[I will never forgive you!]
Commander Erwin organized his troops into various squads, and given his awareness of Mikasa's exceptional skills, he decided to assign her to his elite squad, which was led by Levi.
On top of that, Eren and Armin split into different squads. Every squad had its own specific task, but the majority found themselves positioned along the wall. This strategic arrangement was all about keeping the Titans at bay and ensuring they couldn't break through.
Meanwhile, Armin was seen perched on a roof tile of a nearby house. Despite being viewed as unprepared for combat, he was still part of the squad assigned to handle the evacuation.
"I'm not the type to just sit back and stay quiet," Armin muttered, his voice filled with unwavering resolve. He held a small book in his hand, resembling a journal. He was determined not to overlook even the tiniest detail of what was unfolding around him.
He realized that fighting wasn't his strong suit, so he felt the need to showcase his usefulness in other areas. His curiosity had always been through the roof for as long as he could remember. He was determined to keep searching until he found something that could potentially solve a problem and make a difference for humanity.
"Ever since that day, I had a feeling something was off. It's just a hunch I have."
Armin jotted down a few key thoughts in his journal, including the date. He pondered over the question. Why did the Titans choose to breach the wall again?
During his cadet training, he discovered that among the Titans, there were some abnormal types. The one that stuck with him the most was the colossal titan, a massive creature that towered over the wall. He still found it hard to wrap his head around how such a massive, heavy mass could just vanish, leaving behind nothing but a lingering trail of thick steam.
"There's no question about it—the colossal titan is definitely the one responsible for that massive hole in the wall. But the real mystery is, where did he go? I didn't catch a glimpse of him this time around."
As Armin decided it was time to return and reunite with his squad for some fresh directions, he suddenly found himself unable to move, his body completely frozen in place. A loud, thunderous crack of lightning erupted from behind him, specifically from beyond the wall.
His heart raced wildly as if the trauma he had faced before had suddenly come back to life, stirring up those deep-seated fears within him. He slowly turned his head to take in the scene unfolding around him. He felt a surge of inspiration, ready to jot down his thoughts in his journal. Yet, despite his eagerness, his hands remained stubbornly still, unable to write a single word.
That's because he witnessed the exact same thing as he did that day. A massive titan's head loomed ominously, its features emerging from the towering wall that stretched over 50 meters into the sky. Its massive shadow loomed over the city as if it were trying to engulf everything within its reach.
"Titan!... They're coming! Run, and save yourselves!"
It was hard to tell who had shouted, but that single cry of fear acted like a chain reaction, sending ripples of panic through the city. The calm that had settled over the streets moments before quickly unraveled, and people who had once been composed were now caught up in a whirlwind of chaos. The sense of order faded away as survival instincts kicked in, and all that mattered was getting to safety.
Meanwhile, on the wall, Eren stood, his teeth clenched tight as he faced off against his greatest enemy, tension hanging in the air around them. His hands itched with the urge to unsheathe the sword at his waist and charge toward the towering titan looming ahead.
"Everyone, gather around! Keep a close eye on your enemies and take your time before making any moves!" The man who led Eren's squad shouted with authority.
From the terror reflected in his widened eyes, it was clear he was just as scared as the others. However, as a senior in the Scout Regiment who had made it this far, this wasn't his first encounter with the Titans. He quickly pulled himself together, shaking off the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
"But Captain, we can't let this bastard make a hole in the wall again!" Eren said, his voice laced with anger. He was determined to push through, refusing to let anyone stand in his way as he set out to eliminate his greatest enemy.
They were the squad positioned nearest to the gate, and if the captain gave the order, they would be the first to spring into action to confront the colossal titan. It just seemed like Eren's wish wasn't going to come true without a struggle.
"You're one of the new recruits, huh? When you come across something unfamiliar, the best approach is to take a step back and observe it. That way, you can figure out where its weaknesses lie."
"Who cares about that? I mean, if in just a moment everyone ends up as titan food, what's the point?"
