*

Erwin laid out his real intentions and plans to the fearful recruits, even though it was a suicide mission. It was heavy order he gave them, but right now I had no say in the matter. Erwin was too stubborn to fall back now, finally leveling out his plan to me first. The soldiers and Erwin were the distraction, costing many lives as I could predict.

For myself, I was to use the large titans on the side to hook myself, and take the advantage and leverage to gain a path to the Beast titan.

I doubted Erwin for a moment being blinded by the obvious, but soon in consideration I followed his direct orders. We were gambling right now, as we have been from the start. Plans come to failures, and now failures might come to plan.

Taking my chance whilst hearing the soldier's roar with fear or wavering confidence, I hook into my first 14 metre titan in one swoop. 

Slicing through the nape with a vicious approach, blood sprays messily while keeping myself stealthy as possible. Slicing the long messy hair, I grunt with my strength while hooking onto the next titan vigorously. This plan sucks, wasting many soldiers that could've been able to become proper soldiers within a few years of basic training.

"I'm sorry.....everyone...."

Jumping to the next and to the next, green smoke flares were fired redirecting a few squads to seperate to even out the damage. Their voices of pain, and speeches left me conflicted with everything that has panned out within a day. I can't believe everything has gone to shit, and losing more wasn't on my bucket list. 

*

~ Ten Minutes before ~

"There's no point standing around! We'll only be showered by more boulders!" Erwin announced, loudly. "Ready your horses, on the double!"

"Be honest....." Mop hair spoke up, voice trembling. "....Are all of us.....riding to our deaths?"

Erwin raises his head, "Yes, we are..."

"...and since we're dying anyway, you're saying that it's better....." The soldier continued, tears brimming at the corner of his eyes. "....if we at least die fighting?"

"I am,"

"But wait, if we'll die anyway......then who cares what we do?" Floch dryly chuckled. "We could just disobey your orders....and it wouldn't mean a thing, would it?"

"Yes, you're precisely right," Erwin replied, blatantly. The soldier gasped in shock in response. "Everything that you thought had meaning-- every hope, dream or moment of happiness-- None of it matters as you lie, bleeding out, on the battlefield. None of it changes what a speeding rock does to a body...we all die. But does that mean our lives are meaningless?  Does that mean that there was no point in not being born? Would you say that of our slain comrades? What about their lives? Were they meaningless?"

Soldiers stood side by side, eyes widen and skin pale as white.

"THEY WERE NOT!!! THEIR MEMORY SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE TO US ALL!! THE COURAGEOUS FALLEN! THE ANGUISHED FALLEN! THEIR LIVES HAVE MEANING BECAUSE WE, THE LIVING, REFUSE TO FORGET THEM! AND AS WE RIDE TO CERTAIN DEATH, WE TRUST OUR SUCCESSORS TO DO THE SAME FOR US! BECAUSE MY SOLDIERS DO NOT BUCKLE OR YIELD, WHEN FACED WITH THE CRUELTY OF THIS WORLD! MY SOLDIERS PUSH FORWARD! MY SOLDIERS SCREAM OUT! MY SOLDIERS RAGE!"

~ Present ~

*

Flying through the rain of blood I seethe through my teeth, powering myself towards the son of bitch. Hands gripped around my blades, I soon take the opportunity as the remaining soldiers that were left, fired the green flares simultaneously.

Suddenly another wave of crushed rocks were thrown towards the screaming soldiers, wiping them all out instantly.

Finally reaching the beast I shot out my grappling hook to the shoulder, I burst forth through the thick green smoke. Growling angrily as blood stains over my face, all I held was inner rage for all the losses. The beast finally takes my approach to another level, lunging it's hand towards me.

It's bellowing roar sent a heavy echoe down the valley, while I dug my hook in it's flesh again.

Spiralling down at a rapid speed down it's arm, I tore around the flesh, making sure any joints and nerves were cut off, along with it's hand. My voice raises higher, yelling with all my power in strength for those lost soldiers. Despite how that Beast was stunned by my attack, I took the opening from the nape. 

Activating the grappling hooks, I dug into the chunky flesh at the base of the nape.

Without wasting a second or my time, I fly with immense speed while the beast covers his nape. Slicing through his eyes instead, this causes the beast to stumble without any support. Diving down below the beast again from behind, the wind pounded against my ears with my adrenaline running. Slicing through his ankles taking out all the weak points, I slice his other before his body falls forward heavily.

