Chapter Text
Reiner was taken deep underground.
Stone swallowed him whole — thick iron cuffs binding both wrists, his mouth gagged, his body forced into stillness. The cell was narrow, cold, deliberately claustrophobic. No light but a single torch outside the bars.
The Armored Titan reduced to a man.
Interrogation would come later.
It had to.
Because that same night, at exactly eight o'clock, another message tore through the barracks like a blade.
Titans spotted in Wall Rose's rural districts.
The room erupted.
Chairs scraped. Boots slammed against stone. Voices collided in disbelief.
Another breach?
Impossible. Terrifying.
Levi didn't waste a second. He was already fastening his harness when the report finished echoing.
Sakura had been with Eren when she heard.
She stood slowly, eyes dark with resolve.
"I'm going too."
Mikasa looked up sharply. "Sakura—"
"If Commander Erwin is detained by the Military Police," Sakura continued evenly, "Hanji can lead the search for Bertholdt. They need to find him before he disappears completely."
Her gaze shifted to Eren.
He sat rigid, hands clenched, eyes hollow. The confirmation of Reiner and Bertholdt's betrayal had shattered something fundamental inside him.
She softened instantly.
"Mikasa," Sakura said gently, "make sure he eats something. And make him stay here."
Eren didn't protest.
That alone told her how badly he was breaking.
She squeezed his shoulder once before standing.
"I'll be back."
She intended to find Oluo—
But instead, she found Levi.
He stood alone in the corridor, half-shadowed, back against the stone wall. A thin line of smoke curled lazily from between his fingers.
Sakura stopped short.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Hey."
Levi glanced sideways, unimpressed.
"Throw that away. Immediately."
"Tch." He didn't move. "Can't order me around, Haruno. I'm your superior."
She walked straight up to him anyway.
Without hesitation, she plucked the cigarette from his fingers and crushed it under her boot.
Levi watched the entire thing.
Didn't stop her.
Didn't protest.
Just studied her like he was recalibrating something internally.
"…Is this new?" she asked, arms crossed. "I've never seen you smoke."
"Once in a while," he replied. "When things get this stressful."
"Well, you shouldn't," she said sharply. "It's unhealthy."
"We're all probably going to die," Levi answered flatly. "Might as well enjoy a vice before that."
She rolled her eyes. "And cigarettes are the only vice you want before dying? That's sad."
He huffed softly. "What else ? Alcohol? No thanks. I hate losing control."
"Not that." She paused, thinking. "I mean… there's love."
Levi stilled.
She continued, unaware of the shift she'd caused.
"Back home, shinobi who knew they were going into extremely dangerous missions… they spent their last night with their lovers. It helped them relax. Gave them something human to hold onto."
"…Sounds stupid," Levi muttered.
"Sounds better than cigarettes," she countered. "And it works."
He looked at her now—really looked.
"Have you tried that?"
Her face flushed instantly.
"Well— I was only sixteen before the Great War," she stammered. "So no. I didn’t have a lover ."
"I see," Levi said quietly.
Silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Heavy.
Charged.
"We leave in fifteen minutes," Sakura said at last.
"Yes," Levi replied. "To the unknown."
She hummed softly.
Then—
"Sakura."
She turned.
Levi hesitated — just barely — before stepping closer. Too close. His voice dropped.
"If you knew… that you'd probably survive this time… would you still accept —"
He stopped.
Whatever he was about to say remained unfinished.
Instead, he leaned in and kissed her.
It was brief. Controlled. Soft.
Too soft.
Sakura froze.
Her mind blanked, shock flooding her senses. For one suspended moment, the world narrowed to the warmth of his lips, the faint smell of smoke and steel, the impossible stillness between heartbeats.
Levi pulled back immediately.
Regret flickered across his face.
"I'm sorry, Haruno," he said, already turning away.
Her hand shot out.
She grabbed his wrist, , eyes blazing.
"This means nothing," she muttered—
And then she kissed him.
Hard.
Unrestrained.
All confusion, adrenaline, fear, and something unnamed poured into that single act. Her hands tangled in his collar, pulling him closer.
Levi stiffened—then responded.
Not desperate.
Not rushed.
But intense.
Grounded.
His hand settled at her waist, steadying her as if instinctively shielding her even now.
When they finally broke apart, Sakura was breathless.
Her pulse roared in her ears.
Levi looked at her for a long moment—expression unreadable, eyes darker than usual.
Then he stepped back.
"It's time to leave."
She swallowed.
"Yes, Captain."
They turned in opposite directions.
