Oluo, Eld, and Gunther, who had been itching to join the fight, immediately jumped down with Lock.
"Be careful, everyone!" Petra called out anxiously from the wall.
Beside her, Ymir was struck by the sight. Weren't these people afraid of death? They could have chosen to stay atop the wall, waiting for others to act. No one was forcing them into the fray—they had the option to adapt, to avoid risk. But at this crucial moment, they all leapt down without a hint of hesitation.
To face a Titan that could crush them like insects.
Ymir couldn't comprehend it. She had never truly adopted the mindset of those on Paradis Island, nor had she ever fully opened her heart to anyone. Even Petra, who had formed a close bond with her, had never received Ymir's full trust.
Petra, however, had no time to dwell on Ymir's thoughts. Her gaze was fixed on Lock and the others already engaging the Female Titan.
Pshhh! Pshhh! Pshhh!
With bursts of compressed gas, Lock soared through the air, maneuvering skillfully above Annie's Female Titan. In midair, he exchanged a glance with Oluo, Eld, and Gunther. The moment their eyes met, their intentions aligned. The three men swooped in together, drawing Annie's attention skyward.
But Annie was no mindless Titan. As a shifter, she was highly intelligent and immediately saw through their plan. Clutching the wall with her left hand to stabilize herself, she swung her right arm in a wide arc, scattering Oluo and the others.
At the same time, the nape of her neck hardened with crystallization.
Annie seized the rhythm of the battle almost instantly.
Though she was only halfway up the wall, her mobility was limited—but as long as her nape remained protected, she had confidence she could climb to the top. Once there, she intended to seize the traitor who had killed her comrade and inherited the Jaw Titan's power, then return to Marley.
As for capturing the Founding Titan, the situation inside the Walls had changed drastically. Continuing their original mission was no longer viable. The best course now was to retreat to Marley and report everything accurately.
But first, she would reclaim the Jaw Titan's power—for Porco's sake.
Annie had no time for further thought. She lashed her right arm backward, aiming to swat Lock away.
Almost simultaneously, a figure shot across her vision like a blur.
What—?! Annie's eyes narrowed in sudden alarm.
A flash of steel—then a clean strike.
The blade sliced clean through the wrist that anchored her to the wall. Annie lost her grip and plummeted.
How is he there?! she thought in shock.
Before she could react, Lock twisted midair, using his ODM gear to propel himself forward. Planting his boots on Annie's forehead, he plunged both blades straight into her eye sockets.
Shhk! Shhk!
The wet, slicing sound sent a chill down the spines of everyone watching. Even Oluo and the others flinched involuntarily at the sight.
"AAAHHHHH!!!"
Annie's roar tore through the air. Blinded, she fell backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
Lock anchored himself to the wall with his wires, drew a signal flare from his belt, and fired it toward Annie's position.
A burst of green smoke rose from her chest.
Instantly, the hidden artillery teams atop the wall turned their launchers toward the signal.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A rain of thunder spears descended, piercing Annie's Titan body and pinning her to the ground like a massive insect. The brutal impact shook the surrounding earth.
Annie's human form inside was now in an unknown state—dead or alive, no one could say.
Reiner's Armored Titan arrived moments too late. He halted as he saw Annie immobilized beneath a forest of spears, Bertholdt cornered beneath the wall, and the Survey Corps closing in on all sides. He understood instantly: this mission had failed.
Gritting his teeth, he turned toward Bertholdt.
"I'm sorry, Annie…" Reiner muttered, guilt gnawing at him.
As a soldier, he knew this wasn't the time for reckless heroics. Annie couldn't be rescued quickly, and Bertholdt was already at his limit. The most rational choice was to retreat with him.
"I know you'd make the same call, Annie," Reiner thought bitterly as he ran.
Glancing back, he saw the Pure Titans that had been attacking nearby soldiers suddenly surge toward Annie like animals drawn to prey. The moment Lock blinded her, Annie had roared to summon them. Escape was impossible. All she could do was buy time.
"This is bad," Lock thought grimly.
Annie was now surrounded by Pure Titans devouring her immobilized body, while Reiner charged toward Bertholdt's position. Taking down all three shifters at once would be nearly impossible.
We can't let the tiger return to the mountain.
From a purely strategic perspective, taking Annie was already a huge victory. Letting Reiner and Bertholdt retreat would reduce casualties. But Lock was on the opposite side now. This was a rare, perfect chance to wipe out all three Titan powers.
He couldn't let it slip away.
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