Raising myself high up in the air again, my eyes angled down with rage flickering behind them.

Gripping my blades tightly, "What's wrong? Not enjoying yourself so much anymore?!!!!" 

Bursting forth towards the nape I excel some more gas, as I spiral down noticing him trying to harden the nape, exactly like the Female's form.

"Come on, let's have some fun!!!!!!!!"

Slicing his limbs around I land on the back before sending a heavy load of attacks, raging with my anger and all my strength. Both hearing his bellowing roar and my own, everything was left to who survives now. Finally with one final severe to the nape, I yell with all my might.

With blood and a gory finish, I slice both his arms before the man bursted out from the nape in agony.

Without wavering I run my blade through his opened mouth, teeth grinding against the steel before blood draws. Shoving him down into the furry back, I rest my weight into his mouth. Slamming my foot against his torso, I glare dangerously into his own, narrowing my eyes.

"After transforming, if your body's severely damaged," I pant subtly, maintaining my grip. "It's too busy healing to let you resume your titan form. Isn't that right?"

He grunts beneath my blade as I press more deeply, piercing through the flesh to the eye. He cries muffled beneath my blade, while I clench my jaw firmly with anger boiling steadily in my veins.

"hey! Answer me!" I demand, impatiently. "Don't you have any manners?"

I can't kill him yet....there must be someone out there who's still alive. It doesn't matter if they're on the brink of death. 

I can inject them and make them a titan. Then we just have them eat this guy, and the Beat titan's power is ours. If there's one person still breathing, I can save them!

A deep rumbling from behind knocked me out of my thoughts, as I snap my head around only to find that cart titan bursting out the thick steam. Jumping back before I could lose my life for a moment, it collects the holder of the Beast titan, and began to flee towards the Walls. Landing on the ground, my eyes widen in shock.

"Hey, where are you going? Stop!" I plead, desperately.

However all the titans that were aligned in a line, started to charge in my direction at full speed. I stood there wide eyed, "Hold on....I made a promise to Commander Erwin......that I would kill you no matter what it took!"

Detaching my old blunt blades, I sheath new fresh ones.

"I promised!!!!!

I can't let my life end here, not right now! I have a woman to go back too, and a promise to fulfill. If I let myself die here, I wouldn't forgive myself and the others that died in vain. 

*

FIFTEEN MINUTES AGO - (Akira's pov:)

"Oh god........how is he...?"

"That bastard!" Jean bitterly comments, as the armoured walks towards the wall. "What'll take to put him down for good? Why won't he just stay dead?! What the hell do we do against something like that?!"

Everyone grew silent, unable to think of anything to prevent Bertholdt from heading towards the wall.

"Hey Armin, I think getting Eren out of here safely might be the best we can hope for," Jean suggests, knowing he hates to lose to any kind of battle. Right now, we barely have anything to have the advantage.

"He's......thinner..." Armin comments.

"Huh?"

"The colossal titan, he's gotten a little thinner," Armin observes, allowing me to realise he was absolutely right. "Guys! It's exactly like Hanji said! Our best bet against the Colossal, is a battle of attrition! You remember her experiments with Eren? He could only transform up to three times! If that's the case for a fifteen meter titan, a sixty meter might be even less efficient!"

My eyes widen, "I understand, and then his steam...he might be burning through the flesh and muscle tissue to produce it," coming to realisation, thanking myself for enduring Hanji's speeches and rambles. "Everything, except for his skeleton..."

"I agree," Armin nods, clarifying his observation.

"So, what are you implying?" Jean questions.

Armin's eyes meets mine with full confidence, "I have a plan, the rest of you need to draw Reiner away," he instructs, quickly. "Eren and I will defeat the Colossal titan ourselves!.....I know the two of us can do it! Do you trust me Corporal?"

Surprised with the different expression, and tone of confidence, a smirk rests with assurance.

"Yes, I do!"

Mikasa nods, "All right, then,"

Jean breaths out with relief, "Sure took ya long enough," he grins. "You had me thinkin' we're all gonna die here."

Standing up I grimace in pain, blood seeping through my fingers as my vision grew hazier. Inhaling sharply I chuckle through the pain, before tightening my jacket around my wound weakly.

