N.B : If you'd like to get early access to or read the next 4 chapters of Universal hope (Chapter 6-9) right now, why not consider supporting me at my patreon: Patreon.com/Weeb Fanthom. (Use this to get to search it up) Your donations will be very much appreciated <3 <3 <3
Nobody would have thought that today would be the day the impenetrable walls got destroyed. But now, what would have been a normal day meant to be filled with people's chatters and children playing is filled with the screams of hundreds of people as they ran for their dear life. Screams filled the air, blending with the deep, guttural roars of titans. Chaos reigned as flames licked the sky, smoke clouding vision, and the once-peaceful town of Shiganshina crumbled under the weight of destruction.
The Colossal Titan had disappeared, but its monstrous work had been done; the gate to Wall Maria lay shattered, and the smaller titans poured in, mindlessly rampaging through the town, devouring anyone in their path. The world was ending.
But none of that mattered to Eren. His mind was solely focused on one thing. He didn't even hear when Armin said they should evacuate as well or the sonorous screams of the preyed people caught in the hands of titans.
"Our house is near the wall…" Eren's legs moved before his mind could catch up. "MOM—!" He yelled hoping to whichever deity that existed that his home made it. Mikasa followed closely behind as they sprinted through several routes, cutting through passageways to get to their house.
"Mom should be fine. No way our house got hit." Eren thought with desperate hope, pushing past people that were running the other way. He nearly fell as he turned another corner almost reaching their home. Once he turns the corner, his home will still be there, like always-
Eren's stomach dropped at the sight before him. He and Mikasa skidded to a stop in front of their collapsed home. Their house; their home; was in ruins, half of it buried under debris. And underneath that debris…
"Mom!!"
Carla Yeager lay pinned beneath the rubble, half of her body underneath the fallen house. Her face was contorted in pain, but she was alive.
"Eren! Mikasa!"
Relief flooded through Eren but now wasn't the time for that, immediately going for the beam of wood that had his mother pinned, Eren and Mikasa began tugging on it.
"Eren! Take Mikasa and go!" Carla shouted at Eren despite she was crushed under the beam of wood. A heavy boulder was in the way, there's no way they can lift the wood. "I'm not leaving you behind!" Eren shouted back, his hands already bleeding from trying to lift the beam as splinters pierced through his hands. Mikasa wasn't fairing any better. Carla turned to Mikasa, hoping she would listen to her. "Mikasa, the two of you have to go!" Mikasa shook her head in defiance, tears spilling her eyes as he still tugged desperately on the other side of the beam. "I can't lose another family!"
The sound of whirring gas approached their way, a soldier with ODM gear came landing near the desolated street. It was Hannes. Relief filled Carla as she saw Hannes running their way. "Hannes, thank God." She smiled weakly.
Before anybody could say a word, tremors of heavy footsteps were heard. A titan was approaching, toward the Jaeger household; its grotesque grin stretching wider as it spots Carla trapped under the collapsed beams of the house. It towered over the rooftops, its empty, dead-eyed gaze locked onto them like a predator spotting its next meal.
The sky burns. The Smiling Titan's footsteps shake the earth as it closes in on the Jaeger household; Carla's legs still pinned under the wreckage of their home. Eren, Mikasa, and Hannes froze despite the former two's hands were bleeding from clawing at the rubble.
Its smile the most unsettling thing ever seen.
Eren's breath hitched. On his left wrist, the Omnitrix hums against his skin, its green light pulsing like a second heartbeat. Eren's heart pounded. He could hear Hannes running toward them, yelling something, but his focus was elsewhere.
For a brief second, a memory flashed in his mind. One that felt like his own but at the same time not…
"If only I was stronger… If only I could have done something…"
Panic gripped Carla as she realized what was coming. "Hannes!! Take Eren and Mikasa! Run!!" Eren's hands clenched into fists. His breathing was ragged, his mind screaming at him to act. No. Not this time. He had already lost his home. He was not losing his mother too. Another memory surged his mind.
An older version of himself with his left eye bandaged spoke in a detached voice to someone. "Why did I have to watch my mom die, tell me…"
Not this time.
Mikasa who was beside Carla, still desperately tried to lift the heavy wooden beams off of her. "Eren! Help me!"
