//------------------------------// // Crushing Blow: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 5 // Story: Attack on Titan // by Gojizilla54 //------------------------------// "Now commencing the 57th Exterior Scouting Mission!" shouted Erwin. MOVE OUT!!!" After setting out to establish a route to Shiganshina, the Scout Regiment encountered the Female Titan believed to be a transformed human, similar to Eren. As solider after soldier fell, the regiment rushed into a forest of giant trees, much to everyone's puzzlement. "FIRE!!!" yelled Erwin. "Oh right," said Levi there is one thing I need to ask. You're okay with me cutting your limbs off at the joints right? I mean they'll grow back, right? I'm talking about your actual body. Can't afford to have you die on us, after all..." The Female Titan started to scream, attracting the Titans on the forest edge. "This goes to show that the enemy was prepared to throw away everything," said Erwin. "I never imagined our target would resort to Titan cannibalization to dispose of information... "ALL SOLDIERS, WITHDRAW!!!" ordered Erwin. "Redeploy the formation! Return to Calaneth District!" "Erwin," called Hange. "Why did you have Levi replenish his supplies when there's no time to waste?" "The Female Titan was eaten," Erwin responded. "But did you see the person inside get eaten? I didn't." "Are you saying?!" gasped Hange. "Yes, If, as you deduced earlier, we're dealing with a type that remains able-bodied after de-transformation. And, if said person had equipped themselves with ODM gear in advance... that mean's they're now wearing one of our uniforms, and have blended in with the rest of us soldiers." "Captain Levi?!" wondered Gunther. ""Wait... That's not! Oh shit!" realized Gunther. "Who are you?!" The mysterious Scout sliced the back of Gunther's neck and his body dangled from the tree. "Gunther!" called Eren. Eren looked in horror as Gunther Schultz died instantly. The mysterious Scout then swung through the forest and landed on a nearby tree. Erwin and his men continued to ride down the path to exit through the forest and head back to the Calaneth District. With the failure of the mission brought about by their lack of knowledge of the Female Titan, Erwin and Hange continued to discuss where the controller of the titan would be or already was. "When the Colossal Titan disappeared, the person on the inside had equipped themself with ODM gear in advanced, which allowed for a quick escape before the steam cleared," explained Erwin. "The same thing could've happened here." "But didn't we conclude that was extremely unlikely, based on Eren's condition after emerging from his Titan?" asked Hange. "His equipment was broken, and even his combat uniform was gone. Most of all, Eren was so fatigued he couldn't even stand on his own." "The Female Titan had the ability to attract Titans with her shrieking," answered Erwin. "The operation failed because we hadn't anticipated that. If there are different levels of mastery to this Titan ability, we were mistaken to assume that Eren, a novice, set the standard. If we're able to get the better of this enemy we'll need to think more resourcefully. With the mission declared over, many Scouts that were on the edge of the forest met back up with the others. All of them got back on their horses and started to ride back towards the Calaneth District. Outside the forest, Armin, Jean, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Sunset Shimmer, and the other Scouts were riding out of the forest. "If we're withdrawing, does it mean the operation was a success?" asked Jean. "If so, they might've found out who was inside the Female Titan by now," said Armin. "I don't think so," said Twilight Sparkle. "What do you mean, Twilight?" asked Armin. "I mean we all heard that scream," stated Twilight. "And all the Titans that were in our area started running towards the forest." "Twilight does have a point," said Starlight Glimmer. "It's like an alpha, when it calls their members get attracted." "But still, I can't wait to see their face," said Jean. "Still, how was the commander so sure that she'd come after us once Eren left the wall?" "I think it's because the Titans suddenly stopped attacking halfway through their invasion a while back," said Armin. "What?" asked Jean in confusion. "They went to the trouble of demolishing Trost District's front gate... but they didn't try to destroy the inner gate, nor did they take action when Eren went to seal the hole," explained Armin. "That is right, the Armored or Colossal