God & Demon - XXII (Patreon)

Chapter XXII: Of Soldiers and Warriors

Shortly after the end of the Battle of Utgard Castle, the scouts had decided to retreat to Wall Rose to avoid a potential surprise titan attack. As the young recruits and veterans busied themselves hoisting their wounded and resources to the top of the wall, Historia was pleading Ymir’s case to Hanji and Nanaba, with Amos by her side. The noble, however, had remained silent throughout the conversation, eyeing the Beast Titan shifter with suspicion while keeping a discreet watch on Reiner and Bertholdt. Following his instructions, Eren and Mikasa had positioned themselves next to the two traitors, chatting casually as if nothing was amiss. But both were ready to intervene if things went south.

“You have to believe me! I’m telling you the truth! Ymir transformed to protect us from the titans! She risked her life for us without hesitationthat’s proof she’s one of us! I’m not trying to excuse her unacceptable decision to hide such crucial information until now. I think she must have feared for her safety, but I’m convinced she’s changed! Ymir is on our side! On humanity’s side!”

“Don’t mix things up.” Amos thought, glancing at his steaming sister-in-law. “She’s on your side and mine, but she’s definitely not on humanity’s side.”

“If I may.” Nanaba interjected wearily. “We wouldn’t have made it out without her intervention.” She glanced at Gelgar, who had fallen unconscious, then turned back to the small blonde. “Granted.” She added, unable to muster the firmness she intended. “I wish she’d transformed sooner. Maybe Lynne and Henning would still be alive. But we had the situation under control before the Beast arrived. It was when everything went to hell that she stepped in. She could’ve fled, but she stayed to fight. I think giving her the benefit of the doubt is the least we can do.”

Hanji nodded, acknowledging her opinion. Then she observed the dismembered, steaming body of the shifter responsible for the attack, guarded by three alert scouts.

“So, he’s the cause of all our troubles since yesterday?”

“Yes,” Historia confirmed. “He seemed to control the titans strategically and hurled rocks at us from the top of the wall. But he doesn’t seem built for close combathis reactions were slow and imprecise.”

Amos and the scientist’s eyes gleamed with interest; they had reached the same theory.

Hanji remained impassive throughout Historia’s plea, casting a glance at the pensive noble.

“What do you think? You don’t seem as angry as I expected. Doesn’t it bother you that she hid such critical information?”

“Not really,” the tall blonde replied, surprising the scientist. “She subtly pointed me in the right direction, which helped me figure out a lot of things. Especially the power of royal blood.”

He said the last sentence in a low voice to avoid being overheard. Nanaba and Historia frowned.

“That, and the fact that she transformed to protect my sister, is enough to convince me of two things: until now, she was somewhat neutral in this conflict, but things have changed for her since meeting us.”

He exchanged a brief glance with the small blonde before continuing. 

“Let me be clear: if you go after her, you’ll have to deal with me.”

Hanji merely raised an eyebrow at this statement, but inwardly, she took the warning seriously. 

Erwin had cautioned her not to take Amos’s cooperation for granted. And with what she’d just learned about the properties of royal blood, she couldn’t afford to clash with the two descendants in her ranksespecially since it could mean gaining a new shifter for the Survey Corps.

“I see.” She replied calmly. “Of course, I want to build a camaraderie with her. Whatever she’s done or why, the information she holds is vital for humanity. I want us to get along.”

Historia let out a discreet sigh of relief, while Amos nodded soberly. Nanaba seemed unsatisfied but kept her opinion to herself.

“So…” Hanji continued, addressing the small blonde girl. “Your real name is Historia Hannibal, is that right?”

“Yes,” she confirmed, “but please don’t use that name in public. Our grandfather wouldn’t appreciate it.”

“I understand. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise,” the young girl replied with a smile.

Hanji glanced at Ymir, about to check on her condition, when Amos spoke again. 

“Tell me, why did you react to Ymir’s name back at Ehrmich?”

When the scientist hesitated, the noble added with exasperation. 

“Don’t be stingy. I’ve shared all my insights, even personal information I’d rather have kept to myself. I expect the bare minimum in return.”

It was official: Hanji was deeply uneasy around Hannibal. He acted like a subordinate and comrade most of the time, but he didn’t hesitate to remind herthrough intimidationwhat he was capable of if she overstepped her rank, which meant little to him. It gave her the sensation of handling a dangerously powerful cannon that could explode in her face at any moment.

So, she briefly summarized the notes collected by Isle Langnar, the unfortunate scout from the 34th expedition who had heard a titan speak. The titan had said, “Lady Ymir,” and had bowed before its own victima victim who, according to the file’s description, looked strikingly similar to their new shifter.

Historia and Amos raised their eyebrows in surprise before turning to the third member of their family.

“Squad Leader!” Moblit suddenly called out with controlled terror. “He’s waking up!”

Indeed, the bearded shifter groaned in pain and tried to sit up, only to widen his eyes in horror upon realizing his arms had been severed.

Panicking, he scanned his surroundings and, seeing the furious and terrified faces of the scouts, understood he’d been captured. He subtly tried to locate Reiner and Bertholdt but was abruptly grabbed by the beard.

“Good morning,” Amos greeted, forcing the Beast to meet his predatory gaze. “I’ll keep this short: all your titans are dead, and you got your ass kicked by a fifteen-year-old girl who’s four foot nine. You’re dismembered, so you can’t transform. I suggest you don’t try anything, or I’ll happily cut off your third arm to teach you some manners.”

The bearded man trembled in terror, struggling to maintain his composure.

“Good,” Amos continued, satisfied with his reaction. “I’m Amos Hannibal, and I’m delighted to meet you.”

The Beast recoiled slightly from the monstrous glint in the emerald-green eyes of his interrogator, who pressed on, “What’s your name? I doubt that’s critical information.”

The bearded man swallowed hard before answering, “Zeke…”

“Zeke, huh?” Amos repeated, then whispered, “Are you of royal blood, Zeke?”

At those words, the Beast’s eyes widened in horror, an eloquent admission that prompted a smile from the noble.

“That explains your ability to control titans,” he noted, pleased. “Now I’m wondering if you can control all types of titans or just those that meet certain criteria.”

Zeke was utterly stunned by his interrogator’s deductions. He didn’t know Amos was aware of the Colossal Titans in the walls and had reasoned that if the Beast could control all titans, he would have controlled those. Still, the noble needed to determine how his prisoner had managed to control the regular ones.

“I’d answer if I were you,” Amos warned impatiently, “or we’ll conduct an experiment where we drop you next to a captured titan and see if it eats you.”

Panic flared in the bearded man’s eyes, intensified by Amos’s casual tone.

“No,” Zeke replied, maintaining his composure despite everything, “you won’t do that. You need me alive to interrogate me.”