Mikasa had a loaf of bread stuffed in his mouth. "What difference would it make if you went back to wall Maria. You don't have the strength to save your mother."
Not this time.
"Eren! Mikasa!" Hannes called out as soon as he has reached their position, running straight towards the 15 meter abomination.
Hannes was holding back a fisted hand that wanted to punch his face, tears in his hand. "The reason you couldn't save your mother, was because you lacked the strength. The reason I didn't fight the titan, was because I lacked the courage!!!"
Not this time.
"Damn it… we don't have time—!" Hannes paled as he tried reaching for his blades, but his arms were frozen. His eyes set on the disturbing face of the titan making him stop in his tracks. Eren's vision tunnels. "No. Not again."
Carla gasped at her son's defiance. "Eren! Why can't you listen to your mother for once!"
"I'm not running." Eren gritted out back as his right hand snapped to the device on his left wrist, his fingers hovering over the dial making the faceplate pop up. The Omnitrix beeped, its core flashing green. Eren clenched his left hand to a fist and brought his right hand upward about to slam the faceplate.
"Why won't you listen to me?!" Carla screamed at Eren who was still selecting something from the faceplate.
His mind flashbacked to what his father had told him earlier:
"Until then, promise me one thing. Whatever happens… you must protect Mikasa and your mother."
"Because I know this is the right thing to do!"
Eren's hand slammed down the dial.
A blinding green light engulfed the street, forcing Mikasa, Carla and Hannes to momentarily shield their eyes. The air crackled with energy, and when the light faded, Eren was gone; standing in his place was a towering, four-armed behemoth, his crimson skin gleaming under the catastrophic sunset. Four massive arms flex as Eren- Now Titan fist roars, shaking the ground. Mikasa gasped, momentarily stunned at the sight of him. Hannes froze mid-step, his mouth falling open in shock. Carla had tears filled in her eyes, she had always known Eren
Sheer power surging through Eren, his vision locked onto the debris pinning Carla down.
Time to work.
With a growl, he stepped forward and plunged four of his hands into the wreckage. "Hold on, Mom," Eren grunted as he tightened his grip, his voice deep due to the transformation. "I've got you!"
The weight was immense, but he was stronger. Wood splintered, stone cracked, and with an earth-shaking roar, Eren heaved the wreckage upward, his four arms bulging with raw strength. Carla gasped as the crushing pressure lifted from her torso. Her legs were twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood stained her clothes, and Eren was furious at the state his mother was in. Mikasa wasted no time, she rushed forward, pulling Carla free as carefully as possible.
Eren draped his now massive jacket around his mother's bottom half, careful not to aggravate the injuries as he carefully applied pressure by tying the make shift bandage to a knot. "Eren—!" Carla's voice was weak, but full of emotion.
He didn't look at her. His glowing yellow eyes were now focused past them, on the Smiling Titan, now dangerously close. It raised its massive hand to swat at them but Eren used his massive body to shield Mikasa, Carla and Hannes, his body absorbing the shockwave like a tank. Pivoting his body Titanfist grabbed hold of the tree and leapt a massive feet away from the smiling titan, landing at the end of the street before putting them down.
"Hannes!" Eren's deepened voice boomed. "Take my mom and get the hell out of here!" Hannes was still frozen, eyes flicking between Eren's transformed state and the incoming titan.
"What… What the hell are you!?"
"Not the time, old man!" Eren snapped. "Take her and run!" Carla shook her head frantically, gripping Mikasa's arm. "No! Eren, come with us! Please!" Eren turned, giving his mother one last look. For the first time, he saw it-her fear. But not for herself. For him.
Just like when he said he wanted to join the survey corps.
A lump formed in his throat, but he swallowed it down. "I'll catch up," he lied, his voice softer. Then he turned back to face the titan, rolling his broad shoulders, cracking his knuckles. Mikasa clenched her fists. She didn't want to leave him. But the way Eren stood, the way he owned the moment; she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. She bit her lip. Then, nodding sharply, she grabbed Carla and helped Hannes carry her away.
