A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here! Enjoy!

edited on december 13th, 2021 @ 12:42pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚈,
𝓦𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝙾𝚁.

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While stopped at the ruins of Utgard Castle to take a brief break, the Scouts were overwhelmed by Titan assault, vanquishing their hope of survival. However, in that moment... Ymir suddenly transformed into a Titan.

And then the main force of the Scouts rushed in to engage the enemy. They successfully dismantled the Titan attack. However, upon the ruins of battle, Eren and the others learn a surprising truth.

IT HAD STARTED TO RAIN not long after and clouds had darkened the sky. The Scouts made it back to the top of the wall as Ymir was wrapped up. She was now being lifted on top of the wall as Christa's eyes watered.

Josiah helped Mikasa pull Connie up on the wall. "Thanks, Josiah, Mikasa." Connie thanked them both.

"Are you hurt?" Mikasa asked.

"I'm fine, but... Reiner got his arm bit and Ymir is as you can see." Connie replied.

"Who would've thought Ymir was a Titan, too? Does that—?" Sasha began.

"Sasha." Mikasa started to say but before she could say any more a voice interrupted her.

"Is everyone clear?" Hange asked. "We'll deal with Ymir later. And Connie... I'll arrange for a Scout squad to investigate your village later. For the time being, I want you to focus on the mission to fix the wall. Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Still... I expected this place to be swarming with Titans." Hange stated as they looked down and saw Hannes riding along outside the wall.

"Hannes?" Mikasa questioned.

"It's the Garrison's advance squad. They came to tell us where the hole is." Hange spoke up.

Hannes lifted himself on top of the wall. "There's no hole anywhere!" He informed.

"Huh?" Eren said.

"We spent all night looking for it... but at least between Trost and Krolva District, there's nothing wrong with the wall." Hannes stated.

"What'd you say?" Hange asked.

"We bumped into soldiers from Krolva and retraced our steps. We haven't seen Titans the whole way here." Hannes replied.

"But... we know for sure there's Titans on this side of the wall." Armin pointed out.

"Did you actually look? Are you sure you're not drunk?" Eren asked rudely.

"I didn't drink! Wait, why are all of you here anyways?" Hannes questioned.

Hange turned to the crowd. "If there's no hole in the wall, so be it. For now, we're falling back to Trost District!" They informed.

"Whatever you do, don't let your guard down. We're going back ahead of you." Hannes told the four as he used his gear to move down the wall.

"There's nothing wrong with the wall?" Eren asked himself.

"What could this mean?" Armin questioned. "There's been nothing like this in five years. Why is it all happening now?"

"This world is getting more and more out of hand." Sasha commented.

Eren was about to follow them until Reiner stopped him. "Eren. Have a minute?" He asked. "We need to talk."

"What about?" Eren questioned.

"Five years ago, we demolished the wall and began our attack on humanity." Reiner began.

"Oh no... What if there's a Titan that dug a hole underneath the wall?" Hange asked themselves.

"The hole will be hard to find in that case." Moblit replied.

"I'm the Armored Titan and he's the Colossal Titan."

"Right now, we need to focus on getting Ymir back safely." Hange informed.

"Even with our horses, we still have to worry about the Titans."

Josiah and Mikasa both stopped in their tracks. "Wait... Did I hear Reiner correctly?" He thought, assuming he was hearing things as him and Mikasa shared a look.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Eren asked.

"Why are you telling him, Reiner?" Bertholdt questioned, grabbing onto his arm.

"Our primary goal was to ensure all of humanity was wiped out, but now there's no need for that. Eren. If you agree to come with us, we won't have to destroy any more of the walls. Understand?" Reiner asked.

"Huh? No, wait! I don't understand at all!" Eren responded.

"I'm saying... Why don't you just come with us?" Reiner repeated. "I know this is sudden, but we need to go now."

"Right now? Where will you take me?" Eren questioned.

"I can't say that yet. But... Well, it's something like our hometown. So? What will it be, Eren?" Reiner asked.

Josiah reached for his blade as he clenched his fist, flashes of Clayton and his mother being devoured by Titans, and Soren being crushed under the Armored Titan's foot with his ten year old self looking up at the monster in horror.

"Uh..."

"It's not a bad deal, right? You can easily avert this crisis."

"I wonder about that..."

"Hey! We're leaving!" Armin called out.

"What the hell? And here I thought I had enough to think about yesterday..." Eren thought.

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《 𝟣𝟤 𝖧𝖮𝖴𝖱𝖲 𝖤𝖠𝖱𝖫𝖨𝖤𝖱 — 𝖤𝖧𝖱𝖬𝖨𝖢𝖧 𝖣𝖨𝖲𝖳𝖱𝖨𝖢𝖳 》

"Eren?"

"What is it, Section Commander?"

"Oh, well... I was finally able to get my hands on the background report for Annie Leonhart."

"Annie's?" Eren questioned.

"Yeah. It's taken so long to get it because managing these reports is such a mess right now. According to this, there were two others belonging to the 104th Cadet Corps who came from the same area as her. And those two are..." Hange paused.

"...Reiner Braun... and Bertholdt Hoover."

Everyone could only stare at them with shock. "Thanks to the chaos five years ago, pretty much all of their family records are spotty or missing." Hange continued before setting down the papers.

"During the long-range scouting formation, their unit was given false information. They were among those purposely told that Eren was in the right wing." Hange continued.

"The Female Titan attacked from the right wing!" Armin announced.

