"City… why is there a Titan inside the city!?"
"Run! The Titans are here!"
"Titans! They've breached the wall!!"
"——!"
RUMBLE!!!
With a deafening crash, the massive stone gate that had been sealed shut was blasted apart, leaving a jagged hole nearly five meters wide and more than ten meters high.
Through the swirling dust and shattered debris, a towering figure covered in plates of hardened armor charged into the Stohess District — the Armored Titan. On the right flank, the Female Titan darted forward with terrifying speed.
Behind them, a swarm of Pure Titans, led from beyond the wall, poured in like a flood.
The sudden assault plunged the entire district into chaos. Civilians screamed as panic rippled through the streets.
The Survey Corps recovered quickly after their initial shock, rallying according to Erwin's prior plans. ODM gear snapped and hissed as soldiers launched into the air, maneuvering toward the invading Titans.
But the Garrison Regiment and the Military Police were another story.
The garrison troops froze, eyes wide in disbelief. Many of the Military Police, pampered and complacent within the walls, completely broke down. Some stood paralyzed; others collapsed where they stood, urine staining their trousers. It was hard to imagine that these were supposedly the "elite" graduates of the Training Corps — a painful reminder of how many capable soldiers were wasted by the corrupt system.
From his vantage point atop the wall, Commander Erwin watched grimly. He had always known this plan carried immense risk for the civilians of Stohess, but there was no alternative. To lure the enemy's forces into the open, they had to allow the Titans to breach and strike here.
The civilians were collateral in a much larger, crueler war.
"For the future inside the Walls… we have no choice," Erwin muttered to himself, before raising his voice. "Engage the Titans! Don't let them advance unchecked!"
Under his orders, squads of soldiers moved into position, firing their grappling hooks and drawing blades.
On top of the wall, Lock and his squad dismounted from their carriage, taking up a defensive stance. Below them, Captain Levi was already engaging the Female Titan in close combat.
Oruo, Eld, and Günther exchanged confused looks.
"Lock, isn't it time we joined the fight?" Eld asked, his expression tense.
"Yeah," Günther added. "Just standing here isn't like us."
"Rookie, don't tell me you're scared already," Oruo smirked, though there was unease in his voice.
Lock didn't respond right away. His eyes swept over the battlefield, calm and calculating.
The Armored Titan was rampaging through the streets. The Female Titan was locked in combat with Levi.
Only one was missing — the Colossal Titan.
Where would he appear? Lock closed his eyes for half a second, putting himself in Bertholdt's position. If he were the enemy, he would strike where their defenses were weakest — where Ymir was.
"The sheer size… and that scalding steam. It's not going to be easy," Lock thought grimly.
The enemy was hidden, while they stood in the open. They were at a severe disadvantage. But the arrow had already been nocked — there was no turning back.
Suppressing the tension building in his chest, Lock turned to Eld and the others.
"Don't worry," he said quietly. "Our fight will come soon."
"Our fight…?" The three exchanged puzzled looks.
They noticed Petra and Ymir standing nearby. Both looked nervous, but neither questioned Lock's words. This only deepened their confusion.
Especially Ymir. She was just a survivor from outside the Walls, yet she lived within the Survey Corps garrison and seemed to have personal contact with the upper command. She was highly valued and now, inexplicably, she had been brought along on this critical operation — traveling in the most heavily guarded carriage of the convoy.
None of it added up.
Oruo and the others were just beginning to piece things together.
Ymir… there's something about her…
But reality gave them no time to think further.
The Female Titan showed little interest in a direct fight. Using her crystallization ability defensively, she barreled forward. Even with his immense skill, Levi couldn't stop her alone. The rampaging Titans shattered the Survey Corps' formations, making it difficult to coordinate.
"Reserve team — stop her!" Erwin's voice rang out.
Fifty reserve soldiers surged forward. One by one, they were crushed, torn apart, or hurled against the walls by the Female Titan's casual swipes.
Erwin's heart ached. These were hard-earned elites — each death represented years of training and irreplaceable potential. But in the Survey Corps, sacrifice was the norm.
The casualty rate was always high.
"Lock, should we—?!" Eld asked again, tension clear in his voice.
The reserve team's strength was no match for the Female Titan. Their numbers dwindled rapidly.
"Wait," Lock replied firmly.
He hated watching comrades die, but if they charged in recklessly now, it might play directly into the enemy's hands. If Ymir were captured or killed prematurely, the entire operation would fail.
Seeing Lock's steely expression, Eld hesitated, then nodded. He grabbed Oruo and Günther before they could rush forward.
This time, they chose to trust him.
"Don't worry," Petra whispered to Ymir, who stood rigid, trembling. "We'll protect you."
Ymir forced a weak smile, but the terror in her eyes was unmistakable. She'd seen bloodshed before, but never on this scale. The slaughter unfolding below brought back memories she'd buried deep — memories that left her nearly paralyzed.
Lock noticed her, but didn't speak. His gaze shifted back to the battlefield.
The reserve team's suicidal bravery slowed the Female Titan's advance just enough for Levi to catch up. His blades flashed like silver lightning.
With precise, lethal movements, Levi sliced through the Female Titan's ankle tendons, forcing her to halt mid-stride.
"Now!" someone shouted.
On top of the wall, soldiers manned the hidden launchers mounted in supply carts. The cannons swiveled and locked onto their target — the immobilized Female Titan.
A series of loud thunks echoed as the harpoon-like weapons fired in unison, cables lashing out to bind her limbs.
Steam hissed around her as she struggled, but the trap held.
Meanwhile, deep within the city, the Armored Titan continued to wreak havoc, tearing through structures and scattering soldiers like insects.
Civilians fled in every direction. The Military Police, completely unequipped for real combat, tripped over one another trying to escape.
Amidst the chaos, Erwin's eyes narrowed. "It's almost time," he muttered.
Somewhere nearby, Bertholdt was waiting for the perfect moment to appear.
Lock tightened his grip on his blades. His heartbeat steadied. He knew their real battle hadn't started yet.
Above them, dark clouds began to roll in, casting a shadow over Stohess. The air grew thick with steam and the scent of blood.
The battlefield was set.
And the Colossal Titan had yet to make his move.
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A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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