Zeke noted the noble’s slight grimace with satisfaction, but Amos shrugged. “Fair point, but your reaction suggests your control isn’t tied to a specific type of titan, as I thought. The condition is different but necessary. And if you don’t talk, I’ll have to find another way to get reliable information. Plus, I’ll need to make a quick decision to ensure you don’t escape. So don’t hope to stall your way out.”

The Beast gritted his teeth, unable to counter. His only hope was an immediate intervention by Reiner and Bertholdt.

But he was genuinely shocked by the noble’s diabolical intellect. Amos was masterfully leading the interrogation, extracting viable information solely from facial reactions.

“What kind of psychopath is this?!” Zeke nearly screamed in frustration. “He’s far too intelligent and cold to be ordinary, and he knows about royal blood! Who is he?!”

“Well,” Amos concluded, clapping his hands, “I’d love to continue this interrogation, but I’ve got work to do. With that…”

He grabbed Zeke by the hair and delivered a knee to his temple, sending him back to unconsciousness. Behind him, Bertholdt was so overwhelmed he didn’t know what to do. He burned to transform, but if Reiner didn’t follow, he risked killing him with the blast.

Amos and Hanji discussed the new information briefly before the scientist went to check on Ymir with her subordinates. Seeing his sister-in-law, Amos reflected on Isle Langnar’s story and how the titan that devoured her had called her…

“Lady Ymir,” he thought, focusing. “This isn’t the first time I’ve heard that.”

The next second, he was in his mental library, scanning its shelves.

“What the…?” he wondered, frowning. “Usually, I recall a memory easily when I know what I’m looking for. Why isn’t it coming to me instinctively? Is it so old, from my early childhood, that my memory didn’t fully record it?”

He concentrated harder, pushing his mind to work… but came up empty. An unfamiliar frustration gnawed at him.

“This isn’t normal,” he realized, still searching his shelves. “My memory has never failed me. I’m certain that…”

Then he hit an invisible barrier and fell back, the shock translating into a searing migraine in the real world. He pressed a hand to his forehead to ease the pain.

“Ouch! What… was that…?”

Hannibal was so shocked by what he saw in his mind that his real eyes widened for all to see. There, in his own mental library, was an entire shelf… forbidden to him! It was protected… No… It was barricaded behind some kind of invisible force field! It was absurd, inconceivable, impossible… And yet, it was very real. An entire portion of his own memory was inaccessible to him.

Amos… Amos couldn’t believe it. It was utterly insane. This was his head, his damn head! And the only explanation that came to mind was that someone had tampered with it. An explanation that no longer seemed so far-fetched since he’d heard Eren’s voice echoing in his skull.

“What the hell is this?!” he roared so fiercely in his mind that it could have shaken Wall Rose itself if he’d shouted aloud. “How is such a thing…?! Is this another ability of a royal-blooded Titan?! DAMN IT! Who dared to mess with my brain?!”

He abruptly halted his whirlwind of thoughts and began to think at lightning speed.

“I’m now certain that the history books are all lies, and I know that anyone who seeks the truth, or even sows doubt, is slaughtered by the Central Brigade. The fact that information about the royal Titan and our enemies from beyond is known only to the nobility… That’s how… That’s how such a secret was preserved… The royal-blooded Titan doesn’t just influence Titans… It influences humans too… Could it be possible that I knew everything? And that it erased my memory and that of…?”

 “Amos?”

The sudden interruption of his thoughts startled the noble, causing a jolt that, in turn, startled the one who had interrupted him… none other than Eren.

For a horrifying second, Amos fixed the shifter with a predatory gaze that had shattered its ceiling, so pure and intense that his psychopathy threatened to take over completely.

Eren’s horrified recoil snapped the tall blonde out of his trance. He exhaled loudly to calm himself and buried his head in his hand.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, struggling to rein in the predation. “I was in the middle of an intense thinking session that… got away from me.”

“Oh,” Eren said sheepishly. “Uh… sorry for interrupting you…”

Hannibal waved off his apology. “No worries. Honestly, thanks. I was starting to lose the thread.”

Jaeger raised his eyebrows in shock. To him, Amos had always been an unyielding pillar and an unstoppable force. Seeing him in such a state, especially after watching him strangle the pastor in Ehrmich, was deeply concerning.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes,” the noble reassured him. “I’ve been through far worse.”

A brief silence followed before Hannibal continued, “What did you want to tell me?”

“Oh!” Eren exclaimed, suddenly remembering why he’d interrupted the tall blonde’s thoughts.

He nervously glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, as if he were about to reveal a heavy secret —something Amos found quite amusing— before finally asking, “Why do you trust me?”

“Huh?”

“I mean,” Eren continued, a bit embarrassed, “everyone doubts me to some extent. Mikasa’s always checking to make sure I’m okay, the others rely on me because of my power, but deep down… they don’t really trust me… even the captain doesn’t fully trust me… Why do you trust me?”

Amos was… quite surprised. Not by the fact that people struggled to believe in Eren, but by the look in his eyes.

A single glance was enough to see that Jaeger placed great importance on his opinion, which was gratifying but could pose a problem.

Indeed, the noble from Mitras expected the Shiganshina native to become confident enough to stop caring so much about others’ opinions, but clearly, that wasn’t happening yet. He needed to keep growing, and for that, Amos needed to spend more time with him. But that would have to wait.

“For two reasons,” he replied, holding up two fingers. “The first is that you’re a simple person.”

Eren frowned in confusion. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’re very honest,” the noble elaborated. “You don’t hide your emotions; sometimes you let them speak for you. You don’t lie or try to hide behind a mask. For someone like me, who grew up in a world full of traitors and liars, you’re a breath of fresh air. Our superiors think your emotional nature makes you unpredictable. But from my perspective, you’re the most predictable person I know. Your actions and decisions are relatively easy to anticipate.”

Eren’s frown deepened. “I don’t know how to take that,” he admitted.

“The second reason I trust you,” Hannibal continued, ignoring him, “is your determination. No matter what challenges you face, you get back up, you learn, and you improve. That’s the most interesting thing to me. I know that by teaching you what you need to know and helping you think and grow, you’ll be perfectly capable of overcoming any obstacle the world throws at you, and you’ll achieve great things. Like humanity’s first victory at Trost. Like your fights against the Female Titan. I know you’re capable because you’ve already proven it, and because I know that when you say you’re going to do something, you’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen. But like everyone, you need to learn before you act.”

He shrugged before continuing, “I’ve known you for three years. I should’ve helped you manage your anger toward the Titans long ago. But I only did it last month. If I’d acted sooner, you might not have been eaten at Trost. But I did nothing, even though it wasn’t complicated. All you needed was to realize that the Titans didn’t deserve all your attention and that there were far more important things in your life than revenge. I only had to tell you once, and you did the rest. You put in the effort and reflection needed to see beyond. That’s why I trust you. Because you’re honest, because you’re determined, and because you’re capable of questioning yourself to move forward.”

