Before its fall Wall Maria contained a third of what usable land remained to humanity. Five years ago, when humanity lost this territory, from behind their last two walls, the people realized something. Humankind... is fated to become extinct. Defeat was certain. The blade of despair pierced our hearts. But then, someone grasped that blade and wrenched, turned sorrow to rage and lashed out at the titans, striking the monsters down with earth-shaking force. When humanity first saw this, what was in their hearts then? In some, a stalwart pride. In others, newfound hope. And some beat with that first Warrior's rage. So, if Wall Maria we're taken back, what would the people feel then? Thankful? Indifference? Would they finally start to believe in mankind? In the fact that we deserve to live? Would they see at last that our fates are for us to decide? Would it be enough to give them faith? If we could not only reach Wall Maria, but take it back.

[Part 1: Before the Dawn]

That night we left several soldiers were placed in positions around using the hardening crystals to light the way while we walked our horses towards Shinganshina to be more discreet.

"Titan on the left! Everyone halt! Light up the area!" Jean shouts. Those with lights shoot them off towards nearby areas as I nod to Marco who pulls a trigger and one of his wrist mounted wires hits the stone behind the Titan. He slings over using the wire and kicks it's head forward before slicing across the nape of the titans neck with the blades made of Ymir's titans teeth. In the month between the coup and now, we had enough time to make four blades for each member of Marcel Squad. So now, we carry two sets of her Titan's teeth blades, one blade made from Reiner's armor, and three blades made of normal material each.

Hange sighs. "Pretty sure he was asleep."

"Better safe than sorry." I say watching Marco.

Marco jumps back down however he stops quickly and reattached himself raising two fingers I reply by tossing a light up to him, he shines it around the area and then waves for me to join him. I do so quickly having Jean & Ymir join me.

"What's the problem?" Ymir asks quietly.

"You see that, over there?" Marco says.

"Yeah, looks like a wooden box." I say at the large object hidden in the forest.

"What do you think it is?" Jean asks.

"If I had to hazard a guess, another shifter. One friendly to Reiner & Bertholdt. Likely a scout-like Titan. One that can be used for stealth, don't engage it, we don't know what it could be carrying." I order.

Marco turns to me. "Leave it be?"

"We'll inform Erwin of this development. And plan accordingly." I say as I slowly lower myself.

The three nod as we head back down, Ymir being sent to tell dad what we found, Marco & I to stay in the rear of the force as Jean is just ahead of us interacting with Levi Squad. Come dawn my squad returns to Erwin's side as we ride, staying directly with him. Marcel Squad, or as some call it, Erwin's defense team.

"There could be titans anywhere, so keep your guard up!" Father shouts.

"This operation has officially begun! All troops, switch to ODM gear!" I shout.

Erwin turns to me. "Marcel Squad, follow your orders!"

I nod as Jean & Sasha join with Levi squad, Mina, Marco, Ymir & I all bank hard left and hide our horses inside Shinganshina District before we use our ODM gear to launch towards the river nearby. I think to the plan for not only the operation but of my squad.

We must seal the gate to Wall Maria and the one to the outside world. With that achieved, Shinganshina will be isolated, and we can kill the titans inside. The enemy will predict this plan and counter it by targeting Eren and or Ymir, so we must keep them separated. But... all of our soldiers will keep their faces covered with hoods. By the time the foe can locate Eren or Ymir, he'll have plugged up the outer gate. As this is happening myself along with Ymir and two other members of my squad will scour the river and riverbank within and around Shinganshina to look for any enemies looking to use it against us.

As we arrive I don't bother with my hood despite Marco & Mina's protests. "They know for a fact Eren & Ymir wouldn't be sent to some remote shitcan like the riverbanks. If my guess is correct, then this is the safest mission for any scout here today. All we need to do is make sure nothing rises from the water." I stop as a smoke signal is launched. "A halt order?"

"They're Looking for Reiner probably." Ymir comments.

"Our search is for the beast. Kill him before he can control any titans. Let's start our job." I say.

