Wall Rose—Survey Corps garrison.
Commander Erwin dismounted and handed the reins to his adjutant to stable the horse.
Heading straight for his office, he was met by the guard outside: "Report, Commander: the Garrison Regiment's commander-in-chief—Dot Pixis—has arrived. He says it's urgent."
"Understood."
Erwin nodded and pushed the door open—only to find Pixis so anxious that, at the sound of footsteps, he had already hurried to the door to open it for him.
"Extremely urgent, Erwin," Pixis said, cutting to the point. "A Titan has appeared in the capital—estimated over one hundred meters."
"A hundred meters?"
Erwin's brow tightened as he looked to Pixis and the adjutant at his side.
"That's right. I've already ordered every available unit to redeploy to the capital and drive it toward Stohess District. The situation remains unclear, but I need you—and the full strength of the Survey Corps!"
"I understand. I'll order an immediate redeployment."
"I'm counting on you."
At that, Pixis actually bowed to Commander Erwin.
"Commander… what are you—"
Erwin sounded puzzled, but he didn't lift Pixis up. He let him bow.
Head lowered, Pixis spoke toward the floor, his expression sinking with regret. "We failed to take your warnings seriously. We had too little vigilance for enemies within the Walls. Now a hundred-meter-class Titan has shown itself. This could be humanity's doom. Please, Erwin—your instincts are sharper than this old man's. You're better at calling the decisive shot. I'm begging you: save humanity. On humanity's behalf, accept my thanks in advance."
"There's no need for that, Commander Pixis." Erwin finally reached out to steady him. Meeting the older man's eyes, he said, "Long ago, I submitted a defensive proposal to the royal government. It drew no interest, and they sent us away under the pretext of 'resuming expeditions.' That plan is still viable."
"Truly?!"
"Yes." Erwin nodded. "But as I warned before, the price will be terrible. The three regiments may suffer total casualties."
"There's no helping it…" Pixis sighed. "If the Titans within the Walls aren't destroyed, how can humanity survive—much less speak of freedom?"
Silence fell over the office.
After a moment, Erwin spoke: "We can only fight. We have no other choice. Even with limbs torn off, we fight. Only by fighting can we win survival—and freedom."
"You're right."
Pixis agreed, deeply.
The adjutants' spirits caught fire at those words. "Dedicate your hearts!"
They saluted and shouted.
"Dedicate your hearts!!"
Outer Wall of the capital.
The hundred-meter-class Titan moved slowly—on all fours, its face pressed to the ground—crawling toward the wall.
Where it passed, the ground bore scorched ruts, branded by the searing friction of its chest and face.
Countless soldiers buzzed around it like flies, darting in and out to find the nape for a killing blow—every one of them dying for it.
Its body was colossal, and the air around it blistered with heat.
Trees would melt in an instant; house walls split from the bake.
Step into that pocket of air and, before a hand could touch it, a human's skin would shrivel and crack, moisture boiled away, bones softened and ran—leaving a heap of gray ash with no grave to claim it.
Screams and wails rose without end. Too many innocents had already been swallowed by this giant beast, erased from the world.
At last, Erwin, Pixis, and the others arrived.
They stood atop the wall, looking down at the hundred-meter-class Titan crawling slowly up toward them.
"My men are dying in droves. At this rate, even if the army is annihilated, we still won't hurt it," Pixis said, grave and helpless.
Erwin said nothing, staring at the monster before them.
A long, long moment passed. Then he had it.
"Hange."
"Commander! Your orders!"
Hange stepped out from the ranks. She had gone from squad leader to section commander, authorized to issue combat orders as acting commander.
"Find explosives—everything you can. Turn them into mines and lay them on its path."
"Yes!"
Hange took the order and led several squad leaders and their teams to scour the area for explosives.
"I see. That might slow its advance," Pixis nodded. He'd considered it but hadn't acted, fearing a scattered barrage might alter the Titan's course and push it toward the refugee corridors, worsening the losses.
But now, it seemed time to try.
If they could use the grinding wounds at its mouth and chest to blast through to the nape—it might work.
Half an hour later, the mines were set and detonated. Though the Titan was blasted into a mangled, bloody mass, its flesh was so thick the nape was untouched; only the body lay torn to shreds.
Even so, its course didn't waver. It kept crawling straight on, as if something up ahead was calling it onward.
"What do we do, Commander?!"
"It's almost on us!"
"Commander! Give the order!"
On the wall, the Survey Corps boiled over, arms raised to fight. Their fervor lit the Garrison beside them, and the cry for orders rose as one.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!
The hundred-meter-class Titan edged into range of the wall guns. Every cannon on Wall Sina concentrated fire, a single volley smashing at the Titan's nape to blow it apart.
When the barrage ended, the whole of Wall Sina reeked of powder. Smoke veiled the districts below.
Gradually, the Titan's movements slowed, and the heat around it fell.
Seizing the moment, Erwin drew his twin blades and leveled them forward.
"Everyone! Target: the nape of the hundred-meter-class Titan! Even if you're wounded! Even if you die! Even if you're shattered to pieces! Give your hearts to freedom! For humanity—do not retreat! Advance!!"
He fired his grapples and leapt first on the Rittai Kidō Sōchi (ODM gear)!
Behind him, the entire Survey Corps roared. Every soldier bared steel at the overwhelming enemy and threw themselves into a charge with no thought of return.
Whooshwhooshwhooshwhooshwhooshwhoosh!!
They streamed off the wall in numbers beyond counting, green cloaks snapping in the wind, blades flashing cold and keen.
Swishswishswishswishswishswish!!
Twin blades raised—every soldier cut with everything they had.
Every strike aimed at the nape, bodies plunging like a torrent down the fall.
And then—
The hundred-meter-class Titan stood up.
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