~*~

"We're here......"

Crossing the border over the ocean from afar by Marley, the winds begin to pick up. The inland had the streets lining with lights, knowing full well they're the homes of the locals. Seeing the warm glow in the distance from where the main part of Liberio lit up, in preparation for the speech that was soon going to be announced very shortly. According by the Azumabito, a man by the name Willy Tybur will be the host of the festival. A man who is from a family with nobility, as his bloodline has been going since the great titan war.

After memorising the area more thoroughly on the map in the cockpit, I soon confirm that I'm prepared to lead everyone into Marley.

With the ambassadors from different nations world wide will be there, we knew this was gonna be a heavier mission to take upon. The Azumabito were definitely invited to the event obviously seen they haven't been shown as potential threats to Marley; it damn gave us the chance to slip in thanks to Lady Kiyomi. I even hate to admit that myself. I swear the more I speak with her, I'll gain grey hairs soon enough than later. 

The letter further entails Eren's intentions for the festival tonight, which I didn't really personally enjoy. Eren was intentionally going to interrupt Marley's declaration of war with one of his own, which is why Levi was far more defensive and persistent in me stay back on Paradis. Because Eren's interruption will cause a war, that will drag us all to the forefront of the world towards us. 

This world has really suddenly gone straight to hell.........

"Prepare the first squad and second squad to go in stealthy," I turn to Jean, while adjusting my blades and firearms in my grasp. The leather around my waist rubs against the leather belts, as I roll my shoulders to loosen the tension I've been feeling as of late. 

Jean gives me a nods in confirmation, "Ma'am......." 

Seriously why couldn't Eren just drop it, because this is only cause further problems if we make any drastic moves. It's too late to reconsider our options right now, but what else could we do?

Paradis was our home and we must protect it with our lives........

"I appreciate the effort in finalising the plans, Akira," Hanji walks up to me, her eye focused on me. "This mission hopefully be worth it, because I'm not feeling the pride of a soldier or a Commander right now......."

Placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder, I give it a gentle squeeze, "Then that makes two of us," lowering my hand back to my side, glancing around everyone in the cargo bay. "Just......don't expect Eren to be fully with us, because I have a bad feeling........he's not the same boy we know......"

Hanji knew she couldn't disagree, because she felt the same way about it. 

"Does Levi approve you being here?" She questions again, as has been said multiple times before this mission has started. "Is Luka safe? Have you made sure that this is what you want?"

With a troubling sigh, "Levi is not good with words, but he clearly is against me being here," I reply with hesitance, in my voice. My hair covers my eyes for a moment, as I glide my finger through with a troubling look. "If I get injured, he'll have my ass for sure......no matter if I avoid it or not."

A warm chuckle rumbles from her, "Well, that's Levi for you...." she playfully punches my shoulder. "Anyway, I'll be here in the cockpit with Onyankopon and we'll pick Armin up whilst we go through Liberio. You just do your best to stay alive for me........and Levi of course..."

"Right," 

Turning on my heel sharply I began to walk around making sure everything was finalised, and soldiers were prepared. The cargo bay was filled with more gas canisters and fresh blades, and more ammunition hopefully.

"Make sure you've got your gas tanks full, and enough ammunition for your firearms!" I pace around with stride and purpose, before seeing Levi standing at the sliding door of the zeppelin. He was busy instructing a few of the soldiers to prepare a safe getaway, with a runway of lights when picking us up after we've retrieved Zeke and Eren. This plan is precise and in position, and timed as the Zeppelin was sailing at a good slow pace.

Soldiers run around preparing to exit out of the airship, whilst I head to the opened doors as we were close to the drop-off point. 

The wind bellows and pounds against my ears from how heavy the air was, before feeling a hand rest on the back of my shoulder blade, "I'm gonna fly ahead before everyone else, and watch the speech......." I inform Levi, earning a slight click of his tongue in annoyance. "Armin will be at the harbour very soon, and he'll draw the main units away. Yelena hopefully will have the titan warriors dispatched from the main area of the festival....."