Neither of them looked back.
And yet—both carried the weight of what had just happened straight into the night.
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Sasuke arrived in Trost to ruins.
Stone lay broken like bones, streets torn open where something massive had passed through. Entire buildings had collapsed inward, roofs crushed, walls split cleanly apart. The left side of the district was the worst—total destruction, as if the city itself had been trampled under rage.
A Titan fight had happened here.
He felt it immediately.
The lingering distortion in the air. The residue of power. Not chakra as he knew it—but close enough to make his skin prickle.
His eyes scanned the streets instinctively.
Pink.
He searched for pink hair.
Nothing.
People were everywhere now—soldiers, civilians, medics—voices overlapping, emotions raw. Sasuke slowed, listening, trying to pick up information.
German.
Too fast. Too emotional.
He understood fragments. Titan… Armored… underground… traitor… escaped…
Not enough.
Annoyance flickered through him.
He adjusted the Survey Corps jacket he wore; no one stopped him as he moved deeper into the district. The uniform opened doors without question. Authority without explanation.
At the heart of the destruction, he spotted her.
The woman with the glasses.
Hanji, he recalled.
She was pacing like a storm contained in human form, shouting at a man dressed in white robes—his posture stiff, his expression pale.
A priest, Sasuke assumed.
"God damn it, Moblit!" Hanji snapped, spinning toward her assistant. "Take him to the interrogation room!"
Moblit hurried to obey.
Hanji dragged a hand through her hair, eyes wild with calculation.
"I need to find Bertholdt Hoover as soon as possible."
Sasuke took a step forward—about to ask her where Sakura was—
Then he stopped.
A familiar presence caught his attention.
Short black hair.
Still as a blade.
Mikasa.
She stood a short distance away beside a blond boy Sasuke recognized immediately—Armin, one of Sakura's friends. They were speaking quietly, tension coiled between them.
Sasuke changed direction.
When he approached, both of them noticed him instantly and fell silent.
"Mikasa-san," he said in Japanese, voice controlled but tight beneath the surface. "Where is Sakura?"
Mikasa didn't hesitate.
"She left with the others," she answered. "To the outer parts of Wall Rose."
A sharp breath escaped him before he could stop it.
Again.
Always just out of reach.
His jaw tightened.
So they had caught the Armored Titan… yet Sakura was gone. Thrown straight into another battlefield.
He hated this world.
The blond said something—too fast, too unclear—but Sasuke caught the meaning.
Mikasa confirmed it.
"They're telling you to return to the base," she translated.
Sasuke exhaled slowly through his nose.
No.
Enough standing still. Enough waiting while Sakura walked into danger.
If helping these people meant getting her home faster—then he would help them. Fully.
He turned his focus sharply back to them.
"You," he said in German, looking directly at Armin. "What do you know about the Walls?"
Both teens stiffened.
Armin glanced at Mikasa.
She answered in Japanese.
"They were built a hundred years ago. To protect humanity from the Titans."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"Built?" he repeated. "With what?"
Silence.
Mikasa frowned. Armin's lips parted slightly.
"That is not normal rock," Sasuke said calmly, switching back to German. He felt the tension spike instantly.
So they did know.
"It's Titans inside, isn't it?"
Armin sucked in a breath.
"How did you—"
"We just received that information," Mikasa interrupted carefully.
Sasuke turned fully toward her and spoke in Japanese, voice low and precise.
"I can feel the energy they emit. It's concealed well—but when you push power into the Wall, something answers back."
His eyes sharpened.
"Pure Titans are inside the Walls."
He paused.
"They are the Walls."
Mikasa translated for Armin, carefully omitting the word chakra.
Armin stared at Sasuke like he was looking at a living weapon.
"…You mean energy?" he asked.
"Yes."
Armin's eyes lit up with sudden realization.
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
When the Scouts reached their destination, they were met not by urgency—but confusion.
The garrison's report didn't match the alarm that had been sent.
"Are you sure you inspected the entire left side of the wall, Captain Hans?" Levi asked, his voice calm but edged with suspicion.
"Of course I did," the blond man replied stiffly. "I ran along the eastern section myself."
"But the Titans were reported coming from that side," Oluo said, frowning. "You must've missed the breach."
"I didn't miss anything," Hans snapped.
An uneasy silence settled between them.
Sakura stepped forward, eyes lifting toward the towering wall, then shifting to the forest beyond it. Something about the stillness bothered her.
"Let's inspect both sides again," she said. "We'll split into two teams—one goes left, the other right."
