Chapter 99: Tatakae! The Devil's Waltz!
Liberio Plaza.
The fires of war had utterly torn apart the false celebration. Screams, explosions, and the roar of collapsing buildings replaced the applause that should have filled the air.
At the center of the chaos, a never-before-seen Titan dominated the battlefield: a Magical Girl fused with a Titan shifter. A layer of emerald-green dress covered the Titan's body. This bizarre form possessed unimaginable power and speed.
BOOM!
Another anti-Titan shell detonated several meters away from Eren, hitting an invisible barrier. Green light flowed across its surface, effortlessly deflecting the projectile.
"Monster! What is that monster?!" surviving Marleyan soldiers screamed in despair from their trenches. Their weapons were useless against this skirt-wearing Titan. Since when did Titans have abilities like this?
The Magical Titan pushed off the ground, its massive body blurring into a green afterimage, instantly appearing beside the Jaw Titan. Porco reacted instantly, his hardened claws slashing through the air with a sharp whistle. But Eren was faster. His giant fist, wreathed in green light, struck first.
CRACK!
The Jaw Titan's proud, hardened faceplate and claws shattered on impact. The immense force sent its smaller body flying, crashing through a distant building and taking it out of the fight.
"Porco!" Pieck's anxious cry came from afar. The Cart Titan moved rapidly through the ruins, the turret on its back continuously firing in an attempt to suppress Eren.
The next second, the Magical Titan's enormous head turned towards her. Its eyes, burning with green flames, held no emotion. Pew! A concentrated beam of green energy shot from the Magical Titan's hand.
I have to dodge!! Pieck desperately maneuvered the Cart Titan. But the beam was too fast.
BOOM!!
The explosion ripped through the Cart Titan's back. The entire weapons platform, along with the gunners on it, disintegrated into scattered parts and a mist of blood.
"NO—!!" Pieck roared in pain and grief for her fallen comrades. The Cart Titan lost its balance and tumbled into the rubble, neutralized.
Eren didn't pursue the incapacitated Titans. His cold gaze remained locked on the white figure in the center of the battlefield, the one continuously creating weapons: the War Hammer Titan—Lara Tybur.
Lara was filled with horror. What is this skirt-wearing Attack Titan?! Did Titans evolve? Or is this some kind of mutation? It wears clothes, its speed, strength, and defense are ridiculously high, and it can shoot those weird green beams! This completely defies everything I know about Titan powers!
She continuously generated crystal spikes and massive war hammers, trying to block or attack Eren. But empowered by magic, Eren's movements were swift and unpredictable, always allowing him to dodge her attacks by a hair's breadth while countering with energy-infused fists. Each collision left clear cracks on the War Hammer Titan's hardened constructs.
"Dammit—" Lara gritted her teeth. Her stamina was draining rapidly, but her opponent's pure killing intent showed no sign of wavering. Eren's objective was clear: defeat her and take the power of the War Hammer Titan.
While the titans clashed, the Marleyan soldiers and civilians on the edges of the battlefield suffered devastating collateral damage. Stray energy beams easily vaporized cover and soldiers alike. Shockwaves and flying debris reaped lives indiscriminately. This terror surpassed anything they had known from regular Titans.
"That—that's the devil!" a surviving officer stammered, watching the rampaging Magical Titan through his binoculars, his voice trembling with extreme fear. "Fire! Fire! Kill it!!" His orders were lost in the roar of explosions and the desperate cries of his collapsing soldiers.
…
Meanwhile, high above the city, a deep blue streak of light zipped between the tall buildings. It was Levi Ackerman, in his Magical Girl form. His dark blue skirt fluttered in the high-speed movement but didn't impede his incredible agility. His eyes were cold as he scanned the city and battlefield below. Target: the Beast Titan. That bastard.
Levi knew the Beast Titan's fighting style and throwing habits intimately. Combined with Hange's preliminary analysis, he had already narrowed down the most likely areas where the Beast Titan might be hiding.
Pew! Pew!
Two black streaks shot out from the rooftop of a building below—anti-Titan cannons. Levi didn't even turn his head. His body twisted at an impossible angle in mid-air, his blades flashing with pale blue light.
SLICE! SLICE!
The cannon barrels, along with the gunners, were cut in two. Without pausing, he continued onward. On the street below, a small squad of Marleyan officers had just emerged. Levi descended from the sky, his spinning body creating a deep blue vortex of death.
Shlick! Shlick! Shlick!
Blades flashed, blood sprayed. In just one second, the officers were decapitated. Clean and efficient. To him, killing was just the process of removing obstacles.
Soon, he approached a highly suspicious area—a relatively open space near several tall, ruined buildings. His sharp senses picked up a faint, discordant movement. And—the faint scent of a large beast in the air.
Found you.
A cold glint flashed in Levi's eyes. His speed increased again as he dove toward that area.
…
On the other side of the city, in the urban combat zone.
Erwin and Hange had secured a high vantage point, spotting enemy positions and coordinating the attack. Mikasa, Jean, Connie, Sasha, and others formed small teams, rapidly cutting through the disorganized Marleyan forces. Though they lacked Eren and Levi's magical abilities, they were battle-hardened elites of the Survey Corps. Their masterful ODM skills, precise Thunder Spears, and seamless teamwork were devastating.
"Left flank! Two o'clock! Machine gun nest!" Jean shouted, deftly dodging incoming bullets.
"Leave it to me!" Sasha's eyes narrowed, and she fired her Thunder Spear with precision. BOOM! The gun emplacement went sky high.
"Connie! Watch your back!" Mikasa warned calmly.
Connie spun around instantly, slashing down a soldier attempting to ambush him. "Thanks, Mikasa!"
They moved like reapers through the battlefield, under Eren's cover, harvesting enemy lives. Marley's positions and defensive lines crumbled before these high-speed "devils." Communications were jammed, the command structure was paralyzed, and units were scattered. Panic was spreading.
And the airship from Paradis Island was already quietly approaching Marleyan airspace.
…
On a chaotic street, Gabi pulled Falco by the hand, running through the explosions and gunfire, desperately searching for cover. Around them were fleeing crowds, injured soldiers, and burning buildings. "Quick! This way!" Falco pointed to a small alley.
Just as they were about to dash into it—Thwip! The wet sound of a blade piercing flesh. A spray of warm liquid hit Gabi's face. She looked up in horror. The guard at the alley entrance, the kind old man who would sometimes give her candy, had been shot in the head. His eyes were wide, empty. His heavy body slowly slumped to the ground, blood pooling around him.
Gabi stood frozen, the soldier's warm blood still on her face. She stared at the familiar face, now contorted in death and pain. Her mind went blank.
Why— The devils—from Paradis— But we Eldians in the internment zone… there are good people among us too… All our efforts to prove to Marley and the world that we were good… was it all… for nothing?
All their efforts were meaningless. Someone she knew, someone who had smiled at her, was dead right before her eyes. Grief, anger, fear, and confusion overwhelmed her completely.
At that moment, a small, white figure appeared silently behind her and Falco. It tilted its fluffy head, its round red eyes watching them quietly.
…
At the edge of the basement ruins.
Reiner lay slumped on the ground, severely injured, staring blankly up at the sky. So tired… I want to die… I want… release…
Just then, a small, white figure appeared silently before him.