Chapter 85: Rebirth and Pursuit
Underground Prison.
Light erupted.
Not one color, but two completely different glows, shining from two different places at the exact same time.
In the room above, a sea-blue light, both deep and mysterious, enveloped Armin.
In the cell below, an ice-crystal radiance exploded from the core of the shattering crystal.
[The contract is made.]
[The contract is made.]
Kyubey's flat, emotionless voice echoed in the minds of both youths simultaneously, delivering its final judgment.
BOOM—!!!
The indestructible hardened crystal, under the continuous assault of green and blue magical energy, finally reached its breaking point. Countless cracks spread across its surface in an instant, and then it violently disintegrated. Crystalline fragments shot out in all directions.
A figure stumbled out from the shattered core.
Annie Leonhart.
A blinding magical light flowed over her body before coalescing. A battle outfit of interwoven pure white and silver rapidly took shape. A form-fitting silver-white top was covered with asymmetrical, crystal-like light armor. A very short, multi-layered battle skirt outlined her agile form. She wore silver-white over-the-knee boots and gauntlets. Below her collarbone, a translucent, diamond-shaped gem, as if carved from ice, radiated a sharp and pure light.
So this is what that white creature meant by 'Magical Girl'?
Annie looked down at her completely unfamiliar attire in a daze, yet it felt as if it was made for her. It was cool, simple, and filled with a sense of power. She subconsciously glanced at Eren and Levi nearby.
A dark brown dress… A dark blue tactical skirt…
The corner of Annie's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Why are their Magical Girl powers also women's clothing? Though she'd already thought it was ridiculous when she found out Levi was a clean freak. Still… it was a little weird.
But now was not the time to think about that. The priority was to escape! She had to get back to her father!
Almost as a reflex, Annie raised her right hand, and the blade hidden in the ring on her finger sprang out. Blood, then Titan transformation! She was going to shift! She would use the power of the Female Titan, the power she knew best, to break out of here!
However…
There was no sensation of heat. No agonizing pain of bones and muscles restructuring. Nothing. The small cut on her finger simply healed instantly under the power of her new magic.
"What's going on?!" Annie's pupils shrank. In disbelief, she tried again. Still no reaction.
Her Titan power… was gone?!
"Why?!" Annie's pupils constricted violently. She tried again, focusing all her will. Still nothing. The power that had been a part of her for so long felt as if it had been… forcibly… stripped away.
Was it the wish?! Did the wish replace my power? That white creature… she didn't have enough information. But this wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Her Titan power was gone, but Annie could feel a new energy in her body—cold and explosive. So this… is that so-called 'magic'? The wish had given her a new power. Then she would use it. No matter what, she had to escape.
She no longer cared about Marley's mission. She just wanted to use her new power to get out of here, and to take her father away from Marley, away from the daily discrimination, away from all the conflict.
Just as Annie prepared to make her move, Eren's voice, a mixture of shock and anger, rang out. "Is that—a contract?!" He saw Annie's new outfit, which was clearly not from within the Walls, and felt the familiar yet different energy radiating from her. And he saw the small, white creature, perched calmly in the shadows nearby.
"Kyubey!!!" Eren whipped his head around, his green eyes locking onto the small figure. "You bastard! What did you do?! Weren't you—"
"Wasn't I what?" Kyubey tilted its head, its voice as placid as ever. "I never said I was on any of your so-called 'sides,' did I? I simply seek out individuals with strong wishes and help them come true. Your human conflicts are not something I need to involve myself in. She had a strong wish, so I answered it. Is there a problem?"
"You—" Eren opened his mouth, but found he had no right to say anything. A betrayal? No… it wasn't even a betrayal. The creature had never taken a side. And it had, in fact, helped him save Armin and had even given him greater power. What right did he have to condemn it? He had just foolishly assumed it was an "ally."
Eren took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The rage that had shot to his head gradually subsided as he processed what he had done. "Sorry…" he said, his voice dry. It was just… wishful thinking on his part.
But Levi's face was terrifyingly dark. Annie… made a contract. She's gained a new power. And it looks like she can't become a Titan anymore? Her attempt to injure herself and transform just failed.
It didn't matter what she had become, what power she had gained, or what she had lost. His gaze, sharp as an icicle, was locked on Annie. In his mind, he saw Petra, Oluo, Eld, Gunther… his subordinates, who had been mercilessly crushed by the Female Titan. The faces of those who had trusted him, followed him, and died horribly at her hands.
No matter what her reasons were, no matter what she had been through, she had to pay the price for her actions. He would not let her escape with this dangerous new power.
"Tch." Levi didn't even spare Kyubey a glance. The creature's words were meaningless. He had only one target. Annie.
The next instant, his figure blurred. A streak of deep blue cut through the air, shooting straight for Annie, who had just regained her balance. The blade, coated in a cold energy, swung at her neck.
So fast! Annie's pupils contracted.
At the last possible second, her body reacted on pure instinct. Her form flickered backward, a short, sharp teleport, as she narrowly dodged Levi's fatal strike.
But Levi's assault was relentless. He immediately followed up with a horizontal slash. Annie's left arm was instantly encased in a layer of translucent crystal.
CLANG!!
The magic-infused blade crashed against the crystal, letting out a piercing shriek of metal on crystal. The crystal bracer blocked the blade, but the immense force still sent Annie stumbling back half a step.
She blocked it? Levi's eyes narrowed. So this is her new power?