on, you've got this!!!!!"

However our cheers began to simmer down when the armoured began pushing against Eren, dragging him while creating a heavy dent into the earth behind. My heart sunk in response, when Reiner was moving. I don't understand, why is he still moving? 

"Wha--What's he--?"

"Heh, good luck pal," a soldier scoffs, still hoping for Eren's ability to overcome the armoured.

"You've got him! Keep it up!"

I could see puffs of steam coming from the cracks of the armoured shell, and the painful growls coming from Reiner. However after a while of shoving Eren near the crater, when the armoured jumped down from, he comes to a halt and then dead silence.

My eyes narrow down only to see it's jaw unlock wide open, before the armoured roars loudly. The sound was piercing the air, but more sturdier than the females. Recalling from back when capturing Annie, I remember hearing this call. 

Hanji gasps, "Everyone be on guard!" She alerts everyone. "He's calling for backup!"

Yet the silence diminishes to nothing, awaiting for the trembling sounds of titans. Waiting for a few moments, nothing seems to be attracted to the sound of the Armoured distress call.

"No visual on incoming titans yet," 

My heart rate was picking up, not liking how this was going.

"He ain't got a chance in hell!" 

Wait, I don't understand.........

"Try screaming for help without a head, asshole!"

The plates were about to break off, "It's almost off!!!!!!" as blood was bursting through the cracks, following along with the steam. Reiner's titan roars again, trying to withstand the pressure Eren was using. However I felt something off, when....

"Look out! Above you!!!!!"

A large shadow looms over all of us, following with a sickly crunch high above from where I was. However with not enough distance to retreat, the colossal began falling at a rapid speed down above Eren. My breath shudders trying to activate my ODM, but before I could even take off, the power gust of steam knocks me down. My blades were drawn out from my controllers, taken along with the gust of wind. The heat and steam were too much, my vision lost sight if I was upside down or up right. 

Everyone screams at the contact, when suddenly my body hits the ground.

The gusts of wind and steam still powerfully flows all around in different directions, as I try to grasp at anything. The intensity of heat was like a desert, but the temperature much more higher than normal. Coughing up something warm and metallic from the collision, black dots begin to fill my vision. My hand claw at anything while the gust of wind slows down, but my body was throbbing in pain.

My vision begins to fade in and out, when everything went black.

*

MEANWHILE - TROST DISTRICT - Levi's pov:

My hand rests over my chest, grimacing slightly with some kind of temporary pain. Calmly lowering my hand down, a discomforting sound leaves my lips. What was that just now? Am I sitting too much?  

Resting up against the edge of the wagon, my thoughts sink back to nothingness.

I'm lying to myself, when in reality......she's always on my mind. I haven't seen her at least for a day and a half, wondering if she's alright. I knew she can manage by herself, because she's proven to me she's strong. I've always believed she's strong, mentally and physically.  Except, she was still previously injured from the time we tried taking the female down.

Yet, why do I feel so unsettled with how long she's been gone?

With so much finally happening within this two months, things that were buried, were slowly being uncovered or answered. Questions still remained unanswered, and truth be told, it would take a lot to find out. Eren was the key to most of these coincidentally occurrences, seriously he's such a brat sometimes.

What if Eren went rampage? Will Akira be able to do it?  

"Hey Levi! Where you hidin' all the titans?!" An Mp calls out, with his friends snickering in response.

Sending them a stern glare, "Problem? You seem eager to be eaten alive, soldier," I assume, placing some humour in there too. They all gasp in shock, taken back by my remark.

"......."

Scoffing light, "Huh, sorry we couldn't make that happen for you today," I apologise, sarcastically. "Plenty of opportunities outside the wall if you're lookin'. Lot's of scouting expeditions. Akira and I would be more than happy for the help....We could all fight titans together."

They all looked nervous after my offer, dripping with sarcasm, they were left a little speechless.

"Well, you know there's our work in the interior," One of them replies, nervously. "So......"

"Hey!!!!! The advance squad is back!!!!!" A soldier reports in, as my eyes narrow. "Go! Tell Commander Pyxis!"