We walk the riverbed and after several minutes of us going we near the forest outside the city a flash of light catches us by surprise behind us. We watch as several flashes appear and standing in the middle of a semicircle around the outer city is the beast.  I watch as he grabs a large boulder and throw it like it's a slightly oversized rock that lands at the inner gate.

"Shit!" Marco exclaims loudly seeing the rock land.

"Yeah, we can't get the horses from outside into the district, now."

Ymir looks to me. "But we're behind them."

"Even then, us four are at a disadvantage against all of them. We wait it out. Stalk that scout looking Titan." I say watching it crawl on all four.

"The quadruped?" Marco asks.

"Yes. See the wood on its back, that's likely the Titan we saw last night." I point out.

"You're thinking of killing it?" Marco asks.

"I have the syringe for a reason."

Mina takes a deep breath. "If need be, I'll transform."

"It looks like a non combative Titan, it'd be best for someone with endurance to take it." I say.

"Trust me, Mina has endurance." Marco says offhandedly earning a slap to the back of his head from Mina.

"That's if the need arises. Get your hoods on, now." I order them.They follow my orders as we use our wrist gears to ascend one of the water towers inside the river. As we stand on top we watch as with a slam of its fist and a shout, all of the two to four meter class titans rush forward towards the city. It seems as though he's unaware of our position.

"He doesn't know where we are." Marco comments. We watch as another flash goes off on the city as Reiner appears at the top of the walls. He then turns and jumps down to the inside of Shinganshina. "Why have him transform so Reiner could jump down?"

"Simple really." I say. "Eren & Ymir are titans, they could both retreat to Trost without horses. Even then, chances are that's not the idea. Even if Reiner killed the horses, Ymir would transform here, and along with Eren scaling the walls we could trap the beast Titan in a pincer. Either way, it goes well for us. Either Eren & Ymir escape with a few scouts on their backs, or we catch the beast Titan in a pincer and kill him, that scout, Bertholdt & Reiner in one fell swoop." I say analyzing the situation.

"So what now?" Marco asks.

"Watch and wait."

"That's it?"

Mina speaks up. "Yeah, I thought we'd do more than just watch?"

"If we move to early then we ruin our surprise attack. We need to time this perfectly." I say.

Marco nods. "I see then." He says softly.

"We'll get our chance. Don't you worry."

"Here's hoping it comes soon." Ymir comments.

[Part 2: The Last Chance]
(No POV)

Bertholdt sits silently watching as Eren's Titan Carrie's the Boulder back during the battle for Trost. "They're trying to plug up the hole with that boulder? That's insane! They're gambling everything! For all they know, if Eren gets eaten, then their best hope will be gone for good." Ertholdt says.

Reiner walks up to Bertholdt from behind. "His death would be a problem for us too. If he goes down, I'll step in with my Titan."

"What if he doesn't? We risked a lot to make that hole? Should we really let him plug it?" Bertholdt asks.

"Yeah, we should. Five years we searched for a lead like this, and now we've finally found it"

"Hey, Reiner? Bertholdt?" A person speaks from behind the pair. A face that's been unseen since the aftermath, Loren Schulz of Marcel Squad. The pair gasped as they glanced to each other. "Sorry, but I don't think I heard you clearly. You're gonna "step in with your Titan"? And you said you made that hole, Bertholdt? You're joking right?"

"Uh, Loren? I thought you were with Marcel's squad." Reiner comments.

"I was told to go find Annie."

Reiner chuckles nervously. "It was... a joke."

Loren shakes his head. "Are guy's doing alright? This isn't the time for jokes. Focus on the mission! We've got more titans coming from the west. Let's go!" Loren blasted off and as he does so used his blade to make a small cut on his right arm in the shape of an R. 'Humans can turn into titans, Eren just proved that, the Colossal Titan appeared out of nowhere, attacked Trost, and vanished. It's likely someone like Eren. The same goes for the armored titan. If they're human then they'd look similar to the humans who wield them.' Loren thinks to himself as he tries to get distance from himself, moving back towards Marcel's group.

He went to put the blade back to his arm he was tackled out of the air by Reiner. He attempted to use his blade to defend himself from the larger man.

