"Petra—!!!"
Lock and Ymir's expressions changed drastically. As the Colossal Titan transformed, the explosive air pressure swirled outward. Except for Ymir, who was in her Jaw Titan form and could stand her ground, Lock and Petra were both violently blown away.
Lock managed to anchor himself to the ground using his blades, but Petra, being lighter and caught off guard, slammed into the watchtower wall with a sickening crash. Blood poured from her mouth and nose—she was gravely injured.
"Damn it…!!!"
Lock's eyes hardened with murderous fury as he saw Petra's state. Ymir immediately rushed to Petra's side, while Lock turned his gaze toward Bertholdt, who was helping Reiner flee.
With Bertholdt's depleted stamina, he couldn't maintain his Titan form for long. He had only triggered the transformation's blast to scatter their enemies and buy them precious time.
Lock's sharp eyes locked onto them like a hunting predator. Cold sweat ran down Reiner and Bertholdt's necks.
No one had expected Lock to recover so quickly—to ignore his injured comrade and immediately target them instead.
Fight?
They couldn't win.
Run?
With their exhausted bodies, escape was impossible.
Only one option remained: one would stay behind, the other would flee.
Realizing this at the same time, Reiner subconsciously pushed Bertholdt away, ready to buy time with his life. But Bertholdt moved first.
"Run!!"
In that instant, all his hesitation, fear, and cowardice burned away. Bertholdt had made up his mind. He knew he couldn't escape—but Reiner's chances were greater. He chose to sacrifice himself.
Lock met his resolve with chilling calm. "How touching."
In one clean motion, Lock slashed through Bertholdt's limbs. Bone cracked, and Bertholdt collapsed, powerless. Desperately, he bit down on Lock's trouser leg, trying to slow him.
"Why do I feel like the villain here…" Lock muttered under his breath.
He kicked Bertholdt unconscious and looked toward Reiner, who had mounted one of their stolen horses and was fleeing into the distance. Just as Lock was about to give chase, Ymir's urgent voice called out behind him:
"Lock! Come here, it's Petra!"
Lock clenched his teeth and abandoned the pursuit. He dragged Bertholdt's limp body with one hand and ran to Petra's side.
Her head had slammed against the wall, blood pooling beneath her. Her breathing was faint—she was on the brink of death.
"Lock, think of something!" Ymir's voice trembled.
Lock's hand instinctively went to his chest. He carried a Titan injection—a contingency he'd hoped he'd never have to use.
"What should I do… Petra, don't you dare die on me…" Ymir panicked, her Titan eyes wide with desperation.
Lock's face was set. "Looks like this is the only way."
Bertholdt was unconscious, Petra was dying, and there was no time to return to the Walls for proper treatment. There was only one way to save her: make Petra a Titan and let her inherit the power of the Colossal Titan by consuming Bertholdt.
No hesitation. Lock took out the Titan injection.
Memories flickered at the edge of his mind, but he pushed them away.
Ymir's eyes widened. "You… why do you have that?!"
"Don't ask. Just stand back," Lock said steadily. "This is the only way to save her."
Seeing Bertholdt lying nearby, Ymir swallowed nervously. "You're going to turn Petra into a Titan… and have her eat him?"
"Do you see another option?" Lock replied.
Ymir fell silent. She stepped aside, watching grimly as Lock injected the Titan spinal fluid into Petra's frail body, then quickly backed away.
Moments later, Petra's body convulsed. Her limbs elongated, muscles tore and reformed, and steam enveloped her. She grew rapidly, becoming a 4-meter Titan. Her blank eyes flicked around—then locked onto Bertholdt.
A primal hunger ignited.
Before Bertholdt could even wake fully, she seized him with both hands. His eyes shot open in terror. There was no time to scream.
She devoured him whole.
"She just… ate him like that?" Ymir's voice was a mix of awe and unease.
Lock glanced at her and smirked slightly. "You ate Marcel like that back then, didn't you?"
"Yeah…" Ymir nodded, then froze. Her eyes widened. "Wait—how do you know about Marcel? I never told you that!"
"Guessed," Lock said casually.
Ymir twitched but didn't press further. She stared at Lock, a strange mix of fear and intrigue in her eyes. Lock… what kind of person are you? she wondered.
The transformation ended quickly. Petra's Titan collapsed, steam billowing. Her human form slowly emerged from the dissipating steam—unharmed, whole, and breathing steadily.
Lock watched closely, analyzing every detail. "Incredible. So that's how the body restores itself after inheriting a Titan's power."
It wasn't the ideal situation, but now, the Colossal Titan's power belonged to their side. Along with Grisha's Attack Titan, Ymir's Jaw Titan, and knowledge of the Founding Titan's location, four of the Nine Titans were now under PParadis'control.
Before Lock could reflect further, Ymir suddenly stepped in front of Petra, scowling.
"Don't look, pervert!" she snapped.
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