"Captain, you're joking, right? How could a Titan be conscious!?"
Oluo's voice broke the uneasy quiet. Shock and disbelief rippled through his expression, but behind his words was something darker — fear.
If Titans could think… if even one of them was self-aware…
He couldn't bring himself to imagine it.
"I know what I sensed," Captain Mike Zacharias said firmly. His deep voice carried the weight of certainty that silenced further argument. "That scent wasn't like the others. It's different — sharper, heavier, alive in a way the rest aren't. That Titan was conscious."
He lifted his head slightly, sniffing the air as the wind shifted. The motion was instinctive — almost animal. For someone who was often mocked for relying on his nose, Mike's accuracy was terrifyingly reliable.
The others — Gunther, Eld, and Oluo — stiffened. The thought hit them like a thunderclap, numbing their senses.
Only Lock remained calm.
"Captain Mike, your intuition aligns with something I've suspected for a while." Lock's tone was measured, analytical. "I discussed this with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi before. Based on what we've observed, it's highly probable that there are Titans who retain human awareness — something between mindless and abnormal Titans."
Everyone turned toward him, their eyes wide. Even Ymir, standing near Petra, froze mid-breath.
Lock's gaze flickered briefly to her. She was trying to appear composed, but her eyes betrayed her — wandering, restless, too knowing.
He continued evenly, "From our gathered intelligence, there's evidence suggesting a third classification of Titans — intelligent ones. The Colossal Titan that breached Wall Maria, the Armored Titan seen beside it, and the Female Titan mentioned in earlier reports all fit that pattern."
"The Colossal and the Armored…" Mike muttered, his jaw tightening. "Damn them."
The squad fell silent. The logic was undeniable — and terrifying. These weren't random abominations; they were enemies who could plan, think, and kill with intent.
Eld broke the silence first. "If they can strategize like humans… it means they're not mindless at all."
"Which means someone's behind all this," Petra finished quietly.
Lock nodded. "Exactly. But speculation won't help us now. Captain Mike, what's your decision? Will you return to headquarters, or join us in completing the current reconnaissance?"
Mike crossed his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "We'll go with you. We haven't been inside the walls since the fall — and I'd rather bring back useful information than excuses."
Lock smirked faintly. "Understood."
Mike's decision wasn't just courage — it was necessity. Returning to headquarters empty-handed after losing the outer districts would only invite suspicion and punishment from the higher-ups. Going forward with Lock's team was both duty and redemption.
What none of Mike's men knew, however, was that the royal government had already decided to abandon all soldiers outside the inner walls.
Lock kept that truth to himself. That explanation — grim as it was — would come from Commander Erwin later.
That night, they camped atop the outer wall overlooking Shiganshina. Below, the once-thriving district lay in ruin, bathed in cold moonlight. The jagged silhouettes of collapsed homes stretched like broken teeth across the horizon.
They didn't dare descend into the streets. The risk of alerting wandering Titans was too high. From their elevated position, they had an unobstructed view of the entire area — a clear vantage point for reconnaissance.
Gunther and Eld set up recording instruments, sketching rough maps of Titan movement and district damage. Mike and his men helped gather intelligence, occasionally glancing toward the ruins in silence.
The reports they compiled painted a bleak picture.
Wall Maria was completely overrun. Nearly one-third of humanity was dead. Those who survived had been forced to flee inward, crowding the already-strained regions of Wall Rose. Hunger, riots, and disease were spreading. The kingdom was fracturing.
The fall of Wall Maria wasn't just a military failure — it was the collapse of humanity's fragile illusion of safety.
Lock stood at the wall's edge, Petra beside him, Ymir lingering behind. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes flicked from the distant gate to the remnants of Grisha Yeager's home, partially visible through the ruins.
He remembered what Erwin had told him — about a hidden injector buried there, containing Titan spinal fluid. It was one of the few that hadn't been confiscated after the fall.
For a moment, he considered retrieving it. But the thought passed quickly.
Too far. Too dangerous. Too unnecessary.
He didn't need to risk it — not now. He already had an understanding with Grisha Yeager. The power of the Titans was something he could access if needed… but not something he wanted to rely on.
"Something on your mind?" Petra asked quietly.
Lock glanced at her. "Just thinking how much this place has changed. Once, this was humanity's doorstep to the outside world."
"And now it's a grave," she finished softly.
He didn't argue.
Two days passed in grim routine. Patrols. Observations. Mapping Titan patterns. The mission was nearly complete. For once, no Titans had approached the wall — almost unnervingly peaceful.
When they finally compiled the full report, Mike's team looked visibly relieved. The tension in the air eased, and preparations began for their return to Trost to regroup with the rest of the Survey Corps.
Eld secured the last satchel of notes and turned toward the wall's descent ladder. "We can head back before sundown if we move now."
Lock nodded. "Good. Keep formation tight. We don't want any surprises—"
"Everyone, stop!"
Mike's voice cut through the wind. He raised a hand sharply, his head tilting slightly as he faced the breeze. His nose twitched — once, twice — and then his expression shifted.
Every muscle in his body went rigid.
"…No," he muttered. "No mistake. That scent… it's her."
He turned to Lock, his face grim.
"It's the Female Titan. I can smell her."
Before anyone could react, the sound of cracking stone echoed down the length of the wall. Two crystalline Titans — smaller, agile forms — emerged from the far edge, followed by a massive, unmistakably feminine figure.
The Female Titan's silhouette gleamed in the sunlight, steam rising from her skin as she vaulted over the shattered parapet.
Lock didn't hesitate. His blades flashed free from their scabbards, twin arcs of cold steel catching the light.
"Everyone—prepare for battle!" he roared.
The wind howled.
The world blurred into motion.
And once again, humanity's strongest met the storm head-on.
---
A/N
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