"Reiner!" Bertholdt shouts landing next to the pair.

Loren quirks under the larger man. "What are you doing, you ox! Please, no! Please, say it's a joke!"

"Wish I could, Loren. You're too smart, just like Marcel, the difference is that he won't ever be as open for this as you are."

"Somebody help!" Loren shouts.

He looked around as Mina seemed to hear him and turned but as she did something hit her and she fell on top of the Garrison HQ. Just then Annie landed and was followed by a man in a Military Police uniform. Loren's eyes light up seeing Annie. "Annie! You gotta help me!"

Annie stares down with horrified eyes. "Whats going on here?"

"Reiner's gone insane! Get him off me!"

"He heard me and Bertholdt talking. If we let him live, he'll expose us." Reiner says.

Annie gasps. "You shitheads."

"You idiots." The Military Policeman says annoyed.

"A Titan! It's coming this way!" Bertholdt warns.

"Annie! Take off his ODM Gear!" Reiner orders.

"Annie, please! We're on the same squad!" Loren begs.

Reiner glares at Annie. "Do it now!"

"What, why should I have to?" Annie asks.

"Back there, you risked your life to save Connie. I don't know if it's cause Marcel said for you too, or not. Seems to me you've become sympathetic to the enemy with how close to Marcel you've gotten you wanna convince me I'm wrong, then now's the time to do it! Think of your father. He's waiting for you to come home. If you and he are any different than the filth within these walls, then prove it, here and now!"

"There's no need. I know she's loyal. I'll do it." The Military Policeman says with full confidence.

"No-!" Reiner goes to protest.

"That's an order from your superior, Braun. Annie will prove her worth soon anyways."

Annie stares at the man worried. "Ni-" she goes to speak.

"Don't." He interrupts her.

"Ah!!!! What are you doing?! Nico! I thought we were allies! Please! Please! I don't wanna die here! Don't kill me!" Loren shouts in fear.

"You did well, you two. Some mistakes, but otherwise well." Loren says to Reiner and Bertholdt.

Annie looks down at Loren. "I'm sorry." She says.

"Take the gear Annie. It'll prove useful to us yet. This is what makes you our warriors." Nico praises the trio. The four then zipped away with Annie & Nico separating from Reiner & Bertholdt. Nico looked back towards Loren on the building.

"Just wait, why do this? I don't get it! Why?! Why aren't you even willing to talk to me? Why?!?!"

The four stopped watching Loren being lifted by a Titan and all look back with Annie struggling to do so as Loren was placed into the Titan's mouth she couldn't help but turn away, Nico stared with dead eyes.

"Hey. Why...? Why is Loren... being devoured?" Reiner asks his eyes small.

Nico sighed to this and grabbed Annie before leaving the area.

Cut to the current day as Nico sighs entering his own personal quarters he opens a drawer and inside are the ensigns of several different soldiers, all packed into five categories, Scout, Garrison, Military Police, recruit, and Interior Police. "Another for the Interior. Sannes..." He places the ensign from Sannes' uniform in the drawer before closing it as in an alleyway in Trost, the body of a former Interior Policeman lays dead with flies starting to gather around the bloodied corpse.

Meanwhile at Shinganshina, Marcel jumps from the tower and uses his wrist gear to land on the riverbank. As soon as his foot hits the ground the quadruped starts moving along while a roar is heard. Marcel turns his head and then turns back towards the forest as a bullet whizzes past his face. He draws a blade and begins running for the forest, meanwhile Marco grabs Mina and jumps in the river swimming downstream under the water back towards Shinganshina.

Ymir looks between the pair and runs after Marcel using her wrist gear to propel herself past him as the pair reach the forest inside Wall Maria they cut through several people, all soldiers in strange white uniforms. The pair stand together until the ground is rocked he turns back towards the district to see a massive explosion rising above the wall.

"Holy shit." Marcel says seeing the mushroom cloud.

Ymir takes a step back stepping on one of the corpses. "That's, uh, a large blast."

"Yeah, let's not be worried, we should move to a good position. Bertholdt's an active fighter now." Marcel comments.