"Huh? What does that mean?" Sasha asked.

"That it's possible they passed on that information to Annie..." Armin replied.

"Why? Why would they tell Annie?" Sasha questioned.

"Hey, hold on a minute, Armin. You can't just—" Eren began.

"I know that, Eren." Hange interrupted. "By itself, that's not enough to prove anything. So just in case, I'd like to hear from you how these three interacted during training. Know anything?"

"I knew Reiner and Bertholdt were from the same place, but... they didn't seem close with Annie." Armin responded.

"I agree. I don't recall ever seeing the pair talking to Annie that much. Well, Annie didn't talk much in the first place." Eren agreed.

"When we ate, Annie would always sit alone and munch on food by herself." Sasha added on. "Oh! I've got something! I heard a rumor that she liked sweets, even though she looks so grouchy!"

"I... don't remember." Mikasa said.

"Well, she was always treated like an outsider to them." Josiah stated.

"But... As their comrade, I'd find it hard to believe. Set aside Bertholdt, who doesn't say much. Reiner is like everyone's big brother, and he's not devious enough to deceive all of us." Eren said.

"I agree. Reiner gave everything he had fighting the Female Titan with me. He would have gotten crushed in her hand if he hadn't—" Armin paused as if he realized something.

"What's wrong?" Eren asked.

"Reiner managed to escape, but... Annie suddenly changed her course... and ran in the direction of Eren. I... I did mention that Eren might be at the rear of the center rank. But Annie was too far away to hear..." Armin replied.

"Seriously?"

"Did Reiner seem overly interested in Eren's location?" Hange asked as Armin widened his eyes as he remembered Reiner asking where Eren was.

"It can't be... I only started talking about Eren's position... because Reiner was the one who asked about it first. Furthermore... when that happened, the Female Titan was staring at her palm. He might have written a message with his blades in her hand. Reiner could've..." Armin trailed off as it was silent.

"What the hell? Why are you saying things like this? You should—" Eren started to say.

"Eren!" Hange interrupted him. "No... Everyone, listen up! Supposing that we find Reiner or Bertholdt, act in such a way as to not reveal any suspicions. Of course, do not make any mention of Annie Leonhart either. Regardless if they're Annie's accomplices or not, we need to lead them deep underground and confine them. Does everyone understand?"

"Yes!"

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Eren placed his hand on Reiner's shoulder. "You're just tired, aren't you? Right, Bertholdt? You've been though so much, it's making you crazy." He said.

"Y-Yeah." Bertholdt agreed. "Reiner's just really tired."

"Besides, if you were really the Armored Titan that wants to destroy humanity... why would you be asking me this in the first place? What did you think would happen? That I'd nod and say "Sure, let's go"?" Eren questioned.

"Oh, right. That's right. What the hell was I thinking? Have I really gone crazy?" Reiner asked himself.

"Come on, let's go." Eren told them.

A strong gust of wind blew, breaking a flag that was tied to a stick. The sky cleared up as everyone was silent as Josiah was clenching onto his blade, anger wielding up inside him.

"I see... That's it. I've been here too long for my own good. It's been three long years... surrounded by nothing but idiots. We were just kids... We didn't know anything. If only I never knew that there were people like this... I... wouldn't have become... such a half-assed piece of shit!" Reiner shouted.

"It's too late now... I don't know what's right anymore. But there's only one choice for me now... is to face the consequences of my actions... and as a warrior..." Reiner finished as he held up his hand, which had steam coming out of it. "...fulfill my duty to the bitter end!"

"Reiner! Are we doing it?! Now?! Right here?!" Bertholdt questioned.

"Yeah. We settle this... right here, right now!" Reiner shouted as he headed towards Eren.

In a flash, Josiah appeared from behind Eren with a dark look on his face and clashed his sword with Reiner's hand as blood spat out.

He got out his other sword and quickly slashed it across Bertholdt's neck as the two male's stumbled back. Bertholdt was struggling to breathe as he grabbed onto his neck as Josiah pointed his blade towards Bertholdt.

"Eren! Run!" Josiah shouted as he glared at Bertholdt.

"What did Soren and Clayton do to get killed like that, huh?! Tell me, Reiner, Bertholdt, you bastards!" Josiah shouted in anger before trying to stab Bertholdt again but was pushed out of the way by Reiner. He knocked him off the wall but he quickly recovered.

Lightning flashed around Bertholdt and Reiner as Eren could only stare in shock.

"Eren! Get out of there!" Armin called out as Hange and the others ran towards them.

A lightning bolt struck the two of them as the Scouts were thrown back. Eren struggled to pull himself up as the Colossal Titan had formed on top of the wall with the Armored Titan behind it as wind and rocks flew in every direction.

Eren had accidentally let go of the wall but was quickly caught by the Armored Titan. He looked up to see the bottom half of the Colossal Titan missing, the Armored Titan stood behind him on the other side where the Scouts were as they tried to grab onto something.

The Colossal Titan stretched its arm out over the Scouts to retrieve Ymir who was blowing away.

"Ymir!" Christa shouted.

The Armored Titan skidded down the wall as Eren's hair was blowing in his face. Eren started to tear up from the betrayal from the people he thought of as friends.

"Bertholdt... Reiner..." Eren thought as he bit into his hand. "You damn traitors!"

Eren transformed into his full Titan form as he used his fist to attack the Armored Titan.

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A/N: Another chapter is done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2076 words.