Eren froze, awestruck by his friend’s words. It warmed his heart to know that someone he admired could praise his qualities and was willing to help him improve. His confidence sparkled anew; he felt capable of moving mountains simply because the noble believed in him.

Amos placed a hand on his shoulder and added, “We don’t spend our lives finding ourselves, Eren. We spend them building ourselves. You haven’t finished improving, just as I haven’t. So don’t stop growing, but don’t try to change too much, or you might end up losing yourself.”

“That’s strange,” the noble thought, giving the shifter an encouraging smile. “My instincts are screaming at me to kill him without delay, but my reason holds me back… Is it really my instincts? I heard his voice in my head, and I know someone erased my memory. The chances of him being the royal-blooded Titan are slim. But if he were, it might mean it’s not my instincts gnawing at me, but the royal blood in my veins. Something to ponder later.”

“Thanks, Amos,” Eren replied, clenching his fists. “I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime,” the tall blonde said.

Then another blonde caught his attention, instantly making him serious again. Eren noticed and did the same.

“You okay, Reiner?” the noble called out, approaching with his friend in tow.

“Honestly, no,” the injured warrior replied, clutching his mangled arm. “A Titan bit me… damn… that was terrifying… I really thought I was done for…”

Mentally, Amos whistled in admiration. “Wow… what an actor… I’ve rarely seen such a stellar performance in my life… And I grew up in Sina.”

Eren thought the same as he went to help Armin climb the Wall.

“You know, it can happen to someone as strong as you,” Eren said.

“What strength are you talking about?!” the traitor exclaimed with genuine frustration. “This is the second time I’ve nearly died! Right, Armin?”

“Huh?”

“I almost got crushed by a certain Titan’s fist, remember?”

“He’s really good, damn it.”

“Oh!” the small blonde said, recalling when Annie had grabbed her accomplice to get Eren’s location. “Yeah… that time.”

But Reiner wasn’t listening anymore, lost in his complaints. “I chose to become a soldier… but I didn’t expect this… At this rate, I won’t live to old age… This shitty job is way more mentally taxing than physically…”

“Hey!” Amos snapped his fingers in front of his face, startling him. “Calm down, will you? You’re injured, exhausted, and probably in shock. That means we won’t ask more of you than you’ve already given. Rest while we go seal the breach.”

For a moment, Reiner looked relieved at the idea of a well-deserved break, but he shook his head and adopted his determined soldier persona again. “No… thanks, I’m not going to sit here doing nothing while you risk your lives. You’re right… I’ve wasted enough time whining.”

If Reiner’s performance remained impressive to Hannibal, Bertholdt’s nervous glance didn’t escape him. “As anxious as ever… but he seems worried about his accomplice… Why? The injury to his arm will heal thanks to his regeneration…”

“Honestly, Reiner,” Eren interjected, “you should take Amos’s advice and rest. Otherwise, you’re not going home anytime soon.”

At those words, the warrior’s face lit up as if struck by a bolt of realization. He looked dazed, mouth agape, a stark contrast to the determined soldier facade he’d displayed just seconds ago.

“What the…?”

Bertholdt noticed too and seemed to regain some color. “That’s right, Reiner!” he exclaimed with restrained enthusiasm. “Let’s go home! We’ve worked hard, but the worst is over, right?”

Reiner, who had seemed so lost moments ago, smiled in relief, as if finally seeing light at the end of his endless tunnel.

Neither traitor noticed Amos’s predatory gaze; their survival instincts were failing them miserably.

“I see… Reiner has a personality disorder… That explains his remarkable performanceit wasn’t a performance at all. He genuinely believed he was on our side. Talking about home reminded him where he came from and who he is. That’s why Bertholdt was so nervous. I see… if he’s that unstable, I might be able to exploit his condition.”

“Amos?”

The noble tempered the predation in his gaze but kept it alert. He turned to his little sister. “What’s up?”

“I need to talk to you,” the small blonde said firmly. “Now, if possible.”

The tall blonde raised an intrigued eyebrow. “Is this personal or military?”

“Military.”

“Alright,” he said, turning to Reiner and Bertholdt. “You two okay?”

“Y-Yes,” the taller one reassured, kneeling beside his accomplice. “I’ll take care of him.”

“Good. Eren? Armin? Come with us.”

Though the two Shiganshina natives were surprised, they didn’t show it and obeyed immediately. Historia seemed taken aback but made no comment.

Once they were sufficiently isolated, Mikasa joined them of her own accord. Amos acknowledged her presence with a nod.

 “Keep an eye on them while we talk,” the noble said to the Easterner. “Warn us subtly if they approach; they can’t overhear us.”

She nodded firmly and began discreetly observing the two traitors. Meanwhile, Historia spoke up:

“I don’t think there’s a breach in the Wall. I believe the Beast Titan summoned all those Titans.”

Eren and Armin’s eyes widened in shock, while Amos and Mikasa remained impassive.

“What makes you think that?” Amos asked.

“He climbed the Wall to escape. Why would he do that if there was a breach? And more importantly, he seemed to control the Titans with his roarhe used it to rile them up and sent them at us in waves. In the middle of the night, no less. He also altered the behavior of the first Titans that attacked us; they all started running like Abnormals even though they seemed normal before. Plus, he killed our horses to prevent us from escaping, but if there had been a breach, the area would’ve been swarming with Titans, making escape impossible anyway. And… there are no Titans here now, even though a breach would mean they’d be everywhere. I think we’ve eliminated them all.”

Armin absorbed the information and immediately began analyzing it. Eren cast an impressed glance at Historia, while Mikasa stayed on guard. A wide smile spread across Amos’s face.

“Nice work,” he complimented.

His little sister blushed with satisfaction.

“Wait,” Eren said, trying to control his emotions. “If he could control Titans… could he be…?”

“No,” Amos dismissed. “If he could, he’d have sent the Colossal Titans at us.”

“Oh! Right, you’re right.”

“What?” Historia asked, intrigued.

“I’ll explain later,” her brother replied, adopting a serious expression. “Tell me… how did Reiner and Bertholdt react when you spotted the Beast?”

Historia nervously scratched her cheek. “I’ll admit, I was too focused on him to notice,” she said, then quickly added, “but… when Ymir transformed… I think I heard Reiner say, ‘It was her that day.’ I’m not sure, though.”

A heavy silence fell over the group. Amos stroked his chin thoughtfully, then took the initiative before anyone could ask a question:

“Listen to me carefully, all of you, and don’t interrupt,” he ordered in a low voice. “It’s now clear that Reiner and Bertholdt are traitors.”

