*

Tying my wound more tightly with the rag with my teeth, I grimace with a low grunt of discomfort. I couldn't tend to it yet, not when time was running out by every dreading second. My body literally shook at the size of that beast, and judging it, it was definitely taller than the colossal by far.

The amount of heat and pressure it inflicted on everything surrounded it, left a burnt trail behind as we managed to catch up to the district first.

Taking slow deep breathes in, and out, I step towards the meeting room that wasn't far from where I stood. I told Levi to go on ahead, not wanting to concern him anymore. He's been already holding the squad together,  and now more weight has been placed upon the military and us.

Entering the meeting room I head over to Levi, as he stood on the side of the table waiting for the meeting to begin. 

He seems to let his eyes wander only to meet mine, as his eyes soften for a moment. Smiling weakly, I make my way over and stood beside him. We both fell silent, awaiting for a few more to follow in so we could begin the meeting.

Standing quietly in front of the table, that held scattered reports and maps all over messily, Erwin stood at the other side of the table. Levi shifted his weight leaning closer to me, as my hands rested against my hips achingly. Hanji and moblit stood on the other side of me, with the children lined up behind us.

Though we're all pretty exhausted by everything from tonight, this threat is bigger than we all could imagine. There was no time to waste, nor any time to worry about ourselves.

Hanji and Moblit were quietly talking, as I waited for Lena to come back and report in. I didn't have time to properly dress my wound, but once we've prepared a plan I would get round to it. Even Hanji, stubborn as ever wouldn't dress their wound until this was done. However Hanji has become someone I've cherished close, and seeing them today being almost killed before me, made my blood boil with rage which was unlike me.

These kids are even dragged into this mess so young, wishing only they had few months before this happened. This was hell.

Glancing back I was met with eyes filled with uncertainty, and fear. I couldn't blame them, but I'm proud with how they've managed this far to survive with us both. It was all a mess, but gradually we'll have the upperhand. I hope. Soon Historia joins not long after, seeing her geared up with a spare ODM and a face full of determination.

I could feel Levi's weighted gaze upon me, while I changed my focus on the map at a random spot. My arms fall against my sides, only to feel the weight pull heavily against my wounded arm. Lifting it back up I kept steady upon my hip, while I tried not to glance Levi's way.

He didn't have anything to say or the least do, but I felt his hand brush over my hand gingerly. 

"You doing alright?" I ask him, quickly shifting his worry upon himself. "With...you know, about Kenny?"

He sighs heavily as his hand falls to his side, as the other pinches the bridge of his nose with slight frustration.

"Fine, everything.......is fine," He assures me, quietly while my eyebrows furrowed together with concern. I know I shouldn't pry if he says it like that, because it's obvious he's troubled by it all. My eyes flicker to a small cut across his cheek, inflamed and red around, knowing it was light as the blood was dried.

I shouldn't worry about it, he would just get more annoyed with me as it is.

Changing the view, my eyes flicker over across the table to see Erwin gazing in my direction. He seemed like he wanted to talk to me, but now wasn't the time to when the doors finally shut in response. Soon after waiting for a while, the meeting begun.

"We've determined the location of Rod Reiss' titan," one of the soldier's announces. "It's southwest, approaching Orvud. At this rate, it should reach Orvud District by dawn."

"Understood," Carsten replies, a Garrison soldier, that stood beside Erwin's side. "Commander Erwin, we'd all like to hear what your plan is. How do you intend to evacuate the citizens in time?"

"We won't evacuate," Erwin simply says, as if his plans can't get anymore ludicrous. 

"Wh-What?"

"We'll have the citizens remain in Orvud district just as they are,"

Confusion wavers throughout the room, as if Erwin's instruction was to sit and do nothing for the time being. For a moment I was caught off guard, but soon I quickly caught on what he was implying by this. I knew he wouldn't simply forget about the people, but there was more to it than just skimming the outer layer.

"Are you insane?" The Carsten questions, hesitantly.

Clearly the soldiers didn't like the blunt response, but they soon needed to hear him out.

Suddenly Carsten grabs Erwin's jacket collar with both hands, jostling him around rather harshly. "What the hell are you thinking, Erwin?!" He demands. "Keep the citizens in the city without evacuating?! By the time it's dawn, that titan will be all over us--!"