Levi glanced at her briefly, measuring, then nodded.
"Good idea, Haruno."
Cain, one of the Scouts, frowned. "But it'll be dark soon. How are we supposed to fight? If Titans find us, they'll eat us alive."
"Exactly, Cain," Sakura replied evenly. "It's night. Titans don't move at night."
She didn't mention the exceptions she had seen before—those memories stayed buried.
Levi's gaze lingered on her for half a second longer than necessary, sharp and searching, as if he could tell she was holding something back.
"Right," he said. "Scouts will split into two teams."
He turned toward the garrison captain.
"The garrison doesn't have enough experience dealing with Titans directly. You'll take your men and patrol on top of the wall—cover the entire length."
Hans nodded quickly.
Levi then faced Sakura again.
"Haruno, you'll lead Team One," he said. "Take Gelgar, Lynne, Connie, Cain, and Sasha."
Sakura straightened. "Understood."
"Nanaba, Ymir, Historia, Oluo, Henning—you're with me," Levi continued. "You go east. We'll take the west."
For a brief moment, his eyes met Sakura's.
Nothing was said.
Nothing needed to be.
Then Levi turned away, already issuing orders, the night pressing in around them as the two teams began to moved through the darkness, guided only by the weak glow of torches and lanterns. The night was thick—too thick—swallowing the shapes of the wall and the land beyond it. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and every sound felt louder than it should have been.
Sakura wasn't afraid.
She could feel the Titans.
That awareness sat at the back of her mind like a constant pressure, a silent warning system. If one came close, she would know long before anyone else. She would warn them. That was her role.
Still, her thoughts drifted—unwillingly—to Levi's team.
They were alone on the other side.
She hoped they would all survive.
It was a fragile hope, almost foolish. Sakura knew better than most that death was inevitable in this world. It didn't ask for permission. It didn't spare the strong or the careful.
"Sakura-san," Cain's voice broke the silence. "We've been riding for over an hour now, and the wall is intact. I think… I think we should go back."
She slowed slightly but didn't stop.
She shot him a glare he probably couldn't see in the darkness.
"We finish the wall," she said coldly. "That's our mission."
"And then what?" Cain pressed, panic leaking into his voice. "We can't fix the wall. If there is a breach, we're doomed anyway."
Sakura stopped this time.
The horses shifted nervously.
She turned toward him, her expression sharp even in the dim firelight.
"Cain," she said firmly, her voice low but absolute, "shut up."
The word cut through the fear like a blade.
"We don't decide we're doomed before the enemy does," she continued. "We complete the mission. We report. And we survive as long as we can. That's it."
Silence followed.
No one argued.
The team moved on, the firelight flickering as the wall stretched endlessly ahead—unbroken, silent, and hiding something none of them could yet name.
They moved through the darkness, guided only by the weak glow of torches and lanterns. The night was thick—too thick—swallowing the shapes of the wall and the land beyond it. Shadows stretched unnaturally, and every sound felt louder than it should have been.
Sakura wasn't afraid.
She could feel the Titans.
That awareness sat at the back of her mind like a constant pressure, a silent warning system. If one came close, she would know long before anyone else. She would warn them. That was her role.
Still, her thoughts drifted—unwillingly—to Levi's team.
They were alone on the other side.
She hoped they would all survive.
It was a fragile hope, almost foolish. Sakura knew better than most that death was inevitable in this world. It didn't ask for permission. It didn't spare the strong or the careful.
"Sakura-san," Cain's voice broke the silence. "We've been riding for over an hour now, and the wall is intact. I think… I think we should go back."
She slowed slightly but didn't stop.
She shot him a glare he probably couldn't see in the darkness.
"We finish the wall," she said coldly. "That's our mission."
"And then what?" Cain pressed, panic leaking into his voice. "We can't fix the wall. If there is a breach, we're doomed anyway."
Sakura stopped this time.
The horses shifted nervously.
She turned toward him, her expression sharp even in the dim firelight.
"Cain," she said firmly, her voice low but absolute, "shut up."
The word cut through the fear like a blade.
"We don't decide we're doomed before the enemy does," she continued. "We complete the mission. We report. And we survive as long as we can. That's it."
Silence followed.
No one argued.
The team moved on, the firelight flickering as the wall stretched endlessly ahead—unbroken, silent, and hiding something none of them could yet name.
They heard something.
The horses shifted nervously, hooves scraping against the dirt, and several hands instinctively tightened around weapons.
"Did you feel that?!" Sasha whispered sharply.