Gathering that Eren holds two of the nine, we're either looking at about three or four shifters on Paradis. One is mostly likely Zeke. 

"Just don't get killed....." He mutters, before sneaking a quick kiss to my cheek. 

"You just get that damn monkey down, even if it's only pretend," giving him a playful wink, rubbing his shoulder gently; my short wisps of hair flickers in every direction from the wind rapidly.

"Damn fool," he mutters, when his hand snaked around my waist and tugged me into him. Without a second of registering his move, warm lips meet mine for a brief moment. His temple rests against mine, "I love you.......Akira," he murmurs, beneath his blatant breath.

My cheeks warm up calmly, "I love you too," 

With that I step forward and jumped down from a great distance, feeling the sudden rush flow through my body. How it's been so long feeling this, how my blood flowed powerfully and strongly when in the moment. Glancing around as i fell for a few more seconds, I take in my surroundings. Once I got to a certain distance range to the rooftops of the city, I activate my ODM gear and locked my grappling hooks into the stone walls and flew down in a long stealthy swoop in the dark streets.

~*~

Swiftly landing upon a plated rooftop, I could hear the voices growing louder the closer I got. I knew the place would be tight on security, knowing if anyone was reckless from my soldiers, they would be spoken too later. Though my thoughts wandered back to my son in Paradis, I know right now he would be having a warm meal and being tucked in bed by Ingrid. This mission is only a retrieval mission, and an act of war.

I couldn't hesitate now when things have become dire, especially when Eren is in desperate need of us to bring him back. 

Quietly keeping myself low on the rooftop in the shadow of the walls, that blocks the bright ray of the moonlight, I watch over the edge to see the speech. A man with long blonde hair and a deep voice was speaking with purpose, on the stage in front of hundreds of people and citizens of Liberio. Though the speech was meant to be empowering, it didn't support Paradis' side of the story. The embodiment of our people, were claimed as the enemy without hearing our side out.

Yet, we all were kept in the dark.....no one informed us of the past.....

"................I cursed the blood I was born with, more than anyone I wished the Eldian's were wiped out,"  Tybur continues, making me grit my teeth in annoyance how they kept thinking we're devils. The more they think, the more we will act like them. "................But I do not wish to die....and that is because I was born into this world. We are people of different races and nations........However, it is time to join as one and face this dreadful enemy! Lend me your strength, those of you who wish to live............Those of you who wish for a future! If we work together, we can overcome any obstacle in our way! I want you to join me in the fight against the devils of Paradis Island!! Here and now, as representative of the Marleyan Government, I proclaim...to the enemy forces of Paradis--a declaration of war!!!!!!!!--"

Piercing struck of lightning brightened the dark starry night, as I tuck my face further in the shade of the wall seeing the familiar transformation. The glow and the bloodcurdling cry of Eren's titan brought the memories rushing in, seeing that his form never once changed. The building and stage where Willy once was, was turned to rubble and debris seeing a trail of blood in midair seeing the body of Tybur in Eren's wake. 

My breath grew shaky in that very moment, watching the gruesome and horrifying display happening before my own eyes.However the lack of empathy I felt towards this man, made realise how numb my emotions slowly have become towards those who oppose my people. 

Eren's mouth remains wide open as if assuming that Tybur holds the power of the war hammer titan, seeing the body fall into the jaws and belly of the beast. The debris itself killed many already from the front row seats of the crowd before the stage, as the pure shock and realisation that everyone was in trouble. 

"Shit........."

Soldiers and many other citizens began screaming, and trying to run away from Eren's titan form. Eren began charging ahead towards the crowd of people and lunges down turning the place into a bloody massacre. My eyes slightly darken more, as I rest my hand with a gun in hand ready to make a move very soon. 

"So.......is everyone in position?" my voice questions, quietly; sensing her presence behind me in the shadows.

She crouches and steps closer in the night, "We're ready to commence, Eren's already made his signal known," Lena informs me, while securing a hiding spot beside me in the shadow. 

Soon another bright golden bolt of lightening clashed to the earth again, however it wasn't Eren this time. To our own shock, someone else was a shifter and there a figure transformation bone and scalding hot muscle and flesh forms into a titan. However before completely transforming, Eren interjects the transformation and began to attack it before it could attack him.