"Who do we have on the field?"

"Think of it like this, we have two battlefields." Marcel begins to explain the situation. "Shinganshina and the horses. We'll call Shinganshina A, and on this side of the wall will be B. In A we have Levi Squad + Sasha & Jean, Hange Squad, And a few other veterans, they're opponents are Reiner Braun, the armored titan, and the colossal titan, Bertholdt Hoover. The best course of action to take would be to have someone sacrifice themselves so another scout could defeat Bertholdt, while everyone else, extracts Reiner from the Armored with the thunder-spears." Marcel explains.

"And this side?" Ymir asks.

"Our best hope, is for us to have a suicide charge. Then while the beast is to focused on the charge, Levi, Miche & Nanaba, take out the ring of big titans, whilst Marcel Squad takes out the quadruped."

"But, Marco & Mina are headed back to Shinganshina." Ymir adds.

"So, it'll just be the two of us against the quadruped. That's fine. The best idea is to send Miche or Nanaba specifically over the wall, in case Hange or Levi Squad got wiped out. That means Levi will be the one to defeat the beast."

"But those kids will never do a suicide charge without someone leading them." Ymir says.

Marcel takes a deep breath. "I know."

"That would mean-!"

"Yes." Marcel interrupts. "For now we wait."

Marco & Mina resurface after passing the river gates into the city and climb out of the water before using their ODM gear to climb a building. When they do they look at the carnage.

"What now?" Mina asks.

Marco takes a deep breath. "We need to find survivors, let's start by looking for Hange Squad."

Mina nods. "Right." The pair blast off being careful to maintain their distance.

Outside the city, facing down a pair of titans Miche and Nanaba each defeat their target before Miche ascends the wall and upon landing spots the colossal headed for the wall. Nanaba meanwhile kills another Titan and falls back next to Levi.

Erwin speaks turning to look at the Beast. "I bet your pleased with yourself. Your plan's working so far. What will you do next?"

"Your orders Commander?" Miche asks.

"Join Levi Squad. Take Nanaba with you. Leave the rest of your squad on this side."

Miche nods. "Yes sir. " Miche signals to Nanaba as the pair stand atop the wall and see Marco & Mina swinging around the city, they jump down and chase after the pair looking to link up with at least some of Marcel Squad and then Levi squad.

Marco & Mina land on top of a church tower and watch as Eren & the rest race for the river. "Jean!" Marco shouts.

"Guys!" Mina says jumping towards them. The pair land at a roof next to the group.

"Where is everyone?" Marco asks.

Armin looks down. "They we're directly under the blast when it went off? Where are Marcel & Ymir?"

"Behind the enemy." Mina says realizing what's happened.

Miche snaps at Mina and Marco. "And you didn't stay with them?"

Marco steps forward talking back to his superior. "We saw the explosion and split in two."

Nanaba sighs. "Damn. What now?"

"We need to stop the Colossal before it can get to the wall." Marco says muttering.

"Yeah, we know." Jean comments.

Marcel stands on a tree and his eyes widen as when he reaches a good vantage point he and Ymir watch as a red mist is rising at the town. "No..."

Ymir covers her mouth, showing horror on her face for the first time ever. "Oh my god."

"That one was a little higher than I would've liked." The Beast Titan mutters. "Huh? Oh, good work. Leave it there. No problem we'll just consider the first pitch a warm-up.  I'm going for nothing less than a perfect game today!"

"Frontal bombardment! All troops, take cover now!" Erwin orders.

"Damn it. Get down!" Levi shouts to everyone.

"Shit. At this rate he'll destroy the houses and kill those horses along with everyone else." Marcel says butting his finger nail on his thumb.

"What now?" Ymir asks.

"We need to stop the quadruped from bringing more boulders. Only you and I are available to do this right now."

Ymir nods. "Right."

"We wait for a signal. Then we move." Marcel says.

Meanwhile Levi and Erwin speak to each other by the recruits. "How's it look?" Levi asks Srwin who's seated on a box.