"Calm yourself, soldier!" I sternly spoke up, causing the soldier to slowly release Erwin's collar. Steadily he maintains eye contact with me, "That titan out there is an abnormal--"

"What the hell does that even mean?!" He snaps back, knowing he's overly terrified at this point.

"What Corporal Akira was meaning," Hanji tilts their glasses, turning to him. "The target titan is strangely attracted to high concentrations of people. Hence, abnormal. It means the fellow will turn a blind eye to a small village, ignoring it in favour of reaching this fortified city. Capital Mitras, Orvud District.....if right now, you were to evacuate the citizens within Wall Sina, it would be drawn towards them, destroying the wall and all in it's path. In the end, it would reach Mitras, with the greatest density of people....and deliver a devastating blow to humanity."

Everyone had fallen silent while I lift my eyes, "On our way back, we attempted to use Eren Yeager's power to control titans, but......" my eyes follow to Hanji's, before giving the man full eye contact. "....Rod Reiss' titan showed no reaction, or any attention of that matter."

Seriously, it didn't seem to work like it was back when retrieving Eren and I were kidnapped. Either way, we still don't understand Eren's titan abilities all the way yet, and if could, I knew there would be complications and obstacles yet again that would halt our main focus.

"If we are to stop that titan, we must do so outside the walls of Orvud District," Erwin spoke up, explaining his reason. "For that to happen, we must have the citizens act as bait. However, this does not change the fact that our first duty as soldiers is to protect the citizens. Supposing we're unable to halt the target, we'll take measures so that not a single citizen is killed. We'll announce an emergency evacuation drill for Orvud District, so that if needed, the citizens will be ready to evacuate at once."

Carsten falls silent, knowing we're left without many options.

He heavily sighs with defeat, "It seems there's no other choice," giving in to Erwin's risky plan. Though he was wise and considered our options, I felt more relieved we were now on the same page.

"The body of our target is the largest we've seen," Erwin admits, honestly. "As such, it presents an easy target. Wall-mounted cannons should prove highly effective, but.....if that's not enough to bring it down....the Scout Regiment will throw everything we have at it."

All eyes soon shift upon Eren from behind me, knowing he was our main source of power to the defeat of Rod Reiss. What striked me as odd, was that he seemed rather not nervous, but more confident. It didn't take much to allow everything to weigh on him at this very moment in time, but I knew everyone will be praying he would fulfill the mission.

With a tender smile I couldn't but feel proud of him, but not only him, but all the children I've trained since most were twelve. How time flies, remembering they only knew nothing about all this. Now, they're facing larger threats, and also, political matters. Nonetheless, our main target was Rod Reiss.

After we all discuss our plan of action we all were dismissed, as my eyes linger upon the map not realising our nervous I was. 

A hand gently interlaces my own carefully pulling it down to my side, before giving it a gentle squeeze, "You're shaking," He murmurs quietly, while a few soldiers chattered in the background, as some quickly headed out to begin the evacuation. His thumb caresses my knuckles, his side pressed against mine very closely but comfortingly.

Sighing heavily, "Sorry, didn't realise,"

My eyes never leave the map while I continue to subconsciously trace over the landmarks, stations, and the layout. Though I've read it over multiple times, I still felt my chest growing heavy with every dreading second. We're not dealing with the colossal, only a titan that was tall enough to demolish an entire wall without a hitch.

"Do you need to get your shoulder properly treated?" he asks carefully, but I shook my head with a small hum. He brushes my hair to the side, pressing a chaste kiss to my temple. "Alright, well how about we start heading to the wall....we must be prepared. Get the kids to follow suit, and prepare for the worst."

"You're right,"

Reluctantly I allowed him to take my hand and pulled me behind him, keeping up with his hasty steps. Many questions started to overflow, my eyes felt heavy, and my wound was becoming more painful with every minute. It was numbed for a while, but now it was only getting worse quickly. My eyes flicker to see his stoic expression, but I couldn't help but to admire how far we've come.

Without hesitation I plant a kiss, following a chuckle running ahead of him.