Historia wanted to mention how Reiner had saved Connie, but she followed her brother’s instructions.

“Reiner seems to have a personality disorder,” he explained, to the shock of his comrades. “It’s like he sometimes forgets who he is and where he’s from, genuinely believing he’s a soldier of the Walls. Unfortunately, we can’t exploit that right now, talking about his home reminded him of who he is, so be extra vigilant.”

“Bertholdt’s watching us,” Mikasa announced, maintaining her impassive expression.

Everyone except Amos tensed slightly.

“Is he approaching?” Amos asked.

“No.”

“Good. Let’s continue and avoid raising their suspicions.”

With that, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag, to the dismay of his comrades.

“What are you doing?” Eren growled, waving the smoke away.

“Keeping it natural,” Amos replied with a smoky grin.

Seeing the gray cloud and the disgusted expressions of the group, Bertholdt made the mistake of relaxing and returned to Reiner.

Once Mikasa confirmed this, Amos continued seriously:

“It seems Reiner and Bertholdt didn’t know Ymir was a shifter but recognized her Titan form. She, however, knows exactly who they are.”

Armin and Historia couldn’t believe their ears.

“What makes you say that?” the small blonde asked.

Amos took a drag and answered, “Shortly after we joined the Corps, Ymir jokingly warned me about Reiner’s fascination with me being the King’s cousin.”

Armin quickly pieced it together: “She didn’t just know who they wereshe knew what they were after.”

“Exactly,” Amos confirmed. “Her warning alone proves her loyalty. But it also means she knows too much for Reiner and Bertholdt to let her talk. With the Beast in our custody, they can’t afford to wait.”

Armin’s eyes widened. “They’re going to act,” he realized nervously. “Soon.”

“Caaaalm down,” Amos ordered in a low, firm voice to avoid suspicious reactions. “Right now, we have the advantage. Listen carefully. Historia? When we’re done, refill your gas and stay with Ymir. Get her away if you can, but be discreetthey can’t notice you.”

The small blonde nodded determinedly.

“Armin? Inform Hanji and her squad. Tell them to stay alert and move the Beast.”

“Got it.”

“Mikasa? You and I stick to Eren like glue. If it comes to it, we’ll take out Reiner and Bertholdt ourselves when they strike. Aim for the headthe heart’s not an option.”

The Easterner nodded firmly, fully satisfied with the instructions.

“Eren? When Mikasa and I act, fall back. If we fail, you’ll have to take down the Armored Titan. From the Shiganshina attack reports, the Garrison’s cannons couldn’t pierce his armor. Our blades will be useless, and unless he opens his mouth, I can’t use a grenade. If it comes to that, you’ll face him alone.”

Most would’ve been terrified at the prospect, and even Mikasa didn’t like the idea, but Eren wasn’t like most. His eyes burned with unshakable determination, making Amos smile.

“Forget punches,” he advised. “Focus on grappling and holds.”

“Got it,” the shifter replied, brimming with resolve.

“Good. Everyone knows their role. Disperse.”

Armin and Historia nodded and left to carry out the orders. Amos flicked away his cigarette and cracked his neck.

“Calm and focused,” he said to Mikasa and Eren. “Let’s wait for our opening.”

The two Shiganshina natives nodded as the Garrison’s scouting units arrived to report. Their report: no breach, as Amos had anticipated.

But that raised another question: where had the Titans come from? Amos doubted they appeared from nothingmatter doesn’t vanish or appear; it transforms.

With the main reason for their presence nonexistent, Hanji ordered the Scouts to pack up and return to Ehrmich. But she, her squad, and the new Levi Squad remained on high alert. Following her brother’s orders, Historia refilled her gas and grabbed new blades to calmly assist in Ymir’s evacuation. Armin chose to stay with Connie, who lacked 3D maneuver gear and would be most vulnerable in an attack.

An attack that likely wasn’t far off.

“Amos? Eren?” Reiner called, with Bertholdt behind him. “Got two minutes? We need to talk.”

Amos had to admit his shifter friend kept a remarkably calm face as the critical moment approached.

“Sure,” he replied naturally, following without hesitation.

Though inwardly surprised, Eren did the same. Mikasa pretended to walk away but, thanks to a subtle signal from Amos, slipped behind the traitors as soon as their backs were turned.

“Five years ago,” Reiner began, “we broke Wall Maria and launched the attack on humanity.”

Neither young Scout could stop their eyes from widening in disbelief.

“Did he just…?” Eren thought, stunned.

“Holy shit,” Amos thought. “He’s really messed up… and his buddy’s so shocked and overwhelmed he’s not even reacting… perfect.”

“I’m the Armored Titan,” Reiner continued, seemingly unaware of the weight of his words, “and Bertholdt is the Colossal.”

Jaeger and Hannibal exchanged incredulous glances. Hoover looked like he might faint.

“What are you talking about?” Eren asked, confused.

The noble said nothing, letting the newly revealed Colossal speak. Bertholdt grabbed his accomplice’s arm, looking utterly panicked.

“Reiner! What’s wrong with you? Why are you telling them?”

But Reiner ignored him and continued, “Our goal was to eradicate humanity. But that’s no longer necessary. If you come with us, we won’t need to attack the Walls again. Understand?”

“Not really,” Amos replied with near-superhuman calm, to Eren’s awe. “I get why you’d want Eren, but me? Why do you want me to come?”

“Because you’re the true King of the Walls,” the Armored Titan said as if it were obvious.

Amos raised his eyebrows in surprise. How could he think that? Even Bertholdt looked shocked, staring at Reiner with a mix of fascination and relief.

“Interesting,” Amos said, crossing his arms. “What makes you say that?”

“Christa said, ‘Not everyone wants to be King.’ I assume she was talking about you, right?”

For the first time in this bizarre conversation, Amos let an emotion slip: exasperation.

“Seriously? That’s why he thinks I’m the King? Something that trivial? He doesn’t even know I’m royal-bloodedhe has no real information. He’s grasping at straws… He doesn’t know if I’m the King; he wants me to be. He’s betting everything on it.”

A spark of realization flashed in Bertholdt’s eyes, his mouth agape in awe. Amos rubbed his brows with his thumb and forefinger.

“Poor girl,” he sighed. “She’s going to feel so guilty.”

“It’s not her fault,” Reiner reassured. “She didn’t know.”

In the distance, Hanji and her squad discreetly observed the conversation among the former 104th cadets, pretending to pack up.

“Commander?” Moblit asked nervously. “Shouldn’t we…?”

“No,” Hanji replied sharply. “If we act, we might ruin their element of surprise.”

“She’s right,” Armin added, hands trembling. “Reiner and Bertholdt are unarmed and haven’t noticed Mikasa behind them. Amos and Eren have the upper hand. Let them get more information.”