"Terrible. The front line of houses is gone. He decimated them. If he keeps throwing those, everything will be leveled. We won't have anything left to hide behind." Erwin says grimly.

"What is Marcel doing back there?" Levi says venomously.

"Marcel is waiting for a signal. He's looking to take out the quadruped soon."

"And we can't retreat to the other side of the wall?" Levi asks.

"No. The colossal Titan is already headed this way. Setting fire to everything in his path. Theoretically we could scale the walls to evade the stones, but the horses can't. We retreat here, and there's no hope for victory."

"What happened to Hange's group? Is Eren all right?"

Erwin shrugs. "I don't know. Most of them are gone-  caught up when the explosion occurred. We've sustained a great many casualties."

"Where did Miche & Nanaba go?" Levi glances around.

"With two members of Marcel Squad who went back inside the district through the river. The beast Titan directed the small titans in such a way that our soldiers would group up in one place. Marlene Squad and Klause Squad, along with Miche & Nanaba's squads were engaging the small titans, which put them in the line of fire when he launched the bombardment. They were all wiped out. In other words our remaining forces on this side of the gate consist of you new scout recruits, a third of Marcel Squad behind the enemy, Captain Levi, and me. No others."

Levi speaks amidst another boulder being launched. "So what now. Do you have any kind of plan?"

Inside Shinganshina

"Yell at him Eren!" Jean says. "We can't let Bertholdt get any closer to the wall!"

Eren's Titan yells in Bertholdt's direction as Marco, Mina, along with Nanaba & Miche jump away, the four agreeing that Reiner will be easier to defeat and that he should be dealt with by a smaller group than those fighting Bertholdt. The four turn back as there's a crash and stop on a roof observing as Eren is kicked on top of Wall Maria in his Titan form. Everyone is able to see this, from Marcel in the way back, to just below, Levi & Erwin.

Levi makes an audible 'tsk' sound as he stares up at Eren's Titan. "Damn it. That's Eren up there. There's only one Titan that could fling him like that. The colossal." Another bombardment rings out as he turns to Erwin. "This place is gonna look like a honeycomb before long. The beast Titan knows where we are, Erwin. If there's no chance that we can turn this around then tell me, and we can still cut our loses. Go shake the shit out of Eren till he wakes up. Have him run away with as many people as he can carry. Then we'll have at least some survivors.  Marcel will be wise enough to know what's going on, he'll have Ymir take him back to Trost. You can tell what's left of the recruits and Hange's group to run away on horseback. They won't have much of a chance, but they'll be decoys. They can give Eren & Marcel a shot at escaping."

"Tell me. How would you fit into this plan?" Erwin asks.

"I'm gonna go after the beast Titan. I'll draw him away somehow and-!"

"You can't. You won't even make it near him." Erwin interrupts.

"Probably not. But, if you, Eren, and Marcel make it home alive, then there will still be hope. All things considered, I feel like that's the best thing we can ask for. We've been brutalized. To be honest, sir, it seems like this battle will be where the Scout Regiment gets finished off." Levi says honestly.

"Yes. If we had no way to fight back, then you would be right."

Levi gasps. "Is there a way?"

"There is." Erwin says lowering his head to look at the ground.

"You could've mentioned that before. Care to explain why you kept your shitty mouth shut?" Levi stares down at Erwin.

"The plan could go a few ways." He says as rocks hit around them. "Best case, you and Marcel'll have a decent chance of killing the beast Titan. But for it to succeed... the recruits & I have to die... the Survey Corps may survive. But regardless, most of us will end up dead. Frankly, we're almost guaranteed to be defeated, no matter what. The recruits and I will be staking our deaths on the slimmest chance of victory. For this to work- to convince the youths to charge towards their deaths- it would take an expert con man and a whole slew of blatant lies. If I don't lead the vanguard myself, then none of them will have the courage. Which means I must be the first to charge. And the first to be slain as well." Erwin lowers his head folding in on himself, one of his arms raising upwards. "So I'll never learn the truth, or be around for when my son becomes the commander."

"Huh?"