"Alright, we'll deal with Reiner then," I spoke up, firmly whilst glancing over my shoulder to see Reiner approaching us.

Without wasting a second thought or even thinking such a thing, we parted ways, although I felt unsettled by Armin's surprise plan. Hesitant in asking, I shook my head knowing I will only prevent us in taking the Colossal down and our effort in vain.

*

"Alright everyone, just focus on Reiner and let Armin deal with Bertholdt!" I instruct sternly. Connie, Sasha, Mikasa and Jean followed behind me with one Thunder Spear each, while I held the remaining last of my blades. 

Even though I knew I couldn't cut through the Armour, my next move was gonna slice through the muscle beneath once I have an opening.

"Yes, Corporal!" Jean replied. "So all we have to do is keep Reiner at a safe distance, and fly just close enough to him to get his attention!"

"That's right," I nodded, craning my head to the children. "You all got that?!"

"Got it!!!" In unison.

The armoured was charging towards us, hearing it's heavy footsteps tremble the earth. With massive large strides, he pushed past completely ignoring us. A gust of wind from his heavy large limbs slightly knocks us off course for a moment, but I sharply turn not losing a second.

"He ignored us?!" Connie's voice echoed from behind.

"He's focused on Eren, back to plan B!!!!" I yelled back, before flying towards Reiner from behind. Suddenly without warning Mikasa flies past me, with intense speed drawing closer before raising the Thunder spear.

Grunting with all her strength, the Thunder spear was directed just beneath the kneecaps.

This finally made the armoured stumble forward, however he uses his arm supporting his weight against the houses, gaining back his balance for only a moment. Yet, he soon tumbles forward heavily into the earth, as it crushes beneath his heavyweight.

Jean, Sasha and Connie finally caught up.

"If we can't get Reiner's attention, we'll have to finish him off right here!" Mikasa decides firmly, but she was acting more rashly. "Our job is to protect Eren and Armin!!!!!"

Jean nods, "Yeah...I know that,"

"We've only got three thunder spears, that's all....but...."Connie points out.

"We've gotta try anyway!" Sasha determinedly says. "Because there's no way we're gonna win if we don't fight! Luckily we have the Corporal with us, or our chances will be slim as well!!!"

Narrowing my eyes I drew closer towards Reiner, who laid there weakly, we quietly came up with a plan before we stood around him.

Reiner's head turns to me for a moment, when Jean comes up from behind him, "Reiner!!!!!!!!"

With a nod Reiner's attention turns to Jean, taking the bait for only a moment, as Connie and Sasha raises their thunder spears. Reiner quickly acts swiping his hand across the rooftop, the plated tiles flying in all directions. Sasha throws her thunder spear and took her attack, however she misses as it explodes, she was caught in the blast brutally.

"Shit, Sasha!" My heart sank, when Connie jumps in after locking his spear and exploding the other side of the jaw. 

She missed!

Tightening my jaw I knew I must at least unlock the other side of Reiner's jaw, as the explosion somewhat took some damage. Jean calls to me in desperation, but I met Mikasa's firm gaze and without hesitation I flew directly towards his jaw. Adjusting my blades upside down, my thumb glides across before resting against the edge of the handle.

"Wait, Corporal!!!!"

Raising both my arms I roar with all my strength, about to take my chance when, "Perfect!!!!!"

Suddenly a thunder spear embedded into the centre of the muscle, when his jaw was and exploded. My head whips in the direction from where the attack came from, as my eyes slowly widen in disbelief. "Hanji!!!!!" I call out, drawing myself away back to the rooftop.

The jaw unbarred openly, allowing Mikasa's position to resume.

"Now's your chance!!!!!" Hanji declares loudly. "Get him!!!!"

Mikasa dared not to think twice before flying directly to the jaws of the beast, as she lands swiftly upon his tongue. Within seconds she jumps out with all her strength, her voice yelling with power. The spear finally took it's finally click, as it explodes within the back of the throat where Reiner's body nestled inside.

The explosion grew far more intensive, hearing Reiner yelling out in agony. 

Seeing his body finally being exposed, I push off and charged in catching him from the fall. His skin was burning hot, flesh melted, and the stench was putrid to say the least. Landing on the ground, his titan form soon collapsed to the trembling earth. Panting heavily I didn't realise how well that went, despite almost at the brink of a failed mission.