For the first time, Eren stepped away from the unimportant debate. This time, he had a more significant goal in mind. With a sense of determination, he turned his back on the captain and his squad.
He slowly drew both swords from his waist, taking deliberate steps at first. He worked to steady his ragged breaths, gathering his courage before he took off running toward his fear.
"Hey, new recruit! What do you think you're doing? Get back here!" The captain called his voice a blend of anger and worry, each emotion vying for attention.
On one hand, he didn't want to see a young man like Eren die for nothing. But on the other hand, he was trying to figure out what the right choice was in this tricky situation.
"Damn it, you new guys are always causing trouble. I swear…" He pulled the two swords from his waist. The captain then looked at the rest of his group with a serious expression that left no room for rejection.
"Let's stick together and follow him; our mission remains unchanged, just as Commander Erwin instructed. Don't let that tall guy put a hole in the wall!"
With that, Eren's squad became the first to make contact with the colossal titan. They had no idea what awaited them next, but their spirits soared as they shouted in unison. One by one, they leaped from the wall, expertly launching their grapple hooks into the titan's massive back.
The enormous eyes, reflecting his figure, gazed intently at Eren. Now that he's been discovered, it seems like the titan can sense the hatred he carries as well. Eren finds himself a bit puzzled because he can sense the emotions of a human reflected in that eye.
"You! I will never forgive you!... I'll make you suffer more than you did to the thousands in the Shiganshina district!"
Eren's hatred feels like it has an incredible weight to it, and you can see it in the way he swings his sword—each strike is even more powerful than before. When he finally managed to leave a scratch on the titan's massive temple, a burst of hot steam shot him up into the air.
"Ughh, what just happened?"
Fortunately, Eren found a way to steady himself in mid-air. In that brief moment, his eyes widened as he noticed the hot steam billowing out from the titan's massive form, specifically from its nape and cascading downwards.
He noticed that his squad members were struggling to get close to the Titan, so they had no choice but to keep a distance of about 5 meters. Still, they buzzed around the titan's massive body like persistent little insects, refusing to be deterred.
They were counting on the moment the steam cleared up, thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to launch a coordinated attack simultaneously. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen anytime soon, as they've just come to terms with another issue cropped up.
Along with the intense heat that scorched their skin, the steam was so dense that it obscured their view of the massive titan looming ahead. Just then, a powerful gust of wind seemed to materialize out of thin air.
Without a moment's hesitation, they all glanced downward, and there it was—the colossal titan's massive right leg towering above them, lifted high into the air. Without anyone needing to say a word, each of them instinctively understood what was about to unfold. In a moment of urgency, they acted impulsively. Even as their bodies screamed, they tried to intervene and stop the impending actions of the colossal titan.
"Stop! You Bastard, Don't!!!... What do you think you're doing?" Eren was so caught up in his intense emotions that he didn't even notice he had bitten his lip until he tasted the metallic tang of blood. Just like everyone else, he decided to take a leap of faith and targeted the massive titan's nape.
Even though the colossal titan seemed to be moving slowly from the outside, the sheer weight he carried made his legs drop quickly under the force of gravity. The strong gate finally gave way, and the titans who had been patiently waiting surged inside, eager to dive into the festivities that lay ahead.
Among the titans, there are certainly some that are a bit out of the ordinary, but among those unusual ones, there was one titan that genuinely caught everyone's attention. The titan stood tall at around 15 meters, his skin appearing to be encased in a tough, shell-like exterior, almost as if he were donned in a suit of armor.
Unlike the others who rushed in without a second thought, he took a moment to gather himself. He scanned the area with a calm focus, carefully assessing his surroundings before finally spotting his target. His running wasn't particularly fast, but it had a steady rhythm to it. And if that didn't send a chill down people's spines, what he did next was beyond anything anyone could have anticipated.
On that very day, both the north and south gates of the Trost district were brought down, and once more, the looming threat of the Titans served as a chilling reminder of humanity's deepest fears. The Eldian people, who had felt like birds trapped in a cage, were once more backed into their most profound corner.