Erwin sits down sighing while doing so. "I just... wanted to reach that cellar, and... see my son grow up to be a wonderful man. Everything I've done up to this point, I did in the hopes that I could achieve these two goals. I dreamt that Marcel & I would get to prove I was right. Many times, I thought that death would've been easier, but then I... I think of the questions I needed answered. They're what I lived for. And now those answers are no more than a cowards leap away." Erwin's eyes shift to look around him. "I'm so close, but... Can you see them, too? Our comrades are all standing around us. They've been watching us all this time. They want to know what we did with the sacrifices that they made... What became of the hearts they gave... (another round) But that's probably just in my head, right? Of no more import than a child's bad dream."

Levi kneels in front of Erwin. "You led us well. Fought hard. No one else could have gotten us this far. I'll make the choice for you. Give up on your dream and charge to your death. Lead those crying children straight to hell. I'll reach the beast Titan and tear him apart. And if I die, Marcel will." Levi says staring directly into Erwin's eyes.

Erwin smiles solemnly. As we see the Beast Titan crushing a boulder before hearing the scouts yelling. "Huh?"

"Charge!" Erwin roars.

"Huh? I didn't expect them to lay down and die, but-!" A flash of lightning goes off behind the beast as Ymir's jaw Titan rushes the Cart Titan and as the pair race around each other he turns away from them believing in his ally as he turns to throw the rocks at the Scouts. "For some reason I thought you'd do better than that, Marcel."

"Fire!" Erwin orders. Most of the scouts fire a green flare as Marcel notes of the singular red flare. He stands knowing what his order is and salutes towards the men and turns his attention to the side as several of the large titans collapse, he maneuvers himself to a better position, to launch his surprise attack. He doesn't bother to look as the scouts are mowed down. The first to be struck... Erwin Smith. He lowers his head the second wave rushes forward led by Marlowe Fraudenberg. A single tear falls as the beast Titan let's lose its second volley flinging Marlowe off his horse, then the third wave, the last wave. He draws his blades made from Ymir's titans teeth and aims towards the beast Titan readying for his attack with Levi. He stands and listens. He then watches as the beast Titan finally notices Levi's work.

"Hmm? What's this? My titans have fallen?" Marcel fires his first hook which embeds itself in the back of the beast Titan just as Levi's blade pierced the smoke and lands on his shoulder. The Beast Titan shouts out roaring at Levi, not noticing Marcel. Levi unhooks from the Beast Titan as it goes to grab him cutting the arm into several pieces"Huh?"

(Flashback)

"A single soldier might pose a threat to me?" The man within the Beast Titan says in response to a warning from Reiner & Bertholdt.

Reiner nods. "Yes. Captain Levi is dangerous. He's the one who we believe trained Marcel."

(Flashback End)

He turns around to protect his nape now noticing the hook in his back only to see Marcel for a brief moment before he loses vision, followed by a quick feeling of being unable to stand due to Levi cutting his ankles as well as Marcel moving down at his knees.

"Whats wrong? Not enjoying yourself so much anymore?!" Levi shouts angrily.

Marcel then shoots forward along with Levi the pair headed for the nape. "Let's have some fun!" Marcel roars. The pair quickly cut through the Beast Titan's remaining arm and then stand above the nape and with a curt nod, the pair cut dozens of times at blinding speeds into the nape, the pair yelling letting out all of their frustrations, as the beast Titan roars in agony. As Levi cuts the man within out, Marcel places his blade to the man's head inside his mouth. "After transforming, if your body's missing any limbs or even portions after extraction, it's too busy healing to let you transform again. Isn't that right?" Marcel says sarcastically. Marcel pushes the blade forward as tears start to fall down his face. "You son of bitch, I asked a question. It's polite to answer. Levi... find someone, there must be one."

"Move!" Marcel extracts his blade and flips backward as the cart Titan, grabs Zeke and starts running away, also inside its mouth is the unconscious body of Ymir.

"Ymir!" Marcel shouts.

"Damn it!"

"Take out the other titans before he can order them on us, after him!" Marcel says running towards the titans.

"Right!. The pair start running and using their ODM gear start to kill titans with Marcel doing more work as he still has all of his blades.