Titan didn't attack or appeared," said Sunset Shimmer. "Right, but my guess is that something else suddenly came up," Armin guessed. "Like what?" asked Jean. "Something that took the focus off of destroying the wall," Armin responded. "Something unexpected that happened." "Eren's transformation?!" gasped Jean. "I think that's the only possibility," stated Armin. "Which means basically," said Jean. "It was someone who was there..." Armin responded. "Someone who had actually seen Eren transform. They're the Titans!" Inside the forest, the mysterious Scout got away from the Levi Squad before they could reach it. Eren could only watch Gunther's dead body swaying side to side. "Gunther!" called Eren, once again. "Eren! Don't stop!" yelled Oruo, pulling him forwards. "Keep moving!" Oruo then lets go of Eren, and now only 3 members are left, Lightning Dust, Oruo, and Eld. All of them zipped through the forest, leaving Gunther's body behind, dangling. "But Gunther is...!" yelled Eren. Eren was then cut off at the sight of the mysterious Scout behind them. "Who's that?!" asked Lightning Dust. "Protect Eren!" yelled Eld. "Damn! What now!" yelled Oruo. "Which way do we go, Eld?!" "There's no time to get our horses!" yelled Eld. 'Head for HQ at full speed!" As Eren and the Levi Squad continued to fly and swing though the forest, they all kept an eye out for the mysterious Scout, who was still trailing them. "Is it the Female Titan's operator?!" wondered Oruo. "Or, is there more than one?!" "Damn!" Whoever it is, you're gonna pay if it's the last thing I do!" yelled Lighting Dust. "The Female Titan?!" thought Eren. "That can't be right, I thought we caught her!" The mysterious Scout then fell back and flew behind a tree, not coming out of the other side. Eld and Lighting Dust were facing the tree the soldier hid behind, expecting their next move each moment. Oruo and Eren had their bodies aimed forwards but their gazes aimed backwards. "If the enemy can remain able-bodied, it's possible it can make the Titan reappear, too," said Erwin. Behind the Levi Squad, a giant lighting bolt shot up into the sky and a bright, giant, yellow light erupted through the trees behind them. "I hate being right," said Oruo. "No time to lose! Move it!" yelled Eld. "The Female Titan is coming for us!" Sure enough, behind them the Female Titan, now fully formed and restored, appeared behind the steam and trees , and started to give chase towards the Levi Squad. "Damn you! This time I'll kill her myself!" declared Eren, placing his hand in his mouth. "No!" shouted Eld, stopping Eren in his actions. "The three of us will take her down! You just keep heading for HQ as fast as you can!" The Female Titan was hot on their trail and with no distractions in her way she could give a real chase. "This enemy has forced us to rethink everything we learned that we have have no hope of surpassing the enemy," stated Erwin. "What seems the most logical strategy might be the worst course of action. Mark my words the time will come, but risking everything is the only choice we have." "I can fight her too!" objected Eren. "Just go! This is the best course of action!" shouted Eld. "We can't afford you to be put you at risk!" "Have you learn nothing!" yelled Oruo. "After all of this you still doubt our skills?!" "Is this true, Eren?!" asked Lightning Dust. "I thought you had faith in us, that you trusted us!" Eren couldn’t help but be reminded of the similar exchange he had with the Levi Squad being chased while on horseback. Now Eren’s trust was beginning to return. "Unless we fight that way, humanity can never win," said Erwin. With Eren's faith and trust in his comrades overriding his belief, he lowered his hand back down and looked forward, speeding ahead of the Levi Squad. "I have faith in the Levi Squad's victory!" shouted Eren. "Good luck!" Lightning Dust smiled at Eren's trust, Eld and Oruo smirked at Eren's faith. The three of them turned back and swung towards the Female Titan. Eren looked back as the battle started to unfold. Eld took the lead, while Lightning Dust and Oruo were right behind Eld ready for their battle. Eld lunged towards the Female Titan with his swords raised above his head. The Female Titan attempted to grab Eld, but Eld shot a hook behind his ODM gear. The hooks latched onto a nearby tree and reeled back Eld from the Female Titan's reach. With a giant puff of gas came from Eld's ODM gear, concealing the Female Titan's sight. Then, Lightning Dust and Oruo swung on Eld's side and fired hooks, latching on to the