Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Across a stretch of grassland several kilometers north of the Stohess District, the Armored Titan thundered forward, its massive footsteps shaking the ground as it headed toward a small village on the northern plains.
Inside the nape, Reiner Braun's human eyes were half-lidded with exhaustion. His breath came ragged. His body trembled.
He was tired. Too tired.
Transforming into a Titan consumed a tremendous amount of energy—not just physically, but mentally. Reiner had lured Pure Titans into the city outside the Walls, fought brutally against the Survey Corps within the Walls, and then run for kilometers across open terrain. Now, his physical reserves were nearly spent.
He was, after all, still just a boy in his early teens. Even with years of warrior training in Marley, his body hadn't reached its peak. His endurance was finite, and the weight of the mission was crushing.
Sitting on his shoulder, Bertholdt Hoover glanced down at him, noticing Reiner's labored state.
"Reiner… hold on just a little longer," Bertholdt urged softly. "Once we reach the village, we can rest."
Reiner gritted his teeth. "I can still keep going for a bit."
"Good… that's good."
Bertholdt's tense shoulders relaxed slightly as the village came into view. But his mind shifted immediately to something else. His brows furrowed.
"Reiner… where's Annie? I was pinned down inside the Walls by those soldiers. I couldn't watch her back…"
Reiner's face darkened inside the Titan's nape.
"Annie… she must have been captured."
"What?!" Bertholdt's voice cracked with panic. "What did you just say?!"
"I said," Reiner repeated grimly, "Annie's been captured."
"No… no, we can't let Annie be taken like that. We have to go back! We have to save her—!"
Before he could finish, Reiner cut him off sharply.
"Think, Bertholdt! You saw what they were capable of. Do you honestly believe we can rescue her now?"
Bertholdt froze. His mind replayed the battle in Stohess—the sheer ferocity of the Survey Corps. Those "devils" inside the Walls fought with suicidal determination, their blades flashing like lightning.
He remembered Levi—the short man drenched in Titan blood—dancing through the air. Even catching a glimpse of him had sent chills down Bertholdt's spine.
If it weren't for Reiner's armor, they wouldn't have survived Levi's assault.
The Colossal Titan's power was overwhelming but slow and exhausting. It was best suited for surprise attacks, not prolonged combat. Annie's capture left only the two of them, both drained. Facing the Corps again in their current state would be suicide.
Bertholdt lowered his head. The atmosphere between them grew heavy. Neither spoke again until they finally shook off the handful of Pure Titans that had trailed them and reached the abandoned village.
"Let's rest somewhere with a vantage point," Reiner said, his voice hoarse. "I can't keep this up."
Bertholdt nodded. "The sentry tower over there."
Reiner gave a quiet "Yeah…" and trudged forward. His Titan form slowed to a lumbering walk. He had already drawn away the Titans that had once filled the village; now the area was eerily quiet. For the moment, it was safe.
Dragging their exhausted bodies, the two made their way to the sentry tower. As they approached, they released their transformations. Steam hissed as their human forms emerged from the nape of the Armored Titan, collapsing onto the grass in sheer fatigue.
"Thanks… for carrying me," Bertholdt muttered, guilt tinging his voice.
Reiner shook his head, too tired to speak. But before they could exchange another word—
A shadow flickered to their left.
"Reiner, look out!" Bertholdt shouted.
Reiner's instincts flared. He turned just in time to see a glint of steel slicing through the air. A figure burst from the darkness—fast, controlled, and merciless.
Pain exploded across Reiner's side. His human body was caught mid-transition, and before he could harden his defenses, a blade cut through his arm in a single strike.
"AHHHH!" Reiner screamed.
Bertholdt's eyes widened in shock as the figure landed between them, blades drawn, eyes cold.
Lock.
Bertholdt's throat tightened. "Why… why are you here?!"
Lock didn't answer. He moved with precise efficiency, jamming his blade between Bertholdt's jaws, forcing his mouth open. The razor tip hovered dangerously close to the inside of his throat. Blood trickled where the blade had grazed flesh.
Lock's eyes burned like torches as he stared between the two Warriors.
"If you don't want to watch your friend die," he said quietly, "don't try anything."
He shifted the blade slightly. Bertholdt shuddered. Just a few millimeters deeper, and he'd be dead.
"You devil!" Reiner spat, his face contorted with hatred.
"Devils?" Lock's expression turned mocking. "Those words sound more fitting for you. You destroyed the Walls. You slaughtered thousands. You sent Titans into villages to devour innocent families. Don't talk to me about devils."
Reiner clenched his teeth, unable to respond. His glare burned, but it was hollow. He had no comeback.
Lock ignored him and called out toward the sentry tower:
"You can come out now."
With a roar, Ymir, in her Jaw Titan form, emerged from behind the tower, carrying Petra on her back. She was panting heavily but alert, her sharp eyes fixed on Reiner and Bertholdt.
"Lock! Are you okay?" Petra called out, rushing forward.
"I'm fine," Lock replied calmly, giving her a reassuring nod. Then his voice hardened again. "Tie them up. Ymir—stay in Titan form. If either of them tries anything, tear their legs off."
"Got it," they replied in unison.
Petra dismounted from Ymir and approached Reiner, who had collapsed to his knees after partially vaporizing his Titan form. She pulled out prepared ropes and began binding him tightly, showing no mercy despite his injuries. Reiner's broken arms made resistance difficult, and she tied him down with practiced efficiency.
Lock turned his attention to Bertholdt at his feet. Slowly, he withdrew the blade from his mouth—but didn't sheath it. His expression was unreadable as he prepared to sever Bertholdt's arms, preventing any chance of transformation.
But before the blade could fall—
Reiner, who had appeared completely subdued, suddenly surged upward with a guttural roar. Despite his injuries, he slammed his body into Petra, knocking her backward.
"Action!!!" Reiner bellowed.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San