Eren exhaled as he watched as they got to safety, turning his full focus on the Smiling Titan. It was almost upon him. "Alright, you ugly bastard," he muttered, planting his two feet wide apart, fists raised. "Let's see how you like being on the other end of a beatdown." The Smiling Titan loomed, letting out a low, grotesque moan. It reached out with its massive hand once again, aiming to grab him.
But Eren struck first. With an explosive burst of strength, he leapt forward, bringing both upper fists down in a double hammer blow to the titan's hand.
CRACK!
The sound of shattering bone echoed through the street as the titan's fingers bent at unnatural angles. It reared back, its dead smile never changing, but Eren knew; it felt that. He grinned. "Not so fun being on the receiving end, huh?"
The titan swung its other arm at him. Eren dodged, rolling under it before grabbing its forearm with two hands and slamming a thunderous punch into its elbow with the other two.
CRACK!!
The arm bent backward, useless. The titan staggered back trying to get its balance but Eren didn't stop. He launched himself at its knee, throwing a barrage of brutal punches till a sickening pop could be heard. The titan's leg buckled, sending it crashing down onto its side. The street trembled. Eren wasted no time. He climbed onto the fallen titan, all four fists raised high. "This is for my mom, you disgusting piece of shit!"
And then he let loose.
A barrage of fists, raining down like meteors. The titan's face caved in under the relentless assault. It let out a muffled groan, but Eren didn't stop. He kept punching and punching until its head was nothing but pulp. Breathing heavily, Eren stood atop its lifeless corpse, his massive chest rising and falling. Blood; its blood; dripped from his knuckles.
It was dead.
For the first time in his life, he killed a titan.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't helpless.
After rounding the street's corner. He turned, his four yellow eyes scanning the distance; Mikasa and Hannes were still running, Carla in their arms.
His fists unclenched.
With a deep breath, he reached for the Omnitrix dial and slammed it down. In a flash of green, he was Eren again. With trembling legs and heart pounding, he ran.
Toward his mother. Toward his family.
Toward the next fight.
And for the first time since the walls fell, he knew he could win.
Meanwhile back to the other street the fallen titan's body twitched, its nearly headless body began regenerating.
________________
The evacuation boats were crammed with survivors, their faces hollow with shock. Women clutching children, wounded survivors gasping for breath, elders staring blankly at the flames devouring their homes. Eren watched as Mikasa helped Carla onto the deck (Thanks to Hannes helping them cut through the massive crowd to get on board), his mother's legs wrapped in his overgrown brown jacket, stained crimson. He had made it on time and was about to enter the deck too but something caught his attention; several paces away from him, he could spot an injured civilian trapped under debris about to be eaten, older people who were still lagging behind not fast enough to get past the inner gate, and his instincts are telling him to help.
"Eren!" Mikasa shouted, gripping the railing. "Get on the boat!" Her eyes locked onto his, filled with fear and desperation. He hesitated. Eren stood at the dock, fists clenched. Behind him, the Shiganshina still burned. The screams…they hadn't stopped. Titans still roamed. And somewhere in that chaos, the Colossal Titan had vanished but not the other titans roaming the place.
"I can't." Eren growled. Mikasa's eyes widened. "What?!"
"There are still people trapped in there!" He pointed back toward the district, where panicked civilians scrambled through rubble, Titans closing in. "EREN!" Mikasa's voice cut through the chaos. "Get on the boat NOW!"
Carla's already pale face paled at what his son was insinuating. "Eren, please—!"
"I'm sorry. But I won't let them die like cattle!" Before she could argue, before Carla could scream for him to stop, Eren ran away from the docks weaving his way through the crowd who yelled obscenities at him as he bumped into some, before finding a secluded place and slammed the Omnitrix dial.
A green flash erupted, and in his place stood a diamond like figure, his crystalline body refracting the firelight like a prism of war. Mikasa's breath caught as she saw the crystalling figure emerging from an alleyway. "Eren…?"
But he was already running, his diamond-hard feet shattering the cobblestones beneath him as he charged back into hell.
"Eren—!" Ready to follow herself, Mikasa was about to get off the occupying boat and follow after Eren until a firm set of hands stopped her path. "Hannes-san. Eren!-"
"-Will be fine. I'll get him back. I promise." Hannes said as he followed suit after the suicidal kid. He doesn't know how the hell Eren can suddenly change to these creatures, but he knows one thing for sure.