muscle of the Female Titan's face, surprising her. Both of them swung and pulled themselves towards the Female Titan's face. Lightning Dust and Oruo rotated their bodies as they were pulled to the Female Titan and with their swords in their grasp and slashed the titans’s eyes, Levi style. Eren looked back in amazement to see blood spurting from the sockets of the Female Titan's eyes. Without her eyes, the Female Titan was forced to lean against a nearby tree and cover her nape with her hand. "We've blinded her!" Eld observed. "That should give us a minute before she could regenerate!" "We'll finish her before then!" thought Lightning Dust. "The hell with capturing you!" declared Oruo. "We're gonna kill you!" Eld declared. "We're gonna crave you up!" Lightning Dust declared. "We'll make you pay, bitch!" Oruo resolved. The Female Titan then completely leaned against a tree and covered her nape with both of her hands. Eld swung around the Female Titan and observed her. "Forget about getting your eyes back! Covering your neck isn't going to save you!" Eld thought. Eld looked at Lightning Dust and Oruo and have both of them on where to strike. Lightning Dust and Oruo got the signal and nodded. Both of them crisscrossed over one another as they swung high in the air. Their hooks were latched to a tree's bark, allowing them to tip their bodies back and for a swing in a perfect sync with one another. With gas streaming out of the main housing of their ODM gear, both of them shot down towards the Female Titan's arms. Both of them made deep gashes against the arms. Eld then flew across the Female Titan's right arm and made a deep gash at the armpit area. Eld landed on the side of a tree bark with an angry glare. "We'll keep slicing those shoulders till your arms are worthless!" planned Eld. "Trust me we know what we're doing! NO MERCY!!!" Eld then pushed off a tree and made deep slashes against the Female Titan's arms. Eld started to fall back and Lightning Dust and Oruo swung in, ready to slaughter the Female Titan. "We'll cut you to ribbons...!" declared Lightning Dust, slicing a part of the arm. "Lop up your arms...!" declared Oruo, slicing the right arm. "Send you to hell!" finished Eld, making a deep slice. All three of them sliced at every inch of arm of the Female Titan. With final cuts, both of the Female Titan's arms slid out of the nape and fell limply on her sides. "They're down!" yelled Oruo, swinging across. "Now go for her neck!" shouted Eld, drawing two new fresh blades. "Take out the muscles supporting her neck!" yelled Oruo, drawing a new blade. "We can go for her nape!" yelled Lightning Dust, drawing a new blade. All three of them swung towards the Female Titan. From a distance, Eren watched the whole battle in amazement in their synergy. "They go it totally overwhelmed. They're good!" thought Eren. "And they pulled it off a coordinated attack just like that, without saying a word! It must be because they trust each other as teammates. That's how they've lasted so long. That's why they're so tough even after losing Gunther!" Eren, feeling if they would accomplish their task with no problems, continued to look ahead and zip through the forest. "Gotta keep going!" he resolved. "I just gotta trust everyone and keep moving with out looking back! That's the right choice! I finally know the right answer!" Then, out of nowhere, Eren gasped as he remembered Levi's advice earlier in the forest. "Truth is I don't know which is better. I never have. Should I act on my own or should I put myself in the hands of my comrades, either way there's no guarantee." Levi's memories caused Eren to look back in horror. Eld then latched himself to the Female Titan and swung towards her. "Say goodbye to your nape!" yelled Eld. Suddenly, the Female Titan's right eye had regenerated and opened from her socket. With her vision mostly restored, the Female Titan clamped down on Eld. This horrified Eren, Lightning Dust, and Oruo, who all looked in horror at their second squad member: Eld Gin died in front of their eyes. Then, the Female Titan bit down on Eld, severing his lower half of his body, blood sprayed over her face as she bit down. "ELD!!!" called Lightning Dust. The Female Titan the spat out Eld's upper half of his body, now with a missing arm. Seeing Eld's death, Eren, now fearful again for the lives of his comrades and his wrong choice, quickly wrapped around a tree and screamed desperately in horror. Lightning Dust was caught off guard by this ability, she started to fall back and reeling herself backwards