Walking backwards for a moment I saw his face surprised, red dusting his cheeks faintly while his hand rested against the spot I kissed. "So serious, and grouchy," I tease him lightly, while trying to lift the heavy tension that fills the hallway. 

He sighs, "shut up," rubbing his face he covers his face, as I could his cheeks burn more red than before.

*

The sunrise was slowly peeking behind the mountains, as light dawns upon us all with a warm glow. Everyone was stationed above the wall, preparing ourselves for the worst only hearing the heavy stomps that echoed down the valley.

It drew closer and closer, it's arms extending out as if it was stretching on command, while heavy steam emits in the air. Silence fills the air, only hearing the echoing sounds of it's hands gripping the earth. Dragging itself across the ground, it's skin was stretching disgustingly. It's body was larger than it's own limbs, and it's spine was piercing through it's skin and head was creepily smaller.

My eyes flicker down to see people gathering for the evacuation drill, while trying to not allow everyone turn into a panic. Yet, I could see from a distance, they all weren't happy at all about the drill being so early in the morning. However they don't understand, the massive threat that is almost about to crush their homes.

The Garrison all held their cannon fire, while waiting for the beast to draw closer at firing range. Preparing themselves mentally and physically, it seems these soldiers never seen a fight in years. More or less, a titan for that matter, tucked away near the center to the kingdom.

"Fire!!!!!!!!!!!"

Following with the thundering sounds of cannon fire, the steam was getting hotter and hotter every crawl the titan made. Sweat profusely aligns my temple, while my eyes remained focused on the beast himself. Multiple cannon fire continues loudly, while I grimace at the bellowing sounds. My ears rang for a moment, before numbing to the sounds all around.

The walls shook both with Cannon fire, and Rod Reiss that kept nearing us. Cannon fire wouldn't complete the full annihilation, nor save us. It would only stall the titan.

"Well, how's that.....?" Erwin questions, wondering why the titan had stopped for a moment, if it's reaction was late.

Rod Reiss' titan pauses for only a dreading moment, before it resumes dragging itself towards us. Soon a large hand outstretched towards the wall, grasping at the earth while setting the trees on fire at it's touch.

"Shit.......it's not enough," I curse under my breath, while maintaining my stance. We all knew it would do a damn thing, but it was best to try than do nothing. Cannon fire practically did nothing for titans, only to merely take them out if we directed it at it's nape on the spot.

Soon multiple cannon fire sounded below us, as a range of cannons were lined up at the bottom of the walls. Grimacing again, I knew it would only fail again, being that we were shooting from an awful angle.

"The ground cannons seem even less effective," Erwin observes.

"Of course they are," Levi agrees. "The wall cannons barely hit the nape, even with the better angle. What's the problem?"

"It's the mishmash of soldiers, cannons they scraped together, superficial leadership," Erwin explains. "To top it off, this is a northern region. Unlike troops on the frontlines, they have no battle experience."

I hum in agreement, "Even being trained, one should at least have experience beforehand,"

Erwin nods, "However," he replies. "This is the best we're going to get, and that's a fact,"

"Yeah, " Levi says. "That much is painfully obvious. Yet again, your strategy for the Scouts boils down to another gamble. Just like everything else you conjure up."

"Yep, he sure does do that alot," my eyes slice to Erwin's blue ones, while he gives me a blunt expression. "Seriously Commander, you're always gambling up a storm, it's frightening to even admit--"

"Erwin!" Hanji calls, excitedly. "I brought the goodies! All the gunpowder, ropes and netting I could find!"

Chuckling softly by her enthusiasm, she ushered us over to check everything out with a few of our Scouts helping. Soon Moblit and Lena approach us with something in hand, that looked awfully familiar from the church.

"Oh! And this!" Hanji exclaims, showing more of her experimented weapons and explosives. "There's another on the opposite side," referring to ODM gear handles tied to the explosive, with the trigger steadily held in place. "The trigger's held in place, so when it's fired, it'll wind itself back up, just like ODM gear. Also sorry I stole Lena from you!"

I shook my head, "It's fine, more hand make lighter work," I assure her, as Hanji grins widely.

"Awesome!" turning to Levi and me. "so, is the artillery doing any damage at all?"

