Trost District, which only two days ago was filled with peace and the rhythm of everyday life, had now become hell.
Once, the sounds of the bustling marketplace, the laughter of children running through the streets, and the clang of blacksmiths' hammers gave life within the walls. Mothers swept their doorsteps, farmers carried their harvests, and soldiers stood watch upon the walls, almost forgetting that the threat of Titans still loomed.
Now, all of that was gone—reduced to memories burned away along with the rising black smoke. The Titans had entered Trost District after the Colossal Titan's attack.
TSSHH!
SLASH!
Levi's blades flashed, striking cleanly at a Titan's nape. The massive body toppled, crushing houses already half-collapsed.
Levi landed on a rooftop, standing tall as he caught his breath. His eyes scanned the ruins of Trost District. Black smoke rose from every corner of the city, mingling with screams that were now slowly fading.
He glanced down at his hands, smeared with Titan blood.
"Tch. My hands are filthy…" Levi muttered.
Pulling out a cloth, he wiped the blood away. Though Titan blood would eventually evaporate, for Levi—who loathed uncleanliness—it was bothersome and unpleasant to look at.
DING!
DONG!
DING!
DONG!
The heavy toll of the great bell echoed from the central tower. Its long note rang through the district—a signal that the evacuation was complete. It also meant the soldiers were permitted to retreat.
Levi bent his knees, ready to leap again. But mid-flight across the rooftops, something caught his eye.
He saw Rimuru, and beside him stood a girl with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a red scarf around her neck.
Levi immediately recognized her face from the manga.
"…Mikasa Ackerman," he muttered softly, his brow lifting slightly.
He slowed down, landing a few meters away from them on a sturdier rooftop.
"Oy! Levi!" Rimuru called out.
Rimuru landed at Levi's side, wearing a casual smile as though Trost wasn't currently a hellscape that had swallowed hundreds of lives.
"Oy, Levi!" he said in a friendly tone. "You're still alive, huh? For a second there I thought a Titan had already made you its snack."
Mikasa followed close behind, moving with precision and speed. She landed behind Rimuru, her eyes locking on Levi—cold and unreadable.
Levi only let out a quiet scoff, rolling his eyes lazily, his face as expressionless as ever. He glanced briefly at Rimuru, who stood relaxed as though the stench of blood and smoke in the air meant nothing.
"Hmph… do I look like a corpse to you?" Levi retorted flatly.
Rimuru chuckled, while Mikasa's gaze remained steady, her expression unchanging.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Rimuru asked, "So, what's the situation?"
Levi shook his head. "I was too late to help him… It's like this world's fate."
Rimuru went silent for a moment at Levi's words. His expression softened, and he gave a small nod, a sign that he understood what Levi meant.
He then shifted his gaze to the black-haired girl standing beside him. "In that case…" he said, lifting his chin slightly as he looked at Mikasa with curiosity. "Mikasa… what will you do now?"
Mikasa clenched her fists at her sides. The coldness in her eyes ignited into burning resolve.
"I will find my two friends. They're still inside the district… I will not leave without them."
Rimuru turned toward Levi, smiling faintly.
"I'll go with Mikasa to help her. You coming too, Levi?"
Levi stayed silent for a few seconds before finally giving a short nod—his sign of agreement.
"Alright then…" Rimuru patted his own shoulder and stepped up beside Mikasa. "I'll help you find them. I can't just stand by and let a pretty girl like you fight alone."
Mikasa gave him a brief look. Her expression remained cold, but in her eyes flickered a glint of gratitude. Levi, on the other hand, only let out a short sigh.
With swift motion, the three of them launched into the air with their 3D Maneuver Gear. Steel hooks embedded into the walls of standing buildings, the pull of cables slingshotting their bodies across the rooftops.
A few minutes later, they landed atop a large house where surviving cadets had gathered. The cadets were panting heavily, many of them already losing spirit as their maneuver gear gas supply dwindled.
"Our gas is almost gone… we can't make it out of the district," one cadet muttered, face pale.
Mikasa quickly strode over to Annie, who was with Reiner, Bertholdt, and Marco.
"Annie," she called, her eyes full of concern. "Have you seen Eren? Where is he?"
Annie glanced briefly at her, her expression as flat as ever.
"I don't know," she answered curtly.
Before Mikasa could press further, Reiner, standing behind Annie, pointed toward someone.
"Ask Armin," he said seriously.
Mikasa turned quickly, her eyes widening as she saw Armin slumped weakly against a wall. His head hung low, as though he couldn't bear to look anyone in the eye.
Mikasa rushed to him, her breathing still a little ragged, her scarf fluttering in the wind. Rimuru and Levi stayed back, watching in silence.
Armin remained slouched against the wall, his body intact. Relief washed over Mikasa's face as she exhaled unconsciously.
"Thank goodness… you're not hurt," Mikasa said with relief.
She crouched down to meet his face.
"Where's Eren?" she asked.
Armin's teeth clenched, his body trembling violently. Tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrollably. Slowly, he lifted his head, meeting Mikasa's eyes—his own red and filled with grief.
Mikasa froze. Her heartbeat quickened, dread stabbing into her chest.
"…Our squad… the 34th Cadet Squad… Thomas Wagner… Nac Tius… Mylius Zeramuski… Mina Carolina…"
Tears fell faster as Armin's shoulders shook.
"And… Eren Yeager…"
"…all five of them… completed their mission…" Armin bowed his head again, his shoulders shaking harder. "…and have fallen in battle."
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