getting away from the Female Titan in complete shock. "How?!" questioned Lightning Dust. "She can see again that's impossible! It hasn't even been thirty seconds..." Lightning Dust looked back at the Female Titan, who looked at her next target with one eye. "Only one eye?! She healed just one eye quickly?!" shouted Lightning Dust. "How can she do that?!" The Female Titan then started to chase Lightning Dust, her damaged arms flayed out behind herself as it allowed her to gain speed. Lightning Dust was still shocked and at the Female Titan's ability. Then, Oruo tried to follow the Female Titan. "Lightning! Pull yourself together!" yelled Oruo. The Female Titan then increased her speed and leaped. "LIGHTNING DUST!!! HURRY!!!" yelled Oruo. Lightning Dust lets a horrified scream as the Female Titan drove her foot into Lightning Dust. Her foot crushed Lightning Dust into a tree, breaking her spine. Huge amounts of blood splattered on the side of the tree. Eren screamed in horror at the sight of Lightning Dust's death. With Lighting Dust's death, if only left Oruo to fight the Female Titan. Enraged by his comrades' death he fired a hook. The hook latched on to the nape of the Female Titan. "Now, DIIIIIEEEE!!!" yelled Oruo. Oruo sliced the nape of the Female Titan, but much to his surprise, the strike didn't kill the Female Titan. The nape of had harden her nape causing minimal damage to her nape and his blades broke off. "What the hell?" questioned an overwhelmed Oruo. "Why didn't my blades pierce it?" The Female Titan the delivered a roundhouse kick to Oruo. His body hit every tree that was in front of him. Blood splattered on the trees Oruo's body hit. The Female Titan landed back on the ground after killing the three Levi Squad members. Upon seeing his comrades' death, Eren swung back towards the Female Titan, filled with regret, guilt, and anger. Eren was in utter shock after his result of his decision. "I'm gonna..." Eren thought Eld's upper body lied on the ground motionless as the surrounding grass was covered in blood. Lightning Dust's body was against the tree with the bark covered in blood. "I'm gonna..." muttered Eren. Oruo's body lied there with a pool of blood from the kick. "KILL YOU!!!" yelled Eren. Eren then began to fall. He clamped down on his hand, he burst into a bright, yellow light in front of the Female Titan. When the bright light died, Eren had transformed into his Titan form. The steam started faded as Eren's Titan lets out a loud and savage roar. He planted his feet down as was dragging it. Eren's Titan roared loudly as it started to run towards the Female Titan. Back at the main path, the roar of Eren's Titan alerted Erwin, who quickly looked back at the roar. As Mikasa, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Indigo Zap swung to regroup, all of them heard a roar. Mikasa recognized the roar and looked back with concern. "That's Eren!" realized Mikasa. Mikasa then went to the opposite direction away from the others. "Hold on a second! Mikasa!" called Sasha. Rainbow Dash was about to follow Mikasa, until she was stopped by Applejack. "Whoa there, Nelly..." said Applejack. "Applejack, let me go!" demanded Rainbow Dash. "It's too dangerous, Rainbow, you can get yourself killed," stated Applejack. "Why is Mikasa going then?!" asked Rainbow Dash. "Mikasa is strong and knows better than you," responded Applejack. "Are you saying that I'm weak?!" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Hey! Shut up and bicker later!" yelled Indigo Zap. Rainbow Dash groaned and started to follow Indigo Zap, Applejack started to follow Rainbow Dash. Levi and Petra continued to zip through the forest, where his squad would be, until both of them heard the roar of Eren's Titan. "Is that Eren?" wondered Petra. "That roar," Levi thought. "This isn't good." "Petra, stay close to me," said Levi. "Yes, sir," nodded Petra. Levi then grabbed Petra's hand and both of them wrapped around a tree to the roar. Eren's Titan started to charge right at the Female Titan, ready for battle. The Female Titan got up and saw Eren's Titan charging at her with one eye. Eren's Titan had his left arm reeled back, and was ready to hit. Eren's Titan dipped down and attempted an uppercut on the Female Titan with his right arm, but the Female Titan quickly dodged the attack. She then drove her foot into his stomach. Anger filled both of their faces as the Female Titan continued to push Eren’s titan back. Eren's Titan planted both his feet to keep it from sliding. Once he stopped sliding, he attempted