If he doesn't stop him the kid would get himself killed.
_________________
Armin was worried for his friends, as he sat beside his grandfather in one of the evacuating boats. He hasn't sat down since, watching vigilantly for any sign of Eren or Mikasa. His face beamed when he caught sight of Mikasa and Mrs Yeager but dropped as he saw the condition the latter was in. Her lower body was wrapped in a makeshift bandage (That looked like Eren's jacket but oversized for some reason), with Mikasa and Mr Hannes helping her get on board.
"Armin, take a seat." His grandpa's gruff voice called from beside him. "Only got knows what they've been through. The poor lads."
Armin looked back at his grandfather. "In a minute." Armin said as he surveyed the docks once more in hopes of seeing a certain brunette. Soon enough, he sports Eren in the docks and was beyond relief. His friends have made it back safe and sound; albeit with a slight near casualty. He was about to call out to Eren but stopped as he saw his friend's demeanor, like he was troubled. Armin's lips paused in thought. Maybe it was because of his mother's condition? Most likely.
However, that hypothesis got shambled the moment he saw Eren still glancing back at the inner gate, his heart skipping a bit nearly 4 steps as Eren stepped back from the dock. He could hear Mikasa's pleading voice from the other boat and Carla's plea as well. The moment he saw Eren turning around and running, he gripped the slab of the boat and shouted Eren's name. Mikasa was already about to board off the boat if it wasn't for Mr Hannes that had stopped her, before he himself chased after Eren; who was now a crystalline figure running back into Shinganshina's inner gate.
The blonde's legs nearly gave out as he saw Eren's new form disappear into the gate. He knew his friend is prone to recklessness but this was just another whole new level.
"Eren", Armin muttered, "I hope you know what you are doing."
_________________
The streets were chaos incarnate. A Titan crawled on all fours, snapping at a group of children cornered against a collapsed house. A garrison soldier attempted to slice its nape before being crushed in a giant's fist.
Eren didn't hesitate.
"MOVE!" His voice deepened and echoing like shattering glass as he leapt over the rooftops, landing between the crawling Titan and the kids.
"W-what is that?!" one child screamed.
"A monster?!" another sobbed.
"No," Eren growled. "I'm here to help."
The Titan lunged. On his way here, he had been hearing how the soldiers were talking about aiming at the nape as their canon shots misfired. Even saw how one managed to kill one with his ODM gear. Maybe…
Eren dug his hands into the ground, crystal spikes erupted from the earth, impaling the Titan through the jaw and skull. It twitched once before collapsing, dissolving into steam.
The kids stared in stunned silence. "RUN TO THE DOCKS!" Eren barked. "NOW!" They scrambled away just as Garrison soldiers rounded the corner, blades drawn and froze at the sight of him.
"What the hell is that?!" one yelled"
"Another kind of Titan?!"
"No—it just KILLED one!"
"It looks like crystal!"
Eren ignored them, already moving. He shattered a collapsed wall with a punch, pulling a bleeding family from the wreckage. He formed a crystal bridge over a blocked street, letting survivors cross while disarming as much titans as he can. But they were just too many.
Just as he was about to aim at another titan, the sound of canon shot whistled through the air, nearly getting hit by the incoming canon, if not for him dodging on time. The misfired canon hit a building making it collapse. Eren shot a glare at the garrison soldiers who had their mounted floor canons aimed at him.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Eren shouted at them to which they recoiled back and nearly fell down in fear.
"I-It can talk?!"
"Are those fucking clothes on its body?!"
"Quick! Shoot it down!!!"
A Garrison captain grabbed a musket, aiming shakily. "Identify yourself titan! Just what the hell are you?!" Eren turned his glowing green eyes on them.
"The name's Obsidian. An ally to humanity."
Silence. Then—
"Bullshit!" a soldier spat. "How the hell should we believe you, no less a talking titan?"
"Does it MATTER?!" Obsidian roared. "People are DYING! Help me save them or GET OUT OF MY WAY!" The soldiers stared, torn between terror and awe. Hannes, who had reached here a while ago was about to defend Eren/obsidian when a tremor shook the district.