Sighing heavily I shook my head, as Levi semi rolls his eyes.

"Slightly more than a pissing insect," he replies, finding it more funny than he intended it for it be said. However he was correct, because the Northern Garrison branches weaponry, wasn't even titan proof. It wasn't making any changes, but such little stallments.

"Then we're really planning on using this?" Hanji asks, while I gravely nod.

"Yep, your genius works shouldn't go to waste either," I point out, while shifting my eyes upon the advancing titan.

"Levi, Akira, Jean, Sasha and Connie," Erwin calls us over, as if he decided on something for us to focus on. "Take care of that side."

"Roger!" The three saluted, before all began jogging to our assigned post. Leaving Hanji, Mikasa, Eren, Historia and Eren behind to do their part. Organising a few more barrels over on this end, my hands slightly fumble over the rope. My knees dug into the cemented ground, while the heat becomes barely visible drawing sweat from my hairline. Smearing it across, another shout of a command was made.

"Adjust your aim for a moving target!!!!" Carsten orders, while I saw the soldiers lowering their cannons downwards while the steam drew dead close. "Focus all cannons on it's nape!!! Fire!!!!!!!"

Multiple shots followed after his might roar, as dust and steam begins to fill the air. Standing up to place the barrel aside I felt my gut churning, and for a moment I knew something was coming. It didn't feel right at all, but then again, nothing felt right throughout all of this. Soon silence falls again, as the Garrison's assumed they got the damn titan with that forceful fire from down below.

Suddenly a massive wave of steam and heat blasted heavily upwards, causing me to instinctively shield my face while squeezing my eyes shut. My chest heaves while trying my best to not inhale it, as the heat was dry and musty. My hair flew in all directions messily, as the massive wave was heavier than the colossals.

It reaches all across everyone within the area, hearing everyone shouting or calling out to each one of us. 

Grunting from the heavy force I felt sweat gathering at my temple again, "Shit, this doesn't look good!"

"H-Hot!!!!!"

My jaw snapped shut tightly, feeling the direction of the wind change again which was covering all our blind spots. Multiple shots sounded again, when something heavy shook the wall not far from where I stood. Peering through my thick lashes, I tried to gain anything to consider my options. My lung burned dryly, causing me to cough harshly, grimacing at the sharp intensity of the heat.

Suddenly something peers through the steam, a large hand appears not far from me, as it grips the walls while breaking it in the process.Registering what was happening, chills ran down my spine while my eyes widen at the sight. Without delaying anymore, i raise my arm turning to everyone.

"Get back, now!!!!!" I order, causing me to cough again from how dry the air was. Quickly my eyes lock onto Sasha and Connie nearby, while shielding them away from the beats nearby. Crushing multiple cannons in it's grasp, this left my body pulsing from this unknown fear.

Wait, no........it's trying to climb up! Shit, no......but it's limbs are so small, it can't possibly....

Another hand bursts through the steam, as it anchors down on the other side metres from it's other hand. The rocks that formed from the wall fell and crumbled under it's weight, my eyes automatically saw every rock fall in different directions. It even began caving slowly into the district, destroying the nearest houses.

The heat grew more intense feeling the moisture being sucked from me, as I tried to keep Sasha and Connie away. 

My knees were giving in but something was telling me to keep myself up, as I could hear the titan hauling itself up awkwardly. However what we're about to see, was beyond what we all could have imagine. Slowly as the titan raises his overly large body, thick amounts of steam covers most of it's face while slowly towering over. It's head was bald, and rather pale, with skin stretching downwards from the gravity pulling it down.

However slowly it's head raises, as my breath hitches at the gruesome sight.

"The fuck?" I choke out, trying to clear my throat.

Nauseous I felt left my stomach churning, as it's face was revealed. Half of it's face was torn off, only seeing the insides and brain matter. The putrid smell left me wanting to pinch my nose, seeing more of it's ghastly sight linger upon us. With all cannon fire and amount of steam it was emitting, it was still trying to heal itself. It's face was definitely dragged across the earth, seeing how red and pink the inside of it's head was. 

What made it look worse, was it's eyes were no longer in it's sockets, and the muscles barely moved due to half it's face shredded. A low bellowing sound was made, feeling already