Moblit didn’t seem reassured but said nothing more.

Eren and Mikasa felt the pressure mounting, but their Levi Squad leader’s unshakable calm helped them control their emotions.

“Man,” Jaeger thought, heart pounding with anxiety, “Amos is terrifying. How the hell is he so calm?!”

“Tell me, Reiner,” Amos continued, “there’s something I’d like to understand… Why you?”

“Huh?” the traitor said, confused.

“Why you? You were eleven when you attacked humanity. Why were children forced to commit genocide?”

The warriors stiffened instantly, and to Eren’s surprise, they lowered their heads in shame.

“To…” Reiner began, “to atone for our ancestors’ sins.”

Jaeger, Ackerman, and Hannibal frowned simultaneously.

“Your ancestors?” Eren repeated, confused.

“No,” Braun corrected. “Our ancestorsall of ours… except Mikasa’s…”

Bertholdt couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed his companion’s shoulder and shook him.

“Stop, Reiner!” he cried, on the verge of a breakdown. “You’re telling them too much!”

A flash of realization crossed the Armored Titan’s eyes, his face contorting into a mask of horror. Behind them, Mikasa was a hair’s breadth from drawing her sword. In front, Eren instinctively clenched his fist, ready to bring it to his jaw.

“Caaaalm down,” Amos said in a soft, almost hypnotic voice that surprised everyone. “Everything’s fine. You’re safe now.”

At those words, the four former 104th cadets stared at him in confusion. Reiner and Bertholdt looked at the noble with dazed expressions.

“W-What?” Bertholdt dared to ask.

“You’re safe,” Amos continued in the same soothing tone. “It’s over. You didn’t want to do what you did, and you’re not responsible. Your sins are forgiven.”

The two traitors stammered incoherent, confused words as tears welled in their eyes.

“H-H-How could it be over?” Reiner mumbled.

“I am your King,” Amos replied simply, extending his hand. “And as such, I must care for all my subjects.”

Those words left them speechless. The awe in their eyes was so intense they gazed at Hannibal as if in the presence of a true, merciful Godone with the power to forgive their heinous acts. Gasping with relief, they reached their trembling hands toward the noble’s, ready to entrust their fates to him forever.

But at the last second, Reiner pulled back, his face twisting into a horrified, grim expression.

“It’s too late!” he said in a dark voice, heavy with guilt. “I can’t tell right from wrong anymore! All I know is I’m responsible for my actions, and… nothing… no one… can ever erase my sins…”

He raised his head, glaring at Amos and Eren with resolute determination as he removed his bandage, revealing his steaming arm for all to see.

“I am a warrior,” he declared fatally, “and as such… I must take responsibility for my actions to the end.”

“Alright,” Hannibal replied simply as Jaeger braced himself. “Take responsibility for this one.”

In a fraction of a second, the noble deployed the hidden blade on the back of his forearm and nearly severed Reiner’s neck. Bertholdt’s eyes widened in horror before Mikasa split his skull with a swift sword strike. Braun collapsed instantly, while Hoover staggered aimlessly with the Easterner’s blade in his head before falling as well.

A deathly silence fell over the Survey Corps who had witnessed the scene, broken by Hanji’s firm voice:

“Everyone, stay calm!” she ordered as some Scouts drew their weapons, mistakenly thinking Amos and Mikasa were the true traitors. “Those two were infiltrators! That’s why they had to be killed!”

At her words, most relaxed, but one did not:

“They were what?!” Connie gasped, staring at the bodies of those he’d just survived the worst ordeal of his life with. “You’re kidding?! You…!”

The look he shot the two killers made Mikasa uneasy, but Amos seemed not to have heard him.

“You… you killed them?!” Connie continued. “Just like that?! Without any remorse?! What kind of…!”

“Connie!” Historia shouted, abandoning Ymir to grab his arm. “Calm down!”

“Calm down?!” the Ragako native roared. “Reiner saved my life! And this bastard…!”

A sharp slap from the small blonde silenced his screams. The shaved-head cadet froze, feeling the sting on his cheek, his eyes glassy and limbs trembling. Historia pulled him into her arms.

“It’s over,” she whispered as Connie sobbed on her shoulder. “It’s done.”

No response came, only sobs.

Sasha was shaken, staring in horror at the bodies of those she’d called friends.

“They were traitors?” she stammered, shocked. “Reiner and Bertholdt… were traitors…?”

Meanwhile, Eren panted heavily and fell to his knees, hands clutching his chest.

“Goddamn it!” he yelled at the tall blonde to release his stress. “I nearly had a heart attack!”

Amos didn’t respond, shuddering with such intense disgust that Jaeger thought he might vomit.

“I spoke like that bitch…” he thought with utter revulsion. “That was disgusting…”

Refusing to let himself be swept up in uncontrollable emotions again, the noble shook his head to suppress his intrusive thoughts and focused on what he’d just learned. Time slowed around him as he dove into his reflections.

Methodically, he reorganized the information Reiner had revealed, dissecting it piece by piece.

“Atone for our ancestors’ sins… except Mikasa’s… Why ‘except Mikasa’?”

A glance at the Easterner brought the answer.

“She’s Eastern, not us. Well… she’s half-Eastern, but those two idiots clearly didn’t get that… So… it’s about race…? Reiner and Bertholdt were… our kin… some kind of indoctrinated slaves… serving another people who despise us? But despise us for what? What could our ancestors have done?”

He frowned.

“Wait, that doesn’t make sense. Why would slaves have such power? Why entrust such power to child slaves when they must have loyal adult soldiers? From Mikasa and Armin’s accounts, we ruled out Eren having his power from birth since he was always fighting and getting hurt as a kid… So his power was transferred to him… how? I have no way of knowing that yet… But back to my question: why child slaves of a race they despise instead of loyal adults of their own race…? What bothers me most is why they’d entrust such power to people who could rebel… Unless…!”

Suddenly, time resumed, and Amos slammed his fist into his palm.

“Eureka!” he declared, startling Eren and Mikasa. “It all fits perfectly!”

Hearing him, Armin and Hanji rushed over to hear his latest findings, but he didn’t wait for them to start muttering aloud:

“We’re the only ones who can become shifters. That’s why they use children.”

His gaze fell on Reiner and Bertholdt’s bodies.

“They’re easier to indoctrinate or intimidate by threatening their families… It has to be that…”

Then his eyes widened in stunned frustration. The traitors’ bodies had stopped bleeding, steam rising from their wounds as they healed rapidly… and Bertholdt’s eyes had reopened.

“Get back!” Amos shouted, grabbing Eren and Mikasa by the collars to pull them away from the impending catastrophe.

