Chapter 121: Magic Release! Magical Girl Eren, Transform!
Trost District, the breach in the Wall.
The Titan horde had arrived.
"The Titans from outside the Wall!"
"They're here!!"
"THEY'RE HERE!!!"
The lookout's roars were drowned out. A dark, pressing mass of Titans swarmed the breach, crushing obstacles and trampling their comrades to pour through.
"FIRE!!!"
"HOLD THE LINE!!!"
The Garrison soldiers fought back from behind barricades and rooftops. Cannon fire tore through flesh, but there were too many Titans, and they were fearless. The new cadets were terrified but forced by the desperate situation to draw their blades.
"Steady!" Pyxis commanded from the high platform, his voice hoarse but calm. "Armin! What's your status?!"
"Commander!" Armin's voice returned. "Luring a portion into Fifth Avenue! We'll use the buildings to separate and hunt them! Buying time!"
…
On the other side, the main battlefield.
"Recruits fall back! Garrison, clear the smaller Titans!" Erwin's voice thundered across the field. He stood on high, his gaze like an eagle, taking in the entire situation. A Titan horde pouring in, and three Intelligent Titans inside the Walls.
"The situation is dire," Erwin's face was grim, but his voice was unwavering. "Orders!"
"Levi! Hange!"
"Sir!"
"Coordinate with Eren Jaeger! Target: the enemy Intelligent Titans inside the Wall! You have fifteen minutes! Suppress or capture! Buy us time!"
"All other units, hold the breach!"
"Remaining Survey Corps members, in your squads, clear out any Pure Titans inside the city and be ready to reinforce the breach!"
"MOVE OUT!!!"
Erwin's orders were clear and decisive. The battlefield was instantly divided. A two-front war.
"Roger!" Hange licked her lips. "Everyone! Get the new toys ready! We're taking the shifters inside those Titans alive if possible!"
Hange's squad pulled out special launchers. THWIP! THWIP! Several large wire nets shot towards the Female Titan, who was just getting up. BOOM! BOOM! Canisters exploded, releasing disorienting smoke and acrid gas. Annie's movements were hindered. "Go!" Petra yelled, leading her team in.
On the ground, Levi's eyes were cold, having seen his blades fail to do significant damage to Reiner's armor. "Eld! Gunther! Go for his ankles!"
"Yes, Captain!" The two became a whirlwind, coordinating with Eren's harassment, slashing at the Armored Titan's ankle joints.
CLANG!!! Reiner let out a muffled roar of pain, his body stumbling. He was desperate to get to Bertolt, but Eren's harassment and the Survey Corps' attacks made it impossible.
Just as the battle reached a fever pitch, a sudden action broke the rhythm.
Ymir!
She instinctively shielded a cowering Historia behind her, her eyes darting between her bleeding comrades, the rampaging Titans, and the darkness outside the Wall. No… we can't stay here… Ymir's gaze fell on Historia's pale face. Her eyes, trying to be strong, were filled with fear and confusion. Like a mirror, they reflected Ymir's own sixty years of imprisonment, reflected the distant self who had also been forced to play a "goddess."
The truth of the world. Despair and a frantic, protective urge washed over her. Marley… Reiner… they're from "outside." It's hell there… but they're strong… If I help them… maybe I can… trade it for your safety? Get you off this sinking ship? To a place… where you can live with your 'head held high'? My 'stolen' life is due anyway. But you, Historia… you have to live! As your true self! Not as 'Krista'!
"Historia, forgive me." She grabbed Historia's arm. The girl looked up in terror. Ymir didn't hesitate, firing her ODM gear, leaving the shouts of her comrades behind as she became a black shadow, shooting straight for Reiner.
"Ymir?! What are you doing?! Let me go!" Historia cried, struggling, but Ymir's grip was like iron.
"Hey! Ymir! Come back!" Connie and Jean shouted.
Ymir charged to the edge of the battle, roaring at the massive armor. "Reiner! It's me, Ymir! Listen! Let's make a deal!"
