Soon, Pixis's plan to retake Trost District was announced.
The news instantly caused an uproar within the Walls. Countless soldiers were thrown into panic—questioning, confusion, fear. For a moment, all kinds of emotions intertwined throughout the barracks.
"Did they really say this operation is to retake Trost District? Are they joking? We don't even have the technology to seal the breach in the gate!"
"What on earth are the higher-ups thinking?! Sending us into Trost is just sending us to die!"
"Are we running out of food inside the Walls again?"
"Hey—watch your words! That's not something you should talk about!"
"Damn it! Are they so desperate for merit? Sending us to our deaths just to earn military achievements!"
For a time, fear spread everywhere. Nearly everyone in the camp felt resistance and distrust toward the plan to retake Trost.
"We're going back to that hell again… I don't want to die! No! I want to go home! I want to go home!"
A soldier from the 104th Training Corps suddenly collapsed in panic, clutching his head and shouting desperately.
"Hey, Kevin! You're shouting too loudly!" Marco quickly tried to calm him.
"No, Marco! Let's stick together—we'll go home together! There's nothing they can do to us!" Kevin said emotionally, grabbing Marco's arm.
"Hey! You over there! I heard that! Are you planning to desert the battlefield?!"
A Garrison Regiment officer rushed over and shouted angrily.
"Yes! I am going to run! This meaningless mass suicide will bring no value or results!" Kevin shouted back through tears, mustering his courage.
"You bastard! What do you think humanity—and military law—are?! I have the authority to execute you on the spot!"
The officer placed his hand on his sword hilt and yelled. Yet the slight trembling of his body showed that even he wasn't calm.
At this moment—from ordinary soldiers to officers—almost no one believed the operation to retake Trost could succeed.
For hundreds of years, humanity had been suppressed by Titans. No one believed humanity could launch a successful counterattack.
"Wow, it's pretty lively here," Chen Si said as he looked around.
"These so-called seniors are just as afraid of death," Jean said disdainfully. He still held a grudge against the Garrison soldiers who refused to support them at the supply station.
"Looking at it this way, the discipline of our 104th class is way better than theirs. Our class must be the strongest," Connie said while scanning the crowd.
Heh. Four Titans in one class—of course it's strong, Chen Si thought to himself.
Watching the restless crowd, Chen Si rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Feels like it's time for me to step in again… Should I steal Pixis's moment?
On top of Wall Rose
Pixis looked down at the chaotic crowd, then turned to Eren.
"You said your basement holds the truth about everything, correct?" Pixis asked calmly.
"Yes. My father said the basement contains all the answers. My ability to become a Titan must also be related to him. As long as we get there, the truth will be revealed!" Eren said firmly.
Grisha Yeager… Pixis pondered for a moment, as if recalling something.
"So the hope of humanity lies in that basement. Humanity must launch a counterattack. Reclaiming Wall Maria is inevitable."
Pixis stroked his beard while gazing into the distance at the city ravaged by Titans. His eyes were filled with hope.
"What's happening to everyone?" Historia asked nervously when she saw the restless soldiers.
"They're afraid," Chen Si replied.
"But when we defended Trost District before, everyone was brave," Historia said, frowning in confusion.
"No one likes war," Mikasa said while glancing at her.
"Resisting an invasion is a war we're forced into. But launching a war ourselves is different—especially when the enemy is this powerful."
"Mikasa's right," Chen Si said approvingly.
At that moment, Pixis slowly stepped to the edge of the wall and officially announced:
"Beside me stands the Titan power user we have been secretly testing: Eren Yeager. He will assist us in retaking Trost District!"
"What?! A Titan experiment subject? Can we really trust that?!"
"Humans cooperating with Titans—how ridiculous!"
"Even if that's true, how many of us will die for this?"
"Do we not even get to choose how we die?"
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Even the officer who had just been lecturing others hesitated.
"Do it! While the chaos is happening, let's make a move! Plenty of people in the Garrison are dissatisfied. We can escape during the riot!" the officer said with a dark expression.
"Where are you planning to go?" Jean asked him in surprise.
"Anywhere but here. I want to see my daughter. This wall will fall sooner or later anyway," the officer said, having completely lost hope.
"Let's calm down first. Let's hear what the commander has to say," Marco advised.
"As a Titan, he will lift the massive boulder near the gate and carry it to the destroyed gate to seal the breach!" Pixis continued.
"Your mission is to protect him from other Titans while he transports the rock!"