Then it started again, massive footsteps, far heavier than a normal titan's. Eren's head snapped toward the source, his green crystalline eyes widening in disbelief.
"No way…"
Walking down a street filled with titans was one no human has ever seen before. Its entire body covered with golden plated armor down to its toes, only few muscles exposed. Obsidian gritted its teeth as he looked at the 15 meter armored titan. It was muscular in shape and well proportioned, a red flag already hinting in Eren's mind. It was just like the colossal titan, except smaller and different.
Eren does not like what he was looking at. Its glowing eyes lock onto the inner gate. Its body crouched down to a sprint like position.
Like it was preparing itself for something. And Eren could tell what that something is. From the smoke and debris, the armored Titan burst forth, charging with terrifying speed toward the inner gate of Shinganshina. If that titan manages to collide with the wall, the entire of wall Maria will fall. Each step shook the ground. Soldiers screamed, retreating to safety. Yelling out for the inner gate to be closed immediately.
Obsidian turned to Hannes who was still beside him, "Hannes. Get up the wall. I'll take care of tin can over here." Hannes looked shocked at what Eren just said. "Ere-I mean Obsidian. You can't be serious!" Hannes yelled out, but Eren's gaze was already locked on the sight of the charging Titan. Hannes grabbed hold of Obsidian's arm hoping to knock some sense into the suicidal kid. "Eren! I promised your mother-!"
"-That you'll bring me back safe. I know." Eren's voice softened yet held that determined tone. This made the older male stop in his tracks. "I understand you mean well for me. But let me at least try to defend my home one last time." Hannes was troubled, in one hand he wants to get Eren out of here, but on the other hand something is telling him to believe in him. As much as he might regret this later, he chose to see how Eren would handle this. Hannes gritted his teeth in frustration, letting go of Eren's huge crystalline arm. "Damn stubborn brat... Fine. If you're staying, I'm staying too." Making Eren smirk at Hannes who smirked back. "Just don't do anything stupid."
"Right back at you." Eren said as he stood his ground between the gate and the charging titan. Hannes retreated to the top of the wall, were many of the soldiers had stayed while some were still trying to close the inner gate on time. Eren grits his teeth, diamond fists tightening.
Cannon fire ricocheted off its plating as it kept running; unstoppable. "I'm gonna put holes in that thick skin of yours," Eren growled through Obsidian's voice, his fists clenched.
Eren planted his feet and slammed his palms into the earth, summoning a wall of diamond-hard crystal in front of him like a fortress. The Armored Titan smashed into it, cracking it violently, but not breaking through on the first impact.
"HEY! UGLY!"
The Armored Titan turned as Obsidian jammed his hands into the ground. A FOREST OF DIAMOND SPIRES SHOT UP, skewering toward the Titan's legs. Most shattered on impact, but one pierced a knee joint, making the Titan stagger.
Far from finished, Obsidian sprints forward and slams his crystal-covered fist into the Armored Titan's pierced knee joint. A shockwave ripples through the air. The Armored Titan staggers, it doesn't fall but made it stop its running. Its cracked kneecap armor took most of the hit but was dented.
It turns its gaze to Eren, recognizing him as a threat.
Eren leapt up, launching crystal shards like deadly spears. Several embedded into the Titan's face and shoulders, making it shield its face. "You think you're the only one built like a tank?" Eren snarled.
The Armored Titan roared and charged again. Eren met him head-on, their fists clashing, creating shockwaves that shattered nearby rooftops. Diamond fists against armored flesh; it was like two living mountains colliding despite the former's more smaller size. Eren fought with ferocity. Every blow he landed sent spikes of diamond erupting across the Armored Titan's body. He tried to freeze its joints, locking the Titan's legs with a trap of crystal.
"It worked?!" a soldier gasped.
"Barely," Eren gritted. The Armored Titan roared louder, muscles bulging beneath the hardened plates. It ripped the crystal free after some effort and charged at Obsidian, one of its armored fist raised high in the air.
Eren crossed his arms—
BOOM!
The punch sent him flying, his body carving a trench through the street. His diamond form cracked but held.
"Tch… tough bastard."