Reiner's giant head turned.
"I know about you! You're from outside the Walls!" Ymir spoke rapidly, yanking the struggling Historia in front of her. "Her! Take her with you! Protect her! I can help you! I'll tell you where the 'Jaw' is! Only one condition—guarantee she lives a safe life over there!" It was the ultimate gamble.
"Ymir… don't…" Historia's voice was desperate. "Please…"
"Ymir," Eren's voice was calm, his eyes looking at her with an almost… apologetic look? "Give it up. You've already lost."
Ymir clutched Historia, confused by his pity when she was betraying them.
However, in that very instant, as if responding to Eren's will, his stored power broke its restraints!
BOOM—!
A vast, boundless torrent of emerald-green magic erupted from Eren's body, shooting into the sky! The light instantly overpowered all the flames and lightning! "Th-that's—?!" Erwin looked up, stunned.
In the green light, energy particles enveloped Eren's body. The dark brown battle dress materialized again! A cape bearing the Wings of Freedom billowed behind him. The emerald Soul Gem on his chest blazed with a brilliant light!
Magical Girl, Eren Jaeger! Has arrived! Power, released!
His gaze swept over the frozen Ymir, the terrified Historia, and finally settled on the Marleyan trio. The green magic radiating from him pulsed.
"It's over."
Before the words faded, Eren vanished. The next moment, a blurred green afterimage appeared in front of the Armored Titan, who was trying to swing. Reiner couldn't even defend.
SHIIING!
The green light flared. Eren's blade, now a green flash, severed the Armored Titan's blocking arm! CRACK! The arm, armor and all, was sent spinning into the air. Eren spun, green energy gathering in his leg, and delivered a heavy kick to Reiner's chest. BOOM!!! Reiner let out a muffled roar, his massive body shot backward like a cannonball, crashing into the ground, unable to move.
The next instant, Eren was gone again. Annie instinctively raised her arm to harden, but Eren was faster, already behind her.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Green blades flashed. Annie's vision blurred. Agony shot through her knees and ankles. Her tendons had been severed. She didn't even have time to harden. The Female Titan, unable to stand, crashed to her knees with a roar of disbelief, unable to rise.
And Ymir was already on the ground, taken down at some point. Less than ten seconds. All known Intelligent Titans on the field were instantly suppressed.
At the center of the battlefield, only the boy in the dress remained.
Silence. A dead silence. Everyone was completely shocked by this unimaginable scene.
"Wh-what just happened..?" Connie stammered. "Eren… in a dress… just took down three Intelligent Titans?"
Sasha had forgotten to be afraid, her eyes darting back and forth.
"That bastard… he's ridiculously strong…" Jean's face was red with shock and indignation. "It looks like our uniform, but why, WHY IS IT A DRESS?!!"
Levi's brow furrowed. He stared at Eren, then at Historia.
"Power! Form! Energy type!" Hange was in a total frenzy. "And his transformation outfit looks like our uniform!! The Wings of Freedom on the back!!! Whoa! Commander!! We have to get him in the Survey Corps! Let me study him!!!"
Erwin gazed at the figure who had changed the entire battle, his expression a mix of shock, relief, and wariness of this unknown power, and pensive about this person's clear alignment with the Survey Corps. "Pull the shifters out of those Titans. We'll interrogate them."
At that moment, the Pure Titans were still pouring through the breach. The line looked ready to break. Eren's green eyes, filled with a calm killing intent, hardened again. Those are all exiled comrades.
BOOM—!!!
His figure became a green meteor, tearing across the battlefield. The dozens of Pure Titans at the front, and the ranks behind them, all dissolved into steam as his afterimage passed. The Titan horde's momentum was instantly halted.
The soldiers fighting for their lives at the breach stared, dumbfounded, at the figure who had descended like a savior, and at the kill-zone he had instantly created.
Eren. With absolute power. Had turned the tide.