"Zhou Wei, are you and Lucien from the same place? What are Reincarnators and Darkness?"
Armin's face was full of confusion. From the exchange between Zhou Wei and Lucien Graves, he could roughly guess that "from the same place" meant they shared a common origin. Beyond that, the concepts of Reincarnators, Darkness, and the so-called Children of Destiny and Transmigrators were completely foreign to him.
Not only Armin, but Eren, Erwin, Hange, and the rest were equally bewildered. The only certainty was that Lucien was their enemy, and Zhou Wei was aligned against him.
"Forget it. Although things are unpredictable, I prepared for this half a month ago."
Lucien snapped his fingers, his thumb cutting across his index finger, summoning golden lightning that crackled around him.
"No, retreat quickly!"
The Survey Corps around him immediately withdrew. From the ground, a massive storm erupted, golden lightning splitting the sky as Lucien transformed into the Beast Titan.
"Does he have some kind of cheat, to possess Titan powers?" Zhou Wei's expression darkened.
Only those with Ymir's bloodline could control Intelligent or Mindless Titans. Could Lucien really possess that bloodline? It seemed almost impossible without a special ability.
"Deploy the weapons," Hange commanded, her eyes wild with anticipation.
Iron net launchers appeared from all sides of the streets, ready to trap the Beast Titan just as they had attempted with the Female Titan before.
"Roar…"
Lucien's Beast Titan bellowed, and instantly, the world around him fell silent.
"Boom… rumble…"
Golden lightning spread across Wall Rose and Wall Sina, the sky ablaze with a fiery hue. The power of the Beast Titan spinal fluid surged, triggering mass transformations. Ordinary citizens, nobles, and even soldiers from the Survey Corps, Garrison Regiment, and Military Police Brigade began turning into Mindless Titans.
"What is happening?"
"Stoll… Abesa… Nile… Hisaki… Instructor Keith…"
Fear and chaos echoed through the streets. Soldiers watched as familiar comrades were consumed by transformation. Civilians screamed in terror, some begging for help as their loved ones became Titans. Tens of thousands changed in a heartbeat.
"Damn it, Lucien! What have you done?" Connie yelled, panic in his voice.
Lucien said nothing. With a wave of his hand, he commanded all the newly transformed Titans, gathering rubble and hurling it toward Zhou Wei and the others. The Survey Corps' plans and traps were thrown into disarray. The Mindless Titans attacked frantically from all directions, forcing the soldiers to constantly adapt.
"Boom…"
Eren leapt from a rooftop, biting his hand, and with a flash of golden lightning, transformed into the Attack Titan.
"Connie, Jean, Armin, Zhou Wei, assist Eren! The others will handle the remaining Titans," Erwin ordered.
"Yes!" the troops responded, moving to intercept the Mindless Titans.
"Prevent them from reaching us!" Erwin shouted, leading the charge to sever the nape of a transformed subordinate.
Fear and screams filled the streets, but the soldiers fought desperately, buying Eren time. The sheer number of Mindless Titans made the battle chaotic.
"Roar…"
Eren, now fully Attack Titan, hardened his fists and charged like a cannonball at Lucien. Yet Lucien's attention remained fixed on Zhou Wei.
At the same time, Zhou Wei, Armin, Connie, and others launched into the air with Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, searching for the perfect opportunity.
The pavement cracked under Eren's punishing blow. Lucien remained calm. A kukri appeared in his right hand as he slipped past the Attack Titan.
"Now!"
Zhou Wei struck, flying swiftly to Lucien's nape.
"Bang!"
Sparks erupted as the kukri cut into Eren's neck, lodged halfway.
"Shocking a Hundred Miles!" Zhou Wei called, his body surrounded by ethereal purple energy—the true essence of the Nine Yang Divine Skill.
A five-meter golden dragon manifested in his hands, roaring as it swept toward Lucien's nape, annihilating everything in its path.
Lucien's instincts screamed danger. Hardening alone wouldn't suffice. As the Beast Titan, his defenses were weaker than the Armored Titan's.
He pivoted, elbow hardened, meeting Zhou Wei's strike. Flesh and blood flew as his right hand was nearly severed. Steam hissed from the wound.
Zhou Wei was hurled backward, pallor turning to a flush as his qi circulated to stabilize him.
"Roar…"
Eren seized the opening, his injuries rapidly healing with steam rising from his body. His feet hardened, and he delivered a ground-shattering kick toward Lucien's stomach. The Beast Titan could only block with his left hand, protecting his nape with Hardening while Armin, Sasha, Connie, and others watched closely, Thunder Spears ready.
The weapons, capable of piercing even the Armored Titan, were poised for decisive strikes.
Lucien's right hand crippled, he staggered from Eren's kick, collapsing a building in the process as clouds of steam rose.
"Roar…"
Eren leapt onto Lucien's massive frame, fists smashing like cannonballs. Yet Lucien neither resisted nor struggled.
"Eren, be careful!" Armin shouted, spotting Lucien suddenly behind Eren's nape, moving at a speed that defied comprehension.
Lucien had released his Titan power, using speed no one anticipated.
"Damn it, no time to Harden."
Eren sensed the wind at his nape. Holding both blades, Lucien sliced across the Attack Titan's nape, exposing the true body.
"Puff…"
A clean cut through the waist left Eren in agony, severed in half.
Zhou Wei, covering over ten meters instantly, appeared like a phantom.
"Regretful Dragon's Might!"
The golden dragon roared skyward. If Lucien didn't abandon Eren, the strike would land, a blow even the Beast Titan could not withstand.
"Whoosh!"
Lucien immediately used Soru, vanishing ten meters away, grimly eyeing Zhou Wei.
Before he could catch his breath, Armin, Connie, and Sasha descended, Thunder Spears launching like missiles.
"Rumble…"
A massive explosion tore the building apart, airwaves rolling violently, as the battle escalated into chaos across Wall Rose and Wall Sina.