Not long after I hopped off the wagon, all the Mp's surrounded a Garrison soldier who looked out of breathe. Pyxis came and was given the full report, hearing that there were no breach along the walls. Erwin came by as well, who was with the Pyxis just before. 

"I see.......no breach as far as you could tell, correct?" Pyxis asks, after what he had gathered from the report.

The soldier nods, "That's correct, sir,"

Pyxis looks troubled, "Hmm.....as I thought," 

The soldier gulps down water like his life depended on it, as he brought one of Akira's Scouts. Sasha, I assume.

"But, sir! A situation has developed!" The soldier continues, panting rather heavily. "You see, we ran into another group on the way back to Trost. It was the Scout unit by Section Commander Hanji! There were recruits from the 104th Corps with them, and the Corporal remaining alongside them, only the recruits left with no equipment. This may sound crazy sir, but three of them, were titans!"

Gasps surround the group, while my jaw clenches firmly. 

"What the-- Hang on a sec, seriously?" Jean asks, in disbelief. "You mean like there were three....more? But......who were they? Who, damn it?!"

Sasha jumps in response, "Actually, I um....."

Erwin places a firm hand to ease Jean, "Jean, calm down...what happened when their titans forms were revealed?" He questions the Garrison soldier, trying to calmly gather the report.

"The Scouts faced them, the armoured titan and the Colossal head on!" he replies, fearfully. "But by the time our unit arrived on the scene, it was......too late..........."

Erwin nods, "I see........" nonchalantly, he spoke more firmly.

*

AT WALL ROSE - Third POV:

Everything was dead silent, with many soldiers unconscious or were killed in action. The impact and intensity of the heat was too much, even wiping all forces within the proximity. However a few managed to endure it, that stood at a safer distance before, but still got harmed in the end.

Armin sat quietly beside Mikasa, who was out like a light.

He was angry at himself that Eren slipped from their hands, he was angry that they were too slow in taking the situation seriously. They weren't entirely prepared for this, and they failed protecting Eren. Even though they learned more, their mistakes, still made them feel more like shit.

Tiredly Armin rubs his eyes, trying to come up with any solution.

Hannes approaches the young boy with a heavy sigh, "Oh man, what a mess," he comments, in shock of the aftermath of their battle. He looks down to see Hanji and her men unconscious. "Count your lucky stars we were all the way up here. Rest of 'em got blasted by steam and debris....nothing much they could do...."

A heavy pause rests between the two, taking in the painful sight.

"How badly is Mikasa hurt?" Hannes asks softly.

Armin's eyes shift back upon the young girl, lying with a painful expression that contorts her face. "Well.....there aren't any wounds to speak of," He replies softly. "I think it's just a concussion."

Hannes dryly smiles, "Could be worse," before pulling out a granola bar. "Armin, I've got food for you if you're hungry.....you eaten?"

Armin shook his head, without a word stubbornly.

Hannes reaches down and ruffles his blonde hair playfully, "Be right back,"

Walking off he left the two alone to rest for the time being, still in shock about the explosive outcome. It was an utter defeat, yet again. Just like what had happened when capturing the female, almost losing Eren. This time, Armin wasn't even sure what to do. They left quickly, it must've been a while right now.

Lena began checking off a list, searching along the rows of bodies unconscious. 

However when she finished everyone, she stood there scratching her cheek in confusion. Her auburn eyes flicker back up, searching around for any bodies that weren't vacant before her. She only arrived recently just after the explosion, luckily coming with aid and some help.

"Where......where is.....?" she felt miscalculated, while trailing her finger along the many names that were present. "Hey, Tobias?"

Tobias was tending someone's wounds, before glancing up.

"Hmm......what's wrong?"

Her eyes trained upon the list of soldiers, "Where is Corporal Akira?"

Tobias retraces his steps glancing upon the unconscious, only to see Section Commander the only one here that was of high rank. He stood up checking their faces, before feeling his skin crawl. Being someone who greatly admires Akira, he soon starts to realise she wasn't among the harmed soldiers.