"Go, now! Rip them to pieces! It hurts! They were right about you two! You are dangerous! You'll die like the rest of them! It may have been a hard-won fight, but victory is ours!"

Marcel rushes after leaving Levi behind him as he attaches to Wall Maria and zooms forward slaying two more titans before speeding ahead however, he's not using his gas. Meanwhile in the field three people rise, one of them sitting being unharmed, the others a female awoke when Marcel spoke, she looks around and sees the other people who rose, her name, Sandra, those who rose with her, Floch Forster, and Marlowe Freudenburg.

Floch stands. "Hey! Is anyone else out there?"

"Anyone?" Sandra asks.

"Sandra?" Floch recognizes the voice.

"Is there anyone?" Marlo asks not having moved, he remains laying on the ground

Meanwhile on the inside.

"That bastard. What'll it take to put him down for good? Why won't he just stay dead? What the hell do we do against something like that?" Jean says wide eyed.

"Hey, Armin?" Marco speaks worried. "I think getting Eren out of here safely might be the best we can hope for."

"He's thinner." Armin comments.

"Huh?" Both Marco and Mikasa say in unison.

"The Colossal Titan. He's gotten a bit thinner." Armin mutters. "Guys! It's exactly like Hange said! Our best bet against the Colossal is a battle of attrition! You remember the experiments with Eren & Ymir? Eren could only transform up to 3 times, and Ymir could only transform 5 times. If that's the case for a 15-meter and a 6-meter Titan respectfully, a 60-meter Titan might even be less efficient! And then there's his steam. I think he must be burning through flesh and muscle tissue to produce it. Everything except for his skeleton."

"So... What are you saying?" Mina asks.

"Armin."

Armin takes a deep breath. "I have a plan. The rest of you need to draw Reiner away. Commanders Miche, and Nanaba, I'm sorry, but I want to ask you both to sit this out. The scouts have taken a heavy blow today, and we'll need to spare as many of our veterans as possible. See if there are any remains of Hange Squad. Marco, Jean you're in charge of the group with Reiner. Eren & I will defeat the Colossal Titan ourselves. The two of us can do it. Trust me on this."

Mikasa nods. "All right then. You leave Reiner to us and get going."

"Sure took you long enough, you had me thinkin' we were all gonna die here." Jean says.

Armin shoots away as Marco looks at Mina. "Mina go with the section commanders. Just to be safe." She looks down nodding to him the pair of commanders fly off taking Mina with them. He then takes off and joins Jean, with Mikasa, Sasha & Connie.

"Understand? We're leaving Bertholdt to them. We have to trust they can handle him. As for us we need to keep Reiner at a safe distance. Fly just close enough to get his attention, I'm entrusting the main plan to you Marco."

"We only have three Thunder spears, that's all." Connie says.

"Three is enough." Marco says. "We need to get his jaw open. Connie, Sasha use yours to take out the joints keeping his mouth shut, I'm entrusting you the last shot, Mikasa. If all else fails, Jean & I will use our special blades to cut him out of the armor."

Jean nods. "Right."

Marco stands in front of Reiner as the plan begins and Sasha misses her shot. He growls however, Connie hits his. Marco raises his blade made of Reiner's armor getting his eyes to widen for a moment.

"Jean!" Connie shouts. Marco looks as Mikasa looks to aim. "Mikasa! It's too risky!"

"No, it's perfect!" They turn as Hange shouts out. Marco glances over, as Hange shoots towards them with a thunder spear attached to her as on the ground, barely alive, Moblit, one of his legs burned horribly is being carried by Nanaba. Miche & Mina also give chase after her.

"Hange!" Marco shouts.

"Now's your chance get him!" Mikasa rushes forward and blasts Reiner out of his Titan. Marco then bursts forward catching him as he flies out of the Titan body cutting off Reiner's legs while doing so. He then turns over and watches as the Colossal Titan falls over crumpling in on itself. Marco places Reiner down and stands on a rooftop.

Chapter End.

So I had a change of plans due to me having an idea. And thanks to that Marlowe lives!! But for how long?