to punch the Female Titan, but she backed up in time to dodge it. The Female started to lose her balance as she backed up, causing her to backup to a tree. The Female Titan regained her balance and stood back up in front of Eren's Titan. Eren's Titan started breathing heavily, as the Female Titan's wounds in her arms and left eye started to his and steam, slowly regenerating. Eren's Titan, filled with rage, lifted both his hands up and lets out a heavy exhale. He furiously started to make several punches to the Female Titan's head. The Female Titan dodged all the jabs and hooks coming from Eren's Titan. After missing an uppercut, Eren's Titan made a successfully hit on the Female Titan's chest, causing her to tumble to the ground. The Female Titan quickly got up as she impacted the ground and knowing that her wounds haven't healed, she quickly started to run deeper into the forest. Eren's Titan saw the Female Titan running away and furiously roared and started to chase her. Levi and Petra got the forest. Levi had no emotion is his face, while Petra looked in horror at their comrades. They zipped pass Gunther's dangling dead body. Both of them looked on the ground as they passed Eld's severed upper body. Then, they passed by Oruo's body. They continued to zip through the forest and landed the side of a tree. Both of them looked down at the tree and looked at Lightning Dust's body against the tree. With visible sadness in his face, Levi could only blink to see his strongest soldier and first picked member died, while Petra didn't mutter a word, even though they had a rough path, they still respected each other as friends and comrades. Further in the forest, Eren's Titan had caught up with the Female Titan and continued the battle. Eren's Titan the pushed the Female Titan, but she planted both of her feet to stop her. Eren's Titan continued to punch the Female Titan, she still managed to dodge the incoming punches. One of the punches managed to make the Female Titan to fall on her back. With her arms still wounded, Eren's Titan got on top of the Female Titan, and slammed her to the ground. With the Female Titan pinned down to the ground, Eren's Titan lets out an enraged roar as he lifted his left fist up. Inside the nape of Eren's Titan, Eren was still filled with regret, anger, and guilt. "I made the wrong decision when you came after us!" thought Eren. I made the choice to trust my teammates and it got four of them killed!" Eren's Titan drove his fist into the Female Titan, but she quickly titled her head, causing Eren's Titan to punch the ground. The impact of the hand hitting the ground was hard enough to tear his elbow through his arm and caused some bone and muscle to be exposed. He then lifted his arm up, vow his fingers were dripping with blood and bones were exposed. The Female Titan and Eren's Titan continued to look at each other with angry expressions. "If only I had trusted myself and fought from the very start...!" thought Eren. "It's all my fault?! I SHOULD'VE KILLED HER!!!" Eren's Titan then drove his left fist into the Female Titan again, but she quickly titled her head, causing him to ounch the ground. This time, the impact tore his wrist open and his hand dangled, making both of them useless. Both of them continued to stare at each other with angry looks. "Back then... I should've changed into a Titan then," he thought. "No, even earlier, I've should've fought back. And with Captain Levi there. We've would've beaten her. We've could've captured this monster!" “You aren’t wrong. If you want to do it, do it.” "It was... It was my choice. And because of that choice, four of my squad mates are dead! All four of them gone!" he resumed. "And I'm to blame?! No, more than anything! THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!!" Eren’s Titan bent down at the Female Titan’s face and started roaring into it, the Female Titan’s only reaction being to turn its head away. "I'm going to rip you to shreds! Once my hands heal... I'll tear you apart... piece by piece! THEN I'LL DEVOUR YOU!!!" declared Eren. Eren’s rage and fury began to consume his titan as it lifted its arms up, jerked its head in all directions, chattered its jaw, and rolled its eyes into the back of its head. Inside the nape of his Titan, Eren smiled and was breathing heavily. Then, the Female Titan's left eye had fully regenerated and her arms had fully healed. She grabbed the arm of Eren's Titan. With her other arm, it placed it on Eren’s Titan’s knee and pushed out of Eren’s hold, freeing herself. Eren's