That night, the stars shone brightly across the darkened sky.
After a full day of combat and cleanup, the surviving soldiers were completely exhausted. Though the mindless Titans had all been eradicated, the damage they left behind was catastrophic.
Both Wall Rose and Wall Sina were scarred by destruction. The number of dead was still being tallied, and the cries of mourning filled every street. Smoke and ash mixed with the scent of blood, spreading through the devastated districts.
At the temporary quarters of the Survey Corps, bright lamplight illuminated the tense silence inside.
"Are you alright?"
Erwin's voice broke the stillness as he looked at Zhou Wei, who lay weakly on a bed, his breathing shallow but steady.
Eren, Connie, and a few others stood nearby, faces grave.
Zhou Wei's strength during the day had been undeniable. With Levi gone, he was now the only one strong enough to fill that void — even if questions still surrounded his origins.
The Survey Corps needed Zhou Wei. They had no other option.
Eren and the others alone could never stand against Lucien.
Zhou Wei's complexion was pale as paper. He shook his head slowly, coughing before managing to speak. "I forced my power too far today… I won't be able to move for at least three days."
"That serious? Lucien could attack again at any moment," Hange said, adjusting her glasses, her expression grim.
"I suspect he'll come tonight."
Zhou Wei leaned back against the headboard, eyes glinting with cold light. He knew how Lucien thought — after all, they were both from the same world.
Lucien would realize Zhou Wei's power had been forcibly increased and that there would be side effects. If it were him, he would strike now, when his opponent was weakest.
It was only logical.
Every transmigrator from Earth would think the same way.
"That soon?" Connie muttered, uneasy.
"He knows me too well," Zhou Wei replied, forcing a bitter smile. "If possible, I'd rather not be his enemy."
"In that case," Hange said, pacing the room, "we wait for him. We must catch that man tonight."
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Erwin commanded.
The room cleared quickly, leaving only Zhou Wei behind.
"…You'd better not come," Zhou Wei whispered under his breath.
A Blood Burst Pill appeared in his trembling hand. His jaw tightened.
He was gambling everything. All his exchange points were gone. Whether he lived or died would depend entirely on this pill.
If he could complete his mission — to protect the Son of Destiny from the Darkness within six months and destroy that Darkness — he would earn 150,000 exchange points. Enough to completely enhance his bone structure in the Main God Space, and perhaps break through to the next level entirely.
Clutching the pill tightly, Zhou Wei closed his eyes. Even breathing hurt — every movement felt like being sliced apart from within.
Outside, the night grew heavy. The stars vanished behind thick, drifting clouds.
High above, a lone figure hovered — a thousand meters up, staring down at the illuminated complex below.
Just as Zhou Wei predicted, Lucien was coming.
But as he looked upon the brightly lit, heavily guarded buildings — soldiers with torches patrolling every corner — Lucien paused.
"Not surprising," he murmured. "Zhou Wei was cautious."
He hovered in silence for a moment, thinking.
That man would've already guessed he planned a surprise attack. Which meant the area below was probably riddled with traps.
If he went in now, he might not make it back out.
Better safe than sorry.
He clenched his fist. "Then I'll be despicable."
Lucien didn't care for pride or reputation — not when his life was on the line.
His figure descended rapidly.
Nine hundred meters.
Eight hundred.
Six hundred.
Five hundred.
Then he stopped.
With a flick of his hand, Lucien snapped his fingers and sliced open his index finger.
The sky split apart.
Golden lightning crackled through the clouds, lighting up the entire night as Lucien transformed into the Colossal Titan.
A sixty-meter-tall body erupted into being, wreathed in steam and flame. The air thundered as it fell like a meteor from the heavens.
The transformation was complete. Lucien burst free from the Titan's nape, hovering midair using Geppo.
His plan was brutal but effective — use the Colossal Titan as a meteor to annihilate everything below.
No traps could withstand that.
The roar of his transformation echoed like a bomb, shaking the walls for miles.
"Alert! Enemy sighted!"
The Survey Corps rushed outside. When Armin and the others saw the descending Colossal Titan, their faces drained of color.
"Damn it!" Hange shouted, her mind spinning. "We didn't expect he could transform into a Colossal Titan!"
"Retreat!" Erwin's voice thundered. "Everyone, fall back now!"
He hadn't expected Lucien to attack so directly, so mercilessly.
Zhou Wei, barely conscious, was carried outside. When he looked up at the falling Titan blazing like a miniature sun, his composure shattered.
"That lunatic—! Carry me and run!"
But it was already too late.
The Colossal Titan crashed into the earth.
A deafening explosion followed — the shockwave flattened everything within sight. The ground split open, heat surging outward like a volcanic eruption.
Eren transformed instantly, the Attack Titan hardening its body to shield Erwin and the others. But even with his crystal armor, the defense only held for seconds before shattering.
Armin, Connie, and others were thrown like ragdolls, coughing blood as they hit the ground.
Zhou Wei's injuries worsened. He gasped for air, his vision blurring.
"Eren… Connie… Zhou Wei…" Armin croaked weakly, his voice drowned by the roaring steam.
The air shimmered with heat; breathing felt like inhaling fire.
But the nightmare wasn't over.
Golden lightning flashed again across the sky.
Another Colossal Titan began to form.
As long as Lucien had the stamina, he could repeat the process endlessly — transforming, detonating, and raining destruction from above.
The Titan bodies might vanish after death, but each explosion carved the earth deeper.
It was madness. Ruthless, brilliant madness.
And thanks to Geppo, Lucien could unleash this nightmare again and again without touching the ground.
The night sky burned like day.
The Survey Corps had no idea how to stop the monster above.
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I'll be dropping a 50% discount code for my Patreon membership on the 15th, in celebration of the upcoming Christmas season.
The code will be active from that day until the end of the month.
Stay tuned! ❤️