Suddenly a large white kind of crystallised spike shot up right through Eren's titan leaving him hanging up from above with blood spraying it's attack.

The titan that was soon transforming completely was all white, with a different physique and some kind of face mask that looks like bars from a jail cell. There it held some kind of hammer that transformed from thin air, made from it's own tissue and bone and grips it before swinging towards Eren.

Breaking the spike from below it allowed Eren to jump down, the earth trembling beneath the large titans. Soon multiple spikes surface from below piercing and securing Eren's body, before the sound of cannons fire multiple titans. This distracts Eren for a moment knocking him off course for a moment, as he covers his nape with his hands crystallised with his hardening ability.

"Akira, we need to make our move!" Lena panics slightly, but I held my hand up to interject her urgency.

"This is all on Eren right now," I spoke up firmly, my brows furrowing with a steady gaze of the battle. "Both our goal tonight is protect our squadron, secure a light pathway and defend Eren in case one of the warriors is loose...."

Lena was hesitant, "But......Yelena should be having them secured--"

Before she could finish Eren soon raised his fists up in a fighting stance. The war hammer titan then gathers momentum into his shoulders and smashes his hands and head vertically down, with full ferocity of force in the attack. Lena's breath hitches in response realising how close the war hammer got to Eren's nape just then. "Shit........that titan is......a beast,"

"It's different, but it's an enemy......."

The thick steam surrounds the nape causing it to be difficult to see him, until he finally shows himself. From afar I couldn't tell exactly how he looked, but it didn't matter right now. Mikasa should be here very soon, sensing our plan was going as it should be. Seeing the hammer titan raises it's hammer, it's eyes glaring towards Eren.

"Alright,

"Usurper Eren Yeager," The titan spoke, surprised it was able to speak as well. "Before you die, you may utter your final words."

Though from afar I couldn't hear anything, but in that moment I knew it was time for Mikasa to take part in the attack. 

"Lena.....we move now,"

~*~

"GET THOSE DAMN DEVILS!!!!"

Flying through the streets with stealthily across the rooftops, as the sound of gunshots echoing around. Flashes of gunpowder being ignited, and the smell was thick and hard to breath when flying in different directions. The battle only begun in the middle of the night, as Lena went over to aid some our young soldiers. The rush of our invasion was like a blur for a moment, and soon you come to touch the reality of the situation.

"GET THAT BITCH!!!!!"

Endless firing all directed at me trails after me, as I fly around irregularly making my move unpredictable. Then whipping out the grappling hooks, I shot one through the belly of a soldier and pulled him towards his other comrade and let them fall to their deaths. Taking the hook out I continue to dodge the countless bullets, while in a adrenaline rush defending my young soldiers whilst seeing some perish at the hands of the marleyan unit personnel. 

"Stay away from my men!!" my voice was steady and furious.

I skid across the rooftop as a man was startled by my presence, as he kept firing towards me. Running in a zig zag and lowering my body, I shot directly into his temple as he falls back and drops to his death from the tall building. Whipping my head around I hear another gun fire as my eyes blaze with determination; gunfire echoes in my ears as a heavy graze almost knocks me off course with a spray of blood. Without wasting another second, I charge towards the scared soldier as I plunge the blade I whisked out quickly into his heart. 

He grimaces with a distorted expression, "You......b-bitch......" his voice gurgles with blood, before I shove him off the building.

Panting heavily I shove my blade into the holster, slowly registering what just happened. My hand immediately placed pressure over my shoulder, the bleeding seeping through as it squelches beneath my fingers. "Shit........thought I missed it," grimacing for a moment, as I soon bend down while keeping myself alert.

Ripping some material from my sleeve at the cuff of my uniform, I began to bind it around my shoulder tightly to slowly the bleeding for the time being. 

"When is the signal.....?" I question to myself, hearing the gunfire from a distance whilst hearing the cries of either the enemy or my men.

To be honest, those lives I've taken could've been pointless. I even regret it......