Sakura closed her eyes for half a second, focusing—reaching outward with that familiar sense that never truly slept.
"Relax," she said calmly. "It's not a Titan. Probably humans… or animals."
The tension loosened almost immediately. Breaths they hadn't realized they were holding were released, and the group continued forward through the darkness.
Not long after, Sakura's group came to a stop.
Ahead of them stood Levi's team.
They looked just as uneasy—faces slick with sweat despite the cold night, eyes sharp and searching. For a moment, no one spoke. Firelight flickered between them, shadows dancing against the wall.
Levi's gaze went straight to Sakura.
He scanned her face first, quick and precise, as if checking for injuries he already knew weren't there. Then, without a word, he shifted the torchlight to the rest of her team—counting. Measuring. Only after confirming everyone was alive did he speak.
"Where did you find the hole?"
"Huh?" Sakura raised an eyebrow.
"We didn't find anything to the west," Levi continued. "Didn't you find it on your side?"
"No…" Sakura answered slowly. "There's no hole this way either."
"Is it possible we missed it?" Lynne asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
"No way," Nanaba replied immediately. "Not a hole big enough for Titans to use."
"Should we go back and look again?" Gelgar suggested.
"We'll need to," Nanaba said. Christa stood behind her, clearly exhausted. "But the horses—and the rest of us—are worn out. If only we had some moonlight…"
"Yeah…"
As if responding to the words, the clouds above drifted apart.
Moonlight spilled down, pale and cold, illuminating the land.
Gelgar squinted at the distance. "What's that?"
Following the winding dirt path, they all saw it—two towers rising on a small hill beyond the forest.
"Castle ruins?" someone murmured.
Levi frowned slightly.
"We'll stay here until the horses rest," he said. "Then we check the wall again. That freakin' creature couldn't just appear out of thin air… could it?"
His irritation was clear—tight in his jaw, sharp in his tone.
Sakura noticed.
She stepped closer to him, close enough that the firelight caught the faint pink of her hair and the exhaustion in her eyes.
"Why is there a castle in the middle of nowhere?" she asked quietly.
Levi glanced down at her, annoyance flickering—but not directed at her. Never quite at her.
"How should I know, Haruno?" he muttered. "Besides, we've got bigger problems than some damn castle."
She studied his face for a moment longer than necessary.
Under the irritation, she saw tension. Concern. Control stretched thin.
And for reasons she didn't understand yet, that unsettled her more than the darkness, the missing breach, or the silent land surrounding them.
At the castle, to Christa's right, Nanaba sat in a chair with her arms folded, eyes closed but alert. Sasha leaned against the wall nearby, half-awake. Gelgar and Connie slept on the stone floor, sprawled without care.
Cain, Lynne, and Oule remained outside on watch.
Ymir wandered deeper into the castle, curiosity outweighing caution.
Sakura lowered herself to the floor near one of the inner walls, resting her head against her pack. The stone was cold beneath her, but exhaustion won out quickly.
Levi sat down beside her, back against the wall, blades within reach.
"You should try to sleep," she murmured without opening her eyes.
"Can't sleep in this chaos," he replied quietly. "Not everyone's as relaxed as you and Connie Springer."
She smiled faintly. "You're just jealous we can sleep and you can't."
"Tch. Whatever. Go ahead—sleep."
She closed her eyes, a strange sense of calm settling over her, sharper and more comforting than rest itself.
He was close.
Ten minutes later—
"Everyone, wake up!"
Lynne's shout cut through the room.
Levi was on his feet instantly. Sakura's eyes snapped open, her body already moving as the others scrambled upright.
"Get to the tower! Quickly!"
They burst onto the tower roof—
And froze.
Dozens of Titans surrounded the castle, pale bodies illuminated by the cold moonlight, faces twisted into vacant hunger.
"I couldn't see them in the darkness," Lynne said, voice tight. "But then the moon—"
"Why?" Gelgar whispered, panic breaking through. "Why can they move? It's been hours since sunset!"
"Fuck," Levi muttered. His jaw tightened. "First they show up out of nowhere. Now they move at night. What's next—are they gonna start using weapons?"
"Hey—look at that!" Connie shouted.
They all turned.
The Beast Titan.
It walked slowly through the moonlit field, towering over the others—its body massive, covered in coarse, dark fur. Long arms dragged lazily at its sides, fingers almost touching the ground. Its face was grotesquely animalistic, yet disturbingly intelligent—sunken eyes, a broad snout, lips pulled into something that wasn't quite a smile.
Everyone went silent.
