Black smoke from the right wing continued to rise, drawing closer and closer.
"Erwin, it's very close now."
Smelling the scent in the air, Mike couldn't help but offer a reminder.
Erwin asked calmly, "Direction?"
Hange, who had been watching the black signal flares, said, "It's approaching the center rear. At this rate, that fellow will catch up to Levi and the others soon."
Erwin calculated their speed and timing before quickly ordering, "The destination remains unchanged. Have the remaining squads on the right flank move to intercept and delay them as much as possible."
Hange said with some reluctance, "They won't be able to stop it for long."
Erwin's voice was calm yet cold: "Obey orders."
"Yes!"
...
Annie realized that the Survey Corps was more troublesome than she had imagined.
Their techniques and methods for dealing with Titans were endless, and even knowing how terrifying she was, they never lacked the courage to face her head-on.
They were indeed worthy of respect.
So, I will do my best to send you to see Ymir.
Three grappling hooks struck Annie's right shoulder, left ankle, and back simultaneously as three people flew in from different directions.
Annie instantly grabbed the hook on her back and jumped straight up.
She crushed the Soldier trying to cut her Achilles tendon with one foot and shattered another Soldier along with the house they had retreated to with a whip kick.
She grabbed the cable and hauled the last remaining Soldier in front of her.
She watched as his face filled with terror, screaming in despair for her to let go.
Annie finally understood that even these most radical Soldiers within the walls were just like ordinary people; they feared death, too.
Her father had said, "Fighting for honor is nothing but a lie."
It was true for Marley, and it was true for this island.
All that talk about descendants of devils was a lie.
Annie grabbed the cable, swung him around a few times, and then threw him away.
This kind of scene had occurred many times along the way.
Annie no longer knew how many Survey Corps Soldiers she had killed with her own hands.
These were things she had to do.
Things that must be done must be done no matter what happens, and for that, we must give our all.
These were also her father's words.
Memories of her father were starting to surface more frequently.
Soon... wait for me... Father.
Annie looked up at the sky; countless green signal flares streaked across above her.
They all pointed in the same direction.
This meant their formation was contracting.
That direction... wasn't the destination Reiner had mentioned.
Is it the Forest of Giant Trees?
Annie knew very well that it was an important stronghold for the Survey Corps' expeditions.
If they were to set a trap, that would be the best choice.
Her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
Then, let's settle it there!
...
On the outskirts of the Forest of Giant Trees, the 104th Recruits were ordered to stay with their squad leaders to prevent other Titans from entering the forest.
Though it was called "preventing," they were actually just required to use themselves to attract the Titans' attention, following the same principle: avoid fighting Titans as much as possible.
All the Recruits and even their officers were confused by Commander Erwin's orders.
Mikasa didn't look at the five Titans gathered below; she gazed worriedly into the depths of the forest.
Eren... please be safe.
Armin, with a bandage around his forehead, already knew that Commander Erwin intended to capture the Female Titan alive here.
Besides marveling at the Commander's foresight, he was also reminiscing about the Female Titan's face.
He remembered a strange scene he had witnessed in Trost when the Military Police inspected the Trainees after the two experimental Titans were killed.
A terrifying suspicion began to form in his mind...
Bang!
Deep in the forest, Eren, who was moving with the Levi Squad, turned to look at the black smoke rising behind them.
"It's a black smoke signal!"
Eld Jinn, standing nearby, frowned. "It must be that fellow from the right wing."
Levi, at the very front, spoke up: "Get yourselves ready. When it appears, you might only have a split second to react."
...
Annie was sprinting through the forest.
The resistance from the Soldiers ahead was growing weaker and weaker.
Yet they continued to appear, harassing her progress.
"Get lost!"
Annie tilted her head to dodge a grappling hook aimed at her nape from behind. She grabbed the cable and slammed the Soldier against a tree trunk.
Running, killing—her speed hadn't slowed much.
"I see them!"
After crushing another Soldier in her hand, Annie finally caught up with Eren's squad.
"You really are here, Eren Yeager!"
Annie's eyes were fixed on Eren, who was riding a horse ahead.
He was her key to returning home.
She began to accelerate.
With the Female Titan's endurance, it was definitely enough to sustain her until the mission was complete.
"Eren, stop running. You can't escape."
"Eren, transform into a Titan and fight me!"
"Eren, what are you waiting for?"
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye while giving chase, she noticed figures appearing in the trees on both sides, along with many strange devices.
Erwin drew his sword and roared, "Fire!"
Sensing something was wrong, Annie immediately raised both hands to protect her nape.
Following a series of loud booms, countless iron spikes with cables attached were fired at her body.
They instantly pierced her skin and muscles, boring into her bones.
Her body couldn't move... She looked around; the Soldiers were watching her with a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Clearly, they had been waiting here for a long time.
So, they want to capture me alive?
Boom, boom, boom...
The second and third rounds of fire came quickly; Annie could only endure them in silence.
How cautious.
Using Hardening to block the blades slicing at the back of her hands, Annie silently considered her next move.
She couldn't afford to waste more time here; she had to use that method.
Ignoring the person standing on her head talking to himself, she took a deep breath and let out a roar with all her might.
"ROAR!"
"ROAR!"
The terrifying roar pierced through the entire Forest of Giant Trees.
Every Soldier was forced to cover their ears from the shock.
Mike's nostrils flared, and his expression changed.
"Erwin! Titans are coming this way."
Erwin frowned. "From which direction?"
Mike's eyes widened. "Every direction!"
From within the Female Titan's nape, Annie said calmly, "Hurry, while Eren hasn't gone too far."
Upon hearing Annie's roar, the Titans gathered on the outskirts of the Forest of Giant Trees and all charged into the forest like madmen.
The Soldiers on the perimeter couldn't even get out of the way in time, let alone stop them.
A three-meter Titan was the first to reach the Female Titan, immediately gnawing on the flesh of her leg.
Watching this, Erwin's heart sank. Realizing the Female Titan's plan, he quickly ordered, "Defend the Female Titan at all costs! Kill any Titan that tries to get near her!"
But Erwin also knew this was an impossible task.
"It's no use, there are too many! And they're completely ignoring us."
"Are these all Abnormal Titans?"
"Damn it..."
In less than five minutes, the Female Titan was eaten clean right where she stood.
Thick white steam from the deaths of the Female Titan and countless Pure Titans filled the forest, refusing to dissipate for a long time.
Levi, having depleted all but his last set of blades, returned to Erwin's side covered in blood and looking thoroughly displeased.
Erwin said flatly, "The plan failed. Prepare to withdraw to Karanes District."
"The promise made in person at the Inquiry... and it ends like this."
Letting the Titan blood on him evaporate, Levi reminded him coldly, "Erwin, you know what will happen to Eren and us if we return like this, right?"
"We'll think about that after we return. For now, the priority is to avoid further losses."
Levi didn't argue. "Then I'll go regroup with my squad."
"Levi!"
Erwin looked at the thinning white steam and suddenly said, "Go replenish your gas and blades."
"Why?"
Erwin didn't explain. "Obey orders."
Levi looked into Erwin's eyes. "Understood."
---
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