The hardened fist tore through the air with a sharp crack, narrowly grazing past a black-clad figure.
The gust from the punch flipped up the black-clad man's hood, revealing a head of black hair.
The black-clad man spun, a thin steel wire spraying from his lower back and nailing into the rock wall underground, pulling him away from the giant in front of him.
Three black-clad figures formed a wedge-shaped formation. Before them stood a fourteen-meter-tall giant confronting them head-on—a Female Titan with clearly feminine features.
If the black-clad figures had possessed the Survey Corps' Vertical Maneuvering Equipment and blades for subjugating Titans, then these three—three Ackerman warriors trained by the Claude family—might have already reduced the Female Titan to pieces.
But relying only on the daggers in the black-clad Ackermans' hands and the crude, extremely simplified version of Vertical Maneuvering Equipment at their lower backs, the most they could do was leave a few shallow cuts on the Female Titan. A few wisps of steam rose from her wounds and then vanished without a trace.
The three Ackermans exchanged glances. At the instant the Female Titan charged toward them, they scattered rapidly, then rushed toward her once more.
...
The razor-sharp short-handled daggers were weapons specially crafted by the Claude family for Ackerman warriors, even reinforced with a special material—iron bamboo—to enhance their hardness. Iron bamboo was also a military-controlled material, since the manufacture of the standard blades equipped by the three major military branches all required its use.
At this moment, the sharp iron bamboo dagger was only one centimeter away from Yago's eye. The young Ackerman girl A-One showed no expression as she thrust the dagger toward Yago.
(Iron bamboo is a substance once used to craft military weapons and equipment such as the disposable blades of the vertical maneuvering equipment.)
Historia shut her eyes in terror. Even though she knew Yago possessed Titan power, she still closed her eyes out of pure instinct.
Eren struggled desperately, but among everyone present, he was the most heavily restrained—how could he possibly break free in such a short time?
No one knew when Mikasa had retreated into the corner. Beneath her calm expression, no one noticed the taut muscles in her arms. If one could see her from behind, they would find the rope binding her hands already stretched to its absolute limit.
But in that split second, Yago's fingernails sliced into his palm.
Surging yellow electric arcs instantly enveloped Yago's body. White steam burst forth, flooding the entire cell. The sheer spectacle stunned Claude and his subordinates into numb silence.
Bang! A gigantic, skinless hand suddenly thrust out from the steam and grabbed A-One, who was still in a dazed state.
Scalding Titan muscle continued to give off steam. A-One's face flushed deep red as the terrifying strength from the giant hand crushed the air from her lungs.
The steam slowly began to dissipate. Before everyone's eyes, the skeletal frame of a half-formed Titan appeared, its head lowered.
On the massive skeleton clung strands of flesh and blood. Only a small amount of muscle covered the Titan's head, yet within the pitch-black eye sockets, one could clearly see crimson eyes filled with oppressive pressure. From its shoulder blades extended two arms without any skin.
Looking closely, at the very center of the Titan skeleton's chest stood a figure, sinews connecting directly to Yago's body.
Limited by the confined space and time, Yago could only manifest this half-bodied Fate Titan. At this moment, a rare trace of ruthlessness appeared on Yago's face.
The look he cast at the Ackerman before him—and the one in his grasp—was openly hostile. After all, no one would show tolerance toward someone threatening their own safety.
The Fate Titan's hand gradually tightened, and One let out a pained groan. Just as the killing intent in Yago's eyes grew ever stronger, another black-clad Ackerman, Five, moved. His figure flashed with incredible speed, and the sharp dagger instantly pressed against Claude's neck.
This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.
Especially Claude. Having just recovered from the shock of seeing Yago transform into a Titan, he then realized a sharp dagger was at his throat—and that the one holding it was an Ackerman warrior he had painstakingly raised himself.
Claude completely lost his mind.
"Bastard! Do you know what you're doing?! Five! How dare you betray me!"
The black-clad Ackerman Five lifted his mask, revealing his face. Upon seeing it, Yago's brows furrowed slightly.
Two long, deep scars were etched across Five's face, turning what could have been considered a handsome visage into something ferociously grotesque.
"Claude, you never treated us as anything more than tools. On behalf of One, Two, Three, and Four, I'm returning all the 'care' you've given us over the years—back to you!" Five hesitated not at all. The sharp dagger traced a graceful arc in his hand, then plunged viciously into Claude's face.
Five twisted the blade. Claude let out a pig-like scream as blood mixed with yellow fat burst from his face.
"Kill him! Kill him for me!" Claude howled madly through the agony.
The remaining guards hesitated for a moment, then raised their firearms and aimed at Five, who was still focused on carving into Claude's face.
Bang! The gunshot rang out, accompanied by the guards' screams.
A massive arm slammed down, flattening two guards in a single blow. Yago glanced to the other side—beside Mikasa, the last three guards had already fallen.
"Eren!" Mikasa, having broken free and dealt with the guards, hurried to untie Eren.
"Ahhh! My face!" Claude, his face a mess of blood and fat, rolled on the ground screaming.
Five tossed aside the dagger and suddenly dropped to one knee before Historia, who had just been freed inside the cell.
"Your Majesty, on behalf of the Ackerman warriors, I surrender to you."
Historia stood there, somewhat stunned, looking in confusion toward Yago, who was still gripping One.
Yago also examined the kneeling Five, as well as One, already struggling to breathe in the Fate Titan's grasp.
"You people… what exactly are you doing?"
...
Two black-clad Ackermans struggled incessantly, trapped fast within a gigantic net. Another black-clad Ackerman had been grabbed by the Female Titan by one leg, left dangling halfway in the air.
"Well done, Armin!"
Armin's face was still bruised, but his eyes were clear as he said,
"I noticed back at the estate that these black-clad men are extremely skilled, but aside from their daggers they have no more effective weapons. By using the Titan capture device invented by Squad Leader Hange, we can trap them!"
Lifting the Ackerman in her hand, the Female Titan lowered her head. A ripple passed through the nape of her neck, and Annie, her face smeared with muscle fibers, opened her eyes and demanded the moment she spoke,
"Where is Yago?!"