The entire area before him lay in ruins. Streets were torn apart, houses reduced to rubble, and shattered stones filled the air with dust and silence.
But there wasn't a single Titan in sight—nor any trace of Aunt Carla. That, at least, loosened the tight knot in Lock's chest.
Still, the distant roar of Titans echoed faintly through the streets, a grim reminder that this momentary calm wouldn't last. Soon, this place would become a gathering point—a slaughterhouse.
"Aunt Carla should be fine…" Lock murmured, scanning the wreckage.
Then, at the next intersection, he spotted Eren and Mikasa rushing forward, faces pale with fear. Armin was nowhere to be seen. Most likely, he had gone home or fled. At this age, Armin hadn't yet become the brave strategist he would one day be—just a timid boy frozen by terror.
"How brave," Lock muttered dryly, tightening his grip on his blades.
Before he could move, a Titan—three or four meters tall—lurched out from behind a collapsed wall near the two children. It moved fast, faster than either of them could react.
"Everything's different now…" Lock whispered, his expression hardening.
He drew both blades, triggered his maneuver gear, and shot forward with a burst of compressed gas.
"It's a Titan! Run! We're almost home!" Eren shouted.
"Don't talk—just keep running!" Mikasa snapped, her calm cutting through Eren's panic.
But neither of them could outrun it. The Titan's massive steps shook the street, closing the gap in seconds. They turned in terror as its huge face loomed over them—lifeless eyes fixed on its prey.
Is this the end? Eren thought numbly.
Mama… Papa… Mikasa's mind went blank.
Then—
Whoosh!
A flash of light cut through the air. From a nearby rooftop, a figure descended with blinding speed.
Snick—!
A clean strike severed the Titan's nape. Steam hissed violently as the creature stumbled forward, its body collapsing and rolling to a stop right beside the children.
Thud…
Eren swallowed hard. Mikasa's wide eyes slowly turned toward the rescuer.
" Lock…" she whispered.
" Lock, what are you doing here?" Eren asked, stunned.
Lock landed lightly in front of them, his expression unreadable. Without warning, he smacked Eren on the head.
"I told you to stay put! Why are you running around on your own? Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is?" he scolded.
"I came to look for—" Eren began.
"I already checked your house," Lock cut him off. "Aunt Carla and Uncle Grisha aren't there. They must have escaped already."
He pointed toward the interior wall. "Go. Head for Wall Maria. Now."
"Yes, sir!" Eren said quickly.
Knowing his family was safe, he didn't argue further. He grabbed Mikasa's hand, and together they sprinted toward the inner gate.
Watching them go, Lock sighed. "I've basically become a babysitter," he muttered.
Still, he turned toward their home once more, double-checking the area. When he found no trace of Aunt Carla, he shifted direction—toward Armin's neighborhood.
But before he could reach it, a familiar voice rang out.
"Lock, run!!!"
Hannes stumbled from a side alley, panic etched across his face. Behind him thundered a Titan—a woman with a hauntingly familiar visage.
Lock froze for only a heartbeat.
It was her.
The Titan that had once been Dina Fritz—Grisha's first wife, and the former royal blood of Marley.
Lock's eyes narrowed. Whatever she had been before didn't matter anymore. Now, she was just another mindless Titan.
"Get back, Hannes," Lock said calmly.
Without waiting for a reply, he propelled himself forward, streaking low along the street toward the Titan.
Gas hissed. Blades flashed.
In one swift motion, he slashed across both her wrists, severing her hands cleanly. The Titan roared in agony, staggering. Lock spun once more, cutting through both ankles in a blur of steel and smoke.
Sniff—
The giant crashed to the ground, helpless and twitching, steam rising from its wounds.
Lock stood a few meters ahead, expression cold.
"Keep living," he said quietly. "If all goes well… I'll restore you next time we meet."
He turned away, approaching Hannes, who stood frozen in disbelief.
"You… you…" Hannes stammered, staring at the fallen Titan. He could barely process what he'd just seen—a monster that had once seemed unstoppable, now rendered powerless within seconds.
Lock ignored his shock. His eyes drifted to the maneuver gear on Hannes's waist.
"Uncle, I need your gas tank."
"What—? Oh… sure," Hannes mumbled, still dazed.
Lock swiftly detached the spare tank and replaced his own depleted one, exhaling in relief. He'd burned through nearly all his gas during the chaos—barely a third remained. This would keep him fighting a little longer.
He glanced toward Uncle Harry's house in the distance.
"Let's go. We head for Wall Maria's entrance—it's going to be hell down there."
Before Hannes could respond, Lock launched himself skyward, cables hissing as he darted across the rooftops toward the smoke and fire.
The sky burned orange. The screams of Shiganshina echoed behind him.
Lock didn't look back.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon
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