"Armin."
In the northern sector, the 104th Cadet Corps was already in fierce combat. A bald, bearded Titan had Armin trapped in its mouth.
At the critical moment, Eren appeared, prying the Titan's upper jaw open with one hand while yanking Armin free with the other. In the same instant, the Titan swallowed Eren.
"Eren!"
Armin rolled across the rooftops, his eyes wide with terror as he saw Eren's arm bitten off and devoured by the Titan.
"Eren, Eren!"
His mind went blank, gaze vacant.
"Armin, are you alright?"
Connie and Jean arrived, seizing Armin and swiftly carrying him away. They reached a tall building where Mikasa, Sasha, and others were engaged in battle. Titans poured in endlessly from the outer wall gate, overwhelming the area.
"Connie, did you see Eren?" Mikasa panted, blood from her Giant Power seeping and steaming on her body.
"No." Connie shook his head.
"Eren was eaten by a Titan to save me," Armin murmured, collapsing to the ground, drained of strength, tears streaking his face.
"What?"
Everyone nearby froze in shock, unable to process the words. Especially Mikasa.
"Armin, what happened?"
Mikasa grasped his hands, face pale, fighting to remain composed.
"Eren… Eren…"
Armin couldn't speak clearly, breaking down completely.
"I don't believe it."
Mikasa's mind spun. Without hesitation, she vanished from the building, determined to confirm the situation herself.
"Mikasa…"
"How did it come to this?"
"Quick! Move! Three Titans are approaching!"
"Damn it."
Connie and the others left with Armin, while Mikasa weaved through alleys, dispatching Titans one after another until her Vertical Maneuvering Equipment ran out of gas. She crashed heavily to the ground, unable to rise immediately.
A five-meter-tall, obese Titan loomed before her.
"Is this how it ends?"
Lying on the ground, Mikasa watched it approach, her eyes devoid of fear.
"Flying Dragon in the Sky."
"Roar…"
A deafening roar echoed. From the sky descended a golden divine dragon, scattering chunks of flesh and blood. A figure stood atop the Titan's body, looking directly at Mikasa.
"I finally see you, Mikasa."
His handsome, confident smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Mikasa's face went blank. This person had killed a Titan with a single palm strike. That golden creature—what was it? It had come from his hand.
"Hello, Mikasa."
Zhou Wei leapt from the Titan's body, approaching Mikasa and extending a polite, elegant hand. She instinctively reached out, and he pulled her to her feet.
'Phew… Saving Mikasa before Eren worked perfectly.'
Seeing the real Mikasa before him filled Zhou Wei with excitement and relief. A life-saving act was an ideal first impression; he must have looked very impressive just now.
A twelve-meter-tall Titan appeared from a distance, clearly targeting Zhou Wei and Mikasa.
"A Titan!"
Mikasa's eyes widened. Out of gas, she and this mysterious man were vulnerable. Even witnessing his power moments ago, she realized he wasn't invincible.
"Don't worry! I'm here."
Zhou Wei wrapped an arm around her waist, then using Lingbo Micro Step, moved like a phantom, light as a swallow, stepping across the wall to reach the rooftop.
"…"
Mikasa's gaze flicked between the ground and the man beside her, utterly bewildered. He had not used Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, yet here he was.
"Here it comes." Zhou Wei pointed to a fifteen-meter-tall Titan with black hair, blue eyes, double rows of teeth, and long, pointed ears resembling an elf. It punched the twelve-meter Titan violently.
"A Titan is attacking a Titan."
Mikasa's disbelief deepened as the twelve-meter Titan flew back from the attack.
"He will be your ally," Zhou Wei murmured, hinting at the truth without revealing God Space's rules.
The black-haired, blue-eyed Titan roared, trampling the twelve-meter Titan with a single foot, completely annihilating it. Then it strode toward other Titans, showing raw hostility.
In the distance,
"Has it awakened?"
Observing the black-haired, blue-eyed Titan, Lucien recognized the Attack Titan, connected to the Child of Destiny, Eren. He activated his Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, flying toward it, with Anka following cautiously.
The Attack Titan drew everyone's attention. Connie, Sasha, and the others scattered across rooftops watched as it attacked other Titans.
"A Titan is attacking a Titan," Connie murmured, mouth agape.
"What's happening? It's ignoring us."
Jean tensed. The Titan passed right by, heading toward another without acknowledging them.
"Lucien," Anka said, landing beside him.
Connie and the others quickly checked on their status.
"Everyone alright?"
Lucien scanned them.
"No, look at that Titan! It's attacking other Titans!" Sasha exclaimed.
Anka's face reflected disbelief. The black-haired, blue-eyed Titan had already defeated three others.
"Roar…"
The Titan's combat was violent and bloody. A severed head flew over their heads, lodging in the bell tower precariously.
Armin had regained his focus, eyes fixed on the Titan, which had even assumed a fighting stance.
From a distant rooftop, Zhou Wei carrying Mikasa landed before the group, prompting astonished gasps.
They had just witnessed someone casually leap across rooftops spanning seven or eight meters without equipment. A human could not possibly do this.
"Hello everyone, I'm Zhou Wei." He smiled, at ease.
"Oh! Connie."
"Jean."
"Sasha."
Connie and the others instinctively introduced themselves.
Lucien squinted his eyes from the side. So this guy's earlier disappearance was to save Mikasa.
"Lucien"
Lucien also reported his name. One might have thought Lucien was a native of this world.
Should he act now? No, the priority was the Attack Titan. Acting hastily would be unwise.
Lucien did not yet feel completely confident, but patience was key.
Most importantly, after he reported his name, the other party, 'Zhou Wei' didn't react at all.
Perhaps the other party considered him a mere passerby.
Just as Lucien suspected, Zhou Wei currently regarded Lucien as a mere passerby.
After all, he couldn't have memorized every single detail.
So many people die in attack on titan every time. Who knows which corner Lucien came from? Perhaps he'll be getting his lunchbox soon.
_____
(＾▽＾) Become a patron to get access to chapters in advance.
[email protected]/Zphyr_
Change @ to a.