He covered less than five meters before hell broke loose behind him. Two lightning bolts struck the top of Wall Rose, unleashing an unstoppable gust that swept the Scouts off their feet. Amos, Eren, and Mikasa were hurled nearly fifty meters through the air before the noble and Easterner regained control, gripping the Wall. Each grabbed one of Jaeger’s arms to keep him from flying past, battling the violent winds.

“I swear,” Amos growled to himself as the Colossal and Armored Titans emerged from the blast of their transformations, “these bastards are worse than cockroaches!”

The “cockroaches” clutched their heads, likely easing whatever cranial pain gripped them and confirming they were still alive despite their mortal wounds.

The other Scouts were shaken, caught off guard by the sudden transformations after lowering their defenses. Without 3D maneuver gear, Connie was swept away by the gust, but Historia and Armin caught him.

The Armored Titan raised his head, glaring murderously at a certain blonde.

“Whoops,” Amos said. “I think he’s mad at me.”

As if to confirm, Reiner assumed a stance and charged straight at the three Scouts suspended in the air.

Seeing this, Eren’s face twisted into a furious, determined grimace.

“Throw me at him!” he shouted to his comrades.

“Eren!” Mikasa cried, horrified. “That’s too dang”

“Alright!” Amos cut in, releasing a powerful burst of gas to propel them against the current.

At the peak of resistance, Hannibal used all his strength to hurl Jaeger at the Armored Titan. Ackerman had no choice but to follow the motion to avoid disrupting their maneuver.

As he closed in on his target, the Shiganshina native felt rage consume him.

“Reiner! Bertholdt!”

He bit his hand so hard he severed several tendons.

“You damn traitors!”

The Attack Titan formed in a flash around its host, triggering another gust that pushed Amos and Mikasa back.

Eren slammed into Reiner with a shoulder charge to the chest, lifting him off the Wall and sending them both plummeting over the edge of Rose, crashing to the ground below.

“Good,” Amos thought, adjusting his trajectory. “Let Eren handle it.”

He didn’t have time to think further as he saw the Colossal Titan’s massive hand reaching for him. Unimpressed by the creature’s slowness, he dodged its arm.

While maneuvering around the giant, he noted Bertholdt hadn’t fully transformed. Only his upper body had formed, with a long spinal column and ribs anchored into the Wall for stability, rendering him immobile.

“He must’ve done this to avoid waking the Colossal Titans in the Wall,” Amos theorized, “confirming they know about them.”

But as he prepared to bypass the Colossal’s massive frame to target its nape, he noticed it had retracted its arms. Hannibal’s eyes widened when he spotted Ymir in its giant hand.

“What the…?! Where’s Historia?!”

Before he could look back, Bertholdt brought his captives to his face, allowing Amos to see with fury that he’d also grabbed Zeke and another person, whose legs alone were visible.

A chill of dread ran through him, fearing his sister had been caught, but relief washed over him when the Colossal tossed its captives into its mouth, revealing the third was an unfamiliar Scout.

“He didn’t chew them,” Amos noted, continuing his maneuver. “Obviously, he wants to spare his ally, but if he wanted to kill Ymir, he’d have crushed her. So he wants her alive, just like Eren. Which means the shifter power can’t transfer if the subject is dead.”

Letting his predatory instincts take over, Amos vaulted over the Colossal’s shoulder as it tracked him with its eyes, rushing toward its nape.

But he was instantly repelled by a massive blast of steam enveloping the entire Titan. The gust was so violent it sent Amos tumbling through the air as the temperature soared dangerously.

“Wait, you parasite!” he roared as complex calculations flashed before his eyes.

He stabilized himself by grabbing the creature’s skull, aimed at its nape, and fired two volleys of ultrasteel bullets that pierced the storm, penetrating the Colossal’s flesh.

The steam blast stopped abruptly. The scourge of Shiganshina let out a pained howl, thrashing frantically.

The sudden halt in its defense gave Hanji an opening she intended to exploit.

“All units!” she shouted. “Combat positions! Eliminate the Colossal Titan! Attack!”

At her call, the Scouts soared toward humanity’s greatest enemy, cutting through the remnants of its smoky shield, determined to destroy the colossal threat.

Amos landed behind Bertholdt, skidding across the Wall’s top. Dehydrated from the steam, he grabbed his canteen, took a few gulps, and poured the rest over his head, water streaming down his face and matting his blonde hair to his forehead.

“Despite its blast and the distance, I pierced its flesh with my bullets,” he noted thoughtfully. “The nape’s flesh is thinner than it seems.”

Then he noticed the giant had stopped thrashing in pain, and the Scouts were now surrounding its nape.

“Fall back!” he shouted as loud as he could. “It’s going to start again!”

Too late. Sensing the approaching danger, the Colossal suppressed its pain and unleashed another steam shield, repelling the assault. The Corps members were flung through the air but managed to correct their trajectories to avoid worse injuries than minor burns.

Annoyed, Hannibal circled Bertholdt along the Wall’s side and landed beside Armin, who wasted no time reporting:

“It’s impossible to attack! What do we do?”

Amos grimaced, eyeing the steaming giant.

“It’s only partially transformed,” he growled, frustrated. “Its Titan is too different from others to know what it’s capable of. Who knows how long it can keep this up…?”

Heart racing, Armin swallowed hard and forced his mind to work.

The two blondes observed Bertholdt for a good ten seconds before the smaller one’s eyes widened in realization.

“Wait… Titans’ bodies are so hot their flesh and blood evaporate on contact with air… which means…”

Amos’s eyes widened too, and he looked at his subordinate with admiration.

“Well spotted,” he praised. “The steam is just the result of its flesh and blood evaporating. Logically, such a defense isn’t freeBertholdt must be consuming his flesh to maintain it.”

“So…” Armin continued, “we can wear him down.”

Hanji, who’d overheard the two blondes, turned to her units.

“Monitor the Colossal from all sides! Attack only when its defense weakens! Execute!”

“Roger!”

“Historia!” Amos called, spotting his sister. “Go with them! Bertholdt didn’t chew Ymir, meaning he wants her alive.”

At that, the small blonde’s shocked expression turned to determination, and she flew off with the veterans.

“Sasha! Take Connie to safety; he doesn’t have gear…”

A sharp crack followed by a sickening crunch cut off his orders.

“EREN!” Mikasa screamed from the Wall’s side.

Amos glanced down and saw the Attack Titan with a shattered jaw soaring through the air, landing two hundred meters away.

“Damn,” he realized, watching the Armored Titan advance on its target. “The fall hit Eren harder than Reiner. That bastard recovered faster and struck first.”

His gaze fell on Jaeger, lying on the ground, his regeneration working overtime and nearly complete by the time the traitor reached him.

“This won’t be easy… Reiner likely hid his true combat skills during training. But…”

To Armin’s surprise, who was starting to panic, a smile spread across Hannibal’s face.