The armored titan's yellow eyes narrowed to something akin to anger. Obsidian smirked. "Aw what's wrong. Mad you aren't so invincible?-Shit!" He rolled to his feet just as the Titan slammed its fist were he once stood. Eren fired a barrage of diamond shards, aiming for its eyes. One struck true breaking through the protective eye shield and pierced straight through the pupil, making the Titan roar and clutch its face.
"NOW! HIT IT NOW!" Eren yelled at the soldiers atop the wall who had aimed their canons at the armored titan. Hannes immediately took initiative and grabbed hold of the trigger, setting a canon heading the armored titan way. "What are you lackeys waiting for?! You heard him shoot it down!" A few snapped out of their daze, firing cannons at the Titan's armored nape.
The Titan staggered—but didn't fall, instead going down on one knee to avoid falling over. Eren formed a diamond hammer-fist and leapt, bringing it down on the Titan's armored wrist, A plate shattered, upon impact.
The Titan howled in anger, swinging blindly. But Eren ducked and leapt a rooftop.
"AIM FOR THE NAPE!! THAT'S ITS WEAK SPOT!" Hannes yelled out to him from atop the wall. Obsidian nodded in acknowledgement. "Got it!" And began turned his two hands to crystalline swords, jumping from roof to roof to get a perfect cut at the armored nape before leaping high in the air, weapons ready as he was about to strike the nape. His crystals are strong enough to crack the armor, if he can keep on hitting the nape it would surely crumble.
However, it seemed the armored titan had other plans has it swinged its hand backward at blinding speed, unable to maneuver in the air, the backhand sent obsidian crashing through a watchtower.
He forced himself up only to be greeted with the sight of thunderous footsteps coming his way, before he could recover or be on the defense, the Armored Titan's already raised leg struck like a falling fortress, sending Obsidian hurtling through the air. Buildings exploded in his wake, stone and timber bursting apart as his crystalline form shattered through three structures before finally crashing into a half-collapsed church tower.
"Guh—!"
Eren's vision swam. His diamond body cracked under the force, spiderweb fractures spreading across his torso.
Then—
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The Omnitrix flashed red on his crystalline chest. "No… NO!"
Mid-air, a red light engulfed him, and in an instant—
He was human again.
Defenseless.
Exposed.
And still in the air.
He slams through another collapsing building, but now without Obsidian's durability. As he crashes, a massive, jagged slab of wood and stone tears through the right side of his face, from his right cheek to the left side of his lips. Blood bursts from the wound. It's deep, painful, and his vision goes white with agony.
His body finally hits a rooftop, rolling limply through the tiles. Eren gasps, choking on blood. His face is burning, his right cheek split open with muscle and skin torn apart. The Omnitrix; now flashing red instead of green; has timed out.
"Damn it… move… just MOVE…" he groaned, choking on blood, teeth gritted through searing pain. Then… an all-too-familiar thumping noise came rumbling the ground, in turn affecting the rooftop where was lying on as a shadow cast over him.
From across the battlefield, the Smiling Titan had regenerated. Flesh stretched over the destroyed face.And then— That horrible, horrible smile returned. Its disturbing grin was now directed at Eren, its sunken eyes locking onto his helpless body slumped on the ruined rooftop.
Then, slowly it stepped forward, bone fragments clicking as its jaw adjusted.
Eren's stomach dropped, his blood turned to ice.
"I... I didn't kill it!?" He thought.
Eren tried to stand, but his leg gave out. Blood poured from his face, staining the shingles red. The Smiling Titan reached for him, mouth unhinging slightly, yellow teeth gleaming.
On the other side of Shinganshina; the Armored Titan with all its might; rammed into the inner gate, shattering it to pieces and opening the path for more Titans. The Armored Titan stood victorious on the other side of the now broken wall, emitting fiery steam from its mouth.
On that day, year 845…
Wall Maria fell. And humanity was brutally reminded the humiliation of being caged like birds.
Chapter 6-9 already available on Patreon.com/Weeb Fanthom (Use this to get the link or search it up)
Alien countdown: Heatblast (???), Wildmutt (???), Fourarms (Titanfist), Ghostfreak (Phantom), Diamondhead (Obsidian).
Pop-Up quiz: What do you think Eren's Heatblast and Wildmutt are called, or what do you think they should be called. I already have the names thought out for them but I would like to hear your thoughts.