"It's… huge," Sasha breathed. "What the hell is that?"
"A Titan?" Connie said shakily. "No… it's like a beast!"
"It's headed for the Wall," Nanaba said.
"Is it trying to breach it?!" Sasha panicked.
But before anyone could react—
The Titans reached the castle.
There was no time to watch the Beast.
"Move!" Levi snapped. "Focus!"
The Scouts launched themselves into the air.
"New recruits—stay back!" Sakura shouted, voice sharp and absolute. "Krista, Ymir, Connie, Sasha—do not engage!"
"What?!" Connie protested.
"That's an order!" Levi barked. "You'll die out there!"
They obeyed.
The veterans didn't hesitate.
Gelgar dove first, blades flashing as he sliced clean through a Titan's fingers. "Get your damn hands off me, you piece of shit!"
Nanaba shot forward, hooks embedding perfectly. One clean arc—nape severed. The Titan collapsed, crushing three smaller ones beneath its weight.
"Look at that," Gelgar laughed, hanging from the tower wall. "Those little idiots got flattened."
"That was reckless," Nanaba snapped. "You wasted blades."
"That's just how I do things," he shrugged. "Call it an assist."
Lynne landed nearby—then stiffened.
"The door!" she shouted. "It's broken—they got inside!"
Before panic could spread—
A blur cut through the air.
Levi.
He moved like violence given form—spinning, slicing, decapitating Titans mid-motion. His blades sang through flesh and bone with surgical precision. One Titan reached for him—
It never finished the motion.
Another body dropped.
Then another.
On the opposite side—
Sakura launched herself forward.
Her movements were fluid, almost unnatural—using momentum, flipping off Titan shoulders, striking at tendons before going for the nape. She didn't waste motion. Didn't hesitate.
One Titan lunged—
She slid beneath it, severed both legs in rapid succession, then finished it before it hit the ground.
"Left side!" she called.
Levi adjusted instantly, covering her blind spot without looking.
They moved together without speaking.
A Titan grabbed for Sakura—
Levi intercepted, slicing the arm clean off before it could close.
"Watch your flank," he snapped.
"I had it," she replied—but there was no irritation in her voice.
Another Titan fell.
Then another.
The night filled with steam and blood.
Within minutes—
Silence.
Bodies littered the ground, unmoving.
The castle stood.
The recruits stared in stunned awe.
Sakura landed lightly, breathing steady, scanning for movement.
Levi wiped his blades clean and sheathed them.
"All clear," he said.
For now.
Above them, on the Wall—
The Beast Titan watched.
The Beast Titan lowered himself from the Wall.
Stone groaned and cracked beneath his weight, deep fractures spiderwebbing across the ancient surface as his massive hands dug in. Dust rained down in thick clouds. When his feet finally touched the ground, the impact sent a tremor through the earth—through the castle.
Then he screamed.
It wasn't a roar of rage, but a sharp, commanding cry—deliberate.
From the darkness beyond the trees, shapes began to move.
Too many.
Titans poured out from every direction, their pale bodies sprinting unnaturally fast, feet slamming into the ground, mouths stretched wide in anticipation. They weren't wandering. They were called.
"Damn it," Levi cursed under his breath.
"I'm low on gas!" Nanaba shouted, checking her gauges. "Barely enough for one more engagement!"
"Take gas from the brats if you have to," Levi ordered sharply. "We eliminate them like before—don't let them breach the castle!"
He turned, eyes cutting to the recruits.
"Kids—keep them out of the castle. Block every entrance. And don't die."
They nodded, fear written clearly on their faces, and ran inside.
The Titans hit moments later.
The first wave slammed into the outer walls, clawing, climbing, bodies stacking over one another in a grotesque ladder of flesh.
Levi launched himself forward, blades flashing. One Titan lost its head mid-stride. Another fell before it could scream. Sakura followed close behind, her movements precise, her strikes ruthless.
But there were too many.
They came faster than they could cut.
Blades chipped.
Gas hissed low.
A Titan smashed through a weakened wall—
"Inside!" someone yelled.
Chaos erupted.
The recruits bolted up the tower stairs, Titans crashing in behind them, massive hands ripping stone from its frame.
They tried to barricade the tower door.
It didn't hold.
Wood splintered.
A Titan's face forced its way through—
Sakura was there instantly.
She drove her blades upward, severing the nape in one brutal motion. The Titan collapsed forward, its body crashing to the floor just inches from Connie.
Connie screamed, frozen in place.
