Chapter 86: Battle!
Underground Prison.
Though surprised by Annie's defensive power, Levi didn't hesitate for a second. His speed exploded once more. His body became a high-speed whirlwind, his dual blades a dense, blue web of death that closed in on Annie.
Annie's eyes were like ice. She felt the magic surging within her, the power of her will to survive and her longing to go home. Her right hand became encased in crystal, forming a sharp claw that parried the nearest slash. At the same time, her figure began to flicker in short, erratic bursts within the confined space, constantly reappearing in Levi's blind spots, only to vanish again the moment he adjusted his stance.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sharp shriek of crystal on steel was incessant. Each flicker allowed her to dodge a fatal blow, each parry deflected some of the force. This was the power that would let her live, that would let her break free.
But it wasn't enough. Her control over this new power was still too raw. The distance of her flickers was too short, and Levi's attacks were relentless. No matter where she appeared, his cold killing intent and sharp blades would instantly lock onto her new position, giving her no room to breathe. He was too fast.
"Annie!!!"
Just as Annie was looking for an opening to escape, Eren's roar came from the other side. A figure wreathed in green light blocked her path of retreat.
Two on one.
The pressure on Annie increased exponentially. But she wasn't going to just lie down and die. She knew that in this narrow underground space, she couldn't take full advantage of her flickering ability. If this dragged on, she would eventually be cornered. She had to get out.
Her eyes narrowed. She was no longer just passively dodging. Each flicker now had a clear purpose—upward, toward the tunnel entrance they had come from. She swung her crystal claw, smashing it into the side wall.
BOOM!
The magic-infused strike instantly blew a large crater in the old stone wall, sending debris flying. Levi's blade followed close behind, but Annie's figure had already flickered away in the cloud of dust, reappearing several meters away, closer to the exit.
"Trying to run?!"
Levi was on her like a shadow, his ODM hooks shooting out, trying to ensnare her. But Annie's timing was perfect. The hooks passed through her afterimage.
CRASH!!
Annie then slammed her crystal-covered fist into the stone ceiling above the tunnel. The ceiling collapsed completely. Sunlight, mixed with dust, poured down through the gaping hole. In that instant of collapse, Annie used her flicker to burst out from underground.
She landed in a relatively open plaza, surrounded by rubble and broken walls. The open space was better for her escape.
Levi, a streak of deep blue, and Eren, a streak of emerald green, landed on either side of her, once again trapping her between them. Hange landed a little further away, quickly steadying herself. Her eyes, behind her goggles, were shining with an irrepressible excitement as she immediately began to observe and record this "Magical Girl" chase.
"Annie!!" Eren was the first to break the short standoff, his voice hoarse with anger. Green energy leaped unstably on his readied blades. "Where do you think you're running?! You think this is over?!"
Annie's cold gaze swept over Eren's furious face, then to Levi's grim one, finally settling on Hange, who seemed completely lost in her own world.
She was tired. Physically and mentally, she felt a deep exhaustion.
"I don't want to fight anymore," Annie's voice was still cold, betraying little emotion, but it carried a note of finality. "My mission failed. My Titan power… is gone, too." She slightly lowered her crystal-covered arms, as if presenting a fact. "I'm leaving. I'll never come back. I just want to go home."
"Home?!" Eren's anger flared again. He took a sharp step forward, the tip of his blade almost at Annie's face. "Easy for you to say! What about all the people you killed?! Marco! And all our comrades in the Survey Corps who sacrificed themselves! They can't go home!!"
"And your mission failed? Your power is gone? You think we'd believe that?!"
…
Annie was silent, her gaze dropping for a moment as she avoided Eren's eyes. "That… was war," she said quietly, as if explaining, or perhaps trying to convince herself.
"Hah—war?" Levi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His normally lifeless, dead-fish eyes were now swirling with a terrifying, almost tangible killing intent.
"You say it so easily, Annie," his tone was dripping with undisguised sarcasm and coldness. "You failed, you lost your power, and now you want to go home like nothing happened? Petra… wanted to go home, too. Oluo, Eld, Gunther… every single one of them had a family waiting for them to come home!!!" His face was terrifyingly dark, the pressure he exuded almost freezing the air. He said no more, but his eyes said it all.
A blood debt must be paid in blood. He would never let her go.
Annie's body trembled almost imperceptibly. The accusations were suffocating her. But her father was waiting. She had to go back, no matter the cost.
"I said, I just want to go home!" Annie's voice rose, a hint of a plea in her tone. "I'm not a threat to you anymore! I won't be a part of any of this! Let me go!"
Levi ignored her, just staring at her coldly. "Not a threat? This Magical Girl power you've gained isn't a threat? You think we'd believe the promise of a traitor? Dream on."
…
In the room.
Armin felt it. A power surged into his body. It was unfamiliar and immense. Was this… the power of the Female Titan?! The wish… it really worked?! He subconsciously looked at his own hands, as if he could see the invisible power flowing through them. If he wanted to—
The sounds of the fierce battle outside reached his ears clearly. Explosions, the clash of metal, and… Eren and Levi's angry shouts.
He closed his eyes in pain. It's starting again… It's always like this. Why can't everyone just sit down and talk?
Annie… she's already lost her Titan power, hasn't she? Why is she still fighting? Did… did she make a wish too? Why do they have to hunt her down to the bitter end?
He knew the answer. Annie's past crimes could not be erased. The hatred of Levi's squad could not be resolved. Trust was long gone. But… was there really no possibility for dialogue?