"Untie him," Carla said, her voice trembling but resolute. Keith clenched his jaw. After everything, he could only obey.
"Captain!" Hange protested, but seeing that Keith's decision was final, she sighed and turned toward the unconscious boy in her arms. "Zeke," she asked, "is it really true? Your brother didn't get the injection?"
Zeke's reply was cool and detached. "No."
Hange frowned. "Then why hasn't he woken up? We've been shouting for ages! If he only fainted from fear, he should've stirred by now. How can he sleep so soundly?"
The air grew tense again. Soldiers glanced nervously at one another, hands unconsciously drifting toward their weapons.
Zeke shrugged. "..." Then, with unsettling calm, he said, "You can hit him."
Hange blinked. "What?"
"Slap him," Zeke said blankly. "Harder. He's not afraid of pain — you can use as much force as you want."
"Uh—what?" Hange froze.
"I'm not a doctor," Zeke continued dryly. "How should I know what 'normal fainting' looks like? But I do know that if you hit him hard enough, he'll definitely wake up."
Hange hesitated. "Then… should I try?" She raised her hand awkwardly.
But before she could strike, Erwin caught her wrist.
"Don't be reckless," Erwin said sharply. "What if he wakes up as a Titan? We'll return to headquarters first."
"But Zeke said—" Hange began.
"Don't be fooled by his words," Erwin interrupted. "Whether he's lying or not, we need to confirm everything ourselves before drawing conclusions. That's the rationality we must uphold as soldiers of the Survey Corps."
He turned and personally fastened the shackles around Eren's wrists again.
"Don't touch Eren!"
A blur shot forward — Mikasa. She leapt onto the wagon and punched Erwin square in the face.
The blow barely landed before another figure appeared like a shadow. A swift kick sent Mikasa flying out of the carriage.
She rolled across the dirt, gasping, then pushed herself up, fury burning in her eyes. She charged again — only to be met with another brutal kick.
Levi Ackerman didn't even blink.
This time, the impact was heavier, sending her tumbling several meters before she collapsed in the mud.
"Ugh…" Mikasa clutched her stomach, glaring daggers at him. Her small frame shook with rage.
"Enough, Mikasa!" Carla limped forward, wrapping her arms around the girl before she could rush again. "Stop fighting! You can't win against them!"
"Auntie…" Mikasa's voice cracked. Seeing the pain on Carla's face, she bit her lip. She wanted to keep fighting, but the weight of Carla's trembling hands held her still.
Still — she hated them.
She hated anyone who hurt Eren.
And the soldier who stood between them — that quiet man with gray eyes — he radiated a strength that made her skin crawl.
He was the strongest person she had ever faced.
Her fists clenched. Her small teeth ground together.
One day, she swore silently, I'll be stronger than him. Strong enough to protect Eren myself.
"Erwin!" Keith's voice snapped across the air. "Didn't you hear my order? Let him go!"
"Captain, I won't risk the lives of the entire Corps for one child!" Erwin shot back, not stopping his work.
Keith stared, speechless. The commander of the Survey Corps — defied by his own subordinate.
When the ropes were finally tightened again, Erwin turned, frowning as he noticed the small girl sprawled several meters away.
"Mikasa," he murmured. She was filthy, covered in dust and mud, but glaring with unbroken spirit.
Erwin scowled at Levi. "Was that really necessary? She's just a child."
Levi didn't flinch. "For some reason… I think she can handle it."
"No ordinary child could withstand a kick from you!" Erwin snapped.
Levi shrugged. "She's still glaring, isn't she?"
Erwin fell silent. Indeed — the girl's eyes still burned like fire.
"Captain," Erwin said finally, turning to Keith. "We need to move."
Keith nodded weakly. "...Go."
"Levi," Erwin ordered, "ride with Zeke."
Levi's brow twitched. "Why me?"
"I think you two have things to discuss."
Levi crossed his arms. "I don't know him."
"Really?"
"Really."
Erwin gave him a long, unimpressed look.
Levi sighed. "Fine. I'll go." He limped off toward the other carriage.
As he passed the black-draped prison wagon, he paused. "By the way," he said casually, "I might've chopped off that kid's arm earlier."
Erwin blinked. "What?"
Levi rubbed his temple. "When I arrived, things were messy. I was aiming for that beast bastard's arm and jaw — might've taken the kid's hand too. Check the wound; should be clean."
And with that, he walked off, leaving stunned silence behind.
Inside the wagon, muffled voices stirred.
Annie frowned. "What's he talking about?"
Bertholdt scratched his head. "...Does it matter?"
"Probably not," Annie said flatly.
Meanwhile, in Eren's carriage—
"I want to ride with my brother!" Hange announced cheerfully, hugging the unconscious boy with suspicious enthusiasm. Her grin turned oddly dreamy.
Erwin sighed. "Be careful. If he wakes up as a Titan, you'll be the first one he eats."
"Then he can eat me first!" Hange said brightly. "How cruel would it be to eat your mother? I'll take her place as his first 'ration'!"
Carla's face darkened. "What are you saying?! My son is not a monster!"
Hange chuckled nervously. "Haha! Just trying to lighten the mood!"
"Well, it's not funny!" Carla snapped. "And I do not feel lighter!"
Grumbling, she climbed into the carriage herself.
"What are you doing?" Hange asked, startled.
Carla glared at her. "Is that even a question? You're taking my son — of course I'm coming with him! You can arrest me too if you want!"
"But this is a military—" Hange began.
Before she could finish, two small shapes scrambled up behind Carla.
"We're coming too!" shouted Mikasa and Armin, both smeared with dirt and defiance.
The soldiers could only stare.
The Survey Corps' authority, discipline, and command presence — gone in an instant.
And so, the carriage rolled forward: a bruised mother clutching her bound child, two stubborn children clinging beside her, and one exasperated scientist muttering something about "family field trips."
In the chaos of Titans and conspiracies, even the soldiers couldn't help thinking—
The real unstoppable force here wasn't any Titan.
It was a mother's love.