"Impossible! Humans can't control Titans!"
"That's nonsense! We won't risk our lives for such absurd reasoning!"
"This must be a lie! Do they think we're idiots?!"
The voices of resistance rose one after another.
Even the once-resolute 104th trainees began to waver.
"He's planning to have us all die here today. I'm withdrawing!" the officer who had encouraged rebellion declared again.
"I'm leaving too!"
"Run!"
"I'm quitting!"
The crowd began retreating like a receding tide.
"Damn it! Anyone who flees will be punished under military law!" Kitz shouted. Though cowardly, he was absolutely loyal to Pixis.
Just then—
Chen Si suddenly became enveloped in arcs of electricity.
Like a pillar of lightning, he shot into the sky. Blue light blazed in his eyes as if a god of thunder had descended.
The fleeing soldiers stopped and turned back, staring in shock at the miraculous scene before them.
"In my eyes, I don't see deserters," Chen Si declared from the sky.
"I see livestock running away."
"The greatest praise humanity possesses is courage. When cattle and sheep see a butcher holding a knife approach their pen, they instinctively step back—thinking that standing farther from the fence will save them."
"But they are wrong."
"Maybe today you won't be slaughtered. Maybe tomorrow you won't be slaughtered. But what about the day after that?"
"If you choose disgrace instead of war, the war will still come!"
"Today I tell you this: freedom and dignity are more important than life itself!"
"As long as Titans ravage our land, our dignity does not exist!"
"Look at those abnormal Titans with their twisted smiles! They are mocking us—openly humiliating us!"
"One day we must repay the humiliation they've given us a hundredfold!"
"I don't care whether the enemy behind the Titans is human or Titan! Whatever race they are—anyone who offends the people within these Walls will pay the most painful price!"
"So choose!"
"Will you stand and kill the Titans—"
"Or kneel and watch as your wives and daughters are slaughtered?!"
"We humans are the noblest and greatest race in the world! This world belongs to us! The lands beyond the Walls belong to us as well!"
"Our cannons should thunder so loudly that Titans tremble!"
"We will crush their dignity and their lives, so they know that humanity is unstoppable!"
"Those willing to stay—fight with me and kill every Titan!"
"I will fight until the final moment, until humanity's honor is reclaimed!"
"Let the Titans know—humanity is sacred and inviolable!"
"The world belongs to humanity! Kill all the Titans!"
Chen Si's words shook everyone to the core.
Pixis's calm expression completely disappeared. His face twitched as his hands trembled.
"The world belongs to humanity! Kill the Titans!!"
Eren was the first to respond, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"The world belongs to humanity! Kill the Titans!"
The 104th trainees, already inspired by Chen Si before, were the first to join the chant.
Even the usually gentle Historia waved her fists excitedly as she shouted.
Mikasa and Historia even competed to see whose voice was louder.
Reiner shouted louder than anyone in the 104th, his face red with excitement as he looked fanatically at Chen Si.
Bertholdt's face turned pale, his back drenched in sweat.
Annie stared silently at Chen Si, unable to calm her thoughts.
The soldiers who had been fleeing like a tide now surged back like a tide.
Fearful faces were replaced by fervent determination.
Looking at Chen Si floating in the sky like a god, their confidence reached its peak.
After all—they still had Chen Si, who could fight the Colossal Titan.
And they still had Levi.
"The world belongs to humanity!! Kill the Titans!!"
The thunderous chants echoed across the entire city inside the Walls.
Residents of Wall Rose came out of their buildings and began cheering for the soldiers.
In the sky, Chen Si felt relieved as he watched the terrified soldiers turn into passionate warriors.
However, his electric power was nearly depleted, and drowsiness washed over him.
He slowly descended.
Mikasa immediately noticed and quickly supported him without speaking, looking at him with concern.
Chen Si shook his head, reassuring her.
Even after he landed, the thunderous chants continued.
Seeing the soldiers around him staring at him with burning enthusiasm, Chen Si himself felt his blood boil.
"I now have no doubt that humanity can defeat the Titans," Rico, standing behind Pixis, said in shock.
"I declare!" Pixis shouted while giving a salute.
"The operation to retake Trost District officially begins! Dedicate your hearts!"
"YES!" everyone shouted in unison.
At the far end of Wall Rose, a gigantic crawling creature with a flat mouth stood on the wall, observing the dense army below.
After a long look, it turned and leapt down from the wall.