Now, Lucien possessed the power of the Female Titan, the Jaw Titan, the Armored Titan, and the Colossal Titan.
Each Titan had its own unique abilities.
The Female Titan, standing at fourteen meters tall with golden hair and piercing blue eyes, was renowned for her exceptional speed—faster than even the best military horses. She could attract and command nearby Titans, move with incredible flexibility, and unleash a powerful short-range roar.
The Jaw Titan, only seven meters in height, was compact yet deadly. Its face and hands were covered in a hardened exoskeleton, its limbs proportioned for agility, and its jaws capable of biting through anything with terrifying strength.
The Armored Titan, fifteen meters tall, was the very image of strength and defense. Its entire body was encased in near-indestructible armor, impervious to ordinary blades. Only the thinner plates behind its knees allowed movement.
And then, there was the Colossal Titan—a towering sixty meters of raw destruction. Although it moved slowly, it possessed overwhelming size and could release scorching steam from its body, generating devastating shockwaves with ease.
Each of these Titans held their own advantages and limitations. Lucien had often wondered: If someone were to consume all Nine Titans, would they revert to the form of the original Founding Titan?
It was a tempting thought—one that might not be so far-fetched.
But tonight, his body was spent. After the battles he'd endured, rest was the only option.
He lay back on a sturdy tree branch, about a meter wide, and closed his eyes. Sleep came swiftly—it was the quickest way to recover stamina.
Time passed in silence. Before long, darkness blanketed the world.
---
Wall Rose — Survey Corps Headquarters
Every surviving key member of the Corps had gathered.
Erwin Smith sat at the head of the table, his face grim and unreadable.
"Is there still no word from Captain Levi or Mikasa?" he asked.
A scout hesitated. "No, Commander. It's… it's very likely they've already—"
Before he could finish, Eren shot up from his seat, rage and panic overtaking him.
"Eren, calm down!" Armin stepped in quickly, his tone weary but firm. "Mikasa won't die."
Eren's hands trembled, guilt flashing across his eyes. He didn't dare imagine the alternative.
"I know," Armin said softly, though even he didn't sound convinced. "But that Female Titan… she's unlike anything we've seen. Even if Levi and Mikasa are still alive, their chances are slim."
Jean, Connie, Sasha, and Krista all exchanged uneasy glances.
"I don't believe it either," Jean muttered. "Levi and Mikasa are too strong to go down that easily."
"I believe in Levi," Erwin said firmly, his gaze cutting through the tension. "Let's focus. Armin, analyze what we know."
Everyone straightened. Armin took a breath and began.
"From Eren's account, the Female Titan was indeed Annie. But it seems something happened between her, Reiner, and Bertholdt. She devoured Ymir and even tried to eat Eren.
What's more, she can now summon weapons seemingly out of thin air—and she's shown clear hostility toward us.
I believe Annie may already be dead. The current Female Titan might be someone else entirely. We just don't know how they took her power."
He paused before continuing.
"When we withdrew, Bertholdt was likely eaten by that same Titan. Reiner may have been killed or barely escaped.
And as for the Beast Titan reported by Connie's squad at Utgard Castle—he, too, is intelligent."
Armin's explanation went on for several minutes, methodically detailing every possibility.
"So," Hange said, pushing her glasses up, "whether it's Reiner, the Female Titan, or that new Beast Titan… their goal is Eren, right?"
"Exactly," Armin replied, nodding. "From what we can tell, there are four factions in play:
First, Reiner and Bertholdt.
Second, the Female Titan.
Third, the Beast Titan.
And finally, us.
Reiner and the Female Titan were allies before, but now they're fighting each other—both targeting Eren. The Beast Titan's motives are still unclear, but he's likely after Eren as well."
Hange's grin turned sharp. "So, Eren, looks like you're the most wanted man in the world."
"One day," Eren said through clenched teeth, "I'll kill them all."
"Then that means we hold the advantage," Armin said, determination rising in his voice. "If their goal is Eren, we control the board."
Erwin's eyes narrowed. "You have an idea, Armin?"
Armin nodded. "We still lack too much information. The truth lies in Eren's basement. That's where everything begins—and ends."
"You're proposing to use Eren as bait?" Erwin asked.
"Yes. If Eren appears beyond Wall Maria, they'll move. And that's when we strike."
It was bold, but eerily similar to Erwin's own past plan—the 57th Expedition.
"This is a good proposal," Erwin said after a pause. "We'll determine the timing later."
"Wait," Armin interjected, turning toward Zhou Wei. "Zhou Wei, earlier you mentioned something about 'Darkness' when you saved Eren. What did you mean by that? And what was that ability of yours?"
"Yeah," Connie added, "a golden creature appeared in your hand and shattered the Armored Titan's armor. Blades couldn't even scratch that!"
Zhou Wei's expression darkened. "I can only say this much—'Darkness' are demons. Eren and I are both their targets. My mission is to protect Eren and eliminate them. You can trust me on that.
And I'll say this clearly—the Female Titan is one of them."
The room fell silent.
Armin's mind raced, reviewing every encounter they'd had with Zhou Wei. He wasn't an enemy—that much was clear. If he had been, he'd have killed them long ago. Instead, he'd saved Eren more than once.
The only odd thing about him was how often he tried to impress Mikasa and Krista.
"Zhou Wei," Armin asked carefully, "are you from outside the walls?"
Every eye turned toward him.
"I cannot say," Zhou Wei replied after a moment, his tone firm.
"Why not?" a soldier demanded, hand instinctively gripping his blade.
"I told you already—I am not your enemy," Zhou Wei said, his voice low but sharp. "My mission is to protect Eren and destroy the Darkness."
"Enough," Armin said quickly, stepping between them. "I believe him."
Erwin finally stood, cutting through the tension. "This discussion is over. Everyone, get some rest. Armin, stay behind."
As the others filed out, the room fell silent—only Erwin and Armin remained.
_______
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