Chapter 105: Reiner's Mutation!
Under the night sky of the Liberio Internment Zone, the fires of war still raged. Magical light occasionally tore through the darkness, accompanied by the constant roar of explosions. A deep blue streak of light zipped through the upper atmosphere, moving too fast for the eye to follow. Each time it flickered, it precisely slit the throat of a Marleyan soldier, stopping their sniping or artillery fire.
It was Levi Ackerman.
He looked down, his gaze sweeping over the Beast Titan, pinned to the ground with its limbs severed. Zeke Jaeger was still there, temporarily neutralized. "Tch." The Captain clicked his tongue impatiently. Time was short. He reversed his grip on his blades and dove downward like a whirlwind of death into the most chaotic melee of Magical Girls below.
His blades became a blur. Deep blue magic coated the edges, reaping several newly born Marleyan Magical Girls with every swing. Their attacks were futile, unable to even touch the hem of his clothes. Soul Gems were shattered with precision, and the girls collapsed, the shock still frozen on their faces.
…
Elsewhere, Mikasa's figure moved with equal swiftness. Deep red magical light enveloped her as her blades danced, carving deadly arcs. Using her ODM gear, she darted nimbly between buildings, harvesting enemy lives. The two of them needed no words, their coordination was perfect. They were the sharpest spearheads on the battlefield, forcibly tearing through the lines formed by the Marleyan Magical Girls, suppressing the tide of soldiers and refugees turned Magical Girls.
…
In another corner of the battlefield.BOOM! Rubble exploded outwards. A small figure was sent flying by an energy blast, crashing through half a wall. It was Gabi. She struggled to her feet, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her red-and-black magical uniform covered in dust. Her eyes burned with unquenchable hatred.
"DIE! DEVILS OF PARADIS!!!" Gabi shrieked, gathering crimson energy in her hands again. A figure clumsily but resolutely stepped in front of her. It was Falco. Soft golden light emanated from him, enveloping him in slightly oversized golden winged armor. He held a short energy sword. Wings of Hope Falco! Having just made his contract, his first act was to block an attack from another Paradis Magical Girl, saving Gabi.
"Gabi! Let's go! It's too dangerous here!" Falco yelled urgently, trying to pull her away.
"Let go of me, Falco!" Gabi shoved his hand away, her eyes wild. "I have to kill them! Kill all the devils!!!"
"KILL!!!" Gabi ignored him, consumed by hatred, wanting only to tear her enemies apart.
…
BOOM!!! The Magical Titan Eren punched an ambushing Marleyan Titan into the air. A green energy shield blocked the incoming barrage of colorful magic beams. He looked around. The new Marleyan Magical Girls were numerous, but they were no match for the experienced Survey Corps members. The real threats were the few Marleyan Warriors transformed into Magical Titans. Eren roared and charged again.
…
High above, Armin, in his Magical Female Titan form, watched the inferno below. Logic urged him to retreat. But there was no path back. They had willingly stepped into this quagmire of slaughter, and escape was difficult. And Kyubey had used the opportunity to grant the wishes of the suffering all around them. Why? Why seek contractors in Marley? The world is vast, countless people could make wishes. Why… help Marley now? Lives were being lost every second. Enemies, and… There must be a purpose.
He looked at the sea-blue Soul Gem on his chest. The once-clear gem was now noticeably clouded with dark corruption. Every counterattack forced upon him for self-preservation, every death witnessed, the despair and hatred permeating the battlefield—all accelerated the gem's contamination. If it fills completely… will something terrible happen? Could it be… Kyubey is helping these people in Marley to accelerate… No, in that case, right now… An ominous thought flashed through Armin's mind. This war they had started… might truly have no way out.
…
And at the center of this clamorous chaos, the curled-up Magical Armored Titan Reiner remained oblivious to the changing battlefield. His defense was unparalleled. The surrounding shouts, explosions, magical bombardments—he heard none of it. He felt no harm. His world was reduced to an endless silence.
So quiet… so peaceful… It's over… Finally… I can… be released… He felt the last glimmer of light supporting his existence, deep within his soul, begin to fade. Goodbye…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!
Just before Reiner's consciousness sank into darkness, the filthy, dimly glowing, grey-white Soul Gem on his chest violently erupted!
KRA-KOOM!!!
Countless bolts of black lightning spewed from within the gem, tearing apart its bindings! The power was berserk, dark, filled with pure despair! Even the surrounding space began to twist, letting out an agonized groan! Cracks spread wildly across the gem's surface!
SHATTER!!!!
With an ultimate, piercing crack, the grey-white Soul Gem, repository of Reiner's endless suffering, completely disintegrated! The Armored Titan surrounding Reiner was blown apart! The golden clasp holding the gem snapped! In the heart of the black lightning, the fragments rapidly converged, reformed! An object radiating an even more terrifying aura took shape!
A Grief Seed!
This Grief Seed, transformed from Reiner's soul, took the form of a twisted, cracked, grey-white crystal, churning with thick, dark energy within. The moment it appeared, it began to expand rapidly!
VWOOM—!
An immense, invisible shockwave exploded outwards from the Grief Seed, slamming into everything around it! Magical Girls locked in combat, remaining buildings—all were violently thrown back!
Then! The sky seemed to rip apart! Countless thick bolts of black lightning rained down from the twisted heavens, covering the entire plaza!
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!!!
The earth trembled! Space warped! The massive, floating Grief Seed, having accumulated a terrifying amount of energy, could no longer contain its impulse for destruction! It was like a collapsing dark star, the dark energy at its core spinning and compressing madly!
Finally—BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An indescribable energy storm erupted completely! Sweeping everything away! Grey-white energy of despair mixed with black lightning, becoming a torrent of annihilation that consumed everything within hundreds of meters! The terrifying blast wave easily tossed Reiner's lifeless human body far into the distance.
This sudden mutation! This never-before-seen aura of despair! Instantly drew the attention of everyone on the battlefield! Whether Paradis members locked in slaughter or attacking Marleyan Magical Girls, everyone froze, staring in horror at the area now shrouded in grey-white and black! The surrounding environment began to twist into grotesque shapes.
What happened?! What is that thing?! That's where Reiner was! Reiner— what happened to him?!