"Move!" Sakura shouted, grabbing his collar and yanking him back as steam filled the tower.
Another Titan pushed through.
And then—
"LYNNE!"
She was caught.
A massive hand wrapped around her torso, lifting her screaming form into the air. She tried to fire her gear—but her gas sputtered uselessly.
The Titan bit down.
There was a sickening crack.
Her body was torn in two.
Blood sprayed across the stone as the Titan stuffed what remained into its mouth.
For a heartbeat, the world went silent.
Then screaming resumed.
"Fall back!" Nanaba roared, voice breaking.
Gelgar slashed wildly, but his blade snapped clean off on impact.
"Shit—!"
A Titan lunged—
Oule tackled him out of the way.
They hit the ground hard.
The Titan's jaws closed around Oule's leg.
There was a crunch—bone shattering audibly.
Oule screamed.
Levi cut the Titan down in a blur, its head rolling away as steam erupted, but Oule collapsed immediately, leg twisted at an impossible angle.
"Stay with me!" Gelgar shouted, gripping him.
More Titans climbed over the rubble.
Dozens.
At least forty.
Levi landed beside Sakura, chest rising sharply as he took stock of the battlefield—blood, steam, bodies, broken stone.
He inhaled deeply.
"Haruno," he said quietly, deadly calm beneath the exhaustion. "Let's kill as many as we can—without taking the kids' gas. If we fail, they'll need it."
She looked at him sharply. "Don't be pessimistic, Captain."
"I'm not," he replied, eyes hard. "I'm not a fool either. This place won't hold. They'll bring the castle down eventually."
Another Titan climbed over the tower edge.
Levi raised his blades.
Sakura did the same.
Neither of them stepped back.
Titans kept climbing.
Hands clawed over stone, fingers slipping in blood and dust, bodies piling over one another as if the tower itself were bait. Sakura cut down one, then another, her blades carving clean arcs through steam—but for every Titan that fell, two more replaced it.
Worse still—
"They're coming from inside!" Cain shouted.
A scream echoed from below. The recruits were trapped.
Oule lay slumped against the wall, face pale, leg twisted grotesquely. Connie stood frozen beside him, hands shaking as he stared at his empty gas canister.
"I—I've got nothing left…" he whispered.
Nanaba had already taken his gas.
Ymir didn't hesitate.
She walked straight up to him, expression unreadable. "Give me that knife you had."
Connie blinked. "Huh? My knife?"
"Just hand it over."
"…Fine." He stood and passed it to her. "Here."
"Thanks." Ymir patted his head casually, like this wasn't the end of the world.
Connie brushed her hand away. "What are you gonna do with it?"
"Hm?" She turned, eyes sharp now. "I'm going to fight with this."
Christa stiffened.
Ymir placed both hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look up. "You've probably forgotten by now…" Another impact shook the tower, stone cracking beneath them. Titans roared below. "But this might be the end, so—remember that promise we made back on that snowy mountain."
Her voice softened, just for a second. "I have no right to tell you how to live your life."
Over the horizon, faint light bled into the sky.
Dawn.
"So this is just a hope of mine," Ymir continued, stepping back. "I want you… to live a life you're proud of."
She turned, tapping the knife against her palm.
"Remember our promise, Christa."
Then she ran.
"Ymir!" Christa screamed, lunging forward. "Wait!"
Too late.
Ymir leapt off the tower.
She sliced her palm midair—blood burst across her face, streaking over her left eye—
And the world exploded.
Golden-orange light tore through the darkness, lightning cracking violently as bone formed in midair—skull, spine, arms—muscle knitting together with a sickening force. Dark hair erupted along the head as the Jaw Titan roared into existence.
Connie stared, mouth hanging open. "Is… is this real? Ymir's a Titan too?!"
The Jaw Titan hit the ground running.
She grabbed a Titan mid-stride, used its body as leverage, and bit clean through its nape. Another lunged—she tore its face apart, flipped backward, and landed on a third, ripping its neck out with her teeth.
Levi watched calmly, blades lowered.
"…What an ugly positive surprise," he muttered.
Sakura froze for a moment, heart hammering as she watched Ymir tear through Titans like a wild animal. Not fear—something heavier. Awe. And dread.
"Should we help her?" Nanaba asked.
Sakura shook her head slowly. "Not yet. We don't have much gas. We still need a way back—and we don't know how many are left. We interfere only if she's overwhelmed."
Nanaba nodded.
Gelgar exhaled shakily. "This is insane… but I'm real glad it's killing them and not us."