"I-I don't know," he chokes out, soon Lena with fresh tanks, ran to the edge where the large crater from the explosion was. Her eyes dart across the ground, only seeing debris and the earth broken into clumps and pieces. 

"We have to find her!"

"Wait! There is titans down there!!!!"

Without hesitation she jumps down, with Tobias following after her with protesting. Meanwhile Mikasa has woken up, alarmed and frightened for only a moment. Armin hears her pants of exhaustion, as his eyes rest upon with relief.

"Mikasa,"

Yet she suddenly grabs his collar tightly, nearing his face with force.

"Where is Eren?! Where did he go?!" She demands angrily.

Armin's eyes fly wide open, "Whoa! Calm down!--" he tries to calm her down, but she doesn't listen. Her restlessness was getting to her, "Wait! You shouldn't--"

She races to the edge of the wall, staring down at the very spot she last saw Eren.

"We don't know how badly you're hurt!" Armin exclaims, worriedly. Only four small five metre titans rests inside the crater, staring up in her direction.

Mikasa's eyes slowly widen, as Armin rushes over to her.

"Where is he?!" She questions again, even though she knew the answer. She knew where he was, but didn't want to believe it.

"Eren and Ymir were taken," Armin replies, realisation finally hits her. "They're gone. Reiner and Bertholdt abducted them.....he fought, but the armoured was too--"

He stops not wanting finish, before taking a deep breath in and out.

"That was...about five hours ago,"

Mouth gaping open slight with eyes flickering with fear, "Somebody's gone after them, right? Tell me somebody went after them?"

Armin's gaze hardens, "I'm sorry,"

"Why not?!" Mikasa snaps, rage filling that empty void. Armin leans back in fear, while their breath shook in response. 

"We wanted to, but the horses are on the other side of the wall," Armin informs her, gesturing to the safer side. "Our only option is to wait, the mounts can't be hauled over until the lifts make it here, and that takes time. There's nothing else we can do right now. Section Commander Hanji and Corporal Akir--"

Armin pauses, feeling his stomach sink in response. 

"Wait.......where's.....where's the Corporal?!" He questions, when just in time Lena lands upon the walls surface. Akira's assistant. Her face looked more pale than before, before Tobias follows beside her. 

"She's.......where is she?" Lena whispers, her heart beating more heavily, along with her shoulders weighing down on them. 

"I don't know, you don't think those small titans a--" Tobias began, when Lena slaps the back of his head.

He winces from the sharp impact, "Don't say things like that, she's our strongest right now.......she must be here!" She stubbornly yells, earning Hannes' attention.

Tobias places both hands on her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze.

"She must be okay, right?" He spoke up, as Armin listens. "Maybe she went after them?"

She shook her head, "She couldn't have, the horses on the opposite side,"

"You know how she is......maybe she used her ODM and latched onto the armoured," He assumed, but it didn't seem to ease her fear. She was trembling beneath his hands, and Armin was worried for his Corporal. Panicking wasn't gonna help, as he turns back to Mikasa to calm her down.

"Listen Mikasa........we don't have enough soldiers to form a scouting party," he continues. "Even a small one would need more than this. We just can't do it......you understand?"

She tries to listen when she grips her head, grimacing with pain.

"Damn it......not this again," She whimpers, on the verge of tears. Her chest was painfully tightening, as anxiety seeps back in.

"You feel any pain?" concern laces his voice.

She shook her head weakly, "No, I hit my head, but I think I'm okay now," assuring him softly. "Don't worry about it....it's just......not the first time I've been down this road. Except when Annie too him, I didn't waste a second. Not one.......That's how Captain Levi, Corporal Akira and I were able to get him back."

She breaths out heavily, as her shoulders tremble.

Her voice broke, "But......it's alright been five hours," before she stood up, walking towards her scarf, that was piled up as a soft cushion for her head. She slowly picks it up and wraps it around closely, "Hey.....Armin, why does he do it? Always leave?.....Always end up someplace we're not?"

Armin slightly smiles at the many times they were separated, humming in