“One-on-one, Eren is far more formidable than he seems. If he doesn’t let his emotions get the better of himwhich I doubt he willhe’s got a real shot at winning.”

(-)(-)(-)

Dazed from his fall off the Wall and Reiner’s blow, Eren’s vision was glassy, his ears ringing. Yet his mind remained sharp, his anger raw and authentic.

“You son of a bitch…!” he roared inwardly from his Titan’s nape. “You bastard!”

In the distance, he heard the Armored Titan’s footsteps approaching, fueling his rage further.

“You were a damn good soldier, you know that, Reiner? You were a big brother to all our comrades, caring more about us than yourself… Damn it… I always knew I’d never match Amos, so I at least wanted to be as strong as you… you bastard! I admired you so much!”

Feeling his senses return and his fingers regenerate, the Attack Titan pulled his knees to his chest and executed a flawless backward somersault just as the Armored Titan recoiled in surprise. From the Wall, the Scouts gaped, except Amos, who grinned ear to ear.

Eren grabbed his head with his left hand, his chin with his right, and with a gruesome crack, realigned his lower jaw, letting his regeneration take over.

“Admit it, Reiner,” he continued, assuming a fighting stance. “You held back in training, didn’t you? You hid your true strength in case we ended up fighting. So you think now that you’re showing your real power, I don’t stand a chance? You miscalculated, you dumbass! You may have held back for three years, but Amos didn’t hold back for a damn month! And you’re nowhere near his level!”

Believing himself invulnerable, Braun advanced lazily, waiting for Eren to attack. When Eren finally charged with a roar, Reiner aimed a punch at his skull.

But Jaeger saw it coming a mile away. He grabbed Reiner’s wrist, placed a hand on his chest, hooked a leg behind his calves, and swept him to the ground.

“Humiliating to get taken down like an animal, isn’t it?!” Eren roared, twisting Reiner’s arm without letting go, flipping him like a pancake, and planting a foot on his back to pull with all his might.

“Hope you had fun, Reiner!” he gloated as the armor around the traitor’s shoulder began to crack. “Because it’s the last time you’ll ever have any!”

With that, the tendons, flesh, and armor gave way, and the Attack Titan tore off the Armored Titan’s entire right arm under the stunned gazes of the Scouts. Not stopping there, Eren wielded the bloody limb like a club, unleashing a barrage of devastating blows that fractured Braun’s armor everywhere.

Reiner struggled to contain his panic as the club rained down on his head. He reached back to grab Eren’s ankle, but Jaeger anticipated it, dodging with a backward leap. Reiner tried to stand, only to take another club strike to the face, collapsing with a shattered jaw. Realizing his makeshift weapon was spent, Eren tossed it aside. As he prepared to charge again, he heard the distinct sound of advanced 3D maneuver gear. He held back, letting his ally follow through.

As Reiner struggled to rise, he saw Amos charging and hurling an explosive grenade at his face. The warrior instinctively raised his hand, and the grenade ricocheted off his fingers before exploding. The blast forced his head back but caused no real damage.

“Missed,” Amos remarked, perching on Eren’s shoulder.

“Get back to the Wall where we can help,” he ordered. “You’re dominating him in close combat, but he likely has tricks up his sleeve. If he calls Titans, he could turn this around.”

Jaeger nodded as a lightning bolt flashed behind Reiner’s empty husk, revealing a brand-new Armored Titan.

“What a pest,” Amos growled as the Attack Titan ran toward the Wall, grunting in agreement.

Once back, Amos called Armin and Mikasa to join them, and Hanji invited herself to their squad meeting.

“His armor isn’t completethere are gaps at the armpits, inner elbows, and behind the knees. Stay back until Eren immobilizes him, then we can step in to help capture Reiner.”

While the Shiganshina natives nodded firmly, Hanji had reservations.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stall as long as possible, breaking the Armored Titan’s legs to tire him out and then take him?”

Though Armin seemed to agree, Amos shook his head.

“Not a bad idea,” he admitted, “but if Reiner wastes too much time, he might call Titans to distract Eren, grab Bertholdt, Zeke, and Ymir, and escape through Wall Maria’s territory. They know if we get Ymir, we’ll gain enough intel to turn this war around by transferring their powers to our side. Their situation is so dire they might prioritize Ymir over capturing Eren. We have a golden opportunity we must seize, or it may never come again.”

Armin, Eren, Mikasa, and Hanji’s eyes widened, realizing how close they were to the most decisive victory in their history. Amos was rightif they won, they could secure the Beast, Armored, Female, and Colossal Titans’ powers and retrieve Ymir. The stakes were enormous. Armin’s hands trembled under the pressure, Eren burned with impatience, Mikasa’s gaze was unwavering, and Hanji quickly refocused, turning to Amos.

“We’ll monitor the Colossal for an opening!” she declared, eyeing Bertholdt. “Reiner’s yours!”

“Roger!” the Levi Squad replied in unison.

As the Armored Titan approached, Eren inwardly reveled at the prospect of victory.

“Finally! We can turn this around! Finally, we…!”

“Stop!”

He winced as his internal alarm blared, growling at himself for letting his emotions blind him. The Attack Titan took a deep breath and exhaled a cloud of steam, drawing worried looks from Armin and Mikasa.

“Eren?” Mikasa called, concerned.

“He’s fine,” Amos reassured. “He’s just controlling his emotions.”

Eren shot him a grateful look before refocusing on Reiner.

“Armin? Take height and observe. Mikasa and I will stay with Eren to support him. From up there, you might see things we can’t. Be our eyes.”

The small blonde nodded and complied while Amos and Mikasa turned their attention to the enemy.

To the Levi Squad’s surprise, the Armored Titan, sluggish until now, suddenly sprinted at full speed toward the Attack Titan.

“Scatter!” Amos ordered. “Let Eren handle it!”

Eren glared murderously at his foe, a deranged smile spreading across his human face.

“You think your armor and weight will crush me by charging like an idiot?!” he roared, sprinting to meet the traitor.

In two seconds, the Attack and Armored Titans closed the distance. While Reiner kept charging, Eren skidded to a stop at the last moment, waiting for his foe to reach him before leaping back to absorb the impact. As Reiner collided with him, Eren hooked an arm behind his head, locking his neck in a chokehold, and planted his feet to flip him forward. Carried by his momentum and their combined weight, Braun crashed face-first, carving a long furrow with his armored face.

“I’m gonna rip your head off!” Eren gloated, tightening his grip on the Armored Titan’s cracking nape.

Reiner wasn’t done, raising his right fist for a hammer blow. But he made the mistake of fully extending his arm, exposing his inner elbow. Amos seized the chance, unloading two magazines interno di più

System: magazines into the weak point, causing the Armored Titan to cry out in pain as Amos landed on his back.