"Of course it won't attack us," Christa said fiercely, tears in her eyes. "Ymir's my friend!"
She started cheering, voice cracking. "Go, Ymir! Kill them all!"
The others joined in—desperate, hopeful sounds echoing against stone.
Oule chuckled weakly. "Great. Our lives are in the hands of another Titan shifter."
Sakura knelt beside him. "Let me see your leg."
He flinched. "Now? You're doing it now?"
"Yes."
"With your… magic thing?"
She rolled her eyes despite everything. "It's not magic. And yes. You'll need your leg if we're getting out of here."
The Jaw Titan ran along the tower wall, leaping off to slice a Titan's legs before springing back as another grabbed for her. She flipped, blinded one with a brutal kick, then tore into another's nape midair.
But numbers closed in.
She started to struggle.
That's when Levi moved.
He launched himself forward, cutting down two Titans in a blink, landing briefly against the tower before spinning back out to kill the one closest to Ymir.
Nanaba followed seconds later.
The tide turned.
Titans fell. Steam filled the air.
Soon—five left.
Levi knew it. Felt it.
Moments later, the last Titan dropped.
Only Ymir remained.
She collapsed out of her Titan form, naked and bleeding. Christa ran to her instantly, cradling her head.
"I'm sorry, Christa," Ymir whispered.
Christa pressed her forehead to Ymir's. "Ymir…" Her voice trembled. "My real name… is Historia."
Levi snorted softly. "Tch. Lover's confession scene."
Sakura glanced at him. "Doesn't really sound like a love confession."
"It feels like one," he replied flatly.
She raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know what a love confession feels like, Captain? Ever lived through one?"
He side-eyed her, then looked past her toward the horizon. "Look who finally showed up."
Horses thundered toward them.
Hange, Mikasa, Eren, Armin, Jean—reinforcements at last.
Sakura let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, exhaustion crashing into her all at once.
They survived.
This time.
Rain began to fall in cold sheets, blurring the horizon as thick gray clouds rolled low across the sky. Torn crimson flags snapped violently atop the Wall, their frayed edges thrashing like wounded banners.
Scouts kept watch in tense silence.
Christa and Nifa knelt near the edge, peering down as steam curled upward from below. Moblit stood behind them, hands clenched, eyes tracking every movement.
"Slowly!" a Scout shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Easy—bring her up slow!"
Two soldiers clung to the Wall, guiding the stretcher inch by inch.
"Careful now," Moblit warned, voice tight.
Steam poured from Ymir's unconscious body as she was hauled over the edge. Christa leaned forward instinctively, worry etched into every line of her face.
Eren crouched nearby. "How bad is it?" he asked quietly. "What condition is she in?"
Keiji checked the straps of his gear, expression grim.
"Her right arm and leg were bitten off."
Christa's hands curled into fists.
Levi approached Hange, rain sliding off his coat.
"Four-eyes. Start talking."
Hange didn't look at him. "Later. Too many things happening at once."
"Nifa," she called sharply. "Take Ymir back to Trost. She needs real medical care. She's yours."
"Yes, Squad Leader," Nifa replied, already moving.
Hange turned back to Levi. "Our original mission was to seal the Wall."
Levi's eyes narrowed. "There was no hole."
Hange froze. "What?"
Sakura stepped closer, rain darkening her hair. "He's right. We circled it. Thoroughly. There was nothing."
Moblit frowned. "Maybe you missed it in the dark?"
Before anyone could answer, riders approached along the Wall's edge.
"Hannes?" Mikasa said in disbelief.
"The Garrison's advance squad," Hange murmured. "They're here to tell us where the breach is."
Hannes hauled himself up, rain dripping from his hair.
"There is no hole."
Silence fell.
"…What?" Hange whispered.
"We searched all night," Hannes continued. "Between Trost and Krolva. Nothing. No damage. No Titans."
"That's impossible," Eren snapped. "We saw them."
"Did you actually check?" Hannes shot back. "Or were you imagining things?"
"I wasn't drunk!" he added quickly. Then frowned. "Why are you all here?"
No one answered.
The wind howled louder.
Hange turned abruptly. "Fine. If there's no breach, we pull back. Fall back to Trost."
As the Scouts prepared to leave, Levi muttered, almost to himself,
"Those ugly things can't fly… can they?"
Oule shifted beside Sakura. "What if the Titan we saw climbing… wasn't coming from outside the Wall?"
Everyone turned.
"What monster?" Eren asked sharply.
Hange exhaled. "We'll talk on the way. Move out."