Titan's hand had completely healed and attempted to punch the Female Titan. She dodged the punch and kicked Eren's Titan off of her, sending him flying towards a tree. The Female Titan got up and looked back. Eren's Titan quickly performed an uppercut, but to only clip her face. He then attempted to punch her, but she rolled on the ground, dodging it and making Eren's Titan roll on the ground. Eren's titan quickly got up and made the Female Titan lean against a tree. He lets out loud and savage and attempts another punch, which she quickly leaped to get out of the way. Eren's Titan started to jab at her, but she dodged all the attacks. He then attempts a powerful punch, but the Female Titan hardened her hand and punched his lower jaw smashing it, like a pumpkin. The Female Titan's eyes widen as she saw Eren's Titan's upper jaw sliding against her arm. Eren's Titan delivered a powerful uppercut to the Female Titan's gut, sending her flying. With the Female Titan looked disoriented from the hit, Eren’s titan used the opportunity and charged at her. The Female Titan saw Eren charging at her and quickly got out of the way, causing Eren's Titan's head to hit his head. Eren's Titan panted heavily from exhaustion, while the Female Titan ran off and stopped to catch her breath. With the fight not seeming to go one way or the other, the Female Titan turned around to face Eren’s Titan once again. As Eren’s Titan readied himself, something about the Female Titan struck something inside Eren himself. Inside the Titan, Eren knew what was coming. The Female Titan drove her foot through Eren's wrist and head. Slicing both of it off and the tree near him. Without the head controlling it, Eren's Titan body fell onto the ground, as the head impacted the ground. The Female Titan walked toward's Eren's Titan and knelt down. She then opened her mouth wide out, with tremendous strength, the Female Titan opened its jaw wide, tearing the cheeks that kept it together. She bite down on the nape of Eren's Titan and ripped it. When the nape was ripped, it revealed a defeated, exhausted, and emotionally torn Eren Jaeger. "EREN NOOOOOO!!!" yelled Mikasa. Mikasa quickly zipped through the forest to rescue him, but much to her horror she didn't make it in time. The Female Titan then bit down on Eren and titled her head back. Mikasa watched in horror as Eren was then eaten by the Female Titan. The Female Titan wiped here mouth and started to run away. "W-Wait... Eren," Mikasa whimpered. "Don't leave me." Mikasa’s scared and horrified face soon turned to anger as she pushed the bottom trigger of her controller and sped off, chasing the Female Titan and rescuing Eren. "Give Eren..." seethed Mikasa. The Female Titan spotted Mikasa behind her and promptly covered her nape. "Give Eren..." she repeated. "BACK!!!" She attempted to use Levi's spin move, but to only clip her face. She attempted to slice at the Female Titan, but to only clip where she tried to slice. Mikasa then swung towards her face, then The Female Titan attempted to grab her, but Mikasa sliced part of her nose. She then swung from behind the Female Titan. "Give him back!" demanded Mikasa. She then sliced the ligaments behind her knee, causing her to fall and stop. Mikasa attempted to slice the Female Titan's hand, but her hand had crystallized before she could strike. Both of her blades broke from the base and she landed on top of a nearby tree. "Why can't my blades penetrate it?!" she wondered. The Female Titan then looked at Mikasa. "He is alive!" Mikasa hoped. She then took off her broken blades and took out two new blades. "Eren... is alive!" Mikasa then observed the Female Titan from her tree. "I don't you are," said Mikasa. 'I'm going to slaughter this girl, butcher her body, and get you out of that foul place. Sorry, Eren... Just hang on a little longer..." The Female Titan the got hung and attempted to crush Mikasa, but she quickly dodged it. The Female Titan continued to run away, while Mikasa continued to pursue the Female Titan. "Wait!" yelled Mikasa. Then, Levi swooped in and grabbed Mikasa, and Petra was behind them. "Stay back for now," said Levi. "It's dangerous," said Petra. Levi the lets go of Mikasa and all three of them started to pursue the Female Titan. "Maintain this distance," said Levi. "She must be worn out, too. She's not so fast anymore. It looked like she bit the entire nape off. Is Eren dead?" Mikasa didn’t answer him, instead focused on saving Eren, whom she knew with all her soul that he was alive, from the mouth of the Female Titan.