But how else was I meant to stop them, when they'll only constantly keep retaliating......?

~*~

Gliding over the internment zone, I soon noticing an argument happening just on the rooftop.

"Dammit.......what's going on?"

Attaching my hooks on the roof I pull myself down with force, skidding across the paved roof quietly. Seems like Floch and his own opinions was getting in the way of the real reason we're here, and he's not even giving Jean the time of day to listen to him.

"Everyone here is an enemy, these are just our enemies homes," Floch argues back, indifferently. The unnecessary explosions from the grenades set off around, causing buildings to collapse and debris to rise. "Don't forget what they did to us.....the titans who've been slaughtering our people for years came from here, right? They've been eating us alive! So they've got this coming and then some!"

Keeping myself at a quiet distance hoping Jean would reason with him, gave me an idea that Floch's head was still reverting back four years ago.

Jean rests a hand upon his shoulder, "Seriously, you have to stop thinking like that--"

"Look there," Floch turns Jean's attention towards Eren's impaled body from afar. "He's telling us something, that we have to fight. We can't just cower behind our walls, waiting for death to come. We need to fight like he does, like devils--"

Clenching my jaw tightly, my anger was steady and my mind clear.

"I think that's enough, Floch," I warn him, earning his breath to hitch from my sudden approach. He was hesitant to speak the moment my presence was known, "Don't you think that the lives we take........is no different to what they've done to us. War is war, it's endless.......you're still so naive Floch. Have you learned nothing from those years ago?"

"Section Commander....." Jean purses his lips together, with his eyes on me. 

Walking up to Floch my eyes dangerously met his, "You know nothing of what the Scouts have seen all these fucking years, but times change......people change....." I growl lowly, my hands tightening with every word that clings to the tension. "No matter who kills who, all of us are stuck in a cycle of bloodshed. No matter if a war ends, another will only follow in the future........so I think you should shut your damn mouth soldier!"

"But--"

"Right now, I want you to stop throwing more unnecessary damage than what Eren has already done here, and defend him until we get back on the damn zeppelin!" I order sternly, with authority rumbling in my voice. "Have you forgotten your mission tonight? Lower the damn casualties of the Eldian's, and focus on the Marley's military personnel.....am I clear?"

Floch growls under his breath, "What gives you the--" he went to raise his hand, when Jean suddenly caught his wrist. 

"How dare you raise a hand at the section Commander," Jean tightens his grip, with voice deep and threatening. "As she asks......are we clear?"

Knowing Floch in and out already, he would have to listen regardless despite our views on the matter. He's still a kid in my eyes, that's been led astray for too long in loss and anger.

"Crystal," he seethes through his teeth bitterly, before yanking his wrist from Jean's grip. He soon steps away from Jean and I in a fowl mood, pissed from my orders and other things. 

Sighing deeply for a moment another explosion occurs from a distant range, which I could see that it was near the streets that were meant to be blocked off for the lights to be set in for the Zeppelin. I could sense Jean has gone silent, as I turn to him, "Thanks for following orders, makes it easier," I thank him, as I grip my firearm in hand. 

"It's fine, but....he shouldn't talk back to you," Jean spoke firmly, defending me with such loyalty. I've raised him well, than I've expected him to be and he's more born a leader than anything. "But this......?" gesturing to my bloody arm, but I dismiss it.

It's merely a pointless distraction right now.....

"I'm fine......just a graze," I assure him quietly, finding my left arm heavy and throbbing painfully. Shaking my head I revert my attention onto the War hammer, "Anyway, about that titan..." gestures to the unfamiliar white war hammer titan.

Crouching down on my knees to keep myself hidden from gunfire if any chance, Jean follows suit next to me.

My face grows troubled, "Mikasa has attempted to explode the nape, but....." my jaw clenches. "......it seems it's far different compared to what we've observed over the years. Nothing seems to have any defect....."

"I see......."

Two pairs of boots land upon the roof nearby us with the sound of zip-wires gathering; turning to see Connie and Sasha approaching us, "We've stalled their reinforcements," Connie informs us, whilst Sasha glances over