Squeezing my eyes tightly, I inhale sharply before I choke on something metallic at the back of my throat.

Hanji approaches me quickly before throwing him against the wall, when I began to cough aggressively. Hunching over I cover my mouth forcefully, only to find red painting my palm. Grimacing I smear the blood against my jacket, before wiping my mouth quickly turning my attention to Reiner.

Now isn't the time to relax yet, not until we've covered everything first..

Glancing over my shoulder I noticed Mikasa began to bind Jean's wound, seeing he's broken his arm or fractured it somehow. Thankfully the two were alive, but most importantly Sasha didn't seem okay. Connie took her somewhere safe, not leaving her side seeing how fatal her wounds were.

"Akira!!!!"

That familiar voice! Could it be.....?

Hearing the sound of ODM gear whizzing by, I turn to see Lena landing with my Uncle awake and still alive in her grasp. Stepping closer my eyebrows hike up with cautiousness, before relief washes over me. Forgetting how heavy my wounds were, I rush towards her and embraced my comrade tightly.

"Lena.......you're safe," I breath out, as she held me tightly. "I thought......you were.....were and Hanji--"

Pulling away my expression drops seeing a ghastly wound, running up her jaw, over her nose to below her left eye. Flesh shredded, bloodied and her jaw covered in red. Her eyes were bloodshot, skin covered in scratches and dirt and ash.

"I only barely made it from the blast zone, still took a heavy hit," She informs me, assuringly as if it wasn't a big deal. "Besides, on my way here with Hanji I found this guy, trying to sneak away......assumed he was the enemy, I decided to bring with us for further interrogation."

Ronin grunts from her heavy shove, slamming his knee weakly against the ground.

Glaring down my jaw clenched tightly, "Thought slicing that arm would knock you out longer, guess I underestimated you,"

Lena glances up with surprise, curious to know who this man is.

"Wait, you know him?" She asks, while placing her blades into her canisters. With a hum in my throat, my hand drifts along the steel canister and drew my blades with one swift motion.

My eyes darkening with anger, I press the tip of my blade against his throat.

"Yes.....and shamefully, I'm his niece unfortunately," my tone shifts, deeply and regretfully. His eyes trail along the steel blade, before his murderous stare locks with mine with intensity to kill. Dare he not flinches, I press further the steel against his throat, blood drawing from the pierced flesh.

His breath hitches quietly, but obvious to know he was in discomfort with his missing limb. 

"Is this the Uncle you spoke about?" Hanji questions hastily, whilst standing beside Reiner's heavy steamed body. Eyes blindfolded and no limbs to escape, he was trapped and no way to recover quickly to transform again. Not for a long while.

"Yeah, and right now I have questions," angling my blade, as Hanji got my message. Dragging him away from where Hanji and Reiner were, I took him a few steps away to talk one on one.

*

Standing before the pathetic sight, he knelt on both knees with one arm tied back. The other was stained the rest of his clothes, the material still drenched, soaking in his blood. Never had I even imagined that I had family, from beyond these walls. Especially with one of them, desperately wasting his time and effort in trying to wipe me from existence.

"First question.........Why have you come to kill me?" 

Though it was such an easy question, the look in his eyes were filled nothing but complete hatred staring into my soul.

"......"

"Answer me, or I will slice your other are," I calmly threaten, not bluffing my through this. Every word I meant it, and though my body was in agonising pain, questions and truths must be resurfaced. If I don't find out anything, then what was my kindling that lit that flame. 

Why did my own very existence, means to come to an end? Why now?

"The day you were born, you took away something from me," He sneered, his tone shifts to more calm and brittle. His azure eye met mine, "You took my position, that could raise our armies to victory."

I don't understand. Victory? Armies?

Lowering my blade I knelt before him to be in level, to understand in his perspective.

"Armies? Position? Explain please?"

He sighs heavily while closing his eyes with defeat, "Explaining is such a drag for you to understand, but.....I'll fucking try," He utters out, his shoulders loosen in response. 

Lena stood cautiously behind him, blade in hand in case he tries anything funny.

"I was meant to be chief of our clan. A clan that is the connecting branch to the nation of Hizuru like the Ackerman's, and the Oriental," He began, figuring how to explain it all. "Our clan was known for our military strength, and how strong we are to adapt to situations such like what occurred today. A war. Our