“Idiot, you’ve now got twenty ultrasteel bullets lodged in your joint. Even with your regeneration, your right arm’s useless.”

Perched halfway up the Wall, Armin’s eyes widened as he spotted the exposed flesh of Reiner’s calves. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Mikasa! The backs of his legs are exposed!”

The Easterner needed no further prompting. She sprinted along the Wall to gain speed, then dove toward the hollow of the Armored Titan’s knee, slicing the joints with a clean, precise strike.

A satisfied smile spread across Amos’s face. He turned to the Attack Titan. “He’s all yours!” he announced before ascending the Wall.

Eren felt a surge of exhilaration course through him like a lightning bolt. He tensed his muscles to their limit and pulled with all his strength.

The armor covering the Armored Titan’s nape finally gave way. The carapace that had terrorized humanity for five years shattered under the hopeful gazes of the Scouts, who saw their years of service and suffering finally rewarded. Many cheered Eren at the top of their lungs, galvanizing the Attack Titan to redouble his efforts.

Seeing his dire situation, Reiner used his remaining arm and leg to crawl along the Wall, dragging the Attack Titan with him, arousing Amos’s suspicion.

“What’s he doing?” Armin asked, worried, landing beside his superior.

“He’s heading for Bertholdt,” Amos replied, eyeing the Colossal’s steaming husk. “He’ll likely go all-in, transforming a third time to grab his allies and escape. If he gets far enough, he knows we won’t risk pursuing.”

Amos thought for four seconds before speaking again. “We can see Bertholdt’s skull, meaning he’s nearly out of flesh. Tell Hanji and Historia about Reiner’s potential escalation. I’ll try to intercept him when he emerges from his nape, but I want our backs covered just in case.”

Armin nodded and climbed to the top of Rose as Amos activated his gear to track the Armored Titan’s progress.

His eyes met Mikasa’s below. He tapped his nape and pointed to his eyes, signaling her to watch that area. She understood perfectly, climbing to the top of a tree for a better vantage point.

Reiner’s jaw dislocated, and he let out a roar that stirred bad memories for Amos. The noble tensed, scanning the surroundings.

“No Titans in the area, Reiner. We’re between Trost and Klorvayou know that. No chaos to cover your escape, so why…?”

Realizing he needed to end this quickly, Eren doubled his efforts again, tearing into the Armored Titan’s nape with another roar.

A geyser of blood erupted from the scourge of Maria’s weak point. Amos prepared to dive in.

“One chance,” he thought as time slowed. “One opening. My trajectory must be perfect…”

A scream from the top of the Wall cut through his calculations.

“Amos!” Historia shouted. “Above you!”

He widened his eyes, trying to turn, but his attention was seized by another lightning bolt and the appearance of a third Armored Titan emerging from within the second.

“What the…?!” Eren and Amos nearly screamed as one took an armored foot to the face and the other dodged a hand trying to crush him.

Jaeger struggled to free himself from the trap, pinned by the weight of Reiner’s previous body and the new one forming.

“What a bastard!” Hannibal roared inwardly, dodging Braun’s fist as it smashed the Wall. “He transformed directly inside his Titan!”

“Amos!” Historia screamed again. “Get out of there! Now!”

At her warning, the noble looked up, eyes widening in horror.

The Colossal’s half-consumed body had detached from Rose, beginning a fall as unstoppable as it was devastating. Reiner covered Eren’s head with his torso, waiting for the inevitable. Amos could only acknowledge his defeat.

“I don’t have enough momentum,” he realized, resigned, watching Bertholdt plummet toward him. “No way to dodge in time… Well played… I underestimated you…”

Then, an unidentified object slammed into him, knocking him clear of the Colossal’s impact point just in time. Amos barely felt two strong arms wrap around his ribs before a devastating blast sent them tumbling through the air.

Though blinded by the gust of steam, flesh, and dust, Amos reacted just before they hit the ground, burning half his gas reserves in a long, powerful burst to correct their trajectory as grass brushed his hair. He and his savior rolled ten meters across the ground before face-planting.

The blast’s intensity subsided after a dozen seconds, but Amos’s back pain forced him to inject a dose of methadone just to pry his eyelids open.

His eyes widened fully when he saw who had saved him.

A thin trickle of blood ran from Mikasa’s scalp across her relieved face. Amos raised a trembling hand to brush her hair aside and inspect the woundthankfully, it wasn’t too serious.

“Are you okay?” she asked weakly.

Amos let out a deep, sorrowful sigh, his arm falling limp.

“Why did you do that?” he whispered, unable to suppress his dread. “Why?”

For a moment, Mikasa pressed her lips together, as if to hold back her response, but a final look into his emerald eyes made her yield.

“I think… you know why…”

An emotional explosion surged through Amos, a tidal wave of joy, terror, and confusion overwhelming him. He panted, clenched his fist, and weakly pounded it into the grass.

“Damn it…” he muttered, despairing. “Damn it, Mikasa… stop… I’m begging you… you’re wasting your time…”

The half-Easterner felt her heart crack. She wanted to speak, but Amos cut in first.

“I… I…” he stammered, mustering the courage to meet her eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek.

“I can never… give you the life you deserve…” he admitted, shame and helplessness in his voice.

But Mikasa didn’t hear the emotions behind those words. Her jet-black eyes widened as she gasped, realizing their meaning.

“That’s why…” she breathed. “All this… it was because you were trying to protect me… again…”

She placed her hand on his fist, which unclenched at her touch, her cheeks flushed and a smile on her lips. Amos looked down, sighing in surrender.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of tearing flesh. Both widened their eyes as Reiner ripped into the Attack Titan’s nape.

“NO!” Mikasa cried, horrified. “NO! EREN!”

She tried to stand, but her strength failed at the worst moment. Overcome by exhaustion, she collapsed into unconsciousness. Hannibal reached out to cushion her head’s fall, refocusing on the Armored Titan.

Reiner glanced frantically around, and Amos froze when he realized why.

“Shit! He’s looking for me!” He gathered what little strength he had, standing and scooping up Mikasa.

He hid behind the nearest tree trunk and waited for the traitor to abandon his hunt.

“Damn it… if he finds me, he’ll take me and kill Mikasa to ensure she doesn’t follow.”

The seconds that followed were among the longest of his life. Fortunately, Reiner didn’t linger. He tore into the Colossal’s remains to extract Bertholdt, who’d lost consciousness from the kinetic impact of his fall. Then, he pried open the giant’s jaws to retrieve Zeke and Ymir before fleeing through Wall Maria’s territory without hesitation.

Amos watched him run for a moment before mustering his remaining strength, standing, and cracking his neck. Predation dominated his emerald gaze as rage consumed his muscles.

“You bastards,” he hissed, glancing at Mikasa’s pained, bloodied face. “You’ll pay a hundredfold for this.”