"What's going on with those two?"
The Garrison Regiment soldiers watched the scene before them in shock. Two people, just two people, had managed to completely block the breach in the Wall created by the Colossal Titan.
Especially the blonde girl—her speed was like a gust of wind; the naked eye could only catch a blur as the surrounding Titans were easily killed.
"Are they the military's secret weapon?" one soldier subconsciously swallowed.
There were also more rational people. One officer shouted, "Never mind that! While they're holding back the Titans, quickly rescue the wounded and evacuate the civilians!"
Because Ryuu and Roy were blocking the Titans, the situation was much better than people had expected. Casualties were only caused by the debris from the Colossal Titan's kick.
The Garrison Regiment soldiers organized the citizens' evacuation.
Reiner and Bertholdt, who were blending in with the crowd, were carrying the unconscious Annie and moving with the refugees. Their expressions were tense, but not many people noticed them.
Suddenly, Bertholdt noticed a handsome black-haired youth walking towards them. He lowered his head, reasoning that no one inside the Walls should know their identities.
But the youth was staring right at them.
Roy narrowed his eyes, recalling information about the Titan world: the Titan squad sent by Marley was meant to gauge the Wall King's attitude and seize the Founding Titan.
However, an accident occurred on the day they arrived at Paradis Island.
Captain Marcel was eaten by the sudden appearance of a Pure Titan (Ymir) while saving Reiner. They lost their Captain and the Jaw Titan at the very start of the mission.
The squad argued over whether to continue the mission, and eventually, Reiner forced the other two to carry on.
Annie transformed into the Female Titan, carrying Reiner and Bertholdt to approach the Walls, using the Female Titan's ability to attract a large number of Pure Titans along the way. Since the Jaw Titan was gone and couldn't take shifts, Annie had to complete the entire distance that was originally meant for the Jaw Titan and Female Titan together. Upon reaching the Wall, Annie was exhausted and fell unconscious.
At this moment, Reiner should have transformed into the Armored Titan to breach the inner Wall. Bertholdt and Annie were blending into the Wall interior amidst the chaos—one was unconscious, and the other was physically limited after destroying the Wall. They had walked right into Roy's sights.
Thinking of the generous rewards in the instance quest, Roy felt he needed to capitalize on this opportunity!
Wind-Stepping!
Just as the distance between them closed to within ten meters, Roy's mind moved, activating the special effect of the Wind-Chasing Boots. His Agility attribute immediately rushed towards Rank A, his legs wrapped in a whirlwind.
Luckily, he had just boosted his Agility attribute. Roy's figure weaved deftly through the crowd, quickly advancing in front of Bertholdt, and his long sword fiercely thrust out.
Bertholdt was a carefully selected warrior from Marley after all. His peripheral vision caught the sight of the sharp, cold light striking at him. He instinctively turned his head away, but the icy sword edge sliced off half his cheek and ear, splattering blood.
"Aahhh—"
Bertholdt cried out in pain. The unconscious Annie on his back fell to the ground. He powerfully kicked Roy in the abdomen, sending the youth staggering back a few steps.
The sudden change scared the surrounding refugees, who retreated, leaving a clear space around the three of them.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
This attracted the attention of nearby soldiers. Three or four soldiers ran over, utterly furious. Were their own people fighting among themselves at this critical moment?
"Where did you get such a dangerous knife? Who are your parents!" one soldier, seeing that Roy was only about fourteen or fifteen, angrily scolded him and rushed forward, trying to seize the Muramasa Sword from Roy's hand.
The moment the soldier got close, Roy swept his leg and kicked the soldier to the ground.
A hundred years of peaceful living had long eroded the spirit of the people inside the Walls. After the Colossal Titan breached the Wall, even the local Garrison Regiment soldiers, including those skilled in using the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, were few and far between.
Roy could instantly take down this kind of riff-raff with one move.
Roy gestured for everyone to look at Bertholdt and said plainly, "That guy is the one who breached the Wall—he's the Colossal Titan from just now."
The vicinity immediately fell into a dead silence.
Citizens and soldiers alike gaped, stiffly turning their necks to stare at Bertholdt on the other side.
Bertholdt was stunned, internally bewildered. How in the world was I exposed?
At the moment when everyone's minds seemed to have crashed, Roy moved. He darted toward Annie, who was not far away, and his Muramasa Sword ruthlessly swung toward her neck.
Annie, who had been thrown to the ground, had just regained a sliver of consciousness, her eyes opening, but she didn't have time to think.
A cold gleam flashed down. Using the ground as a cutting board, the sword severed her neck, separating the head from the body.
The blonde girl's head rolled several times. It was at that moment that she finally realized what had happened. Roy's face was reflected in her wide-open pupils before they slowly lost their luster.
Perhaps, in the end, she regretted continuing the plan and not returning to see her father.
"What a pity," Roy muttered. Blonde hair was one of his 'favorites,' but it was unfortunate that she didn't have long hair, wasn't an Elf, and didn't have pointy ears.
[Successfully killed Annie Leonhart (Female Titan). Congratulations on obtaining 1200 Status Points, Titan Slayer (Equipment), Quality (High)...]
Annie's body seemed to burst forth with golden light.
Roy saw the notification panel, but he was in no mood to pay attention to it. The loot was great, but he was about to face the opponent's most terrifying retaliation.
Upon seeing Annie killed, Bertholdt was first stunned, then overcome with grief. His eyes turned blood-red. Forgetting the pain, and even his identity and mission, he roared, "How dare you kill Annie—I'll kill you!"
Boom!
Golden lightning erupted from Bertholdt's body. The thunderclap descended upon the ground, and the resulting air blast flung the surrounding buildings and everyone nearby into the air.
The nearby soldiers and citizens were killed by the debris and heatwave before they could even react.
In the depths of the blinding light, a skeleton, muscles... formed, centered around Bertholdt.
Sensing the danger, Roy dove towards a building, curling his body into the corner of a bluestone wall.
Waves of scorching heat washed over him. It was like being inside a giant furnace. Roy knew without looking that his skin was being scalded bright red, causing extreme discomfort.
Bertholdt was a rare genius, capable of freely controlling the Colossal Titan's nuclear-like explosion. Roy had to do something, or he would die here.
It felt like having one foot in the gates of hell; the crisis of death engulfed Roy's entire body.
Roy pulled out the Frost-Ice Blade and plunged it into the ground.
Whoosh!
A chill erupted from the Frost-Ice Blade, roaring like a giant dragon, and rushed towards Bertholdt with lightning speed.
The heatwave being emitted stalled.
Roy cautiously peeked out. Bertholdt, who was only a twenty-meter-plus Colossal Titan torso, was frozen into an enormous ice sculpture.
Crack!
Before Roy could even sigh in relief, a faint sound came from the ice. Dense cracks appeared on the solid ice, spreading rapidly.