Then, quieter, to Christa: "You and I need a conversation."
Christa nodded, pale but steady.
11111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Chaos still clung to Trost like smoke.
Ymir had been rushed to Sina's hospital. Scouts combed the city for Bertholdt. Tension hung everywhere — unanswered questions, unspoken fears.
Sakura sat on a low stone ledge near the stables, her cloak damp at the hem. For the first time since the battle, her hands trembled slightly — not from exhaustion, but from everything that hadn't exploded yet.
Across from her, Sasuke leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes scanning the yard with sharp, assessing calm. He looked like someone already planning ten steps ahead.
"You said you could help them," Sakura said quietly.
He glanced at her, then nodded once. "I can."
She studied his face, searching for hesitation — finding none.
"If you're staying," he continued, "helping these people… then I will too. Sitting around won't get us home."
That made her inhale sharply.
"I thought your priority was finding a way back."
"It still is," he replied evenly. "And this helps. The Walls—" His gaze lifted briefly toward the massive stone looming in the distance. "They're saturated with chakra. Old chakra. Dense. If I can understand it, we gain leverage."
She frowned. "You're sure?"
"I wouldn't say it otherwise."
Sakura exhaled, tension loosening just a bit. "I'll speak to Commander Erwin. But you'll need ODM training. You can't move like… you. People will notice. And we can't afford wasted chakra."
A pause.
"…Fair," he conceded.
She stood, already moving. "I'll be back."
Sasuke watched her go, expression unreadable — but intent unmistakable.
The room smelled faintly of ink and old maps.
Erwin listened without interrupting as Sakura spoke, posture straight, hands clenched behind her back like she was holding herself together by sheer will.
"He's not reckless," she said firmly. "He's disciplined. Strong. Stronger than me. And he doesn't betray trust."
Erwin's brow furrowed. "Trust is fragile right now. The Walls, Christa's true identity, Titans within our own ranks—"
"I understand," Sakura cut in, softer now. "That's why I'm taking responsibility. If he makes a mistake, it's on me."
Silence stretched.
Finally, Erwin nodded. "Very well. He joins the Scouts under your supervision. You train him. You teach him the laws. You answer for him."
Relief washed through her so fast it nearly unbalanced her.
"Yes, sir. Thank you."
"You're dismissed," Erwin said. Then, to Levi: "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be worse."
They walked in silence.
Boots echoed faintly against stone, the hallway dim and nearly empty at this hour. Sakura felt the weight of the day pressing down on her now that there was nothing left demanding her focus.
They reached the junction where their paths split.
She slowed.
"Levi… I—"
"Yes," he said without turning. "You can sleep in my room."
She blinked, caught off guard.
"But don't make a habit of it," he added.
A small smile curved her lips. "As soon as Petra's things are cleared… I won't."
He didn't reply — but he didn't object either.
The door closed behind them with a quiet click.
The room was simple. Clean. Precisely ordered. The faint scent of soap and steel lingered in the air. Outside, rain tapped steadily against the window, muting the world beyond the walls.
They removed their boots and cloaks in silence.
Levi sat in his chair, shoulders heavy now that no one was watching. Sakura lowered herself onto the couch, stretching her legs, feeling the ache finally settle into her muscles.
She looked up.
He was already looking at her.
Not sharp. Not guarded. Just… as if he was memorizing her , was he always this handsome? She wondered as she stared at his bleu gray eyes and straight nose .
"Levi," she said softly, voice hesitant for once , face flushed . "Call me crazy, but I think I want to—"
He stood before she could finish.
Two steps.
That was all it took.
"This changes nothing," he said quietly, gaze steady.
Then he kissed her.
It wasn't gentle at first. It was restrained tension finally snapping — urgent, controlled only by mutual understanding. His hand braced against the couch, hers caught at his sleeve.
Then it slowed.
Softened.
As if both of them were anchoring themselves in the moment instead of the chaos outside.
She pulled him closer, fingers threading into his hair, grounding herself in the warmth of him.
When they parted, their breaths were uneven.
"How far do you want this to go?" he asked, voice low but careful.
"I'll tell you when to stop."
He nodded once — absolute, respectful.
Another kiss followed, slower this time. Her jaw. Her neck. His touch deliberate, he lifted her shirt a bit .
"Is this okay?" he murmured.
"Yes."
His hands slid under her shirt , steady now , it took seconds to take it off and marvel at the sight of her .
"Your turn."
The rain continued to fall outside — steady, relentless — while inside the room, for the first time in days, neither of them felt like they had to hold the world up alone.